At this time, You Shiwei, who had come to join in the fun, turned in from Monan, surrendered (driving away) many Mongols along the way, about three thousand cavalry, and then attacked Xuanfu in a mighty manner.
As expected, after two or three days of stalemate, Xuan Mansion was restored.
After planting the bright flag, You Shiwei couldn't wait to come to Beijing, hoping to catch up with this important battle to regain the old capital.
What awaited us was the flying banner of Beijing City.
"Damn it!"
You Shiwei entered the city in a hurry, and then couldn't stay for an hour before heading south in a hurry.
"What?" Liu Tingjie asked in confusion: "Didn't we agree to go to Shanhaiguan?"
"Will Li Jizu miss this?"
You Shiwei said angrily: "As soon as I entered the city, he chuckled and said to me: I'm late. Then when I was about to speak, he said again, Shanhaiguan also sent troops..."
"This bird man only left one Beizhili for us?"
Liu Tingjie was shocked. Li Jizu’s appetite must be too big!
"Humph, he has to stay."
You Shiwei snorted coldly: "To control Beijing, we still have to monitor Guan Ning's army. If we can allocate troops and horses to attack Shanhaiguan, we can forget about it."
"How can we let him?"
Liu Tingjie couldn't help but said: "That's Shanhaiguan, the number one fortress in the world."
"I know."
You Shiwei worriedly said: "Shanhaiguan faces the Liaoxi Corridor. It is difficult to attack from the east, but it is easy from the south. This is the imperial court's check and balance policy."
"But Li Jizu said that Guan Ningjun's family members are all in Shanhaiguan. Once Guan Ningjun leaves, he will get twice the result with half the effort."
"I just can't refute it."
After saying this, he said harshly: "Let's go and fight Beizhili."
After saying that, he whipped his horse whip and rode away quickly.
Liu Tingjie was also very upset. When did Li Jizu become so treacherous?
I had no choice but to follow closely.
Jiang Quan and other Datong military attachés who were standing aside could only listen to the story, but they could only follow him.
I looked back at the city of Beijing, which was full of prosperity.
…
With the advent of the Northern Expedition, the golden waterway of the canal became more and more prosperous, and ships continued to deliver supplies.
Canal ports in North Zhili such as Cangzhou and Tianjin, as well as Linqing and Dezhou in Shandong, also experienced dry trees and spring again, once again erupting into rare lively scenes.
Even if they just provide rest, transportation, food and other miscellaneous tasks for the canal boats, they can still feed a lot of people.
The suffering Shandong seemed to have regained some of its strength because of this war.
Wu Sangui did not know the meaning of war dividends, but he understood that the prosperity of the canal had promoted the depleted Shandong people.
The arrival of a large amount of grain from the south also caused the price of grain in Shandong to fall three times a day, and finally recovered to about one tael per stone.
"Master Hou, it's time to set off."
Looking at Jining Pier absentmindedly, Wu Sangui felt mixed emotions in his heart.
When I go to Nanjing, no one knows whether he will live or die, whether he will be imprisoned or used.
He once had regrets, but reason told him that when he returned to the Qing Dynasty outside the customs, they would face a terrifying behemoth that would gradually suffocate them.
Surrendering, surrendering with a large number of troops and horses, may still have a way to survive, but resisting to the end will only lead to death.
"Wait a little longer——"
Wu Sangui's tone was quite soft. Regarding the soldiers who were monitoring him, he explained gently: "There is no news about my son yet. Just wait for another half hour!!"
Immediately, a piece of silver was stuffed into their hands: "Okay, half an hour at most, otherwise we won't be able to make the trip."
The imperial court had necessary arrangements and regulations for important people, including food and drink along the way, the care of troops and horses, and the itinerary.
However, nothing is absolute, and nothing will happen if you wait half an hour more. After all, Wu Sangui is not a prisoner, and there is no threat from soldiers and horses. He just needs to arrive in Nanjing on time.
"Let's go!" Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, but there was still no news. Wu Sangui was extremely disappointed.
But at this moment, there was a sudden noise from the other end.
He took a closer look and saw an old man wearing a black Tang scarf (similar to a Futou), escorted by a group of scholars, slowly boarded the ship.
There were many people bidding farewell at the pier, and even from a distance, Wu Sangui could smell the sour smell.
"This is?"
The ship slowly opened the door, and Wu Sangui cast a curious look.
"That's Duke Yansheng!"
At this time, Jining got on the boat and sat on the bow. The man who had not spoken a word and seemed to be mute suddenly said: "He is going to Nanjing to see His Majesty just like you this time."
"You?" Wu Sangui frowned.
"I have met Marquis Jing. Let me introduce you to the Jinyi Guard Qianhu, Chu Yu——"
The man smiled slightly, showing a row of white teeth.
"Chu Yu?" Wu Sangui's heart sank, his face turned ugly, and he said, "His Majesty asked you to come, right?"
"No, I'm just going back to report on my duties."
Seeing his expression, Chu Yu couldn't help but smile and said, "It just so happens that your boat is the most spacious along the way, so I got on board."
Hearing this, Wu Sangui breathed a sigh of relief.
"Use it as you wish!"
After saying that, he turned around and left.
On the side, the two Jinyi guards who collected the silver cupped their hands and said, "Chu Qianhu."
"How was Wu Sangui's journey?"
Chu Yu clasped her hands behind her back and faced the canal.
"I am still peaceful, but I am constantly worried about my family."
"family?"
When Chu Yu heard this, he sneered: "He is worried about how Beijing is doing."
"Lest you surrender too early and feel uncomfortable."
"Keep an eye on him, don't make any mistakes."
After saying that, he stepped onto the approaching boat and headed straight for Yan Shenggong's ship.
For Chu Yu, Wu Sangui was just one of the targets, but the importance of Yan Shenggong was, to some extent, even more important.
After stopping and stopping along the way, in mid-August, three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the group arrived in Nanjing.
The city of Nanjing was very concerned about the progress of the war, and the business atmosphere was extremely high, with people coming and going thinking about doing business.
When King Wang captured Jinan, many merchants were planning what goods to transport there and what to buy back.
Linqing, Dezhou, and Cangzhou are all their plans.
As for the city of Beijing, they have mixed feelings.
Although the city of Beijing has not yet been restored, everyone believes that it will be restored.
On the one hand, the huge market makes them salivate. It is the second largest city after Nanjing.
But the recovery of Beijing dealt a fatal blow to Nanjing's political status.
After all, the capital is the capital. How can there be orthodoxy from Beijing?
They had tasted the benefits of the capital city again after more than two hundred years. How could they let it go?
The civil and military officials in the court also began to discuss matters regarding the capital after the liberation of Beijing.
So, it was divided into two.
Most of the southern officials suggested that the capital should be set up in Nanjing, the capital of Taizu, and that it should be far away from the war in the north. How many losses did the Ming Dynasty suffer over the past few hundred years?
However, northern officials and civil servants who took the overall situation advocated moving back to Beijing.