"Your Majesty, there is news from Hanzhong that Qin Fan has fled to Hanzhong."
Wang Chengen looked at the angry emperor and couldn't help but smile.
"This is good news."
Emperor Chongzhen patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Fan, the most powerful vassal in the world, did not die, or surrender, and he, the emperor, could still maintain a trace of face.
"Sun Chuanting is dead, how did his family escape?"
Chongzhen reacted at this time and asked hurriedly.
"This is exactly what I want to say." Wang Chengen said softly: "I heard that it was a guerrilla named Zhu who took the Qin vassal to Hanzhong and guarded Dashan Pass."
"Really?" Chongzhen frowned and asked, "Why does it sound familiar!"
"Back to your lord, it's the general who previously sent a letter to Commander Sun to kill Li Guo, the nephew of Li Thief."
"Where is the memorial? Show it to me."
Immediately, he saw the memorials from King Rui and King Qin, the contents of which were all praising a young general - Zhu Yixi.
"Yi generation, the clan of the Qin vassal."
Suspicion suddenly arose in Emperor Chongzhen's mind: "I'm afraid it's not good for the clan to lead the army."
"Your Majesty, I have checked and found out that Zhu Yixi inherited the sacrifice of King Heyang of the Qin Dynasty. However, the title was canceled as early as the third year of Zhengde. It has been inherited for five generations. Now he is only the lowest lieutenant of Fengguo."
Wang Chengen said softly.
"Lieutenant Fengguo?" Chongzhen murmured: "Indeed, according to the rules, you can indeed become an official, and you have to be removed from the title."
"Exactly."
Despite this, the suspicion in Chongzhen's heart still remained. The threat from the clan, especially the clan leading the army, was no less a threat to his throne than an intruder.
However, the ancestral rules are here, and if someone has made meritorious service, it is not enough not to reward him.
"Tell me, how should I reward him?"
Chongzhen turned his head and asked about Wang Chengen.
"Your Majesty, according to the past rules, if you are promoted to one level, you can join the army."
"The cabinet also talks like this."
"Too low." Chongzhen shook his head and said, "Nowadays, thieves are raging, so we should be more generous to ministers who have made meritorious deeds."
As he spoke, his expression became more serious.
Obviously, this is not true.
Wang Chengen didn't say anything, just follow the holy decree!
After thinking again and again, he hesitated and said: "Jin Zhu Yixi is the commander-in-chief of Guyuan to fight against the intruders."
"My slave obeys the order." Wang Chengen rolled his eyes and understood immediately.
Guyuan Town is located between Ningxia, Lanzhou and Xi'an. It is also home to the famous Xiao Pass, one of the four major passes in Guanzhong.
Naturally, the purpose of appointing Zhu Yixi as the general soldier of Guyuan was to enable him to better fight against the intruders.
In this way, he would no longer have much power in Hanzhong Mansion.
"In addition, give him five hundred taels of silver and a pair of jade."
As he spoke, Emperor Chongzhen seemed to have thought of something, and whispered: "I can even hint to him that if I regain Xi'an Mansion, I can restore him to the title of King Heyang."
"Yes!" Wang Chengen's eyes were filled with surprise. This cake must be too big.
…
At this time, the Wu Mansion in Ningyuan City was rather gloomy.
At this time, Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Ningyuan regiment training, had a round face and a gloomy look, as if he was thinking about something.
He has a broad face and thick eyebrows, a thick beard, a strong back and strong waist, and strong limbs, showing no anger and self-importance.
At only thirty-five years old, he is already the most important and only general in Liaodong, attracting attention from both the government and the public.
At this time, he held a letter tightly open in his palm-sized hands. The veins on the back of his hands were exposed, and his hands were covered with sweat.
He has always been intangible with emotion and anger, but at this time he was extremely nervous, so much so that the letter was so tight that it was about to tear.
This is a letter from Shenyang, a letter from his former Shangguan, Hong Chengchou, who was the governor of Jiliao.
Not surprisingly, this is a letter of surrender.
Unlike uncle Zu Dashou's official attempt to persuade him to surrender, Hong Chengchou's letters mostly talked about the situation, which penetrated people's hearts even more.
Since the Battle of Songjin, the situation in Liaodong has completely deteriorated.
In September, the rear post, the former garrison, and the middle front post all fell within seven or eight days. Wu Sangui's Ningyuan became an isolated city outside Shanhaiguan.
In other words, he had no retreat.
As long as the Manchus are willing, they can besiege him at any time.
And Hong Chengchou even made it clear that even at Shanhaiguan, the Manchu and Qing Dynasties had hundreds of red cannons, and it was only a matter of time before they could break through it.
Just these few words made him feel cold all over.
Because he knows that all this is true.
"I never thought that Governor Hong would still be alive."
Wu Sangui took out a breath, said softly, and started talking.
"General Wu!"
The Confucian scholar sitting opposite said with a smile:
"Governor Hong is highly respected and our country relies on him as an important minister. His power is even greater than that of the Ming Dynasty. However, our country has always treated surrendered ministers favorably."
"But someone like Mr. Wu who surrenders on his own initiative is even more different. Our Qing Dynasty is even more sincere. As long as you are willing to surrender, we will not hesitate to grant you the title of king."
Wu Sangui came over slowly. He raised his eyes and said, "My Wu family has been loyal for generations. Your Majesty has shown me great kindness. It is impossible for me to surrender."
"I, Wu, can only live up to your lord's wishes."
"Commander Wu, now outside Shanhaiguan, only Ningyuan is left. The war just ended last month. Don't you understand anything yet?"
The Confucian scholar immediately changed his tone and became tougher.
"Of course I understand that your lord died of illness, and your country was afraid that I would take advantage of it, so it couldn't help but strike first. By the way, it can also divert the conflict, right?"
When Wu Sangui heard this, he was not afraid. Instead, he chuckled and said: "Although Ningyuan City is the only one left, Wu's tens of thousands of Guan Ning's cavalry are not vegetarians."
"Okay, I understand."
The Confucian scholar then suppressed his smile and said solemnly:
"Even Commander Sun has passed away, but General Wu is still so persistent. I admire you."
"The mountains are high and the rivers are long. There will always be a chance for us to meet each other in the future."
As he spoke, he smiled meaningfully.
Wu Sangui narrowed his eyes and ignored it.
However, he was already shaken in his heart at this time.
Most of my relatives and friends were in the Qing Dynasty, and many of them surrendered, and they all said that it was a good thing.
But similarly, Emperor Chongzhen here, although sometimes very desperate, had great trust in him and even gave Shang Fang the sword.
Money was convenient and he tried his best to provide it, so he reorganized his Guan Ning cavalry in just one year after the Songjin War.
On the Ming side, his status was respected, so there was really no need to vote for the Manchus.
"If it hadn't been for the death of Governor Sun at Tongguan and the destruction of the three cities behind us, we really wouldn't want to see the Qing people."
Facing his staff, Wu Sangui looked embarrassed.
Li Yousong stroked his beard after hearing this.
You didn't even shout "Jiannu", the meaning is too obvious.
He couldn't help but sigh: "Although the Ming Dynasty is riddled with holes like the setting sun in the west, the resort in the south of the Yangtze River is still in hand, and the general must think twice before proceeding."
"Yes!" Wu Sangui nodded. For the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Ming Dynasty is also worth looking forward to.
When the time comes, being the only cavalryman will be of great use.