Hong Chengchou wrote a letter in the cabin. This time he returned from Beijing and felt that the task was arduous.
Before leaving the capital, he bid farewell to the Emperor. The Queen Mother and the Queen Mother comforted him behind the curtain, hoping that he would stabilize the Central Plains for the court. Then the three regents also summoned him together and conferred on him the title of Marquis of Nan'an, a first-class marquis.
Minister of State Council, Shaobao and Taibao of the Crown Prince, and Bachelor of Internal Affairs Secretariat.
He was given the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of War and the right deputy of the Imperial Palace.
Give him a python robe and a jade belt.
The imperial court's favor to him even exceeded that of Fan Wencheng, a veteran of the three dynasties. A minister of the Han Dynasty who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty could actually be granted the title of Marquis. This was absolutely impossible when he first entered the customs.
"The imperial court finally knows about your loyalty and talent. With this comeback, you will be able to secure your position as the first Han civil servant." Hong Chengchou's staff said happily.
Hong Chengchou stopped writing and touched his beard, but there was no happy look on his face.
It is true that the rewards given by the imperial court were beyond the norm, but these were just because the situation was really bad, just like when Chongzhen was about to lose control of Beijing and conferred counts on several generals such as Wu Sangui.
The Qing Dynasty worshiped Manchuria first, and military merit was the most important thing. It was definitely not a good thing that he, a Han, surrendered as a minister, but he was also a civil servant, and he could be granted a title of marquis.
Last year, he first tried to appease Jiangnan, and then conducted a strategy in Huguang. However, it ended in a disastrous defeat. He was removed from his post and moved to Beijing, and was even investigated by the Ministry and the Academy.
This time he returned from Beijing and was the governor-general of Zhili, Shandong and Henan provinces, as well as the governor of Shandong. He felt even more pressure.
"Qian Qianyi went to see Emperor Ming to discuss peace. How hopeful do you think this matter is?" Hong Chengchou asked.
Zhou Shizhong said bluntly, "There is little hope. In the current situation, although the Qing Dynasty is still stronger, in fact, Nanming has launched successive counterattacks under the leadership of Zhu Yihai since 2000, and has advantages on all fronts. Now Zhu Yihai has personally led troops to capture Denglai."
, the momentum is strong, how can you be willing to negotiate for peace?"
"The imperial court also negotiated peace with Zhu Yihai before, but in the end Zhu Yihai just borrowed the negotiation and delayed time."
Zhou Shizhong was a close aide to Hong Chengchou, but he was not an ordinary Shaoxing master. He was also a Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty and had served as a magistrate. However, he was dismissed from his post due to circumstances after he was demoted to the Qing Dynasty, and finally worked for Hong Chengchou. His ability was pretty good.
This time when Hong Chengchou went south, he brought a lot of staff with him. Some of them were from his old staff in Jiangnan and Huguang, and some were newly recruited when he was in Beijing. These people have a special characteristic. Most of them are Jinshi and officials of the Ming Dynasty.
In the past, they were censors, some were prefects, and some even served as governor of Hongguang.
For example, Zhao Kaixin, who served as an official in Chongzhen and a member of the Ministry of War, and served as the censor of Shaanxi Province last year, felt that there was still a chance for peace talks. "I think that although Zhu Yihai can fight, the gap in strength between the Ming and Qing Dynasties is still very big."
, Zhu Yihai's strength is actually just a strategy. He is definitely still willing to negotiate peace, but there must be a prerequisite, that is, the Qing Dynasty can contain his offensive.
When he can no longer attack, he will definitely be willing to negotiate a truce to recuperate and accumulate strength."
"This Zhu Yihai can be called the most outstanding emperor in the three hundred years of the Ming Dynasty. Now it is so strong, who can stop it?" said another staff member, Liao Liansheng. "Rely on Bolo or Duduo, or Liu Zeqing, Xu Dingguo and others.
?”
Hong Chengchou listened to these words and fell into deep thought.
When Hong Chengchou left the capital this time, he was planning how to proceed.
But there are so many things to think about and no way to start.
Compared with the previous two attempts to appease Jiangnan and manage Huguang, this time the Qing government gave Hong Chengchou a lower official position, only governor of three provinces, but the power was considerable.
The imperial edict granted to him directly stated that any suppression matters should not be controlled, and reports should be given afterward.
The governors, admirals, river governors, water transport governors, etc. of the three provinces are all subject to restraint. If the things they do are necessary for the government, they can do whatever they want.
This advantageous power includes the power to mobilize civil and military officials both inside and outside the court and to the military and local areas, and the administrative power to promote, transfer, supplement, and transfer civil and military officials in the three provinces within their jurisdiction. Civil officials below the fifth rank and military attachés below the deputy general
Violation of orders can be punished by execution first and then fined.
In all matters related to the front of the army, the personnel, soldiers, and officials must not be restricted. The money and food used must be paid immediately, and the household department must not delay.
It combines military, political, criminal and financial affairs.
The most important thing is that the three regents directly stated that the two generals, General Zhengnan and Prince Duanzhong, Prince Boluo, and General Yangwei, Prince Shudeyu and Duduo, would serve as auxiliaries to all Manchu and Han soldiers in the three provinces.
Although the horses each have their own commanders, they must be dispatched and restrained by Hong Chengchou. The military advancement and deployment should be carried out in consultation with Hong Chengchou.
In other words, the two auxiliary kings who commanded the army had to be controlled by Hong Chengchou in the three provinces.
Remember that when Hong Chengchou wanted to appease Jiangnan, he had to discuss military matters with the county king Luck Dehun. When he arrived in Huguang, he also did not have full power.
Although this time only the governor-general of three provinces was granted, in order to unify the plan, the Qing government fully implemented the principle of not trusting personnel and gave Hong Chengchou unlimited power.
The importance of the Rong Festival cannot be ignored for a while.
But Hong Chengchou was under greater pressure.
Before leaving the capital, Hong Chengchou had already recruited his old staff and recruited many new staff. For example, Zeng Qixian, who had been awarded General Mingwei by Chongzhen, was originally a general under He Tengjiao and had been recruited by him when he was in Huguang last year.
Zou Zhuoming, the grandson of Zou Yuanbiao of the Donglin Party, was a strategist and good at planning.
As well as Zhou Yingyu, etc., he already had a large team of staff when he left the capital, and he continued to write letters to others along the way, recruiting old subordinates or some more talented people to join him.
"Sir, don't have any expectations for the peace negotiation. Just let Qian Qianyi handle it. Whether it succeeds or not, don't worry about it for the time being. The most urgent task now is to mobilize the two kings Bolo and Duduo to command the Manchu and Han soldiers. First
To defend Jinan and recapture Denglai, we must drive Zhu Yihai out of Shandong, otherwise, it will be difficult to talk about anything else." Zou Zhuoming said bluntly.
Zou was from Jishui, Jiangxi. His grandfather, Zou Yuanbiao, was a member of the Donglin Party. He was also a fierce man who used the imperial staff. There is a saying that has been circulated between the government and the public: Zou Yuanbiao cannot be killed by cutting a leek bag.
Three generations of Zou Zhuoming's family have been Jinshi, but he is not a nerd who only knows stereotypes, but a very intelligent person.
In the cabin, a group of staff were making plans one after another.
To sum up, there are several main points. First, we must conquer the people by force. We must first use soldiers and horses to defeat Zhu Yihai militarily. At least we must force him to leave Shandong.
Then they shrank the front line, retreated to Huaibei, and refused to attack the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. Then they concentrated on wiping out the native villages in the Central Plains, restoring order, and stabilizing people's livelihood.
Gu Yan
Especially the two provinces of Henan and Shandong. These two provinces cannot continue to deteriorate no matter what. They must not only defend themselves, but also step up their efforts to stabilize and restore them.
Otherwise, the Qing Dynasty would not be able to continue fighting with the Nanming Dynasty.
"Guard Huaibei, fight in Denglai, annihilate along the canal, and support various villages in the Central Plains."
Concentrate your forces to defeat Denglaizhu Yihai's men, and focus on defending the rest. As for the native villages in Shandong and Henan provinces, focus on encircling and destroying some large villages along the canal, especially those in Yanzhou, while focusing on the native villages in other areas.
For the stronghold, we should try our best to recruit and appease it, and use both suppression and appeasement to stabilize it as soon as possible.
We should try our best to appease the gentry in Henan and Shandong, and use the great power that Hong Chengchou now holds to recruit more of them into the imperial court or grant them official positions.
While they were discussing, they suddenly heard the sound of a cannon.
Then the boat rocked violently.
"What happened?"
one of the staff members exclaimed.
Then more cannons were fired.
Hong Chengchou was waiting for him to fall and stagger around. At this time, a guard came down from the boat and said, "Ming thief, Ming thief is attacking!"
"Where did the Ming thief come from? This is Cangzhou!" Zhou Yuji shouted.
No matter how suspicious they were, at this moment, more than a dozen small boats suddenly sailed out of the canal. Although the boats were small, they were speeding towards them. The armored soldiers on the boats fired muskets and arrows non-stop at the boats.
On the river bank, there were ambushed gunners, manipulating small cannons to blast at the fleet.
Those ships were all merchant ships. Although they were escorted by servants, they were merchant ships after all. Hong Chengchou's servants were only a few dozen people, and they were surrounded on the river for a while.
The boat was approaching at speed, and rope hooks were thrown up. The soldiers climbed up the ropes with knives in their mouths.
The cannonballs landed in the river, causing high splashes of water. When they hit the boats, they threw up countless debris.
The Ming troops who suddenly appeared in front of them were none other than Tu Guobao's battalion. They landed on the coast, attacked several salt fields, and then recruited troops aggressively. They also attracted many salt sellers, salt traders, kitchen households, etc. along the way, and also recruited them.
A few detachments of men and horses actually gathered thousands of people to ambush here.
Urala rushed out in a large area, and there were people and horses everywhere on the river embankment and in the canal.
Big boats and small boats surrounded them.
A group of staff who had just been chatting and cheering with Hong Chengchou and giving military advice were now so frightened that their legs weakened.
Hong Chengchou's retainers were commanded by Zeng Qixian. He had obtained the seal of General Mingwei before, but now he only had dozens of retainers. How could he withstand such countless raiding troops?
Although he was commanding on the deck with a knife, the Ming troops still boarded the ship like ants.
Hong Chengchou also plucked up the courage, raised his sword and went on the deck, "Kill the thief!"
But more and more Ming troops are boarding the ship.
"Capture Hong Chengchou alive!" someone shouted.
A servant was hit by an arrow and fell at Hong Chengchou's feet, with warm blood splashing all over his face.
"Hello, Public Security Hong!"
Suddenly a strong man came to the front with a sword and shouted at him.
Hong Chengchou looked at it and was surprised.
"Treasure of earth?"
"It's so and so, Mr. Hong, please give me the order to stop resisting!" As he said that, Tu Guobao slashed down another servant with his sword.
Hong Chengchou watched Tu Guobao, who was wearing armor and holding a sword, and his men slashing on the ship. At this time, the ten large merchant ships were basically controlled by the Ming army. Looking around, there were besieging troops everywhere.
At the moment, I couldn't help but feel extremely ashamed and angry. I was still thinking about how to stabilize the three provinces, but unexpectedly, I was surrounded halfway before I could reach Daming Mansion and officially open the government to manage affairs.
Seeing that he was about to be captured alive, Hong Chengchou turned around and jumped into the river in anger.
The full expectations of the Queen Mother, the great trust of the young emperor, and the trust of the three regents all flashed through his mind. He thought of Emperor Chongzhen, and also thought of the officials and military officers of the Ming Dynasty who had fought side by side.
He could not imagine how he would face Zhu Yihai, the emperor of tomorrow, or the officials of the Southern Dynasty, many of whom he was familiar with, after being captured.
Maybe he should have died when he was defeated in the Songjin War. If he had died then, he might still be famous for the rest of his life.
There was a splash and water splashed everywhere.
"Master is diving, please save Mr. Hong!" someone shouted. They were Hong Chengchou's servants and staff.
"The Hong thief jumped into the water and ran away, catch him quickly!" That was the Ming army.
One by one, the soldiers jumped into the river, some went to save them, and most of them went to catch them. Hong Chengchou was from Fujian, and his water ability was acceptable, but he did not escape after diving, but gave up the struggle and wanted to commit suicide.
But he was dragged back to the ship.
"Master Hong, why are you doing this?" Tu Guobao stepped forward, looked at Hong Chengchou with his eyes tightly closed, stretched out his hand to test his breathing, and found that he was still alive.