I

  Chapter 520 517【Dashun cooperates with Manchu Qing? 】

  By the Danshui River, a simple barracks.

  The five thousand soldiers who defected were provided with two meals a day. Their weapons and armor have been confiscated by the Datong Army, but everyone doesn't care about it.

  If the family members were not still in Shanxi, they even wanted to settle in Huaiqing Mansion!

  Every day, missionaries come here, one hundred people in one team, divided into five teams to visit the villages. Five hundred people set out a day, and all of them were visited in ten days.

  There are not many immigrants in Huaiqing Mansion, and there are not many surviving local people. It can be said that the land is sparsely populated. After the government distributes the land to the farmers, the unowned land can also be reclaimed. It can be regarded as the government rents out the land to the farmers, and then distributes it after the immigrants come.

  The hard-working people always think about cultivating more, planting as much as they can, and working hard day and night.

   Two consecutive years of bumper harvests made them rich quickly. In some unowned land, they did not report it after they plowed it, and there were always a few fish that slipped through the net, and the grain harvest was full of pits and grains.

   Another five hundred Dashun soldiers returned to camp from a visit to a nearby village.

   "The farmers here are very rich, and every household has food. The one I went to see is a big soil warehouse, and the food inside is full."

   "The government's land tax is not heavy, and there is no need to serve corvee. The life is really comfortable, and it will not be done if it is a fairy."

   "The whole family should have fled to Henan in the first place, and why did they stay in that damned Shanxi?"

   "The plague in Henan a few years ago, I don't know how many people died."

   "We are here, but the mother-in-law and the baby are still in Shanxi. Even if Marshal Hao wants to run away, he should wait a few more days until we bring our family with us."

   "Yeah, it would be great if the baby's mother is here. When the time comes, I won't be a soldier, and the whole family will farm the land honestly. I will wake up laughing from my dreams that day."

   "..."

  A team of Datong dragoons suddenly rushed into the barracks and called Hao Yaoqi's subordinate general: "You can go back to Shanxi!"

  The surrendered generals were in a daze, at a loss.

  The general of the dragoons was called Sui Bin, and he said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, go back and tell Li Zicheng that you were tricked by Hao Yaoqi. You didn't even bring your family with you. How can you show your sincerity?"

  5,000 unarmed soldiers and generals were escorted back to Shanxi by the dragoons.

  Before they left, some bachelors, as well as **** who didn’t care about their families, knelt on the ground and cried that they didn’t want to go back. They wanted to stay in Henan Fentian as farmers.

   If you don’t go back, you have to go back. Five thousand soldiers are five thousand volunteer propagandists.

  When they came to the checkpoint occupied by the Datong Army, the general guarding the pass was shocked, thinking that the Datong Army had come to kill them.

  After some inquiries, the general guarding the pass did not dare to neglect, and immediately sent someone to send a message quickly.

Li Zicheng, who was far away in Taiyuan, was very puzzled when he received the news, so he called Niu Jinxing to ask: "Prime Minister Niu, what kind of medicine does this gourd surnamed Zhao sell? If there is a general from the south who defected with his troops, we will definitely promise you high-ranking officials and rich salary. Why did he kill Hao Yaoqi? The news spreads, who will dare to surrender when the two armies fight in the future?"

Niu Jinxing was also at a loss, and said: "It's better to recruit people to Taiyuan and interview them in person. As for the rebels who came back, they can't be reused or severely punished. They didn't bring their families, and they were all taken away by Hao Yaoqi .”

  The two sides handed over at Guanxia, ​​and most of the dragoons returned. The remaining 100 dragoons escorted the civil servants of the envoys all the way to Taiyuan.

  Li Zicheng was also generous. He did not confiscate the equipment of the dragoons and allowed them to travel fully armed.

  The civil official who led the mission was named Liu Xiangke, a native of Fuping, Shaanxi. Born as a scholar, he went south with Fu Shan, and now he is a minor official in the Ministry of Rites of the Datong court.

  Historically, this product has a bad reputation. It is the "tiger skin" of the "Five Tigers of Southern Ming Dynasty".

  Five people controlled the government, ruled out dissidents, corrupted the law, but Liu Xiangke still had a bottom line, and in the end he did not surrender, but fled into the mountains unwilling to be an official.

  The other four were extremely disgusted.

  Hutou Yuan Pengnian, the son of Yuan Zhongdao, drafted a notice after he surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, saying: "The tail of the money is the elegant government of the new dynasty; the crown of the crown and the belt are the bad rules of the subjugation of the country."

  When he learned that Jin Shenghuan raised troops in Jiangxi, Li Chengdong also intended to fight against the Qing Dynasty, so he immediately helped Li Chengdong plan and took control of the Southern Ming Dynasty from then on. Emperor Yongli was once so angry that he directly said: "In the future, the promotion of officials will be determined by Yuan Pengnian." This guy even dared to quarrel with Emperor Yongli face to face.

  After the fall of the Yongli small court, Yuan Pengnian surrendered to the Qing Dynasty again. Even the Qing Dynasty didn't want him, thinking that this guy is a repeated villain.

  Huya Golden Fort, although it did not fall to the Qing Dynasty, became a wealthy monk, and often visited the homes of high-ranking officials and nobles in the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

  Huwei Ding Shikui, Ma Liu surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.

  Tiger Claw Meng Zhengfa lived in seclusion in Hunan, wrote books to cleanse his party members, and described himself as an upright gentleman.

   Today's Liu Xiangke is not a tiger skin. When he went south to seek refuge, he was even a passionate young man. Not only did he not take bribes and pervert the law, but he was also known for his "cleanness" in the overall clean Datong court. I have been an official for several years, and I still live in the official dormitory. My usual salary is used to buy books and read, and my only hobby is to participate in literary conferences.

  Zhao Han didn't have a palace, neither did Li Zicheng, they lived in Jinwang Mansion all the time.

  Liu Xiangke, escorted by a few dragoons, came to meet with the Prince of Jin in the Ming Dynasty. He bowed his hands and said, "Liu Xiangke, head of the Rites Department of the Datong court, pays homage to Your Highness."

   "Bold, don't bow down when you see His Majesty!" A **** snapped.

  Liu Xiangke stood with his hands behind his back, held his head high and said, "His Majesty the Emperor of Datong, I have canceled the kneeling ceremony. Even if I have an audience with the Emperor of Datong, I don't have to kneel, let alone just meeting the false emperor!"

  The guards on the left and right were waiting to attack, Li Zicheng raised his hand and said with a smile: "If you don't kneel, then don't kneel. Listen to your accent, are you from Shaanxi?"

   Liu Xiangke said: "I am from Fuping, Shaanxi."

Li Zicheng asked for a seat, and said with a smile: "There are very few Shaanxi officials in Nanjing. If you are bullied by the southerners, you can stay in Taiyuan as an official. You are very strong and courageous. I lack such civil officials. You In Nanjing, you are in charge of the sixth rank, as long as you stay in Taiyuan, we will give you a five-rank promotion!"

   Liu Xiangke sneered, "If I stay, would you dare accept it? To lure a country's envoy to defect is like starting a war!"

   "Hahahaha," Li Zicheng laughed, "It's very interesting. How many officials like you are there in the Nanjing court?"

  Liu Xiangke said: "In my Datong imperial court, there are countless capable ministers and heroes, and there are countless clean and honest officials. Those like me are not worth mentioning at all. Being able to be the head of the Ministry of Rites is already a great grace of Your Majesty."

  Li Zicheng didn't want to listen to the other party's bragging anymore, so he just asked: "Emperor Zhao of Nanjing, why did you kill Hao Yaoqi?"

   Liu Xiangke asked back: "Why did Hao Yaoqi defect?"

  Li Zicheng said: "Being corrupt and breaking the law, and disobeying the emperor's order, he is afraid that I will punish him."

Liu Xiangke said with a smile: "What's the use of keeping those who are corrupt and perverting the law? Would His Majesty the Emperor of Datong want something that you don't even want? In my court of Datong, if you embezzle more than 22 taels of silver, you will lose your official position at the slightest, and you will be exiled at worst!" "

  Hearing this, Li Zicheng sighed in awe.

Liu Xiangke also said: "My Majesty the Emperor of Datong, I was born in a humble family and started at the end of my life. I am just a bookboy. It is because I have a heart for all people and cannot tolerate corrupt officials. This is why hundreds of millions of people return their hearts. Even if you become the emperor, you will not forget Original heart. Your Excellency, do you know "Three Origins"? The people are the foundation! A person who exploits the common people, my Datong court does not want it! Even in the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, Your Majesty also asked me to bring a word."

   "What?" Li Zicheng asked.

"Your Majesty said," Liu Xiangke said with a smile, "I hope Your Excellency will treat the people kindly to the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. When the money and food in Nanjing are ready, Your Majesty will raise troops to fetch them. If you know the current affairs, you can also bring your household register and map to Nanjing to vote." offer."

  Li Zicheng was already so angry that he laughed: "What a big tone!"

  The Datong court has survived the most difficult time, and next year there will be enough military rations. This is to provoke Li Zicheng on purpose. It is best for Li Zicheng to take the initiative to attack and have a big defeat outside Shanxi.

  The terrain in Shanxi is really difficult to enter, there are mountains and grand passes everywhere!

  Even if the Datong army wanted to attack, they would attack Beizhili first, and then attack Shanxi after finishing cleaning up the Qing Dynasty.

  Beheading Hao Yaoqi this time is also paving the way for the future attack on Shanxi. What Xi Zuo said to the merchants, the soldiers and the people may not believe it, but the five thousand soldiers went back to publicize, and it can quickly spread among the Dashun army-the Emperor Zhao of Nanjing is benevolent and righteous, and he is very kind to the people, and everyone can have enough food.

  Many landlords in Shanxi have been persuaded by Xi Zuo that they are willing to welcome the Datong Army even if their land is divided.

   Li Zicheng's administration of officials is indeed good, but it is only compared to the Ming Dynasty, and it is also compared to the people at the bottom.

  The real situation is: civil servants are suppressed by military generals. As long as there is a place where troops are stationed, the generals basically have the final say. It is difficult for civil servants to be greedy, but they can only be greedy. The really greedy ones are all local military generals. Moreover, after more than ten years of severe drought and war in Shanxi, there are not many ordinary people left. If military generals want to search, they must attack landlords and businessmen.

  The gentry and merchants in Shanxi have a hard time living.

   What is more important is the psychological problems of those generals. They climbed out of the mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood. After a few years of stability, they felt that they could start to enjoy the blessings. Moreover, they know military affairs. After the Datong army beat the Manchus back to Liaodong, they didn't think that Li Zicheng could win, and he would be wiped out by Zhao Han sooner or later.

  Since this is the case, then take the opportunity to make money and enjoy it.

  Most of Li Zicheng's high-ranking generals are corrupt, and the hearts and minds of the army have long been scattered.

  Waving Liu Xiangke back, Niu Jinxing walked out from the side hall.

   "How?" Li Zicheng asked.

  Niu Jinxing shook his head: "I have no clue. But I can be sure that the surname Zhao didn't take us seriously."

  Li Zicheng said: "After two years of food storage, we are ready to fight. If we want to march south, where should we start?"

  Niu Jinxing said: "When it comes to fighting, your majesty understands better than my ministers."

   Li Zicheng fell silent for a moment.

   Where else can I start? Of course it is to hit Beizhili.

  In the whole of Beizhili, Li Zicheng occupies more than half, and Zhao Han occupies a small half. In future wars, Hebei will be the battlefield, and there are no natural dangers there, and it will all be defended by cities.

   At that time, tricks and so on will no longer be useful, and you will have to compete with real swords and guns in terms of combat effectiveness and logistics.

  Niu Jinxing suddenly said: "Why don't you make an appointment with the Tartars and send troops together next year!"

   (It's gone today, and it will be added tomorrow.)

  (end of this chapter)