Chapter Nine, Burrowing into the Yanshan Mountains

Immediately dispatch the cavalry, and issue an edict for Li You and Li Yan to advance northward and encircle the flanks of Changping

Chongzhen fell silent

What? Li You and Li Mu said with puzzled expressions, "What have we overlooked?"

Li You said: "How could you forget that at the most critical moment, the sovereign only led seventeen riders to escape into the Shangluo Mountains? It was precisely by relying on the terrain of the Shangluo Mountains that we were able to evade the pursuit of the Ming army"

"Shut up!" Li Yan suddenly changed color and said, "How many times have I told you not to bring up such things in the future."

Once the news of Changping's fall reaches Beijing, Li Zicheng will undoubtedly dispatch a large army to pursue and kill. Chongzhen does not believe that this ragtag group of over a thousand can escape the encirclement and pursuit of the hundreds of thousands of the Dashun army.

Li Zicheng then said to Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance: "Prime Minister, Left Military Advisor, let us continue to discuss the matter we just talked about. What should we do about Wu Sangui's tens of thousands of Guanning troops? Should we fight them or persuade them to surrender?"

At the moment of parting, it can be considered a small compensation for them

To attempt to reverse the trend of the world with this thousand-strong rabble is nothing but a delusion of the foolish

Song Xiance turned his eyes and said: "Your Majesty, Wu Sangui's father, Wu Xiang, is in the capital. It would be better to have Wu Xiang write a letter of surrender to Wu Sangui. This letter could be worth one hundred thousand taels of silver."

Let Old Gu lead two thousand light cavalry north to capture Chongzhen alive in conjunction with Li You and Li Yan

Is it true that Chongzhen was a fool

"That makes sense," Li Zicheng decided, "Then we shall still adopt the policy of appeasement."

This is impossible. Liu Zongmin expressed disbelief, saying, "After the collapse of the siege, did the young Emperor Chongzhen not head south, not advance east, but instead move north to Changping? Is he foolish?"

However, to the north lies the Juyong Pass, and behind there are pursuing troops. The right flank is guarded by the valiant general and my elder brother, who, upon realizing they have missed their target, will certainly lead their cavalry to encircle from the eastern and western flanks to the north

He is not foolish at all," Li Yan shook his head and said, "not foolish in the slightest.

... ...

Your Majesty, Changping has fallen, and General Guo Qi has died in battle.

Speaking of this meal, Chongzhen turned over and mounted his horse, saying in a deep voice: "Let us go to Tianshou Mountain"

The Guanning army has at least 40,000 to 50,000 troops, which is still capable of engaging in battle with our Great Shun army

Although they temporarily escaped the pursuit of the Da Shun forces and even captured the city of Changping through a surprise attack, this had no impact on the current situation of the world at all

... ...

"However, elder brother, that is still not right," Li Nian said. "The sovereign retreated into the Shangluo Mountains back then to conceal his brilliance and await a change in the situation. What use is it for that old man Chongzhen to hide in the Yanshan Mountains?"

Each warhorse is already carrying seventy to eighty pounds of baggage, and cannot carry any more. Liu Wenbing stated, "If we add more, it will affect the marching speed, and the warhorses will not be able to endure it"

After discussion, Li Zicheng decided that officials of the third rank and above would not be employed.

It has indeed brought them considerable misfortune

Li Zicheng struck the imperial desk and said: "Regardless of whether the young Emperor Chongzhen is truly foolish or simply panicking, since he is seeking his own death, I must fulfill his wish."

Song Xiance said: "My subordinate believes that if we can persuade them to surrender, we should indeed persuade them to surrender"

Li Mou smiled faintly and then said: "In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, when His Majesty emerged from the mountains of Shangluo, there were only about three thousand followers. If it were not for my elder brother's strong support, how could we have achieved today?"

"Indeed," Li Yan said, "as long as we enter the Yanshan Mountains, the fewer troops of the Ming army will actually become an advantage."

The miraculous maneuvers of crossing the Chishui River four times and capturing Zunyi could only be executed by Comrade Mao. He did not possess the capabilities of Comrade Mao, so it is better to honestly hide in the mountain valleys. Therefore, for the next half month or so, they could only tuck their tails and retreat deep into the Yanshan Mountains, waiting for the outbreak of a great battle.

"I obey the command." Zuo Maotai performed a deep bow, turned, and exited the Qianqing Palace to draft the edict

"What you say is indeed correct, let us leave the surplus grain for the people of the capital region," said Chongzhen with a sigh, "In my seventeen years of reign, I have not brought any blessings to the people of the capital region"

During the Jiajing period, many officials died for their loyalty to the state

Is it really the young Emperor Chongzhen?" Li Zicheng's expression fell.

However, Wu Sangui is different from Tang Tong, Bai Guang'en, and Zhang Tianlin; the strength of the Guanning Army is significantly greater than that of the Xuanfu and Datong garrisons

"Your Majesty, what should be done with the surplus grain?" Liu Wenbing inquired

The Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace

Next, I will have to stay in the deep mountains for a full half month

Liu Wenbing said: "Each pack horse has already carried over 300 pounds of cargo, yet even so, there are still over 1,000 stones of grain that cannot be transported. What should we do?"

"That is indeed the case," Li Nian said, "which is why my elder brother intends to head north to Gubeikou"

Chongzhen furrowed his brow and asked, "What, can't we take everything away?"

Gong Yonggu said: "Your Majesty, the surplus grain should not be left for the bandits; it should be burned."

Zuo Maotai replied: "According to reports from the defeated army, there were indeed some among the bandits who attacked Changping last night that shouted the name of the Sovereign, thus the bandits who breached Changping must be the defeated soldiers of the false Emperor Chongzhen"

Terrain. Li Yan said, "Do you not remember how, back in the day, the Ming Dynasty's commander Yang Sichang used the strategy of 'four corners and six edges, ten sides forming a net' to encircle our Great Shun army? How did His Majesty escape this deadly calamity?"

After all, the Juyong Pass stands there; how could the few hundred disorganized troops of the young Emperor Chongzhen possibly capture the heavily guarded Juyong Pass? Even if Wang Yangming were to be reborn, it would still be utterly impossible to achieve.

"It cannot be burned," Wang Wenyuan said anxiously. "Even if the grain is burned, it may not necessarily starve the bandits; the ones who will suffer are still the common people of the capital region."

If we head east, there is a greater possibility of meeting up with the Guan Ning Army

Moreover, without felt for warmth in the bitter cold of the mountains, one would truly be at risk of freezing to death

To speak frankly, Li Zicheng also felt that 40,000 taels of silver was somewhat meager, but he could not offer more.

The Da Shun army still holds absolute superiority

However, there are more who are eager to surrender to the Shun Dynasty

Niu Jinxing stated: "Since the sovereign has decided to pacify, it is best to send several surrendering generals to go. When Wu Sangui sees that the sovereign treats the surrendered troops of the Ming dynasty with kindness and entrusts important responsibilities to the surrendered generals in various garrisons, he will no longer harbor doubts."

Song Xiance stated: "It is precisely because the Guanning Army is strong that we should seek to pacify them."

Aren't there still more than one hundred pack horses?" Chongzhen said

During the breakout yesterday morning, due to the time constraints and the need for light equipment, we did not carry any supplies. However, now that we have successfully broken out, it is essential to carry sufficient supplies.

Niu Jinxing said: "If we were to appease, would it lead to an uncontrollable situation in the future"

Li Zicheng had just discussed with Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance how to deal with the civil officials outside the Chengtian Gate

After all, even if the sovereign issues a decree for sea capture, it may not necessarily lead to a successful catch

No, you are too optimistic," Li Yan said with a frown. "The current situation still has uncertainties. Not to mention anything else, Wu Sangui's Guanning Army is a huge hidden danger, and beyond the pass, the Jianzhou bandits are eyeing us covetously.

When the news of Changping's fall reached Beijing

"Yes," Li Yan nodded and said, "Gubeikou is one of the ancient passages into the Yanshan Mountains. If we are fortunate, we might catch Chongzhen directly in our grasp. Even if Chongzhen does not enter the mountains through Gubeikou, it is highly likely that he will eventually exit through Gubeikou to meet with the Guanning Army. Therefore, as long as we hold Gubeikou, we will surely be able to capture him."

"It is also forbidden to speak of this in private," Li Yan said with a serious expression. "If it slips out inadvertently, and by chance this information reaches the ears of the Chancellor or the Sovereign, it would be difficult to explain."

In a single operation, more than one hundred officials who had surrendered from the Ming Dynasty were entrusted with important responsibilities. For instance, the former Deputy Minister of Personnel, Zuo Maotai, was directly promoted from the fifth rank of Deputy Minister to the third rank of Left Vice Minister of the Military Government, advancing four ranks in total

Li Mu also said: "Indeed, isn't this old man Chongzhen seeking his own demise?"

Li Nian shifted the topic, saying: "Elder brother, what does this have to do with that old man Chongzhen?"

Understood. Li Mu laughed heartily and said, "Old Chongzhen, do not think you can escape from the grasp of your elder brother."

This is just a private conversation between you and me, brother," Li Mu said awkwardly, "I assure you, I won't speak of this in front of others

Li Zicheng and Niu Jinxing share the same doubts

If there is not enough food, it will be impossible to get through these two weeks

... ...

"I see," Li Nian said in realization, "Brother, are you saying that as long as Chongzhen's hundreds of cavalry casually burrow into the ravines of the Yanshan Mountains, our Dashun army will have no way to deal with him."

Li Zicheng said: "Then let Bai Guang'en and Tang Tong go to Yongping Prefecture, and take 40,000 taels of silver with them"

Officials below the third rank may be prioritized for selection as a group of honest and self-disciplined individuals to be entrusted with important responsibilities

Heading south or east still offers a glimmer of hope, but heading north is truly a dead end

You are mistaken, " Li Yan waved his hand and said, " You have overlooked a fact.

"It doesn't matter." Li Yan said, "Have you not noticed that the current Chongzhen is in a situation somewhat similar to that of the former sovereign?"

As soon as Zuo Maotai assumed office, he received the news of the defeat in Changping.

Song Xiance stated: "My subordinates believe that we should still strive to pacify as much as possible, for once pacification is successful, it will not only provide us with a fresh force to resist the Manchurian bandits from beyond the pass, but it will also reassure the Ming army garrisons in Jiangnan, such as Zuo Liangyu and Liu Zeqing. This will make it much easier for our Dashun army to stabilize Jiangnan in the future"

At that time, with my Great Shun Army surrounding from all sides, where can that old man Chongzhen run to

Early in the morning, Wei Zhaode, the Chief Minister of the Ming Dynasty, along with thousands of officials of various ranks, knelt outside the Chengtian Gate, demanding the unified appointment of officials in the Dashun Dynasty

Li Mu also said: "Indeed, can the old man Chongzhen hide in Yanshan for a lifetime?"

"What are you saying, Changping has fallen?" Li Zicheng said, somewhat taken aback, "Who did it? That little brat Chongzhen?"

"Why be foolish?" Li Nian said dismissively, "If that old man Chongzhen had fled directly south after the collapse of the defenses, although he would inevitably be caught in the end, perhaps the Qiao family and the refugees would still have had a chance to escape"

Li Zicheng said: "Good, let's do it this way"

Our Great Shun Dynasty is certainly not a false Ming, and we cannot afford to give him any opportunities