Seeing that Zhu Lunkui agreed to his request, Ma Cheng stopped crying and stood up and sat on the embroidery pier again.

Today, Zhu Lunkui asked Ma Cheng to come to reward him, another thing was to decide the future military direction. Although the Qing Dynasty has retreated to the north of the Yangtze River, the two provinces of Huguang and Jiangxi in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River are still in the hands of the Qing Dynasty. In addition to Yingtian Prefecture, most of the other twelve prefectures in Nanzhili are still in the hands of the Qing Dynasty, so the most important question at present is what to do next.

"Ma Qing, now all the prefectures and counties around Nandu have been restored, but Jiangbei and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River are still in the hands of Beilu. Ma Qing, where should you take the next step?"

When Ma Cheng returned to the city yesterday, he thought that Nanjing is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Although there is a natural danger to the Yangtze River, because Nanjing is on the bank of the Yangtze River and there is no strategic buffer space, the Southern Song generals chose Hangzhou further south.

If we follow Ma Cheng's wishes, we can learn from Zhao Gou to move the capital to Hangzhou or Guangzhou further south, but after more than a year of official career, Ma Cheng knew that as soon as he proposed to move the capital, he would be scolded to death by the Donglin messengers in the court.

Since it is impossible to move, it can only expand Nanjing's buffer defense circle. Fortunately, there are thousands of years of Chinese history, and this situation has been precedent in history. The Eastern Wu regime during the Three Kingdoms period will be built in Nanjing. In order to defend the Eastern Wu regime, the defense circle will be expanded to Yangzhou in the Huaihe River Basin and Wuchang in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. In addition to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Southern Dynasties, and the Southern Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. If these separatist regimes want to ensure the security of Nanjing, they must occupy two key nodes, one is Yangzhou, that is, the Huaihe River Basin. The second is Wuchang, that is, Jingzhou in the Three Kingdoms period.

However, Nanjing is still two provinces away from Wuchang, so it is basically unrealistic to quickly occupy the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. However, Yangzhou is on the north bank of the Yangtze River, less than two days away from Nanjing, occupying Yangzhou has become one of the most urgent targets in front of Ma Cheng.

When Ma Cheng heard the emperor ask him, he quickly stood up and replied: "Your Majesty, the ancients said that guarding the river must be defending the Huai River. The Huai River Basin has always been a place where military strategists must fight for. At the same time, Yangzhou is also a barrier for the southern capital in Jiangbei. Therefore, I thought that the main force could be sent north to take the opportunity to occupy Yangzhou, and then ordered a side general to station troops in Taiping Prefecture to prevent the upstream and northern enemy from going south! Nanzhili has always been prosperous and was also the place where Taizu Longxing was in the year. As long as I gave me one year, I could train 100,000 elite troops. At that time, all the way from Yangzhou to the north to attack the Central Plains, and the other way from Taiping to the west to restore Jiangxi, Huguang, Sichuan and other places. Your Majesty's great cause can be achieved!"

What Ma Cheng said was basically Zhu Yuanzhang's routine back then, but it was true. The north, Sichuan and Huguang were in chaos. Now the only peaceful grain-producing area in China is Nanzhili. As long as you protect this wealthy place and give Ma Cheng time, it is very likely to replicate the process of Zhu Yuanzhang's victory back then.

Zhu Lunkui was excited when he heard Ma Cheng's words and praised: "Ma Qing is indeed the minister of Qingtian and the guards given to me by Emperor Taizu. I decided to do what Ma Qing said! Ma Qing, do you think that general both Yangzhou and Taiping Prefecture sent?"

Ma Cheng thought for a while and said, "General Zhang Guozhu is calm and can be sent to Yangzhou! General Ma Bao is brave in fighting, can be sent to Taiping Prefecture!"

Zhu Lunkui nodded: "Okay, I have written down the name Ma Qing said, and I will hand it over to the cabinet for deliberation tomorrow morning!"

Ma Cheng

He was very happy to hear Zhu Lunkui agreeing to his request. Ma Cheng didn't want to stay too long and stood up and left.

After Ma Cheng left, Zhu Lunkui's expression slowly became cold with a smile on his face. After a long time, Zhu Lunkui asked Lu Jiude beside him: "Lu Daban, how do you think Ma Cheng?"

This time, Lu Jiude did not directly say bad things about Ma Cheng, but whispered: "Master, the man Guiyang Hou has the ability, but the old slave is afraid that he will become Chen Baxian in the future!"

Chen Baxian was originally a small official under Emperor Wu of Southern Liang, Xiao Yan. Because he was very capable of fighting, he gradually became an important official in Southern Liang. After Xiao Yan died, no one could control this general, and it became inevitable that he usurped the throne.

Now Ma Cheng and Chen Baxian are similar. They are both very capable of fighting at a young age. They both have lifted the siege of Nanjing and have ascended to the high throne at a young age. However, Ma Cheng and Chen Baxian have another difference, that is, Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, was able to control Chen Baxian, and Chen Baxian's usurpation of the throne had to wait until Xiao Yan died before he dared to carry out.

But Ma Cheng is not like this at the moment. Zhu Lunkui was originally a weak king, but Ma Cheng led his troops to support him. If Ma Cheng's strength expands, he can change to a new emperor in minutes.

Seeing that the emperor was not speaking, Lu Jiude was about to make a fire: "Master, Ma Cheng entered the palace from Xi'an Gate just now and learned that Your Majesty gave him a horse to ride a horse in the Forbidden City. He did not dismount and thank Jun's kindness, but rode directly into the palace with a swagger! And the expression of receiving the orders in the palace just now, Master must be careful!"

Zhu Lunkui gritted his teeth when he thought of Ma Cheng's indifferent expression just now. In order to reward Ma Cheng, he moved out the title of Marquis of Zhenguo. Ma Cheng was not satisfied. Could it be that he really had to be named king to be satisfied?

Although Zhu Lunkui was so angry that he was dying, Zhu Lunkui and Lu Jiude had a different identity. Lu Jiude was just an eunuch and lived with the emperor. Zhu Lunkui was indeed the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and he had to consider the entire Ming Dynasty. Although Ma Cheng was rebellious and arrogant, no one in the court could lead the army at present. You must know that the Ming Dynasty is not even a peaceful person now. If Zhu Lunkui wanted to restore the Ming Dynasty and continue the foundation of his ancestors, he must rely on Ma Cheng at present.

Zhu Lunkui suppressed his anger and asked for a long time: "I can't deal with Ma Cheng yet, but are there any good plans to restrain Ma Cheng and prevent him from showing up?"

When Lu Jiude heard Zhu Lunkui say this, he knew that he had said something today in vain, but Lu Jiude was not discouraged. Although not successful this time does not mean there is no hope. As long as the emperor is careful of Ma Cheng in his heart, there will be a chance to kill Ma Cheng in the future.

"Master, since this is the case, the old slave believes that the generals who are loyal to the emperor should be cultivated in the army. Ma Cheng's new army can fight, but the number is too small, and there are still a large number of generals in the army who are loyal to the master! Also, the reduction of Ma Shiying's rights. Such a two-pronged approach will definitely weaken the power of the Ma family father and son. What should I do at that time besides the master's words?"

Zhu Lunkui nodded after hearing what Lu Jiude said. Fortunately, the court is not a solid piece now. Although Ma Shiying can dominate the government, the Donglin Party is not completely powerless to fight back. If the emperor's support is added, the Donglin Party and Ma Shiying will become evenly matched, so that Zhu Lunkui, as the emperor, can be balanced.

After hearing Lu Jiude say this, Zhu Lunkui whispered: "Okay, Lu Da accompanied you to invite Qian Qianyi, just do it

Say I have something to say to him!”

After receiving the emperor's order, Lu Jiude left the Ganqing Palace to invite Qian Qianyi into the palace.

Ma Cheng did not realize that his meaningless behavior had caused the emperor to deal with him. Ma Cheng rode his horse back to Xi'anmen Square and gathered his personal soldiers. This time Ma Cheng was going home and cleaned up Ma Xi.

This time the new army suffered heavy losses, it can be said that it was Ma Xi's responsibility. In addition, Ma Cheng originally did not like Ma Xi, so this time Ma Cheng really had the intention to kill Ma Xi.

Ma Cheng returned to the Ma Mansion in Chaotian Palace. When the guards saw Ma Cheng coming back, they all stepped forward and flattered and praised Ma Cheng's military achievements. Ma Cheng had the intention to deal with these guys, and asked whether his younger brother Ma Xi was at home, handed the reins to the servants, and walked into the house with a horse whip and his personal soldiers.

Ma Xi is not married now and lives in the yard before. Ma Cheng didn't shout at the door when he came to the yard. He kicked the door open and then rushed in with a swagger.

Ma Xi has been terrified these days. He was afraid that his second brother would come to cause trouble, so he kept hiding at home and did not dare to go out. After a few days, Ma Xi found that no one cared about him, and he thought that Ma Cheng had forgotten him. Then he thought that the disaster came to his house this afternoon, and Ma Cheng brought people in person.

When Ma Xi heard something outside the house, he quickly pushed open the door to watch. Seeing Ma Cheng coming in with a fierce momentum, Ma Xi was so scared that he knelt down and shouted injustice: "Second brother, second brother, listen to me! At that time, I really had no choice. The city wall was broken and my soldiers were in chaos. I was not running away, but was preparing to retreat to the Beicheng organization to continue to resist!"

Ma Xi was so scattered that Ma Cheng could believe him? Ma Cheng said to the personal soldiers behind him: "Catch this guy!"

Ma Cheng's personal soldiers were all comrades who fought desperately with Ma Cheng. They were most disgusted with Ma Xi, who escaped in the battle, and heard Ma Cheng say so and then stepped forward to catch Ma Xi, then pressed down and knelt in front of Ma Cheng.

When Ma Cheng saw this bastard brother, he became angry. He waved the horse whip in his hand and flew up and down, beating Ma Xi like a dead dog. After ejaculation, Ma Cheng pulled out his waist knife and prepared to mourn the bastard brother on the spot at home.

Ma Xi originally thought he would definitely suffer some flesh and blood, but he didn't expect Ma Cheng to kill him. Ma Xi was so scared that he screamed: "Dad! Big brother! Ma Cheng wants to kill me, come and save me!"

Seeing Ma Xi's appearance, Ma Cheng cursed angrily: "You bastard, do you know how many brothers you have killed? Xue Gui in Anzhenxi died at the hands of the Tartars. If you don't kill you today, how can I deal with the dead brothers?"

After Ma Cheng finished speaking, he was about to take action. At this time, a majestic voice outside the far door shouted: "Ma Cheng, are you crazy? Why do you still have to use a knife and a gun at home?"

Ma Cheng turned around and saw that it was his own son Ma Shiying. Ma Cheng said angrily: "Dad, don't worry about this matter. If Ma Xi hadn't escaped, would so many people die in the Battle of Dongcheng? Today, my son will clear the portal for the Ma family and kill this bastard!"
Chapter completed!