Chapter 236: Undercurrent

Seeing Wu Sangui pondering, the slave asked, "Prince, will this Jiang Xuan meet or not?"

"No." Wu Sangui said in a deep voice, "I just say that I was sick and it was not convenient to see guests."

"yes."

The slave answered and took the order.

A confidant general asked, "Prince, why did Jiang Xuan come to Taiyuan?"

"Yes." Another confidant also echoed, "Our Guanning Jun and the Jiang family have never had much friendship. Why did he suddenly remember to have a friendship with us today?"

"Climbing friendship?" Wu Sangui sneered, "Jiang Xiang wanted to use our Guanning Army as a front pawn for him."

Two confidants said in a voice: "Prince, is Jiang Xiang going to rebel?"

"That's right, Jiang Xiang must rebel." Wu Sangui nodded and said with regret, "He Jiang Xiang can rebel, but we cannot rebel. After all, Jiannu was put in the pass, and the Han people all over the world would take this account to me. If I turn against Jiannu again, then there will be only a dead end."

The two confidants were silent.

Wu Sangui thought for a while and said loudly: "Come."

A general from a family came in and asked, "What are the instructions of the prince?"

Wu Sangui said: "Immediately send a fast horse to the capital to send an emergency delivery for 800 miles, and then he said that Jiang Xiang, the general of Datong, was going to rebel."

"yes."

The general agreed to take the order.

Datong, the general's headquarters.

Jiang Xuan entered the warm pavilion panting and said to Jiang Xiang: "Second brother, Wu Sangui is ungrateful and refuses to meet."

Jiang Xiang's eyes were cold and said in a deep voice: "This is also expected."

Jiang Rang, who was sitting on the side, said, "Second brother, do you think about the matter of reprimanding the Qing Dynasty?"

Jiang Xiang disagreed and said, "Why?"

Jiang Rang said: "I always feel that the news that has been rumored in Datong recently is like a rumor. Wang Pu's Central Army is powerful, but after all, he only has 40,000 guns, while Jiannu has a large army of 300,000. The difference in military strength is so great, and Jiannu is not a group of mobs. He is the real elite of a hundred battles, so how can he be so easy to deal with?"

Jiang Xiang smiled and said, "Brother, this news was originally a rumor that Wang Pu sent to spread."

"What?" Jiang Rang said in surprise, "Since my second brother knows that this is a rumor, why do you insist on opposing the Qing Dynasty?"

"Yes." Jiang Xuan also said, "Just because of our Jiang family, I'm afraid it's not a match between Jiannu and Wu Sangui."

"Brother, third brother." Jiang Xiang smiled and said, "You have to look at it for the long term. For the benefit of the Jiang family, we can surrender to the thieves and Jiannu, so why can't we raise an army to fight against the Qing Dynasty? Have you ever thought about why Wang Pu spread rumors in Datong?"

Jiang Rang and Jiang Xuan asked in unison: "Why?"

"Great moves, what are the tricks!" Jiang Xiangyao gave a thumbs up to the south and said aloud, "Wang Pu's move is so great, let me tell you the truth. Jiannu is afraid he is doomed."

Jiang Xuan said inexplicably: "What does it mean?"

Jiang Xiang explained: "The news sent by Wang Pu to spread is certainly a rumor, but one thing is certain, that is, the Central Army and Jiannu have already fallen into a stalemate in Liaocheng. In a short period of time, Jiannu cannot do anything to the Central Army, and the Central Army may not do anything to the Jiannu!"

Jiang Xuan said: "But the deadlock will always be broken one day. I don't know who wins and who loses?"

Jiang Xiang said: "Third brother, think about it. Wang Pu has only 40,000 to 50,000 people. Sun Chuanting still has countless reinforcements to support, and the wealthy land in Jiangnan is backed by the rich land. What about Jiannu? Jiannu has already moved in full force. According to the news sent back in detail, the number of Jiannu left behind in Beijing will not exceed 20,000 at most. More importantly, Jiannu has weak foundation and shortage of food and salary. In this way, you should know who will win in the end of this battle."

Jiang Rang said: "It is probably too early to say that Wang Pu can win the Battle of Liaocheng now? Dorgon is not a good person."

"Wang Pu is not a good guy!" Jiang Xiang said, "Although we are not convinced, we cannot refuse to admit that just in terms of military use, no one can compare to Wang Pu."

Jiang Rang said: "Jiannu can't defeat the Central Army and can retreat."

"Retreat the troops?" Jiang Xiang smiled, "Where to retreat, Beijing or outside the pass? If Jiannu was in Liaocheng and Wang Pu, there might be a turning point, but if they dared to withdraw, it would be really over. At that time, let alone defending Beizhi and Shanxi provinces, it would be hard to say whether they could escape from the pass alive."

Jiang Rang nodded and said, "That's how we have to raise an army to fight against the Qing Dynasty."

"Brother, this is probably the last chance." Jiang Xiang sighed, "If we can't take advantage of the situation to rebel against the Qing Dynasty and wait for Wang Pu to conquer Beijing and restore the Central Plains, then there will be nothing to do with our Wang family. In a few years, Wang Pu will eliminate Jiannu and the thieves, and when he turns around, it will be time to deal with our Wang family."

Jiang Rang smiled bitterly and said, "Even if he raises an army to fight against the Qing Dynasty now, Wang Pu will probably not let our Wang family go afterwards."

"Brother, you underestimate Wang Pu." Jiang Xiang shook his head and said to Jiang Xuan, "Third brother, go and invite Deputy General Zhao."

"Zhao Liujin?" Jiang Xuan said in surprise, "What are you asking him to do?"

"Hehe." Jiang Xiang smiled and said, "Zhao Liujin is Wang Pu's old subordinate. There are some things we cannot say inconveniently. Let Zhao Liujin tell Wang Pu that it is the most convenient."

In a blink of an eye, the Central Army of the Ming Dynasty had been confronting Jiannu in Liaocheng for more than half a month.

In the past half a month, Jiannu and Mingjun have made an appointment, and neither of them is willing to take a step forward in the camp. Both sides are quietly trying to open a gap from other places to dismantle the other party.

Dorgon sent a hard-core traitor Fan Wencheng to Nanjing, trying to use the party struggles of the Southern Ming court to disintegrate Wang Pu's Central Army. Wang Pu Ze sent people to Datong, Xuanfu and other places to spread rumors, luring Jiang Xiang, Wang Chengyin, Tang Tong and others to rise up to fight against the Qing Dynasty. However, Wang Pu's real killer was Hongniang's Henan Army.

While Wang Pu was staring at the sand table, a tiny sound of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent.

At the curtain lifted, Liu Qingyan, wearing a fox fur cloak, had already walked in. Wang Pu looked at Liu Qingyan's little face that was flushed with cold, and asked, "How is it, is there any news in Fengyang Mansion?"

"Look, you're so anxious." Liu Qingyan glanced at Wang Pu charmingly and said angrily, "Can't you let me take a breath first?"

Wang Pu shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Okay, you can pant, you can pant hard."

"Hate." Liu Qingyan gave Wang Pu a blank look, rubbed his pink face with his little hands, and said, "The new Fengyang Prefect Zhang Huangyan has urgently transferred 10,000 stones of grain from the official warehouse of Bozhou. Monk Zhang and five thousand rebel brothers have already removed this batch of grain back to Henan. Your red beauty also wrote to say that he will be able to raise an army in three days and go north."

Wang Pu nodded and asked again: "When is there any abnormality in Nanjing?"

Liu Qingyan said: "There is no abnormality in Nanjing, but there is news about Datong."

"Oh?" Wang Pu's heart moved and asked, "What's the news about Datong?"

Liu Qingyan said: "Jiang Xiang already knew that Zhao Liujin was your inner supporter who stayed in Datong. He asked Zhao Liujin to tell you that as long as you could agree to let him continue to be the general of Datong, he would raise an army to fight against the Qing Dynasty. Jiang Xiang also said that he was sure to convince Wang Chengyin and Tang Tong to form a three-sided attack on Beijing."

"Let Jiang Xiang continue to be the general of Datong?" Wang Puzhen smiled, "Hehe, that's not simple. Sister Yan, you immediately use Fei Ge to send a letter to Zhao Liujin, and ask him to tell Jiang Xiang that as long as Jiang Xiang puts national justice first and no longer helps evil, the court can continue to be his general of Datong!"

"Marty." Liu Qingyan blinked her beautiful eyes and asked, "Are you planning to ask Master Sun for instructions?"

Wang Pu curled his lips and said, "There is no need. Will Old Man Sun still object to what I decided to do?"

Nanjing, cabinet.

Sun Chuanting, who stepped into the cabinet signing room, suddenly felt a chill on his back, and suddenly sneeze loudly, and his feet almost slipped to the ground. Qian Qianyi, who was walking behind, quickly stepped forward to support Sun Chuanting and smiled and said, "Gei Master, you are now the pillar of the Ming Dynasty, so be sure to pay attention to your body."

"Yes, Master Ge." Lu Daqi also echoed, "If Master Ge can trust it, today's memorial will be with the disciples and Mr. Mu. Master Ge, just rest next to you."

"Oh." Sun Chuanting gently broke free from Qian Qianyi's support and said disapprovingly, "Old Master Qian, Master Lu, you are so serious, and my body is still strong."

"Haha, that's it." Qian Qianyi smiled apologized, "The Master of the Pavilion is all 60 years old, but whoever sees him says that the Pavilion Master is only in his early forties, and his subordinates and Master Lu are so envious of him."

Lu Daqi felt a chill on his back, thinking that Qian Qianyi's skill in flattering, was really first-class, and his skill in making things with him was not much different, but when he thought about it, wasn't that same thing for himself? Since Wang Pu took the handle, he didn't know how many things he did against his will and how many things he said against his will.

Sun Chuanting sat on the chair of the chief minister of the cabinet and said thoughtfully to Qian Qianyi and Lu Daqi: "Old Qian Ge, Mr. Lu Ge, it is not easy for the soldiers of the Central Army to kill the enemy on the front line. The court must not let them kill the enemy hungry, let alone let them both bleeding and cry."

"The Master Ge is right." Qian Qianyi quickly agreed, "The second batch of food and salary must be transported up as soon as possible."

A hint of anger flashed through Lu Daqi's eyes. Qian Qianyi, the old slip-on, finished his beautiful words, and the only words left behind were left: "Gei Master, his subordinates have already taken stock of the money and food from the Ministry of Revenue with Gao. Although there are still some left, they are only enough to pay the salary of the vassal king."

When Jiannu entered the pass, the five northern provinces fell one after another. A large number of vassal kings lost their fiefs and had to wander to Nanjing for refuge. Although these vassal princes were all full of mind and were lazy, they were the dragon sons and grandsons of Emperor Hongwu after all, and the court had to take out a lot of money and food to support them.

Qian Qianyi saw that Sun Chuanting was not unhappy and said tentatively: "There is also the matter of selecting palace maids and eunuchs. Eunuch Zhang has also urged her many times. According to Eunuch Zhang's intention, if there are too many 50,000 palace maids and eunuchs and cannot be collected for a while, then select 5,000 boys in Nanzhi and Zhejiang provinces, and send them to the palace with purity."

"I'll talk about the selection of the maids of the eunuchs and palace maids." Sun Chuanting said, "The most urgent task is to collect all the food and salary of the army as soon as possible. We must not let the soldiers on the front line starve and freeze. As for the salary of the princes of Nanjing, I owe it for the time being. Mr. Qian Ge, Mr. Lu Ge, you and me are both auxiliary ministers of the cabinet. Long live the emperor and young. We have to take this idea."

Qian Qianyi clasped his fists and replied: "Ge Lao Ming Jie."

Lu Daqi also said respectfully: "Then let's do as the Ge Lao wishes."

Nanjing, the residence of Zhu Changfang, the King of Lu.

The weather suddenly turned cold a while ago, and Zhu Changfang accidentally suffered from a cold wind and it has not been easy yet. Yesterday, he received another bad news and fell ill in anger. The bad news was just issued by the court, saying that the salary of the vassal kings in various towns and towns living in Nanjing would be delayed.

The fiefdom of Lu King Zhu Changfang was originally small. When he fled, most of his valuable belongings were left in the royal palace. He pawned a small amount of gold, silver and jade ornaments he brought with him. Now the court said he would delay the payment of his salary, which really forced him to the dead end. How could Zhu Changfang live without his salary?

Zhu Changfang also pointed to the salary and went to Xiaoyao Fairyland to watch the undressing dance. Now, the money is gone and Lumi is gone. Now let alone going to Xiaoyao Fairyland to watch the undressing dance, even the rent in the apartment could not be paid. If the landlord had not seen him as the prince, he would have swept him out long ago.

When Zhu Changfang thought of this, he felt a headache again and moaned loudly.

The only housekeeper who fled to Nanjing with Zhu Changfang quickly stepped forward and comforted him, "Prince, please bear with it, the villain will ask you for a doctor."

"Please ask for a doctor?" Zhu Changfang said angrily, "Where did you get the money?"

"Oh." The old housekeeper sighed and said sadly, "Even if the villain gave up this old face, he had to ask the prince for the doctor."

As he said that, the old housekeeper went out.

After less than a meal, the old housekeeper came back and actually brought a doctor back.

The doctor took Zhu Changfang's pulse and said calmly: "The prince is not sick, it's just that the middle qi is stagnant and the qi and blood are not smooth. Is there anything unhappy about the prince? Or has he encountered a hurdle that he can't overcome?"

"Oh, don't mention it." The doctor touched Zhu Changfang's sadness and said sadly, "The phoenix is ​​not as good as a chicken."

"Can the prince talk to the grass people?" said the doctor, "As long as you tell me the troubles, the prince will feel relieved and his qi and blood will be smooth."

"Oh." Zhu Changfang sighed and shook his head, "It's all like this, what else can I say."

The doctor suddenly asked, "Is the prince troubled by the fall of the throne?"

"Huh?" Zhu Changfang exclaimed in surprise, sat up and asked, "Do you know this?"
Chapter completed!