Signed to Zhu Cihong, Prince of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 103 Chapter 103, the British prince went north to help, the good prince has immeasurable merit
After the British Duke captured Baoding City, he immediately ordered the army to block the warehouse.

Later, he came in person and ordered someone to open the warehouse.

As soon as it was opened, countless grains piled up like a mountain in the warehouse, which immediately dazzled everyone.

Roughly estimated, the grain here is at least tens of millions of catties!

The British official said in a hurried tone, and couldn't help saying: "This Li Zicheng, where did he get so much food?"

On the side, a descended official from Dashun said respectfully: "If you return to your father-in-law, after Li Zicheng occupied Baoding Mansion, he killed all the big families in the city, and all the food for these families was concentrated here. Originally there were more, but it was consumed by Li Zicheng’s distribution of food to the common people, and now there are only 120 million catties.”

It was only then that the British Duke realized that this was not the original food stored in the Baoding government treasury, but the sum of the food stored by the big families in the Baoding government. No wonder it was so impressive.

Baoding Mansion, after all, is the most affluent place in Northern Zhili except the capital. In the past, many years of wars in Ming Dynasty were in Shaanxi and Henan, and basically did not touch Baoding Mansion to the north of the Yellow River. Driven by the sense of urgency, such a huge amount of food was stored.

It's a pity that these grains did not provide protection for these gentry in troubled times, but became the source of death!

The British Duke shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and said in a deep voice: "Okay, immediately organize the prisoners and young men to escort the food and grass, and send all the food and grass back to the capital!"

Now that the grain and grass in the capital are in an emergency, it is no longer news. Even Emperor Chongzhen ordered everyone to tighten their belts to support the front line. Although this batch of tens of millions of catties of grain can not completely solve the problem, it can at least make people feel better. The Ming court breathed a sigh of relief.

Next to Duke Ying, Gao Jie asked, "Master Guo, what are we going to do next? Should we continue to pursue Li Zicheng? I heard that he has already fled to Handan."

This Li Zicheng's ability to escape is not covered. Although he was defeated by the Ming army twice, he still escaped under the protection of his subordinates.

The British Duke sneered and said: "This Li Zicheng has not practiced anything in the past so many years. His ability to escape is second-class. We don't care about him. He is now a bereaved dog. He has no soldiers or generals around him. What else can he cause?" The waves are coming? Leave some soldiers and horses to garrison Baoding, and the rest will rest for a while, and the day after tomorrow I will go north with the old man to support the Shanhaiguan front line!"

For the British Duke, of course, the most important thing is to implement Zhu Cihong's plan.

According to Zhu Cihong's previous plan, after Baoding Mansion wiped out Li Zicheng's main force, they should immediately go north, and the two armies rejoined and looked for opportunities to fight the Manchus!

After so many days of war, the British Duke has already firmly believed in Zhu Cihong's war capabilities, so he naturally carried it out resolutely.

When speaking, the British Duke's eyes were also full of confidence.

It's hard to imagine that two months ago, Daming was still surrounded by Li Zicheng, and he was at the end of his life.

But now?Daming had already fought back desperately, but Li Zicheng was beaten to the end instead.

The ups and downs of life are really exciting.

The British public is full of confidence, and believes that Daming will definitely win this time!

"By the way, send someone to send the battle report to the capital first, so that His Majesty and the Crown Prince will know the good news as soon as possible!"

Beijing City, Daming Palace.

Chongzhen and several important officials were sitting in the imperial study, discussing matters.

Apart from some more common and trivial matters, the most concerned ones are the major events of the ongoing war.

Fan Jingwen said: "Your Majesty, Najier Harang is standing still outside the Shanhai Pass. It is completely inconsistent with the style of war before the founding of slaves. It is obviously a conspiracy."

Daming and the Manchus have been fighting for so many years, and the two sides are already very familiar with each other, and any abnormalities are immediately noticed.

Chongzhen nodded, and said: "This Jiannu thinks he knew the news about the lack of food and grass here in the capital, so he deliberately delayed the time like this, it is really hateful!"

Originally, if the troops could be concentrated to attack Baoding, then Baoding should have been defeated long ago, and then the Ming army could cross the Yellow River to recover Shandong and completely open up the grain road with Jiangnan.

But now being disturbed by the Manchu Qing, Zhu Cihong had to lead [-] soldiers to the north, and the number of soldiers and horses that Daming besieged Baoding City was reduced by half out of thin air. This battle suddenly became very difficult to fight.

Chongzhen slapped the table and said angrily: "Damn Jiannu!"

Li Banghua said worriedly: "Your Majesty, the real trouble now is that the food is too tight. According to the reports from the officials below, hundreds of people in the capital die of hunger every day, and the price of food in the capital is even higher. It has increased dozens of times, if this continues, I am afraid that there will be another large-scale famine in the capital.”

When Chongzhen heard the words, the expression on his face became more and more depressed, and he said: "Is there no other way?"

Fan Jingwen sighed, and said: "Your Majesty, I have thought of every possible solution, but the passage to the south of the Yangtze River has been blocked by Li Zicheng's bandit army, and the original food and grass in many cities outside the capital have been completely blocked. Li Zicheng looted everything, and there was really nothing he could do."

Chongzhen said angrily: "Isn't it already possible to get in touch with Nanjing? Tell them to organize shipping!"

Li Banghua shook his head and said, "Sea transportation...is a drop in the bucket, Your Majesty."

Chongzhen: "..."

Chongzhen was silent for a while, and said seriously: "Wang Chengen, you send someone to ask the prince to see if he has any good ideas."

Wang Chengen hurriedly responded, and hurried out to make arrangements.

Seeing this, several other ministers were a little disapproving, thinking that Chongzhen went to the doctor in a hurry.

His Royal Highness is indeed talented, but can His Highness conjure food out of thin air?

Chongzhen calmed down, gritted his teeth, and said, "No matter what, we must ensure the food and grass for the soldiers. As for the palace and the place, let's be wronged first, and wait until Jiannu is defeated, and then turn around in Xutu."

After hearing this, the ministers also knew that this was a helpless solution, so they could only agree.

Chongzhen sighed, and said: "Zhen, I'm sorry for the people of Ming Dynasty."

Hundreds of people starved to death every day, but Chongzhen was helpless as an emperor, which really made him anxious and guilty.

All the ministers were about to comfort Chongzhen, when suddenly Wang Chengen hurried back with a happy expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, according to the urgent report on the eight-hundred-mile battle just received, the British Duke has conquered Baoding Mansion!"

This good news instantly cleared away all the haze.

Chongzhen was so excited that he sat up directly from the chair: "Really? Show me quickly!"

After a while, looking at the battle report in his hand, Chongzhen burst out laughing.

"British Duke, you really deserve to be a good general of the country!"

The other ministers also smiled when they heard the news.

Fan Jingwen said: "Since Baoding has been conquered, Li Zicheng is nothing to worry about for the time being. Next, Daming will be able to deal with Jiannu with all his strength. It is really great."

Li Banghua was eager to try, and said: "Maybe this time, with the command of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, it is unknown if it will frustrate Jiannu's spirit!"

Chongzhen waved the battle report in his hand with a smile, and said with a smile: "My dear friends, there is actually a better news. The British Duke found millions of shi of grain in Baoding Mansion. It should be Li Zicheng. What the thieves looted, now the British Duke has ordered people to ship all the food, and it will arrive in the capital in a few days!"

Now, everyone is happy.

Fan Jingwen said excitedly: "Your Majesty, once these grains arrive, they will be able to save the lives of countless Ming people!"

Li Banghua said: "Your Majesty, we have our military rations!"

Chongzhen smiled all over his face, nodded again and again and said, "Yes, yes, now we have everything!"

After a pause, Chongzhen said quite complacently: "My dear friends, you didn't take it seriously when I just said that I was going to ask the prince for advice and food. But now think about it, is it the prince's trick that brought Daming these grains?"

After Chongzhen's words fell, all the ministers were also taken aback.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that this is really the case.

If it hadn't been for Zhu Cihong's insistence on dividing the troops into two groups and letting the British Duke continue to storm Baoding Mansion, it would be impossible for these grains to fall into Daming's hands.

Fan Jingwen took a deep breath and said solemnly: "His Royal Highness, this time you have saved countless people of Ming Dynasty."

Li Banghua solemnly said: "If it wasn't for His Royal Highness, even if Jiannu was repelled, the whole area of ​​the capital would be starved to death. His Royal Highness, the merit is really immeasurable."

All the ministers spoke one after another and praised Zhu Cihong to the fullest.

Chongzhen also calmed down and smiled: "Lang'er...it's really good!"

While speaking, Chongzhen looked into the distance, as if he wanted to see what Zhu Cihong was thinking after hearing the news in the distant Jizhou.

Jizhou, the camp of the Ming army.

Zhu Cihong was very happy, and after putting down the battle report he just got, he said with a smile: "I didn't expect the British Duke to conquer Baoding so quickly, and he also got so much food and grass. It's really great!"

Li Guozhen on the side also looked at Zhu Cihuang with admiration: "I didn't expect His Royal Highness to know the food and grass situation in Baoding City long ago. This time, countless people in the capital will be blessed by His Royal Highness, which is really admirable! "

Li Guozhen's view of Zhu Cihong has been completely refreshed, this His Royal Highness, not only can serve the country, but can also serve the people!

Zhu Cihong: "..."

If Bengong said that Bengong didn't think so much beforehand, would you believe me, Lao Li?
Zhu Cihong coughed, put down the battle report in his hand, and said: "Uncle Xiangcheng, send the order, the army will immediately march to Shanhaiguan."

Li Guozhen was stunned for a moment: "Aren't we waiting here for the army of slaves?"

Zhu Cilang said with a smile: "If my palace's predictions are not bad, Jierhalang is probably already impatient. Just in case, let's go closer to Shanhaiguan and have a look."

Originally, Zhu Cilang wanted to come, if it was to conquer Baoding City, even losing Shanhaiguan would be acceptable.

But now that Baoding City has been breached, Shanhaiguan should be kept.

Absolutely no longer let Jiannu occupy even a single cent more of the land of the Ming Dynasty!
(End of this chapter)