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Dorgon was not an emperor and did not have the right to be righteous. If he wanted to hold great power and win people's hearts, he had to make extraordinary achievements. From the beginning of the Jiashen year, he watched the changes in the situation in the pass every day.

There were two main sources of news from the Qing Dynasty. One was the Shanxi merchants who did business with the Mongols. As Mongolia was conquered by Huang Taiji, Shanxi merchants also changed to serve the Manchus.

The second is the detailed work sent to Beijing, mainly Han people outside the pass, and some families were taken hostages and dared not not serve. At the same time, the Qing Dynasty did not hesitate to reward them to discover useful information.

The Beijing court's busy and chaotic actions, the important activities of the thieves in Shaanxi, and even Zhang Xianzhong and Li Xin, were reported to the Ministry of War almost every three or two days, and then reported to Prince Rui's mansion quickly.

Around the end of the first lunar month, Dorgon received a report that Li Zicheng had established the Dashun Dynasty in Xi'an and changed the reign to Yongchang. From the end of December last year to the beginning of the first lunar month this year, he successively sent 500,000 troops to cross the Yellow River near Hancheng and enter Shanxi. He was invincible and claimed that he would invade Beijing and seize the Ming Dynasty.

This news came from the panicked Beijing, and was confirmed by Ningyuan, who was stationed in Wu Sangui.

Ningyuan was the only lonely city outside Shanhaiguan in the Ming Dynasty. Because Wu Sangui's parents and family lived in Beijing, Wu Sangui also had close contacts with Wang Yongji, the governor of Ji Liao, who was stationed in Yongping, Ji, so we can learn about major news from Ningyuan.

In Shenyang today, all matters of all sizes are almost decided by Dorgon. Although Jirgalang is known as a government assistant, his experience determines his behavior.

Jirhalang's father Shurhalchi was Nurhaci's brother and his mother. He had outstanding military achievements. He was deprived of military power because he threatened Nurhaci's status. Soon after, he was secretly executed with his two sons. Jirhalang escaped by chance because of his young age.

Nurhaci prohibited anyone from discussing this matter. Jirgalang also developed a cautious and fearful character since childhood. He only hoped to keep the prince's throne and did not have too many extravagant hopes in his achievements. Dorgon saw through Jirgalang's weaknesses in character and helped him to assist in the administration together, and be his own stepping stone.

In fact, Jirgalang was the same, facing Dorgon's advance, he gradually retreated.

He saw that sooner or later, Haoge was in trouble and secretly asked his confidants not to have any contact with Prince Su's mansion. At the same time, he knew that Dorgon had a secret illness and was jealous of many people, and sooner or later, he would be liquidated, so he kept his distance from Dorgon.

He even announced in public at a meeting of the Third Court and Six Ministry: In the future, each government office handles affairs, and if you need to report to our two assisted princes, you must first report to Prince Rui. The name of the file should be written first. The name of the king is written at the back, and the tribute to the ranks of the ranks. Prince Rui is on my side, so you must not mess with the rules.

According to the ranking at the beginning of Shunzhi's ascension, Jirgalang ranked before Dorgon, but in less than half a year, he became Dorgon's assistant. Although Dorgon had no name as a deterrent political power, he had the reality of a deterrent political power.

With Li Zicheng conquering Taiyuan, Dorgon summoned Jiergalang, Hong Chouceng and Prince Fan Wencheng discussed matters.

After Shunzhi ascended the throne, Ren Hong Chengchou was a bachelor of the inner academy, with his status equivalent to Fan Wencheng.

The theme of this discussion is to judge Li Zicheng's actual military strength. Li Zicheng said in the manifesto that Liu Zongmin led an army of 500,000 from Hancheng to cross the river and into Jin, and he personally led a million troops to be sued.

If Li Zichengzhen had 1.5 million troops to advance eastward, and the Qing Dynasty, Manchus, Mongolians and Han dynasties had only 200,000 troops, he would never go south rashly.

Hong Chengchou said: "In my foolish opinion, Li Zhe claimed that there were 500,000 people crossing the river and entering Jin and attacking Youyan in the east. This is a false statement. His soldiers were about 200,000 to 300,000. For 300,000, there were no more than 200,000 people who could go to Beijing. As for the words of the millions of palace masters, it would be enough to just say a joke."

Dorgon said in confusion: "Why do you think so few?"

Fan Wencheng took it and said, "Mr. Hong, I expect that the thieves who have entered Beijing should have more than 300,000."

Jirgalang also said: "Our Eight Banners soldiers have not yet fought with Li Zi. Judging from the trusted thieves, the thieves should not be despised. They would rather estimate his troops a little more than be careless."

Hong Chengchou said confidently: "Prince Zheng and Mr. Fan are lenient in order to make more preparations. This is naturally good. However, I have been fighting with the bandits for many years in the Southern Dynasty and have a little knowledge of the truth among the bandits.

The thief is accustomed to intimidation and is good at taking advantage of the conflicts between the court and the officials and troops of various provinces, and they are engaged in rapid growth and continuous victory. Today, the thief has been the most powerful in recent years, and is known as a million people. However, in the opinion of the ministers, it will not be more than 500,000 at its peak.

I took Yunyang as an example. Yunyang and Junzhou were a problem with Xiangyang's elbows. Li thieves were unable to break Yunjun. Due to the importance of Runan Prefecture, Li thieves had no heavy troops to guard them and allowed local gentlemen and bandits to steal the stake.

Therefore, Li thief was a strong man from the outside and was in charge of the middle, and 500,000 people were disposing of troops everywhere, so he was unable to garrison in important areas. From this, it is inferred that the actual number of troops that the thief crossed the river and entered Jin and invaded Youyan in the east would not exceed 300,000.

What's more, this time the bandits invaded east is different from the past. Li thieves were originally bandits and were good at flowing. Now they were usurping the throne in Xi'an and trying to be emperor in Beijing. They must have many important civil and military officials, and they must have slaves to follow them and protect their troops. Just imagine that 300,000 people will be expeditioned thousands of miles away. Just talking about food, fodder and supplies, they will have to be transported by 100,000 or 20,000 people. Therefore, if Li thieves crossed the river to the east with 300,000 troops along the way, they will not exceed 200,000 when they arrive in Beijing."

Fan Wencheng also thought that Hong Chengchou's words were reasonable, but he offended Dorgon, for fear of being retaliated, and was unwilling to be timid and wanted to show his power to show his guilt and made meritorious service. So he asked: "Master Hong is familiar with the situation of the Southern Dynasties, but Wencheng is still puzzled. You said that the Li thief has limited troops and is mostly intimidating by relying on empty voices. However, he has been invincible in the Central Plains in the past three years, sweeping across Huguang, driving into Shaanxi, sweeping across the northwest. The Ming Dynasty was poor and was facing the crisis of national destruction. How to explain this situation? What's more, the Southern Dynasties eliminated Li thiefs, and there were still trust thieves who were even more intimidated!"

Jirgalang nodded to Fan Wencheng with approval.

Dorgon asked with a deep meaning: "I will discuss Li Xin's affairs later. Let's talk about the thieves first. I often hear that Li Zicheng has a million people and the Ming Dynasty is unable to deal with it, so that the country will be destroyed. But why do you always say that Li Zicheng has not many people? Are you a little underestimating the enemy? Have you ever been a minister of the Ming Dynasty and have an irreconcilable hatred with the thieves. You are used to despising the thieves, so you don't want to say that his troops are strong?"

Hong Chengchou bowed violently: "Otherwise, I am planning for the government and the Qing Dynasty today, and only seeking to be loyal and loyal to the government to benefit the achievements of the king of government for thousands of years. Today, Li thieves are the mortal enemy of the Ming Dynasty. If they defeat Beijing in the next day, they will be the strong enemy of our Qing Dynasty. I guess that Li thieves will be able to reach Beijing in mid-March."

Dorgon said in surprise: "In less than two months... Is there no obstacle along the way?"

Hong Chengchou said: "The bandits cross the ice and cross the river without encountering obstacles. It shows that Shanxi is empty. After the bandits cross the river, they sing all the way, and the hearts of the people in Shanxi collapse. Therefore, I estimate that the bandits will arrive in Beijing in mid-March."

Dorgon asked worriedly: "How many people will Li Zicheng come to Beijing?"

Hong Chengchou made a decisive decision: "It will not exceed 200,000, or even about 100,000."

Jirgalang said from the side: "You know the most about the things in the south. If you estimate the number of troops thieves to Beijing, we will suffer a great loss!"

"Please analyze it for Prince Zheng!"

Hong Chengchou bowed to Jiergalang and said, "If the bandits crossed the river to Jin with 300,000, the actual number of soldiers that can be fought will not exceed 250,000. After entering Jin, important cities such as Pingyang were an important town in Jinzhong, with its hubs bound north and south, Shangdang was backed by Taihang and connected to Hanoi in the east. Since ancient times, it has been a place that military strategists must fight for and must be guarded.

Taiyuan was the capital of the Three Jins, and it was also the fief of the King of Jin. It was full of wealthy families in the villages. It was not difficult for bandits to capture Taiyuan, but the difficulty lies in the governance. Therefore, generals and heavy troops must be left to garrison.

From Taiyuan to Beijing, he usually goes east to Guguan and goes north along Zhending Avenue to Jifu. The whole journey is 1,200 miles. How dare he not leave his troops to garrison?

Therefore, I believe that the troops that Li thieves arrived at the city of Beijing were at most 100,000, or even less than 100,000. However, the route of Li thieves’ advance was still difficult to determine. Only when news came from Taiyuan could we discuss it again."

Jiergalang said in confusion: "From Taiyuan invading Beijing, leaving Guguan, and breaking Zhending to the north, the journey is the smoothest. If the thief does not take this path, can he go elsewhere?"

Hong Chengchou said: "The Ming Dynasty had heavy troops guarding Datong, Ningwu, Xuanfu and other places, which was a major town on the nine borders. If you let it go, the nine borders could take advantage of the situation and attack Taiyuan directly and cut off the Li bandits' way back to Guanzhong. Therefore, the Li bandits may not go east to Guguan and attack Zhending, but may attack from Taiyuan in the north, defeat Xinzhou, go out of Yanmen, capture Datong, and then divide the army from Xinzhou to Ningwu.

If Ningwu of Datong is captured, Taiyuan and the Three Jins will have no worries. If there are still 200,000 thieves after Li defeated Taiyuan, he will lead 100,000 to Guguan east and invade Beijing. If he personally leads a large army from Taiyuan north to Xinzhou and capture Ningwu of Datong, he will not dare to divide his troops from Taiyuan, which will prove that he has not many troops."
Chapter completed!