Liaodong, Jinzhou, Ji Liao Governor's Fucheng.

Qiao Mingjun entered the wing with documents in hand.

The Intelligence Department of the New Army in Denglai has long been operating at a high load, collecting and sorting out a large amount of intelligence every day. This intelligence comes from South Zhili, North Zhili, the Central Plains, the capital and the east of the Liaohe River, and the intelligence network is huge.

Its tentacles have long covered all parts of the Ming Dynasty, and even extended to many places overseas, prompting the rapid development of the intelligence network, and the bank played an important role.

When entering the wing, Qiao Mingjun saw Wu Zongrui discussing something with Zeng Yongzhong.

"Sir, this is information from Huai'an Fucheng, Pizhou, Suqian and Shuyang..."

Wu Zongrui nodded and looked at Qiao Mingjun.

"You compiled the information. Just tell me what's going on."

Qiao Mingjun stood up straight, still holding the document in his hand.

"Sir, sir, intelligence shows that after entering Huai'an, Zhang Xianzhong's army of more than 300,000 people did not directly attack the city of Huai'an, but captured the cities of Pizhou, Suqian and Shuyang. The rebels under his command were entrenched near these three cities.

For nearly a month, the canal transport governor Ding Qirui, the canal transport soldiers led by the canal transport soldiers, and the sergeants from the four towns and three states, stood firm in Huai'an Fucheng. There was no sign of an attack, and there was no sign of recovering the cities of Pizhou, Suqian and Shuyang. The Minister of War of Nanjing

Lord Zhang Guowei ordered all the sergeants in the Nanjing Camp to garrison Nanjing Fucheng. There is no sign of rushing to Huai'an Fucheng..."

Qiao Mingjun knew Wu Zongrui's habit of reporting crisply and never saying useless words.

Intelligence is intelligence, simple and clear, and does not require any analysis.

Wu Zongrui did not take the document from Qiao Mingjun's hand and signaled Qiao Mingjun to put the information on the desk.

"Sir, what do you think?"

Zeng Yongzhong shook his head slightly, with a slightly confused look on his face.

"What happened to Zhang Xianzhong? He captured Pizhou, Suqian, Shuyang and other cities. He should have received a large amount of supplies and no longer needs to worry about food and grass. It is said that he should launch an attack on Huai'an Fucheng to delay the attack on himself.

It's not good. Could it be that Zhang Xianzhong didn't plan to attack Huai'an Fucheng and was planning to bypass Huai'an and enter Yangzhou? As for Lord Ding Qirui, he didn't have enough troops under his command, so he naturally didn't dare to take the initiative to attack Zhang Xianzhong's troops..."

Wu Zongrui said nothing and looked at Qiao Mingjun.

Qiao Mingjun put the document in his hand on the desk, looked at Wu Zongrui and spoke.

"Sir, my subordinates don't understand what Zhang Xianzhong means. It is said that Zhang Xianzhong should attack Huai'an City..."

Wu Zongrui then walked to the desk and pulled out a document from the side.

"Sir, Qiao Mingjun, if you read this document together with today's document, you should be able to get a glimpse of the leopard. I didn't expect that Zhang Xianzhong also learned to outsmart him instead of blindly attacking."

Zeng Yongzhong took the document from Wu Zongrui's hand, opened it, and looked at ten lines, showing an expression of sudden enlightenment.

"Water transport, it turns out to be water transport. Sir, why didn't my subordinates think of water transport..."

Qiao Mingjun blinked and understood something.

Zeng Yongzhong was a little excited and then spoke.

"Intelligence from the capital shows that the capital's material reserves are obviously insufficient. This does not include Beizhili. In fact, materials in the Beizhili area have begun to be scarce. It is March now. Usually at this time, water ships have already begun to transport grain and grass.

Northern Zhili and the capital, but this year's water transportation has not yet begun. It is nothing more than Zhang Xianzhong's troops entering southern Zhili, which directly affects water transportation. Zhang Xianzhong's troops captured Pizhou and Suqian and other places, which are places that water transportation must pass through.

It is impossible to transport supplies, so the food supplies from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Southern Zhili cannot be transported to the capital and Northern Zhili. In the short term, the capital and Northern Zhili can still support it, but over time, they will definitely not be able to sustain it..."

Wu Zongrui smiled and nodded.

"My analysis is that Zhang Xianzhong did not rush to attack Huai'an Fucheng. He should have thought of this. As long as he firmly controls Pizhou and Suqian and blocks water transportation, Lord Ding Qirui will not be able to sit still and will definitely launch an attack on Zhang Xianzhong's troops.

, recapture Pizhou and Suqian, and ensure the normal operation of water transportation, so that Zhang Xianzhong can use sufficient troops to fight against the water transportation soldiers and the armies of the four towns and three states in Jiangbei. Almost a month has passed, and Zhang Xianzhong's troops have been slow to move. It should be

Thinking of this, it seems that Master Ding is going to suffer."

Qiao Mingjun had a surprised look on his face.

"Sir, sir, when did Zhang Xianzhong become so powerful and know how to use tactics? If the water transportation is blocked for a long time, not only Ding Qirui will not be able to bear it, but the emperor and the court will not be able to bear it either..."

Zhang Xianzhong really grasped the key. The Central Plains was in chaos, and the Ministry of Household Affairs could hardly collect much tax, let alone obtain much food. The emperor and the court could only rely on water transportation to continuously transport food and material resources from the south to the north.

Only then can we ensure the stability of the capital and Beizhili.

In terms of land routes, Henan province was completely controlled by Li Zicheng, and Zhang Xianzhong's troops were causing rebellion in southern Zhili. Transportation by land had long been cut off, and merchants did not dare to transport any goods by land.

The only thing that can ensure smooth transportation between the north and the south is sea transportation. However, sea transportation is completely controlled by Denglai's new army, and the emperor and the court cannot rely on it.

It will not take long for Ding Qirui to receive an imperial edict from the emperor and a decree from the court, requiring him to ensure smooth water transportation.

Ding Qirui was originally the governor of water transport. If he could not ensure the smooth flow of water transport, what else would the imperial court want him to do as the governor of water transport? Therefore, Zhang Xianzhong occupied the two cities of Pizhou and Suqian and cut off water transport, which was tantamount to forcing Ding Qirui to take the initiative. Only

Only after Zhang Xianzhong's troops were defeated could water transportation be fully restored.

Wu Zongrui walked to the desk and picked up the documents.

"Sir, Qiao Mingjun, I think Liao Wenru, Luo Dianzhao and Luo Dianyong have to make all preparations. Lord Ding Qirui takes the initiative to attack, and he will definitely not be able to defeat Zhang Xianzhong. The moment when the canal soldiers Ding and the troops from the four towns and three states in Jiangbei take the initiative, Huai'an will be in chaos.

, Denglai's new army must seize the opportunity, attack at the best time, control the entire Huai'an as quickly as possible, and control the entire water transportation at the same time..."

Zeng Yongzhong nodded repeatedly, and Qiao Mingjun followed suit.

"Sir, my subordinates are going to prepare now..."

Wu Zongrui looked at Qiao Mingjun, his expression becoming serious.

"Qiao Mingjun, after carefully sorting out the relevant information about Southern Zhili, Northern Zhili and the Central Plains, send it to Liao Wenru as quickly as possible so that Liao Wenru can make comprehensive arrangements and deployments. What should I do if the foreign emperor's orders are not accepted?

The arrangements and deployment are Liao Wenru's business, but we must tell Liao Wenru, Luo Diianzhao and Luo Dianyong in particular that the emperor and the court have become intolerable to us. There is no need to worry about their feelings when we do things. Controlling the four towns and three states in Jiangbei and controlling water transportation are

Our purpose of sending troops to South Zhili must be achieved."

...

After Qiao Mingjun left, Zeng Yongzhong spoke.

"My lord, are the emperor and the court really unable to hold on..."

Zeng Yongzhong raised this question not out of a momentary enthusiasm, but after careful analysis. A large amount of intelligence obtained by the Intelligence Department showed that the emperor and the court were basically out of control regarding local affairs. The Central Plains was in chaos, and the court had not gone to Henan.

Shaanxi is also in great turmoil when sending any officials. Even if the imperial court sends officials to Shaanxi, no one is willing to go. Liaodong and Shandong are controlled by Denglai's new army. The emperor's imperial edict and the imperial edict have no effect here.

In the remaining places such as Shanxi and Huguang, local officials went their own way, and the commander-in-chief who controlled the army disobeyed orders and was always thinking about self-protection.

The situation in the south was not much better. The rogue bandit Zhang Xianzhong completely disrupted the four prefectures and three states of Jiangbei in South Zhili.

In terms of military deployment, the powerful armies of the Ming Dynasty were basically deployed in the north. More than ten years later, after encountering the invasion of the Jin Tatars and the rebellion of rogue bandits, the elite army of the Ming Dynasty was exhausted.

The Ming Dynasty was completely in a state of uncertainty.

Li Zicheng in Henan has millions of people. If he captures Shaanxi and completely defeats Sun Chuanting, the governor of the five provinces, then the north will not be able to resist Li Zicheng's imperial army. At that time, Li Zicheng can go straight to Huanglong and march to the capital.

It was basically under such circumstances that Zeng Yongzhong would ask about such a sensitive topic.

Wu Zongrui sighed.

"Sir, in my opinion, the emperor and the court can support it for about one to two years at most. It depends on whether Li Zicheng can calmly dispatch the army. If Li Zicheng can seize the opportunity and quickly capture Shaanxi and

Shanxi and other places, the emperor and the court will be forced into desperate situations."

Zeng Yongzhong's face showed a look of shock again.

"Sir, isn't there a Beijing camp in the capital? No matter how brave Li Zicheng is, he is at least afraid of the emperor and the court..."

Wu Zongrui had a sneer on his face.

"Li Zicheng has been rebelling for more than ten years. Perhaps his fear of imperial power and the court still remains in his mind. However, this fragile fear will gradually fade away as time goes by. When the desire for power is filled with

When it comes to your mind, this fragile fear will disappear."

Wu Zongrui's words made Zeng Yongzhong wake up from his shock.

"What your Lord is saying is that Li Zicheng has already taken this step to become king in Kaifeng Fucheng. According to the predictions of his subordinates, once Li Zicheng captures Xi'an Fucheng and occupies Henan and Shaanxi, he is very likely to proclaim himself emperor."

"Yes, sir, your prediction is good. Some time ago, I have been saying that great changes are coming. Now it has really come. Li Zicheng became the king in Kaifeng Fucheng, kicking off the great changes. The next step is for the emperor and the court to
Chapter completed!