"So I think that Li Zicheng's real purpose is to attack Zhangde Prefecture! While recruiting soldiers, he also robbed the property of King Zhao and King Zhou as military pay!"

Li Banghua was shocked and looked up at Zhangde Prefecture on the map.

Zhangde Prefecture is located north of Kaifeng Prefecture, south of Zhending Prefecture, and east of Taihang Mountain.

If Li Zicheng really wanted to attack Zhangde Prefecture, then encircling it from the north and south directions would be the best option.

And Liu Fangliang's retreat from Zhending Prefecture has already explained everything!

After thinking this through, Li Banghua looked at Chongzhen with eyes full of admiration.

The thoughts of this Ming Dynasty emperor are so meticulous!

He was truly a military genius because he was able to guess their next direction of attack simply by seeing Liu Fangliang's troops retreat to Zhending Prefecture.

The others were equally shocked when they recovered. Looking at the map in front of them, they couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty is so talented. We are far behind!"

Although the superficial problems have been clarified, deeper problems have arisen.

How to save?

Li Banghua said, "Since the bandits have invaded Zhangde Prefecture, who does Your Majesty plan to send to rescue them?"

"Huang Degong!" Chongzhen slowly said three words.

Li Banghua was stunned and looked around.

Chongzhen had told him before that this was a secret, so Huang Degong's whereabouts had never been revealed to the outside world.

Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "The traitor in the court has been found. Huang Degong's whereabouts can be disclosed to everyone present."

Li Banghua nodded, and then revealed the news to everyone present.

He continued, "Your Majesty, Huang Degong has arrived in Zichuan Prefecture (now Zibo, Shandong), which is more than 800 miles away from the capital and less than 800 miles away from Zhangde Prefecture. If we send a fast horse, the news will be delivered in two days."

"Huang Degong has 40,000 soldiers and horses under his command. He has fought Zhang Xianzhong for a long time in the Huguang area and has rich experience in field battles. He is fully capable of lifting the siege of Zhangde."

Seeing Chongzhen remained silent, Liu Wenyao stood up and said, "If your majesty is worried, I am willing to lead 5,000 troops to support Zhangde Prefecture."

Chongzhen still didn't say anything. Just when everyone thought he was worried about the safety of King Zhao and King Zhou, Chongzhen spoke up: "You guys leave first. I have something important to discuss with Lord Li."

Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to bow and leave. After the irrelevant people left, Chongzhen said to the screen beside him: "Li Ruolian, come out."

Li Ruo Lian walked out with big strides: "Your Majesty."

"Is there any news from the north of Xuanfu?"

Li Banghua frowned and found a clue from this sentence.

North of Xuanfu?

Could it be that Your Majesty has made contact with the Mongols?

As expected, Li Ruolian said very cautiously: "Your Majesty, I have two pieces of news."

"One is a secret letter from Governor Yan. The Imperial Guard has already contacted the Khalkha tribe of Mongolia. They expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty to fight against the Jian Nu, but the prerequisite is to provide them with some food, armor, firearms and gunpowder first."

"Yan Yingyuan was afraid that the Khalkha tribe would go back on their word, so he did not agree immediately and asked Your Majesty to make the final decision."

Chongzhen thought about this issue seriously.

The strategy of forming alliances and making coalitions cannot be achieved by just talking. Cooperation requires a certain price.

Back then, the Mongols were defeated by Huang Taiji's strong armor and firearms. If they wanted to fight back, they had to be given the same equipment.

Only when both sides are at the same starting line will the Mongols dare to send troops.

Thinking of this, he waved his hand and said, "Tell Yan Yingyuan to prepare a thousand sets of armor for the Khalkha tribe. As for food, firearms, and gunpowder, let him take care of it."

"These things can satisfy the Khalkha tribe's temporary needs, and at the same time they cannot pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty."

"But..." Li Ruolian's face was filled with worry, "What if the Khalkha tribe takes the goods but doesn't do the work?"

"Let Yan Yingyuan tell them that if the Ming Dynasty is destroyed, it will be their turn next! I am not asking them to send troops, but to harass from the rear!"

"If you don't dare to do these, let Yan Yingyuan persuade the Khalkha tribe to surrender to Jian Nu as soon as possible!"

"Yes!" Li Ruo Lian took out a piece of paper and wrote it down, and then continued, "The second piece of news came from the herdsmen of the Ordos tribe in Mongolia."

"This is the news that the Royal Guards got during the border trade!"

"Ten days ago, Jiannu began to recruit soldiers from various tribes. Although they did not specify the date of the dispatch, based on the recruits, the number of horses prepared, and the rations they carried, I estimate that Jiannu will enter the pass in mid-May."

"The entry location is not yet determined!"

Mid-May... Location uncertain...

Chongzhen looked at the map in front of him again and wanted to curse in his heart.

According to the mileage calculation, Liu Fangliang reached the city of Zhangde Prefecture around mid-May.

The Jiannu entered the country in mid-May...

It seemed like Li Zicheng and the Jiannu had made an agreement beforehand, with one running rampant inside the Great Wall while the other entered the Great Wall to plunder.

Didn't they discuss it beforehand?

It is now the end of April, and Huang Degong will be able to arrive in the capital in mid-May.

If he were asked to lift the siege of Zhangde Prefecture, he would not be able to hunt down the Jiannu. If he were asked to hunt down the Jiannu, he would not be able to lift the siege of Zhangde Prefecture.

Damn, what a headache.

After thinking for a while, Chongzhen looked at Li Banghua and said, "Lord Li, Huang Degong cannot go to Zhangde. He is my trump card, a sharp weapon against the Jiannu."

"But we can't lose Zhangde Prefecture! Once we lose Zhangde, Li Zicheng will take advantage of the situation and become more powerful. There will be no rival for him in the entire Central Plains."

"Who do you think can lead the troops to rescue Zhangde Prefecture?"

Li Banghua was also stumped by this question.

Wu Sangui in Shanhaiguan cannot be moved.

Wang Yongji, Gao Di and Li Shoufu of Jizhou could not move either. Even if they did, they would not be able to rescue Zhangde Prefecture in time due to the long journey.

The only person who could be used was Li Xingzhong, who was stationed in Liangxiang.

However, Li Xingzhong's subordinates were all Ming soldiers who had surrendered to Li Zicheng. If there were spies among them, Li Xingzhong would be in danger of having his entire army wiped out.

Moreover, Li Xingzhong and his men were originally used to deal with Jiannu! Technical and tactical training is also related to Jiannu.

More importantly, Baoding Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture had not yet been recovered, and Liangxiang where Li Xingzhong was located was equivalent to the southwestern gateway of the capital and could not be abandoned.

After thinking for a long time, Li Banghua patted his dizzy head and said, "Your Majesty, I have thought about it over and over again, but I really can't think of a suitable person."

Chongzhen thought for a while and then made a decision: "Lord Li, immediately draft an order to send Li Xingzhong and his 10,000 soldiers to Daming Prefecture overnight. We must find a way to stop Liu Fangliang to the north of Daming Prefecture, and use the camel team from Xuanfu to transport the supplies for the defense of the city."

"I obey your order." Li Banghua quickly retreated.

"Wang Chengen, draft a letter to the King of Zhou and the King of Zhao, telling them not to be like the King of Fu who lost both his people and his wealth. Ask them to find a way to recruit the people to fight against the bandits together."

"Li Ruolian, write a letter to Yan Yingyuan and tell him that he can proceed according to the plan."