At this time, within the capital, Li Qin had basically decided that the next strategic move would be to head south.
Suddenly, they received a military report from Li Xuanshang, delivered by express courier.
After opening Li Xuanshang's military report, Li Qin was immediately shocked and frowned.
Dong Zhonglou actually breached the Yellow River, turning the south bank of the Yellow River into a vast swamp.
Geng Zhixiang, the Marquis of Jinshun, who was leading the vanguard, and his tens of thousands of troops had lost contact and were likely in grave danger.
The southward-bound army suffered a crushing defeat as soon as it set off.
It can be said that his approval of Li Xuanshang's plan to conquer Henan was met with failure as soon as it began to be implemented.
Moreover, with the breaching of the Yellow River's banks, it is very likely that the area from Kaifeng to Lianghuai has become a vast flood zone.
The southward expansion strategy that he had just decided on had already failed before it even began.
Because he could not lead his army across the Yellow River floodplains to attack Jiangnan.
Most importantly, this area that has become a swamp is located in the heart of the Central Plains, the most populous region.
This time, it is likely that hundreds of thousands of people will die, and millions, or even tens of millions, will lose their homes, lose everything, and become refugees.
If no one provides disaster relief, millions of displaced people will wander around in search of food.
They will directly impact and disrupt areas that were not originally affected by the Yellow River breach.
This would completely disrupt and destroy the economic foundation of those areas, thereby causing the number of disaster-stricken areas and victims to continue to expand.
I absolutely cannot allow them to go north and disrupt the Hebei region that I have just occupied and that has not yet been ravaged by war.
I would absolutely not give away my own food to help the disaster victims.
Those were all kept for recruiting soldiers and for military provisions for the upcoming campaigns.
How could we possibly provide them with relief?
Having just taken over Hebei, we have ample manpower and are not lacking in these people at all.
They came here with no land and no money, and I have to support them for nothing.
Therefore, I need to quickly drive them away from my controlled area.
Of course, he now controls the capital and considers himself the legitimate ruler of the court.
Even though he doesn't provide food for disaster relief, he still has to do something to help.
He then instructed Zhu Qizhen to issue an edict ordering officials in Shaanxi, Huguang, and Henan—areas not affected by the disaster—to immediately organize porridge distribution and disaster relief.
Anyway, the imperial edict has been issued, and the court cares about the disaster victims. Whether the local officials accept the edict or not is their business.
He then privately wrote a letter to Li Xuanshang, who was at the front lines, as well as to officials in Zhili, Shandong, and other places.
They were instructed to guard their respective areas and prevent disaster victims from entering to beg for food and disrupt local order.
In his letter to Li Xuanshang, Li Qin also offered him words of comfort.
After telling him, he will issue an edict, reprimand him, and punish him.
This serves as punishment for the disastrous defeat caused by underestimating the enemy and acting rashly.
However, I hope he won't be discouraged, will learn from his mistakes and experiences, and will also seek advice from Liu Chenghui.
Improve your ability to lead troops and strive to become a victorious general.
After these private letters were sent out, the official imperial edicts were also issued in the open.
Li Qin then put away the map of Jiangnan in front of him.
He took out a map of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces.
He knew that as eastern Henan and the Huai River basin became a vast expanse of floodwaters, his only option was to head west.
Chang'an, Shaanxi.
Hong Chengchou looked at the news that Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen had declared himself emperor in Jinling.
He didn't say anything, but walked to the window with his hands behind his back.
After a moment's thought, he wrote a letter acknowledging Zhu Jianshen's ascension to the throne and the Jinling court's authority.
After the order was issued, Hong Chengchou continued to stand by the window with his hands behind his back.
He is currently facing both internal and external troubles in Shaanxi.
He had troops from four garrisons surrounding Shaanxi, and the powerful Yang family within his own ranks interfered with his actions.
He actually didn't want to acknowledge the Jinling court so quickly.
Instead, like other governors, he first consolidated military power and then waited to see what would happen.
However, the Yang family, especially its leader Yang Shizhong and the most powerful person in the family, Yang Zhiyong, have openly opposed Li Qinhou.
Most of the Yang family sided with them.
The Yang family had been in the Northwest for many years and had deep roots, while he was just a minor official sent to Shaanxi.
Previously, the Yang family had deep roots in the local area, and Yang Shizhong was the chief minister in the imperial court.
He never wanted to offend them.
Because his goal has always been to join the cabinet.
Fortunately, he didn't join the cabinet; otherwise, he would be either a corpse in the capital or Li Qin's lackey.
Without a doubt, from the moment Li Qin defeated the court and took the emperor hostage.
The imperial court has been completely controlled by Li Qin.
At this time, officials in various regions who had deep roots would immediately become local warlords, while those with shallow roots, without the deterrence of the imperial court, would not only fail to become local warlords, but might even lose their lives.
I haven't been in office in Shaanxi for very long, and although I have some connections, they are not very strong.
Especially in military power, the Yang family has deep roots in the Northwest over the past few decades. Many members of the Yang family hold positions in the 60,000-strong army in Shaanxi and the four garrisons in the Northwest.
Although he had won over many people, he did not have absolute control over the 60,000-strong army.
This was not obvious before, but with the disappearance of the imperial court's deterrent, the Jinling court was established.
The two dynasties were in opposition, one in the north and one in the south, and the governors and generals in various regions grew in power.
A chaotic era is about to begin.
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