Chapter Forty-Six: Gambling

  "Mr. Li, although my medical skills are not exceptional, I still have some ways to deal with external injuries. It's best to take a look at your young master as soon as possible."

  Li Jibai smiled wryly: "The child has been injured for several months, and I have sought out many famous doctors without any effect. To be honest, I don't quite trust Lord Gu's medical skills."

  "Mr. Li, if you don't trust me, why have you come looking for me?"

  Gu Zhenhua felt displeased in his heart and sought himself, how could he still be so impolite? This old man was indeed unappreciative.

  "Haha, Lord Gu, I'm just doing my duty. You shouldn't have come to Shanhai Pass. The world is vast and wide, where can't you settle down? Why must you come to this den of trouble?"

  Gu Zhenhua's eyebrows furrowed instantly. What had this old man seen, why was he saying such things, and who had sent him...

  In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Gu Zhenhua's mind, and he forced them down, smiling and saying: "Mr. Li, Shanhaiguan is the best pass in the world, with elite soldiers and brave generals, and Ping Xibo is also loyal to the Ming dynasty. I ask you, who else can resist Li Zicheng besides him? If I don't come here, where else can I go?"

  Li Jibei shook his head and sighed, "Guo Jun, if this is your true intention, I will never look up to you again. Shanhaiguan is narrow and the people are exhausted, it's impossible to resist Li Zicheng, Wu Sangui's only way out is to unite with the Qing, can't you see that?"

  Li Jibo, this thin old man, gave Gu Zhenhua a strange feeling from the moment they met. Although he was tired all over, his eyes shone with wisdom. Especially when he mentioned Manchu, it made Gu Zhenhua's jaw drop and he didn't know how to react.

  Li Jibai stood up, hands behind his back, took two steps forward and said: "Duke Gu, you don't need to suspect, this time I came over just to fulfill a bit of the duty of a Ming dynasty person, not wanting to watch loyal ministers and good generals jump into the fire pit. More than 20 years ago, I followed General Wang in Liaodong and Lord Jin to Shanhai Pass, at that time also thinking about rebuilding the mountains and rivers, one day restoring Liaodong. Who knew that more than 20 years have passed, not only have the mountains and rivers not been restored, but even the Ming dynasty's rivers and mountains are about to fall into the hands of the Tartars, really ashamed in front of all living things, ashamed in front of conscience!"

  The old man said, with tears streaming down his face, heartbroken and unable to stop.

  Gu Zhenhua was also startled by the side, and Wang Zhenjin's name was not unfamiliar to him. In the late Ming dynasty, Wang Zhenjin held high-ranking positions in the Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Personnel, and also served as the Governor of Liaodong. Having gone through four dynasties, his range of appointments was unusually broad, and he left behind a considerable number of writings that became primary materials for studying the Ming dynasty.

  However, this character has always been a synonym for weakness and incompetence in the orthodox academic community, becoming a foil to Sun Chengzong and Yuan Chonghuan. But after the rise of the internet, some grassroots overturned the old papers and came up with an earth-shattering conclusion.

  Perhaps someone can save the Ming Dynasty, but that person is definitely not Yuan Chonghuan, nor is it Sun Chenzong, but Wang Zaijin!

  Gu Zhenhua also looked through some historical materials, especially those related to the controversy over the city wall of Bali Pu. At that time, the Ming Dynasty suffered a disastrous defeat in Guangning, and 140,000 troops were annihilated, losing all the land in western Liaoning. Wang Zaijin was appointed as the military commander of Liaodong during the crisis, he advocated for strategic contraction, temporarily abandoning Liaodong, and focusing on the construction of Shanhai Pass and the city wall of Bali Pu. At the same time, he united with the Mongols south of the Gobi Desert to jointly restrain the Jurchen people.

  There is no doubt that Wang Zhen's strategy in Shanxi was the best choice to spend the least, let the Ming dynasty rest and rejuvenate, and focus on solving internal problems. However, that emperor's teacher Sun Chengzong jumped out, Wang Zhen carefully calculated for 930,000 taels of silver for the eight-li city wall, while that emperor's teacher spent more than 5 million taels of silver in one year, without even building a single li of border wall.

  The huge financial burden forced the Ming Dynasty to impose "three taxes", extorting the people, resulting in the uprising of Li Zicheng and others, fighting on two fronts, which finally exhausted the Great Ming Dynasty.

  Just thinking about it, Gu Zhenhua also had a deep respect for Li Jibei. Being able to serve as an assistant to a big shot like Wang Zijin, this old man was not simple either!

  "Mr. Li, I also have great admiration for Mr. Wang's farsightedness, what instructions do you have, sir? I am all ears."

  "Alas, even with deep plans and far-sightedness, it's all in vain if not used. Let's not talk about this anymore. This time, I've come to remind you, Lord Gu, that if you truly are loyal to the Great Ming, you should immediately head south, escape to Nanjing, perhaps there's still a glimmer of hope. Shanhai Pass can't be held any longer."

  "Mr. Li, even if Ping Xi Bo wants to unite with Man Qing, it's just a cooperation between the two parties, isn't it? It's not impossible to salvage!"

  "Nonsense!" Li Jibai said bluntly: "Anyone who thinks this way is brainless, a complete idiot!"

  Scolded by the old man, Gu Zhenhua also looked disheveled and had no choice but to lower his head.

  Li Jibei looked at Gu Zhenhua and smiled again: "Gu Jun, I know you're not a fool, but you don't trust me yet. However, I'm telling you that this time I came to do my duty as a Ming official. Wu Sangui has long been in contact with the Qing dynasty, and now he's probably already sent someone to ask for reinforcements. The Qing dynasty has repeatedly raided the Central Plains, and they've already figured out the details of the Ming dynasty. This time, the Qing will definitely take advantage of the situation and enter the pass. I heard that the regent king Dorgon is treacherous and sinister, and he intends to take over the Ming dynasty's throne. How can he tolerate the Ming prince? In my opinion, Wu Sangui will probably surrender to the Qing, just like his uncle Zu Dashou, and become a traitor!"

  Li Jibai said up to here, took a long breath: "I have nothing more to say, what to do next is for Master Gu to decide!"

  The old man finished speaking and walked outside, Gu Zhenhua gritted his teeth and said: "Sir, wait a minute!"

  When Gu Zhenhua heard Li Jibei's words, he was shocked and amazed. His speculation was exactly the same as history. There were only two possibilities: either this old man was a bit more insightful than others, able to see through things, or Wu Sangui had intentionally sent this old man to test him...

  Dare or not dare to gamble, if you win the bet, you may have gained a powerful ally, but if you lose the bet, Wu Sangui will probably chop you down immediately!

  Gu Zhenhua had turned it over in his mind thousands of times, and his brain was about to burst. Just as Li Jibai was about to leave the door, he made up his mind to take a gamble and called out to stop the old man. The two men looked at each other, both revealing a hint of a smile that showed they were on the same wavelength.

  "Mr. Li, to be honest with you, I also expected Wu Sangui would surrender to the Qing dynasty, but I have no choice but to go to Shanhai Pass."

  Li Jibo furrowed his brow and sat down opposite Gu Zhenhua, unable to help but say: "Gu Gongzi, I heard that you rushed out of the capital with the crown prince and the will, can't you protect the crown prince to Nanjing? That's a vast expanse!"

  Gu Zhenhua sighed: "Mr. Li, even Chongzhen couldn't save the Ming dynasty, what can his son do? If we don't solve the root of the problem, going to Nanjing will just be a prolonging of our desperate struggle."

  "Then you'd be of some use if you stayed?"

  "Haha, to be honest with you, I've brought out several hundred brothers from the capital and a large amount of weapons and funds. I'm waiting for Li Zicheng and Wu Sangui's big battle, once it gets chaotic, I'll take advantage of the situation and transport these things to the south. With real power, I can challenge the weaknesses of the Ming dynasty, otherwise if I go to the south alone, most likely I'll just be given an official title and hung high up, unable to gain any real power!"

  Li Jibei stared at Gu Zhenhua for a long time before bursting into laughter: "Gu Jun, I underestimated you. You're thinking so deeply! However, it's easy to know but hard to do. The three powers of Chu Wang, Guanning Army and Manchu are like three giant elephants. You, Gu Jun, are just an ant, and if you're not careful, you'll be trampled to death. Especially once Wu Sangui confirms cooperation with the Manchu, he will definitely offer his head as a gift. If things go wrong, your head might be gone, and all your grand ambitions will be just a dream!"

  Gu Zhenhua spread his hands and smiled: "Mr. Li, I'm also worried, since you've taken the initiative to find me, you should help me out."

  "No way." Li Jibai said bluntly: "I've said it, I'm just doing my part, and I won't bother with anything else."

  Gu Zhenhua was also anxious: "Mr. Li, you followed Wang in Jin's adult life, didn't you learn any loyalty and righteousness? Moreover, you are also a disciple of the sage, a descendant of Huaxia. What the Qing dynasty did outside the pass, you know very well, shaving your hair and changing your clothes, a good person with a pigtail. The old slave even killed rich households, killed poor ghosts, hundreds of millions of Liaoning people, almost all died. If his descendants enter the Central Plains, how many families will be ruined, and everyone will wear a pigtail, calling themselves slaves, can you bear it?"

  "Unbearable!" Li Jibai laughed and said: "If that day really comes, I'll hang myself from the beam."

  "Coward! You've wasted your talent and insight. The Ming dynasty fell because of people like you!" Just when he finally had a helper who could make a difference, this person turned out to be useless, infuriating Gu Zhenhua to the point where he harshly scolded him in a loud voice.

  "Scolded well!" Li Jibo burst out laughing, but his eyes welled up with tears: "I've already passed my 60th birthday, and I only have one son whose life or death is still uncertain. Originally, I had no interest in living anymore, what's there to care about?"

  "Old Li, how about we make a bet? If I can save your son, you'll help me out. If not, then go ahead and hang me!"