[Author’s note: Don’t think that the fireplace was passed down from the West. In fact, there was a fireplace in ancient China, but the form was slightly different from that in the West.]

Although the cold winter is gradually fading away, although you can occasionally see the smiling face of the sun, and although you can see the green of the grass in some areas, the cold and darkness that enveloped the high-level officials of the Great Jin Kingdom have never dissipated. No matter how powerful the heating comes from the fireplace can't dispel the cold on them.

In the cold winter of the past, the Great Jin Kingdom suffered unprecedented losses. This was the coldest winter in their memory and the worst winter. There were many horses, cattle and sheep that were frozen to death. Some horses, cattle and sheep were even froze to death, one shed in sheds, one shed, one nest after another, one nest after another. The herdsmen who were crying but no tears were everywhere.

No one can accurately count how many horses, cattle and sheep were frozen to death because this is simply impossible to count. In short, one feeling is that there are many, many herdsmen who were frozen to death. There are no accurate numbers in the top leaders of the Great Jin Dynasty. There may not be many people who died of frozen to death in the area around Chenyang, but no one can guarantee it in remote areas. The Great Jin Dynasty's control area is very large, and some places do not implement effective rule, but just a random name.

As for how many Han slaves were frozen to death, no one knew. In the past winter, who was the most miserable group of people was definitely Han slaves from Liaodong. The Manchus in the Great Jin Dynasty did not have enough winter supplies, and as slaves, of course, they could not get cold protection supplies. It can be said that there were many Han slaves who were frozen to death.

It’s a pity that no one would mention their existence. Even Zhang Zhun would not mention their existence. Regarding Han slaves, Zhang Zhun’s basic attitude is to mourn his misfortune and not fight. If they bravely rise up and flee to the area controlled by the Hu Ben Army, they will at least not be frozen to death.

The Hu Ben Army entered Liaodong last summer, and when winter came, there would be three months. If the Han slaves had the confidence and courage to escape, they would still have the chance to run out. If they had no confidence, no courage, and just waited for the Hu Ben Army to rescue them, they would have to accept the training of this cold winter.

By using a large amount of wood to exchange, the Great Jin Kingdom obtained some basic supplies from the Tiger Army. However, these supplies only helped the Great Jin Kingdom through the cold winter, but could not help the Great Jin Kingdom stop the Tiger Army from continuing to move forward. No matter how stupid Zhang Zhun was, he would not be so stupid that he could give the Great Jin Army supplies that could be armed.

In the cold winter of the past, the Great Jin Kingdom was working hard to tap the potential of war and organize more manpower, material and financial resources. Even Huang Taiji himself once went back to Hetuara in the severe cold and brought out many of the Manchu ancestors. However, everyone present knew that their efforts and the efforts of the Hu Ben Army were completely different.

Some of the Hu Ben Army are supplies, some are personnel, and some are equipment. In one winter, the Hu Ben Army can arm tens of thousands, or even tens of thousands. In this cold winter, Huang Taiji tried his best to do everything and tried his best to increase his troops by less than 5,000.

In a long winter, only five thousand soldiers were added. Huang Taiji himself felt that the Great Jin Kingdom was really at the end of his life. If it were in the past, the number of five thousand soldiers seemed to be pretty good, and he could deal with at least 50,000 Ming army. But in front of the Hu Ben Army, five thousand people were not enough!

The reserves of weapons are better. In the past ten years, the Jin army has seized a large number of weapons from the Ming army, including swords, guns, swords, halberds, armor, etc. In the past, these weapons were disdained by the Jin army. They all felt that with the bows and arrows in their hands, they could completely eliminate the enemy.

Now, these inventories of weapons and equipment have been dug out and used by the new warriors. Huang Taiji only hoped that no matter what method he took or what kind of weapons he used, as long as he could cause trouble for the Hu Ben Army, as long as he could kill and injured the Hu Ben Army, it would be enough. He did not dare to ask for anything else.

However, this army is indeed a big problem. In the previous battle with the Hu Ben Army, the Great Jin Kingdom lost too many people. Without enough soldiers, facing the attack from the three directions of the Hu Ben Army, even if Huang Taiji had all his strength, he could not use it.

Spring is coming, ice and snow melt, and a new battle is about to begin. There is enough intelligence to show that in the surrounding areas of the Great Jin Kingdom, the Tiger Army is constantly accumulating troops, and as long as the climate is right, they will launch a new offensive. It can be said that the current situation in the Great Jin Kingdom is in danger and in danger.

"Recover Shenyang within two years!"

This is what Zhang Zhun said last year, and all the senior officials of the Great Jin Kingdom knew about it.

At that time, the senior officials of the Great Jin Dynasty were full of resentment and contempt for this sentence, and were quite dissatisfied. At that time, they were all thinking that your Hu Ben Army is indeed powerful, but if you want to recover Shenyang in two years, it would be too unfair to take the Great Jin Dynasty seriously. What an arrogant slogan to destroy the country in two years!

Although the Great Jin Dynasty was defeated in Northern Zhili, it still had some strength in Liaodong. The Manchus in Liaodong were all soldiers, and as long as the Manchus who could pick up weapons, they would fight bravely with the Hu Ben Army. Fighting at their doorstep, our Great Jin Army's combat effectiveness must be improved at least several levels.

As a result, a cold winter came, and the Great Jin Dynasty was frozen back to its original form. They suddenly discovered that in fact, the Tiger Army did not need to fight face to face with them. They just needed to firmly *** Liaodong and not give any cold-proof materials to freeze at least half of the people in the Great Jin Dynasty to death. As time goes by, more people will definitely be frozen to death. It is simply a joke that everyone is full of soldiers.

Now they finally have to face the reality helplessly. It is obvious that the Great Jin Kingdom now has no strength to stop the Hu Ben Army's large-scale attack. The only thing they can do is to hold on to Shenyang for two years to see if they can break Zhang Zhun's curse.

Yes, this is the cruelest reality.

Whether you are willing to admit it or not, cruel reality exists.

Today, all the high-ranking nobles of the Great Jin Kingdom gathered here to discuss the future prospects of the Great Jin Kingdom. This is no longer a problem for Huang Taiji alone, but a problem for the high-ranking officials of the entire Great Jin Kingdom. Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country, and this sentence also applies to the Great Jin Kingdom.

Where is the future path of the Great Jin Kingdom? Fighting bloody battles with the Hu Ben Army to the end, destroying all the jade and stones, extermination of the race? Retreat northward, retreating to the deep mountains and forests that the Han people could not chase, and live like a rat? Surrender to the Hu Ben Army, and seeking a humiliating opportunity to survive?

Because the topic was really heavy, the nobles did not have the desire to speak. The atmosphere at the scene was a bit depressing, and the bursting sound of the burning charcoal was clearly visible. At this time, tobacco had not been promoted in China, so no one smoked, and everyone used other channels to relieve their inner depression and anxiety.

There were a few new faces attending today's meeting. One was Nurhaci's third son, Meleezhen Abai. One was Nurhaci's fourth son, Melezhangjingtang in ancient times. One was Nurhaci's fifth son, Dorobele Mangguertai. The other was Nurhaci's nephew, the famous Amin.

In addition, Nurhaci's other sons, Babutai, Degele, Babuhai, Laimub and Feiyanggu, were all among them, but they had relatively little power and basically did not affect the decisive factors of the meeting. On such occasions, they were all qualified listeners.

Huang Taiji's expression looked quite haggard. He tried hard to cheer himself up, but in the end he found that he could not do it at all. After a winter, his face became thin and black, his beard became very long, and his eyes were still deeply sunken. If he hadn't been wearing pretty decent clothes and messing his hair a little bit, he would have looked like a beggar in the wild.

To be honest, Huang Taiji was really not at all happy last winter. Needless to say, his despair about the future is the heaviest burden. He was like a mouse falling into a puddle, surrounded by high and slippery walls that could not climb up at all. The only thing he could do was wait for the slowly coming of death.

It is necessary that before the meeting begins, Huang Taiji must bear all the current guilt of the Great Jin Kingdom. He must make a heavy self-examination in front of all the nobles. Although he is the Great Khan and the "emperor" of the Great Jin Kingdom, his strength no longer exists under such circumstances. He must get the support of other nobles.

Fortunately, his "Self-sinning Edict" was basically quite sincere. After hearing Huang Taiji's Sinning Edict, the senior officials of the Great Jin Kingdom did not have much questioned him. To be fair, Huang Taiji did a good job in the past long period of time. Without Huang Taiji's leadership, the Great Jin Kingdom could not have become so strong. However, he met an opponent like Zhang Zhun. Who would have thought that there would be monsters like Zhang Zhun in this world?

"I agree with you to choose the new Khan."

Huang Taiji's obscure tone.

No one answered.

If we had recommended a new Khan in the past, everyone present would have been defeated. Who wouldn't want to get involved in the throne of Khan? However, in the current situation, Khan of the Great Jin Kingdom was smoking. Idiots knew that no matter who was, as long as they became this Khan, they would probably become Zhang Zhun's nail in the flesh and thorn in his eyes.
Chapter completed!