Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 254 Old friends
In the hall, all the officials from Huguang soon left, leaving only He Tengjiao and Liu Xiangke still sitting in the hall.
At this time, all the ministers left. He Tengjiao, who had been silent from the beginning, finally looked at Liu Xiangke below and said in a deep voice:
"I know that Liu Chengyin has always been arrogant and rebellious, but since the court has such a strong military force, why does it have to be so hasty?"

"The imperial court has a large army at its disposal, and there are many ways to deal with Liu Chengyin and make him surrender. Why must such a cruel method be used? Doesn't the imperial court know that such actions will cause panic among the people of Huguang?"

Hearing this, Liu Xiangke looked up at He Tengjiao, who was looking serious, but suddenly chuckled and said

"It is better to have people in panic than to have troops to defend themselves"

He Tengjiao saw the casual look on Liu Xiangke's face, but his heart sank. Just from Liu Xiangke's attitude, he knew that the imperial court would not let it go in Hunan Province this time.

Since the imperial envoys came to Hunan last year, He Tengjiao has been investigating the newly enthroned His Royal Highness Gui.

Although He Tengjiao had never seen His Royal Highness Gui, he had a vague idea of ​​his appearance based on the intelligence he had received from the court.

This Regent is very young and should be very good at commanding troops. The court has received several reports that this Regent personally led the army to fight. The court would never use such news carelessly. If it is said that he personally led the army, then the Regent must have led the army personally.
This prince led the army to victory twice, which at least shows that this prince must be knowledgeable about military affairs, and the military power in the court must be under the control of this prince or the ministers in the court, otherwise it would not be possible to have such a great victory.

The image of this prince began to become clear. He was orthodox, young and vigorous, commanded a large army and had won many victories. Such a lord must be extremely domineering and would not tolerate anyone's disobedience.

Therefore, after Liu Chengyin gathered his troops to resist the imperial order, the court immediately sent troops to suppress and kill him. This is consistent with He Tengjiao's speculation about the prince's temperament.

It was a relief for the court to suddenly send out a large army to wipe out the rebels, but the situation in Huguang was not that simple.

As the Governor-General of Huguang, he was already a high-ranking official, but in recent years he still had to bow his head to the military commanders of various towns in Huguang and compromise with them. This was because the situation in Huguang was too complicated and could not tolerate any reckless actions.

He Tengjiao looked at Liu Xiangke below, his face sank, and he said

"Since the imperial court knew that the Qing army was about to enter Huguang, Huguang should have kept calm at this time. If the imperial court suddenly attacked and killed Liu Chengyin, everyone in Huguang would be in danger. How could they gather troops to defend Hunan Province?"

"What's worse, if these generals become rebellious and surrender to the Qing invaders, the situation in Huguang will deteriorate immediately, and Hunan Province may also be lost. Haven't the officials in the court thought about the consequences of the loss of Hunan Province?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangke looked up at He Tengjiao, who was looking serious. His expression immediately turned cold, and he said

"Is this the confidence you and other officials in Huguang have to command your own troops and do things on your own?"

"You people from Huguang, are you trying to threaten the imperial court by surrendering to the Qing invaders?"

He Tengjiao's expression changed when he heard this. He was about to open his mouth to explain, but Liu Xiangke did not stop and continued to speak.

"Xiang Province fell?"

"We can lose Hunan Province if we want to. We can fight for it back. Now the imperial court cannot collect taxes from Hunan Province, nor can it mobilize soldiers. What use is there for the imperial court to have Hunan Province?"

After hearing what Liu Xiangke said, He Tengjiao could no longer maintain his calm expression. He looked at Liu Xiangke below with astonishment, his eyes full of disbelief.

It was not until this time that He Tengjiao finally understood the court's attitude towards Hunan Province. The court was actually ready to give up Hunan Province.

After confirming the court's bottom line, He Tengjiao instantly understood the court's previous actions. Taking Yongzhou and Wugang was not only to guard against the officials of Huguang, but also to be able to march into Hunan at any time. Killing Liu Chengyin was to deter and force the generals of Huguang to fight a decisive battle with the Qing.

The imperial court was not afraid of their rebellion at all. The imperial court wanted to use the knife of the Qing court to thoroughly clean up the towns in Huguang. Those who should surrender would surrender, those who should rebel would rebel, and those who should be loyal to the imperial court would be loyal to the imperial court. After thoroughly distinguishing between the enemy and us, the imperial court would march forward to retake Huguang.

During the Longwu reign, the Ming court was weak and powerless, and had no power to influence the situation in Huguang. Therefore, no matter how domineering He Tengjiao and the officials in Huguang were, as long as they still nominally respected the Ming court as the orthodoxy, the court could only tolerate and win them over.

Although Huguang also had no troops and no taxes to pay to the court at that time, for the Longwu court, which was competing with Lu Fan for legitimacy, as long as Huguang was willing to submit to the court, it would be of great significance to the Longwu court.

If Huguang submitted to the emperor, the Longwu Dynasty could then pretend to have half the country under its control and compete with the Lu vassal state for legitimacy.

But the current Guangdong provincial government obviously does not think so.

The Guangdong court defeated the Qing army in Fujian and recaptured Fujian. After this great victory, the morale of the court was completely different from that of the previous dynasty.

The imperial court now had a large army and could even fight against the Qing invaders head-on. Naturally, it could no longer tolerate the Huguang people who were acting independently under the banner of the imperial court.
The officials of Huguang believed that they had not received any money from the court, but they had defended Huguang for the court, which was obviously a great contribution to the court. However, the court of Guangdong Province obviously did not think so.
In the eyes of the Guangdong Provincial Court, these people from Huguang not only robbed Huguang’s grain tax, but also imposed heavy taxes in Huguang under the name of the court, and even often threatened the court with their large army to demand payment.
The imperial court did not gain a penny from Huguang, and on the contrary, its reputation was ruined by these Huguang military leaders. If this is the case, what is the use of Huguang for the imperial court?
For the Longwu court, although the court could not control Huguang, as long as the people of Huguang were still in the front, they could block the Qing invaders for the court and ensure the safety of the Lingnan provinces in the rear.
But for the Guangdong court, the court already had the strength to stop the Qing court. Even if Huguang rebelled, the court had the confidence to protect the safety of Guangxi Province, and even had the confidence to counterattack and retake Hunan Province.

With this confidence, the imperial court will no longer restrict Huguang.

The difference in the two dynasties' attitudes towards Huguang was ultimately due to the fact that the Guangdong court now had an army that truly obeyed the court's orders.

The victory of Fujian Province not only had a great impact on the Qing court, but also had a great impact on the court of Guangdong Province. After this battle, the officials of Guangdong Province had the confidence to pacify the local area, and the court naturally could no longer tolerate the various domineering behaviors of Huguang.

He Tengjiao understood the intentions of the imperial court, but he suddenly began to panic. Although he wanted to control the power of Huguang, he believed that what he did was to defend the territory for the Ming Dynasty.
He was unwilling to give up his position in Huguang because he thought the situation in Huguang was complicated and that apart from him, He Tengjiao, no one in the court could maintain the situation in Huguang.

It has been three years since He Tengjiao rode into Hunan alone. In the past three years, the central military formations in Hunan Province have been rising up, and the military towns in various places have become arrogant and domineering. Others think that He Tengjiao is in power in Huguang and has unlimited glory, but who knows how difficult the situation in Huguang is?

Over the years, he has been maneuvering between various parties, bowing his head to these military towns, and swallowing his anger. This is how he managed to maintain the situation in Hunan Province and defend this southwestern corner for the court.

He believed that even if he had no merit, he had worked hard. No, he thought that he was a minister of state, a pillar of the southwest.

However, the attitude of the Guangdong Provincial Court at this time shattered his complacency. The situation in Hunan Province that he had maintained by working so hard to connect all parties was ultimately worthless in the eyes of the court.

The imperial court would rather abandon Hunan Province than be threatened by the officials of Huguang. Then what achievements can be made from his hard work in Hunan Province over the years?
When He Tengjiao thought of this, he became more and more panicked. He was the governor of Huguang. If the court decided not to give up Huguang, then what was the use of him as the governor of Huguang?

If Hunan Province were lost, his years of hard work would be destroyed, and he would inevitably end up in disgrace.

He Tengjiao has worked hard for several years and he cannot just give up here!

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in He Tengjiao's eyes. He suddenly looked at Liu Xiangke below and said

"The towns in Huguang are becoming more and more arrogant. I have no way of governing Huguang, which is why these warriors have become more powerful."

"Please ask Censor Liu to report to the court and immediately send a large army to Wugang and Yongzhou. I am willing to assist the court in taking back Hunan Province!"

"I have been stationed in Hunan Province for a long time and am familiar with the towns in Huguang. I will find a way to transfer the troops from various towns to Xiangyin in the name of gathering troops."

"As soon as the main forces of the towns leave, the court will immediately send troops to capture the cities, so that the court can quickly take back the prefectures."

"After the imperial court captured each city, it should immediately control the families of the military commanders in each town. At that time, each town was far away in Xiangyin, so even if there was a rebellion, the impact could be minimized."

"If the towns suddenly lose their rear bases, people will be in a panic. The imperial court also holds the families of the towns. When the time comes, the imperial court will appeal to them with righteousness, and the towns will surely submit, and Hunan Province can also return to the imperial court's control."

Liu Xiangke looked at He Tengjiao with a serious expression, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He did not expect that He Tengjiao would take the initiative to cooperate with the court to take back Hunan Province.

But Liu Xiangke secretly shook his head in his heart. If He Tengjiao had returned to the court directly last year, the court might have followed He Tengjiao's words and recovered Hunan Province first. But now it is too late.
Liu Xiangke took a deep look at the old man above him and said in a deep voice

"The western bandit Zhang Xianzhong was shot and killed by the Qing invaders in Sichuan and Shu a month ago. Your Highness has now led the imperial army to your province."

He Tengjiao was also stunned when he heard this. He had never thought that the Western bandit who had been wreaking havoc in the Central Plains for more than ten years was actually dead. However, He Tengjiao quickly reacted and immediately spoke

"Your Highness, are you planning to follow the example of the Loyalty Camp and recruit the remaining Western bandits to surrender?" "Yes."

When He Tengjiao heard what Liu Xiangke said, his expression suddenly changed and he immediately said

"When did His Highness leave? No, I want to see His Highness in person."

"The situation in Huguang is critical right now. How can the court give up the near and seek the far to persuade the western bandits to surrender?"

Liu Xiangke looked at He Tengjiao with a serious expression, but shook his head slightly. He naturally knew why He Tengjiao was so anxious.

He Tengjiao's plan required the cooperation of the army. At this time, the imperial army left, and He Tengjiao's plan became a mirage.
Given the current situation in Hunan Province, it is not easy to rely on the various military towns in Hunan Province to stop the Qing army. Once Hunan Province collapses and falls, He Tengjiao, the Governor of Huguang, will also be held accountable.

But Liu Xiangke knew that His Royal Highness the Regent would never return to Hunan Province at this time. Liu Xiangke was also a minister of the Military Affairs Council, and he also participated in the military discussion that day.

His Highness the Regent is heading to the southwest not only to subdue the remaining Daxi tribes, but also to resolve the rebellion in Yunnan Province and deal with the chaos in Sichuan Province.
If He Tengjiao's plan is followed, the army will inevitably be held back in Hunan Province. The court has already reserved a backup plan in Hunan Province. No matter how important Hunan Province is, it can never be more important than the three southwestern provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

Liu Xiangke also spoke softly at this time

"Governor He, don't waste your energy. The expedition to the southwest was proposed by His Highness himself. It was a strategy decided after consultation with the ministers and military honors in the court. This is the public opinion of the court."

"Now the food, fodder and military equipment of the imperial court have been continuously transported to your province. Even if Governor He goes to see His Highness, the imperial court will never return to Hunan Province."

He Tengjiao heard this, his face was gloomy, and he couldn't help but say

"Could it be that this mere Western bandit is more important than Hunan Province? What on earth are the officials of the imperial court thinking?"

When Liu Xiangke heard that He Tengjiao had actually started to criticize the imperial court, his face turned cold. The imperial court's major plans were decided by His Highness and the court officials, and he was one of them. How could He Tengjiao, a governor of another province, question it?

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangke immediately spoke up

"Just a Western thief?"

"Back then, the Western bandits also invaded Hunan Province. Generals from Hunan Province like Huang Chaoxuan and Cao Zhijian may be able to defeat the Western bandits."

"Back then, the Western bandits plundered Hunan Province, but these people only knew how to defend themselves and didn't even dare to leave the city. How dare such people look down on the Western bandits?"

He Tengjiao was also stunned when he heard this, but he understood what Liu Xiangke meant. The imperial court clearly looked down on the generals of Hunan Province, so they chose to go to your province to persuade the western bandits to surrender.

When He Tengjiao thought of this, he became more and more angry. Even if the Western bandits were stronger, so what? The Shun bandits and the Western bandits were all bandits and vagrants. How could they be trusted?
No matter how incompetent the generals of Hunan Province are, they are after all the direct descendants of the imperial court. How can they be compared with those bandits!
He Tengjiao was about to refute, but before he could say anything, he suddenly fell silent.
Huang Chaoxuan, Cao Zhijian and others were indeed from the imperial army, but they had been abusing the locals for the past two years, often extorting money and plundering. What difference was there between what they did and the Western bandits?

The Western bandits and the Shun bandits cannot be trusted, but how can people like Huang Chaoxuan be trusted? The generals of Huguang are arrogant and threatening the court openly. In the eyes of the court, these people from Hunan Province are probably traitors.

He Tengjiao suddenly fell silent for a long time. Liu Xiangke saw He Tengjiao's depressed look and thought that the time was right.

Liu Xiangke's eyes flashed, and he suddenly took off his hat and said:

"Mr. He is an old friend of Mr. Yongmao. I am Mr. He's junior. There is no one else around, so I will tell Mr. He the truth."

Liu Xiangke was recommended by Li Yongmao in the past and just entered the official career. It is not an exaggeration to say that he was Liu Xiangke's mentor.
Li Yongmao was from Nanyang, and He Tengjiao was the magistrate of Nanyang when he was first appointed as an official. Nanyang was the first stop for He Tengjiao to take up official duties.

He Tengjiao and Li Yongmao were old acquaintances. During the Hongguang reign, He Tengjiao was the governor of Huguang, while Li Yongmao was the governor of Gan Province. The two provinces were adjacent to each other, and the exchanges between the two sides were very close.

When He Tengjiao heard that Liu Xiangke was actually Li Yongmao's disciple, a hint of joy flashed across his face. No matter how much official words were said, sometimes they were not as important as these few words in private.

"It turns out that the guest student is actually Brother Xiaoyuan's disciple. Brother Xiaoyuan and I have known each other for a long time. We are indeed close friends." Li Yongmao took the name Xiaoyuan.

At this time, He Tengjiao also took off his official hat and smiled. Liu Xiangke and He Tengjiao briefly talked about their friendship, but did not talk too much. He straightened his face and said

"Mr. He has not returned to the court for a long time, so he does not know the character of His Highness. His Highness, the Regent, is brave and sharp. The court elders Qu Shisi, Lu Daqi, He Wuzuo and others privately discuss that His Highness must be the Han Guangwu of our Ming Dynasty."

"Your Highness has wandered between Hunan and Guangxi in the past, and you are familiar with the people's sentiments. You have a deep insight and are not someone that can be deceived. When Mr. He refused to obey the imperial edict, your Highness was furious."

He Tengjiao's expression changed slightly when he heard this, and he was about to explain, but before he could say anything, Liu Xiangke waved his hand to stop him and said

"Mr. He, you don't need to explain to me what your difficulties are. Mr. He, you just need to know that when Your Highness made the decision that day, he decided to capture the two cities of Yongzhou and Wugang, and then march west directly, leaving Hunan Province to fend for itself."

"It was only after the court officials urged His Highness that he decided to inform Huguang of the Qing invasion and provide the Governor's Office with 2,000 shi of food and money every month to help Huguang resist the enemy."

He Tengjiao's expression changed slightly when he heard this. No one in Hunan Province knew about the news of Huguang's invasion.

Now the towns are scattered all over Hunan Province. If the imperial court really ignores Huguang as originally planned, once the Qing army suddenly gathers troops to attack, He Tengjiao dare not even think about what the consequences will be. It is not impossible that the entire Hunan Province will collapse.

Seeing the solemn expression on He Tengjiao's face, Liu Xiangke nodded slightly and continued to speak.

"Your Highness, the Regent, has great ambitions. Since he ascended the throne, he has always been thinking about restoring the country. This is also what your Highness values ​​most."

"Mr. He, your only way to survive now is to find a way to defend Hunan Province. If Mr. He can still defend Hunan Province and hand it over to the court when His Highness returns from the southwest, then Mr. He will have a day to return to the court."

He Tengjiao heard this and said in a deep voice

"Each town in Huguang has its own selfish motives. Even if we gather these people together, if we really encounter the Qing army, they will most likely scatter in an instant."

"The only thing I have available now is a battalion under my command, but it is extremely difficult to defend Hunan Province with this battalion alone."

Liu Xiangke was unmoved by what he heard. He looked at He Tengjiao above and said softly:

"We will defend as many as we can. I only want to tell you one thing. When the court decided to take Wugang and Yongzhou, someone suggested that we take Hengzhou as well. However, Your Highness directly rejected the suggestion. Do you know why?"

He Tengjiao was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then he immediately understood the intention of His Highness the Regent. The expression on He Tengjiao's face immediately became gloomy. His Highness hated Huguang so much.
Liu Xiangke saw He Tengjiao's expression and knew that He Tengjiao understood His Royal Highness the Regent's intention, so he spoke in a deep voice.

"We must at least defend Hengzhou, and we must restrain the generals of Huguang. We must not let the chaotic troops of Arc enter Yongzhou and Wugang."

"Mr. He should be clear about the imperial court's intention of occupying the two places, which is to ensure the safety of Guangxi Province."

"I might as well inform Mr. He that His Highness has already issued an order that if the Huguang rebels break into the two places, the defenders of the two cities will directly regard them as traitors and strangle them without mercy."

"I have said all I can say. As for the rest of Huguang's affairs, I can only rely on Mr. He."

After Liu Xiangke finished speaking, he took the gauze hat on the table and walked out of the hall without waiting for He Tengjiao to persuade him to stay.
The hall was finally empty at this time. He Tengjiao sat in the empty hall, thinking about Liu Xiangke's words, with an uncertain expression on his face.

(End of this chapter)