Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 277 Recall
In the early morning of Chuxiong City, Yang Weizhi arrived at the top of the city wall as usual.

Yang Weizhi was wearing a scarlet official robe, but at this time the robe had been stained with blood and turned dark red. After having breakfast with the soldiers on the top of the city wall and arranging the defenses of various places on the top of the city wall, Yang Weizhi stood at a corner of the top of the city wall, waiting for Sha Dingzhou outside the city to attack.
This kind of life has lasted for four or five months. Yang Weizhi didn't know how long he could hold on. He only knew that as long as he survived, Chuxiong would always be the Chuxiong of the Ming Dynasty, and he would never allow the rebels to enter the city.

Yang Weizhi waited for half an hour, but the rebels who should have arrived at the city in the past were nowhere to be seen today.
Yang Weizhi looked suspicious and waited for another quarter of an hour, but still no rebels arrived. Not even a single rebel cavalryman who had blocked the city in the past was seen.

Yang Weizhi could no longer bear it and called his generals to go out of the city to investigate.

Not long after, the guerrilla Wang Chengxian came hurriedly, with a look of doubt on his face, and said

"Councilor Yang, the scouts reported back that the bandits seemed to have retreated. The scouts took a risk and sneaked into the bandit camp, but found that the camp was already empty."

"empty?"

Yang Weizhi was also shocked when he heard this. Shadingzhou had been besieging the city for four or five months, and it was obvious that they would not give up until Chuxiong was defeated.

The soldiers in Chuxiong City suffered heavy casualties. Now even the civilians in the city have been mobilized to climb the city walls. Yang Weizhi himself doesn't know how long he can hold out.
Now that the city was about to collapse, Sha Dingzhou suddenly withdrew his troops without any warning. For a moment, Yang Weizhi was at a loss.

Yang Weizhi didn't believe it, so he sent another group of soldiers to investigate the city. The soldiers soon returned and found that the camp outside the city was really empty.

Yang Weizhi thought for a moment, then sneered and suddenly said

"I understand. This must be a conspiracy by the bandits. They want to pretend to withdraw troops, lure us out of the city to get supplies, and then set up an ambush to kill the troops in the city."

"This thief has such a grand opportunity, but instead of taking advantage of it, he chose to resort to such a petty conspiracy. He is truly extremely stupid."

"The Sand Bandits are plotting, but we can take this opportunity to rest!"

"Spread the word to the city, this is a conspiracy by the Sand Bandits, continue to guard the four gates tightly, and all soldiers are not allowed to go out."

"Today, the army defending the city has been reduced by half. The soldiers in the city have been taking turns to rest these days. We will wait for the enemy to tire out. I want to see how long this bandit can endure."

Guerrilla Wang Chengxian's face flashed with realization when he heard this. The bandits had the upper hand, but they suddenly retreated at this moment. It must be like what Yang said, they were trying to win by trickery.

At this time, Councillor Yang had already seen through the bandits' tricks, so he took advantage of the situation and took the opportunity to recuperate. As long as they did not leave the city, the bandits' ambush of millions would be in vain.

Wang Chengxian quickly withdrew and began to arrange for the soldiers in the city to take turns to rest. Yang Weizhi was still watching from the top of the city for the first two days, but after waiting for two days and seeing that the bandits had not come, he also began to go down the city to rest.

Yang Weizhi and his men held the city for five days. On the sixth day, a troop of more than 2,000 soldiers finally approached the city.

Yang Weizhi looked at the soldiers under the city and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was not afraid of the enemy army's attack, but he was afraid that the enemy army would suddenly disappear and he didn't know what conspiracy they were planning in secret.

More than 2,000 soldiers arrived at the city, and then several cavalrymen rushed to the city and shouted

"Jin Cang Dao Yang Weizhi is here. The imperial army entered Yunnan to suppress the rebellion and has now recovered Kunming."

"Sha Dingzhou has withdrawn his troops and fled. We have been ordered to come here to pick up Lord Yang and return to Kunming to discuss the matter of suppressing the rebellion in Yunnan Province. Lord Yang, please leave the city as soon as possible and return to Kunming with us."

Yang Weizhi chuckled at Wang Chengxian beside him and said

"The bandits have run out of tricks. General Wang, gather your troops and prepare to defend the city immediately. The bandits are about to attack the city."

Wang Chengxian nodded and hurriedly retreated. Yang Weizhi stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the Ming army in scarlet uniforms below, and shouted coldly:
"Listen, bandits down there. Go back and tell Sha Dingzhou not to waste your time. Bandits are bandits, even if they are wearing the uniform of the Ming Dynasty. As long as I am in the city, you bandits will never be able to enter the city."

After Yang Weizhi finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the archer beside him immediately shot a wave of arrows.

Fortunately, the Ming army under the city was also alert. When they saw the soldiers on the top of the city raised their hands, they immediately ran back, leaving seven or eight iron arrows stuck in the ground, while the Ming cavalry had already run back to the formation.

Not long after the cavalry returned to the formation, a dozen more cavalry rushed out from the army. When the dozen cavalry arrived at the foot of the city, they let a middle-aged man in leather armor behind them.

Yan Shizu was sitting on his horse. When he saw the familiar figure in official robes on the top of the city wall, he shouted:

"Brother Jiefu, do you still recognize me? I am Yan Yiru from Kunming. Outside the city is the imperial court's army entering Yunnan to quell the rebellion. Brother Jiefu, there is no need to be alarmed."

Yang Weizhi looked carefully for a while from the top of the city wall, and found that the man under the city wall was actually Yan Sizu. His expression became more and more ugly.

Yan Sizu was the grandson of Yan Qing, the Minister of Personnel during the Wanli Dynasty. The Yan family was a well-known gentry family in Yunnan Province. Yan Sizu himself was also a Jinshi. At this time, even such a person was a thief.

Yan Sizu explained, but Yang Weizhi didn't believe it at all. In the end, Yan Sizu had no choice but to stand in the basket and be hoisted to the top of the city wall.
Yan Sizu arrived at the top of the city wall, took out the handwritten letters from Lei Yuelong and other gentry, and explained again the court's entry into Yunnan to quell the rebellion. Only then did Yang Weizhi have to believe it.

Yang Weizhi also realized why Sha Dingzhou suddenly withdrew his troops. The imperial court defeated 20,000 rebels in one fell swoop, captured Kunming, and quickly captured Lufeng.

Sha Dingzhou lost his food and salary supply in Kunming, and was threatened with an attack from the imperial army in Lufeng at any time, so he had to withdraw hastily overnight.
Sha Dingzhou had been besieging Chuxiong for a long time but failed. If he waited until Lufeng's army arrived at the city and surrounded it, he would not be able to withdraw even if he wanted to.
Yang Weizhi and Yan Sizu reported their own situation, and then they learned that Emperor Longwu had died, and Gui Jianguo had ascended the throne. Then they learned that Gui Jianguo had led his troops to the southwest and sent troops to Yunnan to quell the rebellion.

After listening to what Yan Sizu said, Yang Weizhi no longer had any doubts in his heart. Even if Sha Dingzhou and others had coerced Yan Sizu to deceive the city, they would definitely not be able to make up such a story. How could Sha Dingzhou, a mere local chieftain, know such internal affairs of the court to make up such a story?
When Yang Weizhi heard that Gui Jianguo had surrendered the Western Army and led his troops into Sichuan to confront the Tartars, he was filled with emotion and said:

"God bless the Ming Dynasty, and let our Ming Dynasty have another great ruler. Our Ming Dynasty will have hope for national revival."

Yan Sizu looked at Yang Weizhi, who was wearing a dark red official robe, with a hint of envy in his eyes, and said

"Before I could congratulate Brother Jiefu, His Highness personally led an expedition to the southwest. Upon learning that Brother Jiefu was defending the city alone, he was concerned about the captain." "His Highness and your province have personally issued an order. Brother Jiefu only needs to return to Kunming to receive the order, and he will be the Governor of Yunnan Province."

Yang Weizhi was also stunned when he heard this, and then he felt his whole body suddenly lighten.

Yang Weizhi recalled the bloody battles and perseverance over the past year or so, and felt mixed emotions. He felt that his perseverance suddenly had meaning and purpose.
Yang Weizhi's expression straightened, he bowed towards the north, and said in a deep voice
"As a minister of the imperial court, I have the duty to defend the territory. I have done nothing beyond my duty. Your Highness has shown me grace and entrusted me with the responsibility of governing the frontier. I will do my best to repay your kindness."

After confirming that Sha Dingzhou had withdrawn his troops, Yang Weizhi relaxed. Yan Sizu then said

"The court is preparing to gather the strength of Yunnan Province to fight against the rebels of Sha. The court heard that the Duke of Qian had fled Kunming and went to Chuxiong. This time, the court ordered me to come here not only to recall Brother Jiefu, but also to recall the Duke of Qian."

"The suppression of the rebellion cannot be delayed. Brother Jiefu, please call the Duke of Qian here, and we will return to Kunming immediately."

Yang Weizhi frowned when he heard this. Mu Tianbo had indeed been to Chuxiong, but he was not in the city at this time. He had already gone to Yongchang Prefecture to defend himself.

Yan Sizu frowned when he heard what Yang Weizhi said. If he wanted to wipe out Sha Dingzhou, Mu Tianbo was an extremely important part.

If the imperial court recalled Yang Weizhi in order to use his influence to integrate the prefectures and counties in Xixi and obtain food and supplies from all over Yunnan, then the reason for recalling Mu Tianbo was to use the power of the Duke of Qian to gather the troops of the chieftains in Yunnan Province. Both are indispensable.
Yan Sizu thought for a moment and then said

"In that case, please ask Brother Jiefu to return to Kunming first, and I will continue to Yongchang Prefecture to recall the Duke of Qian."

Yang Weizhi heard this, but shook his head and said

"The Duke of Qian has become a frightened bird after the Kunming turmoil. Even if you go there in person, I'm afraid the Duke of Qian will not trust you easily."

"Now I am afraid that only if I go in person will the Duke of Qian not be suspicious. The imperial court has to suppress the rebellion, which is a big deal and cannot be delayed. Brother Yiru and I will go together, and after we pick up the Duke of Qian, we will return to Kunming together."

After the two men had made their decision, they immediately began to prepare to leave the city. The two thousand Ming troops outside the city entered the city to assist in the defense of Chuxiong, while Yang Weizhi and the other two gathered five hundred cavalrymen and marched out of the city lightly, heading towards Yongchang Prefecture.
Yongchang Prefecture, more than a year had passed since the Kunming Incident. Sha Dingzhou suddenly rebelled. Mu Tianbo was so frightened that he only had time to grab the hereditary seal of the General of the Southern Expedition and the hereditary iron certificate of the Duke of Qian's Mansion, and then hurriedly fled the city.
The Mu family's wealth was taken away overnight. Mu Tianbo fled to Yongchang Prefecture with only his eldest son and a few servants.

After Mu Tianbo fled to Yongchang Prefecture, the prefect Liu Tingbiao, the prosecutor Wang Yunkai and others treated Mu Tianbo with great courtesy, but Mu Tianbo had lost his wealth after all, and now he only lived in a small courtyard with two entrances on the side of the government office.
Although this courtyard is also a high-class residence in the city, it is incomparable to the luxury and wealth of the former Mu Palace. However, Mu Tianbo could not care about these details at this time.
In the backyard, there is a wooden statue standing on the ground in the garden. A young man stands in front of the statue, swinging the chain hammer in his hand tightly.
The top of the chain hammer was made of two fist-sized hexagonal hammer heads, and underneath the hammer heads was not an iron handle, but a thin iron chain.
"Kill, kill, kill"

The young man's eyes were red, and he shouted loudly. He kept smashing the wooden statue on the ground with the chain hammer in his hand. The wooden statue had been hit countless times and had already become bumpy. At this time, the hammer head hit the wooden statue, and immediately sawdust flew everywhere.

There was a note on the wooden statue, but the note had long been smashed to pieces, and only a half of the note could be seen.

Mu Tianbo swung the chain hammer in his hand and smashed it furiously for a while until the wooden statue was tilted. Then he finally stopped and stood in front of the wooden statue, panting.
Mu Tianbo is only thirty years old now, but the series of shocking changes in the past year have made him look old, with a few strands of white hair on his head.
Mu Tianbo stood in the garden to catch his breath for a while, and was about to practice hammering again, but at this time, the family servant Bai Junai hurried into the yard with a serious look on his face and said

"General, the government office has received a letter saying that Yang Weizhi, the Jincang patrol officer, has arrived at the government office. Please go to the government office to discuss matters."

Mu Tianbo's face turned pale when he heard this. He could hardly stand and couldn't help but say

"Yang Weizhi also fled to Yongchang Prefecture, and even Chuxiong was captured by that bandit?"

After Mu Tianbo fled to Yongchang Prefecture, he also transferred the Mu clan chieftain and others from Lijiang in the capacity of the Duke of Qian to repel Sha Dingzhou's pursuers.

But Mu Tianbo could mobilize these chieftains to defend the land, but he could not mobilize them to attack Shadingzhou.
Chuxiong is the passage to Kunming from the west. If even Chuxiong is lost, it will be even more difficult for Mu Tianbo to return to attack Kunming.

Mu Tianbo looked pale, but he didn't care about much at this moment. He threw down the chain hammer in his hand and hurried to the government office.
When Mu Tianbo arrived at the government office, he saw Yang Weizhi and others sitting leisurely in the hall, and the hall was full of joy.

When Mu Tianbo heard that the imperial court had sent troops to Yunnan to quell the rebellion and defeated 20,000 rebels in one fell swoop, he was overjoyed and said bitterly:

"Well done, well done! These traitors should all be killed!"

Mu Tianbo heard that Sha Dingzhou, the leader of the bandits, had successfully evacuated, and his face was filled with anger. Sha Dingzhou suddenly started a riot, and Mu Tianbo fled alone, without even being able to take care of his family members in the mansion.
Mu Tianbo's mother Chen and his wife Jiao both jumped into a well and died after Sha Dingzhou occupied the Duke of Qian's Mansion. Mu Tianbo's two brothers were also killed by Sha Dingzhou.
Except for Mu Tianbo and his eldest son, almost all the people in the Mu family were killed by Sha Dingzhou. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is a deep blood feud.

Yang Weizhi looked at Mu Tianbo, whose eyes were red, and said

"The imperial army has now recovered Kunming and is about to summon the Duke of Qian back to gather the strength of Yunnan Province to completely wipe out the Sand Bandits."

"This matter cannot be delayed. Please pack your bags quickly, Duke Qian, and return to Kunming with me to discuss this matter."

Upon hearing this, Mu Tianbo immediately understood what Yang Weizhi meant. He had fled Kunming in a hurry, and there was no one around him except his eldest son and a few loyal servants. The court summoned him back at this time, obviously not to let him serve on the battlefield.
Although he is now alone, he is not penniless. He is still the Duke of Qian. The Duke of Qian has intimidated the chieftains in central Yunnan for hundreds of years. Now no one can replace the prestige of the Mu family among the chieftains.

The imperial court summoned him back at this time, obviously to borrow the influence of the Mu family among the chieftains, to recruit the chieftains to surrender and rebel, and to jointly attack and kill Sha Dingzhou.

Mu Tianbo thought of this, but he didn't hesitate at all and said directly

"No need to prepare, let's return to Kunming immediately. I want that thief to be torn into pieces!"

Mu Tianbo looked ferocious and said in hatred. Yang Weizhi saw Mu Tianbo's expression but did not try to persuade him.

The imperial court was waiting to gather troops to quell the rebellion, so it would be great if Mu Tianbo was willing to go back with them immediately.

Yang Weizhi and his companions did not stay in Yongchang Prefecture for long. They stayed in the city for only one night. After replenishing their food and supplies, they returned to Kunming the next day under the escort of the cavalry, along with Mu Tianbo and his companions.

(End of this chapter)