Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 290 Sichuan General
Fan Yiheng received the order to enter Sichuan, but he only stayed in the city for half a day. The next morning, he led several guards all the way north.

After crossing the Wujiang River, Fan Yiheng and his companions headed westwards, passing through Yongning and Xuzhou and heading straight to Jiading.
To the north of Xuzhou, a group of people and horses were galloping on the official road. Fan Yiheng was wearing a round-collared robe, dressed like a wealthy businessman. The more than 20 personal guards behind him were all dressed in black, just like ordinary servants of wealthy families.

It was already July. In the fields on both sides of the official road, people were scattered in groups of three or four, picking up rice and beans in the fields.
This was not the summer harvest. The fields on both sides of the official road had long been abandoned. The rice and beans in the fields were not planted at all, but had grown on their own because they had been abandoned for so long.
The people who were picking beans in the fields were not the original owners of the land.

On the official road, a group of guards wearing swords and riding horses came. When the people in the fields saw Fan Yiheng and others on the official road, they were terrified and immediately fled.

Fan Yiheng saw the people fleeing in panic in the fields, but he did not react. He just urged the imperial guards to pass as quickly as possible.
When Fan Yiheng and his companions passed by, the people who had been hiding in the fields reappeared, wandering aimlessly in the wilderness, searching for wheat, beans, and rice ears.
Fan Yiheng and his companions had seen too many tragic scenes on their way west. There were groups of refugees and bodies lying on the ground with no one to bury them everywhere on the road. If you turned over the bodies, you could see that they were already covered with piles of bones.
In the afternoon, it suddenly started to rain heavily. Fan Yiheng and his companions found a dilapidated temple on the roadside and took shelter there.
When Fan Yiheng and his companions entered the temple, they found that someone was already inside.
A couple had already started a fire in the hall. In front of them was a bundle with a hint of bright red inside. It must be some kind of fresh meat. They were roasting some meat on the fire.
When the couple saw Fan Yiheng and others coming in, they looked frightened and immediately put away the bags beside them.
Fan Yiheng didn't care about the couple in the dilapidated temple. He just ordered the soldiers to guard the side near the door and didn't approach the couple inside.
The couple in the hall saw that Fan Yiheng and the others were dressed in rich clothes, and that they did not come in. They relaxed a little, and then took out the bundle, took out the pieces of meat that were not yet cooked, and continued to roast them.

Liu Wei, the leader of the personal guards, stared at the piece of meat on the fire for a while, his face changed slightly, and then he stepped forward and whispered to Fan Yiheng:

When Fan Yiheng heard this, his expression suddenly turned cold, and he ordered his soldiers to arrest the couple and bring them to him.

Fan Yiheng stood in front of the fire, while the couple were held by the soldiers, kneeling on the ground with terrified expressions.

The bundle on the ground beside him had been opened, but there was no fresh meat inside. The arms and palms inside the bundle were clearly visible.
Fan Yiheng stared at the two people on the ground with a cold expression on his face and shouted

"You two thieves, how dare you kill people and eat their flesh in broad daylight, you are truly vicious and evil."

The skinny man on the ground was panic-stricken at this time. He just knelt on the ground with a pale face. The woman beside him looked miserable when she heard this. She said in a sad voice

"Master, please understand. My husband and I are good people. How could we have the guts to kill people? My parents-in-law were starving to death, so my husband and I went to Zhaozhuang and bought the meat from Brother Shen Congtian."

"How did you buy it?" Liu Wei asked.

"It's sold at the entrance of Zhaozhuang Village. One tael of silver costs five catties. Anyone can buy it."

Upon hearing this, Fan Yiheng's face became even angrier, and he shouted

"Since you have money, why don't you buy rice instead of doing such evil things?"

The woman on the ground looked even more sad when she heard this. She said

"For several years, the county has been plagued by bandits, wars and droughts. Now, a stone of grain in the county is worth 40 taels of silver, and a bushel of brown rice is worth 7 taels of silver."

"I don't know how many people in my hometown starved to death despite having gold. How can ordinary people like us afford rice?"

Liu Wei and other imperial guards were all stunned when they heard this, and Fan Yiheng also fell silent. Seeing that Fan Yiheng was silent, the woman gritted her teeth and spoke

"We had no choice but to buy and eat this meat. This proposal was made by me alone. If you really want to punish me, please only punish me and let my husband go home."

"My parents-in-law are still sick at home. If no one takes care of them, they will be captured and eaten in no time. Please, sir, give my family a chance to live."

After the woman finished speaking, she pulled the man beside her and started to kowtow. When Fan Yiheng heard the sound, he came back to his senses, but he suddenly felt powerless in his heart.

Fan Yiheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand.
"Wait for the two of you to leave."

"Thank you for your mercy, sir. Thank you for your mercy, sir. I will leave right away."

The husband on the ground was surprised when he heard this. He kowtowed again, then pulled his wife up and ran out of the temple regardless of the heavy rain outside.
The wife was surprised to see Fan Yiheng letting her go, but after she stood up, she looked at the bag of human flesh on the ground with a hesitant look.
The husband saw the woman's expression, and he didn't know what his wife was thinking, so his face turned pale and he immediately wanted to pull the woman away.
This group of people must be from a wealthy family, and they are obviously disgusted by cannibalism.
It was a great honor for them to survive at this time. If this group of people changed their minds again, it would be too late to regret.
Seeing the woman's expression, Fan Yiheng immediately knew what she was thinking, but his heart became heavier. Fan Yiheng spoke softly.

"Go get two buckets of grain for these two people."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wei quickly took out a cloth bag and handed two buckets of rice to the couple.

"These two buckets of rice are exchanged for the bag on the ground. When you return home, don't eat human flesh again. Do you understand?"

"Thank you very much, benefactor. Thank you very much, benefactor. We are also forced to do this, but as long as there is a way to survive, we will never do such evil things again."

The couple thanked him profusely and kowtowed to Fan Yiheng several times before happily leaving the temple with their rice on their backs and heading home.
Fan Yiheng looked at the couple disappearing at the door, but remained silent.

These two buckets of grain only solved the couple's urgent needs, but when the two buckets of grain were gone, what would the family do then? No one knew.

And now in Sichuan Province, how many people are like this couple, who can't even afford to eat human flesh, and instead become meat on the chopping board?
Although Fan Yiheng was the governor of Sichuan Province, he felt powerless when he thought of this.
After what happened to this couple, Fan Yiheng and his guards all felt heavy-hearted.

No one in the temple spoke, everyone just looked at the white rain and fog outside the temple.
When the rain stopped for a while, Fan Yiheng and his companions did not stay any longer and mounted their horses again and left. After another half a day, Fan Yiheng and his companions finally entered Jiading.

Fan Yiheng and his companions entered Jiading, but the appearance of Jiading was completely different from what they had seen before.

There were still refugees on the road, but Fan Yiheng and others were passing by on the official road, and the refugees just took shelter on the side of the road, but did not flee.
When we arrived outside of Qianwei County, we found that some officials and local gentry were setting up tents to distribute porridge. Dozens of soldiers in military uniforms were maintaining order, and a group of refugees were queuing up outside the porridge tents.

Although the refugees in Jiading were also starving and thin, their situations were incomparable to those who died on the roadside outside the country.
Fan Yiheng looked at the long line outside the porridge stall, and finally felt relieved. He spoke softly to Liu Wei beside him:

"Yang Zhan is indeed a man of both civil and military talents. Jiading Prefecture has done a good job."

Fan Yiheng and his companions did not reveal their identities. They just stayed overnight outside of Jianwei County, and then continued to rush towards Jiading. After passing Jianwei County, the appearance of Jiading was completely new.

Looking around the roadside fields, there are green wheat seedlings everywhere. People are working in the fields, and children are playing under the trees in the fields. Going further ahead, the sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking can be heard in the villages. This scene is no different from the peaceful years of the past.

After the previous situation of refugees everywhere and bones exposed in the wild, this ordinary scene in front of us seems even more rare.
Fan Yiheng looked at the wheat seedlings all over the field and praised softly:
"The people farm and weave, the chickens and dogs can hear each other, Yang Zhan is indeed a man of great talent"

Fan Yiheng and his party continued to move forward. The closer they got to Jiading Prefecture, the more people on the road became. People on the roadside carried loads on their shoulders and drove carts, carrying all kinds of vegetables and meat, heading towards the city.
Fan Yiheng and his companions soon arrived in Jiading City, and the scene in the city was completely different from what they had seen before.

The people in the city were dressed in red and green, and the streets at the city gate were crowded with pedestrians, and there were countless people riding horses.
The restaurants and bars in the city were bustling with people, drums and music were blaring, and the cheers of people after drinking were heard throughout the city, creating a scene of prosperity.
Fan Yiheng and the others were stunned for a moment as they watched the bustling scene in the city. They felt as if they were in another world.

Jiading and Xuzhou are only a few days away, but the difference between the two places is like heaven and hell.

Fan Yiheng was stunned for a while before he came to his senses. Fan Yiheng led everyone to find a restaurant to sit down, and then Liu Wei led a few guards and hurried away to inquire about the news in the city.
Half an hour later, Liu Wei rushed back to the restaurant.

"Sir, I have found out everything. The reason why Jiading is so peaceful is all thanks to the efforts of General Yang Zhan."

"According to the people in the city, General Yang defeated the bandit Zhang Xianzhong last year and seized a large amount of property. Seeing that the people in Sichuan Province were displaced, General Yang used the seized gold and silver to buy rice and grain at high prices from the local chieftains in Huguang and Guizhou Province and nearby villages to provide relief to the displaced people."

"The people of the nearby prefectures and counties heard of General Yang's benevolence, and all of them came to surrender with their families. No fewer than tens of thousands of people in Sichuan Province were saved by him. Now everyone in Jiading City praises General Yang's benevolence." Liu Wei had an expression of admiration on his face, but Fan Yiheng frowned when he heard this, and in the end, there was not even a trace of a smile on his face.

Fan Yiheng looked at the crowded people on the street with a serious expression on his face and said in a deep voice:

"He used his private wealth to buy rice at a high price, to provide relief to refugees, and to win people's hearts. If this person is not a loyal and good official, then he must be a traitor and a lunatic of the time!"

"If this is true, I'm afraid there will be chaos in Sichuan Province again."

Liu Wei below was also startled when he heard what Fan Yiheng said, and then his face became solemn.
People always say that civil officials do not love money, and military generals do not fear death. The reason why people bring up these two things is because they are difficult to achieve.

And now Yang Zhan has done it. If he is not a good minister with the world at heart, then he must be a great traitor with ulterior motives!

Liu Wei looked serious and said in a deep voice

"The situation in Jiading City is unclear now. Please hide your identity for the time being. Once I have found out the truth about Yang Zhan, it won't be too late for you to show up again."

Fan Yiheng shook his head upon hearing this and said

"The imperial court's plan to recover Sichuan cannot be delayed. Liu Wei, send a few people to stay outside the palace. If anything happens after we enter the palace, immediately send these people back to report to the imperial court."

Fan Yiheng looked at the bustling street outside the window, a look of determination flashed across his face, and he said

"The rest of you, follow me to the General's Mansion. I want to see whether Yang Zhan is a loyal minister or a great traitor."

Fan Yiheng made a decision, and the group did not stop and headed directly to the General's Mansion in the city.

When Fan Yiheng and his men entered General Yang Zhan's residence, another group of people had already arrived at the Shizhu Xuanfu Division.

In the back hall of Shizhu Tusi Mansion, Yuyin Tower, a young man in a brocade robe with an excited look on his face and a court newspaper in his hand rushed directly into the second floor.
By the window on the second floor, a tall woman with gray hair was leaning on a recliner, watching the hibiscus flowers slowly falling outside the window.
Yuyin Tower is the most special place in Shizhu Tusi Mansion, because it houses the imperial edict bestowed by Emperor Chongzhen on Qin Liangyu. It is also the most solemn place in the entire Shizhu Tusi Mansion.

After learning that the Qing army had invaded Sichuan, Qin Liangyu retreated to the building, where she guarded the imperial edict given by Emperor Chongzhen day and night, vowing not to set foot on Qing soil.

Since Qin Liangyu retreated into the building, she never came down again, and was ready to die in the building.

There were footsteps coming from the stairs. Qin Liangyu opened her eyes and looked at Ma Wannian, who was full of joy, but her brows were slightly frowned.

"How many times have I told you that a general must be calm and upright? If you remain calm even when Mount Tai collapses in front of you, and get excited or angry suddenly when things happen, how can you lead the army and govern the people?"

Although Qin Liangyu's face was stern, Ma Wannian was completely unaware of it. He looked surprised and raised the newspaper in his hand and said:

"Grandma, great joy, great joy!"

"The imperial court defeated the Tartars in Bozhou, killing nearly a thousand of the real Tartars and nearly ten thousand Green Camp soldiers in one battle. The imperial court entered Sichuan to quell the rebellion!"

Qin Liangyu was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then her expression suddenly became calm.

Qin Liangyu stood up from the chair, her tall figure blocked the window, and a shadow suddenly fell, covering Ma Wannian.
Ma Wannian looked at his grandmother who looked calm in front of the window, and suddenly his heart trembled. He knew that this was when his grandmother would become serious. At this time, no one in the entire Shizhu State could oppose his grandmother's voice.
"Bring it"

Upon hearing this, Ma Wannian handed over the newspaper in his hand, and then stood aside with a serious look.

Qin Liangyu stood by the window, using the sunlight outside to carefully read the Shoutang newspaper. The room was silent except for the slight sound of Qin Liangyu turning the pages of the newspaper from time to time. There was no other sound.

Qin Liangyu read the newspaper and found out that after Emperor Hongguang, Emperor Longwu had also died. Now the Prince of Gui has ascended the throne as regent. Then she learned about the war in Guangdong Province, the recovery of Fujian and Zhejiang, and other major events.
After a long time, Qin Liangyu finally put down the newspaper in her hand, with a look of joy on her face.

"Your Highness is a man of great courage and wisdom. You defeated the Qing invaders in Fujian and Guangdong. It was truly a great victory of the time. I only regret that I cannot serve in the battlefield and defeat the enemy for the court."

"Now that the Southern Kingdom has been conquered, the power of the Southern Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty has been established. As long as we accumulate for a few years and prepare soldiers and money and food, we can slowly advance northward to recover our homeland. There is hope for the revival of the Ming Dynasty."

Qin Liangyu put down the newspaper in her hand and looked at the hibiscus flowers blooming outside the window. She felt that the courtyard was full of flowers and the yard was full of vitality.
Qin Liangyu just stood by the window for a moment, and then immediately spoke

"Prepare your horses and get ready to travel. Your Highness has issued an order that I must immediately attend court."

Ma Wannian looked at the white-haired woman by the window with a hesitant look on his face. He said

"Grandmother has been in poor health since the beginning of spring. The journey to your province is a thousand miles long. Now there is war raging outside. How can you bear the long journey? It is better for your grandson to respond to the imperial edict and go there."

Qin Liangyu heard this, but she did not hesitate at all and directly shook her head to refuse.

Qin Liangyu looked at the newspaper in her hand with a look of emotion on her face.

"I am a weak woman, but I have been blessed by the country for twenty years and have been awarded the fifth rank of nobility. Who else can do this? The court has shown great favor. Now that Your Highness has issued an edict, how can I not respond?"

"Don't mention that Your Highness is already in your province and is personally leading the expedition to the southwest. Even if Your Highness were to summon me to Guangdong Province, I would go there without hesitation."

"I am old. If I could see the wise ruler of the Ming Dynasty again before I die, I would have the face to see the sage emperor in the underworld."

Qin Liangyu said this without waiting for Ma Wannian to reply and gave the order

"Your Highness personally led the expedition to the southwest this time and summoned the generals of Sichuan Province to the court. This must be to unify the power of Sichuan Province and restore Sichuan Province."

"I am old and can no longer serve my country on the battlefield, but your uncle is still in his prime and can still fight for the country. Call your uncle and the three of us will go to the court to pay our respects."

Qin Liangyu is the one who has the final say not only in Shizhu Tusi Mansion, but also in the entire Shizhu Prefecture. As long as Qin Liangyu makes a decision, no one in Shizhu Prefecture can change it.

In the Shizhu Xuanfu Division, Shizhu Xuanfu Envoy Ma Wannian passed down Qin Liangyu's order, and the Ma and Qin families hurriedly gathered together. Not long after, more than a hundred riders and horses galloped out of Shizhu and headed all the way to Gui Province.
While Qin Liangyu and others were rushing to Guizhou, the remaining Ming troops in Sichuan also received an imperial edict from the Ming court.

Li Zhanchun of Fuzhou, Yu Dahai, Tan Wen of Wanzhou, Tan Hong of Wushan, Tan Yi, Cao Xun of Hongzhou, Zhan Tianyan of Long'an Prefecture, and almost all the former Ming army members in Sichuan Province followed the imperial edict and marched south after consultation.

At the beginning of July, the Sichuan generals, who were originally a mess, suddenly seemed to have a backbone, and all of them rushed to your province.
(End of this chapter)