Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 291 Welcome
In the lobby of the Governor's Office, Zhu Lang looked at the report sent back from Sichuan Province with a smile on his face.

"Yang Zhan has already set off for the imperial court. This man has already raised 15,000 soldiers. It seems that Fan Yiheng did not make a mistake this time. Well done, well done."

When Fan Yiheng entered the Jiading General's Mansion, he directly stated his identity and announced the imperial edict. According to Fan Yiheng, Yang Zhan decided to set off to the court without much hesitation, and even took the initiative to write a letter to help Fan Yiheng persuade the other military commanders of Sichuan Province to come to the court.

Not only Yang Zhan, but also the reports sent back by other departments in Sichuan Province were also gratifying. Zhan Tianyan in northern Sichuan, Sun Kewang in southern Sichuan, Qin Liangyu in eastern Sichuan and others had all been summoned to the court.
These people are scattered all over Sichuan. If they can act in unison, even if they just send out troops to patrol at the same time, they will immediately cause chaos in Sichuan.
Of course, although these former Ming army members were summoned to the court, it did not mean that they would obey the court's orders.

Even if they received the imperial edict in your province, whether they would send troops after returning, whether they would go all out when they sent troops, or whether they would just fire a shot in the face of battle to give an explanation to the court, that is another matter.

But in any case, the fact that the various departments of Sichuan Province were able to come to the court to pay homage at this time at least shows that the various departments of Sichuan Province still have basic respect and trust in the court. As long as they are willing to come, it means that there is still room for negotiation between the two sides.
The effectiveness of this Sichuan Province action will also depend on the results of the talks between the imperial court and the various departments of Sichuan Province.

Qu Shisi, Liu Xiangke and others below had also read the report. Qu Shisi put down the letter in his hand and said

"The fact that the various tribes of Sichuan Province were willing to obey the imperial edict and come to the court this time is also due to the Imperial Army's battle in Bozhou. A victory in Bozhou will not only deter the Qing invaders, but also help to stabilize the people's hearts in Sichuan Province."

Liu Xiangke, Zheng Wenxiong and others below also nodded slightly when they heard this. The reason why the generals of Sichuan Province were so respectful this time was, on the one hand, because of the name of the Ming Dynasty court, and on the other hand, because of the current situation in Sichuan Province.
The Qing invaded Sichuan and defeated hundreds of thousands of Western troops in one battle. Who would not be afraid of such a mighty force?

After the Qing army defeated the Western Army, only the Ming army was left in Sichuan. After discovering that the Qing army was marching southward, the people in Sichuan were in a panic. No one knew whether the Qing army would come towards them next.

At this time, news suddenly came that the imperial court had entered Sichuan to suppress the rebellion and had won a great victory in Bozhou. Whether the generals in Sichuan believed it or not, they would definitely go to the court to find out the truth.

With the former Sichuan and Shaanxi Governor Fan Yiheng as a guarantor, the generals would not have too many concerns about the new Guangdong Provincial Court.

If the new Guangdong Provincial Government is as powerful as the official report says, then they will naturally enjoy the shade under the big tree.
If it was an exaggeration, then they just took this opportunity to connect the various departments in Sichuan Province and see if they could form an alliance to protect themselves. This is the main reason why the various departments in Sichuan Province are so submissive this time.

The various tribes in Sichuan Province now occupy different places, and the temperaments of the generals are different. Some are like Yang Zhan, who governs a place and provides relief to refugees, while others are like Ma Yingshi, who burns, kills, plunders and extorts money just to get money.

Although all the troops in Sichuan were Ming troops, there was actually not much trust between them. Only the banner of the Ming Dynasty could unite the generals and allow them to establish basic trust with each other.
Zhu Lang put down the report in his hand, thought for a moment, and then said

"According to the time, the troops should be arriving soon. Prepare to head to Wujiang Pass. I will go to greet them personally."

Upon hearing this, Qu Shixi frowned slightly and said

"Your Highness is of extraordinary status. Sichuan Province is in chaos right now, and the situation of these Sichuan generals is unclear. Your Highness's personal visit to Wujiang Pass is already a sign of great importance, so there is no need to welcome him in person."

Zhu Lang heard this, but waved his hand and laughed softly.
"The court is newly established, and the generals of Sichuan Province are not familiar with the situation in the court. They are willing to come this time, and they are also taking risks. Since they dare to come, why shouldn't I dare to welcome them?"

"Besides, Sichuan Province's affairs still depend on them. It would be more solemn for me to go there in person. I am just going out to greet them. It won't cost me anything, so what's the big deal?"

After hearing this, Qu Shisi and the others hesitated for a moment and stopped trying to persuade him. Soon, Zhu Lang, escorted by Zheng Wenxiong and other Gui troops, headed for Wujiang Pass.
At the Wujiang ferry, early in the morning, all the pedestrians on the ferry were driven away.
A large number of soldiers surrounded the ferry, and a bright yellow dragon flag was soon erected on the post station three miles away from the ferry.

The imperial guards not only surrounded the south bank of the Wu River, but also the ferry crossing on the north was also surrounded by a large number of soldiers, and pedestrians were not allowed to pass.
The imperial guards surrounded the ferry, and soon Fan Yiheng and Yang Zhan arrived at the ferry on the north bank.

Yang Zhan and his party boarded the ferry and quickly crossed the river. When they reached the ferry on the south bank, Yang Zhan's accompanying guards were left on one side, and Yang Zhan was asked to mount his horse and head towards the dragon flag under the post station.
Yang Zhan was still on his horse, and he had seen from afar the figure wearing a bright yellow dragon robe standing under the dragon flag.

Yang Zhan's expression became serious, and he immediately got off his horse and was soon brought to the front of the post station.

"Your Highness, I, Yang Zhan, the General of Jiading, pay my respects to His Majesty the Regent."

As soon as Yang Zhan bowed, he was helped up steadily. Zhu Lang looked at the heroic man in the Qilin martial arts uniform in front of him and said

"General Yang, there is no need to be so polite."

"In recent years, Sichuan Province has been plagued by bandits, and now it is being plundered by the Tartars. The imperial court failed to enter Sichuan in time to quell the rebellion, causing the people of Sichuan Province to be displaced. This is my fault."

"Fortunately, General Yang opened a warehouse in Jiading to provide relief to the victims, saving countless people in Sichuan Province. Now Sichuan Province is in chaos, but only the people in Jiading are stable and the people are living and working in peace and contentment."

"General Yang did a great job. Sichuan Province can remain a paradise, all thanks to the general. I want to thank the general on behalf of the people of Sichuan Province."

After Zhu Lang finished speaking, he stared at Yang Zhan in front of him with a smile on his face.

Yang Zhan looked at the pleased look on His Highness' face, but his heart tightened slightly. Then he immediately bowed and said:

"I am under the order of the imperial court to guard a place. My duty is to defend against the enemy and protect the people. I am just fulfilling my duty."

"Besides, I am able to manage the people a little bit, thanks to the power and virtue of the court. Even if I want to thank you, it should be the grace of Your Highness. I dare not claim any credit for it."

Zhu Lang looked at the serious-looking man in front of him and nodded slightly in his heart. Regardless of whether what Yang Zhan said at this moment was true or not, at least these words sounded pleasant to the ear.

Even if Yang Zhan's words were just empty words, they at least showed that he was a man who knew the importance of things and was not a reckless person who acted on impulse.

Zhu Lang tried it out for a while, thought about it for a while, and then said

"General Yang is too modest. If all the officials in the world can be as loyal as General Yang and fulfill their duties, there is no need to worry about the destruction of the Eastern Tartars and the peace of the world."

"General Yang is indeed a military scholar of the Ming Dynasty. He is a man of both civil and military talents, both virtuous and talented." Zhu Lang came here today mainly to welcome the generals from Sichuan Province. After a little probing, Zhu Lang said no more.
Zhu Lang praised softly, and then said

"Today, other generals will come. General, you must be tired from the journey. You may as well go to the city to rest first. I will hold a banquet for you in the evening."

"Your Highness is here to welcome me personally. I am already terrified. How can I dare to go in and rest before Your Highness enters the city? I know most of the generals in Sichuan. Please stay by your side so that I can report to Your Highness on the situation of the generals in Sichuan."

Zhu Lang thought for a moment, but did not refuse. The two of them walked back to the pavilion under the protection of Li Chengzhi and other brocade-clad soldiers.

Zhu Lang and Yang Zhan returned to the pavilion, and Yang Zhan actually reported the situation of the generals in Sichuan in detail, including which generals were kind-hearted and which generals were Ming officials but were plundering and rampant, almost like bandits.

Zhu Lang looked at Yang Zhan who was reporting seriously, and finally a strange look flashed in his eyes.

Zhu Lang certainly didn't believe everything Yang Zhan said, but he was a little surprised that this man could take the initiative to expose the shortcomings of other generals.
If Yang Zhan really had other thoughts, this move would not be a smart move.

The two talked for a while, and the Jinyiwei soldiers outside the pavilion came in again to report that it was Zhongzhou General Tan Wen who had arrived at the north bank ferry, so Zhu Lang got up again to meet him.

Tan Wen was soon brought under the dragon flag. The three brothers Tan Wen, Tan Hong and Tan Yi now occupied Zhongzhou and Wanxian. Among them, Wanxian was only two or three hundred miles away from Kuizhou, an important town in eastern Sichuan. Starting from here, they could attack Kuizhou in a few days.

Zhu Lang looked at Tan Wen who was bowing and asked him to stand up without any greeting. Then he spoke

"The Tan family has been military officials in Zhongzhou for generations. Now, the three members of your family are all serving in the army to defend the country. It is often said that loyal ministers are revealed in times of turmoil. I believe this."

"My family has been blessed by the country for generations. My three brothers are just following our ancestors' teachings and serving in the army. I don't deserve your praise."

When Tan Wen heard what Zhu Lang said, a hint of excitement flashed across his face, and he replied respectfully:
Zhu Lang saw the expression on Tan Wen's face and nodded slightly in his heart. The hereditary guard system of the Ming Dynasty had long been rotten, and most of the military officials who inherited the guard positions no longer knew how to fight.

But it is undeniable that the military officials raised under this system were extremely loyal to the Ming court.

Due to the peculiarities of the Weisuo system, these Weisuo military officials can truly be said to be living and dying with the country.
In the late Ming Dynasty, many military officials died for their country, even more than the number of civil officials who died for their country. However, most of them were not recorded.
This is the case with the three members of the Tan family. The Tan family inherited military officers from the Zhongzhou Guard. Such a family of military officials almost shared the same fate with the Ming Dynasty, so the Tan family was also very supportive of the Ming court.

What Zhu Lang didn't know was that although Tan Wen in front of him was extremely loyal to the Ming court, his two brothers might not be the same. However, this was the situation in his previous life, so there was no need to mention it here.
Zhu Lang picked up Tan Wen and returned to the posthouse. There was one more person in the posthouse at this time, so Yang Zhan could not report to the posthouse again.

Zhu Lang saw that the two men were standing in the pavilion with nervous expressions, so he asked them to rest under another colorful tent. The two men felt relieved when they heard this and left the pavilion.

Soon after the two retreated, Li Zhanchun and Yu Dahai from Fuzhou, Cao Xun from Hongzhou and other generals also arrived one after another. After Zhu Lang welcomed them, he also sent these generals to where Yang Zhan and others were.
Soon after, the Jinyiwei came to report that Sun Kewang from the Loyalty Camp had arrived at the ferry.

Zhu Lang looked at Sun Kewang in front of him and smiled softly.

"General Sun, it's only been two months since we met again."

"Yes, I am Sun Kewang, your Highness the Regent."

Sun Kewang bowed and saluted, but when he was paying homage, Sun Kewang's face looked a little unnatural, but he soon ignored the awkwardness in his heart.

Sun Kewang bowed, but the other side did not ask him to stand up. Sun Kewang saw that the other side was silent for a long time, so he looked up and saw that the smile on the face of His Royal Highness Gui Jianguo had long disappeared.

When Sun Kewang looked up, His Royal Highness the Regent across from him suddenly spoke.

"I ordered General Sun to go to Yongning in Luzhou to seek food, but I don't remember ordering you to garrison Xuzhou. There is a rumor in the court that General Sun occupied Xuzhou and started a rebellion. Now the court is constantly impeaching General Sun."

"But I absolutely do not believe that General Sun would do such a rude thing. Today I just want to verify with General Sun in person whether this matter is true or not."

Zhu Lang had a cold expression on his face. After Fan Yiheng arrived in Jiading, the latest situation in Sichuan Province was reported back to the court one after another. The most eye-catching one was the former Western Army. The current situation of Sun Kewang and others in the Loyalty Camp
Sun Kewang, Ai Nengqi and others led the Loyalty Camp to withdraw from Bozhou, and then headed west to Yongning

At that time, the situation in Sichuan Province was unclear, and Zhu Lang did not know the situation in Yongning and Luzhou, but he had never thought that these two places were still garrisoned by the Ming army.
When Sun Kewang and his companions arrived at Yongning, they showed the imperial edict and ordered Hou Tianxi, the then garrison commander of Yongning, to give up Yongning.

Seeing Sun Kewang and other Western bandits under the city, Hou Tianxi naturally scoffed at the so-called imperial decree and did not believe it at all.

Hou Tianxi closed the city and defended himself, and Sun Kewang's approach was also very simple. Seeing that Hou Tianxi did not recognize the imperial edict, his reaction was not to send someone back to Bozhou to ask the court to send someone to verify his identity, but to directly order someone to attack the city in the name of Hou Tianxi's disobedience.
Sun Kewang and his men came too suddenly, and Hou Tianxi had no time to prepare. He only held out for half a day before leading his troops to flee.
After Sun Kewang occupied Yongning, he did not stop and sent troops to Luzhou. Ma Yingshi, the defender of Luzhou, naturally did not believe the Ming court's order in Sun Kewang's hand, thinking it was a trick of the western bandits, and also prepared to close the city and hold on.
However, after the Yongning incident, Sun Kewang was well prepared and sent soldiers to sneak into Luzhou city disguised as civilians.
When Sun Kewang and his men attacked the city, the soldiers of the Western Army in the city also launched an attack. After the South Gate of Luzhou was captured, Ma Yingshi had no choice but to lead the remaining troops to flee in a hurry.

Ma Yingshi and Hou Tianxi fled to Xuzhou and immediately reported to Gan Liangchen, the garrison commander of Xuzhou, that the Western bandits had invaded Luzhou. Xuzhou was also greatly shocked and immediately sent soldiers to guard the border between Luzhou and Xuzhou.

However, Sun Kewang had already set up an ambush and defeated the Ming army in Xuzhou halfway. Then Sun Kewang and others took advantage of the chaos and directly attacked Xuzhou, and even occupied Xuzhou.

If Sun Kewang's attack on Yongning and Luzhou was understandable, then Sun Kewang's sending troops to occupy Xuzhou was completely over the line.

The reason why Sun Kewang took the opportunity to occupy Xuzhou was very simple. Xuzhou was the most important prefecture in southern Sichuan besides Chongqing. Xuzhou alone was as rich as Luzhou and Yongning.

After Sun Kewang occupied Xuzhou, he stopped his attack. It was not because he did not want to fight, but after Sun Kewang investigated, he found that all the surrounding prefectures and counties were strong enemies.
To the west, Jiading Prefecture was home to Yang Zhan, who had defeated Zhang Xianzhong. To the north, Tongchuan Prefecture was the territory of the Qing army. To the south, Wumeng, Zhenxiong and other places were full of local chieftains. No matter which side was a difficult person, Sun Kewang had to stop advancing and began to recuperate.

(End of this chapter)