Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 38 Send Troops
On the official road, a horse galloped over and rushed directly into the front camp.

The guards at the gate were startled when they saw the figure rushing towards them, but when they saw the figure on the horse clearly, they relaxed and let the person on the horse rush into the camp.
Li Chengzhi rushed into the camp, threw the reins, dismounted, and walked towards the tent.
Li Chengzhi entered the tent, but found that there were people gathered in the tent. Deng Yao, Yang Yandi, and all the generals in the camp were already sitting in the tent.

"Chengzhi, how did you come back? Wasn't the city gate closed?"

Li Mingzhong was discussing something with the generals when Li Chengzhi suddenly barged in, causing everyone in the field to fall silent.

"General, do you know what happened in the east of the city?"

Li Chengzhi took the porcelain bowl beside him, drank the water in one gulp, and asked

"I just got the news that a university scholar from Guangzhou named Su Guansheng suddenly led his troops outside the city. I don't know where he came from," Li Mingzhong said.
"No need to inquire. Su Guansheng was secretly recruited into the court by the prince. Ding Kuichu is now closing the city gate to prevent Lord Su from entering the city," Li Chengzhi said.
Deng Yao and other generals' expressions changed slightly when they heard this. The King of Gui summoned ministers to the court, but Ding Kuichu closed the city gates. This did not sound good.

"what?"

"Since Lord Su was recruited by the prince, why did Ding Kuichu close the city gates?"

Li Mingzhong looked solemn, stood up from the table and asked

"All the money and grain in the city is controlled by Ding Kuichu, and the prince is hindered by him in everything, so the prince ordered Lord Su to lead the army into the court."

"Lord Su not only brought soldiers from Guangzhou, but also brought silver from the Guangzhou treasury. Your Highness wants to use the silver from Guangzhou to support our army in Guangzhou, Guangxi Province, to check and balance Ding Kuichu."

"Ding Kuichu is fierce and stubborn, and he knows that if he allows Lord Su to enter the court, his power will be weakened. That is why he is so bold and reckless, forcibly closing the city gates and not allowing Lord Su's money and grain to enter the court."

"This Ding Kuichu is really bold!" Deng Yao couldn't help but sigh

The generals below were all amazed. The King of Gui was the future emperor, and the emperor had summoned Ding Kuichu to stop him.

They didn't dare to act like this in Liaodong when the emperor was far away. Ding Kuichu dared to do this under the emperor's nose. He is really a person who hides extravagance.
The generals were only slightly surprised, but then a hint of joy flashed across their faces. Su Guansheng brought silver from Guangzhou to the court, which meant that their future military pay would be settled, right?

Although they listened to the general's order and decided to surrender to King Gui, the next question that came up was where would the food and wages for the army come from?

The King of Gui could not be counted on for the time being. Right now, the army's food and wages were all subsidized by Li Mingzhong's private bank. Although it could be maintained for the time being, the high-ranking generals in their camp were quite worried.

Although the general was a higher official than them and earned more money than them, no matter how wealthy the general was, he could not support these 6,000 soldiers by himself.

Six thousand soldiers, just lying still every day, would cost a lot of money to maintain. Li Mingzhong might be able to hold on for ten days or half a month, but it would be impossible to maintain it for a long time.
But now, the King of Gui has transferred the silver from Guangzhou. Not only have they become the emperor's confidants, but they have also found a place to pay their military pay.

"Your Highness asked you to come here, is there any order?" Li Mingzhong said
"Your Highness has ordered the general to lead the army quickly to escort Lord Su into the city. Your Highness is worried that Ding Kuichu will forcibly attack and kill Lord Su's troops. As long as the general moves, Ding Kuichu will certainly not dare to act recklessly," Li Chengzhi said.
"General, let's send out troops quickly. We can't let that Ding Tousha rob our money," Yang Yandi also stood up and said.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Gui said that the money in the Guangzhou treasury was used to pay their military expenses. If it wasn't their money, whose money was it?
All the generals below were eager to try, but Li Mingzhong remained silent, sat back in his seat, and said nothing.
The generals only care about money, but he cannot just think about money.

He is different from the generals under him. The generals only need to follow his orders, but he is the commander of an army and has too many things to worry about.

According to the imperial system, if a general like him wanted to move troops, he needed an order from the Ministry of War. It was not like Li Mingzhong could just move his soldiers wherever he wanted.
And the current situation obviously cannot have a transfer order. If he leads the army to withdraw the camp like this, the civil officials in the court will find a handle on him later.
Although there is an oral order from the King of Gui, the civil officials in the court have always been strong and are extremely cautious against these warriors. If they attack together, can the King of Gui really withstand the pressure?
Although he had surrendered to the King of Gui at this time, he had only met the King of Gui a few times. The King of Gui might protect him now, but if he was dissatisfied with him in the future, would he bring up the old matter again and take away his military power?

Li Mingzhong was even more hesitant when he thought of this.
"Mobilizing the army is no joke. Let the general think it through."

Deng Yao seemed to understand Li Mingzhong's concerns and stopped the people who were asking for a fight. "Chengzhi, don't push the general anymore. Let the general think it over first," Deng Yao said, looking at Li Chengzhi who was urging him.

Li Chengzhi ignored Deng Yao's words and said
"General, you were determined to join the prince and serve the court. Why are you hesitating now?"

"The sons of the generals in the army have all entered the palace. In the eyes of outsiders, we have long been one with the prince. How can we please both sides?"

"My uncle taught me how to gamble and told me to put my money where my mouth is. Now that my uncle has placed his bet, why is he hesitating?"

"The prince is in danger right now, and he entrusted such important matters to my uncle, who is his confidant. My uncle is hesitant at this moment. If Ding Kuichu succeeds and seizes the money and food that the prince has worked so hard to find, the court will inevitably fall into the hands of Ding Kuichu again."

"When that happens, my uncle will be in trouble both internally and externally. This is the way to real disaster."

Li Chengzhi kept talking, and Deng Yao and others nodded secretly when they heard it.
"No need to say more, I will lead the troops out of the camp and escort Lord Su into the city."

Li Mingzhong gritted his teeth and said
In fact, he knew that he had no way out, but his many years of military experience made him extremely wary of giving others a handle.

"Deng Yao quickly assembled his army, moved the entire army to Zhaoqing"

Deng Yao received the order and was about to leave, but Li Chengzhi suddenly spoke

"Uncle is a general of the state. How can you dispatch troops out of the camp without reason? Uncle, just hand over the soldiers to me. I am the personal guard of the palace and I should lead the army to announce the prince's will."

"No, this is not feasible." Li Mingzhong's face changed when he heard this and he flatly refused.
Li Chengzhi's meaning was very clear. Li Mingzhong was a general of the country. If he transferred soldiers out of the camp, it would definitely give people a handle in the future. But if Li Chengzhi transferred soldiers out of the camp in the name of the royal guards, then the main responsibility would not be on Li Mingzhong.

The King of Gui issued an imperial decree, and I just followed the order to transfer some soldiers. I don't know what they are doing. Do you want me, Li Mingzhong, to disobey the order?

This seems to have freed Li Mingzhong, but there is a problem with this approach, that is, the risk of this matter falls entirely on Prince Gui and Li Chengzhi.
As a prince, the King of Gui could not have done anything wrong. It must be Li Chengzhi, the personal guard of the palace, who distorted the prince's will and arbitrarily mobilized the national army.
Although it is a bit early to say this now, Li Mingzhong actually trains his nephew as his successor, and plans to hand over all his power in the army to Li Chengzhi in the future.
If Li Chengzhi had such an obvious stain on him at this time, he would obviously not be able to take over Li Mingzhong's power.
After all, others can always bring up the past and attack Li Chengzhi for his arrogance.

Li Chengzhi seemed to understand what Li Mingzhong was thinking and said
"I know what my uncle meant, but I did this voluntarily."

"When I was in the palace, the prince once asked me about my ambitions. The prince has a kind personality and cares about the world. He will definitely be the holy ruler of the Ming Dynasty. I have decided to follow the prince from now on," Li Chengzhi said with a firm look.
Li Mingzhong looked shocked and looked at Li Chengzhi in front of him, not knowing what to say.

At first, my nephew was quite dissatisfied with joining the King of Gui, but after just a few days, this nephew has become completely devoted to the King of Gui and even gave up his career in the army.

What does it mean to follow the prince? It means that Li Chengzhi has decided to be the prince's guard and close minister. He will probably not return to the army in the future, but will join the Jinyiwei. Only in this way can he be truly following the prince.

"If that's the case, then it's up to you."

Li Mingzhong sighed softly, his eyes complicated
"General, please mobilize the cavalry first. I will lead the cavalry to Zhaoqing to announce the imperial edict. I will send someone to lead the infantry to guard the rear to prevent Ding Kuichu from attacking and killing Lord Su," Li Chengzhi said.
"Yang Yandi, you lead the cavalry to go with Chengzhi, and make sure Chengzhi is safe," Li Mingzhong looked at the burly general below.
"General, don't worry. Those southerners have been at peace for a long time. They think they are just veterans in the army after defeating the bandits once or twice. I have long disliked them."

"If they really dare to attack me this time, I will let these southern troops see how powerful my Liaodong cavalry is," Yang Yandi said with a grim look.
After everyone in the camp had made their decision, they left the camp.

As the horn sounded in the camp, countless soldiers walked out of the tents and gathered silently on the parade ground. The entire camp seemed like a revived giant beast, quietly revealing its sharp fangs.
(End of this chapter)