The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 389 Losing the People's Heart
As the saying goes, once the twelfth lunar month arrives, the New Year is here in the blink of an eye.

Entering the twelfth lunar month means that the Spring Festival is getting closer and closer, and the festive atmosphere is getting stronger. Three months of national mourning have just passed. This year's capital city is more lively than in previous years. The rich and the poor are all crowded in Qianmen Street at this time, hawking and bargaining, and it is very lively.

Compared with the bustling Qianmen Street, the Imperial City is so deserted that it makes people feel depressed.

The sky was gray and filled with dark clouds, suppressing the prospect of snow, making the entire imperial city breathless. The eunuchs and palace maids standing outside the gate of the Palace of Mental Cultivation held their breath and secretly glanced in the direction of the West Warm Pavilion.

The door curtain was lifted, and the eunuch on duty came out holding the broken pieces of tea bowl.

The eunuch on duty walked to the palace door and shouted in a low voice: "What are you looking at? You have no rules."

A young eunuch quickly took the broken pieces of the tea bowl from his hands, and another young eunuch took out a handkerchief and wiped the tea stains off his hands.

The eunuch on duty glanced at the West Warm Pavilion and sighed silently. Wang Ziteng's battle not only killed tens of thousands of soldiers, but also left Henan and Hubei provinces without troops. The war continued to spread, and Hubei was also involved in the war. Emergency documents from all over the country came in like snowflakes.

The latest war report from Hubei has just been sent in. De'an Prefecture was attacked by the White Lotus rebels. They requested the court to send troops for support. There are wars everywhere, so where can they get troops to support them?

At this moment, the eunuch on duty's eyes lit up.

A group of young eunuchs came over, surrounding the emperor's grandson.

The eunuch on duty hurried over, bowed to the emperor's grandson, and then took the schoolbag from the young eunuch.

Grandson: "I heard there's another urgent delivery?"

The eunuch on duty said: "Yes. De'an Prefecture was also attacked by the White Lotus rebels. The emperor doesn't look too happy, you have to be careful."

The grandson nodded, walked to the door curtain and stopped, and called out crisply: "Grandpa Emperor!"

There was silence in the warm room for a moment before the slightly tired voice of Emperor Yongchang was heard: "Today is Laba Festival. Grandpa Huang will give you half a day off. Go to your Grandma Huang."

The emperor's grandson: "Yes." He knelt down and kowtowed, then walked out.

In the warm room, Emperor Yongchang stood in front of the south window, staring out in a daze.

Dai Quan, who was standing nearby, had a look of discomfort in his eyes. Just as he was about to say something, Emperor Yongchang spoke up: "Dai Quan."

Dai Quan: "The old slave is here."

Emperor Yongchang's voice was a little hoarse: "In recent years, Zhili has been hit by natural disasters. Is it God's warning to me?"

Dai Quan said hurriedly: "Three years of plenty and three years of poverty, six years of minor disasters, and twelve years of major disasters. This is the celestial change determined by the time of Yao and Shun, and it is not caused by human power."

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then said, "That being said, I cannot bear it. I will issue an order to exempt the people of Zhili from taxes for this year."

"Your Majesty is as merciful as Heaven!" Dai Quan hurriedly praised him.

Emperor Yongchang glanced at him, then walked back and forth, saying as he walked: "The government has made mistakes again and again, and internal and external troubles are rising. Some things should be settled to give peace of mind to the former court, the harem, and the troops outside."

Dai Quan was delighted. Are they going to establish a crown prince?

Emperor Yongchang stopped and said: "After the Little New Year, all days are good. Let the Imperial Astronomical Observatory choose an auspicious day. I want to enthrone the Crown Prince."

Dai Quan replied, "As you wish."

Emperor Yongchang: "Also, let the third son also come to attend the ceremony of enthroning the Crown Prince." "Yes." Dai Quan answered loudly.

"Family affairs are difficult, and national affairs are also difficult! Henan is now rebellious and then suppressed, and then rebelled again. This cannot be allowed. We must send a capable official to Henan, and he must be a good official who loves the people like his own children. Lin Ruhai is suitable, but who in Shandong can replace him?"

Emperor Yongchang paced back and forth rapidly again. "Well, promote Lin Ruhai to the position of Governor-General of Shandong and Henan, give him the title of Minister of War, and let him be in charge of both Shandong and Henan provinces, and stationed in Xuzhou City."

Dai Quan was slightly stunned. Governor of Shandong and Henan? The emperor appointed a governor specifically for Lin Ruhai! And he was stationed in Xuzhou, Jiangsu.
Emperor Yongchang suddenly snorted, "What on earth is Li Hu busy with?! More than a month has passed, and there is not a single victory report, not even an urgent message! This is too ridiculous!"

Dai Quan: "There are mountains between Anhui and Hubei.

Emperor Yongchang: "That cunning fellow will not go over the mountains. The journey to the south is long. He must have gone north, and will probably go south from Wusheng Pass to attack the White Lotus Sect's flanks."

Dai Quan's eyes lit up: "The White Lotus rebels are attacking De'an Prefecture, isn't this a coincidence!"

Emperor Yongchang nodded and said: "I have handed over the entire Central Plains to them, the father-in-law and the son-in-law. I hope they will not let me down!"

Emperor Yongchang only guessed half right. Li Hu did go north, but did not go south through Wusheng Pass. Instead, he went straight to Nanyang Prefecture, intending to cut off Bai Hongzhi's retreat and attack from the north and south with the government troops from Hunan and Jiangxi that came north to support him, and wipe out the White Lotus rebels in one fell swoop!

The army was unstoppable, and wherever they passed, the White Lotus rebels surrendered. Li Hu led the government troops and the 30,000 surrendered soldiers who were recruited and rushed directly into Nanyang Prefecture. Just when he thought he could easily take over the entire Nanyang Prefecture, the first county town gave him a blow!
The White Lotus leader who was guarding the city not only refused to surrender, but also killed the soldiers sent by Li Hu to deliver the letter. Li Hu ordered an attack on the city, but was met with stubborn resistance. The people in the city also helped the White Lotus to defend the city. The two sides fought fiercely for a day and a night, and the surrendered soldiers who were incorporated into the city finally broke through the county town. However, the war was not over, and the two sides fought in the county town for another hour.

After the war, Li Hu personally asked the people who helped the White Lotus defend the city, and then he knew that the problem was with Wang Ziteng. After retaking the city, the generals under Wang Ziteng not only wantonly burned, killed, looted, and killed innocent people to claim credit, but also indulged his subordinates in plundering women. In order to cover up their crimes, they drove all the plundered women into the river and drowned them. Such cruelty and ruthlessness made the people unwilling to trust the government army anymore.

Just when Li Hu and others thought it was just an isolated case, the second county town made their hearts sink to the bottom.

The second county town was large and well-fortified, with a stronger garrison and a more tenacious resistance. More than 20,000 surrendered soldiers attacked fiercely for two days and two nights, suffering heavy casualties. The city was littered with corpses and blood flowed like a river, but they were unable to break through the city. In the end, they used gunpowder cans to blow down a corner of the city, and only after a brutal street battle did they take down the entire county town.

This battle made Li Hu, Huang Jinzhong and others realize the seriousness of the matter. The imperial court had lost the support of the people!

Three days ago, Li Hu led his army to besiege Nanyang City. It was said that the families of the high-ranking members of the White Lotus Sect were inside. The White Lotus Sect members in the city were extremely brave. They used artillery fire, arrows, rolling logs, stones and other means to cause heavy casualties to the attacking army. Although their casualties were heavy, they also defeated the fierce attack of the government army.

As the sun set, the sound of killing shook the sky. Although the White Lotus Sect members fought to the death, the government troops still captured the city wall.

Under a large flag with the word "Li" on it, Li Hu was holding a telescope and looking at the city wall, paying attention to the battle situation on the wall.

Due to the forced march, Li Hu did not bring any artillery, leaving them all to Chen Qiang. In order to prevent Shui Rong from making a surprise attack, Li Hu not only kept all the young and strong men he recruited, but also left 5,000 elite soldiers and Mongolian cavalry to Chen Qiang.

After three fierce battles, Li Hu still had more than 30,000 elite troops and less than 20,000 surrendered soldiers under his command.

More and more government troops attacked the city wall. Li Hu's eyes were attracted by a tall figure. It was Sun Shaozu who came to him with Jia She's personal letter. Li Hu wanted to kill him directly, but Huang Jinzhong was also there, with a letter from the Ministry of War, so he gave him a thousand-man officer. He wanted to make him glorious, but he didn't expect this bastard to be so tough. After several fierce battles, he was only injured.

The sword flashed, and he chopped down the White Lotus Sect members one by one on the city wall. Sun Shaozu's goal was very clear, to take down the city tower, open the city gate, and win the first merit.

Li Hu put down the telescope. If he could take the first merit, plus the military merit he had accumulated before, it would be enough to be promoted to guerrilla general. After thinking about it, this was a good idea. If he was allowed to lead the surrendered soldiers, the chance of death or disability would be even greater.

At this time, Wang Daniu came hurriedly with a letter.

Wang Daniu whispered, "A letter from Zhang Cheng."

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open and read it, then frowned. Bai Hongzhi actually went to De'an Prefecture? Was it an accident, or did he know the whereabouts of the army?

At this moment, cheers were heard from below the city: "The city has been broken, the city has been broken!"

(End of this chapter)