Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 265: Expelling Ma Jixiang
"Cen Danchu, you! You!..." Chen Zengyu was shocked and scared. He was so angry that he was shaking all over, but he didn't dare to get angry.

Two burly Red Army guards had already carried Chen Zengyu outside the palace like an eagle catching a chick. The situation was urgent, and Chen Zengyu shouted for help, but was punched in the face by the Red Army and his mouth was stuffed with rags.

Outside the palace, soldiers had already prepared their batons and began to enforce military law: "One, two, three..."

The punishment can be light or heavy, depending on the will of the law enforcer. If the intention is to kill someone, the force can be increased secretly, twenty strokes will cause disability, forty strokes will kill the person. If the intention is to save the person, even if it is five hundred strokes, it does not matter.

Danchu had planned this for a long time, and the Red Army beat him to death, with each blow being heavier than the last. Soon, Chen Zengyu lost control of his bowels and bladder, and the stench spread into the hall.

If the fight continued like this, Chen Zengyu would surely die. The various towns looked at each other in bewilderment, and no one dared to dissuade them. Ma Jixiang, Guo Dengdi and others were not close to Danchu, and they were even more terrified, fearing that Danchu would vent his anger on them.

"General," He Wuzuo could no longer sit still and said, "Chen Zengyu is an earl after all, so why not spare his life first? After you and I write to the emperor and ask for his permission, we can..."

Again, another killing? He Wuzuo did not dare to continue. Although the earl Chen Zengyu was not worth much, he was the eldest son of Chen Bangfu after all. You have to look at the owner when you beat the dog. Cen Danchu beat Chen Zengyu with 300 military sticks, how could he not care about Chen Bangfu?

"Don't worry, old sir." Danchu said calmly, "We are far away, and the correspondence is troublesome. I am a general, and I have the imperial sword, which is enough for me to act at my own discretion. On the 81st day of Jiangyin, when Liu Liangzuo failed to capture Jiangyin, Bolo punished him with a stick. The Tartars know that military law must be strict, but are we not as good as them?"

He Wuzuo was in a state of uncertainty, looking out of the hall. Chen Zengyu had stopped screaming, and he didn't know whether he was dead or alive. His back was covered in blood, and the blood flowed under the torture bench, staining the ground red.

Some of the townsmen in the palace were gloating, some were indifferent, and some were in doubt. Looking at Cen Danchu again, his expression was calm, his lips were tightly closed, and his eyebrows revealed a murderous and decisive temperament.

Wasn't General Dongxun and Baofeng Marquis Luo Chengyao also killed by Cen Danchu? Thinking of this, He Wuzhuo shuddered. The general was already strong, and the Red Army was strong. Even if Chen Bangfu was a duke, why couldn't Cen Danchu kill him? Judging from the situation, he must want to kill Chen Zengyu, and maybe even want to eat Chen Bangfu in one bite?
Xun Zhen was domineering, and the situation was set. He Wuzuo took a deep breath and decided to stay out of it.

Chen Zengyu was motionless, but the caning continued. When he had been beaten 217 times, a soldier suddenly came to report: "Teacher, General, Duke of Qing, Chen Bangfu, has started a rebellion."

Zhu Zhen was shocked, looked at the soldier who reported the news, then looked at Cen Danchu, and then suddenly realized that everything today had been planned.

"How dare Chen Bangfu rebel?" Danchu stood up and asked incredulously, "Why do you think so?"

"Reporting to the general, Chen Bangfu led thousands of soldiers and horses, wearing armor, with bows strung and arrows in hand, intending to attack the temple." The soldier's answer was loud and clear, leaving no room for doubt.

Perhaps Chen Bangfu had only led his troops to rescue his son. Danchu did not give everyone time to think, and said, "Okay! Chen Bangfu has ulterior motives and has long been plotting rebellion. Jinbao impeached him and sentenced him to death at the age of fifteen, and every word was true. Now he has raised an army to rebel, and his crimes are already exposed. Today, I will enforce justice for the country and eliminate the traitors."

He looked around with eagle eyes, and saw that no one in the town objected, so he immediately gave the order: "Li Yuanyin!"

"I am here!" Li Yuanyin, wearing armor, stepped out of the line and stood up to salute Danchu.

"I order you to lead your troops to defend Fengmen'ao and not allow any of the thieves to escape from the east of Zhaoqing City."

"I obey your command!" Li Yuanyin took the command arrow, hurried out of the hall, and dispatched troops.

"Ruan Tingfeng! I order you to lead the first brigade of the navy and go up the Xijiang River to Sanrong Port. Do not let any of the bandits escape from the west of Zhaoqing City."

"Yang Yuqi! I order you to lead the Second Marine Division and patrol the Xijiang River. Do not let any thieves escape from the Xijiang River."

"Zhang Yue! I order you to return to the city immediately, take charge of the defense of Zhaoqing, and capture Chen Bangfu's family members. Do not let any of them escape."

"Liu Guochang! Ma Bao! He Guozuo! I order the three of you to lead your troops and attack the old villain Chen Bangfu together. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!" "Yuan Ping! I order you to defend the camp and protect our safety."

……

The plan was made, and the generals left, leaving half of the seats in the Heavenly King Hall empty. The incident happened suddenly, and Cen Danchu was decisive and merciless. Most of the remaining towns were not part of the Red Army. Although they had been in battle for a long time, they had never seen Danchu's methods. Today was an eye-opener, and the towns were shocked and uneasy.

Ma Jixiang was originally recommended by Chen Bangfu, and colluded with Chen Bangfu both inside and outside, and held the court hostage many times. At this moment, he had completely lost the arrogance of "Emperor Ma" and smiled flatteringly:

"The great general is wise and brave, unparalleled in the history. Today, he has eliminated the traitors for the country, which is really gratifying. Ma is willing to entrust all his troops to the great general and serve him."

Danchu was quite pleased with what he said, and couldn't help but sneer. Ma Jixiang was skilled in flattery, and once he was arrogant, but he also had times when he was humble? He was the Minister of War of Marquis Wen'an after all, and he even gave up his troops to flatter himself, isn't it ridiculous?

The various towns did not dare to abandon their troops like Ma Jixiang did, but they also showed their goodwill to Danchu:

"The general is wise and decisive, acting on behalf of heaven. The Ming Dynasty has hope for a revival."

"Chen Bangfu was rebellious and lawless, and the court was powerless to control him. The general eliminated the traitor for the country, and peace and order were restored in Guangdong and Guangdong."

……

Amidst the flattery, Danchu suddenly woke up. Ma Jixiang was good at flattery. By chance, he was able to jump from a wandering stick in the capital to the Minister of War and Marquis Wen'an of the Southern Ming Dynasty. He had his own extraordinary qualities. In history, he flattered Sun Kewang, who was defeated and Li Dingguo wanted to punish him. Ma Jixiang used all means of flattery to win the favor of Li Dingguo.

The Yongli government was in a state of chaos and deterioration. Ma Jixiang was responsible for a lot of things, so killing him was not too much of a mistake. However, Danchu had just murdered Chen Bangfu today, so it was inconvenient to implicate Ma Jixiang, so he sneered:

"The Grand Marshal is in charge of the military affairs. He is very knowledgeable. Since you have entrusted me with the military affairs, I would be disrespectful to refuse. However, I have a word of advice for you. Please consider it carefully."

Danchu's words were full of ulterior motives. Ma Jixiang held his breath and concentrated, then said with a wry smile, "General, just give me your orders. I am willing to serve you."

As the Minister of War, he spoke so humbly that several people present covered their faces and sneered.

"When I led the troops into Guangdong, I realized that the overall situation was corrupt and the military was getting worse. It seemed that the situation was irreversible. Only the reincarnation of Lord Yu Zhongsu could rectify the military affairs. How do you think of yourself, compared to Lord Yu Zhongsu?"

Yu Zhongsu Gong is Yu Qian. After the Tumu Incident, he served as the Minister of War. He reorganized the Beijing camp, fought against the Oirat Mongols, and stabilized the country. He was a famous official in the middle period of the Ming Dynasty.

Although Ma Jixiang and Yu Qian were both ministers of the Ministry of War, there was a world of difference between them.

He then realized that Danchu was humiliating him, and said, "I am so virtuous and talented that I dare not compare with Lord Zhongsu."

"Well, it's good that you know it in your heart." Danchu paused and said, "The position of Minister of War is extremely important. Since you don't have great talent, you should resign. Liu Tong'an has a long history of military affairs and is capable of taking on the important task. I will recommend him to succeed the Minister of War. Do you have any opinions?"

Liu Tong'an, also known as Liu Yuansheng, is the former Minister of War and is currently serving in Danchu's army. With the strength of the Red Army and Cen Danchu's reputation, they are enough to decide the advancement and retreat of ministers. He also intends to place his confidants in the court to serve as a spy for the Red Army.

All the towns agreed, and Ma Jixiang was so ashamed that he had to resign as the Minister of War. Danchu forced him to go as an envoy to Zhu Chenggong and sent him to Fujian, so that he could turn a blind eye to the incident.

(End of this chapter)