Fu Shanhe

Chapter 155: Crisis in Guangdong
"Holy Emperor, Lianzhou is lost!"

Upon receiving this bad news, the smile on Shi Rongxian's face disappeared instantly.

They had just captured Zhaoqing Prefecture and were preparing to make further efforts to seize Guangzhou Prefecture, but suddenly a fire broke out in the backyard.

"We assembled an army of 100,000, but not only did we fail to annihilate the puppet dynasty's detachment, we also lost Lianzhou Prefecture.

What does Fu Sanqi eat? "

Shi Rongxian couldn't help but question.

After losing Lianzhou, Siming Prefecture, Nanning Prefecture and Xunzhou Prefecture were all exposed to the enemy's attack.

The Holy White Lotus Kingdom was established too recently, and its people have not really returned. There are many people in the country who are loyal to Dayu.

These people only temporarily submitted to them under the pressure of violence.

Once the Dayu army attacks, they may turn against us at any time.

“Your Majesty, I have not received any news from Prime Minister Fu yet.

However, from the soldiers who escaped back, they learned that the defeat that day was mainly the responsibility of the chieftain's army.

Their boasted invincible elephant soldiers simply lost control on the battlefield after encountering enemy artillery attacks.

The elephants trampled the army, causing it to break into pieces, giving the enemy an opportunity to take advantage. "

Prime Minister Wu Zekai began to explain.

As the prime minister and deputy prime minister, Fu Sanqi's existence is mainly to share his power.

Under normal circumstances, if something like this happened to his competitor, he should add insult to injury.

However, Wu Zekai knew Shi Rongxian and was well aware that his own Saint Emperor was a suspicious person and would not give him the opportunity to dominate alone.

Even if Fu Sanqi is killed, a new deputy prime minister will be born.

Rather than changing partners and increasing uncertainty, it is better to do Fu Sanqi a favor.

With the stain of this great defeat on him, Fu Sanqi couldn't speak with any confidence when working with everyone in the future.

"Damn these chieftains, I knew they would not be able to achieve anything!
The thought of being trampled by one's own war elephants is ridiculous.

My dear ministers, now that Lianzhou Prefecture has been lost, do you have any strategies?"

After calming down, Shi Rongxian asked.

Lianzhou was defeated and the chieftains suffered the most casualties, but they had to bear the political consequences.

The greatest impact of the government troops' recapture of Lianzhou was not military but political.

The human heart is the most complicated.

Everyone followed the White Lotus Sect in rebellion, not only because life was truly hard, but mostly out of blind obedience.

Talking about loyalty is nonsense. Most soldiers join the army because they are forced to do so.

The goal of establishing the White Lotus Holy Dynasty is the driving force that motivates everyone to strive.

Once a major setback occurs, the military morale that has been built up through deception can easily collapse.

"Your Majesty, if you give me a hundred thousand troops, I will be able to defeat the false dynasty's troops in one fell swoop and recapture Lianzhou Prefecture!"

King Wei Hao of Dongping was the first to express his opinion.

Ever since the Eastern Expedition began, his forces have been in a state of stagnation.

Several proposals for a Northern Expedition to Huguang were rejected.

If the Northern Expedition cannot be launched, a Southern Expedition is acceptable; it is better than standing still.

As far as he knew, the King of Pingnan, who was in charge of the Eastern Expedition, expanded his army by another 50,000 after conquering Zhaoqing Prefecture.

Although they were mostly a motley crowd, it was an indisputable fact that the Eastward Movement gained momentum.

If this continues, he will lose his position as the leader of the four kings.

“This is not right!
The Prince of Dongping had to guard against the southward advance of the puppet government troops of Huguang, and rashly withdrawing troops to recapture Lianzhou Prefecture would easily give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage.

The lesson of Lianzhou Prefecture was enough just once.

If the Huguang army is allowed in, the foundation of the Holy Kingdom will be in real danger.

I suggest that we suspend the battle in Guangdong first, and then expand outward after resolving the hidden dangers in the rear! "

King Wei Jiarui of Zhenxi immediately objected.

Among the several encirclement and suppression armies, Huguang was the most active in the early stages.

If the front line is empty, no one knows whether the enemy will attack again.

Being attacked from both sides has always been a taboo in military strategy.

"The King of Zhenxi is wrong!

Compared with Guangxi, Guangdong is not only much richer, but also has a much higher strategic position.

After taking over Guangdong, the prosperous Jiangnan region was within reach.

At this moment, we have already inflicted heavy damage on the coalition forces of the three provinces, and our army is less than a hundred miles away from Guangzhou.

If we withdraw our troops at this time, all our previous efforts will be wasted.

If a holy country wants to conquer the world, it cannot care about the gains and losses of a single city or a single place.

Guangxi is mountainous and its land is barren, which is not the foundation for a kingdom or a nobleman.

Since ancient times, there has never been anyone who occupied Guangxi and conquered the world.

If we can take over Guangdong and advance into the south of the Yangtze River, we will be able to replicate the path that Emperor Taizu of Dayu took to conquer the world.

What's more, the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River are important financial and taxation centers in the world, contributing nearly 40% of the tax revenue of the pseudo-dynasty.

After taking over Jiangnan, even if the pseudo-dynasty wanted to send troops, it was unable to raise enough military pay.

In comparison, only a small force occupied Lianzhou.

No matter how good they are at fighting, they can't occupy much land.

Let each prefecture take advantage of the terrain and deal with the enemy first.

Once we take over Guangdong and cut off their logistical supplies, this small army will collapse without a fight!"

Pingnan King Fu Haoxuan hurriedly objected.

As a vested interest in the Eastern Expedition, he didn't want to waste all his efforts.

From the moment they started their rebellion, the Holy White Lotus Kingdom’s goal was to take over the world.

If we don't strike out before the government troops encircle and suppress us, staying in Guangxi will be our own destruction.

“Your Majesty, King Pingnan is right.

Guangxi is poor and far less prosperous than Guangdong.

Even if the puppet government troops occupied Lianzhou, they would not be able to collect food from the local area.

The Holy Kingdom's grain reserves are only enough to sustain the army for three months, so there is really no time to linger in Guangxi."

Prime Minister Wu Zekai echoed.

This suggestion is made entirely out of public interest.

Regardless of whether the Eastern Expedition is the best option, we have now reached Guangzhou Prefecture and we must not stop.

It is easy for the main army to return to assist and recover the lost territory, but the problem is that the barren land of Guangxi cannot support the Holy White Lotus Kingdom where all the people are soldiers.

For this new regime, Guangxi, which is unable to provide money and food to the Holy Kingdom, has now become a waste.

Apart from the emotional separation, the importance of Guangxi to the Holy Kingdom of White Lotus is constantly decreasing.

"Prime Minister, this is biased.

Don't forget that Guangxi is connected to Annan. Many of our military's weapons are purchased from there.

The military production capacity of the Holy Kingdom is limited. If the Pseudo-Dynasty cuts off our connection with Annan, we will have to rely on captured weapons for replenishment."

King Wei Jiarui of Zhenxi immediately retorted.

……

Watching the ministers quarreling, Shi Rongxian felt overwhelmed for a moment.

It feels like what everyone says makes sense, but the White Lotus Holy Kingdom’s strength is limited and it’s unable to take both into account.

Fighting on four fronts was too much pressure for the new regime.

"enough!
We have already made up our mind about the Eastern Expedition, and we must not give up halfway.

King Pingnan, you continue to lead the Eastern Expedition. I hope to capture Guangzhou before the end of the year.

We cannot just sit there and wait for death as the imperial court is surrounding us with heavy troops.

Once the Pseudo-Dynasty dispatches its elite troops to the south, the Holy Kingdom will be in danger.

The most urgent task is to break the enemy's blockade on all sides.

Prince of Dongping, I order you to select an elite force and march into Huguang through the enemy's weak areas.

He united with local believers to launch an uprising in Huguang and tie down the enemy forces in Huguang.

King Zhenxi, I order you to select elite troops and infiltrate Yunnan and Guizhou.

Unite with local believers to launch an uprising and strive to spread the war all the way to Sichuan.

The prime minister issued orders to the garrisons in various places to strictly prevent the invasion of the Lianzhou pseudo-dynasty army.

The enemies are all outsiders, so we must make full use of the terrain advantages to slow down the enemy's advance. It is best to drive the enemy into the mountains and use the power of local chieftains to deal with the enemy!"

At the critical moment, Shi Rongxian showed his decisive side.

Regardless of whether these deployments can be implemented, at least from a strategic point of view, this is the best option for the Holy Kingdom of White Lotus at the moment.

……

Guangzhou Prefecture.

"You bastard!
You all brag so much in normal times, why do you become so weak when you meet the rebels?

The heavily guarded Zhaoqing Prefecture could not even hold out for half a month.

Prefect Yang, you go first?"

Zou Yunchuan asked sternly.

The rapid fall of Zhaoqing Prefecture created a gap in his Guangdong defense strategy.

The vanguard of the rebels was now less than a hundred miles away from Guangzhou City.

Naturally, he would not have a good face towards the criminal who lost Zhaoqing.

"Governor, I am wronged!
I have carried out the military deployment in full compliance with your instructions.

It should have been foolproof, but when the war entered a critical moment, a sudden defeat occurred.

Those damned soldiers, they don’t even think about revenge…”

Before Magistrate Yang finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.

The generals, whom he called soldiers, all glared at him.

Civil officials despise military generals, but they do it in private; on the surface they are still colleagues.

If you say it openly, it will attract hatred.

In order to shirk responsibility and save his own life, the panicked Yang Prefect did not care about anything else and continued to explain himself.

As the governor, Zou Yunchuan naturally sits on the side of the civil servants, but the current situation is special.

During wartime, military commanders are needed to fight for their lives.

Looking at the murderous eyes of the generals, one could tell that if he dared to put all the blame on the military generals, there would be no need to hold today's military meeting.

"You bastard!
As the prefect of Zhaoqing, you have the responsibility to defend your territory.

Don’t you have any responsibility at all for the loss of cities and territory at this moment?
Get out of here and wait until I figure out the whole story and then I'll punish you.

General Xu, what's the matter with the mutiny? "

As he spoke, Zou Yunchuan kicked Prefect Yang.

"Governor, the trouble is caused by the food and fodder.

The soldiers of the Zhaoqing garrison did not carry enough food and fodder, and failed to ask for it from Prefect Yang.

The starving soldiers mutinied, giving the rebels an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.”

Xu Jie said indignantly.

The battle was going well, but then I met a stupid teammate.

During wartime, anyone who dares to withhold food and fodder is simply courting death.

"General Xu, stop talking nonsense. When did our government withhold food and fodder?

According to convention, the army must bring three days of food and grass when it is mobilized, and this government strictly follows the court's procedures..."

Before Prefect Yang could finish his words, the Governor Xue Weichen at the side kicked him directly.

"Shut up!
Who told you to speak!

Come, take this criminal to jail and wait for the court's decision."

Zou Yunchuan pretended not to notice the governor's act of exceeding his authority.

It is normal for civil officials to control the rules and manipulate military generals.

You can play games with rules, but you also have to consider the time.

This prefect Yang is obviously stupid, as he is trying to break the rules during wartime.

Now it has gone wrong, causing a huge mess and leaving behind a huge mess.

"I know about this matter. The loss of Zhaoqing is the fault of Prefect Yang. It has nothing to do with you.

I will report this matter truthfully to the court and punish him for the crime of losing the city and the land.

Next, let’s discuss the subsequent battle!”

Zou Yunchuan said while suppressing his dissatisfaction.

If you want your generals to fight for you, you must appease your people.

Putting all the blame for the loss of Zhaoqing on Prefect Yang is undoubtedly the best option.

As for the mutiny, it won't be too late to settle the score after the war is over.

"Governor, we have just suffered a great defeat and our troops have suffered heavy losses.

I need to go back to Fujian to rest, so goodbye!"

"Governor, the situation of my unit is the same. We need to return to Jiangxi to rest."

After Fujian General Wei Zhiyuan said goodbye, Jiangxi General Liu Yingjie followed suit and expressed his intention to leave, which frightened the Guangdong bureaucrats.

After a defeat, people's hearts are in turmoil.

If the two enemy troops run away again, it will be even more difficult to fight the subsequent battles.

"Two generals, this is absolutely not allowed!
Now is the critical moment of the Guangdong defense war. We should work together to deal with it. How can we give up halfway? "

Zou Yunchuan ignored the governor's arrogance and hurriedly stood up to persuade him.

As arrogant as he was before, he is as humble now.

“Sir Governor, we will not obey your orders.

The army suffered too heavy losses. Of the 50,000 troops that set out on the expedition, only more than 10,000 were left.

I don't know how to go back and face the people of Jiangdong!"

Jiangxi General Liu Yingjie said with a sad face.

If you didn't know, you would really think that the Jiangxi army suffered heavy losses.

In fact, when the Zhaoqing front collapsed, he was the one who led the team to run the fastest.

The only ones left behind were the local Guangdong troops.

However, to survive in the officialdom, being thick-skinned is a basic requirement.

Regardless of whether the outside world believed it or not, he insisted that the Jiangxi army suffered more than 70% casualties.

This is a rare opportunity to settle accounts, and we must take advantage of this time to resolve historical issues.

"Governor, our Fujian troops suffered even greater losses.

Of the 50,000 reinforcements I led, only less than 10,000 are left.

After such a great defeat, I am too ashamed to stay here. Please let me go!"

Wei Zhiyuan took the opportunity to continue the conversation.

As guest troops, they have much greater autonomy.

Although the supply of food and fodder was controlled by others, the two provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi were originally assisting Guangdong in providing financial support.

The food and fodder they consumed were directly allocated by the provincial governor's office.

The threat of withdrawal now is essentially for the purpose of negotiating conditions.

As long as Guangdong acknowledged their losses and helped cover up the losses, everyone would stay and continue fighting.

“The court will never forget everyone’s contribution.

But now is a critical moment for life and death, I hope the two generals will consider the overall situation!"

As he finished speaking, Zou Yunchuan was about to bow, and seeing this the two men hurried forward to support him.

This is not the early years of the founding of the country, and they dare not accept the gift from the governor.

If this were to get out, they would become representatives of those who do not follow the rules and would be collectively boycotted by the civil servants.

"Governor, you must not do this!

We will stay and tide over the difficulties together."

Wei and Liu said in unison.

The deal was reached between the two parties, and the originally tense atmosphere eased a lot.

However, the estrangement caused by this coercion was also buried.

……

"Governor, good news!"

"The Yangzhou Camp and the Huai'an Camp defeated the rebels in Lianzhou and recaptured many cities in Lianzhou..."

(End of this chapter)