Fu Shanhe

Chapter 494 Self-defeating
Amateur militiamen, trained by amateurs who followed military manuals, encountered a reinforced version of the "rebel army" and achieved a victory that crumbled at the first touch.

The moment the wall was blown up, the panicked soldiers scattered and fled.

If you bring your own food and work for free, and you die, you might not even get a pension, so who would be willing to risk their life?
The demonic propaganda was useless; at its peak, the White Lotus rebels even occupied Southern Zhili.

The rebels' rampage did bring chaos, but that was only temporary.

No matter who is in power, someone needs to farm the land; it's impossible to kill them all.

With this simple understanding, no matter how much the Wang family members shouted, they couldn't stop the other people from fleeing for their lives.

After the militia's defeat, the household guards, on whom they had placed high hopes, were also rendered useless.

After a symbolic counter-attack, this group, which usually oppressed its employees, quickly collapsed under the musket fire of the "rebels."

As it turns out, there is a fundamental difference between scholarly families and aristocratic families.

"Chieftain, we can't hold them off outside anymore! Quickly lead the people and retreat!"

The middle-aged man rushed in and said in a panic.

He knew he couldn't win in a fight, and after witnessing the fighting prowess of the "rebels," he gave up any thought of resistance.

"Walk?"

Where can we go?

“Since those people chose to impersonate the rebels, there is absolutely no way they will let us leave.”

Back then, the once-renowned Cao, Qi, and Duan families all vanished without a trace.

Even if some of their sons were lucky enough to survive, they could only hide their identities and dare not show their true faces to others!

Wang Jiaheng said with a look of grief and indignation.

Impersonating rebels is a blatant violation of ethical boundaries, and the most important thing is to silence them.

The dead cannot cry out for justice. Without the aggrieved party making a fuss, the imperial court will naturally assume that it was the rebels who did it.

If they fail to stop the enemy's advance, not only will they perish, but even the Wang family members who are away will be in danger.

Hoping their allies will lend them a hand is unrealistic.

The survival rule of aristocratic families is always to prioritize profit.

Once a period of decline begins, the most vulnerable are former allies.

"Clan leader, you must not lose heart."

The enemy has at most two or three thousand men, while my Wang family compound has tens of thousands. Even if we stand still and let them kill us, we won't be able to kill them all in a short time.

"While the enemy is plundering our wealth, we can still leave with our people!"

The middle-aged man urged hurriedly.

Looking at the group of minor gentry leading their clansmen and government troops in a game of hide-and-seek, I initially thought the government troops were not that strong.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't that the government troops were incompetent, but rather that they simply didn't take the situation seriously.

Once things get serious, even a powerful local family like the Wang family wouldn't be able to withstand the government army's thunderous attack.

"The steward gave the order to have the clansmen change into the clothes of the poor and scatter among the crowd to break through the encirclement."

Aside from a few loose coins, don't carry anything else, lest you invite disaster or trouble.

Especially the women in the tribe, the uglier they dress, the better.

Shao Si, you shall immediately lead men to set fire to the granary in the mansion.

The bigger the fire, the better!
The imperial court is short of food, so they will definitely have to divide their forces to fight the fire.

After calming down, Wang Jiaheng quickly made a decision.

Since the enemy had resorted to underhanded tactics, they couldn't have been unprepared for their breakout attempt.

Now we can only hope that the officers and soldiers are short-handed and unable to block all the passages, so as to find a glimmer of hope.

As for revenge, that can wait until I survive; my priority is to escape.

Plans can't keep up with changes; by the time the order is issued, the situation has already changed.

Driven by panic, the clansmen in the mansion all chose to hide in places they considered safe.

The militia, which had placed high hopes on them, failed to buy them enough time to evacuate.

Apart from a few members of the Wang family who fought back, the ordinary militia soldiers, seeing that the enemy was pursuing them too fast, decisively chose to surrender.

The evacuation plan was aborted before it even began.

……

"Whatever you want, the Wang family will satisfy you."

We only beg the Holy Church to show mercy and spare our innocent people!

Wang Jiaheng suppressed his anger and pleaded.

The group of people in front of me are clearly the regular army of the imperial court.

Military uniforms can be disguised, flags can be changed, but the fundamental character cannot be altered.

The muskets in their hands, the standard armor worn by the generals, and the rows of cannons outside were all standard equipment for the elite government troops.

But when you're under someone's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head.

Playing along with the other person's act can buy you some time.

Although the organization's breakout attempt failed, it did not mean that the Wang clan had given up on survival.

With so many members of the Wang family, unless they're extremely unlucky, at least a few will manage to escape.

"what!"

A scream rang out, and Wang Jiaheng collapsed into a pool of blood.

Things have progressed to this point; we can get whatever we need ourselves, there's no need to negotiate.

He wasn't the first unlucky guy to be killed, nor will he be the last.

"Immediately organize prisoners of war to fight the fire and minimize the losses as much as possible."

Tell the prisoners of war that our Holy Church is magnanimous and that as long as they obey orders, past events will be forgiven.

As for these members of the Wang family, their daring to oppose the Holy Church is an unforgivable crime.

We went through the family genealogy, calling out names one by one, and cleaned everything up.

After glancing at the corpses on the ground, the leading general decisively gave the order.

Now that they are playing the role of the White Lotus Rebellion rebels, it is normal for them to be ruthless and cruel.

……

Similar scenes were constantly playing out in various parts of Southern Zhili.

The White Lotus Sect's infamous reputation once again spread throughout the Jiangnan region.

Nanjing City.

Upon seeing the messages from local government offices, the six ministers were collectively dumbfounded.

This isn't about making an example of someone; it's about killing the monkey instead.

At almost the same time, seven major families were wiped out by the rebels.

However, this was just the beginning. Other prefectures also discovered the presence of the White Lotus rebels, and it was estimated that more bad news would follow soon.

"Governor Zhuang, has the information been verified?"

Bai Jinwen, the Minister of Rites, asked incredulously.

He had long heard of the ruthlessness of the nobility, but that was all ancient history.

Moreover, at that time, there were also rebel forces running rampant, and the destruction of several powerful families was not a new occurrence.

The situation is different now. Each party has made preparations in advance, training its militias for six months in advance in order to protect themselves.

They not only built defensive fortifications, but also stored a large amount of supplies.

Under normal circumstances, even if besieged by the army, they could hold out for a long time.

No matter how well prepared they were, no family has been able to hold out for more than two days under the offensive of the "White Lotus Rebels".

"Lord Bai, how could I not send someone to verify such a matter of life and death?"

After extensive investigation, it was found that multiple groups of White Lotus rebels had emerged in the Southern Zhili region.

The leaders often referred to themselves as cult leaders, protectors, or elders. Some chanted slogans such as "The White Lotus Holy Mother has descended to earth," others "The Bright King has descended to earth," and still others "Maitreya has descended to earth"...

It can be basically confirmed that those who carried out the massacre were all escaped members of the White Lotus Rebellion.

Because of the different beliefs of the factions they belong to, a wide variety of slogans have emerged.

The main reason for targeting these powerful families was to raise funds and provisions.

Fortunately, the government troops responded quickly, arriving shortly after each incident to thwart the rebels' strategic illusions.

To date, over 50,000 members of the White Lotus Rebellion have been eliminated, with 20,000 rebel heads taken and countless strategic materials seized. A preliminary estimate suggests that the autumn tax revenue for Southern Zhili last year has been nearly collected.

These families left behind a large amount of real estate after their demise.

If I can liquidate the money, I reckon I'll be able to pay off this year's taxes soon.

Zhuang Yuanjia answered without changing his expression.

Deep down, he was deeply shocked.

Previously, when he represented the imperial court to collect taxes, none of them took him, the governor, seriously.

When we met, all they did was complain about being poor and whine; they wouldn't give us money or food.

In less than a month, the situation has been completely and dramatically reversed.

The taxes that couldn't be collected even after begging and pleading were collected in no time.

The cabinet's all-out efforts, when they reached the local level, became the final straw that broke the back of powerful families.

He suddenly realized that once he set aside his political bottom line, taxation was not difficult at all.

If the gentry refuse to give it, can't the imperial court just take it itself?
"Things are going to get bad!"

"The White Lotus Rebellion caused a huge disturbance back then, and its influence in the southern provinces was terrifying."

Even though it was suppressed by the imperial court, its influence, which had penetrated deep into the common people, was not completely eradicated.

The news of the resurgence of the White Lotus Rebellion is bound to provoke those remaining White Lotus followers who are hiding in the shadows.

If these people were to return to power, it could very well lead to unpredictable consequences!

Minister of War Shi Qingchen said with a solemn expression.

It was acceptable for government troops to disguise themselves as rebels to collect debts, but what they absolutely should not have done was to use the banner of the White Lotus Rebellion.

With such a commotion, how could the remnants of the White Lotus Sect, who had been suppressed by the imperial court, not come out and cause trouble?

In an era of poor communication, ordinary people had no idea that this series of massacres was orchestrated by the government and military.

Once it spreads among the public, who knows how exaggerated it will become.

Having experienced the White Lotus Rebellion, he truly did not want to go through it again.

"Minister Shi is right. The news of the resurgence of the White Lotus Rebellion has a huge impact."

Just in case, we must issue a public notice in the name of the six ministries in Nanjing as soon as possible.

Let the people know that the resurgent White Lotus Rebellion has been suppressed by the imperial court!

Wan Huaijin immediately echoed this sentiment.

Those who can climb to their positions are all shrewd and capable.

With just a little guidance, the seriousness of the problem became immediately clear.

In fact, a simple rebellion by the White Lotus Rebellion is impossible, and a simple rebellion by aristocratic families is equally not so terrible.

The most frightening thing is that these two groups have gotten mixed up.

Throughout Chinese history, the establishment of each new dynasty was a joint effort between rebel groups and feudal landlord groups.

The massacre by government troops has driven many gentry to the opposite side.

At the very least, among the families that were wiped out, all the surviving members were anti-government.

Fueled by hatred, it was only natural for him to join forces with the rebels.

With more collaborators among the gentry, there is an opportunity to recruit even more gentry members.

When the White Lotus Rebellion swept through Jiangnan, many aristocratic families invested in them to diversify their bets.

Fortunately, the government troops acted quickly enough to suppress the rebels before the two sides had even begun to join forces and establish sufficient trust.

If the action had been even slightly delayed, allowing these rebels to gain power, the very existence of the Great Yu Dynasty would have been uncertain.

"It is only right to jointly issue a public notice to reassure the people."

However, this is not enough. The Ministry of War must issue orders to troops in all regions, urging them to learn from this lesson.

Minister of Justice An Jingzhi offered a veiled reminder.

Stopping is impossible.

Even if they were to give up, it would have to be the gentry of Jiangnan who voluntarily back down; the imperial court would not compromise when it held the upper hand.

The main reason was that the spoils of war were too abundant, which was a great boost to the money-starved Great Yu Dynasty.

Anyone who dares to obstruct the court's path to wealth is a traitor and a rebel of the Great Yu Dynasty.

By confiscating the property of several powerful clans, sufficient wealth was obtained. Many of the problems facing the Great Yu Dynasty were thus easily resolved.

For the sake of the country and its people, we can only endure hardship for the gentry of Southern Zhili.

This is the price that must be paid for leading the resistance against taxes.

"Ok!"

"The Ministry of War will issue a document to strictly prohibit the resurgence of the White Lotus Rebellion."

Shi Qingchen readily agreed.

The fact that the White Lotus Rebels' banner cannot be used does not mean that other banners cannot be used either.

The Great Yu Dynasty had no shortage of rebels; they could just throw around some random title like "King of the Grassroots," and it wouldn't affect the final outcome.

If all else fails, they can still kill monkeys by using the guise of mountain bandits or brigands.

……

Yong'an, the residence of the Marquis of Hanshui.

Looking at the message that came to his hand, Li Mu was completely embarrassed.

The noble generals went on a killing spree in the Jiangnan region.

This wouldn't have been a problem in itself, but the specific methods of implementation were all learned from him.

Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that he has trained excellent apprentices.

Even if this incident has nothing to do with him, the gentry of Jiangnan will probably still hold a grudge against him.

If he survives, these guys' family histories will undoubtedly contain a large section dedicated to smearing him.

It has limited lethality, but it's truly disgusting.

Many famous figures in history have been vilified in later generations, largely thanks to these unofficial historical accounts.

What survives to this day may not be authentic, but it's definitely wild enough.

"My lord, what is written in the secret letter?"
"You haven't finished reading it yet after all this time."

Jing Yaqing asked curiously.

Annam was far from the prosperous Central Plains, which saved it a lot of trouble and reduced its social interactions.

Apart from the affairs within the household, other interpersonal interactions can follow the established precedents.

In any case, everyone in Annam is Li Mu's subordinate, and the rules of the Marquis's mansion are everyone's rules.

With more free time, Jing Yaqing inevitably developed the habit of watching the drama unfold.

She frequently exchanges letters with her former close friends, seemingly out of sisterly affection, but in reality, it's just because she's bored and actively seeking amusement.

After all, compared to the bustling capital, Yong'an Prefecture was far too peaceful.

You won't find the feuds and grudges of wealthy and powerful families here.

"The White Lotus Rebellion has re-emerged, and has successively wiped out several powerful local clans in the Jiangnan region."

The Six Ministries in Nanjing were furious and issued a public proclamation to reassure the people that the rebel army had been suppressed!

Li Mu complained helplessly.

Issuing a public proclamation to reassure the people seems like a good thing, but the prerequisite is that the imperial court must have credibility.

After a series of upheavals, the credibility of the Great Yu Dynasty had long been destroyed.

Since the six ministries in Nanjing did not issue any announcements, and given the slow speed of information transmission, it is estimated that most people in the southeastern provinces were unaware of what had happened in Southern Zhili.

Now that the official announcement has been issued, it won't be long before the whole world knows that the White Lotus Rebellion has resurfaced.

As for the official written explanation that they were suppressed by government troops, who would believe it?
Over the years, local officials have engaged in far too many questionable practices.

It's not uncommon for a farce to occur where a proclamation announcing the suppression of the rebels has been issued, only for the rebels to storm into the city shortly afterward.

After all this commotion, I reckon the ambitious folks are going to be excited again.

"Ok!"

"This term, the ministers of the six ministries in Nanjing are not up to par."

……

(End of this chapter)