Fu Shanhe

Chapter 507 The situation is out of control

The question of whether to kill or not immediately put Shi Jingfeng in a difficult position.

If I had known these old guys would cause trouble, I shouldn't have let them in.

If we don't make an example of him now in front of all the officials, who will take him seriously in the future?

Unleashing a bloodbath also carries hidden dangers.

The Li family dared to lead the rebellion against him because they had already made preparations.

The younger generation has all left, leaving behind only a bunch of old guys who have no weaknesses whatsoever.

They might be deliberately courting death to earn a place in history.

"Someone's coming!"

"Throw all these traitors into the imperial prison and await the Emperor Emeritus's judgment!"

After a moment of contemplation, Shi Jingfeng decisively chose to shift the focus of the conflict.

At this point in the situation, people will definitely have to be killed.

However, the specific method of killing also requires careful consideration.

Killing someone in the name of the retired emperor versus killing someone yourself has completely different political outcomes.

"You brat from the Shi family, don't be so arrogant!"

"Back when I led your grandfather to the front lines, you were still being breastfed!"

Li Heng's teasing instantly triggered a burst of laughter.

"You old bastard, you're asking for death!"

Shi Jingfeng could tolerate it, but his men could not.

Enraged, Shi Jinghai drew his sword and rushed into the main hall, aiming to stab Li Heng.

The person involved managed to evade the situation, but Lü Lingfeng, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, unfortunately became the victim.

"what!"

A scream rang out, pushing the situation into the abyss.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Heng, who was closest, was the first to pounce on Shi Jingfeng.

The best opportunity to catch the thief is to catch the king.

Upon witnessing this scene, a group of loyal members of the imperial family, nobles, and civil officials of the Great Yu responded enthusiastically.

Since they were prepared to die for their country anyway, if they could take the rebels with them on their way before they died, that would be a bonus.

"Kill without mercy!"

Realizing the situation was dire, Shi Jinglin gave orders while also going onto the field to help.

The big picture and the big picture are all unimportant now.

In an instant, countless people were killed or injured in the main hall, and blood splattered all over the ground.

The young emperor on the dragon throne was terrified by the scene before him and burst into tears.

The civil and military officials who witnessed all of this could not help but secretly wipe away their tears.

The inability to make the decision to sacrifice themselves for their country does not mean that they are truly devoid of emotion.

Emperor Yongning, who was waiting to be reinstated in the side hall, was even more stunned by the scene before him.

When he was dethroned, no one stood up to oppose him, which was thought to be because there were no loyal ministers in the court.

Unexpectedly, the situation has reversed today, with so many people daring to stand against the Liaodong army's butcher's knife with their own flesh and blood.

Knowing it was impossible, yet still doing it—this tragic scene, recorded in history books, actually happened before our eyes.

"stop!"

"I order you to stop!"

Emperor Yongning was destined to be disappointed; his imperial edicts never had any binding force on the Liaodong troops.

His reinstatement was purely a political necessity.

Now that all pretense of civility has been laid bare, the Shi family's rule cannot be secure unless these opponents are completely eliminated.

The Liaodong army happened to be short of food, so raiding these people's homes could alleviate the crisis to some extent.

The battle came quickly and ended quickly.

Looking at the corpses scattered on the ground, Shi Jingfeng, who had unfortunately taken several punches, turned ashen-faced and asked the assembled officials:
"Who still objects now?"

With all the tough guys dead, the remaining people naturally wouldn't oppose him.

However, as the victor, Shi Jingfeng felt no joy whatsoever.

From this day forward, his reputation will be ruined.

Before long, various forces across the land will come under the banner of serving the emperor to seek revenge against him.

"Since no one objects, then let the retired emperor be restored to his original position!"

Shi Jingfeng coldly gave the order.

The various factions in the capital only temporarily submitted to his military might, and did not truly submit.

To avoid any further complications, he plans to cancel both the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven and the abdication ceremony.

Etiquette and procedures are now meaningless.

He only completed the first part of the phrase "holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords".

Whether it can play a role in "commanding the feudal lords" is unclear to everyone.

……

The morning assembly has ended, but the negative political impact it caused continues to fester.

Whether it's the "father succeeding son" or the killings in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, both are incredibly explosive events.

Throughout history, apart from the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it is difficult to find anything comparable.

"Brother Lü, what a miserable death!"

Fei Xinyuan couldn't help but sigh.

As one of the earliest representatives of the "pure stream" faction to take sides, he ended up being killed by mistake.

In the past, if a military general had dared to kill the Minister of Revenue, the civil officials would have been furious.

The situation is different now. The Shi family controls the government, and it is also the Shi family members who commit the killings.

Aside from sighing, these members of the "pure stream" faction can't do anything.

"Time is also fate!"

"I've done the count. Of the twenty-two people who just died, nine were nobles, five were members of the imperial family, two were relatives of the empress, and six were civil officials."

If nothing unexpected happens, all twenty-one of them will earn a reputation for loyalty and righteousness, and their names will be remembered in history.

Only Brother Lü is truly aggrieved, reduced to a traitor, destined to suffer the ridicule of the world!

Le Xiangsong replied with a heavy heart.

While seemingly speaking up for Lü Lingfeng, he was actually worried about his own fate.

The Shi family are a bunch of brutes; their brains are all mush.

They purged the top echelons of the government right from the start, completely disregarding the rules of the political game.

I thought things would be stable for a while after the political purge, but these guys are in a hurry to depose and install new leaders.

The effect of establishing authority was immediate and overwhelming, leaving all the officials trembling in fear.

However, this kind of intimidation with force is merely a temporary fix and does not address the root cause of the problem.

If nothing unexpected happens, the events that unfolded at the Hall of Supreme Harmony today will soon become a sensation throughout the land.

Everyone will know then that the Shi family forced the emperor to play the "father succeeds son" game and slaughtered the loyal ministers of the Great Yu.

With the added artistic embellishment, the image of the Shi family in the minds of the people is entirely predictable.

Following this bunch of brutes doesn't seem like a promising path.

It's difficult for them to switch jobs; it's no secret that they've joined forces with Liaodong Town.

With such a terrible teammate dragging them down, their reputations are destined to be tarnished.

Unfortunately, Qingliu is someone who makes a living off his reputation.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Qingliu Group will soon split up again.

The Qingliu Party members in the capital are now branded as "traitors," and it's highly likely they will also be expelled from the party by the local Qingliu Party members.

They might even have their clan removed from the family tree to protect their reputation.

There's nothing we can do; the Shi family's behavior doesn't exactly suggest they're capable of conquering the world!

Damage to reputation is secondary; the gentry and powerful families are masters of changing their tune, and they will only bet on the winner.

If we can conquer the world, even the most vicious northern barbarians will shamelessly beg to submit.

If they lack the ability to seize power, then the imperial authority is legitimate, and they will still be met with the arrogance of the gentry and powerful clans.

To change this passive situation, the Shi family would have to work hard and seize Jiangnan in one fell swoop.

"Let's go!
Today, the capital is destined to be awash in blood. We'd better not linger outside, lest we become collateral damage.

Fei Xinyuan shook his head and said.

The topic of loyalty versus treachery is impossible to continue.

Of the five Grand Secretaries and six Ministers who held power in the Great Yu Dynasty, eight died in the chaos of war, and one was tragically killed by mistake.

Of those who survived, only the two of them remained.

When the emperor was deposed, they should have led the officials to stand up and argue with Shi Jingfeng.

Even if it's just a perfunctory objection, it's still fulfilling one's duty as a subject.

Unfortunately, they chickened out. They watched helplessly as loyal and righteous officials of the court fell in pools of blood.

His performance in this regard was even worse than that of Emperor Yongning, who at least managed to shout "Stop!" under pressure.

……

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

Just as Li Mu was raising his sword in Liaodong Town, he finally received news that the Liaodong rebels were attacking the capital.

"My lord, when do you plan to raise an army to defend the king?"

Jing Yaqing asked with concern.

As a nobleman, Li Mu was destined not to sit idly by and watch the Great Yu perish.

Even knowing that the final outcome is irreversible, we must still do our best to save it.

At the very least, he wanted the world to see the series of efforts he had made to save the Great Yu Dynasty.

"The most important thing in raising troops to serve the emperor is to have a legitimate reason for doing so."

Once the imperial edict to come to the aid of the emperor was delivered, preparations began immediately.

If nothing unexpected happens, it should happen within the next day or two, and won't be too far off.

Li Mu answered calmly.

Despite the letter repeatedly emphasizing that the situation in the capital was not optimistic, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.

The environment is the easiest way to change a person, especially since he is not just one person.

The current Marquis of Hanshui is first and foremost a regional lord, and only secondly a "loyal minister" of the Great Yu Dynasty.

The order cannot be reversed, otherwise the people below will have complaints.

"Ok!"

"The Liaodong garrison has many cavalry, while our side is mainly composed of infantry. This battle will probably be difficult."

"Let's bring more troops on this expedition!"

Jing Yaqing said slowly.

Although she was extremely anxious about the situation in the capital and worried about the safety of her relatives and friends who remained there, the Marquis of Hanshui's residence was her true home.

The interests of the Marquis's mansion outweigh those of her maternal family in the capital.

Perhaps it's a bit heartless, but this is the most basic awareness of a daughter of a wealthy family.

"The Liaodong Garrison doesn't have many troops, only about 60,000 in total."

Unless they can capture the capital, incorporate the capital garrison, and integrate the border troops in the north, they are not a cause for concern.

As for the large number of cavalry, that's not a problem.

The Shi family has 20,000 Liaodong cavalry, and I can also muster more than 10,000 cavalry.

"If we send out the infantry from the six garrisons again, dealing with them won't be a problem."

Li Mu said confidently.

He hasn't been idle in recent years.

In addition to strengthening the navy, the army was not neglected either.

Although cavalry will be phased out in the future, they are still very competitive in the present.

In particular, he was planning to pacify the northern barbarians, and cavalry was absolutely essential for that.

There are fewer horse farms in the south, but they are not completely non-existent.

The vast Annam Protectorate is not without grasslands, so it's not like it doesn't have a few decent horse farms.

Modeled after the original three thousand cavalry, the force has been gradually expanded over the years to its current size.

The quality of our warhorses certainly can't compare to those of the north, but having some is better than having none.

If the mount isn't good enough, then make up for it with weapons and equipment.

Both the cavalry's armor and their firearms surpassed those of the Liaodong Garrison.

After all, the Annam Protectorate had a population of over 20 million, and the Guangdong and Guangxi regions also had a population of over 10 million.

Such a strong base is something Liaodong Town cannot compare to.

Especially in terms of resource mobilization, Li Mu was able to mobilize resources far exceeding ten times that of Liaodong Town.

The fact that it could transport five to six million shi of grain to the north every year and also relocate a million people from the northern lands to the Protectorate General's office was a testament to its strength.

Even if it meant a long and arduous campaign, he was confident that he could exhaust the enemy with resources.

"My lord, it's better to be careful than to make a big mistake."

There are too many incompetent officials in the court, and the capital is severely short of food. It is uncertain whether the court can hold out until the reinforcements from various regions arrive.

"If they really do capture the capital, incorporate the Beijing garrison, and then seize control of the border troops, we'll be in big trouble!"

Jing Yaqing said with a worried expression.

For some reason, she had a bad feeling, a sense that something bad was going to happen in the capital.

"Don't worry, the probability of this happening is infinitely close to zero."

Even if Shi Jiazhen incorporates those troops, I will lead them directly to Nanjing to fight a war to defend the southeast.

The Shi family isn't a peasant army; without the financial and logistical support from the southern provinces, how could they possibly feed an army of 500,000?

Li Mu said with a smile.

War is not won simply by having more soldiers.

Now, the northern provinces are plagued by natural disasters and man-made calamities, and all industries have long been in ruins. Peasant uprisings are rampant everywhere, making it impossible for them to serve as a base of operations.

If we want to march south and seize the world, we must fight a swift and decisive battle.

Once they entered the southern lands, the Liaodong cavalry lost most of their advantage.

Northerners are not good at naval warfare; even Cao Cao never crossed the Yangtze River. Li Mu did not believe that Shi Jingfeng could do it.

Moreover, while the large-scale incorporation of government troops may have temporarily strengthened their capabilities, it also left behind hidden dangers.

Ultimately, they are the direct forces of the nobility, and no matter how much they are purged, it will be difficult to completely erase the influence of the nobility.

If a real battle were to break out, his prestige as the top military leader would be enough to shake the morale of the enemy troops.

If the enemy's internal forces are not thoroughly purged, his former subordinates might send someone to contact him as soon as the fighting begins.

Li Mu didn't want to drag things out with the rebels; a decisive battle would be exactly what he wanted.

……

Capital.

"Brother, apart from the Li family which has not yet been captured, all the rebels have been arrested and are just waiting to be executed on a chosen day."

Shi Jinghai reported with a hint of trepidation.

He's gotten himself into a lot of trouble these past few days.

First, when they were trying to rescue the young emperor, they got carried away in a fit of rage and sent away all the ministers who were with him.

Then, in the imperial court, he mistakenly killed the leader of the Qingliu faction who had defected to them, and is now in the process of redeeming himself through meritorious service.

Unfortunately, the operation to apprehend the rebels did not go so smoothly.

He personally led a large army to attack for a day and a night, suffering losses of over a thousand men, but still failed to capture the Li family.

"Are they really all apprehended and brought to justice, with not a single one escaping?"

Shi Jingfeng questioned this on the spot.

It was entirely expected that they failed to take down the Li family.

After capturing the capital, the Li family gathered several thousand elite troops and retreated to their stronghold.

The surrounding streets are all under their control.

Street fighting was not the Liaodong Army's forte, and the Beijing garrison troops they had incorporated had intricate connections with the Li family, so they dared not use them with any confidence.

But if everyone else is arrested and brought to justice, that would be pure deception.

Shi Jingfeng didn't believe that none of the dozen or so companies involved had prepared a backup plan beforehand.

"Indeed, quite a few escaped, but they were all insignificant small fry; most of the rebels were caught."

The main problem is that you issued an order forbidding the harassment of the residences of nobles, civil officials, and members of the imperial family in the capital, which gave the rebels an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Most of the missing people were hidden by these guys.

"If you simply order a search of their residences, we will surely be able to capture the traitors."

Shi Jinghai said indignantly.

Working hesitantly and timidly is not efficient at all.

"madness!"

"So what if we catch them? Should we wipe out the entire families of those who harbored rebels?"

"If we keep killing like this, my Shi family will become the target of everyone's hatred!"

Shi Jingfeng couldn't help but rebuke.

After a long period of review, he realized his previous mistakes.

To commit massacres in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was utterly foolish.

Even the arrogant and domineering Dong Zhuo knew to be patient and did not start a massacre as soon as he entered the capital.

Unfortunately, he couldn't control his temper and, in a fit of rage, allowed his subordinates to go on a killing spree.

A bunch of old guys stepped on his name to make a name for themselves in history.

(End of this chapter)