Fu Shanhe

Chapter 513 Cutting out the roots
Capital.

"Those Qingliu Party members promised to lobby the aristocratic families in Jiangnan on our behalf."

Why hasn't Xuzhou been captured after all this time?

Shi Jingfeng angrily questioned.

With the loyalist army gathering in Jiangnan, they still hadn't captured Xuzhou, a strategic location. If they dragged this out any longer, they would be doomed.

Natural disasters and man-made calamities plagued the north, leaving even landlords with little surplus grain.

They ripped off every single family, big or small, in the Beizhili region.

They extracted a lot of money, but the harvested grain was really limited.

As the military food reserves dwindled, Shi Jingfeng lost the high spirits he had when he first arrived in Beijing.

"Eldest brother, Third brother's letter says that those aristocratic families are untrustworthy and have colluded with the rebels to deceive us."

The agreement was for us to enter the city and accept the surrender, but those bandits played a trick, resulting in heavy losses for the troops entering the city!

Shi Jinglin explained with a helpless expression.

Whether it was the Qingliu Party that tricked them, the Jiangnan aristocratic families that broke their promises, or the fact that they lost control of the rebels, no one can say for sure now.

The only certainty is that the Liaodong army suffered a considerable loss in its first battle southward.

In fact, given the strength of the Liaodong army, capturing Xuzhou would not have been difficult.

The war has dragged on until now mainly because the major battle had just begun, and negotiations were initiated between the two sides under the mediation of the Qingliu Party.

War inevitably results in death; if Xuzhou can be captured without bloodshed, there is no need for a direct assault.

Moreover, this negotiation also involves prominent families in Jiangnan, making its political significance far outweigh its military significance.

Once the two sides agree on the terms, not only can they successfully capture Xuzhou, but they will also lay the foundation for the subsequent conquest of Jiangnan.

After more than a month of drawn-out negotiations, both sides finally reached a mutually acceptable agreement.

To everyone's surprise, when it came time to fulfill the promise, they were completely proven wrong.

"Bring those two bastards, Fei Xinyuan and Le Xiangsong, here! I'll show them the filth they've done!"

Shi Jingfeng gave the order angrily.

He had long heard that the Qingliu Party members were unreliable, and he initially thought it was just a smear campaign by his political enemies, but now it seems that the rumors are not unfounded at all.

Before the negotiations began, everyone confidently assured him that they were right, but the final result was completely the opposite of what he expected.

Deep down, Shi Jingfeng was filled with doubts.

In order to collect taxes, the imperial court offended many powerful families in Jiangnan to the point of death. Why would anyone still be willing to risk their life for the court?

Among the officials responsible for liaison, many had their entire families wiped out; even a self-inflicted injury plot couldn't have been staged like this.

How can the Liaodong army take revenge if they don't cross the Yangtze River?
……

Xuzhou Prefecture.

"The Liaodong troops' offensive is getting fiercer and fiercer. If they continue with the same tactics, we won't be able to hold out for long."

What are they saying in Nanjing? When will the Marquis of Hanshui's reinforcements arrive?

Cao Zirui asked with concern.

Although they were rebels, in chaotic times, factions can switch sides in an instant.

In fact, since the uprising of the Canal Gang, the leadership of the rebel army has changed four or five times.

The initial instigation of the rebellion was led by high-ranking members of the Grand Canal Gang, mainly due to pressure from their backers; they were essentially forced into it.

They have evidence of their smuggling of salt and their collusion with the White Lotus rebels. If they were to reveal even a few of these facts, it would be a serious crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family.

Once Pandora's box is opened, the situation often spirals out of control.

These guys rebelled, but they didn't change their old ways and continued to oppress the lower-ranking soldiers.

If we eat bran and wild vegetables before we rebel, and we still have to eat bran and wild vegetables after we rebel, wouldn't it be a pointless rebellion?

The rebellion didn't last long; the long-oppressed lower-class laborers also awakened and wiped out these bullies.

The transformation from a gang into a peasant uprising was just the beginning. Because the imperial court did not send troops to suppress it, the peasant army then resumed its traditional pattern of infighting.

During a series of internal struggles, the sons of gentry who were drawn into the rebel army gradually seized power, leading to the current situation.

In fact, even at this stage, the infighting within the rebel army continued.

If the Liaodong army hadn't launched a major southward offensive, a new round of internal strife would have broken out in no time.

If they can't even manage internal affairs, conquering the world is just a pipe dream.

Knowing they lacked the ability to contend for the world, the rebel leaders naturally had to consider their options.

The Liaodong army was the first to attack, so it was naturally the first target that the rebel army came into contact with.

Everything went smoothly at first, and Cao Zirui was ready to seek refuge with the Shi family, but things didn't go as planned.

After news of the Shi family's atrocities in the capital spread, with the help of various parties, Shi Jingfeng was directly portrayed as a second Dong Zhuo.

With this first impression, the rebel leaders suddenly became hesitant.

In times of chaos, placing bets naturally puts you on the side of the victors.

Dong Zhuo is a classic example of what not to do. No matter how powerful he was in the early stages, he still died and his clan was wiped out in the end.

Considering the overwhelming force of the Liaodong army, Cao Zirui didn't dare to turn against the Shi family, but instead tried his best to delay the inevitable.

Originally, I was thinking that if there were no better options, I would go there and work there for a few years as a temporary stopover.

Unexpectedly, the Shi family continued to send troops to extort and blackmail local gentry in order to raise grain.

Many families were labeled as rebels and their homes were confiscated and their entire clans exterminated because they could not provide enough grain.

The series of actions left the gentry of Jiangbei completely bewildered.

The noble clans in Jiangnan were exterminated because of the anti-tax movement.

To put it more broadly, it was necessary to make an example of someone to maintain the operation of the imperial court.

Even if they resort to underhanded tactics, they would do it by impersonating rebels.

The Shi family went even further, not even bothering to put on an act, simply labeling them as traitors and sending troops to exterminate the entire family.

Just then, the army of the Marquis of Hanshui, who came to the aid of the emperor, also arrived in the Jiangnan region, giving them another option.

Despite the Shi family having more troops, there were still more people in the provinces within the Great Wall who favored Li Mu to win.

Their past illustrious achievements are the best political endorsement.

The best record of the Shi family was only killing the heads of several hundred northern barbarians.

Compared to other Yu army generals, he could still boast a bit.

Compared to Li Mu's beheading of tens of thousands of northern barbarians in battle back then, it's not even in the same league.

Subsequently, the noble faction fought desperately in the northern frontier, occasionally taking away tens of thousands of northern captives, which further diluted the Liaodong army's achievements.

In the general perception, the Liaodong Army was known for its formidable fighting power, but its generals were mediocre in command abilities.

The evidence is that they were unable to seize opportunities on the battlefield and never achieved any remarkable results.

There's no way to explain this. No matter how shameless they are, they can't tell the outside world that their poor performance is because they're conserving their strength.

Based on the principle of standing on the side of the victor, and after weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, Cao Zirui still chose to support the southern court.

Given Xuzhou's special strategic position, someone secretly arranged for a connection, and they quickly obtained the offer of amnesty from the Six Ministries in Nanjing.

In order to reassure the court, he did not hesitate to feign surrender and launch a surprise attack on the Liaodong army, thus cutting off his own escape route.

The effect was very obvious; after the war, he was promoted directly from the garrison commander of Xuzhou to the assistant commander of Xuzhou.

He hadn't even managed to become a general. If he were a leader of a bandit uprising, he would probably feel that his position was too low.

However, Cao Zirui was literate and had some understanding of the imperial court's official system.

It is very clear how strict the restrictions on official titles were during the process of recruiting and granting amnesty by the Great Yu Dynasty.

If it weren't for the chaos of the times, there would have been absolutely no chance for a gentry son like him to rebel and be granted amnesty.

"General, rest assured, news has come from Nanjing that the Marquis of Hanshui's reinforcements have set off."

If all goes well, we should arrive in five days.

The Ministry of War ordered us to hold Xuzhou at all costs and await reinforcements to launch a counterattack against the rebels!

Shi Qi answered immediately.

The Liaodong army hates them now, and if the city falls, everyone will die a terrible death.

It concerned the life and death of the entire army, and he dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"Alright, then let's hold out for another five days!"

Cao Zirui made a decisive decision.

If they did not accept the imperial court's offer of amnesty, they could fight if they could win, and run if they couldn't.

The situation is different now. As officials of the Great Yu Dynasty, we must obey the orders of the court.

Military orders with clear time limits, in particular, cannot be refused. Completing the mission is a great achievement, and all previous problems will be wiped clean.

If the mission fails, all their efforts will have been in vain.

Not only will the Shi family not forgive them, but the Southern court will also hold them accountable for the loss of cities and territories.

Caught between two major powers, there was nowhere to run.

At that time, there will truly be no place for them in the vast world.

……

Nanjing City.

After beheading dozens of ruffians in one go, the once unruly loyalist coalition instantly became docile.

The generals of the allied forces from various provinces were more docile than expected.

Even though Li Mu dismissed him from his post, he only cursed him a few times in private and didn't cause any trouble.

It's clear that they lack control over the military.

When the commander was transferred, the officers and soldiers below did not make a fuss, but silently accepted the reality.

The Nanjing officials who were closely monitoring the situation also breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that no mutiny broke out. If the two sides had actually fought, it would have drained the national strength of the Great Yu Dynasty.

While letting my guard down, I also felt a pang of regret deep down.

If they had known that these loyalist generals were all cowards, they shouldn't have compromised in the first place.

If they make an example of someone right from the start, these troops might already be firmly under their control.

It's unrealistic to confront Li Mu in the military, but in chaotic times, having troops versus not having troops makes a world of difference in political power.

At this point, regret is useless.

The list of replacement generals had already been sent to the Ministry of War, so they couldn't refuse.

According to the rules, the final decision on the appointment of high-ranking generals rests with the emperor.

The Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions mainly had the power to recommend candidates and verify their qualifications, and then report to the emperor for a final decision after completing the procedures.

As the commander-in-chief, Li Mu naturally had the authority to recommend generals.

Those recommended at this time must have an impressive military resume, with no faults whatsoever.

"My lords, His Majesty is currently trapped in the enemy camp, but personnel appointments and dismissals in the army cannot be delayed."

"As a matter of expediency, let all six ministries use their seals together!"

Minister of War Shi Qingchen spoke first.

While expediency is necessary, the required procedures should not be omitted.

Since the emperor was absent, the Six Ministries would exercise imperial power on his behalf, and if any problems arose, everyone would share the blame.

Generally speaking, such collective decisions carry the least political risk.

After all, the person was recommended by Li Mu; they were just going through the motions of approval.

Anyone who dares to question this is slapping the face of the most powerful people in the Great Yu Dynasty.

The local officials and military officers aren't that stubborn.

"The official documents of the Six Ministries are still somewhat improper in name and wording."

Your Majesty is trapped in enemy territory, but the affairs of the state still need to be carried out, and the cabinet must not remain vacant for too long.

At this critical juncture, we must step forward bravely and form a temporary cabinet to deal with any unforeseen circumstances.

The six of us, plus the Marquis of Hanshui, make an odd number.

To assemble a seven-member provisional cabinet to handle all affairs of state for His Majesty!

Wan Huaijin then made the suggestion.

He originally did not want to acknowledge the Yongning Emperor as emperor, but there was nothing he could do, as the young emperor had already passed away.

The Marquis of Hanshui strongly opposed the idea of ​​establishing a new ruler.

The reason they gave was very valid: there can only be one sun in the sky, and one cannot have two rulers in a country.

Once a new ruler is established, the Great Yu will be divided into two parts, north and south.

If they can fight back and rebuild their country, that would be fine. But if they remain stuck in the southern half of the country and are unable to unify the north, that would be a major political incident.

When future history books record this period of history, they will inevitably drag them out and lash out at their corpses.

When it comes to posthumous reputation, this merit of following the emperor is not worth having.

Even without this merit, they could still have entered the cabinet and risen to the pinnacle of officialdom.

"Lord Wan is right; rebuilding the cabinet is imperative!"

Bai Jinwen, the Minister of Rites, was the first to echo this sentiment.

After the Nanjing Six Ministries were officially established, the powers and responsibilities of the other five ministries were significantly increased.

The power of the Ministry of Rites, however, remained largely unchanged.

It's not that the Ministry of Rites lacked power; on the contrary, its authority has always been considerable.

The problem is that the Ministry of Rites, which is in charge of rites, sacrifices, diplomacy, and the imperial examinations, is now completely useless except for holding a memorial service for the young emperor.

Having nothing to do in officialdom is not a good thing.

Especially during sensitive times of power transition, if you don't seize the time to do something, and your colleagues find out that it doesn't matter whether you're there or not, you'll be in big trouble.

The cabinet only needs to have an odd number of members; the court did not stipulate that it must have seven members, and most of the time the cabinet consisted of three to five people.

Li Mu has publicly stated his position that he will not remain in the central government.

If he doesn't finalize his cabinet appointments now, his colleagues might not include him after the war to support the emperor ends, given the usual practice of having an odd number of cabinet members.

……

Allied Forces Camp.

"My lord, why is everyone else going to quell the rebellion, but I'm being asked to stay in Nanjing?"

Yun Xiangwen asked indignantly.

The world of Jiangnan may be beautiful, but it is secretly rife with deceit and treachery.

Having tormented the gentry and powerful families so severely, he already had enemies all over the Jiangnan region.

The fact that he dared to act so brazenly meant that he had made up his mind to leave after completing this job.

"As the Governor of Jiangnan, if you are not responsible for staying in Jiangnan to maintain local stability, do you expect me to stay in Jiangnan for you?!"

Li Mu immediately reprimanded him.

Jiangnan was the most important source of money and grain for the Great Yu Dynasty, and its economic and strategic significance was extremely important.

Once someone controls the region, they can easily arm hundreds of thousands of troops quickly using local resources.

Since we have decided to participate in the struggle for power, we must take precautions in advance.

Yun Xiangwen and the gentry of Jiangnan were sworn enemies, their families destroyed and their clans wiped out—an enmity that could not be resolved with just a few words.

As long as Yun Xiangwen holds a position in Jiangnan, the two sides will continue to fight to the death.

With each side keeping the other in check, no powerful local separatist forces could emerge in the Jiangnan region.

"My lord, this position of admiral is not something I wanted. Those gentry would love to pounce on me and bite me if they saw me."

"How about we make a deal and I go somewhere else?"

Yun suggested to Wen timidly.

It's clear that he lacks confidence.

"madness!"

"It is precisely because you have many enemies in Jiangnan that I recommended you to serve as the Governor of Jiangnan."

"You created this trouble yourself, and instead of taking responsibility for cleaning it up, are you going to leave hatred for future generations?"

Li Mu feigned anger and reprimanded him.

Making such personnel arrangements was both to achieve its own strategic goals and to create an opportunity for Yun Xiangwen to resolve the hatred.

Hatred exists because the enemy is still alive.

If all the enemies are dead, the hatred will naturally cease to exist.

"My lord, do you mean to eliminate the threat completely?"

Yun Xiangwen asked uncertainly.

Honestly, he really just wanted to pull off one heist and leave.

In his campaign against the gentry of Jiangnan, he amassed a fortune that he could not spend in ten lifetimes.

(End of this chapter)