Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 876 Magpies chirping on the branches

Tongchuan Prefecture mobilized a total of 14,000 troops to quell the rebellion in Liangshan Prefecture.

Don't underestimate these troops; it's unrealistic to mobilize tens or hundreds of thousands of soldiers every time.

It was merely quelling a rebellion in one province; it wasn't a military contest between major powers.

Sending out too many troops is like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

The heavy logistical burden meant that even if they won, it would be a complete loss.

These troops could hold out for a while even in a battle against the Dali Kingdom.

That's enough to deal with a rebel army.

The journey south was smooth, thanks to the imperial road that Yang Yuan had previously built.

Today, with the booming commercial exchange and transportation centered around the copper and gold mines in Liangshan Prefecture,
In the Wumeng and Liangshan prefectures, each tribe was responsible for its own area and built roads to connect with the main roads in Sichuan.

Therefore, both the passage of large armies and the transportation of supplies went very smoothly.

But when they arrived at Oasis City in high spirits, they found nothing.

The rebels had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a huge mine.

The gold and copper mines require digging out baskets of ore for smelting and refining.

To those who don't know any better, they're just stones, useless for eating, wearing, or using.

The army encamped in the deserted oasis city, and then sent a letter to the court announcing their victory:

Our army has won the battle in one fell swoop and successfully recovered the oasis gold and copper mine, and the rebel army has fled in disarray!
Only after the good news was sent away did they begin searching for the whereabouts of the rebels.

Troops were successively sent to nearby villages and cities to investigate, but they were all just ordinary people, with very few able-bodied men to be found.

The tribal leaders of those cities and villages were also extremely respectful to the imperial officials and soldiers.

But, they wanted grain? There wasn't any.

There's no one to recruit.

Where are the rebels? We haven't been in contact with them.

……

In Wumeng Prefecture, a grain and supplies convoy moved slowly.

As evening approached, they set up camp in a canyon.

The vehicles were arranged in a circle, and the livestock were unloaded and enclosed in the middle.

Soldiers set up camp around the area and lit several bonfires.

They took their rations from the transported grain and ate their fill.

Then the exhausted supply soldiers huddled together and gradually fell asleep.

It's already April, but the nights are still a bit chilly.

The officers and soldiers, wrapped in blankets woven from a mixture of coarse felt and hemp, huddled on the ground.

The general in charge of the troops was still very careful about safety, even though this was on his own territory.

Although it's called a canyon, it's not a narrow place; in fact, it's quite open.

Moreover, they also cut down the bushes on both sides of the road to use as firewood.

Even things that are not needed are felled, so the sentries can see any moving object within a hundred feet.

However, there is a group of people who are quietly approaching.

Their clothing was very simple, and their skin was dark.

Both bare feet were calloused, and when walking barefoot, they could move swiftly and without any hindrance, but without making a sound.

They lay prone on the ground, patiently and stealthily approaching.

A full hour and a half passed before they quietly approached without alerting a single sentry.

Some sentries blocking their path had already been quickly paralyzed by their blowguns.

They quickly replaced him with their own men, who were completely invisible in the darkness.

Suddenly, a sharp bamboo whistle rang out in the night.

The native soldiers, who had been lying quietly on the ground, suddenly sprang to their feet, as still as virgins and as swift as rabbits.

In the blink of an eye, they successfully broke in, and the two sides were locked in a chaotic battle.

They were all semi-wild, yet possessed an extraordinary level of discipline.

Their goal was not to annihilate the enemy, but to burn their supplies.

These semi-wild men dressed and looked just like savages.

But their skill in fighting bad battles was honed through brawls with wild beasts, bandits, and other tribes.

Even a machete can be a deadly weapon in their hands, capable of taking a life in an instant.

The supply troops had never experienced such tactics before, whether it was a sudden blowgun dart or a casually thrown pebble that hit its mark every time.

Soon, the campfire they used for warmth became the most convenient source of fire to burn their provisions.

As the supply wagons were engulfed in flames, forcing the soldiers guarding the grain to abandon their defensive perimeter, a strange howl, like that of a night owl, rang out, and the "savages" leaped and fled into the night.

Not a single grain of rice from this batch of grain and supplies could be delivered to Liangshan Prefecture.

Similar scenes played out repeatedly along the route from Xuzhou to Wumeng.

The subsequent supply trains were on high alert from the start, but this high level of vigilance left them on edge and exhausted.

Moreover, the roads that were once smooth for the army to pass through are now completely destroyed.

Trees were felled to block the road, boulders were pushed down from high mountains, and perfectly good roads were dug into trenches, making it extremely difficult to walk.

Ironically, they often can't even find an opponent.

When you're quick-witted, you might only catch a few monkey-like figures wandering through the forest, howling strangely.

The pacification army stationed in Oasis City searched everywhere, but could not find any news of the rebels.

However, the supply lines for provisions and supplies were cut off at this time.

Soon, they ran out of food.

Seeing this, the pacification army had no choice but to send people to urge the transport of supplies while also sending troops to "borrow grain" from nearby villages and cities.

But this time, they were not greeted with a respectful welcome, nor were they offered large bowls of coarse tea; instead, they were met with elusive, cold arrows.

After a series of fierce battles, the soldiers who were "borrowing grain" were utterly routed by the elusive archers and the rebels fighting in the streets.

Those tribal rebels were ruthless and extremely cunning.

Once the soldiers "borrowing grain" entered the villages and towns, they were met with a constant barrage of bamboo arrows, poisoned arrows, and even traps designed to capture wild animals from all directions and unpredictable angles.

However, once a direct conflict occurs, they become a nation in arms.

The men, women, and children of those villages and towns were all fearless and undaunted.

They cursed viciously in a local language that the soldiers couldn't understand, while brandishing any farm tools and cooking utensils that could be used as weapons.

The small amount of food that the pacification army managed to seize at the end was far from enough.

This tactic of cutting flesh with a dull knife is even more troublesome.

However, feeding and caring for tens of thousands of people is a huge expense.

The supplies at the Tongchuan headquarters couldn't keep up, and the supplies for Chengdu Fulu were not supposed to be supplied at this stage.

The supplies released from Chengdu Fulu should have just started their journey and are still a long way from here.

Even if they don't encounter any surprise attacks from the natives along the way, it's still too late to help them in their immediate crisis.

Therefore, the pacification army decided to capture a large city with a population of over ten thousand, namely Yuye City.

In this way, the captured grain should be able to sustain us for a period of time.

However, when the entire army is mobilized on enemy territory, it cannot be concealed from anyone.

When they finally arrived at the city in a grand procession, the city walls were already filled with rebel soldiers from the twelve tribes of Liangshan.

Although the city was dilapidated and the walls were not high, the local soldiers defended it with remarkable discipline.

The pacification army couldn't help but suspect that some of the oasis city's mining guards among these rebels might have transformed into the rebels' cunning strategists.

The army that was suppressing the rebellion was on a long and arduous journey, and the roads were difficult to travel. They did not carry any heavy weapons, and the local soldiers defending the city suddenly received the Song army's essential knowledge of city defense.

Unable to capture the city after a prolonged siege and running out of food, the pacification army had no choice but to return to Oasis City in disgrace. At least there was Stone City there to serve as a garrison, so they didn't have to worry about being attacked at night.

But when they returned to Oasis City dejectedly, the rebels' banners were already flying over the city walls.

That wasn't all; the rebels even put those hundred-odd missing tiger-squat cannons back on the city walls.

It turns out that when the rebels set up the empty city ploy, they didn't move these cannons at all, but buried them on the spot.

When these pacification forces were mobilized, they easily dealt with the small number of officers and soldiers left behind and then reoccupied the city.

The rebel army has become the target of conquest; this is intolerable.

Unable to let go of their pride, they attempted to attack the city.

It was this impulsive and rash decision that led them into a trap.

Having secured a strategic location and possessing powerful weapons, the rebels were simply too difficult to conquer.

Because of the heavy losses, the general was hesitating whether to withdraw his troops. Just as he summoned his two deputy generals to make a decision together, the local troops from Yuye City came charging in from all directions.

Upon seeing the rebel banner in the distance, the rebels on the Oasis Stone City immediately opened the city gates and went out to fight.

Caught between two attacks, some Song soldiers, starving and already suffering heavy losses, broke down.

They shouted once, abandoned their positions, and fled in disarray.

Once someone starts a rout, in a camp that has suffered repeated setbacks and whose morale is low, it becomes the beginning of the collapse of everything.

The Song Dynasty's army that was suppressing the rebellion was like a flock of sheep being driven around, running east and west in a panic and helplessness.

In fact, even if a few people did manage to break away from the main group and escape with their lives, how could they possibly return to the Song Dynasty?
They were either killed by vengeful local natives, or they were captured and dragged into the deep mountains and forests.

From then on, he was a serf in a dark and hopeless place until his death.

As expected, Master Qiao no longer needs to transport grain to Liangshan Prefecture.

If his grain were actually transported into Liangshan Prefecture, it would completely become "aid to the enemy."

However, his worst fears finally came true.

If many people were relatively slow to realize the impact of the Liangshan Prefecture upheaval on the Sichuan-Guizhou region, then...

Now they realize it.

Previously, without the production of gold and copper mines in Liangshan Prefecture, the economy of the Sichuan-Gansu-Ningxia region was a self-contained system, and there were no problems.

However, since the Oasis City copper-gold mine was established, it has been rapidly integrated into the Sichuan-Gorge Economic Zone.

And it replaced the original iron coin monetary system, which made a difference.

The more diverse and detailed an economy is, the weaker its ability to withstand major changes.

In addition, many wealthy and powerful families had been collecting copper coins, either for profit or out of revenge for being ostracized, but had not released them.

The cash crunch first broke out in the Sichuan-Guizhou region, especially in Chengdu's Fulu area, which is the most economically powerful and prosperous.

For a time, money was valued more than goods.

Merchants have unsold inventory.

The people had no money and couldn't afford to buy things.

Many shops and workshops closed down, and artisans lost their livelihoods.

Farmers, unable to pay taxes, are strongly demanding the reinstatement of taxes paid in kind.

However, starting from the Song Dynasty, the imperial court changed from collecting taxes in kind to collecting monetary taxes on a large number of commodities.

If the collection system, the transportation system, and the system by which the court realizes the proceeds after collection are all no longer suitable for this outdated collection method.

If changes are to be made hastily, there are too many things to change; it would be a major undertaking.

Qiao Zhen posted notices to severely crack down on those who took advantage of the chaos, and issued a ban on copper and money.

The use of copper for non-monetary purposes, such as bronze ware and bronze statues, is prohibited by the public.

Recycle items made with copper materials that have already been produced by the official team to save and increase the supply of copper.

The private minting, destruction, collection, or outflow of copper coins is prohibited, and the management and supervision of copper coins shall be strengthened.

He then wrote to the court, requesting that more paper money be issued to solve the money shortage.

The problem is that the users of copper coins were mainly ordinary people, and how many of them actually used Jiaozi (paper money)?

Especially for ordinary people who are not from large cities and towns, who have never even seen paper money, they simply do not believe in the credibility of a piece of paper.

In early June, Shen Xuzhong received the battle report from Liangshan.

I heard that the 14,000-strong army that was sent to conquer the south was almost completely wiped out, with fewer than 1,500 escaping back.

This campaign against the rebels resulted in the loss of five armies of his troops, leaving Shen Xuzhong feeling as if he had been struck by lightning.

These five armies were the troops he had truly won over in the two years since he took control of Tongchuan Road.

He completely erased Yang Yuan's mark, making the troops he could confidently mobilize and use.

He didn't know how to face this fact, and after hesitating for a long time, he finally reported the truth to the court and asked for forgiveness.

When memorials from Tongchuan Prefecture and Chengdu Prefecture were sent to the court one after another, the young Emperor Zhao Dun was repeatedly begging the Empress Dowager to select two virtuous wives for him in order to consolidate his throne.

One was a local tyrant in Jiangnan, the daughter of the Qian family.

One was the daughter of Li Dao, a powerful warlord in Jinghu North Road.

This time, he learned from his elder brother Zhao Qi's mistake and adhered to the principle of "entering the village quietly and not firing a shot," only asking Empress Dowager Xie for help.

"Mother, don't tell the Empress Dowager about this. The Empress Dowager disliked the Li family girl before, but I love her very much."

Furthermore, it is I who want to make her empress, and it is I who will share the same bed with her from now on, not the Empress Dowager.

"My mother is the Empress Dowager of our Great Song Dynasty. Can't she even decide my marriage?"

Empress Dowager Xie was greatly moved upon hearing this.

If the emperor's power is more secure, wouldn't her life as the empress dowager be easier?

Besides, it's perfectly reasonable for a mother to stand up for her son's marriage.

The Empress Dowager disliked Li Dao's daughter for being uncouth, so the Prince of Jin adopted her as his sworn sister. This was probably because he was afraid that Li Dao would lose face as a result, and it was also a way for the court to win over a powerful general.

Now that the emperor wants to take Li Dao's daughter as empress, the Li family must be more than happy to do so, and the Prince of Jin has no reason to object.

Prince Zhao Qu of Jin always respected his sister-in-law.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Xie nodded: "Issue my imperial decree to invite Prince Jin to the palace for an audience."

When Emperor Zhao Dun saw that the Empress Dowager had finally nodded, he was overjoyed.

He didn't know what the actress surnamed Qian looked like.

However, her older sister, who was only one year older than her, was chosen by her brother to be the Consort De, which shows that she was beautiful.

Consort De's sister must be equally outstanding.

Didn't Vice Minister Huang say that the younger sister of the Qian family is three times more beautiful than her older sister?
As for Li Fengniang...

Thinking of Li Fengniang's stunning beauty, the young emperor's heart fluttered.

The ranks of the emperor's concubines in the Song Dynasty, from top to bottom, were: Empress, Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, De Consort, and Wise Consort.

The Empress was the supreme ruler of the inner palace, holding a prestigious position. She commanded all the ladies-in-waiting both inside and outside the palace and had the authority to direct all the bureaus and departments within the palace.

There was also a specially created rank of Consort Chen, whose status was above that of Imperial Consort, equivalent to half an Empress.

Zhao Dun decided to be generous and appointed Li Fengniang as Empress and Qian Xingruo as Consort Chen.

In this way, he not only won the hearts of two beauties, but also brought Li Dao and the Qian family of Jiangnan into his camp, making them staunch supporters of the emperor.

Zhao Dun's delight grew with each passing thought, and his joy and anger were barely concealed as he beamed with delight.

At this moment, the chief eunuch suddenly walked down to the throne and stood there, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

Empress Dowager Xie said upon seeing this, "When Prince Jin arrives, I will speak on your behalf. Your Majesty has state affairs to attend to, so please go."

Zhao Dun hurriedly took his leave from the Empress Dowager and quickly left her palace with the chief eunuch.

Magpies chirped on the branches, and Zhao Dun, encountering a joyous occasion, felt even more refreshed and invigorated.

"Is there something important that you need to see me in such a hurry?"

"Your Majesty, there is news from Tongchuan Road and Chengdu Prefecture Road. Yu Zeping, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, has come to the palace to report this urgently."

Zhao Dun was overjoyed upon hearing this. Could it be that news of a great victory had arrived from the Sichuan and Shaanxi regions?
Zhao Dun hurriedly said, "Summon Yu Zeping to the Hall of Diligent Governance to see me!"

(End of this chapter)