Ming Dynasty: Summoning game players at the beginning

Chapter 371 Dam Running Knife, Aerospace Flower
Copper coins were scattered like raindrops on the streets, and cheers and celebrations rang out along the way. The traitor who murdered the prince was being paraded through the streets, and mud and pebbles were continuously thrown at him.

Compared to the bustling streets, the atmosphere inside a certain mansion was dark and oppressive, as if sunlight was shining through a paper window, creating two distinct sides of light and shadow.

"The Ming dynasty's fate is sealed, and a change of dynasty is imminent! Let the tyrant and his black-flag soldiers be arrogant for a few more days. Once the rebel army storms into the capital, the tyrant will surely meet a tragic end."

"Alas, on the day Liaodong was recovered, I thought the Ming Dynasty was about to be restored. Who knew that in just a few months, the situation would take such a sharp turn for the worse."

"A foolish ruler who governs the country recklessly has only brought chaos to his Zhu family's empire and dragged us all into the calamity of war. He truly deserves to die."

"The rebel army is advancing like a whirlwind. I don't know if it's the Yan state or the Qi state that has entered the capital, and I don't even know the name of their king."

"I heard that the King of Yan is He Lusi, who was once the chief under Lord Li and later became a fierce general under General Zhang. It is said that he knew that General Zhang had mistakenly entered a dangerous place but did not stop him, and even watched General Zhang die in the fire. His ruthlessness is evident."

"If one's heart is not hard, how can one seize power? Have you not heard the saying that one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand?"

"What are the names of the other warlords?"

"Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei of Qi; Su La of Zhao; Cai Kun of Lu; Wang Tutu of Qin; Ye Niu of Jin; Xia Ya of Liang..."

Everyone looked puzzled upon hearing this. Why were these names so strange, and why did most of them originate from Lord Li's Black Flag Camp?

These names frequently appeared on the Black Flag Battalion's victory reports.

"Lord Li is practically a celestial being descended from heaven, with countless brilliant generals under his command, yet they have all turned to rebel." A sarcastic tone rang out, and everyone turned to look, only to see a cold, icy smile on his lips.

"Lord Li's loyalty to the emperor and love for the country is unparalleled. He has repeatedly made great achievements in suppressing bandits and pacifying barbarians, and his prestige has shaken the Central Plains. If he wanted to rebel, he would have rebelled long ago. Why would he need to recover Henan and Hubei provinces for the country? If it weren't for the foolish emperor who forced General Zhang to his death and caused chaos in Liaodong, the world would have been at peace long ago."

“Brother Chen is right. The rebels have rebelled, but Lord Li has not. His loyalty is as clear as day.”

"Unfortunately, the emperor was as stupid as a pig. Even though Lord Li recovered two provinces, the emperor was still able to lose four more."

"In the current situation, the forces of Yan and Qi are the strongest, and it's hard to say who will come out on top."

"It is still unknown who will emerge victorious. Back then, the Yuwen clan and the Gao clan were vastly different in strength, but in the end, it was the Yuwen clan that destroyed the Gao Qi. In my opinion, the Qin king Tutu and the Jin king Ye Niu may very well have been able to establish their rule over the world."

"If the rebel army attacks the capital, how should we deal with it?"
Whether they were the Beiwei, the Beggars, or the Red Turban Army, they all held many prejudices against us officials and gentry.

If they capture the capital, will they indiscriminately use torture to extort money?

"It shouldn't be. A relative of mine is a soldier in the rebel army. He wrote to me earlier, saying that the rebel army has strict discipline and does not allow civil or military officials to be corrupt, let alone harass the people."

Anyone who embezzled even a tael of silver would be severely punished with thirty strokes of the military rod, and countless people were beaten to death for violating discipline.

When the rebel army conquered a city, they only eliminated the petty thieves and levied taxes on officials, gentry, and wealthy households according to the "new law".

"Only those who do not surrender within thirty-six hours will be slaughtered, along with all the people in the city." The speaker paused, then changed the phrase from "slaughtering all the gentry" in the letter to "all the people."

"The rebel army levies harsh taxes, showing signs of exploiting wealthy households, and forbids the accumulation of large tracts of land..."

"The new dynasty is newly established and its laws are strict. It is fortunate that you and I were able to save our families' lives."

"A new dynasty is about to be established, and I wonder how to get to know the high-ranking officials of the new dynasty." This remark instantly resonated with everyone.

You are all high-ranking officials and nobles of the Ming Dynasty. The network of connections you have built is enough to support one or two generations. Even if you retire and return to your hometown, you can still become extremely wealthy and powerful.

But now the Ming Dynasty's fate is sealed, the old dynasty's connections are about to crumble, and the character and policies of the future court officials are still unknown.

The future looks bleak.

At this moment, a stout scholar slammed his hand on the table, making the bowls and plates on it rattle. "Rather than being fish and shrimp on a chopping board, we should take the initiative."

What are some good solutions?

"Seize the capital and hand it over."

"Alas, the troops in the capital are all in the hands of a foolish emperor, and there are five thousand fierce soldiers from the Black Flag Battalion, plus another ten thousand strong men to be recruited to supplement the capital garrison. The army recently received back pay for years, and morale is high. We are powerless, how can we capture the city?"

"We have reinforcements on their way."

"Reinforcements? Would Governor Hong be willing to surrender to the rebel army? Lord Li is unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, and would never betray the Ming Dynasty. Where would any reinforcements come from?"

"No, no." The fat scholar raised his finger and made a half-spin, then straightened it and pointed it northward. "We can borrow the enemy's troops to seize the city."

"What? You want to collude with the Tartars?" Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked.

Some people denounced his wishful thinking, saying that after finally driving out the Tartars, he was now inviting wolves into the house. Some even made a move to rush over and punch him, while others believed that the situation would deteriorate further and that no one could save their lives.

However, a few people, after careful consideration, believe that this argument has many merits.

"Wait!" a highly influential official shouted, silencing the chorus of curses. He then turned to the portly scholar and asked, "Do you intend to form an alliance with the barbarians to quell the rebellion?"

“Exactly!” said the fat scholar. “Even if we don’t ally with the Tartars, they will take this opportunity to invade the interior of China. Once the Tartars and the rebels are both exhausted, whoever we side with will have to give us important positions.”

"The Eastern Barbarians have already suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Beiwei Army. How can they possibly have the strength to fight a bloody battle?"

"The Eastern Barbarians lost the fertile land of Liaodong and were in dire need of food and clothing. The Northern Barbarian tribes were also suffering from repeated disasters. A pack of starving wolves gathered together would surely be willing to take risks."

Taking a step back would mean starving to death, while taking a step forward could mean seizing half the country. Why wouldn't they dare to take a big gamble?
The Tartars' fighting strength was greatly reduced, and the rebel army was also a disorganized mess. Seven rebel banners had already appeared in several northern provinces.

No matter how powerful the states of Yan and Qi are, they still need to divide their forces to defend their territories. How many of their main troops can they possibly send north to the capital?

"Yes, that's certainly a good strategy."

"But if the Tartars defeat the rebels and then massacre the soldiers and civilians of Liaoyang and Shenyang as they did back then, wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?"

"The interior is not like Liaodong. If the Tartars want to secure their rule within the interior, they cannot succeed without uniting with us. The Jurchen chieftain Huang Taiji understands this well, which is why the Qing Dynasty has grown stronger. Successors should also understand this principle. The Mongol Yuan Dynasty treated the gentry with great kindness. Now, a second 'Mongol Yuan' is here. Don't you want to build a legacy for your descendants for three generations?"

The fat scholar's words prompted everyone to think, and the volume of those refuting his claim of colluding with the Tartars decreased considerably.

Righteousness and integrity are ethereal and external things; only fame, fortune, and family are what they truly care about.

On one side are the exhausted and wounded Tartars, desperately needing collaborators. On the other side are the cruel and tyrannical bandits who frequently mistreat the gentry, and whose fate remains uncertain.

If the bandits had treated the gentry any better, the question of choosing between the two options would never have arisen.

Unfortunately, a thief is still a thief; he doesn't understand the basic strategies for governing a country.

Even though some people felt that surrendering to the Tartars was not respectable, there was only one final answer.

They would ally with the barbarians to quell the rebellion. They would then watch as the barbarians and the rebels fought to the bitter end, at which point these people would surrender the capital and reap the benefits.

Members of the "Alliance with the Barbarians" faction formed a clique here, with the fat scholar who made the proposal as their "leader," and began to carry out the matter.

Even those who didn't want to get involved had to sign their names on the blood oath to prevent leaks.

The alliance with the Tartars was considered "politically incorrect" and could easily lead to the extermination of Zhu Youjian's clan. Therefore, this plan could only be carried out in secret, and the fewer people who knew the specific details, the better.

Supporters readily offered thousands or even tens of thousands of taels of silver to help the fat scholar smooth things over with various parties.

As the banquet ended, the fat scholar quickly returned home and summoned an unassuming servant, saying, "Go tell the manager of Fugui Trading Company that the wind is picking up and it's going to rain."

The servant nodded upon hearing this and dashed out of the mansion.

The shopkeepers were overjoyed upon learning of this; the Shanxi merchants were finally about to have their day in the sun!

They have always spent a lot of money to bribe high-ranking officials in the imperial court, cultivate scholars in their hometown, and strive to weave a unified network of officials and merchants. Even the most valuable list of salt merchants includes the names of Shanxi merchants.

Since the Tianqi and Chongzhen reigns, they have bribed officials and soldiers in Xuanfu and Datong to smuggle grain, tea bricks, and metals to the northern barbarians, making a fortune.

The Northern Barbarians were impoverished and had no purchasing power. The real buyer was Huang Taiji of Liaodong. The Northern Barbarians were merely a "transfer station".

Huang Taiji repeatedly led his troops into the pass to plunder, and the treasures he plundered amounted to no less than a million. These gold and silver treasures then fell into the hands of Shanxi merchants through grassland trade, which can be described as a perfect "foreign trade cycle".

Border officials and soldiers accepted bribes and even participated in smuggling themselves, completely disregarding the lives of ordinary people. After all, fighting the invaders was their job, and smuggling was their livelihood. In those days, who would be willing to starve and risk their life for the imperial family?

Huang Taiji once made a solemn promise to the Shanxi merchants that if the Qing Dynasty were to take control of the Central Plains, he would bestow upon them the honor of "sharing the fate of the nation".

Even though Huang Taiji had passed away, the remnants of the Eight Banners scattered across the grasslands still relied on the smuggling network of Shanxi merchants, and the new emperor, Haoge, repeatedly made promises to the Shanxi merchants.

All the Shanxi merchants knew that their entire family's lives and wealth were tied up in the hands of the Manchus. If they didn't take a big gamble and make a big move, the Shanxi merchants who had colluded with the Manchus would not be spared once the Ming Dynasty wiped out the rebels or once the rebels who hated the Manchus sat on the throne.

Anyone involved in this smuggling network is guilty of a heinous crime that carries a slim chance of survival. They must unite to fight against the Ming Dynasty and the rebels in order to survive.

Profit is the only reason that has driven so many strangers to act together, and at this moment it has also drawn in the powerful and wealthy in the capital, the Shanxi merchants, and the officials and soldiers of Xuanda, creating a great upheaval.

……

"Hahaha... This is truly a stroke of luck!"

Hauge was overjoyed to receive the secret letter, never expecting that the Qing Dynasty, which had been on the verge of despair, would actually see a dazzling path to survival.

The bandit army, which had been cruel and tyrannical in the past, had finally forced the gentry to unite and seek refuge with the Eight Banners who had just been driven out.

Fan Wencheng also advised Hauge to learn from the lessons of the rebel army and to treat the gentry in Guanzhong well—to posthumously recognize the merits of the gentry in the previous dynasty, to retain all the surrendered officials, and to reclaim the land allocated by the rebel army.

However, some Manchu princes disagreed, arguing that if they did, wouldn't they, as Manchu nobles, become servants of the Han gentry?

"The land within the pass is rich beyond measure. All the princes and nobles have the manors they desire. As long as we appease the gentry and secure our rule, why worry about money, grain, land, beautiful women, wine, and meat?"

"What you say, Fan Qing, is absolutely right." Hauge knew that his father, the Emperor, always valued Han officials, and he had to do his best to emulate him.

Faced with enormous profits, many princes and nobles temporarily set aside their disputes, exclaiming that their suffering was over and that once they entered the Central Plains, they would definitely seize a large manor.

The outer Mongol vassals were also starving and eager for looting; it was time for them to gather together and raid the pass.

"Enter the pass! Enter the pass! Enter the pass!"

A loud roar echoed throughout the tribe, and Hauge felt a surge of pride.

He will accomplish a great undertaking for the entire Qing Dynasty.

If they were lucky enough to defeat the rebel army and seize the capital region, the entire north would fall into the hands of the Qing Dynasty, and the territories of the Liao and Jin dynasties, and even the Mongol Yuan dynasty, would once again be restored.

The Qing Dynasty must rise again!
Looking at this secret letter, which seemed like a magic elixir, Haug felt as if he were holding a golden Buddha statue.

He gazed at the eastward journey of Huang Taiji on horseback and sighed in his heart, "Father is indeed a prophet, but I will surely become the Qing emperor who surpasses Father."

He intends to lead the Eight Banners warriors to conquer the Central Plains!

……

Shanhaiguan.

Hong Chengchou had just finished deploying his troops, arranging for 20,000 soldiers to garrison Shanhaiguan, in order to slow down the advance of the Beiwei Army as much as possible.

He then led 40,000 elite troops to the capital to defend the emperor.

Hong Chengchou originally intended to leave the Guan Ning Army to defend the city, since the latter had a blood feud with the Beiwei Army.

The Beiwei Army was forced to the death of its commander by the Guan Ning Army, and the Guan Ning Army also had its families and comrades slaughtered by the Beiwei Army. There was almost no possibility of reconciliation between the two sides.

However, the Guan Ning Army was terrified of the enemy. Although they hated the Beiwei Army, they dared not stay at Shanhaiguan to fight the enemy and even considered launching a mutiny to resist the order to stay behind.

Left with no other choice, Hong Chengchou had to leave four fierce generals—Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Cao Bianjiao, and Wang Tingchen—to defend the city. He then led Wu Sangui, Bai Guang'en, Tang Tong, and others back to the capital.

It is more than 600 li from here to the capital. According to the marching speed of this army, they can arrive within ten days.

However, Hong Chengchou was deeply worried that even if he could return to the capital in time, how could he possibly withstand the fierce and powerful enemy army with his 40,000 troops?

Are we to escort His Majesty on his southern hunt to Jiangning?
Your Majesty, my Your Majesty, why do you always create one mess after another and then leave it to your subjects to deal with?

Hong Chengchou had also heard the news of the seven traitors standing side by side within the pass. He was also puzzled as to how the situation in the country had become so difficult in just a few months.

Which rebel group should we attack first?
As a high-ranking official appointed by the imperial court, Hong Chengchou believed that he still possessed the integrity of a scholar-official and would never surrender.

But just as he was racking his brains every day for a solution to break the deadlock, the morale of the soldiers was quietly changing.

One morning, an uninvited guest burst into the military camp. He claimed to be a servant of the young master of the Wu family and cried out in a pitiful voice, "My master has been captured by the Black Flag Army and imprisoned in the imperial prison, where he is tortured day and night and extorted for money! The court in the capital is in chaos, and everyone is living in fear!"

This servant, on the surface, lamented his family affairs, but was deliberately creating a terrifying atmosphere in the imperial court in front of the general.

When he approached the young master, his expression suddenly changed, as if his previous sorrow and desolation were all a pretense. "Are you Wu Changbo, the nephew of Zu Dashou, the vanguard general of Liaodong, and the commander-in-chief of the Ningyuan militia?"

"I am Wu Sangui." The middle-aged man's expression hardened, and his right hand involuntarily gripped the hilt of his sword. "And you are?"

(End of this chapter)