Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 242 Lord Zhang, if we don't return, you should surrender!

"Fangchenggang!? Navy!?" Upon hearing the words "Fangchenggang," Commander Zhang exclaimed in surprise and immediately jumped up from his chair in panic.

Upon hearing the name Fangchenggang, Commander Zhang immediately thought of the navy, since Fangchenggang was a port! Any urgent military intelligence coming from there meant someone had definitely infiltrated by sea!

Could it really be a naval attack? In a panic, Commander Zhang, without thinking, quickly went to the soldier who delivered the letter, snatched the secret letter, and opened it to read it without regard for etiquette.

"It's over!" Commander Zhang exclaimed in shock as soon as he opened the secret letter in his hand and glanced at it. He staggered backward and fell into the chair behind him with a dazed look in his eyes. The secret letter in his hand fluttered to the ground.

"Lord Zhang!" Liu, the provincial inspector who was closest to Commander Zhang, saw him slump into a chair and quickly went to help him up.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Left Provincial Governor Ji Zuo stood up with a solemn expression, bent down to pick up the secret letter from the ground, and upon closer inspection, his pupils shrank.

"My lord!" After reading the secret letter in his hand, the provincial governor Ji Zuo was slightly taken aback. However, he quickly recovered and immediately handed the letter to Yin Shi, the chief provincial governor.

Seeing the different expressions on the faces of his two colleagues who had read the secret letter, Yin Shi knew that something big must have happened. So he took the letter without hesitation and read it carefully. In just a moment, Yin Shi's face was also full of solemnity and disbelief, but he still stiffly passed the letter on.

"You may leave now." After handing the secret letter to his colleague, Yin Shi waved wearily at the soldier who had delivered the letter, signaling him to leave first.

"Yes." The soldier who delivered the message was also very astute. He knew that something that could bring together several top officials from Guangxi in such a state of panic was something a lowly soldier like him couldn't possibly know. So, for the sake of his own life, he didn't hesitate and quickly left.

"The Crown Prince of Han actually divided his troops into two routes, sending both land and naval forces to launch a pincer attack on Guangxi."

One route will advance by land towards Zhen'an Prefecture! The other will take the sea route straight towards Fangchenggang!
"What should we do?!" After calming down for a while in the chair, Commander Zhang's mentality improved a lot, but he was still full of panic. He silently sat up straight and muttered to his colleagues beside him.

The reason he looked so desperate was because, as the commander of the coastal cities, he knew very well how terrifying the Ming Dynasty navy was! That's why he felt so hopeless at this moment.

"What exactly happened that could make the Crown Prince of Han, who had already moved his entire family out of the vortex of the rebellion and was no longer involved in the uprising, so angry?"

"It's enough to make him send two armies to occupy my Guangdong and Guangxi provinces!" Governor Ji Zuo looked at his colleagues with a puzzled expression, muttering to himself.

"The urgent military report from Fangchenggang says that the banner of the Prince of Han's palace was seen on the ship!" At this moment, Provincial Governor Yin Shi raised another crucial issue.

"The Crown Prince of Han has come in person? And by sea!?" Upon hearing Yin Shi's message, Commander Zhang was suddenly jolted awake. He realized with a start that the Crown Prince of Han had personally led his army here! It seemed the Crown Prince of Han was preparing to personally occupy the lands of Guangdong and Guangxi! This was a serious matter!

"Lord Yin, the army from Zhen'an Prefecture arrived yesterday, but they set up camp on the spot and did not launch an attack directly."

"Now it seems they were waiting for the navy to arrive so they could coordinate with them to attack Guangxi." Commander Zhang, as the chief military officer in charge of Guangxi, immediately pieced together all the information and figured out the attack strategy for Yunnan upon hearing of the navy's approach. He then promptly shared his speculation with his four colleagues.

"Now that the two armies from Yunnan have arrived, doesn't that mean they could launch an attack as early as tomorrow?" Wang You, the Right Governor, narrowed his eyes, instinctively thinking that Yunnan might launch an attack tomorrow!
"Our safety is a small matter, but the safety of the millions of people in Guangxi is a big matter."

"I will depart immediately for Fangchenggang to meet the Crown Prince of Han under the cover of night!" Before the Right Governor Wang could finish speaking, Yin Shi's face darkened. He immediately decided to set off for Fangchenggang now, determined to see the Crown Prince of Han before the Yunnan army launched its attack!

"I'll go too!" Inspector Liu also volunteered, preparing to accompany Yin Shi to Fangchenggang to meet the Crown Prince of Han. This time, Yin Shi did not object.

"My lords, I believe that any condition is negotiable as long as the Crown Prince of Han can cease hostilities!" Ji Zuo, the provincial governor, subtly expressed his stance as he looked at Shangguan Yinshi and Liu, the provincial inspector, who were preparing to depart.

"That makes sense!" Upon hearing Governor Ji's words, Yin Shi, who was about to depart, visibly paused, his expression turning blank. After a moment of silence, his expression shifting several times, Yin Shi finally closed his eyes and reluctantly agreed with Governor Ji's statement.

As intelligent as Yin Shi was, how could he not understand the meaning behind his colleague's words: as long as they could hold onto Guangxi, they were willing to pay a huge price! They were willing to pay any price!

"Take care, my lords!" Watching Yin Shi and Inspector Liu hurry out the door, Right Provincial Governor Wang bowed respectfully to them, seeing them off. He didn't know if he would ever see these two colleagues again after this farewell, and felt a pang of sadness. "Lord Wang, I'm preparing to go to Zhen'an Prefecture. Would you be willing to accompany me?" Left Provincial Governor Ji spoke to his colleague, watching Yin Shi and Inspector Liu stride away.

"Lord Ji?" Wang You, the Right Provincial Governor, didn't understand his colleague's meaning for a moment. He immediately turned his head and stared at his colleague with a blank and puzzled look.

"Lord Wang, the two armies of the Crown Prince of Han are already in position."

If I'm not mistaken, they will launch their attack early tomorrow morning." Faced with his colleagues' doubts, Governor Ji Zuo gave him an explanation.

"Yunnan will attack tomorrow?" Ji Zuo, the provincial governor, immediately filled Wang You, the provincial governor, with a look of panic.

"Yes, they will attack tomorrow!"

Even if Lord Yin and Lord Liu could persuade the Crown Prince of Han to cease hostilities at night, there simply wouldn't be enough time to notify the attacking army on the distant border to stop!

At that time, a major battle will still break out between Guangxi and Yunnan!

Therefore, I intend to personally go to Zhen'an Prefecture to meet with the general there and earnestly request that he grant me some more time.

Even if it's just for a day.

Even if it's just until we get definite news about Lord Yin and the others.

"Let me give up!" Ji Zuo, the provincial governor, was a refined man in his forties, dressed in a proper scholar's robe, yet at this moment he appeared so imposing and dazzling.

“Alright, let’s go together!” Upon hearing his colleague’s words, Wang You, the provincial governor, was also invigorated. He had never expected that Ji Zuo, the provincial governor, who was known for his wisdom and composure, would have such a resolute side! In a moment of passion, he agreed to go along.

"My lords!" Commander Zhang, who had been listening for a while, was also completely bewildered. It seemed that all his colleagues from the Provincial Administration Office had gone to the front line, so what was he supposed to do?

"Lord Zhang, please stay at the yamen. We can't all leave."

Otherwise, the people in the city will think that all of us officials have run away." Governor Ji Zuo looked at Commander Zhang, who looked nervous, and said with a forced smile and a hint of teasing.

"If both of our teams succeed, then naturally everyone will return safely, which would be the best outcome."

But if we all fail, this mess in Guangxi will fall directly on your shoulders, Lord Zhang.

"At that time, whether to fight or make peace will be entirely up to you." Governor Ji, with a hint of reluctance, told Commander Zhang the worst possible outcome, because it was indeed cruel, but there was really no other way but to make this decision. Now the pressure was on Commander Zhang.

"Me?!" Commander Zhang stared dumbfounded at his colleague, pointing his finger at his nose. He never expected that such an important task as staying behind would fall on his shoulders, a rough and uncultured man. For a moment, he turned into a meme, standing there dumbfounded.

"Lord Zhang, I will be back as soon as possible. If, if any unexpected event occurs, I will be unable to return."

"Lord Zhang, just surrender! The millions of people of Guangxi will thank you!" The Right Provincial Governor Wang had already resolutely walked to the door, but he turned back to Commander Zhang, gently patted him on the shoulder, and said in a low voice.

Then, after saying that, he turned around and left. The Right Provincial Governor Wang did not give him a chance to speak and hurriedly left.

(End of this chapter)