There is no such thing as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras

Chapter 38: Fraudulent City
A few days ago, Jingzhou suddenly learned the news of the governor's defeat. Cui Long hurriedly ordered the city gates to be blocked and recruited young and strong soldiers to defend the city. There was no good news for several days, but in the end, there was no sign of the rebels until now.

Cui Long saw him yawning. He had been busy and exhausted all night last night. Even a strong body could not bear it. He waved his hand and said, "I'm going to go back and rest for a while. Everyone, you can go home after you're done! The rebels won't come here easily."

Wang Shuxun, who was also worried and unable to sleep, was a little confused: "What does the governor mean by this?"

Cui Longjian shook his head and chuckled to himself, "Guanghui! It's all my fault for being so concerned that I forgot we're in Jingzhou, a crossroads connecting seven provinces. Although there are no soldiers available in the city, Jingzhou itself is a city with high walls and thick walls. Let alone the White Lotus rebels, even if the imperial army came, it wouldn't be easy for them to break in if we don't open the city gates. What's more, Jingzhou is connected to the Yangtze River. If Jingzhou is attacked, the Governor-General will definitely send troops to support it. If I were the rebel leader, I would attack Yichang instead of Jingzhou!"

Wang Shuxun was stunned, then thought about it carefully, and it seemed to be true. He immediately complimented him sincerely, "Your Excellency, the prefect is so far-sighted. I am ashamed of myself!"

"Your Excellency, the Governor, has a good opinion!"

Upon hearing this, the other officials in the government office also hurriedly followed suit and complimented him.

In fact, when Cui Long saw this idea, if it was replaced by an ordinary rebel, there would be nothing wrong with it. Jingzhou City is located in a plain, which is indeed flat and has no strategic location to defend. But precisely because of this, the city walls of Jingzhou are built high and thick.

How high is it? It is really as high as a four-story building.

Moreover, a moat and various city defense fortifications were arranged outside the city. Before the Yuan Dynasty, there were even exaggerated "three seas and eight cabinets (which later became farmland)".

The city has high walls and thick defenses, and it is also a strategically important town. If it were really the White Lotus rebel army, they would never attack such a big city, and it would be difficult to take it down even if they did.

But the problem is that Nie Yu is not from the White Lotus Sect, he is from the Han Army!

With the prefect providing a safety net, the officials below all had a backbone. After being busy for several days, the prefect couldn't sleep well, so naturally they couldn't sleep either.

Cui Longjian and Wang Shuxun made some arrangements again, so they prepared to go back together to catch up on some sleep and rest.

However, just as he left the yamen and had no time to get into the sedan chair, someone came running to announce: "The governor... the governor is back!"

"What are you talking about in such a panic? Isn't the prefect here?" Wang Shuxun frowned.

The messenger hurriedly explained, "It's not the prefect, it's the governor. It's the governor who has returned!"

After hearing this, both of them were surprised, looked at each other, and then smiled helplessly.

Cui Longjian really wished that Governor Hui Ling would die in battle. Even with 3,000 men, they were defeated by a group of ragtag White Lotus rebels. What was the point of having a governor like this?

But at the same time, if the governor really died in the battle, he, the prefect of Jingzhou, and all the officials of Jingzhou, including the co-prefects and magistrates, would be implicated, because the other party was not only the governor of Hubei, but also the deputy governor of the Eight Banners of Mongolia and the Manchurian deputy governor. Huiling's father was Na Yantai, an important official of the Eight Banners of Mongolia.

Otherwise, Cui Long would not have needed to drag the Tongzhi along to write a letter to the governor, asking the governor to take the blame together.

Cui Longjian's face was full of sarcasm. "Looks like we can't sleep anymore. Let's go and see how this governor escaped back."

Wang Shuxun was also speechless, but he had to go and take a look no matter how speechless he was.

……

At this time, under the city of Jingzhou, Hui Ling was wearing the second-rank peacock civil official uniform, with a carved coral hat on his head. He was supported by two "Manchu soldiers" and cursed at the top of the city.

"Hurry up and open the city gate to let me in. I am the Governor of Hubei and the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Plain Yellow Banner Manchuria, Sartuk Huiling. Open the city gate quickly!" The young and strong soldiers on the top of the city did not dare to open the gate at all. However, some old soldiers recognized the "broken" governor's banner below and the more than 200 embarrassed "Manchurian soldiers". They could only hurriedly report to the government office and notify the prefect to come over.

Hui Ling cursed for a long time at the foot of the city, and the young and strong soldiers on the top of the city waited in fear for a long time.

Cui Longjian, Wang Shuxun and others, along with officials from Jingzhou, had just slowly rushed over. As soon as they arrived, they saw Hui Ling squatting under the city, drinking water and resting.

Although they were quite far away, Cui Longjian could still vaguely recognize that the other person should be Hui Ling. Her clothes were a little disheveled, and those "Manchurian soldiers" also had blood stains on their clothes and armor. The only fortunate thing was that not many of them seemed to have died.

That governor's banner... was quite torn, and it was obvious that he had been defeated in battle. I don't know how they picked it up.

Cui Longjian was still watching from the top of the city wall, but Feng Xiuyong, who was below, had sharp eyes and saw an official approaching from the wall. "Which lord is coming? Quickly open the city gates! The governor just fought hard to break out of Yidu and Zhijiang counties, but both counties have been captured by the White Lotus rebels. Jingzhou must quickly arrange defenses. Send a speedboat to inform the governor-general and have him send troops to rescue us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hui Ling, who had just finished drinking his water, began to curse again: "Open the city gates quickly! If you don't open the city gates and miss the opportunity to fight, I will definitely report you to the emperor!"

Cui Long originally wanted to take another look, but now he didn't need to look anymore, because it must be Hui Ling.

Wang Shuxun was a little doubtful: "Mr. Futai..."

Cui Longjian was both angry and helpless. "Open the gate! He's the governor-general and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Plain Yellow Banner Manchuria. You and I are both Han officials. If we don't open the city gate, and he were to accuse us of missing the opportunity to fight, even the governor wouldn't be able to bear the blame."

Wang Shuxun was helpless after hearing this.

The city gates soon opened, and Cui Longjian stepped forward to greet them with a forgiving smile. "I heard that the Governor-General was defeated. I thought he had died for his country. I didn't expect you to be able to break out. You are truly fortunate!"

"Yes! The governor is a military genius, and these rebels are nothing." Wang Shuxun also said.

These two people were obviously making fun of Hui Ling on purpose, and they were saying nothing but nice things, leaving no room for criticism.

Jiangling County Magistrate Wei Yao and other government officials, some of whom heard what was said, while others pretended not to, all followed suit and began to flatter Hui Ling. The recent changes and the rebellious bandits in Yidu and Zhijiang had little to do with them, but it never hurt to say a few good words.

Cui Longjian and Wang Shuxun, one on each side, led a group of city officials to surround Hui Ling, and walked into the city with a smile on their faces. Behind them, more than 200 "Manchurian soldiers" quietly controlled the city gate and deliberately squeezed out several city defense battalion soldiers guarding the gate.

The soldiers from the city defense battalion had no doubts and all nodded and bowed, not daring to refuse the "Manchurian soldiers".

"Your Excellency, Mr. Feng just said that Yidu and Zhijiang were occupied by rebels. I wonder what the situation is like now, how many soldiers the rebels have, and what their military equipment is like?" Cui Long did not forget to inquire about the news of the rebels while speaking.

Because Hui Ling had fought against the rebels and even broke out, he must have some understanding of them. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles!
Hui Ling's face turned ugly when he heard this. What should he say? Could it be that the two "Manchurian soldiers" supporting him were traitors? If so, why didn't the traitors take action? If they didn't take action, he would not be able to continue the performance.

"Kill! Overthrow the Qing and restore the Han!"

Seeing that Hui Ling was about to be exposed, even Cui Longjian looked suspicious. Nie Yu suddenly shook off Hui Ling's arm, drew the Tang sword from his waist, and chopped down the nearest prefect Cui Longjian.

Immediately afterwards, more than 200 "Manchu soldiers" drew their swords and slashed at the Qing soldiers and officials they saw around them.

(End of this chapter)