Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 208 The Arrogant Rebel King Suffers the Retribution (Part 1)

Zhu Jue was quite adept at using people. He seemed to do nothing, but in fact he set up a series of tests for Pan Yunteng.

The sudden summons of Pan Yunteng to an audience was a test, and the subsequent orders to deal with Prince Rui and understand the general situation of the Hanzhong army were also part of the test.

Fortunately, Pan Yunteng did not disappoint him. After several tests, he was certain that Pan Yunteng was indeed a talent worthy of being relied upon.

If he were properly trained, it wouldn't be impossible for Pan Yunteng and his men to take down Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong.

In this way, he only needed to explain the strategy for suppressing the bandits to Pan Yunteng in detail, and then he could concentrate his forces to deal with the Jurchens.

He thought about it carefully, then stood up and said, "Cheng'en, bring me the map of the Ming Dynasty. Guozhong, Yunteng, come here and talk to me."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen quickly pulled out a map of the Ming Dynasty and unfolded it on the desk in the middle of the hall. Pan Guozhong and Pan Yunteng also hurriedly came to the large desk.

Zhu Jue bent down and pointed to the map, explaining in detail: "Yun Teng, Zhang Xianzhong is currently in Runing, while Gao Yingxiang is secretly mobilizing a large army to approach the Huaiqing Prefecture area."

Their target should be the vassal kings of the Central Plains. After all, Shanxi and Shaanxi have suffered from severe drought for years, and their grain production has not been much. The Central Plains have not been affected by the disaster, and their grain reserves must be far greater than those of Shanxi and Shaanxi.

There's another point you should be aware of: Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong are most likely backed by the three powerful clans and eight imperial merchants of Puzhou, who have been secretly colluding with the Jurchens for some time.

Therefore, you must not send your troops to Shanxi. Your troops going to Guanzhong must be extremely careful; try not to go too far north, otherwise they might be caught in a pincer attack by Gao Yingxiang, Zhang Xianzhong, and the Jurchen cavalry.

It turns out that Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong were backed by three powerful clans in Puzhou!

As a native of Shaanxi, he naturally knew the extent of the influence of the three powerful clans of Puzhou in the Northwest.

The three powerful clans of Puzhou not only controlled the business in Shanxi and the business with the northern barbarians, but also the business in Shaanxi.

At the beginning of the Wanli era, Zhang Siwei married his daughter to Ma Ziqiang, a powerful Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Ma Ziqiang's family was a prominent family in Guanzhong. Later, Ma Ziqiang's younger brother, Ma Zixiu, married his daughter to Yang Bo's grandson and used this relationship to control the business in Shaanxi.

In addition, with the influence of the three powerful clans of Puzhou and the Ma family, a powerful family in Guanzhong, in officialdom over the years, there are countless officials and even border generals in the Northwest who have openly or secretly pledged allegiance to them.

The three powerful clans of Puzhou were indeed all-powerful in the Northwest.

But what is the meaning of these eight imperial merchants?
Pan Yunteng thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance, but may I ask what the intentions are of these eight imperial merchants?"

Oh, I let it slip.

This is the Ming Dynasty, so calling him a royal merchant would imply he's one of his men!
Zhu Jue paused for a moment, then explained tactfully, "These eight imperial merchants were probably a name given by Huang Taiji to the Shanxi merchants of Shanxi. In fact, they were the eight great Shanxi merchants. The people of the three powerful families of Puzhou have all entered officialdom, and the business in the Northwest has been handed over to the eight great Shanxi merchants."

Oh, so they are the eight major Shanxi merchants.

Pan Yunteng nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate understands."

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then pointed to the map and solemnly said, "Right now you can't reach Runing Prefecture, Huaiqing Prefecture and Kaifeng Prefecture, so you can't stop Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong from attacking Chongfan, Zhengfan and Zhoufan."

However, they will definitely march towards Henan Prefecture and Nanyang Prefecture. At that time, you should also send a large army into Nanyang Prefecture to wait for the right opportunity. Wherever they attack the vassal states, you should send your troops there. After they take over the vassal states, you should pretend to rush up and fight them for territory and money.

They will definitely try their best to protect this territory and resources. When the time comes, you should order your men to fight them hard and try to deplete their strength.

As for the other rebel kings, once you discover them, order your men to persuade them to surrender. If they refuse, just give them a beating. If they surrender, secretly dispose of the rebel kings, leaving only their troops.

Uh, let's wait until they conquer the vassal states before we charge in!

Are you trying to eliminate all the feudal princes and royal families?

It's best not to ask that question; just keep it in your heart.

Pan Yunteng was taken aback for a moment, then quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This humble general obeys the order."

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and then carefully instructed, "You can distribute all the money and grain you have looted, including those from Prince Rui's mansion, to your soldiers as rations. If the rations are insufficient, have Guo Zhong tell me, and I will make up the difference. If you want your men to fight to the death, you must distribute the rations."

You're still paying rations and wages to these 900,000 troops? I thought just feeding them would be enough.

They'll definitely fight tooth and nail now.

Pan Yunteng repeatedly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise, this humble general understands."

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then asked, "Any other questions?"

I do have a big problem.

Upon hearing this, Pan Yunteng pointed to the map and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, Yunyang City is a strategic pass guarding three provinces. It has at least several thousand troops stationed there. If I were to lead troops to the Central Plains, I would have to pass through Yunyang City."

"Well, I am, after all, still a rebel on the surface. The garrison of Yunyang will not turn a blind eye to me. They may not dare to easily attack the army I sent to the Central Plains, but they are very likely to cut off my supply lines. Your Majesty, what do you think? Should I take Yunyang first?"

Yunyang City?
That was indeed a strategic pass. Historically, Li Zicheng apparently attacked it twice but failed. In the end, it was only through Zhang Xianzhong's men, disguised as Ming soldiers, who infiltrated the city and captured it.

If you attack directly, even if you manage to take it, you will likely suffer heavy casualties and it will take a lot of time.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then decisively said, "Ruoyu, draft an edict: According to reports, Zhang Yun, the bandit chieftain of Hanzhong, intends to lead his army into Huguang and even the Central Plains. Order Pan Guozhong, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shaanxi, to immediately lead his army to Yunyang as a precaution."

Uh, so you mean to send Pan Guozhong with the imperial decree to take control of Yunyang City, so that it will be easier for Pan Yunteng's men to go to the Central Plains!

Liu Ruoyu paused for a moment before picking up his pen and writing furiously.

Seeing that he had finished writing the imperial edict and Wang Chengen had stamped it with the imperial seal, Zhu Jue picked it up and handed it to Pan Guozhong. He then solemnly said, "Guozhong, extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. Just go ahead and do it. No matter what it is, I will pardon you."

Yunyang has a governor.

So you mean I should secretly take down the governor of Yunyang?
Pan Guozhong hurriedly bowed and accepted the imperial edict with both hands, his face solemn as he said, "This subordinate understands."

Zhu Jue stared at the map again, then carefully instructed, "Yun Teng, you have another important task, which is to prevent Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong from entering Sichuan via Hanzhong. Therefore, you must send troops to firmly guard the six ancient roads in the Qinling Mountains."

This shouldn't be a big problem.

Pan Yunteng nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I have already sent men to build a large number of fortified strongholds, both visible and hidden, south of the Ziwu Road and the Kugu Road. These two ancient roads should be impossible to breach."

As for the remaining four, I will immediately send men to capture the nearby cities upon my return, and then construct both visible and concealed fortifications south of the ancient road for defense.

Yes, Not Bad.

With Pan Yunteng in the north and Qin Liangyu in the east, Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong are unlikely to be able to invade Sichuan.

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully again, and then solemnly said, "Yun Teng, I entrust the rebel to you."

You must be careful and remember not to fall into Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong's trap of luring the enemy deep into your territory. Do not send troops to any place bordering the northern barbarians, lest you be buried in their hands for nothing.

Furthermore, these two are masters of a trick: they run around aimlessly. They like to lead their enemies around like walking dogs, only to end up with nothing to show for it.

You can't let them lead you by the nose. You should stay in the Central Plains and fight Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong. If they lose the Central Plains, their food supplies will be difficult to sustain.

As for what to do if they can't win and flee to Shanxi and northern Shaanxi, don't worry about that for now. We'll discuss further strategies later based on the situation.

Does this mean we should first seize those grain-producing areas in the Central Plains?

The problem is that most of those lands are still in the hands of princes and royal families.

I understand. Your Majesty is trying to take back the land held by the vassal kings and members of the royal family in a roundabout way.

Pan Yunteng thought about it carefully before slowly nodding and saying, "This subordinate understands."

(End of this chapter)