The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 153 Stealing Zhang Xianzhong's Talent

Zhang Xianzhong, accompanied by several adopted sons and a group of defeated soldiers, fled south in a panic, eventually reaching the outskirts of Jiang Han's garrison.

After resting for a while, just as the group was about to continue their journey, Zhang Xianzhong saw a dozen or so cavalrymen galloping towards them not far ahead.

The leading soldiers reined in their horses sixty paces away, looking at Zhang Xianzhong and his men with wary expressions, and ordered them to stop where they were and not to move rashly.

Seeing this, Sun Kewang quickly urged his horse forward, cupped his hands, and said loudly:

"We are subordinates of the Eighth King and the Old Hui, and we have been defeated and have come here. We wish to request an audience with Commander-in-Chief Shangshanhu!"

"I hope you will inform them on my behalf, brother!"

"It's just a small token, brother, take it and buy some wine!"

After saying that, he took out a silver ingot from his pocket and threw it to the soldiers not far away.

But the soldiers didn't reach out to take it; instead, they looked Sun Kewang's fleeing soldiers up and down, still maintaining a wary expression.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke:
"Wait here for a moment and do not go forward without permission!"

"I'll send someone back to inform the commander-in-chief immediately!"

After saying that, he took out two command flags from his horse, turned around and gave a set of flag signals to the soldiers behind him, indicating that his comrades should send someone back to report the military situation to Jiang Han.

Meanwhile, Jiang Han was huddled around a map, studying the upcoming marching route with several of his officers.

All eyes were focused on the winding Yellow River on the map.

"I received a message from Deng Yang that the imperial army is now pressing on our borders, and it will be difficult for us to wait until winter to cross the river at our leisure."

"We expect to fight several tough battles ahead."

Jiang Han pointed to the map and continued his analysis,

"Once we successfully cross the Yellow River, we will be like a dragon entering the sea, soaring ten thousand miles into the sky."

"At that time, our army can take the route through Huguang and then advance into Sichuan; or, like Emperor Gaozu of Han, take Hanzhong first and then conquer Bashu."

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the tent perked up, but Zhao Sheng, standing to the side, was somewhat worried:

"The commander is right. The land of Sichuan and Chongqing is fertile and vast, making it the most suitable place to recuperate and build up strength."

"But once we go in, it will be difficult to get out."

"The government troops only need to deploy defenses at a few key passes to lock us down in Sichuan."

"We have to guard against it!"

Jiang Han nodded and continued his analysis:

“You’re right, I’ve considered that too, but there aren’t many options available.”

"We can place Sichuan and Chongqing as our rear base and open up the battlefield in Hubei and Hunan or Guanzhong, which will prevent us from being locked down by the government forces."

"Besides, can Chongzhen really send people to guard us indefinitely?"

"He's no longer dealing with the Later Jin? He's abandoned Wang Jiayin?"

As they were talking, a personal guard suddenly burst into the tent:
"Reporting to the commander-in-chief, a report has come from outside the camp that Zhang Xianzhong, the Eighth King, and Ma Shouying, the Old Hui, are leading their remaining troops and are located about 20 miles from the camp."

Jiang Han was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Why are Zhang Tutu, the Great Western King, and Ma Shouying here?

Could it be that they suffered a defeat?
Before he could think it through, the guard continued:

"According to the report from Tang Bing, it seems that the Eighth King and the Old Huihui were defeated by Cao Wenzhao and fled here. It looks like they want to seek the protection of the commander."

After listening, Jiang Han's expression turned solemn, and he then instructed Zhao Sheng, who was standing beside him:

"Zhao Sheng, go there yourself and bring Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying in."

"As for their troops, let them find an open space outside the camp, set up camp on their own, and keep their subordinates in check so that they do not disturb the local area."

Zhao Sheng nodded, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and left to accept the order. The other officers also dispersed to patrol the camp.

Before long, led by Zhao Sheng, Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying, along with their adopted sons and personal guards, entered Jiang Han's camp with a mix of trepidation and curiosity.

As he walked, Zhang Xianzhong observed the situation in Jiang Han's camp without making a sound, and the more he looked, the more surprised he became.

Jiang Han's main camp was set up on a large plateau not far from Pinglu County, a flat and high terrain.

The camp was located next to a deep ditch, about seven or eight zhang deep, which formed a natural defensive barrier on the left side.

Two trenches, each 15 feet wide and 8 feet deep, were dug around the entire camp.

The trench was densely packed with sharpened bamboo and barbed wire, a sight that inspired fear.

Outside the trench, there were barricades with interlocking antlers, and every five steps there was a gun hole, obviously a firing port prepared for the gunners.

The camp was surrounded by five watchtowers, each three zhang high, offering a wide view and allowing them to see all the surrounding activity.

Upon entering the camp, Zhang Xianzhong discovered that the barracks on the plateau were not a single place, but rather a continuous stretch, with banners fluttering in the wind.

Judging from the banners, the outermost camps belonged to other leaders who followed Jiang Han, such as the "Chuang" banner, the "Li" banner, and the "Liu" banner.

These were all familiar faces; Zhang Xianzhong could recognize them at a glance.

Located in the center of this camp was the main camp of the Mountain Tiger.

More than a dozen large tiger-character flags fluttered in the wind, making a loud rustling sound.

The entire camp was meticulously divided into four sections: left, center, right, and rear, with gaps of twenty or thirty steps between each section, giving it a well-organized appearance.

These gaps were separated by sand and earth walls about half a person's height. Zhang Xianzhong guessed that these were probably set up to prevent fire attacks.

Entering Jiang Han's camp through the gate, Zhang Xianzhong's left side was the right camp, which was bustling with people.

Soldiers in the camp and local people were doing business. There were many stalls on the ground, with vendors, men, women and children.

Although it was a bit noisy, it was orderly and there was no forced buying or selling, which surprised Zhang Xianzhong.

On the left side of the camp, one can vaguely see a large area of ​​stables and a temporary drill ground that has been set up.

Inside the drill ground, the shouts of soldiers practicing and the clanging of weapons could be heard from time to time, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The rear camp had the largest area and was the most heavily guarded. It was obviously a place to store grain and supplies, and it was full of elite soldiers responsible for guarding the grain.

Everything that Zhang Xianzhong saw before him felt unfamiliar and shocking.

He couldn't help but think of his own chaotic camp, where all that happened every day was noise and gambling; there was no semblance of order in the camp.

He found it difficult to discipline his soldiers and officers, even to the point of conducting drills every five days.

These people suddenly became rich, and besides eating, drinking and having fun, they thought about going around robbing and plundering.

"Hey"

Zhang Xianzhong couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking to himself:

"Just by looking at the most basic things like setting up camp and marching formations, you can tell that this is an elite and fierce army."

"No wonder they were able to repel those Guan Ning soldiers!"

"Besides seeking asylum this time, it seems I also need to learn how to manage and lead troops."

Amidst a multitude of thoughts, Zhao Sheng had already led him outside the central command tent, and then loudly announced his arrival.

"Please come in!"

Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying dared not be negligent. After tidying their armor, they followed Zhao Sheng into the tent.

Inside the tent, the lights were bright, and a handsome man sat upright in the main seat. This must be the Mountain Tiger.

"Are you two the Eighth Prince and the old Hui?"

Jiang Han spoke first, breaking the silence.

Zhang Xianzhong quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in a gesture of politeness:

"Indeed, I am Zhang Xianzhong, and this is Ma Shouying."

Jiang Han stood up, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled:

"It's an honor to meet you. I am Shangshanhu. Please forgive me for not being able to entertain you properly since you have come from afar."

Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand politely and said:

"How dare I! Commander Shangshanhu's fame is widespread. It is truly an honor for Brother Ma and me to meet him today!"

Ma Shouying nodded and repeatedly bowed in agreement. Jiang Han's gaze swept calmly over the two men, then he noticed two young men standing behind Zhang Xianzhong, one tall and one short, with different expressions.

One of them was burly, with a resolute face and a calm demeanor between his brows;
The other one appeared rather young, probably only ten years old. He was not very big, but his eyes were unusually bright, and he looked around with a hint of wariness and curiosity.

A thought flashed through Jiang Han's mind: Could it be?

Zhang Xianzhong also noticed Jiang Han's gaze, and immediately turned to the side, pointing to the two people behind him and introducing them:
"To be honest, General, these two are my adopted sons."

"The older one is called Sun Kewang."

"My name is Li Dingguo."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han's eyes lit up. Sure enough, it was Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo!

hiss--

Jiang Han gasped, his gaze towards Zhang Xianzhong becoming incredibly complex.

He was secretly amazed. What incredible luck did this person have when he started his rebellion?
Sun Kewang was a master of domestic affairs, and he trained an army of 200,000 men in Yunnan over three years.

Li Dingguo was the bravest general in the army, defeating two famous princes, which shocked the world and caused the Qing army to suffer repeated defeats.

If the two hadn't had their internal conflict, it's hard to say whether the Eastern Barbarians would have been able to rule the Han dynasty.

Jiang Han looked at Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo with great envy, wishing he could recruit them to his own team immediately.

But he also understood that this matter couldn't be rushed.

Jiang Han couldn't very well kill Zhang Xianzhong and then forcibly take his adopted son under his command, could he?

If we were to actually do that, not to mention whether it would succeed, it would be morally untenable.

Even if Jiang Han were to accept the two men, he certainly wouldn't feel at ease using them.

Suppressing his impulse, Jiang Han looked at Zhang Xianzhong again and asked:
"How did the Eighth Prince end up clashing with Cao Wenzhao?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong blushed.

He was naturally too embarrassed to say that he wanted to emulate the Tiger on the Mountain and make a name for himself by defeating the Guan Ning army head-on, but he ended up being brought back to square one in one battle.

Zhang Xianzhong could only give vague answers and make up a pretext:
"Alas, it's shameful to admit!"

"We were originally operating around Puxian County, but we never expected that Cao Wenzhao would chase us around like a mad dog. Caught off guard, we suffered a great loss."

He beat his chest and stamped his feet, looking utterly heartbroken.

"The Guan Ning Army truly deserves to be called the strongest army in the world!"

"In just one battle, my old camp, which I had built up over many years, was almost completely wiped out."

"Alas, of the three thousand old camp members, plus several thousand followers, only a little over a thousand have escaped with me."

"This time, Brother Ma and I have come to seek refuge with the commander. Considering that we are all righteous soldiers, we hope that the commander can protect us."

"From now on, we will never refuse any orders from the Commander!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han nodded slightly.

Now, there are quite a few leaders following him, and he would naturally not refuse Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying if they came.

Moreover, Jiang Han was also thinking of cultivating a good relationship with Zhang Xianzhong in order to see if he could win over Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo.

So Jiang Han waved his hand and said gently:
"Your Majesty, you flatter us. Since we are all rebels against the Ming Dynasty, we should support each other."

"There is still plenty of open space on this plateau, enough for the two of you to set up camp. Please make yourselves at home."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong felt somewhat relieved, but then looked embarrassed and rubbed his hands together awkwardly.

"This, General, to be honest, we were chased all the way by the government troops, and our supplies and provisions have long been lost."

"The army is about to run out of food. I wonder if we could borrow some from the commander-in-chief to relieve this urgent crisis?"

Fearing Jiang Han might refuse, he quickly added:
"Don't worry, General. Once I've recovered, I will return everything I've plundered in full!"

"Even if you factor in some interest, it's only fair!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han waved his hand heartily:

"What nonsense are you spouting, Eighth Prince! We're brothers, why talk about interest?"

"Here's what I'll do: I'll allocate three thousand shi of grain to you two to alleviate your immediate crisis."

"As for the return, we can talk about it later."

"Within the territory of Pingyang Prefecture, there are manors and fortresses built by wealthy gentry everywhere, containing countless amounts of grain and money."

"If the Eighth Prince is interested, he can lead his troops to pay a visit. He should be able to gain a lot from it."

Upon hearing that there was grain, Zhang Xianzhong was overjoyed.

But when he heard that he was to attack those fortresses and villages, he became somewhat worried:
"Thank you for your generosity, Commander!"

"However, we retreated in panic, and all our siege equipment was lost."

"The manors and fortresses of those landlords and wealthy people are mostly heavily fortified with high walls and thick ramparts; if we were to launch a direct attack, we would likely suffer heavy casualties."

Jiang Han had anticipated Zhang Xianzhong's remark, so he smiled slightly and decided to see it through to the end.
"Eighth Prince, there is no need to worry."

"I can lend you two heavy cannons and ten small cannons. You can return them when you're done using them."

But Jiang Han abruptly changed the subject, and his expression became serious:
"However, I must make this clear from the outset: there is one point that I urge both leaders to keep in mind."

"Attacks on fortified villages and plunder of money and grain are permissible, but indiscriminate killing of innocent people is strictly prohibited, especially the slaughter of unarmed civilians."

"As you two must have seen when you arrived, there are many local residents and merchants in my camp."

"These people only dare to come here to do business because they know that I am strict in disciplining my troops and do not harm the people."

"I urge the two kings to restrain their soldiers and not tarnish my reputation and rules."

Although Jiang Han's tone was calm, the warning it contained was quite obvious:
"If you break the rules, don't blame me for turning my back on you. In that case, we might have no choice but to fight each other."

Jiang Han said these words specifically to Zhang Xianzhong.

Zhang Tutu's name is legendary, and Jiang Han has to be wary of him.

Although Zhang Xianzhong didn't commit the massacre of Shu alone, he must have killed many people. Now that he had the opportunity, Jiang Han naturally wanted to make things clear in advance.

If Zhang Xianzhong really goes on a killing spree, even if I kill him, I won't be accused of "killing without warning".

When Zhang Xianzhong arrived, he naturally saw the merchants and civilians who had accompanied the army in the camp, and he already greatly admired Jiang Han's military leadership.

Hearing Jiang Han's warning, he naturally agreed without hesitation:
"Easy to say, easy to say!"

"When I get back, I will strictly discipline my soldiers. Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

Jiang Han nodded in satisfaction:

"So good."

He then instructed Zhao Sheng, who was standing to the side:
"Zhao, please take the two kings to the rear camp and allocate three thousand shi of grain."

"Also, go to the artillery camp and have Zhu Zi take out two heavy cannons and ten small cannons, and give them to the Eighth Prince for use."

After saying that, Jiang Han added a special instruction:
"All the shells, gunpowder, cleaning rods, gun brushes, and other equipment must be prepared and sent to them. Don't let anything be missing."

Zhao Sheng, who was standing to the side, was a little surprised. Why was the commander so generous, taking out so much grain at once?

Three thousand shi (a unit of grain), is it to buy horse bones with a thousand gold pieces?
As Zhao Sheng pondered this, he sized up Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying before him, unable to see anything about them that was worth bribing.

But he couldn't question it, so he could only nod and accept the order:

"clear."

Jiang Han's actions certainly demonstrate his wealth and generosity.

Three thousand shi of grain is no small amount for any rebel army, let alone two heavy cannons and ten small cannons.

Jiang Han's generosity stemmed from his belief that "you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

His real purpose was to use this opportunity to improve his relationship with Zhang Xianzhong, bestow favors upon him, and thereby influence Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo.

What if we could actually manage to win them over?
It was just a mere three thousand shi of grain and a few cannons.

If we can really win over Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo, it will be a huge win!
Thinking of this, Jiang Han couldn't help but smile slightly, already fantasizing about one day bringing these two under his command.

(End of this chapter)