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

Chapter 262 The Prisoners Delivered to Our Door

Unlike Hong Chengchou, who caused chaos and widespread discontent in Hanzhong by plundering the land, Lu Xiangshan's grain procurement in Huguang proceeded smoothly.

All of this was thanks to the good deeds he sowed during his tenure in Yunyang Prefecture.

Upon hearing that Governor Lu was going to suppress bandits for the country and that there was a temporary shortage of food and supplies, the people of Yunyang Prefecture spontaneously shared some of their stored grain, as if they had planned it together.

One grain cart after another was sent to the military camp. Even if it meant tightening their belts, they still wanted to contribute their meager strength to the beloved Governor Lu.

What pleased Lu Xiang-sheng even more was the attitude of his soldiers.

When he stood on the command platform and frankly announced that the provisions and pay would be delayed for several months, instead of boos from the crowd, a cacophony of firm voices arose:
"Governor! If it were anyone else saying they were temporarily behind on pay, we brothers would never believe it, not even if you beat us to death!"

"But since you've asked, we'll definitely believe you!"

There was no other reason than that Lu Xiang-sheng treated his soldiers and officers like his own sons.

They not only solved their livelihood problems and provided them with land and houses, but also took care of their lifelong marriage and helped them settle down.

In the military, everything from clothing and food to housing and transportation is done according to regulations, and medical compensation for the wounded and sick is never delayed.

This gratitude is etched into the very bones of these men from Yunyang.

Under Lu Xiang-sheng's governance, Yunyang Prefecture had long since transformed from a desolate and war-torn land into a prosperous and peaceful paradise.

As early as when Chen Qiyu served as the governor of five provinces to suppress the peasant army, Yunyang Prefecture was an important hub for troop deployment;
Later, when fighting against Gao Yingxiang, Zhang Xianzhong and others, Yunyang also served as a bridgehead for the Ming army.

Even in history, until the fall of the Ming Dynasty, when Shanhaiguan, known as the First Pass Under Heaven, surrendered, the soldiers and civilians of Yunyang remained loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

Even when the Qing army besieged the Thirteen Families of Kuidong, Yunyang Prefecture remained steadfast on the front line.

Upon hearing that Lu Xiang-sheng was going to Sichuan to suppress bandits, the surrounding prefectures of Xiangyang and Jingzhou generously provided him with a considerable amount of grain and fodder.

Thus, Lu Xiang-sheng led his newly formed Yunyang Battalion, which joined forces with the troops of Zuo Liangyu, Deng Qi, and Tang Hui, along with the fleet commanded by Mao Ze, the garrison commander of the Jingzhou Navy.

A total of over 25,000 infantry, cavalry, and naval troops, along with more than 500 boats of various sizes, set sail from Jingzhou Prefecture and arrived at Badong, the eastern gateway to Sichuan.

Lu Xiang-sheng established a large-scale naval and land camp here to organize his troops and prepare for war.

Now all that's left is for Commander Hong of Hanzhong to launch the first attack and draw the enemy's attention, so that he can lead his troops upstream to attack the enemy in Sichuan from both sides.

To his utter surprise, the upstream Kuizhou Prefecture was already in dire straits and could hardly protect itself.

Since receiving the news from Deng Yang in Hanzhong, Jiang Han has been rushing to Kuizhou Prefecture with his men without stopping.

At this time, Kuizhou Prefecture was completely surrounded by four thousand soldiers and five thousand militia.

Prefect Yu Wenbo was extremely anxious, as the city's garrison was small and lacked troops, and supplies were also running low.

So he could only watch helplessly as the bandits crossed Kuizhou Prefecture and headed downstream to Qutang Gorge to set up defenses.

The city of Kuizhou is not the key; to prevent government troops from entering Sichuan from Huguang, the Qutang Gorge must be sealed off first.

Therefore, Jiang Han specially summoned his generals to carefully review the thrilling war to destroy Shu in the early Ming Dynasty, especially the case of Liao Yongzhong's strong attack on Qutang Pass.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang sent two generals, Fu Youde and Liao Yongzhong, to conquer the Xia-Shu regime in order to unify the country.

At that time, the Xia army carved holes in the cliffs on both sides of the river and erected three huge suspended bridges across the river.

The bridge was equipped with a large number of firearms, powerful bows and crossbows, while a large number of cannons were ready to be used on the riverbank.

At the time, the Ming army was at its peak, and faced with such a defense, Tang He chose to confront it head-on.

As a result, relying on the flying bridge and the cliffs on both sides, the Xia army sank a large number of naval warships one after another, and the soldiers were killed and wounded in droves, turning the river red.

The entrance to Qutang Gorge became a meat grinder that devoured the Ming army.

Tang He launched a fierce attack for several months, suffering heavy losses and failing to make any progress. He was even reprimanded by Zhu Yuanzhang and replaced with Liao Yongzhong, the Marquis of Deqing, to lead the navy.

It was Fu Youde's troops who finally broke the deadlock.

Fu Youde led his troops to secretly cross Yinping and enter the heart of Chengdu. They advanced with unstoppable momentum, capturing Longzhou and Mianzhou in succession.

Even more ingeniously, he ordered the making of thousands of wooden plaques, inscribed with the date of the city's capture and the Ming army's prowess, which were then thrown into the Han River and allowed to float downstream.

These wooden signs drifted into the hands of the Xia army at Qutang Pass, causing great panic. The Ming army, upon seeing them, was greatly encouraged and thus successfully breached Qutang Gorge.

Having learned from the lessons of the downfall of the Xia-Shu regime, Jiang Han made specific reinforcements and improvements to the defenses of Qutang Gorge.

Due to the time constraints, he did not choose to build a suspended bridge, but instead followed the example of Yu Jie, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty who resisted the Mongols, in the most dangerous section of the Qutang Gorge.

Jiang Han ordered his men to sink more than ten thick iron chains to the bottom of the river, where they were hidden underwater, with the other end connected to a winch.

They waited until the Ming warships went upstream, then pulled the winches to taut the iron chains across the river and forcibly intercept the fleet.

Meanwhile, in some areas where the water level was low, he had a large number of hidden stakes driven into the riverbed to form concealed underwater barricades, specifically designed to strike the bottom of ships.

On the high ground on both sides of the Qutang Gorge, Jiang Han also had many coastal defense guns built, forming a multi-tiered firepower.

Dozens of heavy cannons were aimed directly at the main channel in the middle of the river. Once the government fleet was blocked by iron chains and hidden stakes, the cannons on both banks would open fire at the same time, completely annihilating the Ming navy.

Without the navy, the main force of the Ming army would never be able to enter Kuizhou.

Jiang Han sat in Baidi City, overlooking the defense line that was being built at a rapid pace, quietly waiting for Lu Xiang Sheng to come to him.

He was waiting, Lu Xiang-sheng was waiting, and the entire Sichuan battlefield was waiting for Hong Cheng-chou in northern Sichuan to take the lead.

At this time, Hong Chengchou also felt immense pressure.

He had been working tirelessly for two days straight, studying the map and figuring out how to launch an attack.

To be honest, trying to enter Sichuan with only 30,000 men is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

It should be noted that when the Ming army invaded Sichuan in two routes to destroy the Xia dynasty, it took a total of 300,000 troops and seven famous generals to take Sichuan.

Although the rebels have not yet completely occupied the entire Sichuan province, several key locations have already fallen into their hands.

Jinniu Road, Micang Road, and Lizhi Road—which of them wasn't a natural fortress that could be held by one man against ten thousand?
The rebels only need to send a few thousand elite troops to guard the narrow pass, and set up a few tiger-squatting cannons or even strong crossbows and bows, and their troops will not be able to get in.

The terrain was too narrow, making it impossible for heavy artillery to be deployed.

A direct assault would be like throwing lives into a bottomless pit, resulting in heavy casualties and no guarantee of success.

However, according to news from Yunyang Prefecture, Lu Xiang-sheng's fleet has already reached Badong and is waiting for him to launch an attack.

If we can't break through the stalemate on our side, let alone a pincer attack, the amount of food and supplies we consume each month will be astronomical.

Hong Chengchou sat in the government office for a long time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he sat up abruptly.

If a two-pronged attack isn't enough, what about a three-pronged attack?
If we could contact the Ming army in the Yunnan-Guizhou region, since the rebels haven't even completely conquered Sichuan yet, there must still be Ming troops available to mobilize in the Yunnan-Guizhou area.

If we wait patiently a little longer, we might be able to get in touch with the Duke of Qian in Yunnan!
When the three armies attack northern Sichuan from all sides, the enemy troops will surely make mistakes!

I had heard Deng Yang, the military commander stationed in Hanzhong, mention that there seemed to be merchant guilds risking their way through the Jinniu Road.

It seems that the bandits did not completely cut off the trade routes in order to ensure the flow of goods.

"Break the whole into smaller parts and blend in."

Hong Chengchou's eyes gleamed; the more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.

All they need to do is send a capable team disguised as a merchant guild to infiltrate the heart of Sichuan, and then send them in batches to Yunnan and Guizhou to seek reinforcements.

With a pincer attack from both inside and outside, how could we not defeat the enemy?!
He felt he had found the key to victory, but the question was, who should he send?
Hong Chengchou was self-aware; he was not a fierce man like Lu Xiangshan who could personally charge into battle with a broadsword.

The lieutenant generals and deputy generals under his command who are capable of handling things independently are too large a target and easily exposed.

However, we cannot simply send a squad leader or sergeant to search for the Duke of Qian; he lacks prestige and is not up to the task.

He picked up the thick military roster and carefully flipped through it page by page.

Finally, his gaze settled on the name "Guerrilla General Marco".

Hong Chengchou was very familiar with Ma Ke.

Back when they were suppressing the "Mud-Swept" campaign in Shaanxi, Ma Ke served under him.

He was brave and daring in battle, showing some of the fierce and courageous spirit of his former superior, Li Bei.

More importantly, this person is clever enough and not a reckless brute.

"It's him!"

"Just find another general familiar with the enemy situation to cooperate with!"

Hong Chengchou made the final decision.

The next day, he summoned Ma Ke and Deng Yang to the government office.

Hong Chengchou didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point:
"Gentlemen, I intend to implement a daring strategy. We need skilled men to infiltrate the enemy's territory and seek reinforcements from Yunnan and Guizhou to act as our inside agents."

"This matter was perilous, but its merits were immense."

Upon hearing this, Deng Yang's heart skipped a beat.

Me? Infiltrate the enemy's territory? Isn't that just like going back to my hometown?

He instinctively looked up, his face showing undisguised astonishment.

Seeing his expression, Hong Chengchou immediately explained:
"General Deng need not personally take the risk."

"You can choose a trusted confidant to accompany Ma Youji."

"I also think that you have been stationed in Hanzhong for a long time, so you must know a lot about the bandits."

Deng Yangqiang composed himself and bowed, saying:

"This subordinate understands! I will obey the commander's orders!"

Hong Chengchou nodded in satisfaction and stroked his beard, saying:
"I have already asked the prefect of Hanzhong to contact the Prince Rui's residence."

"With the imperial decree in place, and His Highness Prince Rui being a man of great principle, he has already dispatched all the managers and stewards in the Prince's Palace who specialize in the Sichuan-Shaanxi trade route to act as guides and cover for the two of you."

"Each of you should send several hundred elite troops to infiltrate the caravan in batches and enter the heart of the enemy territory."

"Remember, do not bring any weapons or armor to avoid giving yourself away."

"After you meet, head separately to Yunnan and Guizhou. One will go to Guizhou to seek help, and the other will go to the Duke of Qian's mansion in Yunnan to seek help."

"This council will write a secret letter at that time."

Hong Chengchou gestured on the map, explaining in detail the plan of coordinating from within and without.

Deng Yang listened attentively with his head bowed, seemingly focused, but in reality, he was overjoyed, though he forced himself not to reveal his true feelings.

Marco's eyes lit up as he listened, and he rubbed his hands together, feeling that this plan was brilliant and that making a name for himself was just around the corner!
After the secret meeting, Deng Yang immediately returned to his post, found Hei Zi, and revealed Hong Chengchou's plan to him.

"good chance!"

Hei Zi slapped his thigh, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"This guy surnamed Ma has delivered himself right to our doorstep!"

"Don't worry, leave this to me. I'll take care of him!"

Soon, this "caravan," composed of elite government troops disguised as soldiers and mixed with servants from the Prince Rui's residence, set off in batches from Hanzhong, embarking on the Jinniu Road to Guangyuan County.

According to the plan, the team will split into two at Chaotian Post Station on Jinniu Road and enter Guangyuan County in batches.

Chaotianyi was a water and land transportation hub on the Jinniu Road. There was also a water and land post station here, where merchants could transfer boats and carts and load and unload goods.

At this moment, Marco was sitting in the post station eating dry rations when he heard a dark-faced man next to him loudly directing the workers to unload the goods.

His accent seemed to carry a familiar Shaanxi dialect.

The problem is, wasn't Deng Yang a military commander from Shanxi? How come he had people from Shaanxi under his command?
Marco's heart skipped a beat. He turned his head and tentatively asked:
"Brother, judging from your accent, you seem to be from the Shaanxi region?"

Hei Zi turned around at the sound, grinned, and adopted an even stronger Shaanxi accent:
"Hey, brother, are you from northern Shaanxi too? I'm from Suide, Shaanxi!"

"Judging from your tone, you seem very friendly!"

Marco suddenly understood:

"Suide? Then we're practically from the same hometown!"

"I'm from Xining."

He then pressed on, asking:
"As far as I know, Manager Deng is from Shanxi. How did you, a native of Suide, end up working as a manager in Shanxi?"

Hei Zi waved his hand dismissively:
"You know how barren northern Shaanxi is, don't you?"

"My name is Fang Hong. I fled from northern Shaanxi and followed Manager Deng to make a living."

As he spoke, he untied the water pouch and oil paper package from his waist and handed them over.

"Gnawing on dry bread is making my throat sore, brother, how about some salted meat?"

"We're all from the same hometown, don't be so polite!"

Marco was indeed getting tired of eating dry rations, and seeing Hei Zi's generosity and enthusiasm, his guard lowered a bit. He thanked him, took the oil paper package, which contained several slices of oily, fragrant salted meat.

Marco handed a piece to his deputy general Tang Yang, and then picked up a piece himself and chewed it. The taste was indeed much better than dry rations.

"Brother Fang, you must be eating well at home!"

Marco praised him and raised the water bag as a gesture.

"Thank you, Brother Fang. I'll treat you to a drink after this errand is over!"

Seeing that they had rested enough, Hei Zi took the initiative to say:
"Brother, Guangyuan is not far ahead."

"Our team is small and has light cargo, so we can travel faster."

"I'll take some men in first and make sure everything is settled, so your large force doesn't attract attention when it enters the city."

"Once everything is arranged, I'll send someone to pick you up immediately. What do you think?"

This suggestion was exactly what Marco wanted to hear.

He was worried that a large group would be too conspicuous, and upon hearing this, he immediately nodded:

"Brother Fang, you've thought of everything!"

"Thank you for your help. I'll wait for your reply!"

Hei Zi patted his chest, looking like he would go to great lengths for his brothers.

"Leave it to me!"

As Marco watched the retreating figure of the black horse, he remarked to his lieutenant beside him:
"This Fang Hong is indeed an honest man."

He watched as Hei Zi led the caravan, marching steadily toward Guangyuan County, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Marco waited at Chaotian Post Station for less than a day before Hei Zi sent a helper out of the city to find him:
"Manager Ma, everything has been arranged. Master Fang sent me to invite you on your way."

Marco, without suspicion, immediately gathered his men and, following the steward sent by Prince Rui's mansion, swaggered into Guangyuan County.

As soon as he entered the city, Marco instinctively tensed up, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.

But the scene before him made him pause slightly.

Although the streets of Guangyuan County are not wide, they are quite clean.

Most of the shops on both sides were open, with queues outside the grain store, people buying cloth in the cloth shop, and even the voices of storytellers coming from the teahouse.

The vendors' cries and the children's laughter blended together, creating a scene reminiscent of the bustling city life.
Although the pedestrians did not show much wealth, they were also rarely seen looking malnourished.

"Is this under the control of bandits?" he muttered to himself.

Marco was a veteran general who had fought in Shaanxi for many years, and he had seen many cities ravaged by bandits.

This was completely different from the scene he had envisioned: nine out of ten houses were empty and the roads were littered with starving corpses.

The steward of the Prince's mansion, who seemed to notice his confusion, spoke up to explain:

"Manager Ma, that bandit leader is quite strict in managing his troops, and he emphasizes not harming the people."

"As long as we pay our grain and taxes on time, we can still do business and make a living."

Marco gave a vague reply, but his doubts were not completely dispelled.

He followed the steward while continuing to observe discreetly.

The further north you go in the city, the fewer shops and pedestrians there are on both sides of the street.

The roads seemed exceptionally clean, and it was difficult to spot even a lone stroller.

The steward, somewhat surprised, muttered to himself:
"Ok?"

"Why is the north part of the city so quiet today? There are usually some peddlers going from street to street."

That casual remark pierced Marco's heart like a needle!
He paused, his vigilance instantly rising to its peak.

He winked at his adjutant, signaling him to be on high alert and pay close attention to the surroundings.

After rounding the last street corner, the steward pointed to a house ahead with blue bricks and gray tiles, and a fairly imposing gate, and said:
"Manager Ma, we've arrived!"

"This is the location of our Prince Rui's Mansion in Guangyuan City. It's a secluded and safe place, where caravans usually rest."

"In addition, there is the Shaanxi Guild Hall in the north of the city, which is a good place to relax."

Marco looked up and his heart sank!
All that could be seen was the lonely courtyard standing there, with the gates of the surrounding houses tightly shut, and the shops on the street also closed their doors and windows, exuding a deathly stillness.

This was completely different from the scene when we first entered the city.

What chilled him to the bone was that the entrance to the villa was deserted; there wasn't even a gatekeeper in sight, let alone any guards!
What happened to Brother Fang who went into the city earlier? Could it be...?

A strong sense of uneasiness seized him.

He subconsciously touched his waist and found only a short-handled broadsword for self-defense. His hundred or so "men" didn't even have a dozen or so long weapons, let alone the short blades hidden inside.

"Tang Yang!"

Marco quietly called over his adjutant, his voice heavy with seriousness.

"Take a few brothers and go with the manager into the courtyard to check out the situation."

"Be careful! Speak up immediately if anything happens!"

Tang Yang, the deputy general standing to the side, also sensed that something was wrong. He immediately selected a dozen strong men, who, with their hands on their broadswords at their waists, followed behind the steward and carefully pushed open the half-closed gate of the courtyard, entering inside.

After pushing open the door, I saw that the front yard was quiet, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But as soon as Tang Yang stepped into the backyard, there was a loud bang, and the door behind him was slammed shut!

Immediately afterwards, dozens of soldiers armed with spears and swords and clad in armor poured out from the side rooms and corridors, instantly surrounding them!

The leader was none other than Hei Zi, who had changed into an indigo cotton armor and had a long knife at his waist.

"General Fang?!"

"What are you"

Tang Yang was shocked to see this and immediately gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist with his right hand.

"Take it!"

Hei Zi didn't bother with any nonsense. With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him pounced on him like wolves and tigers.

Tang Yang wanted to fight back with his knife, but how could he possibly defeat an opponent with a standard weapon with just his simple knife?
As soon as he made a move, he was forced into a frantic state by several spears, and two soldiers who tried to resist were instantly stabbed to the ground.

After a brief exchange, Tang Yang and his dozen or so men were all subdued and pinned to the ground.

Although the battle ended quickly, the sounds of clashing weapons and screams still clearly reached outside the courtyard.

Marco had been listening intently outside the courtyard, and the sound exploded in his ears like thunder!

His expression changed drastically, and he shouted sharply:

"Oh no! An ambush! Retreat!"

However, it was too late.

The once silent street instantly erupted into chaos. The tightly closed doors of the shops on both sides were violently smashed open, and a dense horde of fully armed bandits poured out!

On the rooftops, squads of archers armed with muskets and crossbows emerged.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, all of Marco's escape routes—front, back, left, and right—were blocked.

He and his dozens of personal guards were like turtles in a jar, surrounded in layers in the middle of the street.

"Grab your weapons! Let's fight the thieves!"

Ma Keke's eyes widened in fury as he drew his broadsword from his waist, attempting a desperate struggle.

His personal guards drew their concealed short blades and formed a small defensive circle back to back.

But this small force and its weapons seemed so weak and powerless in the face of overwhelming superiority.

A bunch of officers and soldiers were crowding around, making it impossible to maneuver properly.

"Fire arrows!"

At his command, arrows flew overhead, and soldiers on the outer perimeter fell in droves, their screams echoing everywhere.

The enemy soldiers' spear formation pressed forward, advancing like a wall!

"Go away!"

Marco, his eyes red, swung his sword to parry a spear thrusting at him, then slashed at the bandit soldier in front of him with his other hand.

But when his broken knife struck the iron-clad cotton armor, it only left a cut and did nothing else.

However, the bandits' spears could easily pierce through their thin clothes.

In just half an incense stick's time, Marco's personal guards suffered heavy casualties.

He himself was simultaneously held down by several spears, their cold tips pressed against his throat and abdomen, rendering him unable to move.

Several fierce bandits pounced on him, snatched his knife, and tied him up tightly with a rope made of cowhide.

Of the hundred or so men he brought, some were killed or wounded, and the rest were all disarmed and captured.

Marco was forced to kneel on the ground, his hair disheveled, his face smeared with blood and dust, his heart filled with shock, anger and immense confusion.

He couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong.
They were all familiar faces from Prince Rui's residence, and his own troops didn't give anything away. They didn't even bring any military equipment, making their disguise flawless.
Just then, the heavy gate of the villa creaked open.

A familiar figure strode out, surrounded by a group of bandits.

The man, clad in gleaming armor with a fiery red tassel on his helmet, stood on the steps, his hand on the long sword at his waist, looking down at Marco on the ground with a mocking expression.

Marco suddenly looked up, and when he saw who it was, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets; he could hardly believe his eyes.

Isn't this the fellow villager who handed him the salted meat at the post station earlier?
"The Fang brothers?!"

Kuroko smiled:
"Brother Ma, how have you been?"

Are you satisfied with the local customs and culture of Guangyuan County?

Marco looked at Hei Zi's attire as a high-ranking bandit general, and then at the bandits surrounding him, and instantly understood!

A surge of anger at being fooled rushed to his head, and he roared hoarsely:

"The one surnamed Fang!"

"You...you actually became a thief?!"

Upon hearing this, the black man in front of him grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth:
"Brother Ma, you are mistaken!"

"I was a thief to begin with, so how can you say I became a thief?"

"Take him away! Keep a close watch on him!"

Watching Marco being led away like an enraged lion, Hei Zi and Qin Ming, the garrison commander of Guangyuan, both wore excited smiles.

Captured a government guerrilla general alive! This is unprecedented!
But as they laughed, their expressions gradually froze, and they stared at each other.

“Uh… General Qin,”

Hei Zi scratched his head.

"We've caught this guy, but what's the next step?"

The excitement on Qin Ming's face faded, replaced by a look of bewilderment:
"Yeah... what do we do? Chop him up? Or lock him up?"

The two looked at each other, both seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes.

Along their journey, they captured cities and strongholds, killing many government and military generals, including He Huchen, the general of Ningxia.

But capturing a government guerrilla general alive is truly a first.

Kill him? It seems a bit of a waste, after all, he's a minor official.

Should we keep her locked up? But then again, we're worried that things might get complicated if she escapes or gets rescued, which would cause even more trouble.

"Damn it, I've grabbed a hot potato!"

Qin Ming spat.

Kuroko also sighed:
"Forget it, it's no use even if we rack our brains."

"Send someone to Kuizhou and ask the commander-in-chief for a decision!"

(End of this chapter)