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

Chapter 287 The Naive Shuixi Pacification Commissioner
After Liu Ning's careful selection, a highly capable team quickly set off from Zunyi, heading west towards the residences of the two chieftains.

The group split into two on the banks of the Chishui River, with one group heading west into Chishuiwei and the other heading south into the Shuixi region.

Traveling down the river, it only takes about three days to reach Dafang County.

This place is the main base of the Shui'an clan.

The envoy in charge of persuading them to surrender was named Zheng Yufei, who was originally a clerk in Hou Liangzhu's army.

Later, in the battle of Nanbu County, Hou Liangzhu was killed, and Zheng Yufei took the opportunity to surrender to Jiang Han.

Because he had followed Hou Liangzhu in suppressing a rebellion in Guizhou, he was chosen by Liu Ning to undertake the important task of penetrating deep into enemy territory and persuading the Xi'an clan of Shuixi to surrender.

Zheng Yufei and his team had a tough journey.

Starting from Zunyi and heading southwest, the road becomes increasingly treacherous and rugged.

The mountains are steep, the forests are deep, and the fog clings to the mountainside, making it impossible to see the road.

The villages along the way are mostly Yi villages, built on steep mountain terrain and constructed with high walls and watchtowers using logs and rammed earth.

At the gate of the stockade, guards armed with knives, spears, bows, and crossbows constantly patrolled the surroundings.

Zheng Yufei and his entourage revealed their identities as envoys before they were able to pass through smoothly.

As you enter the heart of Shuixi, you are met with wary and scrutinizing gazes from all sides.

Strangely, those working in the fields were mostly women and children, while the strong men were mostly practicing martial arts.

The chieftains lived in extremely luxurious dwellings, while ordinary people lived in simple shacks.

Zheng Yufei had never seen the way the Yi people lived or their customs before. This land seemed to be a world apart from the outside world.

He silently noted down what he had seen and heard on this trip, thinking it might be helpful when he returned to camp.

Several days later, the group arrived in Dafang County.

Although Dafang County is called a county seat, in Zheng Yufei's eyes it is more magnificent and imposing than a typical prefectural city.

The rammed earth and brick walls were over two zhang high, and densely covered with defensive works.

The Xi'an clan of Shuixi truly lived up to their reputation as local tyrants, having built several grand mansions within the city that resembled palaces.

Although it looks magnificent, the ruggedness of the frontier region is still lingering in its bones.

In the spacious hall, Zheng Feiyu met Anwei, the current Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi.

Anwei was born in the 44th year of the Wanli reign and has just turned 20 this year.

The young man, who nominally ruled over a thousand miles of Shuixi, was somewhat pale. Even in early summer, he was wrapped in a blanket, as if he were afraid of the cold.

Zheng Yufei greeted him politely, and after a few pleasantries, he directly stated his purpose:
"Envoy An, I am Zheng Yufei. I have come here on the orders of General Pinggui."

"To be honest, the Han King's benevolent army pacified Xichuan last year, and today he intends to pacify Guizhou so that the people of Guizhou can be spared the suffering of exploitation by the Ming court."

"The general heard that the An family of Shuixi had been rooted in Guizhou for generations and had a great influence, so he specially sent me to advise the An family."

"If the Anxuanwei Envoy can lead his people to submit to the King of Han, follow the King's rule, and change the local chieftain system to a central one, our Han army will certainly treat him with courtesy and will not commit any offenses against him."

"After surrendering, the people of Shuixi can be trained and enlisted in the army to fight and make meritorious contributions, or they can enter schools and become officials in the future."

"Once trade routes are opened in the future, we can exchange our Sichuan salt, iron and cloth, and Shuixi horses and medicines, which will bring us great profits."

Zheng Yufei's true intention on this trip was to find the Song family chieftain of Shuidong.

Shuixi Tusi refers to the Yi ethnic chieftain of the An clan on the west bank of the Yachi River, while Shuidong Tusi refers to the Han ethnic chieftain of the Song clan.

Because of their ethnic ties, the Song clan of Shuidong was deeply influenced by the Han culture of the Central Plains, which theoretically made them easier to communicate with and win over.

Unfortunately, after the She'an Rebellion, the Song family of Shuidong was targeted and divided by the Ming court due to the rebellion, and their power had long since declined and disappeared, and they could not even find a decent successor.

Left with no other choice, Zheng Yufei approached the An family in Shuixi.

An Wei listened to Zheng Yufei's words, and a complicated expression flashed across his face.

He sighed softly, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"The Han envoy has come from afar and has gone through a lot of hardship. What he has said concerns the well-being of the thousands of people in Shuixi. How could I, An, not know what is good for him?"

"Submitting to the king's rule and living in peace and prosperity is indeed what I hope to see."

"only……"

Anwei abruptly changed the subject and began to complain:

"The Han envoy may not know this, but I lost my father at a young age and inherited the position of Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi when I was still a child."

"But I was young after all, and I never really had any real power."

"The affairs of Shuixi have always been handled by my mother, She Shehui."

"Later, my uncle An Bangyan and my mother joined my maternal uncle She Chongming's team."

“They used my name to coerce my An clan into causing chaos in the southwest, which is truly unforgivable.”

"Fortunately, the imperial court was very understanding and knew that I was young. So after they wiped out the three men, they spared my life and even let me continue to serve as their leader."

“But after this incident, my power and prestige in the tribe have been greatly diminished. The heads and local chiefs no longer obey my orders. Instead, they guard their own territories and lead their own people.”

"The big leaders like Huasha, Wozhe, and Awumi are very powerful, and I can't command them at all..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yufei frowned.

Although he had participated in the suppression of the rebellion in Guizhou before, he was at most a minor clerk and had no access to such inside information.

Although what he saw and heard along the way did indeed indicate that some local leaders were holding military power, he did not expect Anwei to so bluntly state that he had lost control of Shuixi.

Zheng Yufei found this situation quite perplexing, and for a moment he didn't know what to do.

Seeing his predicament, Anwei offered a suggestion:

"If the Han envoy does not mind the simplicity of our humble abode, may he rest here in Dafang County for a few more days?"

“I will immediately send someone on horseback to invite the key leaders to Dafang to discuss this matter together.” “After all, the decision to abolish the native chieftain system is not up to me alone; it requires the consent of all the leaders. I will do my best to persuade them.”

After listening, Zheng Yufei pondered for a long time and realized that there really wasn't any better way, so he nodded in agreement:

"That's fine then, I'll trouble you, Pacification Commissioner An."

"It doesn't matter, it's just a little effort."

Anwei was very polite, and even got up himself to see Zheng Yufei out of the hall.

He repeatedly instructed his subordinates to make proper arrangements for food and lodging, and sent a guide to lead Zheng Feiyu on a tour of the area, showing great courtesy.

However, after Zheng Feiyu disappeared from sight, An Wei's expression changed, and he put on an excited face.

His steps even became lighter as he quickly returned to the inner courtyard and found his wife, She Fengxin.

"Feng Xin! Our chance has come!"

An Wei's voice trembled slightly with excitement as he grabbed She Fengxin's hand, appearing extremely agitated.
"The Han king in Sichuan sent an envoy to persuade us to surrender, demanding that our An clan in Shuixi submit and completely abolish the hereditary chieftain system."

However, She Fengxin, unlike An Wei, did not become excited upon hearing this. Instead, she calmly inquired:

"Does the ruler think this is a good thing?"

"What exactly did the envoy say?"

Anwei then quickly recounted the conversation that had taken place in the main hall.

He snorted coldly and lowered his voice:
“The chieftains Huasha, Wozhe, and Awumi are usually arrogant and domineering. They rely on being my uncle’s old subordinates and have never really taken me, their chieftain, seriously.”

"They will definitely not agree to the Han King's demand to abolish the native chieftain system and replace it with direct imperial administration."

"We can use the Han army to eliminate these disobedient leaders one by one!"

"Once most of them are dead, I will be able to regain power."

"At that time, with the strategic advantage of the mountains and rivers of Shuixi, we may be able to contend with the Han army and preserve our ancestors' legacy!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of worry flashed across She Fengxin's face:
"My lord, isn't this plan a bit too risky?"

"How many people can truly succeed in trying to drive a tiger out of a wolf?"

"Wolves are certainly hateful, but don't forget that tigers are much more troublesome and ferocious than wolves; what if we drive away the wolves and the tigers stay put?"

She paused, then analyzed carefully.

"The King of Han's army was well-trained and well-armored. Even a powerful figure like Zhu Xieyuan, the former governor of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, was killed by him."

"His troops are probably beyond the capabilities of our Shuixi men."

"If we let a wolf into the house, it will be too late to regret it!"

Upon hearing his wife's words, An Wei, who had been extremely excited, instantly calmed down.

Yes, the governors-general of the three provinces have been killed. How can our small force possibly defeat him?
The name "Zhu Xieyuan" seemed to possess a magical power, instantly cooling An Wei's high spirits and causing a hint of fear to flash in his eyes.

The combined forces of She and An were defeated step by step by this Ming Dynasty governor. His uncle An Bangyan and maternal uncle She Chongming were both defeated by Zhu Xieyuan.

Seeing his wavering expression, She Fengxin continued to persuade him:

"We live in a remote corner, and all we ask for is that our ancestral temples continue to be used for sacrifices and that our descendants continue to thrive."

"It is not wise to fight against such a powerful outsider. Perhaps only by submitting can we preserve our clan and continue our wealth."

Her expression darkened, and she gently touched her flat stomach.

"Besides...besides, we've been married for many years and still have no children, and Your Majesty's health is..."

"If anything goes wrong, wouldn't the Shui'an family's thousand-year-old foundation be cut off forever?"

These words struck at Anwei's deepest anxieties.

He and his wife had been married for many years but had no children, and the An family had no heir for a long time.

If things really go wrong, they might end up like the Song family of Hedong next door, dying and being wiped out.

Seeing his hesitation, She Fengxin sighed and gestured for a maid to bring a bowl of warm medicine, which she then personally served Anwei.

After Anwei took his medicine and rested, She Fengxin's mood became increasingly heavy.

She dismissed her attendants and went to the An family ancestral hall alone.

Inside the ancestral hall, incense smoke curled, creating a solemn and quiet atmosphere.

At the very top is Ji Huo, the ancestor of the Xi'an clan of Shuixi.

Legend has it that during the Shu Han period, Ji Huo followed Zhuge Liang on his southern expedition and made great contributions by capturing Meng Huo multiple times. As a result, he was granted the title of King of Luodian, which led to the establishment of the Shuixi regime.

Below it stand numerous ancestral tablets, symbolizing the family's long and illustrious history.

After paying respects to her ancestors, She Fengxin walked to the side altar on the left and looked at the memorial tablet for "Lady Shunde".

This Lady Shunde was none other than the famous Lady Shexiang.

Lady Shexiang was an extraordinary woman in the early Ming Dynasty. When Shuixi faced a crisis, she resolutely took over power and, with her foresight and magnanimity, took the initiative to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty.

She opened up the nine post stations in Longchang, connecting the vital routes between Guizhou and Yunnan, and stabilizing the southwestern border. As a result, she was bestowed the title of Lady Shunde by Zhu Yuanzhang and was deeply loved by the Yi and Han people.

She Fengxin knelt on the prayer mat, gazing at the memorial tablets of the ancestor Ji Huo and Lady She Xiang, and sighed deeply.

The An family had many loyal ancestors, so how did they produce traitors like An Bangyan and She Shehui?

These people thought the Ming court was weak and actually started a rebellion, but the court quickly dispatched a large army and easily quelled the rebellion.

As a result, the An family of Shuixi paid a heavy price, and their strength was greatly reduced.

And today another envoy from the King of Han has arrived. Our own ruler is overestimating himself, trying to play some kind of trick of using one tiger to devour another. I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse.

I fear that if we're not careful, driving a tiger to devour a wolf could turn into feeding a hawk with our own bodies.

(End of this chapter)