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

Chapter 298 Lu Xiang-sheng and His Incompetent Teammates

According to Lu Xiang-sheng's plan, Gao Ying-xiang seems to have no way to escape this time.

Unfortunately, his strategy for suppressing the bandits was sound, but the people who executed it were the problem.

Just as Lu Xiang-sheng laid a trap in Nanyang, determined to annihilate Gao Ying-xiang's remaining forces on the north bank of the Han River, an obstacle from his own camp arrived as expected.

Not long ago, Lu Xiang-sheng, in his capacity as the premier of seven provinces, issued an urgent document requesting assistance in defense, which was delivered overnight to the desks of Wang Meng-yin, the governor of Huguang, and Song Zu-shun, the magistrate of Yunyang.

But when Wang Mengyin, the governor of Huguang, glanced at this urgent and assertive official document, he couldn't help but sneer.

"Humph!"

"Lu Jiandou, Lu Jiandou, you've finally met your match?"

"After waiting for so long, you've finally managed to get my help!"

Looking at this official document, his thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the conference in Fengyang at the beginning of the year.

At that time, Lu Xiang-sheng was dissatisfied with the ineffective suppression of bandits in Huguang, so he severely reprimanded Lu Xiang-sheng, a high-ranking official in charge of the region, in front of all the officers and generals, without showing any mercy.

Afterwards, he even submitted a memorial to the emperor, impeaching him for "failing to effectively supervise the suppression and delaying military operations."

At that time, Wang Mengyin had only been the governor of Huguang for a short time, and all his soldiers had been taken away by Lu Xiangsheng. How could he possibly defend against the bandits?
However, Lu Xiang-sheng, without distinguishing right from wrong, severely reprimanded him and Song Zu-shun, and made them suffer a great deal of embarrassment in front of the emperor.

Wang Mengyin remembers this debt very clearly.

In the eyes of an old man like him who had been in the officialdom for more than a decade, Lu Xiang-sheng was nothing more than a hothead who had risen to prominence suddenly by virtue of his military achievements.

Relying on the emperor's slight trust, he dared to be arrogant and completely ignorant of the principles of "harmony and cooperation between superiors and subordinates" in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom.

Wang Mengyin firmly believed that Lu Xiangsheng, a hothead who only knew how to fight and had no understanding of politics or art, would sooner or later lose the emperor's favor and be shattered to pieces due to a military defeat.

I'm already quite old, and it's completely unnecessary for me to risk my life on the front lines with such a reckless person.

The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; and if you do nothing, you make no mistakes. This is the way of being an official.

Forget about grand plans to suppress the bandits; as long as we can hold Xiangyang, that will be a great achievement.

But Wang Mengyin thought again that Lu Xiangsheng still held the title of "Premier of Military Affairs of Seven Provinces," a title that was quite impressive.

So he still has to do some superficial work.

Wang Mengyin then put away the official document, a serious expression on his face, and nodded to Lu Xiang-sheng's messenger inside the hall:
"I am already aware of Premier Lu's military orders."

"The situation is extremely urgent. Go back and report to Premier Lu. I will handle the matter accordingly."

The messenger was just an ordinary soldier; he couldn't possibly understand such bureaucratic jargon.

Seeing that Governor Wang had received the order, he didn't think much of it, assuming that the mission was accomplished. So, after bowing, he hurriedly went back to report.

After seeing the messenger off, Wang Mengyin returned to the inner courtyard and immediately changed her demeanor.

He summoned his attendants and gave them instructions:
"Go and immediately spread the message outside."

"I told you that I caught a cold last night and suddenly fell ill. I need to rest and recuperate for a while and cannot handle official business for the time being."

"All matters within the province shall be handled by the provincial and judicial commissioners as appropriate."

With a clever "delegation at one's discretion," Wang Mengyin directly passed this hot potato to her subordinate.

What about defending the Han River, what about intercepting bandits? Tell me about this "cold" of the governor!

Seeing this, the officials under his command, including those from the Provincial Administration Commission and the Provincial Surveillance Commission, understood their superior's intentions and began to shirk their responsibilities, ignoring Lu Xiang-sheng's military orders.

The news quickly reached the ears of Song Zushun, the governor of Yunyang.

Song Zushun's rank and power were far inferior to Wang Mengyin's, so he was already very cautious and followed his superior's lead.

He had been hesitant about whether to send troops to assist in the defense, but now that the governor had claimed to be ill and stayed out of it, how could he dare to show off?
Am I supposed to lead this pitiful army to fight Gao Yingxiang's band of outcasts head-on?
He wouldn't dare.

So Song Zushun followed suit and announced to the public without hesitation that "his old illness had relapsed and he was bedridden and unable to get up," and closed his mansion and declined all official duties.

Thus, the two local officials easily blocked Lu Xiang-sheng's military order with a clumsy performance.

Throughout the entire Han River defense line, from Xiangyang to Junju, Guanghua, Gucheng, and all the way to Yunyang Prefecture, not a single soldier was sent in!
What should have been a formidable natural barrier was now like an uninhabited place.

This was undoubtedly great news for Gao Yingxiang and others.

At this time, Gao Chuangwang was leading his remaining three thousand defeated soldiers on a clandestine march along the rugged mountain path on the north bank of the Han River.

Behind him, Lu Xiang-sheng's pursuers were hot on his heels; in front of him, the surging Han River blocked his way.

Gao Yingxiang was in utter despair at this point. In his mind, the banks of the Han River must be filled with Ming troops, just waiting for him to walk into their trap.

But when he stood on the mountaintop and looked at the wide river in the distance, his eyes widened in astonishment.

Where are they? Where are the Ming soldiers?

How could there be no one here?

It's no wonder Gao Yingxiang suffered such a crushing defeat; he was truly terrified by Lu Xiangshan and the various Ming armies, and was left with psychological trauma.

How could such an important Han River defense line be so quiet? There isn't even a single patrol boat on the river?
This is so abnormal!
Gao Yingxiang instinctively suspected that this was yet another trap set by Lu Xiangsheng.
We were just waiting for him to cross the river halfway before launching an attack, thus achieving our goal in one fell swoop.

"Liu Zhe! Ying En!"

Fearing a trap, Gao Yingxiang immediately summoned his trusted general and his younger brother.

"You two immediately take several teams of elite men and thoroughly investigate the upper and lower reaches of the Han River!"

"Pay special attention to see if there are any ambushes, hidden spies, or ships."

"Remember, be careful!"

"That man surnamed Lu is cunning in his military tactics; I'm certain there's an ambush ahead!"

Liu Zhe and Gao Ying'en dared not delay and immediately accepted the order and left.

They were both filled with suspicion and simply did not believe that Lu Xiang-sheng would abandon the natural barrier of the Han River.

The two men, along with several dozen agile veterans, split into several groups and carefully scouted along the riverbank.

The rebel soldiers' reconnaissance was so thorough that it was almost neurotic.

They specifically targeted places with abundant water and grass, dense reeds, and easy hiding places for people and horses.

While crawling, he kept poking around in the bushes with his spear, fearing that there might be Ming soldiers lying in ambush.

Some people pressed their ears to the ground, listening for faint sounds of armor rubbing or horses' hooves pounding in the distance;
Some people carefully observed the muddy ground along the riverbank, looking for footprints, hoofprints, and wheel tracks left by large groups of people who had camped or marched.

Some people even climbed the tall trees on the shore to look into the distance, searching for any suspicious fishing boats on the river or any unusual smoke rising from the chimneys on either bank.

After all that effort, they looked at each other in dismay—there was nothing there!

The riverbank was quiet, with only the sounds of flowing water and wind.

The imagined ambush was nowhere to be found, and the anticipated hidden outposts were completely useless.

Several watchtowers that should have been guarded by soldiers were covered with cobwebs, and upon closer inspection, several wild ducks were startled and flew away.

"How strange..."

Liu Zhe scratched his head, looking confused.
"What kind of empty city stratagem is this King Yama Lu playing?"

Gao Ying'en was also completely baffled:

"Could it be... that nobody's in charge? Have all the Ming soldiers gone home to take care of their children?"

The two dared not delay and expanded their search area for most of the day, only to finally be forced to confirm an absurd fact:

There wasn't a single Ming soldier on the banks of the Han River!

Overjoyed, the two immediately rushed back to the camp to report the news.

Upon hearing the report, Gao Yingxiang was first shocked, then overjoyed, and finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, his laughter filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and mockery of the Ming army.

This is the Ming Dynasty he knows.

"Hahahahaha!"

"God will not destroy me! God will not destroy me!"

The opportunity was too good to miss, so Gao Yingxiang immediately gave the order:

"Quickly! All troops, move out!"

"Lower the trees, collect boats, build rafts overnight, and construct a pontoon bridge!"

At his command, the entire rebel army sprang into action, their will to survive unleashing everyone's potential.

They quickly gathered some fishing boats from the villages along the coast, and then cut down bamboo and wood to make simple rafts.

Thus, Gao Yingxiang led his remaining troops across the Han River in batches from ferry crossings such as Guanghua and Xingye, almost swaggeringly.

The whole process went incredibly smoothly, except for a few rafts capsizing due to improper operation, resulting in the loss of a small number of people;
Gao Yingxiang's main force landed safely on the south bank and quickly disappeared into the vast mountains west of Yunyang Prefecture.

This vast mountainous area is Wudang Mountain, a sacred site of Taoism, and the Shennongjia primeval forest area, which became famous in later generations.

Once the rebel army entered this area, it was like a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger entering the deep mountains, completely shaking off Lu Xiang-sheng's pursuit.

When the news reached Lu Xiang-sheng, who was overseeing the troops in the rear, the seven-province premier, who was known for his resoluteness, almost fainted from anger and vomited blood!

He had worked hard for more than half a year, and the great situation that the entire army had fought for with their lives was ruined in an instant because of the despicable obstruction of two local officials.

Lu Xiang-sheng wished he could immediately grab the imperial sword, rush back to Xiangyang, and behead Wang Meng-yin and Song Zu-shun!

But he had no time to be angry, nor did he dare to actually kill the two men.

The thief escaped, so of course we had to chase him.

Otherwise, who should we send? Should we send His Majesty the Emperor himself?

As the most loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, Lu Xiang-sheng could only swallow his bitterness and order the entire army to cross the river and continue the pursuit.

It can be said that Lu Xiang-sheng was a good official who loved his soldiers like his own children and led by example, but this does not mean that his will can be understood and supported by everyone.

This pursuit and suppression campaign, spanning thousands of miles, took the Ming army several months, traversing the three provinces of Henan, Huguang, and Southern Zhili, without ever stopping for a moment.

The bandits were exhausted from running around, but the government troops were pushed to their physical and mental limits.

They not only had to relentlessly chase after Gao Yingxiang, but also frequently had to make rapid marches and outflank the rebel army based on Lu Xiangshan's predictions, setting up ambushes and blocking their advance.

The bloody battles at Chuzhou and Qidingshan resulted in the complete annihilation of Gao Yingxiang's elite veteran cavalry.

Now, with victory in sight, the bandits have fled into the deep mountains because of the stupidity of the local officials.

But you, Premier Lu, not only don't punish them, but you also expect our soldiers to drag their exhausted bodies into the endless deep forests to clean up their messes?!

You are willing to sacrifice yourself to repay the emperor's favor, but what benefit do we brothers get?
Aside from more exhaustion, casualties, getting lost, and the possibility of starving to death in the mountains due to lack of food, nothing else will be gained!
Resentment accumulated in the mountains and valleys of Jingnan, and the seeds of rebellion fermented on the muddy roads.

The first to publicly express his refusal was Zu Kuan from Liaodong.

Zu Kuan directly rejected Lu Xiang-sheng's order to enter the mountains to search and annihilate the enemy, arguing that his troops were all expensive and elite cavalrymen who were only good at fighting on plains and could not ride horses or draw their bows in the mountains.

Lu Xiang-sheng simply couldn't command this unruly and highly decorated Liaodong army.

Left with no other choice, he could only send his old guard, including General Qin Yiming, Deputy Generals Lei Shisheng and Wang Jinzhong, to set off from Nanzhang, Gucheng and other places to follow him into the mountains to pursue and suppress the enemy.

But unexpectedly, a mutiny broke out not long after the Ming army entered the mountains.

The mutiny occurred in the troops of Deputy General Wang Jinzhong.

The commander of this unit was Chen Yongfu, and they were the vanguard sent out by Lu Xiangsheng to search the mountains.

Chen Yongfu's troops initially fought very hard, pursuing the peasant army for more than 30 miles from Xichuan into the mountains to Xinghua Temple and Kongjiayu, taking hundreds of heads.

But Gao Yingxiang didn't engage in a decisive battle with the Ming army here at all.

Once inside the mountains, Gao Yingxiang's mind started working again.

He adhered to the principle of fighting if he could win and running away if he couldn't, and kept heading into the mountains.

The pursuing Ming army was often overwhelmed and exhausted.

What Lu Xiang-sheng never expected was that even bigger trouble was yet to come.

No sooner had he led his troops into the mountains than the Guan Ning soldiers under Zu Kuan began to run rampant in the rear.

They considered themselves as guest troops and had no obligation to persist in suppressing the bandits for a long time.

Relying on their great achievements in Chuzhou and Qidingshan, the Liaodong soldiers engaged in rampant burning, killing, looting, and raping women along the way, showing no restraint whatsoever.

These government troops did everything the rebels refused to do, creating chaos and widespread resentment in Yunyang Prefecture.

Lu Xiang-sheng was furious upon hearing the news. He hated nothing more than the government troops harming the people, especially since this was at a crucial moment when he was doing his best to suppress the bandits. This trend must not be allowed to continue!
Lu Xiang-sheng was quite audacious; ignoring the advice of those around him, he led only a small number of personal guards and barged straight into Zu Kuan's camp.

At that time, Zu Kuan was drinking and making merry with his subordinates in the main tent. When the personal guards outside the tent saw their commander-in-chief arrive and his face turned ashen, they dared not stop him.

Lu Xiang-sheng abruptly flung open the tent flap, his piercing gaze piercing through everyone inside.

The noisy toasting inside the tent stopped abruptly. Zu Kuan held up his wine cup, his face still showing a hint of drunkenness and surprise.

"General Zu!"

Lu Xiang-sheng cut to the chase, his tone icy.

"Your troops have committed arson, murder, looting, and countless crimes against the people. Do you know your crimes?!"

Zu Kuan was also annoyed when he saw that Lu Xiang Sheng was disrespecting him and barged into the central command tent.

Fueled by alcohol, he stubbornly retorted:
"General Lu! I wonder where this humble general has committed this offense?"

"Our men have been fighting for days, so what's wrong with them taking a short rest now?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiang-sheng was so angry that he laughed instead:

"Resting?"

"Letting troops plunder villages and towns, rape women, and burn houses—is that what you call rest and recuperation?!"
"Zu Kuan! Do you still have any regard for the law? Do you still have any regard for military discipline?!"

"As Ming Dynasty government troops, how is this any different from the actions of bandits and outlaws?"

"Even those bandits and outlaws know that a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow, you guys are even worse than bandits!"

"You are destroying your own Great Wall and chilling the hearts of the people. How can my army possibly establish a foundation to suppress the bandits?!"

In front of a group of Liao generals, Lu Xiang-sheng laid out one by one the recent misdeeds of Zu Kuan's troops.

Zu Kuan was verbally abused mercilessly, his face turning from red to green, and then from green to white.

Zu Kuan, who was proud of his merits and was a member of the Zu family in Liaodong, had never suffered such humiliation before.

Especially in front of his own subordinates.

"General Lu!"

Zu Kuan suddenly stood up and slammed his wine glass down on the table, splashing wine everywhere.
"Don't make false accusations! This great battle was won entirely thanks to the valiant efforts of our Liaodong soldiers at Chuzhou and Qidingshan!"

"It's just about taking some supplies, why make it sound so terrible!"

"The general is far away in the central army, how can he know the hardships of us border soldiers?"

"The imperial court's pay is often delayed. Our brothers are risking their lives in battle. Should we fight on empty stomachs?!"

Zu Kuan is trying to confuse right and wrong by being unreasonable and sophistry.

Seeing that he not only refused to admit his guilt but also argued illogically, Lu Xiang-sheng's anger intensified.

He knew that reasoning with such arrogant and fierce soldiers was no longer an option; he had to resort to his final authority.

Lu Xiang-sheng stopped wasting words with him, abruptly took a step back, took a deep breath, and shouted sharply towards the outside of the tent:

"Guards! Bring the Imperial Sword!"

The captain of the personal guards waiting outside the tent was already prepared.

Upon hearing the order, four burly guards, their expressions solemn, strode into the tent with heavy steps.

Two men led the way, while the middle man solemnly carried a long, golden nanmu sword case covered with bright yellow silk with both hands. The other man followed closely behind as a guard. Upon seeing this, the atmosphere inside the tent instantly became extremely tense; you could hear a pin drop.

The drunkenness and discontent on the faces of all the Liao generals present were instantly replaced by fear, and they stood up unconsciously.

The guard carrying the sword box walked to the center of the tent, faced Lu Xiang-sheng, and held the sword box horizontally in front of his chest.

Lu Xiang-sheng straightened his clothes, his expression solemn and dignified. He stepped forward and slowly unveiled the yellow silk with his own hands.

Open the sword case, and inside lies a simple, majestic sword, gleaming with a cold light.

The dragon and phoenix patterns on the sword hilt and the inscription symbolizing "enforcing the law on behalf of Heaven" were clearly visible under the lamplight inside the tent.

Lu Xiang-sheng stretched out his hands and solemnly took the Shangfang sword out of its case. He held it horizontally with both hands, raised it above his shoulders, and turned to face Zu Kuan and the others.

His eyes were like lightning and his voice was like a bell:

"The Imperial Sword is here! It's as if His Majesty himself is here!"

"Zu Kuan! Your crimes of unleashing troops to harm the people are irrefutable. Now, instead of showing remorse, you resort to sophistry and deceit to try and exonerate yourself!"

"I ask you, do you know your crime?!"

Upon seeing the imperial sword and feeling its majesty representing supreme imperial power, Zu Kuan's drunkenness, arrogance, and wishful thinking were instantly shattered.

His face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his back.

In Liaodong, he might still be able to act arrogantly and domineeringly, relying on the fact that the emperor was far away and his ancestral family's network of connections.

But now, this imperial sword represents absolute authority!
With a "thud," Zu Kuan could no longer hold on, his knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

The Liao generals behind him also hurriedly knelt down, their heads bowed low, not daring to look up.

With a resounding clang, Lu Xiang-sheng drew his imperial sword and pointed it at Zu Kuan, shouting sternly:
"Do you know that back then, Commander Yuan, wielding the Imperial Sword, beheaded Left Vice-Commander Mao Wenlong on Shuangdao Island?!"

"That Mao Wenlong holds a first-rank official position and commands tens of thousands of soldiers. How does he compare to you?"

"Do you really think my sword is ineffective?"

These words struck Zu Kuan like a thunderbolt. The matter of Mao Wenlong was a hurdle in the hearts of all the border generals.

At this moment, Zu Kuan also understood that Lu Xiang-sheng really dared to kill him.

Although Zu Kuan was filled with resentment, he dared not act rashly.

If he were in Liaodong, he could have fled to the Later Jin.
But this is the heart of the Central Plains. If a real conflict were to break out and kill the premiers of seven provinces, no matter how vast the country is, there would be nowhere left for him to hide.

Zu Kuan would instantly transform from a government military general into a wanted rebel.

Moreover, his original intention was only to reap the benefits; he had no real intention of rebelling.

After much deliberation, Zu Kuan finally decided to back down for the time being.

So he knelt on one knee, sullenly, to acknowledge his guilt:
"This humble general has failed in his duty of discipline; I beg the general's forgiveness."

"I will immediately order my subordinates to be disciplined, so they will never dare to commit this offense again!"

In this way, Lu Xiang-sheng, relying on the imperial sword and his personal prestige, finally managed to suppress the unruly Liaodong soldiers.

However, after this incident, Zu Kuan and others' enthusiasm for suppressing the bandits plummeted to rock bottom.

Lu Xiang-sheng ordered the Liaodong troops to cooperate in the mountain battle, but they scattered as soon as they crossed the Han River, each finding a comfortable place to set up camp and stopping in their tracks.

Despite Lu Xiang-sheng's repeated and stern orders, they only paid lip service to the order, outwardly complying but inwardly disobeying and refusing to carry it out.

Since looting was prohibited, the Liaodong soldiers used their "ingenuity" to engage in trade between several towns near the Han River.

They openly traded the spoils they had captured along the way and the goods they had previously looted with the local people and merchants, exchanging them for gold and silver to enjoy.

For a time, the Guan Ning Army's camp turned into a bustling market.

The area boasted a wide variety of activities, including cockfighting, dog walking, dice games, dominoes, and military brothels, creating a stark contrast to the arduous and bloody battles fought in the mountains ahead.

Lu Xiang-sheng could only turn a blind eye to this.

What else could he do? Was he really going to draw his sword and kill Zu Kuan?

Although he was devoted to public service, he did not want to be sliced ​​into roast duck by the emperor.

Left with no other option, Lu Xiang-sheng could only pin his hopes on Li Chong-zhen, the commander of his own standard battalion.

He hoped that Li Chongzhen could set an example by advancing into the mountains to encourage those who followed, and to inspire the Guan Ning Army to enter the mountains to suppress the bandits.

However, Li Chongzhen was also a cunning old hand who could see the wind and change his course. Seeing that the main force of the Guan Ning Army was not moving, he was afraid that he would be ambushed if he went too far into enemy territory.

With Tang Jiuzhou's experience serving as a stark warning, Li Zhongzhen also found various excuses to delay and hesitate to proceed.

The situation is critical at the front, while the situation is dire at the rear.

This stark injustice and contrast greatly stimulated the nerves of the soldiers on the front lines.

General Qin Yiming led his troops into the Yunxi mountain area, where they soon encountered Liu Guoneng's troops who had caused the collapse of the city.

Qin Yiming led his troops in a fierce battle and defeated Liu Guoneng, then pursued him to Qingshipu.

Taking advantage of the dense fog, he launched a three-pronged attack on Liu Guoneng's forces, and also sent troops to bypass the mountains and charge into Liu Guoneng's camp, resulting in a major defeat for Liu Guoneng.

Countless rebel soldiers fell to their deaths from the cliffs, and more than three hundred were beheaded.

However, Qin Yiming's troops were already at their limit and exhausted.

But as expected of Qin Liangyu's elder brother, this loyal and brave man did not give up despite the situation.

Qin Yiming insisted on leading his team to fight in the deep mountains of Nanzhang, making a long march of more than 60 miles to continue the pursuit and suppression of the uprising army.

Just as hardworking as Qin Yiming was Zuo Liangyu, the Commander-in-Chief.

At this time, Commander Zuo was besieging the peasant army in the Yongning and Lushi areas of Yunyang, shuttling back and forth between Shaanxi and Henan, and defeated the old Hui Muslim Ma Shouying's troops in Shanzhou.

Zuo Liangyu was forced to retreat by Jiang Han in Shanzhou back then, and this time he finally got his revenge.

Meanwhile, Chen Yongfu, leading three thousand exhausted and starving soldiers, clashed with the rebel army several times in the deep mountains of Yunyang, defeating them one by one.

However, the Liaodong soldiers in the rear were eating, drinking, and having fun, and even friendly forces were complaining and watching from the sidelines.

This huge psychological gap and harsh combat environment caused a large number of Ming soldiers on the front lines to desert.

Finally, the pent-up resentment exploded completely.

The troops under Deputy General Wang Jinzhong mutinied while searching the mountains near the Three Gorges!
Lu Xiang-sheng had actually anticipated this mutiny.

Upon learning the news, he did not resort to harsh measures, but instead immediately went to comfort the person in person.

He gave Wang Jinzhong's troops a good talking-to and immediately ordered them to stop the pursuit and retreat from the mountains to rest.

With understanding and a promise, Wang Jinzhong's troops gradually calmed down, and the mutiny was eventually resolved peacefully.

Although the matter was suppressed, Lu Xiang-sheng's long-cherished plan to suppress the bandits was put on hold.

Gao Yingxiang and his companions, living deep in the mountains, were given another chance to catch their breath.

House seemingly endless rain.

At this time, hail suddenly fell in many parts of Henan, causing crops to be destroyed and a great famine to become inevitable.

Henan was an important source of food and supplies for Lu Xiang-sheng's army. With this disaster, the Ming army at the front line immediately ran out of food.

Zhu Changxun, the Prince of Fu who was enfeoffed in Luoyang, had treasuries overflowing with grain, yet he turned a blind eye to the army's food shortages and the famine among the people.

No matter how much Lu Xiang-sheng explained the pros and cons in his letter, Zhu Chang-xun remained unyielding.

Although Lu Xiang-sheng was the prime minister of seven provinces, he dared not act rashly in the face of this prince of the Zhu family, the emperor's uncle.

For the Ming army, having food and pay was one thing, but not having food and pay was another. Once they lacked silver and food, morale inevitably began to waver.

Even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice. Lu Xiang-sheng could only report to the capital, earnestly explaining to Emperor Chongzhen the difficulties of entering the mountains to search and suppress the enemy, and requesting that he grant him some more time.

When people talk about Lu Xiang-sheng in later generations, they always say that he almost wiped out the peasant army.

If it weren't for the Qing army entering the pass, the Ming Dynasty would have wiped out these bandits long ago.

The peasant army's rise to power was entirely the responsibility of the Later Jin dynasty; the Ming dynasty bore no responsibility whatsoever.

However, this is actually a very wrong view that glorifies the Ming Dynasty.

Even Lu Xiang-sheng himself didn't believe this viewpoint when he expressed it.

Take, for example, Lu Xiang-sheng's original words in his memorial to Zhu You-jian:

He believed that "the great bandits have all fled to the mountains of Qin and Chu, and their appearances and disappearances are unpredictable. If we relentlessly pursue them, where can we find respite?"

Then, when discussing provisions, he said:
"If ten thousand soldiers enter the mountains, ten thousand men will have to carry the supplies on their shoulders. Even if the enemy does not come out, they will all perish together."

"Horses cannot advance, and people suffer from the arduous journey, traveling only thirty or forty li a day. There is no way to transport the regular grain, and the depreciated grain is of no use."

Lu Xiang-sheng's memorial to the throne was filled with a pessimistic view of the prospects for the campaign to suppress the bandits.

Military issues are not important; the most important reasons are political and logistical.

In ancient times, with poor transportation, searching for peasant armies in the Qin and Chu mountains at a speed of thirty or forty li per day was simply an impossible task.

Lu Xiang-sheng was indeed adept at dealing with peasant armies, but ultimately his approach only addressed the symptoms, not the root cause.

Even if one Gao Yingxiang or Li Zicheng is eliminated, thousands upon thousands of "Wang Yingxiang and Zhang Zicheng" will rise up.

It can be said that during the period from the fifth to the ninth year of Chongzhen's reign, the peasant army was entirely facing the encirclement and suppression by the entire Ming Dynasty on its own.

The Later Jin dynasty, on the other hand, benefited greatly and focused on development in the past few years.

On the advice of Fan Wencheng and others, Huang Taiji further optimized the internal power structure.

They also took care of Mongolia and North Korea, eliminating all threats from the surrounding area.

Faced with this predicament, Lu Xiang-sheng finally remembered one of his colleagues—Hong Cheng-chou, the governor-general of five provinces who held considerable military power and was in charge of the war in the Northwest.

When he took office as the premier of five provinces, Hong Chengchou did not say anything; when he took office as the premier of seven provinces, Hong Chengchou also did not say anything.

At this moment, Lu Xiang-sheng, having reached the end of his rope, picked up his pen and wrote a long letter to Hong Cheng-chou.

In his letter, Lu Xiang-sheng poured out his grievances:
"After the defeat at Chuzhou, the two rebels, Gao and Xian, were already exhausted and out of strength. I, without presuming to be so bold, led my troops in relentless pursuit and dealt them another heavy blow at Qiding Mountain. The elite troops of the rebels were almost wiped out, and they escaped with only remnants."

"My brother has been making arrangements day and night to contain the enemy in the north of the Han River and achieve victory in one battle; we have relied on the soldiers' dedication and the time is now in our grasp."

"Unexpectedly, fate was unkind, and man-made disasters were even more severe than those committed by the bandits Wang Mengyin, the governor of Huguang, and Song Zushun, the governor of Yun, who disregarded military orders and left the Han River, stretching for a thousand miles, completely deserted."

"The remnants of the Gao rebels were able to sneak across the border at ease and re-enter the deep mountains of Yunxiang. Every time I think of this, my heart is burning with anguish. The court has set up officials and assigned duties, yet things have come to this. What more can be said?!"

"Later, the Liao soldiers under Zu Kuan became increasingly arrogant and disregarded discipline."

"Furthermore, Henan was suddenly hit by hail, which destroyed all the crops. The granaries in Luoyang and Fuzhou were full, however..."

"Alas! How could the nobles of the imperial family know the hunger and hardship of the soldiers on the front lines?"

Lu Xiang-sheng's letter was filled with tears and indignation, and was brimming with helplessness.

Out of resentment, Lu Xiang-sheng even began to criticize the imperial court's policies and the policies of the vassal kings in the interior.

When Hong Chengchou received the letter, he didn't say much. He simply walked to the window, looked at the ancient cypress trees in the courtyard, and remained silent for a long time.

Hong Chengchou was not surprised; the predicament described by Lu Xiangshan was almost exactly what he had expected.

Lu Xiang-sheng was indeed a loyal minister; his heart was pure and sincere, as clear as the sun and moon.

In the eyes of the seasoned politician Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangshan was also a capable, loyal, and courageous man.

However, when it comes to politics, he appears too straightforward and lacks consideration.

What kind of official appointments and division of duties have the imperial court established to this extent? How could these nobles, the imperial family and nobility, possibly know the hunger and hardship of the soldiers on the front lines?
The fact that he uttered such words, bordering on resentment, shows that his anger and resentment had reached their peak.

If these words fall into the hands of others, they will become a huge handle against them.

Lu Xiang-sheng's problem lies here: in the Ming Dynasty, the key to being an official was to "mingle with the world."

People like Wang Mengyin and Song Zushun, though mediocre and disastrous for the country, still had powerful backers.

Their choice to protect themselves is now the norm in officialdom.

Lu Xiang-sheng's public rebuke of the two men at the Fengyang Conference, followed by his impeachment memorial, had completely pushed them to the opposite side, leaving no room for maneuver.

This is tantamount to cutting oneself off from the officialdom of Huguang; how can one expect them to cooperate and help?

Furthermore, the arrogance and domineering behavior of Liao generals like Zu Kuan was not a recent development.

Even His Majesty the Emperor relies heavily on the Guan Ning Group to fight against the Eastern Barbarians, so how could these people not be arrogant?
The past of Mao Wenlong can only be repeated once.

Lu Xiang-sheng was too rigid and did not know the art of tact and diplomacy.

Hong Chengchou was different. Although he sympathized with Lu Xiangsheng, he would never echo Lu Xiangsheng's complaints about his colleagues in his reply, let alone criticize the princes or the court's policies.

This will not only be useless, but will also backfire.

After much deliberation, Hong Chengchou offered a purely technical solution in response to Lu Xiangsheng.

He said that the strength of the Guan Ning cavalry lay in open field battles on plains, but they feared attrition warfare in mountainous terrain.

Now that the bandits have entered the mountains, why not take this opportunity to transfer Zu Kuan's troops to the relatively flat Guanzhong region and place them under the command of Hong Chengchou to suppress the bandits?

In the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi, various bandit groups emerged one after another.

Both Li Qiao and Gan Xuekuo served as governors of Shaanxi, but due to a lack of troops, neither was able to complete the task of suppressing the bandits.

Currently, the imperial court has sent another governor, but the predicament in Shaanxi has still not been alleviated.

The soldiers in the border areas were in serious arrears with their pay, and their resentment was almost uncontrollable.

Only by transferring Zu Kuan's cavalry to Guanzhong can they be put to their best use.

After receiving the reply, Lu Xiang-sheng felt that Hong Cheng-chou's words made sense, so he and Hong Cheng-chou jointly submitted a memorial to Emperor Chongzhen.

However, when these two memorials were delivered to the capital, Zhu Youjian's attitude was somewhat intriguing.

In Zhu Youjian's original design, the powers of the governors-general of the five provinces and the prime ministers of the seven provinces overlapped, so that they could check and balance each other and prevent them from becoming too powerful to control.

But now, Hong Chengchou and Lu Xiangshan, two powerful local officials who held considerable military power, actually agreed and jointly submitted a memorial to the throne.

Is this okay?

If they were to unite, along with Zu Kuan's elite Guan Ning cavalry...

This scene made Zhu Youjian extremely uneasy.

This must never be allowed to happen!
This was his first reaction as emperor.

Thus, Zhu Youjian once again demonstrated his clumsy imperial methods.

He first pretended to agree with the two men's suggestion and then issued an edict to transfer Zu Kuan's troops to Guanzhong in Shaanxi.

However, just as Zu Kuan led his army to Guanzhong and had barely settled in, Chongzhen's second imperial edict arrived.

He urgently summoned Zu Kuan and the Guan Ning cavalry back to the capital under the pretext that "the assessment of their military achievements in Chuzhou and other battles requires the commanders to have an audience with the Emperor to report on their duties."

Upon arriving in the capital, after some discussion, the court recognized that Zu Kuan had indeed made great contributions in the Battle of Chuzhou, and thus promoted him to the honorary title of "Right Vice-General".

Subsequently, Zhu Youjian stepped in and rewarded Zu Kuan with some silver, then sent Zu Kuan and others back to Liaodong to garrison Ningyuan.

Thus, the three thousand Guan Ning cavalrymen fought two battles within the pass, burning, killing, and looting before returning to Liaodong.

Almost simultaneously, the transfer order for Lu Xiang-sheng was also issued:

He was promoted to Vice Minister of War and then transferred to the position of Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong.

Chongzhen's reasons were perfectly justifiable, and no one could refute them.

The Eastern barbarians have entered the pass yet again.

(End of this chapter)