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

Chapter 312 The Ming Army Teaches You How to Suppress a Rebellion
The news of Guiyang's fall spread like a cold winter wind, quickly reaching the mountains and rivers of Guizhou.

When the news reached Shuixi, the chieftains who had initially been hesitant were immediately dumbfounded.

"Wha...what?"

"Guiyang has fallen already?"

The chieftain, Hua Sha, gripped the intelligence report from the front lines tightly, his fingers turning slightly white from the force, his face etched with disbelief.
"That's Guiyang!"

"Back then, we besieged it for a full ten months, and tens of thousands of people died, but we still couldn't break through. How come it was gone in just three months?"

The tent was deathly silent. Many of them had followed An Bangyan in the siege of Guiyang, such as Awumi and Huasha.

No one expected that Guiyang would be captured by the Han army in just three months.

The crowd sat around the fire pit, all sighing and looking ashen-faced.

The Shuixi people allied with Xu Chengming, the general of Guizhou, originally intending for the Ming army to rely on the fortified city to resist the Han army's advance head-on.
These local strongmen, relying on their familiarity with the mountains and rivers of Guizhou, outflanked the Han army and cut off their supply lines, causing them to collapse without a fight.

Initially, this strategy did have some effect, as the Han army's supply lines were frequently disrupted, and supplies could not be delivered to the front lines in a timely manner.

However, the Han army reacted quickly, immediately sending troops back to reinforce and guard the supply route.

I heard that the commander was a junior officer, but his style of doing things was extremely ruthless.

On one occasion, he discovered the whereabouts of Deputy General Awmi and personally led a team to relentlessly pursue him for three days and two nights.

This kid burrowed into the old forest and climbed steep cliffs, clinging to Awmi's deputy like a leech, and captured him alive.

After this incident, Huasha, Awumi, and the others no longer dared to launch an attack easily.

Since then, the grain route has been heavily guarded, with patrol teams constantly coming and going.

Seeing no opportunity to take advantage of the situation, and fearing the young general's desperate pursuit, the group had no choice but to retreat to their old stronghold in Shuixi and devise another plan.

Upon hearing the news of the Han army's siege of Guiyang, everyone was initially excited, believing that Guiyang's high walls and thick fortifications would surely hold off the Han army for some time.

All they need to do is wait patiently until the Han army is exhausted from its prolonged siege, then launch a surprise attack to crush them in one fell swoop.

Back then, Governor Wang Sanshan used this method to defeat An Bangyan's 100,000-strong army.

All they need to do is follow suit.

Unexpectedly, just three months later, Guiyang fell, Xu Chengming was killed in battle, and the news of the Ming army surrendering the city arrived.

How could they not be alarmed?

It's obvious to anyone with a brain that the Han army's next target was these disobedient Shuixi people.

In their panic, some people remembered An Wei, who was the rightful Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi.

If he were to negotiate with the Han army, he might receive a lighter sentence.

However, when they arrived at the Xuanwei Envoy's office in Dafang County, their hearts sank to the bottom.

This envoy, who was not yet thirty years old, was now lying stiffly on his sickbed.

Anwei's face was sallow, his eyes were closed, and his chest was only rising and falling slightly, indicating that his days were numbered.

According to his wife, She Fengxin, An Wei was already in poor health, and after winter came, he caught a cold and has been bedridden for two or three months without getting better.

Seeing that their last hope had also vanished, the leaders present looked at each other, filled with utter despair.

Left with no other choice, Wang Ahei and Li Awang, who had previously surrendered to Zhu Xieyuan and been granted Han surnames, stepped forward.

They had some experience with "naturalization" and strongly advocated sending envoys to surrender to the Han army, hoping to save their tribes from annihilation.

Otherwise, once the Han army has rested and regrouped, and their massive army is pressing in, it will be too late.

Hearing this, although some people still looked unwilling, they dared not voice their opposition.

In a life-or-death situation, nothing is more important than life itself, not dignity or territory.

So the leaders present quickly gathered gold and silver treasures and sent out a team of envoys to Guiyang, braving the wind and snow.

After the envoys arrived in Guiyang, they first used large sums of money to pave the way, attempting to bribe generals of all ranks in the Han army to speak on behalf of their own leaders.

But they kept running into obstacles. Not only were the gifts they sent returned untouched, but they didn't even get a smile from them.

Left with no other option, the envoys had to deliver the letter of surrender to the government office where Shao Yong was located.

Upon receiving the letter of surrender, Shao Yong did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he ordered a meeting of his generals in the government office to discuss the matter.

Inside the lobby, the brazier was burning brightly, constantly dispelling the damp chill of Guizhou's winter. Snowflakes drifted down onto the window frames, adding a touch of color.

Shao Yong sat upright in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the hall, and said in a deep voice:

"I'm sure you all know that the chieftains of Shuixi have sent envoys to surrender."

"Tell me, how should this matter be handled?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Dingguo stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:
"General, in my humble opinion, such a treacherous and treacherous person must not be allowed to live!"

"Our army had previously tried to appease them, but they ignored it and instead colluded with Xu Chengming to harass supply lines and attempt to resist our Han army."

"Now that Xu Chengming has been beheaded, the rest of the Ming army have also surrendered one after another. Seeing that the situation is hopeless, they regret their decision and want to surrender. But there is no such thing as a free lunch."

"In my opinion, we should mobilize the entire army and annihilate them all to prevent future troubles!"

Yu Chengye, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement and chimed in:
"That's right! They should all be wiped out, leaving no one alive!"

"These bastards made me have to patrol the grain route, spending all my time in the woods and climbing ravines, playing hide-and-seek with these rats!"

When the matter was brought up, Yu Chengye looked indignant.

He had originally followed the army with great enthusiasm to attack Guizhou, hoping to make a name for himself.

Unexpectedly, these chieftains and bandits from various places frequently harassed the grain transport routes, so Yu Chengye could only be sent to ensure logistics.

His younger brother made a great contribution by launching a surprise attack on Wujiang, and the surrendered general Ma Ke also won the honor of being the first to scale the walls and kill enemy generals. He was in the limelight.

But he could only chase down local chieftains and bandits in the mountains, without even getting a decent battle. How could he not be angry?

Therefore, when Li Dingguo proposed to completely wipe out the Shuixi chieftains, Yu Chengye immediately stepped forward.

But Liu Ning, the deputy general standing to the side, hesitated and said carefully:
"To annihilate them all? That might not be a good idea."

"The terrain of Shuixi is complex, and the Yi people are familiar with the mountain roads. If we force them into a corner, they will use their terrain advantage to fight us. Our army will be exhausted."

"In my humble opinion, since some people are willing to surrender, we should divide and weaken them, recruiting some and attacking others."

“Guizhou is a barren and impoverished land with difficult mountain roads, making the transportation of grain and fodder inherently challenging.”

"If we send troops to clear them out bit by bit, it will cost a lot of money and food, and it will probably be a losing proposition."

Liu Ning's suggestion was quite pragmatic, and many generals nodded slightly after hearing it, finding it quite reasonable.

A brief argument broke out in the lobby.

Just then, Marco suddenly spoke up:

"Gentlemen, I have a plan, but I don't know if I should tell you."

Upon hearing this, all eyes in the room turned to Marco, whose left hand was still in a sling.

As a surrendered general, Marco rarely spoke during discussions and simply followed orders.

Now that he has made meritorious contributions, things are very different; he clearly has more confidence now.

Shao Yong looked at him and encouraged him:
"Commander Ma, please speak freely." "Today's meeting is precisely to gather wisdom from all sides."

Marco straightened up and said in a deep voice:

"In my humble opinion, we can turn the tables on them and pretend to accept the surrender of the Shuixi chieftain, while promising him great benefits."

"As far as I know, Shui Xi'an is seriously ill and dying, and has no children. The position of Pacification Commissioner is vacant, and the various chieftains must be vying for it."

"We can then use this as an excuse to invite all the powerful leaders to a meeting at a designated location to discuss the election and other details of submission."

His tone shifted abruptly, revealing a murderous intent:
"Once all the leaders have gathered, we will secretly place axemen during the banquet and seize the opportunity to wipe them all out!"

"When the leader is lost, the troops will surely fall into chaos."

"If our army seizes the opportunity to launch a full-scale attack and wipe out their stronghold, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

As soon as Marco announced his plan, the hall fell silent, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

This strategy sounds strangely familiar. Have I heard it somewhere before?

The group stared at each other, racking their brains for a long time before finally realizing what had happened.

Isn't this the same trick that Hong Chengchou used to deal with surrendered rebel armies?
Back then, Wang Zuogua was killed at a banquet hosted by Hong Chengchou and He Renlong in the same way.

This Ma Ke truly lives up to his reputation as someone who follows Hong Chengchou; he has indeed inherited his true teachings!
Seeing the surprised and suspicious looks on everyone's faces, Marco remained calm and continued to explain:

"Gentlemen, think about it. These chieftains of Shuixi are extremely fickle. They should all be executed as a warning to others!"

"All the barbarian men from Shuixi were conscripted into labor camps to reclaim wasteland and build roads; their women, children, wives, and children were scattered and reassigned to Han people, so as to extinguish any thought of their resurgence!"

Those present gasped in shock. Good heavens, you government troops are getting more and more ruthless with each move.

Liu Ning, standing to the side, hesitated somewhat:

"Wouldn't doing this be a bit too bloody?"

"The methods are too cruel. What if they provoke resistance from other chieftains?"

"Besides, our king has never advocated massacres and suppression, so doing this would probably go against his wishes."

But Marco shook his head after hearing this and explained:

"It is not that I am bloodthirsty."

“Our army had already given them a chance, but they insisted on courting their own death and rebelling against our Great Han Heavenly Army.”

"It is not an act of killing without warning, nor is it a massacre or suppression."

"Besides, barbarians have always been fearful of power but not virtuous."

"Only by taking such drastic measures can we deter the other chieftain tribes!"

"Afterwards, we can inform all sides that our army will only punish the ringleaders."

"The remaining chieftains can preserve their lives and clans if they are willing to sincerely submit and hand over their land and military power."

He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Shao Yong.
"Furthermore... as your subjects, we must consider the long-term interests of Your Majesty."

"Although Xichuan is known as the Land of Abundance, its population is growing rapidly. If it encounters a year of disaster, it may not be able to sustain itself."

"Taking advantage of this opportunity, we can clear out the best cultivated land in Shuixi ahead of schedule."

"In this way, Your Majesty can legitimately relocate people to the border regions and move the surplus population from Xichuan to Guizhou."

"As long as the Han population gradually increases, within two or three generations, Guizhou will truly become Han territory!"

"From now on, there will be no more chaos and turmoil!"

After Marco finished speaking, the hall fell silent again.

That sounds reasonable.

Shao Yong, the head coach, was particularly impressed.

He nodded, looking at Marco with approval:

"Indeed, Guerrilla Ma's words resonate deeply with me!"

"I didn't expect you to be so good at fighting, and you even have a good mind for governance."

"Let's do it this way. Let's start with Shuixi to intimidate the other chieftains!"

With the plan settled, everyone immediately got to work.

Shao Yong first held a grand reception for the envoys from various tribes of Shuixi in the government office, and openly accepted a large sum of money, indicating his acceptance of their surrender.

"It's not too late for you to repent, so I, the general, will accept your offer without further ado."

"Furthermore, I have heard that An Wei, the Pacification Commissioner of Shuixi, is seriously ill and has no children. I am afraid that the An family line will end."

"The fertile land of Shuixi, stretching for thousands of miles, cannot be without a master for even a day."

"Here's what we'll do. You go back and inform the various departments to have them nominate a new envoy who is both virtuous and capable."

"I will first report to the commander-in-chief, and then I will inform the King of Han and request an official title for him!"

Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their deepest gratitude and immediately took the official seal and rushed back to Dafang County.

When the news reached back, the leaders, including Huasha, Awumi, Li Awang, and Wang Ahei, were in an uproar.

Unexpectedly, the Han army was so understanding, not only forgiving the past but also allowing them to elect their own envoy!
In Shuixi, the title of "Xuanwei Shi" (宣慰使) was equivalent to that of a local emperor.

Behind this position lies the foundation built by the An family over hundreds of years, including vast farmlands, countless mineral deposits, and tens of thousands of followers!

Faced with enormous profits, the alliance originally formed due to external threats crumbled instantly.

Hua Sha and A Wu Mi were the most powerful local leaders in Shuixi and believed that they were certain to get the position of Pacification Commissioner.
Li Awang and Wang Ahei, on the other hand, come from Yongning Gulin. Although they are slightly less capable, they are equally ambitious.

Several so-called "peaceful elections" ended in discord, and the atmosphere in Dafang County began to become somewhat tense.

Seeing that peaceful negotiations were no longer possible, Huasha and Awumi secretly formed an alliance and decided to strike first.

The two conspired to hide two groups of soldiers in the meeting room during the next meeting, so as to kill Li Awang and Wang Ahei, the two "outsiders", and eliminate any future troubles.

Unexpectedly, Li Awang was even more cautious and cunning.

His spies learned of the two men's plot in advance, but he did not make a fuss about it, nor did he inform his ally Wang Ahei of the news in a timely manner.

Li Awang hatched a wicked plan. He intended to use the Shuixi people to eliminate Wang Ahei, and then, under the guise of "revenge," seize the opportunity to annex Wang Ahei's followers.

And so, a nomination meeting, rife with hidden agendas and fraught with danger, officially began in the Shuixi government office of Dafang County.

As Li Awang had predicted, Huasha and Awumi suddenly launched an attack at the meeting.

Wang Ahei was caught off guard and was hacked to death on the spot.

Li Awang, who had been prepared, took advantage of the chaos to lead his confidants out of the encirclement and escape from Dafang County.

Originally, this meeting was being held on Anjia's territory, so in principle, no one should bring troops.

However, Anwei was already seriously ill at this time, and his wife, She Fengxin, did not have the skill and courage of her predecessor, Lady Shexiang.

A sickly man and a woman could only watch helplessly as this farce unfolded.

Later, the ruthless Huasha and Awumi even bribed An's servants to inform Anwei of the matter.

Anwei was already seriously ill, and upon hearing this terrible news, he was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath and died on his sickbed!
(End of this chapter)