Starting from 1618 of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 144 The Problem of Kong Youde

night.

The magistrate's office, the study.

The oil lamp flame flickered gently, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall.

Lu Yan sat behind the desk, with Shen Qing standing in front of him.

"Tell me, what did you find out?"

Shen Qing took out a document from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Yan.

"Master, I have been monitoring Kong Youde for the past few days," he said, "and have discovered some things."

Lu Yan took the document and carefully examined it.

"These past few days, Kong Youde has been secretly in close contact with several people," Shen Qing said. "These people are all former subordinates of Mao Wenlong."

"Mao Wenlong's former subordinates?" Lu Yan frowned.

"Yes," Shen Qing said. "One of them is named Geng Zhongming."

"Geng Zhongming?"

'

"Yes," Shen Qing said. "This man was originally Mao Wenlong's personal guard, but was later transferred to Dengzhou and is now the Dengzhou military commander. He and Kong Youde are old acquaintances, and the two often meet in private."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Geng Zhongming.

He had seen this name in history books in later generations.

During the Dengzhou Mutiny, Geng Zhongming rebelled with Kong Youde, but later surrendered to the Later Jin and became one of the "Three Princes Who Surrendered" in the Qing Dynasty.

"Anything else?" Lu Yan asked.

"There are a few more people," Shen Qing said. "Li Jiucheng, Chen Youshi, and Wang Zideng—they are all former subordinates of Dongjiang Town, and they are all in Dengzhou now."

"These people harbor deep resentment towards the imperial court," Shen Qing said in a low voice. "My subordinates have sent people to inquire, and they often gather together in private to drink, curse the imperial court, curse the civil officials, and curse those who withhold their rations."

"6

As Lu Yan listened, his expression grew increasingly gloomy.

"Did they do anything unusual?"

"Not for now," Shen Qing said. "But I think that if these people get together, something bad will happen sooner or later."

Lu Yan remained silent for a moment.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the night was deep, and the stars and moon were not shining.

"Shen Qing," Lu Yan said, "did you ever see this kind of situation when you were in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"I have seen it," Shen Qing said. "When I was in the Northern Garrison, I handled several cases of mutinies. Most of those mutinies were caused by insufficient food and pay and resentment among the soldiers. They started as small skirmishes, but they escalated and eventually became uncontrollable."

"Kong Youde's situation is very similar to those mutinies."

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Lu Yan listened and remained silent.

He knew that Kong Youde's mutiny had indeed occurred in history.

That mutiny plunged Dengzhou into war, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

Even more frightening was that Kong Youde later surrendered to the Later Jin, taking the firearms technology from Dengzhou with him, which greatly increased the strength of the Later Jin.

This is something he absolutely cannot allow to happen.

"Shen Qing," Lu Yan turned around, "what do you think we should do?"

"6

Shen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "Master, I think there are two ways."

66

Tell me about it.

"The first approach is to strike first," Shen Qing said. "We should eliminate Kong Youde before he makes a move."

"Get rid of it?" Lu Yan frowned. "How?"

"Assassination," Shen Qing said. "I can arrange for someone to kill Kong Youde when he's off guard. Then we can frame someone else, and no one will know."

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Lu Yan shook his head.

"no."

Why?

'

"Kong Youde is a military general in the imperial court, with more than a thousand men under his command," Lu Yan said. "If he were to die suddenly, his men would definitely cause trouble. At that point, things would be even more difficult to manage."

Shen Qing nodded.

"The boss is right. Then there's only the second option left."

6

"What method?"

"Keep a close watch and observe the situation," Shen Qing said. "Kong Youde hasn't made a move yet, so we can't alert him. We can only closely monitor his every move and take immediate action if we discover anything unusual."

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Lu Yan pondered for a moment.

"This approach is too passive."

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"Yes," Shen Qing said, "but for now, this is the only way."

Lu Yan walked back to the desk and sat down.

"Shen Qing," he said, "starting today, intensify surveillance of Kong Youde. I need to know who he met, what he said, and what he did."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Lu Yan said, "Geng Zhongming, Li Jiucheng, Chen Youshi, Wang Zideng—these people also need to be monitored."

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"Understood."

"However," Lu Yan emphasized, "don't alert them. Let them think everything is normal, don't let them become suspicious."

"Understood."

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Shen Qing turned to leave, but Lu Yan called him back.

"Shen Qing."

"Is there anything else you need, sir?"

'

"Strengthen the defenses of Changshan Island base," Lu Yan said. "Stockpile more food, weapons, and ammunition. In case of trouble in Dengzhou, that will be our escape route."

66

Shen Qing felt a chill run down her spine.

"The master means—"

"I mean, we need to prepare for the worst," Lu Yan said. "If Kong Youde really rebels, Dengzhou will be engulfed in war. At that time, we must have a safe place to retreat to."

"Understood."

"Go."

Shen Qing turned and left.

Lu Yan sat behind the desk, looking at the document with a furrowed brow.

Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, Li Jiucheng, Chen Youshi, Wang Zideng —

These people are all ticking time bombs.

If it breaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable.

He must be prepared.

Three days later.

The eighth day of April.

Changshan Island.

Lu Yan personally visited Changshan Island to inspect the base's defenses.

"Master," Zhao Changying reported to him, "the base's defenses have been strengthened."

Tell me about it.

-

"Two more breech-loading cannons have been added to each of the two gun emplacements at the harbor entrance, making a total of eight," Zhao Changying said. "The barracks have also been expanded to accommodate five hundred people."

6

"Where is the food?"

'

"We have stored 3,000 shi of grain, enough to feed 500 people for half a year," Zhao Changying said. "We have also stored a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition: 300 flintlock muskets, 10 breech-loading cannons, and 5,000 jin of gunpowder."

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Lu Yan nodded.

"it is good."

He walked to the edge of the harbor and looked at the sea in the distance.

"Zhao Changying," he said, "do you think we can hold this place if something happens to Dengzhou?"

6

Zhao Changying pondered for a moment and said, "Master, Changshan Island has a strategically important and easily defensible terrain. As long as we have enough manpower and supplies, holding this place will not be a problem."

"But," he paused, "if there are too many enemies, we won't be able to hold out for long."

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Lu Yan nodded.

"Therefore, we cannot just defend; we must also have a way out."

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"An escape route?"

'

"Yes," Lu Yan said. "If Changshan Island can't be defended either, we'll retreat by sea."

"Where to retreat to?"

"North Korea," Lu Yan said. "Or Japan."

6

Upon hearing this, Zhao Changying's expression changed.

"Master, you mean—"

"I mean, we need to prepare for the worst," Lu Yan said. "In chaotic times, survival is the most important thing."

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He turned around and looked at Zhao Changying.

"Zhao Changying, starting today, prepare several more ships on Changshan Island. In case of any emergency, we can retreat at any time."

6

"Understood."

Lu Yan looked at the distant sky, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

Kong Youde's mutiny occurred in the fourth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign.

It is now the fourth year of the Tianqi era, and there are still seven years to go.

Seven years is enough time for him to do a lot.

But he cannot let his guard down.

History has already changed because of his arrival. Who knows if Kong Youde's mutiny will come sooner?

He must be prepared.

"Let's go," Lu Yan said, "back to Dengzhou."

(End of Chapter 144)

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