weaving

Chapter 1319 Don’t Wade Into This Muddy Water

Yuzhai, on the martial arts stage.

Shang Wugui, who was usually taciturn, suddenly said, "But everyone is saying that Li Chuang Wang wants to be the emperor?"

"Li the thief is just wishful thinking."

Ji Zhiying glared at Shang Wugui. Although she blamed him for speaking without restraint, she also knew that she should explain the matter to them clearly as soon as possible.

"Even if you haven't read history books, you must have listened to storytelling in teahouses and taverns. Have you ever seen a founding emperor like Li the Thief, who had no roots of his own and lived by robbing and pillaging?"

Ji Zhiying continued, "Take the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Hongwu, for example. He first occupied the land to the right of the Huai River, built high walls and stored grain, gradually unified the rich land in the south of the Yangtze River, and then launched the Northern Expedition to conquer the Central Plains and reunify the world.

Look at this thief Li again. Although he has hundreds of thousands of troops, more than 80% of them are refugees who are half-naked and unarmed. He does not have a base under his governance, and he has no income from money, grain, and taxes. All his expenses are covered by the proceeds from looting. The situation is already barely maintained, and if he encounters a slight setback, he will surely end in complete defeat.

Do you know why Yuan Shizhong's Xiao Yuanying and Luo Rucai's Caoying bandits left Li the bandit?"

Seeing that they all looked confused, Ji Zhiying smiled and continued, "Yuan Shizhong is a well-known thief in the eastern Henan and western Shandong areas. He just surrendered to the thief Li at the beginning of the year and even married Li's adopted daughter, becoming his new son-in-law.

But now, less than half a year has passed, and he has abandoned the thief Li and submitted to the command of Earl Yongning. This shows that there is still a trace of loyalty in his heart, which also indirectly proves that the thief Li has lost his moral character and does not have the talent to be a great leader.

There is no need to say more about Luo Rucai, he is a big bandit leader who is as famous as Li and Xian, and has been cooperating with Li for more than a year. However, at the critical moment when Li was fighting with my uncle, he led his troops from Cao camp and abandoned Li, which further proved that Li did not have the virtue of a heroic leader.

Now, although Luo Rucai has not yet submitted to the Yongning Earl, he has led his bandits to stay in Guide Prefecture. On the surface, he does not help either side, but privately he has been exchanging letters with my Earl. In fact, he has the intention to surrender, but he just wants to get better treatment. "

When Ji Zhiying said this, he looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. I still have to go to Song County. Let's go down the mountain now."

Lei Peng and the other three naturally tried their best to keep him, but Ji Zhiying was eager to make a contribution at the moment. He was anxious to recruit Zhang Ding to stabilize the situation in western Henan so as to help Zhang Guangda raid the bandits' lair. How could he be persuaded to stay when he was eager to make a contribution?

Everyone accompanied them all the way to five miles outside the mountain gate. Everyone had a look of reluctance on their faces, especially the captain He Boqian, who looked even more reluctant.

Seeing him like this, Ji Zhiying smiled and said, "He Boqian, you are now a soldier of the Earl of Yongning. Your first duty is to obey military orders. Besides, I chose you to stay in Yuzhai to train the troops because I trust you. Don't let me down!"

"Here."

The gloom on He Boqian's face disappeared, he stood at attention, responded loudly to the order, and regained his former glory.

Ji Zhiying stared at Lei Peng and the other three, and warned them earnestly: "'Wolf cubs must be weaned, and whether they can become dragons or worms depends on their own abilities'. My brother Li Jiyu and I have paved the way for you in the future, but how long and how far you can go in the end depends on you!

Everyone has heard the story of Liangshan Marsh. It is true that 'if you want to be an official, you have to kill people and set fires to be recruited'. Let's not talk about the recent ones, but the thirty-six rebel kings in Xingyang were all big and powerful bandits. Now, many of them have been surrendered to the imperial court and become generals or deputy generals.

However, you must remember one sentence: 'You can disobey the imperial court, but you must not cross the line drawn by Earl Yongning.' Otherwise, neither my family nor Brother Li Jiyu can protect you!"

"Master Ji, you can rest assured. Even if we have to sacrifice our own heads, we have to complete the tasks assigned by Earl Yongning and General Li." Lei Peng made a big promise.

Ji Zhiying nodded, climbed onto his horse, clasped his fists and said, "Goodbye, brothers!" He then whipped his horse, stirring up a trail of dust and disappearing into the vast land. The only thing visible was the armored army that had not yet left everyone's sight, and the Xuanwu Camp's flag fluttering in the wind...

…………

Kaifeng City, in the front yard of the post station, Guanhe Hall.

Yongning Earl Zhang Chengzheng was sitting opposite the outgoing governor Zhang Fuzhen. On the table in the middle were some cakes and fruits, and a pot of freshly brewed hot tea was emitting wisps of steam.

"Zhongchen, you must not wade into this muddy water!"

"Mr. Zhang, when you return to Beijing to take over the post of Minister of War, isn't that a hot potato?"

"A real man born in this world should not be afraid of difficulties and should be brave enough to take on responsibilities. Now the emperor has given an order and the court needs me, how can I consider my own safety!"

"Mr. Zhang is a great man of the time. Although I feel inferior to him, I am willing to emulate him. Moreover, Mr. Zhang is the Grand Marshal. The only difficult things he faces are the slave disaster in Liaodong and the rebellion in the Central Plains. Although I am not talented, I am willing to stand in the Central Plains for you and do my best to eliminate the two thieves, Chuang and Xian."

Zhang Fuzhen continued with a worried look on his face, "The emperor and the court intend to use Hou Xun as the commander-in-chief to command the troops of five provinces to suppress the two thieves, Chuang and Xian."

"Humph. Zhou Yanru thought that by appointing Hou Xun as the commander-in-chief, he could hold Zuo Liangyu hostage. But how could he know that although Zuo Ping remembered Hou Xun's kindness, he would never risk his life and capital for a small favor in the past."

Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng continued, "Besides, Hou Xun is not a man who knows military affairs. On what basis can he command and dispatch troops from five provinces? I am the first one to disagree!"

"Zhongchen, I know your ability, but the bandits are no longer the same as they were before. Their troops are strong, their numbers are huge, and their reputation is overwhelming. They are at the peak of their power. I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to hold out against the bandits for long with only 50,000 or 60,000 troops under your command.

Besides, the imperial court is short of money and grain. Once the supply of grain and grass becomes tight, I am afraid that you will be unable to move forward in the suppression of bandits in the Central Plains, or even be implicated and die without fighting..."

Zhang Fuzhen's face was filled with worry. He sighed and continued, "Besides, there has been no precedent of a military man serving as a governor-general and leading an army in the past two hundred years since Emperor Yingzong. If you really do this, I'm afraid you will be overwhelmed by the criticisms of the civil officials in the court. Not to mention the obstacles from all sides in the future. From the allocation of troops to the allocation of military equipment and money and food, you will definitely be in trouble everywhere."

"If that's the case, how can we fight against the bandits? I'm afraid you won't even know how you died!"

"As Mr. Zhang said, 'A true man born in heaven and earth should not fear difficulties and should be brave enough to take on responsibilities.' Although Zhang Cheng is not talented, he is not a coward. At this time of national crisis, how can he sit back and watch the civil officials ruin the country for the sake of saving himself, allowing the bandits to commit crimes and the people of the Central Plains to suffer and have difficulty returning home?"

"Loyalty, but have you made up your mind?"

"Mr. Zhang, you have put life and death aside since you joined the army. Why would you be afraid of being impeached by the civil officials?"