Thief Emperor

Chapter 615: Marshal Yang Jie’s character!

At the end of September in the fourth year of Zhaoding, Li Yun, the former governor of Jiangnan Road, raised an army in Huainan Road in the name of comforting the people and punishing the criminals, and marched into Jingxiang.

At the same time as the Jiangdong troops were advancing into Shannan East Road, Yingzhou, Yuzhou and other states in Henan Road were once again in turmoil because the people were unable to make ends meet after the court collected autumn grain.

Since Wang Junping's rebellion, another large-scale unrest has arisen again, but this time the center of the unrest shifted from the Central Plains to the Jingxiang area.

To put it more broadly, this time it is a conflict between East and West, South and North.

As soon as the Jiangdong troops entered Shannan East Road and captured Suizhou and Fuzhou, the imperial envoy of the court read out the emperor's edict in Jiangling City, Jingzhou, and announced the court's manifesto to fight against the rebels in the southeast.

Announce to the world.

Pei Huang even climbed up to the city wall and read this manifesto to the soldiers and civilians in the entire Jingzhou city.

"The traitor Li is a bandit from Qingyang County, Xuanzhou!"

"Since he was brave and capable, the court appointed him to work."

"He gathered bandits and formed a large group, which eventually became powerful. He was later promoted by Su Jing and was able to serve as an official in the court."

"The court did not mind his background and gave him many important positions, but his heart of banditry has not changed, and his tiger-like nature has been revealed!"

"After he was appointed Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner, he mobilized soldiers to attack Wuchang without asking for permission."

"After the imperial court issued an edict to depose him, he became even more unscrupulous. Now he has completely forgotten the imperial court's kindness and has even started a rebellion. His evil ambitions are obvious!"

"Today's emperor is furious and has ordered all localities to cooperate with Yang Min, the governor of Jingnan, to attack the rebels and bring them and their families to the capital to be punished."

"Whoever captures the bandit leader will be rewarded with 100,000 gold and be made a marquis of 10,000 households!"

Pei Huang read it aloud.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers and civilians of Jingzhou all cheered.

Most common people are like this; they don't understand much, but when they see this kind of "excitement" they will usually cheer along on the spot, even though sometimes they don't know what they are cheering for.

Of course, there were smart people among the people who had realized that there would be a war in Jingzhou. After returning home, they would start packing their bags and prepare to escape from Jingzhou to avoid the war.

Yang Min, the governor of Jingnan, was a man of about forty-six or forty-seven years old. He was a soldier and had a strong build. He was standing near Pei Huang. After Pei Huang finished reading, Yang stroked his beard, looked at Pei Huang, and said, "Mr. Pei."

"As for Li Yun, as far as I know, he was originally a policeman in Qingyang County. How come he was originally a bandit in the manifesto?"

He said, "This document is false. If people find out, I'm afraid I'll lose my credibility."

Pei Huang looked at Yang Min and said slowly, "Li Yun started his career by relying on the two hundred bandits he gathered in Xuanzhou. Until now, those bandits are still in his army and even hold high positions. If this is not a bandit background, what else can it be?"

"and…"

Pei Huang narrowed his eyes and said softly, "The origin of this Li Yun is quite strange. He appeared in Qingyang inexplicably. The Imperial City Bureau has been investigating for several years, but has not found out where his clan is."

"What we found was only the household registration in Qingyang County Government Office."

At this point, Pei Huang said in a muffled voice: "This guy is mixed up with a group of bandits, and he calls them brothers on weekdays. Maybe he is a bandit who came down from the mountains and got an identity from somewhere."

"The magistrate of Qingyang at the beginning is now his father-in-law, so it is more likely that he lied for him. Although the Imperial City Bureau has no evidence, it is inferred that this man is most likely a bandit."

Li Yun's identity cannot withstand scrutiny.

If Xue Song had not created a false identity for him and Li Zheng so that they could work as yamen runners in Qingyang, his identity as a bandit would have been exposed when the imperial court later gave him an official title.

However, although Xue Song was an old county magistrate and the household registration he made could be said to be watertight, with so many people from the Imperial City Bureau investigating, they were always able to find some clues. By now, Li Yun's original identity could no longer be concealed.

At this point, Pei Huang said in a deep voice: "Moreover, this traitor's rebellion is more hateful than being a bandit. Now, regardless of whether he is a bandit or not, he must be labeled a bandit."

"From now on, everyone in the world will know that Li Yun was born a bandit!"

It can be said that Li Yun has now become a rival of the imperial court. For a rival, it is naturally a life-and-death battle, and they will spare no effort to discredit him.

Up to now, the Imperial City Division under the leadership of Pei Huang has been spreading the news of Li Yun's identity as a bandit in various places except the southeast, making people afraid of Li Yun and the "bandit army" in the southeast.

Long in the future, this incident will most likely become a mystery again.

Yang Min talked to Pei Huang for a few words before getting back on track. He looked at Pei Huang and whispered, "Master Pei, whether he is a bandit or not has nothing to do with the war situation. Now that 50,000 to 60,000 Jiangdong soldiers have entered Shannan East Road, they will be able to surround Jingzhou and Xiangyang in two or three days at most!"

"This is an army that can defeat the Pinglu Army. When they reach the north, they can even compete with the Khitans!" "The court cannot just send an edict or a manifesto at this time."

"and…"

He looked at Pei Huang and said quietly, "Besides, it has not been long since Li Yun started his rebellion. It would take more than a day to send a letter from Jingzhou to the imperial court. Where did Master Pei get the imperial edict and imperial decree?"

Pei Huang's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "With so many people from the Imperial City Department deployed in the southeast, the court was still able to see through Li the traitor's rebellious intentions and prepare in advance. What's so strange about that?"

"Moreover, the intelligence of so many people in the Imperial City Bureau can be used by the general right now. How come it becomes an order or a manifesto in the general's mouth?"

Yang Min was silent for a long time, then sighed and said, "Master Pei's words really chill the hearts of us loyal ministers of the Great Zhou. Whatever, if Jingxiang cannot be defended, we will just die in Jingxiang and sacrifice our lives for our country."

Pei Huang glanced at this guy, with no expression on his face, but he was already cursing in his heart.

This guy sent all his family members out of Jingxiang half a month ago. If the war situation turns bad, he will probably run away too. How dare he talk about sacrificing his life for his country?

"Marshal Yang, don't be impatient."

Pei Huang patiently advised, "It won't be long before the 20,000 elite troops of the Hedong Army will arrive in Jingxiang to support the general. The Pinglu Army in Huaibei will also take action soon. The court does not need the general to suppress these Jiangdong rebels. It only needs the general to hold on for a while."

"When the Pinglu Army has defeated Jiangdong and the Hedong Army's elite troops arrive, the commander can march out of Jingxiang and join forces with the Hedong Army to defeat Li's Jiangdong Army!"

"When the time comes, Pei will report to the court and at least give Marshal Jie the title of Grand General!"

Yang Min's eyes were filled with suspicion, but he did not say it directly. Instead, he said, "Master Pei, is it true that the imperial court will not send a single soldier?"

"Originally, the court had already dispatched Liang Wen, the governor of Henan Province, to lead troops to rescue us, but yesterday news came that there was also unrest in Henan Province, and Liang Wen was trying to suppress it."

Pei Huang looked at Yang Min and said in a deep voice: "Marshal Yang Jie, you must hold on. Jingxiang can only hold out for two months at most. The Jiangdong troops will surely be defeated!"

"Two months..."

Yang Min lowered his head and thought for a while, then asked, "Can Master Pei be in Jingxiang in the next two months?"

Pei Huang frowned, then shook his head slightly: "No, the troops from all sides are encircling Jiangdong, and someone is needed to coordinate. I can't be trapped in Jiangdong, I need to go out and coordinate with all parties."

Yang Min lowered his head slightly, sneering in his heart.

However, he was still respectful on the surface, clasping his fists and saying, "Well, the safety of Jingxiang depends entirely on Master Pei!"

Just as Pei Huang was about to speak, two messengers came running over. They clasped their fists and saluted Yang Min, saying, "General, the enemy has entered Jingzhou from Fuzhou!"

Yang Min waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

He looked at Pei Huang and said slowly, "Master Pei, one of the Jiangdong troops has already entered Jingzhou. Zhao Cheng's troops in the north have probably also entered Xiangzhou by now. When will the Pinglu army take action?"

"When will the Hedong Army arrive?"

To be honest, Yang Min was already prepared to run away.

He was also born into a prominent family, but he was unwilling to lose his life in Jingxiang, and even more unwilling to fall into Li Yun's hands.

Pei Huang was silent for a while, then he said, "I will leave Jingzhou now and go and urge them."

"I can't guarantee when the Hedong Army will arrive, but I can assure Marshal Yang Jie that the Pinglu Army will definitely take action in three days at most!"

Yang Min was skeptical, but he bowed his head and saluted Pei Huang and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Pei!"

"Yang, I will defend the important areas of Jingxiang for the court and His Majesty, and prevent the thief Li from succeeding in his conspiracy!"

Pei Huang looked at him one last time and sighed, "General Jie, at this moment, no matter what, you must not leave Jingxiang, and you must not abandon the army."

"What do you think I am, Master Pei?"

Yang Min was a little annoyed, and said angrily: "Since I, Yang, have become the governor of Jingnan, I will live and die with Jingxiang!"

"Even if I died in Jingzhou, died in the chaos of the army, died under the sword of Li the thief!"

"I won't leave Jingzhou even a step!"

(End of this chapter)