I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 24 Hu Zongxian is disheartened
The Taizhou government office now serves as the headquarters of Hu Zongxian, the Minister of War and Governor-General of Zhejiang and Fujian military affairs.

The moon is bright and the stars are sparse tonight, with a cool breeze. It is a good time to appreciate the moon.

In the backyard of the government office, Hu Zongxian, wearing a long gown, stood in the yard with his hands behind his back, looking up at the bright moon.

On the stone table behind him, there were two plates of fruits, a wine jug, and two wine glasses.

A man in blue shirt walked in hurriedly.

He is in his early thirties, handsome, elegant and well-mannered.

He walked quickly to the courtyard, bowed and said, "Hu Bu Tang, good news."

Hu Zongxian turned around, waved his hand, and said, "Nangong, don't worry, sit down and talk."

The man in blue was none other than Nangong Ye, Yan Song’s former aide.

Hu Zongxian asked kindly, "Nangong, have your family members been settled?"

Nangong Ye quickly replied: "If you tell me, they will all be placed in Wu County, Suzhou."

Hu Zongxian walked over slowly, flicked the dust and fallen leaves on the stone bench with his sleeve, and sat down: "The Japanese threat in the southeast has been resolved. Suzhou will no longer be troubled by the Japanese. There will be no more three surprises a day.

Nangong, Elder Yan has entrusted you to me, so I can only make this arrangement. This is the most appropriate way."

Nangong Ye heard the bleakness in Hu Zongxian's words and said quickly, "Mr. Hu, I have brought good news."

"Good news." Hu Zongxian looked up at Mingyue and said slowly, "Go ahead, Nangong, tell me the good news."

At this time, there were sporadic sounds of firecrackers outside the yard, and faint cheers could be heard.

"Has the good news spread?"

"General, the soldiers who reported the news rushed all the way into the city. The news has spread."

"Let it spread, it's a good thing. The people of Taizhou have suffered from the Japanese invasion for decades, and it's time for them to be happy. Nangong, go ahead."

"Yes, General. General Qi, the commander-in-chief of the Zhejiang army and the commander of the northern route army to aid Fujian, urgently reported that on the 19th, he reorganized his army and marched south with Dai Chongxiao's troops of the Fujian army to the east of Fuqing County, near Niutian in Linhaishan Town.

More than 20,000 Japanese pirates and local bandits were stationed in Niutian Town. When they heard that the government troops were coming in a hurry, they lined up in a long snake formation for 30 miles, hoping that if the government troops attacked one place, the others would respond.

General Qi deliberately deployed a delaying tactic, and the bandits fell into the trap and relaxed their vigilance. General Qi made proper arrangements and divided his troops into three routes to attack. Dai Chongxiao, the governor of Fujian, led his troops to attack from Cangxia; one route was led by General Qi, who led the main force to attack from Jinping Mountain and directly attacked Qidian; another route was divided into troops to ambush at Linmuling to prevent the bandits from raiding, and another part of the troops guarded Tianyuanling, Shangjing and other places to cut off the retreat of the Japanese pirates.

Nangong Ye had an excellent memory and recounted Qi Jiguang's victory report word for word.

"On the night of the 21st, the main force of the government army surrounded the Japanese nest in Qidian with lightning speed. General Wang Rulong led the way, braved the rain of arrows and rushed to the gate of the village. He carried the brave warriors Zhu Jue and Jin Ke on his shoulders, climbed into the Japanese nest, opened the gate, and the soldiers shouted and rushed in.

More than 200 Japanese pirates were killed in Qidian, and more than 400 were burned or drowned. General Qi organized his army to defend Jinping Mountain and set up an ambush. The bandits were furious and divided their troops to attack Jinping Mountain at night, but were ambushed and defeated. General Qi took the opportunity to lead the main force to chase the defeated army and entered Niutian Town. After a night of hard fighting, he beheaded 527 people, captured 11 bandit chiefs alive, and burned or drowned more than 2,000 bandits.

Hu Zongxian stroked his beard and said, "Niutian Town is the largest stronghold of the Japanese pirates in Fujian. Once this stronghold is taken, the Japanese pirates will be like a tree without roots and water without a source. Their destruction is imminent.

Yuan Jing (Qi Jiguang) led his troops to continue southward?"

"Yes, General. General Qi and General Dai will lead their troops south and join General Liu and General Yu at the foot of Xinghua City. General Tan will also move to Quanzhou to command nearby. We must wipe out the Japanese pirates and bandits entrenched in Xinghua in one fell swoop." "Most of the bandits occupying Xinghua City are pirates from Fujian. The Japanese pirates are just a pretext for them to intimidate people. There are not many real Japanese pirates.

"What about the good news from Admiral Lu?"

Nangong Ye said excitedly: "General Lu (Lu Tong) led the main force of the patrol navy, 15 large ships, 21 2,000-ton ships, and two Portuguese fast ships to ambush in the sea east of Chenqianshan Island, southeast of Ningbo Prefecture.

Six days ago, eight ships were intercepted and sunk. According to investigation, there were 2,225 Japanese recruits and 475 crew members on board. The navy captured 51 Japanese, including 15 Japanese chieftains. There were 42 crew members, including 16 people who knew the situation.

"Informed person?"

"The five families, Zhang and Wu in Suzhou, Yang in Jiaxing, Lin in Kunshan, and Gu in Ningbo, have sent people to the Eastern Japanese to recruit and lure out a group of real Japanese, preparing to disturb Eastern Zhejiang again while our main force is assisting Zhejiang.

General, the information given by Yang Huiban is really accurate."

Hu Zongxian sneered twice: "Yang Jinshui is a smart man among smart men. He has been fighting with the Southeastern families in Hangzhou for ten years. He knows all about these people's dog treasures and ox gall.

These five families are dissatisfied with the emperor's maritime monopoly and are ready to show their power. Just for this show of power, they are willing to sacrifice the lives of their entire family. I wonder if they will regret it?"

"General, I heard that the Kunshan Lin family and Lord Xu are related by marriage."

Hu Zongxian laughed helplessly twice: "So what? The Southeast family, if you count carefully, can all be related."

Nangong Ye blinked his eyes and asked hesitantly, "Is this the reason why the general is so discouraged?"

Hu Zongxian looked at him and said leisurely, "Nangong, Elder Yan entrusted you to me, but unfortunately, I am just a chess piece on this chessboard.

Once a move is made, it is determined. Once a move is made, the chess piece is dead or alive, and it is not up to you. Lord Yan has been in power for 20 years, but in the end, he is also out of control.

Nangong Ye said indignantly: "The general is completely different from the uncle. The general is loyal to the country and shares the worries of the emperor. He worked hard and exhausted all his energy to eliminate the Japanese invasion, pacify the three provinces in the southeast, and save millions of people. Can't the emperor see these great achievements? Can't the officials in the court see them?"

Looking at the excited Nangong Ye, Hu Zongxian smiled, stood up and poured him a glass of wine, then raised his own glass and said to Nangong Ye: "I am very satisfied to hear Nangong's sincere words. Let's drink to this moonlit night and the good news you brought us."

After saying this, Hu Zongxian raised his glass and drank it all.

Nangong Ye quickly raised his glass and drank it in one gulp.

Hu Zongxian stood up, looked up at the bright moon, and said sadly: "To be honest with you, Nangong, I have long thought about my fate. I have been a traitor and a lackey to the treacherous party. My reputation in the court and the literati has long been ruined.

Today we received a victory report. The Japanese invasion in Fujian was greatly defeated, and the remaining remnants will not last long. The real Japanese recruited by the Southeast family were buried in the ocean, and evidence of collusion with the Japanese pirates was also obtained. With internal and external troubles, we finally see hope of being eliminated.

Mr. Hu is happy and has no regrets!
I have done my best to get to this point, and I can't walk anymore. I don't know what will happen next, I just have to wait and see!"

Facing the bright moon, Hu Zongxian recited happily: "The spring river tide reaches the sea level, and the bright moon rises with the tide. The ripples follow the waves for thousands of miles, and there is no spring river without a bright moon! Who first saw the moon by the river? When did the river moon first shine on people? Life has been endless from generation to generation, and the river moon looks the same every year."

Nangong Ye looked at Hu Zongxian's majestic back, listened to his cheerful and understanding voice, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

He knew that Hu Butang thought that his mission was accomplished, and in the eyes of the emperor he might have become a discarded pawn, just like his uncle Yan Ge Lao and his brother Yan Donglou, who were discarded like a piece of trash.

Tonight, Hu Butang was disheartened, but he had no regrets.

(End of this chapter)