Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 484 Pacifying the Central Plains, Bao Bao's Head Sent to Justice

Liu Futong's memorial was quickly written, though it wasn't written by him himself, but by someone else.

The content roughly recounts the crimes and corruption of the Yuan Dynasty and the miserable plight of the people. He couldn't stand the actions of the Yuan invaders, so he decided to start a rebellion. However, he lacked the strength to gather enough people. Just then, he encountered Han Shantong preaching. He thought that he could attract many people with the name of the White Lotus Sect. So he conspired with Han Shantong to stage a play about digging stones on the Yellow River. Later, the rebellion was indeed successfully launched.

However, after Han Shantong died, he led the rebel army to fight in the Central Plains. But he soon discovered that the White Lotus Sect's deceptive tactics could not truly drive out the Yuan invaders, let alone govern the country.

Looking at the neighboring Xu and Song dynasties, which deceived people with the Maitreya religion, they also failed to develop well, rising and falling in an instant, and ultimately suffering defeat and national destruction. On the contrary, Gongshu Jin, who never believed in evil religions from beginning to end, upheld the principles of establishing laws and disciplines, and helped the people, was the one truly destined by Heaven. His army was invincible, and his people lived in peace and prosperity. This is the true way to govern the country and save the people, and this is the true master of all people.

He then realized his mistake and decided to reveal the story of the stone man to the public, leading his troops to serve the wise and mighty King of Chu, to jointly drive out the barbarians and launch a northern expedition against Yan and Yun!

"Excellent!" Ning Anqing looked at the memorial with satisfaction, then solemnly put it into his pocket before saying to Liu Futong, "Now that the matter is settled, General, could you send two civil and military officials to accompany me back to Jiankang to resume my duties?"

"Of course." Liu Futong looked around and immediately pointed to the two men, saying, "This is my younger brother Liu Liu, and this is Sheng Wenyu. Mr. Sheng is a hero who rose up with me. Let them go back with you to report. But I wonder when the King of Chu will send someone to take over the city?"

"We'll have news within two weeks."

"Alright, then I'll wait here for good news."

Ning Anqing quickly returned with Liu Liu and Sheng Wenyu, but things were not peaceful in Runing. Most of the generals, including Liu Futong and Luo Wensu, agreed with Lu Jin's offer to surrender, because Ning Anqing was right. Their current situation was indeed very awkward. They wanted to be independent but could not, and if things continued like this, they would eventually break up.

Furthermore, Lu Jin's army is currently surrounding the area. In other words, Lu Jin is not here to offer amnesty, but to issue an ultimatum. Surrender and you can save your life, with official positions and titles waiting for you. If you don't surrender, then a real war will break out.

Only the generals who led troops on the front lines knew the true value of the Holy Martial Army's achievements. As for those who were unwilling to surrender, were they really going to resist the Holy Martial Army's attack?

Du Zundao was the representative who refused to surrender.

He was unwilling to surrender for three reasons. First, he had no military power. The titles and rewards that Lu Jin mentioned were all for generals like Liu Futong, while he was a scholar, so he was not eligible for any titles.

Secondly, he was jealous of Ning Anqing. Ning Anqing's resume was more impressive than his. He was a student of the Imperial Academy of the Yuan Dynasty, served as the fourth-ranking official in the Privy Council of the Yuan Dynasty, and even led a whole region to surrender to Lu Jin. With such a resume and such merits, he only managed to become a Privy Councilor under Lu Jin. Although he didn't know what kind of official Lu Jin was, it didn't sound like a high-ranking official.

If Ning Anqing is like this, then what kind of official position can Du Zundao be given when he goes to Lu Jin's command?

Conversely, if he hadn't joined Lu Jin, he would have been the head of the civil officials in the Central Plains rebel army, and would have at least been prime minister in the future, and might even have had a considerable title.

Third, Liu Futong negotiated with Ning Anqing without his consent, only asking for a title for himself without mentioning his own resettlement. Ning Anqing only said that after they surrendered, he would arrange official positions for them, the civil officials, but he did not specify the positions. In that case, wouldn't they be at the mercy of others?

Therefore, as soon as Ning Anqing left, Du Zundao started arguing with Liu Futong. But Liu Futong wasn't going to tolerate him. "You're not my father, of course I'll look after myself first. What do I care if you get any benefits? Anyway, the soldiers are mine, I can join whoever I want!"
Who do you think you are, Bayan or Toqto'a? Do I need your permission to join someone? Who do you think you are?!

At that time, the Han-Song dynasty was not yet established, and no one appointed Du Zundao as prime minister. Besides, even if Du Zundao became prime minister, what difference would it make? Liu Futong still ignored him and even later sent someone to kill him.

This person is incompetent and lacks ability. He has high aspirations but little talent. Most importantly, not only does a general like Liu Futong ignore him, but even Sheng Wenyu, a fellow civil official, agrees to submit to Lu Jin.

Who is Sheng Wenyu? In the original history, in 1355, when the Han-Song dynasty was formally established, Sheng Wenyu was appointed as the left and right prime ministers along with Du Zundao. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the second most important civil official in the Han-Song dynasty. Now, however, he has truly become deserted by everyone. Military generals ignore him, and civil officials are unwilling to associate with him.

Enraged, Du Zundao did something foolish: during the time when Ning Anqing returned to Jiankang to recover his life, Du Zundao decided to surrender to the Yuan Dynasty.
He first wrote a letter to Li Chahan in Bianliang Road, saying that he was willing to surrender to the Yuan Dynasty and could act as an inside agent for Li Chahan to attack Runing. At that time, he could cooperate with the Yuan army to capture the city.

This letter was sent to Bianliang by a trusted confidant of Du Zundao, and then, nothing more happened.
Li Chahan is now surrounded on three sides by the Holy Martial Army, and Liu Futong is to the south, so he is surrounded on all four sides. He can hardly protect himself. At this time, Du Zundao wrote to him, saying that he was willing to surrender to the Yuan and become an inside agent. Where the hell were you before?
Li Chahan suspected this was a conspiracy. Liu Futong and Du Zundao must have already made a deal with Lu Jin, which is why they came up with such a bad idea. As long as his Yuan army in Bianliang marched south and left the fortified city, Du Zundao would not only be an inside agent, but might also join forces with the Shengwu Army to rush in from all directions. If he lost his stronghold and was ambushed in the open, wouldn't he be doomed?
Liu Futong and Lu Jin are quite cunning, but unfortunately, I, Li Chahan, will not fall for your tricks!
Thinking he had seen through the two men's scheme, Richardhan wrote a letter to Liu Futong, mocking him and saying, "Don't try to show off your petty tricks in front of me anymore." He also sent back the original copy of Du Zundao's letter.

When Liu Futong received the letter, he was completely dumbfounded. "When did I ever try to pull any tricks on you?" he thought. Then he opened the letter Du Zundao had sent to Li Chahan.
Enraged, Liu Futong immediately went to confront Du Zundao, throwing the two letters in front of him.

"I knew you were no good long ago. You learned a lot of bad things from those Tartars in Dadu. I tolerated you before because you were my comrade-in-arms in the uprising, but I never expected you to betray me and tens of thousands of soldiers to the Yuan invaders? What else do you have to say?"

When Du Zundao saw his letter and Li Chahan's reply, he cursed Li Chahan as an idiot in his heart, while mocking Liu Futong, "Heh, you say I betrayed you, but you betrayed me by joining that guy surnamed Lu without my consent."

"Fine, fine, fine, still dare to argue? Is that the same as surrendering to Yuan Neng? I surrendered to Gongshu, but I never intended to take your life, did I? Fine, it's too late to say anything more, just die!"

With a clang, Liu Futong immediately drew his knife and plunged it into Du Zundao's chest. Seeing Du Zundao cough up blood and fall to the ground, Liu Futong spat on the corpse, cursed him under his breath, and turned to leave.

Ning Anqing never imagined that such a thing would happen to Liu Du's troops in just a few days. Du Zundao, who was originally killed by assassins sent by Liu Futong, had now died directly at Liu Futong's hands.
In mid-February, Ning Anqing returned to Jiankang to resume his mission. Lu Jin was very pleased and praised him for his courage, resourcefulness, and thoroughness. Before going to Ruyang, he had sent someone to write a memorial about the situation of Liu Du's troops and send it back. This time, he was able to successfully pacify the Central Plains rebel army, which was a great achievement.

Therefore, Lu Jin simply decided to avoid troubling two people and sent Ning Anqing to Ruyang again to take charge of the reorganization of Liu Du's troops. At the same time, Feng Guoyong, along with the Privy Council, formulated a plan for advancing and taking over troops, and wrote it into an order to send to the various units of the Shengwu Army in the Central Plains.

In late February, the reorganization and takeover officially began. Yu Tingyu and Bian Yuanheng, stationed along the Nanyang-Luoyang line, personally led the Seventh Army Group of the Fourth Front Army to the Gongxian and Dengfeng areas of Henan, blocking the passage into Shaanxi from Bianliang.

Hua Gao, Yu Tongyuan, and Fu Youde, located in Wuyang, led the Eighth Army Group to Xiangcheng and Yancheng (Luohe) to take over the first line of defense against Bianliang from Liu Futong.

Liu Futong's troops retreated from Yancheng to Ruyang to prepare for reorganization, and the entire front line was handed over to the main force of the Shengwu Army.

Liao Yong'an's Third Army Group, located in Luzhou, also marched north from Anfeng, reaching the areas of Shangshui (Zhoukou), Nandun, and Wanqiu (Huaiyang), and arrived at the front line of Bianliang Road. Along the way, all of Liu Du's original troops withdrew to Ruyang to accept reorganization.

Yu Tonghai's Second Army Group, located in Xuzhou, also began to advance westward along the Yellow River, reaching the line of Luyi, Zhecheng, and Ningling, blocking the eastern route to Bianliang.

Finally, there was Liao Yongzhong's Fourth Army on the north bank of the Yellow River. In this battle, they didn't need to go south. They only needed to set up defenses along the Yellow River and block the Hebei defense line from Cao County to Wen County to prevent Li Chahan and Wang Baobao from crossing the river and breaking through to Shanxi or Hebei.

By the end of February, all five army groups participating in the Central Plains Campaign had been mobilized. Lu Jin appointed Liao Yong'an as the commander-in-chief, responsible for commanding the campaign, with Yu Tingyu and Liao Yongzhong as deputy commanders. Yu Tingyu was responsible for commanding the two army groups on the western route, Liao Yongzhong was responsible for commanding an army group on the north bank of the Yellow River, and Liao Yong'an was responsible for commanding the two army groups on the eastern and southern routes.

At the same time, Liu Futong's original Central Plains Red Turbans also arrived in Ruyang to assemble and begin reorganization. The old and weak were laid off and returned to civilian life, while the elite were selected to form two provisional independent divisions.

Furthermore, Lu Jin ordered that all the generals from Liu Futong's faction, from Liu Futong, Luo Wensu, Wang Xianzong, and Han Yao'er down to the battalion commanders, be transferred to various army groups in the Central Plains Campaign to temporarily serve as deputy commanders. This was also a kind of training, to let them see how the Holy Martial Army fought!
Only Ning Anqing and Liu Futong's brother Liu Liu were left in Ruyang to continue reorganizing the troops.

On the sixth day of the third month, the Bianliang Campaign to encircle and suppress Li Chahan and Wang Baobao officially began. Except for Liao Yongzhong's Fourth Army Group on the north bank of the Yellow River, which was responsible for guarding the area and did not need to move, the other four army groups in Henan advanced in four directions.

Bian Yuanheng personally led the main force to break through Hulao Pass, and successively captured the four cities of Sishui, Xingyang, Heyin and Xingze, clearing the outer cities north of Zhengzhou.

Yu Tingyu personally led the main force of the Seventh Army Group to attack Mixian from Dengfeng, and then went straight to Zhengzhou.

In the southwest, Hua Gao, Yu Tongyuan, and Fu Youde led the Eighth Army Group from Xiangcheng and Yancheng, successively capturing six cities: Yangdi (Yuxian), Linying, Xuzhou (Xuchang), Xinzheng, Changge, and Weichuan.

Liao Yong'an, in the south, also personally led the Third Army Group, starting from Shangshui and Wanqiu (Huaiyang), and successively captured Xihua, Fugou, Yanling, and Weishi, with his troops advancing directly to Zhuxian Town south of Kaifeng!
Yu Tonghai, in the east, also personally led the Second Army Group, starting from Ningling and Zhecheng, and successively captured Taikang, Suizhou (Suixian), Qixian, Tongxu, and Chenliu, directly threatening the east side of Kaifeng.

Meanwhile, Yu Tingyu and Bian Yuanheng's forces once again captured Zhongmu and Yuanwu (Yuanyang). The four army groups approached Kaifeng from the east, west, and south. At this moment, Li Chahan and Wang Baobao could only stand despairingly on the top of Kaifeng, looking at the dark mass of more than 200,000 troops outside.

In this Battle of Bianliang, the Shengwu Army fought with utter audacity. Excluding Liao Yongzhong on the north bank of the Yellow River, the number of troops directly involved in the battle in the Henan direction alone exceeded 250,000, with a total of more than 200 artillery pieces, advancing in five columns simultaneously.

As for Li Chahan and Wang Baobao, the father and son together only had 60,000 troops. The Holy Martial Army was able to fight against their main force on almost every route and not be at a disadvantage. The difference in troop strength between the two sides was almost an astonishing five to one!

No matter how powerful Richardhan and Wang Baobao are, they can't fight against so many opponents. If you can block the east, you can't block the west; if you can block the southwest, you can't block the southeast. In any case, there will always be some areas where they can break through.

Not to mention that the Holy Martial Army also brought so many cannons. As long as a heavily fortified city on the front line was captured, the cities behind it with hardly any soldiers surrendered without resistance. Basically, all the armies arrived at the gates of Kaifeng without any obstacles.

By March 15th, when the armies from all directions arrived at the gates of Kaifeng, Li Chahan and Wang Baobao only had 20,000 soldiers left in the city. Seeing more than 200,000 people surrounding the city, the remaining Yuan soldiers in Kaifeng were trembling with fear.

However, the officers here were still loyal to the Yuan court and refused to open the city gates and surrender, so in the end, we had no choice but to fight.

Liao Yong'an immediately ordered the enemy to be surrounded on three sides and left one side unattacked, building artillery emplacements on the east, west, and south sides, leaving only the north side, which borders the Yellow River, unattacked. He also ordered Zhang Long's independent cavalry regiment to hide on the Yellow River embankment, preparing to intercept the fleeing enemy.

Then, the various Imperial Guard divisions were ordered to prepare for the assault on the city, with the other units following closely behind. Once the vanguard regiments captured the city gates, the remaining troops went in to fight in the streets.

On March 16, the siege of Kaifeng officially began. As soon as the dozens of cannons on the outer forts opened fire, they completely shattered the last bit of morale of the Yuan army in the city. No matter how the generals supervised the battle, they could not stop the ordinary soldiers from fleeing all over the city walls. After all, people are made of flesh and blood, so how could they possibly stop the iron bullets that came whistling in, each weighing more than ten kilograms?

Under the cover of artillery fire, the Imperial Guard's vanguard regiment calmly approached the city wall with ladders and began their swarm attack. The Yuan soldiers on the city wall, ravaged by the artillery fire, were unable to resist.

As soon as the cannon fire stopped, the various vanguard regiments almost simultaneously scaled three sides of the city wall and then attacked the city gate from their elevated positions. When the city gate was opened from the inside, the main force of the field army outside the city also rushed into the city. The Yuan army retreated in all directions and eventually fled uncontrollably towards the north gate.

Although Richardhan was unwilling to accept defeat, he was powerless to turn the tide. In the end, he was riddled with bullets by musketeers in the street fighting. This once-powerful warlord at the end of the Yuan Dynasty could only die on the spot in the face of absolute strength.

Wang Baobao, usually adept at escaping, failed to run away this time. Seeing the main force of the Shengwu Army break through the city defenses and enter the city, he immediately tried to flee again. He headed straight for the north gate, and the Shengwu Army couldn't catch him. However, he was captured by his subordinates, who wanted to surrender and gain merit, and was handed over to Liao Yong'an.
Liao Yong'an did not hesitate and immediately took out the flintlock pistol that Lu Jin had given him, killing him on the spot.

Li Chahan and Wang Baobao were people Lu Jin specifically wanted dead. Now that they had been captured, Liao Yong'an had no reason to let them live any longer!
This man, who was historically the greatest scourge of the early Ming Dynasty, was also beheaded in Kaifeng.

Bianjing, the capital of the Former Song Dynasty, had fallen into the hands of the Jurchens three times since 1140. After 214 years, it has finally returned to the hands of the Han Chinese regime!

(End of this chapter)