Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 208: The Yunnan-Guangxi War
The Ming troops on the front line retreated one after another, and there were many troops stationed outside the city of Guilin. In addition to the Chu Division, the Yunnan Division, and the Gui Division, there was also the Dashi Army sent by Sun Kewang.

It turned out that the envoys sent by Sun Kewang to the court, Yang Weizhi and Gong Yi, were both former officials of the Ming Dynasty. Sun Kewang was not confident in them, so he sent his old generals Pan Shirong and Jiao Guangqi to accompany Yang and Gong in the name of protection in order to spy on the attitude of the court. When Pan Shirong and Jiao Guangqi led their troops to Guilin, they could not move forward, so they stationed their troops at Qixingyan in the south of the city.

Danchu saw that things were moving fast and knew that the Dashi Army had grown strong, so he sent envoys to present gifts and make friends with Pan Shirong and Jiao Guangqi.

Guilin had many soldiers but little pay, so friction was bound to occur. It was thought that the Ming army would clash with the Dashi army. But unexpectedly, the Ming army was the first to have trouble.

"Marshal, something terrible has happened. The commander of the Yunnan Division, Zhao Yinxuan, has led his army to investigate the crime and is making a scene in front of the Xinxing Marquis' camp. The two sides are on the verge of a war."

The scout came to report that Danchu was working on paperwork in the tent. Upon hearing the news, he put down his pen and ink and angrily said, "What? Zhao Yinxuan, this fat guy, dares to show off to Xinxing Hou? What's the matter?"

"The Yunnan army was short of money and started looting outside the city. Zhao Zhentai led his troops to suppress the rebellion and killed dozens of Yunnan army members."

Zhao Zhentai, also known as Zhao Xing, was the most strict in disciplining the army. Since Bai Gui and Ma Qijiao died in battle, Zhao Xing had become Jiao Lian's top general.

Jiao Lian was a close confidant of Qu Shisi. The Guangxi Division had been stationed in Guilin for a long time and regarded Guilin as a forbidden territory, so they naturally did not allow the Yunnan Division to come and run wild. However, in the two previous battles in Quanzhou, Jiao Lian was the de facto commander, and he mobilized a large number of troops, suffered successive defeats, and his prestige was greatly reduced.

When someone came to destroy Jiao Lian's place, Danchu naturally had to go over to help. He immediately sent out the personal guard battalion, the musket battalion, and the cavalry battalion to go to the Guishi camp to rescue them.

The roar of galloping horses shook the sky. The Red Army had already gained a reputation for itself, and before it reached the camp of the Guangxi Division, the Yunnan Division had already retreated and formed a battle array two miles back.

The Yunnan Division was no weaker than the Guangxi Division, but the Red Army took sides and the Yunnan Division could not withstand it.

Jiao Lian was also wearing armor and was extremely alert. He was extremely happy to see Danchu and said, "Zhuoru, it's thanks to you that the Yunnan army retreated because of you leading the troops here."

"The Yunnan army looted first, and Zhao Zhen eliminated the harm for the people. Even if Zhao Yinxuan comes to punish us, we are not afraid of him."

"Ah!" Jiao Lian sighed and said, "It's not that simple. Let's go to the camp and talk."

Dan Chu felt ominous. Jiao Lian had always been bold and fearless, so why was he sighing like that? Was it because he was still in disgrace after the defeat in Quanzhou, or was there some other reason?
When he entered the camp gate, he saw a row of soldiers tied up with heavy clothes kneeling outside the central army tent. Among them was a brave general with disheveled hair and a lonely look. He was Zhao Xing, the general of the Gui army.

The situation is so serious? Is Jiao Lian going to kill his own relatives for the sake of justice?
"Old Zhao!" Danchu couldn't help but greet Zhao Xing.

"Marshal Jue, save me!" When Zhao Xing saw Dan Chu, he felt like he had grabbed a life-saving straw and shouted hurriedly.

Danchu blurted out: "Don't worry, I will definitely protect you..."

Jiao Lian's eyes were sinister, and he stared at Cen Danchu fiercely, which made him shudder.

After entering the tent, Jiao Lianping looked around and said, "The situation is very bad. I am not sure whether Zhao Xing can be saved."

What is this? How can you not protect your top general?
Danchu frowned and said, "Marshal, don't hesitate! Zhao Zhen is your trusted general, like your left and right arm. He has done nothing wrong. How can you punish him so easily?"

"Punishment? More than just punishment?" Jiao Lian sneered, "Someone is determined to put him to death."

"Who? Who is so brave?" Jiao Ke stood aside and asked on behalf of Dan Chu.

"Zhao Yinxuan dared to come here to question us because he has a backer behind him." Jiao Lian asked Danchu, "Do you know that Yu Yuanye has already arrived in Guilin and is staying in the Dusi Yamen?"

Danchu knew it. In the court, the factional struggles continued and intensified. Li Chengdong and He Tengjiao were defeated, Qu Shisi failed to lead the army, and the Chu Party's momentum declined. Ma Jixiang, the "Ma Emperor" of the Wu Party, took the opportunity to recruit Wang Huacheng into the cabinet to contain Yan Qiheng, and used the excuse that Qu Shisi lost the city and territory to order Yu Yuanye to lead the Chu, Guangdong, and Yunnan divisions, depriving Qu Shisi of his military power.

Qu Shisi was the commander-in-chief and had been in charge of Guilin for many years. Yu Yuanye had just been appointed as the commander-in-chief and was eager to establish his authority and power, so he came to Guilin under the pretext of patrolling the border. The two commanders were in the same city, so they were bound to fight for power and their subordinates were at a loss as to what to do.

Military plans were simply child's play for the Southern Ming Dynasty.

Yu Yuanye and Zhao Yinxuan were in-laws, so naturally he would stand on Zhao Yinxuan's side. He had just arrived in Guilin and was just about to stir up trouble to establish his authority, when Zhao Xing came knocking on his doorstep.

Jiao Lian inherited the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Ming Army. He had a strong sense of orthodoxy, was loyal to the imperial court, and was in awe of the commander-in-chief. Cen Dan was a military household from the beginning, and worked his way up from a boy soldier to the Earl of Dinglu. Why would he care whether Yu Yuanye was the commander-in-chief or not?
He quickly advised: "Marshal, although Yu Yuanye is the commander-in-chief, he has no moral integrity. When Hao Yaoqi first came to Guilin, the troops were rampant. Yu Yuanye was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi at the time, but he had no skills in suppressing and pacifying the enemy and fled in the face of the enemy. In the end, it was Commander Qu who went out of the city to appease the enemy and stabilize Hao Yaoqi.

"Yu Yuanye first promised his daughter to Wang Yongzuo's son in order to make friends with the Yunnan army. Then, when he saw Zhao Yinxuan was appointed as the commander of the Yunnan army, he broke off the marriage and promised his daughter to Zhao Yinxuan's son, which made the whole world laugh at him.

"Zhao Yinxuan is the commander of the Yunnan Division because of his age, but he never goes to the battlefield in person. He only knows how to drive Hu Yiqing and Wang Yongzuo to charge the flame formation. Hu Yiqing is my sworn brother, and Wang Yongzuo is not on good terms with Zhao Yinxuan.

"Neither of these two is to be feared. The Yunnan army is called a comrade, but they plundered the people, and they deserve the punishment. If the Duke executes Zhao Zhen just to appease the Yunnan army, it will be tantamount to destroying the Great Wall!"

Jiao Lian's expression changed, as if he was thinking about something, and he said, "If the commander-in-chief has an order, what should we do?"

How can he be a commander if he is so honest? How can he survive in troubled times? Danchu said without hesitation: "Even if the emperor has an order, it is not my fault, so don't pay attention to it!"

Jiao Lian looked at Dan Chu with a complicated expression on his face, one that showed doubt, suspicion, and confusion.

At this time, the guards came to report that Qu Shisi and Yu Yuanye came to visit. It must be the dispute between Yunnan and Guangxi that alarmed the two commanders.

Jiao Lian did not dare to neglect and quickly put on his armor and went out of the camp to greet him. Dan Chu followed him and as soon as he left the camp, he saw two large sedan chairs in the distance, with the sedan bearers walking very fast. There were also dozens of guards riding horses and holding high signs, making a grand scene.

Qu Shisi sat in the front, and there were seven or eight tall plaques in front of the sedan chair, on which were written his official positions and titles: Earl of Lingui, Governor of Guilin, Governor of the Sichuan, Hu, Guangdong and Gan divisions, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, etc.

Yu Yuanye was in the back, and the plaque in front of his sedan chair was much less impressive. His official positions included Grand Secretary of the Dongge, Governor of Yunnan, Chu, and Guangdong, and Minister of War.

The large sedan chair, tall signboards and leading figures made for a solemn ceremony, which made ordinary people feel daunted.

The two commanders' carriages and horses were gathered together, but as they were in a hurry, they had not prepared any drums, music, or gunners.

When Dan first saw this, he found it quite funny.

Jiao Lian was respectful and saluted to Qu and Yu. Danchu saluted Qu Shisi with a military salute and respectfully addressed him as "Commander-in-Chief". He only gave a slight bow to Yuan Ye.

Yu Yuanye was very displeased and got angry on the spot, saying, "You are Cen Danchu? I am the commander-in-chief, why don't you bow to me?"

Danchu said with contempt, "I am the Earl of Dinglu, and my official title is higher than yours. It is disrespectful for me to bow to you. Although you are the commander-in-chief, you are not the commander-in-chief of my Gui army."

"You?" Yu Yuanye was so angry that his beard was shaking.

Qu Shisi also frowned and shouted, "Cen Danchu, don't be rude!"

(End of this chapter)