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

Chapter 239: United Front Dongxun
Liu Yuansheng was familiar with the government, so Danchu naturally wanted to ask him for information: "Everyone says that Li Yuanyin is in control of the government, but I don't believe it. What does the Grand Marshal think?"

Li Yuanyin is one year younger than Cen Danchu. As Li Chengdong's adopted son, he was ordered to supervise the imperial camp. He was regarded as Dongxun's spokesperson in the court and had a special status.

Liu Yuansheng knew that the two were sworn brothers, so he carefully considered his words and said, "Li Yuanyin is meticulous and modest. He never talks about government affairs all day long and has never recommended a single civil or military official. However, when the generals from Chu, Guizhou, and western Guangdong sent envoys to him, he would make friends with them and win over outsiders for the country.

"However, Yuan Pengnian, Jin Bao, Ding Shikui, Meng Zhengfa and others befriended Yuan Yin, borrowed Dong Xun's power, controlled the government, and bullied the ministers. There is a saying in the imperial court, 'Five Tigers in a Fake Mountain', because Yuan Yin's original surname was Jia, so it was called fake, and he was fooled by the Five Tigers without knowing it."

This statement can be corroborated by the intelligence report. Lee Won-yoon is "loyal by nature but ignorant of the political system", not very shrewd, and easily manipulated. Danchu became his brother and could influence Dongxun through him.

Dongxun Group has been entrenched in Guangdong for many years and has become a local tyrant. In terms of the strength of the towns, they can be roughly divided into two levels. At the beginning of the revolution, nine people were conferred the title of earl, which can be regarded as the first level, including Jiangning Earl Du Yonghe, Wuzhi Earl Yan Keyi, Boxing Earl Zhang Yue, Xuanping Earl Dong Fangce, Baofeng Earl Luo Chengyao, Xintai Earl Hao Shangjiu, Fenghua Earl Huang Yingjie, Le'an Earl Yang Dafu, Zhen'an Earl Zhang Daoying; Fan Chengen, Yang Youguang, Ye Chengen, Ma Bao and other generals were conferred the title of governor-general and co-governor, which can be regarded as the second level. Li Yuanyin was the commander of the Jinyiwei and was given the title of left governor-general, guarding the imperial court, with an extraordinary status.

Now, Li Chengdong has been dead for a year, and the Dongxun Group lacks a backbone and is even more fragmented. Du Yonghe holds the seal of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, and regards himself as the commander of Dongxun. Yan Keyi has always been loyal and determined to restore the country, but unfortunately he has died of illness. Li Yuanyin has no territory and no strength, but the people still have their hearts. Ma Bao is the most brave, but he is not strong, has few soldiers and horses, and has a low status. Hao Shangjiu, Huang Yingjie and other generations guard Chaozhou and Huizhou, occupy important positions, are content with the status quo, and do not buy into Du Yonghe and Li Yuanyin. There is also Yang Dafu, who was originally the garrison commander of Wuzhou, who was killed by Li Yuanyin.

This time the Red Army is sending troops to eastern Guangdong, and it is bound to have to deal with Dongxun. In the future, if the Red Army wants to seize Guangdong, it will also have to unite Dongxun's generals. Li Yuanyin, Ma Bao, and Hao Shangjiu are all capable of fighting. To plan big things and carry out great undertakings, you must make plans early.

Danchu asked, "General Yang Dafu of Dongxun was originally stationed in Wuzhou, but was killed by Li Yuanyin. Is there any hidden story behind this?"

Liu Yuansheng said, "After the death of the King of Ningxia, Yang Dafu was arrogant and disloyal, and his army was in disarray. He was stationed in Wuzhou, looted passing ships, and even "killed the envoys from Qian and Chu", causing public resentment.

"Last year, the Tartar Prince Zheng Jierhalang and Prince Shuncheng Lekedhun invaded Huguang. Yang Dafu wanted to surrender to the Qing Dynasty and allowed his soldiers to burn, kill and loot. Now the emperor has issued an edict to severely reprimand Yang Dafu for his intention to hijack the emperor.

"Li Yuanyin, Du Yonghe and Zhang Yue planned to invite Yang Dafu to a banquet in the name of Emperor Yongli, and strangled him to death on the imperial ship along with his followers. Afterwards, Luo Chengyao, Dong Fangce and Ma Bao restrained themselves a little, and Du Yonghe and Li Yuanyin gained some prestige."

Lu Kezao, the new governor of Guangxi, used Wuzhou as his headquarters. He was good at controlling his generals, and Yang Dafu obeyed his orders. After Lu Kezao left office, Yu Xindu took over Guangxi, and Yang Dafu's domineering attitude gradually became apparent. After Yang Dafu's death, Wuzhou became powerless and was occupied by the Zhongzheng Camp. The Zhongzheng Camp could no longer stay in Wuzhou, and Chen Bangfu took advantage of the opportunity to move in.

The situation gradually became clear. The Red Army's eastward march was mainly to fight a political battle, not a military one. After a quick calculation, there were quite a few tasks: expel Chen Bangfu from Wuzhou to ensure the safety of the Red Army's food supply; test the court, save Yinxi, and rescue the "Five Tigers"; appease Dongxun and win over Li Yuanyin, Ma Bao and other generals; fight against the Tartars, ensure the safety of the troops, and win the hearts of the people...

According to the Tang report, the Qing army was heading straight for Guangzhou and was fighting with Dongxun for Qingyuan, the gateway to Guangzhou. Danchu estimated that Dongxun's organization was disorganized and he would definitely not be able to defend Qingyuan, so he asked, "What is the situation on the front line? What is the court's plan?"

Liu Yuansheng smiled bitterly and sighed, "It's hard to explain. Do you know who the emperor sent to the front line to supervise the battle?"

The four assistant ministers, Yan Qiheng, Wang Huacheng, Zhu Tianlin, and Wen Anzhi, were all incompetent and could not handle the important task.

Imperial family? There is no precedent for them leading troops. Close ministers? Li Yuanyin is too young and naive. "Ma Emperor" Ma Jixiang has absolute power and no military strategy. Eunuch Pang Tianshou is ambitious but incompetent, and eunuch Xia Guoxiang has already been sent to Wuzhou.

Nine ministers? Even the Minister of War Liu Yuansheng came to the Red Army to urge them to fight. Who else could go to the front to supervise the battle?

Dongxun? Most of Dongxun’s generals have no fighting spirit, and when the time comes, they just want to defend their own garrisons.

Among all the civil and military officials in the court, Danchu could not think of anyone who could serve as the commander on the front line.

Liu Yuansheng had a sad face and answered his own question: "The emperor ordered that Ma Jixiang be promoted to the Minister of War and supervise the defense of Zhaoqing, and Cao Yu be promoted to the Minister and stay with Li Yuanyin to supervise.' He also issued a handwritten edict that Li Yuanyin stay in Zhaoqing to supervise the various camps and lead the troops to aid Guangdong with Ma Jixiang, Pang Tianshou, Dong Fangce and Chen Bangfu.'

"The contradictions are so confusing. Du Yonghe was guarding the rich city of Guangzhou, and was worried about the division of power among the towns. He wrote a petition to stop it, saying that he could defend Guangzhou. Li Yuanyin was at a loss and stayed in Zhaoqing. Pang Tianshou was very active, commanding troops in Sanshui, intending to threaten the Qing army's flank. Chen Bangfu has always been passive and afraid of fighting. He lost his garrison and dared not fight the Tartars...

"As the Minister of War, I have no choice but to step down and let others take over."

The six ministries of the Ming Dynasty had great power, and the highly respected Shangshu could compete with the regent. Ma Jixiang was born as a vagrant in the capital, a treacherous and cunning man, but he could become the Minister of War. The imperial court's reputation was cheap.

Danchu got a headache just thinking about it. Who are these people? The "Emperor Ma" Ma Jixiang, the eunuch Pang Tianshou, the evil-minded Chen Bangfu, the simple-minded Li Yuanyin...

Isn't it a joke that the Red Army went east to aid Guangdong and had to fight side by side with these people? In the two battles of Quanzhou last year, the Red Army fought against the Eight Banners and fought hard, but in the end they had to retreat because of the lack of strength of the friendly forces. Jiao Lian, Hu Yiqing, and Xiong Zhaozuo were like this, let alone Yu Ma Jixiang, Pang Tianshou and others?

Although the Yongli Emperor was incompetent, he still represented the legitimacy of the imperial court. In order to win the hearts of the people, the Red Army had to go east to aid Guangdong.

Thinking of this, Danchu resolutely said: "Grand Marshal, the situation is chaotic, and we need to cheer up. Pang Tianshou is a eunuch, and Liu Guochang is a remnant of the bandits. They still know how to serve the country, let alone us? The Red Army will have to rely more on the Grand Marshal for this expedition."

Liu Yuansheng only had an empty title left, and was satisfied with having a place to stay in the Red Army. He quickly said, "Marshal Jue is modest, how can you rely on me?"

On March 6, the defenders of Teng County surrendered. The Fourth Infantry Battalion entered Teng County and incorporated the defenders. Two days later, Danchu led his army down the river and headed straight for Wuzhou.

(End of this chapter)