Fu Shanhe

Chapter 578 Change of Face
Having captured Nanjing, Hugjil strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, surrounded by officials.

The officials were still the same familiar officials, only the master of the main hall had changed.

After sitting on the dragon throne and receiving the homage of the Yu Dynasty officials, Hugjil asked with concern:

"Has the little emperor been found yet?"

It doesn't matter if a few ministers run away; they're all just a bunch of good-for-nothings anyway, they can't cause any trouble.

But the young emperor was different. Even with ten emperors in power, he was still the emperor with the highest level of recognition among the people.

Since the emperor could not be found, the abdication ceremony was not carried out.

When a foreign race seizes power, it is inherently difficult to gain acceptance.

The Tatar Kingdom wanted to follow the orthodoxy of the Great Yu Dynasty, and the abdication was an indispensable part of that process.

Appointing a puppet emperor as a replacement would hardly gain the approval of the people and would only serve as a backup option.

"Reporting to the Great Chanyu, there are eyewitnesses who saw Yu Dynasty officials leading the young emperor into the river."

Upon receiving the news, I immediately arranged for a search and rescue operation along the Yangtze River, but the time intervals have been too long, and I fear it may be too late to save him.

Shih Shih-chang replied to the report with a nervous expression.

As the first troops to enter the city, they were so focused on looting that they failed to take control of the young emperor immediately.

It may seem like a minor issue, but when it comes to a surrendered official, there's a lot to be done.

Fortunately, the Yu Dynasty official jumped into the river with the young emperor instead of running away with him, otherwise he would have been in real trouble.

"You want to see people alive, you want to see corpses when you're dead!"

"We must spare no effort in the search and rescue. After all, he is the emperor of a country, and we cannot watch the young emperor perish at sea."

If the body cannot be saved, it should be buried with the rites due to an emperor after its discovery.

Those loyal and righteous men who died alongside their country were also given a grand burial, according to their social standing in life.

Hugjil gave the order with a serious expression.

Despite being furious, he managed to control his temper well, as a competent politician.

With the officials having just submitted, it is precisely the time to appease the people.

The grassland allied forces had already established their authority on the road; what they needed most now was to demonstrate their magnanimity.

By abandoning the pursuit of Shi Shichang's responsibility, praising loyal and righteous individuals, and giving a grand funeral to the former emperor, these were all essential maneuvers for winning people's hearts.

"The Great Khan is wise!"

All the ministers shouted in unison.

After surrendering to the Northern barbarians, what everyone feared most was that the allied forces would massacre them again.

Once Nanjing is massacred, no matter how good the conditions the Tatars promise, no one will dare to cooperate with them.

The steppe allied forces looted extensively after entering the city, causing great unease among the officials.

Fortunately, the situation did not develop into the worst possible scenario; after looting ordinary people, the looting did not spread to the residential areas of officials.

At this moment, Hugjil released a political signal of "leniency," which completely put everyone's minds at ease.

A madman who only knows how to kill, no matter how strong his army is, will only be destroyed in the time it takes.

Only a leader who can control his emotions and know how to balance tension and relaxation has a chance to contend for the world.

A ruler chooses his ministers, and a minister chooses his ruler.

Although their journey to the Tatar Kingdom was not pleasant, it did not diminish the fact that they were already on board.

When considering the issue, one inevitably sided with the Tatar Kingdom.

"I am very pleased that my beloved ministers have been able to abandon darkness and embrace the light in time."

I am aware of everyone's contributions, and all rewards will be issued shortly.

Later, the top officials of each ministry gave a detailed report to Interior Minister Sarina on the functions, staffing, and vacancies of their respective ministries.

Military affairs are handled directly by generals of the rank of commander-in-chief and above, who report directly to me.

......"

Without any unnecessary words, Hugjil immediately began assigning tasks.

Capturing Nanjing was only the first step in conquering the world; the real test for the Tatar Kingdom would come with the loyalist army led by the Marquis of Hanshui.

The most urgent task is to consolidate the existing forces before the reinforcements arrive, otherwise the battle for Nanjing will have been for nothing.

……

Songjiang Mansion.

"The imperial court has ordered the arrest of the false emperor. What is your opinion, Prefect?"

Yun Xiangwen asked with a half-smile.

With the arrival of chaotic times, the status of civil and military officials is also quietly reversing.

In the past, any civil official could easily criticize a military general, but that will never happen again.

On the contrary, civil officials need the support of military generals when handling local government affairs.

"Your Excellency, since the imperial court has issued an imperial edict, we should obey it."

Qiu Yulin said expressionlessly.

There are all sorts of birds in a big forest, and with so many members of the Great Yu imperial family, there are bound to be plenty of people who court death.

As early as when he received the news that the Crown Prince Chong had declared himself emperor, he prepared to send troops to arrest him.

He had encountered similar farces before.

Basically, they were all suppressed by the government at the first opportunity and handed over to the Imperial Clan Court for handling, so they never became public knowledge.

This situation was unusual; the order was stopped before it even left the government office.

They euphemistically said: "This matter is of great importance, and we must first consult the imperial court."

No matter how dissatisfied he was, Qiu Yulin had no choice but to accept the soldiers blocking the door.

As expected, after reporting to the imperial court, a serious imperial edict was issued to deal with the matter.

Unaware that Nanjing had already fallen, he naturally had to strictly follow the imperial edict issued by the court.

"Lord Qiu is right. We should not show any mercy to such traitors."

However, the Crown Prince Chong's self-proclamation as emperor was not only a personal act, but also gained the support of some members of the royal family and gentry.

"Since this involves treason, we can't just arrest Prince Chong and ignore the other rebels, can we?"

Yun Xiangwen's words startled the several civil officials present.

After the news of the Crown Prince Chong declaring himself emperor spread, Governor Yun immediately dispatched troops to surround his residence, giving outsiders no chance to make contact.

Even if the gentry and members of the royal family wanted to support him, they would need to be able to meet with him.

Despite the fact that there is no support, this person insists on claiming that there is support, clearly trying to escalate the case.

Recalling Yun Xiangwen's infamous reputation for slaughtering powerful families, everyone instantly realized that something bad was about to happen.

"Your Excellency, you mustn't!"

"The northern barbarians have besieged Nanjing, and the rebel army is rampaging in Huguang and Jiangxi. The court needs stability at this time."

At this juncture, engaging in widespread punishment based on guilt by association is detrimental to the stability of the nation!

Qiu Yulin hurriedly spoke up to persuade him.

Yun Xiangwen's reputation in the Shilin circle was already notorious, so he naturally didn't care to add another layer of disrepute.

But he was a prefect, and if he followed suit and implicated others, he would inevitably be implicated as well.

Not only will his reputation be ruined, but he won't be able to survive in officialdom either.

Seeing that the prefect had taken the lead, the officials, including the sub-prefect, quickly followed suit.

"Bastard!"

"This admiral is ordered to apprehend the rebels; how dare you interfere!"
Could it be that you are also involved, fearing that investigating traitors will implicate you?

Yun Xiangwen's questioning infuriated everyone.

Apart from a bunch of servants, Prince Chong had no foothold in Songjiang Prefecture.

Even colluding with the White Lotus Sect would be more promising than colluding with him.

At least the White Lotus Rebellion could still bewitch a group of believers, while the Crown Prince Chong's self-proclaimed emperor could do nothing but acquire a dragon robe.

"My lord, I've been wronged!"

"We are utterly loyal to the court; how could we possibly do such a treasonous thing!"

After a brief hesitation, the group of civil officials, realizing what had happened, hurriedly knelt down and cried out for justice.

Now is not the time to fight head-on; if you're not afraid to die, you really will.

If they dare to implicate members of the imperial family and gentry, they won't mind having a few more officials involved.

Once accused of treason, not only will the person die, but their entire clan and family will be wiped out.

In the face of survival, nothing matters when it comes to principles and moral integrity.

Aside from inwardly cursing the military leaders for their incompetence, they can't do anything else.

"Gentlemen, I am very pleased that you were able to recognize your mistakes in time."

We will not dwell on the past, but we will see how you perform going forward.

The vanguard of the loyalist army will arrive in Songjiang Prefecture soon, and we cannot be unprepared.

The court could not let loyal officials lose heart, so it confiscated the property of the rebels, which served as the military pay and provisions for the loyalist officers and soldiers.

"You are all local officials, and I trust you with this matter!"

Yun Xiangwen said with a smile.

War is all about money and supplies. If the army that came to the aid of the emperor had to rely entirely on supplies from the rear, the cost would be too high.

Even if the Annam Protectorate had war reserves, it could not withstand such a disaster.

It just so happens that Songjiang and Suzhou are both the most prosperous places in Dayu, and the tax revenue of one prefecture can be equivalent to that of a lower-level province.

It was still possible to raise money and provisions from both locations to supply the expenses of an army of 120,000 for a year and a half.

Asking the gentry directly would definitely not get the money. If the local gentry were easy to talk to, there wouldn't have been the previous tax resistance movement, and the Great Yu Empire wouldn't be in its current state.

Kind words of advice don't work, but presenting a counter-argument first changes the situation.

Whether they were members of the royal family or wealthy gentry, anyone unwilling to contribute money and provisions to support the army fighting to defend the king was a traitor colluding with the Crown Prince of Chong to plot a rebellion.

We need to put these officials in a good position, because we'll still need them to do the work for a long time to come.

"Admiral, the northern barbarians are coming with great force. If we are too harsh on the gentry, things could easily go wrong!"
It would be better to adopt a more conciliatory approach and encourage the gentry to donate money and grain.

With the combined efforts of the two prefectures, raising 200,000 shi of grain and 300,000 taels of silver should not be a problem.

Knowing that Yun Xiangwen wanted money and supplies, Qiu Yulin was no longer flustered and immediately put forward his own plan.

If he uses this money and supplies sparingly, it will be enough to cover the expenses of his troops for half a year.

"To be harsh on the gentry?"

"Using the northern barbarians to threaten the imperial court is utterly ridiculous!"

"I think everyone knows a little about how the Northern barbarians behaved in Jiangbei."

The Northern Barbarians claimed to have a million-strong army, although this figure was heavily exaggerated, it was still roughly half the actual number.

Among them were a large number of cavalry, whose daily consumption was probably greater than that of a million-strong army.

"Both people and livestock need to eat. You don't actually think they can transport grain from Liaodong, do you?"

"Looking at the tragic state of several prefectures north of the Yangtze River, you don't think the Northern barbarians massacred the cities because of their brutality, do you?"

"With so many people, horses, and livestock, the limited land simply cannot support them."

It is said that on their way south, the northern barbarian army was short of food and resorted to cannibalism.

Don't assume that just because they've arrived in Jiangnan, they won't need to eat.

Looting civilians is inefficient and detrimental to local stability.

This heavy burden will inevitably be shifted to the local gentry.

Let's wait and see. Once the Northern barbarians can no longer obtain enough money and provisions from Nanjing, they will immediately change their tune.

"If anyone wants to go and become food for the Northern barbarians, this admiral will not stop them!"

"No matter what means you use, you must raise 1.2 million shi of grain and 3 million taels of cash within one month."

Considering that Suzhou Prefecture is close to the front line, let Songjiang Prefecture and Suzhou Prefecture each bear half of the cost of raising money and grain this time!

Don't try to bargain. I, the admiral, know better than you how wealthy the gentry are.

Remember, the money is to be paid by the gentry, not to be levied on the common people.

The Marquis of Hanshui loves his people like his own children. If anyone is found to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defying him, beware of the consequences for their entire family!

Yun Xiangwen said with a disdainful look.

If others said these things, it might not be as deterrent.

As a renowned admiral who wiped out entire families, no one dared to ignore the words spoken by Yun Xiangwen.

The most powerful families in Jiangnan were wiped out in his hands, and dealing with a few lesser gentry would be even less of a challenge.

Most importantly, although Yun Xiangwen demanded a high price, the Northern barbarians were even more ruthless.

Regardless of whether the massacre was due to money or supplies, the city was indeed destroyed.

People who live far away might not realize it, but Yangzhou Prefecture is right on their doorstep.

Worse still, the northern barbarians slaughtered not only Yangzhou, but also Xuzhou and the capital in the north.

In smaller towns where the massacres occurred, there were even more.

Compared to the Northern barbarians, whose crimes were countless, the Marquis of Hanshui was much better at eating.

……

Similar scenes are playing out in other regions as well.

However, it wasn't just the loyalist army that was pressing for payment; the northern barbarians were also busy raising money and provisions.

Even after deducting the troops left to guard the route, the Northern Barbarians still had more than 400,000 troops in the Jiangnan region.

With the addition of the newly incorporated Nanjing garrison, the total strength even exceeded 500,000.

"Bastard!"

"Da Yu had previously collected enough strategic supplies to feed the city's soldiers and civilians for a year, so why are there so few supplies left in the warehouse now?"

Looking at the report in his hand, Hugjil asked in a stern voice.

He was eager to lead his troops to capture Nanjing because he was after the supplies in the city.

To everyone's surprise, the city was captured, but when the warehouses were opened, they found that nine out of ten were empty.

Let alone feeding a million soldiers and civilians for a year, it wouldn't even last a year just to supply the consumption of a few hundred thousand garrison troops.

Ninety percent of the expected supplies evaporated.

If this hole cannot be plugged, it will directly affect the subsequent battle.

"Reporting to the Great Chanyu, the news released by the previous dynasty was merely to stabilize public sentiment."

Limited by financial resources, the previous dynasty only prepared supplies for the garrison from the beginning, without considering the daily consumption of the people in the city.

When Emperor Taizu of the previous dynasty built Nanjing City, he had already considered the problem of long-term siege and used a large number of glutinous rice bricks.

If the people run out of food, they can rely on these bricks as a last resort.

Zhai Congshuang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, explained with a look of fear.

Aside from their initial friendliness, the Tatar leadership soon began to reveal their true colors after entering the city.

In name, these people were all dukes and marquises of the new dynasty, but in reality, their status was pitifully low.

The slightest mistake could result in a severe beating.

There were also unfortunate colleagues ahead of them who, in an effort to build rapport, invited high-ranking Tatar officials to a banquet at their residence.

As a result of the banquet, his wife and daughters were all harmed.

His colleague, enraged, stepped forward to stop him and was beaten half to death.

When the case was brought to Hugjiltu afterward, he only received a symbolic punishment.

After the storm passed, the surrendered officials, now awakened by the experience, quickly understood their place in the government.

All the titles and ranks are meaningless; in the Tatar Kingdom, only the Tatars are truly in charge. They are nothing but a group of well-dressed lackeys.

"Ha ha……"

"What a convenient excuse: limited financial resources and insufficient supplies!"

"Are you planning to send my soldiers to gnaw on bricks?"

Hugjil's furious retort terrified the surrendered officials, who trembled in fear.

Glutinous rice bricks can save lives in critical moments, but that doesn't mean they can serve as military rations.

Fighting is a high-energy activity for soldiers, and they must have sufficient nutrition to maintain their combat effectiveness.

Elite troops are all nurtured with money and provisions.

After the fall of the Nanjing court, the Marquis of Hanshui had become the de facto supreme leader of the Dayu Empire.

Given his influence in Dayu, the southern provinces would certainly follow his lead.

The money, grain, and supplies that could be mobilized were far beyond what the Tatar Kingdom, which occupied half of Southern Zhili and a third of the north, could compare to.

The failure to acquire sufficient strategic resources in Nanjing meant that the Tatar Kingdom would have to win the upcoming battles quickly.

If they can't break out quickly, they'll soon be trapped and starve to death.

Unfortunately, the nomads were not good at naval warfare. Even after crossing the Yangtze River, the dense network of waterways in the Jiangnan region posed a huge problem for the nomadic cavalry.

Their forces were divided and sent out to plunder, but they all suffered considerable losses.

The sweltering weather was a major threat to the grassland coalition.

Fighting while wearing thick armor, northern soldiers were more prone to heatstroke than southern soldiers.

According to the prior plan, the Tatar Kingdom intended to postpone the decisive battle until the autumn when the weather turned cooler.

However, this made the supply of materials a major problem.

The north is devastated and cannot be relied upon at all.

With only a few prefectures in Southern Zhili, it would be inevitable to resort to exorbitant taxes and levies to raise enough resources to support hundreds of thousands of people.

The policies towards Yu Dynasty officials and gentry also had to change accordingly.

After all, the common people at the bottom of society have limited resources, and even if they robbed everything, they still couldn't fill the gap.

"I deserve death for my crime!"

Seeing Hugjil get angry, the surrendered officials hurriedly knelt down and shouted in unison.

This was their best way of dealing with the Emperor of Da Yu; they always used this method when faced with a problem they couldn't solve.

The law does not punish the masses; even if the emperor is dissatisfied, he can't do anything about it.

However, this time, they clearly targeted the wrong target.

"What are you all yelling about?"

"With that long face, who are you trying to fool?"

"If you can't solve the problem, what's the point of keeping you around?"

Having received a knowing look from Hugjil, Nichileg was the first to speak out.

Perhaps feeling that the insults weren't enough, he kicked two unlucky guys while he was talking.

"Nichileg, do not be rude!"

"My lords, it was just a momentary lapse in composure. I suppose they have already found a solution to the problem of money and provisions."

I value fairness above all else. Here's a good arrangement: everyone will be assigned tasks to collect money, grain, and supplies according to their official rank.

Those who completed their tasks were still my trusted ministers.

......"

(End of this chapter)