Fu Shanhe

Chapter 581 A Groundbreaking Clash
Chengdu Prefecture.

Due to the war, news of Nanjing's fall didn't reach Sichuan until more than a month later.

Along with the news came Li Mu's recruitment letter.

"Colleagues, Nanjing fell last month, and His Majesty and thousands of loyal and righteous men drowned themselves in the river to die for their country."

Now the Marquis of Hanshui has raised an army to avenge His Majesty and needs our support. What do you all think we should do?

Governor Zheng Chengping asked with a helpless expression.

Ostensibly for revenge, everyone knew in reality that this was the prelude to a change of dynasty.

If Li Mu intended to continue the Great Yu dynasty, his first task would be to establish a new ruler and stabilize the hearts of the people.

However, the letter never mentioned the establishment of a new emperor.

Without an emperor and a unified central government, there would naturally be no Great Yu Empire.

"What? The imperial court is gone!"

Upon hearing this news, everyone exclaimed in surprise, followed by silence.

From any perspective, the present-day Great Yu Empire is stronger than the former Song Dynasty.

In everyone's expectations, the imperial court, with half of the country in Jiangnan, would have no problem continuing the dynasty for another hundred years.

The result was that the Great Yu Empire, which had lasted for three hundred years, suddenly disappeared, which was beyond the expectations of many people.

"Have all those ministers in the court lost their minds?"

"If we can't defend Nanjing, can't we at least take His Majesty away with us?"

Governor Yu Zexuan couldn't help but question him.

This is a question that not only he wanted to ask, but also that countless loyal ministers of the Great Yu wanted to ask.

In the era of dynastic rule, the emperor was the state.

As long as the emperor is alive, the court will exist.

The losses of other officials can be replenished at any time.

"The ministers in the court are probably forced to do this."

Taking His Majesty with him to retreat was no match for the Northern barbarian cavalry; the only option was to risk a treacherous waterway.

However, the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River were in the hands of rebels, and the lower reaches fell into the hands of the northern barbarians, making waterways completely impassable.

Perhaps it was only when they were faced with an insurmountable obstacle that they chose to die alongside His Majesty.

Zheng Chengping sighed and said.

Whether the speculation is correct is now impossible to verify.

Regardless of the circumstances at the time, since the cabinet accompanied the emperor to his death, their loyalty and integrity are beyond reproach.

If there are no major shortcomings, then the remaining issue is personal ability.

The issue of competence should not be investigated too deeply, otherwise these local governors and viceroys would also be held responsible.

The fall of Nanjing was also directly related to the delayed support from various provinces.

"Hey!"

"The 'pure officials' are a scourge to the country!"

Realizing he had misspoke, Yu Zexuan immediately tried to make amends.

Since the Nanjing cabinet and powerful nobles all died for their country, the only ones who could bear the political responsibility for the fall of Nanjing were the surrendered officials who had become traitors.

The Qingliu Party was not only the mainstream of the surrender faction, but also the first to surrender to the Northern Barbarians. It is not wrong to label them.

"It wasn't the 'pure stream' faction that brought disaster to the country, but rather the defection of some of its members!"

Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Qiu Liangcai couldn't help but defend himself.

As a member of the Qingliu Party, he felt as if he had swallowed a bitter pill when his colleagues accused him to his face of harming the country.

Unfortunately, too many members of the Qingliu Group surrendered to the Northern Barbarians this time, and very few died alongside the emperor.

There wasn't a single influential representative to be found, and any attempt to defend oneself lacked persuasiveness.

Among them, it was the Qingliu Party members who were the first to make contact with the Northern Barbarians and had the largest number of surrenders. It was also the fact that the ministers in the court did not include the Qingliu Party members.

When people jump into the river in groups, they don't want to take people from Qingliu with them.

Even after the city fell, some Qingliu Party officials committed suicide at home to die for their country, but the significance of their actions was still somewhat diminished.

After all, the scene of a group jumping into the river was tragic enough, and countless witnesses spread the news.

This will certainly be recorded in great detail in history books.

The most embarrassed by this turn of events were the Qingliu Party members who held official positions in various places.

"The situation is pretty much the same; in any case, it was the Qingliu Party members who led the surrender to the Northern Barbarians."

Yu Zexuan's answer dealt another blow to Qiu Liangcai.

No matter how you explain it, you can't hide the fact that the Qingliu Party members took the lead in surrendering to the enemy.

For a group that prides itself on morality, such a change would undoubtedly be a fatal blow.

"Alright, since it has already happened, there's no point in arguing about it anymore."

"Now, let's seriously consider whether to heed the edict of the Marquis of Hanshui or select a virtuous and capable member of the imperial clan to assist him in becoming emperor!"

Seeing the argument escalating, Zheng Chengping waved his hand to interrupt.

What Sichuan needs right now is a smooth transition.

The Qingliu Party members serving as officials here were far more than just the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Qiu Liangcai; there were also many other Qingliu officials below him.

At this moment, attempting to force these officials to abdicate would undoubtedly push them to the opposite side.

The Great Yu Dynasty went further than any previous feudal dynasty in terms of checks and balances of power.

The governor, the provincial administration commissioner, and the provincial judicial commissioner checked and balanced each other, which was equivalent to a de facto separation of administrative, financial, and judicial powers, while the power of personnel appointments was also brought under the control of the imperial court.

Unless you overturn the table and start a fight, it's difficult to defeat one faction in a short time by maneuvering within the established rules.

"Your Excellency, at this point in time, we really have no other choice."

The recent case of the false emperor resulted in the execution of hundreds of members of the Shu royal family because they were implicated.

Other members of the imperial clan were also involved to varying degrees.

We can't possibly choose a worthy ruler to assist from among the faction of the false emperor who participated in the rebellion!

Qian Haonan, the prefect of Chengdu, was the first to state his position.

The farce of the ten emperors ascending to the sky dealt a fatal blow to the Great Yu imperial family.

Driven by their own interests, officials in various regions inevitably over-interpret cases when investigating smuggling.

The involvement of a large number of members of the imperial clan in the case directly solved the problem of the imperial clan that had been troubling local government offices.

While everyone was solving their problems, they also inadvertently ruined the Dayu royal family.

Those members of the imperial clan who narrowly escaped punishment also relinquished their imperial clan status to avoid being implicated again.

The once large and universally disliked royal family has now vanished.

Although everyone was acting on imperial orders, their hands were still stained with the blood of members of the imperial family during the process.

If we were to choose someone from the imperial clan to be emperor now, we would be planting a time bomb for ourselves.

Even if one manages to save the nation by chance, there is still a possibility of backlash.

Moreover, the forces they currently possess are simply insufficient to accomplish this great undertaking.

"Lord Qian is right. At this point, we have no choice at all."

It's not just about the royal family; we also need to consider the reactions of the military commanders.

"If we refuse now, a coup might break out in the city tonight, and the government office might be under different control tomorrow."

Yu Zexuan immediately echoed.

Originally, the military and government forces in Shu were filled with the shadows of the nobility.

After the last campaign to defend the emperor, he even brought Li Mu's core generals back to Shu.

They had received official appointments from the imperial court and were taking up their posts with reorganized troops, so naturally they couldn't object.

After entering Sichuan, the two groups quickly merged and directly controlled more than 70% of the military power in Sichuan.

Especially after the White Lotus Rebellion broke out, in order to suppress the rebellion, the governor's office had to delegate power to the military officers, further increasing their authority.

As the rulers of Shu, they had to consider the thoughts of their subordinates.

"Lord Yu, you're exaggerating. If the Marquis of Hanshui's influence in the army were truly that great, he could simply seize power in Shu. Why would he go to such lengths to win us over?"
Even if they were to seek refuge there, they would at least have to be sold for a good price.

"They haven't promised us any benefits yet, and we're just offering ourselves up as their lackeys. How can we expect to be valued in the future?"

Qiu Liangcai immediately objected.

In chaotic times, the Shu region could not survive alone; choosing sides was inevitable.

From a class standpoint, they could only support the Marquis of Hanshui.

But this kind of support requires something in return; no one will contribute for free.

The situation in Jiangnan is currently at a critical juncture. They have quelled the White Lotus Rebellion within the province and are ready to send troops to join the war at any time.

If they support the Marquis of Hanshui, they can both unite with the loyalist army to attack the anti-king alliance entrenched in northern Huguang, and also send troops out of Jianmen Shu Road to threaten the rebels' stronghold in Shaanxi.

Having leverage in hand, one naturally wants to maximize their profits.

After all, the Marquis of Hanshui was known for his disdain for the upright and honest.

If he doesn't get a promise now, once the country stabilizes, an official like him, who comes from a respectable background, will most likely not be able to survive in the court.

"Lord Qiu, not everything can be bargained over."

Sometimes, not arguing is the best way to argue.

Especially at this critical juncture, it is even more necessary to demonstrate sincerity and prove our loyalty to the imperial court!

Qian Haonan offered his advice in a tactful manner.

Throughout history, many have sought to gain merit by following the emperor's lead, but those who dared to bargain with the founding emperor rarely met a good end.

No matter how great the benefits we strive for now, fulfilling our promises is a matter for the future.

If you offend the Marquis of Hanshui in the process, even if you gain great benefits, you will eventually lose them all with interest at some point in the future.

Unless their power advances further and they gain the right to speak on equal terms with the Marquis of Hanshui, they will not be able to gain greater influence within the team.

Without a doubt, this does not exist.

Li Mu's entrepreneurial team structure was already well-established, not a fledgling group. How could someone who joined halfway through suddenly become a major shareholder?

As for the protections that the Qingliu Party members want, what business is it of theirs?

The Marquis of Hanshui was unhappy with Qingliu; that was a problem left over from history.

Back when the civil service was at its peak, the vanguard in suppressing the nobles was the Qingliu group.

Throughout the growth of the Marquis of Hanshui, the Qingliu Party members spared no effort in making things difficult for him, so it's no wonder he was resented.

These things alone are nothing; the Marquis of Hanshui has come this far, so he must have been tolerant of others.

Unfortunately, besides their penchant for infighting and internal strife, the members of the "pure stream" faction have also squandered their own moral integrity, which they had always championed.

Political groups that are adept at internal strife, disloyal, and incompetent are destined to be eliminated.

"This……"

After glancing at everyone, Qiu Liangcai realized he couldn't win against the powerful and immediately gave up any further attempts to persuade them.

The "pure stream party" is beyond saving, but there's still a chance to salvage themselves.

The biggest taboo in officialdom is to switch between different camps repeatedly, but there's no time to worry about that right now!
The reason was readily available: the Qingliu Party members were colluding with the Northern barbarians, and he was ashamed to associate with these disloyal and unjust people.

If you rebel alone, it's easy to cause a backlash, so you should bring along more people to join you.

Knowing that the tide had turned and things were hopeless, the Qingliu Party members in Sichuan were unlikely to be willing to sink on this broken ship.

……

The changes in Shu were merely a microcosm of the officialdom of Dayu.

Around the same time, similar scenes occurred in Yunnan and Guizhou.

Even though the Great Yu Empire is gone, life must go on.

The Marquis of Hanshui is all around us. If we don't quickly choose sides, we'll be dealt with.

Even the most loyal followers of the Great Yu Dynasty chose to bury their heads in the sand at this moment.

Regardless of the circumstances, Li Mu's current political stance is to avenge the emperor, and he has not yet usurped the throne.

Then we can only treat him as a loyal subject of the Great Yu for now. The change of dynasty in the future is a matter for the future.

……

"attack!"

Upon seeing the army of loyalists ahead, the King of Slaughter immediately issued his command.

At the commander's order, the mule-horse cavalry charged out first, approaching the Yu army's front line at top speed.

1,000 meters, 500 meters, 300 meters, 200 meters...

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Suddenly, a burst of rapid gunfire erupted, and the mule-horse cavalry at the forefront were instantly thrown to the ground.

The mules and horses that were unfortunately shot continued to struggle and wail after falling to the ground.

The cavalryman, still reeling from being thrown off, unfortunately tripped on the horse's hoof.

Many people died before they could even scream.

Following closely behind the second and third rank... the charging mule-horse cavalry once again followed in the footsteps of the vanguard.

No matter how hard they charged, it was all in vain against the loyalist army soldiers who were equipped with new guns.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the mule and horse cavalry that the Killing King had painstakingly accumulated were mostly lost on the battlefield.

Originally, they were planning to take advantage of the enemy's unstable foothold and catch them off guard, but now they've ended up sending themselves to their deaths in a series of elaborate schemes.

"Rumble..."

The cannons that had been set up in Yu's army formation began to exert their power.

Dense artillery shells rained down in swathes, and in an instant, the battlefield was a scene of carnage.

Seeing the blood and flesh scattered on the ground, even the ruthless and decisive King of Slaughter couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Your Majesty, the enemy's firepower is too fierce; it seems we cannot break through today."

"It would be better to retreat first and then look for an opportunity to fight!"

The middle-aged clerk beside him advised in a trembling voice.

Having followed the King of Slaughter in his campaigns for many years, he had seen many grand occasions, including those involving elite Yu troops.

None of the enemies I've encountered have been as strange as the one I'm facing today.

Before they could even get close to the enemy camp, they suffered heavy losses.

Even the bravest soldier is still made of flesh and blood.

This kind of foolish, headstrong charge is simply handing lives to the enemy.

"Give it to me..."

Before he could finish speaking, a shell landed twenty meters away, and the shockwave from the explosion even carried away two of his personal guards.

Having narrowly escaped death, the previously defiant Killing King instantly lost his temper.

Deep down, he wanted to slap himself a few times.

Faced with such a formidable opponent, he actually dared to step forward and volunteer to be the vanguard.

Before he could give the order to retreat, the rebel soldiers who were charging into battle could not withstand the ferocity of the battlefield and turned to flee.

The soldiers in charge of supervising the battle seemed to be stunned and failed to intercept them immediately.

They could only watch helplessly as the fleeing crowd continued to charge against their own army's formation.

"withdraw!"

Realizing the situation was dire, the King of Slaughter hastily ordered a retreat.

Reason told him that if he didn't run away quickly, he would die here today.

This is not war, but a one-sided massacre.

The clash between cold weapons and firearms was completely beyond his comprehension.

Those war experiences that we were once proud of are of no reference value under the new war model.

In the face of absolute power, quantity is a joke.

He had originally hoped to wear down the enemy on the battlefield by overwhelming them with sheer numbers, but now he had given up all hope.

(End of this chapter)