Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 374 Internal and external difficulties
In the light of the fire, Wei Xian quickly confirmed his guess that the situation had become serious and that some army or forces in Zhangzhou City seemed to be making rebellious moves.

All of this, no matter from which angle you look at it, is closely related to Zheng Hongkui's rebellious intentions, but it came at a very inappropriate time.

"Damn it, these damn pirates, how could this happen?" Wei Xian almost gritted his teeth.

He knew that behind this chaotic situation, some decision or action of Zheng Hongkui must have been involved. What made him even more anxious was that if Zheng Hongkui chose to betray at this moment, Zhangzhou would fall into greater chaos, and the entire southern war situation would face an unprecedented crisis.

"Boss, what should we do? Should we find a chance to retreat?" One of the men asked in a low voice, looking at the fire on the street below, with a hint of anxiety in his tone.

Wei Xian's expression was gloomy, with a flicker of determination in his eyes. Although retreat was an option, if he retreated at this moment, he might miss the only opportunity, or even never be able to take the initiative.

He stood on the roof, gazing at the chaotic scene in the distance, his eyes like lightning, quickly scanning his surroundings and analyzing the situation in front of him. Although the riots in the city had just broken out, these riots might not be able to shake the foundation of Zhangzhou.

"This small group of people can't cause any trouble. We'll probably be put out soon," Wei Xian muttered, clearly already making plans. After instructing his men to continue observing the situation, he slid down the ladder into the yard to make further arrangements.

As Wei Xian had predicted, the riot was quelled in less than half an hour. The noise in the streets gradually died down, and soon after, soldiers from within the city began shouting along the streets, declaring that the riot was merely a group of thieves posing as merchant caravans that had broken into the city. After the army's swift suppression, the situation had returned to calm.

However, Wei Xian's brows remained furrowed, as he knew that this was far from simple. The situation in Zhangzhou was not only threatened by external enemies, but also by intense internal conflicts. Zheng Hongkui's movements in particular always made him feel uneasy.

At this moment, the owner of the grocery store also woke up from his sleep. Seeing Wei Xian still in the courtyard, he immediately walked over to him. This owner had been in Zhangzhou City for many years and had direct contact with the deeper movements in the city.

Wei Xian was not polite and directly asked him to find out more specific information: "Go and find out. Don't avoid any questions, especially the situation on Feng Shuangli's side."

Although the head of the household was somewhat hesitant, he also knew that Wei Xian's status was special. If he did not do his best to satisfy him, how could he avoid causing trouble? He immediately agreed, took the silver and some generous gifts, and hurried out.

Wei Xian remained uneasy. The situation in Zhangzhou was complex. If Zheng Hongkui betrayed or acted unfavorably, the situation in the city would become extremely dangerous and even out of control. As a key point in the Fujian pacification campaign, any sudden change in Zhangzhou could lead to instability in the southern war of the Ming Dynasty and even affect the fate of the entire Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, Wei Xian must be prepared to deal with the worst situation at any time.

Soon, there was a hurried knock on the door outside the yard, and the shopkeeper hurried back into the house again with a serious expression.

"Boss, what's the news?" Wei Xian asked immediately when he saw this.

The shopkeeper's face was slightly pale, with a hint of fear in his eyes. It was obvious that the news he received was not optimistic.

"This time, something big must have happened." The shopkeeper whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

"I heard that a group of thirty or forty soldiers took advantage of a night shift to try to escape the city, but were reported. Now, General Zhang's son has led his troops to wipe out the rebels. This kind of thing can't just be done by rioters. There must be a bigger conspiracy. The atmosphere in the city is becoming increasingly unsettled."

Upon hearing this, Wei Xian breathed a sigh of relief. Zheng Hongkui's subordinates' decisive and swift suppression of the rebellion was a testament to his extraordinary control over Zhangzhou City. Furthermore, Zheng Hongkui's ability to maintain such efficient command and control despite facing hostile forces on all sides undoubtedly demonstrated his thorough preparations, perhaps even devising contingency plans.

For Wei Xian, this was undoubtedly a comforting sign. However, Wei Xian was not completely relieved because he knew clearly that superficial stability did not mean that everything had been resolved.

Wei Xian quickly asked, "Any other news? What's the situation outside now?"

The shopkeeper shook his head helplessly, with a sigh in his eyes, and said:

"The situation in Zhangzhou City is becoming increasingly complicated. I heard some news earlier that Zheng Hongkui seems dissatisfied with the Master's orders and is already plotting something. Now, the Zheng family's troops have surrounded Zhangzhou from all sides. Even if he had three heads and six arms, it would be difficult for him to resist so many Zheng troops. If the city is captured, I'm afraid there will be another tragedy of massacre."

The shopkeeper paused, then sighed, "The situation in Zhangzhou can no longer be sustained. I heard that many people have begun preparing to flee."

Wei Xian's heart tightened. Although he did not completely believe every word the shopkeeper said, from the information he said, the situation in Zhangzhou was indeed not as simple as he had expected.

Zheng Hongkui's signs of rebellion are becoming more and more obvious, and the power of the Zheng family has already been approaching from all sides. All this suggests that the situation in Zhangzhou may collapse at any time, and this collapse will directly affect the war situation in the entire south.

Wei Xian's mood became increasingly heavy. He had to take immediate measures to ensure his own safety and provide the most timely intelligence to His Majesty.

Wei Xian returned to the room with his men, his eyes fixed on the map before him. According to the army's marching plan, there was still some distance to go between now and the arrival of the troops in Zhangzhou. Before then, his mission was to assist Zheng Hongkui in stabilizing the situation in several prefectures and counties in the south of Zhangzhou Prefecture and making full preparations for the upcoming large-scale operations.

Although Zheng Hongkui already had strong control over the region, as the situation became increasingly complex, local stability became even more important. Zhangzhou had always been a battleground for military strategists, not only due to its strategic location but also due to its abundant resources, making it a key location for large-scale military campaigns.

"From now on, don't sleep. Be alert. We will go directly to see Zheng Hongkui after dawn!" Wei Xian waved his hand, his voice steady and powerful.

The men around him immediately shook off their sleepiness and raised their alert gazes. This night might be the night that determined the outcome of the war in Zhangzhou and even the entire south. Wei Xian knew he had to lead his men to act swiftly, ensuring the stability of Zhangzhou's defenses and buying more time and space for the next military operation.

*
Inside Zhangzhou Prefecture, the hallway of the government office was brightly lit. Zheng Hongkui sat in the main seat, his face stern and silent. Surrounding him stood a group of trusted generals, including Zhang Sheng and Wang Xin. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Control of Zhangzhou Prefecture was secure, but the situation remained complex. Zheng Hongkui knew he faced far greater pressure than ever before. While he no longer had to worry about maintaining his army, thanks to Zhangzhou's ancient fertility and access to sea transportation, which could provide a large supply of military supplies, he knew that if external pressure intensified, the situation could reverse at any moment. "General, I have already killed those dozens of traitors, and I have also sent troops to appease the civilians within the city," Zhang Sheng reported, standing forward and bowing respectfully.

A few days earlier, he had personally led the suppression of several localized rebellions. Some people within and outside Zhangzhou were restive and attempting to collude with Zheng's army to secure greater benefits for themselves. Fortunately, through swift and severe action, these traitors were eliminated, and the people's panic gradually subsided.

Zheng Hongkui's face remained stern, his gaze deep. He didn't respond immediately, but continued to ponder the current situation. Although Zhangzhou occupied a crucial strategic position, the two Zheng armies to the north and west were still eyeing it covetously, ready to attack at any moment. What he needed most at this moment was time and resources, especially a large army to support him.

He knew that if he could get reinforcements sent by His Majesty, the situation in Zhangzhou would fundamentally improve, but whether he could wait until that moment was a huge unknown.

"General, the master is weak now, the magistrates of nearby counties and prefectures are under our control, and His Majesty's army has promised to come to support. This operation will definitely be foolproof." Seeing that Zheng Hongkui remained silent, Wang Xin stood up and spoke, revealing a hint of optimism in his tone.

Zheng Hongkui finally spoke. He whispered, "Master, and that fellow Zheng Sen, have you been making any moves lately?"

Especially in the north and west, the threats from these two Zheng armies are what Zheng Hongkui really needs to be vigilant about. The two commanders there are both important generals of the Zheng army, and their movements are directly related to the defensive situation of Zhangzhou.

"Those troops seem to have received orders from the master, and are now defending very tightly. They are probably waiting for the general from Fuzhou to lead his troops over. As for the Shi family, he has already set out from Fuzhou and will probably arrive soon." Zhang Sheng took over the conversation with a hint of nervousness in his tone.

He reported the movements of Zheng's army in detail and reminded Zheng Hongkui that although the troops from Fuzhou had not yet arrived in Zhangzhou, they had already started to set off and were expected to reinforce the northern camp soon. This made Zheng Hongkui frown.

"General, when will His Majesty's reinforcements arrive? I'm worried that if we rely too much on ourselves, we won't be able to hold out until the end." Zhang Sheng glanced at the other generals present, a hint of anxiety on his face. "If we don't get timely assistance, I'm afraid the situation in Zhangzhou will be difficult to stabilize."

After hearing this, Zheng Hongkui pondered for a moment and finally spoke again: "Will the Ming army's envoys arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?"

The atmosphere in Zhangzhou grew increasingly tense. Feng Shuangli sat at the head of the government hall, his brow furrowed, his mind racing. He knew the most pressing issue wasn't the battle situation, but how to stabilize the morale of the army and the people. While deserters might be few, dozens a night could shake the foundations of an entire army over a few days. If morale collapsed, not only would field battles be impossible, but even defending the city would become a luxury. He needed a shot in the arm.

"The Ming army's envoys will arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Wang Xin clasped his fists and said in a firm tone.

Zheng Hongkui took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his brows after hearing this. This support force might not be too strong, but their presence was a signal, a symbol. He said:

"Zhang Sheng, from today on, you will personally lead the troops to guard the city walls. Once the Ming army's envoys arrive, immediately impose martial law throughout the city. No one will be allowed to enter or leave without my order. Anyone who disobeys my order will be killed without mercy."

"Yes! General!" Zhang Sheng clasped his fists and accepted the order, with a hint of murderous intent in his eyes.

Zheng Hongkui nodded, then turned to Wang Xin and said, "Wang Xin, you will be responsible for organizing the manpower. When the uprising begins, immediately take control of the nearby prefectures and counties. If the situation becomes unfavorable, quickly transfer all supplies to Zhangzhou City."

"I understand!" There was a hint of worry in Wang Xin's tone, but he still accepted the order firmly.

In fact, Zheng Hongkui had heard that the Ming army had stationed a large number of troops in Qiongzhou Prefecture, but he had always been skeptical about the strength of this force.

If the time really came to confront the Zheng family army head-on, he did not expect these reinforcements to be able to turn the tide of the battle. All he could do now was to defend Zhangzhou and wait for an opportunity.

The next evening, at the beginning of the evening hour, the sky over Zhangzhou City was ablaze with vibrant sunset glow, but this beauty soon faded as darkness rolled in like a tide, replaced by a heavy, oppressive feeling.

Wei Xian woke up in a daze, his consciousness as if it had been shattered and then pieced together again. He struggled to move his body, but he felt sore all over, a burning pain in his neck, and dizziness.

"Hiss...where is this?" Wei Xian muttered in a low voice, his voice so hoarse that even he couldn't hear it clearly.

He squinted his eyes, trying to adjust his vision to the surrounding darkness. A few faint rays of light filtered through the paper-pasted windows, and the outline of the room gradually emerged.

He tried to move, but found that his hands were tied behind his back and the sword at his waist had long disappeared. The surroundings were unsettlingly quiet, with only the occasional rustling of mice.

"Damn it..." He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to recall the final scene. He vaguely remembered that after inspecting the city yesterday, he seemed to hear something unusual late at night, so he went out with a few followers to investigate... and then lost consciousness.

Wei Xian took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and tried to judge his situation through the subtle sounds around him.

The air in the room was stuffy and mixed with a damp and musty smell. The ground under his feet seemed to be mud, rough and uneven. This was obviously some kind of abandoned house, and the person who kidnapped him did not seem to be nearby.

"Calm down, I must stay calm..." he warned himself secretly.

After a long time, his thoughts gradually became clear and he quickly made a plan in his mind.

First of all, he had to find out who had captured him and why he was brought here.

If he was a spy sent by Zheng's army, he would definitely become a bargaining chip. If some people in the city had ulterior motives, things might become even more difficult.

(End of this chapter)