I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 244 War in Jiangnan
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In late December, before Tong Guan and Liu Fa could lead the Western Army south, Fang La's rebel army captured Hangzhou. At the same time, Song Jiang's rebel army was about to sweep across the north and south of the Yangtze River.

Yuwen Xuzhong urgently submitted a memorial through the Jinyiwei intelligence network: "Song Jiang has gathered nearly 200,000 followers and continues to massacre officials, gentry, and landlords in the northern and southern regions of Jiangnan. Wherever he goes, not a single wealthy household survives. Fang La has also gathered a powerful force and has successively captured the three prefectures of Mu, She, and Hang. He also set fire to Hangzhou for six days, slaughtering all the wealthy households. The number of dead is countless. The troops in the southeast are weak, and we must be wary of any unrest. We request that strong troops be dispatched immediately to prevent the situation from escalating."

At the same time, officials, including gentry and landlords, in various parts of Jiangnan were also seeking help from the imperial court in their own ways.

News of the fall of Hangzhou quickly spread to every corner of Bianliang, the capital city, causing shock throughout the city.

Tong Guan dared not delay and quickly led the 150,000-strong Western Army brought by Liu Fa south.

In addition to the 150,000 Western Army troops, Zhao Yu also gave Tong Guan command of the Imperial Guards, Local Army, and Township Army in the Jianghuai region, including the Southern Auxiliary Army stationed in Zhenjiang.

At the same time, Zhao Yu issued an imperial edict:
I, Your Majesty, have ruled this land with utmost diligence, day and night, wishing only for the peace and prosperity of the people and the tranquility of the realm. Recently, a horde of bandits has broken out in the south, gathering in the mountains and forests, ravaging the people, causing unrest in the prefectures and counties, and leaving the innocent fearful. I hereby order Pacification Commissioner Tong Guan to immediately lead elite troops south within a set timeframe, to eradicate the bandits completely and restore peace to the region!

However, I am also well aware that in this chaotic situation, many ignorant people in the countryside are coerced and forced to follow the bandits; and some local officials are also implicated and framed. Such situations are truly out of helplessness, and I feel deep pity for them.

The Emperor hereby issues this decree: all those who were coerced into following the rebels, the officials implicated, the relatives of the thieves, and the soldiers among the rebels, if they repent and surrender, or if they inform the court of the rebels' activities or capture and present the rebel leaders, will be pardoned and their past crimes will be forgiven.

Anyone who can achieve even the smallest merit will be exceptionally rewarded and promoted according to their abilities, ensuring that loyal and virtuous men are given the right place. You should all understand my benevolent nature and not miss the opportunity to abandon darkness and embrace light. Tong Guan must use both kindness and severity, suppression and appeasement, to quell the rebellion quickly and achieve early victory!
Announce it to the world, and the envoys will hear about it.

December 29th, the eighth year of Hongwu (1388).

Emperor Zhao Yu then issued a special imperial edict to punish the gentry and landlords.

I have been ordained by Heaven to rule the world and intend to implement two new policies to equalize taxes, alleviate the people's suffering, and strengthen the foundation of the nation. These are benevolent policies that benefit the country and its people!

However, the gentry in the south, blinded by greed, disregarded the imperial decree, obstructed the implementation of the new policies, colluded with each other, and outwardly complied but inwardly defied them.

Those people, driven by self-interest, disregarded the lives of the common people, exploiting them at every level, leading to widespread poverty and suffering. While Song Jiang and Fang La's uprising was an act of treason, its root cause lay in the collusion between the gentry and local officials, who imposed harsh policies and oppression, resulting in chaos! The wickedness of the gentry is unforgivable!
An immediate and thorough investigation is to be conducted into the misconduct of the Southern gentry who obstruct the government. Anyone who disobeys orders, secretly obstructs, or oppresses the people, regardless of rank, family background, or whether they are a noble or newly appointed official, shall be stripped of their titles and their property confiscated. Those whose circumstances are serious shall be imprisoned and punished severely according to the law! Officials at all levels must enforce the law impartially and must not show favoritism or cover up wrongdoing. Anyone who neglects their duties or condones or covers up wrongdoing shall also be punished!
My mind is made up, and I hope that all my subjects know that the implementation of the new policies is imperative. I will never tolerate those who obstruct the new policies or harm the people!
Zhao Yu's imperial edict effectively pinned the blame for the Song Jiang uprising and the Fang La uprising on the gentry and landlord class.

For a time, discussions arose both inside and outside the court. The gentry and landlord class were filled with fear and unease, never expecting that they would become the "scapegoats" for this turmoil. However, among the common people, an unprecedented glimmer of hope quietly rose, as if the long-standing oppression and injustice had finally received a just verdict.

After Tong Guan received the order, the army marched south like a tidal wave, with banners obscuring the sun and war drums thundering along the way.

The Song army was divided into two routes, left and right.

The left flank was led by Liu Fa, with Liu Zhen and Yang Keshi commanding the vanguard, Wang Huan commanding the left flank, Ma Gongzhi and Liu Guangguo commanding the right flank, Qu Qi and Wang Yu commanding the rearguard, and Huang Di and Liu Guangshi commanding the vanguard.

This army marched through Bozhou, Sizhou, and Suzhou, and then into the areas of Xuanhua Town, Changlu Town, and Guabu Town.

The right flank was commanded by Liu Yanqing, with Xin Xingzong leading the vanguard, Wang Yuan leading the left flank, Ji Jing and Zhe Kecun leading the right flank, Yang Weizhong leading the central flank, Jiao Anjie leading the rearguard, and Zhao Ming and Yao Pingzhong leading the vanguard.

This army marched south along the Grand Canal, passing through Chuzhou to Gaoyou, then directly attacking Yangzhou, and finally crossing the Yangtze River from Zhenjiang southward.

In addition, just in case, Zhao Yu transferred the Shenji Rear Army to Tong Guan as his trump card, and went south with Tong Guan.

It should be noted that many of the future famous generals of the Zhao Song Dynasty also mingled with these Song soldiers and went south with them.

The two most famous among them were the brothers Wu Jie and Wu Lin.

In addition, there were a large number of outstanding generals during the Song Dynasty, including Qu Duan, Yang Zheng, Wang De, Zhang Zongyan, Yao Zhong, Yao Youzhong, Tian Sheng, Li Shiyan, and Guan Shigu.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Song army that marched south this time was absolutely full of brilliant generals.

The two Song armies marched south in a pincer formation, supporting and protecting each other, giving the enemy no chance to launch a sneak attack.

After the right flank army arrived at Gaoyou Army, Liu Yanqing, following the orders previously given by Tong Guan, sent Xin Xingzong, Zhao Ming, and Yao Pingzhong's troops as the vanguard to cross the river directly and prepare for the main army.

Because the passage southward had been well protected by the Southern Army, the right flank army easily crossed the river and reached the designated assembly point.

Around the same time, Liu Fa also led the left flank army into the area of ​​Xuanhua Town, Changlu Town, and Guabu Town.

Liu Fa immediately dispatched Yao Pingzhong to occupy Baidu Bridge.

This pontoon bridge, originally built in the early Song Dynasty, is located in the Caishiji area of ​​Dangtu County, allowing people to cross the river directly from this bridge.

This place was once occupied by Song Jiang's rebel army, and Liu Fa was very afraid that Song Jiang's rebel army would burn down the bridge.

In that case, it would be troublesome for the left wing army to cross the river.

Fortunately, Yao Pingzhong quickly sent someone back to report that not only was the Baidu Bridge safe, but a Song army was also protecting the pontoon bridge.

After inquiring, Yao Pingzhong learned that this Song army belonged to the Left Army of the Southern Auxiliary Army and had now handed over the Baidu Bridge to Yao Pingzhong's troops.

After crossing the Baidu Bridge, the Left Route Army successfully crossed the river and arrived at the designated assembly point on the south bank.

On the 28th day of the first month of the ninth year of Hongwu, Tong Guan arrived in Zhenjiang and hung up the sign of the Pacification Commissioner of Jianghuai, Jingzhe and other routes, and the army that went south to suppress the uprising officially went online.

Tong Guan, stationed in Zhenjiang, planned to use various means, including political, diplomatic, and military, to coordinate and command the uprising of Song Jiang and Fang La and recover the Jiangnan region in one fell swoop.

Accompanying Tong Guan were officials who were to take over the northern and southern regions of Jiangnan.

Following Zhao Yu's instructions, Tong Guan prioritized sending troops to escort these officials to take over the areas under their jurisdiction, so that they could lead the local people to resume production as soon as possible and prepare for spring plowing.

After seeing these officials off, Tong Guan secretly met with Yuwen Xuzhong at the Pacification Commissioner's Office.

Yuwen Xuzhong said to Tong Guan, "Song Jiang's troops are currently concentrated in the Xiuzhou and Gui'an areas to defend against Fang La's northward advance, while Fang La's main force has already entered Hangzhou. There are also a large number of rioters in Muzhou and Shezhou, where he started his rebellion, and in addition, a large number of rioters in the southern part of Jiangnan have risen up in response to Fang La..."

With Song Jiang conquering the northern part of Jiangnan and Fang La conquering Muzhou, Shezhou, and Hangzhou, the situation of the uprising was not just good, but extremely good.

Moreover, Fang La sent people everywhere to publicize his brilliant achievements and invite heroes to join him in an uprising.

Crucially, the Manichaeism's years of cultivation played a significant role at this time.

Lu Shinang of Xianju County was a man of great integrity and generosity. He often helped the poor and needy and was always willing to help anyone who asked. He held a high position in the martial arts world.

Everyone in the surrounding area of ​​Xianju County knows that as long as there are poor and destitute people who come to seek refuge with Lü Shinang, he will not refuse them, regardless of their status. He will never refuse people who ask him for money or goods. If a talented person comes to his door, he will treat him as an honored guest and as a teacher and friend.

Furthermore, Lü Shinang himself was well-read and proficient in military strategy. What outsiders did not know was that Lü Shinang also had another identity—a protector of Manichaeism.

When Fang La first started his rebellion, Wang Gong Laofo instructed his followers to contact Lü Shinang and have Lü Shinang secretly organize an army to respond to Fang La.

After more than two months of thorough preparation, Lü Shinang led his people in an uprising.

In just a few days, Lü Shinang had assembled a rebel army of over ten thousand men.

Under the command of Lü Shinang, the rebel army achieved a resounding victory in its first battle, annihilating the Xianju Song army led by Xu Mocheng, the county magistrate of Xianju, and capturing the county seat of Xianju.

Lü Shinang then announced that he would follow Fang La as his leader, kill officials and gentry in the area, and bring fame to Fang La and Manichaeism.

Qiu Rixin, a Taoist priest from Shan County, Yuezhou, was also a protector of Manichaeism.

Like Lü Shinang, Qiu Rixin also received a secret letter from Wang Gong Laofo when Fang La had just begun his uprising. The letter instructed him to secretly organize an army to respond to Fang La, cooperate with Fang La in killing officials, gentry and landlords, and bring fame to Fang La and Manichaeism.

After thorough preparation, Qiu Rixin led the Manichaeans in an uprising and liberated Dongyang, Yiwu, Wuyi, Pujiang, Jinhua and other places in a very short time.

In the Battle of Dongyang, Qiu Rixin also killed Shentu Dafang, a landlord militia leader known for his bravery.

Shen Tu Dafang was a typical large landowner with many farmhands and an exceptionally skilled marksman. He made an agreement with county officials to go to Yongkang to suppress the uprising led by Qiu Rixin, but was instead killed by Qiu Rixin, who was even more skilled in martial arts.

Zheng the Demon King of Quzhou was the third protector of Manichaeism.

This man was originally a butcher, but he was famous in Quzhou because of his superhuman strength.

Similarly, when Fang La first started his uprising, Zheng Mowang received a secret letter from Wang Gong Laofo, instructing him to secretly organize an army to respond to Fang La, cooperate with Fang La in killing officials, gentry and landlords, and bring fame to Fang La and Manichaeism.

Now, riding on the momentum created by Song Jiang and Fang La, Zheng the Demon King has also led his followers to rise up and rapidly grow stronger in Quzhou.

Chen Shisi, from Fangyan Mountain in Yongkang County, is the most famous Chen Shisi Niangniang in Yongkang County and even in the entire southeast.

This Chen Shisi Niangniang is not the same Chen Shisi Niangniang worshipped in many places in Southeast China.

The woman named Chen Shisi Niangniang was a woman from the Tang Dynasty. She was born on the fourteenth day of the first month of the second year of the Dali era of the Tang Dynasty, at midnight. Hence, she was named Chen Shisi. Everyone respected her and called her Chen Shisi Niangniang.

This Lady Chen, whose original name was Chen Miaozhen, was a lady from a prominent family.

Three years ago, a flood struck the southeast. Instead of opening the granaries to provide relief, the government continued to levy various taxes, causing widespread suffering, with people selling their children, becoming displaced, and starving to death on the roads.

Seeing the suffering of the people, Chen Miaozhen couldn't bear it, so she secretly opened her own granary to help the disaster victims.

Afterwards, fearing punishment from her family, Chen Miaozhen secretly ran away to Fangyan Mountain alone.

There lives a divine nun on this rocky mountain, whose medical skills are superb.

After learning the reason why Chen Miaozhen went up the mountain, the nun felt that Chen Miaozhen had a compassionate heart and taught her everything she knew.

After mastering her medical skills, Chen Miaozhen began to descend the mountain under the guise of Chen Shisi Niangniang to treat and save people.

Over the years, Chen Miaozhen had been saving people everywhere, and she knew how much suffering the people endured and where their suffering came from. Therefore, after Fang La sent her a letter inviting her to join the uprising, she also felt that only by eliminating officials, gentry, and landlords and breaking down their obstacles to the two new policies could the people live a good life.

So, the heroes of Yongkang County, Li De, Jiang Cai, Dong Ju, and Wang Guo, asked Chen Miaozhen to make a call to action, and Chen Miaozhen agreed.

Thanks to Chen Miaozhen's leadership, a militia of more than 20,000 people was formed in Yongkang County in a very short time.

However, Chen Miaozhen was compassionate and could not bear to kill, which meant that their righteous army was mainly led by Li De, Jiang Cai, Dong Ju, and Wang Guo...

Jinyun County, Chuzhou.

Huo Chengfu and Chen Gutong, leading only six or seven men, captured Jinyun County, took the county magistrate Zhan Liangchen prisoner, and persuaded him to surrender.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Liangchen retorted, "You people do not know how to save yourselves, but want to surrender to me! In the past, Li Shun rebelled in Shu, Wang Lun rebelled in Huainan, and Wang Ze rebelled in Beizhou. Their bodies and heads were torn apart, and their wives and children were killed along with them. No matter their age, they were all executed. When the government troops arrive at any time, your flesh will be fed to dogs and rats."

Not all officials in the southeast are corrupt. This County Magistrate Zhan is a good official with great integrity.

However, under such circumstances, even good officials were inevitably drawn into the fray and died unjustly along with them.

Oooh!
Huo Chengfu was furious that Zhan Liangchen had cursed him. Ignoring Chen Gutong's advice, he killed Zhan Liangchen, raised a shout, and gathered more than 10,000 righteous soldiers.

Another man from Chuzhou named Hong Zai also rose up in the southern part of Chuzhou with the slogan "Rob everyone's wealth and distribute it to recruit followers." He killed officials, gentry, and landlords everywhere and expanded his army.

Hong Zai was very eloquent and always referred to "Holy Duke" when he spoke, making him seem like a staunch follower of Fang La and the spokesperson for Fang La's rebel army in Chuzhou.

In addition, Hong Zai has a good reputation.

This allowed Hong Zai's rebel army to grow very rapidly...

In short, with Song Jiang and Fang La as role models, the southern region of Jiangnan has completely descended into chaos, and the situation is escalating rapidly. It is likely that Fang La's rebel army will soon surpass one million strong.

Seeing the dire situation in Jiangnan, Tong Guan frowned deeply!

Tong Guan never expected that Fang La's rebel army had grown so rapidly and that its forces far outnumbered his own.

If Song Jiang's rebel army, with its equally large forces, were to unite with Fang La's rebel army to resist his encirclement and suppression, the outcome would be uncertain.

In this way, Song Jiang's rebel army became the key to the outcome of the battle between the two sides.

Thinking of this, Tong Guan politely asked Yuwen Xuzhong, "May I ask, Commander-in-Chief, is Song Jiang willing to accept the imperial pardon?"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Xuzhong remained silent for a moment before saying, "Some of Song Jiang's leaders already harbor rebellious intentions; we must consider this carefully..."

……

(End of this chapter)