Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 242 Turnaround
In the Battle of Guilin, the government troops suffered over ten thousand casualties, and Gao Yan was also captured and killed by the rebel army.

Even the cunning and ruthless warlord Li Tiao, after losing external support, had no choice but to send envoys to secretly negotiate with Huang Chao.

The content of the negotiations was nothing more than what had been promised to Gao Yan before, such as cooperation between the two sides to deal with the imperial court.

However, Huang Chao had absolutely no interest in Li Tiao's claim of being a descendant of Li Jiancheng.

The land of Lingnan cannot accommodate two masters.

Even someone as renowned for his benevolence and righteousness as Liu Bei (Liu Xuande) couldn't jointly govern Yizhou with Liu Zhang. Huang Chao didn't believe Li Tiao had the qualities to cooperate with him.

However, there's no point in announcing what Li Tiao's envoy brought.

The proposals brought by Li Tiao's envoy were all oral traditions, with no written materials to serve as evidence. If Huang Chao were to speak of them without any proof, Li Tiao would accuse him of slander.

Moreover, Li Tiao was not the only ambitious military governor in the Tang Dynasty. The court was able to allow Li Tiao to occupy Lingnan for many years and organize troops to rescue Lingnan because, on the one hand, Li Tiao had paid sufficient tribute to the emperor and eunuchs over the years, and on the other hand, the court felt that it was much more dangerous for Lingnan to fall into Huang Chao's hands than to be in Li Tiao's hands.

When talking about ambitious military governors, one cannot help but mention the renowned General Li Guochang.

While Huang Chao was leading his troops southward like a raging storm, Li Guochang also sent his eldest son, Li Keyong, to assassinate Duan Wenchu, the military commander of Datong. Including Li Guochang's original Zhenwu Army, both major northern border towns fell under Li Guochang's control.

This act of annexing a neighboring town through bloody means is, in fact, treason.

Some say that Feng Shuai harbors resentment because Emperor Xuanzong forced his mentor Shi Xiong to commit suicide years ago. Others say that Feng Shuai's actions are simply driven by pure ambition.

Even the muddle-headed Emperor Li Xuan, upon learning of Feng Shuai's rebellion, was so terrified that he lost all interest in playing his beloved polo for three days.

The imperial court quickly mobilized the surrounding vassal states, allocated troops and provisions, and organized a campaign against Li Guochang and his son.

This not only means that the Cao army should not have to confront the Feng commander in the next battle, but also that with fires breaking out on both the north and south sides of the Tang Dynasty, it is difficult to organize a rescue for Guangzhou.

Huang Chao generously published his reply to Li Tiao, making it known to the world.

"Chao desires to be appointed as the military governor of Guangzhou and concurrently the protector-general of Annam, following the example of the three towns of Hebei, without paying tribute or going to court, with the position being hereditary. Lord Li has rendered meritorious service to the country in quelling rebellions and pacifying the seas, so the emperor can also focus his efforts on the troubles in the northern border. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the ruler and the people were both at peace and happy?"

Everyone knows that Huang Chao deeply resented the imperial court. He opposed Wang Xianzhi accepting the imperial pardon and publicly slapped Wang Xianzhi.

This time, Huang Chao took the initiative to request amnesty, and none of his subordinates objected.

The position Huang Chao wanted was the military governor of Guangzhou and the protector-general of Annam. This Guangzhou was not the city of Guangzhou, but the vast ancient Guangzhou, which included the present-day Lingnan East Circuit and Lingnan West Circuit.

As for the Annam Protectorate, its territory was naturally in Annam, which is also known as Jiaozhi.

Huang Chao has now captured Lingnan East Circuit outside Guangzhou and occupied the northern part of Lingnan West Circuit. If the imperial court agrees to his demands, the entire area south of the Five Ridges, including the southern part of Lingnan West Circuit and Jiaozhi, which are currently still controlled by the government forces, will fall into Huang Chao's hands.

"No tribute, no court attendance, hereditary succession" means that finance, civil administration, military affairs and personnel are all self-managed. Without paying a single penny of tribute to the court, it is equivalent to establishing an independent kingdom within the Tang Dynasty, which can legally implement measures such as equal land distribution, suppressing foreign merchants, and promoting poor and humble people.

For the rebel leaders, if they could use this opportunity to buy themselves a few years, strengthen their armor and weapons, and then plan a northern expedition, it would be perfectly acceptable.

Back then, Pang Xun, the leader of the Ming Cult, also proposed similar conditions, believing that the righteous army was not strong enough to completely overthrow the Tang Dynasty, and hoped to first establish a local kingdom belonging to the Ming Cult brothers. However, the Chang'an court rejected the proposal, mobilized a large army, and brutally suppressed the Ming Cult rebels.

To say that Huang Chao's conditions were a mockery of the imperial court is not necessarily true.

Why did the Three Towns of Hebei exist within the Tang Dynasty?

The most representative figure among the warlords of Hebei was Tian Chengsi, the ancestor of Tian Jun, Zhu Wen's mistress, and the first military governor of Weibo.

As a key general under An Lushan, Tian Chengsi not only escaped being wiped out, but also successfully established his own independent kingdom in Hebei, enjoying the privilege of hereditary succession and not paying tribute or going to court. He sheltered a large number of An Lushan and Shi Chaoyi's remaining followers in his territory, and even built temples for An Lushan and his son An Qingxu, as well as Shi Siming and his son Shi Chaoyi, calling them the Four Saints.

Tian Chengsi was still not satisfied and attempted to expand his territory, even plotting to seize the throne. However, he was defeated by the imperial army. But because the regional warlords in Hebei were united, the imperial court could not eliminate Tian Chengsi and could only accept his apology, allowing the Tian family to continue their separatist rule.

The Tian family has long since declined, and the Han family now rules over Weibo, but there has been no change in the fact that the rule is hereditary and that the Han family does not pay a single penny of tribute or tax to the court.

The existence of the Hebei military governorships has always been the most glaring scar on the emperor's power map. It not only emboldened other military governors to follow suit, but also emboldened many rebels. Even if they couldn't overthrow the court, wouldn't it be wonderful to take a step back, become a military governor, dominate a region, and have the position passed down through generations?
Huang Chao was very fond of woodblock printing. In the past, he denounced the corrupt and incompetent court and printed a large number of proclamations to be sent to all sides. Now, seeking "amnesty", he also spread his conditions and demands throughout the world and sincerely discussed the feasibility of reforming the aristocratic politics with the emperor, officials and scholars of Tang.

Printing technology had been invented for many years, but its use was limited. The literati believed that handwritten books were exquisite and beautiful, while printed things were crude and low-class. They could only print vulgar goods such as Buddhist scriptures, mantras, and calendars to deceive the uneducated lower classes.

According to Huang Chao, this was actually a trick used by the aristocratic clans to monopolize knowledge. Without the widespread use of printing, it was extremely difficult for ordinary people to acquire knowledge, making it difficult for them to compete with the aristocratic clans. Promoting printing was a crucial step in breaking the aristocratic clans' monopoly on knowledge.

"Young Master Yi, do you think the imperial court will agree?"

Huang Chao wrote his petition with great flourish, had it printed, and then, sipping a small glass of wine, spoke to Pi Rixiu beside him.

"Yi Shao" is the courtesy name of Pi Rixiu. It sounds quite elegant, as if he were a handsome young man no matter how old he was.

“If the court is thrown into chaos by General Feng’s side and makes a rash decision, we can take Yongzhou, Rongzhou, and Jiaozhi without bloodshed, rest for a few years, and then plan our next move.” Pi Rixiu covered his forehead with his hand and pondered for a moment before saying, “Even if they disagree, given the nature of these gentlemen, they will still discuss it, and they will be even less likely to organize reinforcements to save Guangzhou anytime soon.”

Huang Chao burst into laughter: "Brother Pi truly understands me!"

What Pi Rixiu could see, Li Tiao, a cunning and shrewd fellow, could certainly see as well.

Upon learning that Huang Chao's reply had been spread all over the world, Li Tiao lost his composure and became so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

His ability to see the problem doesn't mean he has a solution. When faced with such a situation, the high-ranking officials of the court would invariably discuss it seriously for a long time, during which time they would not do any important business.

Moreover, if the imperial court agrees, where will Li Tiao go?
In the past few days, Huang Chao has sent strongmen from the Unloading Ridge faction to dig tunnels under the walls of Guangzhou, which were then collapsed, causing several sections of the city wall to fall. Although the repairs were timely and prevented the rebel army from entering the city, the morale of the people in the city was greatly shaken.

Li Yi once again led his fleet back from Jiaozhou with enough food for the city, but it was no longer enough to appease the residents.

Some of the wealthy households in the city had secretly sent people out to negotiate with the rebel army, promising to help them attack the city and thus securing their own escape route.

Although Li Tiao investigated two or three families and executed their entire clans, hanging rows of corpses inside the city walls as a warning, this was only a temporary solution.

Li Yi remained calm outside, but once inside the hall, he immediately appeared flustered.

"Father, why don't we also petition the court and ask them to accept the bandits' conditions?" Li Yi said through gritted teeth, his lips moving slightly. "The Nanzhao barbarians in Yunnan have started attacking the western border of Lingnan, mostly instigated by these bandits. This time, the court probably won't be able to provide any reinforcements!"

"Do you know what you're saying?" Li Tiao said coldly.

“I know I’m trying to persuade Grandpa to give up Lingnan, to abandon the ambition he’s been pursuing for most of his life! But a person has to survive first…”

As Li Yi was speaking, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a beautiful figure flitting past outside, and a sense of melancholy washed over him.

Now he had to admit that the reason Hua Wang Youdi was close to him was simply because his father controlled Lingnan. Once he left Lingnan, his bloodline as a descendant of Li Jiancheng would be worthless.

“In Lingnan, your grandfather was the Dragon King of the sea, a sea god who dominated the seven seas. But back in the Central Plains, he was nothing more than a mudfish that could be bullied by everyone.” Li Tiao suddenly felt calm down.

The people of Lingnan said that he tolerated the Hu merchants, causing great humiliation to the Han people.

But what Li Tiao saw was that since he took office, Guangzhou had become increasingly prosperous, with maritime trade ships arriving in an endless stream.

The economy of the entire Lingnan region was also boosted.

This gave him a sense of self-realization, and he wanted to extend his authority to a larger territory, or even the whole world.

It wasn't just because he had the blood of the late Crown Prince Li Jiancheng flowing in his veins and had the right to claim that throne; Li Tiao was even more proud of his achievements in governing and believed that the world should be ruled by talented people like himself!
“If the city falls, you should leave by boat. Your grandfather will live and die with the city.” Li Tiao sighed and said, “I have governed this city for twenty years, and I can only die here.”

Seeing the change in Li Yi's expression, Li Tiao added, "Besides, who said the overall situation is completely settled? We must believe that there is always a possibility of a turning point, no matter when."

Li Yi did not answer, standing blankly to one side.

The word "turning point" brought him a glimmer of hope, but it also felt elusive.

Now that things have come to this, is there really any chance for things to turn around?
(End of this chapter)