Huangming

Chapter 323 Government troops press in, cleansing away corruption and evil.

"Yanzhou City is just ahead."

Marquis Dingyuan, Deng Shaoyu, reined in his horse and turned his gaze to the majestic city on the bank of the canal, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

As dusk settled, the lights on the city wall began to twinkle, like a string of vigilant eyes watching over the Grand Canal below.

Yanzhou City occupies an important position in central Shandong.

When the Yuan Dynasty excavated the Jizhou Canal, the craftsmen built a stone weir five miles outside the east gate of the city, forcibly diverting the Si River into the Guang River, creating a winding tributary, making Yanzhou a key node in the canal's water source.

In this way, the city became the "key link" of the north-south waterway.

Grain and military supplies from Jiangnan could be smoothly transported to the north through this route, maintaining the supply of half of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

"If this city falls into the hands of the rebels, we'll be in big trouble."

Deng Shaoyu's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"If they cut off the canal, our supplies and provisions will have to be transported by land. With the current transportation capacity of the Ming Dynasty, the loss of carriages and horses and the time delays alone will be enough to ruin the entire suppression of the rebellion."

Safeguarding Yanzhou means safeguarding the lifeline of the rebellion.

This is why he, as the vanguard, arrived so quickly.

"Yes!"

Lu Wenzhao, the commander of the Northern Garrison Command and the Embroidered Uniform Guard beside him, breathed a long sigh of relief, his face showing a sense of accomplishment.

"Finally here."

The ten days he spent traveling south from Beijing were an ordeal for him.

He was prone to seasickness, and even on a stable official canal boat, he would vomit violently. Only now, stepping onto solid ground, did he regain some of his composure.

But this discomfort was quickly suppressed by a surge of inner strength.

He subconsciously touched the embroidered spring knife at his waist, recalling the news from the capital.

The three brothers, Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian, had only made some contributions on the Liaodong battlefield, yet they were rewarded for their merits, and their official ranks were about to catch up with his, a commander of a thousand.

"Why can they charge forward, but I can't?"

Lu Wenzhao muttered to himself, a glint of defiant gleam in his eyes.

It was this drive that led him to volunteer to come to Shandong to assist in suppressing the rebellion in front of the commander.

In chaotic times, military merit is the most tangible asset, and he must seize this opportunity and not be left behind by his former colleagues.

"Commander Lu is certainly impatient."

Deng Shaoyu turned around and glanced at him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"However, the Jinyiwei's informants were indeed very useful in this suppression of the rebellion."

"Rest assured, my lord."

Lu Wenzhao cupped his hands and said, "Your subordinate has prepared the communication codes and will be able to find out the details of the rebels as soon as possible, so as to lend a helping hand to Your Excellency."

As they spoke, the sound of horses' hooves came from the city gate. The garrison commander led his personal guards out to greet them, bowing respectfully from afar.
"This humble general greets Your Excellency! I have met Commander Lu. The city defenses have been set up as instructed, and we await your arrival to discuss matters!"

Deng Shaoyu nodded in acknowledgment and spurred his horse to head towards the city gate.

It is now early August, and the chill of autumn is penetrating to the bone.

In the fields outside the city, the crops that should have been ready for harvest were growing well, with heavy ears of grain bending the stalks.

The wild grass along the field ridges has turned yellow, and fallen leaves are rustling down from the branches of the old trees by the roadside, carpeting the ground with golden autumn light.

In the open fields outside Yanzhou City, one can already see scattered figures of people wandering around.

They weren't exactly a regular army; they were more like displaced people who had lost their order.

Most of the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Yanzhou Prefecture were in chaos. Government officials either fled or surrendered, and the people, now without any control, simply picked up hoes and sickles and started looting in groups to survive.

Many of the thriving crops outside the city had been looted and destroyed, leaving behind a mess.

Lu Wenzhao followed the crowd into Yanzhou City. Instead of going with Deng Shaoyu to the government office to meet the local officials, he turned straight into a quiet alley and arrived at the local Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) post.

When the gatekeeper saw the thousand-household badge on his waist, he dared not neglect him and hurriedly led him to see Zhang Qian, the hundred-household commander.

"Your subordinate greets Commander Lu!"

Zhang Qian was a lean man. When he saw Lu Wenzhao, he hurriedly bowed and greeted him, his face showing signs of travel fatigue.

"No need to be polite."

Lu Wenzhao waved his hand and got straight to the point.

"Tell me about the situation in Shandong in detail."

Zhang Qian dared not delay and quickly took out the dossier, reporting at lightning speed: "Reporting to Commander Qian, the Fragrance-Scented Sect is causing a huge disturbance! That scoundrel Xu Hongru has occupied several county towns, including Yuncheng and Zouxian, and his rebel army is said to number in the tens of thousands. Moreover, refugees are joining them every day, and the number is still rising..."

He paused, a worried look on his face.

"Although Yanzhou Prefecture is still in our hands, the surrounding prefectures and counties are almost all in chaos, making the transportation of grain and supplies increasingly difficult, and the situation is not optimistic."

Lu Wenzhao frowned slightly.

Tens of thousands of mutinous soldiers?

It was more than he had expected.

As if remembering something, Zhang Qian added, "However, we have planted a spy in the Fragrance Sect named Li Hongji, who is now a big boss with three or four thousand men under his command!"

"what?"

Lu Wenzhao suddenly looked up, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

He originally thought that the people planted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard would at most become minor leaders, and it would be good enough if they could pass on messages. He never expected that Li Hongji would become a big leader with thousands of men in his hands.

This skill was beyond his expectations.

Is this person reliable?

Lu Wenzhao pressed for details, a scrutinizing glint in his eyes.

Climbing too fast in a den of traitors may not be a good thing; the real danger is that he might take the act too seriously and become a true rebel.

Zhang Qian quickly replied, "Reliable! I heard this person was personally appointed by the commander. Ten days ago, he sent back a secret letter saying that Xu Hongru was facing numerous internal conflicts and that he was taking the opportunity to win people over..."

However, the outskirts of Yanzhou have been blocked by mutinous troops for the past few days, and news has been temporarily cut off.

Appointed by the commander?
Does this person have a powerful background?

Lu Wenzhao pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Understood."

In Lu Wenzhao's view, suppressing the rebellion of the Fragrance Sect was not difficult.

and.

This is not his job.

"But what I want to know now is exactly how this popular uprising started, which is also what His Majesty is most concerned about."

The unrest caused by the Wenxiang Sect in Shandong might have seemed like a minor ailment to the emperor in the Forbidden City. What truly worried him was the underlying problems that the chaos was trying to uncover.

The rebellion of the Fragrance Sect is nothing to fear; His Majesty's meaning is very clear:

While quelling the unrest in Shandong, we must also take this opportunity to thoroughly purge the Shandong officialdom.

Only by removing this rotten flesh can we prevent the resurgence of popular uprisings.

The things the emperor cares about are the things he has to do.

That was also the purpose of his coming here.

Zhang Qian, the centurion, was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile:
"My lord, the corruption in Shandong's officialdom is an open secret. Take this conscription of laborers, for example. The wages and provisions allocated by the Ministry of Revenue are deducted at every level, leaving the laborers with only a pittance, not even enough for a full meal."

The reason this popular uprising escalated so quickly was twofold: first, public resentment had been building up for so long that it was easily ignited; second, the county magistrates, upon seeing the arriving rebel troops, abandoned their official seals and fled without even daring to resist, leading to the loss of the county seat and naturally throwing the situation into complete chaos.

"Oh?"

Lu Wenzhao narrowed his eyes, and a bloodshot killing intent instantly filled them.

He slammed his hand on the table, making the files on it jump: "As local officials, protecting the people is their duty! The county seat has been lost, and they still have the nerve to run away? Who gave them the audacity?"

These words were spoken coldly and harshly, carrying a resolute and ruthless tone.

Zhang Qian was so intimidated by his imposing manner that he shrank back and dared not reply.

Lu Wenzhao slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

The breakthrough he was looking for had arrived.

These county magistrates who abandoned their cities and fled provided the perfect pretext for purging the Shandong officialdom. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, those who failed to defend their territory should be executed, let alone those who deserted in the face of battle.
Taking action against these people will not only quell public anger but also deter corrupt officials, which is exactly what His Majesty wants.

"Zhang, the centurion."

Lu Wenzhao's voice calmed down.

"Give me a complete list of the officials who abandoned the city and fled, as well as evidence of their usual corruption and abuse of power. Remember, nothing can be omitted."

Zhang Qian, the centurion, immediately nodded and said, "Your subordinate obeys."

Lu Wenzhao's eyes flickered

His task is to do more than just assist in suppressing the rebellion.

Now that this storm has begun in Shandong, it must blow even more fiercely, uprooting those parasites hiding in the shadows.

He's a commander of a thousand households, but he's always thinking about getting promoted!
……

Deng Shaoyu's troops, serving as the vanguard, were mostly elite cavalrymen who moved swiftly and had already reached the outskirts of Yanzhou to set up defenses.

But advancing slowly behind him was the true main force in this suppression of the rebellion.

The Beijing garrison was personally led by Yuan Keli, the Vice Minister of War and concurrently the Assistant Administrator of the Beijing Garrison.

Most of the soldiers under Yuan Keli's command were newly recruited soldiers who had just been recruited two months ago.

The purpose of bringing them to Shandong this time was not only to quell the rebellion, but also to train the troops.

These new recruits have no experience in battle. If they are sent directly to Liaodong to fight against the Jurchens, it would be like driving sheep into the jaws of a tiger.

However, when dealing with the unruly civilians in Shandong who lacked armor and had rudimentary weapons, the well-equipped Beijing garrison soldiers, armed with swords, spears, and cannons, were more than capable of overwhelming them, allowing the new recruits to hone their skills and grow in actual combat.

It is worth mentioning that the troops transferred to Shandong this time did not include the elite troops who had raided Hetu Ala.

After all, that team had just endured a grueling battle during a long march and was exhausted. They were now returning to camp to reunite with their families and eagerly awaiting the imperial court's rewards.

If they were to be thrown into a new war at this time, it would inevitably breed resentment, which would be counterproductive.

However, not all the teams that raided Hetu Ala were excluded from this operation.

For example, Mao Wenlong had already led his troops to the scene.

Although his official appointment as the Commander-in-Chief of the Tianjin Navy had not yet been granted, he had already effectively taken control of the Tianjin Navy's ships. The suppression of the rebellion in Shandong required the transport of grain and the deployment of troops via the Grand Canal, which necessitated the assistance of naval vessels, so Mao Wenlong naturally followed the army.

Besides Mao Wenlong, there was another special person in the military.

This refers to Li Yangeng, who had previously defected.

With no family to worry about, he traveled light and volunteered to join the army to quell the rebellion.

Yuan Keli had a very good impression of Li Yangeng. In his view, people like him who had defected from the enemy camp often had extraordinary loyalty to the Ming Dynasty, even more so than many of the old officials who were born and raised there.

Perhaps this is what is known as "convert fanaticism".

Having experienced choices and betrayals, one feels an even stronger and more unwavering devotion to one's new home.

now.

Yuan Keli stood at the bow of the boat, his brows furrowed as he gazed at the gradually emerging traces of war on both banks of the canal.

Vanguard Deng Shaoyu has sent word that Yanzhou's defenses are solid, but chaos is rampant in the surrounding prefectures and counties, and although the Wenxiang Sect's rebel troops are numerous, they are disorganized.

He turned to look at Li Yangeng beside him, who was intently observing the river's water conditions with a focused expression.

"General Lee."

Yuan Keli asked, "What do you think these rioters fear most?"

Li Yangeng cupped his hands and replied, "Your Excellency, the uprisings of the rebels are mostly driven by the need to make a living. They appear fierce, but in reality, they are timid. What they fear most is the cutting off of their food supplies and the overwhelming force of the government army. As long as we cut off their supply lines first, then display our elite troops, and supplement this with pacification efforts, the chaos will not be difficult to quell."

Yuan Keli nodded slightly.

What he needed was precisely this accurate grasp of the psychology of the disorganized army.

This battle in Shandong must not only be won, but also fought spectacularly, showcasing the might of the Beijing Garrison and giving these new recruits a sense of confidence.

Not a few days passed.

Yuan Keli led the main force of the Beijing garrison to Yanzhou City.

With Deng Shaoyu's advance reconnaissance and Lu Wenzhao's intelligence gathered from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Yuan Keli's first task upon entering the city was to carefully verify the authenticity of the information and confirm the irrefutable evidence one by one.

Three days later, the drill ground in the center of Yanzhou City was packed with onlookers.

Five officials dressed in prison garb were brought to the front of the platform; they were the county magistrates who had abandoned the city and fled.

"As an official appointed by the imperial court and receiving the emperor's salary, you abandoned the city and fled before the arrival of the rebel troops, plunging the people into misery. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, you should be executed!"

Yuan Keli stood on the high platform, his voice carried throughout the entire area through the reports of his personal guards.

"The purpose of executing these five men today is to show all officials in Shandong that they have a responsibility to defend their territory, and those who lose it shall die!"

Before he could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared, and five heads fell to the ground.

At first, there was a deathly silence among the people, then a long-suppressed cheer erupted.

These county magistrates usually acted arrogantly and domineeringly, and when trouble broke out, they were the first to run away. Now that they have been brought to justice, it is a great relief to the people.

After dealing with the county magistrate, Yuan Keli issued another order:

The Shandong governor was dismissed from his post and imprisoned, then escorted back to Beijing by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and handed over to the three judicial departments for interrogation.

This governor turned a blind eye to the corruption of local officials and delayed reporting the urgent news of the initial outbreak of the peasant uprising, which had already made him a target of public criticism.

Immediately afterwards, a strongly worded proclamation was posted throughout Shandong's prefectures and counties:
"From this day forward, all officials in charge of defending the city must do their utmost to protect it and pacify the people. Anyone who dares to abandon the city and flee when the rebel army attacks, regardless of rank, will be executed without mercy! If you can hold the city and repel the rebel army, the court will reward you handsomely."

The core of the proclamation can be summed up in one sentence: "It is our duty to defend this land; to lose it is certain death!"

This order struck like a thunderbolt through Shandong's officialdom.

Those officials who were originally observing and even planning when to flee were suddenly struck by a slap in the face.

Cherishing life?

Then we must defend the city at all costs, or we will face certain death.

Before the lingering impact of executing officials who abandoned their cities had even subsided, Yuan Keli had already finalized a complete strategy for quelling the rebellion in Shandong under the lights of the Yanzhou government office.

This strategy is progressive, focusing not only on suppressing the immediate rebellion but also on long-term stability, and can be summarized in three steps:
One option is a swift military victory.

Yuan Keli knew that although the rebel army was large, it was mostly a motley crew, and its strength lay in its food supplies and the leadership's appeal.

He immediately devised a tactic of "encirclement and cutting off supplies + decapitation strike":

On one hand, Deng Shaoyu's cavalry was dispatched to cooperate with Mao Wenlong's navy to block the supply lines of the rebels in the core areas of Yuncheng and Zou County, cutting off their external support.

On one hand, Lu Wenzhao was secretly ordered to contact Li Hongji, who was lying in wait, to find out the exact location of Xu Hongru and other ringleaders. Once the encirclement was complete, an elite force would launch a surprise attack to take down the leaders of the rebels and leave the chaotic army leaderless.

Secondly, there is the political aftermath.

After the war is over, the accumulated grievances should be resolved by "severely punishing the ringleaders and pardoning the coerced accomplices".

The so-called "the ringleader must be punished" refers to the fact that core members of the Wenxiang Sect who actively participated in the massacre of officials and civilians, the burning of government offices, and whose hands were stained with blood, will be executed according to the law after verification, as a warning to others.

The policy of "not questioning those who were coerced into following the famine" meant that those who were merely forced to transport grain and had not fought with weapons were registered and released to return to their hometowns, and given a small amount of grain seeds so that they could return home.

Such differentiated treatment can both deter evildoers and appease the majority, avoiding pushing the people to the opposite side of the court.

Thirdly, it is for long-term stability and security.

This is the most crucial step: the soil in which the Scent of Incense Religion thrives must be completely eradicated.

On the one hand, we will strictly investigate any remaining members of the cult, destroy local government offices, confiscate tokens such as the "Three Kings" bamboo slips, and strictly prohibit cult activities.

On the other hand, upright and capable officials were selected and sent to various prefectures and counties in Shandong, while supplies such as oxen and seeds were allocated to help the people resume production. Yuan Keli especially emphasized that the land accounts in Shandong should be investigated during the suppression of the rebellion.

All farmland seized by corrupt officials and taxes concealed must be thoroughly investigated, and any officials found to have problems, regardless of their rank, must be dealt with severely.

"Although the chaos originated from cults, its root lies in the governance of officials and the people's livelihood."

Yuan Keli explained to Deng Shaoyu, Lu Wenzhao, and others while looking at the map.

“It is not difficult to defeat them militarily, but it is difficult to make the people of Shandong truly believe in the imperial court. Only by giving them land to cultivate, food to eat, and the opportunity to see honest officials will they no longer be misled by false rumors.”

With the strategy set, all parties began to act according to plan.

Since we're going to take action, we should do it with overwhelming force, showing the officials and people of Shandong what heavenly troops and thunderous might are all about!

Dare to rebel? Dare to be corrupt?

Let's see if you can withstand the suppression of these heavenly soldiers!
(End of this chapter)