Huangming

Chapter 343 A Blood-Soaked Rebirth Through Kindness and Strictness
On the official road from Tongzhou City to Jizhou City.

The horse-drawn carriage made a soft "crunching" sound as it rolled over the dirt road covered with a thin layer of ice.

A person was sitting upright in the carriage.

It was Yang Lian.

Huhuhu~
The cold wind whipped up sand and gravel, which pelted Yang Lian's unfolded map, but it did not disturb his focused reading in the slightest.

Jizhen was no ordinary border town.

It stands like an iron barrier north of the capital, and among the nine border regions, none can rival it in terms of its importance in protecting the central government.

According to military records, at its peak, the Jizhou garrison should have had 156,000 elite soldiers ready for battle.
Thirty thousand cavalrymen moved like the wind, one hundred and twenty thousand infantrymen were as solid as a rock, and six thousand wagon troops formed a mobile fortress. Such forces were enough to make any invading enemy retreat.

These people accounted for 60% of the Jizhou garrison's military strength. Most of them were from Hebei and Shandong who had been relocated from the Daning Commandery during the Yongle era. They had been guarding the border for generations and had long since put their roots in this land.

The rotating garrison troops were another pillar of the defense of Jizhou.

These soldiers were mainly from the south.

These southern soldiers were mostly young men from Yiwu and Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, personally trained by Qi Jiguang. About 10,000 of them were stationed at Shimenzhai and Xifengkou.

Although these southern warriors were not accustomed to the harsh northern cold, they inherited the strict military discipline of Qi Jiguang's army, and their wolf-tooth rakes and muskets remain sharp weapons in the Jizhou garrison to this day.

Further south on Qiangzi Road, the troops of the Chuanhu Tusi (chieftain) were stationed after the pacification of Bozhou during the Wanli era. They were skilled at traversing mountains and climbing cliffs and crossing streams as if walking on flat ground, making them a formidable force to defend against Mongol cavalry raids.

Yang Lian's gaze shifted to several key points:
Santunying, the location of the Jizhou General's Office, was where 20,000 soldiers of the battalion were stationed, serving as the central nervous system, ready to rush to the aid of various places at any time.

At Xifengkou, 12,000 troops guarded the strategic pass. The soldiers under the command of Lieutenant General Du Yingkui kept a close watch on the Doyan Three Guards to the north day and night. Those Mongol tribes were always either surrendering or rebelling, and were never peaceful.

The 8,000 troops guarding Gubeikou were commanded by guerrilla general Wang Wei. This was the northern gate of the capital, and the slightest mistake would lead to annihilation.

As for Shimen Village in the far east, 15,000 troops under the command of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Zhang Shixian kept their eyes on Liaodong, guarding against possible infiltration by the Later Jin cavalry.

"Liu Qu..."

Yang Lian whispered the name of the General of Jizhou.

Military records indicate that this person was born into a hereditary commander of the Gansu Guard and was transferred to the Jizhou Garrison in the 47th year of the Wanli reign.

From the Northwest to North China, from fighting against the Mongols to also dealing with the Jurchens, this general is quite interesting.

Northwest generals are skilled at cavalry raids, but it remains to be seen whether they can manage the complex situation in Jizhou, which combines the north and south and involves both infantry and cavalry.

Yang Lian's eyes flickered, her mind churning with thoughts.

The skeleton of Jizhou remains today, but how many of these numbers actually represent soldiers capable of fighting?

Do those military households still retain the bravery of their ancestors?
Are the rations and pay for the visiting soldiers paid in full?
How much control did Liu Qu, this outsider general, actually have over his subordinate officers?

But Yang Lian's thoughts were interrupted by Li Hongji's voice from outside the carriage.

"Lord Du, we have arrived at Jizhou City."

"So fast? That makes sense."

Yang Lian was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what was happening.

After setting off from Tongzhou, his troops sped towards Jizhou like arrows released from a bow.

In addition, they were traveling with three horses each.

In just a few days, the towering city walls of Jizhou City came into view.

Yang Lian lifted the carriage curtain and looked closely at the fortified city.

The crenellations on the city wall of Jizhou were arranged in a neat and orderly manner. The soldiers guarding the city wore thin armor and hunched their necks in the cold wind, looking somewhat listless.

After entering Jizhou City, Yang Lian did not rush to the official post station to rest, but instead sent someone to summon Liu Qu, the Jizhou general stationed at Santunying.

While waiting, he changed into civilian clothes and, with a few trusted confidants, began to wander through the streets and alleys of Jizhou City.

The military commissioner who received him, Wang Yingzhi, was an old man with half-white hair and beard. He always had a kind smile on his face, but his small eyes revealed shrewdness.

From the moment Yang Lian entered the city, he followed her closely, constantly introducing the local customs and culture of Jizhou City, while always trying to subtly probe Yang Lian's intentions.

"Your Excellency, during this inspection of the nine border regions, does His Majesty have any special instructions?"

Wang Yingzhi rubbed his hands together and asked with a smile, "Our Jizhou garrison has been wholeheartedly guarding the capital all these years, without daring to slack off in the slightest."

Yang Lian glanced at him, understanding dawning on her.

This old fellow is probing to find out the truth.

The emperor's inspection tours of the nine border regions were a common occurrence, happening every few years; it was nothing new.

The key lies in how the inspection is conducted. Is it just a formality to collect some bribes and then return home, or is it to be serious and thoroughly investigate the root causes of corruption? For officials of all ranks in Jizhou, this makes a world of difference.

If it's the former, they'll naturally be overjoyed, serving them good food and drink, and sending them some gold and silver jewelry to settle the matter.

However, if it is the latter, then it will affect the interests of too many people, and there will probably be a bloody storm.

Yang Lian walked unhurriedly, his gaze sweeping over the shops and pedestrians along the roadside, and said indifferently, "Wang Bingxian, there's no need to ask any more questions. This imperial envoy is merely on a mission to inspect the area. Everything will be done according to the rules."

He didn't reveal any useful information, and Wang Yingzhi, having been rebuffed, didn't dare to press further and could only follow behind awkwardly.

The soldiers in Jizhou City were divided into three groups.

The General's Battalion, with 5000 men, was the direct subordinate unit of the General of Jizhou Garrison. It was the best-equipped unit and was stationed near the General's Mansion in the center of the city.

The Southern Chariot Battalion had 3000 men, who were former troops of Qi Jiguang. They were stationed at the drill ground in the east of the city. Although they were from the south, they were disciplined and their fighting strength should not be underestimated.

The cavalry battalion has 2000 men, stationed at the horse stables in the north of the city. They are all highly skilled horsemen and are the rapid response force of Jizhou.

Yang Lian walked around Jizhou City for two days and saw the soldiers of the General's Battalion training on the drill ground. Their movements were fairly uniform.

Life was clearly not easy.

The same applies to the Southern Chariot Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion.

just
Whether this was the real Jizhou City, or a Jizhou City that Wang Yingzhi deliberately showed him, remains unknown.

but
He hadn't been planning to gather much useful information along the way.

As an imperial envoy ostensibly on inspection tour, Yang Lian attracted most of the eyes and ears, serving as a cover for his own purposes.

The one who actually obtained the intelligence was Li Hongji, who secretly carried out his mission.

Li Hongji acted swiftly, using money to bribe many lower- and middle-ranking soldiers, and extracting a great deal of inside information from them.

Some soldiers complained that their pay was being withheld and that they hadn't received their full pay for months.

Some say the weapons are so old and worn that they are unusable in actual combat.

Others say that higher-ranking officers act arrogantly and treat ordinary soldiers like dirt.

They then inquired about their opinions on the general, the military advisor, and the guerrilla general.

Some people spat at these high-ranking generals, some remained noncommittal, and others gave them a thumbs up.
Yang Lian gradually pieced together what he had seen with his own eyes and the information he had heard from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and gained a clearer understanding of the situation in Jizhou.

The two days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the second night, the tranquility was broken by the sound of rapid hoofbeats. Liu Qu, the general of Jizhou, who was stationed at Santunying, had finally arrived in Jizhou City.

He did not return to the general's mansion, but went directly to the post station in the city.

Inside the post station, Liu Qu was covered in dust and frost, his armor still stained with dirt and frost, clearly having traveled a long way.

As soon as he entered, he strode up to Yang Lian, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his tone full of apology:
"Liu Qu, General of Jizhou, greets Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me. A few days ago, I went to Xifengkou to investigate the enemy's situation. I did not expect Your Majesty to summon me suddenly, so I rushed here from Xifengkou without stopping. I am late, please forgive me."

Hearing Liu Qu's explanation, Yang Lian sat in his chair, nodded slightly, and said calmly, "General, you've worked hard. It was indeed not easy to make such a long journey."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and waved, signaling the servants and other unrelated personnel in the post station to leave.

Soon, only Yang Lian, Liu Qu, and Li Hongji standing to the side remained in the post station.

Seeing that Yang Lian had dismissed everyone, clearly indicating that there was a secret matter to discuss, Liu Qu's expression instantly became more serious, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute again:
"What are your instructions, Imperial Envoy? Regarding the inspection of Jizhou, I will cooperate fully without hesitation."

Yang Lian looked at him, a meaningful smile suddenly appearing on his lips, and said, "General, don't rush to agree. Let's take a look at these memorials first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed a thick stack of memorials on the table in front of Liu Qu.

Liu Qu was suspicious. He reached out and took the copies of the memorials in his hand, and slowly opened them.

At first, his face showed some doubt, but as he continued to read, his expression suddenly changed, from initial calm to surprise, and then to paleness, and his hands began to tremble slightly.

These memorials, without exception, were all impeachments against him by court officials, and each impeachment was extremely specific, with details so detailed that they were alarming.

"General Liu Qu of Jizhou falsely reported the number of beheadings and claimed military merits fraudulently..." "To make up for the shortage of horses during night patrols, General Liu Qu of Jizhou forcibly requisitioned thirty mules and horses from a merchant caravan, causing the caravan's goods to be stranded and resulting in heavy losses..."

"The actual number of soldiers in the General's Battalion does not match the roster; the number of soldiers falsely reported exceeds three thousand, and they have been embezzling military pay for many years..."

"..."

One charge after another struck Liu Qu's heart like a heavy hammer.

The more he looked, the more alarmed he became, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, sliding down his cheeks.

Gulu~

Liu Qu swallowed hard, his right hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the knife at his waist, his fingers gripping it tightly.

A flicker of struggle and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, as if he were making some difficult choice.

However, when he looked up and saw Yang Lian sitting there calmly, as if she had everything under control, and then glanced at Li Hongji, who was burly and had sharp eyes like an eagle, the impulse in his heart was instantly suppressed.

He knew that if he acted impulsively at this moment, he would only die a more gruesome death.

So what if we kill an imperial envoy?

Can he withstand His Majesty's repercussions?

At that time, their entire family would be exterminated.

Finally, Liu Qu slowly loosened his grip on the knife hilt, removed it, and a bitter and desperate expression appeared on his face. His voice was hoarse as he said:

"Since the imperial envoy already knows about the things I have done, there is no need to say anything more. Just arrest me directly. These crimes are all enough to cost me, Liu, my head."

After saying that, he closed his eyes, looking as if he were about to be executed.

The atmosphere inside the post station instantly became heavy, as if there was a sense of oppression in the air.

Li Hongji stood to the side, his hand discreetly resting on the sword at his waist, watching Liu Qu warily, ready to deal with any possible unexpected events.

Looking at Liu Qu's posture of offering his neck for execution, Yang Lian suddenly chuckled softly. The laughter was not loud, but it was like a gentle breeze, dispelling the heavy atmosphere in the post station.
"If I wanted to capture the commander-in-chief, you would probably have been captured the moment you stepped into this post station."

Liu Qu suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with disbelief.

His heart, which had been in his throat, eased considerably, but his doubts only deepened. He hesitated and asked, "What does the imperial envoy mean...?"

"His Majesty's order for me to inspect the nine border regions is not merely to hold someone accountable."

Yang Lian leaned forward slightly, her tone becoming more serious.

"The court also gives those who have made mistakes a chance to reform themselves. As long as you can honestly admit your mistakes, do your best to make amends, and make amends for your crimes in the future, your past crimes can be forgiven."

These words struck Liu Qu like a thunderclap.

He stared blankly at Yang Lian, whose eyes were clear and firm, showing no sign of playing tricks.

That is
Does Liu Qu still have a chance to survive?
now.

The general of Jizhou disregarded the inconvenience of being in armor and knelt down on one knee with a thud.

"If there is any chance to atone for my sins, I am willing to obey the imperial envoy's orders, even at the cost of my life!"

Yang Lian looked at his kneeling back and slowly nodded.

In the past two days, the Imperial Guards had already figured out Liu Qu's background by chatting with the lower-ranking soldiers in Jizhou City.

When the soldiers talked about the general who took office two years ago, they complained that he was strict in managing the troops, but they also admitted that he had never embezzled military pay. In fact, when food and pay ran out, he even sold his own property to supplement the camp.

Behind those false registrations, forced requisition of warhorses, and fraudulent claims of military merit lies the plight of soldiers in the standard battalion who have no food to eat.

Yang Lian had seen it in a secret report submitted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Last winter, the rations and pay of the Jizhou Garrison were delayed by three months. The soldiers of the Standard Battalion were so hungry that they couldn't even get enough to eat, even if they had cornbread mixed with straw. It was only after Liu Qu and his men forcibly requisitioned the mules and horses of the merchant caravan that they were able to obtain a batch of life-saving rations.

In Yang Lian's view, as long as they are not corrupt officials who line their own pockets and exploit soldiers, there is still room for redemption.

Moreover, Liu Qu was an outsider transferred from Gansu Guard, and his roots in Jizhou were not deep. Unlike the deeply entrenched local generals, he was a perfect candidate to be used.

Yang Lian was genuinely worried when Liu Qu touched the hilt of his knife. Fortunately, the man didn't actually make a move, which showed that although he had murderous intent, he had no rebellious nature.

That impulse was nothing more than the instinct of a cornered beast fighting back.

"Get up."

Yang Lian raised his hand in greeting.

"Since you are willing to atone for your crimes through meritorious service, then start by investigating the personnel rosters of the battalion. Within three days, I want to see the true roster of soldiers, as well as the whereabouts of all the falsely reported military pay."

Liu Qu suddenly looked up, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Nowadays, only by confessing and receiving leniency, and then making amends for one's crimes, can one save one's life and even one's official position.

"I'll go right away."

Standing to the side, Li Hongji watched this scene and quietly released his hand from the hilt of the knife.

He then realized that Yang Lian had already laid a trap.

Using swift and decisive measures to intimidate Liu Qu, and then offering him a way out, both served as a warning to Liu Qu and brought him under his control. Such tactics are truly admirable.

However, watching Liu Qu's departing figure as he accepted the order, Yang Lian showed little joy on her face.

He picked up the teacup on the table, which had long since gone cold. The icy touch of his fingertips on the cup mirrored his current state of mind.

Subduing Liu Qu was merely a tiny step forward.

To deal with such an outsider whose foundation is not yet stable, we can use swift and decisive measures to intimidate them, and then lure them with a way out, combining both hard and soft tactics.

However, the deeply entrenched military forces that have been entrenched in Jizhou for many years are not so easily shaken.

They had been operating here for generations, with their cronies throughout the military, and even local officials had to give them some leeway, forming an impenetrable network of vested interests.

To touch them is like stirring up a hornet's nest; a slight misstep could backfire.

Yang Lian's visits to Jizhou City over the past two days have allowed him to see many things clearly.

Decades ago, under the rule of Qi Jiguang, the Jizhou garrison was well-organized and had a strong army. The Mongol cavalry were terrified and dared not cross the line.

But now, Qi Jiguang has been away from Jizhou for far too long.

The harsh military laws that once struck fear into the hearts of the enemy have long been replaced by the malpractice of exploitation at every turn.

Those elite and brave soldiers also lost their fighting spirit due to the year-after-year delays in their pay and rations.

Yang Lian encountered an old soldier at the city gate. He was dressed in rags, his face was sallow and thin. When he talked about the days when he trained with General Qi, there was a glimmer of light in his eyes, but more than anything, there was a helpless sigh.

"Your Excellency, you have no idea,"

The old soldier's cloudy eyes were filled with tears.

"These past few years, it's become increasingly difficult to receive rations and pay. My children are starving to death. If I don't flee, am I supposed to just wait to starve to death?"

In recent years.

The desertion problem in Jizhou had reached an alarming level.

The military register is filled with names, but less than 70% of them are actually on duty.

Some camps, nominally numbering a thousand people, actually only had a few hundred old, weak, sick, or disabled people to fill the ranks.

And those who didn't escape were mostly dishonest.

They either had families to support and had nowhere else to escape, so they had no choice but to spend their days in the military.

Or they colluded with their superiors to falsely report military quotas and embezzle the missing military funds for their own use.

Even worse, some used the pretext of guarding the border to secretly communicate with Mongol tribes outside the Great Wall, or even the Jurchens, smuggling salt, iron, and grain, making a fortune.

These people have long regarded Jizhou as their own cash cow, and they have no intention of defending the territory.
Yang Lian felt heavy-hearted:

Cleaning up these long-standing problems is by no means an easy task.

Moreover, the same methods used against Liu Qu cannot be used to deal with these deeply entrenched military factions; we must find another way.

Perhaps we could start with the descendants of the Southern soldiers who still remember Qi Jiguang's kindness.

Perhaps, by using the pretext of investigating military pay, we can gradually peel away their disguise.

but
In any case, this investigation will inevitably involve bloodshed.

But only through bloodshed can Jizhou be reborn from the ashes!

(End of this chapter)