Huangming

Chapter 505 Usurping the Title and Raising an Army, the State Becomes Great Liang

The twilight in Ganshui Town was stained with blood.

The old locust tree at the entrance of the town was cut down, and several Han Chinese corpses were hanging on the trunk, with blood flowing down the bark.

She Chongming's general Zhang Tong's three thousand Yongning soldiers rampaged through the town like hungry wolves. The soldiers kicked open the wooden doors of the houses and stuffed grain, silk, and silver ingots into sacks. Anyone who resisted was slashed with a knife. The cries of children, the wails of women, and the soldiers' savage laughter mingled together, turning this once peaceful town into a living hell.

"General, this is the loot we plundered today, and also some gold ingots hidden by several wealthy families!"

A soldier carrying a heavy sack presented it to Zhang Tong with obsequious flattery.

Zhang Tong, clad in black leather armor, with blood still dripping from the curved sword at his waist, lifted the sack and glanced at it, a greedy smile curling at the corner of his mouth:
"That's good. Divide these valuables in half and send them to the villages of the surrounding Liao chieftains."

Tell them that if they follow She Shuai in rebelling against the Ming, they will not only retain their chieftainships but also receive more land and wealth!

He knew in his heart that coercion alone was not enough; he had to win over these Liao chieftains with real benefits.

The Ming Dynasty had always been harsh on the chieftains in the southwest. The decree to abolish the chieftain system and replace them with centrally appointed officials was like a sword hanging over their heads, which could strip them of their power and wealth at any time.

Now that She Chongming has taken over Chongqing and raised the banner of rebellion against the Ming Dynasty, it is precisely the opportunity for these chieftains to turn their lives around.

Sure enough, within three days, envoys from several local chieftains of the surrounding area arrived one after another.

Their eyes gleamed as they looked at the wealth piled up in the yard, yet their faces showed hesitation.

They wanted to use She Chongming's power to counter the Ming Dynasty, but they also feared being purged after the rebels were defeated.

"General Zhang, rest assured, we are willing to lend a helping hand to Commander She!"

The leading Liao chieftain envoy rubbed his hands together and laughed:
"However, my master's status is special, so it is inconvenient for him to come in person. He has sent a branch of the clan with two thousand soldiers to help, and has also offered a thousand bushels of grain and five warships as a token of his gratitude."

The other envoys echoed this sentiment, each harboring the ambition to "leave themselves an escape route":

We won, and we deserve credit.

If they lost, they would claim that it was just a branch of the clan that had secretly mobilized troops, and that it had nothing to do with the main clan.

Zhang Tong saw through their thoughts, but didn't point them out.

As long as we can expand our troop strength and secure our rear, these petty calculations are insignificant.

He patted the envoy on the shoulder and laughed loudly: "Good! When Commander She conquers the Southwest, he will never forget your contributions! Tonight, we'll hold a banquet and drink until we drop!"

As night deepened, the Tusi residence in the center of Ganshui Town was brightly lit.

Zhang Tong and several Liao leaders sat around a table laden with wine and meat, the aroma of rice wine wafting from the silver pot.

The leaders toasted each other, exchanging flattering words and planning their future wealth and power.

Zhang Tong's face was flushed from drinking. Thinking about the prospect of arriving in Zunyi and joining forces with the Tusi's army, he couldn't help but feel excited.

"Once we capture Zunyi and reunite with our lord, the Ming army will be no threat! At that time, the southwestern lands will be ours!"

Just then, a very faint sound of footsteps came from outside the town.

In the darkness, three thousand White-Spear Soldiers approached like ghosts, each soldier with a gag in their mouth, their horses' hooves wrapped in thick linen, and even their breathing was extremely shallow.

Qin Liangyu was clad in silver armor, holding a white-handled spear, her eyes as cold as ice.

She had been stationed at Nanping Pass for many days, intending to cut off She Chongming's retreat, but she never expected that Zhang Tong would dare to lead his army south, burning, killing, looting, and harming the people in Ganshui Town.

"Soldiers, follow me and kill the enemy!"

Qin Liangyu gave a low command and swung her spear forward.

In an instant, the deafening roar of thunder shattered the silence of the night!
Dozens of thunderbolts, each the size of a head, were hurled at the courtyard by the White-Clad Soldiers. After their outer shells exploded, shrapnel flew like raindrops, accompanied by violent explosions and towering flames.

The courtyard wall was blasted open in several places, tiles fell down, bowls and plates on the table were shattered, and scalding rice wine was splashed all over everyone.

"No! There's an ambush!"

Zhang Tong suddenly stood up, instantly sobering up, and reached for the curved knife at his waist.

But his soldiers were already completely drunk; some were fast asleep on the table, while others were struck by fragments of the thunderbolt as soon as they stood up, falling down screaming in agony.

The Liao people's leaders were in a panic; some crawled under the table, while others ran wildly towards the back door, creating utter chaos.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the white-armored soldiers surged into the courtyard, their silver armor gleaming coldly in the firelight, their white-armored spears thrusting out like venomous snakes.

A soldier with white spears pierced the chest of a Liao chieftain with a single spear thrust, and blood splattered onto the wine table.

Another soldier swung his knife and severed the fleeing soldier's hamstrings, causing him to fall to the ground, before finishing him off with a shot.

The shouts of battle echoed throughout the courtyard, and the Yongning soldiers and Liao soldiers were powerless to fight back, left to be slaughtered at their mercy.

Zhang Tong brandished his curved sword, cutting down two white-pole soldiers who rushed at him, and tried to break through to the back door.

But after taking only two steps, three white-handled spears thrust at him from different directions, piercing his chest, abdomen, and thigh with pinpoint accuracy.

He looked down in disbelief at the tip of the gun in his chest, blood streaming down the shaft, and all his strength drained from his body in an instant.

"You...you are..."

Before Zhang Tong could finish speaking, he was kicked to the ground by a soldier with a white spear, which then pierced him again, ending his life.

In the darkness of night, the White-Clad Soldiers swept away the remaining enemies like autumn leaves in the wind.

None of the Liao people's leaders escaped; some died in the chaos of battle, some were pursued and killed outside the town, and some were captured alive.

The soldiers of Yongning were either killed or surrendered, and the three thousand troops collapsed in an instant.

Qin Liangyu stood in the center of the courtyard, looking at the corpses scattered on the ground and the burning houses, her eyes still cold.

Until dawn the next day.

The White-Spear Soldiers had put away their spears and gone to appease the people in the city.

The White-Clad Soldiers cleared the corpses and rubble from the streets, dragged the remains of the Yongning soldiers outside the town to bury them, but specially erected a simple wooden monument for the murdered Han people.

Carrying buckets of water, they extinguished the flames from the still-smoking houses.

"General, more than 300 households in the town have been injured, all the food has been looted, and some children have not eaten for two days."

A junior officer from the White-Clad Army rushed over to report.

Qin Liangyu immediately turned around and gave orders to the guards behind her:
"Transport all the grain and cloth seized from Zhang Tong's camp and distribute them to the elderly, weak, women and children first."

Then find military medics to treat the wounded civilians.

She paused, then added, "Tell the men that they are not allowed to take even a needle or thread from the people. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished according to military law!"

The White-Spear Soldiers were known for their strict military discipline, especially after Qin Liangyu took command.

Just as the guards left to carry out their orders, a series of light footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.

A little boy in patched clothes, clutching half a half-eaten steamed bun, timidly hid in a corner, watching the soldiers in white uniforms fighting the fire.

Upon seeing this, Qin Liangyu slowed her pace and walked over, taking out a wheat cake wrapped in oiled paper from her bosom, squatting down to hand it to him:
"Don't be afraid, I am Qin Liangyu, and we are the Ming Dynasty's imperial army, here to protect you."

The boy looked up at the white-pole soldier insignia on her silver armor, then at the wheat cake, and hesitated for a moment before taking it.

Not far away, several villagers hiding in their houses heard the commotion and quietly peeked out through the cracks in the windows. Seeing that the White-Clad Soldiers were not looting but distributing food, some of them finally mustered up the courage to come out.

"It's Qin Liangyu, General Qin! General Qin came here when we quelled Yang Yinglong's rebellion. He didn't harm us in the slightest. He's a good officer and soldier!"

"Everyone, come out!"

First came an old man with a cane, then a woman holding a child, and finally all the people in the alley gathered around. Some held their last pottery jars, wanting to pour water for the soldiers, while others, with red eyes, pointed in the direction of the west of the town and recounted the horrific scene of the Yongning soldiers' looting.

"Everyone, don't worry."

Qin Liangyu stood up, her clear voice carrying throughout the crowd.

"The imperial court will never let the people suffer in vain! The bandits who plundered you have been killed, and their wealth will be returned to everyone."

The Ming army will be responsible for treating the injured villagers.

We will do our best to repair the collapsed houses.

Upon hearing this, the people were silent at first, then some knelt down, choking back tears as they cried out, "Your Honor, the Upright Official!" More people followed suit, their cries of joy and gratitude mingling together.

Qin Liangyu quickly helped the old man at the front to his feet, her tone sincere:
"Please rise, everyone. Protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people is our duty. There is no need for thanks."

After calming the people down, Qin Liangyu turned and walked into the temporary council hall set up in the drill ground.

Three chieftains of the Liao people were already tied up inside the hall.

It was the chieftain who had sent a small contingent of troops to follow Zhang Tong yesterday and had also presented him with provisions and warships.

The three men lowered their heads, their hands bound behind their backs with hemp rope, their silk robes covered in dust. Their former arrogance had been replaced by fear, and they trembled uncontrollably at the sound of footsteps.

"Do you know your guilt?"

Qin Liangyu sat on a wooden chair in the center of the hall, her gaze sweeping over the three people.

The chieftain of the Liao people raised his head shakily, his voice trembling:
"General, spare our lives! We...we were coerced by Zhang Tong. If we don't send troops, he'll burn down our stronghold!"

"Coercion?"

Qin Liangyu sneered and threw an account book in front of them.

Those were records of the distribution of valuables found in Zhang Tong's camp, which clearly stated that "the chieftain of Ganshui Liao people donated 500 taels of gold and received 300 taels of looted silver."

"If it was truly coercion, why would he accept Zhang Tong's share of the spoils? Why didn't he secretly inform the Ming army?"

The three were speechless, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

Qin Liangyu stood up, walked to them, and softened her tone:
"The laws of the imperial court have always been to punish evil but not good."

You sent your cronies to join the traitors and aid the wicked; you should have been executed on the spot.

However, considering that you did not personally lead the troops, and that there are innocent clansmen in the village, we will spare your lives today.

She called out towards the door:
"Guards! Take these three men into the prison cart and send them, along with the evidence of their crimes, to Chongqing to be handled by Commander Xiong and Governor Xu, awaiting the court's decision."

The grain, provisions, and warships they had offered to Zhang Tong were all confiscated; half were distributed to the people of Ganshui Town, and the other half was used as military rations.

As the soldiers stepped forward to take the three away, the chieftain of the Liao people suddenly turned around and kowtowed deeply to Qin Liangyu:

"Thank you, General, for sparing our lives! We will never dare to oppose the imperial court again!"

After dealing with the rebels, Qin Liangyu sent someone to deliver a message to the surrounding Liao villages that had not joined the rebels.

The chieftains of each village were invited to come to Ganshui Town for a meeting. In the afternoon, five Liao people, dressed in their ethnic costumes, nervously entered the meeting hall. Some of them had been tempted by Zhang Tong's offer, but had hesitated to act due to their fear of the Ming army.

Some of them had been loyal to the court for generations and refused to participate in the rebellion from the beginning. When they saw Qin Liangyu, they all looked nervous, afraid of being implicated.

"There is no need for you to be alarmed."

Qin Liangyu personally poured rice wine for them and handed the bowl to the leading Liao chieftain.

"I have invited you all here today not to interrogate you, but to have a heartfelt conversation with you."

"The imperial court's implementation of the policy of replacing native chieftains with appointed officials was not intended to seize power or land from the people, but rather to ensure that the people of the southwest could live a peaceful life."

They were no longer suffering from the wars between chieftains, nor were they exploited by exorbitant taxes and levies.

She Chongming rebelled in an attempt to drag the southwest back into the flames of war, sending everyone to their deaths; but our Great Ming will only punish rebels, not disturb the innocent.

The chieftain of the Liao people held the wine bowl, his fingers trembling slightly.
"General, we...we received Zhang Tong's letter, but we have never responded. We wonder if the court will..."

"Not only will they not be held accountable."

Qin Liangyu interrupted him, her tone firm.

"If you are willing to cooperate with the Ming army to quell the rebellion, I will personally write to the court to request merit for you."

Not only will you retain your chieftainship, but your village will also be exempt from taxes for three years.

Upon hearing this, the other leaders' eyes immediately lit up with delight.

A Yi chieftain quickly said:
"General, rest assured! We have a thousand men in our stronghold who are familiar with the local terrain. I will send someone to fetch them right away to serve as guides for the Ming army!"

The other chieftains all expressed their willingness to send troops to assist.

Qin Liangyu's reputation was well-established, which put their minds at ease.

In addition
After Zhang Tong arrived, they originally wanted to join the bandits, but they just hadn't had time to send troops yet.

Therefore, these people were extremely nervous at this moment, fearing that Qin Liangyu would use this as an excuse to make trouble, so they agreed to whatever Qin Liangyu said.

"it is good!"

Qin Liangyu raised her wine bowl and gestured to the crowd.

"As long as we work together, we will surely be able to quell the rebellion soon and restore peace to the southwest."

"At that time, we can live and farm alongside the Han people, sharing the bountiful harvests. Wouldn't that be better than fighting alongside rebels?"

The leaders nodded and drank the rice wine in their bowls in one gulp, their previous tension completely dissipated.

Outside the council hall, the sun shone brightly, and the soldiers with white-pole uniforms were still helping the people repair their houses. The laughter of children came from the alleyway, mingling with the shouts of the soldiers.

Qin Liangyu watched this scene and knew that Ganshui Town had been stabilized.

of course
The stability of Ganshui Town alone is far from enough.

Qin Liangyu wanted to cut off the eastern official road from Chongqing to Yongning!

At her request, the local chieftains near Ganshui Town offered up their soldiers, and within three days, they had gathered more than 8,000 men.

Although these chieftain soldiers were fierce and brave, they had always fought independently and were undisciplined. Qin Liangyu mixed them with the White-Spear Soldiers and divided them into five battalions, with White-Spear Soldiers captains as officers. During the day, they drilled the troops and taught them offensive and defensive techniques, and at night, they preached military discipline and explained the purpose of "protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people".

"Everyone."

Qin Liangyu, clad in silver armor, stood atop a high platform in the training ground, her white-handled spear pointing straight to the southwest horizon.

"She Chongming is a traitor who burns, kills, and plunders, harming our people; today, we, as comrades, guard Songkan and cut off the rebels' path, which is to rid our hometown of a scourge and to be loyal to the court!"

Those who perform meritorious service will be richly rewarded by the imperial court; those who retreat will be punished without mercy under military law!

The words had barely left his lips when a thunderous response erupted across the training ground.

Three days later, Qin Liangyu personally led an army of 10,000 (including 3,000 elite White Spear Soldiers) along the Qijiang River by both land and water, heading straight for Songkan on the northern border of Guizhou.

Songkan is a natural and perilous place.

The area is flanked by towering mountains and deep valleys, with only one official road winding along the riverbank. On both sides are sheer cliffs, and at its narrowest point, only two people can walk side by side.

The Qijiang River narrows here, with numerous reefs making it difficult for large ships to navigate; it is truly a strategic pass that "can hold off ten thousand men."

Qin Liangyu immediately deployed defenses:
The White-Clad Soldiers were stationed on both sides of the cliffs, armed with rolling stones, logs, and rockets to block the official road.

Miao hunters lurked in the mountains and forests, monitoring the movements on land; Liao soldiers patrolled the Qijiang River in small boats, intercepting any pirate ships attempting to pass.

She also ordered the sinking of several abandoned fishing boats, blocking narrow sections of the waterway, and laying caltrops and digging pits on the official road.

As a result, the eastern waterway from Chongqing Prefecture to Yongning was completely cut off, and She Chongming's grain, weapons, and medicine could no longer be transported to Sheyan Department in Chongqing City through this most convenient route.

The western land route consisted mostly of rugged mountain roads, making it difficult for carts and horses to travel, resulting in significant losses in transporting grain and fodder, and making it extremely vulnerable to ambushes by the Ming army.

Once Songkan was secured, it was as if She Chongming had been strangled.

To some extent, Qin Liangyu completely thwarted She Chongming's plot to seize Chongqing Prefecture.

the other side.

On the official road outside Luzhou City, dust obscured the sun, and the sound of horses' hooves shook the earth.

She Chongming rode a fine horse, clad in gilded heavy armor, followed by 50,000 cavalry and infantry. The character "She" on the military banner was as red as blood, stretching for dozens of miles, creating an awe-inspiring sight.

After taking control of Luzhou and Xuzhou, he coerced the people and recruited the private armies of the local chieftains, increasing his forces from 10,000 to 50,000. He also seized the military equipment and provisions from the treasuries of the two prefectures, making him incredibly powerful for a time.

He reined in his horse and stood on high ground, gazing in the direction of Chongqing Prefecture in the distance, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Once they join forces with Sheyan in Chongqing and take over Chongqing, they can march straight to Chengdu and control the entire Shu region. At that time, the chieftains in the southwest will rise up in response, and half of the Ming Dynasty's territory will change hands.

"My lord, we have arrived at Jiangjin!"

The guard stepped forward and handed over a secret letter that had been sent urgently from Yongning.

She Chongming opened the secret letter, glanced at a few lines of text, and his face suddenly darkened.

The secret letter clearly stated:
Zhang Tong was ambushed by Qin Liangyu in Ganshui Town, and his entire army of three thousand was wiped out, with Zhang Tong dying in battle.

Qin Liangyu has led her army to occupy Songkan, blocking the Qijiang waterway and the eastern official road. The logistics supply to Yongning and Bozhou has been completely cut off, and the Sheyan troops in Chongqing are in dire need of food.

"Qin Liangyu! It's you again!"

She Chongming growled, his eyes filled with resentment and anxiety.

He originally thought that by taking Luzhou and Xuzhou, he could use the two prefectures as a base to continuously support Chongqing. However, once Songkan was lost, the supply line was cut off, and Chongqing became an isolated city. His 50,000-strong army became an isolated force fighting without a rear base.

Let alone dominating the southwest, even taking the first step of conquering Chongqing has become an insurmountable challenge.

Seeing that his expression was off, the adjutant beside him cautiously advised:
"My lord, Songkan is a natural fortress that is difficult to breach, and Chongqing is besieged. Would it be better to retreat to Luzhou for the time being and devise a better strategy?"

"retreat?"

She Chongming suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with madness.

"My She family has been planning for over ten years to raise an army against the Ming Dynasty. We have no way out! If we retreat today, we will face utter destruction tomorrow!"

He took a deep breath and continued:
"Qin Liangyu wants to cut off my escape route, and the Ming Dynasty wants to trap me in Chongqing, so I will do the opposite!"

but.
If they couldn't control Chongqing, they wouldn't be able to retain so many chieftains.

If he were to lose, these people would surely scatter like monkeys when their tree falls.

She Chongming's eyes flickered.

I need to find a way to make these people follow me down this dark path.

soon.

She Chongming then came up with a solution!
Three days later.

Suddenly, a yellow flag embroidered with the words "Da Liang" was erected in Jiangjin Town.

She Chongming set up an altar in the largest Tusi residence in the town, using a felt tent as the court and an earthen platform as the throne, and ascended the throne to establish a country named "Da Liang".

He wore a yellow cloth that had been confiscated from the Luzhou government treasury and altered into a dragon robe (though it didn't fit him, it was still dignified), and appointed officials.

He appointed his trusted advisors as prime ministers and established five ministries: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works, each with its own responsibilities.

He also issued an imperial edict appointing An Bangyan, the chieftain of Shuixi, as "Grand Elder of the Four Barbarian Tribes," giving him overall command of the military forces of the chieftains in the southwest.

The chieftains who submitted, such as the Luo, Bai, and Gulin clans, were all granted the titles of "Marquis" and "Earl," their names were recorded, and they were given official seals and robes, with a promise that they would share wealth and honor once they conquered the world.

"My lords!"

She Chongming stood on the earthen platform, his voice hoarse yet highly persuasive.

"The Ming Dynasty was incompetent and oppressed the southwest for a century. It abolished the native chieftain system and replaced it with centrally appointed officials, seizing our land and harming our people!"
Today, I establish the nation of 'Daliang' to find a way for the various ethnic groups in the southwest to survive!
From this moment on, we are all subjects of the Great Liang, sharing both glory and ruin!
If we can conquer Chengdu and sweep across the land of Shu, when I ascend the throne as emperor, you will all be founding fathers and enjoy wealth and honor for generations to come!

"If anyone dares to retreat or defect, their entire family will be exterminated!"

The chieftains and generals below the stage looked at each other in bewilderment, then knelt down and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"

They knew perfectly well that She Chongming's actions had completely bound them to the war machine of rebellion.

Those who register their names and bestow official titles and ranks will not be spared by the court should the rebellion fail.

They were beheading them based on the booklet.

Rather than be purged later, it's better to fight to the death; perhaps you can really win a fortune.

Three more days later.

She Chongming left 10,000 troops to garrison Jiangjin to secure the rear, while he personally led 40,000 troops to continue their rapid march toward Chongqing.

The army marched along the western land route, with provisions loaded onto thousands of oxcarts and escorted by the chieftain's soldiers. The winding procession stretched along the mountain road like a long black snake.

She Chongming rode on his precious horse, gazing at the misty mountains ahead with a determined look in his eyes.

Qin Liangyu of Songkan was his obstacle, and Xiong Tingbi outside Chongqing was his mortal enemy. But he had no choice but to forge ahead, either defeating Xiong Tingbi in Chongqing or dying on the battlefield.

Only by defeating the government troops could he truly have the possibility of becoming king and establishing a kingdom.

If you can't beat them
Once they fled to Yongning, they were defeated and killed.
It's just a matter of time.

Their resolve to charge into battle is one of certain death!
He was greedy and ambitious, so he could only go down a dark path!

(End of this chapter)