Chapter 356 North Return and South Return
Gao Gong stayed in Zhang Juzheng's house. The next day he found the housekeeper of Yang Bo's house and sent the invitation to Yang Bo's house.
The secret conversation between Gao Gong and Yang Bo didn't last long. What Gao Gong brought was King Yu's attitude and promise.
King Yu later ascended the throne, worshiped Yang Bo as Minister of War, and entered the cabinet as the chief assistant of the cabinet.
This was the political commitment written by King Yu himself before Gao Gong left Xuanfu.
Yang Bo's official career trajectory is that of a technocrat, giving full play to the spirit of screws. As long as it is useful, he will use it to death, but he will not be promoted.
Yang Bo was good at military affairs and was one of the best ministers in border affairs in the Jiajing Dynasty.
Because of this, he spent most of his time as an official in Jiubian, and could never be promoted to an official position in the capital.
Later, when Yan Song was in power, Yang Bo's military ideas were inconsistent with Yan Song's. Yan Song was afraid that the emperor would let Yang Bo return to the court and join the cabinet, so he transferred him to Nanjing as Minister of War.
Later, Zhenwuying was dismissed due to the mutiny. After Yan Song's fall, Yang Bo was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of War in the capital.
After a lifetime of wasting time, Yang Bo's only wish to be an official in this life was to join the cabinet. Gao Gong's promise scratched his itch.
Yang Bo stroked his beard and said: "The elites of the Beijing camp and the nine sides want to return. Returning to the north is in line with the military morale, but Li Chengliang's side."
Gao Gong immediately understood what Yang Bo meant, and Yang Bo also tended to return to the north, but Li Chengliang advocated radicalism, and he held the Liaoyang Cavalry in his hands. His attitude was the most important.
Gao Gong sighed again, after all, we are in troubled times.
When Hu Zongxian was fighting against the Japanese in the southeast, there were strong generals like Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang, but these generals could still be suppressed and dismissed by the court with a single order, leaving no room for resistance.
But now Yang Bo, as the minister of military affairs, controls the troops and horses, and even military decisions depend on the expressions of his generals.
I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse to have Jiubian Jingqi ride back north this time?
But Gao Gong couldn't care less, he had to keep this army in his hands!
One day after Gao Gong secretly visited Li Chengliang.
These days, Li Chengliang's life in Xuzhou is not going well.
The heat in the Jianghuai River was very hot. His Liaoyang cavalry came from a bitterly cold place and could not withstand the heat at all. Many people in the military camp fell ill.
Li Chengliang had been visiting the military camp these days, but he and Zhang Juzheng, who was in charge of logistics, refused to deal with it and never got enough food and medicine.
Finally, it was his adopted son, Li Ruzhen, who came up with a way to have some riders pretend to be bandits and plunder near Xuzhou, and then they gathered together food and medicinal materials.
Li Chengliang rewarded Li Rushe for this, and also accepted the soldiers of his battalion as personal soldiers of the personal camp.
The personal soldiers are Li Chengliang's "housekeepers". These one thousand people are the best-paid soldiers and horses under Li Chengliang. In Li Chengliang's view, this is the best reward for Jurchen barbarians like Li Rushe.
But for Li Ruzhen, he was still not satisfied with being a soldier.
Along the way, Li Ruzhen saw the prosperity of Han people's cities and the lush crops in Han people's fields.
But Li Ruzhen also discovered the cowardice of these Han people. They were even weaker than lambs and could be bullied. Li Ruzhen led the Jurchen cavalry along the way to rob them, but they did not receive any useful resistance.
Li Ruzhen thought of the tribesmen in the white mountains and black soil. They fought for a little land that could be cultivated, robbed each other for food, and worked as dogs for Li Chengliang in order to survive.
In comparison, such good land was occupied by weak Han people. Li Rushe clenched his fists and felt how unfair it was to Changshengtian!
During these days, Li Ruzhen hid some of the things he looted and distributed them to the Jurchen servants in the camp.
These newly recruited Jurchen cavalry were the most disliked troops under Li Chengliang. They were given the worst winter clothes and all their own weapons.
Many of them were naturalized Jurchens captured by Li Ruzhen and others, and they could not even speak Chinese.
Li Ruzhen continued to win over the hearts and minds of the Jurchen servants in the military camp, and became brothers with some tribal leaders, but he was very familiar with this army.
During these days in Xuzhou, these Jurchens' thoughts of making great achievements were gradually wiped out by the sun in Jianghuai. Now they just want to return to Liaoyang as soon as possible.
Just when Li Ruzhen came out of the servant barracks, he was suddenly summoned by Li Chengliang.
Li Ruzhen hurriedly walked into Li Chengliang's military mansion. When he saw Li Chengliang, he immediately knelt down and said, "Father!" "
Get up and talk!"
Li Chengliang didn't even raise his head. He asked Li Ruzhen to stand up and asked,
"You often go in and out of the Jurchen military camp. Now the military's morale is high." How about it?"
Li Rushe's heart tightened. Could it be that Li Chengliang discovered his alienation?
Li Ruzhen had several thoughts running through his mind, and even planned to rush out and lead the Jurchen cavalry in a mutiny.
But Li Chengliang's next words made him relax.
"Tell me, do you want to return to the north now?"
Li Ruzhen finally decided to answer honestly: "Father, the army does want to return." Li
Chengliang then put down what he was doing and said: "The morale of the army is irreversible. Go and spread the news. The army will return north soon."
Li Ruzhen immediately knelt on the ground and said to Li Chengliang: "My foster father is wise!"
July 12 On the same day, a military meeting was suddenly held at the Jiubian Jingqi Camp in Xuzhou. At the military meeting, the chief general Yang Bo and the deputy generals Li Chengliang and Zhang Juzheng did not quarrel again, but unexpectedly reached an agreement.
Yang Bo and Li Chengliang first led the Liaoyang cavalry and the Beijing camp northward. In response to the request of Prince Yu Wang of the Supervisory State, they attacked from the north and the south to regain the capital!
Zhang Juzheng left 10,000 elite cavalrymen in other areas of Jiubian, plus the 20,000 people he brought back from Fengyang, and continued to garrison in Xuzhou, waiting for opportunities to attack other areas in southern Zhili and regain the "lost ground"!
After this order was announced, Li Chengliang's troops and the soldiers in the capital were all overjoyed, while the other border town cavalry who were left behind were dejected.
Without further ado, Yang Bo and Li Chengliang set off with their soldiers the next day and quickly left Xuzhou and returned home along the Grand Canal.
Gao Gong followed Yang Bo's tent and returned north with the army.
Five days after the army left, Zhao Zhenji, who had arrived late, entered Xuzhou City.
Zhao Zhenji was shocked when he heard the news that the army was returning north. He quickly found Zhang Juzheng who stayed in Xuzhou.
When Zhang Juzheng heard that Zhao Zhenji had brought the emperor's decree, he quickly opened the door, put on his scarlet official robe and went out to greet him.
"Mr. Zhao Ge! Why are you here!" Zhang Juzheng looked extremely surprised and asked Zhao Zhenji.
Zhao Zhenji did not have the magnanimity of the previous master of Xinxue, but asked anxiously: "Zhang Butang! Where is the army of the imperial court?" Zhang Juzheng
immediately welcomed Zhao Zhenji to the mansion, and then said: "I heard that there was a rebellion in the capital, and the army went north to King Qin. ."
"King Qin!? His Majesty has entered the Pass! The king is in the Pass!"
Zhao Zhenji had lost his self-control and said sharply.
But Zhang Juzheng did not accept his words, but said calmly:
"The capital has fallen, the army wants to return, the military morale cannot be violated, Mr. Zhao!"
Zhao Zhenji calmed down, looked at Zhang Juzheng and took out the emperor's imperial edict and said:
"Your Majesty, you have According to the order, Xuzhou's nine-sided elite cavalry immediately marched westward and moved to Kaifeng."
Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "I'm sorry that I can't follow the order."
"You!"
Zhang Juzheng said, "The army has been marching for five days. If Mr. Zhao wants to go north to declare the order, I will I will escort you immediately." "But I followed the order of General Yang Shangshu to stay in Xuzhou. The gain or loss of Xuzhou is related to the retreat of the army. I dare not leave without permission. Please forgive Mr. Zhao Ge!" Zhao Zhenji was already heading towards the main road
. But looking at Zhang Juzheng with a smile, Zhao Zhenji suddenly felt a chill.
Now is different from before. Now the war is in chaos, and important cabinet ministers like him can only protect dozens of people in Xuzhou.
Zhang Juzheng holds an army of 30,000 men. If Zhang Juzheng takes action, he will be in grave danger.
When the time comes to leave it to mutinous soldiers or passing bandits, Emperor Jiajing will definitely not stand up for himself.
Zhao Zhenji thought of Duke Cheng Guo who was beaten to death by the angry soldiers during the Taiyuan Mutiny, and of the dignitaries of the capital who were killed by the soldiers who rushed into their houses, and shuddered all over.
Zhang Juzheng once again said with deep meaning: "The military spirit cannot be violated, Zhao Ge should think twice."
This sentence was already a naked threat. Zhao Zhenji thought of the soldiers from the Beijing camp in Taiyuan who wanted to return that day, and looked at the smiling Zhang Juzheng again. .
The anger faded away and Zhao Zhenji's mind started to spin again. He finally realized that he was too late.
Zhao Zhenji said to Zhang Juzheng: "In this case, Zhang Butang will guard Xuzhou well, and I will return to Guanzhong to reply to His Majesty's decree." Zhao Zhenji left Zhang Juzheng's mansion without looking back, and Zhang Juzheng didn't even say a word to persuade him to stay
. explain.
The deputy general next to him came up and asked:
"Ministry, will Mr. Zhao Ge go to pursue the army?"
Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "Zhao Zhenji is a smart man. After my reminder, he will definitely not go north to die."
Zhao Zhenji came out. Xuzhou City, immediately said to his subordinates: "Quick! Leave Xuzhou quickly!"
The carriage stopped sitting, Zhao Zhenji galloped on his horse, and left Xuzhou all the way.
Waiting until he left the border of southern Zhili, Zhao Zhenji dismounted completely limply, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat.
The eunuch who announced the decree in the team asked Zhao Zhenji:
"Zhao Butang, shall we go to Huguang to declare the decree?"
Zhao Zhenji came out with two tasks this time. One was to recall Xuzhou's Jiubian Jingqi. This task has failed.
The other is to announce the appointment of King Jing and let King Jing command the military affairs of Huguang, Jiangxi and Zhizhi, which is equivalent to granting King Jing the right to be in charge of all parties.
Zhao Zhenji immediately said: "Of course we are going to Huguang!"
Zhao Zhenji finally stopped riding in the sedan and rode horses all the way to Huguang.
The dynamics of Xuzhou's army could not be hidden from Su Ze's intelligence station in South Zhili.
After receiving the news, Xiong Wu immediately sent it to Shanghai by clipper ship, and then delivered it to Dagu by clipper ship.
August 3rd, the capital.
In the capital barracks, Su Ze received news from South Zhili and learned that Xuzhou's army was heading north.
Su Ze immediately summoned all the important officials in the capital to participate in the military meeting. At the beginning, Su Ze asked Wang Xijue, who was in charge of civil affairs:
"Wang Jingyin, how is the autumn tax collection going?"
Wang Xijue immediately said: "Grand Governor, the autumn tax collection has been completed. All have been transported to Tianjin through the North Canal for shipment."
Su Ze looked at Xu Guo and asked: "Counsellor Xu, how is the construction of wooden ships in Tianjin going?"
Xu Guo said: "Back to the Governor, ten wooden ships have been built. It's ready for hauling."
Su Ze took out Lin Mojun's letter and said: "The first brigade sent back news that the fleet has captured Dengzhou Port (Penglai), and the day for our return has arrived." "Anyone who works for
us All the officials at all levels who have passed by and the craftsmen on the roster are also taken away." "
After all relevant personnel have left, the Second and Third Brigades will withdraw from the capital!" "
Today, the capital has a curfew and military control, and it is prohibited to enter and exit at will. City gate."
"Everyone, we are going home!"
According to the evacuation plan formulated by the staff, everyone began to take action.
Wang Xijue first returned to Shuntian Mansion and urgently convened a meeting with officials from various districts.
When these officials gathered at the Shuntian Mansion Yamen, Wang Xijue immediately announced the order of the Governor's Mansion.
When these grassroots officials heard that Jiangnan was being withdrawn, most of them were willing to leave the capital.
The political liquidation in the Ming court became more and more intense, and these officials who "turned out to be traitors" will definitely not end well.
During the time they served Su Ze, most of them lived a busy and fulfilling life. The officialdom of the Southeast New Army did not have as many bad habits as the Ming court.
Wang Xijue sent soldiers to help them bring their families and pack their luggage, and then took all the people in Shuntian Mansion, Ding Tianzhu, to take a boat from the dock to Tianjin.
The transfer work began when Su Ze entered the capital. From the time when the "Yongle Dadian" was transported, craftsmen from the capital were sent to Shanghai on the ship.
Most of the craftsmen on Xu's roster have been transferred, and the rest have all gathered in Tianjin, preparing to evacuate with the capital's army.
After nightfall, all the officials in the capital had evacuated. After nightfall, Su Ze ordered the army to leave the city and retreat to Tianjin under the cover of darkness.
Riding on his horse, looking at the majestic walls of the capital, Su Ze said to the generals around him:
"Capital, we will come back."
After saying this, Su Ze raised his whip and headed towards Tianjin without looking back.
The early morning sun shines on the ground through the mist, and a pale yellow halo surrounds the streets.
Because of the curfew yesterday, people still dare not go out.
When the sun rose high, a few brave people walked out of their homes. They were shocked to find that all the Southeast New Army in the entire capital had disappeared.
The busy officials of Shuntian Mansion Yamen disappeared, and the soldiers of the Southeast New Army wearing blue military uniforms patrolling the streets disappeared.
Great fear surged into the hearts of ordinary people, and they once again remembered the days when the Ming Dynasty withdrew from the capital.
Some people ran home in panic, nailed the doors and windows, and shivered inside.
Some people began to form groups to protect themselves, waiting for chaos to come.
And those local gangsters who were suppressed by the Southeast New Army were ready to move again, and the capital, which was about to lose order, seemed like a crumbling building.
Quick horses galloped out of the capital to inform all forces of the news.
On August 10, Yang Bo's army, which had entered the Gyeonggi area, received the news and was extremely shocked.
Yang Bo immediately summoned Li Chengliang and Gao Gong to discuss the matter.
(End of chapter)