Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 15 Mutiny
Hong Chengchou, governor of the five provinces, has been in Xinyang for more than half a month. During this period, he assigned Zuo Liangyu and Tang Jiuzhou to guard Neixiang and Xichuan with 5000 people; Chen Yongfu led 800 people to guard Lushi County; Thousands of soldiers and horses guard Luonanlan Caochuan and Zhuyang Pass; Deng Qi, Zhang Yingchang, and Xu Chengming's troops and horses defend the important places north and south of the Han River to prevent bandits from entering Huguang from Shaanxi.

According to the itinerary, all the generals should be in place.After discussing with his staff, he decided to personally lead He Renlong, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shaanxi, and a total of [-] soldiers including Liu Chenggong, the general in charge, entered Shaanxi from Tongguan to sweep up the bandits.

There is only one month left before the emperor's imperial decree to eradicate the rogues within half a year, and now it seems impossible to eliminate the rogues.

The thieves flow like water, and the officers and soldiers are always on the run because of lack of mobility.Looking for an opportunity to gather and wipe out the bandits, there is no chance at all. Often the bandits attack a certain city, and when the officers and soldiers get the news and go to rescue, the bandits have already broken through the city and looted away.

Hong Chengchou felt very confused sometimes, because the Ministry of War had not formulated a strategic plan for the overall situation. When the time limit set by the emperor came, he had not completed the task assigned by the emperor.

Busy with the task of suppressing thieves, but also worried about his own future and fate, Hong Chengchou lost a lot of weight in half a month, and his temples had turned gray.

After breakfast this morning, Hong Chengchou was waiting to order his troops to return to Shaanxi.Tanma suddenly came to report: General Xu Laichao of Gansu Town did not want to enter the mountains to guard him. After marching to Lushi County, he mutinied. Now he has occupied the county town and looted everywhere.Chen Yongfu, the governor of Henan Province, was originally stationed in Lushi County. Seeing the mutiny of Xu Laichao's troops, the generals did not dare to take charge of the command. Now they have retreated to Yongning to wait for the military order.

Hong Chengchou was furious when he heard this, and went up against the crime.Although officers and soldiers had mutinied many times before, they were all small-scale mutinies involving dozens or hundreds of people. This was the first time that this kind of mutiny involving more than [-] soldiers and horses had happened under his command.

If this spread to the capital, first of all civil servants would unanimously attack him, Hong, who led the army for nothing.

Once again, if the emperor knew that not only did he fail to kill the thief in time, but the army under him mutinied, according to the emperor's previous character and temper, he would lose his head.

Thinking of this, he wanted to send an order to gather troops to counter the rebellion.At this moment, another scout horse came to report: Deng Qi, the Sichuan aid and suppression general, mutinied in Fancheng, killed Xie Wenju, the eunuch of the supervising army, and Deng Qi disappeared!
Hong Chengchou frowned.Deng Qi's corps has a large number of people, and he has always treated his subordinates harshly, withholding his subordinates' military pay for a long time, his corps has long had deep grievances.This mutiny should be the total outbreak of conflicts that have accumulated for a long time.

He immediately ordered in a sharp voice: "Let Chen Yongfu's department monitor the movements of Xu Laichao's department! If he abandons Lushi County and attacks other counties, Chen Yongfu will stop him immediately! Tell him that the governor will immediately send a counter-insurgency team, and let him follow the instructions when he arrives. Those who disobey the order will be beheaded!"

Shen Shiyu comforted: "You don't need to worry too much, the governor. Those who think the mutiny of the officers and soldiers are just paying for the money, not really wanting to rebel and become thieves. The current plan is to quickly plan the money and food. As long as the money and food are sufficient, the leader of the mutiny will be killed at that time. The rest of the officers and soldiers will be in awe!"

"I don't know what you said? But even the governor's bid camp owes several months of payment. The imperial court has not awarded money for half a year. Where are we going to plan so much money?"

Shen Shiyu was also at a loss. To appease the mutinous officers and soldiers needed a large amount of silver, but the yearly silver that was supposed to be handed over in Shaanxi had already been withheld by Governor Hong. The money collected by the court every year was not enough to cover the expenses of so many troops. It had not been paid for half a year. .

Suddenly, there was a noisy voice from outside the office, and then the soldiers rushed into the office and came to the front to report: "Commander, an angel has arrived!"

After being taken aback for a moment, Hong Chengchou got up immediately, pulled himself together and said, "Set up the incense table quickly and welcome the angel!".

Hong Chengchou led the crowd out of the yamen and came to the yamen. He saw a forty-year-old eunuch standing in front of the yamen, talking softly with a man who looked like the leader of a royal guard.The square behind him was full of carriages, which were covered tightly with tarpaulins, and an officer and soldier in uniform of the Beijing camp stood in a corner of the square with a horse.

Hong Chengchou hurried forward to meet him, cupped his hands and said, "The angel is here, and I haven't greeted him from afar, but I still look forward to Haihan!".

"Governor Hong is too polite. Chen Dajin, the eunuch of our family's supervisor of ceremonies, has been ordered to deliver the decree. Governor Hong accepts the decree!"

Hong Chengchou hastened to lead the way, let Chen Dajin and his party into the office, and the incense table was already set.

After Hong Chengchou and the others knelt down, Chen Dajin took out the imperial decree from his bosom and began to read it.

The general content of the imperial decree is nothing more than that the governors of the five provinces have done a good job, the suppression of bandits has achieved results, and they will continue to work hard in the future.The last is the key point. Now that the national treasury is empty, the emperor specially takes 20 taels of internal funds to pay the officers and soldiers.He also promised that after financial affluence in the future, the previous arrears will be reissued.

When Hong Chengchou heard the 20 taels of salary, the boulder in his heart suddenly disappeared, and he felt extremely relaxed. As long as the salary is sufficient, it will be relatively easy to solve the mutiny.

After reading the imperial decree, Hong Chengchou asked Chen Dajin and others to go to the inner hall for tea and rest. After Chen Dajin agreed with a smile, he entered the inner hall with Zhang Hongyu, a thousand householder of Jinyiwei who came with him.Shen Shiyu quickly went to ask someone to unload the truck, and ordered someone to lead the officers and soldiers of the Beijing camp who came to guard the food to rest in the barracks.

Entering the inner hall, several people sit down as guests and hosts, and servants bring fragrant tea.

Chen Dajin picked it up, took a sip, and said with a smile: "It's the first time our family went out to Beijing to deliver a decree. This time, we still escorted a huge amount of money. The distance is so far away. Our family was worried all the way, for fear of encountering a large number of rogues. Fortunately, all the way When we came, there were only sporadic thieves. Seeing that we were officers and soldiers, they only watched from a distance, and did not dare to step forward to intercept. The emperor also specially dispatched a team of elites from the Yongwei Battalion, and Jinyiwei Tiqi to guard the whole way. Thanks to We asked Zhang Qianhu to arrange overnight stays and day trips, and set up camp, so that we will not disgrace the holy order."

Zhang Hongyu who was next to him even said that he should, and Hong Chengchou followed suit with a few compliments. After all, this is the eunuch and eunuch of the court, an important figure in the inner court, and he cannot be offended by words.

As soon as the subject changed, Chen Dajin put away his smiling face and said, "Duke Hong, the emperor has another secret order for you!"

Hong Chengchou was startled, and just about to get up and kneel to listen, Chen Dajin waved his hands and said, "The emperor said that it was a secret decree, but it is actually a letter with a lot of content and involves secrets. It is inconvenient for our family to know. The emperor told you to read it alone!"

After finishing speaking, Chen Dajin took out a vermilion wooden box sealed with beeswax from his arms, and handed it to Hong Chengchou with both hands.After the governors of the five provinces bowed to take it, Chen Dajin said with a smile: "Director Hong, our family and Zhang Qianhu also drank tea, and now we are tired. Please make arrangements, and our family will go to rest. Stay here for one night. Set off tomorrow to return to Beijing to deliver the order!"

Hong Chengchou hurriedly called Shen Shiyu over, winked at him, and then respectfully sent Chen Dajin to the guest room in the side courtyard of the government office to rest.

After Shen Shiyu brought the two of them to the guest room, he smiled at Chen Dajin: "The angels have come from a long way. The conditions in the small place are simple and the hospitality is not good. Please take care of the angels!"

After finishing speaking, he took out four gold ingots from his bosom, and said with a smile to the two: "This is Du Hong's wish, it is not a respect, I hope the angel will accept it!"

One gold ingot is 25 taels, and four is 100 taels, which is equivalent to 1000 taels of silver.

Chen Dajin smiled and said: "Where is it? Our family is not picky, Hong Du is too polite!" After finishing speaking, he reached out to take the ingot and put it on the table. Seeing this, Shen Shiyu cupped his hands and said, "Then don't disturb the angels. Rest, if you need anything, just ask!" Then he said goodbye and left the house, and he didn't care how the two of them divided.

After Hong Chengchou waited for the two to leave, he sat back in his chair, ordered his servant to light a candle, melt the beeswax on the wooden box, open it, and picked up the emperor's letter inside and began to look at it.

The emperor Mi Zhili confessed that he underestimated the combat power and mobility of the rogues, and the strategy of suppressing thieves that he formulated was too impatient.Praise Hong Chengchou for his maturity and prudence, and promise to give him more time to plot thieves slowly.But Xu Tu is not indefinite. Seize the opportunity to wipe out the main force of the bandits. After all, there are still Jianlu outside the pass.

Considering that a defeated thief is easy to chase and difficult to chase, Guan Ning's iron cavalry has been ordered to go south to listen to the tune, and let Hong Chengchou do whatever he wants.

The secret decree mentioned that the emperor is stepping up logistics support, and a batch of new military rations are being produced, and will soon reach the armies.The issue of weapons was vaguely mentioned in the secret decree, as if the emperor was considering new weapons, but Hong Chengchou didn't pay much attention to this. Regardless of old or new weapons, a good weapon is one that does not cut corners.If the emperor paid attention to the quality of weapons, the quality of the swords, guns, bows and crossbows in the hands of officers and soldiers is too poor, and they will be useless after a few times, seriously affecting the morale of the army.

After reading the secret decree, Hong Chengchou was very happy. He handed the secret decree to Shen Shiyu who had arranged to rush over, and said with a smile: "Wenxuan, with such a wise king in power, great things can be expected."

Shen Shiyu took the secret decree and quickly read it at a glance, and said happily: "The idea of ​​the Holy One coincides with that of the commander-in-chief. With the salary, the food, and the help of Ning's iron cavalry, the commander-in-chief, the extermination of thieves can be expected! Haha Ha ha!"

Hong Chengchou was also very happy, and said with a smile: "The most important thing is that the Holy Majesty is no longer in a hurry! The biggest concern in the governor's heart has been put down! The soldiers are well paid, and the Holy King is in power. I don't pay attention to mere rogues! Wait until The day when you are done, Wenxuan, is when you and I will become famous all over the world!"

"Supervisor, the most urgent thing is to resolve the mutiny first, otherwise there will be changes in the long run!" Shen Shiyu reminded.

Hong Chengchou's face darkened, and he said: "These arrogant soldiers, the governor usually tolerates you, they are getting worse! Counting the days, Guan Ning's cavalry is coming soon, so we should deal with Xu Laichao first, and then go to deal with Deng Qi in Fancheng! Humph!" , don’t give them any color, thinking that the governor is weak and incompetent! Wenxuan, immediately send Cao Bianjiao to take the arrows of the governor’s order and lead a thousand cavalry to Lushi County to take action! Tell him to capture the thief and the king, and find the time to kill them! After Xu Laichao has been eliminated, his troops will definitely not have the will to fight, and after he is allowed to surrender, he will set up a camp and keep a close watch on him, so that one person can escape! Let Henan Metropolitan Chen Yongfu follow Cao Bianjiao's orders to act!"

"Then what should Deng Qi do? Fancheng is far away from Xinyang, who is suitable to send to counter the rebellion?" Shen Shiyu asked for instructions.

"The governor is going to Fancheng! Killing the eunuch of the supervising army is unprecedented. It must be handled properly, otherwise it will be difficult to explain to the Holy One! Don't worry about sending someone else to the governor. This time I will take He Renlong. You and Cao Wenzhao Garrison here. Order the generals from all walks of life to send soldiers and horses to receive three months of military pay. After returning, they will be paid according to the facts and will not be deducted. If there is a mutiny due to the withholding of the payment, the governor will definitely kill him! The governor will set off now Go to Fancheng, when the angel returns to Beijing tomorrow, you will tell me that the inspector has gone to inspect the military situation, Wenxuan, I will leave this place to you!"

(End of this chapter)