A century-old family that runs through the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 37 The destruction of Gusu City in the first year of Wu and the development of the Yan family
Although Han Lin'er died, the days of the Wu regime were still long.With the death of Han Lin'er, the Dragon and Phoenix era names also disappeared into history.

In the first month of the 27th year of the Zheng Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang officially changed the Yuan Dynasty, and this year was the first year of Wu.

In June, Zhang Shicheng was still struggling.Even when the huge territory of Soochow was almost completely lost, he still sent Xu Yi, Pan Yuanshao and others to sneak out of the west gate, hoping to sneak attack the Soochow army and make a comeback.

However, he met Chang Yuchun, who led his army to fight. After a long fierce battle, the outcome was still unclear, so he led the fierce general Wang Bi as an army and led the cavalry to launch a pincer attack from the side. With one charge, the Soochow army was in chaos. Being squeezed into the Shapen Lake, Chang Yuchun immediately ordered the Xiwu Army to cover up and kill them. The Soochow Army was defeated and countless people fell into the water and drowned. Zhang Shicheng almost died and could only retreat into the city hastily. The Xiwu Army once again won the victory.

However, victory after victory made them slack off, and the soldiers of Xiwu gradually believed that Soochow was nothing more than a defeated general.And Zhang Shicheng also showed his true strength in dividing one side at the last moment.

After rejecting the persuasion to surrender by the lobbyists sent by Li Boxheng, he gathered his troops and led more than ten thousand of his most elite troops to break out of Xumen.Because Zhang Shicheng has been operating in Gusu for many years, the people in the city are convinced, and the soldiers are willing to fight for him. Therefore, in this battle, everyone in the Wu army died and moved forward indomitably!

After several hours of fierce fighting, the fierce general Chang Yuchun who intercepted him from the front was unable to stop him!The soldiers of Xiwu began to tremble under the frenzied attack of the Soochow Army. They had never seen an enemy who was so willing to sacrifice his life. Zhang Shicheng's army was so brave that the formation of the Soochow Army was disrupted and began to retreat!

It was simply an escape opportunity given to Zhang Shicheng by God!The soldiers of the Western Wu Army in front of them have begun to abandon their armor and weapons and flee to the rear. Victory is right in front of them!
However, it happened at this time that his younger brother Zhang Shixin showed what it means to be "incompetent".

As the war supervisor, he could clearly see from the tower that the Xiwu Army had been defeated, but he made a heartless judgment: they had won the battle and could rest.

So when the Soochow army began to cover up and prepare to break out, the sound of ringing came from the tower, accompanied by Zhang Shixin's roar: "The soldiers are tired, stop!" ("The soldiers are tired. Stop! Stop!") end!")
At this time, Zhang Shicheng had just issued the order to pursue.

With two opposite instructions, the Soochow Army was instantly at a loss. Even Zhang Shicheng himself was stunned on the spot, not knowing what was going on with his brother.

The Soochow Army lost its best opportunity to attack, and Chang Yuchun was worthy of being a famous general. He took advantage of this opportunity to quickly reorganize his troops and launch another attack.

Before the Dongwu Army could react, they were attacked by the Xiwu Army, and their stop just now dissipated the indomitable "momentum".

They were defeated, and they chased them all the way to the city. They laid corpses everywhere, and the last elite were wiped out.

In September, Xu Da broke through Fengmen and Chang Yuchun broke through Changmen. Generals such as Tang Jie, Zhou Ren, Xu Yi, and Pan Yuanshao surrendered one after another. Zhang Shicheng and Vice-President Liu Yi led [-] to [-] remaining soldiers to fight in the East Street of Wanshou Temple, and another massacre broke out. Defeated, Liu Yi surrendered. This time, Zhang Shicheng had only a few cavalry left to follow him and successfully escaped.

At this time, there were no soldiers loyal to him in Gusu City.

His wife, Mrs. Liu, left her words, "Don't worry about me, I will live up to you." Then she carried her two young sons in her arms, took her concubines and maids and set herself on fire in Qiyun Tower.

He became a real loner.

Zhang Shicheng was desperate. He tried to hang himself, but was rescued by the fallen general Zhao Shixiong. However, this former private salt dealer had one advantage - he had backbone.

In response to his subordinates' persuasion to surrender, he responded with silence and eyes closed. On the way to Yingtian, he went on a hunger strike. In the enemy's base camp, he ridiculed Prime Minister Li Shanchang, and then committed suicide by hanging from a beam, in the manner of a king. Die.

Soochow was officially destroyed.

Zhang Shicheng was not a good leader. He was repeatedly dishonest, fond of luxury and had no enterprising spirit. As a result, Soochow had little success in the later wars, and was defeated and died in the end. It can be said that it was entirely his own fault.However, his kindness and generosity to the people of Wu are also remembered by the world.His tomb is located on the bank of Jinji Lake in Xietang, Suzhou. It is known as the "Tomb of King Zhang Wu" and was popular until the Republic of China.

"In the dim setting sun on Zhongshan Mountain in the Ten Temples, a niche is still dedicated to King Zhang. Pedestrians grab the spring spring to pay homage, suspected to bring the fragrance of the royal wine." This poem shows the Wu people's nostalgia for their former king. Perhaps if he was born in a In a time of peace and prosperity, one can benefit one party and be a good minister.

Unfortunately, being born in troubled times, his fate was also doomed.

By the way, let’s talk about the ending of Zhang Shixin who ruined his brother’s good deeds.

After tricking Zhang Shicheng, he unknowingly spread out a silver chair on the top of the city to enjoy the delicacies. Just as his men presented him with a peach, the cannons below the city began to roar.His brain was blown to pieces on the spot, and he couldn't tell the difference from Taozi.
-
The fight in the north was lively, and the Yan family in Qingyuan was not idle either. Under Yan Ling's command, they made many adjustments.

First, it was the end of the maritime trade business.

Although Yan Ling took away the family's three giant ships, the profits from the maritime business were really impressive. Later, the Yan family obtained several ships from Fang Guozhen and started ocean trade again.But this time, Yan Ling's attitude was very firm: all ships must be sold.

For this matter, Yan Ling's younger brother Yan Ke, who was in charge of business, took his third uncle who assisted him all the way to Yingtian, trying to persuade the family head to change his strategy.

After all, this is too outrageous to be true. The Yan family has been doing this business for 200 years. How could they just abandon it?

In Yan Ling's study, the two of them talked about the high profits of sea trade and the various benefits it brought to the Yan family. Not to mention the many things that Yan Ling's soldiers were wearing, they were not ordinary family members. Affordable to equip.

It was not until the end that Yan Ling told the truth out of desperation.

He also walked to the door, looked outside, and pretended to say "it's a serious matter" and closed the door tightly. Then he turned around and whispered mysteriously to the two people who were a little nervous about him:
"Your Highness, the sea will be closed soon!"

"What???" When the two heard this, they were about to jump up in surprise. They couldn't help but shout loudly.

"Shh. Be gentle!" Yan Ling hurriedly made a gesture and said, "This is inside information, please don't leak it." "You can't tell it. It won't be long before this ship can only be at the dock." It’s been scrapped! If you sell it now, you can get some blood back.”

"But since the Song Dynasty, sea trade has continued for hundreds of years. Why, why..."

Yan Ling shook his head: "How can we, the ministers, understand His Highness's heart?"

As soon as these words came out, the two of them stopped talking, their hearts unpredictable.

They had no doubts about Yan Ling's words. After all, he was an important minister of King Wu.

Their faces, which were filled with unwillingness just now, were now full of joy.

"Sell it when you get back," they said.

Looking at their leaving figures, Yan Ling sighed softly.

It was only in the past few years that Zhu Yuanzhang issued the order "Nothing is allowed to enter the sea."

　The setting sun dims the Zhongshan Mountain of the Ten Temples, and a niche still worships King Zhang.

　　The flowers and plants in Wuzhong pity the scorched earth, and the wind and clouds on the sea recall my hometown.

　　The overlord has sold out the yellow cai leaves, and the salt disciples have set up a white horse farm.

　　Pedestrians drank from the spring spring to pay homage, and they suspected it carried the fragrance of the royal wine.

　　——Yu Guojian's "Visiting Zhangwang Temple"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)