Chapter 1078: Deploying Forces, Entering Sichuan
Sichuan was in utter chaos!
Sichuan was mountainous, with complex terrain.
Rebels thrived in such an environment. They could simply duck into any mountain range, burrowing and scrambling through the wilderness, only to emerge from another, unexpected location.
After all, rebels never got lost!
If you had no specific destination, you would never be lost.
After Chuǎng Wang killed the Sichuan Regional Commander Hou Liangzhu, there were no longer any legitimate forces in Sichuan, aside from the White Pole Soldiers, capable of resisting the rebels.
Chuǎng Wang swiftly divided his forces, launching multiple attacks.
Zhaohua, Jintang, Jianzhou, Shifang, Pengxian, Pixian, Xindu, Xichong, Suining, Zitong, Mianzhou, Xinfan, Wenjiang, Jiangyou, Zhangming, Luojiang, Deyang, and Hanzhou—all these prefectures and counties were overrun by rebels.
Throughout the entire region, messengers were frantically racing towards Chengdu, and Sichuan Governor Wang Weizhang spent his days, from dawn till dusk, listening to their reports.
“Report! Mantianxing attacked Luojiang, but was repelled by the defenders.”
“Report! Guo Tianxing attacked Suining, killing over three hundred villagers.”
“Report! Huntianxing...”
Sichuan Governor Wang Weizhang cried out in anguish, “No more reports! Where are the White Pole Soldiers? Where are they now?”
His subordinate reported, “The White Pole Soldiers intercepted the rebel army at Pengxian, fought a battle, and won a great victory. Then, without pause, they rushed to Pixian, forcing the rebels to retreat. Before the White Pole Soldiers could rest, they received news of a major rebel disturbance in Xichong, so the White Pole Soldiers hurried there again... followed by Luojiang, Deyang, Hanzhou... They are currently pursuing the rebels everywhere.”
Wang Weizhang’s heart skipped a beat as he thought to himself, “Are the White Pole Soldiers on a grand tour of Sichuan? When they suppress the west, the east rises. When they suppress the east, the west rises again. They can’t save it, they simply can’t save it all.”
Wang Weizhang was beside himself with panic. “What about the Ministry of War? Haven’t they sent reinforcements yet?”
His subordinate replied, “The Minister of War, Zhang Fengyi, committed suicide by poisoning himself. Now the Ministry of War is in utter disarray, with no one truly in charge. Everyone is vying for the position of Minister of War, openly struggling and secretly scheming. At such a critical moment, no one cares about the rebels.”
“Hiss!” Wang Weizhang gasped, gulping down a mouthful of cold... noodles!
There was no other way. Cold liangpi was not popular in Sichuan, so he could only slurp cold noodles.
Wang Weizhang said, “Now we can only rely on the White Pole Soldiers. I hope they can still hold on.”---
But even the White Pole Soldiers couldn't hold on.
Ma Xianglin lay in the roadside grass, sunlight filtering through gaps in the trees, dappling his body and leaving shimmering specks of light.
It should have been a perfect scene for rest, but he was utterly exhausted, body and mind. There was no time to rest, absolutely no time at all.
He turned over, his single eye sweeping across the White Pole Soldiers who had followed him on countless anti-bandit campaigns. They were clearly worn out too, many sprawled on the ground like dogs, tongues lolling.
Zhang Fengyi walked over from beside him, and lay down next to Ma Xianglin, sighing, “We need to let the soldiers rest for a few days. They can’t keep running without a break. In this state, if we encounter a stronger rebel force, we will be annihilated.”
Ma Xianglin nodded. He knew, of course, that the White Pole Soldiers were utterly exhausted from their relentless efforts. If they ran into Chuǎng Wang’s Old Eighth Squad now, it would be extremely dangerous.
“Find a city to defend, and get a good few days of rest,” Ma Xianglin ordered. “Also, send someone home to inform my mother. See if she can find a way to get some reinforcements.”---
Shizhu, Wan Shou Mountain, Wan Shou Zhai.
Zhao Sheng, the Dian Dengzi, had just finished teaching a group of farmers how to scientifically cultivate chili peppers, and upon returning to the main hall, he saw Qin Liangyu with a worried expression, gazing into the distance.
Zhao Sheng quickly asked, “General Qin, what’s wrong?”
Qin Liangyu sighed, and briefly explained the situation outside.
Zhao Sheng frowned, “Sichuan is in such chaos, how can the White Pole Soldiers alone manage?”
“Indeed, how can the White Pole Soldiers alone manage?”
Qin Liangyu sighed, “But at this moment, it’s truly impossible to find reinforcements. Not long ago, the Manchus entered the passes, and all troops capable of coming to the emperor’s aid have gone. Those unable to aid the emperor certainly cannot come to rescue Sichuan. Moreover, the Ministry of War is now in complete disarray, utterly incapable of conducting business normally...”
Zhao Sheng let out a soft sigh. He didn’t quite understand such matters, and couldn't offer any help.
Just then, Zhao Sheng heard a faint voice in his ear. It came from the embroidered Heavenly Lord on his chest, a voice only he could hear. “We will send troops to help her.”
Zhao Sheng was overjoyed, and lowered his voice, “Heavenly Lord, you’ve arrived!”
“Indeed,” Li Daoxuan said. “I said I would frequently monitor the situation in Sichuan recently. I heard everything Qin Liangyu just said. Go speak with her...”
Zhao Sheng listened to Li Daoxuan’s instructions, committing them to memory. Then he cupped his fist towards Qin Liangyu and said, “General Qin, as things stand, there is still one army that can help you.”
Qin Liangyu was delighted. “Which one?”
Zhao Sheng replied, “It’s the militia that once fought bandits alongside your son and daughter-in-law in Shanxi.”
At his words, Qin Liangyu couldn’t help but be greatly surprised. “Oh, that formidable militia? Xianglin and Fengyi have both mentioned them to me. I hear they have strict discipline and fierce fighting prowess... However...”
At this point, Qin Liangyu hesitated. “Militias aren’t regular troops; they won’t travel thousands of miles to fight in other regions just because of a transfer order. They would only be willing to fight to defend their own homes, wouldn’t they?”
In reality, even regular troops were reluctant to fight across provincial borders.
Most regular troops would only fight desperately when in their hometowns. Change the location, and they would immediately become timid, unwilling to risk their lives, preferring to slack off, or even burning, killing, and looting, treating outsiders like dogs.
It was no wonder Qin Liangyu had such concerns.
Zhao Sheng reassured her, “No worries. That militia is different from ordinary ones. They are exceptionally public-spirited and righteous, and they would certainly be willing to extend a helping hand to the people of Sichuan. Most importantly, unlike regular troops, who are restricted by the court and cannot simply move around freely, the militia has no such problem; they can go wherever they wish. Besides, with rebels swarming everywhere these days, there are no longer any checkpoints or outposts checking commoners’ travel passes.”
The Great Ming originally had a travel pass system. If commoners ventured too far from home without a pass, they would be conscripted into the army if caught.
However, with the great chaos of the late Ming Dynasty, rebels had risen everywhere.
Local checkpoints everywhere had been destroyed, and these days, no one even mentioned travel passes anymore. People could go wherever they pleased.
Qin Liangyu said, “Uh, if they are willing to come, that would, of course, be excellent. I, this old woman, will certainly treat them with generous gifts.”
Zhao Sheng replied, “There’s no need for generous gifts. As long as, when the time comes, General, you declare them to be *your* troops, that will be enough. It will save us some unnecessary trouble.”
Qin Liangyu nodded. “That, of course, is not a problem.”
Zhao Sheng said, “In that case, I will draft a letter to invite that militia to come and assist us.”
He said ‘write a letter,’ but it was just for show.
Li Daoxuan, with a sudden flash, co-sensed back to the village, and ordered Cheng Xu, “Deploy forces. Enter Sichuan.”
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