Chapter 688: The White Pole Soldiers Return
It was the twelfth month of winter, in the fifth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign (1632 AD).
It was bitterly cold!
For reasons unknown, the past few years had been far colder than any before.
The impoverished common folk, lacking clothes and food, found their lives growing harder with each passing day in such frigid weather.
In previous winters, residents with a bit of coin could still buy some coal to light a small brazier for warmth at home. This year, however, due to the Yellow River breaching its banks at Mengjin County, the floodwaters submerged half of the Henan plain, forcing all the coal mines around Luoyang City to halt production.
The common folk couldn't even afford coal for heating, relying entirely on sheer endurance.
But then...
The freezing days suddenly came to an end today.
Over a dozen large carts rolled one after another into Luoyang City and into the government-run coal depot, where the Henan Governor, Fan Shangzheng, personally announced: "Everyone can buy coal again!"
Vast numbers of common folk rushed to the government coal depot to witness the spectacle. The poor couldn't afford to buy, but there was no harm in shouting a cheer or two, while those from moderately prosperous families were already pushing forward in line.
Eunuch Zheng hid in the distance at the street corner, secretly observing the scene, his heart a true mix of emotions.
Fan Shangzheng, however, gazed upon the scene and revealed a triumphant smile. “This is political achievement! Pure achievement!” he thought.
While he was smiling happily, he saw the Mysterious Hero of the Central Plains, Li Daoxuan, approach him and wave with a smile. “Governor, you seem to be in good spirits,” Li Daoxuan greeted.
Fan Shangzheng smiled. “It's all thanks to the Mysterious Hero, who helped this official resolve the feud between Bai Yuan and the Prince of Fu's estate, and incidentally solved the people's livelihood issues. I am already preparing a memorial to the imperial court about this matter, praising the Prince of Fu's estate and the gentry for their collaborative efforts in alleviating the suffering of Henan's disaster-stricken populace.”
Li Daoxuan chuckled. “Excellent, excellent. Setting an example for all under heaven to emulate, wouldn't you say?”
Fan Shangzheng declared, “All under heaven should indeed emulate it.”
As they spoke, a swift rider approached at a gallop. The mounted messenger urgently reported: “Governor, His Majesty has sent you a letter.”
“A letter? Not an imperial decree?”
“Indeed, just a letter.”
Fan Shangzheng took the letter and read it. It began by rebuking him several times for his dereliction of duty in allowing Shanxi rebels to enter Henan, causing devastation in several counties. Then it praised him for his great accomplishment in capturing the Eight Great Kings of the Southern Camp and sending them to the capital. His merits and demerits canceled each other out, so he would neither be rewarded nor punished.
Fan Shangzheng sighed and turned to Li Daoxuan. “It's truly thanks to the Mysterious Hero's assistance. Without your intervention this time, my official's cap would have surely been lost.”
Li Daoxuan mused inwardly, “It seems I've changed history again.”
Historically, Fan Shangzheng, due to his ineffective defense, allowed Shanxi rebels to invade Henan, causing devastation in several counties, and was consequently dismissed from office and sent home. In the second month of the sixth year of Chongzhen's reign, a new Henan Governor, Xuan Mo, would take office, inheriting the ravaged province of Henan, a complete mess. Yet Xuan Mo couldn't manage it either, and was dismissed after only a short time...
But now, Zhu Youjian clearly had no intention of dismissing Fan Shangzheng.
He might even remain in the governor's position for a while longer.
Fan Shangzheng lowered his voice. “I can only say this to the Mysterious Hero; it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss with anyone else. His Majesty is a bit extreme these days. No matter how outstanding local civil officials are in their achievements, it never rivals the merit of suppressing bandits. As long as some success in bandit suppression is shown, His Majesty immediately beams with pleasure, granting promotions and titles... It's truly unclear what a civil official's duties are anymore.”
Li Daoxuan smiled and shook his head.
Just then, another swift horse galloped over. This time, it reached Fan Shangzheng and reported: “Zhang Fengyi's unit of Sichuan White Pole Soldiers is about to arrive in Wenshui County, preparing to enter the Taihang Mountains to suppress bandits.”
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan mused inwardly: “Oh? Zhang Fengyi is here again? Is Ma Xianglin not with her this time? I have a feeling this plot seems familiar.”
He vaguely recalled reading this passage when he thoroughly read the Ming History, but he couldn't quite remember the details.
His intuition told him something was amiss!
“Governor, I have some other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first,” Li Daoxuan said.
Fan Shangzheng replied, “Mysterious Hero, please feel free.”
Li Daoxuan walked into the coal depot, where many Gao Family Village people were already present. Nominally government-run, it was in fact operated by Gao Family Village. He sat down at a table and ordered: “Immediately transport this body of mine to Wenshui County.”
Having said that, he ended his co-sensing connection and returned to the outside of the box.
He opened his computer and began searching for information.
A quick search confirmed his memory was indeed correct.
In the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, Ma Xianglin, the One-Eyed Horse, and his wife, Zhang Fengyi, had split their forces. Historical records stated Ma Xianglin had ‘returned south,’ but it was unclear what that entailed.
Zhang Fengyi, however, continued to suppress bandits in Henan.
Approximately two or three months later, Zhang Fengyi would be surrounded by rebels and die in battle at Houjia Village.
Where exactly was Houjia Village?
Li Daoxuan searched on his map software and instantly found a multitude of Houjia Villages. He couldn't pinpoint her exact place of death at all. Historical records were chaotic and inconsistent: some claiming she died in Houjia Village, Yongnian, Hebei; others in Houjia Village next to Douzhuang, Shanxi; and still others in a certain Houjia Village in Henan...
This was quite awkward.
Never mind, he'd deal with it when he saw her—
Wenshui County.
Zhang Fengyi, leading a thousand Sichuan White Pole Soldiers, arrived at the county seat of Wenshui County.
Wenshui County was not originally on her march route. She had intended to head north, pursuing rebels near Huaiqing Prefecture, but the rebels were scattered and moving erratically, bouncing back and forth between places like Xiuwu County, Huaiqing Prefecture, and Wushe County in Henan.
Zhang Fengyi had no choice but to chase them everywhere.
After all that running, she ended up in Wenshui County.
To see a 'surviving' city amidst the ruins was indeed a joyful sight.
Moreover, as she reached the city gates, she discovered something even more delightful: the county magistrate here, Chen Yuanbo, wore a familiar silver-embroidered insignia on his chest.
She recalled that when in Puzhou, she had once received reinforcements from Xing Honglang's forces. Almost every soldier in Xing Honglang's unit had such an emblem embroidered on their chest.
Though she didn't know which deity the emblem represented, it certainly couldn't be an evil one.
“Magistrate Chen!” Zhang Fengyi greeted Chen Yuanbo with a clasped-fist salute. “I, this general, have led the Sichuan White Pole Soldiers in pursuit of Shanxi bandits, and both men and horses are exhausted. We need to temporarily station ourselves in your esteemed county. Rest assured, I will depart early tomorrow morning. I will ensure my soldiers are well-disciplined and will not cause any trouble for Wenshui County.”
Chen Yuanbo's face broke into a genuine smile: “You are most welcome! General Zhang's renown has long reached my ears.”
He turned around to arrange for the reception of Zhang Fengyi and the White Pole Soldiers, preparing food and other necessities for them. Just then, the Silver-Thread Heavenly Lord on his chest suddenly spoke in a low voice: “When does Zhang Fengyi intend to leave?”
Chen Yuanbo replied, “General Zhang said she would depart early tomorrow morning.”
The Silver-Thread Heavenly Lord mused, “Tomorrow morning? Good, that's enough time.”
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