Chapter 793: The Local Militia is Gone
Xixia County...
Chen Dajin and Zuo Liangyu, after being brutally shelled by their own people's artillery in Yunyang Prefecture, were genuinely frustrated for a while.
One was a palace eunuch, the other a tyrannical warlord—when had these two ever suffered such an affront? They hunkered down in Yunyang Prefecture, ceased their campaign, and bickered day in and day out. Eventually, they managed to have Yunyang Pacification Commissioner Jiang Yunyi thrown into prison and even welcomed the new Yunyang Pacification Commissioner, Lu Xiangheng.
Only then did they feel a sense of vindication, ready to resume their pursuit and suppression of the rebels.
After a grueling pursuit, Zuo Liangyu's army finally caught up with the rebel forces on Erlong Mountain, northeast of Xixia County.
They saw the Chuǎng banner fluttering on the mountainside of Erlong Mountain.
A large band of rebels was entrenched on the slopes, defending the treacherous terrain with an air that declared, "I have no intention of fleeing; I will fight you to the bitter end."
Seeing this scene, Zuo Liangyu couldn't help but laugh, "A pack of miserable bandits! They dare not flee at the sight of this general, and even hold their ground on the mountainside? Have they a death wish?"
Chen Dajin also chuckled, "Perfect, we'll net them all in one go."
However, the moment his assault began, he immediately sensed something was amiss.
Those rebels entrenched on the mountainside surprisingly, with a synchronized flurry, pulled out hundreds of matchlock muskets and Three-Eyed Arquebuses.
Zuo Liangyu: "???"
Then, the sound of firearms, like strings of firecrackers, exploded on the mountainside, and large volleys of lead shot rained down on Zuo Liangyu's army.
Zuo Liangyu: "What the hell! Where did these rebels get firearms?"
Chen Dajin was also startled, "It's not strange for them to have firearms; they loot everywhere and are bound to get some eventually. But where did they get the gunpowder and lead shot?"
The two stood at the rear, directing the formation, merely astonished.
But the government troops attacking the mountain weren't just astonished; they were being riddled with bullets.
The most valiant soldiers at the front of the government army collapsed in swathes in the blink of an eye.
Then, with another flurry of movement, the rebels pulled out a large number of Repeating Crossbows. These were well-made repeating crossbows, far more formidable than the shoddy hunting bows and light bows they used before.
Repeating crossbows were also easier to use than bows. Even if the rebels didn't possess superior arm strength or archery skills, they could easily operate the repeating crossbows. Arrows rained down, spraying indiscriminately onto the slopes below.
The government troops, having just been scattered by the volley of muskets, were immediately assailed by a torrent of crossbow bolts, instantly suffering terribly. In less than a moment, the front lines couldn't hold any longer and began to retreat. Then, with a roar of panic, the entire army formation fell back.
Even Zuo Liangyu stamping his feet and cursing was useless; the soldiers all retreated down the mountain in an instant.
The rebels on the mountain burst into laughter, "Zuo Liangyu, you scoundrel, you chased us from Shanxi to Henan, then from Henan into Yunyang. Can't keep up now, can you? We fear you no longer!"
Zuo Liangyu was furious, "How is this possible? How could these bandits have such superior weapons? These weapons are exclusively supplied to border armies! How could they possibly have them?"
Chen Dajin: "They must have looted them. Definitely looted."
Zuo Liangyu: "Someone's sabotaged me! Absolutely sabotaged me! Damnation!"
Little did he know, Zhai Tang was currently counting money in a small grove a few dozen miles north. These armaments, originally intended for sale to the Manchus, he had sold to the rebels at double the price.
The rebels were indeed generous buyers; they didn't even haggle!
Anyway, their money had nowhere else to be spent.
For the rebels, gold, silver, and jewels were utterly useless. All they wanted was powerful weaponry and full bellies. As for Zhai Tang's quoted prices, the rebels had no interest in bargaining whatsoever.
Zhai Tang: "Whose money isn't money to be made, anyway? As long as there's money to be made, anything goes, hahahaha." —
Chen Qiyu, the newly appointed Supreme Commander of five provinces, fresh to his post, was ready to sweep through with zealous reforms!
The moment he arrived at the front lines, Chen Qiyu immediately began deploying troops: ordering Shaanxi Governor Lian Guoshi to garrison Shangnan County to block the rebels from heading northwest; ordering Yunyang Pacification Commissioner Lu Xiangheng to garrison Fang County and Zhushan to prevent their westward escape; Henan Governor Fan Shangzheng to encamp in Lushi County to prevent them from fleeing northeast; and Huguang Governor Tang Hui to garrison Nanzhang to prevent their escape to the southeast.
As for Chen Qiyu himself...
He seriously considered where he should go, and finally decided to associate himself with the most capable fighter. So, Chen Qiyu chose Lu Xiangheng and eagerly made his way to Lu Xiangheng's army.
Lian Guoshi received the Supreme Commander's deployment order and prepared to set off for Shangnan County once again.
First, he mustered 1,500 soldiers from the three garrisons, then he attempted to summon the local militia.
However, this time when he tried to summon the local militia, he surprisingly couldn't mobilize them. Few people answered the call. Even after shouting himself hoarse into a tin megaphone, only about one or two hundred people showed up.
He summoned his subordinates and questioned them, only then learning that all the idle young and able-bodied laborers had been recruited by the Prince of Qin's Residence to build roads.
This was quite awkward!
Lian Guoshi quickly asked, "Where is the Heir Apparent now?"
His subordinate reported, "The Heir Apparent is in the north, inspecting his railway project."
Lian Guoshi couldn't simply send someone to speak with the Heir Apparent; their disparity in rank precluded any such discussion. He could only go himself. He mounted a swift horse and rode out of Xi'an City, galloping furiously north along the long railway line.
After galloping past the Wei River Bridge, about a few miles past the northern end of the bridge, he finally found the Heir Apparent, Zhu Cunji.
This was already close to Sanyuan County.
Zhu Cunji, being so far from Xi'an City, had actually violated ancestral laws. However, this distance, neither particularly far nor particularly close, meant no one would likely report Zhu Cunji. Even Shi Kefa, as a Jinyiwei member, wouldn't bother reporting him to the emperor for such a trivial distance.
Lian Guoshi galloped up to Zhu Cunji and called out loudly, "Heir Apparent!"
"Ah? Minister Lian! You've come at a perfect time!" Zhu Cunji's face bloomed with a wide smile. He pointed to his chest, where an image of Dao Xuan Tian Zun was embroidered with golden thread, and said proudly, "Don't you think my embroidery is beautiful?"
Lian Guoshi was taken aback, "Huh? Heir Apparent, have you also joined the Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect?"
Zhu Cunji: "Of course I've joined, why wouldn't I? The Heavenly Lord has personally manifested divine miracles, bestowed upon me such a colossal bridge, and even granted such a magnificent Divine Mirror! With such a potent deity, who else would I believe if not him?"
Lian Guoshi sighed inwardly, realizing there was no point in complaining about such matters. Getting straight to the point, he quickly spoke, "The Supreme Commander of five provinces, Chen Qiyu, has issued an order requiring this official to lead troops to Shangnan County to garrison, to prevent rebel forces from entering Shaanxi. However, this official cannot recruit local militia. I've heard that all the able-bodied young men in Xi'an Prefecture have been hired by the Heir Apparent to build roads."
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