Chapter 807: Heroes Emerge from Chaotic Times
Early Chongzhen 7th Year.
Grand Coordinator of Five Provinces Chen Qiyu had set an inescapable net to encircle and suppress the rebels.
Of the four armies, Gao Family Village commanded two. Luo Xi, Padi Tu, Zheng Gouzi, and Flying Mouse were stationed at Shangnan County.
Bai Yuan was stationed at Luoshi County, joining the government forces in the encirclement.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiangheng and Qin Liangyu blocked the rebels' western route into Sichuan.
Unable to advance north, the rebels could only continue south.
They attacked Xiangyang again!
Huguang Provincial Governor Tang Hui arrived with Hubei garrison troops and fought a bloody battle against the rebels.
However, the rebels had somehow acquired a large amount of border army equipment: numerous arquebuses, Three-Eyed Arquebuses, and ambush repeating crossbows. Not only did they outnumber Governor Tang Hui's forces, but their equipment was also superior.
The encirclement was broken...
The rebels first moved east into Tongbai County, then turned north, returning to Henan once more.
Stationed in Luoshi County, Fan Shangzheng's spirits plummeted upon hearing this news.
"Mr. Bai, look, just look at this report! It's truly infuriating!" Fan Shangzheng placed an urgent military report before Bai Yuan. "That fellow, the Huguang Provincial Governor, is utterly useless. He couldn't even stop the rebels! They defeated him, then split into three columns, bypassed Luoshi County, circled through Hubei territory, and slipped back into Henan!"
Bai Yuan picked up the map and studied it, couldn't help but sigh softly. "Ah! These rebels truly are a handful."
It truly was an awkward situation!
This was precisely what the Heavenly Lord had spoken of before: the bucket theory.
Of the four armies encircling the rebels, three were formidable, but the Huguang Provincial Governor's contingent was weak. He proved to be the shortest plank in the bucket, and the rebels simply spilled out through that gap.
Fan Shangzheng stated, "The rebels have re-entered Henan. I must immediately recall my troops to respond."
Bai Yuan replied, "Sigh, go then, let's all go! But these troublesome rascals, without a proper encirclement, they'll never be fully dealt with."
Fan Shangzheng produced another set of orders. "Grand Coordinator Chen is deploying various armies to block them... He has ordered me to garrison Nanyang and Zuo Liangyu to garrison Runing Prefecture... to prevent the rebels from re-entering Henan. Let us immediately proceed to Nanyang Prefecture. As long as we hold these two locations, the rebels won't be able to enter Henan and will have to return to Grand Coordinator Chen's encirclement."
Bai Yuan studied the map. The arrangement seemed reasonable, so he didn't voice any further complaints. Everyone quickly began to march, hurrying from Luoshi County to Nanyang Prefecture—a journey of over three hundred li, which would take several more days of travel.
Along the way, Grand Coordinator of Five Provinces Chen Qiyu continuously sent messengers with new orders, finely adjusting the positions of the various armies, striving to re-encircle the rebels.
Fan Shangzheng knew he was not highly skilled in warfare, but he was quite obedient to orders. He followed Chen Qiyu's commands exactly as they came, advancing toward Nanyang Prefecture.
Meanwhile!
Inside Runing Prefecture.
Zuo Liangyu, thirty-five years old this year, stood on the city wall, exuding confidence as he gazed down at his army.
At the vigorous age of thirty-five, he had already risen to Assistant Military Commissioner and Chief Commander of Aid and Suppression, a testament to his youthful talent and considerable influence.
He commanded three thousand loyal household soldiers, a fighting force that was quite formidable across the Central Plains, not to mention the large number of garrison troops under his command.
Most importantly of all, Zuo Liangyu's forces included a large number of surrendered and pacified bandit troops.
As the Chief Commander for bandit suppression, Zuo Liangyu had consistently pursued and engaged the rebels.
His military talent was indeed remarkable; he won almost every battle, achieving continuous victories. Under such circumstances, many rebels, intimidated by his strength, surrendered to him.
Zuo Liangyu neither executed these men nor handed them over to civilian officials like Wu Shen for processing. Instead, he immediately selected the strongest and bravest among them, integrated them into his own army under the pretext of "atoning for their crimes by meritorious service," and allowed these bandit troops to participate in "aid and suppression" campaigns alongside him.
As a result, his forces swelled rapidly.
By now, his total strength had subtly grown to nearly ten thousand men.
Of course, when reporting to his superiors, he only claimed three thousand
men, never reporting more. And as for the surrendered rebels he had absorbed, he certainly never reported them.
No one but himself knew he actually commanded such a vast force.
Naturally, the unreported troops could not be funded or provisioned by the imperial court. He had to fund them himself.
What if there was no money?
He could plunder the common folk, or massacre innocents and claim their heads as bandit trophies.
A subordinate stepped forward. "General, your subordinate led his men to slaughter an entire village and obtained over three hundred heads. How should we handle this, General?"
Zuo Liangyu's eyes gleamed. "Oh? Over three hundred heads? Now that's interesting."
He lowered his voice. "Go pick out the head of a sturdy man and say his name is... hmm... the fierce bandit 'Dumpling Boiler'. Yes, that's the name! Then fabricate a story about him, say he murdered countless people in Runing Prefecture, a truly notorious villain. Also, find a woman's head and claim it's his female subordinate... 'Dancing Red Sleeve'. And pick an old man's head, say he was 'Dumpling Boiler's strategist, his name... 'Little Brains'! Yes, that's the name."
Zuo Liangyu chuckled mischievously. "Also, help me draft a memorial to the throne, stating that I annihilated the bandit 'Dumpling Boiler' and captured the heads of his female general 'Dancing Red Sleeve' and his strategist 'Little Brains'. Send it up to claim merit and get some reward money to spend."
The subordinate grinned. "As you command, your subordinate will write it immediately."
The subordinate eagerly went to draft the memorial. Zuo Liangyu secretly gloated: 'Once this merit is reported, the court will have to issue me more rewards, and that reward money can be used to raise even more bandit troops!'
His total strength was now close to ten thousand! And these weren't like the tens of thousands of rabble that made up rebel armies. His soldiers were all carefully selected young, sturdy men, each well-fed, well-clothed, and highly effective in battle.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. 'I am so powerful now, hahahaha! Who in this world can possibly restrain me?'
Just as he was basking in this thought, a messenger rushed over. "General, Grand Coordinator of Five Provinces Chen Qiyu has sent orders, stating that the rebels have moved north from Tongbai County in Hubei, divided into three columns, and are now heading towards Runing Prefecture. Please deploy your troops, General, and ensure the rebels are blocked, preventing them from entering Henan territory."
Zuo Liangyu nodded. "Understood. Please report back to the Grand Coordinator that your subordinate will immediately lead his troops."
The messenger cupped his hands in salute and departed to deliver the reply.
A cold sneer played on Zuo Liangyu's lips. "Chen Qiyu, what kind of nobody are you? A mere civilian official, yet you dare order me around? I could crush a useless wretch like you with one hand now; why should I obey your commands?"
Zuo Liangyu waved a hand and ordered, "Let's go out and fight a few skirmishes casually. If we encounter a large rebel force, we'll avoid them; if we encounter small groups, we'll capture them. Integrate those fierce and capable bandits into our army. Hehehe, only with a strong army can one truly protect oneself."
Several of his lieutenants simultaneously stepped forward, cupped their hands, and replied, "As you command!"
Zuo Liangyu glanced at the map of the Great Ming spread before him, a cold sneer forming in his heart. 'Heroes emerge from chaotic times! I, Zuo Liangyu, am destined to shine in this great chaos, hehehe.'
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