Chapter 883: Cao Wenzhao Arrives
In the imperial study, within the capital.
The Chongzhen Emperor, Zhu Youjian's spirits, felt as if they had soared aboard a jet plane.
Just moments before, he had reviewed a memorial.
The Mongolian Ordos Tribe had originally intended to surrender to the Manchu. But at that very moment, a severe rebellion erupted within the various tribes. The Wushen Tribe had risen unexpectedly, seizing control of the Ordos's leadership.
This Wushen Tribe, however, was unwilling to surrender to the Manchu. This was because they had fought a battle against the Ming border army, specifically against Assistant Commander Shi Jian, who was stationed at the Wangjia Fork ancient fortress. After being thoroughly chastised by Shi Jian at the Wangjia Fork ancient fortress, they feared the Ming and dared not become their adversaries.
Once the Wushen Tribe held sway, the Ordos Tribe ceased its incursions into the Hetao Area, and the border instantly became peaceful.
For Zhu Youjian, news like this was like seeing a ray of light in the darkest night! It invigorated his entire being.
"Hahahaha! This Shi Jian truly is exceptional," Zhu Youjian chuckled, a sound he hadn't made in a long time. This time, his laughter was genuinely joyful. "Every battle report that mentions Shi Jian's name always heralds a victory. Excellent! Simply excellent! Before, only Hong Chengchou could put my mind at such ease."
The Grand Eunuch, Cao Huachun, smiled faintly beside him. "Only those officials who bring ease to His Majesty's mind are truly good officials."
Cao Huachun replied awkwardly, "Your Majesty, Shi Jian's presence in the Yansui border garrison is precisely what keeps the Mongols fearful and compliant. If you were to move him to Henan, wouldn't the Mongols simply revert to their old ways?"
Zhu Youjian fell silent.
That was indeed a problem.
"Very well then," Zhu Youjian conceded, "Promote him to Yansui Regional Commander. Let him continue to guard Yansui and keep the Mongols in check for me."
Cao Huachun breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring to himself, *Thank goodness, His Majesty didn't act recklessly this time. Transferring Shi Jian now would surely stir up trouble with the Mongols again. It's rare for him to be so sensible. This emperor is truly difficult to manage.*
With his spirits lifted, Zhu Youjian happily turned to the next memorial...
It was from Censor Gu Guobao of the Ministry of Revenue, impeaching Governor Chen Qiyu of Five Provinces for botching crucial frontier affairs, allowing the roving bandits to escape encirclement and wreak havoc in Henan.
He flipped to the next, a memorial from Shaanxi Censor-in-Chief Fu Yongchun, also impeaching Chen Qiyu for falsely reporting enemy casualties. As a Governor of Five Provinces, burdened with such heavy responsibility, he had nevertheless indulged bandits, toyed with rebels, neglected his duties, and deceived the emperor.
Zhu Youjian's mood plummeted, as if he had plunged down a drop tower.
"Why?" Zhu Youjian roared, enraged. "Aside from Shi Jian, can no one else present me with a victory report?"
Cao Huachun dared not speak, letting Zhu Youjian vent his anger alone.
"Banish Chen Qiyu to the frontier!" Zhu Youjian thundered.
Cao Huachun bowed. "As Your Majesty commands."
"Where are the roving bandits now?" Zhu Youjian demanded again.
Cao Huachun responded, "The bandit army is currently gathered in Xingyang, Henan."
"Xingyang?" Zhu Youjian mused, "I have a strange feeling that place is very close to somewhere familiar to me. But where exactly?"
Just then, a eunuch rushed in from outside, running so fast that he tripped on the threshold, tumbling to the ground with a loud thud. His face scraped against the floor, tearing off a large patch of skin and bleeding profusely.
Zhu Youjian gasped, feeling a sharp pang of pain as if it were his own face.
Ignoring the stinging pain on his face, the eunuch cried out, "Your Majesty, terrible news! Terrible news!"
Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
The eunuch stammered, "The roving bandits launched a surprise attack on Fengyang, burning down the Imperial Mausoleum Sacrificial Hall and Longxing Temple, and... and dug up... Your Majesty's... ancestral graves."
"What?!"
Zhu Youjian shot to his feet. "Is that true?!"
The eunuch confirmed, "No one would dare fabricate such a report."
Zhu Youjian froze, as if turning to stone... He didn't know how long he remained rigid before slowly relaxing. He silently removed his imperial robes, clad only in plain clothes, and hurried into the Imperial Ancestral Temple, where he knelt down with a heavy thud...
Days later...
A new imperial decree was issued: "An edict to all within and without the empire: Wash away this national shame, exert your utmost to slay the bandits, and within six months, completely suppress all roving rebels."
Lu Xiangheng was given command of the military affairs of Southern Zhili, Henan, Shandong, Sichuan, and Huguang, and was appointed Supreme Commander to oversee the bandit suppression.
The people of Luoyang Prefecture, meanwhile, were having a grand time.
The Reconnaissance Hot Air Balloon was Bai Yuan's request to the Gao Family Village Committee, so naturally, once it was successfully developed, it was promptly assigned to him.
Consequently, a cargo ship, laden with several mass-produced hot air balloons, arrived at Mengjin county. From there, they were transported overland to Luoyang.
The Blue Hat engineers who came with the ship swiftly assembled one of the hot air balloons in the open ground behind Luoyang's South Gate.
Bai Yuan intended to use this device for military purposes, but the graduate students from Gao Family Village had become thoroughly hooked on making money. After all, military or civilian, it was still being used. There were countless examples of military technology being adapted for civilian use; there was no reason not to.
Since several had been shipped this time, what harm was there in using one for profit?
And so...
The hot air balloon descended and ascended, going up and down all day long.
Though thirty taels for a ride was steep, it was nothing compared to the numerous nobles and wealthy officials in Luoyang Prefecture. For them, a mere thirty taels was insignificant, but the chance to fly and gaze down upon the ground was a novelty they'd never experienced in their lives.
The thirty taels were absolutely worth it!
Just now, the Princess Consort of Fu had descended from the sky, and now it was the turn of Governor Fan Shangzheng of Henan's wife to ascend...
Women were strange creatures; usually timid and easily intimidated. Yet, when it came to exhilarating, frightening entertainment, they showed immense enthusiasm.
Even though they were screaming in fright, they still insisted on going up.
"Ahhh, it's so high! It's so scary!" A woman's scream echoed in the sky, three parts fear and seven parts excitement.
Just as they were having a blast, a Ming army unit slowly approached the South Gate of Luoyang city.
This Ming army was exceptionally well-equipped, armed to the teeth. Each man had sturdy armor, sharp weapons, and strong horses. Many of their armors bore gashes from blades and punctures from spears, along with dark red bloodstains, exuding a formidable aura...
In the midst of the army, a large banner emblazoned with the character "Cao" fluttered. In the lower right corner, smaller characters read: "Assistant Commander for Suppression."
At that time, there were two Assistant Commanders for Suppression in Henan: Zuo Liangyu and Cao Wenzhao.
So, upon seeing the "Cao" banner, the city guards knew it was Cao Wenzhao, and this formidable-looking army must be the renowned Guanning Iron Cavalry.
The Guanning Iron Cavalry also comprised many different units. Some were weaklings, all show and no substance, only knowing how to stand by and watch during battles. But others were fiercely capable, a strong army willing to fight to the death.
The unit led by Cao Wenzhao was the latter.
The sentinel quickly shouted to Governor Fan Shangzheng of Henan, who was standing in the open ground behind the South Gate, watching his wife scream from the balloon: "Your Excellency, Cao Wenzhao has arrived!"
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