plumnovel Chapter 31 A Three-Sided Net: The Central Plains Strategy
Chapter 31 A Three-Sided Net: The Central Plains Strategy
Gucheng, located northwest of Xiangyang, was a strategic location where troops could easily escape from three sides and also seize the opportunity to look south towards the Hanjiang Plain. Therefore, it was reasonable for Zhang Xianzhong to choose this place to feign surrender and recuperate.
Emperor Chongzhen's overall strategy to suppress Zhang Xianzhong has only blocked the gaps in his southward and northwestward advances. The crucial point that remains is the defense line around Yunyang in northwestern Hubei.
Yunyang is surrounded by mountains and valleys, bordering southern Shaanxi, eastern Sichuan, and western Hubei. It is the largest hiding place for displaced people and a passageway for bandits in the entire southwest and central plains region.
Historically, whenever bandits were defeated, they would retreat into the deep mountains of Yunyang to lie low and regroup, only to return when the imperial army withdrew and supplies ran out, causing chaos everywhere.
However, Emperor Chongzhen had already taken notice of this special territory and had made restrictions on the two important bandit groups led by Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.
Hong Chengchou led 50,000 Qin troops to garrison Guanzhong, Hanzhong, and the Qinling and Bashan areas, deploying defenses in layers to completely block all retreat routes for Li Zicheng's remnants to infiltrate Qin Chuan.
Sun Chuanting personally led 10,000 elite Qin soldiers, combined with the newly formed Huguang New Army, to guard the central city of Xiangyang, firmly controlling the core area of the Hanjiang Plain and cutting off Zhang Xianzhong's path to invade the fertile lands of Huguang.
Both the north and south sides were sealed off, and Hong Chengchou and Zhang Xianzhong instilled fear in Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.
The Yunyang line, however, is difficult to completely block due to its rugged terrain, vast territory, and numerous passes.
This place has always been poorly defended, and the old garrisons were dilapidated and powerless to defend. In addition, the area is poor, and the visiting troops have repeatedly failed to suppress the bandits due to insufficient food and supplies.
If this loophole is not plugged, the remnants of Li Zicheng's forces, as well as the three bandit groups of Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai, could still escape into the deep mountains of Yunyang after their defeat, relying on the natural defenses to prolong their lives and recuperate.
In this way, the imperial court's north-south encirclement and suppression efforts would fall into a dead end, causing the grand plan to eliminate the bandits, which had cost a great deal of effort and resources, to fail at the last minute.
Looking at all the Ming armies in the southwest, the only ones who can adapt to the complex terrain of Yunyang Mountain, are good at defending passes, and are loyal are the White-Spear Soldiers under Qin Liangyu of Shizhu.
Emperor Chongzhen knew that the White-Spear Army was a formidable force, and that General Qin Liangyu was loyal and courageous, and could be relied upon completely.
Therefore, after learning that Sun Chuanting had secured his position in Xiangyang, he personally issued a secret imperial edict, which was sent to Xiangyang by fast horse. He ordered Sun Chuanting to send someone to convey the message to Qin Liangyu, the chieftain of Shizhu, to immediately select 5,000 White Spear Soldiers, organize them for an eastward march, and station them in the entire territory of Yunyang.
As long as the White-Clad Soldiers take over all the mountain passes and fortresses, and fill the last gap in the Ming Dynasty's northwestern Hubei border defense, they can completely block the retreat routes of the bandits to Huguang and the southwest.
In this way, the various bandits would be forced to have no room for maneuver and would have no choice but to follow Emperor Chongzhen's pre-set plan and head east into the dead end of Henan, thus falling into his trap.
At the same time, in order to commend the loyalty and bravery of the White Spear Army, to boost morale, and to completely dispel their resentment that they had fought for the country for decades without being rewarded, Emperor Chongzhen also issued an edict to promote and reward them.
Qin Liangyu dedicated her life to the country, from the pacification of Bozhou during the Wanli era and the aid to Liaodong during the Tianqi era, to the suppression of rebellions in the southwest over the years, protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people. She fought bravely in hundreds of battles, and her achievements were unparalleled.
Such loyal ministers must be richly rewarded; only in this way can the fairness of the court be demonstrated.
Emperor Chongzhen bestowed upon Qin Liangyu the titles of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Garrison of Yunyang.
This conferment of honor is extremely significant. The title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, a first-rank official position in the imperial court, represents the ultimate honor for both civil and military officials.
The garrison commander of Yunyang is a real border post, authorized to oversee the defense of the nine passes of Yunyang, and to control all the officers and soldiers of the Yunyang garrison, local militias, border wars, and the deployment and troop movement.
This was the first time in over two hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that the defense of a key inland town was entrusted entirely to a Tusi general, which is enough to prove Emperor Chongzhen's absolute trust in Qin Liangyu.
The imperial edict was quickly delivered to the military governor's office in Xiangyang by express courier, which traveled 600 li to the emperor. Sun Chuanting received the edict after burning incense and carefully read it, deeply admiring the emperor's profound wisdom.
Having long been involved in border affairs, he knew that the White-Spear Soldiers were exceptionally loyal and brave, yet they had been treated poorly by the court for many years, leading to deep resentment among the soldiers and civilians.
If conscription is still carried out with empty paper orders, even if the White-Spear Soldiers obey the orders faithfully and dare not disobey, their morale will inevitably be low and their combat effectiveness will be diminished.
Fortunately, His Majesty's reward this time is both honorable and practical, and it also makes up for the previous misdeeds owed to the White-Spear Soldiers. As a result, the morale of the White-Spear Soldiers is greatly boosted, and they should be able to garrison Yunyang and protect the gateway to eastern Sichuan.
Sun Chuanting dared not delay for even a moment and immediately began to prepare for the troop deployment and military reward in accordance with the imperial edict.
As per Emperor Chongzhen's instructions, Sun Chuanting first allocated 100,000 taels of pure silver as a reward for the army's departure, and before the main army set off, he sent men to escort the military supplies westward.
At the same time, he also issued a public military order, with the emperor's promise that the remaining 400,000 taels of silver for additional pay, as well as a large amount of grain, fodder, and supplies, would all be transported from Xiangyang Prefecture to the Yunyang military camp warehouse for safekeeping and retrieval.
Once the 5,000 White-Spear Soldiers arrive in Yunyang and take their positions, the full amount will be transferred and distributed immediately. This will not only ensure the full payment of all military supplies and pay for this expedition, but also settle all outstanding military pay owed to the White-Spear Soldiers for all years of campaigns since Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne.
With the arrangements finalized, Sun Chuanting ultimately decided to have over a hundred elite soldiers escort the silver and silver shipment.
One hundred and twenty seasoned Qin cavalrymen were responsible for scouting and clearing the way, while sixty elite infantrymen were dedicated to guarding the silver chests and supplies.
Another twenty skilled servants were responsible for mule and horse dispatching and logistical support.
More than thirty strong packhorses lined up neatly, steadily carrying the neatly packaged silver chests. The procession raised the banner of the Huguang Military Governor's personal guard and the special ceremonial banner for the imperial funds, carrying the imperial edict for passage and the Ministry of War's approval, allowing them to pass through the route without hindrance and requiring the local prefectures and counties to cooperate unconditionally.
The area from Xiangyang to Yiling and Jingmen was entirely under the stable control of Sun Chuanting's new policies. The official roads were cleared, and the convoy traveled day and night without any obstacles.
After entering the deep mountainous area where Sichuan and Hubei meet, although the forests are dense and the terrain is treacherous, there are many scattered bandits and mountain thieves hiding there.
However, these small groups of bandits only dared to rob merchants and civilians. When they saw the flags of the Ming army's regular supply corps and nearly two hundred elite soldiers in full armor from afar, they all hid in the mountains and forests and avoided them.
When the group reached the border of Wushan, they had already entered the territory of the Shizhu Tusi (chieftain).
Having received the news of the fast horse, the White-Spear Soldiers sentry posts along the way all met and guided the convoy, providing layer upon layer of protection, and escorted the supply convoy all the way to the outside of Shizhu City.
At this time, the soldiers in Shizhu were already in turmoil due to the news of the imperial court's troop deployment, and all the grievances accumulated over the years were brought to the surface.
The soldiers of Shizhu have been stationed in eastern Sichuan for generations, and their loyalty and bravery have been passed down through generations. They are the most loyal and righteous army among the chieftains who have submitted to the imperial court in the southwest.
For decades, whenever there was chaos in the country or trouble for the court, the White-Spear Soldiers always responded to the order and rushed to the battlefield without hesitation.
They fought across the north and south, and since the Wanli era, tens of thousands of Shizhu descendants have been buried in foreign lands, their blood staining the battlefield.
Such casualties were equivalent to every male member of the entire clan having suffered death or injury for a small chieftain's state.
But these men of Dongchuan never once avoided battle or feared the enemy, nor did they ever betray the imperial court.
However, their loyalty and courage earned them a deep sense of indebtedness.
Previously, incompetent officials held power in the court, and whenever the national treasury was slightly strained, border troops' pay would be deducted first. In addition, local officials would embezzle funds at every level, so the meager rewards issued by the court were often almost gone after being intercepted.
The soldiers of the White-Spear Army shed blood and fought desperately to guard the border and quell rebellions, but upon their return, they often faced the predicament of having no pay and no money to support their families.
Veterans returned home wounded without receiving compensation, while young men went to war and fought bloody battles without being rewarded.
Most of his military achievements were concealed by civil officials or claimed by other armies. Despite his reputation for loyalty in countless battles, he was left with only poverty and hardship, and debts year after year.
Today, everyone knows that the soldiers of Shizhu are capable, brave, and willing to fight to the death for the Ming Dynasty, but no one knows the grievances and disheartening experiences they endure.
Therefore, the imperial court once again issued an order to conscript 5,000 White Spear Soldiers to guard Yunyang and block the bandits. The news spread throughout the military camp, and from officers and soldiers to ordinary soldiers, no one was without resentment and fear.
Private complaints were rampant in the military camp, and morale was at its lowest point.
"When the court has no trouble, it abandons the southwest; when trouble comes, it summons us to fight to the death! In times of crisis, we only remember the White-Spear Soldiers of Shizhu!"
"Decades of bloody battles and sacrifices, countless unpaid wages, never to be repaid in full! Our loyalty and bravery have become the very tools the court uses to arbitrarily exploit us!"
"In the past, we fought countless battles, making countless empty promises, but in the end, it all came to nothing. We were the ones who shed blood and lost heads, while others gained promotions and wealth!"
"If this time we are again met with no pay or reward, and are ordered to fight without any real commitment, we will not fight to the death as we did before! We will not rebel, but we will passively defend ourselves, and will no longer risk our lives for this cold-hearted court!"
Numerous whispers and complaints quickly filled the entire military camp.
Under Qin Liangyu's command, no one in Shizhu dared to disobey the imperial edict or rebel. This loyalty was etched into the blood of the White-Spear Soldiers for generations.
Even though they were extremely disheartened, they still had some bottom line, but the entire army had long lost the sincerity they once had, which made them happy to receive orders and eager to fight.
After being treated coldly and unfairly time and time again, the soldiers of Shizhu are now only exhausted and indifferent, and everyone is prepared to risk their lives for free again and be let down by the court again.
However, just as the morale of the entire Shizhu army plummeted and the people were depressed, an urgent report came from outside the Sicheng Gate.
The imperial guards have arrived, and a 100,000 tael silver convoy has been dispatched as a reward. The imperial decree appointing the commander-in-chief and the imperial edict granting him the first-rank honorary title have also been delivered simultaneously!
This sudden news instantly shook the entire Stone Pillar military camp!
All the soldiers looked up in astonishment, their faces filled with disbelief. The whispers and complaints that had been rising and falling suddenly stopped, and everyone lined up to look, their eyes all fixed on the main road outside the city.
Before long, the Ming army's escort team stood in formation, their armor gleaming in the sun, their ranks imposing. Boxes of neatly sealed official silver, their seals intact and their numbers clearly marked, were carried up.
The accompanying eunuch, who was in charge of delivering the imperial edict, stood on a high platform, unfurled the edict in front of everyone, and read it aloud.
His Majesty has allocated 100,000 taels of silver from the Imperial Treasury as a reward for the White-Spear Army as they set out to fight. The reward will be distributed to the entire army immediately, with everyone receiving a share and no one being deducted.
In addition to the advance silver, His Majesty also bestowed upon Qin Liangyu the titles of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Garrison Commander-in-Chief of Yunyang, placing her in charge of the entire border defense of Yunyang. This combination of honor and real power demonstrates His Majesty's high regard for Qin Liangyu.
In addition, there were 400,000 taels of full military pay, over 50,000 shi of grain and fodder, and all kinds of ample military supplies stored in the Yunyang camp.
We will pay the full amount as soon as the White-Spear Army arrives and takes up their posts, and will completely settle all outstanding wages from previous years. We will clear all old debts and never break our promise.
After the imperial edict was read, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
The indifference and grievance on the faces of all the officers and soldiers of the White-Spear Army froze at this moment, replaced by extreme shock and emotion.
Many of them were veterans who had fought for half their lives and had seen the coldness of the court and the corruption of officials, but they had never experienced the precedent of the court sending a large sum of money to reward the troops before mobilizing them!
Moreover, this time the imperial court took the initiative to remember the decades of debts owed, paid off the long-standing arrears in wages, showed compassion for their hardships, and generously rewarded their commanders.
This sum of 100,000 taels of silver is a true expression of sincerity.
The remaining 400,000 taels of silver and a large amount of supplies further dispelled their concerns about going out to fight.
Decades of accumulated resentment and bitterness melted away at this moment.
These soldiers of Shizhu were even more willing to make excuses for Emperor Chongzhen, believing that in previous years it was the incompetent officials who misled the country and the corrupt officials who caused chaos and misled the emperor, which made the loyal soldiers of Shizhu suffer so much injustice!
Now Your Majesty is wise and decisive, and your rewards and punishments are clear. You are truly a wise ruler in the world. They are completely worthy of repaying you with their lives and swearing to be loyal to you to the death!
This overwhelming emotion swept through the entire army, reigniting the long-suppressed loyalty and courage of the Shizhu soldiers.
All previous complaints were put aside, replaced by heartfelt gratitude.
"Your Majesty is truly benevolent and wise!"
"This money came directly from His Majesty's own treasury. His Majesty treats us, the sons of Shizhu, so well; how can we not repay him with our lives!"
"From this day forward, whatever His Majesty commands, we will obey without hesitation, even at the cost of our lives!"
Excited roars echoed throughout the White-Spear Army, lingering for a long time.
The previously low morale of the troops instantly surged, completely erasing their previous despondency.
Qin Liangyu personally accepted the imperial edict and the seal of the general. Looking at the neatly stacked silver in the courtyard, this white-haired old general, who had spent half her life on the battlefield and seen many storms, was also filled with turmoil.
She guarded the southwest, fought for the country her whole life, and did not seek high office or wealth, nor fame or glory. She only hoped that the bloodshed of her soldiers would not be ignored and that their loyalty and bravery would not be betrayed.
Today, Emperor Chongzhen treats her with sincerity and rewards her with real military achievements. How could she not be grateful for such extreme trust and kindness and vow to be loyal to him to the death?
The old general was also a decisive person. He immediately ordered the entire army to reorganize their military equipment, inventory their armor and weapons, and prepare for the expedition within two days.
The following day, the selected 5,000 elite White Spear Soldiers assembled, ready to be deployed at any time.
Thanks to Qin Liangyu's fair distribution of pay, both the White-Spear Soldiers who were about to go to war and those who ultimately stayed behind to guard Shizhu received the rewards they deserved.
The soldiers of the White-Spear Army, who were receiving such a generous military pay for the first time, felt extremely at ease. Their families were overjoyed and wept tears of joy, once again tearfully urging them to be loyal to the country and share the burdens of the holy emperor.
Two days later, all five thousand elite white-armored soldiers were fully equipped.
General Qin Liangyu also emptied her coffers this time. With full armament, this Southwest Iron Army, with every soldier in armor and spear in hand, set off eastward to the Yunyang defense zone.
With the White-Spear Army officially marching into Yunyang, the trap set by Emperor Chongzhen to eliminate the rebels was finally completed, plugging the last gap.
Along the Guanzhong-Shaanxi-southern border, Hong Chengchou's 50,000 Qin troops were stationed, ready for battle.
On the southwestern front, Qin Liangyu's 5,000 elite mountain troops held the strategic pass of Yunyang, blocking the roundabout route connecting Sichuan, Hubei, and Shaanxi.
On the southern front, Sun Chuanting led 30,000 troops to garrison Xiangyang, locking down the Hanjiang Plain and preventing any bandits from coveting the grain-producing areas of Huguang.
With enemy forces surrounding them on three sides and natural defenses completely blocked, the retreat routes of several bandits in the Qinling Mountains and northwestern Hubei have been cut off.
Whether it's Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai, or the remnants of Li Zicheng hiding deep in the mountains, they are now all trapped in a desperate situation with three sides blocked.
They could not enter Shaanxi to the northwest, nor Chu to the south, and going southwest would only lead them straight into the spearheads of the White-Spear Army.
The only way to find some respite is to advance eastward into Henan.
However, at this time, the Central Plains also fell into Emperor Chongzhen's scheme.
The First Division of the New Army and the Imperial Guard Cavalry, now expanded to four thousand men, have set off under the leadership of Huang Degong.
Accompanying them were 20,000 able-bodied refugees who had finished the water conservancy repair project in Zhili Imperial Estate and were waiting for the imperial court to allocate land for them to cultivate.
They were just the first group of refugees to travel south with the army, and their final destination was Luoyang, where the most powerful vassal state in the land, Prince Fu, was located.