Chaos arose in the south, rebellions broke out everywhere, and the situation further deteriorated.
In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, August 25th, Beizhili, the capital.
Chongzhen ordered Yang Sichang to go south to supervise the Ping bandits, and gave Shang Fang a sword to teach him to do things conveniently.
The military governors, governors, and townsmen of each province were all subject to control. The deputy commander-in-chief and staff generals and below were given swords to carry out their duties, and their imperial seals and other items were all dealt with quickly.
September 4th.
Chongzhen summoned Yang Sichang on the platform to bid him farewell. He drank wine from the Three Lords and even wrote a poem for him to say goodbye:
"Yanmei is now a temporary city, and the general is commanding the Xiliu camp. After sweeping away the bandit atmosphere, we will be at peace, and we will continue to educate and improve the people's livelihood."
September 6th.
Yang Sichang led a hundred elite cavalrymen from the five military camps, left Beijing and headed south, traveling quickly with light equipment and simple equipment.
September 29th.
In twenty-three days, Yang Sichang arrived in Xiangyang with Chongzhen's edict.
When leaving the capital, Yang Sichang brought a total of more than 100 cavalrymen from the Fifth Army Camp as escorts. Counting staff and officials assisting in supervision, the total number was only 150 people.
However, when they entered Xiangyang, the followers following Yang Sichang had already surpassed Qianqi.
These more than a thousand cavalry were the personal cavalry of Zu Dabi, Cao Bianjiao, He Renlong, and Chen Wang.
Although Chen Wang and others went first, there were many infantrymen in the army, so the marching speed was not very fast.
Later, due to the plundering of the Qing army going south at that time, northern Zhili, Shandong and other places were ruined and there was insufficient food and grass supplies.
Many times there was no way to march, so we had to camp temporarily along the canal and wait.
That's it. Many times people are hungry and full.
The Qing army's southern raids left Northern Zhili and Shandong in ruins, hundreds of people were displaced, and the daily need for disaster relief food was undoubtedly an astronomical figure.
After northern Zhili and Shandong experienced military disasters, they encountered drought locusts again, and the need for grain and rice increased even more.
The food that can be supplied to the army is therefore even scarcer.
Originally, the fastest way to go south from the capital to Huguang was to go south from Beizhili and directly enter Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan Province.
However, due to the problem of food and grass, once we leave the canal too far, there will be a lot of losses on the road.
Henan Province was experiencing a severe drought at that time, with refugees and hungry people everywhere, and there was no way to get any food and grass.
Therefore, Chen Wang and others could only take a long detour and go south through Beizhili into Shandong. Finally, they went all the way south to Xuzhou in Shandong, and then headed west from Xuzhou before entering Henan Province.
At this time, a large number of refugees fleeing from famine gathered in the suburbs of Xuzhou and on the official roads.
Henan was first hit by drought in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth years of Chongzhen's reign. The drought then caused a locust plague, which further expanded the disaster.
In June of the tenth year, there was a severe drought in Henan. There was no green grass in the fields and nine out of ten houses were empty.
In June of the eleventh year, there was a major locust plague in Beijing, Shandong, and Henan. In the autumn of the same year, the locusts flew and covered the sun, eating all the grains including bamboo, trees, water chestnuts, and reeds.
Twelve years of drought caused locusts to cause great desolation, and the land was bare for thousands of miles.
The short paragraph at the beginning of the memorial sent by the Chief Secretary of Henan already explains everything: "People eat each other, all vegetation is destroyed, and local bandits rise together."
Many officials from Henan who were in the capital knelt down to ask for disaster relief.
However, when the memorial was introduced into the palace, there was no news in the end and they were all left behind.
Henan suffered from military disasters, drought and locusts, and the land was already desolate for thousands of miles.
In order to survive, those still alive in Henan Province could only flee with their families to surrounding areas that were not affected by the disaster.
Under such circumstances, Chen Wang and others led the troops to move extremely slowly.
The real difficulties came after they reluctantly entered Henan Province.
After entering Henan Prefecture and leaving the canal, supplies became extremely difficult.
Just like this, we kept stopping and going until September 23rd, when we finally arrived in Nanyang Prefecture, Henan Province, in the Xinye area near Huguang.
Because of the previous war, there were not many refugees in the Xinye area. Relying on the food transported from Xiangyang, Huguang, it was temporarily stable.
On the 23rd, when Chen Wang, Cao Bianjiao and others were preparing to continue leading their troops southward into Huguang, Yang Sichang's military order was first passed to Xinye.
Then following Yang Sichang's order, Chen Wang and others led their troops and horses after arriving at the outskirts of Xiangyang, and then set up camp and waited for Yang Sichang's arrival.
September 29th, in the morning,
Yang Sichang led more than a hundred elite cavalrymen from the fifth military camp who were tired of the journey, and entered the military camp of the fourth town outside Xiangyang to raise tents and gather troops.
Four people, Chen Wang, He Renlong, Cao Bianjiao and Zu Dabi, each took more than 200 elite cavalry, totaling a thousand cavalry, and headed straight to Xiangyang City.
After arriving at Xiangyang City, they found out their identity and found out that it was Yang Sichang who was leading the army. The generals guarding the city gate did not dare to stop him, so they could only open the city gate to let them go.
Yang Sichang did not stop and went straight to the Xiangyang camp to raise his tent and gather his generals.
When Yang Sichang entered the Xiangyang camp, Xiong Wencan was handling official duties in the Governor's Mansion in Xiangyang.
Xiong Wencan was completely unprepared for Yang Sichang's arrival.
By the time Xiong Wencan hurried to the Xiangyang camp, all the generals of the Ming army were already standing in the tent.
Yang Sichang raised the tent and sat down on the main seat where he had been sitting.
Yang Sichang wore a black gauze hat, a python robe with a woven gold cloud pattern over his shoulders, and a jade belt around his waist. He was sitting at the head of the table, with a commanding aura permeating his body.
His eyes were filled with such a commanding aura and majesty that even people dared not look into his eyes.
Beside Yang Sichang, a personal guard wearing the attire of a Han general was holding a sword covered with brocade.
The ocher-yellow sword tassel hangs from the outside, and delicate animal patterns are engraved on it. Various performances indicate that the sword is the Shang Fang Sword given by the emperor.
Four generals with murderous intent, wearing helmets and armor, holding Yanling sabers in their hands, were now standing on both sides of Yang Sichang.
The four generals' uniforms were luxurious and extraordinary. Xiong Wencan even vaguely saw a bullfighting pattern under the armor of one of them.
Nowadays, the emperor rarely grants uniforms, and the generals who are granted bullfighting uniforms are undoubtedly rare.
This made Xiong Wencan's eyes linger a little longer on the general wearing a bullfight uniform.
The general seemed to notice his gaze and turned his gaze accordingly.
Xiong Wencan felt a slight chill in his heart. He felt a chill rising from the ground and felt very uncomfortable.
The eyes that met him were as sharp as falcons, and even made him a little afraid of them.
Xiong Wencan's mind was floating, and all kinds of thoughts came from the bottom of his heart.
But before Xiong Wencan could think about it for too long, Yang Sichang's cold voice sounded in the tent.
"Take it!"
In full view of everyone, Xiong Wencan's hands were held by two armored soldiers coming from behind.
Xiong Wencan was frightened and looked up at Yang Sichang who was sitting at the top.
Yang Sichang's abnormality, sudden arrival, and the first promotion of tents, brought thousands of fine cavalry into the city.
Xiong Wencan thought of an extremely terrifying thing.
"Government Department, what does this... mean..."
Xiong Wencan's voice even trembled because of fear.
"what for?"
Yang Sichang snorted coldly, his eyes filled with coldness.
"If you want others not to hear it, if you don't want it, don't speak it. If you want others not to know it, if you want it, don't do it."
"Do you really have no idea why I captured you today?"
Xiong Wencan was greatly shocked, and Yang Sichang's eyes were extremely cold, without any warmth at all.
"Do you think your problem can be solved by just being dismissed from office?"
Yang Sichang looked at Xiong Wencan as if he were looking at a dead person, his eyes full of ruthlessness.
If it weren't for Xiong Wencan's repeated disobedience to his orders and forced recruitment and appeasement.
After the promotion of appeasement, the matter of appeasement cannot be carried out.
After surrendering, Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai and other bandits from the 72nd Battalion were not allowed to be reorganized, moved to another camp, dispatched, or returned to their fields without removing their armor.
Xiong Wencan was so close to Xiangyang and turned a blind eye to such behavior!
"You deceived the superiors and deceived the subordinates, collected bribes, and regarded the suppression of bandits as child's play. Your Majesty gave me an explanation before leaving."
"You have committed such a serious crime, and no one can save you. I advise you to surrender, accept the crime, and save your last dignity."
Yang Sichang's face was filled with coldness and he flicked his sleeves.
"Take him down, put him in jail, and escort him to Beijing tomorrow!"
"Impossible...impossible..."
Xiong Wencan was in a state of confusion. These matters had obviously been suppressed. Yao Minggong in the cabinet had just given him a message not long ago. This time, he would only be dismissed from office and investigated, and there would be no other matters.
But now Yang Sichang directly captured him in the military camp, and even took him to the capital.
Xiong Wencan was completely panic-stricken at this time. Over the years, the governors-general and prime ministers of various provinces had been dismissed and demoted due to their ineffective suppression of bandits and ineffective control of prisoners, but none of them had been captured by soldiers, and then they had to Escorted to Beijing.
This situation reminded Xiong Wencan of Yuan Chonghuan, who was also captured by the soldiers.
Later Jin Dynasty bypassed Jizhou's defense line and approached the city of Beijing. Yuan Chonghuan led troops to return for reinforcements, but was later captured by soldiers and charged with "stealing rice from the market", "beheading commanders for money", and "manipulating the enemy to drive". Both were punished and sentenced to Lingchi.
Xiong Wencan stared at Yang Sichang angrily, and the fear in his heart turned into anger under the pressure. He was escorted by the soldiers and walked outside the tent while shouting insults.
"Yang Sichang, you are a traitor and a treacherous minister. I am the Prime Minister of the six provinces and an important minister of the imperial court. You talk so cleverly, but you actually make slanderous remarks..."
Yang Sichang leaned back slightly, and just raised his hand. A soldier stepped forward and blocked Xiong Wencan's mouth, preventing him from saying anything.
As Xiong Wencan was suppressed by the soldiers, the atmosphere in the Chinese military tent sank again.
When Yang Sichang arrived before the Central Army raised its troops, everyone expected that the current situation would undergo a huge change.
But no one thought that Xiong Wencan, who had been the prime minister of the six provinces for a while, would be captured like this and even be taken to the capital.
Although it is old-fashioned to kill chickens to scare monkeys, it can achieve sufficient results in many cases.
But this time, what Yang Sichang killed was not an insignificant chicken, but the powerful Xiong Wencan in the past.
"Starting today, my soldiers will be in charge of military affairs."
Yang Sichang sat on the seat, still as calm and calm as before.
Before Xiong Wencan arrived, Yang Sichang had already spoken in advance and explained everything.
All the generals in the tent subconsciously looked at the Shangfang sword beside Yang Sichang.
Among the generals who can be in the tent, the lowest level is garrison, guerrilla, and governor-general who has served many terms.
However, there was no governor like Yang Sichang who took office as prime minister with the official title of Dongge University Scholar, Minister of Rites and Minister of War.
The troops, governors, governors, camps and towns of all provinces must obey the control.
Moreover, the imperial edict clearly states that Shang Fang Sword and those below the deputy commander-in-chief and staff general can kill first and then report.
Today's Yang Sichang is truly powerful!
"I will obey the Prime Minister's military orders!"
As the first general bowed down.
All the generals in the tent lowered their heads and lowered their eyebrows and bowed in unison.
"I will obey the Prime Minister's military orders!"
Suddenly, the sound was like thunder!
Yang Sichang nodded slightly and finally relaxed a little when he saw the generals bowing down.
He made the right move with this move. He knew that he had temporarily suppressed this group of proud soldiers.
Yang Sichang knew his situation very well.
Although he served as prime minister as a cabinet minister and two ministers.
But these are not enough to truly deter the proud soldiers in the southern provinces today.
The situation of the camps in various towns in the southern provinces is complicated. There are frontier troops from the nine sides, camps from the south, native soldiers from the chieftains, and rogue bandits who have surrendered anyway.
Military discipline may be good or bad, and combat effectiveness may be high or low, but without exception, they are all difficult to control.
Even Lu Xiangsheng in the past had trouble controlling these arrogant soldiers.
Although Yang Sichang did not get along with Lu Xiangsheng, he had to admit that Lu Xiangsheng's talent in running the army was indeed extraordinary.
Yang Sichang knew very well about himself. He was not afraid of criticism and abuse from the court, nor was he afraid of party strife. He could handle those things.
However, he didn't have much experience in dealing with military generals.
The only general who I knew well and had fought many battles with was Cao Wenzhao.
But there is a huge gap between Cao Wenzhao and ordinary generals. Cao Wenzhao often behaves more like a civil servant, with far-sighted plans and no leaks.
Yang Sichang thought that military strategy was acceptable, but he had no experience in commanding on the battlefield, controlling generals, and managing troops.
Although Thunder's methods like this can shock them for a while, they will not last long after all.
Yang Sichang slowly stood up and said in a deep voice.
"The rogue bandits are numerous and bring disaster to all provinces. They move in quickly and their fighting opportunities are fleeting."
In order to prevent the situation where the generals are domineering and the coordination is not effective.
The best way is naturally to win over a general who is strong and prestigious enough to blackmail other generals...
"Chen Wang obeys the order."
Yang Sichang's sudden voice made Chen Wang, who was standing beside him, slightly startled.
Chen Wang didn't know Yang Sichang's planning and plans now. He thought he was just entering Xiangyang for a formality, but now Yang Sichang suddenly called him, which was indeed unexpected.
But after all, Chen Wang had experienced a lot, and he came back to his senses after just a moment of daze.
Chen Wang stepped forward to the tent, then turned around neatly, faced Yang Sichang and said the military salute in a deep voice.
"The general is here!"
Yang Sichang gently raised his hand, and a personal guard soldier standing nearby holding a brocade box immediately walked up to Chen Wang.
With Yang Sichang's steady and powerful voice, the brocade box held in the hands of the personal guard soldier was slowly opened.
"I am hereby entrusting Chen Wang, the chief military officer of Hanzhong Town, to bear the seal of general who defeated thieves, and to grant the president the power to transfer and dispatch all ministries!"
A square and square general's seal decorated with gold and engraved with animal patterns caught Chen Wang's eyes.
A general must be established, and all the ministries of the president will be under his command, and the ministers will plan and change their careers. Then if you use it to intimidate the crowd, all will be subdued; if you use the crowd, all will be harmonious; if you kill the thieves, they will be defeated; if you use them to calm the thieves, they will be ineffective.
(End of chapter)
