Zhang Shi did not expect that he would gain military power in Hangzhou so easily.
This vital power will be the basis for his complete victory in the Ming Dynasty's southward strategy.
This is of course a good thing, but now that the military power is in hand, it means that Shen Gai and others are about to get rich.
It seems that although the rumors have spread, the Hangzhou bureaucrats have long been frightened and frightened by the Ming army's repeated direct visits to Hangzhou.
As soon as I heard the news that the Yellow River Project was about to be completed, I immediately thought of Su Yonglin coming to Hangzhou, and I immediately thought of myself being hung on a southeastern branch and fluttering in the wind.
Only at this level could the imagination of the Southern Song Dynasty bureaucrats make such a leap.
So no matter when the Ming Dynasty attacks them, they have to moisturize it first, the sooner the better and as far away as possible, leaving the mess behind and they can happily escape.
Of course, Zhang Shi felt that what the bureaucrats were so worried about was the 30,000-strong Ming army in the northeast of Hangzhou.
That branch was an important support for the Hangzhou court in ruling the remaining territory of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was a safety valve in their hearts and an existence that made them feel happy.
However, time has passed and the construction of the Yellow River in the Ming Dynasty has been completed. Now these 30,000 Ming troops have become a reminder. As long as they decide to take action, no one in Hangzhou can escape at dawn or dusk.
What Shen Gai said during the final conversation with Zhang Shi proved that Zhang Shi's guess was correct.
"The Ming army that stayed behind in order to enhance the deterrence of the imperial court has become a reminder for us. It's not that a large group of us are timid people. It's because of Su Yonglin's order that this Ming army was in danger. At that time, there is no danger to defend Hangzhou and it will definitely be surrounded. By then, we will die without a burial place."
Shen Gai picked up the jug and filled Zhang Shi with wine, and said helplessly: "Although I feel a lot of reluctance in my heart, I must do what I have to do to prevent the family from being overthrown. I don't have much else to do." Having said that, I just want to confirm, Jingfu, are you really not leaving?"
Zhang Shi picked up the filled wine glass and smiled.
"I am already a member of the Pingzhang Army. If I had not accepted this appointment, I might have left. But now, I can't leave even if I want to. Everyone is looking at me. If I make the slightest move, they will What do you think?"
This reason was impeccable, and Shen Gai had nothing to say.
"In this way, I have cut off Jingfu's last way to leave... Jingfu, I..."
"This is my own choice and has nothing to do with my husband."
Zhang Shi shook his head and said with a smile: "Although I am a little nervous about being able to embark on this road, I am also a little free and easy. The pain and confusion for such a long time is finally coming to an end here. My father must have been waiting for me for a long time. I I think it’s time to meet him.”
"Then there's no need to leave the family in the city, right?"
Shen Gai frowned and said, "I heard that you brought all your family members to Hangzhou and made a big fanfare to let people know about it. Isn't this...isn't it appropriate?"
Zhang Shi still shook his head and smiled.
"If I didn't bring my family to Hangzhou and let everyone know that when the Ming army besieged the city, how could the soldiers and people in the city believe that I would stick to Hangzhou and never waver? In exchange for my family's military morale and the people's morale in Hangzhou, It’s worth it.”
This is also an impeccable and quite reasonable reason, and it sounds quite tragic, and it can easily arouse people's trust, sympathy and emotion.
So Shen should be very moved.
"Jingfu, you..."
"Ms. sir, this is the path I have chosen. I will finish it on my knees. Even if someone from the Ming Dynasty cuts off my head with a knife, I will never give in. I will be a man of the Song Dynasty in life and a ghost of the Song Dynasty in death."
"But your family...you can definitely leave a way for the family."
"Thousands of families have not left the city of Hangzhou. As a Pingzhang military official, how can I abandon them and survive? I have a family, and they also have a family. I live and die with them, and my family also We must live and die together with their families, only in this way can we be worthy of them."
Zhang Shi's words were right, and it was time for Shen's defense to be completely broken.
"Respect husband..."
He shed tears of pain and embarrassment in front of Zhang Shi, and the desire to leave a name in history suddenly swelled in his heart, and he almost said that he wanted to stay with him.
But soon this inflated desire was punctured and shrank back to its original state.
After all, he Shen should be just a mortal, a mortal running away, a mortal without courage, a mortal about to escape by boat to Korea.
A mortal like him should feel ashamed when facing a saint like Zhang Shi.
After a long time, Shen Gai wiped the tears from his face and raised his head to look at Zhang Shi.
"If this is the case, everything will be entrusted to Jingfu, and also, regarding the king's affairs..."
"I understand that before I die, I will definitely set fire to the palace. The king of the country will eventually be buried in the sea of fire with me. The crime will be placed on the people of the Ming Dynasty and has nothing to do with us."
"That's good, that's good."
Shen Gai nodded and was silent for a while before taking out a map from his arms.
"It's not enough to light a fire in the palace. Dear husband, take this blueprint. This is my map of the three hundred places where arson will be set. Once the city cannot be defended, these three hundred places must be lit in advance and the city set on fire. Call Ming Ming The Chinese people will get nothing!”
Hangzhou is a great city in the world built by the Southern Song Dynasty court that sucked most of the blood from the south of the Yangtze River. The wealth in the city is astonishing in ancient times and today. Even if a large number of people are taken away, there are still many that cannot be taken away.
Even if it cannot be defended, it cannot be left to the Ming Dynasty. Even if it is burned to the ground, it cannot be left to the Ming Dynasty.
Burn them all, burn them completely, and let the people of the Ming Dynasty cry without tears in front of the white land!
Shen Gai unfolded the map and informed Zhang Shi of the 300 arson sites. He then asked Zhang Shi to inspect the 300 arson sites to see if the fire starters were ready, and to send someone to take over as soon as possible to ensure that the arson sites were ready. Three hundred arson sites will not be destroyed.
At the end, Shen Gai held Zhang Shi's hand and looked at him affectionately.
“Although I can’t see my husband again in this life, I will remember my husband’s image firmly, and after my death, I will ask my family to build a tomb for my husband next to my grave. When my descendants pay respects to their ancestors, I will also offer incense to my husband, please leave now, there is no need to worry about the funeral!"
Zhang Shi nodded solemnly.
"I will live and die with Hangzhou!"
Then he turned around and sent someone to give this map to Su Changsheng.
He asked Su Changsheng to quickly send someone to verify whether the 300 arson sites were real, and then he began to prepare for the city defense in full swing.
Now that he has done Pingzhangjun's state affairs, the political, military, financial and political power are all in his hands. He will do this position how Shen should do it.
Moreover, the bureaucrats of Shen Gairun's group basically follow Shen Gairun, so they no longer have any opinions on power and position. They all cooperate with whatever Zhang Shi wants to do.
There is no need to cause trouble with the dying person.
So Zhang Shi directly obtained the same level of power as a dictator, and could basically do whatever he wanted.
Under this background, Zhang Shi was able to start some personnel changes logically.
In order to cover up secrets and create an environment for bureaucrats to run smoothly, it was inappropriate and easy to cause panic to carry out large-scale personnel changes immediately, so he only made some fine-tuning.
For example, he appointed his younger brother Zhang Piao as the palace defense envoy, brought an army he absolutely trusted, and replaced the palace defense with the people originally arranged by Shen Gai, and took over control of the entire imperial city.
This is reasonable and no one else has any opinions. His younger brother Zhang Piao will definitely obey his orders, and it is very simple to deal with Zhao Dun.
It's logical.
Then came a wave of military changes.
