When Bai Guangen heard this, he looked ashamed, but maybe he was a little unwilling. He scratched the back of his head again, showed a little playful smile, and said to Zhang Mingwei: "If we don't continue to fight south, we will only control Jianchangwei. If it’s a local area, it doesn’t need to be driven by the Duke of Labor!”
After following Duke Xingguo for a long time, he knew that Duke Guo was relatively easy-going. As long as the Duke is the type to chat, he usually doesn't have any special requirements for his subordinates.
Therefore, he still explained.
After finishing speaking, Bai Guangen glanced at the Duke's face and added, "Jianchangwei has been captured by the general. Although the people here are unruly, the army has been stationed here for a long time. , I’m afraid they won’t submit! As for those rebels, they dare to go down the mountain and try!”
Jianchangwei, also known as Xichang in later generations, is the second largest plain in Sichuan and belongs to the hinterland of the Anning River Plain in the Western Sichuan Plateau. It can be said that the southwest side of Shu has fertile land and is a granary.
Originally this was Jianchangwei, but when Zuo Liangyu invaded Sichuan, he occupied it and formed an alliance with the surrounding chieftains. However, his strength was greatly reduced during the battle in Chengdu. After escaping here, he could not stop the imperial officers and soldiers under Bai Guangen. He had just given up Jianchang City not long ago.
However, as long as they leave the plains, the advantage is not on the side of the imperial officers and soldiers. Bai Guangen tried to continue going south several times, but was beaten back every time.
Moreover, most of the people left behind in Jianchang City were from ethnic minorities. They were disobedient and had tough folk customs. Those who were obedient were taken away by Zuo Liangyu and others.
The strategies used in the previous Tusi territory did not work here. It’s useless for you to tell these people? Because they don’t understand. Of course? There may be people who understand, but they all pretend not to understand.
At this time, after Zhang Mingwei listened to Bai Guangen's words, he shook his head and said: "This attack must at least go to Malas because there is a very large iron mine there. This also requires that the nearby places must have long-term peace and stability." This point is non-negotiable!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Guangen was stunned. There would be a very large iron mine in such a remote place?
If there really is a very large iron ore? Then there is nothing to say. The imperial court estimates that no matter how many troops it loses, it will capture those places.
Thinking of this, an idea immediately flashed in Bai Guangen's mind, but when he thought about Duke Xing's character, he felt that this idea would not be liked by the Duke, so he hesitated a little.
Zhang Mingwei knew what was going on by looking at his face. He smiled and said, "It's just a discussion now. What do you think? Just say it."
After hearing this, Bai Guangen still hesitated for a while, but finally he mustered up the courage and said: "My lord, since this is a very large iron mine, it is better to arrest all the people who are not convinced by the king." The general will also go all out to suppress them and arrest all those who refuse to accept it. In this way, not only can we reduce the number of stubborn enemies, but we can also capture all these alienated people to mine and pull them down after they are dead. This is a killing of two birds with one stone."
His idea is probably a common idea in this era.
Conflicts and rebellions have been occurring in the southwest of the Ming Dynasty for a long time because the imperial court did not really treat the people here as the people of the Ming Dynasty.
According to Bai Guangen's proposal, if he really wants to do it, there will be absolutely no problem when the court is powerful, such as when the sun is at its peak. However, once the power of the imperial court weakens, for example, by dispatching troops to Yunnan and Guizhou to suppress bandits, or pulling troops to Liaodong, etc., then chaos is likely to arise here again.
Unless in a certain place, they are really killed. Otherwise, it is impossible to maintain long-term peace and stability under strong pressure. That is to say, wherever there is oppression, there will be resistance.
Therefore, Zhang Mingwei rejected Bai Guangen's proposal without hesitation and said to him earnestly: "This has always been the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and the people here are naturally the emperor's subjects. It used to be under the jurisdiction of the chieftains, but now it is under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court. . They are the same as the people in the Central Plains and cannot be treated differently."
What the Duke said, of course it is what it is!
After hearing this, Bai Guangen did not dare to refute, so he could only nod in agreement. But I was thinking in my heart, anyone can say this, but it would be too difficult to actually do it! I would like to see what the Duke can do to subdue these rebellious foreigners despite the troubles of Zuo Liangyu and other rebels.
……………………
When they met to talk about this, Zuo Liangyu was hiding here in the Changzhou Division southwest of Jianchangwei, discussing matters with the surrounding chieftains.
Zuo Liangyu was heard saying loudly to these chieftains: "Don't worry, everyone, although we gave up Jianchang City, there are still our people in the city watching. The court still wants to make those people listen to them, then It’s a dream!”
Military Advisor Hou Xun also added: "As long as the energy of the imperial officers and soldiers is exhausted, after a long time, we launch a surprise attack, and by cooperating internally and externally, it will be easy to recapture Jianchang City!"
As a landowner, the chieftain of Changzhou heard this and said a little uneasily: "Commander Zuo, you can't lie to us this time!"
When Zuo Liangyu heard this, he said innocently: "I, Zuo, do things openly and aboveboard. When did I deceive you?"
Hearing this, Chief Weilong reminded dissatisfiedly: "Didn't you say before that there was already chaos outside? Even the emperor of the Ming Dynasty is unknown about his life or death! Why can the imperial army suddenly appear? If it hadn't been like this, How could we fail so completely!"
When Zuo Liangyu heard this, he was speechless and looked a little embarrassed. He immediately turned to look at Hou Xun and signaled with his eyes: This is what you blew, so hurry up.
Hou Xun was not in a hurry and answered for Zuo Liangyu: "The news we got at the beginning is indeed true! Although Duke Xingguo has led his troops to Shu, it doesn't mean that there will be no chaos outside, right? Jian You must have heard about the power of the captives. The imperial officers and soldiers could not defeat the Jian captives. Right?"
After hearing this, these toasts couldn't refute, and it seemed to make sense.
Before they could think of anything to ask, Hou Xun said without blushing, "Maybe the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty fled to the west, so Duke Xingguo took the risk to cross the Shu Road before spring." , otherwise, why would the dignified Duke Xing Guo be so desperate? Right?"
He still wanted to explain that there was a lot of chaos outside, and as long as they continued to persevere and the court had no time to take care of itself, they would definitely have the last laugh.
But who would have thought that after hearing this, Puji Chieftain immediately became worried and said: "If the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty really wants to come to Shu and cannot leave, how long can we persist? There is no way we can win the Ming Dynasty. The emperor of the country, right?"
Upon hearing this, several other chieftains became worried.
"Yes, Duke Xingguo is already so powerful. If the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty really comes to Shu, there will definitely be more imperial guards. How can we fight?"
"We definitely can't win! I just don't know if the Ming Emperor will let us go if we surrender?"
"..."
After hearing their words, Hou Xun was a little dumbfounded. The brain circuits of these toasts were really different from his.
Fortunately, he was smarter. He rolled his eyes and immediately coughed and said, "Please be patient. What I just said is just a possibility. With a high probability, it is actually impossible to happen. Think about it. …”
Hearing what he said, these toasts immediately pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
"...Even if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty fled west, it would definitely be temporary. The ultimate goal must be to escape to Yingtian Mansion, do you think you are right?"
When Hou Xun said this, he glanced at the chieftains and continued: "It's hard to say in Chengdu. We have high mountains and ridges. There is chaos outside. How much energy can the court spend here? But we were here before. The attack on Chengdu led to the pursuit of the imperial army. As long as we hold on for a while longer, even if we cannot destroy this imperial army, they will definitely return to Chengdu in the end."
"What if they don't leave?" After hearing this, the chieftain of Changzhou immediately frowned and asked.
When Hou Xun heard this, he immediately sneered and said: "What if they don't leave? Haha, haven't we already made arrangements? Once the vigor of the imperial officers and soldiers loses, we will keep these imperial officers and soldiers behind Jianchang, don’t let anyone leave!”
Zuo Liangyu on the side was listening to Hou Xun's words and at the same time observing the chieftains. He couldn't help but lament in his heart that when it came to the ability to cheat, none of the ten of him could compare with Hou Xun. This might be because he had read too much!
Sure enough, after Hou Xun said a lot to these chieftains, they no longer thought about anything else. They nodded and confirmed Hou Xun's statement.
The layout in Jianchang City was jointly arranged by them. They will withdraw only when they think they can. Otherwise, they will definitely not give up such a fertile place easily.
While he was talking, suddenly a travel-worn Tan Ma broke in from outside and reported to the crowd: "About 20,000 more officers and soldiers from the imperial court have arrived, and the leader seems to be the Duke of Xingguo!"
Upon hearing this, the chieftains who had been planning to build Changcheng City just now were shocked. They all looked at each other, a little dumbfounded. In other words, he was petrified.
Even Zuo Liangyu is similar. He was really afraid of this Duke Xingguo.
The battle on the Gyeonggi land made his main force completely silent, and forced him to lead the remaining troops to flee thousands of miles to Shu. Unexpectedly, when he was about to capture Chengdu in Shu and accomplish a great cause, the Duke of Xingguo fell from the sky again and beat him again so that he could only run away in embarrassment.
He had already fled into the ravines and ravines, but he still didn't let him go and wanted to chase him in a remote rural area?
Damn it, were we enemies in the previous life?
While he was thinking about it, he suddenly heard Hou Xun burst into laughter, which was very sudden.
