Fu Shanhe

Chapter 571 The Prelude to the Collapse of the Dynasty

The Governor's Office.

"Yun Xiangwen, you bastard!"

"He ran away without a word, he's really living the high life, but I've been completely screwed over!"

……

After a busy day, the Duke of Chu returned to his office and couldn't help but burst into a tirade of curses.

It's one thing to betray civil officials, but to betray one's own people as well.

The sudden fall of Zhenjiang caused him to lose face at the court meeting.

The strange looks from the officials were practically screaming that they were pointing their fingers at him and calling him a good-for-nothing.

"Brother Sheng, please calm down!"

"The northern barbarians came with great force. Neither the capital nor Xuzhou could hold out for more than half a month. It was truly remarkable that Zhenjiang was able to hold out for a month."

Yun Xiangwen promised the court to hold out for a month, and he has now fulfilled that promise; there's no need to be too harsh on him.

Wei Guo, standing to the side, publicly offered advice.

Where there are people, there is a social hierarchy; the Xun Gui Group is no exception, as it is not a monolithic entity.

The Yun family and the Duke of Wei's mansion are related by marriage, so he naturally had to speak up for them in this situation.

Moreover, in his view, Yun Xiangwen did not make any major mistakes in the fall of Zhenjiang.

With so many negative examples before, Yun Xiangwen, who was able to hold out for a month against the siege of hundreds of thousands of northern barbarians, can be considered a "capable minister" by all accounts.

If there is any mistake, it is simply that when Zhenjiang fell, we did not retreat to Nanjing.

This is understandable, though. The northern barbarians were so fierce that their breakout after the city fell would definitely be unexpected.

If we retreat according to conventional methods, the enemy can prepare in advance, making it easy for them to fall into an ambush.

If interpreted using this way of thinking, then Yun Xiangwen's only mistake was failing to promptly send a message to the capital when the city fell.

Without a doubt, this trivial matter is not a problem at all.

If you're shameless enough, you could easily say that a messenger was sent, but the intelligence failed to be delivered successfully.

The true and false imperial courts were not capable of verifying each other; at most, they could send someone over to reprimand them and fine them a little.

"Humph!"

"You make it sound so easy; it's not you who's embarrassed in matters of the heart."

He Yunxiang left, but the subsequent Battle of Nanjing was not going to be so easy.

Although we have all led troops, it would be a lie to say that we have strong military command capabilities.

They could manage a straightforward defense, but they were completely incapable of organizing a counterattack.

Now we can only hope that the Marquis of Hanshui's reinforcements will arrive soon, but will he be as enthusiastic about this campaign to defend the king as before?

The Duke of Chu said in an annoyed tone.

The split within the aristocratic group has become an indisputable fact.

In the past, everyone was able to unite sincerely because the older generation of the clan was still around.

The older generation played a crucial role in the growth of these young generals, and they couldn't ignore their elders' advice.

With the sudden passing of the older generation, many noble heirs were forced into the role of head of the family, and had not yet learned how to handle these complex relationships.

Because of the accumulated conflicts over time, even the clan itself could not be united.

Looking at the entire aristocratic group, the divergence of interests among its members is becoming increasingly apparent.

The younger generation in charge of military power had no affection for these noble descendants who inherited their titles.

Especially when it came to the distribution of profits, the direct heirs took the lion's share, while many of the younger generation who worked hard outside didn't even get a taste of the spoils, which further exacerbated the conflict between the two sides.

Internal divisions meant that they had reached agreements with the civil service, but were unable to fulfill them.

Yun Xiangwen's quiet departure simply brought the hidden contradictions to the forefront.

These noble generals from collateral branches wanted to secure a share of power commensurate with their own abilities in the upcoming power distribution.

Without a doubt, not only would the nobles remaining in Beijing find this objectionable, but the civil service group would also find it unacceptable.

No one can answer your concerns.

"However, the Marquis of Hanshui is loyal to the court, but his generals have other ideas."

His old subordinates in the army also hoped that he could take control of the government.

Those guys are passively avoiding battle, which is creating an opportunity for the Marquis of Hanshui to seize power.

If the Marquis of Hanshui were willing to return to the court, those guys who were just loafing around on the battlefield could immediately start crushing the enemy!

"That's what the British public figure said casually."

He was happy to see Li Mu return to the court.

It's not that I can gain much benefit from it, it's just that I don't want to see the Great Yu Dynasty decline.

As it turns out, the civil service group could not save the Great Yu Dynasty.

Despite the fact that the reforms initiated by the noble faction had ultimately failed.

At the very least, it increased the government's revenue without increasing the burden on the people, and also created a powerful and capable army.

If Emperor Yongning hadn't squandered his wealth, the reforms implemented by the meritorious nobles could have extended the life of the Great Yu Dynasty by another thirty to fifty years.

This may not seem like a long time, but for a dying empire, it was a remarkable achievement.

Throughout Chinese history, only the Han Dynasty survived three hundred years of feudal dynasties.

Furthermore, this single seedling was cut in half.

If Li Mu could return and continue the previous reforms, or even go further on the previous foundation, he might be able to regain control of the country and extend the life of the Great Yu Dynasty by another hundred years.

……

Similar scenes played out in the residences of several high-ranking officials.

Faced with the deteriorating situation, many people placed their hopes on Li Mu's army that came to the aid of the emperor.

However, compared to the nobles, the civil officials had a more complex and mixed feeling.

Although they wouldn't admit it, everyone knew in their hearts that the imperial court was powerless to reverse the situation.

The speed at which the Great Yu Dynasty collapsed exceeded everyone's expectations.

Apart from a few die-hard loyalists of the Great Yu who were worried about the fate of the country, most people were thinking about how to preserve their wealth and status in a chaotic world.

Songjiang Mansion.

Compared to the conflicted officials in the court, Yun Xiangwen, the protagonist whom everyone was cursing, was leisurely drinking a little wine.

In the Battle of Zhenjiang, he offended the northern barbarians quite badly, using every conceivable tactic imaginable.

Both sides suffered nearly 8,000 casualties, while the Northern Barbarians' losses were more than ten times that of the defenders.

In an era of scarce medical resources, even if some of the wounded survived, the losses of the grassland coalition would not be less than 70,000 to 80,000.

During the most intense phase of the siege, not only the Guifang people went to the battlefield, but even the Tatars participated in the siege.

It can be said that the Battle of Zhenjiang was the battle in which the northern barbarians suffered the greatest loss of troops since their invasion of the south.

Having incurred such deep hatred, he can still live a carefree life.

Aside from strategic reasons, the Northern invaders had to prioritize the Nanjing battlefield, largely because they were terrified of the repeated setbacks. Enemy generals knew he was a tough nut to crack, and no one was willing to volunteer for the arduous task of pursuit.

Compared to Zhenjiang City, Songjiang Prefecture's city walls are not as tall, but they are located by the sea, so if they can't win a battle, they can retreat to the coast.

The Tatar generals were filled with dread at the mere mention of the sea.

"Admiral, a secret letter has arrived from the south."

As they spoke, the guard handed over the sealed letter.

After tearing open the envelope, Yun Xiangwen's expression changed drastically.

According to the letter, the loyalist army was to advance in four routes.

In addition to the naval expeditionary force that was heading straight for the enemy's capital, three other routes were being sent south from Fujian and Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang to Zhili, so that he could prepare to provide support.

On the surface, this was just an ordinary strategic plan. The army that came to the aid of the emperor numbered over 400,000, and concentrating them all together would make the command and control process too cumbersome.

After the division of forces, apart from the naval expeditionary force which had only 50,000 men, the other three routes each had 120,000 troops.

Not only is the command difficulty reduced, but it can also provide reinforcements to battlefields in various provinces in the shortest possible time.

Without a doubt, these overt messages can only fool ordinary people.

If speed is of the essence, marching directly to Nanjing by water would be much faster than any of the routes mentioned above.

Anyone with a modicum of political acumen would realize that such a marching route is entirely geared towards seizing territory.

Under the banner of supporting the emperor, regardless of whether the local governors were willing or not, they had no choice but to open the city gates to welcome the army that came to support the emperor into the city.

It is easy to ask God but difficult to send Him away.

A large army simply strolling around is more awe-inspiring than any other means. By seizing command of the armies in various provinces under the guise of supporting the emperor, no one can find fault with the move.

Before they could even engage in a decisive battle with the northern barbarians and rebel forces, the four provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang had already fallen into their hands.

Judging from the map, by taking over these provinces, the Marquis of Hanshui gained strategic dominance in the ensuing chaotic struggle for supremacy.

If the Battle of Nanjing is won, the southeastern half of the country will be secured. The remaining three southwestern provinces will likely be pacified with a simple proclamation.

As for the rebels entrenched in the aforementioned areas, Yun Xiangwen completely ignored them. These people had not yet learned how to contend for supremacy in chaotic times; their thinking was still stuck in the era of bandits.

Those who only know how to disrupt order but don't understand local development are destined to go nowhere.

Throughout Chinese history, no bandit group has ever been able to seize control of the entire country.

"Bring me a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!"

After getting up and pacing around the garden for a few steps, Yun Xiangwen quickly made up his mind.

If you want to share in the credit for following the emperor's rise to power, you must be decisive.

Hesitation at crucial moments, even if you manage to get on board by chance, will not lead to future favor.

Looking across all the forces in the land, the Marquis of Hanshui possesses the most substantial wealth. His former subordinates, who hold command positions like him, are numerous throughout the army.

In terms of connections, they all come from prestigious families. Their families are all related to each other to some extent.

Despite the chaos that followed, which nearly wiped out their clans, it was precisely because so many clansmen had died that they felt more at ease.

Everyone maintained constant contact with the Marquis's residence in private, so there was absolutely no pressure in coming here to seek refuge.

With these former subordinates now on opposing sides, the only obstacle for the Marquis of Hanshui to smoothly take over the remaining foundation of the Great Yu Empire is the Nanjing court.

After sorting out his thoughts, Yun Xiangwen knew he had made the right choice. If he had retreated from Zhenjiang and gone to participate in the defense of Nanjing, he would probably have been forced to die with the imperial court.

The loyalist army will not arrive until the Nanjing court is destroyed.

Unless the Battle of Nanjing can last for more than a year, the various armies sent to defend the capital will be too embarrassed to prolong the battle and may only offer symbolic assistance.

"My lord, the Marquis's letter mentioned the need to guard against the rebellion of the regional princes, which could threaten the imperial power and the stability of the Great Yu dynasty."

But the various vassal kings of the Great Yu were all empty shells; where would they get the ability to rebel?

After reading the letter, the clerk standing nearby hurriedly offered a reminder.

Since we have chosen to go with the flow and join the Marquis of Hanshui to gain merit by following the emperor, we must complete the tasks assigned to us as required.

"You mean to say that the Marquis is implying that we should incite the princes to usurp the throne, undermine the legitimacy of the Nanjing court, and further shake the hearts of the people?"

But there are no princes appointed by the imperial court in Songjiang Prefecture.

Yun Xiangwen asked uncertainly.

Some things cannot be said explicitly; subordinates must understand them on their own.

From the perspective of local vassal kings, the more turbulent the court is, the easier it is to seize power.

"Your Excellency, the imperial court has not conferred titles upon princes in Southern Zhili, but that does not mean that there are no princes in the Southern Zhili region."

With the fall of the north, many vassal kings fled south to escape the disaster.

Seeing the world in turmoil, it is quite reasonable for some of them to suddenly develop ambitions and want to seize the throne.

After all, the vassal kings of my Great Yu are known for their penchant for courting death.

Since the founding of the dynasty, over the past three hundred years, dozens of princes and dukes have had their titles stripped by the imperial court, most of whom were accused of treason.

If this is the case even in times of peace, it's not surprising that a few fools would emerge in times of chaos.

The current emperor is a member of a distant branch of the imperial family, and he cannot win the trust of the entire imperial clan. Even if no vassal kings rebel, some members of the imperial clan will still plot against him.

Master Wang's words made Yun Xiangwen instantly understand.

No matter who the rebels are, as long as they raise the banner of the Great Yu imperial family, they can cause an impact on the Nanjing court.

The questioning of the emperor's legitimacy by members of the imperial clan had far more serious political consequences than the various rebel groups declaring themselves emperors.

Once the various vassal kings and members of the imperial family declare themselves emperors, even the most loyal subjects of the court will feel despair in the face of such a complex situation.

"Sir, you are right!"

"I remember that Prince Chong was ambitious and happened to be observing mourning in Songjiang Prefecture to avoid disaster, so I simply fulfilled his dream of becoming emperor."

This is a matter of great importance, and I do not trust anyone else to handle it. Therefore, I will trouble you to manage it behind the scenes.

Pick a group of idiots to persuade them to join, and our people can infiltrate them to set the pace, but we must never expose ourselves directly.

After the Crown Prince of Chong ascends the throne in Songjiang Prefecture, I will submit a memorial to the court to request instructions from His Majesty on how to proceed!

After thinking for a moment, Yun Xiangwen said.

In feudal dynasties, a rebellion by members of the royal family was a matter of life and death.

There are techniques involved in choosing to support the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne.

Before ascending the throne, the current emperor was the second son of the Prince of Changsha. Even though he was closer to the late emperor by blood, he was still the second son of a prince and was not ranked among the many members of the imperial clan.

According to custom, after the death of King Chong, the crown prince should inherit the title of King Chong.

The main reason he was not allowed to inherit the title was that the imperial court was too poor.

Whether it was redistributing fiefdoms, allocating funds to build royal palaces, or holding a succession ceremony, all of these required the court to provide funding.

Arranging a separate heir for a vassal king is not a big deal, but the number of royal princes and nobles in the Great Yu who have lost their fiefdoms is too large, and the total cost is a huge expense.

From the court's perspective, as long as they pretend not to see it, the problem doesn't exist.

However, this caused great suffering to the imperial family members who fled south. They lost their family property in the north, and the imperial court did not care about them.

The system of managing members of the imperial clan also restricted their means of making a living. Many members of the middle and lower ranks of the imperial clan had to abandon their imperial status and engage in petty trades in order to make a living.

The resentment within the imperial clan towards the court had now reached its historical peak.

(End of this chapter)