Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 34, The Xue Sisters

Mao Cheng's body was covered with dense scars, some of which had already scabbed over, while others had not yet healed. It looked extremely shocking.

"What a tiger general!"

Emperor Longqing couldn't help but say.

"His Majesty……"

Mao Cheng opened his mouth weakly.

Emperor Longqing said:

"My dear, there is no need to say more. Get well soon. I will need your help to maintain my kingdom in the future!"

After Emperor Longqing finished speaking, he quickly said:
"Quick, send General Mao to the Imperial Hospital and have the Imperial Physician start treating him immediately. We must make sure General Mao's injuries are healed!"

Mao Cheng said weakly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Seeing that Mao Cheng was about to be taken away, Yan Hongzhang, who was standing by, was extremely anxious, thinking to himself: "Tell him, tell him quickly, you promised him, you must have forgotten it!"

Finally, when Mao Cheng was about to be taken away, he finally said weakly:
"Your Majesty, Governor Yan is a loyal and patriotic man. Please... ahem, please be lenient with him..."

Emperor Longqing tucked the quilt into Mao Cheng's bed and said:

"Yan Hongzhang is a man with great ambitions but little talent. He lost cities and lands, so his death should not be a pity. However, considering his loyalty and the fact that he brought back a great general for me, I will spare his life!"

Yan Hongzhang kowtowed quickly, his heart overwhelmed with joy, his eyes filled with tears of emotion, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Afterwards, after Mao Cheng was carried away, Yan Hongzhang knelt down and informed Emperor Longqing and the ministers of the battle situation in detail.

Emperor Longqing and many ministers fell silent after hearing this.

Just because the battle was too brutal.

The city of Chuzhou was attacked by a million-strong army of the White Lotus rebels, and thousands of people died every day. Although Chuzhou City had the careful command of the Huizhou governor, it could not withstand the enemy's large numbers and fierce offensive.

Chuzhou was out of ammunition and food, and the people were eating their flesh and breaking their bones for cooking. The city was on the verge of collapse.

After hearing about the tragic situation in Chuzhou City, Emperor Longqing finally let go of his prejudice.

Emperor Longqing could accept that he would raise the taxes of some people in exchange for financial gains and make the people suffer, but he could not accept that the people under his rule would cut their flesh for food and break their bones for cooking...

At that moment, Emperor Longqing ordered Duke Shanguo Shi Guangzhu to lead troops to quell the rebellion!

However, in order to avoid the situation from last time, Emperor Longqing required Duke Shanguo to report to the Ministry of War before any other matters except suppressing the rebellion, and not to act on his own.

Meanwhile, Chuzhou.

Yan Hongzhang's statement was somewhat exaggerated, but not completely exaggerated.

It has been the forty-fourth day since Feng Tai attacked Chuzhou!
He started the war more than half a month earlier than Fang Yong, but due to various factors such as improper command, inadequate training of soldiers, low morale, lack of weapons and equipment, Feng Tai was unable to capture Chuzhou City.

Wu Yuan tried to dissuade them, saying that if they failed to capture the city after a long attack, the imperial court would definitely send troops to help, and they could not stay here for long.

But now Feng Tai would never listen to Wu Yuan's advice.

He had been fighting in Chuzhou for a long time, and seeing that the defenders of Chuzhou City were also on the verge of collapse, how could he be willing to retreat at this time?

"If you dare to disrupt the morale of the army again, you will be killed!"

Feng Tai roared, and then issued an order to capture Chuzhou City and not put down the sword for seven days!

The so-called "not stopping the sword" simply means allowing soldiers to burn, kill and loot in the city at will without any restrictions. It is a cruel order second only to a massacre.

But it’s also a great way to boost morale when it’s low!

After hearing this, Feng Tai's soldiers went crazy and rushed towards Chuzhou City with all their might!
Feng Tai smiled when he saw this. If they continued like this, it wouldn't take long before they could capture Chuzhou City!
However, a few days later, members of the White Lotus Sect in Shandong came to report: "Report! Duke Shan Guo Shi Guangzhu led an army of 100,000 to rescue Chuzhou, and has now arrived in Shandong!"

The enamel tea bowl in Feng Tai's hand fell to the ground with a bang.

Duke Shan of Shan State Shi Guangzhu!

That's a terrible name.

As soon as Feng Tai heard Shi Guangzhu's name, he felt a little fear in his heart.

As early as the Kangning period, Shi Guangzhu followed Emperor Kangning in his campaigns and made many achievements. Once the southern barbarians rebelled, Shi Guangzhu led his troops to kill 300,000 barbarians. Later, the Jurchens attacked Liaodong, and Shi Guangzhu was defeated by the Jurchen cavalry and lost twelve battles in a row. However, he kept his troops in check every time he was defeated, and he left room for maneuver between advance and retreat, and finally forced the Jurchens to voluntarily seek peace.

It can be said that if the battle had not been fought gloriously enough, Shi Guangzhu would have been worthy of being called the God of War of Daxi.

Now Feng Tai's siege has reached the most critical moment, and Shi Guangzhu comes at this time, making it impossible to advance or retreat.

Feng Tai couldn't help but look at Wu Yuan who was sitting next to him. This old man was right again!

Feng Tai couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly, not knowing what he was thinking.

Wu Yuan, who was sitting nearby, was shocked.

He is now seventy-six years old, over seventy years old, and very knowledgeable about worldly affairs. When Feng Tai narrowed his eyes, Wu Yuan immediately realized that something was wrong.

Oh no, Feng Tai is so angry that he wants to kill me!

I have advised Feng Tai many times, but he wouldn't listen, and now he is in a dilemma.

Wu Yuan understands Feng Tai.

If Feng Tai succeeded in capturing Chuzhou this time, it would be fine. In order to show his merits, the other party might even reward him. But if what he said was right, Feng Tai would surely be furious and want to kill him to cover up his past mistakes.

In the moment of crisis, Wu Yuan's brain worked at high speed.

"King Nan, I have a plan to break the siege of Shi Guangzhu!"

Feng Tai was delighted when he heard this and said:
"Mr. Wu, please speak!"

Wu Yuandao:
"Shi Guangzhu is coming with great force. If we let him reach Chuzhou and join forces with the government troops in the city, our army will be in danger. However, I heard that the Huaiyin Army in Huaizhou responded to the Southern King's uprising with 100,000 soldiers. Its leader Fang Yong has now captured Huaizhou. I am willing to use my eloquence to persuade Fang Yong to stop Shi Guangzhu's army and buy time for the Southern King!"

Feng Tai was overjoyed when he heard this and said:

"This is a great plan!"

But in a moment, Feng Tai began to have doubts again.

"I have no friendship with the Huaiyin bandits. How can Mr. Wu convince the Huaiyin bandits' 100,000-strong army to help me with just his tongue? Are you planning to abandon me with this trick?"

Wu Yuan was shocked when he heard this. Feng Tai was usually stupid, so why did he become so smart in this matter?
But even though he was right, Wu Yuan remained calm and said:
"Your Majesty, you are wrong. I have served you for more than fifty years. Now I am over seventy years old. I can't carry anything with my shoulders or hands. My eyes are dim and I only have a tongue that is still usable. Who would be willing to accept an old fellow like me?"

After listening to this, Feng Tai nodded secretly.

Wu Yuan said again:

"And what the King of the South doesn't know is that when I was young, I studied the art of diplomacy in detail. I am confident that I can use it to convince Fang Yong, but I am still missing two things. Please give them to me, King of the South. Only in this way can I succeed!"

Feng Tai heard this and asked:

"What are those two things?"

Wu Yuandao:
"Since ancient times, all heroes have only power, wealth, and beauty, and these three desires cannot be resisted. Fang Yong leads 100,000 soldiers, so he is not short of power, so the only desires are wealth and beauty."

Feng Tai frowned.

"How much does it cost?"

Wu Yuandao:
"Please ask the King of the South to bear the pain and cede 100,000 taels of gold. This will surely persuade Fang Yong."

When Feng Tai heard this, his eyes almost popped out!
"How much? One hundred thousand taels of gold?"

Feng Tai shook his head repeatedly.

"No, no! It's too much, I don't have that much money!"

In fact, Feng Tai could have taken out this money. He had captured the entire Jinling, and this amount of money was not too much for him.

But Feng Tai was used to being poor when he was young, and now he loves money like his life.

His soldiers had been attacking Chuzhou for a long time and their morale was low. He was unwilling to take out 100,000 taels of silver as a reward. Now Wu Yuan asked for 100,000 taels of gold. How could Feng Tai agree to it?

Wu Yuan had expected this and was not surprised.

"If the King of the South is unwilling to give up his wealth, then the other party can only seduce him with sex."

(End of this chapter)