There is no such thing as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras

Chapter 136 I Know a Path

The Han army had already pushed its camp outside Chenlong Pass, completely blocking the exit route. Although there were three other passes still standing, they were not as easy to defend as Chenlong Pass and had fewer troops stationed there.

Yang Fang tried to give orders, asking the generals guarding the three passes to bring their troops to Chenlong Pass.

Because the Han army's target is Chenlong Pass, there is no point in defending the other three passes. It is better to concentrate the troops and repel the Han army first, so that the dilemma of Chenzhou will naturally be solved.

What a pity, it’s useless!
It was not for any other reason, but because of Yang Fang's hometown. He was from Guizhou. To the Qing army in Hunan, he was just a guest soldier from another province and was not considered one of their own.

In addition, Yang Fang did not start his career through the orthodox route. He was a scholar who failed to pass the imperial examination, so he joined the army halfway through. The brave general who promoted him, Yang Yuchun, was a talented official who had passed the military examination.

What are "talent officials"? They are militiamen, but they are militiamen established by the government, not militiamen temporarily recruited by local governments.

This is why the Qing army had both Qianzong and Waiwei Qianzong in its military organization. Waiwei was added during wartime, which meant that the reserve officers were promoted and given a temporary worker organization. Otherwise, it would be considered illegal recruitment and tantamount to rebellion.

Yang Fang couldn't mobilize the troops from the other three passes, so his garrison commander seemed like a fake.

"Listen up, all the Qing army brothers inside the pass. We are all brothers. Why should we risk our lives for the officials?"

"Look, we are Manchus. Even we can surrender, so why don't you dare to surrender? If you surrender now, only the officials will suffer. If you surrender after the city is captured, you will be in trouble."

"Brothers, the Qing Dynasty is almost over. You may not know this, thinking that only Han people are suffering in this world. But let me tell you the truth, even people like us from the Manchu Eight Banners, the nobles in your eyes, are also suffering. We look glamorous on the outside, but we are rotten on the inside. That Jingzhou General Xing Zhao still owes me half a year's salary!"

"That's right! We're all soldiers, just trying to make a living for our families. We're called the Eight Banners of Manchuria, but the real rich and powerful are those from the upper three banners. We, the lower-class bannermen, are nothing. We're just like you Han Green Camp soldiers, you're still going to withhold military pay and embezzle it if necessary."

"Do those officials really need your little money? They're just evil. They want to take your money and your food, and watch you struggle and starve to death. As you Han people say, if there are no corpses of people freezing to death or starving on the roadside, how can the wine and meat of the masters in the rich mansions be delicious?"

"Surrender! If not, just disband! Why would you risk your life for these officials who withhold military pay and enrich themselves?"

"The officials rewarded you with money and food? That's just deducting your wages. How can that be considered a reward?"

"..."

Outside Chenlong Pass, the Manchu soldiers initially just tried to persuade the soldiers to surrender, with a few people changing positions every day, taking turns to shout in different ways.

Yang Fang was unable to suppress the rebellion, but at least he could still bear it. After all, his soldiers gradually got used to it after hearing the call for surrender. He also paid the soldiers full military pay in advance and took them out to drink and eat meat.

In this way, the morale of the army can still be maintained. We all just want to serve in the army and get food. Why are there so many big principles?
But gradually, the Manchu soldiers outside the Great Wall went crazy for some reason and started saying all kinds of weird things.

I don't know if this weird talk is useful, but Yang Fang can't stand it anymore. He just gave money to his soldiers to eat meat, and now he has to do this to them?
"These...traitors!"

Yang Fang put one hand on the parapet and looked at the Manchu soldiers outside who were shouting and yelling, feeling angry and helpless.

Because they already knew that he could not draw the bow, the Manchu soldiers sent by the Han army to persuade him to surrender were eager to stand at the city gate, and they almost took a hanging basket to go up and drink shoulder to shoulder with their "brothers".

"Hi~!"

Yang Fang accidentally aggravated his injury and had no time to take care of it. He was supported by his personal soldiers and returned to the city wall.

On the other side, several Qing army captains and captains who had been semi-marginalized by Yang Fang were gathering in private to discuss.

"That Yang Fang is so despicable! He actually stripped me of my military power, and even gave me the excuse of letting me command food, fodder, and laborers."

"You're lucky you have something to do. I didn't even have a reason, but they made me surrender my troops and even dismissed me from my position as general."

"Now what?"

"I don't know! Yang Fang is too cautious. He stays with his personal soldiers all day long, even eating and sleeping on the city wall. There's no way he can get through."

"Why not just rebel? The Han army is already outside the city. If we rebel, the Han army should be able to break in." "It was fine at first, but now, our military power has either been reduced or split up and taken away by him. This guy even used our money to bribe our soldiers. If a real fight breaks out, we won't be able to win. If the Han army arrives a little slower, we will all be killed."

"I heard that Yang Fang seemed to have asked the governor for help. What if the governor brings his troops here?"

"Bullshit! If the Governor-General could have come, he would have come a long time ago. Why would he have to wait until now? Besides, he only has a few soldiers under his command. What's the point of him coming?"

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"Wait a little longer and see what happens. I think with so many Han troops coming, they won't stop until they take Chenlong Pass."

"..."

There were undercurrents in Chenlong Pass, while outside Chenlong Pass, the Han army was busy providing relief to the rebel army.

"Commander Bai, another rebel army has arrived, claiming to be coming from Ma'an Pass."

Bai Nan was somewhat helpless and left the camp to receive the so-called "rebel army".

As expected, they were all dressed like beggars. They were called volunteers, but were actually victims of the disaster. The leader looked like a scholar, but he was in a very disheveled state.

The Qing army was too ruthless, and the Hunan Governor Jiang Sheng was even more ruthless. This guy placed his troops at Chenlong Pass, but did not provide them with food and fodder.

So where does the food come from?
It's very simple. Aren't you soldiers good at looting? Why don't you just go and loot on your own? There are plenty of villages and towns around Chenlong Pass anyway.

That's right, this was the order given by Jiang Sheng. He really couldn't afford the money. After taking into account the expenses of recruiting soldiers and training the army, the part he embezzled, and the money given to the court and the Emperor, there was not a penny left to give to the Qing army at Chenlong Pass.

If you want money and food, just rob them yourself. The governor will pretend not to see it.

But asking the governor for it? Sorry, I don’t have it, and even if I did, I couldn’t give it to you.

The people living on the border of Chenzhou and Changde, including Chenlong Pass, were all repeatedly harassed by the Qing army. Even many small landlords and self-cultivating farmers were almost unable to survive.

Seeing Bai Nan come out, the scholar who led the Ma'an rebels hurriedly bowed and said, "I am Liu Zhihong from Ma'an Liujia Village, greeting the general. The Qing army is committing atrocities and levying heavy taxes. I could no longer bear it, so I killed the evil gentry and landlords in the village and started an uprising. I heard that the Han army was besieging the pass, so I came to help and follow them."

Bai Nan looked at the rebels brought by the scholar, feeling somewhat helpless, but he did not show it. He said happily, "It is naturally a good thing that all the rebel brothers have come to surrender. Please come in!"

After all, these Ma'an volunteers, although they look like beggars, have their own "weapons". Excluding the old and weak, there are still a few hundred people in them. After they are well fed, they can form a temporary militia to enhance their momentum.

The scholar Liu Zhihong did not follow immediately. Instead, he clasped his fists and said, "General, I see that the Han army has been besieging Chenlong Pass for a long time. Are they unable to break through?"

"Huh? Do you have a solution?" Bai Nan was stunned.

Liu Zhihong said, "When I was young, I passed by here while studying. I followed the mountain people along a small path that led me around this pass."

"really!"

Bai Nan was shocked, and then overjoyed.

My goodness, the siege has been going on for more than half a month, and we are at a loss as to what to do. Even the general has sent a telegram to Changde.

But unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise today.

"Mr. Liu, could you possibly draw a map now?"

"Of course, it's just a piece of cake!"

(End of this chapter)