Southern Ming Rebel Army

Just as Meng Jun was accumulating strength, the war in Hunan was coming to an end. The battle between the Ming and Qing dynasties for the vast land of Huguang ended with a great victory for the Qing army.

When Lekedehun's main force entered Huguang, there were only about 500 elite guards (Imperial Guards), more than 2,000 Manchu Eight Banners, more than 2,000 Han Army Banners, and 1,800 Khorchin Mongolian soldiers who assisted in the battle, a total of more than 6,000 people. After defeating Li Guo's Loyal Camp, they recruited surrenders and rebels. By the first year of the Yongli reign, Lekedehun had expanded the Green Camp to more than 40,000 soldiers.

The primary person responsible for the collapse of the Huguang war was He Tengjiao. He Tengjiao swore an oath to the army in Changsha, but he dragged his feet all the way. It took him half a month to cross the Miluo River. Before he reached Yuezhou, he encountered the defeated Ming army on the way. A defeated soldier said: "The elite guards of the Tartars have already arrived in Yuezhou, and a large group of troops are about to arrive."

When Lekedehun entered Huguang, his total force was only more than 6,000. He Tengjiao had more than 100,000 men under his command. When He Tengjiao heard the rout, he turned his horse around and ran back to Changsha without sending anyone to find out more.

When He Tengjiao fled, he did not even send anyone to notify Du Yinxi on the west route so that he could be prepared.

At this time, Du Yinxi's full attention was on the siege of Jingzhou. The Zhongzheng Camp had been besieging Jingzhou for eight days and nights, and had destroyed more than a dozen city walls. It seemed that Jingzhou was about to be captured. At this time, Leke Dehun led his troops to the outskirts of Jingzhou and began to raid the Zhongzheng Camp.

The Zhongzheng Camp had no defenses at all and was torn to pieces by the Qing cavalry. It collapsed on all fronts and was defeated. Li Guo and others wanted to cross the river and retreat back to Songzi, but they did not expect that the Qing army had already divided its forces and crossed the Yangtze River, raided the Zhongzheng Camp's old camp on Caoping, Songzi, and captured hundreds of the Zhongzheng Camp's ships parked on the river in one fell swoop.

After this battle, the Loyalty Camp lost all its elite troops, most of its main generals, and suffered extremely heavy losses in military equipment, food, wages, horses and armor. From then on, it was unable to recover and retreated to the Three Gorges area, no longer obeying the orders of the Ming court.

Du Yinxi, who had once tried to persuade the Loyal Camp to surrender, returned to Changde Prefecture to recuperate after breaking his arm. Although Du Yinxi was extremely angry that He Tengjiao did not move forward and abandoned his friendly troops to retreat alone, he had no way to deal with He Tengjiao. He had to recruit soldiers, collect grain and taxes in Changde Prefecture and Chenzhou Prefecture under his jurisdiction to restore his strength.

And with the Yongli Emperor Zhu Youlang ascending the throne in Zhaoqing, he conferred the titles of Minister of War and Grand Secretary of Dongke on Du Yinxi, and his status was finally equal to that of He Tengjiao.

However, as a result, Hunan was divided into two camps, Hedu and Hedu, fighting openly and secretly, and neither side would submit to the other. This gave the Qing army an opportunity to take advantage of.

Seeing that Lekedehun was unable to pacify Hunan quickly, Dorgon ordered Kong Youde to mobilize 30,000 troops from the Green Camp in Huainan, Suzhou, Xuzhou, Haozhou and other places to march south to support Hunan.

With the reunion of Kong Youde and Lekedehun, the Qing army marched southward all the way to Changsha. He Tengjiao's army of 200,000 men was defeated at the first blow.

He Tengjiao fled all the way south through Hengzhou and Yongzhou and arrived in Guangxi.

After He Tengjiao ran away, Du Yinxi had few soldiers and was unable to deal with the Qing army's attack. He had to abandon Changde and retreat all the way to the mountains of Yongdingwei to avoid the Qing army.

Two-thirds of the entire Hunan Province had fallen into the hands of the Qing army. At this time, Lekedehun was still hesitant, not knowing whether to continue southward to wipe out the two small courts in Guangdong and Guangxi, or to return to Jiangning to destroy Meng Jun who had brought shame to the Eight Banners.

……

Jiangning, Governor's Office.

Mao Xiang stood respectfully by the side. Ever since he asked Qian Qianyi to recommend Mao Xiang to Hong Chengchou, his reputation had almost fallen from heaven to dust. Countless friends sent him letters, some of whom advised him openly or secretly, while others used harsh words and wanted to break off ties with him. Mao Xiang could only respond with a bitter smile. However, there were also a few people who wanted Mao Xiang to recommend him to Hong Chengchou on their behalf and were willing to work for the Qing court.

After Mao Xiang surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, Hong Chengchou recommended Mao Xiang to Beijing on the grounds of his talent and reputation. Before the Qing court's appointment was made, Mao Xiang temporarily served as Hong Chengchou's counselor.

"Pijiang, now all places in Jiangnan are stable except for the place occupied by Meng thief. Although they have to shave their heads, it is only a temporary measure of the court. When the world is stable, the order to shave heads may be changed." Hong Chengchou said to Mao Xiang with a smile. Mao Xiang's surrender made Hong Chengchou very satisfied. It showed that the scholars in Jiangnan had gradually changed their views on the Qing court. Although the killing was excessive, there were always deaths during the changes of dynasties.

Mao Xiang heard this and said respectfully: "All this is due to the Governor-General. Without the Governor-General, the Jiangnan area would never have been pacified so quickly."

Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and said modestly: "I only wish that the world is stable and the people can live and work in peace, and I will be satisfied. The world has been in chaos for so many years, and the people want peace and expansion. You don't need to think that the Qing Dynasty entered the pass to change the Chinese. Today, the emperor uses Han law and Confucianism to rule the world, just like Emperor Xiaowen of Wei in the past, to reform China."

"Yes, the Governor is right. The Ming court is powerless to save the situation. The only thing we have to worry about is the Meng thief in Suzhou."

"That's right, but Meng Jun is still greedy for comfort. If he had only attacked Jiangning when he returned from Zhejiang a few months ago, Jiangning would probably have belonged to him. But now, the green camps from all over the country have gathered in the city, and Jiangning City has become peaceful and comfortable," said Hong Chengchou with a smile.

Mao Xiang's heart moved, and he asked without changing his expression: "But relying on these green camps alone, I'm afraid we can't defeat Meng the bandit."

"It doesn't matter. The war situation in Hunan has become clear. I have written to the Regent, requesting that Lekedehun be transferred back to Jiangning, and that the court send out the Eight Banners troops," Hong Chengchou said to Mao Xiang with a little confidence.

Mao Xiang flattered: "The Governor is wise, this time, we will definitely kill this villain."

…………

In Suzhou city, it was already midnight. Except for the drumbeats from the night watchmen, the whole city was silent. In the office of the governor's mansion, a figure sitting at a table could be vaguely seen outside the window. A patrolling guard passed by and sighed in his heart, "Grand governor, you really work day and night and are busy with all kinds of affairs."

After finishing the last official document, Meng Jun sat in a chair, thinking leisurely, looking at the vast and tranquil night sky outside the window. Suddenly, he wanted to write something down.

"It has been nearly two years since I came to Daming. The days of swordplay seem like a dream, even longer than the past twenty years. I am an ordinary person, but I have to shoulder such a heavy responsibility that I cannot remove. I have no choice but to be in this era. Although I am a time traveler, my secrets will never be known to others. This world has changed beyond recognition due to my intervention. If I die on the road to resisting the Qing Dynasty, does this mean that the trend is irreversible? If I can really rebuild the world, will I become a great leader?"

Meng Jun put down his pen and silently looked at the notes he had written. After a moment, he picked up the paper, placed it over the candlelight, and watched the words he had written gradually turn into ashes.