Southern Ming Rebel Army

Zhu Dadian stepped out and said, "Since Suzhou has been recovered, Your Majesty the Regent can send a governor to supervise the army in Suzhou. In my opinion, you can dispatch troops to assist Suzhou City."

"Suzhou City is surrounded by Qing troops on all sides. Nanjing and Hangzhou both have heavy Qing troops. If we transfer troops to Suzhou, I'm afraid they will be surrounded. Besides, Hangzhou is still in the hands of the Eastern Tartars. How can we transfer troops? Just fly over there?" Fang Guoan said disdainfully.

After listening to this, Zhu Dadian frowned and said, "Since the troops cannot be transferred and the supplies cannot be delivered, at least a military supervisor should be sent to let these rebels know that the court has not forgotten them."

Seeing this, Zhu Yihai, who was in the upper position, also said, "We should send someone over, but since Meng Jun has risen up against the Qing Dynasty and recovered Suzhou, how do you think we should reward him, Prime Minister?"

Fang Fengnian pondered for a moment and said, "You can appoint Meng Jun as the general of Suzhou and temporarily take charge of all military and political affairs of Suzhou Prefecture."

"Does our dynasty have the title of Suzhou General?" Zhu Yihai asked with a frown.

"Your Highness the Regent, we have to make a temporary decision in this urgent matter. We can cancel it after Jiangnan is pacified." Fang Fengnian replied with a bow, then stepped back, looking exhausted.

"How can such a prestigious national position be given out indiscriminately? If it is given up today and abolished tomorrow, how will the people of the world view the court? Your Highness the Regent and the Prime Minister's proposal is absolutely not feasible," Zhang Guowei stood up and refuted.

Fang Guoan listened to the civil servants arguing and said impatiently, "You have just recovered a city, and you have been awarded the title of general today. How should I reward you if you recover another city tomorrow? In my opinion, the title of garrison commander will be enough."

Zhu Yihai looked a little unhappy. He was a distant branch of the family and was the regent. He lacked prestige by nature. There had been almost no quarrels since he became the regent. Zhu Yihai really wanted to abdicate and return to his fiefdom. Zhu Yihai knew Tang Wang Zhu Youjian and knew that this distant relative was ambitious. During the Chongzhen period, he dared to raise an army to support the king as a vassal king. If Tang Wang could recover the country, he would abdicate. Even if there was a reckoning in the future, he would have no regrets.

Now, just a casual discussion about Meng Jun caused a lot of arguments, which really made Zhu Yihai feel tired. Later on, some censors even began to question Meng Jun's character.

"Meng Jun had shaved his head before. How can a person with such a bad moral character take on such an important responsibility? As a military officer of the Ming Dynasty, he did not even think of fighting to the death. Instead, he surrendered to the enemy without any resistance. In my opinion, this person is absolutely untrustworthy. His military power should be taken away and he should be punished as a warning to others," said a censor in a stern voice.

Of course Zhu Yi Hai pretended not to hear these words. According to the standards of these censors, there is no such thing as a perfect person in this world. If someone is obedient, they will surrender; if someone is Qing, they will surrender. As long as there are people who rise up to rebel, they will be willing to accept them.

There are still many wise people in the world. Zhu Dadian immediately retorted, "Your Highness, after the Jiashen Incident, countless people surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. If everyone is punished, I am afraid that the whole world will be full of mortal enemies. As long as those who repent are forgiven, it will be a good policy for the country. Meng Jun has abandoned evil and turned to good, and he has also captured Suzhou City and defeated Li Chengdong. This is enough to show that he is a man who knows military affairs. He exchanged a title for a city and a good general. It is easy to tell which is more important. In times of national crisis, the court needs good generals. Only by rewarding them heavily can it show its eagerness to seek talents."

Zhu Yihai nodded after listening to it, looking like he agreed with it. After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yihai decided to bypass the dispute and said

"Then the title of General Yingyang for Meng Jun will be given to him, a third-rank official, and he will be the temporary governor of Suzhou's military and political affairs. As for the military supervisor..." Zhu Yihai looked at everyone hesitantly. Suzhou City was surrounded by enemies, and going there to supervise the military would be a life-threatening situation, to put it bluntly.

Zhang Guowei saw this and said, "Your Highness, you can read the imperial edict first, and we can discuss the selection of military supervisors later."

Zhu Yihai nodded and said, "Mr. Zhu, then you draft the edict." After that, Zhu Yihai dismissed the court meeting. In just half a day, Zhu Dadian had written the edict and submitted it.

"I have heard that you are virtuous and I have rewarded you with great talent. Meng Jun, courtesy name Yuanzhi, is loyal to the country, and has been known for his virtue and kindness. He has been loyal and has taken advantage of friendship to ensure the safety of the country. The governance of a country by a sage is all dependent on the assistance of talented people. He has made great contributions to the country and has recaptured Suzhou City. He is truly a pillar of the country. I hereby promote him to the rank of General Yingyang and temporarily take charge of Suzhou's military and political affairs. He is given the title of the third rank to honor his virtue. Because he has both talent and virtue, and he was very brave and resolute when the country was in danger, he turned the tide and I commend his merits."

"Well, very good." Zhu Yihai looked at the magnificent imperial edict and couldn't help but praise it. After reading it, Zhu Yihai took up his regent seal and stamped it without hesitation. Then he asked several Jinyiwei to take the imperial edict around Hangzhou to meet Meng Jun to read it.

Inside Suzhou city, Meng Jun was reading a military book, which stated, "As for the way of being a general, do not complain of being thirsty when the army comes to draw water from the well; do not complain of being hungry when the army's food is not yet cooked; do not complain of being cold when the army's fire is not yet lit; do not complain of being tired when the army's tent is not deployed; do not wield a fan in summer or put up an umbrella, just be the same as everyone else."

Seeing this, Meng Jun nodded and made comments on the paper with a pen. As a general, one must pay attention to the daily trivial matters. When the well in the military camp has not yet been filled with water, the general should not drink the water first. The meal for the soldiers has not been cooked yet, the general should not eat first. The fire in the military camp has not yet been lit, the general cannot complain about the cold. The tents in the army have not yet been set up, the general cannot say they are sleepy first. In the hot summer, the general should not easily use a fan to cool down. In rainy weather, the general should not be the first to raise an umbrella to avoid the rain. He must always be consistent with the soldiers to know the soldiers' current status and be the same as the soldiers in all kinds of life details.

Seeing this, Meng Jun slapped himself and muttered to himself, "We just took over Suzhou City, and you dared to leave the organization. This is really wrong. The army is everything to me, and everything should serve the army. If I lose the battlefield, no matter how well Suzhou City develops, it has nothing to do with me."

Thinking of this, Meng Jun shouted, "Gao Yi, pack your bedding and go to sleep in the barracks. From now on, I will eat whatever the soldiers eat and sleep wherever the soldiers sleep."

Gao Yi: “…………”

"What are you standing there for? Go and clean up!" Meng Jun yelled at Gao Yi angrily.

"Yes, Governor, I'll go right away." Gao Yi scratched his head and walked towards the backyard.

"Young Master is living well here, why does he want to move away and move to the military camp?" Huan'er frowned and said angrily.

Gao Yi did not indulge her this time and said loudly, "This is the order from the Grand Commander himself. What do you, a little maid, know about military and national affairs?" After saying this, he tilted his head and spoke to Huan'er with a disdainful tone.

"You...you wait, I'll go find the old lady now." After saying that, Huan'er angrily walked out the door quickly.

"Hey, hey, don't go, pack up your things," Gao Yi said hurriedly as he watched Huan'er walk out, but Huan'er ignored Gao Yi and walked towards the old lady's room on her own.