Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

November 28, the 11th year of Chongzhen, Chongqing Prefecture, Shiqu.

Ma Mansion, early morning.

Qin Liangyu walked slowly into the Ma family ancestral hall and burned incense to the ancestors of the Ma family as usual.

Her gaze finally stopped on a tablet at the very bottom, on which was enshrined a name called Ma Qiancheng.

That's her man.

I can’t remember how many years it has been, time has wasted everything.

She was already very old, her hair was as white as snow, and her skin, although still fair, was covered with wrinkles.

Only those lively eyes reveal a glimpse of his heroic spirit in his youth.

She was once extremely beautiful.

"My dear, our Ma family's ancestors have blessed our country with a talented person who, in just half a year, saved the declining military situation in Beijing and defeated the Jian Nu.

Now that I have received the emperor's order, Liang Yu dare not lie and will report it to my ancestors."

Qin Liangyu's voice was a little hoarse, but there seemed to be a hint of a smile on her face. The smile was a little bitter, but also relieved.

"My husband, our Ming Dynasty may be saved."

Qin Liangyu stretched out her slightly thin hand, stroked the tablet of her husband Ma Qiancheng, and said gently.

She is 65 years old this year and has fought for the Ming Dynasty all her life, including the Battle of Hunhe, the She'an Rebellion, the Shapu Rebellion, fighting against the Jiannu, bandits, and rebels.

She has been disappointed and painful, but she has never regretted it.

Now her husband has passed away, and her two brothers also died in the battlefield, leaving her alone in her twilight years, like a duckweed floating in the wind.

However, she always had a regret, which was the long-cherished wish she and her husband Ma Qiancheng made when they first met.

Serve the imperial court and revive the Ming Dynasty.

Even when her husband was framed to death by treacherous officials, she never changed.

She used up all her strength, sold her property, and recruited local soldiers. Wherever there was a war, she would lead her soldiers to the place.

But decades passed, the old soldiers died, her hair turned gray, but the situation in the court never improved.

She also wanted to do her part for the Ming Dynasty and to repay His Majesty for his gift of poems.

But for several years, Your Majesty has not issued any military orders, and it seems that you have forgotten Shiqu, and forgotten that in this small mountain city, there is still an old man who is devoted to serving his country and is willing to die without regrets.

She had no choice but to defend the small town of Shiqu with more than 2,000 veteran white-pole soldiers.

Three months ago, the traitor Zhang Xianzhong rebelled again, and Li Zicheng also revived and raised the banner of rebellion again.

At that time, the imperial court was busy resisting the Jiannu, Sichuan was short of troops, and Zuo Liangyu's troops were hesitant to move forward. The two groups of bandits marched towards Sichuan at the same time, attacking cities and strongholds with unstoppable momentum.

Shiqian City was sandwiched between the two rebel gangs of Zhang and Li. Qin Liangyu thought at that time that perhaps this was her final fate.

Until three days ago, a group of flying cavalry came from the capital and brought a glimmer of hope to her, Shi Que and the old soldiers of the White Spear Army.

She stayed in the ancestral hall for a while, then walked towards a side hall of the Ma Mansion with the help of her crutches.

In the side hall, her son, Ma Xianglin, the current envoy of Shiqian Xuanwei Office, sat below the main seat.

Ma Xianglin is about forty years old. He is handsome and dashing, with the same heroic spirit between his eyebrows as his mother.

He seemed to have just returned from the military camp, wearing a suit of silver armor. The only flaw was that he had an eye patch on his left eye, which made it particularly glaring.

During the Battle of Hunhe, Ma Xianglin was shot in the left eye by the Jiannu and became blind ever since.

Sitting next to Ma Xianglin was his cousin Qin Yiming. When they saw Qin Liangyu come in, they both immediately stood up and saluted.

Qin Liangyu just waved her hand, then sat down at the main seat and said:

"Xianglin, Yiming, did you meet Ning Nanbo during your visit to Shizhou?"

"Mother, when I saw this, I explained the pros and cons to him and conveyed your intention.

But Zuo Liangyu was arrogant and refused the child's request to move to Chongqing Prefecture on the grounds that he had not received an imperial decree.

Ma Xianglin told the truth, and his words seemed to show that he was very indignant towards Zuo Liangyu.

Now Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng were confronting each other in Sichuan, sandwiching Shiqian in between, and Shiqian had only more than 2,000 old White Spear soldiers stationed there.

Three days ago, at the instruction of Qin Liangyu, Ma Xianglin and Qin Yiming personally went to Shizhou to visit Ningnanbo Zuo Liangyu, hoping that Zuo Liangyu would send troops to assist in the defense of Shiqu.

Zuo Liangyu had 50,000 soldiers, but he refused to send troops to help, and just hid in the Shizhou area and did not move.

"Well, his attitude is what I expected. Ning Nanbo's courage was already destroyed in that defeat.

Alas, it seems that this is the only way."

Qin Liangyu's expression could not hide her disappointment. Many years ago, Zuo Liangyu fought bravely and had fought many battles for the Ming Dynasty.

But now Ning Nanbo seems to have forgotten his original intention and has become a warlord who only cares about greed for power and rewards, but is perfunctory in responding to the imperial edicts.

He said he was waiting for an imperial edict, but if the edict did not promote him, he would just pretend that he had not received it.

"I dare not lie to you, aunt. As far as I am concerned, I have seen that Zuo Liangyu's army camp is lax in discipline and many of the soldiers are breaking the law.

What's worse, Zuo Liangyu ordered his subordinates to plunder the surrounding civilian villages and towns in front of his nephew and Xianglin, claiming that the court did not pay their salaries.

Zuo Liangyu also raped women and gathered them in the military camp for sexual pleasure. He was called an official soldier, but he was a traitor to the people and was actually a threat to the court.

Qin Yiming was filled with righteous indignation and denounced Zuo Liangyu's crimes.

"Mother, I think what the Grand Marshal said is very true. It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

We can no longer count on Zuo Liangyu to come to his senses and return to the right path. Now that the thieves Zhang and Li are by our side, they can attack Shiqu again at any time.

Shiqu and Shizhou control the important road from Sichuan to Huguang. They will never let go of this place. We must find a solution as soon as possible.

If Shiqian is lost, we will not only fail your majesty's grace, but also the expectations of the Grand Marshal. Even if I die, I will not be able to face our ancestors." Ma Xianglin said angrily.

Qin Liangyu frowned slightly and said nothing. Years of fighting had already made her character extremely tough.

At her age, there are very few things that can leave her at a loss.

She thought for a while, ordered someone to bring paper and pen, quickly wrote a letter, and sent it to Shizhou on a fast horse.

"Tell someone to prepare the car, I will go to see him in person." Qin Liangyu said calmly to her son.

Ma Xianglin was shocked when he heard this.

"Mother, you are old and have an old illness, how can you bear the bumpy journey?

Let the child go!" Ma Xianglin said with red eyes.

"Xianglin, you are the envoy to Shiqu, why do you always leave your station?

Aunt, why don't you let your nephew go? If you have anything to tell me, just tell me." Qin Yiming said.

Qin Liangyu shook her head when she heard this.

"No, you guys are not qualified. Only if I go there myself can it be accomplished."

Although Qin Liangyu did not hold any military position in the court, her reputation after years of fighting had made her the mainstay of Shiqu and even the entire Chongqing Prefecture.

It seemed that as long as Qin Liangyu was there, the people of Shiqu would not be afraid of any powerful enemy.

Before leaving, Qin Liangyu explained her plan to her son Ma Xianglin and nephew Qin Yiming.

After boarding the carriage, Qin Liangyu looked back at Shiqu City, which she had guarded all her life, with determination and resoluteness in her eyes.

"Even if I, Qin Liangyu, die, I will never disappoint Your Majesty and the Grand Marshal!"