Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Chapter 1278 If you don't listen, you won't get any food.

Taihu Lake.

This place is currently the base of Zhang Shuye's troops. Especially after Zhao Ji was driven out of Tokyo by Cai Jing, Zhang Shuye's troops were in a very awkward situation.

Without logistical support and cut off from the royal family, his 100,000-strong army suddenly became isolated.

In this situation, it wouldn't be impossible for Zhang Shuye to declare himself king. Many of his subordinates even suggested that he do so, but he firmly upheld his principles as a subject, resolutely disagreed, and continued to claim legitimacy as the leader of the Song army.

Because of his insistence, the 100,000-strong army had to temporarily settle in Taihu Lake, paying homage to the Song court from afar. However, the Song court's current situation was far from sufficient to support this army, and Zhao Ji could provide nothing but verbal praise.

In this situation, many soldiers simply quit. "You won't rebel, huh? Fine, then at least give us food and water! If you don't even have that, why should I risk my life for you!"

Therefore, people deserted the army every day. Although Zhang Shuye was well aware of this, he was powerless to stop it. He himself was eating chaff and wild vegetables just like everyone else, and he simply couldn't conjure up any more food.

Before long, 20,000 to 30,000 of the 100,000-strong army deserted. Zhang Shuye could no longer hold out, and in desperation, he could only try to contact Zhao Ji for help.

Unfortunately, Emperor Huizong's response was to let them overcome their own difficulties, as Cai Jing resolutely refused to provide supplies. Zhang Shuye had no choice but to wage war against Fang La's Ming Dynasty, capturing some grain to replenish his own supplies.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Shuye was almost driven to jump into Taihu Lake. At this point, his subordinates suggested that Zhang Shuye ask Liangshan for help, even if it meant using money to buy food and supplies.

Originally, Zhang Shuye did not want to have anything to do with Liangshan anymore, but tens of thousands of people needed to eat, and if they didn't get to eat soon, they might mutiny.

Left with no other choice, he wrote a letter seeking help and sent his trusted confidant to Liangshan.

When Zhu Wu received the letter, he only thought about it briefly before deciding to support Zhang Shuye's troops. He quickly prepared enough food for them to eat for ten days and told Zhang Shuye that Dayi could provide them with food, but they had to exchange it for battle achievements.

In other words, if Zhang Shuye's troops wanted to continue to have enough to eat, they had to fight Fang La; otherwise, they would have to wait to starve.

Although Zhang Shuye felt that the conditions proposed by Zhu Wu were rather harsh, and even had the implication of using someone else to do his dirty work, he had no choice but to agree due to the circumstances.

From then on, Zhang Shuye's troops were stationed in Taihu Lake. They tried to fish on their own and relied on the support of Dayi, which is how they survived.

Of course, they did contribute a lot to the attack on the Ming Dynasty. If you had followed their battles closely, you would have found that many of Fang La's generals in the original story lost their lives in the battles against Zhang Shuye.

Otherwise, because Zhang Shuye's troops are now an isolated force, the Ming Dynasty might have already collapsed.

"General, the sentries from the direction of Hangzhou have reported that the area has been unstable since last night, with constant fires and sounds of fighting. It seems that something has happened to Fang La."

When Zhang Shuye woke up, he found Tao Dong, one of the four men in his "Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter" group, waiting outside the tent. After calling him in, Tao Dong reported the military situation of the previous night.

"The Ming Dynasty is currently in a two-way struggle for power. It seems that Fang Tianding and Fang Jie have clashed!"

As expected of a master, Zhang Shuye was able to deduce the current situation in Hangzhou from just a few simple military intelligence reports.

"Since they've been fighting all night and haven't stopped, it means the two sides are indeed evenly matched. Let them fight for now; the longer they fight, the better for us."

"General, do you mean that the Ming Dynasty is on its last legs? We just need to wait and see, and reap the benefits?"

Tao Dong tried to understand Zhang Shuye's words, which was not easy for him.

"Yes, Hangzhou is their capital. If they've been fighting all night in the capital and things are still going on, that's definitely a big deal."

"Tao Dong, inform your elder brother Deng Chun to prepare for battle. Once things have calmed down a bit in Hangzhou, give them a good beating! Ideally, take Hangzhou outright!"

Given the current number of people in Zhang Shuye's tribe, they urgently need a city to settle down in, and Hangzhou, known as the number one city in Jiangnan, is just right.

"Yes!"

Tao Dong accepted the order and immediately went to inform his elder brother, while Zhang Shuye began marking the locations on the map.

"Once Hangzhou is captured, the morale of the Ming army will collapse. We can then press our advantage and, if not annihilate them all, at least seize half of their territory. This will not only solve the problem of resettling the entire army, but also bring good news to the Emperor and encourage him to cheer up."

Zhang Shuye was still very loyal to Zhao Ji. Even now, he was still thinking about how to cheer Zhao Ji up.

"Report! Report!"

Just as Zhang Shuye was fantasizing that his Great Song Dynasty could be revitalized, a messenger suddenly rushed into the tent, his face showing some panic.

"What's the rush? Speak slowly."

Zhang Shuye gestured for the messenger to calm down.

"General, General! Just now, someone claiming to be from Hangzhou shot this letter into our sentry post with an arrow and then left. It says 'To be opened by the General himself,' and we dare not open it without permission."

"From Hangzhou? Quick, bring it up here so we can see!"

Zhang Shuye was somewhat surprised. Could it be that some Ming officials were implicated in the power struggle between the two sides and were preparing to surrender?

The messenger immediately presented the letter to him. Zhang Shuye took it and saw that the five characters "Zhang Shuye, please open" on the outside were written so hastily that he could hardly recognize them.

"Who could it be?"

Zhang Shuye unfolded the letter and read it carefully. After reading only two sentences, his expression changed.

Which official's surrender document would contain the line, "Zhang Shuye, hurry to Hangzhou to clean up the mess"?

Moreover, the tone throughout the entire text was full of urging, as if he couldn't wait for him to raise an army immediately. Zhang Shuye had only ever experienced this tone and feeling in one other place.

"This... there are Liangshan people in Hangzhou too?"

Zhang Shuye found it unbelievable. Hangzhou was known as the headquarters of the Ming Cult, and Fang La had been operating there for so many years. But looking at the situation in the letter, the Liangshan people should have been doing quite well in Hangzhou. How could they know the specific details of the conflict in the city!

Moreover, they don't do it themselves! They have to send their subordinates instead!

"Liangshan! It's Liangshan again!"

Zhang Shuye was a little angry. He was a subject of the Song Dynasty. How could he work for Liangshan again and again?

However, they couldn't not go, because the letter said that news of Hangzhou had already reached Dayi, and if Zhang Shuye didn't attack, they would forget about receiving the next batch of supplies.

There are tens of thousands of troops. If they run out of food, the consequences will be unimaginable!

"He who takes a bribe is bound to be grateful; he who eats another's food is bound to be obliging... He deserves to die!"

Uncle Zhang slammed his fist on the table, seemingly expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Great...General?"

The messenger was puzzled. What was going on?

"Pass down the order: prepare for battle!"

"Prepare for war? Commander, where shall we attack?"

"Hangzhou."

Zhang Shuye pointed to the map.

"However, we don't know exactly what happened in Hangzhou yet. If we act rashly, wouldn't that be..."

"The intelligence about Hangzhou is all written here."

Zhang Shuye raised the arrow-shaped book in his hand.