novelAbuy Chapter 102 The Ambush at Huocheng
Chapter 102 The Ambush at Huocheng
Chapter 102 The Ambush at Huocheng
This is inevitable; among those who join heretical sects and become key members, there are certainly many ambitious individuals and fanatics.
The rest either harbored deep hatred for officials and gentry, only thinking about revenge, not caring about their own lives or even about outsiders.
Or perhaps they were deceived by heretics, losing their entire fortune, and have been lying in wait until now, intending to drag these heretics down with them.
Or perhaps they were just too foolish, getting carried away with their passion and acting recklessly without considering anything else.
Moreover, the "tight organization" of the Fragrance Cult is only tighter than that of other heretical sects; it cannot achieve strict adherence to orders.
Moreover, Zhili has suffered from frequent disasters in recent years, with tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of victims in various prefectures and counties.
Like a powder keg, it doesn't contain as much explosive material as the original Apocalypse 2 in the timeline, but it's enough to unleash a deafening explosion.
In short, the big commotion initially planned by the Wenxiang Sect headquarters has now escalated into a major upheaval affecting a large part of Zhili!
"Report the matter of the Fragrance Sect, saying it was revealed during interrogation of captured thieves!"
Upon learning that Zhang Kun had returned to the Liangshuihe camp, Zhangjiawan City's eunuch godfather immediately summoned him and instructed him: "Wang Sen is imprisoned in Yongping Prefecture, and the Wenxiang Sect's den of thieves is also in Yongping Prefecture."
Qukouji in Xianghe County, as well as Liangxiang County, Zhuozhou, Xiong County, and other places, were not within the territory targeted by the campaign.
As long as you hold the line in one prefecture and three counties within the territory of the siege, you will not commit any major offense, and may even be credited!
The bigger the Wenxiang Sect stirs up trouble now, the more advantageous it is for Zhang Kun.
If Zhang Kun only rebelled within the scope of the suppression campaign, he would likely be criticized by the censors as "the people being forced to rebel by the officials."
If your actions hadn't disturbed, deceived, and harmed the people, why would they have rebelled?
However, since the Wenxiang Sect was causing trouble in multiple places at the same time, far exceeding the scope of the suppression campaign, it would be difficult to pin the responsibility on Zhang Kun.
If Zhang Kun didn't have a powerful backer, perhaps some officials would forcefully use this as a pretext.
But Zhang Kun had powerful backers, including his godfather Zhang Ye and Lu Shou, the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial and concurrently the director of the Eastern Depot.
Even the Wanli Emperor had an impression of Zhang Kun, and a good one at that!
"I understand!"
Zhang Kun nodded to his eunuch godfather and requested, "I will lead troops to support Guo County immediately! Please help me draft documents to report on the matter of the Incense-Reading Sect."
"Go!"
Zhang Zhiyuan and Zhang Jingzhen's troops, who were resting in the Jia Er Suppression Area, had received news that bandits were causing trouble in the Jia Si Suppression Area.
"Sister, let's hurry over there and help Commander Zhang wipe out these rebels!"
Eager to make a name for himself, Zhang Zhiyuan offered this advice to Zhang Jingzhen, who was in charge of the actual affairs.
"Most of the bandits are refugees misled by heretics. Lacking horses, their march will surely be slow. Why rush them?"
Zhang Jingzhen retorted to Zhang Zhiyuan with a hint of annoyance, then took out a map, pointed to the county, and said, "Let's go to Huoxian County and defend the county seat for Commander Zhang. That would be a real help!"
"Sister, why let someone else do the great work of suppressing the rebels?"
Zhang Zhiyuan lowered his voice and told Zhang Jingzhen his true thoughts, chuckling, "I'm hoping to use this military achievement to earn a higher hereditary title for my children and grandchildren!"
Because he had previously followed Zhang Kun south and achieved many successes.
Duke Zhang Weixian of England has used his connections and favors to ensure that Zhang Zhiyuan obtains a hereditary position as a commander of the Imperial Guard.
"If you and I defend Huoxian County well, Commander Zhang will definitely not treat you unfairly; he'll give you as many heads as you want."
Zhang Jingzhen persuaded Zhang Zhiyuan, "You will also receive a share of the great merit in suppressing the rebels!"
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Zhang Zhiyuan knew that Zhang Jingzhen's talent far surpassed his own, but she was limited by being a woman and could not fully utilize it.
Huoxian County.
During the reign of Emperor Yuan of the previous dynasty, this place was the site of the hunting grounds of the Mongol Khan.
It was promoted to a prefecture, governing Xianghe County and Wuqing County, until it was downgraded to a county during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty.
Following the rebellion of Liu Liu and Liu Qi during the Zhengde era, the local government, with its support, began to repair the old city left by the previous dynasty.
During the Jiajing era, the county seat was reinforced multiple times, making it as sturdy as many prefectural or even state capitals.
However, the population of the county town was too small, and even if all the men in the town were conscripted, it would not be enough.
Fortunately, several wealthy locals, along with their families, servants, and many local militia, entered the city, saying they would abandon their homes to protect it.
The county has not had a magistrate for more than 20 years, and the county government only has a county assistant who is a graduate of the Imperial Academy.
The county magistrate had no ulterior motives, believing that these wealthy men were probably hiding in the city because they felt their houses were not sturdy enough.
"May I ask, Buddhist nun, why are we forbidden to make a move?"
Long Tiandao's protector entered the city tower and asked Long Lingxian, the veiled disciple of the sect leader Mi Bei, with a question: "The city tower and gates are under our control, but does that corrupt official in the county government also have people placed by the Holy Sect by his side?"
"What's the use of killing a county magistrate and dozens of militiamen driven by the government?"
Long Xianling shook her head at the protector and explained, "The government will definitely send a contingent of troops to garrison Huoxian. Eliminating that contingent will be more beneficial to our great cause!"
Although Long Tiandao had assigned less than 500 people to Chao County.
But these were all elites of Longtiandao, many of whom were border soldiers who had escaped from the border towns, or long-time thieves.
And there are more than two hundred suits of armor!
The number of people in the Bangchui Society, including Yu Hongzhi and Zhou Yin, has exceeded ten thousand, but even combined, they don't have that many suits of armor.
"Buddha's daughter, the government troops number at least two or three hundred," the protector frowned, and continued to ask Long Xianling, "We only have a little over five hundred people; I'm afraid that's not enough, is it?"
"I previously made an agreement with Uncle-Master Zhou that Senior Brother Yu from Anping would come and join forces with us."
Long Xianling pointed to a map hanging on the city tower and explained to the protector, "Senior Brother Yu has probably already arrived at Matoudian and will be here soon. He will be waiting about five miles east of the city."
If the government troops dare not fight, then you and I will cooperate from within and without to help our senior brother enter the city.
If the government troops come out to fight, and their fighting strength is not strong, then you and I will kill the officials and leave the city to join forces with Brother Yu to attack the government troops from both sides!
If the government troops are strong, then you and I will capture Huoxian County!
Ma Tou Dian (Horse Head Shop).
With the help of Huai Zhendao, Qin Jisheng successfully infiltrated the rebel camp and gathered intelligence everywhere.
Although Yu Hongzhi had put in a lot of effort and repeatedly reorganized the camp, it was still in a state of chaos, making it difficult for Qin Jisheng to be captured.
Despite Qin Jisheng's objections, Chu Hua, whom Huai Zhendao had planted in Qin Jisheng's camp, insisted on infiltrating the camp with Qin Jisheng.
"Godfather, why are you serving this corrupt official?"
Chu Hua pointed to a emaciated disaster victim guarding outside a camp and questioned Qin Jisheng, "Look at him! It's all because those corrupt officials embezzled the money and grain that everyone handed over, and didn't provide enough relief. That's why he's in this state!"
"Oh,"
Qin Jisheng sneered and shook his head at Chu Hua, saying, "Those corrupt officials just don't provide enough relief, or at most they don't provide any relief at all."
He raised his hand, pointing to the banner of "Acting on Behalf of Heaven" standing in the center of the camp in the distance, then to the disaster victims, and continued to Chu Hua, "And these delusional people want to drive these poor souls to their deaths!"
"Since we're going to die anyway, it's better to perish together with that corrupt official than to obediently wait to die!"
Chu Hua disagreed with Qin Jisheng's point of view and continued to persuade him, "Besides, everyone says that the capital is under the emperor's nose, the most virtuous place. If even the most virtuous place is in such a state, what will become of the whole country..."
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"You've lived this long, never even left Tongzhou, yet you dare to speak so presumptuously about the world?"
Qin Jisheng questioned Chu Hua: "Do you know that a hundred years ago, there was a disturbance here involving Liu Liu and Liu Qi?"
Even if the world is about to descend into chaos, we should wait until chaos ensues before making any moves. Don't be foolish and rush to the front lines!
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