LF Chapter 54
by VolareJiang Yinghua led her troops south at full speed, intercepting the rebel army east of Bingzhou. She also arranged for half of the garrison troops in her fiefdom to gather north of Bingzhou, in case the rebel army changed its course and attacked north.
Before departing, she wrote a letter for Yan Wanzhi to deliver to Your Majesty, requesting that the local forces of the three southern prefectures of Bingzhou be mobilized to join forces with the northern troops, putting on a three-sided encirclement spectacle for Prince Yong.
Jiang Yinghua’s move was merely to trap the rebels within Bingzhou city, with no intention of attacking.
Prince Yong’s rebellion was, in the end, a civil war. Mutual slaughter, loss of soldiers and generals, was quite meaningless. Most importantly, she wanted to probe Prince Yong’s true strength, to see how much power this ambitious brother possessed to dare challenge Your Majesty and her, the Prince of the Northern Border.
Jiang Yinghua’s fiefdom was very close to Bingzhou. A forced march of less than four hours brought her into contact with Prince Yong’s rebel army on the eastern border of Bingzhou.
The two armies faced each other. Jiang Yinghua’s troops held the advantage, but only blocked the way without attacking. The Bingzhou army simply retreated and held the city, refusing to come out. The army besieged the city for three days, but there was no movement within.
Seeing this, Jiang Yinghua sent someone to shout, “Third Brother, since you’ve come to your little sister’s territory, why don’t we have a talk?”
There was no movement in the enemy camp. Jiang Yinghua sneered, “What, are you going to be a shrinking turtle? You came here without informing me, and you cursed me so harshly. It doesn’t seem like you’re such a coward. Could it be that you’re so scared that your legs have gone weak, and you can only cower in the city in front of the two armies? Third Brother, don’t you disgrace the Jiang family!”
After a long stalemate, the people in the city still refused to show their faces, and Jiang Yinghua gradually lost interest. Turning her head to look at the dark mass of troops pressing down on the city, she secretly speculated that the people in the city must be having a hard time, but they were truly able to hold their breath.
Jiang Yinghua was waiting. Your Majesty had made it clear in her letter that she had already mobilized the garrison troops from Youzhou, and calculating the time, they should be arriving soon. As for the personal guards Jiang Yinghua had sent into the city with the Prefect four days ago, there was still no news. She had long ordered Yan Wanzhi to inquire, whether they were dead or alive, there had to be some clues.
About two hours later, eight thousand troops from the Youzhou garrison joined forces with Jiang Yinghua’s troops. Jiang Yinghua ordered her men to form ranks and put on a full offensive posture. Feeling bored, she had her soldiers shout insults and taunts, which were also part of the siege tactics, and could boost morale.
Half an hour later, Yan Wanzhi received news that Jiang Yinghua’s personal guards, after several twists and turns, had failed to send the Prefect back to the Prefect’s residence, which was surrounded by the state troops.
But these people, with a flash of inspiration, took the Prefect to stay in the city to gather information and to ensure his safety. Only one person ambushed a lone state soldier, disguised himself, and slipped out of the city, and had only just joined the main army.
Jiang Yinghua summoned the man and asked him what he had learned. The man said that he had stayed in the city for a day, and the news he had gathered was nothing out of the ordinary. The rebellion of the state troops had caused panic in the city, and no one dared to take half a step outside. Almost all the people roaming the streets and alleys were soldiers.
Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi added, “Your Highness, my secret agents have reported that no one has seen Prince Yong coming or going to this day. He raised troops under your banner, but you are shouting battle cries like this, and he doesn’t show his face. Perhaps this person is not in Bingzhou at all.”
“Scholar Yan is right. If that’s the case, then this Prince doesn’t need to show any mercy. He’s just a coward guarding his lair, how dare he try to stir up trouble with this little courage.” Jiang Yinghua sneered. She had been thinking that if Prince Yong was here, it would be really difficult to start a war directly, but now that the person was probably not there, it would be better to end the battle quickly and destroy this den of thieves.
Thinking of this, she ordered the siege equipment prepared in the army to be transported to the front line, ready to attack.
“Scholar, retreat to the back, if this Prince encounters the enemy later, I won’t be able to take care of you.” Jiang Yinghua turned her eyes, smiled, and winked at Yan Wanzhi.
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to go into battle yourself, just command from here.” Yan Wanzhi was anxious, afraid that Jiang Yinghua would rush forward again, and quickly spoke to stop her.
“I said, it’s later.” Jiang Yinghua glared at her, but the smile on her lips remained.
Yan Wanzhi said nothing more. This person went wild on the battlefield, so she had to let her.
Jiang Yinghua beckoned and summoned the deputy general beside her, and whispered, “If someone comes out of the city tower later, as long as it’s not Prince Yong, listen to my tone. If anyone is hostile, take the opportunity to shoot them, don’t show any mercy.”
The deputy general accepted the order and clasped his fist in a spirited salute.
“Listen up, people inside, come out obediently, and you will not be killed if you surrender. If you resist to the end, swords and arrows have no eyes, and there will be no way to survive. Brothers, you are all soldiers of the imperial court. If you know what’s good for you, you should understand what is the right path and what is the way of a thief. As long as you abandon your weapons and surrender, you will not be held accountable.” Jiang Yinghua sent people to shout in unison, again and again for nearly a quarter of an hour.
The people in the city were already afraid of war, so they would not get involved in such a thing. In order to boost the morale of the rebel army, Jiang Yinghua’s actions were likely to provoke the leader of the rebel army, so her goal was achieved.
Sure enough, after a quarter of an hour, a middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe stood on the city tower and sneered at the bottom:
“Prince Zhao, you’re using these childish tricks endlessly, you’re really a rogue who brings disaster to the country and the people. Prince Yong returned to the capital to mourn his mother and to be loyal to the King, what’s wrong with that? Stop talking nonsense here, it’s clear that you are a woman with a vicious heart, bewitching the monarch and disregarding the meaning of filial piety.”
“Hahaha, I thought this shrinking turtle was Third Brother, but it turns out to be you, Liu Wenjing, Chief Yan, right. You sow discord between the monarch and his subjects, between siblings, this trick is so insidious, I’m afraid I have to admit defeat. It’s just that this loyal and filial prince you speak of is probably hiding in Yinzhou, afraid to come out, so how is he going to uphold loyalty and filial piety? Crying at home, I’m afraid you soldiers are not needed as decorations, so how about I get rid of him for him? Enough nonsense, come on, attack the city!” Jiang Yinghua drew her sword and shouted loudly, the war drums thundered, and shouts of killing filled the air.
Before she could finish speaking, Liu Wenjing saw that the situation was not good and turned to hide back in the city tower. Jiang Yinghua’s deputy general was quick-witted and quick-handed, drew his bow and shot three arrows at the same time. In an instant, Liu Wenjing’s body tilted and he fell to the ground.
Jiang Yinghua narrowed her eyes and chuckled, “Not bad, your archery has improved, I’ll remember this great achievement.”
The deputy general clasped his fist, “Your Highness taught me well.”
As soon as the siege began, the leading official was shot and fell down, and the morale that had not yet risen was already completely lost. At this time, on the city tower, only the Bingzhou garrison commander and the state governor Li Xiao, two traitors, looked at Jiang Yinghua, the proper master outside the city who was full of murderous intent, and were so frightened that their legs trembled.
In this situation, the soldiers below defected, and soon ignored the orders of the main generals, opened the city gate, let the Northern Border Army into the city, and surrendered their weapons.
Seeing this, Jiang Yinghua led her troops straight in and ordered, “Whoever captures and beheads the two rebel generals will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and promoted three ranks.”
The troops were deployed properly at noon, the attack on the city began near dusk, and the main army entered the city as the night grew deep.
Taking advantage of the night, the two rebel generals fled in the chaos. Jiang Yinghua guarded the four gates and patrolled and captured them overnight, and only captured them the next morning. It was best to capture the two alive. In addition, Liu Wenjing was still alive, so she detained these three in one place and interrogated them directly. The army, according to her orders, consolidated the Bingzhou defense line and did not actively advance west.
After three days of interrogation, apart from Liu Wenjing who was somewhat backbone, the other two were really hateful. With a little trick, they accused each other and confessed everything like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
Jiang Yinghua held the confession in her hand, her face turned blue and black as she read it. Prince Yong was really capable. He had secretly colluded with court officials as early as five years ago. There were his spies in his jurisdiction, and many officials in the capital had also been in contact with him. These two alone shook out nine officials of not low rank.
Jiang Yinghua sneered, sorted out the confession, and handed it to Yan Wanzhi, “I’ll leave this matter to Scholar Yan, take the people to the Ministry of Justice, and hand the list directly to Your Majesty for disposal.”
“Your Highness, Liu Wenjing is dying, I don’t think he will let go. Should he be escorted to the capital?” Yan Wanzhi asked with some concern. If a fourth-rank Chief Clerk died at Jiang Yinghua’s hands, it would not sound good.
“Send him away, it’s best to let him go back with a breath.” Jiang Yinghua raised her eyebrows, her eyes gloomy.
Yan Wanzhi accepted the order and went to handle the matter, but Jiang Yinghua had other plans. There was a lot of noise here, but the troops in Yinzhou were slow to advance east. Jiang Yinghua felt that Prince Yong and Chief Clerk seemed to not cooperate well enough.
Even if she benefited from Your Majesty’s all-seeing eyes and took the initiative, the proclamation to punish her had indeed appeared, so why would Prince Yong be able to hold back?
Liu Wenjing, as Prince Yong’s Chief Clerk, did not say a word, what plot was he hiding? After three days of interrogation, Jiang Yinghua admired this person a little. He was so tough and loyal to Prince Yong.
After thinking it over, Jiang Yinghua decided to write a letter to Prince Yong herself. The letter analyzed the pros and cons, and advised Prince Yong to turn back. If there was a chance, it would be better for the siblings to meet.
Jiang Yinghua very unruly challenged in the letter, saying that whether it was soldiers, intelligence, or connections in the court, she, Jiang Yinghua, was far superior to Prince Yong. She hoped that he would not be ungrateful, refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, and waste the lives sacrificed by his mother and a pair of children, and chill the hearts of the Chief Clerk who showed his loyalty with his death.
At this time, in the Yinzhou Prince’s Mansion, Prince Yong Jiang Ningsu was already sitting on pins and needles. He did have a plan, he did have the intention to raise troops, but the proclamation did not come from him, and even the news of the tragic death of his pair of children made him resentful. In addition, after receiving Jiang Yinghua’s provocative letter, Prince Yong was in chaos, threw away the letter, and cursed, “Liu Wenjing, this damned bastard, whose man is he, pushing me into the fire pit like this!”
Princess Yong had been trembling with fear for days. She had tried to dissuade him for a long time, but she could not persuade Prince Yong’s mother and son to change their minds. Princess Yong had long prepared for today’s bitter fruit, but when it came to the end, she could not control her anxiety. Having just lost a pair of children, she felt that she and her husband would not live long.
Caught in Liu Wenjing’s treacherous plan, even if they held the city, how many days could they survive? Princess Yong forced herself to calm down, tried to calm herself down, picked up the letter that Prince Yong had thrown on the ground, read it for a long time, and tentatively choked and said, “Your Highness, why don’t you meet with Prince Zhao and talk. Explain things clearly, we can’t admit to things you haven’t done. At least beg her, and save our child’s life, ah?”
Prince Yong was so angry that he beat the table. Hearing Princess Yong’s weeping, he was troubled and scolded sternly, “Get out, woman’s opinion, what’s the use of crying?”
Princess Yong was extremely disappointed and gave Prince Yong a sad look before staggering away. Back in her room, she pierced her finger, wrote a blood letter, entrusted it to a trusted subordinate of the Prince’s Mansion, and told him that if one day, Prince Zhao and Prince Yong were close to each other, this letter might leave half a chance for Prince Yong’s line to survive.
The next morning, the maids in the mansion came to serve the Princess to dress up, and called for a long time but no one responded. When they entered the palace, the Princess had already cut her wrist and died, leaving a suicide note for Prince Yong on her desk.
Ever since she learned that Jiang Yinghua had broken through Bingzhou in five days, she had already understood that Prince Yong had no chance of winning this time. She was no longer willing to live in fear every day, and she did not want to face the tragic situation of blood flowing like a river throughout the mansion.
After learning the news, Prince Yong’s already swollen head was on the verge of collapse. If there had not been the unexpected proclamation to clear the emperor’s side, if Liu Wenjing had not taken his troops east without authorization across Bingzhou, his years of planning would not have been without a chance of success.
Now that Liu Wenjing and the spies in Bingzhou had been caught, he had long heard of Jiang Yinghua and Yan Wanzhi’s methods. He knew that his plan was ruined. Now that the Princess had abandoned him, he had become a lone wolf who had to fight to the death.
As Jiang Yinghua expected, half a month later, Prince Yong really couldn’t sit still, couldn’t swallow this bad breath, and raised troops to march east, facing Jiang Yinghua. And Jiang Yinghua’s strategy was very simple, only to defend the Bingzhou defense line, block people from advancing east and attacking north, and ignore everything else.
A month later, Yan Wanzhi, who had dealt with the rabble, returned. Prince Yong did not show mercy, and the nails he had planted had to be pulled out cleanly. The spies in the capital were left to Your Majesty to decide, and Yan Wanzhi privately cleaned up the spies in the Northern Border for Jiang Yinghua.
At this time, Jiang Yinghua’s garrison had been deadlocked with Prince Yong’s eastward march on the river for six or seven days, and both sides were exerting their strength. Hearing that Yan Wanzhi had returned, Jiang Yinghua couldn’t wait to invite her into the tent for a talk.
The continuous running around made Yan Wanzhi feel deeply tired, and her face was a little haggard. Entering the tent, Jiang Yinghua saw her weathered appearance, and a soft emotion of pity welled up in her eyes. She dismissed the attendants in the tent, and couldn’t wait to hug her, “You must be tired, it’s my fault.”
“Why are you being so polite? I’m more comfortable in the camp than you, I’m not tired. Has Prince Yong made things difficult for you?” Yan Wanzhi gently pulled her away, raised her hand to stroke Jiang Yinghua’s eyebrows, drew from the center of her eyebrows to the end of her eyebrows, and looked at the girl she hadn’t seen for a month with affection.
Jiang Yinghua narrowed her eyes and smiled, pulling her to the seat in the tent and walking away: “No, it’s like a child’s play, how can it be difficult? Wanzhi, I think this matter is strange, the clues in the secret report contradict Prince Yong’s actions. If it’s for the Late Consort, now that the thirty-fifth day has passed, he is being unfilial in this way. If it’s a long-term plan and a careful layout, how could he suddenly bite people randomly like a mad dog?”