Chapter 271: An Bangyan Is About to Rebel

In Guiyang city, Li Biao was already prepared and was about to send men out.

At that moment, someone below came to report,

"Your Excellency. The court has sent someone — the Governor-General of the Southwest has arrived!"

Hearing this title, Li Biao understood at once: She Chongming's rebellion had reached the capital, and the capital had already responded by dispatching a Governor-General of the Southwest.

Just from hearing the title, he knew — this man commanded all military and civil affairs in the Southwest. It looked like his own relief force wouldn't be going out after all, since from now on, what he said no longer counted.

Waving a hand to cut off the messenger, Li Biao said, "Go fetch Zhang Yanfang."

Zhang Yanfang arrived quickly. He thought Li Biao was getting anxious, so he came up to Li Biao and said with urgency in his voice, "Your Excellency, please wait a moment — gathering the men and horses will still take some time."

Hearing this, Li Biao simply waved his hand and said, "No need to rush anymore. Come out with me now — the Governor-General of the Southwest sent by the court has arrived. Let's go receive him first, then we'll discuss the campaign afterward."

After saying this, Li Biao walked outside.

Hearing this, Zhang Yanfang didn't react for a moment. The court had sent a Governor-General of the Southwest?

This made Zhang Yanfang somewhat worried. After all, he had spent a long time with Li Biao, and the two understood each other well. Now the court had suddenly dropped a Governor-General of the Southwest on them out of nowhere — who knew what the situation would be?

The court might trust this newly arrived Governor-General of the Southwest, but he himself didn't trust him that much. After all, people sent down by the court weren't necessarily capable — more often than not, they were useless sacks of straw coming to gild their résumés.

So Zhang Yanfang took a step forward, caught up to Li Biao's side, and asked, "Your Excellency, may I ask who the court has sent?"

Glancing at Zhang Yanfang, Li Biao could naturally see what was on his mind. Li Biao said with a smile, "Put your heart at ease. Do you know of Yuan Keli?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yanfang shook his head directly.

Though he was a Regional Commander of a province, there were still some matters he didn't know about — especially matters concerning civil officials. He truly had never heard of this Yuan Keli.

Li Biao didn't take it to heart either — that was just how this era was.

"Put your heart at ease," Li Biao nodded and said with a smile. "This time the court has sent Yuan Keli, Lord Yuan. He earned his jinshi during the Wanli era, and by now he counts as an elder who has served three reigns. In his early days he pacified the wokou in the southeast, and he also fought the Tatars in the northwest. Though he's advanced in years now, he's old but still vigorous."

"This time the court sent Lord Yuan here precisely because they value his maturity and steadiness. With him holding the Southwest, pacifying She Chongming this time should be no great problem."

Though Li Biao said this, Zhang Yanfang still didn't dare fully believe it — the situation in the Southwest was truly special.

Fighting here was different from other places. A man with no experience coming to take command didn't necessarily guarantee a good outcome.

But since Li Biao had said so, Zhang Yanfang chose to believe it for the time being.

The two hadn't walked far when they saw a group of people already coming in from outside.

Yuan Keli was at the front, with a young man following behind him. As for the others, they were guarding from a distance.

Upon seeing Yuan Keli, Li Biao hurried forward to greet him, cupping his hands with a smile and saying, "Your subordinate Li Biao pays respects to Your Excellency the Governor-General."

"No need for ceremony." Yuan Keli said with a smile, "The city is orderly, the military preparations are in good shape. Are you about to send troops to Sichuan?"

Li Biao nodded, then said with a grave expression, "Now that She Chongming has rebelled, Sichuan is in dire peril. As I hold Guizhou, I naturally cannot sit by and do nothing — I must send troops to support."

"Good," Yuan Keli nodded with satisfaction and said, "Well done!"

"Thank you for your praise, Your Excellency the Governor-General." Li Biao said hastily, his attitude extremely respectful.

In truth, standing before Yuan Keli, Li Biao had no seniority to speak of. Though he was now a Governor, Yuan Keli was the Governor-General of the Southwest, and his seniority in officialdom was far greater than Li Biao's as well.

Under such circumstances, Li Biao truly had nothing to be proud of.

"Your Excellency the Governor-General, the government office isn't prepared yet. I'll immediately vacate the Governor's office so you can take up residence there." Li Biao said as he led Yuan Keli inside.

Yuan Keli shook his head directly and said with a smile, "There's no need for that. The reason I came to Guiyang today is not for this matter. I won't be staying here long — it's simply more convenient to set out for Sichuan from here, and I can muster some men and horses from your side."

Yuan Keli made no attempt to hide his intentions at all — he stated his thoughts outright.

Hearing this, Li Biao instead hesitated somewhat. He said, "Your Excellency the Governor-General, the front lines are dangerous after all. Why not have you hold the seat here in Guiyang, and let your subordinate handle the rest?"

Hearing Li Biao's words, Yuan Keli shook his head and said, "Some things can be done, and some things cannot."

As he spoke, the group had already walked into the Governor's office.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Yuan Keli looked at the map of Guizhou hanging there, and the expression on his face was one of utmost satisfaction. Li Biao was indeed an official who got things done.

Walking up to the map and quickly scanning it, Yuan Keli gently beckoned with his hand.

Sun Chuanting, who stood behind Yuan Keli, walked over.

This scene startled everyone — especially Li Biao and the others.

Who was this young man?

How had he earned such regard from His Excellency the Governor-General?

Sun Chuanting came to Yuan Keli's side, and his gaze also fell upon the map.

After looking it over once, Sun Chuanting's brow furrowed.

Yuan Keli naturally saw this as well. He asked with a smile, "Is there something amiss?"

Sun Chuanting reached out and pointed at a spot on the map, saying, "Here."

On the map there was a place name: Dafang. Beside it was clearly annotated — this was the territory of An Bangyan, the Yi Native Vice Prefect of Shuixi.

Yuan Keli's gaze followed Sun Chuanting's pointing finger and also landed on Dafang.

Gently nodding, Yuan Keli asked with a smile, "What's amiss?"

Sun Chuanting let out a sigh and said, "If we draw troops from Guizhou and head straight for Sichuan, the first place we must take is Zunyi. It's already been occupied by She Chongming's men now — only by breaking through Zunyi can we open the route into Sichuan."

"But once we enter Sichuan, all of Guizhou will be left empty. She Chongming is here, and Guiyang is here. If he takes advantage of this moment to stir up trouble, and the surrounding native chieftains respond, the rebel army could split their forces and successively take Anshun, Pingba, Zhanyi, Longli, Weng'an (all now in Guizhou Province), Pianqiao (now Shibing County, Guizhou Province), Yuanzhou (now Zhijiang County, Hunan), Pu'an (now Pan County, Guizhou), Annan (now Qinglong, Guizhou), and other places — cutting off the official army's reinforcement routes and the Yunnan-Guizhou thoroughfare."

"Under such circumstances, all of Guizhou and Sichuan would be severed from each other. Guizhou would then fall into a state of complete isolation with no aid to be found, and the whole of Guizhou would fall into their hands. This is a major problem — this is a very unstable point."

Hearing this, Yuan Keli nodded once more.

Li Biao, standing to the side, stepped forward and said, "An Bangyan came to the Governor's office a few days ago, saying that he has a grudge against She Chongming and is willing to help the court send troops to put down the rebellion."

Hearing this, Sun Chuanting glanced at Li Biao and said, "Then that confirms he has rebellious intentions."

These words left Li Biao stunned.

How could one conclude that An Bangyan was about to rebel?

Wasn't this too hasty?

Li Biao very much wanted to speak up in rebuttal, even to rebuke this young man — but this young man had been brought by Yuan Keli, so there was no way he could do so.

So Li Biao turned his gaze to Yuan Keli, hoping that His Excellency the Governor-General would give him an explanation.

Although Li Biao respected him, the other man was after all a Governor, and that face had to be given. So Yuan Keli stepped forward and said, "This is Sun Chuanting, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. This time he has come to the Southwest by His Majesty's sacred decree."

Although Yuan Keli had spoken very politely, Li Biao could read between the lines. These official platitudes were easy to understand — although the man's office was Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, he held no actual post. Plainly put, he was someone here to gild his résumé.

As for the part about receiving His Majesty's sacred decree, that was even clearer — this was someone sent down by His Majesty. On the one hand, to gild his résumé; on the other hand, even simpler — he was a military supervisor. No wonder His Excellency the Governor-General was so courteous.

So Li Biao said, "So it is Lord Sun. Why does Lord Sun say that An Bangyan will rebel? Could An Bangyan not have come to the Governor's office out of loyalty and a desire to serve the state?"

Sun Chuanting thought for a moment, then turned his head to look at Yuan Keli. Seeing Yuan Keli nod, only then did Sun Chuanting speak: "An Bangyan is a native chieftain of one region. The very possibility of loyalty and service to the state is inherently low — of course, it is not impossible, but this can only count as a very small point of suspicion."

"As for the suspicious parts — if An Bangyan truly were single-mindedly devoted to serving the state, then let him serve the state. Why would he need to say that he has a grudge against She Chongming?"

"To offer a private grudge as proof shows that the man is undoubtedly petty; to seek trust through a private grudge also shows that the man has something on his mind — otherwise why do such a thing?"

"Because he felt that speaking thus would more readily win Your Excellency's trust. Your Excellency did not agree, which shows that Your Excellency also harbors doubts in your heart."

After hearing these words, Li Biao nodded and said, "The Court may be able to suppress the Southwest, but in these past few years An Bangyan has expanded very quickly. His sphere of influence has already spread from the 'Zhijin' area to Nawei (the official stockade), Babu (Babu), Nuodong (Puding Pingshang), Boheng (Yina Ximudi Macuan Stockade), Degui (Yina Ximudi Zhong Stockade), and other places. An Bangyan has also moved his seat from Zhijin Pass to Nawei, where he resides, and people call it 'Nawei Official Stockade' and 'An Family Homestead.' As for 'Zhijin,' it has been handed over to An Wugong, son of An Bangyan, to manage. At this point, this branch of the An clan chieftains has gained two more characters and is called the 'Xiongshu An Clan.'"

"I have several times requested the Court for increased military pay and more troops, but have never received approval." Having said this much, Li Biao glanced at Sun Chuanting and said, "Lord Sun was able to judge from my words that An Bangyan harbors treasonous intentions — that shows far-sighted vision. But at this time, surely he would not do such a thing? Guizhou still has some troops."

"Quite the opposite." Sun Chuanting shook his head and said directly, "Since this man has always harbored ambition, then there is no need for him to come to this place to say he is willing to attack She Chongming. He only needs to wait quietly — wait for the Court and She Chongming to settle who wins and who loses."

"If She Chongming's offensive in Sichuan is fierce and the Court sends Guizhou reinforcements into Sichuan, then he could seize the moment to rise up. Why would he come to the Governor's office? And say he is willing to suppress the rebellion?"

"Because he no longer wants to wait — and he cannot afford to wait." Sun Chuanting said in a firm tone, "He has ambition, and he has boldness of vision. He does not want to wait for the Court and She Chongming to settle their contest, because he believes She Chongming cannot withstand the Court. At the same time, he does not want She Chongming to grow strong either — he wants to take Guizhou for himself."

"If Your Excellency lets him send reinforcements into Sichuan, he will certainly bring his troops to Guiyang. Once his troops arrive at Guiyang, he will seize the opportunity to strike, killing Your Excellency in one blow and taking Guiyang."

"In this way, the whole of Guizhou falls into his hands. By then he can attack or defend as he pleases — whether coordinating with She Chongming against the Court, or building himself up, all is possible."

"So I conclude that he will definitely rebel. He is only waiting for Guizhou's reinforcements to enter Sichuan. Once Guizhou's troops enter Sichuan, he will certainly rebel outright."

After hearing Sun Chuanting's words, none of those present continued to speak — clearly all were considering whether what he said was correct.

But many felt that Sun Chuanting's reasoning made sense — even Li Biao thought so.

In truth, even if Li Biao felt that what Sun Chuanting described might not necessarily happen, he dared not take the risk. Especially since he was the Governor of Guizhou — if the kind of thing Sun Chuanting described truly occurred and the whole of Guizhou was lost, the responsibility he would bear would be enormous.

If Li Biao did not go to rescue Sichuan, the Court could hardly blame him. After all, he had an An Bangyan here poised to rebel — he could not leave. Willing but powerless.

But if he lost Guizhou because of going to rescue Sichuan, and let his own subordinates rebel in the process, Li Biao felt he definitely could not explain himself.

Li Biao turned his head to look at Yuan Keli, hoping His Excellency the Governor-General had some plan.

Yuan Keli, in turn, looked at Sun Chuanting and asked, "Do you have a plan?"

"Very simple. As long as Your Excellency sits in command at Guiyang, I will go attack Zunyi; after taking Zunyi, I will lead my men into Sichuan, and outwardly announce that Guizhou's reinforcements have entered Sichuan, luring An Bangyan into rebellion."

"Once An Bangyan rebels, Your Excellency will lead the army to suppress him, destroying him in one stroke and pacifying the whole of Guizhou, eliminating the threat from Guizhou's rear. Then the main army will enter Sichuan via Zunyi and put down She Chongming's rebellion."

"Even if I give you all five thousand of Qi Yuangong's men, your forces still won't be enough." Yuan Keli looked at Sun Chuanting and said.

"Even adding another five thousand for you, that's only ten thousand men. Setting out from Zunyi straight for Chongqing, with no main army behind to support you — you would be an isolated force in enemy territory. This cannot be done. Too dangerous." Yuan Keli denied it in a firm tone.

"Your Excellency, if the Southwest is unstable, then the Court's Jiangnan is unstable; if Jiangnan is unstable, then the Great Ming's rivers and mountains are unstable." Sun Chuanting stepped forward and bowed, saying, "At a time like this, we cannot consider too much. Chongqing cannot be lost, Sichuan cannot be occupied by She Chongming, and Guizhou cannot be lost either. We can only divide our forces into two routes."