Chapter 274: The Great Victory at Zunyi

For Zhang Yanfang, the rebels before him were not worth worrying about at all.

With a three-to-one ratio, his own force of over ten thousand men would have no trouble defeating them, especially since these men were routed soldiers.

His own men were well-rested, well-fed, and well-equipped, and not all of them were useless sacks of rice, so Zhang Yanfang was confident.

Things indeed went as he had expected—the battle showed a devastating trend from the very start.

The men Zhang Tong led had virtually no ability to resist. After the Ming troops charged forward, many of them threw down their swords and knelt in surrender on the spot.

Although Zhang Tong fought desperately, wanting to smash the net and let the fish escape, it was useless—defeat followed him like a shadow.

When the last few personal guards around Zhang Tong were all cut down, he raised the blade in his hand to slit his own throat, but the Ming troops directly chopped off his right hand, and he was brought before Zhang Yanfang, forced to kneel on the ground.

Glancing at Zhang Tong, whose face was bloodless and whose eyes were dim, Zhang Yanfang waved his hand dismissively and said with indifference, "Take him away."

Zhang Yanfang had no intention of interrogating him, nor did he want to—there was no real point. As long as he captured him alive, his merit was secured. The rest could be left to the Governor and the Grand Coordinator.

In Zunyi city, Qi Yuangong walked out with a grim expression.

His face did not look good. Although this battle was won, there had been casualties—and many of them. Two men from the Tiger Roar Battalion had died, and several dozen were wounded.

Some men had chased too recklessly, not watching where they stepped, and sprained their ankles; others had twisted their backs when jumping off walls to pursue the enemy. This made Qi Yuangong very angry.

As for the two who died in battle, it was because they were too greedy for merit and charged ahead rashly, walking into an ambush. Qi Yuangong felt this was a disgrace—utterly shameful.

With a dark face, Qi Yuangong came before Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting and said, "Gentlemen, Zunyi city has been taken."

Seeing Qi Yuangong's expression, Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting were both taken aback.

Didn't this battle go quite splendidly?

Zunyi city was taken with ease, and their own side suffered no significant losses—so why was Qi Yuangong wearing such an expression?

"Well done." Yuan Keli quickly recovered and said with a smile, "This official will petition His Majesty to grant you merit."

"Thank you, sir." Qi Yuangong said hurriedly.

Sun Chuanting, who was standing to the side, also spoke up at this moment. He looked at Qi Yuangong and asked with confusion, "This battle was fought beautifully—Zunyi city taken so quickly. Why do you not look very happy?"

Qi Yuangong did not hide anything. With a grim face, he recounted what had happened.

Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting exchanged a glance, shook their heads with bitter smiles, and felt somewhat helpless.

If one said Qi Yuangong's words made no sense—well, what he said did make sense. These were indeed avoidable losses, things that should never have happened, yet they did.

If one said he was making a fuss over nothing—that could also be said. Winning such a major battle at such a small cost would be praised by anyone, wherever it was reported.

But Qi Yuangong was also right. They could neither agree with him nor criticize him.

If they agreed, they would feel uncomfortable themselves; if they criticized him, he would feel uncomfortable. Either way, the feeling was very strange.

So Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting decisively changed the subject. The two did not continue discussing this issue at all, and directly instructed Qi Yuangong to set up camp after withdrawing the troops.

After all, evening was approaching. The army had been marching and fighting all day, so they needed to stay here for the night first.

As for Zunyi city itself, it needed to be cleaned up. Although the fighting was done, corpses, severed limbs, and bloodstains were everywhere—it needed a thorough cleaning before anyone could move in.

Additionally, the common folk inside the city were in a panic. They had suffered great disaster and trauma and needed proper consolation.

If the army entered the city now, problems could easily arise, and it might frighten the ordinary people. It was better to set up camp outside the city walls.

Soon the camp was set up, and dinner was prepared.

Especially at Qi Yuangong's camp, the aroma wafted far into the distance, making soldiers in other camps swallow their saliva.

Inside the commander's tent, Yuan Keli looked somewhat helpless and asked Sun Chuanting, "They eat this well? Are they stewing meat?"

"To answer you, sir, they are indeed stewing meat." Sun Chuanting nodded and said, "They bought it with their own money, and some simply traded grain with the common folk for it. The money comes out of their own pockets, so it would be difficult for us to interfere."

Yuan Keli shot Sun Chuanting a glare of exasperation.

If they bought it themselves, how could I interfere?

Go tell them they're not allowed to eat?

I'm not doing something that offends people like that.

But Yuan Keli also felt some hesitation in his heart—was His Majesty perhaps doting on them a bit too much?

Yet thinking of the day's battle results, Yuan Keli did not know what to say. Even if he went back to petition His Majesty, it would probably be useless. Against the backdrop of such achievements, any words would be pale and feeble.

Soon the entire army had dinner, and Zhang Yanfang also returned with his men.

Zhang Tong was taken into custody. This battle could be called a complete and resounding victory.

The army celebrated that night, but Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting were not so happy, because they knew this was only the beginning.

After dinner, the several important officers of the army gathered at Yuan Keli's tent.

Besides Yuan Keli and Sun Chuanting, there were also Li Biao and Zhang Yanfang.

After everyone sat down, Yuan Keli said, "Today's battle retook Zunyi and opened a good start. We can now proceed with the next phase of the plan. This is only the beginning—we must restrain the entire army and ensure no one becomes arrogant or complacent."

Li Biao quickly said, "Rest assured, sir. This official knows what to do. I have already sent word down—besides tonight's celebration, the entire army will return to strict alert tomorrow."

Yuan Keli nodded lightly and said, "Very good."

With that topic settled, Yuan Keli continued, "Next, we will continue our march. Tomorrow we split into two routes. Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong will lead men to support Sichuan and launch a surprise attack on Chongqing. This battle will be perilous—you two must be careful, and preserving yourselves is of utmost importance."

By now, Yuan Keli treasured the five thousand men under Qi Yuangong's command deeply in his heart. He also knew they were His Majesty's treasures—if they were lost here, he truly could not account for it.

Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong nodded, indicating that they understood.

But neither Yuan Keli nor Li Biao felt that the assurances of these two men were very reliable. Still, at this point, they could only trust them.

After finishing this matter, Yuan Keli turned to look at Zhang Yanfang and instructed, "Zhang Yanfang, tomorrow you will transfer five thousand men to them, and bring your own troops along with them as well. After marching fifteen li, you will break into small groups and withdraw. Announce to the outside that you have already entered Sichuan."

"Rest assured, sir. No problem." Zhang Yanfang said hurriedly.

This was a plan they had already formulated long ago, so tonight's discussion was only a brief overview. Yuan Keli would lead his men to await An Bangyan, while the other force would launch a surprise attack on Chongqing.

"Alright, you set out early tomorrow morning. You've been fighting all day today—go back and rest early." Yuan Keli said, looking at Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong.

The two quickly stood up and said, "In that case, we will take our leave."

After saying this, the two turned and left.

After the two had gone, Yuan Keli's gaze fell upon Li Biao and Zhang Yanfang's faces, and he said, "They're gone. Shall we discuss things as well?"

The two of them were taken aback—what else could there be that needed to be kept from them?

Weren't the two of them men brought here by His Excellency himself?

Though doubts lingered in their minds, Li Biao and Zhang Yanfang still sat down. They had originally been preparing to take their leave, but now it seemed they wouldn't be going anywhere.

Only after the two had seated themselves did Yuan Keli speak: "Just now, with them here, it wasn't convenient to say this. Now that they're gone, it's the right time. They've taken men to launch a surprise attack on Chongqing, and we can't just sit here waiting on our side. This trip of theirs is extremely perilous, and they need our support."

"The situation in Sichuan isn't good either—the whole province has descended into chaos. Chengdu is besieged, Chongqing is besieged as well, and much of Sichuan has already fallen to the rebels. One could say we're at a critical moment of survival. We can't just hold our position in Guiyang because of a single An Bangyan—we need to enter Sichuan."

Li Biao and Zhang Yanfang exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. They naturally knew that what Yuan Keli said was right—they truly did need to go reinforce Sichuan.

Li Biao then asked: "What does Your Excellency have in mind?"

"We can't just wait for An Bangyan—we need to strike first." Yuan Keli said: "Tomorrow, send someone to deliver a letter to An Bangyan, telling him to bring ten thousand men to Zunyi. Say that we've sent troops into Sichuan, that our forces are depleted, and that we need him to come help with the defense."

Hearing Yuan Keli's words, Li Biao understood what he intended to do.

This was setting a trap for An Bangyan.

If An Bangyan truly harbored thoughts of rebellion, he couldn't possibly pass up such an opportunity. An Bangyan would bring his men to Zunyi and directly seize control of Li Biao himself—and then all of Guizhou would be leaderless.

At that point, An Bangyan would be able to occupy the entire province of Guizhou, especially since, according to Li Biao's own claim, Guizhou's forces were depleted.

In truth, Guizhou's forces were indeed depleted—but not substantively so, because Li Biao had already pulled his troops into his own command. Apart from the five thousand men given to Sun Chuanting and the others, he still had nearly thirty thousand under his hand.

Letting An Bangyan bring ten thousand men over would put An Bangyan's mind at ease, since he'd have men at his side.

Meanwhile, with thirty thousand of his own men, wiping out An Bangyan's ten thousand wouldn't take much effort.

Still, Li Biao had some hesitation and asked: "What if An Bangyan doesn't come, and instead rebels outright?"

Hearing Li Biao's words, Yuan Keli was silent for a moment before saying: "Then so much the better—I won't need to scheme against An Bangyan at all, and we can just go to war with him directly. Once he's destroyed, we can head to Sichuan."

After hearing Yuan Keli's words, Li Biao hesitated, then said with some resignation: "Your Excellency the Governor-General, An Bangyan's power is considerable. If he truly raises the banner of revolt, he'll likely rally the other chieftains around him, and he could field an army of several tens of thousands. Our numbers are few, and we don't hold the advantage in troops—I fear this won't be an easy fight."

Yuan Keli glanced at Li Biao, his gaze somewhat strange. After a moment of silence, he said: "Since when did we need to match them man for man to fight?"

"They're nothing but a pack of barbarians. Though I have only thirty thousand men, even if he had a hundred thousand, they'd still all become my prisoners." Yuan Keli had that kind of confidence.

How much effort could defeating an An Bangyan possibly take?

Yuan Keli had no desire to waste too much time here. The New Year was fast approaching, and he still wanted to send His Majesty a piece of good news. By then, His Majesty wouldn't keep him stationed here either—Governor-General of the Southwest, whoever wanted the post could have it.

Li Biao felt somewhat embarrassed.

Zhang Yanfang on the side was also somewhat embarrassed, and finally said helplessly: "Then we'll follow Your Excellency's orders completely. I'll have someone deliver the letter right away."

Yuan Keli gave a slight nod and said: "Then go make the arrangements."

Early the next morning, Sun Chuanting and Qi Yuangong set out with their men.

Li Biao also went to arrange for someone to deliver the letter to An Bangyan.

Yuan Keli, meanwhile, was studying maps and formulating plans, figuring out how to annihilate An Bangyan as quickly as possible.

At the same time, in the Western Park of the capital.

Zhu Youxiao lay in a rocking chair, soaking up the sun in the courtyard.

Two days earlier, a light snow had fallen and the temperature had plummeted. But today the sun was quite pleasant, so Zhu Youxiao had come out to bask in it and stretch his limbs.

Beside Zhu Youxiao stood Xu Guangqi, accompanied by Li Zhizao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhu Youxiao waved a hand lightly and said: "Alright, sit down. Standing in this cold weather is tiring—old bones and old legs, don't go hurting yourselves."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, the two obediently sat down. As for His Majesty's teasing remarks, they pretended not to hear—or rather, they had long since grown accustomed to them.

Only after they had sat down did Zhu Youxiao speak: "I wanted to ask you two earlier—how is the greenhouse project coming along?"

"Your Majesty, progress was somewhat slow at first, but it is now complete." Li Zhizao hurriedly rose to his feet to answer: "The first batch of vegetables planted is nearly ripe—in about three to five more days they'll be ready for harvest. Your servant will arrange for them to be delivered to the palace."

Zhu Youxiao nodded lightly and said: "Tell you what—in a couple of days, I'll go along as well, and I'll bring the Empress along to have a look."

"Your Majesty intends to take the Empress out?" Xu Guangqi asked from the side.

Though everyone at court and beyond knew of His Majesty's affection for the Empress, wouldn't taking her out in public be somewhat improper?

So Xu Guangqi prepared to ask, while also expressing his disapproval.

"That's right!" Zhu Youxiao nodded and said: "The Empress gets rather bored inside the palace—it's good for her to get out and about. Besides, this concerns agriculture, and it's only fitting that the Empress takes an interest in agricultural matters."

Zhu Youxiao's reasons for bringing Empress Zhang along were twofold: first, to genuinely let her get out and stretch her legs—the palace truly was too stifling; second, to build publicity. The greenhouse vegetables would certainly need to be sold, but to sell them at a high price, word of them needed to spread.

If His Majesty alone went to see the greenhouses, it would be hard to publicize—no hook to grab attention. But if Empress Zhang came along, that would be different. It would spark public debate and discussion, and incidentally bring the greenhouse project into the spotlight.

People would instinctively ask: "Why would His Majesty take the Empress to the greenhouses? What's so special about that?"

Once the questions arose, Zhu Youxiao would fan the flames and ride the momentum to launch his greenhouse vegetables.

With a reputation established, they would naturally sell well, and at a relatively high price to boot.

The palace was counting on this money for the New Year.

For an impoverished emperor like Zhu Youxiao, every angle had to be calculated.

New Year expenses in the palace were considerable—rewards had to be prepared for officials, and imperial relatives, nobles, and meritorious families all had to receive their gifts. It was no small expenditure.