Chapter 244: Flames of Jiangnan

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Late December, before Tong Guan and Liu Fa could lead the Western Army southward, Fang La's rebel force captured Hangzhou City; at the same time, Song Jiang's rebel army was swiftly sweeping through northern Jiangnan.

Yuwen Xuzhong urgently submitted a memorial through the Brocade Clothing Bureau's intelligence network: "Now Song Jiang has gathered nearly two hundred thousand men and continues to massacre officials, scholar-gentry, and landowners across northern Jiangnan; wherever he passes, not one in a hundred wealthy households remains. Fang La has also amassed formidable strength, capturing the three prefectures of Mu, She, and Hang, and set fire to Hangzhou City for six days, slaughtering all wealthy households—dead bodies are too numerous to count. The southeastern troops are weak; I beg you to swiftly dispatch elite armies on forced marches to prevent the rebellion from spreading."

Meanwhile, officials across Jiangnan—including scholar-gentry and landowners—were also sending appeals to the court in their own ways.

The news of Hangzhou's fall quickly spread to every corner of Dongjing Bianliang; the capital was shaken.

Tong Guan dared not delay and immediately led the fifteen thousand Western Army troops brought by Liu Fa southward.

In addition to these fifteen thousand Western Army troops, Zhao Yu granted Tong Guan full command over the imperial guards, regional armies, and local militias of the Huaijiang region, including the command authority of the Southern Auxiliary Army stationed in Zhenjiang.

Simultaneously, Zhao Yu issued an imperial decree:

"I, ruling over the realm, have labored day and night, solely wishing for the people's peace and the empire's tranquility. Lately, wild rebels in the south have risen in rebellion, gathering in mountains and forests, poisoning the people and plunging prefectures and counties into chaos, causing the virtuous to tremble in fear. I now appoint the Pacification Commissioner Tong Guan to immediately lead elite troops southward, and by a set deadline, utterly exterminate this banditry to pacify the region!"

Yet I am well aware that amid this chaos, many rural peasants are coerced into joining the rebels; likewise, some local officials are falsely implicated. Such circumstances arise from desperation—I am moved with pity.

I hereby issue a special edict of mercy: All those coerced into rebellion, officials implicated by association, family members of the rebels, and rebel soldiers who now repent, surrender themselves, or provide intelligence to the court, or capture and deliver rebel leaders, shall be fully pardoned; past offenses shall be forgiven.

Those who achieve even minor merit shall be rewarded beyond rank and promoted according to talent, ensuring loyal and virtuous men find their rightful place. You must understand my compassion for life and not miss this chance to turn from darkness to light. Tong Guan must combine mercy with authority, employ both suppression and pacification, swiftly quell this rebellion, and celebrate victory with triumphant songs!

Proclaim this throughout the realm, so all may hear.

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, Hongwu Eighth Year.

Zhao Yu also issued a special decree to punish the scholar-gentry and landowners.

"I, bearing Heaven's mandate, rule the realm, and intend to implement two new policies: to equalize tax burdens, relieve the people's hardships, and secure the foundation of the state—this is a benevolent governance benefiting both nation and people!"

Yet the southern scholar-gentry, blinded by greed, ignore the court's grand decrees, obstruct the implementation of new policies, and conspire in secret while pretending compliance.

To protect their own selfish interests, they disregard the people's lives, layer upon layer exploiting them, causing livelihoods to wither and the land to be filled with wailing refugees. Though Song Jiang and Fang La's uprisings are acts of rebellion, their root cause lies in the collusion between scholar-gentry and local officials imposing cruel governance—this is what has sparked chaos! The scholar-gentry's evil is unforgivable!

I order a strict investigation into the scholar-gentry's obstruction of policy. All who defy orders, secretly sabotage, or oppress the people—regardless of rank, lineage, or noble status, whether old or new—shall have their titles stripped and their property confiscated; those with grave offenses shall be imprisoned and punished according to law. All officials must enforce justice impartially; no favoritism or cover-up shall be tolerated. Those who neglect duty or shield the guilty shall be punished together!

My resolve is firm. Let all ministers and subjects know: the implementation of these new policies is inevitable; I will show no mercy to those who obstruct them or harm the people!

Zhao Yu's decree definitively placed the blame for Song Jiang's and Fang La's rebellions squarely on the scholar-gentry and landowner class.

Instantly, court and countryside buzzed with debate. The scholar-gentry and landowners were terrified—they had never imagined they would become the "scapegoats" of this unrest. Yet among the common people, a new, unprecedented hope began to rise, as if long-standing oppression and injustice had finally received just judgment.

After receiving his orders, Tong Guan's army surged southward like a tide, banners blotting out the sun, war drums thundering.

The Song army divided into two major forces, left and right.

The left force was commanded by Liu Fa: Liu Zhen and Yang Keshi led the vanguard, Wang Huan the left wing, Ma Gongzhi and Liu Guangguo the right wing, Qu Qi and Wang Yu the rearguard, Huang Di and Liu Guangshi the elite vanguard.

This force advanced through Haozhou, Sizhou, and Suzhou, moving into the regions of Xuanhua Town, Changlu Town, and Gubu Town.

The right force was commanded by Liu Yanqing: Xin Xingzong led the vanguard, Wang Yuan the left wing, Ji Jing and Zhe Kecun the right wing, Yang Weizhong the center, Jiao Anjie the rearguard, Zhao Ming and Yao Pingzhong the elite vanguard.

This force marched south along the Grand Canal, passing through Chuzhou and Gaoyou Army before directly striking Yangzhou, then crossing the Yangtze River from Zhenjiang.

Additionally, to guard against contingencies, Zhao Yu assigned the Divine Mechanism Rear Army to Tong Guan as his secret weapon, accompanying him southward.

It must be noted that many future famed generals of the Southern Song dynasty were also among these Song troops, marching south with them.

The two most renowned were the brothers Wu Jie and Wu Lin.

Others included Qu Duan, Yang Zheng, Wang De, Zhang Zongyan, Yao Zhong, Yao Youzhong, Tian Sheng, Li Shiyan, Guan Shigu, and a host of other outstanding generals of the Northern and Southern Song periods.

Without exaggeration, the Song army marching south was ablaze with stars of military genius.

The two Song army forces advanced southward in a pincer formation, mutually supporting and covering each other, leaving no opportunity for enemy ambushes.

Upon reaching Gaoyou Army, Liu Yanqing, following Tong Guan's prior orders, deployed Xin Xingzong, Zhao Ming, and Yao Pingzhong's units as the vanguard to cross the river directly and secure the landing zone for the main force.

Because the southern passage had been well protected by the Southern Auxiliary Army, the right force crossed the river with ease and reached its designated assembly point.

Around the same time, Liu Fa led the left force into the regions of Xuanhua Town, Changlu Town, and Gubu Town.

Liu Fa immediately dispatched Yao Pingzhong to seize the Bai Du Bridge.

This floating bridge, originally built in the early Song, lay in the Caishi Ji area of Dangtu County, allowing direct crossing of the river.

Song Jiang's rebels had once occupied this bridge; Liu Fa feared they might burn it down.

If so, the left force's crossing would become extremely difficult.

Fortunately, Yao Pingzhong soon received word that the Bai Du Bridge was intact—and guarded by a Song unit.

After inquiry, Yao Pingzhong learned this unit belonged to the Southern Auxiliary Army's left wing and had already transferred control of the bridge to his forces.

Through the Bai Du Bridge, the left force also crossed the river successfully and reached its designated assembly point in Jiangnan.

On the twenty-eighth day of the first month of Hongwu Ninth Year, Tong Guan arrived in Zhenjiang, hung the banner of the Pacification Commission of Huai, Jiang, Jing, and Zhe, and formally launched the campaign to suppress the rebellions.

Tong Guan established his headquarters in Zhenjiang, planning to employ political, diplomatic, and military means to coordinate command, hoping to crush Song Jiang and Fang La's rebellions and reclaim Jiangnan at once.

Accompanying Tong Guan were officials assigned to take over northern Jiangnan.

Following Zhao Yu's instructions, Tong Guan prioritized sending troops to escort these officials to their jurisdictions, enabling them to quickly restore production and prepare for spring plowing.

After dispatching these officials, Tong Guan secretly met with Yuwen Xuzhong at the Pacification Commission.

Yuwen Xuzhong told Tong Guan: "Song Jiang's forces are concentrated around Xiuzhou's Guian region to defend against Fang La's northward advance, while Fang La's main force has taken up residence in Hangzhou. His original bases of Mu and She prefectures are filled with large numbers of rioters, and in southern Jiangnan, countless bandits have risen in response to Fang La…"

Song Jiang seized northern Jiangnan; Fang La captured Mu, She, and Hang prefectures. The rebellion's momentum is not merely good—it is excellent.

Moreover, Fang La has sent envoys everywhere to proclaim his glorious achievements and invite heroes to join his uprising.

Crucially, the Moni Sect's decades of groundwork now played a massive role.

Lü Sinang of Xianju County was known for his righteousness and generosity, frequently aiding the poor and needy, fulfilling every request. He held high standing among the martial world.

Everyone around Xianju County knew: if a destitute person came to Lü Sinang, regardless of status, he never turned them away; those who asked for money or goods were never refused; if a talented scholar came to him, he treated them as honored guests and mentors.

Moreover, Lü Sinang himself was well-read in literature and well-versed in the art of war. What outsiders did not know was that Lü Sinang also held another identity—he was a protector of the Moni Sect.

When Fang La first began his uprising, Wang Gonglao had ordered sect members to contact Lü Sinang, instructing him to secretly organize troops to respond to Fang La.

After more than two months of thorough preparation, Lü Sinang rose in rebellion.

In just a few days, he assembled a rebel force of over ten thousand men.

Under Lü Sinang's command, this rebel force won its first battle, annihilating the Xianju County garrison led by County Commander Xu Mocheng and capturing Xianju County.

Lü Sinang then announced that he would recognize Fang La as his lord, exterminating officials, gentry, and local landlords to glorify Fang La and the Moni Sect.

Qiu Rixin, the Daoist of Shanyin County in Yuezhou, was also a protector of the Moni Sect.

Like Lü Sinang, Qiu Rixin had received a secret letter from Wang Gonglao Buddha when Fang La first began his uprising, instructing him to secretly organize troops to respond to Fang La, assist in exterminating officials, gentry, and landlords, and glorify Fang La and the Moni Sect.

After thorough preparation, Qiu Rixin also led the Moni Sect followers in rebellion, liberating Dongyang, Yiwu, Wuyi, Pujiang, Jinhua, and other places in a very short time.

During the Battle of Dongyang, Qiu Rixin killed Shen Tu Dafang, a renowned local armed leader known for his bravery.

This Shen Tu Dafang was a typical large landlord, owning many tenant farmers and possessing an extremely refined spear technique; he had agreed with county officials to march to Yongkang to crush Qiu Rixin's rebellion, but was killed by Qiu Rixin, whose martial skill was superior.

Zheng Mo Wang of Quzhou was the third protector of the Moni Sect.

This man was born a butcher and became famous in Quzhou due to his innate superhuman strength.

Similarly, Zheng Mo Wang had received a secret letter from Wang Gonglao Buddha when Fang La first began his uprising, instructing him to secretly organize troops to respond to Fang La, assist in exterminating officials, gentry, and landlords, and glorify Fang La and the Moni Sect.

Now, taking advantage of the momentum created by Song Jiang and Fang La, Zheng Mo Wang also rose in rebellion and rapidly expanded his forces in Quzhou.

Chen Shisih of Fangyan Mountain in Yongkang County was the most famous Chen Shisih Niangniang in Yongkang, and indeed one of the most renowned across the entire southeast.

This Chen Shisih Niangniang was not the same Chen Shisih Niangniang venerated in many parts of the southeast.

That Chen Shisih Niangniang was a Tang Dynasty figure, born at midnight on the fourteenth day of the first month of the second year of Dali, hence named Chen Shisih; people revered her and called her Chen Shisih Niangniang.

This Chen Shisih Niangniang's original name was Chen Miao Zhen, and she had once been a lady of a prominent family.

Three years ago, a great flood struck the southeast; the government not only failed to open its granaries to relieve the people but continued collecting taxes, causing widespread suffering, families selling children and wives, displacement, and corpses littering the roads.

Seeing the people's suffering, Chen Miao Zhen could not bear it, so she secretly opened her family's granaries to aid the victims.

Afterwards, fearing punishment from her family, she fled alone to Fangyan Mountain.

On Fangyan Mountain lived a divine nun with exceptional medical skill.

After learning the reason for Chen Miao Zhen's ascent, the nun felt she possessed a compassionate heart that grieved for all beings, and thus taught her everything she knew.

After mastering medical arts, Chen Miao Zhen began descending the mountain under the name Chen Shisih Niangniang to treat and save lives.

Over these years, Chen Miao Zhen had traveled everywhere saving lives; she understood the people's suffering and knew its source, so when Fang La sent her an invitation to join the rebellion, she believed that only by eliminating officials, gentry, and landlords and breaking their resistance to the New Two Policies could the people live well.

Thus, the local heroes of Yongkang County—Li De, Jiang Cai, Dong Ju, and Wang Guo—asked Chen Miao Zhen to raise the banner; she agreed.

With Chen Miao Zhen leading, Yongkang County quickly formed an army of more than twenty thousand rebels.

However, Chen Miao Zhen, being compassionate, could not bear to kill, so this rebel army was primarily commanded by Li De, Jiang Cai, Dong Ju, and Wang Guo.

Chizhou, Jinyun County.

Huo Chengfu and Chen Gutong, leading only six or seven men, captured Jinyun County, captured County Constable Zhan Liangchen, and urged him to surrender.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Liangchen spat back: "You know not how to seek life—do you think you can make me surrender? In past years, Li Shun rebelled in Shu, Wang Lun rebelled in Huainan, Wang Ze rebelled in Beizhou—all were beheaded, their wives and accomplices, young and old, executed; soon the imperial army will arrive, and your flesh will feed dogs and rats!"

Not all officials in the southeast were corrupt; County Constable Zhan was a good official, and possessed great integrity.

Yet under such overwhelming tide, even good officials could not escape being swept up and dying unjustly.

Alas!

Huo Chengfu, furious at Zhan Liangchen's curses, ignored Chen Gutong's warnings and killed Zhan Liangchen; he then raised his voice, gathering over ten thousand rebels.

Another man from Chizhou, Hong Zai, also rose in rebellion in southern Chizhou under the slogan "Seize the wealth of the rich and distribute it to recruit followers," killing officials, gentry, and landlords everywhere to expand his forces.

Hong Zai had excellent oratory skills and always spoke of "Holy Lord," clearly presenting himself as Fang La's staunch follower and spokesman for Fang La's army in Chizhou.

Moreover, Hong Zai had a good reputation among the people.

This caused Hong Zai's rebel forces to grow with extraordinary speed…

In short, under the example of Song Jiang and Fang La, the southern Jiangnan region had plunged into complete chaos, growing worse by the day; it would not be long before Fang La's army exceeded a million strong.

Seeing the grave situation in Jiangnan, Tong Guan frowned deeply.

Tong Guan had not expected Fang La's rebellion to grow so rapidly, with forces far exceeding his own.

If Song Jiang's rebel army, equally numerous, joined forces with Fang La's to resist his encirclement, the victor was far from certain.

Thus, Song Jiang's rebel army had become the decisive factor in the outcome of both sides.

Thinking of this, Tong Guan asked Yuwen Xuzhong politely: "May I ask, Commander-in-Chief, will Song Jiang accept amnesty?"

Yuwen Xuzhong, upon hearing this, fell silent for a moment, then said: "Among Song Jiang's leaders, some already harbor rebellious intentions; we must deliberate further…"

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(End of Chapter)