Chapter 155: Guangdong Crisis

"Holy Emperor, Lianzhou is lost!"

Receiving this bad news, the smile on Shi Shi Rongxuan's face disappeared instantly.

Just captured Zhaoqing Prefecture, and was preparing to take advantage of the victory to capture Guangzhou Prefecture, but the backyard caught fire.

"Concentrated one hundred thousand troops, not only failed to wipe out a detachment of the pseudo-dynasty, but also lost Lianzhou Prefecture.

What is Fu Fu Sanqi doing?"

Shi Shi Rongxuan couldn't help but question.

After losing Lianzhou, Siming Prefecture, Nanning Prefecture, and Xunzhou Prefecture were all exposed to the enemy's blade.

The White Lotus Holy Kingdom was established for too short a time, and the people did not truly return to their hearts, and there were quite a few people in the territory loyal to the Great Great Dayu.

These people were only forced by violence to temporarily submit to them.

Once the Great Great Dayu army kills over, it is possible to defect at any time.

"Your Majesty, I haven't received news from Chancellor Fu for the time being.

However, judging from the soldiers who escaped, the major defeat that day was mainly the responsibility of the tribal chief army.

Their elephant troops, which they boasted were invincible, lost control on the battlefield after encountering the enemy's artillery attack.

Elephant trampling caused the military formation to be broken, giving the enemy an opportunity."

Chancellor Wuzhou Zekai opened his mouth to explain.

As the main and vice chancellors, the existence of Fu Fu Sanqi is mainly to divide his power.

Under normal circumstances, the competitor should fall into the well.

However, Wuzhou Zekai understands Shi Shi Rongxuan and knows very well that his Holy Emperor is a suspicious master and will not give him a chance to dominate.

Even if Fu Fu Sanqi is killed, there will be a new Vice Chancellor born.

Instead of changing a partner and increasing uncertainty, it is better to sell Fu Fu Sanqi a favor.

With this stain of major defeat on his body, when everyone works together in the future, Fu Fu Sanqi will not be able to speak hard.

"Damn tribal chiefs, I knew they couldn't become a big climate!

Being trampled by their own war elephants, just thinking about it makes people laugh.

Everyone, now that Lianzhou Prefecture is lost, do you have any strategy?"

After calming down, Shi Shi Rongxuan asked.

Lianzhou defeat, the most losses are a group of tribal chiefs, but the political consequences need to be borne by them.

The imperial army recovering Lianzhou, the biggest impact is not in military, but in politics.

People's hearts are the most complex.

Everyone followed the White Lotus Sect to rebel, unless life is indeed bitter, more is blind following the wind.

Talking about loyalty is nonsense; most soldiers joining the army are forced to be helpless.

The big cake of establishing the White Lotus Holy Dynasty is the motivation that drives everyone to struggle.

Once a major setback is encountered, this kind of military morale that relies on bluffing to condense is very easy to collapse.

"Your Majesty, give me one hundred thousand troops, and I will definitely be able to wipe out the pseudo-dynasty troops in one fell swoop and recover Lianzhou Prefecture!"

Eastern Peace King Wei Hao took the lead in expressing his stance.

Since the Eastern Expedition began, his series of forces have fallen into a stagnant state.

Several proposals for the Northern Expedition to Huguang were rejected.

Northern Expedition can't be fought, Southern Expedition is also acceptable, which is better than standing still.

As far as he knows, the Southern Peace King responsible for the Eastern Expedition expanded another fifty thousand troops after capturing Zhaoqing Prefecture.

Although most of them are a mob, the momentum of the Eastern Advance faction is rising, which is an indisputable fact.

If this continues, his position as the head of the four kings will not be guaranteed.

"This is inappropriate!

Eastern Peace King needs to guard against the pseudo-dynasty imperial army in Huguang marching south; rashly drawing troops to recover Lianzhou Prefecture will easily let the enemy take advantage.

The lesson of Lianzhou Prefecture is enough once.

Letting the Huguang army in again, the foundation of the Holy Kingdom will be really dangerous.

I propose to temporarily stop the Guangdong war, and wait until the hidden dangers in the rear are solved before expanding outward!"

Western Peace King Wei Wang Weijiarui immediately opposed.

Among the several encirclement armies, the most active in the early stage was Huguang.

If the front line is empty, no one knows whether the enemy will attack again.

Being attacked from both sides has always been a taboo for military strategists.

"Western Peace King's words are wrong!

Compared to Among Guangxi, Guangdong is not only much wealthier, but its strategic position is also much higher.

After taking Guangdong, the prosperous Jiangnan is within reach.

At this moment, we have severely damaged the three-province coalition, and the large army is less than one hundred miles away from Guangzhou.

Withdrawing troops to recover the lost territory at this time, the previous efforts will be wasted.

The Holy Kingdom wants to take the world, so it cannot care about the gains and losses of one city and one place.

Among Guangxi is mountainous and the land is barren, not the foundation of hegemony.

Since ancient times, I have never heard of anyone who occupied Among Guangxi and took the world.

If we can take Guangdong and take advantage of the situation to kill into Jiangnan, we can replicate the path of the Great Great Dayu Taizu to take the world.

Not to mention that the three provinces of Jiangnan are the important tax areas of the world, contributing nearly forty percent of the pseudo-dynasty's tax revenue.

After taking Jiangnan, even if the pseudo-dynasty wants to send troops, they will not have the ability to raise enough military pay.

In contrast, the one occupying Lianzhou is just a detachment.

Even if they can fight, they cannot occupy much land.

Let the prefectures use the terrain to deal with the enemy first.

After we take Guangdong and cut off their logistics supply, this detachment will collapse without fighting!"

Southern Peace King Fu Fu Haoxuan hurriedly opposed.

As a vested interest in the Eastern Expedition, he doesn't want to give up halfway.

From the beginning of the rebellion, the goal of the White Lotus Holy Kingdom was the world.

Not taking advantage of the imperial army's heavy encirclement to fight out, being trapped in Among Guangxi is self-destruction.

"Your Majesty, Southern Peace King's words are not wrong.

Among Guangxi is exhausted, far less wealthy than Guangdong.

Even if the pseudo-dynasty imperial army occupies Lianzhou, don't think about raising grain from the local area.

The Holy Kingdom's grain storage is only enough for the large army for three months, and there is really no time to tangle in Among Guangxi."

Chancellor Wuzhou Zekai followed and echoed.

This suggestion is entirely out of public interest.

Regardless of whether the Eastern Expedition is the best choice, it has already reached Guangzhou Prefecture now, so it definitely cannot stop.

It is simple for the main army to return to recover the lost territory, but the barren Among Guangxi land cannot support the White Lotus Holy Kingdom where everyone is a soldier.

For this newborn regime, Among Guangxi, which cannot provide money and grain for the Holy Kingdom, has now been reduced to a chicken rib.

Besides being unable to let go emotionally, the importance of Among Guangxi to the White Lotus Holy Kingdom is constantly decreasing.

"Chancellor, these words are somewhat biased."

Don't forget that Among Guangxi also connects to Annan, and many weapons in our army were purchased from there.

The Holy Kingdom's military production capacity is limited; if the pseudo-dynasty cuts off our connection with Annan, weapon replenishment can only rely on seizure."

Western Peace King Wei Wang Weijiarui refuted immediately.

Watching the group of officials arguing, Shi Shi Rongxuan was also big-headed for a while.

Feeling that everyone has reasons, but the strength of the White Lotus Holy Kingdom is limited and cannot be taken care of.

Fighting on four fronts, for this newborn regime, the pressure is too heavy.

"Enough!

The Eastern Expedition has been decided long ago, and it must not be abandoned halfway.

Southern Peace King, you continue to preside over the Eastern Expedition war; I hope to take Guangzhou before the year ends.

The imperial court's heavy encirclement, we cannot sit still.

Once the pseudo-dynasty transfers elite troops south, the Holy Kingdom will be in danger.

The urgent matter is that we must break the enemy's encirclement on all sides.

Eastern Peace King, I order you to draw an elite force to kill into Huguang from the enemy's weak area.

Unite with local believers to launch an uprising in Huguang to contain the enemy army in Huguang.

Western Peace King, I order you to draw elites to sneak into Yunnan and Guizhou.

Unite with local believers to launch an uprising, striving to burn the war to Sichuan.

Chancellor, order the garrison in various places to strictly prevent the pseudo-dynasty army in Lianzhou from invading.

The enemy are all outsiders; make full use of the terrain advantage to drag down the enemy's marching speed.

It is best to bring the enemy into the mountains and use the power of local tribal chiefs to deal with the enemy!"

At the critical moment, Shi Shi Rongxuan showed a decisive side.

Regardless of whether these deployments can be realized, at least from a strategic point of view, this is the best choice for the White Lotus Holy Kingdom at the moment.

Guangzhou Prefecture.

"Damn things!

You guys usually boast so powerfully, why did you wilt as soon as you saw the rebel army?

Zhaoqing Prefecture, which was heavily guarded, didn't even hold on for half a month.

Prefect Yang, you speak first?"

Zou Zou Yunchuan scolded sternly.

The rapid fall of Zhaoqing Prefecture made his Guangdong defense strategy appear a gap.

The rebel army's vanguard troops are now less than one hundred miles away from Guangzhou City.

For the criminal official who lost Zhaoqing, he naturally won't have a good face.

"Provincial Governor, your subordinate is wronged!

Your subordinate completely followed your instructions to carry out military deployment.

It should have been foolproof, but a major defeat suddenly occurred at the critical moment of the war.

Those damn hillbillies, not thinking of repaying..."

Before Prefect Yang finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became tense.

The military generals he called hillbillies glared at him one after another.

Civil officials despise military generals, which is done privately, but on the surface, everyone is still colleagues.

Saying it openly is pulling hatred.

In order to shirk responsibility and save his life, Prefect Yang, who was in a panic, couldn't care about so much and still explained to himself.

As the Provincial Governor, Zou Zou Yunchuan's butt is naturally sitting on the side of the civil officials, but he can't stand the special situation now.

During the war, it is the time when military generals are needed to sell their lives.

Looking at the murderous eyes of the generals, if he dared to push all the responsibility to the military generals, today's military meeting would not have to be held.

"Damn things!

As the Prefect of Zhaoqing, you have the responsibility to defend the land.

Now that the city is lost and the land is lost, don't you have any responsibility at all?

Get out of here and wait, wait until this official figures out the cause and effect, and then come to punish your crime.

Regional Commander Xu, what is going on with the mutiny?"

While speaking, Zou Zou Yunchuan also kicked Prefect Yang.

"Provincial Governor, it was all trouble caused by grain and grass.

The garrison troops of Zhaoqing did not carry enough grain and grass, and asked Prefect Yang for grain and grass but failed.

The starving soldiers mutinied, and were taken advantage of by the rebel army."

Xu Jie said indignantly.

The battle was originally fought well, but encountered pig teammates.

During the war, daring to deduct grain and grass is purely seeking death.

"Regional Commander Xu, don't talk nonsense, when did this prefecture deduct grain and grass.

According to the practice, the army mobilization needs to bring three days of grain and grass, and this prefecture strictly followed the procedures of the imperial court..."

Before Prefect Yang finished speaking, Provincial Administration Commissioner Xue Xue Weicheng on the side gave him a kick directly.

"Shut up!

Who told you to speak!

Come here, throw this criminal official into the big prison and

Zou Zou Yunchuan pretended not to see the Provincial Administration Commissioner's overstepping of authority.

It is standard practice for civil officials to use rules to manipulate military officers.

But when playing the rules game, one must also consider the timing.

This Prefect Yang was clearly acting foolishly, running off to play with rules during wartime.

Now that the game had collapsed, causing a huge mess and leaving behind a massive disaster.

"I am aware of the situation; the loss of Zhaoqing is entirely Prefect Yang's fault and has nothing to do with you all.

I will report this matter truthfully to the court and punish him for the crime of losing the city and the territory.

Next, let us discuss the subsequent great battle!"

Zou Zou Yunchuan said, forcibly suppressing his dissatisfaction.

If one wants military officers to risk their lives, one must appease their hearts.

Pushing all the blame for the loss of Zhaoqing onto Prefect Yang was undoubtedly the best choice.

As for the mutiny, it would not be too late to settle scores after the war was over.

"Governor, having just experienced a major defeat, our troops have suffered heavy losses.

We need to return to Fujian to rest and reorganize, so we shall take our leave here!"

"Governor, the situation of our troops is the same; we need to return to Jiangxi to rest and reorganize."

After Fujian Regional Commander Wei Gao Zhiyuan spoke to take his leave, Jiangxi Regional Commander Liu Yue Qifeng followed closely to express his intention to depart, scaring the group of Guangdong bureaucrats into trembling.

Having suffered a defeat, it was precisely the time when morale was most unstable.

If the two guest armies left as well, the subsequent fighting would be even more impossible.

"Two Regional Commanders, this must absolutely not happen!

Now is the critical moment for the defense of Guangdong; we must work together to face it, how can we give up halfway!"

Zou Zou Yunchuan disregarded his dignity as a Governor and hurriedly stood up to persuade them.

He was as humble now as he had been arrogant before.

"Governor, it is not that we are unwilling to risk our lives.

It is truly that the army's losses are too severe; of the fifty thousand troops at the start of the expedition, only over ten thousand remain now.

This subordinate does not even know how to face the elders of Jiangdong upon returning!"

Jiangxi Regional Commander Liu Yue Qifeng said with a face full of grief.

If one were unaware of the truth, one would really think the Jiangxi army had suffered heavy losses.

In fact, when the Zhaoqing front collapsed, he was the one who led his troops to run the fastest.

Those who truly stayed behind to cover the retreat were all local Guangdong troops.

However, in the officialdom, having a thick skin is a basic operation.

Regardless of whether the outside world believes it, he insisted that the Jiangxi army had suffered losses exceeding seventy percent.

It was a rare opportunity to balance the books, and one must take advantage of this moment to resolve historical issues.

"Governor, our Fujian troops have suffered even more severe losses.

The fifty thousand reinforcements led by this subordinate now have less than ten thousand remaining.

Having suffered such a great defeat, I truly have no face to remain here; I ask to be released!"

Wei Gao Zhiyuan took the opportunity to speak.

As guest armies, they had much greater autonomy.

Although their grain and fodder were controlled by others, the Fujian and Jiangxi provinces were originally subsidizing Guangdong's military expenses.

The grain and fodder they consumed were directly allocated by their own provincial Governor's offices.

Now using withdrawal as a threat was essentially still for the purpose of negotiating conditions.

As long as the Guangdong side acknowledged their losses and helped cover the balancing of the books, everyone would stay and continue to fight.

"Everyone's contribution will not be forgotten by the court.

But now is a time of crisis, and I hope the two generals will consider the big picture!"

After speaking, Zou Zou Yunchuan was about to bow and salute, seeing which the two hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

This was not the early years of the dynasty; they dared not accept such a great salute from a Governor.

If this were to spread, they would become representatives of those who do not follow the rules and would be collectively boycotted by the civil officials.

"Governor, this must absolutely not happen!

We shall stay and weather the difficulties together."

Wei and Liu said in unison.

The deal between the two sides was reached, and the originally tense atmosphere eased up quite a bit.

However, the rift created by this forced coercion was also buried along with it.

……

"Governor, good news!"

"The Yangzhou Camp and the Two Huai'an Camp have soundly defeated the rebels in Lianzhou and recovered several cities in Lianzhou..."

(End of chapter)