Chapter 252: The Net Closes

"Retreat!"

Seeing the rebel main force mobilize, Shu Zhongyi decisively issued the order to retreat.

In an instant, the cavalry that had been blocking the road vanished without a trace.

"My lord, we clearly had the ability to stop the rebels; why are we in such a rush to retreat?"

Upon returning to the temporary camp, a young Company Commander asked, his face full of confusion.

According to past practice, after encountering the enemy's main force, they should have engaged in constant skirmishing.

If there was a tactical opening, they would strike; if there was no good opportunity, they would stall for time.

"You lad are still too green; don't fill your head with thoughts of earning merit.

These rebels are not our mission objective; the Commander's order is: leave the rebels' baggage train behind.

As for these rebels, there are still Guizhou Province's troops ahead responsible for intercepting them.

Everyone wants a piece of the great merit of capturing the fake Emperor alive.

If we rush to finish the job, what are our colleagues from Guizhou supposed to do?"

Shu Zhongyi explained with a smile.

Officialdom is a place of human relationships and worldly wisdom; hogging the credit is a major taboo.

……

Tongren Prefecture.

"Governor, the rebel vanguard has entered our territory.

According to intelligence gathered, the Guangxi army is launching a fierce assault on them; these rebels were driven out of their camp.

Just two hours ago, the Guangxi cavalry intercepted them once.

I don't know what happened, but after beheading nearly a thousand rebel soldiers, the Guangxi cavalry retreated."

Upon receiving this news, Wu Zekai's brows furrowed instantly.

His expectations were dashed; the Guangxi army failed to keep all the rebels in Huguang, and a portion still slipped through.

"Pass the order down: the entire army is to prepare for battle; we must keep this group of rebels in Tongren Prefecture.

Whatever petty schemes you have, put them away.

What has slipped into Guizhou now is merely a group of rebel remnants.

If we can't even hold back a group of remnants, how are we to explain ourselves when the court holds us accountable?"

Wu Zekai said earnestly.

People all care about face.

It is understandable to be unable to defeat the rebel main force; after all, there are plenty of imperial troops who have been defeated by the rebel army.

But to concentrate the forces of an entire province and fail to stop a group of rebel remnants—that is truly indefensible.

By then, even if the court doesn't punish them, they will become the laughingstock of the world.

The labels of "incompetent" and "useless" will follow them for a lifetime.

Not to mention having no hope for their official careers, even if they returned to their hometowns, they wouldn't be able to hold their heads up in the circle of scholars and gentry.

"Governor, although the number of rebels who escaped is about the same as our army, they are elite to the last man.

Intercepting the rebels head-on carries too much risk.

It would be better to defend the city; after all, with the Guangxi army chasing from behind, the rebel army certainly won't have time to lay siege."

Regional Commander Xiao Xianrong said, his face full of fear.

During the last expedition to Huguang, the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition army was utterly defeated, and he was a personal witness.

The retainer force he had spent a fortune to build was almost entirely buried on the battlefield.

If he hadn't run fast, he would have lost his own life as well.

Having witnessed the prowess of the rebel elites, he had absolutely no confidence in stopping them.

Defending Loushan Pass would at most cost them a bit of face.

Intercepting the rebels head-on would cost them their lives.

"Unacceptable!

Regional Commander Xiao, if we concentrate our forces and enter Loushan Pass, Guizhou's gateway will be wide open.

If the rebels change their operational direction, the various prefectures of Guizhou will be left for the rebels to gallop through.

If we lose cities and territory on a large scale, we will be unable to shirk the blame."

Provincial Administration Commissioner Zou Yunchuan voiced his firm opposition.

Guizhou is already poor; if the rebels ravage it again, the officials tightening their belts to get by is a small matter.

Once the court holds them accountable, it will mean losing their heads.

The Emperor and the civil and military officials in the court won't care whether they are facing rebel elites or not.

Everyone will only know that a group of rebel remnants, battered by the Guangxi army, slipped into Guizhou to cause chaos, and the local officials' incompetence led to the collapse of the situation.

"Regional Commander Xiao, Commissioner Zou is right.

Guizhou must not be lost; we cannot bear the responsibility of losing cities and territory.

You can proceed with the defensive layout with confidence; I will arrange for someone to communicate with Guangxi, and you only need to stall the rebels for ten days."

Wu Zekai spoke immediately.

It seemed like a discussion, but in reality, it was an unquestionable order.

From the very beginning, he never thought the rabble under his command could defeat the rebels.

It doesn't matter if they can't beat the rebels, as long as they can delay the enemy's speed and let the Guangxi army behind catch up.

"Governor, if we must fight, it would be best to ask Commander Li to send cavalry support.

On open terrain, the advantage of cavalry against infantry is very obvious.

Additionally, send someone to coordinate with the Shu army and have them enter Loushan Pass to garrison it.

In case of any changes on the battlefield, we can ensure the rebels cannot slip into Shu territory."

Xiao Xianrong said expectantly.

Fortunately, Xiao Xianrong did not know that the rebel remnants entering Guizhou were deliberately let through by Shu Zhongyi; otherwise, he would have to greet his ancestors right now.

Everyone wants a share of the merit, but the problem is one must have the strength to participate.

One can cut corners in many places, but not on the battlefield.

The rebels won't talk about worldly wisdom with them; on the battlefield, each other's heads are the other's military merit.

Even if one is pulling strings to share military merit, it isn't played like this.

If he had a choice, Xiao Xianrong would rather pay money to buy heads than face the rebel main force.

"Very well, I grant your request."

Wu Zekai agreed immediately.

Such a deployment was undoubtedly the best choice.

Not only could it increase the chances of victory, but it could also provide a fallback for unfavorable war developments in advance.

……

"Holy Emperor, eat something!

You haven't eaten for a day; how can your body take it if this continues?"

Shi Qichuan spoke up to persuade him.

A day had passed since they broke out of the camp, and they had successfully shaken off the pursuers.

The price paid for this was also extremely heavy.

Not only did they abandon the accompanying families, but they also lost all their wealth and strategic supplies.

"I cannot eat!"

"The army was defeated so miserably; many good men who followed me out of Guangxi have fallen on the battlefield.

It is I who have failed them!

And Chancellor Fu, whom I sent to the imperial camp to lobby, is now also in an unknown state of life or death.

The imperial army's speed of advance was too fast; many plans could not be implemented in time.

In order to retreat quickly, the original plan to hide the wealth was also forced to be canceled temporarily.

The accumulation of the Holy Kingdom has all benefited that thief Li Mu; I am truly unwilling!"

Shi Rongxuan expressed his true feelings.

Such a loss of composure would never have appeared in the past.

Until now, Shi Rongxuan still couldn't figure out why Li Mu would fight so desperately for the meager pay issued by Great Dayu.

Clearly, cooperating with him and playing the game of nurturing bandits to bolster one's own power was the best choice.

In fact, the fuse for the Guangxi army's sudden ferocity was the special envoy Fu Sanqi.

He actually used the hidden wealth as a threat, which was clearly challenging Li Mu's soft underbelly.

To avoid working in vain, the army naturally had to go all out.

Facts proved that as long as the speed of the attack was fast enough, the enemy would not have time to transfer their assets.

Facing the full-output Guangxi army, the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom's army naturally could not hold on.

"Holy Emperor, please rest assured.

The officials of the fake dynasty love to be jealous of talent; that thief Li Mu thinks he has achieved heaven-defying merit, not knowing he is at death's door.

As long as we spread the news and let the whole world know that he has obtained the Holy Kingdom's accumulation,

the fake Emperor will inevitably reach out to him to demand it.

When he cannot produce the items, he will certainly be punished.

Even if he produces the items, the fake Emperor will suspect him of hoarding some.

If this continues, suspicion will inevitably arise between the monarch and his subject.

Moreover, the opposition between the civil and military of Great Dayu is severe, and civil officials love to suppress military generals the most.

He has achieved such great merit, which will inevitably trigger the hostility of civil officials.

Offending both the Emperor and the civil officials at the same time, it will be difficult for him not to die!"

Wu Zekai analyzed confidently.

Whether the Great Dayu Emperor would follow his plan, no one could say for sure.

Anyway, to persuade Shi Rongxuan to pull himself together, he had to let him see hope.

Now, the person Shi Rongxuan hated most was Li Mu, so he naturally had to speak according to his Holy Emperor's wishes.

"The Chancellor is right; that thief Li Mu is just ignorant of life and death, actually foolishly selling his life for the fake Emperor.

If he were willing to submit to the Holy Kingdom, I would never be stingy with a princely title.

Forget it, his fate should be just that; he is destined to die at the hands of a muddled monarch!"

Shi Rongxuan said with a firm tone.

Regardless of how low the probability of such a thing happening was, he had to firmly believe it would happen.

Even if it was self-deception, he had to create a hope.

After speaking, Shi Rongxuan took the rice ball and stuffed it into his mouth.

In the middle of fleeing for his life, there was no way to be particular.

Fortunately, Shi Rongxuan himself had a bitter background and had eaten grass roots and tree bark, so he was used to it.

"Holy Emperor, we have discovered the imperial army building fortifications ahead; it is suspected to be Guizhou's local army."

Hearing this news, Shi Rongxuan's anger flared up again.

"Truly, a dragon in the shallows is teased by shrimp; a group of defeated soldiers also dares to come up and seek death.

Pass the order down, let the Imperial Guard go up and wipe out this enemy force; we must beat the enemy until they hurt!"

The ministers present also shared the same hatred; if they couldn't beat the Guangxi army under Li Mu, could they not beat a group of defeated soldiers!

Before, when they were dealing with the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition, they didn't spend much effort.

If it weren't for the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition running fast, they would have been wiped out.

……

"Kill!"

Following the main general's order, the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom's army launched a fierce attack on the blocking Guizhou local army.

The defense line that had only been half-built could not exert its effect, and the Bijie Guard executing the construction task could only rush to meet the enemy.

Both sides engaged in fierce competition around the position.

Soon, the disadvantage of the Bijie Guard's insufficient training was exposed on the battlefield.

Except for the general's retainers who could fight against the enemy, the rest of the garrison soldiers were not a match for a single blow.

"Retreat!"

Realizing the situation was not good, Bijie Guard Commander Zeng Xiaofei decisively issued the order to retreat.

The order given to him from above was to stall for time.

Not fleeing at the first sight of the wind and being able to persist in fighting the enemy for two rounds could already be considered a decent performance.

After a small victory, the morale of the Holy Kingdom's army recovered quite a bit.

Facts proved that it wasn't that they couldn't fight, but that the enemies they encountered before were too abnormal.

Encountering imperial troops of normal level, they could still beat the other side until they cried for their parents.

"What are these walls on the side for?"

Looking at the suddenly appearing walls, Shi Rongxuan asked in confusion.

"Holy Emperor, this is the boundary line between the Miao and Han.

Because of disputes over copper mine interests, the Miao territory chieftains in the Tongren area have always been at odds with the fake dynasty.

The local government was afraid of trouble, so they directly built a boundary wall in the border area, and since then, both sides have not disturbed each other.

Imperial troops generally do not enter the territory of the Miao chieftains.

If we can persuade these chieftains to allow us to borrow the road, the road ahead will be much smoother."

Mi Yingbo explained.

Having offended the Bai Lian Holy Emperor before, now that there was an opportunity to make amends, he naturally had to show something.

He understood Shi Rongxuan; as long as he proved he had enough value, even if there was a conflict between the two sides, he could pretend nothing had happened.

Referring to the arrogant soldiers and fierce generals in the Holy Kingdom, one would know that these people had crossed the line many times in their daily lives, and Shi Rongxuan still pretended not to see.

As long as they didn't want to rebel against him, other problems, even if caught personally, were handled lightly.

"It's useless, Commissioner Mi.

Before the expedition, we sent people with heavy gifts to lobby, but unfortunately, it failed.

In the chieftain rebellion decades ago, the chieftain forces in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Huguang provinces were severely damaged and have not recovered their vitality to this day.

These chieftains were scared by the imperial army's grand gestures, and even now, they dare not openly oppose the fake dynasty."

Wu Zekai decisively denied it.

The business of rebellion is truly not something ordinary people dare to do.

Those who didn't believe in evil were all lying down; the miserable state of the Guangxi chieftains was the best example.

After a rebellion, the Guangxi chieftains were directly wiped out. This kind of uprooting playstyle really scared many people.

Chieftains all have families and businesses; no one is willing to risk their heads.

Even those who had ideas, after learning about what happened in Guangxi, all became well-behaved.

Everyone knew that rebellion and the usual small disturbances were not the same concept.

Once the court is angered, they really will kill people.

With the previous lessons, it was not so easy for the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom to come and fool them later.

Everyone knew the Bai Lian Sect could not be relied upon; no matter how good the promised conditions were, it was meaningless if they couldn't be fulfilled.

No matter how eloquent they were, others just wouldn't get involved.

Some timid chieftains even directly sent the special envoys they sent to the local government.

Even the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom in its heyday couldn't handle it; on the way to fleeing, there was even less chance.

"What a pity, we can't even borrow help!"

After a sigh of regret, Shi Rongxuan ordered to continue the march.

……

Main camp.

After two days of busy work, the harvest was finally preliminarily counted.

Captured 5 million taels of silver, 300,000 taels of gold, 30 boxes of various jewelry and ornaments, 30,000 bolts of cloth, 300,000 shi of grain and fodder……

Adding all the spoils of war together, the total value was not less than 10 million taels.

The huge wealth was enough to make anyone crazy, but Li Mu appeared exceptionally calm.

The Bai Lian Holy Kingdom, which had been looting gentry all the way and scraping through several provinces, only had this little family background; it was purely fooling ghosts!

Knowing there was a problem, Li Mu had no intention of getting to the bottom of it.

Under Great Dayu's military system, there were too many constraints.

From the Yangzhou Camp to the current Guangxi Army, they were essentially still old-style armies.

They relied more on the charisma of the generals to attract everyone's loyalty, without a unified ideology or belief.

Turning in the spoils to the public was currently more like a slogan.

In the process of specific execution, soldiers privately hiding property was still a common occurrence.

Even some officers were involved in it.

It's just that everyone still gave face; while reaching out to grab money, they remembered to leave a share for him, the boss.

"Commander, General Shu sent news.

After the rebel army entered the Tongren territory, they have already fought several battles with the Guizhou local army.

The Guizhou army performed poorly on the battlefield, and I'm afraid they won't be able to complete the mission.

As of now, the chieftains in the Guizhou area are still well-behaved and have not intervened in this war."

Upon receiving this news, Li Mu was slightly stunned.

At least it was an army of a province; they couldn't even manage to delay the rebel army for ten days or half a month.

Such a performance was simply too sloppy.

It seems it was the civil officials covering up again; the losses of the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition in the previous defeat far exceeded the data they reported themselves.

It just explained why the Yunnan-Guizhou coalition didn't appear when beating the drowning dog.

It wasn't that they didn't want a share, but that they had already lost their family background before, and the current troops were all temporarily pulled together to fill the numbers.

If they had a little bit of strength, Guizhou would have sent someone to talk to him about the distribution of spoils.

Only when their own strength was insufficient and the battlefield was a mess did they not have the guts to reach out.

After all, at this time, Li Mu only needed to slow down the marching speed to let those Guizhou officials be held accountable by the court.

"Tell Shu Zhongyi to let him play freely.

If the Guizhou local army is defeated across the board, then at the critical moment, step in and pull them.

We must block the rebel army before Loushan Pass.

Pass the order down, let all units speed up the march.

The war to encircle and suppress the fake Emperor has now reached the end, and the rebel army is absolutely not allowed to step into Shu territory!"

Li Mu decisively changed the operational plan.

Chasing all the way to Guizhou, this performance was enough; if it continued, it might really be picked by others.

They were already remnants and defeated soldiers; after being consumed by the Guizhou army, I'm afraid there won't be many left when they arrive at Loushan Pass.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 253 =====