Chapter 376: Pirates Rampant

"Enough!

We can discuss the matter of money later.

The retaking of Nanjing is joyous news for all under heaven.

Issue proclamations immediately to spread this news to every corner of Great Yu; I want everyone to know that rebellion leads to no good end.

Also urge Grand Secretary Xu; the fighting in the Shu region is truly going poorly!"

Emperor Yongning's words left the Pure Stream faction deeply embarrassed.

Grand Secretary Xu was already one of the few in the Pure Stream who understood military affairs.

Yet when it came to actual battle achievements, the gap compared to the noble families and imperial in-laws was indeed vast.

Even if they wanted to boast, they did not know where to begin.

Yet Grand Secretary Xu's reputation remained a crucial political asset for the Pure Stream faction, something they could absolutely not abandon.

"Your subjects obey Your Majesty's decree!"

Echoing the Emperor's words alongside the hundred officials, the officials of the Pure Stream faction were also worrying about their own futures.

In the Great Yu Dynasty, without the support of a faction, it was extremely difficult to rise to high office through one's own efforts alone.

Everyone's career path depended half on their own scheming and half on their binding to their respective faction.

Switching camps for the sake of one's career was common, but the prerequisite was that one must possess value.

Not everyone had the capital to keep jumping back and forth endlessly.

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Xu is advanced in years and lacks the strength to oversee the great war on the front lines.

Now that the situation is improving, I suggest recalling Grand Secretary Xu and selecting another high official to take charge of the war in the Shu region."

Censor-in-Chief Lai Yaohua stepped forward and spoke.

If something could not be handled, it simply could not be handled; some things could not be forced.

When Xu Wenyue had left the capital years ago, it had originally been out of helpless coercion.

It was a rotten idea proposed to Emperor Yongning by Yin and Zuo, the two leaders of the Pure Stream, so that they themselves could ascend to power.

Pressure from the Emperor, combined with betrayal from within the Pure Stream itself, had forced the duck onto the perch, sending him out as Viceroy.

From the perspective of collective interests, this had also been an expansion of the Pure Stream faction's power.

Judging by the situation at the time, once the new Emperor assumed personal rule, it was certain that Yin and Zuo would enter the Grand Secretariat.

Had Xu Wenyue also remained in the capital, the power of the Pure Stream faction would have become too great for any Emperor to tolerate.

No one could have expected that shortly after Grand Secretary Xu left the capital, Yin and Zuo would suddenly explode like thunder.

The charge of colluding with the White Lotus Sect fell, crushing Yin and Zuo to death and leaving the entire Pure Stream camp battered and bruised.

All major factions in the court joined in kicking them while they were down; every Pure Stream disciple who had studied under the two men was tainted with a political stain, ending their careers.

The regions ravaged by the rebels happened to be the stronghold of the Pure Stream party, delivering yet another heavy blow.

Even until now, they had not recovered their vitality.

As the situation had developed to this point, the Pure Stream party members in the court had become quite loose and scattered.

Each had their own little calculations; when problems arose, they could not unify their stance at all, and often undermined each other from within.

Taking the suppression of the rebellion as an example, when the proposal to employ the nobility was first made, those who supported it most were Pure Stream members, and those who opposed it most fiercely were also Pure Stream members.

The dispersion of factional power meant that in confrontations with other factions, they were often at a disadvantage.

Holding the high position of Censor-in-Chief, Lai Yaohua still wished to advance one step further.

Relying on the support of the scattered Pure Stream party members was clearly insufficient for entering the Grand Secretariat.

To take this step, the only hope lay in bringing Xu Wenyue back to the capital to oversee the overall situation.

"Your Majesty, Lord Lai speaks reason.

The war in the Shu region has made no progress for a long time; if this continues, it will easily lead to unforeseen changes.

I suggest that after the war in Jiangnan concludes, we transfer Marquis Zhendong to lead the Huguang troops into Shu to suppress the rebellion."

Minister of War Luo Zefeng responded immediately.

The Ministry of War had long been dissatisfied with the war in the Shu region.

While all the Viceroys in the south were advancing triumphantly, only Grand Secretary Xu had failed to achieve results.

To stabilize the situation in Shu, he had even made significant concessions to various native chieftains.

If he were not a big shot of the Pure Stream, the Censors would have long since pinned the hat of 'losing sovereignty and humiliating the nation' on him.

However, while the person overseeing the war in Shu could be changed, allowing Grand Secretary Xu to return was a completely different matter.

Not to mention anything else, the ministers of the Grand Secretariat would not wish to have another master looming over their heads.

The value of a Regent Minister was simply too high.

Even though the Emperor had assumed personal rule, he still held a transcendent status in the court.

Those two from the noble faction were easier to deal with; they were military men, not running on the same track as everyone else.

When military matters were not involved, they basically kept silent.

Xu Wenyue was different; he was originally a civil official, and his prestige throughout the court and countryside was high.

Once he returned to the court, he could instantly raise up a mountain of a faction that even the Chief Grand Secretary could not suppress.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War's opinion is very prudent.

Huguang borders the Shu region; having Marquis Zhendong send troops into Shu best fits the current situation.

Grand Secretary Xu has been rushing about abroad for so long; it is also time for him to return to the capital.

Wan Junhui seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

Others did not want Xu Wenyue to return to court, but he was different.

The Emperor was too difficult to serve; this broken role of Chief Grand Secretary meant being busy every day cleaning up messes.

Whoever wanted to do it could do it; anyway, he did not want to do it anymore.

If the highly respected Grand Secretary Xu returned, he could precisely step down and yield to a worthy successor.

Not only would he throw off the trouble, but he could also gain a good reputation.

"Chief Grand Secretary, this matter requires careful deliberation.

The war in Jiangnan has not yet ended; the Huguang troops are one of the main forces for encircling and suppressing the rebels, so it is temporarily inappropriate to move them lightly.

The situation in Shu cannot do without Grand Secretary Xu; for now, no rash moves must be made!"

Gu Jiaxi immediately retorted.

Although he did not know what was in the Chief Grand Secretary's heart, anyway he did not wish to see Xu Wenyue return to court.

Affecting personal power was one aspect, but the key was that the current court could not withstand further turmoil.

After Xu Wenyue returned, the momentum of the Pure Stream camp would surge, and they would definitely stir up trouble then.

Once a new round of factional strife was ignited, what would happen afterward, no one could say clearly.

"Grand Secretary Gu, the rebels in the Huguang region have long been purged.

The rebel Fu has been driven out of Nanjing; the rebel forces in Jiujiang, Nanchang, and other places must have their morale scattered.

The war south of the Yangtze River will end soon; for all we know, it might already be finished.

If luck holds, the remnants of the rebel Fu will be directly annihilated on the banks of the Yangtze.

Even if unforeseen changes occur and they manage to flee north of the river by chance, the Liaodong cavalry will be waiting for them there.

When pursuing and killing routed troops, cavalry is far more efficient than infantry; they will not be able to stir up any trouble.

No matter how thorny the situation in Shu is, it is not as difficult as the previous recovery of Huguang.

Among the several great rebel traitors of the White Lotus Sect, the rebel Wei's strength is considered the lowest.

With Marquis Zhendong taking action, there should not be much of a problem.

For the sake of the overall situation of suppressing the rebellion, your subject implores Your Majesty to make a decision soon!"

Wan Junhui firmly stated his position.

In order to extricate himself, he could no longer care about his colleagues.

Reason told him that once the situation improved, many people in the court would start playing tricks.

If he did not escape this sea of bitterness early, it would be difficult to leave with dignity later.

"Enemy attack!"

The main naval force had concentrated in the north, leaving the central and southern regions empty of troops.

When the Annan soldiers on the dock issued the warning, the pirates disguised as merchant ships had already begun landing.

"Kill!"

At Zhu Zhongxuan's command, the band of pirates immediately began their slaughter.

The government's pardon decree still held considerable attraction for this group of pirates.

Returning to one's roots and returning home in glory was a beautiful dream for countless people.

Even if risks might exist, everyone was willing to try their best.

Compared to the main force of the Kingdom of Annan, these miscellaneous soldiers left behind were clearly easier to bully.

Some slow-reacting dock workers also unfortunately became souls lost under the blade.

Anyway, the pardon decree issued by the court recognized only severed heads.

Killing innocents to claim merit carried no psychological pressure for these pirates.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

"Pirates... the pirates have landed!"

"So many bandits!"

"There are over a thousand ships alone; I fear there must be tens of thousands of people!"

Hearing the news brought by the soldiers, the Prefect of Yanzhou was completely stunned.

Although Yanzhou Prefecture was decent, it possessed no charm capable of attracting tens of thousands of pirates.

With so many people, they could have gone to raid Hanoi instead.

"Are you certain they are pirates, and not troops from Great Yu?"

Ruan Baiyi asked with concern.

While economically insignificant, Yanzhou Prefecture held considerable military value; during the Tang Dynasty, it had been the seat of the Annan Protectorate.

If the Yu Army launched a naval assault against Great Yue and chose to land here, splitting Great Yue in two would be entirely possible.

"My Lord Prefect, this humble one saw it very clearly; the bandits who landed are absolutely pirates."

"From the moment they landed, they have been burning, killing, and looting all the way; they do not seem intent on occupying the area long-term."

Upon receiving this definite news, Ruan Baiyi grew even more bewildered.

What virtue or ability did he possess that his jurisdiction should attract such a vast horde of pirates!

"Send orders down immediately: seal the city gates, and have the yamen runners conscript able-bodied young men from the city to defend the walls."

"Arrange for someone to seek aid from Thang Long City; urge the court to dispatch reinforcements as soon as possible!"

Ruan Baiyi issued the command on the spot.

Regardless of the situation, pirates were easier to deal with than the Yu Army.

He was also a man well-connected to information networks.

The Emperor had led hundreds of thousands of troops to the front lines yet gained nothing, which was sufficient proof that the enemy was no soft persimmon.

If tens of thousands of Yu soldiers had arrived, this battle would have been impossible to fight.

Pirates taking advantage of the chaos were doing so to seize wealth; once they had looted enough outside the city, they would naturally depart.

Although this line of thinking was somewhat unscrupulous, it was the only thing he could do under the current circumstances.

Elite troops from all regions had been withdrawn to the front lines, leaving only the old and weak behind for defense.

Furthermore, the navy tasked with protecting the coast had suffered heavy losses in the recent great battle.

Even if the court wished to send rescue, they had the heart but lacked the strength.

Choosing to seek aid from above was simply doing one's utmost while leaving the rest to fate.

On the sea surface, the skull flag fluttered in the wind as countless pirates continued to land in an endless stream.

The once-prosperous docks, under the destruction wrought by the pirates, had already become a living hell on earth.

Blood dyed the ground red, corpses littered the streets, and from time to time, the weeping of women could be heard.

As the planner of this operation, Zhu Zhongxuan stood silently at a high vantage point, saying nothing.

He had seen scenes like this many times before.

Pirates themselves represented destruction; maintaining military discipline was out of the question.

They were merely partners in a business venture; as their alliance leader, he possessed only nominal command authority and held no coercive power over the other pirates.

Had this been a regular army, upon successfully landing, they should have pressed forward with a single surge of momentum.

At the very least, they should have captured Yanzhou Prefecture before considering any looting.

Unfortunately, this force was a coalition of pirates, whose primary concern was profit.

Plundering to enrich themselves would always take precedence; capturing Yanzhou was done for the sake of robbery, not for any so-called strategic value.

"Boss Zhu, do you think doing this will lure out the Annan Navy?"

The scholar in green robes asked aloud.

Compared to the rest of the pirates, his scholar's attire was obviously out of place.

However, his gentle and refined scholar's appearance was merely a disguise; at sea, he also bore the nickname "Life-Taking Scholar."

When it came to killing, he was more adept than butchers slaughtering chickens and ducks.

"Whether or not we can lure them out, we will know in a few days."

"To raid the Kingdom of Annan, the threat posed by their navy must be resolved by some means."

"If the enemy hides within the port and refuses to come out, then we shall simply continue looting and killing."

"Once we have killed enough to frighten the Annan gentry, they will naturally pressure the navy to sortie!"

"By the way, tell the men below to keep their eyes sharp."

"It does not matter how many Annan people are killed indiscriminately; however, if anyone from Great Yu reveals their identity, they must not be killed recklessly."

"We still need the court's help to fence our spoils; do not mistakenly kill government officials."

Zhu Zhongxuan said, feigning indifference.

The task entrusted by Marquis Hanshui was something he dared not take lightly.

If the sole purpose were truly to lure the Annan Navy into a decisive battle, there were better methods, making such a long journey unnecessary.

In essence, coming here was merely to assist in clearing the field.

Compared to Northern Yue, the Southern Yue region had been less influenced by Central Plains culture and thus required a more thorough cleansing.

In a certain sense, Yanzhou Prefecture served as the dividing line.

The further south one went, the more they needed these men to play the villains, clearing obstacles for the court's rule.

Zhu Zhongxuan did not resent such a task.

He still felt a strong sense of belonging toward Great Yu.

His tragic plight stemmed from poverty, not persecution by the government; there was no deep-seated hatred between them.

Being able to exchange helping the court expand its territory for fame, fortune, and official rank placed no pressure on him whatsoever.

Marquis Hanshui's reputation for keeping his word was well-known even at sea.

A small figure like himself was not worth breaking a contract over.

"Boss Zhu, what benefit did Marquis Hanshui actually promise you to make you devote yourself so fully?"

Life-Taking Scholar asked with suspicion.

Deep in his heart, he was filled with jealousy.

The court intended to offer amnesty, yet they had not invited him.

Although the men and ships under his command could only be considered upper-middle tier among the pirates, he possessed brains!

In terms of combat achievements, he was not much inferior to those large pirate gangs.

The limitation on pirate scale was primarily to avoid standing out and drawing the court's attention.

He had succeeded in hiding himself, yet when the court offered amnesty, they had overlooked him as well.

Considering himself a scholar at heart, his longing for an official position far exceeded that of other pirates.

"Scholar, did I not already tell you? There truly is nothing else."

"Apart from the promise that heads of Annan soldiers can be exchanged for imperial pardon, everything else depends on the situation."

"What official rank one can obtain mainly depends on one's performance on the battlefield and how high a position the court is willing to grant."

"High office and generous salary are certainly not to be expected; most likely, it will just be a minor post."

"If they had truly promised a high position, I would not dare to sit in it."

"It would burn my buttocks!"

Zhu Zhongxuan shrugged with both hands.

By heaven and earth, he truly had not lied.

He was not the only one who had attended the meeting that day.

Concealing the truth only to have it revealed by others would merely ruin his reputation.

Yet this frankness still aroused suspicion among the various pirate chiefs.

Each one worried that he was selling them out to secure benefits for himself.

"Boss Zhu, look at what you are saying."

"If we did not trust you, none of us brothers would have followed you in this undertaking."

"It is just that the court is far too stingy, treating us brothers as if we were nothing at all!"

Life-Taking Scholar said, feigning indignation.

(End of Chapter)