When the rebel leader declared that anyone who charged the army formation again would be charged with treason, the people of Zhaocun Township finally remembered that no matter how polite these military officers were, they were still an army.
After realizing this, the people of Zhaocun Township couldn't help but feel a sense of lingering fear.
What possessed them to think of charging the army with wooden sticks and hoes?
The account books later seized from the homes of the gentry like Master Zhao thoroughly proved that Master Zhao was no great benefactor, but a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Interrogation? It wasn't necessary. The Menglianggu army didn't even have to lift a finger. The people, feeling utterly betrayed, sent the entire families of Master Zhao and the local gentry on their way.
The deeper their trust in Master Zhao had been, the greater their sense of betrayal now.
With the example of the village in front of them, the subsequent matters became much easier.
If the local gentry relied on their village militias to resist the Menglianggu righteous army, the Menglianggu army would simply crush them.
If the local gentry incited the populace to resist the Menglianggu army, the Menglianggu army would surround and divide the populace from the village militias, first putting on a grand show for the people, then finding individuals from nearby villages to give testimony, followed by a public trial of the local gentry.
In this way, the speed of the Menglianggu army's advance towards Guide Prefecture greatly increased.
...
Zhao Ji, the Prefect of Guide Prefecture, felt that he must have encountered something unclean, or perhaps been cursed, otherwise why would he have even considered spending one hundred thousand taels of silver to buy a prefect position?
Now, before the seat of power beneath him had even warmed up, and before he had recouped the hundred thousand he spent, this man surnamed Zhu had brought his troops to attack.
If it were only this, Prefect Zhao could have grudgingly accepted it. After all, he had chosen the position of Prefect of Guide Prefecture himself; it was his own fault for seeking a cheap deal and the advantage of remoteness when buying his office.
However, Emperor Zhu Zhongtao of Great Ming was simply too useless. Despite Prefect Zhao sending memorials for help again and again, his pleas sent to Henan Prefecture vanished like clay oxen entering the sea, with not a single reinforcement in sight. Prefect Zhao could only sit trapped in his predicament.
Prefect Zhao had also considered fleeing, but he had spent a full hundred thousand taels to buy his office, and had only recouped less than thirty thousand. If he fled now, wouldn't he lose seventy thousand taels in total?
Seventy thousand taels! The thought of seventy thousand taels made Prefect Zhao's heart ache.
But if he didn't flee, Prefect Zhao was also afraid.
Especially when he thought of how the rebel Zhu's army had already captured Ningling and Yucheng, and was now advancing towards Shangqiu. Prefect Zhao was terrified.
In Ningling, over one hundred and thirty local gentry were massacred. In Yucheng, over one hundred and fifty local gentry were massacred. The magistrate of Ningling County was killed, and the magistrate of Yucheng County was killed. The reason was merely that the local gentry and scholars of Ningling and Yucheng had occupied a few more mu of land, and the magistrates of Ningling and Yucheng had collected taxes for a few more years.
Damn it all! The magistrates of Ningling and Yucheng were sold by me, the Prefect. The taxes they collected for those extra years were also partially sent to me, the Prefect. If the rebel Zhu reached Shangqiu, would I, the Prefect, be safe?
After pacing back and forth in the prefectural yamen for a long time, Prefect Zhao simply sent someone to summon Zhao Gou, the magistrate of Shangqiu County, to the prefectural yamen.
Magistrate Zhao Gou of Shangqiu County was personally recommended by Prefect Zhao. Furthermore, no silver was taken, because Zhao Gou was Prefect Zhao Ji's own son.
Upon arriving at the prefectural yamen, Zhao Gou immediately asked, "Father, what should we do now? That rebel Zhu's army is almost at Shangqiu. If we don't leave now, we won't have a chance!"
Prefect Zhao paced back and forth, his face full of heartache. "Father also wants to leave, but our family spent one hundred thousand taels for this prefect position. We've only just recouped thirty thousand, that seventy thousand..."
Zhao Gou said somewhat displeased, "Father, why are you so greedy? Is life more important or is money more important? I'm telling you, I've already had people pack our belongings. If the court still doesn't send reinforcements, I'll run first."
Zhao Gou's words also caused Prefect Zhao to be somewhat displeased. "You'll run first? Then what about Father?"
Zhao Gou rolled his eyes and said, "Either you run with me, or you don't. What else can be done? Think about it, Father. If your only son dies with you, wouldn't our Zhao family be without descendants?"
Zhao Ji, Prefect Zhao, pondered that it did indeed make sense. He only had one son. No matter how much wealth he accumulated, wouldn't it all be his in the end? If he were to die with him in Shangqiu, would he have the face to see his ancestors?
With this thought, Prefect Zhao Ji gritted his teeth and stamped his foot. "Then it's like this. Your father will now send someone to notify the local gentry and scholars in Shangqiu city, asking them to contribute money to fight the bandits."
"After the money is in hand, you hurry and leave. Find a place where no one knows you, and live in anonymity. When that rebel Zhu is wiped out, or when the world is at peace, you can come out again."
Zhao Gou first grunted in agreement, then asked, "What about you, Father, after I leave?"
Prefect Zhao Ji said, "If there are absolutely no reinforcements, your father will naturally leave as well. We father and son will split the money fifty-fifty, and leave separately. Even if one of us is unlucky, at least the other can be preserved. For safety's sake, I won't tell you where I'm going, and you mustn't tell me where you're going."
At this point, Prefect Zhao Ji looked towards Henan Prefecture and sighed, "I wonder what our Emperor is thinking? Does he really have to wait until all of Henan falls to the rebel Zhu?"
In fact, Prefect Zhao Ji was truly wronging Zhu Zhongtao, the self-proclaimed seventeenth emperor of Great Ming.
Zhu Zhongtao, the self-proclaimed seventeenth emperor of Great Ming, had not failed to receive Prefect Zhao Ji's memorial requesting assistance, nor did he not want to send troops to reinforce Shangqiu. The reason was that Zhu Zhongtao, Emperor Zhu, simply had no troops willing to go.
There were people who would undertake a deadly business, but no one would undertake a business that was a guaranteed suicide.
As for the "Great Generals" of the Five Army Commanderies under Zhu Zhongtao, Emperor Zhu, why did they follow Zhu Zhongtao in rebellion? Wasn't it all for promotion and wealth?
Now that Zhu Zhongtao had become emperor, everyone had high positions, rode fine horses, and had beautiful concubines. Why would they not stay in Henan Prefecture to enjoy the wealth and glory they had exchanged for their lives? Instead, they were expected to lead troops to Shangqiu to fight another rebel surnamed Zhu?
No, they wouldn't go, dead or alive. After all, the rebel surnamed Zhu was different from his old brother Zhu Zhongtao. Zhu Zhongtao had picked up a great bargain, while the man surnamed Zhu had fought his way through against the Tatar soldiers with real swords and spears. To send these good-for-nothings who could only bully ordinary people to fight that man surnamed Zhu?
Who was foolish enough to do that!
Therefore, as long as Zhu Zhongtao presented Zhao Ji, Prefect Zhao's request for help, all the Great Generals under Zhu Zhongtao would shake their heads and pretend to be foolish, acting as if they hadn't understood what Zhu Zhongtao was saying.
And Zhu Zhongtao could do nothing to these old brothers, for they were the foundation of his stability on the throne. If these old brothers didn't support him, wouldn't Zhu Zhongtao, the emperor, be finished?
Therefore, Zhu Zhongtao could only send letters to the officials in various places, hoping that some official would "lend a hand to Prefect Zhao Ji for the sake of Great Ming."
Then, the letters sent by Zhu Zhongtao were just like the request for help sent by Prefect Zhao Ji to the "Great Ming Court." The final outcome was the same – vanishing like clay oxen entering the sea.
In helplessness, Zhu Zhongtao, the Emperor of Great Ming, could only think of issuing a general proclamation to the entire realm, hoping to rally everyone to raise an army together to attack Zhu Jinsong, this rebellious official who did not obey the court.
Zhu Zhongtao had already decided that as long as Zhu Jinsong, this rebellious official, could be eliminated, he, as emperor, would certainly not be stingy with rewards of marquis titles; even granting land and fiefs was negotiable.
Then, before Zhu Zhongtao had finished composing this proclamation, he first saw a messenger.
"Lord He's opinion is that you alone cannot defeat that rebel Zhu, but if you can unite with Zhu Zhongji of Jiangsu, and the two of you jointly dispatch troops, there is still a sliver of hope."
"That is all. Farewell."
Zhu Zhongtao was a bit dazed.
What did that mean?
He Shen specifically sent someone to deliver a letter to朕, telling 朕 how to deal with Zhu Jinsong, that rebel leader?
My god, was 朕 too tired last night? Or did 朕 drink too much?
Or, is this world too crazy?
Seeing that the messenger sent by He Shen, the Grand Tutor, was about to turn and leave, Zhu Zhongtao had no time to think further and immediately pointed at the messenger and shouted, "Guards, seize him for me!"
The messenger, however, was unfazed. Even though he was tightly bound, he still sneered at Zhu Zhongtao and said, "What, I was sent by Grand Tutor He to give you advice, and this is how you repay Grand Tutor He? But it doesn't matter. Anyway, you people are always so ungrateful. Whether you want to kill or flay me, I will obey."
Zhu Zhongtao was immediately enraged, pointing at the messenger and shouting, "What nonsense are you spewing! When it comes to ungratefulness, I'm afraid there's no one in this world more ungrateful than you Jurchens!
"Besides, this is a family matter between 朕 and Zhu Jinsong. What business do you Tatars have with it? And you're still running to give 朕 advice. I think you people have no good intentions!"
After cursing, Zhu Zhongtao didn't give the Jurchen messenger a chance to retort. He immediately waved his hand and ordered, "Drag him out and chop him up to feed the dogs!"
After the Jurchen messenger was dragged out, Zhu Zhongtao turned his gaze to his old brothers. "In any case, this is the situation, and you all understand it clearly without me saying anything."
"Regardless of whether that Jurchen messenger deserved to die or not, one thing he said is correct: we alone definitely cannot defeat Zhu Jinsong, that rebellious official. Therefore, the best way is to send someone to contact Zhu Zhongji of Jiangsu and persuade him to jointly dispatch troops to attack the rebel Zhu."
"In addition, I intend to issue a general proclamation to the entire realm, calling on all people to raise an army together to attack Zhu Jinsong, this rebellious official who does not obey the court. As long as Zhu Jinsong, this rebellious official, can be eliminated, 朕 will certainly not be stingy with rewards of marquis titles!"
The old brothers under Zhu Zhongtao nodded one after another.
If Zhu Zhongji could jointly dispatch troops to attack Zhu Jinsong, then Zhu Jinsong would be attacked from both Henan and Jiangsu. If that wasn't enough, they would invite others to jointly raise an army.
Even if Zhu Jinsong's army was good at fighting, could it possibly fight against so many people in the world?
Tsk, the Emperor is truly clever!
However, before Zhu Zhongtao and his old brothers could send someone to contact Zhu Zhongji, a red-feathered messenger hurriedly ran into the hall and bowed, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Prefect Zhao Ji of Guide Prefecture and Magistrate Zhao Gou of Shangqiu County have resigned and fled!"
Zhu Zhongtao had not yet reacted when one of his old brothers chuckled and said, "See, I said that the Zhao father and son were no good. His Majesty insisted on saying they were different people with the same name. Now look, they've both run off, hahahaha!"