Heh,
Zhu Mo smiled faintly and thought, You still want to test me? What a pity, your plan has gone awry. I didn't want to make things difficult for you, but since you are so cunning, you can't blame me...
"Si Hong, do we send troops, how do we fight, let's discuss it together! Let's go!"
His tone had become quite impatient. Si Hong had no choice but to follow him to the back courtyard of the Tusi yamen.
Here,
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was a cluster of bamboo buildings, originally the private residence of the Tusi of Mubang. The front courtyard served as the yamen, and the back courtyard as the private residence, which was the customary practice for Tusi in Yunnan and Guizhou. The place was brightly lit, with many Tusi already seated. Besides the Three Xuan and Six Wei, there were also five Tizhou prefectures and five Changguan divisions.
The Three Xuan referred to the Southern Dian Pacification Commandery, the Gan Ya Pacification Commandery, and the Long Chuan Pacification Commandery. The Six Wei comprised the Che Li Pacification Commandery, the Myanmar Pacification Commandery, the Mubang Pacification Commandery, the Eight Hundred Great Dian Pacification Commandery, the Meng Yang Pacification Commandery, and the Laos Pacification Commandery. However, these administrative structures only existed briefly. In reality, after the Zhengtong era, the Ming Dynasty's rule had become merely nominal.
The Myanmar Pacification Commandery was originally another title of the Ava Kingdom. However, twenty years prior, after the Luluan people captured Ava, it officially broke away from the Ming Dynasty. Four years ago, when the brothers Mang Yinglong invaded, they further treated the Ming Dynasty as nothing. This Pacification Commandery, unlike the Yuan Dynasty's "Myanmar Central Pacification Province," was called the "Myanmar Central Pacification Commandery" during the reign of Emperor Hongwu, holding power not inferior to the Myanmar Central Pacification Province. However, after the Yongle era, it was renamed the Myanmar Pacification Commandery, retaining only an empty title.
The current situation was effectively leaderless, with the Tusi fighting independently, and the Luluan people being the most overbearing among them. The Luluan people's title in the Great Ming Dynasty was "Meng Yang Pacification Commandery" (Kachin). Although it had been a mere formality since the Zhengtong period, it was still a name that had once existed.
When everyone had quieted down, Zhu Mo spoke frankly:
"My lords, both I and Duke Mu are greatly pleased that you could come to this alliance... It is due to the loss of prestige of our Great Ming that the surrounding areas are unsettled. This is not entirely anyone's fault. Hmm, in my opinion, most of you are loyal..."
Hiss!
Whoosh!
Everyone was moved.
It should be known,
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Ming Dynasty high officials rarely admitted their own mistakes publicly, and this Zhu Mo indeed lived up to his reputation, speaking of the loss of national prestige right from the start. This was, naturally, the truth, but who dared to say it out loud? These past few years, they had all suffered under the oppression of the Yan faction. Rather than rebelling actively, they had been forced to rebel.
Among those present, the most prominent figures were the Pacification Commissioners of the Three Xuan and Six Wei. Except for the Pacification Commissioner of the Mengyang Pacification Commandery, who no longer existed, there were effectively five individuals. The next most important figures were the Tusi of the five Tizhou prefectures, namely Mengpeng (Shan State), Mengyang (Kachin), Mengding (Gengma), Mengyou (Yun County), and Mengdi (Lianghe); followed by five Changguan divisions, Menghe (Lujiang), Mengya (Changning), Menglian (Menglian), and Jingye (Zhenyuan).
These individuals, in a broader sense, could also be considered meritorious officials, as they had all defected to some extent when the Ming army pacified the King of Liang, and without their support, the war would not have proceeded so smoothly. It was precisely because of this that these people had fared poorly for twenty years. For instance, the succession of Tusi hereditary titles would often be delayed by the court, sometimes for decades before being conferred. Coupled with the contraband smuggling, excessive taxes, and brutal infighting of the Yan faction, these individuals had endured immense suffering.
Now, when Zhu Mo, a reforming minister, spoke of the court's shortcomings, they were naturally greatly encouraged, their eyes wide open as they looked at him.
Zhu Mo continued:
"We have encountered changes for forty years, and even the court has found it difficult to manage, let alone yourselves... Consider the Portuguese who have advanced like a storm, sweeping through the surroundings of our Great Ming. The Eastern Sea is plagued by Japanese pirates, and the Southwest is in turmoil due to the Mang clan. The nation's foundation has been shaken for more than a day... Fortunately, the Japanese pirates in the East Sea have been contained. Although it is uncertain if they will return, they have at least suffered a severe blow!
My lords, Duke Mu and I are here today specifically to deal with Mang Yinglong! The reason for Mang Yinglong's defeat at Shunning, most of you have already heard. That is, our Great Ming's Fujian navy has captured Malacca, and the reason our Ming navy could capture Malacca is because our fleet is no longer what it was! I can tell you all clearly: the armaments of the Great Ming Arsenal are even superior to those of the Portuguese!"
Whoosh!
Hiss!
It is as expected!
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Everyone had heard rumors, and now hearing Zhu Mo say it personally, and having seen the three hundred guards accompanying Zhu Mo these past few days, their firearms were indeed formidable. Coupled with the fact that Mang Yinglong had indeed been defeated, they were deeply shocked, as if the Ming army of yesteryear had been resurrected.
Zhu Mo was well aware of their thoughts and added:
"You all understand the current situation, don't you? Earlier, Si Hong mentioned that Mang Yinglong is tyrannical and lawless, and the Bai Gu City is now fraught with danger..."
Upon hearing this, everyone naturally looked at Si Hong.
Zhu Mo paced a few steps and then said calmly:
"Since Bai Gu City is already in turmoil, the Ava City here naturally won't fare any better, would it?"
Seeing everyone looking astonished and silent, he smiled again:
"Si Hong, what do you say?"
Si Hong, realizing he could not avoid it, immediately stood up and said:
"Scholar Zhu is correct! The Ava City here is also in turmoil. Our imperial army can pacify it with a simple proclamation."
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Mm-hmm,
Only then did everyone nod in succession.
Someone suddenly said:
"Scholar Zhu, the Mang brothers are tyrannical, and our imperial army must not spare them!"
"Yes!"
"Yes, yes! Must not spare them!"
"Punish them according to law!"
"Reappoint the Myanmar Pacification Commissioner!"
"But the Ava King has no descendants!"
"Who says there are none? Isn't Mang Rui Ti, Mang Ji Sui's son, one of them! In the end, Mang Yinglong is also from the Ava royal lineage!"
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"I think it's best! Let the court send someone to be the Pacification Commissioner!"
"No! I think the Luluan people should be the Pacification Commissioner!"
"Anyone is fine, but not anyone surnamed Si!"
"..."
The crowd immediately descended into chaos.
Zhu Mo and Mu Chaobi exchanged glances, both feeling a great sense of helplessness.
These people were always like this, a dozen individuals, always acting independently. Without the deterrent of the imperial court, there wouldn't even be peace.
Mu Chaobi, with his considerable authority, said sternly:
"Do not argue!"
Hiss!
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Everyone immediately fell silent.
Mu Chaobi added:
"The Myanmar Pacification Commandery has long been a mere formality! Forty years ago, when Si Lun captured Ava, the Myanmar Pacification Commandery was no longer conferred! What should be done now is entirely up to the court, up to Scholar Zhu! He is a Grand Scholar of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, ranking among the highest officials. Do not cause trouble!"
Recalling the fifty thousand imperial troops present, everyone fell silent.
Zhu Mo knew well that the Ava City garrison at this time was comprised of various people, all with very close ties to the Tusi present. As long as they were willing to defect, Meng She would immediately be isolated. His only worry was that these people might not be willing to recognize Meng She as their leader. He then said:
"If you are willing to listen, I will speak then..."
"Hmm, in the Ava City now, Meng She is isolated and powerless. The garrison in the city is mostly your kinsmen. If you send out a proclamation, you can naturally capture Meng She's head... But have you considered this? Are the Burmese and the people of various states willing to accept a Pacification Commissioner appointed by the Great Ming?
Ava is a major city in Myanmar. It is easy for us to capture it, but we might very well lose the hearts of the people. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang said, the highest strategy is to attack the heart, and the lower strategy is to attack the city. What we want now is for Mang Yinglong's imperial ambitions to vanish into smoke and for the various states and peoples to return to peace, not to engage in a full-scale war with the Burmese... Think about it, is what I say reasonable?"
As his words fell,
The entire hall fell into silence.
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Si Hong then understood why Zhu Mo had been feigning ignorance earlier. He was playing with him! He had no intention of capturing Ava at all, but rather wanted everyone to abandon the idea of occupying Ava City. Then, how did he intend to deal with Meng She? Would the Luluan people have to suffer this setback this time?
It should be known,
The Luluan people were closely monitoring the situation, and they had many influential figures in Ava City. As soon as Zhu Mo and Mu Chaobi gave the order to attack, he could immediately cut off Meng She's head, seize the initiative, and occupy all the critical positions in Ava City. At that point, no matter who the Ming Dynasty appointed as the Myanmar Pacification Commissioner, the Luluan people would be the de facto power holders.
What they feared most was that the Ming army would not attack.
And at this moment,
Something even more frightening seemed to have occurred, which was:
Not only was the Ming army not attacking, but it even seemed to want Meng She to become the Pacification Commissioner?