GBP Chapter 637 Three Towns Advance and Retreat Together
Chapter 637 Three Towns Advance and Retreat Together
After dividing up the spoils left behind by the Tartars, Yang Guozhu asked, "General Liu, are you going to enter the city next?"
“Exactly.” Liu Ye nodded. “Fighting the Tartars was just a side thing; I have more important business to attend to in the capital.”
More important matters? Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei exchanged bewildered glances. For them, answering the call to defend the emperor was the most important thing—after all, they were paid by the court, and their troops were meant to be used—but in Liu Ye's words, it seemed like a trivial matter, something to be done casually. The two wanted to say, "Brother, these are Tartars! A real prince and a senior nobleman, tens of thousands of men invading! This is a matter of utmost importance, how can you call it a trivial matter?"
However, both of them wisely refrained from further discussion on this issue. They were both generals, yet the disparity between them was so vast; there was a reason for this. Their perspectives and levels of understanding were different from Liu Ye's, so naturally they couldn't possibly know what was so important as fighting the Tartars.
Hu Dawei said firmly, “General Liu, although you are about the same age as my nephew, what I have seen and heard today has impressed me greatly with your ability to train troops. In the future, the entire Ming army will surely take you as a role model. Although I don’t know why you insisted on coming to the capital, or how you clashed with Minister Yang of the Ministry of War, I know one thing: a person who is willing to fight the Tartars and can win is a very capable person, and definitely not a bad person! Whatever you do, I am willing to support you. How many days will you need to go to the capital? Otherwise, General Yang and I can stay outside the city for a few more days so we can look after each other. General Yang, don’t you think that makes sense?”
Yang Guozhu stroked his beard and nodded: "That's right, what General Hu said is exactly what I wanted to say." Xuanda and Shanxi are both located in the northwest frontier, and the two have always had a good relationship, often standing together through thick and thin.
Liu Ye was somewhat moved. Hu Dawei's attitude, expressed without knowing his motives or purpose, was commendable; he was a man worth befriending. Of course, Yang Guozhu, though more mature and prudent, and more thoughtful in his actions, was also trustworthy.
"I am deeply grateful for your kind words. However, I have my own way of dealing with Lord Yang of the Ministry of War, and there will be no risk involved. So there is no need for you two to wait outside the city. After all, the Tartars have left, and the mission of defending the emperor has been completed. It would be inappropriate to stay any longer, lest someone cause trouble. Let's go back, take the silver back, settle the outstanding wages, and make the brothers happy."
Hu Dawei shook his head: "We fought the Tartars side by side today, so we're brothers now. If a brother is in trouble, I can't just stand by and do nothing. I don't know what kind of person Lord Yang is, nor do I know what grudge he has against you, but as the Vice Minister of War, he insisted on ordering the attack on his own people when the enemy was at hand. Regardless of whether it was the Emperor's decree or not, I can't stand his magnanimity and character. Be careful of his underhanded tricks after you enter the city. As his older brother, I can't help with other things, but we can support each other outside the city. Even if Lord Yang wants to take action against you, he'll have to consider the weight of our two towns. If he attacks a meritorious official, it will chill everyone's hearts, and he can't bear the responsibility for the mutiny of the army outside the city."
This effectively tied Shanxi Town and Xuanda Town to Qionghai Town, forcing them to advance and retreat together. For a general like Hu Dawei, this was the best he could do. Liu Ye felt a warmth in his heart. Although this support was merely icing on the cake and didn't offer much practical help to his grand plans, the sentiment was invaluable. In the long run, gaining the support of two generals from the nine key border towns would undoubtedly benefit his future schemes.
"Since you've put it this way, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse. Very well, please stay in the capital for a few days. Once this matter is settled, I will send a batch of muskets from Qiongzhou to you as a gift. You won't need a single penny, as a token of my gratitude. Just send someone to Dengzhou, Shandong to pick them up."
Hu Dawei laughed: "Brother, you're a straightforward man. I won't stand on ceremony. Shanxi is a very poor place, and we can't find any silver. It would be best if we could save a lot of silver."
Liu Ye chuckled inwardly. Shanxi may be poor, but its land is full of treasures. This is what you call being unaware of your own wealth. Once the situation in the Central Plains stabilizes, I'll send people to mine coal in your territory.
Yang Guozhu felt much better upon hearing this. Although he was willing to stand with Shanxi Town, he still felt a little cheated by such blatant siding and unprincipled support for Liu Ye. Now that the other party was willing to donate excellent muskets without accepting a single penny, plus the silver he had received today, he felt he hadn't lost out no matter how you looked at it. He also chimed in, "General Liu is so young, yet his vision and level of understanding are beyond the reach of us two old folks. Given time, General Liu will surely become a great man and a pillar of the Ming Dynasty."
"Hehe, General Yang, you flatter me."
After the three reached an agreement, they each returned to their respective headquarters. Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu led their troops to continue stationing outside Yongding Gate, while Liu Ye packed up and prepared to enter the city.
When they arrived at Yongding Gate again, the guards looked at Liu Ye and his men with completely different eyes. In this day and age, might makes right. Who would dare offend such a formidable Tartar who had fled in disarray?
Before Liu Ye could speak, a guard on the city gate said, "Does the Earl of Pingnan wish to enter the city? The higher-ups have instructed that you may enter the city at any time, but you may only bring three or five attendants. Your army will have to be stationed outside the city, just like the others."
Liu Ye frowned upon hearing this. He couldn't say that what the other party said was unreasonable. After all, throughout history, how many emperors had been willing to let generals from border garrisons lead large armies into the capital? If they harbored treacherous intentions, wouldn't they turn the capital upside down?
Yan Guang, having come from within the system, never hesitated to assume the worst about the court and officials. He quickly said, "General, you can't let them manipulate you. If you only bring a few attendants into the city, and if the likes of Yang Sichang want to use dirty tricks, you won't even have the power to resist! They could easily ambush a few axemen, and with a signal like smashing a cup, the general would be in grave danger..."
Although this speculation sounds more like something out of a historical novel, it's not impossible that Yang Sichang might take a similar approach. Liu Ye frowned and said, "But if they say that, we can't just insist on bringing a large army into the city, can we?"
Yan Guang suggested, "General, you can set conditions: bring your guards into the city. With Lin San staying in the capital, the two of them should be able to ensure your safety. Besides, the Tartars have retreated, so there's no need to declare martial law in the capital. The city gates will open, and if anything happens, we can storm into the city to provide support. Regardless of whether the timing is right, we can seize this opportunity to rebel and declare ourselves king!"