Chapter 5 5. Yan Ding rises up, King Cheng rises

By the thirteenth year from Yuan to Zhengzheng, the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty had achieved great success in suppressing the uprising army, but these victories did not suppress people's thoughts of rebelling against the Yuan Dynasty. At the beginning of this year, Zhang Shicheng, a salt merchant in Hailing County, Taizhou (now Caoyan Town, Dafeng City, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province), was planning how to start an uprising.Zhang Shicheng's family is in Zhangjiadun, north of Caoyanchang. He has been operating boats and transporting salt for generations. He has four brothers, and he is the eldest.This Zhang Shicheng has a burly physique. He has been fond of practicing martial arts since he was young. He is very powerful. He also likes to let the salt workers practice martial arts.He cares little about money and righteousness, is willing to do good deeds, and loves to help anyone who is in trouble, so in this area, Yan Ding is very supportive of Zhang Shicheng.

Zhang Shicheng has long been dissatisfied with the salt officials here. These arrogant salt officials used their power to oppress the salt workers, not only withholding wages, but also often abusing them, and trying to deprive the salt merchants of money.Zhang Shicheng and his three younger brothers were indignant because they were often exploited by the government. They often scolded the government at home. They had long heard that Fang Guozhen rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty, Liu Futong led the Red Scarf Army to victory, Xu Shouhui became the emperor, and Haozhou was also occupied by the rebel army... ...All of these stimulated Zhang Shicheng's heart and also tempted him. Zhang Shicheng had long wanted to achieve a career, not only to expand business operations, but more importantly, to have power.In Zhang Shicheng's view, the government of the Yuan Dynasty has been corrupted to the extreme. Now that the world is in chaos, there are many people who are called kings everywhere. This is a good opportunity to achieve their careers.

On this day, Zhang Shicheng revealed his thoughts to his three younger brothers, but he did not expect them to be very supportive.With the backing of his family, Zhang Shicheng began to plan how to expand his strength to have the ability to rise up. Zhang Shicheng asked his second brother, Zhang Shiyi, to find Li Bosheng, his third brother to spend more time with the salt men in the salt field, and his fourth brother to prepare supplies and weapons.Zhang Shicheng understands that Liu Futong and the others are relying on the White Lotus Sect, and Guo Zixing and his gang are also pretending to be under the banner of the Red Scarf Army. Now he can only rely on his own charm and ability to do things, and this area is not popular in this area.Because most of the young and strong people here have gone to the saltworks to be saltmen.As a salt merchant, Zhang Shicheng is very aware of the psychology of the salt husband. The salt husband hates the salt officials the most. Now if he wants to enrich his manpower, he must win over the salt husband.

In the evening of that day, Li Bosheng followed Zhang Shiyi to Zhang's house.Zhang Shicheng valued Li Bosheng very much. Although he was just a small steward on the salt ship, Zhang Shicheng usually treated him well, but Li Bosheng was also a experienced person, and he was very safe in his work. He had been traveling around with the salt ship since he was sixteen. , more knowledgeable.Zhang Shicheng's calculations are very strong, and Li Bosheng will undoubtedly have an important helper to make Li Bosheng revolt with him. Moreover, he is very friendly and can get along with the bottom people. Very easy.

Zhang Shicheng disclosed the intention of the uprising to Li Bosheng, and Li Bosheng immediately expressed his willingness to go all out.Zhang Shicheng was overjoyed, and immediately took out a lot of silver from his home, and asked Li Bosheng to distribute it to the salt workers in the saltworks, and asked Li Bosheng to keep some to go home to honor his parents.Zhang Shicheng has money and knows how to use it. More importantly, he is not stingy with money, so many people are willing to follow him and work for him. Li Bosheng had just left when his third brother Zhang Shide came back.Looking at his excited expression, he knew that the recent operations were going well.

Zhang Shide said very confidently: "Brother, you don't have to worry about the salt workers. There are hundreds of people gathered, and you know a few capable people among them. They often practice martial arts with you. I heard that they will resist. Salt officials, everyone is very happy." After listening to Zhang Shide's report, Zhang Shicheng was not very happy.What can hundreds of people do?But more manpower is impossible, even to attack the county.Everything is difficult at the beginning, and it is even more difficult to make a good start.In Zhang Shicheng's mind, the first target of the uprising was changed in turn.After careful consideration, he believes that using the current manpower, he should do the most satisfactory thing, so as to attract more people to participate and be most sure of success.Well, let's kill some salt officials first, this is the person that the salt workers here hate the most.After killing the salt official, it is not difficult to win over the salt workers in the nearby salt field. Only when there are more people can we seek further development.

Zhang Shicheng said bitterly in his heart: "Qiu Yi, Ba Yihu, you dog officials, just wait to go to hell." Zhang Shicheng's first goal was not to siege the city, but to kill people, to kill the salt officials in the salt field.Usually, these people rely on their official positions, treat the salt workers harshly, become corrupt, and are deeply hated by the nearby salt workers. Zhang Shicheng called his second brother, Zhang Shiyi, and said that he wanted to kill Qiu Yi and these dog officials first, so as to make publicity and attract the people. Zhang Shiyi also thought it was a very gratifying thing.Zhang Shiyi was then sent to inquire about the whereabouts of these officials.

At the same time, Zhang Shicheng invited Li Bosheng to discuss the matter. His purpose was to let this person help in publicity, not to actually discuss the matter. Although Zhang Shicheng usually valued Li Bosheng, he understood that important matters must be decided by himself, and he could not rely on others.It was said to be a matter of discussion, but it was just to inform Li Bosheng, and he was assigned a task to spread the news that the salt officials would collect management fees from the salt workers in the nearby villages and salt fields, and at the same time pay attention to encouraging people.

Sure enough, those salt officials were still drinking and drinking, gambling day and night, but there was a lot of rumors here, saying what to do with the salt officials, the more people talked, the more angry they became.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang Shicheng asked his brother and the salt workers who had more contacts in peacetime to win people's hearts and encourage them to resist. That night, Zhang Shicheng gathered more than a dozen strong salt workers to discuss secretly in the scripture storage building of a temple near Caoyanchang, and prepare for action.It was a cold spring night, a dozen big men sat quietly around a brazier, and the atmosphere seemed a little depressing.The rhetoric before the action is often superfluous. Whether it is Zhang Shicheng or Li Bosheng, they look at these salt workers and have no rhetoric to say for a while.In fact, silence is golden, everything has been kept silent, Zhang Shicheng believes that he can seize the opportunity, and even more believes in the attitude and determination of these brothers towards the killing of Yan officials.

The room was silent for a long time, and a person hurried in, breaking the silence.Zhang Shicheng's eyes suddenly lit up, with inquiry and excitement in his eyes. This person was Zhang Shicheng's third brother, Zhang Shide. He said with a secretive face, "Everything is going according to plan. Those corrupt officials will gather at Ba Yihu's house to gamble." In the evening of that day, Zhang Shicheng ordered Zhang Shide to lead a few people to inquire about the news, and specially sent some good wine to Zhang Yihu last night.These corrupt officials are addicted to alcohol, gambling and lust, and value wealth over righteousness.Zhang Shicheng has sent people to investigate the nearby taverns and brothels recently, and he has been paying close attention to the whereabouts of these salt officials.

"Okay, let's go and kill these dog officials!" Zhang Shicheng gave an order, and more than a dozen men stood up, and they took up the wine bowls beside them and drank in one gulp.The time to act has come.His heart was full of anticipation, and with these strong Yan Ding, it would be no problem to kill a few dog officials. That night, Zhang Shicheng and those Yan Ding successfully killed the usually domineering Yan officials, which sounded the clarion call for an uprising. In the early morning of the next day, the nearby villages knew that Zhang Shicheng had led the salt workers to kill the salt official. People spread the news miraculously, and everyone was very excited. Killing the salt official they both hated and feared was really joyful.Zhang Shicheng's disciples also gathered more followers, and he and the brothers who rebelled last night became heroes in people's hearts. Zhang Shicheng is very clear that the government will not ignore the matter of killing the salt officials. The imperial court is currently besieging the rebels, and will definitely take action against them. If the Yuan Dynasty does not want to be defeated, it must take greater actions and achieve greater victories. First strike To be strong, attack as soon as possible before the court takes action.Zhang Shicheng understood that the salt field was just a small place, and if he wanted to develop power, he had to go to the city. But which city to fight?These Yandings were full of strength and bravery, but they didn't have much knowledge. Some people clamored to attack Yancheng to the north, while others suggested that they should go west to capture Baoying.Only Zhang Shicheng and Li Bosheng kept thinking and did not speak easily.Li Bosheng said to the crowd: "It should not be difficult to take down Yancheng and Baoying, but these two places are not big, and even if they are captured, the impact will be very small." Zhang Shicheng looked at Li Bosheng excitedly and said, "Brother Li, do you want to go south and conquer Taizhou as much as I do?" "Only by capturing Taizhou can we seek greater development in the future. Please think about it, Caoyan Farm and Baiju Farm belong to Hailing, and Taizhou is the county seat of Hailing. For us to attack the county seat, the first thing is the terrain. They are all familiar, and secondly, Taizhou is close to Yangzhou, if Taizhou is taken down, it will have a great impact on the entire Jiangnan region." Zhang Shicheng made a generous speech, and everyone in Yanding was amazed.In fact, Zhang Shicheng has a bigger plan in his heart. Taizhou is just a springboard. His eyes are on the whole of Jiangnan, but if he wants to take Jiangnan, he must first take Taizhou.Thinking of capturing Taizhou, Zhang Shicheng remembered Wang Kerou from Taizhou some time ago. This Wang Kerou once tried to rebel against the Yuan Dynasty.Although Wang Kerou failed, his power and influence were not completely wiped out. If he could gather the people around Wang Kerou at this time, he might not be able to capture Taizhou. Now it's time to use Li Bosheng again. He is eloquent and has a practical appearance. Zhang Shicheng explained Li Bosheng in this way, and immediately sent him to Taizhou to look for Wang Kerou's subordinates who had been recruited. Li Huafu.Sure enough, Li Huafu, who was recruited, did not sincerely surrender to the court, it was just a last resort.Zhang Shicheng met Li Huafu many times in person, and asked him humbly for his plan for the uprising.In fact, Zhang Shicheng's intentions were obvious. He used the discussion to drag him into the water, even if he didn't participate, and was so close to Zhang Shicheng, as long as Zhang worked together, Li Huafu's situation would be very embarrassing.After all, he had a criminal record. Although he has been recruited, many officials in the government are still wary of him and don't trust him. Zhang Shicheng had expected Li Huafu's situation and psychology long ago.But Li Huafu saw that Zhang Shicheng was so sincere, polite and righteous to others, and he was not comfortable in the government. After Li Bosheng and Zhang Shicheng tried to win him over many times, he finally decided to conspire with Zhang Shicheng in Taizhou.With the help of officials in Taizhou City, Zhang Shicheng had a little more confidence in victory when attacking Taizhou. Soon, the forces of Zhang Shicheng and Li Huafu joined forces, and their forces became much stronger at once.Zhang Shicheng decided to lead his men to call from the salt field and let Li Huafu respond in the city.Zhang Shicheng didn't besiege Taizhou from the outside, but wanted to sweep all the way from the salt field, and at the same time defeated the local tyrants and evil gentry in order to expand his influence.When the rebel army led by Zhang Shicheng arrived at Dingxi, they encountered resistance from the local tycoon Liu Ziren, and the two sides fought fiercely, which Zhang Shicheng had not expected in advance.But in order to reach Taizhou smoothly, these obstacles must be removed.Zhang Shicheng and his younger brothers were particularly brave, and their hard work also affected other Yanding peasants. Their morale was high for a while, and they were about to defeat Liu Ziren. Unfortunately, Zhang Shicheng's second brother, Zhang Shiyi, was shot by an arrow and died immediately.Zhang Shicheng lost a younger brother, and his heart was very sad, but he had no time to take care of it, so he could only move forward bravely. When they arrived in Taizhou, the salt men who had just won a small battle had practiced on the spot and were full of confidence in taking Taizhou.Coupled with the response from Li Huafu in the city, they occupied the government, and Taizhou City was captured overnight.After capturing Taizhou, Zhang Shicheng refused to accept the Yuan Dynasty's offer to surrender, and detained the lobbyist Li Qi. In the middle of the night, he sent troops to kill Zhao Lian, who was stationed in Taizhou in the Jiangbei Province of Huainan, and plundered the official treasury, and entered Kexinghua County.Soon there were more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, and Gaoyou and other important Jiangbei towns were captured. When Zhang Shicheng took down Gaoyou, his power developed very rapidly, and this rapidity attracted the great attention of the Yuan court.The Yuan Dynasty sent people to recruit security and sent troops to besiege many times, but they were all killed or defeated by Zhang Shicheng.By the fourteenth year of Yuan Zhizheng (1354), Zhang Shicheng, who had won successive victories, really did not pay attention to the Yuan Dynasty. He called himself "King Cheng" and his country was named "Da Zhou". He not only possessed wealth, but also possessed power , his dream came true.Zhang Shicheng's proclaiming king was not only a threat to the Yuan Dynasty, but also a great threat to the nearby rebels.When others value you, you can only develop bigger, otherwise you will only limit yourself if you are confined to one place.Zhang Shicheng, who called himself the queen, was too concerned for safety. Gaoyou was the treasure land he desperately guarded, and it also became a place to restrict him.