Chapter 39 The second section sighs Yang Sichang

After Lu Xiangsheng left the position of military prime minister of the five provinces, he was succeeded by a man named Wang Jiazhen. Wang Jiazhen likes to live a stable life, and doesn't like to play with knives and guns. Especially I don't like to spread the net on all sides - I'm not a fisherman, so what are you doing with the net? Wang Jiazhen then took a dislike to Yang Sichang. Of course, Yang Sichang was even more displeased with him—the military prime ministers of the five provinces, who like to make flowers and plants, altars and pots, will harm the country. So he found someone who was pleasing to the eye—Xiong Wencan, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi and governor of Guangdong, to be the military affairs premier of the five provinces.In this way, Yang Sichang's ten-sided network plan had three powerful executors.Xiong Wencan set up nets in Huguang, and Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting set up nets in Shaanxi. Yang Sichang felt that the fish in the nets should not be able to escape this time, and the ten-year unresolved situation could also be settled in Yang Sichang's hands.

However, things in the world are often unimaginable. The cooked duck will fly, and the fish caught in the net will run away. The more pleasing to the eye, the more capable of doing unsightly things. What the able man Xiong Wencan did made Yang Sichang feel very broken-is this person a lucky star or a disaster star in his life? For example, on the issue of appeasement and suppression, Xiong Wencan's approach is exactly the same as his father Yang He's approach in the past: regardless of the consequences, he blindly advocates appeasement.In fact, Xiong Wencan is fully capable of suppressing "rogue bandits", which is much better than Yang He's situation back then—then why did Xiong Wencan do this?

Yang Sichang couldn't understand why Xiong Wencan did this.The reason why he asked him to be the prime minister of the military affairs of the five provinces was first of all because of his decisive skills and ability in Guangdong and Guangxi, and hoped that he could wipe out the peasant army. But now, Xiong Wencan not only has no idea and practice of killing all , and even tried his best to support Zhang Xianzhong, the eighth king.Xiong Wencan, what happened? It can only be boiled down to two points: first, eagerness for merit; second, ignorance and arrogance. Who is Zhang Xianzhong?He is the spiritual leader of the peasant army!It is absolutely impossible for any spiritual leader to surrender and apostate.This was true of Shen Yikui who sought comfort from his father Yang He back then, and it must be the same with Zhang Xianzhong who now seeks comfort from Xiong Wencan.They must first appease and then rebel.

And it is often those naive idealists who bear the consequences.Their final outcome is even more tragic than those peasant armies who were pacified and then rebelled: either their reputations were ruined, or they were decapitated. Why can't Xiong Wencan see this? Nothing can be done without personal experience.But in this world, it is impossible to do everything by yourself. Yang Sichang sternly warned Xiong Wencan that Zhang Xianzhong must not be touched!Because he does not conform to the three laws of "caress". One of the three laws of "caressing": You must beat him so hard that you can't caress, otherwise you will be beaten so hard that you can't find your teeth;

The second of the three laws of "caressing": You can only be caressed if you agree to disperse the resettlement, otherwise you will wait for him to disperse and resettle you; The third of the three laws of "Fu": You can only be petted if you agree to kill his accomplices, otherwise you will be killed by him and his accomplices. But right now, although Zhang Xianzhong is besieged in Huguang, he has a large number of people, and none of them conform to the three laws of "Fu".Therefore, Zhang Xianzhong is absolutely untouchable! Although everyone understands that Yang Sichang's words are reasonable, Xiong Wencan just doesn't listen to him.

Xiong Wencan listened to the emperor.This is also the first of the twenty-two military regulations of the Ming Dynasty: the general only listens to the emperor when he is outside. Although Yang Sichang is the minister of the Ministry of War, the minister of the Ministry of War also listens to the emperor. Therefore, on the issue of appeasement or suppression, Chongzhen is the final judge. But the referee belongs to the referee, and the referee does not bear any consequences, even if he blows the black whistle.Therefore, the second of the twenty-two military regulations of the Ming Dynasty: the general will be at his own risk after taking action after listening to the emperor's words.

The consequences of this one are more serious.Of course, Chongzhen knew that there might be some "generals" who were dissatisfied after being wronged, and would ask him to reason, so he stipulated in Article 3 of the twenty-two military regulations of the Ming Dynasty: the referee's personal freedom and personal dignity shall not be violated, The idea and behavior of treating the referee as a black whistle under the circumstances is disrespectful to the referee. As Minister of the Ministry of War, Yang Sichang certainly understood that the twenty-two military regulations of the Ming Dynasty really existed in the form of unspoken rules, and understood its cleverness and aggressiveness. With a tragedy in his life, he had to seek the emperor's theory and try his best to prevent Xiong Wencan from taking over the situation.

It is easy to stop Xiong Wencan, because Xiong Wencan listens to the emperor; it is not easy to stop the emperor, because the emperor only listens to himself.Yang Sichang impassionedly talked to Chongzhen about the past appeasement bureau, how Li Zicheng and Shen Yikui rebelled after appeasement, and hoped that the emperor would kill Zhang Xianzhong, but Chongzhen voted against it. Chongzhen said that this is one time and another time. When your father Yang He was in charge, the court was short of soldiers and money, so Li Zicheng and Shen Yikui rebelled after being in charge. There are internal reasons for this.But since last year, Gao Yingxiang, Xie Zikuai and Zhang Miaoshou have taken the initiative to ask Sun Chuanting for comfort, which shows that the power of the imperial court has gained the upper hand.We must seize the opportunity to appease the situation.If you don't caress, you will suffer instead. Don't be so afraid of wolves and tigers.

When Chongzhen said this, he patted Yang Sichang's shoulder affectionately, as if to cheer him up.However, Yang Sichang felt a chill, like being hit by a black whistle, and he felt dizzy for a while. We must hold on to it, and we must hold on to it at critical moments.Yang Sichang proposed to Chongzhen that Zhang Xianzhong could ask for appeasement, but there must be an additional condition, that is, he must present the heads of General Chuang and Lao Huihui as a meeting gift, otherwise he will be killed.Chongzhen was not happy when he heard this: If he was killed if he didn't take the head, would Zhang Xianzhong think that we didn't have the sincerity to be appeased?Yang Sichang insisted: This is a quid pro quo!If we are not cruel, the "bandits" will be cruel to us!

But Yang Sichang never expected that his short sentence would deeply hurt the heart of an emperor. You speak so harshly of me, where is my benevolent heart? The rampant "traffic bandits" are always caused by my father-in-law not caring for the power of the people.Yang Sichang, you are so ruthless, do you only target the "rogue bandits" or is it just your nature? Yang Sichang was dumbfounded. Yang Sichang was stunned. Yang Sichang was crazy. He knew that the Sacred Heart was unpredictable, but he didn't know that the Sacred Heart was so fragile.So - hypocritical.

The encirclement and suppression plan of four corners, six corners and ten sides with nets was approved by the emperor. Since it was an encirclement and suppression plan, the emperor must have had no mercy when he approved it.When and why did the emperor suddenly show mercy? The emperor showed great mercy to Zhang Xianzhong, but if Zhang Xianzhong castrated the emperor's mercy, the one who would be punished would be Xiong Wencan, the caretaker.Of course it also includes Yang Sichang.Because Yang Sichang is directly responsible for Xiong Wencan, he was recommended by him, and he was directed by him.Yang Sichang must bear the bitter fruit of fate at any time, the second of the twenty-two military regulations of the Ming Dynasty: the general will be at his own risk after listening to the emperor's words and taking action. Yang Sichang sighed.Once Zhang Xianzhong was appeased, it would be tantamount to planting a time bomb inside Daming's army.When will he be detonated, and when will Yang Sichang be smashed to pieces.Everything is God's will, everything is fate, no one should escape, Yang Sichang can only watch helplessly as the code of fate reintegrates in him, can only watch helplessly, there is no other way, except to let out a cry that even Chongzhen can hardly detect Sigh. And Chongzhen is quietly waiting for another spring in his life: laughing to see Zhang Xianzhong being caressed. When Zhang Xianzhong was caressed, Xiong Wencan didn't feel a trace of killing intent. At the surrender ceremony held in Gucheng, Zhang Xianzhong was not angry and pretentious. The entire army behind him did not make a sound, not even the horses dared to neigh. Xiong Wencan attributed this to Zhang Xianzhong's gangster spirit. The gangster spirit of Zhang Xianzhong's troops. In this world, every army has temperament. The temperament of Zhang Xianzhong's troops is banditry. And banditry is scary. But Xiong Wencan doesn't care about that much.As long as Zhang Xianzhong's troops are surrendered, the former bandit spirit can be transformed into murderous spirit for my use. Xiong Wencan's face was not full of anger and prestige. He was challenging Zhang Xianzhong. There are many things in the world that need to be challenged.Only by calling the board can the value, dignity, emotion and temperament be called out. Xiong Wencan feels that he should be more temperamental than Zhang Xianzhong now. Because Zhang Xianzhong is a surrender, a failed man.Behind him, hundreds of thousands of men are impotent; and Zhang Xianzhong himself can only be regarded as a lost hero.What kind of temperament can a fallen hero have? As for him, Xiong Wencan, he is undoubtedly on the rise. Although he is a little shorter, it is entirely a matter of racial inheritance. Who calls himself a southerner?But in terms of spiritual temperament, he completely surpassed Zhang Xianzhong. This is enough. In this era, how many men can surpass Zhang Xianzhong? ! Xiong Wencan gave Zhang Xianzhong a majestic look, but immediately looked away. too terrifying. Eye. Zhang Xianzhong's eyes. Zhang Xianzhong's eyes are like cow eggs. Zhang Xianzhong had eyes like cow eggs full of murderous intent. Zhang Xianzhong's eyes look like docile but full of murderous ox eggs. Xiong Wencan's heart beat fast.He calmed down, and then told Zhang Xianzhong very seriously that surrender is welcome, and surrender is welcome at any time.But surrender must be sincere, and you must obey the arrangement and obey the command. Zhang Xianzhong remained motionless like a horse with its ears pricked up. Xiong Wencan went on to say that we can only digest 20,000 of the 100,000 people who surrendered, which means that 20,000 people can receive military pay and be incorporated into our army.The remaining 80,000 were disbanded on the spot. Zhang Xianzhong remained motionless like a horse with ears pricked up.But behind him, a hundred thousand people began to form a huge sound wave. This is a voice of incomprehension, a voice of doubt, a voice of confusion.This sound wave is really like the waves of the sea, one after another, it is heart-stirring. Quiet!Quiet! ! Xiong Wencan felt that his voice was very loud, but soon found that his voice was drowned out by the sound waves. Zhang Xianzhong stretched out his hands, pressed down lightly, and the sound disappeared immediately. This is killing intent! This is not to be angry and arrogant! Xiong Wencan sighed softly, feeling that he was still in a hurry. Zhang Xianzhong put forward conditions.He told Xiong Wencan that 100,000 people are indivisible and form a whole.But this whole group is by no means against the imperial court, and I hope that the imperial court will not regard them as anti-thieves, and will not engage in the practice of dividing and annihilating.As long as the court gives them a military salary of 100,000 people, they are willing to guard the frontier for the court. Xiong Wencan felt that Zhang Xianzhong's attitude of seeking comfort was good, and his mood was also urgent.But the military salary needed for 100,000 people is too much, which he, the military prime minister of the five provinces, can't afford, and in the final analysis, this matter is not something he can decide. Because the court is not his court, but the emperor's court.What the emperor thinks in his heart, only he knows.So, just wait. Many times in life we ​​can only wait. Of course Zhang Xianzhong understood this truth.He left with a hundred thousand horses and stopped at a place called Baishazhou fifteen miles outside Gucheng County.Building houses, planting crops, and doing business all seemed to be in a state of quasi-submission. But Baishazhou's 100,000 horses still retain the army establishment.The four city gates of Baishazhou are heavily guarded, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter or leave at will. This is a small town that is both military and civilian.The possibilities are endless in this small town. Lead but not send.Sitting on the sidelines.Sunny and thundery.Once in the sea. Everything is possible.Everything can only be awaited to meet its predestined result. This is a town that waits. Some people like to chatter. Some people are forced to babble. But whether he likes it or is forced to do so, that can only be a matter of personal preference. In Chongzhen's eyes, Yang Sichang liked to chatter. But Yang Sichang himself felt that he was forced to chatter. He has explained to the emperor N times that if Zhang Xianzhong really surrenders, he must raise his head to speak.The blood of other "bandits" must be used to express Zhang Xianzhong's heart.Chongzhen thought that Yang Sichang was always too hard-hearted, and let Zhang Xianzhong bear all the viciousness alone. This is not the attitude of a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty towards those who surrendered. Therefore, he almost ignored Yang Sichang.Yang Sichang is still admitting his death: Your Majesty, Zhang Xianzhong has turned his back on him, we can no longer indulge him.He proposed that 100,000 horses guard the border, the emperor might as well think about it this way, let Zhang Xianzhong lead 100,000 horses to guard Liaodong, what terrible consequences will there be? !Also, he wants a military salary of 100,000 horses, not to mention that the imperial court can’t afford it all at once, even if the imperial court can afford it, it can’t pay it. Equipping Zhang Xianzhong’s 100,000 horses means that our own officers and soldiers have lost 100,000 horses equipment.This entry and exit is the equipment of 200,000 horses!Two hundred thousand horses are enough to reverse the offensive and defensive situation of the bandits and us, the emperor must pay attention!Of course, the most important thing to be wary of is that Zhang Xianzhong now controls his own army in Gucheng. He is self-reliant and well-fed. He pretends to be waiting for the imperial court to allocate 100,000 military pay to him.If it goes on like this, sooner or later it will be reversed!It should be dismissed as soon as possible... Yang Sichang spoke sincerely, but Chongzhen listened with a gloomy expression: What bandit?Is Zhang Xianzhong still a bandit now?In your head, some concepts cannot be changed?Zhang Xianzhong now honestly stays in Gucheng and eats with his own hands, I think it is very good!Better than some of our armies at least.Is the old problem of fake military pay solved, huh?No!Can't you, Minister of the Ministry of War, come up with a good method?I just can't understand me, you don't rush when you should be anxious, but you are in a hurry when you shouldn't be anxious.This is not good, very bad, it needs to be changed, Sichang.Of course, I think some of the situations you mentioned are still meaningful. For example, Zhang Xianzhong led 100,000 troops to defend Liaodong. There is still a period.I think Zhang Xianzhong should stop guarding the border, it would be nice to be able to guard Gucheng.Stay there well, be self-reliant, have enough food and clothing, yes, be self-reliant, have enough food and clothing, and solve your own survival problems by yourself.Don't rely on the court for everything... Yang Sichang still persisted: Your Majesty, Zhang Xianzhong is in trouble as a queen. I think dismissal is the best way to deal with such a person... Yang Sichang had to insist.He knew very well that if he agreed with the emperor's opinion and allowed Zhang Xianzhong to rule the city as king in Gucheng, then this person would rebel against him in the future. He Yang Sichang offended. Sometimes life is like this, you have to bear a fateful consequence of the dilemma. Yang Sichang was indeed in a dilemma, obviously it was the emperor who made the decision, but Yang Sichang was the one who got spanked when something went wrong. But Yang Sichang still had to persevere.Persist, there will be an excuse in the future, even though the excuse is useless, the emperor will still be able to spank his buttocks; but if he doesn't insist, then it's probably not just a spanking issue. The lesser of two evils.The words of the ancestors always make sense. Yang Sichang persisted, but Chongzhen firmly refused to allow him to persist. This is the will of the monarch.At any time, the will of the monarch cannot be questioned.Chongzhen presented the facts to Yang Sichang and reasoned, which looked exactly like the first debate in a college debate competition, and he made a reasonable point: dismissal is the best way?wrong!I think there are three must-dos for dismissal.One thing to do is that the severance package has not been paid.The military salary of one hundred thousand horses, one person counts as five taels of silver, and the severance pay will be half a million.Who pays for this money?Are you out?Nobody out!Anyway, the imperial court couldn't afford the money.This is impossible.The second thing to do is to fear radical changes.If one hundred thousand people are dismissed without any money, why should they dismiss them?If they want to be dismissed forcibly, Zhang Xianzhong will definitely think that the court is not sincere, and he is worried that they will be divided and wiped out.This is two must do.The three things that should not be done are like a single spark, which will eventually start a prairie fire.After being dismissed, 100,000 people returned to their hometowns, and they had no money or land. Apart from rebellion, what other options were there?Not anymore.Such a single spark will start a prairie fire again. By then, the Ming Dynasty will have more than 100,000 people fighting against us. If not, a million troops will kill me in the Forbidden City overnight. Then...then... Chongzhen suddenly felt a little cold.He seemed to see clearly some catastrophic consequences.He was immersed in the consequences and couldn't extricate himself. After a while, he asked Yang Sichang in a muttering manner: What do you say if this happens?Who will bear the consequences?who? Yang Sichang was speechless. He could only be speechless. There is no doubt that he cannot bear such consequences, and Chongzhen did not expect him to bear it.Chongzhen said that the purpose of all this was just to warn him not to make up his own mind.I have the final say on this question, you just need to nod your head. Of course you can shake your head too, but at a moment like this, shaking your head doesn't make any sense. Because everything has been designed.It's like the Catch-22, you just need to obey and bear it.Never question and resist.In times like these, questioning and rebelling mean nothing. Chongzhen asked Yang Sichang: Do you understand? Yang Sichang: Understood.Everything is understood. Just understand, just do what you understand. Yang Sichang: Your majesty... Chongzhen waved his hand: Go, go do it.Who told us that there is no money in our treasury! Yang Sichang suddenly felt a burst of warmth, Chongzhen's last words touched him so suddenly and powerfully.He raised his tearful eyes: Your majesty... with your words, I have nothing to regret when I die. Chongzhen waved his hand: Go, go do it. Yang Sichang was about to leave when Chongzhen suddenly stopped him: Wait. What other orders does the emperor have? You... don't have any burdens. The minister has no burden.The minister said that the minister died without regret. I mean, you don't have to take any responsibility. ... It was my idea to appease Zhang Xianzhong.The reason is what I just said.Regardless of whether Zhang Xianzhong retaliates or not in the future, it is my responsibility and has nothing to do with you. Your Majesty... Shengming, Your Majesty... The sudden disappearance of the twenty-two military regulations surprised and moved Yang Sichang.But deep down, he still has lingering fears. Your situation is different from that of your father Yang He.He did it on his own, that's why I punished him then.But you are a loyal country.Your ten-sided network plan is now bearing fruit, and I'm still waiting for you to complete it.So you can't be intimidated.Absolutely not to be intimidated.Sichang, you don't know, I put all my hopes on you, how can I make you feel wronged? What Chongzhen said was very emotional, and Yang Sichang was even more emotional when he heard it. At that moment, he even felt that this always suspicious emperor had become his confidant in the world, which made him very grateful.Perhaps in this world, the emperor has doubted thousands of people, and perhaps tens of thousands of people have harbored resentment towards him, but as long as he does not doubt Yang Sichang, then Yang Sichang is willing to go through fire and water for him. In the world of mortals, it is enough to have a confidant.What's more, this confidant is still the emperor. Yang Sichang was content. Of course, Yang Sichang didn't dare to imagine whether the emperor would be suspicious in the future, especially towards him.He can't imagine, he really can't imagine.Because this kind of imagination will make him lose the courage to move on, he would rather revel in this moment of emotion for illusory satisfaction than wake up and face the bleak reality. Reality is too cold.too painful.Too cruel.