Chapter eight hundred and fortieth cooperation with Hou Xun
Although Zhang Xianzhong is now inferior to Li Zicheng in terms of strength and prestige, but just looking at ambition, Zhang Xianzhong will never be inferior to Li Zicheng. Therefore, when the news came that Li Zicheng proclaimed himself emperor and founded the country, Zhang Xianzhong immediately became unwilling to be followed.
Prepare to proclaim himself emperor and build a country in the same way.
No matter what, Zhang Xianzhong must first get addicted to being an emperor!
In Xiangyang, Zhang Xianzhong formally established the Daxi regime. The main measures were: changing Xiangyang to the capital, casting the Treasure of the Western King, changing Xiangyang Mansion to Tianshou Mansion, etc. Zhang Xianzhong lived in Prince Xiang's Mansion and set up two big flags in front of the door, which read: "Heavenly Residence"
Return with others and recruit talented people!" Two flags were also erected at every city gate in Xiangyang, with the words: "The world is quiet and the power is strong in all directions."
In terms of government agencies, there are six ministries and five prefectures in the central government; there are five military divisions in the capital; Zhou Wenjiang, who was promoted to the governor of Changshun Prefecture, is the Minister of the Ministry of War, and Zhang Qizai is the commander-in-chief and former army commander. In the local area, Li Shirong is the governor, and Xie Fengzhou is the governor.
To guard the Tao, Xiao Yan was to patrol the Tao, and Chen Yuliu was to study the Tao, and both were awarded imperial seals.
In addition, officials from 21 prefectures and counties were appointed, and each was given an official seal and rewarded with one hundred taels or dozens of taels of silver. Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi regime basically followed the name of the Ming Dynasty in its official system.
Then came the opening of imperial examinations and the emphasis on schools, which were things worth writing about in the Daxi regime. As governments at all levels were established, many intellectuals were needed. In order to win them over to serve the Daxi regime, Zhang Xianzhong repeatedly held academic examinations and participated in them.
Scholars took the exam very enthusiastically. Zhang Xianzhong also attached great importance to the school. In addition to appointing full-time officials such as Xuedao to take charge of management, he also personally inspected the school.
In addition, the Daxi regime also issued silver to help the hungry people. The source of military pay was basically raised by confiscating the properties of the Ming clan and bureaucratic landlords.
In terms of essence and framework, Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi regime and Li Zicheng's Dashun regime are similar. They both want to change dynasties and establish feudal dynasties. However, due to the large population, Li Zicheng can no longer maintain his vast empire by confiscating the property of officials and gentry.
Food and wages were supplied, so they had begun to proactively restore local production and had the prototype of a national regime. However, Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi regime was surrounded by officers and soldiers encircling and suppressing them. The number of troops was also small, so they could maintain their own economy through confiscation.
Therefore, Dashun has gradually evolved into a country, while Daxi has not yet broken away from the category of rogue bandits.
After establishing the Daxi regime, Zhang Xianzhong wanted to go down the river and conquer Wuchang, an important town in Huguang.
Zuo Liangyu, who fled from Xiangyang to Wuchang, had no intention of defending in Wuchang. He still built a large number of ships, plundered people, and wanted to transport the wealth to a "safe" place. When he saw Zuo Liangyu's appearance, the people in Wuchang City
Civil and military officials no longer had any confidence in protecting Wuchang. Even the governor Hou Xun was reciting poems and painting every day and had no interest in defending Wuchang City.
However, in Wuchang City, there were still officials who wanted to struggle. Seeing the chaos in Wuchang City, the lack of soldiers and pay, and the precarious situation, they asked the Runing Army for help; at the same time, they wanted to prepare their troops and defend the precarious Wuchang City.
.
If you want to prepare a military, you must first have food and pay, so some people thought of the king of Chu who was entrusted here. The king of Chu who was entrusted in Wuchang City had accumulated huge wealth through his life. And left behind in the provincial capital.
The only support of the civil and military officials was to hope that Chu King Zhu Huakui would spend money to raise troops and build defenses.
Officials from the Huguang Chief Envoy Department, the Imperial Envoy Department and the Capital Command Envoy Department gathered at the palace, knelt in front of Zhu Huakui and asked him to lend him hundreds of thousands of taels of silver as military pay. He Fengsheng, the former academician at home, also met with Zhu Huakui to discuss
Regarding the matter of payment, Zhu Huakui asked someone to bring out a gold-covered chair given to the King of Chu when he was enfeoffing the princes during the Hongwu period, and said: "This can help the army, but he has none!"
Faced with such rogue behavior of the King of Chu, He Fengsheng had no hope at all. He left the palace crying, feeling dejected. It was not until Zhang Xianzhong's army approached Wuchang. When the situation was already very critical, Zhu Huakui came up with money and raised funds.
The stragglers who fled from Chengtian (Ling Zhongxiang) and De'an (today's Anlu) were appointed to lead the Chu government chief Xu Xueyan, known as the Chu government's new soldiers. Other civil and military officials were not allowed to interfere. In fact, these "new soldiers" were all
They were frightened birds who were defeated by the peasant army and had no fighting power at all.
At this time, maybe the King of Chu, Zhu Huakui, is still being petty. Does he want to rely on this newly recruited army to make a comeback for the Ming Dynasty, and then ascend to the throne of the Nine-Five Supreme? If so, then his treasure
The chair given by Zhu Yuanzhang came in handy.
On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the governor of Wuchang City set up camp.
"Mr. Hou! My brother-in-law is in the army and cannot come to Wuchang to pay New Year's greetings. Before Wansheng came, my brother-in-law had specifically told him to report his crime to the lord! I hope the lord will forgive me!" Wu Shili saluted respectfully to Hou Xun who was sitting in the seat.
"You're welcome." Hou Xun said politely, and then said, "But I am also old and have low energy. Many times, no one listens to my words."
As soon as he said this, Wu Shili was a little embarrassed. But it's no wonder that Hou Xun was a little resentful. Although he, the governor, was highly praised by others, Wu Shigong and Zuo Liangyu did not delegate their power in the slightest. On the surface, they were both ""
"Respect" him. The imperial court did not dare to target Wu Shigong and Zuo Liangyu, who held heavy troops. Hou Xun had to take responsibility for everything. Hou Xun even had some doubts: If the imperial court had not overestimated its respect for Wu Shigong and Zuo Liangyu,
Due to his influence, he may have been locked back to the capital by an imperial edict and went to the prison to "cultivate his moral character" again.
Hou Xun was unable to suppress the anger in his heart due to being so angry at both ends. If his self-restraint skills were not in place, today instead of saying some weird words, he would have beaten Wu Shili out with a stick.
"Ahem!" In order to cover up his embarrassment, Wu Shili couldn't help coughing a few times, but he quickly recovered his emotions and then said to Hou Xun: "My brother-in-law has always said that Duke Hou has a noble character and is a role model for him. He and Hou Xun
Brother Chao Zong is also unscrupulous. Duke Hou is now doing nothing. It is true that the court has no eyesight."
Hou Xun smiled and nodded, thinking to himself: "I can't blame the court for doing nothing, but I should blame Wu Changjing and Zuo Kunshan!" However, he was still very patient, so he still listened to Wu Shili patiently.
continue.
"My younger brother asked Wansheng to come here. Firstly, he wanted to pay New Year greetings to Duke Hou. Secondly, he wanted to ask Duke Hou: Are Duke Hou and brother Chaozong willing to show their talents?" Wu Shili continued.
As soon as he said these words, Hou Xun immediately felt that the high-ranking official bearing he had cultivated over the past decades was suddenly shattered. He found that his eyelids were twitching and his ears were buzzing.
The word "rebellion" has been floating around.
"Here comes someone! Watch the area around the study and don't let anyone get close." Hou Xun immediately ordered loudly.
No matter what Wu Shili said next, Hou Xun was very interested in this topic.
…
Two hours later, when Wu Shili was sent out of the governor's camp by Hou Xun personally, Wu Shili was quite satisfied with today's conversation because Hou Xun had promised that he would cooperate closely with Wu Shigong.
This time the Runing Army encircled and suppressed Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi Army. It would be best if they could completely annihilate it. If not, they would have to drive Zhang Xianzhong away from Huguang. Otherwise, the Runing Army might not have time to turn back to support the Ru Army in northern Henan.
Ning Jun.
But in this case, the Runing Army is likely to end up like a mosquito with a sledgehammer. Facing the encirclement and suppression by the Runing Army, Zhang Xianzhong, who is as cunning as a fox, will definitely flee far away. What is even more unsatisfactory is that when Runing Army
After the Ning army leaves, Zuo Liangyu's officers and troops will come back and reoccupy this area of Huguang.
As for the Runing Army, it did not destroy Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi Army, nor did it gain the territory it captured, but it also benefited Zuo Liangyu, so this was a loss no matter how it was considered.
In this case, Zhang Xianzhong's Daxi Army cannot be wiped out, so let's wipe out part of Zuo Liangyu's army! Therefore, the Runing Army's Huguang Battle will also wipe out part of Zuo Liangyu's troops.
But in this case, we need to have something to say to the court. After all, the Runing Army and Zuo Liangyu's tribe are still officers and soldiers. And the most suitable person to explain to the court is undoubtedly the Superintendent Hou Xun.
So Wu Shigong gave Hou Xun a choice: let him choose between Wu Shigong and Zuo Liangyu. If Hou Xun chooses Zuo Liangyu or stays out of it, then Wu Shigong and Hou Xun will have no future.
If Hou Xun chooses to support the Runing Army, then Wu Shigong will guarantee that no matter where the Runing Army goes in the future, the future of Hou Xun and Hou Fangyu and his son will be guaranteed by the Runing Army. For now, it will be
Guarantee Hou Xun's personal safety. This means that even if the imperial court issued an imperial edict to imprison Hou Xun and punish him, as long as Hou Xun fled to Runing, the Runing army would never hand him over.
Hou Xun chose to cooperate with Wu Shigong without giving it much thought. For him, this choice was quite simple. Not to mention that Hou Xun's entire family was returning to Germany, but just talking about him as a high-ranking official who came out of Guide.
He was very familiar with what the Runing Army was doing in the local area. Therefore, Hou Xun was quite confident in Wu Shigong's credibility and the strength of the Runing Army.
In addition, Hou Xun also has the status of Wu Shigong's "mentor". The Guidehou family has also benefited greatly from Runing's business, and many of the family's descendants are serving in the Runing army. So no matter what, Hou Xun will also
Between Wu and Zuo, I prefer Wu Shigong.
And Hou Xun also has his own moral bottom line. Although Zuo Liangyu is respectful to Hou Xun, his actions are worse than those of the rebellious peasant army. He can even be called the black sheep of the official and gentry class.
.So from the bottom of his heart, Hou Xun quite despised Zuo Liangyu.
After such a comparison, Hou Xun chose Wu Shigong without hesitation. As for what will happen to Wu Shigong in the future? Hou Xun and Wu Shili also had a tacit understanding and did not mention it at all.
After defeating Hou Xun, the Runing Army began to send troops to Huguang. However, they still needed an excuse to attack Zuo Liangyu. Fortunately, this excuse was immediately delivered to the hands of the Runing Army.