Chapter 427 Destruction of the Ming Dynasty. Mutiny Part 1
In a land temple in the south of Yuyao City, the original Ministry of Commerce and Intelligence is now Xu Xinsu, the director of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Zeng Rui, the director of the Domestic Bureau of the Military Intelligence Department, and Mai Xiaoliu, the deputy director. In addition to Li Lihua, the princess in charge of overseas intelligence, Yin Feng's three major subordinates
The intelligence chiefs are all gathered here. Within a few hundred steps of the surrounding area, dozens of brothers from the special battalion are watching. In the city not far away, there are bursts of gunfire, loud cries and loud flashes of fire.
A few years ago, after returning from Jiangnan, Lin Xiao automatically came to Yin Feng and asked to hand over all authority of the Business Information Department.
After that, Lin Xiao became the general manager of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He also served as the Personnel Inspection Division of the Military Supervision and Military Department of the People's Republic of China. He was in charge of the internal security work of each ruling area under Yin Feng. He was also responsible for the internal corruption and malfeasance review within the company. He actually quit Yin Feng's staff and was in charge of secret intelligence.
Lin Xiao, as a direct descendant of Yin Feng and one of the first veteran shareholders of China Company, had already become famous and wealthy. Among the many powerful people around Yin Feng, Lin Xiao was limited to his own knowledge and ability. It was difficult for him to
One step further. He quit the intelligence agency. This was also the result of Yin Feng's repeated persuasion and hints.
After the Ministry of Commerce and Intelligence was officially reorganized into the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly under the Jinghai Prince's Palace, the general manager was appointed by Xu Xinsu, the former head of the company's branch office in Japan. Xu Xinsu was actually not familiar with this line of work. However, as a staff member of the original Li Dan system
Being able to become the general manager of the Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs actually means that he has officially become Yin Feng's confidant. Xu Xinsu understands this very well. So he consults Yin Feng for all his actions. He is very careful in his position as the general manager. This time he is secretly appointed by Yin Feng.
Came here from Hangzhou.
Zeng Ruigang, director of the Domestic Bureau of the Ministry of Military Intelligence, came from Taiwan. Mai Xiaoliu came from the office of Chen Zhongji, the general manager of the Jiangnan Army of the Chinese Army.
The three people have different identities. They are all Yin Feng's confidants. But the youngest Zeng Rui is the most active and active one.
He drew a simple map with grass roots in front of the Tu Tu Gong altar. While promoting his idea to the other two people: "... Now that the new army has left, the land in northern Zhejiang is empty. Zhejiang General Luo Qing is our hidden stake.
Boss Xu, Brother Mailiu. The land in northern Zhejiang was caught off guard!"
Mai Xiaoliu frowned. He held a torch in one hand and drew a circle on the ground with a wooden stick in the other hand: "...The imperial court has recently increased its troops in Zhenjiang. News of the Ming army's large-scale construction of warships also came from the upstream direction of Anqing. From the perspective of Jiangnan General Manager
I'm afraid that we won't be able to mobilize enough troops to march into northern Zhejiang. Besides, the king hopes to start the war against Ming Dynasty after the beginning of spring. The army will cross the sea and expedition. It will take several months of preparations. At this moment, the Jiangnan side is going to war alone. I'm afraid that the hometown side will not be able to provide timely support.
"
Zeng Rui shook his head repeatedly: "Sixth Brother is too careful. The Jiangnan Ming Army basically has no soldiers to fight except the new army. As soon as our army's brigade came out, it was easy to capture..."
Mai Xiaoliu also shook his head: "No. Our army in Jiangnan only has 20,000 soldiers. Including the navy fleet, there are less than 30,000. In addition to protecting important towns and important places, there are less than 15,000 soldiers in the field. Ming
There are hundreds of thousands of troops on the front lines in Nanjing, Anqing, Zhenjiang, and Huzhou. The ants will bite the elephants to death. Our army captures every city and area. We must leave troops to garrison and maintain public order. How many soldiers can we still participate in the field battle?"
At this moment, Xu Xinsu also shook his head and said: "This matter is too involved. The king's general strategy has been decided, and the deployment has been changed hastily. I'm afraid... the mutiny is only within the scope of Yuyao County. The Ming Dynasty will not shake its foundation. I don't know the Jiangnan General Manager
What’s going on with the government? What is Mr. Chen’s plan for this mutiny?”
Zeng Rui paused and said softly: "Mr. Chen didn't know about this beforehand."
Xu Xinsu and Mai Xiaoliu looked at each other and exchanged looks of surprise and realization. Only now did they understand: Although the forces of the Chinese Army and the company had long penetrated into the New Army, the mutiny was caused by Zeng Rui's Military Intelligence Department. The result of the domestic bureau's independent operation. There was no prior communication with Chen Zhongji's Chinese Army Jiangnan side.
Xu Xinsu sighed secretly. Due to Zeng Rui's identity, she didn't say anything. But Mai Xiaoliu said bluntly: "Brother Zeng Liu, you have acted too hastily on this matter... The captain of the ship has long said that Jiangnan is Money, food, and wealth are the most important place in the world. Don’t mess with it easily..."
Suddenly, there was a crackling sound of flintlock musket shooting near the Tutu Temple. The three people jumped up and stepped on the fire to put out the fire. Each of them pulled out the flintlock pistol they carried with them and hid behind the temple door.
For a moment, a series of brief hand-to-hand fights broke out near the Tutu Temple. Soon, several men in black from the Third Squadron of the Special Battalion escorted one person into the Tutu Temple.
Everyone gathered around to take a look. He was a man in his thirties. He was wearing the uniform of the Yuyao Regiment-New Army. His hair was messy and he was wounded. After interrogation, everyone knew that the mutinous soldiers had taken control of all of Yuyao. In Yuyao city, under the leadership of more than a dozen grassroots officers from Fujian, they raided the homes of wealthy businessmen in Yuyao city on a door-to-door basis.
Although some local officers from Zhejiang participated in the mutiny, they did not want to continue the rebellion, so they took their troops out of the city, or sent them home voluntarily, or planned to form a group and go to the mountains to become bandits. The man caught by the special battalion was A New Army soldier who got some gold and silver and planned to return to his hometown in Yiwu.
…
Two days after the mutiny, more than 2,000 of the 10,000 mutinous soldiers dispersed voluntarily. The remaining 8,000 people included the artillery regiment that finally participated in the mutiny. After sweeping through the landowner regiments in Yuyao's neighboring villages to train, they defeated thousands of Ning Guowei's troops. The officers and soldiers of the Dinghai Guards were also encouraged to rebel against their pay. Five days later, the number of rebel soldiers in eastern Zhejiang had reached more than 20,000. With New Army soldiers as the main force, this group of rebel troops began to march towards the provincial capital Hangzhou.
Some Siming Mountain bandits also joined the rebels. Many rebels heard about the prosperity of Hangzhou City. The legend that there was heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below became more popular. Some of the soldiers who first initiated the mutiny had already made a fortune. Later they joined The Dinghaiwei rebels and bandits were jealous and encouraged them to march to Hangzhou.
So, under the leadership of a group of Fujian officers and bandit leaders, 20,000 rebels marched towards Hangzhou. Along the way, the New Army soldiers could barely maintain their ranks. The bandits had no control over the other rebels who were coerced or actively joined. Military discipline is outstanding. All evil was committed along the way, including burning, killing, and looting. Small counties such as Shaoxing and Xiaoshan were easily attacked by rebel artillery. Countless villages were destroyed by fire. The smoke that covered the sky could be clearly seen dozens of miles away. After hearing the news, more than ten thousand wealthy landowners and businessmen packed up their belongings and fled westward with their gold and silver in their hands. They all tried to hide in the city of Hangzhou.
The mutinous soldiers of the New Army captured the Ming Army armories in Yuyao City and Ningguo Guard and Dinghai Guard. They had a large amount of gunpowder. Therefore, the rebel forces with the New Army as the main force quickly defeated the official army of Hangzhou City on the south bank of the Qiantang River and robbed them. A large number of ships successfully crossed the Qiantang River to the north and occupied the Six Harmonies Pagoda and several important places along the West Lake. They arrived at the gates of Hangzhou. The whole province of Zhejiang was shocked. All parts of the south of the Yangtze River were panicked. The entire Ming Dynasty was shocked.
So far, the development of the situation has gone beyond the expectations of Zeng Rui and others. The mutiny quickly lost control. The Chinese Army's Military Intelligence Department has lost its influence on the mutinous troops.
Some officers of the New Army were stooges planted by the Ministry of Military Intelligence. They took the lead in provoking a pay riot, which then developed into a mutiny. But at this moment, these officers could not help themselves: those who were possessed by gold and silver, the blood of the dead, and the power of the weapons in their hands The dizzy mutinous soldiers have their eyes red and their blood boiling. Unprecedented wealth is in front of them. Unprecedented power is in their hands. Once the leader of the troublemakers wants to retreat, they will rush forward without hesitation. Get rid of him. Then appoint a new leader who suits your wishes. Follow him to burn and kill...the main perpetrators are already in trouble.
…
Yu Zigao, who had been taking a break in Hangzhou on the day of the mutiny, was now desperate.
That day, Yan Siqi visited him in a boat on the West Lake. At this moment, the Ming government was basically powerless to control the grassroots of society. Agents from the Military Intelligence Department of the Prince of Jinghai and the Internal Affairs Bureau of the China United Company were in Hangzhou with various commercial methods. Using taverns, businesses, banks, and shops as cover, he moved around Hangzhou, the capital of the Chief Secretary of Zhejiang Province, with almost no hindrance. He was able to move with ease.
As soon as Yu Zigao arrived in Hangzhou City, the traces of his movements were completely grasped by the Chinese army's spies.
As soon as Yan Siqi arrived in Hangzhou, he directly found Yu Zigao under the guidance of his own people. The two of them were not at war with each other. In line with the friendship of classmates, the two sides made tea and sat opposite each other in the painting boat and chatted slowly.
Yin Feng and Xu Hongji had told Yan Siqi in advance, asking him to try their best to win over Yu Zigao. Yan Siqi patiently persuaded Yu Zigao: "The king has opened a subject in Taiwan to obtain scholars. The scholars have the hope of becoming officials, and they will follow the Ming Dynasty. The heart of the imperial court will rest on its own; the king relies on trade and craftsmanship as his main financial income, and exempts farmland from low taxes. Then the farmers will have less money and food, and they will naturally be convinced by the king. Mr. Chen Di once said: The world is governed by Win the hearts and minds of the people. Scholars will show off their talents. Scholars' experience will win the hearts of the people. Your Majesty, it is the general trend to obey the hearts of the people and follow God's will to conquer the world. You are the King's favorite disciple. The Ming Dynasty court has no kindness to you at all. The so-called "Jun" An unrighteous minister will defect to a foreign country; an unfilial father and a son will flee to another country. Why should you act against nature? You must fight against the king."
Yu Zigao sighed and said with a wry smile: "Junior brother Zhenquan, I know the general trend of the world. It is futile to act like a chariot with a mantis' arm. But my Yu family has been loyal to the Ming Dynasty for generations. I am also a member of the martial arts examination of this dynasty. Since ancient times. Loyal ministers cannot serve two masters. If we, Yu Zigao, turn to the king and become his subordinates, we will leave a bad name in history from now on... I have no intention of fighting against the king's heavenly soldiers. I am already heartbroken... If the king's army is approaching the city, I will Go boating on the five lakes and escape from the chaos of this troubled world."
Yan Siqi did not expect Yu Zigao to be so discouraged. He was already planning to retire from the world. He had no words for a moment. After a while, the machine on the battlefield became more flexible and the senses were more sensitive. Yan Siqi, who has a straightforward nature, raised his head, took a sip of tea and said bluntly. : "Senior Brother Yu, are you speaking from the bottom of your heart? I'm afraid you don't mean what you say. Do you still want to discuss terms with the King?"
Yu Zigao stopped talking and drank tea by himself.
The boat was quiet for a moment. Shi Li, the boat girl, walked in smartly and made tea and water for the two of them. At this time, a man in black suddenly appeared and whispered a few words in Yan Siqi's ear.
Yan Siqi's eyes lit up. He raised his head and said to Yu Zigao with a smile: "Brother Yu, it seems that your final negotiation conditions no longer exist."