My eunuch godfather

Chapter 105 A Strong Start but a Weak End

Chapter 105 A Strong Start but a Weak End

South Gate Tower.

Concentrate the reliable troops within the city and retreat to defend the east gate tower?

Long Lingxian thought to herself, "This move by my opponent is brilliant."

By holding the East Gate, even if the other three gates and the county government office fall, it can be said that the county has not been completely lost.

Moreover, there is a passage into the city, making it easier to recapture the other three gates and the county government office.

On the other hand, after occupying the other three gates and the county government, their forces will be dispersed, allowing them to fight against overwhelming odds.

Yu Hongzhi's side can't hold out for long; we must take action as soon as possible!

With the way of the people, also treat the body of the people!

"Gather all manpower at the south gate."

Thinking of this, Long Lingxian ordered the protectors and several incense generals: "Set fire to the west and north gates to prevent the government troops from entering the city through the west and north gates!"

"Set off fireworks and signal with flags from the city wall to let Senior Brother Yu lead his troops to retreat this way!"

Fireworks were launched from the city walls, rebellious flags were raised, and black smoke rose from many places inside the city.

The fleeing man, Hongzhi, suddenly changed direction and headed towards the south gate.

Zhang Jingzhen sneered inwardly, "There really is a traitor within the city!"

"Slow down the horses!"

Instead of chasing after them, she ordered the servants to stop and regroup.

If the enemy has one or two hundred skilled archers, they can take advantage of the high ground on the city tower to inflict considerable casualties on the guards.

"Tell Commander Zhang that the elite bandits are all near the south gate!"

In front of the South Gate.

Yu Hongzhi turned around and looked behind him, only to find that his 300 cavalrymen were reduced to less than half. He was devastated.

Seeing that the government troops were not pursuing them, he looked up at the city wall and shouted, "Please, Master Long, open the city gate immediately so that we can go in and rest!"

"The Buddhist nun asked me to convey her message!"

The protector poked his head out and shouted at Yu Hongzhi, "Master Yu, your thousands of soldiers are all outside the city. How can you only bring your personal guards into the city?!"

We can rest in front of the city gate; we'll lower some food and water down in baskets!

Yu Hongzhi was so angry he gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.

The red-haired general of the central army leaned closer and whispered to Hongzhi, "Commander, should we continue our escape?"

"Let alone whether they can escape,"

Yu Hongzhi shook his head and whispered to the red-haired devil, "Even if we escape, how many of us will be left? Who will recognize me, the Iron King, and you, the Commander-in-Chief?"

After learning about the situation at the South Gate, Zhang Kun pondered for a moment and made a decision: "Ignore the South Gate, have the young lady lead the troops back, and we'll rest here at the East Gate!"

To completely suppress the rebels, the elite rebels guarding the south gate must be eliminated.

Otherwise, once these elite rebels escape, they could quickly recover to a size of several thousand or even tens of thousands.

But what benefit would Zhang Kun gain from completely suppressing the rebels?

The money for medicine, burial, and family support for soldiers and civilians, as well as the loss of weapons, armor, and warhorses.

Who should I ask for reimbursement for these expenses?

Moreover, Zhang Kun was merely a commander in charge of maintaining order and suppressing rebels; such suppression should have been the responsibility of the regular army, such as the Tongzhou military commander.

There are several thousand bandits trapped in the enemy camp outside the East Gate, which is enough for Zhang Kun to report to the imperial court.

In front of the South Gate.

Upon discovering that the pursuing government troops had withdrawn, Yu Hongzhi shouted again to the city wall, "Master Long, the government troops to the south have withdrawn. They will most likely attack from the city wall. Let us in!"

The protector poked his head out and replied to Yu Hongzhi, "Master Yu, please wait a moment; the city gates will open soon!"

A moment later, Yu Hongzhi followed the incense bearer up to the city wall and respectfully asked Long Lingxian, "Master Long, I have been down below the city wall and do not know what the situation is on the east side."

"Senior Brother Yu has worked hard in battle, please have some food and water first."

Long Lingxian said gently to Hongzhi, "The government troops on the east side are also resting at the east gate. You can see smoke rising from the city walls."

However, some of Senior Brother Yu's men tried to take the opportunity to retreat, but were defeated by the government troops.

"Ugh!"

Yu Hongzhi sighed, took the water jug ​​from Xiang Jiang, and drank the weak wine in it in one gulp.

He took the pancake wrapped with roasted pork, wolfed it down in a few bites, and then asked Long Lingxian, "I wonder if Master Long has any solutions?"

"There's no good solution. The enemy is strong and we are weak," Long Lingxian shook her head and sighed to Hongzhi, "The only option now is to let one escape."

"Where can we escape to...? It's poisonous!"

Yu Hongzhi felt his limbs go weak and he couldn't stand steadily. He immediately understood what was happening.

He tried to pounce on Long Lingxian, but was grabbed by two incense bearers beside him. His eyes were fixed on Long Lingxian as he said, "You...you dare to harm your fellow disciple!"

"I am a Buddhist nun of the Dragon Heaven Path. My relationship with you, the 'Stick Club,' is merely a matter of some incense offering; we are not fellow disciples,"1

Long Lingxian sneered at Hongzhi, "If you have any complaints, go and complain to the Ancestral Master!"

Several of Yu Hongzhi's confidants and personal guards who had been brought into the city had been killed, and the protector walked over carrying a blood-stained dagger.

Slit Yu Hongzhi's throat and give this Iron King a quick death.

More than a hundred of the tribesmen on and below the city walls were also drugged by the poison in their food and water, losing their ability to resist and being slaughtered.

Long Tiandao has over 500 elite troops in the county town, but only a little over 100 horses. Now he has another 100, but it is still not enough.

"Gather fifty elite soldiers, cut off his head, and send it to the government troops."

Having made the decision, Long Lingxian pointed at Yu Hongzhi's corpse and instructed the protector: "Tell the other party that if they are willing to let you and me leave, it will cost five thousand taels of silver, or ten taels of silver to buy a life."

If you're unwilling to let us leave, then let's fight to the death!

The Battle of Huoxian ended in such a dismal fashion:

The followers of Longtiandao at the South Gate did not raise their flags in rebellion; they came to negotiate in the name of county and township militia, and there were only five hundred of them.

There are several thousand bandits in the bandit camp outside the city; whether there are more or less five hundred, it doesn't make much difference.

The "local militia" who came to negotiate were all in full armor and had strong, muscular builds; they looked like tough guys to kill.

Moreover, the fact that the other side was able to wipe out Yu Hongzhi's hundred men shows that they were not only difficult to kill.

Since they were willing to offer up Yu Hongzhi's corpse, along with five thousand taels of silver, and even agreed to leave Zhang Kun's jurisdiction.

Zhang Kun was also willing to turn a blind eye and preserve his own strength.

The same question remains: if you wipe out your troops, who will replenish them and reimburse you?

It should be noted that the River Works Corps has received less than 30,000 taels of silver from the imperial court so far!

The reason is that the provisions and pay of the river work camp should rightfully be provided by the Chongwenmen Propaganda Department.

However, at the beginning of the establishment of the River Works Camp, Emperor Wanli directly plundered the more than 100,000 taels of silver stored in the Chongwenmen Xuanke Division.

As a result, the Chongwenmen Propaganda Department had to borrow money from the Jinyiwei Street Office and the Tongwan Tax Supervisor to pay the River Works Battalion.

Later, due to the huge profits of the Jin Yun ship, Zhang Kun decided to suspend the payment of salaries to the Chongwenmen Xuanke Division and repay the loans first.

Thirty thousand taels.

After deducting the expenses for materials, equipment, and other items for the construction of the nine gates of the Dajun River, less than 20,000 taels were used to support the river engineering camp.

Before Zhang Kun reorganized the river work camp, the cost of supporting it for a year was 46,500 taels!

This means Zhang Kun has to spend 26500 taels of silver every year on the river engineering camp!

After the reorganization, the cost of supporting them for a year increased to more than 50,000 taels, requiring Zhang Kun to contribute 30000 taels!

This doesn't even include weapons, armor, warhorses, or rewards for meritorious service, military expeditions, medicine, burial expenses, and resettlement expenses...

Unless the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue reimburse Zhang Kun for these funds and guarantee a continued supply thereafter.

Otherwise, Zhang Kun would not have been able to suppress the rebels with all his might.