Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 14: Suzhou Falls 3

Outside the prefectural government office, the legal advisor and a group of government soldiers knelt at the door. The legal advisor looked at Meng Jun tremblingly, fearing that the rebel would chop him without a word. Meng Jun looked at the legal advisor and asked, "Where is the prefect?"

The master quickly replied, "Mr. Zhong is in the palace. The prefect does not dare to resist the heavenly army and is willing to surrender to the general. I hope the general will forgive me."

Meng Jun was delighted when he heard this. If Zhong Kuan was so sensible, he could save himself a lot of trouble. Although this man was spineless, the fact that the prefect of Suzhou was willing to surrender would certainly have a certain shocking effect on the Qing officials in various parts of Jiangnan. He must not be killed. If he was killed, who would dare to surrender in the future? This was different from Xue Dao. The rebel army was not yet fully grown. Xue Dao had been in the Green Camp in Suzhou for many years and had many trusted men under him. How could he not be on guard against the possibility of the guest turning the host? Moreover, Yang En's uncle Yang Can had betrayed Xue Dao. If Xue Dao surrendered, where would Yang Can and Yang En stand?

Lin Shiqi got off his horse, kicked the master, and shouted, "Since you are willing to surrender but won't come out, what are you still hiding in the mansion for? Go, let the prefect come out." Lin Shiqi looked down on them. These sour scholars really wanted to be a virtuous couple and wanted to build a memorial archway. Did Lord Meng have to come in and visit them three times? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself? Are you Zhuge Liang? Lin Shiqi adjusted his helmet and was about to ask the master to go back and call for help. At this time, Meng Jun stopped Lin Shiqi and said with a smile, "It doesn't matter. Let's go in and meet Lord Zhong. Get up."

Meng Jun said to his advisor, "Lead the way," and then he and Lin Shiqi led nearly a hundred people into the government office. The sound of armor clattering could be heard, and Zhang Bo and Yang En followed closely beside Meng Jun.

When Zhong Kuan heard the sound of armor outside, his heart trembled. Zhong Kuan was restless in the house. He wanted to go out and surrender but he couldn't put down his face. He just pretended like an ostrich and pretended that he didn't know. But now Meng Jun came in with his men. Zhong Kuan couldn't hide anymore, so he had to pack up his clothes and push the door open.

As soon as Zhong Kuan went out, he saw a young man with a group of fierce armored soldiers staring at him. The young man in the lead raised his mouth slightly and looked at him with a smile. Zhong Kuan knew that he must be Meng Jun. His legs softened and he knelt down and said to Meng Jun, "General, you are so powerful. I am willing to surrender."

After hearing this, Meng Jun smiled and said, "It's great that Mr. Zhong is willing to surrender. Now the Jiangnan area is in turmoil and the rebel army is everywhere. It would be wise for you to abandon the dark and join the light." After saying that, he helped Zhong Kuan up from the ground.

Zhong Kuan said resignedly, "General, you are right." Meng Jun glanced at him and said, "Since you have surrendered, I need your help with something. Please go and persuade the Green Camp soldiers in the parade ground to surrender and kill less people."

Zhong Kuan said in a helpless tone, "The person in charge of the Green Camp is Xue Dao. I am not familiar with the people in the Green Camp. I am afraid that I will miss the important matter of the general."

Meng Jun laughed and said, "It's okay. Take Xue Dao's head and persuade them to surrender. Those who don't surrender will be killed. Those who are willing to surrender, I will keep them safe." Zhong Kuan felt cold in his heart and had to nod and agree to persuade them to surrender. Meng Jun ordered Lin Shiqi to take Zhong Kuan to persuade them to surrender, and told them, "If the Qing soldiers don't surrender, wait for dawn before making plans." Meng Jun himself was in the lobby of the prefectural government office, reading the written materials of Suzhou Prefecture, looking at Suzhou's population and finances. The legal advisor had been kneeling on the ground, not daring to look at Meng Jun. Meng Jun didn't know what he saw, and he was shocked. The wealth of Suzhou blinded Meng Jun's eyes.

"Get up, what are you calling?" Meng Jun raised his head and said to his master.

"General, my surname is Zhu and my given name is Yizitu," the lawyer replied respectfully.

"Zhu Tu, how many years have you been in Suzhou?" Meng Jun asked casually.

Zhu Tu replied cautiously, "I have been in Suzhou Prefecture for seven years." Meng Jun seemed to be thinking about something, but did not ask any further questions. He continued to look at the information.

Lin Shiqi and Zhong Kuan went straight to the parade ground, with cavalry in front and hundreds of infantry behind, and rows of torches lighting a huge noise on the streets. At this time, the highest-ranking person in the Green Camp was a captain. His surname was Xu and his name was Xu Biao. There were originally a thousand people in the camp. After the riot broke out in the city, many people took advantage of the chaos and ran away. Xu Biao had a worried look on his face, and a group of people surrounded him asking him what to do. It was dark, and they dared not send out troops. The soldiers in the camp were in panic, and they were afraid that they would collapse directly at the slightest disturbance. Xu Biao had no choice but to gather all the soldiers together.

Soon, Lin Shiqi and the rebel army arrived outside the parade ground camp. Two soldiers brought Zhong Kuan to the door and shouted, "Xue Dao is dead, the prefect has surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, those who surrender will be spared, don't lose your life in vain." The Green Camp soldiers inside looked at the dense torches outside in panic. Xu Biao had seen Zhong Kuan, but most of the Green Camp soldiers didn't know Zhong Kuan. However, many people knew Xue Dao, and seeing Xue Dao's head shining under the torches was very terrifying.

"Soldiers, I am Zhong Kuan, the prefect of Suzhou. Suzhou City has been recaptured by the Ming Dynasty. Don't make any more futile resistance. You have been surrounded. Surrender." Zhong Kuan shouted to the Green Camp soldiers in the camp.

The Green Camp soldiers looked at each other and then at Xu Biao. Xu Biao looked outside the camp with sweat on his forehead. After hesitating for a moment, he said helplessly, "Surrender." Hearing this, all the soldiers in the camp breathed a sigh of relief. They dropped their weapons one by one and raised their hands in surrender. No one in the entire camp resisted. This also shows that the Qing army's rule in Jiangnan was not stable at this time.

Lin Shiqi was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered someone to return to the prefectural office to report the good news to Meng Jun, while Meng Bizhi and Han Xiong also sent people to report that they had captured the silver and granary. The armory put up some fierce resistance, and Han Xiong's troops lost more than fifty people, but it was also completely captured. After hearing the news, Meng Jun could finally put his mind at ease. It would be best if the Green Camp soldiers could be surrendered peacefully. This time, Suzhou City could be captured intact, and Yang En made an indelible contribution.

Although Meng Jun has captured Suzhou City, the external environment is still very bad. Li Chengdong's 10,000 troops are still in Jiading. Although the war has not yet ended, it will not be far away. Once the war in Jiading is over, Li Chengdong will definitely attack Suzhou. This is Meng Jun's biggest threat at present, so Meng Jun needs to integrate Suzhou as soon as possible.

At this time, Suzhou Prefecture had Changshu, Kunshan, Wujiang, Taicang and other counties, with a population of about 2943. However, these counties were still in the hands of the Qing army, and there were more than 289 taels of silver in the silver vault, and the grain and grass filled several granaries. Meng Jun saw in the Suzhou data that during the Hongwu period in the early Ming Dynasty, the total annual tax in the country was 121 million shi, Suzhou Prefecture paid 55 million shi, Songjiang Prefecture paid million shi, and Changzhou Prefecture paid shi, which was enough to show that Suzhou was the richest in the world. However, after the Qing army occupied Nanjing, Suzhou had already transported silver ingots and grain and grass to Nanjing twice, but even so, Suzhou Prefecture still had million shi of grain and grass. Seeing this information, Meng Jun's eyes almost popped out, and he wanted to go and see the silver and grain vaults immediately.

Meng Jun put away the information and shouted, "Gao Yi, get ready. Let's go check the money and food for our rebel army."

By this time, the chaos in Suzhou City had gradually subsided, except for some short-sighted hooligans who took advantage of the chaos to rob shops. However, these hooligans were soon caught by patrolling cavalry.

The news that Suzhou City was captured by Meng Jun and others will soon spread throughout Jiangnan like a thunderclap. This news will deal a head-on blow to Hong Chengchou who is about to arrive in Jiangning, and the Qing army's counterattack is believed to be imminent.