The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 361 Sun, Moon, Mountains and Rivers
Outside the cities of Huguang and Yiling, the Ming army camps were completely silent, without the slightest sound of human beings.

The fire pit in the camp was burning slowly, and the wood crackled from time to time under the licking of the flames.

The lights in the governor's sleeping tent next to the Chinese army's tent were dim and stuffy.

Yang Sichang was half lying on the bed. His face was pale, his expression was tired, his eyes were dim, even his beard and hair had turned white, and a heavy twilight lingered around his body.

As the supervisor, Wan Yuanji was kneeling next to Yang Sichang. He lowered his head, hunched his waist, and looked in pain.

Meng Ruhu, Cao Bianjiao, Zhang Zhong, Diao Mingzhong and other Ming army generals were all kneeling in the tent at this time.

The atmosphere in the sleeping tent was dull, and everyone's faces seemed to be covered with a veil, making it impossible to see clearly.

Under the dim lights, the figures of everyone were stretched extremely long.

"Gebu, just have something to eat..."

Wan Yuanji's voice was choked with sobs. He knelt on the ground and begged again.

The roar of the wind outside the tent confused Yang Sichang's thoughts.

The strong wind blew into the tent through the cracks, causing the candlelight in the tent to sway continuously.

The house leak happened to rain overnight, and the ship was late and hit the wind again.

After learning that Meng Ruhu suffered a defeat in Huangling City, Yang Sichang, who was already exhausted mentally and physically, suddenly lay on the bed.

This time, the fall of Xiangyang City and the death of King Xiang had already been reported, which made Yang Sichang's condition even worse. From then on, he could no longer drink water.

"No need..."

Yang Sichang's voice was weak, and the lack of water for several days made Yang Sichang's already seriously ill body even weaker.

"No need..."

Yang Sichang was half lying on the bed and repeated "No need" twice.

He slowly turned his head, not looking at the rice porridge in Wan Yuanji's hand, but at the generals in the tent.

Yang Sichang's eyes slowly glanced over the generals in the tent.

The generals in the tent at this time still did not include Zuo Liangyu.

Yang Sichang closed his eyes, he was too tired.

After everyone waited for a while, they heard Yang Sichang ask.

"Zuo Liangyu, where are you now?"

After hearing Yang Sichang's reply, everyone raised their heads and looked at Wan Yuanji.

"Minister..."

Wan Yuanji was slightly startled and hesitated. He really did not dare to answer Yang Sichang's question.

"explain."

Yang Sichang opened his eyes and looked at Wan Yuanji who was kneeling beside him.

His voice was very soft and weak, but his tone was extremely firm, with an aura that could not be rejected.

Wan Yuanji was finally convinced by Yang Sichang's eyes. After sighing, Wan Yuanji lowered his head and answered.

"General Zuo... is still in Kuizhou Mansion..."

After Wan Yuanji's words fell, all the generals in the tent looked helpless, and the atmosphere in the tent also became stagnant.

"Okay...okay...that's really good..."

Yang Sichang's expression was dark and his eyes were cold.

"Our Commander-in-Chief Zuo is truly the pillar of the country and the backbone of the imperial court."

"If I had known what happened now, I should have been ruthless and forcibly killed Zuo Liangyu to correct military law."

Yang Sichang looked gloomy and sighed.

Wan Yuanji's eyes narrowed slightly and he said angrily.

"This is not the fault of the Cabinet. No one could have imagined that Zuo Liangyu would be so arrogant, treating the country's laws as child's play, and not having the slightest intention to serve the country."

Zuo Liangyu dared to fight at the beginning and made many achievements.

During the initial campaign, Zuo Liangyu had always been very obedient.

But for some unknown reason, Zuo Liangyu changed and even refused to listen to orders, gradually showing his arrogance.

At the beginning, with the help of Cao Bianjiao, he could barely suppress Zuo Liangyu, but it was of no use later.

Although Zuo Liangyu had always had a good attitude toward Cao Bianjiao, he was unwilling to cooperate in sending troops and obey orders.

The biggest reason why Zhang Xianzhong was able to escape from Kuizhou Prefecture was because Zuo Liangyu did not listen to the instructions and was negligent in pursuit, which caused the siege net to be broken.

One step wrong, step by step wrong.

Yang Sichang slowly shook his head. It was useless to talk about this now.

"As a governor, he cannot control his generals. This in itself is a dereliction of duty on the part of the governor."

The fault is no longer important, what is important is how to improve the current situation and how to make up for it.

"Now the total number of soldiers and horses under Zuo Liangyu has exceeded 30,000, and they are stationed between Kuizhou Prefecture and Jingzhou Prefecture. It has become a situation that is difficult to handle."

Now Zuo Liangyu's power has become established.

During the successive campaigns, the troops and horses in each town had been reduced to varying degrees, but Zuo Liangyu's troops alone were increasing in number.

There are not many camps and towns directly under Zuo Liangyu, but his subordinates, namely Liu Guoneng, Li Wanqing, Xu Bian, Wang Guangen and other surrendered generals, have been greatly expanded.

The situation in the southern country is like this, Zuo Liangyu is already in power, and it will be difficult for the imperial court to send a supervisor down to achieve success.

On the hospital bed, I listened to the cold wind blowing constantly outside the tent.

For some reason, Yang Sichang felt that his body had gained some strength, and his originally groggy mind became much clearer at this time.

Yang Sichang raised his head and struggled to support his body.

Wan Yuanji on the side saw Yang Sichang's actions and quickly stepped forward to help, helping Yang Sichang sit up.

The original cloudiness in Yang Sichang's eyes became much clearer at this moment, and he regained his energy.

"Chen Wang, where are you now?"

Wan Yuanji thought about it for a while and replied.

"The station is rushing to send the order, and the general order has been delivered to General Chen."

After the Battle of Huanglingcheng, Zhang Xianzhong marched all the way towards Huguang, threatening the security of Huguang.

Because Huguang was too empty, Yang Sichang thought of Chen Wang, who was in Kaifeng, Henan at this time.

At that time, the Wanmin Army was trapped in Guide Mansion and did not move for a long time. It has been besieging Shangqiu.

The governor of Baoding, Yang Wenyue, was also responsible for presiding over the suppression of the Ten Thousand People's Army. Chen Wang was only involved in the suppression.

Therefore, Yang Sichang issued a military order to mobilize Chen Wang to lead his troops south to Xiangyang, leaving the rest of his troops in Henan to assist in the suppression.

"General Chen received the order from the cabinet and immediately led his troops southward at night. He sent a message three days ago and has already entered Nanyang Mansion and is on his way to Xiangyang."

"Counting the time, we should have arrived in the Dengzhou area."

Dengzhou is a city in the south of Nanyang Prefecture, bordering Xiangyang Prefecture. At this time, Chen Wang's troops were not very far from Xiangyang.

Wan Yuanji paused and then added.

"With General Chen in the north of Xiangyang Mansion, there is no need to worry about the traitors heading north."

When he heard that Chen Wang had almost arrived in Dengzhou, Yang Sichang's originally ugly expression softened a lot.

The situation in the South is now gradually collapsing.

Yang Sichang knew very well what impact the fall of Xiangyang would have on the future.

When the imperial court learns about the affairs of the Southern Kingdom, no one can protect him.

The two vassal kings before and after were killed, and the two important towns of Luoyang and Xiangyang fell.

It took more than a year and tens of millions of dollars, but he failed to calm the turmoil in the southern country.

His Majesty entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, but he failed to live up to his Majesty's trust.

At this point, he has no face to see His Majesty.

"With the fall of Xiangyang this time, the imperial court will inevitably change its governor."

Yang Sichang looked solemn and turned to look at Wan Yuanji, who was kneeling beside him. He stretched out his hand and grabbed Wan Yuanji's arm. "Now that I am no longer able to govern, when the new governor arrives in the South Country, I need you to take up the important responsibilities."

Wan Yuanji felt the intensity of Yang Sichang's injury.

Wan Yuanji's expression was gloomy. He had been with Yang Sichang these days, so how could he not know Yang Sichang's physical condition.

Yang Sichang became more and more haggard and weaker every day these days.

At this time, Yang Sichang had a sickly flushed face.

The strength in his hands is gradually increasing, and Yang Sichang's eyes are becoming clearer and clearer.

Everything indicates that Yang Sichang is in a state of recovery.

"Minister..."

Wan Yuanji looked at Yang Sichang and couldn't help crying.

Wan Yuanji did not speak, but was interrupted by Yang Sichang.

"Chen Wang..."

Yang Sichang's eyes flickered. He wanted to say something, but in the end he still couldn't.

After a pause, Yang Sichang organized his words and said again

"Now in the entire Southern Kingdom, only Chen Wang can suppress Zuo Liangyu."

"Chen Wang has a good reputation, is able to convince people, has general talents, military strategies, and elite soldiers under his command. He has a close relationship with Zuo Liangyu. Zuo Liangyu can be placed under Chen Wang's command."

Yang Sichang sighed softly, turned his head again, looked at the generals kneeling in the tent, and forced a smile.

"The situation in the Southern Kingdom has collapsed to this point. The fault lies with me. I have submitted a letter of apology."

"The generals are dedicated to serving the country and there is no need to worry about being implicated."

"Supervisor..."

He gritted his teeth as fiercely as a tiger, suppressing the sadness in his heart.

"Minister..."

Cao Bianjiao's expression was gloomy and his voice was low.

The military generals in the tent had different expressions, and many of them lowered their heads.

Everyone present here is a veteran of the battlefield and has followed many commanders before and after.

Yang Sichang is qualified as a supervisor.

Even if Yang Sichang had all sorts of faults and misdeeds, it had nothing to do with him in the imperial court.

But Yang Sichang never lacked even half a tael of their military pay, nor even a little bit of their food and grass.

In the prefectures, counties and cities along the way, those who dared to refuse to supply food and grass and assist in the suppression were punished by Yang Sichang without exception.

I can’t say clearly what rewards and punishments are, but they can be considered fair.

The strategy may not be correct, but it is appropriate.

Although like most civil servants and governors, Yang Sichang did have the advantage of being a civil servant.

But in Yang Sichang's eyes, these military ministers and their generals are human beings after all, not dolphins and dogs that can be summoned and go away...

I don't know when it started, but there was a slight sobbing sound in the tent.

"Why are you crying..."

Looking at the generals below with their heads lowered.

Yang Sichang's originally cold eyes slowly melted, he shook his head and smiled reluctantly.

As he watched, Yang Sichang felt a little fog blocking his eyes.

Governor Nan Guo, along the way, he saw too many things that he could not see in the temple before.

His heart, which was originally as solid as stone, finally softened.

After all, his heart is not made of real iron stone...

Yang Sichang turned his head and looked at the tent in front of him.

The strong wind outside the tent was howling non-stop. Yang Sichang felt that his body became more and more relaxed, as if he was about to be blown to the sky by the strong wind.

The strong wind howled, carrying Yang Sichang's thoughts flying into the distance.

"Lu Xiangsheng...Lu Xiangsheng..."

The strong wind took Yang Sichang back to the outskirts of Shunyi and brought him to the night when he and Lu Xiangsheng quarreled.

In the Chinese military tent, he and Lu Xiangsheng stood opposite each other.

"The time has not yet come, and it is not the time for a decisive battle."

"The elite of the North are now in your hands. If they are all wiped out in one day, defeated and the country's capital is damaged, internal and external forces will rise, and the danger of overthrow will be instantaneous."

He persuaded Lu Xiangsheng earnestly.

Lu Xiangsheng stood motionless. He saw different expressions changing on Lu Xiangsheng's face.

After a long period of silence, Lu Xiangsheng raised his head again. He clenched his fists and looked cold, still insisting on his opinion.

At that time, he didn't understand what the expression on Lu Xiangsheng's face meant.

However, Yang Sichang now understood why the expression on Lu Xiangsheng's face kept changing.

Above the temple, the people in each city, each battalion and each soldier are nothing but cold and ruthless white and black characters.

But when he arrived, everything he saw was completely different from the temple.

Everything Lu Xiangsheng had seen, Yang Sichang had seen now.

Until now, Yang Sichang has completely understood Lu Xiangsheng and understood why Lu Xiangsheng did what he did in the first place.

But understanding does not mean regret.

If Yang Sichang was asked to make a choice again, he would also choose to avoid Jiannu's military front and not take risks.

Lu Xiangsheng's approach is too risky. Once he fails, he will fall into a place of eternal destruction.

The wind howled, and the wind roared continuously.

Yang Sichang felt that his mind was getting more and more dizzy, and everything in front of him began to become unreal.

The past kept passing by Yang Sichang's eyes.

The spirit of youth, the ambition of youth.

He was helpless when his father was in prison, and soaring when the emperor favored him.

In his life, there were ups and downs, ups and downs.

He made many mistakes and did many good deeds.

However, it seems now that he has not been able to fulfill the promises he once made and the ambitions he once set.

Yang Sichang slowly closed his eyes. He knew clearly that he had made more mistakes than he had done good things.

In the end, I am powerless...

In the end, there is nothing you can do...

The emperor's face is still vivid in his mind.

Yang Sichang slowly read out the poem that the emperor himself wrote for him when he was saying goodbye.

"Yanmei is temporarily serving as Gancheng, and the general will command Xiliu camp."

"The atmosphere of banditry will be wiped out and peace will be restored. We will also provide education and improve people's livelihood."

"I, Yang Sichang, have failed your Majesty's trust..."

"I wish...the sun, moon, mountains and rivers would last forever..."

In the account.

Already burst into tears...

……

"Yang Sichang Collection":
This body is exhausted from fatigue, vomits phlegm and blood every day, cannot sleep at night, is dying, and dare not speak.

Moreover, there was not even a single letter in the Xiangtreasury's salary. It was horrifying that the governor and his ministers had moved to consult him. The ministers became more and more worried and angry, and they did not know where they died.