Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 427 0422 [truce]

Two miles to the north of Jiangling City, 6000 people lined up.

When the troops were withdrawn, the peasants who withdrew to the north, except some of them took care of the food and grass, returned to clean the battlefield.

The weapons thrown away by the Chu army were picked up, and the armor of the Chu army's body was also stripped off, but the clothes on the body were still left.One after another, the corpses were neatly arranged outside the city, waiting for Xiang Xiang to send someone to receive them.

The moat was also full of corpses, and some of them had even floated into the Yangtze River. There was nothing we could do about it, and Xiang Xiang had to fish it himself.

Zhong Xiang stood at the top of the city and watched the civilian husbands move the corpses. After a long time, he said to the generals beside him: "Take the soldiers and the people and go out through the gates on the east and west sides. When the enemy leaves, move the corpses back into the city. In the moat The dead bodies were also salvaged, and I will save the souls of the soldiers who died in battle, and let them go to the Great Bright Kingdom cleanly."

To save the dead is an important ritual of Manichaeism.

Because the doctrine says that human beings are descendants of the devil, and Mingzun came to the world to save souls.

Manichaeism is greatly influenced by Zoroastrianism, and it stands to reason that neither burial nor cremation is possible.But religion has to do as the Romans do. With China's large population, how can there be so many open spaces and high mountains for sky burials?
With so many corpses in front of them, they had to be burned, otherwise a plague might break out.

The military officer named Cheng Hu came again and brought the corpse of Dongsheng Gong Xia Cheng, and said to the general in charge of moving the corpse: "Our army is a division of benevolence and righteousness, and will not abuse prisoners. Even the corpse of the enemy I won’t insult you. The dead are the most important, and I’m here to send back the body of Duke Dongsheng of your country!”

Although the general of the Chu army hated Zhu Ming deeply, he could only hold his fists together when encountering such a thing: "Thank you!"

Cheng Hu said again: "Please tell the emperor of your country that the Generalissimo wants to talk to him, and I will be solely responsible for the negotiation."

After a while, Cheng Hu was invited into the city.

Zhong Xiang was no longer as imposing as before the war, and asked, "What else can we talk about?"

Cheng Hu said: "I'm afraid there are not many people left in your army, 3 or [-]? Even if you can escape [-] people, how many armors are left? It may be too late to take off the armor when the soldiers flee, but most of the weapons will Throw it away. I know that there are many warriors in the Chu army, and they all have the determination to defend to the end. Can they really survive? The Generalissimo is kind-hearted and cannot bear to see more casualties, so please let your Excellency leave Jiangling by yourself, but you are not allowed to take away the city of Jiangling. People!"

Population is what Ju Ming wants.

If Zhong Xiang is in a hurry, I am afraid that the people in the city will be driven to defend the city. Even if Jiangling is captured, the population will wither.

In fact, the Chu army that participated in the previous battle already numbered 4000 to [-] people, and they were residents recruited in Jiangling City.

Zhong Xiang still has doubts. He is afraid that if Jiangling is gone, Zhu Ming will lead troops across the river.

Cheng Hu said: "Both parties can make an oath and conclude a contract. Your Excellency swears by the Manichaean gods, and the Generalissimo swears by the gods who raise their heads three feet. The two parties agree not to fight within three years. How?"

"He will keep his promise so much?" Zhong Xiang sneered.

Cheng Hu said: "Don't talk about after the army was launched, even before the army was launched, the Generalissimo has never broken his promise. To put it bluntly, the Chu army is not qualified to let the Generalissimo break his promise, and even this battle has not been true. I The 30 soldiers of the army are still in Sichuan and have not come over yet."

"A person who keeps his promise will kill my son's war horse during the negotiation?" Zhong Xiang asked.

Cheng Hu said with a smile: "It's just killing a beast, and it didn't hurt anyone."

In fact, Zhong Xiang only wanted a step down, and he couldn't go on: "Tell me, what unreasonable demands does the surname Zhu have?"

Cheng Hu lion opened his mouth: "Changyang, Yidu, Songzi, Ezhou (Wuchang), Wuchang (Ezhou), these five cities must be ceded to us."

"Don't think about it!"

Zhong Xiang was furious: "Zhu Ming, you bullied me too much. If you want to fight, fight, and I will not agree even if I die here!"

Cheng Hu said: "Your Excellency is defeated, and you have to come up with something to truce. If you disagree with this proposal, please give me an explanation."

Zhong Xiang said, "Only for Jiangling and Zhijiang."

Cheng Hu shook his head: "Our army has already defeated Zhijiang, and Jiangling has also come to the city. These two cities belong to our army. Your Excellency is too dishonest. You really want to fight again, and our army will accompany you to the end. I know that your Excellency is here There is still a large army in Jinghu, but the 30 troops in Sichuan are not for display!"

"With an army of 30, I'm afraid they can only fool children." Of course Zhong Xiang didn't believe it.

Cheng Hu said: "Jinghu Road is vast and sparsely populated, and you can have an army of more than 30. Sichuan is densely populated, why can't you have 10,000 troops? The main soldiers fighting today are similar to the imperial army of the Song Dynasty. We still have tens of thousands. The patrol soldiers are similar to the Xiang Army of the Song Dynasty. There are also countless peasant soldiers who train after farming, similar to the rural soldiers of the Song Dynasty, with a number of up to [-]+."

With such an analysis, Zhong Xiang actually believed eight points. Perhaps Sichuan really had 30 troops left.

Cheng Hu went on to say: "The barbarians in southern Sichuan are in chaos, and the Dali Kingdom will also come to harass them, and they have to guard against officers and soldiers going south. The Generalissimo really doesn't want to fight with your country anymore. Why don't the two sides shake hands and make peace? Our army will deal with Nanman and Dali with all our strength. Go north to attack Shaanxi and Henan. Your country will try its best to take down the entire territory of Jinghu Road. You can attack Jiangxi to the east and Guangxi to the south. Both you and I are rebels. Kill each other?"

Of course Zhong Xiang wanted to expand to the east and south, but Ju Ming was just north of the Yangtze River, and he divided his troops to defend the city along the river.

Cheng Hu suggested: "How about this, both sides send envoys to be guests in the cities along the river. The garrison in each city by the river should not exceed one thousand, so that each other can rest assured and mobilize more troops to fight the officers and soldiers. After the truce, the two sides Resuming contacts, you can go to each other's sites to do business."

This proposal moved Zhong Xiang extremely.

If he didn't deploy heavy troops along the river, he would be able to bring a large number of elites southward, and he would definitely be able to take down several silver mines in the south.The industry and commerce on Jinghu Road are underdeveloped. After occupying a large number of silver mines, they can still use the silver to find Zhu Ming to buy supplies.

After thinking about it, Zhong Xiang said: "Only give Yidu and Changyang two cities, and don't think about the rest of the city."

"Then give some more money and food." Cheng Hu said.

"No!" Xiang Zhong refused.

Cheng Hu had already completed his task, but he still put on a show and said, "I'm going back to ask the Generalissimo for instructions, and I'll reply tomorrow."

Zhong Xiang shouted: "See off the guests!"

……

Zhu Ming said: "I have a secret job on Jinghu Road. Although it is not easy to send back news, I can still send back a few secret letters. The state of Chu replaced the rural Baojia with an altar similar to a club. But those altar owners in the countryside are slowing down. Slowly becoming a new country gentry. Moreover, the trade of merchants fleeing to various places has almost stagnated, and many cities need to organize civilian husbands to transport food supplies. Do you still think Zhong Xiang can do things?"

Yingxuan sighed: "Some of his practices are indeed open to discussion."

"My detailed work, I can only explore the countryside and cities, and I don't know much about the dignitaries of Chu," Zhu Ming asked, "Can you tell me what those dignitaries think?"

Yingxuan said: "Although the Holy Duke, the Holy King, and the Holy Marquis have begun to enjoy it, they have not done too much. If they were placed in the Song Dynasty, they would all be upright officials. Even the emperor of the Chu Kingdom would not pay too much. A few concubines should dress better, eat better, and build a palace without wantonly destroying the people."

Zhu Ming smiled and said, "That's because they haven't used up all the goods they robbed, right? What do the dignitaries of Chu state think of Manichaeism?"

Yingxuan said: "Few of those who raised troops to respond believed in Manichaeism."

This is very similar to the Fang La uprising. There are always some heroes who respond to the uprising and are willing to obey Fang La as the co-lord, but they don't believe in Manichaeism at all.

However, Zhu Ming helped resist the officers and soldiers, and Zhong Xiang had enough time and energy to integrate forces in the early stage of the uprising, and his control over those who responded to the uprising was far superior to Fang La.

Zhu Ming inquired about the situation in detail and learned more information from Ying Xuan.

Perhaps because of the short time, although Zhong Xiang and his generals began to enjoy themselves, compared with the leaders of the peasant army in the past dynasties, they are now very able to stick to their original intentions.

There is no big problem with the upper class of Chu State, but the middle and lower classes are really bad!

Especially in the newly occupied territory this year, it can be said that fish and dragons are mixed, with countless speculators joining, it is impossible to distinguish at all.

Nanshenggong of Chu State led troops to attack Guiyang prison, and asked Hengzhou officials to recruit troops and transport food to join the war.As a result, when a war really broke out, the soldiers brought by those opportunists were paddling for fish all the time, and they would collapse when they faced the officers and soldiers. Only the headquarters of Nanshenggong was willing to fight.

……

A few days later, the peace treaty was signed.

Chu State is willing to sell Yidu and Changyang, two small cities close to Yiling, to Zhu Ming, and admits that Jiangling and Zhijiang are Zhu Ming's territories.

It's not a cession, but a sale. Zhong Xiang also needs to save face.

Yidu is worth three thousand guan and grain one thousand shi; Changyang is worth two thousand guan and grain eight hundred shi.Although it is equal to picking up for nothing, money and food must be given, and Zhong Xiang promised not to take too many people away (he will take away the craftsmen).

Jiangling didn't need to give money, but the soldiers and craftsmen from Jiangling, Xiang Xiang Zhong also had to take away.

The two sides sent envoys to each other and lived in the cities along the river to keep an eye on the situation of their respective garrisons. Each city, including the outskirts, should not have more than 2000 garrisons.

Restore private trade in an all-round way, and exchange what is needed.

The agreement is for a period of three years.

This war cost Zhu Ming a lot of money and food, but he won the four cities of Jiangling, Zhijiang, Changyang, and Yidu, three of which are strategically important cities.

At the same time, avoid falling into a long-term battle, and gain stable development time for Xiangyang and Nanyang.

The three-way area around Honghu Lake, without the threat from the south, can also send officials to manage it, ending the anarchy there.

Although Zhong Xiang suffered heavy losses, he also gained precious time for development, and he was able to mobilize a large army to attack the city and seize territory.As long as his main force goes south, the remaining prefectures and counties on Jinghu Road should be occupied within a year.

Yingxuan, who surrendered to Zhu Ming, did not marry a wife and have children. There was only one old mother in the family, and Zhong Xiang promised to send it over quietly.

On the other side of the court of the Song Dynasty, when they learned that Zhu Ming and Zhong Xiang were going to war, the monarchs and ministers were all elated.Unexpectedly, the battle is over once the battle is over, and they plan to come over next year to clean up the mess.

All the rebel armies in Shandong were almost wiped out by the imperial court, and Tong Guan's Shengjie army had outstanding military exploits.

However, there are a large number of remnant peasant troops hiding in various mountainous areas of Shandong.

The peasant army in Hebei was also beaten to only a small half by the Western Army, but tens of thousands of peasant troops entered the Taihang Mountains.

(End of this chapter)