Chapter Nine: The Military Council at Zhuxian Town

As Zhu Cilang settled in Dongming County, preparing for a decisive clash with the forces of Red Damsel and Li Yan, the atmosphere outside Kaifeng, specifically in Zhuxian Town, grew increasingly tense.

Gathered there was Ding Qirui, the Governor-General overseeing Henan, Huguang, and Sichuan, along with Yang Wenyue, the Governor of Baoding. Under the command of these two leaders were various regional commanders including Zuo Liangyu, Hu Dawei, Fang Guo’an, and Yang Dezheng. The total number of imperial troops amassed in the area reached 180,000, appearing poised to engage in a major confrontation with the rebel army, which claimed to have a million men.

A major battle was clearly the intent of Governor-General Ding Qirui. Not long ago, he had received a stern mandate from the Chongzhen Emperor. The sharpness of the language used in the imperial decree was enough to make anyone who heard it tremble with fear. Yet, even that alone had not been enough to resolve Ding’s hesitation. He had received such stern orders from the court before; as long as the war in the Central Plains remained in a stalemate—neither a victory nor a defeat—the imperial court still required a cautious and experienced commander to suppress the rebellion.

What truly sent a shiver down Ding Qirui’s spine was the personal arrival of the Prince of Zhou. Ding was deeply wary of this prince, who disregarded the court’s suspicions. Although the Henan provincial treasury still held some reserves, the actual rewards for the troops were being provided directly from the Prince’s own estate. It was this massive infusion of wealth that had enabled the imperial army to maintain the morale necessary to repel the rebel assaults on the city. Therefore, out of respect for the Prince and a desire to protect his own purse strings, Ding was forced to pay close attention to the Prince’s stance.

However, it was merely an inkling of influence. What finally moved him was a copy of the official court gazette brought by the Prince. The information it contained was simple—the routine announcements of personnel appointments. In the gazette, Ding saw a familiar name.

"By imperial decree, Hou Xun is appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of War and is to enter Henan with 200,000 taels of silver to reward the troops."

Seeing the name "Hou Xun" made Ding tense up instantly. His greatest fear had come to pass. Ding was not irreplaceable; as the commander of the Central Plains theater, his repeated failures and persistent delays had pushed the Emperor’s disappointment to its limit. Hou Xun, the benefactor of Zuo Liangyu, being released from prison clearly signaled something ominous. For now, Hou was only a Vice Minister, but who could believe he would remain so for long?

Thinking of this, Ding Qirui no longer hesitated. He began to frequently issue orders, mobilize troops, and deploy generals, a complete reversal of his previous passive approach. However, by the time Ding led his elite battalion out of Kaifeng, the rebel army had already occupied the higher ground southwest of Zhuxian Town, securing the strategic advantage. This move effectively cut off the imperial army’s southern retreat.

In the Governor-General’s headquarters at Zhuxian Town, drums sounded as the commanders gathered. Ding sat at the head of the table, his expression grim. Silence filled the hall, creating a heavy and stifling atmosphere. Sitting in the seat of honor on the left was Yang Wenyue. Seeing the scene before him, he frowned, feeling truly helpless.

Yang had little respect for Ding as a commander, but the court was desperate and had issued repeated, urgent orders to relieve Kaifeng. Having just been reinstated after a humiliating defeat, Yang had no power to defy the throne. After the defeat at Xiangcheng, Yang had been stripped of his rank. Although he successfully relieved Kaifeng when Li Zicheng attacked it for the second time, allowing him to regain his post, the subsequent defeat at Xiangcheng had drained his remaining strength. Now, he could only station his forces, led by his primary general Hu Dawei, in Runing, Henan, while attempting to slowly recover his military capacity through agricultural garrisons in Xiping and Xincai.

When Kaifeng was besieged, Yang had been forced by imperial decree to scrape together the remnants of his forces to lift the siege. He had no desire to discuss how many of his Baoding troops were actually combat-ready, nor did he wish to engage in reckless warfare that would squander his last reserves. Yet, thinking back on the drift of the recent military councils, his heart sank. It was not that Yang feared battle; it was that in a joint military operation, the obstacles from within the imperial ranks were far greater than those posed by the enemy.

With this in mind, Yang looked at Zuo Liangyu sitting opposite him. Zuo sat relaxed, leaning back in his chair with a burning gaze and a careless smile. This man, with his handsome features and refined appearance, was the "General Who Pacifies the Thieves"—the most formidable commander among all those gathered. Even Yang’s own top general, Hu Dawei, paled in comparison.

But Yang despised him. Earlier this year, when Yang had relieved Kaifeng and regained his post, Zuo had also fought bravely, capturing Linying from the rebels. And then... Zuo had massacred the entire city of Linying! Massacred it!

After the massacre, fearing the rebels' revenge or potential impeachment by local officials, Zuo fled to Yancheng. As fate would have it, he was surrounded by Li Zicheng once more. This led to Wang Qiaonian coming to his rescue, only for Zuo to effectively lead Wang to his death, causing Yang to suffer another defeat and further depleting his strength. And now, this very man had become the pillar of the army, the so-called "greatest general of the campaign."

The council had begun, and Ding waited for a subordinate to volunteer for the vanguard, but was met with deathly silence. Finally, Ding cleared his throat and said with a forced smile, "How do you think we should engage in today’s battle?"

Yang smiled; Ding’s question was clearly loaded, already setting the stage for an offensive. After a moment of thought, Yang replied in his Sichuan-accented Mandarin, "Governor-General, my Baoding troops are guest forces, here by decree to assist in suppressing the rebels. Naturally, this battle requires the Baoding troops to coordinate with the forces from Huguang and Henan. As for how to initiate the attack, that depends on how the generals under your command choose to strike first."

After saying this, Yang cast a side glance at Zuo Liangyu. He had deflected the ball back to Ding, and in doing so, had set a fire within Ding’s own command. Everyone knew that Ding had no real control over the Huguang forces. Zuo Liangyu ignored his orders, and local officials either hid their boats or refused to provide supplies—all evidence of Ding’s incompetence.

Suppressing his frustration, Ding kept his smile and replied, "Our army is vast and strong; we should fight a grand, head-on battle. However, once the fighting begins, there will be a distinction between the first to engage and those who follow. The primary merit will be decided after the battle, but for the honor of being the first, I look to our brave generals. I will personally draft the reports to His Majesty, ensuring promotions and generous rewards for those who do not fail the army!"

He looked expectantly at Zuo Liangyu, who only let out a mocking laugh and shook his head. "The rebels' blade is too sharp," Zuo said. "I will not fight."