Chapter 328 Conspiracy
The rebel army gathered in Jiujiang, attracting attention from all sides.

All knowledgeable people in the world are paying attention to the upcoming battle that will determine the fate of the world.

If the righteous army wins, the country will be in great danger.

Dayu has millions of soldiers, but that is just a fictitious number.

Across the country, there are only about 300,000 troops that can actually fight.

In the previous battle, they suffered quite a few casualties and have not yet recovered.

In terms of combat effectiveness, the government troops gathered in the Huguang region were equivalent to one-third of Dayu’s military strength.

If the war is lost, the situation in the South will be irreversible.

At that time, the rebels and the northern barbarians will attack Dayu from the north and south.

The financial and material resources of a few northern provinces alone cannot support a war of this scale.

In one or two years at the shortest, or seven or eight years at the longest, the Dayu Dynasty will inevitably fall.

If the government army wins, the rebel army will be in danger.

The two largest rebel armies in the world, Chu concentrated all its main forces, and Wu also mobilized one-third of its elite troops to participate in the war.

Once defeated, the internally hollow Chu State would be unable to resist the government army’s efforts to recover lost territory.

The Wu State, which suffered heavy casualties, would also fall into a dangerous situation.

Even if it is not destroyed, its strategic space will be compressed.

In a sense, this battle was not only a military game, but also a political fight.

The outcome of the war will directly affect people’s hearts.

If the government army wins a great victory, then everyone will still be loyal to the court and continue to fight for Dayu’s cause all their lives.

If the rebels win, the number of officials and civilians who join them will increase dozens or even hundreds of times.

The difficulty of conquering cities and territories will be greatly reduced in the future.

It is possible that the enemy would open the city and surrender while the army is still on the way.

Wuchang City.

The rebels were getting closer and closer, but Li Mu, the commander-in-chief, was not as busy and tense as outsiders had speculated.

Do what you should do every day.

Apart from routine attention to the rebel movements, there were no extra actions, as if they had made up their minds to fight a battle of Wuchang with the rebels.

However, this relaxation is deliberately done for the outside world to see.

The scene within the army was quite different, with each town making every effort to prepare for war.

Defending the city and waiting for the rebels to attack is too passive.

Delaying the rebels to death is only an option when we have no other choice.

A war of attrition often results in losses for both sides, and even if the rebels are defeated, it will impose a heavy burden on the imperial court.

Now Emperor Yongning has delegated power and allowed local government offices to raise their own military funds.

Then this difficult problem fell on the shoulders of the nobles.

The continuous fighting exhausted the local financial and material resources. Even if the rebels were defeated, they were unable to further recover the lost territory.

Considering the overall situation, Li Mu cannot allow the worst situation to occur.

A quick victory is not only what the rebels want, but also his goal.

“The rebels are coming with great force, and the two rebel groups have gathered a total of 600,000 troops, which is really a big deal.

How about I call back the troops that were sent out first, and then go and recover the lost territory after this war is over?”

Li Yuan asked with a worried look on his face.

If it was an ordinary peasant uprising army, he would not take it seriously even if the number increased several times, let alone 600,000.

But the rebels encountered this time had already completed the primary stage of primitive accumulation and evolved from peasant uprisings to the stage of princes.

It has a stable base, a vast territory, a population of tens of millions, and strong military production capabilities.

The army fought all the way from Guangxi to the south of the Yangtze River, and those who survived were elite soldiers tempered by war.

This kind of troops that crawled out from the pile of dead bodies are far more powerful than ordinary rebels.

The elite among them have combat effectiveness comparable to that of the government troops.

“Uncle, there’s no need to be nervous.

The rebels are not a united group. The 600,000-strong army is divided into two factions, making it difficult for them to work closely together.

What’s more, this kind of large-scale troop operations is a great test of the commander’s command ability.

The poor coordination among the subordinate departments will further increase the difficulty of command for the head coach.

Not everyone can be like Han Xin. If a rebel brings so many troops here, it will definitely make a fool of itself.

To be exact, they made quite a few jokes during the march.”

Li Mu said with confidence.

It was the first time he encountered so many enemy troops, and he was actually a little nervous.

However, after seeing the intelligence sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he felt that the enemy was just so-so and there was no need to worry too much.

Food and fodder were delivered to the wrong camp, the wrong location was set up when setting up camp, soldiers got lost and mistakenly entered the friendly camp, and fights led to gunfights…

The rebels were slow to act, largely because their march was slowed down by internal turmoil.

It’s not that Wei Jiarui didn’t try to solve the problem, but as soon as one problem was solved, a new one would immediately arise.

During the march, he, as the commander-in-chief, wasted most of his time dealing with internal conflicts.

The lax military discipline is the biggest problem facing the rebels.

Even if one has been through hundreds of battles, it still cannot cover up the indulgence in one’s bones.

The rebel army failed to enforce military discipline in the early stages of the uprising, and now it is difficult to eradicate it.

When the scale is small, these disadvantages are not obvious.

After it grows and becomes stronger, it becomes a hidden danger.

Many internal conflicts are caused by military discipline.

There are so many soldiers in the rebel army, from all over the world.

During the march, many soldiers passed by their hometowns and found that their hometowns had been destroyed by their colleagues.

It would be fine if you didn’t encounter it, but if you do, it would be a betrayal to your blood in your bones if you don’t intervene.

Except for a few successful communication and coordination cases, most of the time it was just a fight.

If they are all led by the same boss, then the person responsible will be suppressed forcefully and dealt with.

The problem is that the rebel army belongs to the Wu and Chu factions, and each side can only manage its own troops, so the allied army will not buy into it.

For the sake of the overall situation, if you just endure one or two conflicts, it will pass.

As the number of conflicts increased, the top brass of both armies became increasingly annoyed.

Naturally, Li Mu’s contribution was indispensable in this process.

Intelligence organizations are not supported in vain. It is not easy to infiltrate aristocratic families, but it is very simple to go undercover in the rebel group.

There was only a little anger at first, but after a little provocation from the hidden player, it turned into a fierce fight.

Once a gunfight breaks out, there is only victory or defeat; right or wrong is secondary.

Everyone belongs to different camps, and even if there is a need to investigate responsibility, it is the top leaders who make the final decision.

They say they will deal with it seriously, but in reality, as long as they win the fight, they will take it lightly when they return.

“It’s never wrong to be careful.

This is a battle that not only the imperial court cannot afford to lose, but my Li family cannot afford to lose either.

Now countless eyes are watching us outside. If we suffer a major defeat, the consequences will be disastrous.

If you are not absolutely sure, then just hold the city and slowly consume the rebels!”

Li Yuan said earnestly.

The prominent status of a family with two marquises was gained through military merit.

At this critical moment, they must step up.

There are no eggs left in the nest.

The Li family has placed a huge bet on Dayu and now they have no way of getting away from it.

Even if the dynasty collapses, we must first find a way to bring it back to uphold the loyalty between the monarch and his subjects.

“Uncle, the most dangerous place right now is not the south, but the north.

After the White Lotus Rebellion, many social contradictions in the southern provinces were released.

All it takes is to put down the rebellion and usher in a period of peace.

The situation in the north is different. There are natural disasters and man-made disasters inside, and the northern barbarians are wreaking havoc outside.

The reforms during the previous emperor’s time strengthened the control over local areas and temporarily suppressed these contradictions. However, natural disasters and man-made disasters have continued in recent years, and the people’s tolerance is ultimately limited.

Now all it takes is a fuse to ignite the conflict.

The national treasury was seriously short of money. Once a war broke out in the north, there would be no money or grain to quell the rebellion.

I worry……”

Halfway through his words, Li Mu suddenly chose to shut up.

Some things can just be hinted at, there is no need to make them too obvious.

Unlike the southern provinces, as long as the emperor is willing to delegate power and local officials are willing to fulfill their responsibilities, money and grain can be generated.

Once there is trouble in the north, it will be an unsolvable problem.

Grain production decline is the norm. Since Emperor Yongning ascended the throne, there has not been a good harvest in the north.

In order to make a living, self-cultivating farmers became hired farmers, who owed huge debts to landlords, and the number of bankrupt farmers increased day by day.

The number of bandits and robbers in various places has been increasing continuously.

“Hey!”

“I know these problems too.

The clan members sent many letters to tell us that the situation in Guanzhong was not good.

I also advised them to unite with the wealthy households in Guanzhong to open up their warehouses and release grain in order to stabilize the situation as much as possible.

The effect is not very ideal. Food is a treasure now and no one is willing to give it up.

The so-called release of grain was just some leftovers to deal with the problem.

All we can say is that it is better than nothing, and we can only hope that next year will be a good year, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.”

Li Yuan’s answer made Li Mu stunned for a moment, but then he returned to normal.

He was able to spot the problem. As a big family in Guanzhong, the Li clan, as the local tyrant, could not have failed to notice it.

He was not informed because Li Mu rose too quickly and had no contact with the tribes in Guanzhong.

However, this kind of important information must be notified to the clan leader Li Yuan.

Unfortunately, knowing this is useless. Natural disasters continue to occur in the north and cannot be reversed by human power.

“If the disaster situation continues to worsen, the clan’s investment in the imperial examination should be reduced as much as possible. In disaster years, the priority should be to strengthen military preparations.

When necessary, some of the young men can be sent south.

Affected by the White Lotus Rebellion, the power of the aristocratic families in the southern provinces was greatly weakened, which provided us with an opportunity to intervene.

The Annamites have been making provocations on the border, and it is estimated that it will not be long before they launch an invasion.

If nothing unexpected happens, I, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, will not be able to leave for a while, so I can still take care of you.”

Li Mu said without changing his expression.

Migration is impossible. The Li family’s roots are in Guanzhong, and they will not give up unless it is absolutely necessary.

People are looked down upon when they leave their hometown, and this also applies to wealthy and powerful families.

When you arrive at someone else’s territory, you have to manage all your personal connections from scratch, and the vested interest groups will not welcome outsiders to join in and share the pie.

Even when the White Lotus Rebellion triggered a reshuffle of power in the southern provinces, it was still not easy to take root here.

However, Li Mu did not plan to let them gain a foothold in places where the gentry were strong, but instead wanted to take these people to fight southward.

It is true that the Annanites provoked on the border, but that was merely a test.

Going north to annex Guangdong and Guangxi is just a slogan of the war faction.

As long as Dayu does not collapse, they dare not take action.

The best proof is that the Annan people did not send troops during the White Lotus Rebellion for such a long time.

However, even if they don’t start a war, Li Mu will also start a war.

Avoiding the disputes in the court was one aspect, but the most crucial issue was the food shortage in the north.

Judging from various current signs, the current Dayu Dynasty is similar to the last Ming Dynasty and both have experienced the Little Ice Age.

As the disaster continues, the domestic food gap will become larger and larger.

Procurement from overseas trade is just a drop in the bucket.

Whether in Indochina or Southeast Asia, local productivity is too backward.

Under this background, no matter how the imperial court reformed, it could not change the dilemma of food shortage.

If the problem cannot be solved internally, then the only option is to look for a solution from the outside.

The reasons are ready-made: to suppress the Annan rebels and recover the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration.

“Annan’s invasion should be impossible, right?

During the southern expedition in the early days of the founding of the country, the imperial court killed countless people.

If it weren’t for that bunch of corrupt scholars jumping out to cause trouble, they might have been wiped out and there would be no Kingdom of Annan at all.

However, these people are indeed troublesome. Once a war breaks out, it will be difficult to quell it in a short period of time.

The current situation of the court is unable to provide you with any assistance.

Wuyang Hou may not support your southern expedition unless you serve as the governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi and preside over the southern expedition.”

Li Yuan said with a frown.

It was clear that he didn’t believe the Annamites would dare to invade.

However, considering the post-war situation in North Korea, I feel relieved.

Sometimes being too good at fighting is a sin.

With the current strength of the noble group, they don’t have to worry about being abandoned after their rabbit is dead, but it is easy to avoid an open attack but difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark.

If Li Mu returns to Beijing to take up his post, he might have to fill the hole in the Liaodong battlefield.

Liaodong has become a feudal system, and the problem cannot be solved by simply changing the head coach.

If the internal conflicts cannot be resolved, pacifying Liaodong will be a joke.

Instead of jumping into a pit, it is better to take the initiative to start a war in the south and use the old subordinates to deal with the Annan people.

Even if Annan cannot be destroyed, it will not suffer a big loss.

If they are lucky enough to successfully recapture Jiaozhi Provincial Administration, the power of the noble group will be further expanded.

Even if we cannot suppress the civil servants by then, I think we will not be much weaker.

When he returns to the court, everything will be different.

“The Wuyang Marquis is easy to deal with. The Annan people are coming to attack us. We can’t let the garrison not resist, right?

As long as the fight starts, I will find a way to convince him to support me.

As for my appointment as Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, I’m afraid those civil servants will not agree.

It is possible that they will propose to remove the governor as soon as the rebellion is quelled.”

Li Mu thought for a while and said.

Being able to serve as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi is undoubtedly the best choice.

Unfortunately, this is too difficult.

The three big bosses of the noble faction control the four governors, and the most prosperous lands of the Dayu Dynasty are under their control.

The resources behind this are so huge that the civil servants have long been unable to sleep.

The current compromise is forced, and they will definitely try to seize power after the war.

The noble family who have just made great contributions will definitely not let go easily.

For the time being, the civil servants could not succeed.

Marquis Wuyang holds two positions as governor-general, so he must resign from one of them, otherwise his power will be too great.

Even if he is his own uncle, the emperor would still worry about the powerful official becoming too powerful.

If Li Mu were allowed to take over as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, the advantage would still be in the noble camp, and the civil officials would certainly not give up.

“We have to fight anyway, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.

If you let go without fighting for it, it will make people suspicious.

Try your best. If you can succeed, that’s great. If not, then do as you say.

It would be too deliberate to invade Annan without waiting until the rebellion was quelled.

After winning the following Battle of Wuchang, arrangements were made immediately.

It is best to create a reason for the court to fight, so that everyone will think that you are forced to fight.

After the war breaks out, you need to coordinate with Marquis Wuyang and your father-in-law first.

They don’t need military merit, but someone from the Jing and Zheng families does, and they can repay the favors they owed.”

……

(End of this chapter)