abnabooks #382 - Nanjing surrenders! Divide the country by the river, and the North and the South confront eac
#382 - Nanjing surrenders! Divide the country by the river, and the North and the South confront eac
After the news of the victory at Yangzhou spread,
many people could see that Luo Fu was using a diversionary force to engage the imperial army, while his main force was gathering in Jiangbei, with the obvious intention of attacking Jinling.
Although Jinling was an ancient capital of several dynasties, after experiencing successive dynasties, especially the construction by the Taizu of this dynasty, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was as solid as a rock.
But unfortunately, Jinling was a place that almost never managed to defend itself.
And this time, facing Luo Fu, it was even more so.
Inside Jinling City.
Zhen Yingjia, the president of the Tiren Institute, after learning of the result of the Battle of Yangzhou, immediately summoned the leaders from all sides in Jinling.
They discussed how to deal with Luo Fu's army.
Unfortunately, Zhen Yingjia, the president of the Tiren Institute, was very good at playing the tricks of corruption and forming cliques for personal gain, but he was completely clueless when it came to actually deploying troops and winning people's hearts.
Several discussions in a row failed to produce any feasible solutions. Of course, it wasn't that so many people gathered together couldn't come up with a single idea, but rather that even if someone did, others would object.
In the end, amidst the arguments and repeated inconclusive results,
Jinling finally welcomed the arrival of Luo Fu's army.
Three thousand vanguards successfully crossed the river, their spearhead pointing directly at Jinling City.
While Luo Fu, leading the main force of nine thousand, was crossing the river, the three thousand vanguards had already entered Jinling City.
The dignified secondary capital of the Daqing Dynasty didn't even last a few days. In fact, not even a few days; from the time the three thousand vanguards completed the river crossing and easily swept away the little resistance from Jinling's side,
in just a few hours, Jinling opened its city gates and chose to surrender.
Even the vanguard sent by Luo Fu did not expect Jinling City to open so suddenly.
However, while the three thousand vanguards were discussing the surrender with the people of Jinling, they did not choose to enter the city directly.
In Yangzhou, there had already been rumors in Luo Tian's army that when Jinling was captured, Emperor Luo Tian would officially declare himself king and take control.
And now that Jinling was almost in their hands, the opportunity to enter the city first naturally had to be completed by Luo Fu, the leader of the Luo Tian Army.
After all, Luo Fu's subordinates were not lacking in clever people.
By the time Luo Fu and the main force of the Luo Tian Army crossed the river,
he discovered, to his amusement, that Jinling, which he had expected to be a tough battle, had fallen into his hands in this way, without a fight.
While the Luo Tian Army began to reorganize the various forces within Jinling City, preparing for Luo Fu's official entry,
Jinling City, the Xue family.
"Disaster! This is a great disaster!" Xue Pan was no longer the foolish bully he once was. He was trembling with fear, saying to his mother and sister, "That Luo Tian thief from Yangzhou… actually… actually entered the city."
As the Xue family, one of the four great families, if Xue Pan's father were still alive, he would have been able to sense the possibility that someone wanted to surrender through the previous ineffective communications.
But unfortunately, Xue Pan didn't have that kind of wisdom. Moreover, also as a local power in Jinling,
Although Xue Pan had been invited to attend more than one gathering, he never dreamed that while everyone still wanted to continue discussing, Jinling would suddenly fall into the hands of that Luo Tian thief.
Xue Baochai was immediately startled by her brother's words, saying, "Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Jinling is the place where this dynasty rose to power. How could it fall into the hands of thieves so quickly?"
"It's true, those damn things!" Xue Pan said with a mournful face, "They clearly didn't say they wanted to surrender before. How can they be so shameless?"
After Xue Baochai reacted, she immediately made the right decision.
"Brother, we are already one step behind. The most urgent task now is for brother to immediately welcome the rebel army… no, it should be Emperor Luo Tian. Immediately welcome Emperor Luo Tian." Xue Baochai was obviously very clever.
Xue Pan hesitated, saying, "Then… then will that really work? I said before that I would coexist with Jinling."
Glancing weakly at Xue Pan, Xue Baochai said, "Brother was outstanding in the crowd before, but now… now we can only hope that Emperor Luo Tian will not choose our Xue family as an example to warn others."
Xue Pan, who was frightened, shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Sister, I don't want to be that chicken. Why don't… why don't we and Mom escape quickly? Our Xue family still has a few loyal guards and servants. Maybe…"
"No!" Xue Baochai immediately stopped Xue Pan's foolish idea.
"Brother, Jinling and Jiangnan are the foundation of our Xue family. We must not lose them. Moreover, at the previous gathering, although brother said some inappropriate things, compared to brother, the others are not far behind." Xue Baochai analyzed, "If brother surrenders in time, Emperor Luo Tian may be willing to spend a lot of money to recruit talents. Maybe it will be an opportunity for our Xue family."
"Really?" Xue Pan was panicking and at a loss.
With a wry smile, Xue Baochai dared not make such a guarantee.
Moreover, the Xue family had no choice now.
Under Xue Baochai's persuasion, Xue Pan finally chose to brace himself and join the ceremony to welcome Luo Fu into the city.
The next day, Jinling City, the city gates opened.
Jia Yucun, the prefect, took off his official hat and held it in one hand, kneeling on the side of the road.
The leaders of Jinling City were all gathered here at this moment, kneeling neatly in rows on both sides of the road.
Luo Fu took the lead, riding a fine horse with excellent appearance, and officially entered Jinling City amidst the welcome of countless people.
Xue Pan, the head of the Xue family, was even more trembling and dared not even raise his head, holding a burning incense burner high in his hands. He kept his head down.
The sound of horses' hooves came from his ears, scaring him into a cold sweat.
Apart from glancing at Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling, Luo Fu had no idea that among the people welcoming him was Xue Pan, the foolish bully.
Jinling, as the place where Taizu rose to power, and also one of the two capitals of the Daqing Dynasty, naturally had complete buildings such as palaces in the city.
As the leader of the Luo Tian Army, Luo Fu directly and unceremoniously moved into the Jinling Imperial Palace.
The surrender of Jinling was unexpected, but also reasonable.
Let's not talk about this world for the time being.
Simply based on what Luo Fu knew, Jinling had never been able to defend itself, no matter how much it was fortified.
When Zhu Yuanzhang attacked Jinling, Jinling easily fell into his hands. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, when the Qing army went south, Jinling once again easily fell into the hands of the Qing army.
When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom attacked Jinling, Jinling changed hands again. Conversely, when Zeng Guofan attacked Jinling, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom could not defend it.
Even during the Anti-Japanese War, Jinling hardly put up any resistance before falling into the hands of the Japanese invaders. When the Crossing the River Campaign came, the bald man didn't even have the idea of defending the city and easily abandoned the capital.
In Luo Fu's view, Jinling was like a poisonous city.
Almost in any situation, whoever attacked Jinling could easily take the city.
However, for Luo Fu, taking Jinling was not the end, but the beginning.
You need to know that for Luo Fu now, theoretically, he actually has no base.
This base is not to say his military force. After all, more than 16,000 hundred-men enemies are enough to make Luo Fu invincible in the world. The so-called base is a truly stable territory and rear.
Luo Fu rose too quickly. He easily took Yangzhou, using the wealth of Yangzhou to make up for his shortcomings. Then, three thousand diversionary troops defeated the imperial court's 50,000-strong army, and now he turned around and took Jinling.
But in the end, Luo Fu's foundation is not solid, that is, he is too good at fighting.
Otherwise, as long as there is one failure, Luo Fu will completely collapse.
This is also why many people regard Luo Fu as a bandit.
Now that he has taken Jinling, Luo Fu will prepare to pacify Jiangnan and divide the country with Daqing in a short time.
Of course, this time of dividing the country will definitely not be very long.
At most, after Luo Fu completely occupies Jiangnan and stabilizes his base, he will immediately launch the Northern Expedition.
What Luo Fu wants is not just the world. Don't forget, he also has the dream of collecting the three books of the Twelve Beauties.
If he really delays for too long, the Twelve Beauties may fall into the hands of others!
Although, with the hatred between Luo Fu and the four great families, he can even openly punish the four great families and forcibly confine the Twelve Beauties in his backyard as playthings.
But if he delays for too long, the Twelve Beauties will not be clean!
After moving into the Jinling Imperial Palace, Luo Fu and Lin Ruhai discussed the plan to reorganize Jinling and conquer the surrounding areas, while preparing for the upcoming coronation.
Of course, this also includes the wedding with Lin Meimei.
The focus of which is still expanding the army.
Luo Fu's more than 16,000 direct descendants of hundred-men enemies are indeed powerful in combat, but the number is still too small after all.
Among these 16,000 people, Luo Fu selected the strongest 5,000 to serve as the Imperial Guards, and the rest began a snowball-like process of expanding the army, with the old leading the new.
With the fall of Jinling, the entire Jiangnan was greatly shocked.
In a short time, with Jinling as the core, Jiangnan began to quickly fall into Luo Fu's hands.
In many places, even before the Luo Tian Army had attacked, they had already issued a proclamation and some people had voluntarily sent in a letter of surrender.
The good situation of the Luo Tian Army quickly changed the minds of the local powers in Jinling, who were originally reluctant.
They had vaguely seen that the Luo Tian Army had truly become the potential to contend with the orthodox Daqing Dynasty.
It is no exaggeration to say that when the Luo Tian Army ravaged Jiangnan and issued proclamations to many places, the situation of dividing the country and confronting each other in the north and south was already irreversible.
For Luo Tianjun, they actually held a significant advantage: Yangzhou remained in Luo Fu's hands.
After a century, the Great Qing Dynasty's flaws were evident. Although the current Emperor and the Retired Emperor were anxious, their lips covered in blisters, they were unable to assemble an army for another major battle against Luo Fu.
As the situation rapidly changed, Luo Fu, while preparing to declare kingship, also began a purge in Jinling.
Surprisingly, yet predictably, the person who played a significant role in Luo Fu's cleansing of Jinling was none other than Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling.
Jia Yucun was a clever man, indeed insidious and treacherous, even arguably perfidious, but in a way, he had become a benchmark in Jinling.
He surrendered early, and more importantly, he spared no effort in serving Luo Tianjun.
Of course, Jia Yucun's decisiveness stemmed from his recognition of Luo Fu's potential. Even if they couldn't quickly overthrow the dynasty, they could at least divide the country with Great Qing.
Another reason was Lin Ruhai, Luo Fu's leading civil official and chief strategist.
Don't forget that Jia Yucun was once an official who was dismissed and investigated. After losing his position, he became Lin Daiyu's teacher, hired by Lin Ruhai.
Now, Lin Ruhai was Luo Fu's top strategist and head of the civil officials, and Lin Daiyu would become Luo Tianjun's mistress after the upcoming wedding.
Even from a benefit perspective, Jia Yucun would not hesitate to join Luo Fu.
Compared to Great Qing, where he only focused on self-promotion and sought connections with the Jia family to obtain the position of prefect of Jinling, he had little support.
Although Jia Yucun was a Jinshi graduate, many connections had gradually faded due to his dismissal and investigation years ago; and he had only been the prefect of Jinling for a short time.
After all, the Xue family had just prepared to go north to the capital when they were caught by Luo Fu and had to turn back before even reaching Yangzhou.
And the first case Jia Yucun investigated after taking office as the prefect of Jinling was Xue Pan's killing of Feng Yuan.
It could be said that Jia Yucun hadn't even warmed his seat as the prefect of Jinling, let alone established a network of connections.
Luo Fu indeed disdained Jia Yucun's character, but he was very clear that Luo Tianjun also needed someone to play the villain, or even just be a target.
And Jia Yucun was perfect for the role.
For Luo Fu, Jia Yucun was like a black glove, able to quickly complete the integration of Jinling, and could be disposed of ruthlessly when necessary. This would demonstrate their impartiality and win over the people.
Jia Yucun was a cruel official, like toilet paper.
Unfortunately, Jia Yucun, unaware of this, met Luo Fu through Lin Ruhai and soon considered himself Luo Fu's confidant.
He used harsh methods to help Luo Fu cleanse Jinling and Jiangnan.
Many things that would offend people were done by Jia Yucun with relish, even considering them his own achievements.
Jia Yucun was not stupid; he knew very well that what he was doing was offensive.
But he also knew that after choosing to serve Luo Fu, he would not have the opportunity to please both sides.
On one side was Luo Fu, who had emerged out of nowhere but in a short time had the capital to divide the country with Great Qing, and could even complete the change of dynasty soon. On the other side were the former officials and disciples of the Great Qing Dynasty.
Jia Yucun knew very well how to choose.
After all, he was a Jinshi graduate, although a little short-sighted, he had read history books. At the beginning of any dynasty, the old system and interest groups of the previous dynasty would be severely attacked.
After all, there was only so much benefit in the world. If the old dynasty occupied too much, how could the new dynasty's dignitaries not be beggars?
Of course, the previous dynasty was purged, and the benefits were seized from the interest groups of the old dynasty and redistributed.
This kind of work would certainly make the old dynasty's dignitaries hate them to the bone, but it would also gain the full support of the new dynasty's dignitaries.
This is what Jia Yucun is doing now.
According to Luo Fu's instructions, after completing the purge of people like Zhen Yingjia, the chief executive of the Tirenyuan, who had inextricable links with the Great Qing court, and even those who were married to the royal family, he fabricated charges to complete the purge of the loyalists of the old dynasty within Jinling City.
Just as Jia Yucun was preparing to start a large-scale purge within the territory occupied by Luo Tianjun.
He found himself in a dilemma in his own mansion.
"Master, you have clearly gained the favor of Emperor Luo Tian, and even Lord Lin, the head of the civil officials and the chief strategist of Luo Tianjun, was your former master. Why do you seem so troubled now?" Jiao Xing asked Jia Yucun, dressed in a Ru skirt, having lost the petty air of a maid after years of pampering.
As Jia Yucun gradually gained Luo Fu's trust in the new dynasty.
Jiao Xing, Jia Yucun's wife, also gradually rose in status.
Jia Yucun frowned and shook his head, saying: "Madam does not know, I am now a minister of the Yuan Shou, but besides the master's family and the future queen, the young lady, I do not have any foundation of my own."
"Isn't that enough?" Jiao Xing looked puzzled. In her opinion, her master could be said to have a deep foundation and a powerful background in the new dynasty.
"It's not that simple." Jia Yucun smiled bitterly and said: "My current position is very dangerous."
There were some things that Jia Yucun couldn't discuss with his wife.
After all, having read history books, he knew very well that in every dynasty, after completing the change of dynasty and consolidating the regime, the founding heroes would become very dangerous.
Lin Ruhai was like that. In Jia Yucun's opinion, Lin Ruhai was at the point where prosperity must decline.
Not only was he the chief strategist and head of the civil officials in Luo Tianjun, but his daughter was also the future mistress of the world. It was too much!
Once the change of dynasty was completed, if Lin Ruhai was sensible, he could rely on his daughter to have a good end; otherwise, he would probably be implicated.
It must be admitted that after experiencing being dismissed and investigated in Great Qing, Jia Yucun was indeed much smarter.
In his opinion, simply treating Lin Ruhai and his daughter as backers was not only unreliable but might even be dangerous. What he was doing was either a step forward, leaving a name in history and gaining wealth and glory, or a step back, leaving a bad name for thousands of years and suffering eternal damnation.
He must not entrust everything to Lin Ruhai and his daughter.
Otherwise, the relationship between himself and Lin Ruhai would inevitably be targeted by Luo Fu in the future.
These words, Jia Yucun could not directly communicate with his wife. After pondering for a moment, he said circuitously: "The Yuan Shou is young and vigorous, and soon after, he will declare kingship, but he only has the master's family's young lady by his side. His harem is thin."
Jiao Xing instantly understood. Her eyes lit up and she said: "Master means to find a confidante for the Yuan Shou?"
"That's right." Jia Yucun nodded, then his eyes flashed slightly, and he did not hide it from Jiao Xing: "Simply pleasing people with beauty will not last long. I need a woman who is smart herself, but whose family behind her is not too smart, and who can be controlled. Madam followed me to take office in Jinling, I wonder if you know any noble ladies of Jinling?"
"Master, you are lost in the maze." Jiao Xing suddenly smiled and said: "Could it be that Master has forgotten the Xue family's young lady?"
In an instant, Jia Yucun suddenly realized.
It could be said that the biggest shock Jia Yucun received after taking office as the prefect of Jinling was the Protector Talisman.
The four major families: The Jia family, whose name means 'false,' with jade as the hall and gold as the horse; the Shi family, whose palace of Afang, three hundred miles long, cannot accommodate a Shi of Jinling; the Wang family, whose white jade bed is missing in the East Sea, and the Dragon King comes to invite the Wang of Jinling; the Xue family, whose good years bring heavy snow, and pearls are like dirt and gold like iron.
Perhaps it was because the Protector Talisman brought too much shock to Jia Yucun that he had temporarily ignored the Xue family's young lady.
Now, with Jiao Xing's reminder, he suddenly realized.
Now Jiangnan is showing signs of a change of dynasty.
The former Protector Talisman has turned into a life-threatening talisman.
If the Xue family does not want to end up in a miserable ending, it seems that he is their best choice.
"It is my great fortune to have a wife like you." Jia Yucun laughed and immediately asked the gatekeeper to send a post to the Xue family.
The Xue family.
Although Xue Pan, the silly tyrant, can indeed be called a bully in Jinling, as a wealthy merchant, the Xue family plays a big role in stabilizing the Jinling economy. At least, in the short term, the Xue family cannot be rashly moved.
This is almost the consensus of the civil and military officials under Luo Fu.
But not moving them just meant that they hadn't directly solved the Xue family all at once.
As Luo Tianjun entered Jinling City, the Xue family went from bad to worse.
And Xue Pan was a complete waste, not to mention revitalizing the family business, he couldn't even maintain it.
At this moment, the Xue family was shrouded in gloom.
When Jia Yucun's post was sent.
The three Xue family members gathered together.
"Pan'er, what... what can we do?" Madam Xue was pale with fright.
During this period, she had heard from the maids and servants that Jia Yucun had gained appreciation in the new dynasty but had become a cruel official of the new dynasty. Countless old relatives in Jinling had suffered a catastrophe.
Now that Jia Yucun had sent a post to the Xue family, Madam Xue couldn't help but fear whether Jia Yucun had set his sights on the Xue family.
Xue Pan's face was uncertain, and then he slammed the table and said angrily: "At worst, we'll rebel against him! This dog, Jia Yucun, if he really targets my Xue family, I'll fight him!"