met free Page 2136
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Moreover, they destroyed Buddhist altars throughout Hezhou.
They changed their allegiance and surrendered to the Ming Dynasty!
Zhong Xiang held the urgent military intelligence report in his hand.
He slumped onto the dragon throne, looking dejected.
He didn't understand why Cao Cheng wanted to rebel.
I have treated Cao Cheng well.
He has already been granted the title of Founding Duke.
Must we bestow upon them the title of king to win their loyalty?
Cao Cheng rebelled.
It is estimated that the various barbarian tribes in Daozhou, Quanzhou, and Guiyang Prefecture,
They will also join in the rebellion one after another.
Zhong Xiang let his younger brother Zhong Yi stay in Changsha.
He immediately led his personal guards south.
When they arrived in Hengyang,
They encountered Huang Cheng, a missionary traveling north by boat.
"Master, Daozhou is gone too!"
Huang Cheng knelt down with a thud.
Zhong Xiang asked in surprise, "Why didn't Daozhou arrive so quickly?"
Huang Cheng said, "Not only are there rebellions by the Yao and Dong people in Daozhou,"
"Even the Han Chinese joined the rebellion..."
Enraged, Zhong grabbed the man's collar and shouted:
"I ask you, why have all the tribes rebelled!"
Huang Cheng said dejectedly, "My lord, I have submitted memorials to the emperor many times already."
"The altar masters of the large and small Dharma altars in the south,"
"They are all opportunists."
"They used to be landlords and gentry,"
"Pretend to be a follower of my religion,"
"And they even pretended to give away their family fortune."
"Actually, they're all wolves in sheep's clothing,"
"They used the master's reputation,"
"Extorting and levying taxes in both cities and the countryside,"
"The people have been driven to desperation..."
Zhong Xiang slowly released his hand.
Pull Huang Cheng up.
He confronted Zhao Yuan on the Yangtze River at that time.
The elite troops have all been transferred to the Yangtze River front.
It will be difficult to continue expanding southward.
Just then, the Song Dynasty soldiers there also couldn't hold out any longer.
Wealthy merchants, gentry, local ruffians, monks and Taoists...
Many converted to Manichaeism.
After conquering prefectures and counties, they surrendered to Prime Minister Zhong.
Some even did it to show their loyalty.
The wealth accumulated by their ancestors,
They all donated it to the cause of education.
Faced with this situation,
What else could Zhong Xiang do?
I have no choice but to accept it.
Are they going to use knives?
In order to control the newly acquired territory
He also sent many of his trusted disciples there.
But it was quickly corrupted by speculators.
On the surface, they were extremely respectful.
In reality, they were outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.
As a result, Zhong Xiang's territory became polarized.
The area surrounding Dongting Lake,
Prime Minister Zhong was extremely popular with the people.
Both civil and military officials were relatively incorruptible.
There are even quite a few who have maintained their original aspirations.
And in the states far to the south,
It's already become a complete mess!
Zhong Xiang also knew there was a problem.
Therefore, he dispatched his direct disciple Huang Cheng.
He was appointed as a missionary to tour the south.
Huang Cheng was not corrupted.
Moreover, the situation should be reported truthfully.
However, at this time, the clock was surrounded on three sides by Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangxi.
He dared not take drastic measures against the southern states.
Otherwise, it would inevitably trigger a large-scale rebellion.
"Why did Cao Cheng rebel?" Zhong Xiang asked.
Huang Cheng explained, "The Cao family's followers live in the same village."
"This time they also levied exorbitant taxes."
"The reason was that the master ordered the fortification of the pass,"
“Local altar owners, both large and small, took the opportunity to exploit and oppress the people.”
"There might be other reasons,"
"Cao Cheng's military instructor (supervisor),"
"He is the maternal uncle of the Crown Prince's concubine,"
"I heard that his relationship with Cao Cheng was extremely bad."
"There are...rumors that he once tried to extort a bribe from Cao Cheng but was refused,"
"They threatened to accuse Cao Cheng of treason..."
"Bastard!"
Zhong Xiang was so angry that he started cursing.
It was precisely because the southern states gradually spiraled out of control that
Zhong Xiangcai dispatched instructors to various armies.
In other words, they installed their trusted confidants as military supervisors.
The military supervisor beside Cao Cheng,
He is a direct disciple who has followed Zhong Xiang in spreading the teachings for many years.
He also married his niece to Zhong Xiang's son as a concubine.
Such a trusted person,
They actually forced the frontline general to rebel!
Zhong Xiang took a long time to recover.
He then ordered the army to speed up its march.
He tried to rely on his prestige,
Go and recruit those rebellious armies.
But he only continued for a few dozen miles.
Then another urgent military dispatch arrived.
The Dong and Miao people in Jiushituan Cave, Wugang, all rebelled.
As for the Han Chinese people of Wugang,
He even joined the uprising.
In just half a month,
The cities and fortresses of Suining, Chengbu, Lingang, and Wuyang were all lost.
The rebel army has marched towards Wugang Military City.
Zhong Xiang was numb to these messages.
They could only speed up the march with their troops.
When they arrived at Qiyang County,
Another urgent military report was received:
Li Gong, a famous general who recently surrendered to the Ming Dynasty,
Troops were dispatched from Guilin to besiege Xing'an County.
The garrison troops of the entire state are awaiting their arrival to provide assistance.
The Su clan, a Han-assimilated Dong ethnic minority from Xixi Cave, launched another rebellion.
The entire prefecture's army could only first attack the Su clan.
Xing'an County has become an isolated city.
Chapter 1893 Urgent Military Situation
The Su clan is not easy to eradicate.
Back when the Song Dynasty was still in existence,
They frequently descended the mountains to plunder Han Chinese people.
They even plundered government ships.
A series of urgent military situations,
Zhong Xiang was at a loss as to what to do.
This is just the beginning.