Banzhou City, Yang's Tusi Mansion.

Although the hereditary position of the Banju Yang clan has been called the Xuanwei Envoy since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, and the official name of the Banzhou Yang clan is also called the Xuanwei Division, the locals still like to call it the Tusi Mansion as it was said in the past.

The Yang family has a history of more than 700 years since becoming the ruler of Banzhou in the last years of the Tang Dynasty. During this period, the Tusi Mansion was rebuilt several times, and when it was passed to Yang Yinglong, it was already a huge palace covering an area of more than 100 acres and composed of hundreds of buildings. However, those who know the situation in Banzhou know that this beautiful Tusi Mansion is not the real lair of the Yang family, and their nest is a castle called Hailong Hoarding in Longyan Mountain, 30 miles away from Banzhou Mansion. This place in Tusi Mansion is just a place where the Yang family enjoys glory and wealth in peacetime.

At this moment, in the former council hall of the Tusi Mansion, an important meeting is being held. Yang Yinglong sat on the Tusi seat in the middle of the main hall, and on the seats on both sides, his younger brother Yang Zhaolong, his two sons Yang Chaodong and Yang Kedong sat down, and then his henchmen, civil officials and generals, a total of more than 20 people.

Yang Yinglong glanced at a room of cronies with his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "You all already know, Guizhou Inspector reported to the court according to Chen Xiao, counted the twenty-four major sins of this king, and asked the court to punish them severely, and the current court is also undecided. Let's discuss how we should respond. ”

Yang Zhaolong asked: "Brother, we send so much filial piety to the important ministers of the court every year, and now that we encounter something, don't we have anyone to say a word for us?" ”

Yang Yinglong said: "He En, a traitor, reported to the court that the king was hoarding troops in Hailong, which made Wanli suspicious. This kind of thing is very different from ordinary things, those important ministers in the DPRK and the central government also want to think of picking themselves clean, who would dare to come forward to intercede for us? However, a few courtiers beat side drums on the side, telling the king's exploits, which made Wanli hesitate, which can be regarded as their conscience. ”

Yang Yinglong's self-proclaimed general Zhang Rang hugged his fists and said: "Chitose, what does the imperial court mean by this matter now?" ”

Yang Yinglong is actually just a toast, but he himself named himself the king, so that his subordinates called him a thousand years old, and even his son Yang Chaodong is also called the "queen master", He En and others reported to the court that Yang Yinglong had the intention of rebellion, but it was not groundless.

Yang Yinglong said: "According to the news from Beijing, the imperial court now has three considerations. First, to change Banzhou to the river and subordinate it to Chongqing Mansion, this is the idea of Ye Mengxiong, an old thief. ”

"Change the land and return to the stream, think beautifully!"

"When his Zhu family didn't win the world, Banzhou belonged to the Yang family, why did he change the land and return to the stream?"

"Ye Mengxiong, an old thief, the idea of broadcasting the state is not a day or two, I have to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson!"

Before Yang Yinglong's words fell, the cronies below became noisy, and their faces were flushed with excitement, as if their own ladies were being given unspoken rules by Ye Mengxiong.

The so-called reform of the land and return to the stream is a policy that has been implemented since the middle of the Ming Dynasty. The so-called tuguan refers to the hereditary officials in ethnic minority areas; The so-called liuguan refers to the liuguan, which refers to the officials directly appointed by the central government. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, due to the government's limited ability to control the frontier areas, a large number of local officials were appointed to exercise local jurisdiction in place of the central government. In these places where the emperor is far away, the power of the local officials is very strong, almost the local emperor of the soil, and the area under his jurisdiction is managed into a country within a country.

From the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the government gradually realized the hidden dangers brought about by the local official system, so it began to implement the policy of changing the land and returning it to the stream, gradually recovering the power of the native officials, and sending the liuguan to rule. Some of the weaker local officials, unable to compete with the central government, had no choice but to accept this policy, relinquish their power, and become rich themselves. But local officials like Yang Yinglong, who support the army and respect themselves, are not so easy to speak, and the imperial court does not dare to cut their power easily, so they have not been affected by the policy of changing the land and returning them to the river for a while.

This time, because Zhang Shizhao, He En, Song Shichen and others of the Banzhou Division reported to the imperial court that Yang Yinglong was suspected of rebellion, and was caught by the imperial court, a group of officials led by Ye Mengxiong put forward a proposal to change Banzhou to the land. In fact, Ye Mengxiong and others also knew that it was impossible to reform the land and return to the river in Banzhou without weakening Yang Yinglong's power, and the proposal they put forward was not so much a proposal as a false signal, which was used to test Yang Yinglong's reaction.

"Don't make a noise, listen to Chitose continue." Yang Zhaolong shouted.

Everyone quieted down, and Yang Yinglong continued: "This second article is to ask this king to leave Banzhou and go to Chongqing or Guiyang to face the court. ”

"Chitose goes to Chongqing or Guiyang, isn't that a sheep in the mouth of a tiger? At that time, who is right and who is wrong, it is the people of the court who have the final say, and we can't go. Subordinate Lou Guo shouted.

"If this king refuses to go to the counterpoint, it is the third one, and the court will send troops to suppress it." Yang Yinglong said.

"If you go in, you will fight with them!" Another general, He Hanliang, shouted arrogantly, "The Mongolian soldiers were so powerful back then, didn't they have anything to do with us?" The officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty look like birds, and we will not stop at one when the soldiers are ten, as long as we strictly guard the passes everywhere, and the officers and soldiers will not return. ”

Zhang Rang said: "When the time comes, we can also mobilize the native soldiers of Shengmiao and Black-footed Miao to help, and if we provoke me, I will raise 5,000 elite soldiers myself, and I will be able to wash Chongqing Mansion in blood." ”

When everyone was shouting for force, Yang Chaodong stood aside and said nothing, only showing a contemptuous smile at the corner of his mouth. Yang Yinglong turned his head to look at Yang Chaodong and asked, "Chaodong, what do you think?" ”

Yang Chaodong said: "Father, according to the child's opinion, it is not yet the time to fight with the Ming army, and it is too early to anger the court at this time. ”

Hearing Yang Chaodong's words, all the cronies were stunned for a moment, and Lou Guo asked cautiously: "Why did the latter lord say this, does the latter think that our Banzhou army can't win the Ming army?" ”

Yang Chaodong said with a smile: "Uncle Lou, the Ming army has been weak for a long time, and my Banzhou sergeant is extremely brave, if it is a battle, our army should have a ten-percent chance of winning." ”

"Then the Lord means ......," Lou Guo said in surprise.

Yang Chaodong said: "Does Uncle Lou know the saying that wolves devour tigers? Although the Ming army was weak, it numbered millions. If our army starts a war with the Ming army with its current strength, even if we can defeat one or several teams of the Ming army, if we continue to increase our troops, how should our army deal with it? ”

"No matter how many of them come, how can they come in if we keep the passes everywhere?" Zhang Rang said.

Yang Chaodong said: "If we hold the pass, we can naturally block the Ming army." But our own traffic was cut off. At that time, food, salt, iron and other materials could not be brought in, and after a long siege, our army collapsed without a fight. ”

"This ......" Lou Guo, Zhang Rang and others were speechless, they all thought about the problem from the perspective of the short-term war, where could Yang Chaodong think so long-term. Banshu is a place with high mountains and dense forests, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is an advantage. But at the same time, its weakness is also very obvious, that is, it cannot be self-sufficient in food, and goods such as iron and salt need to be transported from the outside world. If the Ming army besieged and did not attack, and the siege lasted for ten years and eight years, Banzhou would really collapse.

He Hanliang asked, "Then according to the will of the queen, how should we deal with it?" ”

Yang Chaodong said: "This matter is so important, how can I, a young man, dare to speak out?" My father is wise and wise, and I must have considered this matter thoroughly, and we just need to do what my father wants. ”

Everyone scolded in their hearts, but no one dared to show it on their faces. Obviously, Yang Yinglong asked everyone to come up with ideas, turned around, and said that Yang Yinglong was wise and wise, and he didn't need everyone to come up with ideas, didn't this make fun of everyone?

Yang Yinglong had no objection to Yang Chaodong's statement, he nodded and said: "What Chaodong said is reasonable, our strength is not enough now, and it is too early to tear our faces with the court at this time." I invite you to come today, mainly to inform you about this matter, everyone has a bottom in their hearts, don't panic in case of trouble.

I thought about it, the matter of changing the land and returning to the river is not an overnight thing, as long as we hold on, the court will not be able to do anything about us for a while, and it is possible that this matter will be discussed for ten years and eight years.

I am ready to agree to the court, but I will only go to Shu and not Guizhou. A few days ago, Li Shangsi, the governor of Sichuan, wrote to me, asking me to send Bozhou soldiers to help defend the Song Domain, and at this time, it was impossible for him to embarrass me. When the time comes, I promise to find some big trees for me and pay some ransom, so that I can get out. ”

"Chitose can't take risks." Lou Guodao, "Chongqing Governor Zheng Lian is a slippery head, I heard that he also has dealings with Ye Mengxiong, in case he attacks Chitose at that time, it will be troublesome?" The son of a daughter, he can't sit down, and a thousand years old can't be in danger. ”

"How can those who have achieved great things be afraid of this small risk?" Yang Yinglong said, "If the imperial court wants to be unfavorable to me, you will instigate the Miao people to cause trouble, let the imperial court see, without me Yang Yinglong, what can they do to pacify Miao Jiang." ”

"It's up to the general." Zhang Rang patted his chest and replied, he was specifically responsible for contacting the Miao people under Yang Yinglong, and the local Miao people who like to pick quarrels and provoke troubles are called Sheng Miao and Black-footed Miao, Zhang Rang has contact with the leaders of these Miao villages, and can incite them to rebel at any time and cause trouble for the Ming court.

"As for dealing with the attack on officers and soldiers, everyone must also pay close attention to it, and the military hoards everywhere must be strengthened and stockpiled up as much grain and grass as possible to prevent accidents. In addition, it is necessary to strictly guard against spies and spies, lest the officers and men find out the details of us. Yang Yinglong said.

"Speaking of spies, I think of one thing." Lou Guo said, "A few days ago, I heard rumors from the natives in several places, saying that a group of surveyors had come to the mountains, and they said that they were looking for coal or something in the mountains, but I don't know if this matter is a little strange. ”

"A coal surveyor?" Yang Yinglong frowned, "Have you seen these people, and where did they come from?" ”

Lou Guo shook his head and said: "I only heard about the lowly position, if it weren't for Chitose today's mention of strict prevention of spies, the lowly position really wouldn't have thought of going up to this head." ”

Yang Chaodong said: "I'd rather believe in it than believe in it, Uncle Lou, if you tell me where the news is from the natives, I'll take someone to find out." ”