stonecrandall Chapter 1207 Emperor Qing begins his counterattack, Li Yunrui takes action!
Chapter 1207 Emperor Qing begins his counterattack, Li Yunrui takes action!
Emperor Qing's reaction was swift.
When the report of the rebellion in the western border was sent to the capital by express courier, Emperor Qing was reviewing memorials in his study. He took the secret letter, glanced at it, and his face darkened. Moments later, imperial edicts flew out of the palace and were sent to various regions by fast horses.
250,000 border troops were immediately dispatched to the western border to quell the rebellion.
In addition, a special team accompanied them—one hundred Red Riders.
These one hundred men were among Emperor Qing's most elite forces. They were usually scattered in various locations, carrying out various covert missions, and rarely acted together. But this time, Emperor Qing mobilized all one hundred men and sent them to the Western Territory.
The reason is simple—gunpowder.
Emperor Qing was no stranger to this stuff. Over the years, he had been secretly researching the formula and application of gunpowder, investing a great deal of manpower and resources. The skilled craftsmen of the Ministry of Works had tried countless times, but the results had remained modest and far from large-scale application.
Occasionally, it could produce a few loud firecrackers, but their power was far from sufficient for actual combat. Emperor Qing once thought that this thing might only remain at the level of a toy.
But now, the rebels have suddenly acquired gunpowder.
Moreover, it is directly applied to military applications.
Cannons and muskets—these unheard-of weapons appeared overnight among Han Xin's rebel army. When news of the annihilation of 150,000 provincial troops arrived, Emperor Qing's first reaction was disbelief. 150,000 men—even if they were 150,000 pigs, it would take days and nights to capture them. How could an entire army be wiped out overnight?
But the battle report was written clearly, leaving him no choice but to believe it.
The power of firearms is truly astounding.
Emperor Qing could no longer afford to ignore this.
Those hundred Red Cavalrymen represented his stance. Each was at least a sixth-rank martial artist, with some even reaching seventh or eighth rank—such a force was enough to cut through an army of tens of thousands and take the enemy commander's head. Emperor Qing sent them not only to assist in the battle, but also to ascertain the details of firearms. If they could seize a few pieces, if they could capture skilled artisans, it would be more worthwhile than killing countless enemies.
However, what Emperor Qing didn't know was that his action gave another person an excellent opportunity.
Li Yunrui.
For days, Li Yunrui had been waiting for an opportunity. Emperor Qing had never trusted her, and had planted numerous spies both openly and secretly. Those spies were like thorns, embedded around her, rendering her immobile. She dared not act rashly, and could only secretly accumulate strength, waiting for the opportune moment.
The rebellion in the west occurred at this opportune moment.
Emperor Qing's attention was completely drawn to the west. First, troops were mobilized, then the Red Cavalry were dispatched, and then a steady stream of provisions and supplies was transported to the western border. Throughout the court, everyone's eyes were fixed on the west, on the suddenly appearing rebel army, and on those seemingly miraculous firearms.
No one paid attention to Jiangnan.
Li Yunrui made a move.
Her movements were faster and more ruthless than anyone else's.
The first to suffer were those sent by Emperor Qing to monitor her. These people were scattered throughout various government offices, military camps, and inconspicuous corners. They thought they were well hidden, that Li Yunrui was unaware of their existence. But they were wrong.
Li Yunrui knows everything.
Overnight, all of these people vanished. Some died in "accidents," some were transferred to remote areas, and some simply disappeared without a trace. The next morning, when someone discovered they were missing, Li Yunrui was already sitting in the command tent of the Jiangnan Prefecture army.
Then comes the cleaning.
Among the state and border troops in Jiangnan, there are many who are loyal to Emperor Qing, many who are loyal to the court, and many who are unwilling to obey Li Yunrui's orders. Li Yunrui will not spare any of these people.
But she didn't go on a killing spree like Xie Li—that wasn't her style.
She has a better way.
Those disobedient generals were either transferred to "more important" positions, sent on "glorious" missions, or imprisoned after evidence of "corruption and dereliction of duty" was uncovered. The lower-ranking soldiers were reorganized, their original structures broken up, and her people placed in their place. Those who remained obstinate were sent to the most arduous and demanding posts, out of sight, out of mind.
In just one month, nearly half of the generals in the Jiangnan army had been replaced. And these new replacements were all Li Yunrui's confidants, or at least people willing to obey her orders.
But this is not enough.
The military is complex; it can't be controlled simply by changing generals. Those mid-to-low-level officers, those seasoned veterans who have been entrenched in the military for years, those deeply entrenched factional relationships—all of these need to be sorted out one by one. Li Yunrui wasn't impatient; she had plenty of patience.
At the same time, she still has two trump cards in her hand.
First, they are experts.
Before leaving, Gao Yao left her with a group of men. These men were exceptionally skilled, of mysterious origin, and obeyed only Li Yunrui's orders. They were the best knives and the sharpest blades. The toughest nuts to crack, the most troublesome characters, would be dealt with by them. Cleanly, efficiently, and without leaving a trace.
Second is money.
What Gao Yao left her wasn't just people, but also countless riches. The gold and silver seized from the powerful families of Xuchang, the copper coins moved from the Puyang treasury—all of this now became Li Yunrui's capital. Military pay was paid on time, rewards were never delayed, and military supplies were plentiful—how could soldiers not like such a commander?
With money comes the support of the people. With the support of the people comes an army.
Li Yunrui's control was increasing at a visible rate.
Just as she was busily integrating the Jiangnan army, new news came from the north.
The Northern Qi made a move.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the western border of Qing, Northern Qi seized the opportunity. An army of 500,000 was assembled on the border, its eyes fixed menacingly on Qing's northern frontier. Battle reports poured into the capital, each urging the court to send reinforcements.
Emperor Qing's brows furrowed even deeper.
He knew exactly what Northern Qi was planning. The rebellion in the west and the instability within Qing presented the perfect opportunity to exploit the situation. Those people in Northern Qi were shrewd; how could they possibly let this chance slip by?
But Emperor Qing knew even better that retreat was absolutely not an option at this time.
The more internal strife there is, the tougher we must be on the outside. If we show the slightest sign of weakness, Northern Qi will pounce like wolves smelling blood, tearing off chunks of flesh. At that point, with the western border still unsettled and war breaking out in the north, Qing will be attacked from two sides, and that will be the real trouble.
Therefore, Emperor Qing made a decision that surprised everyone.
Instead of defending, take the initiative to attack.
Two hundred and fifty thousand border troops have been dispatched to the western border, but the Qing Kingdom's fighting force is not limited to the border troops. The Imperial Guard, the provincial armies, and the garrison troops of various prefectures, combined, form a formidable force. Emperor Qing selected elite troops from these armies, personally leading them north to meet the enemy.
The news sent shockwaves through both the government and the public.
Some ministers advised His Majesty that the safety of the nation rested on his shoulders and that he should not act rashly. Others objected, saying that the western border was not yet pacified, and that His Majesty's personal expedition to the northern border might worsen the situation there. Still others whispered among themselves that His Majesty was being ambitious and disregarding the bigger picture.