Chapter 771: Entering Jiaozhou

Compared to the first expedition during the Yongle era, which deployed an army of 800,000 troops, Liu Sheng’s force this time claimed to number 100,000, though in reality it consisted of 50,000 infantry, cavalry, and naval troops. They followed the same old route, entering through Pingxiang. Since Chen Zhi, the Marquis of Rongchang, had been defeated and killed earlier, many counties south of Jiaozhou Prefecture had lost contact. Thus, the army initially followed the old Yongle tactics, with scouts in all directions. Along the way, there were only small groups of rebel troops, at most a dozen or so. It was not until they passed through Ailiuguan and Zhenyiguan that they encountered the first group of rebels.

This group of rebels numbered just a few hundred. After clashing with the vanguard, they were quickly routed upon engaging in battle. After interrogation, the captives could not provide any clear information, only saying that the rebel leader was Chen Tianbao, who claimed to be a legitimate descendant of the Chen family, and who had launched a rebellion from the southern provinces. After Chen Tianbao had ambushed and defeated Chen Zhi, he issued a call to gather troops from all directions to capture Jiaozhou Prefecture. They had arrived here without expecting the army to come so swiftly.

Upon hearing this, both military and civilian officials were shocked. Annam had originally been ruled by the Chen family. Previously, Huang Fu had already found a descendant of the Chen family and appointed him as a nominal governor of Jiaozhou Prefecture. Now, who was this Chen Tianbao?

During the Yongle era, Zhang Fu launched three expeditions to the south, assembling large armies, gathering supplies, and recruiting personnel from various places. As a result, it often took a month or even several months before troops could actually set out after news spread. This time, however, Liu Sheng was already in Guangzhou, and his Pingman Army had been trained for a year, making them highly proficient. Since no troops needed to be dispatched from other regions, and there was no need to worry too much about supplies, the progress was faster than before. It took only eight days to cover half of the distance.

Thinking of how Chen Zhi’s hasty advance had led to his defeat, Liu Sheng, who was naturally bold and impatient, decided to advance swiftly. He summoned several key military and civilian officials and announced his plan to select elite cavalry to reach Jiaozhou Prefecture as quickly as possible. Governor Li Ju immediately showed concern. Just as he was about to object, he remembered Liu Sheng’s stubborn nature and discreetly glanced at Zhang Yue. Shi An and Chen Yong, who were with Zhang Yue, did the same.

Recalling that Li Qing had been unwell since arriving in Nanning Prefecture and had suffered from high fever for days since the army entered through Pingxiang, and knowing he had been asked to advise Liu Sheng more often, Zhang Yue gently coughed.

“My lord, Jiaozhi is full of mountains and rivers, making it easy to set ambushes in valleys or by waterways. It’s unclear how many rebels there are in the entire province, so it’s best not to rush in. Moreover, when crossing rivers by boat or bridge, we should send extra scouts to investigate for any ambushes, to guard against rebels using the terrain for surprise attacks.”
“You’re so young, yet you’re cautious as an old man!”
Liu Sheng glared at Zhang Yue irritably. Seeing his firm determination and Li Ju’s agreement, he stopped insisting on advancing with light cavalry. A few eager commanders were displeased, but since their commander had no further orders, they dared not disobey. As they continued marching, Zhang Yue stayed close to Liu Sheng, constantly glancing at the mountains on either side before lowering his head in thought.

Since the army’s three campaigns in Jiaozhi and the establishment of military governors to oversee it, under Huang Fu’s leadership, the originally narrow paths in Jiaozhi gradually became well-developed roads. The main route for this expedition was the thoroughfare from Jiaozhou Prefecture to the capital, naturally wider than before. Both Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Chao had taken this route earlier. With few rebels along this path, military and civilian officials believed the rebels were mainly concentrated in the southwest of Jiaozhou Prefecture. Yet even so, remembering Chen Zhi’s past mistakes, Zhang Yue wouldn’t take any chances.

The north of Jiaozhi was different from the south. Though it was tropical, it still had four seasons, unlike the south, which had only a rainy season and a dry season with extremely hot weather. Now that the Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, the weather was relatively clear and pleasant, but the dense trees in the mountains blocked out the sun. Even during the day, little sunlight reached the mountain paths, and snakes and insects appeared from time to time, causing great discomfort. Fortunately, enough military doctors had been brought from Guangxi and Yunnan this time, and most of the soldiers were veterans of previous southern campaigns. Everyone had taken proper precautions against mosquitoes and insects. Moreover, since the miasma was less severe than in spring and summer, there were few casualties—instead, many military and civilian officials fell ill.

That day, due to light rain outside and the gradually open terrain ahead, Zhang Yue, who was originally on horseback, was forced by Liu Sheng into the carriage. He then invited Shi An and Chen Yong to join him. One was a fifth-rank physician and the other a sixth-rank official, both graduates of the imperial examinations. Shi An was his senior from the exams, while Chen Yong, from Qiantang, was from the same year as him but was still over ten years older.

It started as a casual chat, but as they talked, Shi An grew worried and said, “Lord Zhang, it’s been over a decade since the imperial court established the Jiaozhi Administrative Commission. After all these years of pacification and defense, killing one rebel only leads to another. Relying solely on military force isn’t a solution. With all due respect, whenever Minister Huang or General Zhang is involved in matters, Jiaozhi immediately falls into chaos. This itself proves there are serious problems with the appointment of civil and military officials here!”
Chen Yong was even more direct: “Chen Zhi, the Marquis of Rongchang, made a grave mistake by acting rashly, but it’s an undeniable fact that the civil officials in the prefectures and counties haven’t been diligent! All the prefectures and counties in Jiaozhi are staffed by exiled officials, some of whom remain in office for years without change. How can such people be expected to take their duties seriously?”
“I’ve been thinking about what you’ve said these past days. I used to be the governor of Guangdong and have been to Qiongzhou Prefecture before. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Qiongzhou was always governed by exiled officials. These people lacked both the ability and the willingness to manage affairs, which is why Qiongzhou was constantly ruled by local chieftains who rebelled frequently. It’s very similar to the situation in Jiaozhi now. To truly improve Jiaozhi, we can no longer rely on exiled officials; instead, we should appoint capable and virtuous officials. Instead of a nine-year term, we should evaluate and transfer them every two years. Those who excel should be promoted to higher positions by the Ministry of Personnel and sent to prosperous regions like the south of the Yangtze River.”
Seeing Shi An and Chen Yong both shocked, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but think of the efforts to support Tibet and Xinjiang in later generations. Although those officials didn’t serve in the border regions for long, they still made a significant impact, and since they often got promoted after their terms ended, many were willing to serve there, at least to avoid feeling frustrated. If the performance of officials in Jiaozhi were used as a basis for evaluation by the Ministry of Personnel, it might change the situation of inaction among the officials in the prefectures and counties there. Just as he finished explaining, suddenly there was loud noise coming from outside.
“What’s going on?”
“Lord, the scouts ahead have spotted a group of war elephants. Marshal Liu has ordered the central army and the artillery unit to attack from the center and flanks. Please stay seated in the carriage and don’t show your faces!”
Zhang Yue had already heard from Zhang Fu before that the people there were skilled at using war elephants. Hearing this news suddenly, he was shocked. He nodded at the guards and sat back down, keeping the curtain drawn. While he could stay calm, Shi An and Chen Yong, sitting beside him, didn’t have the same patience. One poked his head out to look outside desperately, while the other asked anxiously, “War elephants appear suddenly even before we reach Jiaozhou Prefecture. Could it be that the rebels have already taken control there?”

Zhang Yue shook his head and said, “On the contrary, it is precisely because Jiaozhou Prefecture still exists that the rebels are eager to confront us head-on. If they can defeat our army, Jiaozhou Prefecture will fall soon. These rebel soldiers truly have great ambition!”

When setting out from Nanning Prefecture, several personal guards sent by Zhang Fu were taken by him to meet Marquis Anyuan Liu Sheng. Lions painted on horses were prepared, and Zhang Yue suggested that Liu Sheng deploy elite cavalry and artillery units in the vanguard specifically to counter enemy war elephants. Unexpectedly, these forces proved useful so quickly. As the sounds of fighting and gunfire echoed in the distance, a carriage stopped beside him. A servant jumped down from the carriage and hurried forward through the muddy, waterlogged road.

“Lord Zhang, Lord Li asks you to go and talk to him.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yue immediately got off the carriage. It was still raining, but he refused the umbrella offered by his attendants and strode forward. When he reached the carriage, he saw Li Qing already sitting up inside. As soon as he saw Zhang Yue, Li Qing said, “The court has been improving firearms over the years, but the rebels are unaware of this. With war elephants involved, they must have taken advantage of the continuous light rain, knowing that firearms are prone to getting damp. We will surely achieve a great victory. But please ask Lord Zhang to inform the commander-in-chief that the top priority now is to lift the siege of Jiaozhou Prefecture. Do not pursue a defeated enemy—don’t repeat the mistakes of Lord Rongchang!”

While his words were true, Zhang Yue was certain that if conveyed verbatim, even with his relationship with Liu Sheng, he would surely be ridiculed. After all, who would want to be compared to Chen Zhi, the Lord of Rongchang, who died in battle? So, he comforted Li Qing a bit and asked the servant in the carriage to help Li Qing lie down and rest. When he turned back, he whispered to one of his personal guards, “Go to the vanguard and see how the battle is going. If things are going smoothly, inform the commander-in-chief to lift the siege of Jiaozhou Prefecture first. The people inside the city, both military and civilian, will surely be grateful. Don’t pursue a defeated enemy; there will be time enough later.”

That servant had also fought alongside Zhang Fu in several battles in Jiaozhou. He immediately understood and nodded before mounting his horse and rushing off. Zhang Yue stood there, listening to the roars of the war elephants and the crackling of firearms, as well as the sounds of fighting and shouting, unaware that the rain above him was growing heavier. It wasn’t until an umbrella was placed over his head that he realized what was happening. Turning around, he saw Shi An and couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“Judging from the noise, it seems we’ve won ahead!”

Throughout the dynasties in the Central Plains, military campaigns were often exaggerated, with numbers frequently claimed to be eight hundred thousand or even one million. Although the people of Jiaozhou claimed to be kings one after another, this tendency to exaggerate was even more pronounced than in their neighboring imperial states. In the past, the Hu family in Annam killed their ruler and declared themselves kings, claiming to have seven million troops by land and sea, along with two million soldiers and civilians who blocked the Tao River to resist Zhang Fu’s massive army. This time, those besieging Jiaozhou Prefecture also claimed to have a million-strong army. Yet, this mighty army supporting the Chen family scattered in disarray after the initial elephant corps retreated.

“These are just a bunch of clowns. How could Chen Zhi, the Marquis of Rongchang, be defeated by such people?”

As they entered the city, Liu Sheng, who was moving slowly under the protection of his soldiers, couldn’t help but complain. No one around him replied. Everyone knew that Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, was extremely harsh toward defeated generals. Qiu Fu was executed after his defeat, and his entire family was exiled to Hainan. Several nobles also died in prison after losing minor battles during the northern expeditions. If this had happened back then, Chen Zhi might have died himself, and his family would likely have suffered as well. But now that Zhu Zhanji was on the throne, the outcome was uncertain.

Once the army entered the city, although Chen Qia led people to greet them, Zhang Yue was the first to notice the soldiers. Not recognizing a single one of them, he instinctively felt a sense of dread. Sure enough, after Chen Qia and the others exchanged greetings, his expression immediately turned grim.

“It’s fortunate that Governor Fang returned with his troops in time, and the eldest son of Commander Zhang helped rally the defeated soldiers, allowing Jiaozhou Prefecture to hold out until reinforcements arrived. It’s all because of my incompetence—I failed to persuade the Marquis of Rongchang from acting rashly. After Commander Zhang was seriously injured, I still had to keep interfering…”

Zhang Yue no longer paid attention to what Chen Qia said after that. He simply breathed a sigh of relief. At least, no bad news had come from the headquarters yet, and his second uncle, Zhang You, was still alive. It wasn’t until someone gently pushed him in the back that he came back to his senses.

“You go to the headquarters first. I’ll change clothes and then go check things out with my men.”

Seeing Liu Sheng, who also seemed relieved, Zhang Yue bowed slightly before leading his attendants out of the group and riding away at full speed. With his departure, those in the southern expedition army weren’t surprised. However, the officials in Jiaozhou below Chen Qia were puzzled. It wasn’t until they learned about the relationship between Zhang Yue and Commander Zhang You that they began to whisper among themselves.

Jiaozhou Prefecture was originally the eastern capital of Annam, surrounded by high city walls and home to numerous high-ranking officials. Though it lost its former glory after a war, the general’s residence, which had once been the home of high officials, remained relatively intact. Now, although it was still a grand estate, it no longer saw the gathering of generals as in the past. Zhang Yue dismounted hastily in front of the gate and saw a servant from the Zhang family rushing forward to kowtow. He pulled the man up and kept asking questions as they walked inside. Upon learning from Doctor He that the most critical moment had passed, he left the man behind and rushed inside at a run.

It was only when he entered the room that he saw Zhang Chao lying in front of Zhang You’s bed, seemingly asleep. On a chair nearby, his father Zhang Zhuo seemed to be writing something at his desk. Approaching quietly by the bed, he found Zhang You still sleeping soundly, so he made no sound. Turning his head, he saw Zhang Zhuo standing up and waving at him, so he followed his father out.

“Your second uncle, despite his own condition, ordered your elder brother to rally the defeated troops, which is why Jiaozhou Prefecture didn’t fall into chaos. Otherwise, even if the enemy’s attack wasn’t fierce, it might not have been safe. Your second uncle once told me that great efforts can be ruined by a single mistake. If it weren’t for his assumption that there had been few rebellions in the various provinces over the years, he wouldn’t have been so careless, and this outcome wouldn’t have happened… But after all, he wasn’t defeated. At his most critical moment, he even had me draft a will based on his instructions, asking me to refine it later. Fortunately, good fortune favors the brave. Just as your elder brother returned, his condition finally improved…”

Seeing Zhang Yue nod in joy, Zhang Zhuo opened his mouth but ultimately decided not to mention the trivial matter of Fang Shuixin. That was a family affair of the second branch and not something for them father and son to interfere in.