Chapter 247: Guerrilla General Li Ying Arrives
Chapter 243 of "The Great Ming in the Box" commences with: Li Daoxuan silently watched from the sky as the Gaojia Village Militia prepared for battle.Cheng... Donât miss the next part!
Li Daoxuan silently watched from the sky as the Gaojia Village Militia prepared for battle.Cheng Xu had done well with the pre-battle arrangements. Li Daoxuan saw no need to intervene much and left it to him.
His attention should instead focus on the county seatâfaster updates would come through Liang Shixian and Fang Wushang there.
He tapped the inscription âChengcheng Countyâ on the box. His view instantly shifted back to the county.
Just as he arrived, he witnessed an intriguing scene.
A Ming army unit was entering the town.
This force was sizableâa full thousand regular troops. They wore the Ming armyâs signature cloth armor, many bearing small backward-curved bows.
Liang Shixian and Fang Wushang promptly went to greet them.
After listening to their exchange, Li Daoxuan learned the newcomer was âGuerrilla General Li Ying.â
The Guerrilla General position was a âmiscellaneous-rankâ military titleânot formalized, without fixed rank, mostly a temporary appointment for emergencies.
Li Daoxuan needed only surface-level thought to guess this man was likely dispatched to handle the Guyuan mutiny.
Even without a fixed rank, his status hovered below Deputy General, roughly equivalent to âSubordinate Third Rank.â To Seventh Rank County Magistrate Liang Shixian and ninth-rank inspector Fang Wushang, he was a high-ranking officer.
Li Ying wore the arrogance of a senior official: âBy Provincial Governor Huâs order, I lead troops to crush the Guyuan rebels. Passing through Chengcheng County, we rest here tonight. Provide whatever fine food and drink you have. My thousand soldiers march to suppress banditsâdonât let them starve.â
Liang Shixian responded: âThree years of drought, plus Bai Shui Wang Erâs looting of our granaries, leaves Chengcheng Countyâs stores empty. I regret I cannot supply provisions.â
A flash of anger crossed Li Yingâs face.
Civil officials! A petty magistrate dares such insolence!
As he prepared to rage, Fang Wushang suddenly spoke: âGeneral Li, this humble officer has a question. Pray enlighten me.â
Li Ying: âAsk.â
Fang Wushang said: âThe Guyuan rebels move from Guyuan toward Xiâan. To engage them, you should head north via Jingyang or Fuping County. Why come to Chengcheng County? Are you avoiding battle? Leading your men on a meaningless tour to deceive the Provincial Governor?â
Li Ying exploded: âHow dare you!â
Above, Li Daoxuan muttered, âHuh?â inwardly startled. This Fang Wushang is fierce! Truly a bold commanderâto ask such a thing outright!
Liang Shixian shared the thought. As a civil official unfamiliar with strategy, heâd missed it initially. Fang Wushangâs words clarified everythingâearning his silent praise. Brave, Inspector! If Iâd noticed, Iâd still weigh the risk before speaking.
Bold yet reckless!
Instantly, everyone present thought the same.
Li Yingâs face darkenedâhumiliated by a ninth-rank officerâs challenge and exposed by Fang Wushangâs accuracy.
His thousand troops looked imposing but were mere garrison soldiersâfine for bandit suppression but useless against border army rebels. Li Ying felt weak, wanting to dodge combat.
After receiving orders from Provincial Governor Hu Tingyan, heâd circled with his menâskirting Jingyang and Fupingâending up in Chengcheng County.
This place avoided the rebelsâ likely route but remained close enough to intervene if they weakened or falteredâperfect to advance or retreat.
His clever plan shattered when Fang Wushang named it. Fury followed.
âYou lowly ninth-rank patrol officer! How dare you spew nonsense before me?â Li Ying roared. âWhat do you know of strategy, a minor inspector?â
Fang Wushang stiffened his neck. âThen I ask: Is your strategy to flee east when rebels appear strong? Advance west when theyâre weak? Chengcheng County is convenient for both.â
Li Ying gripped his sword hilt. âAbsurd! Who backs you?â
Fang Wushang remained defiant: âThis humble officer answers onlyââ
Liang Shixian sensed danger.
WrongâLi Yingâs tone is off.
Liang Shixian, knowledgeable in many matters, shifted into âsocial wisdomâ modeâscanning Li Yingâs anger, the hand on his sword, the questionâs peril. Like spinning lanterns, possibilities raced through his mind, clicking on one.
Li Ying is probing Fang Wushangâs connections! With no backing, heâll execute him immediately.
This cascade of thought took an instantâbefore Fang Wushang finished his sentence.
Liang Shixian coughed sharply, cutting him off. He interjected: âPatrol Officer Fang is my friend. We attended lectures together at Donglin Academy. Its scholars deeply respect his prowessâŚâ
Li Ying hissed, moving his hand from his sword.
Damn it! No wonder heâs so boldâa Donglin Party fanatic! Donât provoke them. But howâd a minor inspector cling to that faction?
Reconsidering, he understood: Patrol Officer was a ninth-rank military role, yet embedded in the civilian systemâit was complicated.
Li Ying snorted. Fineâthis place is toxic. Two Donglin dogs⌠whatever I do could trigger impeachment suits.
âBold, you two,â Li Ying sneered. He turned his horse. To his deputy, he said: âWe leave. To crush rebelsâno time wasted here. These foolsâ blathering ruins my strategy.â
Watching, Li Daoxuan clicked his tongue in amazement. Fascinating! The unorthodox duo of Liang and Fang partnered once! Officialdom truly amazes.