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The Qin State was now summarizing the gains and losses of the Ming Dynasty as a lesson for the past, and was making improvements in military, political, and economic aspects, including readjusting the structure of the central departments, preparing for the imperial examinations, and selecting officials to govern Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Externally, the North mainly adopted a defensive military stance so that the army could rest after several months of fighting.
As for the south, he pretended to be at the gates of the city, and then let Lu Zhenfei, Tian Yimu and Lu Daqi respectively pacify the southern provinces.
In this regard, the one who made the greatest progress was Tian Yimu, who successfully pacified five or six prefectures and counties neighboring southern Jiangxi, including Shaozhou, Lianzhou, Nanxiong, Lechang, and Renhua.
The most critical of these is Shaozhou Prefecture, which is the gateway for southern Jiangxi to enter and exit Guangdong.
Taking over Shaozhou meant controlling the northwest gateway of Guangdong. The Qin army in southern Jiangxi could enter Guangdong through Shaoguan at any time.
In the city of Jinling, Xu Yongshun and Xu Wenjue were respectively granted the sixth-rank Chengwulang by Qin Mu, while Liu Changzuo, Tang Guozuo, Fang Yiyuan, Jiao Menglong and others were respectively granted the seventh-rank Chengshilang, the seventh-rank Congshilang, the eighth-rank Digonglang and other official titles.
Although this cannot be compared with their past titles of dukes and marquises, it is enough to put Xu Yongshun and others at ease. No matter what, this means that Qin Mu has officially accepted them. It doesn't matter if their official rank is low, as long as they are in the mainstream, they can be promoted slowly in the future.
After being appointed as officials, they immediately raised a huge sum of one million yuan to buy the land of Longmen Shipyard.
To be honest, it was two miles long and one mile wide, and it was outside Dinghuai Gate in the capital. It was such a large piece of land, and there were existing ponds, plus some shipbuilding craftsmen provided by the court. All together it was only worth one million taels. They didn't lose much on this deal.
Xu Yongshun and others were very motivated and immediately recruited craftsmen and laborers to start the reconstruction work at the old site of Longmen Shipyard.
At this time, Lu Zhenfei sent troops to escort the empress dowager to Jinling. Qin Mu asked the Minister of Rites Du Yinxi to bring Xu Wen and other former Ming dignitaries to welcome her with great ceremony twenty miles away, which caused a lot of discussion in Jinling city.
After entering the city, the Queen Mother was "honored" in a mansion in the west of the city. She then issued an "imperial decree" to denounce Longwu for colluding with the Tartars despite the capture of Hongguang and the fall of the country to the enemy. She also reiterated the fact that Longwu was a criminal vassal and had no right to inherit the throne.
This "imperial edict" had not yet been sent to Fujian, but it had already caused an uproar in Nanjing. She was the biological mother of the last widely recognized emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the legitimate empress dowager. Her words still had strong political significance.
With her as a banner, and the support of former Ming dignitaries such as Xu Wenjue, it will play a great role in combating the legitimacy of Longwu. It will also be of great help in pacifying the southwestern provinces.
***
Things have been going smoothly recently, and Qin Mu is in a relaxed mood.
After the morning court session, he returned to the West Garden and took a rest in Li Xiangjun's dressing tower.
There were classics on the left and history books on the right in the small building, with carpeted beds and silk curtains, and a faint fragrance filled the air.
Li Xiangjun wore a white jade evening rosy flower necklace, a jade hairpin, and walked without dust; her waist was as slender as a willow, and she was very delicate and tender. Her skin was moist and white as snow, revealed from her cross-collared silk dress.
After making tea for Qin Mu, she asked with a smile: "King Qin, would you like to hear Nunu play a pipa piece?"
"No, I am happy today. Come, come here."
The quiet little building was filled with a faint fragrance. Outside the window, the midday clouds covered the distant mountains, and the autumn scenery was very leisurely. In the deep garden, the faint laughter of the maids occasionally came, making the surroundings seem even more peaceful.
There was an aggressive light in Qin Mu's eyes. When Li Xiangjun met his gaze, her heart trembled and she walked over obediently as he said.
She moves like a cloud, as light as a flying swallow, as graceful as a jade, as delicate as a flower that can speak. Her eyebrows are not resentful but slightly frowned, and her waist is not thin but slender. The winter plum blossoms have not yet bloomed, but the spring scenery on the branches is not revealed; the fragrant cardamom leaves are half open, and the fragrance is wonderful.
Qin Mu held her lithe and charming body in his arms and said lovingly, "Xiang'er, I haven't been here for two days. Do you miss me?"
"King Qin, it's daytime..."
Li Xiangjun's voice was as soft as a mosquito's whisper. Under his caress, a faint blush soon appeared on her white and smooth skin.
The petite body, as delicate as a scented fan, twisted gently in his arms, reluctant but also welcoming, with infinite beauty. The voice she spoke was soft and charming, which further aroused Qin Mu's aggressive intention.
Qin Mu quickly took off her silver thread embroidered plum blossom and peach red palace dress, revealing the silver purple phoenix tail patterned small dress underneath. "King Qin..." A soft call was heart-stirring, and her jade arms climbed up Qin Mu's neck, offering her small mouth for people to taste.
A light cloud passed by, blocking the sunlight outside the window, dimming the light inside the small building, but unable to conceal the spring scenery on the couch. Li Xiangjun murmured drunkenly, and when her silk dress was undressed, her fair skin was as white as jade, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.
This afternoon, the small building was destined to be filled with an incomparable fragrance. The beauty in his arms was a soft and beautiful woman, warmer than jade and smooth as cream. Qin Mu was reminded of a poem:
A little wine in front of people, soft jade embraced by the lamp, looking back into the embrace is always affectionate. Pain, pain, pain, gently push the man, gradually hear the trembling sound, slightly startled blushing.
Try to let go of it again and again, there is no gap at all, this time the taste is crazy. Move, move, move, arms embrace, lips touch, tongues play with each other... ...
***
In the afternoon, Qin Mu returned to the imperial study. After a while, Huang Lianshan came hurriedly.
He bowed for a long time and said, "King Qin, I just received news that something has happened in Yunnan."
Qin Mu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Tell me, what happened?"
"Reporting to the King of Qin, two months ago, Sun Kewang was defeated by Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi and retreated to southern Sichuan. Mu Tianbo, the Duke of Qian, who ruled Yunnan for generations, discussed with the Governor Wu Zhaoyuan and the Inspector Wu Wenying to mobilize the local garrison and the Tusi army to prevent Sun Kewang from entering Yunnan. Wu Bikui, the Tusi of Wuding, took the opportunity to launch a rebellion, declaring: 'Without Emperor Zhu, how can there be Duke Mu?' The rebels successively captured Dayao, Dingyuan, and Yao'an, and the whole of Yunnan was shocked..."
"Wait!" Qin Mu interrupted Huang Lianshan and walked to the map by the wall to check. Wuding was located in the north of Kunming, only more than a hundred miles away. This was equivalent to saying that the trouble started from within. "Go on."
"Yes, King Qin." Mu Tianbo and Governor Wu Zhaoyuan hurriedly ordered the mobilization of the chieftains of Shiping, Long Zaitian, Li'e, Wang Yangzu, Mengzi, Sha Dingzhou, Ningzhou, Lu Yongming, and Jingdong, Diao Xun, and defeated the rebels in early September. Wu Bikui and his followers were captured alive.
However, just as the Wuding Tusi rebellion was quelled, the Mengzi Tusi Sha Dingzhou who came to help quell the rebellion became disloyal again. Sha Dingzhou was originally the son of Wangnong Tusi Sha Yuan. After the death of Amizhou Tusi Pu Mingsheng, his wife Wan remarried Sha Dingzhou, and the two Tusi merged into one, greatly increasing their power.
After Wu Bikui's rebellion was quelled, the couple remained in the provincial capital Kunming. Mu Tianbo did not suspect Dingzhou's father Sha Yuan because he had always been loyal, and he hosted banquets for him several times in the Qianguo Mansion.
Sha Dingzhou and his wife, with Wan's brother-in-law Tang Jiabin, a student in Lin'an Prefecture, as their chief, took advantage of the conflict between the Mu Prefecture and the Yunnan governor and the three officials, the different sides of the chieftains, and the weak military strength in Kunming, and suddenly launched a mutiny on September 11.
Sha Dingzhou personally led his soldiers to attack the Duke of Qian's mansion, and at the same time dispatched his troops to occupy the gates of the provincial capital. Due to the sudden change, Mu Tianbo had no time to organize an effective resistance. Under the protection of several trusted guards, he fled to Xining with the official seal, hereditary iron certificate and other items. On the way, he was protected by Long Zaitian and Lu Yongming and arrived in Chuxiong.
Chuxiong was guarded by Yang Weizhi, the military governor of Jincang. With Yang Weizhi's acceptance, Mu Tianbo was able to settle down temporarily. His mother Chen and his wife Jiao were unable to accompany him, and they fled to the nunnery in the mansion and committed suicide in a hurry.
Qin Mu sent Lu Daqi to Hengyang with the intention of recruiting the three provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou to surrender.
Now Guangxi and Guizhou have not yet succeeded in surrendering, but Yunnan has become chaotic first. Qin Mu can't help but feel that he is out of control.
But Chuan Nian thought that Sha Dingzhou's rebellion might also be an opportunity for him.
His mind raced, and he unconsciously turned the pen tube and asked, "Any further news? What is the situation in Yunnan now?"
"Reporting to the King of Qin, after Sha Dingzhou occupied Kunming, he called himself the 'General Governor' and attempted to replace Mu Tianbo's position. His wife, Lady Wan, called herself the mistress. He traveled with his sedan chair and visited the gentry everywhere. Many gentry in central Yunnan joined him and plotted against him. Sha Dingzhou sent troops to pursue Mu Tianbo, but was defeated by Yang Weizhi in Chuxiong.
After his failure in the westward advance, he sent troops to take over various parts of Yunnan. In a short period of time, except for the area west of Chuxiong controlled by Yang Weizhi and Mu Tianbo, all other areas were under the control of Sha Dingzhou.
The Mu family ruled Yunnan for generations, and the treasury in the palace was plentiful. Gems and red gold were packed into boxes, each weighing 100 jin, and each vault held 50 boxes, with a total of more than 250 vaults, and other treasures were innumerable. When Sha Dingzhou occupied the Mu Palace, he transported all the treasures back to his home village, and this continued for months.
Sha Dingzhou was an ambitious man. Although he made a fortune, he was not satisfied with it. He tried his best to win over Yunnan officials appointed by the Ming court and registered Han officials and gentry.
Not only did he order all Han officials in prefectures and counties who were willing to accept his command to stay in office, but he also coerced the Yunnan governor Wu Zhaoyuan and the Grand Secretary Wang Xigun from Lufeng to submit a petition to the Longwu court, falsely claiming that Tianbo had rebelled and Dingzhou had suppressed it, so he should replace him to govern Yunnan.
"Submit a petition?"
"Yes, King Qin, this book was robbed by Ye Bu Shou."
Qin Mu's brows relaxed, and he felt that there was something to be done. He immediately shouted to the eunuch outside the door: "Go quickly, call the cabinet ministers and the ministers of the six ministries to come to discuss the matter."
“Yes!”
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ps: The beauty is like jade, the landscape is like a painting, and the ambition remains unchanged.
Unfortunately, I'm getting further and further away from the top ten in the category on the monthly ticket list. Yesterday, I was only four votes away from the tenth place. When I woke up today, I saw that I was nineteen votes away. Brothers, don't give up. I'm working hard day and night to repay you with more updates.
Keep asking for monthly tickets! I hope my brothers will support me and catch up with me!
.(To be continued..)
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