Chapter 068 They Could All Become Me
Although Shao Rong was the Grand Marshal, he responded that he could not bring too many troops with him, and that they had to be stationed outside the city. He could only mobilize his trusted personal guards. This was why Zhu Yuanzhang did not dare to break out of the ambush at the Sanshan Gate until he entered it.
However, Yan Qian was the commander of Yingtian Prefecture, and the soldiers patrolling the city were his. If he planned to rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang would have a headache.
Chang Yuchun asked to capture Yan Qian first. Zhu Yuanzhang asked Chang Yuchun and Kang Maocai to invite Shao Rong and Zhao Jizu to drink, and he would deal with Yan Qian himself.
Kang Maocai was an old friend of Chen Youliang, the man who had tricked Chen Youlian into an ambush. He was also a skilled actor. Zhu Yuanzhang had specifically asked Kang Maocai to assist Chang Yuchun.
Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted Liao Yongzhong to invite Shao Rong and Zhao Jizu for a drink. Chang Yuchun, forced into logistics duties, was known to everyone for his resentment. Chang Yuchun was also very proactive and eager to help Zhu Yuanzhang eliminate the traitors, so Zhu Yuanzhang allowed him to go.
Chang Yuchun made good use of his good acting skills and good temper acquired while working in logistics. Kang Maocai touched his head and always felt that he was being outdone.
Zhu Yuanzhang dealt with Yan Qian by having a drink with him alone.
When news of this incident spread, everyone admired Zhu Yuanzhang's magnanimity. Shao Rong's capture had already caused considerable unrest within Zhu Yuanzhang's army. Upon hearing of Zhu Yuanzhang's lenient treatment of Yan Qian, Shao Rong's men calmed down, knowing they would not be implicated by Shao Rong, and they gave up their thoughts of defecting.
Compared with Shao Rong's personal soldiers who shared his fate, these soldiers under Shao Rong were naturally more loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Especially after the well-field system allocated land to women, and Ma Xiuying repeatedly arranged matchmaking between lonely and widowed women among the refugees and soldiers in Zhu Yuanzhang's army, they had land and families in Yingtian, and some even had children born or were pregnant with their new wives. Unless their heads were about to fall, they would definitely not want to leave Zhu's army.
After Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down, he also realized this.
Shao Rong has rich experience and outstanding military achievements. He not only has a high reputation in the Red Turban Army of Haozhou, but also has a high reputation in Zhu Yuanzhang's direct troops.
Now Zhang Shicheng had finally made his move, eyeing Zhu Yuanzhang's territory covetously. Chen Youliang's fate was still not over, and a major battle between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang was imminent. If the Shao Rong case caused the army to lose morale, Zhu Yuanzhang's hard-earned advantage would be immediately lost.
"Untie him and have a drink." Zhu Yuanzhang asked the others to leave, took Zhao Jizu away, and only left Shao Rong.
Zhu Yuanzhang had good wine and food prepared, and changed Shao Rong into a nice set of clothes. Just like before, he drank and chatted with Shao Rong.
Shao Rong looked depressed.
He has been kidnapped, and all his family members, young and old, are in Yingtian City. The situation is hopeless.
So he obediently accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang to drink and no longer tried to resist.
While drinking, Zhu Yuanzhang again asked Shao Rong why he betrayed him.
Shao Rong pretended to be sad and said, "I'm always away fighting and can't be with my family, so I made a mistake."
Zhu Yuanzhang poured the wine into his mouth in silence.
Shao Rong said: "It's all my fault. My soldiers were not aware of this."
Zhu Yuanzhang then said, "I know. They have land and family in Yingtian. If you openly declare rebellion, they will kidnap you and bring you to me. Isn't that what happened with the rebellions in Chuzhou and Wuzhou? I still have some confidence in myself."
Shao Rong was stunned for a moment, lowered his head, and finally showed an expression of regret.
Zhu Yuanzhang repeatedly asked, "Can't you tell me the real reason for your betrayal? Even if you say you're worried that your achievements will overshadow your master, that's fine."
Shao Rong didn't want to say anything more, but when he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's sincere eyes filled with real pain, he suddenly softened his heart.
He remembered the first time he looked Zhu Yuanzhang in the eye.
Shao Rong was a general fighting outside, and Zhu Yuanzhang was Guo Zixing's personal soldier. The two rarely met at first and were not familiar with each other.
The first time Shao Rong had private contact with Zhu Yuanzhang was when Zhu Yuanzhang was almost starved to death by Guo Zixing. He received Guo Zixing's order to release Zhu Yuanzhang.
It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang's wife Ma stole a hot pancake from the kitchen, put it in her arms and secretly gave it to Zhu Yuanzhang to eat, which burned her body. In this way, she won the sympathy of Guo Zixing's wife and persuaded Guo Zixing to let Zhu Yuanzhang go.
When Shao Rong brought Zhu Yuanzhang out, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were so confused and painful.
Shao Rong suddenly realized that just as Zhu Yuanzhang really loved and respected Guo Zixing as his father, Zhu Yuanzhang also really treated him as a brother, which was why he had such a great reputation in the army. Even now that there was solid evidence of his treason, Zhu Yuanzhang could not be too harsh on him.
When a man is about to die, his words are good. Shao Rong originally thought that the winner will be the king and the loser will be the bandit, and there was nothing much to say to Zhu Yuanzhang. Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, he suddenly wanted to say what was in his heart.
"Marshal, I originally thought I betrayed you because of Chen Guorui," Shao Rong said self-deprecatingly. "You always say I'm your second-in-command, but people lower in rank than me know Chen Guorui, but I don't. This makes me very uneasy."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked back: "What did you think?"
Shao Rong said, "In fact, I know clearly that this is just an excuse. Chen Guorui is the one who controls your secret power and money. The fewer people who know about him, the better. Those people who are lower in status than me but know about Chen Guorui are all from the same place as you, Marshal. Chen Guorui was also someone you recruited when you returned to your hometown. They already knew Chen Guorui and don't need you to introduce him to others."
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and clenched the wine glass.
Shao Rong continued, "As for why those scholars got to know Chen Guorui, the reason is very simple. Marshal, although you have awarded Chen Guorui some minor military merits, he rarely goes to the battlefield. He is actually doing the work of a civilian, right?"
Shao Rong poured a glass of wine into his mouth and choked on it, tears streaming down his face. "I understand, I understand everything. I didn't rebel for this reason. My lord, it was Xie Zaixing who instigated me to rebel. The reason for my rebellion is the same as Xie Zaixing's, because of the well-field system."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Shao Rong call him "Lord", he was stunned for a moment.
Once the conversation started, Shao Rong stopped being pretentious and said everything he should and shouldn't say.
Of those who rose up in rebellion during this chaotic era, only a small number truly wanted to end it and establish a prosperous era where the people could live in peace. The majority simply sought to seize wealth and power by taking advantage of the chaos.
Shao Rong was originally a local tyrant. Although he was not as powerful as Guo Zixing, he was just a small tyrant in the county town, but he lived a good life.
The Yuan Dynasty completely abandoned local governance, and the local tyrants had an especially good life. The suffering of other common people had little to do with the Shao family.
Shao Rong and his family, along with their servants and fellow villagers, rose up in rebellion to respond to Guo Zixing, but their only intention was to transform themselves from small tyrants into big tyrants, or even into a noble family.
He was already the second-in-command under Zhu Yuanzhang, and logically, he should have no worries about wealth and status in the future. However, the well-field system implemented by Zhu Yuanzhang was a thorn in his side.
Shao Rong was no commoner with nothing. The well-field system was intended to uproot his family's wealth and prosperity.
What's more, it was not only the well-field system that bothered Shao Rong.
As a powerful person, Shao Rong had many ways to exploit loopholes in the well-field system, and his family could be rich for generations, but it was just a little troublesome.
But after Zhu Yuanzhang broke into the city, he did not allow the looting of women and the robbing of money, nor did he allow the collection of protection fees from wealthy businessmen. No matter how much food there was at home, he could not sell alcohol or show off his wealth... Zhu Yuanzhang also formulated many laws and regulations, prohibiting his generals and officials from bullying civilians, and even civilians could directly sue generals.
You have to know that in previous dynasties, if common people wanted to sue the officials, they had to be beaten with a stick first before they could even file a complaint.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a peasant . Most of his trusted generals were peasants. Despite having enjoyed years of wealth and fame as generals, their mentality hadn't changed. That's why they sided with the common people and consciously obeyed Zhu Yuanzhang's decrees.
Shao Rong felt out of place in the atmosphere under Zhu Yuanzhang.
Xie Zaixing discovered this early on and left Zhu Yuanzhang early.
Shao Rong only discovered this now and only now tried to leave Zhu Yuanzhang.
Shao Rong said: "My lord, many people will realize this in the future."
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Yeah."
Shao Rong said: "My lord, those poor brothers who support you now may become me and Xie Zaixing in the future."
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Yeah."
Zhu Yuanzhang filled his glass with wine, lowered his head and smiled, "You forgot to say that in the future I might become like you and Xie Zaixing. That's why it's easier for me to become like you and Xie Zaixing. Because I will become the richest man in the world."
Shao Rong was silent for a while, then suddenly laughed: "My Lord, you are absolutely right. Continue drinking?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Keep drinking, don't go home until you are drunk."
The two of them no longer mentioned this topic and instead talked about the general situation in the world.
Shao Rong's talent and vision as a general were top-notch. They discussed expanding their advantage over Chen Youliang, determining the right time to attack Zhang Shicheng, and then wiping out the other separatist warlords in the south... Finally, they discussed the moment when they would march north to attack the Yuan capital and truly overthrow the Yuan Dynasty.
Shao Rong sighed: "I can't see that scene anymore."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I will let your son follow us to attack Yuan Dadu. When we return victorious, I will burn the victory report in front of your grave."
Shao Rong was a bit amused and said, "Okay, I'll wait for that moment. Come on, drink, keep drinking."
Shao Rong and Zhu Yuanzhang drank for several days in the Marshal's Mansion.
Sleep when you are drunk, and continue drinking when you wake up.
They hadn't had such a pleasant chat in a long time.
This continued until the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival.
Zhu Yuanzhang took Shao Rong back to the Chen family and introduced him to Chen Biao.
"This is my brother and best friend. He plotted a rebellion against the Lord and will be leaving tomorrow. The Lord asked him to rest at my house for a day so I could say goodbye to him." Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed Chen Biao's head, "and asked him to apologize to you at the same time."
Chen Biao's face was full of disgust.
Dad, why are you so nice to a bad guy who almost kidnapped your son!
Chen Biao turned around and left: "Don't even think about asking me to cook for him! Go find some leftovers in the kitchen! I'm sleeping with mom today! Get lost, you stinky dad!"
Zhu Yuanzhang spread his hands at Shao Rong and said, "What about my son? Does he have no respect for his father at all?"
Shao Rong was silent for a while, then said, "My lord, I'm sorry."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I really wanted to cut you into pieces with my own hands at that time. Well, let's not talk about it anymore. I have nothing to hide from you now."
Shao Rong seemed to be half laughing and half crying: "Yes, my lord."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Then go ahead without any worries. Yan Qian is a very kind-hearted person and he will take good care of your family."
Shao Rong knelt down, kowtowed, stood up, knelt down again, kowtowed... until he kowtowed three times and bowed nine times before stopping: "My lord, take care."
Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. He was silent for a long moment before closing his eyes. “Hmm.”
