Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 288 Wu Sangui’s Ambition (Part 3)

After hearing what Fang Guangchen said, Wu Sangui burst out laughing and said helplessly: "Is Tingxian worrying too much? He hasn't even been enfeoffed yet, but he's already thinking about the court reducing the power of the vassal state."

Fang Guangchen advised with a serious face: "Your Highness, if you don't think about the future, you will have immediate worries. Throughout the dynasties, except for the separatist regimes in the late Tang Dynasty, has there ever been a dynasty where separatist regimes were not suppressed?"

Perhaps some people would say that the Mu family was the hereditary governor of Yunnan, but the Mu family was completely different from a real vassal state. Its authority was always restricted by the governors, inspectors, provincial governors, provincial supervisors and even the eunuchs who guarded Yunnan during the Ming Dynasty.

This is a far cry from the historical situation when Wu Sangui governed Yunnan. Especially in the early days, Wu Sangui had enormous power over officials in Yunnan. He had the power of life and death, collected taxes on his own, maintained and expanded the army, and appointed officials. He was like a real vassal state.

Wu Sangui was speechless for a long time. He understood in his heart that Fang Guangchen's words were not alarmist. It was just that at this moment he was really like Liu Bei in the past, confused about the future. Perhaps he also needed a Longzhong Plan to solve the confusion in his heart.

After a long while, Wu Sangui finally spoke: "Tingxian's words are like thunder in my ears, but since it is difficult to enter Yunnan, where can I stay now?"

"Your Majesty, I have already gained something. Now we are in the place where Your Majesty's hegemony is achieved!"

"Xiangyang?" Wu Sangui frowned and asked with some confusion.

"No, Your Majesty, I meant Nanyang."

"Please elaborate on the imperial tribute"

Fang Guangchen organized his words and then said, "Your Highness, the land of Jiangnan is now occupied by Meng Jun, and there are people like Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo in Yunnan and Guizhou. As for the land of Huguang, a war is imminent, and both sides regard it as a place that must be fought for. These places are all out of reach."

Seeing Wu Sangui nodding repeatedly, Fang Guangchen raised the corner of his mouth and revealed a hint of smile, and then continued: "The Guanzhong area is no longer as prosperous as it was during the Sui and Tang dynasties. The natural disasters over the years, coupled with the repeated abuses of bandits and soldiers during the Chongzhen period, make it difficult to support the army in such a devastated place. Therefore, Shaanxi cannot be taken.

As for Henan, it is similarly dilapidated and cannot support an army. Moreover, it is located in the Central Plains, a place surrounded by wars. Anyone without a base will be doomed if they enter. There are Jiang Xiang in Shanxi, and they will fight each other if they enter. Shandong has no strategic location to defend, and Hebei is even more impossible because it is too close to the border areas.

At the end, Fang Guangchen bowed and said, "Your Highness, in the world today, only the two prefectures of Nanyang and Xiangyang can be used as a foundation. In the distant past, Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty used Nanyang as his base to sweep across the world and crush all the heroes. In the recent past, Li Zicheng captured Xiangyang and changed Xiangcheng to Xiangjing. When his army marched out, the whole world bowed down to him. Moreover, Your Highness is now very close to them. This is truly a foundation given by God for Your Highness to accomplish great things!"

Fang Guangchen was so excited that he danced with joy. He then encouraged, "If Your Majesty takes over Nanyang Prefecture, great achievements can be expected. Nanyang is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with Funiushan in the north, Dabashan and Wudangshan in the west, and Tongbaishan and Dabieshan in the east. In addition, there is the Han River in the south of Nanyang, which is enough to defend the vast Nanyang Basin and conserve strength. When there is a change in the world, you can go through Fangcheng and enter the Central Plains, or go south to Huguang, or go west to Bashu and Guanzhong. This place is really perfect for Your Majesty."

Wu Sangui was overwhelmed by these words, but after hearing the rest, he became a little suspicious and asked, "Does Tingxian want me to seize Xiangyang? If so, won't Prince Yu turn around and attack me?"

"No, no, no, how could I be so unwise? As long as Prince Yu is not defeated, the prince is still a meritorious official who helped the Qing Dynasty enter the Pass. He is loyal and will never have second thoughts."

Wu Sangui asked again: "If this is the case, what should I do? You should know that the regent's order is to lead my troops to Huguang and obey the orders of Prince Yu."

Fang Guangchen calmed down a bit and said, "Your Highness, the outcome is still undecided, so you should obey the orders of the court. If the court orders you to send troops to Huguang, then go to Huguang. If the court orders you to obey Prince Yu's orders, then obey them. But you should hold back a third of your strength in every battle and preserve your strength until the situation changes!"

Wu Sangui suppressed his excited hands, turned back to the table, took a gulp of water, and thought to himself, "Yes, what Tingxian said can only be realized under the best circumstances."

Thinking of this, Wu Sangui turned back and sighed, saying: "Tingxian, what if Meng Jun, Zhu Chenggong, and Li Dingguo are like the Hongguang Dynasty when Prince Yu went south, and they are easily defeated at the first touch?"

Fang Guangchen was stunned by this, and after a while he said, "Your Highness, Meng Jun was able to defeat Bolo and kill Lekedehun, so it wouldn't be that bad. But if Prince Yu won a great victory..."

Fang Guangchen shook his head unconsciously twice when he said this, and then continued: "The prince is still a key contributor to the Qing Dynasty's entry into the Pass. Whatever the court asks the prince to do, he can only..."

As they were talking, they heard footsteps outside the tent. The two men immediately kept silent. After a moment, the tent was opened and a guard said to Wu Sangui, "Your Highness, Prince Su has sent someone here."

Wu Sangui and Fang Guangchen looked at each other and then said, "Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty"

After a while, an Eight Banners soldier in armor came in. He looked a little arrogant, but he still bowed to Wu Sangui and said, "Greetings, Prince Pingxi. I am Yi Chengge, the Jiala Zhangjing under Prince Su."

Wu Sangui was at least the Prince of Pingxi officially canonized by the Qing court. Naturally, he did not flatter a small Jiala Zhangjing. Wu Sangui just replied with an unchanged expression: "Well, Prince Su sent you to see me, what is the matter?"

Yi Chengge was indignant at Wu Sangui's indifference to him, and thought to himself, if Prince Su ascended the throne, how dare you, Wu Sangui, look down on him so much.

Yi Chengge said in a cold tone: "Prince Su ordered me to come here to ask Prince Pingxi's troops to go to Wuchang as soon as possible. The Meng thieves have already made a move, and the war is about to begin. If you don't arrive within ten days, you will be punished for being late."

After saying this, without waiting for Wu Sangui to say anything else, he just bowed casually, then turned around and left the tent. He didn't even want to rest in the army for half a day, and left at lightning speed with a group of Goshaha.

Inside Wu Sangui’s central army camp.

Fang Guangchen whispered to Wu Sangui: "Ten days, Your Majesty, if that is the case, the army must set out today and cannot delay any longer."

Wu Sangui sneered and said, "Then go south, Prince Su. Haha, let's see what Prince Yu will do when he arrives in Wuchang!"