The Blood Crown

In the name of suppressing bandits, Hou Ming began to recruit troops in Yunnan, and the military expenditure was obtained by coercion and lure from the mouths of local elders, gentry, wealthy businessmen and nobles.

At the same time, according to Yan Sikong's order, tens of thousands of people at the foot of Yazui Mountain were forcibly relocated. Although the people have been harassed by bandits all year round, the land is their life and the only thing they depend on for survival. In this season, few people are willing to obey, but no matter how they resist and plead, they are finally forced to leave with their families under the threat of swords.

Standing on the city wall of Zhongqing, Yan Sikong watched the long migration procession, and he couldn't help but think of the year when the imperial court gave up the seven prefectures in northern Liaoning, and he was forced to move south from Taining with his family. The beginning of the tragedy.

Ant people, ants people, life is like a mustard.

In just a few days, more than 2 recruits were recruited. Yan Sikong put Yuan Nan Yu'an into the camp to train recruits through Chen Wei. But following Feng Ye's side for three years, he has learned a whole body of skills, and he can already be on his own. Of course, the biggest intention of Yan Sikong's move is to gradually replace the people around Chen Yu with his own. When he finds an opportunity, he will Transfer Qian Feitong and Hou Ming calmly or simply get rid of them, so that Chen Kui can only rely on himself in the end.

The speed of conscription is so fast. The main reason is that Yunnan is poor. Many people who do not have enough to eat, or who live by stealing and looting, are willing to join the army even after a meal. However, such people come and go quickly, and they are very easy to become deserters , Under the instigation of Yan Sikong, Yuan Nanyu killed nearly a hundred people in a few days. Anyone who joined the army and left the camp privately, or who refused to be domesticated, would be killed, which quickly shocked the recruited soldiers.

The more than 6000 sky lanterns that were secretly made were ready. Yan Sikong observed the sky for several days, and finally chose a sunny day with south wind. One by one, the sky lanterns were lit and placed in the sky.

That night was perhaps the most spectacular and unforgettable night that the people of Zhongqing had ever witnessed. Countless sky lanterns rose in the wind and floated towards Yazui Mountain along the south wind, illuminating the dark sky at dusk. Like daytime, little sky lanterns are like flying fireflies, or like flints falling from the sky, falling into the depths of Yazui Mountain in pieces.

Not long after, fires broke out everywhere on the mountain. At first, it was only scattered flames, and finally the fire became bigger and wider, until it became one piece, and the whole mountain was engulfed in a terrible sea of ​​flames.

Duzhangman would never have imagined in his wildest dreams that relying on the right time and place to dominate the mountains and run amok for two dynasties, they would be wiped out in this way.

In the history books, there is a not-so-detailed description of this battle—let's call it "war" for the time being: the sky lanterns rained down, and the Yazui Mountain fire burned for three days and three nights, and all palm barbarians have disappeared since then.

And these few words are not enough to describe the tragic situation of those three days and three nights.

More than 2 Duzhang barbarians were burned to death in the siege of the fire, and those who fled down the mountain were also killed on the spot by the soldiers besieged at the foot of the mountain. After the fire burned out, Hou Ming personally led his troops up the mountain to search for the remaining barbarians, and followed Chen Kui's instructions-drive, exterminate, kill, and exterminate.

It is said that on the night when the wildfires were raging, the howls of the Duzhang barbarians pierced the sky, and the people in Zhongqing City dared not fall asleep in the middle of the night, and the children kept crying.

Yan Sikong, who was standing on the city wall watching the mountain fire at night, asked Yuan Nanyu beside him expressionlessly, "Do you know how many people will be burned to death in this fire?"

Yuan Nanyu had mixed feelings in his heart, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but answer.

Yan Sikong muttered to himself, "Zhuge Kongming set off four fires in his life. To save Liu Bei, he burned Bowangpo, even Wu resisted Cao, set fire to Chibi, set Yunnan, set fire to Tengjia soldiers, and died under Kongming's fire." There are millions of dead souls, but when Sima Yi was finally burned, a heavy rain extinguished his ambition for the Northern Expedition. He said that the fire attack was too cruel and would be condemned by God. Isn't it God's will?"

Yuan Nanyu took a deep breath, the coldness in Yan Sikong's voice made his chest uncomfortable, looking at the raging Yazui Mountain, thinking of the dying people on the mountain, who can calm down?

Yan Sikong obviously didn't need Yuan Nanyu's answer, he continued: "Today I used a fire to destroy a whole family, if there is any punishment from God..." He smiled wryly, "Just accept my Yangshou, but don't ask me to do it It's a failure."

Yuan Nanyu said quickly: "How can there be no casualties in marching and fighting? They are all cruel and cruel to the people. They do a lot of evil, and you will die with more than one sentence. You don't have to worry about any punishment from God. You are... you are doing justice for the heavens."

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: "Wolves eat sheep, and sheep eat grass. Killing a wolf is killing the sheep, and killing a sheep is killing the grass. There is nothing in this world to do justice for the sky, but to defend oneself."

"Sikong..." Yuan Nanyu looked at Yan Sikong's empty eyes, and suddenly realized that he had never really understood this person, and he might not be able to understand this person in the future, but he still felt a little sad, "Don't look, go back and rest Bar."

Yan Sikong nodded: "Let all the soldiers go out to search for the fish that slipped through the net. We must cut the grass and root out the roots, so as to prevent future troubles."

"Yes."

-

This fire not only shook the whole of Yunnan, but also spread throughout the world.

Duzhangman was exterminated, and the bandits from all walks of life in Yunnan saw the determination and cruel methods of the imperial court to suppress the bandits.

Qian Feitong sent several envoys to Zhao'an, and those who refused to obey were immediately dispatched to pay them, leaving no one alive. In this way, nine out of ten bandits complied with the appeasement, tormenting the centuries-old banditry in Yunnan , It was solved in such a quick and messy manner.

The soldiers and horses recruited from the common people and the bandits recruited more than doubled the strength of Chen Kuang's troops to more than [-], just as Yan Sikong had promised him that day.

Chen Kui was convinced by Yan Sikong's strategic strategy, and was shocked by Yan Sikong's ruthlessness, so he became more respectful in his words and deeds, and did not dare to exceed the rules. In order to cut off his thoughts, Yan Sikong was also much more serious than before, So the two lived in peace for a while.

At just the right time, news came from the Northwest that the Wolf King had conquered Datong. Since then, the entire Northwest has been under Feng Ye's control.

However, not everything goes well for Feng Ye. The Feng family has been stationed in Datong for nearly 30 years, killing countless Mongols, and has old enemies with various tribes. Uncles and brothers all died at the hands of Feng's army, and they took advantage of the court, refused to submit to Fengye, and even beheaded the envoys sent by Fengye to negotiate peace.

If Chahar refuses to cooperate, Fengye will hold the river loop, which is tantamount to holding a golden mountain and cannot dig it. What's more serious is that if Chahar refuses to surrender, Fengye will not dare to enter the Central Plains for a day, otherwise Datong With a fire in the rear, he has no way out.

When Yan Sikong heard the news, he was also anxious for Feng Ye, but the far water could not save the near fire, he only hoped that Feng Ye could subdue Chahar as soon as possible, with Feng Ye's ability, it should be a matter of time.

As the two agreed, Feng Ye claimed that he would support the King of Chu to take back his rightful position as Crown Prince, clear the King's side, eradicate treacherous evil, and bring order out of chaos.

Now that the chess game has been initially decided, Yan Sikong and Chen Wei are stepping up preparations for soldiers, food and salaries, and to win over the surrounding vassal kings. Unable to hide it anymore, he started a great cause of rebellion, crazily absorbing soldiers, advisers, and money. As the eldest prince, he also served in the field, and he was more popular than Chen Chun, who was backed by the eunuch. Those who actively responded, the army expanded at an astonishing speed.

The news of King Chu's rebellion swept across the entire country. Under internal and external troubles, the court was already in turmoil.

At this time, more than half a year had passed since Yan Sikong bid farewell to Feng Ye and came to Chen Kui's side.

On this day, Yuan Nanyu brought Feng Ye's secret letter, asking Yan Sikong to return to Datong immediately.

The letter only said: Your work is done, return quickly.No more words.

Yan Sikong frowned and said, "Your Highness still needs us now, it's not time to go back."

"The king of Chu has many advisers, and he has a large army at this time, so we don't necessarily have to be here."

"That's why I can't leave." Yan Sikong looked at Yuan Nanyu, "I put you in the army to weaken Hou Ming, and sooner or later I will get rid of this person so that he can only rely on me .”

Yuan Nanyu pondered and said: "Sikong, you are so smart, you should understand that you want to use the wolf king to contain the king of Chu, and you also use the king of Chu to contain the wolf king, and at the same time make them cooperate. What's the use of holding all the soldiers and horses of the King of Chu in your hands? On the contrary, as long as you have the Wolf King in your hands, are you still afraid that the King of Chu will not listen to you?"

Yan Sikong was silent.

Yuan Nanyu sighed: "You don't want to go back because you don't want to see him, right?"

"...What did I see him doing?" Yan Sikong smiled coldly.Why should he humiliate himself?Even if they are far away, he may still remember Feng Ye's goodness in the past. When they face each other, he just wants to escape.

Yuan Nanyu said lightly: "You decide for yourself." He put the secret letter on the table.

Yan Sikong looked at the familiar words on the paper and closed his eyes wearily.