Under the pretext of suppressing bandits, Hou Ming began to recruit soldiers on a large scale in Yunnan, and a lot of military funds were extorted from local elders, gentry, wealthy businessmen and nobles through coercion and inducement.

At the same time, according to Yan Sikong's instructions, tens of thousands of people living under Yazui Mountain were forcibly relocated. Although the people were harassed by bandits all year round, the land was their life and the only thing they relied on for survival. Especially in the spring when it was the sowing season, few people were willing to obey. But no matter how they resisted and begged, they were eventually forced to leave with their families under the threat of swords.

Yan Sikong stood on the city wall of Zhongqing and looked at the long migration team. He couldn't help but think of the time when the imperial court abandoned the seven states of Liaoning and he was forced to migrate south from Taining with his family. It was such a sad time and it was also the beginning of the tragedy of his life.

Ants, ants, their lives are as worthless as grass.

In just a dozen days, more than 20,000 new soldiers were recruited. Yan Sikong, through Chen Yi, placed Yuan Nanyu in the camp to train the new soldiers. Yuan Nanyu used to be just a gangster and could not lead troops in battle, but after following Feng Ye for three years, he learned a lot of skills and could already stand on his own. Of course, the biggest intention of Yan Sikong's move was to gradually replace the people around Chen Yi with his own. When he found an opportunity, he would quietly transfer Qian Feitong and Hou Ming away or simply get rid of them, so that Chen Yi would eventually have to rely on himself.

The main reason for the rapid speed of conscription was that Yunnan was poor. Many people who could not get enough food or made a living by stealing and looting were willing to join the army as long as they had enough food. However, such people came and went quickly and could easily become deserters. Under the instructions of Yan Sikong, Yuan Nanyu killed nearly a hundred people in just a few days. Anyone who joined the army and left the camp without permission or refused to be trained was killed. This soon shocked the conscripted soldiers.

More than 6,000 sky lanterns that were secretly made were ready. Yan Sikong observed the celestial phenomena for several days and finally chose a clear day with a south wind. He deployed soldiers on various passages at the foot of Yazui Mountain, and then lit the sky lanterns one by one and released them into the sky.

That night was perhaps the most spectacular and unforgettable night that the people of Zhongqing had ever witnessed. Countless sky lanterns rose up with the wind and drifted towards Yazui Mountain along the southerly wind. The dark sky at dusk was illuminated like daylight. The sky lanterns were like flying fireflies or flints falling from the sky, falling into the depths of Yazui Mountain in pieces.

Before long, fires broke out in various places on the mountain. At first, there were only scattered flames, but eventually the fire grew larger and larger, until it became one, and the entire mountain was engulfed in a horrible sea of ​​fire.

Du Zhangman would never have dreamed that they, who had relied on favorable conditions and geographical conditions to become the kings of the mountains and dominated the country for two dynasties, would be wiped out in this way.

There is a less detailed description of this battle - let's call it a "battle" - in the history books: Lanterns fell from the sky like rain, and a fire burned on Yazui Mountain for three days and three nights, and the Duzhang Man tribe disappeared from then on.

And these few words are not enough to describe even a fraction of the horror that occurred during those three days and three nights.

More than 20,000 members of the Duzhan barbarian tribe were burned to death in the fire. Some of them escaped down the mountain but were killed on the spot by the soldiers who were surrounded at the foot of the mountain. The fire not only burned down Yazui Mountain, but also set fire to the houses and fields of the people at the foot of the mountain. After the fire was over, Hou Ming personally led his troops up the mountain to search for the remaining barbarians according to Chen Yi's instructions - chase, kill, and exterminate them.

It is said that on the night when the wildfire raged, the howling of the Duzhang barbarians pierced the sky. The people in Zhongqing City were afraid to fall asleep in the middle of the night, and the young children cried incessantly.

Standing on the city wall and watching the night fire, Yan Sikong asked Yuan Nanyu beside him expressionlessly: "Do you know how many people will be burned to death by this fire?"

Yuan Nanyu had mixed feelings in his heart, and he didn't know how to respond after hearing this.

Yan Sikong muttered to himself, "Zhuge Kongming set four big fires in his life. He set fire to Bowangpo to save Liu Bei, set fire to Chibi to unite Wu and fight Cao, and set fire to the rattan armor soldiers to conquer Yunnan. Millions of souls died under Kongming's fires. But when he set fire to Sima Yi for the last time, a heavy rain fell from the sky, which extinguished his ambition to march north. He said that the fire attack was too cruel and would be punished by heaven. Do you think that rain was heaven's will?"

Yuan Nanyu took a deep breath. The coldness in Yan Sikong's tone made his chest feel uncomfortable. Looking at the blazing Yazui Mountain and thinking about the people struggling and dying on the mountain, who could remain calm?

Yan Sikong obviously didn't need Yuan Nanyu to answer. He continued, "I used fire to wipe out an entire clan today. If there is a punishment from heaven..." He smiled bitterly, "Just take away my life, but don't let what I want to do fail."

Yuan Nanyu said quickly: "When marching to war, there will inevitably be casualties. You are a barbarian who has brutally harmed the people and committed many evil deeds. You deserve to die. You don't have to worry about the punishment of heaven. You are... acting on behalf of heaven."

Yan Sikong smiled faintly: "Wolves eat sheep, sheep eat grass. Killing wolves is to get rid of harm to sheep, killing sheep is to get rid of harm to grass. There is no such thing as acting on behalf of heaven in this world. It's just defending one's own morality."

"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 him in the future, but he still felt a little sad, "Don't look at it anymore, go back and rest."

Yan Sikong nodded: "Let the soldiers go out in force to hunt down the fish that have escaped the net. We must eradicate the roots and put an end to the trouble forever."

"yes."

——

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

The Duzhang barbarians were exterminated, and the mountain bandits in Yunnan saw the court's determination and ruthless means to suppress the bandits. They were panic-stricken for a while, and dared not come out to cause trouble, so they became much more honest.

Qian Feitong dispatched several envoys to call for peace, and immediately sent troops to collect payment from those who refused to comply, leaving no one alive. As a result, most of the bandits complied with the appeasement, and the bandit problem that had plagued Yunnan for a hundred years was resolved in such a quick and decisive way.

The soldiers recruited from the common people and the bandits incorporated into the army more than doubled the strength of Chen Yu's troops to more than 50,000 people, just as Yan Sikong had promised him that day.

Chen Yu was convinced by Yan Sikong's strategy and shocked by his ruthlessness. He became more respectful in his words and deeds and did not dare to overstep the line. In order to stop him from having any thoughts about him, Yan Sikong also became much more serious than before, so the two of them lived in peace for a while.

Coincidentally, news came from the Northwest that the Wolf King had conquered Datong. Since then, the entire Northwest has fallen under Feng Ye's control.

However, not everything went smoothly for Feng Ye. The Feng family had been stationed in Datong for nearly 30 years, killing countless Mongols and having old grudges with various tribes. For example, Nada Khan, the leader of the Chahar tribe who was the key to opening up trade, and his uncles and brothers all died at the hands of Feng's army. They also accepted benefits from the imperial court and refused to submit to Feng Ye. They also chopped off the head of the envoy sent by Feng Ye to negotiate peace.

If Chahar refused to cooperate, Fengye would be holding the Hetao area, which would be like holding a gold mountain but being unable to dig. What was more serious was that as long as Chahar did not surrender, Fengye would not dare to march into the Central Plains. Otherwise, if a fire broke out in the rear of Datong, he would have no way to retreat.

When Yan Sikong heard the news, he was also worried about Feng Ye, but distant water cannot put out a nearby fire. He only hoped that Feng Ye could conquer Chahar as soon as possible. With Feng Ye's ability, it should be a matter of time.

Feng Ye also followed the agreement between the two and declared that he would support the King of Chu to take back his legitimate position as the crown prince, purge the emperor's followers, eradicate the treacherous and evil, and restore order.

Now that the chess game has been initially decided, Yan Sikong and Chen Yi are stepping up their preparations for troops, food and wages, as well as the surrounding vassal kings. At this time, Chen Yi has 50,000 troops under his command, and he no longer uses the name of suppressing bandits to cover up the fact of conscription - he can no longer cover it up, and he openly embarks on a rebellion, frantically recruiting troops, conspirators, and money. As the eldest prince, he has the service of a fiefdom, and is more popular than Chen Chun, who has the support of the eunuch party. There is no shortage of people who actively respond, and the army is expanding at an alarming rate.

The news of the King of Chu's rebellion spread throughout the country. The court was in turmoil due to internal and external troubles.

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

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

The letter only said: "Your business has been completed, please return as soon as possible." There was nothing else to say.

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

"The King of Chu has many soldiers around him. He has a large army at his disposal, so he doesn't necessarily need us to be there."

"That's why I can't leave." Yan Sikong looked at Yuan Nanyu, "I placed you in the army to weaken Hou Ming. Sooner or later, I will get rid of this man and make him 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 control the King of Chu, and use the King of Chu to control the Wolf King, and you want them to cooperate. If you offend the Wolf King, what's the use of holding all the troops 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 remained silent.

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

"...Why would I see him do that?" Yan Sikong smiled coldly. Why would he want to humiliate himself? When he was far away, he might still remember how good Feng Ye was in the past. When they were face to face, he just wanted to escape.

Yuan Nan said calmly: "You decide for yourself." He placed the secret letter on the table.

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