Chapter 284 Zeng Ying is captured
Zeng Ying is now the Governor of Sichuan. He called his subordinates, Li Zhanchun and Yu Dahai.
The three of them were discussing what to do in the Governor's Mansion. Yu Dahai said, "Sir! Just surrender! The prince and his men are quite lenient. You also made contributions to the conquest of Sichuan."
"Sir, whether we fight or surrender, I am an official of the court and I will obey the court's orders in everything," Li Zhanchun stated.
Zeng Ying was very depressed. One wanted to surrender, and the other was a shrewd old man. Would he listen to the court? The court was now in hiding, and they still had no idea what to do.
"You two are very tired. Go down and have a rest, and then go to the military camp to take a look." Zeng Ying said.
"Sir! You should think about it again!" Yu Dahai said.
Zeng Ying nodded and said, "Thank you, Lord Yu. I will consider it!"
After seeing them off, he sat alone in the study of the Governor's Mansion, which he had captured from the White Spear Army.
When he received the imperial edict from Nanjing, he simply sent troops to garrison the Shu Palace. The Shu Palace was Ma Wanchun's Sichuan Palace. Ma Wanchun was busy with the Northern Expedition and didn't live in the palace for long. Therefore, the palace was not heavily guarded. When Zeng Ying's troops arrived, they quickly fell into his hands, and the palace naturally became the Governor-General's Palace.
He, Empress Dowager Zhou, and the Donglin Party all believed that Zhao Xiaofei was doomed this time. Therefore, occupying the palace was also a way to show his attitude to the court.
Zeng Ying's appointment as governor-general also meant decentralization of power. Whose power was being divided? It was the power of Ma Wanchun, the Prince of Sichuan, who served as a check and balance.
Ma Wanchun and Zhao Xiaofei were too close, and he commanded a hundred thousand White Spear Army soldiers. The court could use him now, so he held considerable power. Once peace was restored, power would be reclaimed. Especially since Ma Wanchun was a king of a different surname, he was a grave threat to the court.
Anyone can surrender, but Zeng Ying is the only one who absolutely cannot surrender.
Li Zhanchun said he obeyed the imperial court because he was afraid of being labeled a traitor. He was afraid that someone would come after him one day and bring up this matter, which would be embarrassing.
Zeng Ying thought about it, feeling restless. His wife, Liu, came to his side and said, "Master, everyone in the world longs for peace and a successful Northern Expedition. Now that we're fighting among our own people, the only ones who are happy are the traitors Li and Jianlu. Aren't you afraid of being cursed for eternity? Surrender! At worst, I'll die with you!"
Zeng Ying's face twitched. He hadn't expected his wife to surrender. He smiled bitterly and said, "Surrender? Why? If I surrender, I'll have no place to bury my body!"
"If you insist on going your own way, I will accompany you! But you have to think about Dong'er in our family. He is only five years old. If you surrender now, maybe you can not only save the child, but if the prince is happy, he may release you too?" said Liu.
"Will you accompany me? Your husband believes you can do it! But what will happen to Dong'er if you leave? I've made up my mind. You take Dong'er with you!" Zeng Ying said.
"No! Even if we die, we will die together. Let Ping'er take care of Dong'er. After all, she gave birth to a child for you. Although it's a daughter, she is still loyal to us. She was with us when we were the poorest and never left us. Let her take Dong'er back to her hometown. I believe she can take good care of Dong'er." Liu said.
Zeng Ying shook his head and said, "The White Spear Army will be here soon. Change your clothes and go with Ping'er! I'll be waiting here for the imperial court's order!"
"Husband, let's take the children home together! Let's go back to our hometown, or go to a place where no one knows us. I heard that the prince is kind and generous, he won't kill us all!" said Liu.
"Go away! I've thought it through. It's too late for me to turn back now. I'm the chicken that the prince wants to use to establish his authority. If he doesn't kill me, how can he subdue the other little owls?" Zeng Ying said.
At this time, a dark figure walked out from the darkness of the room and said softly, "Master Zeng, it's not too late to surrender now!"
"Who?" Zeng Ying immediately took the sword from the wall, but before he could pull it out, Zeng Ying felt his hand go empty and the sword flew away.
Then a sword was placed on his neck, and Liu said anxiously, "Lady, please show mercy! I am willing to exchange my life for another's. Please don't harm my husband's life!"
When Zeng Ying heard his wife's words, he was so moved that tears almost fell.
"Mrs. Zeng's infatuation is admirable, but I don't want Lord Zeng's life. He is more valuable alive than dead!" said the woman in black.
"What exactly are you going to do?" Zeng Ying asked after calming down.
"It's simple. I hope you will stop and welcome the prince's army into the city!" said the woman in black.
"You are rebelling!" Zeng Ying said sternly.
"Rebellion? What a big accusation! You caused so many people to die in this meaningless civil war, you are a sinner for all eternity! Wouldn't it be better to use these people to go to the Northern Expedition? Large areas of our beautiful land are still in the hands of the traitor Li and the Jianlu, while Lord Zeng is busy with the civil war here. What is the difference between you and Zuo Liangyu?" said the woman in black.
Zeng Ying was speechless after hearing this. Seeing Zeng Ying remained silent, the woman in black continued, "Without the prince, the world would have long since fallen into the hands of the thief Li, or even the Jianlu! Master Zeng, if you surrender, I will guarantee your safety in front of the prince!"
"Who are you? What is your identity? Can your words determine everything?" Zeng Ying asked.
"My young lady is the prince's new concubine!" At this time, another woman in black walked out from the dark.
"What? The prince is really a strange man, he wants all kinds of women!" Zeng Ying muttered in a low voice.
After hearing this, Liu suddenly said, "We surrender. We only hope that the heroine can say a few good words to the prince to keep our master safe. Even if we cannot save him, please, His Majesty, remember that our master had made great contributions in besieging the thief Zhang and leave a descendant for the Zeng family!" After saying this, she went into the house to get the seal.
Zeng Ying saw his wife go into the house to get the seal and wanted to stop her, but the woman in black held out her sword, stopping him from saying anything. Instead, she said to him, "Master Zeng, write a warrant!"
Zeng Ying knew what they wanted her to write, so she had no choice but to write down the eight words "lay down your weapons and welcome the king's army."
After a while, Liu took out the seal and stamped it on the paper.
"Thank you, Lord Zeng! Please come with us!" said the woman in black.
At midnight, three fireworks rose into the sky. Zhao Xiaofei and Ma Wanchun looked at the four gates of Chengdu City, all wide open, and smiled at each other. Ma Wanchun said, "Let's go! I'll treat you to a few drinks at the palace! Go!" With that, he rode away. The White Spear Army then entered the city.
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