"The 'Counter-Classics'? Revolt... And classics?"
As an experienced rebel, Feng Yunshan, who rose to the position of the Southern King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, had never heard that there could be a rebellion with 'classics'. If he had known, he would have had to prepare three sets: one for himself, one for Hong Xiuquan, and one for Hong Zhengtian. He would have studied them thoroughly before rebelling!
"The Southern King, this is my subordinate who has taken from the old scoundrel Yuyanqing!" Zeng Tianshi smiled, "That old Yuyanqing probably feared I would kill him and also declared his intention to rebel against the Qing devils, saying he had a copy of 'Counter-Classics' in his pocket. When my people searched him, it was indeed found!"
Feng Yunshan listened in confusion but still opened the "Counter-Classics" that Zeng Tianshi had sent to him and began to read. After just a few pages, he felt that there was real knowledge in this book. So he asked, "Did you ask where he got the 'Counter-Classics'?"
"He said it was brought to him by Huang Shijie's wife, sent by Su Sanwan," Zeng Tianshi said.
"Su Sanwan? Huang Shijie's wife..." Feng Yunshan listened more and more puzzled, what was the relationship here? Su Sanwan giving Yuyanqing a copy of the "Counter-Classics" to persuade him to go over was one thing, but why did she send it through Huang Shijie's wife? Huang Shijie wasn't the leader of the scholarly community in Daozhou? What was the relationship between his wife and Yuyanqing? Romantic confidant?
"Third Lady, this 'Counter-Classics' is..." Feng Yunshan couldn't figure it out at the moment, so he turned back and asked Su Sanwan.
"The Southern King, this 'Counter-Classics' was written by Tiansheng!" Su Sanwan reported immediately, "Then it was passed on to the angels through the Heavenly Mirror. There are three volumes in total, this one is specifically for Han officials who are working for the Qing devils, also known as the 'Revolt of Han Officials'. The angels said it is specifically meant to teach Qing court Han officials how to become like Li Changhui and Wang Baojiang."
"Oh..." Feng Yunshan nodded, "So there are two more volumes?"
Su Sanwan, upon hearing this, took out a volume two and a volume one of the "Counter-Classics" from her bosom and handed them to Feng Yunshan together. She explained, "The second volume of the 'Counter-Classics' is also known as the 'Revolt of the Scholar-Gentry', which is specifically meant to teach all scholar-gentry and landlords how to learn from Li Sicai and Zhang Liangbi. The first volume of the 'Counter-Classics' is also known as the 'Revolt of the Common People', which teaches all good men to mobilize poor people who have no clothes or food to rise up in rebellion together, overthrow this dark world without daylight ruled by the Qing devils, and open up a great age of peace with equal distribution of land and wealth, where everyone has land to till, food to eat, clothes to wear, and books to read!"
"Oh, it's teaching Han officials to rebel, teaching scholar-gentry to rebel, and teaching common people to rebel... Tiansheng seems quite skilled in rebelling!"
Feng Yunshan took the other two volumes of the "Counter-Classics" from Su Sanwan, but did not immediately open them. Instead, he stored them along with the "Counter-Classics" that was seized from Yuyanqing - since these were "true classics" passed down by Tiansheng, he knew they had to be thoroughly studied.
He's been rebelling for several years now, and he always feels it's not enough. Maybe if he reads more of the "Counter-Classics," he can make his rebellion really shine.
After storing the "Counter-Classics," Feng Yunshan ordered Zeng Tianshi, "Zeng Servant, bring the cavalry and escort Yuwanqing to the outskirts of the Gaotang Town. Tell those still resisting the Qing devils that Yu's army has been captured by my Taiping Heavenly Army. Those who want to live should surrender immediately!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!" Zeng Tianshi took command of the order from Feng Yunshan and turned around to lead the disheartened Yu Wanqing, who was bound hand and foot, along with over a hundred cavalrymen, galloping towards the Gaotang Town.
Feng Yunshan then turned to Su Sanwan and smiled, "Third Lady, let's hurry and bring our troops into the Gaotang Town. Maybe we can still find some fighting to do."
"Yes!"
...
"Defeated, defeated... Huang Ziying, we have been tricked, ambushed. Inside the Gaotang Town are all male Taiping Heavenly Warriors..."
At this moment, outside the Gaotang Town, Huang Shijie, who had just cleaned up his remaining one hundred and thirty to forty men, was still undecided whether to lead them for another round of attacks to catch a few female Taiping Heavenly Warriors for some retaliation, when the captain Zhang Dingxiang of the Lingtang garrison had already led a hundred or so defeated soldiers, shouting and running towards him.
"Defeat, defeat? How is that possible..." Huang Shijie still couldn't believe it.
Zhang Dingxiang smiled bitterly and said, "Huang Ziying, would I dare to deceive you? Just listen carefully..."
Huang Shijie immediately perked up and listened, and he could hear the cries coming from the direction of Gaotang Town.
"Slay the Qing devils! Rejoin the Heavens..."
"Kill the Qing devils and protect the land and fields!"
"Headman Wu is dead..."
"The army of the Southern King has arrived!"
The shouts were not all female voices, but a mix of male and female, with Cantonese and Hunanese accents. Based on the sound, there were at least 2,000 to 3,000 people!
Huang Shijie took a deep breath, looking at Zhang Dingxiang, "Did we fall into an ambush? Then Commander Wu... Commander Wu has sacrificed his life for the country?"
"Yes!" Zhang Dingxiang nodded, "All the brothers who came out of Gaotang Town said so. And... there seems to be the Southern King of the Taiping Heavenly Army too! We better run quickly, otherwise... we will all die in Gaotang!"
"Run? Where would we go?" Huang Shijie mumbled.
"First to Shuangpai, then to Daozhou..." Zhang Dingxiang reminded, "As long as we retreat to Daozhou, with your reputation and wealth, Ziying, you should be able to gather a team of militia."
"Gather a militia?" Huang Shijie was taken aback, "Do you mean... I should learn from Jiang Minqiao?"
He said this, unconsciously reaching out to press on his chest —— in his clothes, he had tucked away a second volume of the "Counter-Classics", dedicated to teaching him how to gather a militia, how to establish a fief, and how to become a bandit chieftain who rules with an iron fist and defies imperial edicts!
It's truly the case that when the book is needed, it's tucked in one's bosom!
"Yes!" Zhang Dingxiang nodded, "Ziying, Yu Jun has always been afraid of war. After the battle of Gaotang, he will definitely not dare to defend Daozhou. The only one the governor can rely on is you... You can take advantage of this opportunity to gather a militia, even if it's just 1,000 or even 500 people. Even if you can't hold onto Daozhou in the end, the emperor will still give you the position of a county magistrate! This is faster than taking the imperial examinations or the civil service examinations and doesn't require buying a post!"
"Yes, yes, yes..." Huang Shijie's eyes lit up, but soon wilted again, "But I don't know how to lead an army or fight battles!"
Zhang Dingxiang laughed heartily, pointing at his own nose, "I will! I'll help you!"
"Okay!" Huang Shijie's eyes sparked with determination, as if he had made up his mind, and then raised his voice to loudly declare, "Gaotang Huang's troops, let's withdraw... Let's go to the Daozhou city to enjoy delicious food and drink!"
Zhang Dingxiang also waved his hand and shouted, "Brothers, let's go... Leave the smokers behind to take up the rear!"
At this moment, the advantage of not smoking opium was evident. The Green Standard Army that had been retreating with Zhang Dingxiang from Luting to Shuangpai was certainly not composed of soldiers with two guns—those with two guns are now busy with procedures for reincarnation! And Huang Shijie's militia did not smoke opium either; they were hired by Mr. Huang himself, and he wouldn't employ those who did.
These militiamen who don't smoke opium may not have the "smoke urge", but their physical fitness is excellent, able to endure long distances. And when they were originally rushing towards the Gaotang Town, they were indeed behind. It was only after they didn't get inside that Wu Shi Bin and the others fell into ambush.
Now they have the edge on the "starting line"!
...
"Wei Xiuyan, Ji Chunhua, and Zeng Jiuguime... Go and spread the word!"
Xiuyan, go and tell your mother to commit all her troops, leaving as many Qing devils in the town as possible! At the same time, hang a flag that says 'no death' for those willing to surrender. No matter who they are, give them a chance to live!"
Chunhua, ride a fast horse to see the Southern King and tell him that we can handle the Qing devils in Gaotang Town. Ask him to send troops to take the Shuangpai Pass and town quickly. Once we capture the Shuangpai town and pass, and control the road from south of Yangming Mountain, Daozhou will be within our grasp!
Jiuguime, ride a fast horse to see your grandfather and tell him not to worry about the Qing devils inside the town. We must give a good beating to the Qing devils outside the town! We should take advantage of our remaining strength to pursue the defeated enemy without worrying about ambushes. The Qing devils have no more tricks up their sleeves, no ambushes, and no reinforcements!"
On the high terrace of Huang family's mansion in Gaotang Town, after thoroughly observing the battlefield around him through the "Sky Mirror," Luo Yao Guo had already determined that his battle to establish authority had finally been won! And it was a decisive victory!
So now we need to add more troops, expand our gains, and try to win decisively in one go! Win so overwhelmingly that it numbs them!
