Chapter One Hundred Fifteen: Discussing Lu Chuan, Part Six

Chapter 115: Discussing Luchuan VI

Yang Rong observed the sky and remarked, "Calculate the time—Mu Ang must have reached Yunnan by now. As long as the Mu family has a backbone, Yunnan will not fall into chaos immediately. We still have time."

Yang Rong then retrieved the roster of the southern garrisons from the bookshelf behind him. He examined the service records of every garrison officer, evaluating their combat experience from their resumes, and then, based on the reports previously submitted by the censors, estimated their administrative and military management capabilities. He strove to assemble an army of over one hundred thousand for the expedition against Luchuan without mobilizing the border troops or the capital battalions.

Seeing this, Wang Ji knew it would be another sleepless night. He had no choice but to keep him company. After all, the service records of these imperial garrison officers were top-secret, inaccessible to ordinary people. By tomorrow morning, the imperial audience would take place, and a framework had to be established before then.

Yang Rong’s estimation of Mu Ang was correct. From Beijing to Kunming, Mu Ang had arrived in mere days. He had run a dozen horses to death along the way, to the point that even his personal guards had to be replaced mid-journey. Even so, when Mu Ang arrived in Kunming, he was physically hollowed out, accompanied by only two or three guards, with the rest having fallen behind.

Looking at the Duke of Qian’s mansion, draped in white mourning cloth, Mu Ang dismounted. Yet, due to his long days in the saddle, he was unable to stand and collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

"Third Master!" The Mu family servants rushed to assist him.

Mu Ang was the third-born. Mu Ying had four sons: the eldest died young, the second was Mu Sheng, the third was Mu Ang, and the fourth was the husband of Princess Changning, who had long been stationed in Nanjing.

Mu Ang’s voice was hoarse as he asked, "Second Brother?"

"The Master is still in the mourning hall," a servant replied.

Without another word, Mu Ang strode into the hall, seeing the room filled with white. When Mu Sheng’s wife saw Mu Ang, she felt a wave of relief. "Third Uncle," she said.

Mu Ang knelt slowly before Mu Sheng’s spirit tablet. "Sister-in-law, rest assured. With me here, the Si family will not be allowed to act with impunity."

With Mu Ang present, the Mu family finally had a leader. Everyone in the household felt a sense of stability. Mu Ang immediately gathered the military officers, produced the imperial edict, and declared, "By imperial decree, I have been appointed as the commander of the Yunnan Regional Military Commission and General Pacifying the Barbarians. Now, tell me, what is the situation? Why did my brother commit suicide? To what extent has the situation in Yunnan collapsed?"

Mu Ang had been serving in the Chief Military Commission, holding military power, and had spent time in Yunnan in his youth; he understood the situation there well. Yet, he could not fathom why Mu Sheng would take his own life. The imperial court had always treated the Mu family with great leniency. One only had to look at Mu Ying’s three sons to see that: Mu Sheng succeeded Mu Chun to hold Yunnan, Mu Ang was in Beijing, and another was stationed in Nanjing—all held significant military power and were placed in key strategic locations.

"Third Master," an officer replied, "after Fang Zheng’s defeat, everything west of the Nu River is no longer ours. Even before the Second Master’s orders could be issued, local chieftains began to retreat. It appears they are secretly colluding with the Si rebels. Today, at the Second Master’s funeral, many chieftains were shifty-eyed; it seems they have already begun playing both sides."

"The imperial court must launch a major campaign. The prestige of the court in Yunnan cannot afford another defeat."

Mu Ang was shocked. "How could it come to this?"

The Mu family had always been skilled at managing the chieftains; their influence among them was the very capital of the Mu family. Even the last Duke of Qian, Mu Tianbo, used this influence to rally many chieftains to the side of the Yongli Emperor. This cultivation of power had begun with Mu Ying, who had promoted large-scale land reclamation in Yunnan, bringing advanced agricultural techniques from the Central Plains. This not only increased the Han population in Yunnan but also significantly improved agricultural productivity for many ethnic minorities. Even today, a significant portion of the ancestors of modern Yunnan’s Han population migrated there during the early Ming.

Generally speaking, the Mu family had been benefactors to most of the Yunnan chieftains. However, two generations of kindness were not enough to make these chieftains choose a side between the Si family and the imperial court, especially those living near the Si family’s territory. To these chieftains, the Si family was too close, and the Great Ming was too far. Once they openly supported the Ming, they would immediately face the wrath of the Si family. Aside from a few chieftains in eastern Yunnan, most dared not take a stand.

Mu Ang felt a headache brewing. The chieftains of Yunnan and Guizhou were everywhere, countless in number. Now that most of the chieftains in southern and western Yunnan were neutral or leaning toward Luchuan, the number of defensive fronts the Ming army had to cover had increased drastically. Although he knew many of these chieftains were merely playing along with Luchuan, in war, one cannot afford to gamble.

Mu Ang immediately understood Mu Sheng’s state of mind. Mu Sheng was not a man of peerless talent like Mu Ying, but he was a diligent general. He had not been idle in managing Yunnan, working bit by bit to solidify the foundation—the most important of which was maintaining the loyalty of these chieftains to the court. Now, two generations of the Mu family’s efforts had been destroyed in an instant. Mu Sheng perhaps did not fear punishment, but he could not face himself. Especially since the Si family of Luchuan had been defeated by Mu Ying, and Si Renfa had even been a subordinate under Mu Sheng’s command in his youth.

Mu Ang took a deep breath. "How many troops are needed to conquer Luchuan?"

"Twelve thousand. At least twelve thousand," the Mu family advisors said after some deliberation.

Mu Ang ordered, "Draft a petition to the imperial court immediately on my behalf, requesting twelve thousand troops."

"Yes," the subordinates hurried to comply.

"Report!" A servant entered from outside. "The gatekeeper says that someone from the Si family has arrived."

An old man with a long beard beside Mu Ang immediately asked, "Which Si family?" In Yunnan, there was only one famous Si family.

"The Luchuan Si family," the servant replied.

Mu Ang was furious. "How bold! They dare to come here?" A murderous intent surged in his heart, but he suppressed it. The big picture was paramount; the Ming’s current strength in Yunnan was insufficient to defeat Luchuan. Of course, it would also be difficult for Luchuan to invade the Han heartlands. After all, attacking and defending were different matters. Attacking Luchuan meant navigating treacherous terrain, as the Nu River region remained a natural barrier even in later eras. But once they entered the interior of Yunnan, even with the current, somewhat insufficient garrison, the outcome remained uncertain.

Mu Ang met the Si family envoy in a side hall. The envoy did not look like a local tribesman; he possessed a scholar’s air, looking more like a Han Chinese.

Mu Ang sneered, "What did Si Renfa send you here for?"

The Luchuan envoy replied respectfully, "Having heard of the Duke of Qian’s passing, my master is filled with great sorrow and has specially sent me to offer condolences and express his grief."

Mu Ang’s eyes narrowed. His inner rage grew, but this only made him calmer. He said coldly, "I accept the sentiment, but your master did not come merely for this, did he?"

"Third Master is brilliant," the envoy said with a light touch of flattery. "My master sent me to offer tribute to the imperial court. Luchuan has never forgotten its sincere devotion to the court. There have been many misunderstandings, leading to armed conflict, which was truly regrettable. My master is willing to return the bodies of General Fang and his soldiers—over a thousand in total—and offer tribute to the court. If Luchuan and the court can reconcile and Yunnan returns to stability, would that not be a great thing?"

The envoy presented the gift list. Mu Ang glanced at it—white elephants, ivory, gold, jade, and more—worth at least tens of thousands of taels. It was clear the Si family had spared no expense.

Mu Ang sneered, "A grand gesture indeed."

Luchuan had clashed with the Ming, and Si Renfa was a clear-headed man who understood the disparity in strength. To him, the war had reached a point of convenience. He could now safely consolidate the lands he had occupied over the past few years; only after fully digesting these areas would he have the strength to launch another war.

Mu Ang could naturally guess Si Renfa’s psychology. He wanted to kill the envoy right there in the hall, but he could not. This was not a decision he could make; such power resided in Beijing. No matter how dissatisfied he was, he could only say, "I will report this matter to the imperial court. You may wait for the response."

The envoy said, "Many thanks, Third Master. Naturally, the Mu family—"

"That will be all," Mu Ang interrupted. "Tell Si: whatever I, the Third Mu, want, I will come and take for myself."