"The massive rebellion of Bai Lian Jiao has been spreading all over Ming!"
In the majestic palace hall of the Forbidden City, Zhu Di glared at the kowtowing reporter. His brows creased in displeasure. "Bai Lian Jiao has become a forbidden sect and its strength is so weak, how can you say it launches a rebellion that stirs the whole country?!"
"This rebellion is so massive, and it also spreads quickly. First, they killed the Supreme Commander of Qingzhou, then took over Yingzhou. There the officials and landlords were also murdered. They can get lots of followers very rapidly, according to them, they possess twenty thousand soldiers!"
"So many soldiers? How come?!"
"A group of peasants. This is the rebellion of peasants who are poor and hungry, and think that the government oppress them..."
"Huh, just a group of peasants, the grassroots who know nothing yet are arrogant!"
"Sire, you will get even more shocked with this news: The leader of this rebellion is a young woman. Rumor said that she is only in early twenties!"
"A young woman?!" In a flash, Zhu Di felt his anger rise to the crown. A young woman could lead lots of soldiers, even killed prominent officials of two cities?! He felt humiliated. How could he let a young woman beat him?! Where was his pride as the Emperor of the Great Ming?!
He hit the table. "Send the central army! Liu Sheng and Liu Chong, lead a hundred thousand soldiers and head straightly to Shandong, right now!"
As for Liu Sheng and Liu Chong assigned by Zhu Di, although they were senior generals, they had a big weakness - they underestimated the enemy. Learning that the rebel leader was young soon made them smile disparagingly, moreover when they learned that the leader was a woman. They immediately burst out laughing.
"We will fight against young woman?! Hahaha, how funny! Instead of fighting, Ming soldiers will get much pleasure and have fun!"
They underestimated the enemy too much, since women became the oppressed gender in the early era of the Ming Dynasty. They assumed that women were merely a bunch of stupid creatures and could do nothing except from giving pleasures for men. Women were empty-headed, then how come they had the ability to fight? Thence, the soldiers were all relaxed and at ease in facing this rebellion.
This was indeed what the enemy took advantage of.
The recent Bai Lian Jiao rebellion was led by Tang Sai'er. In 1420, a massive rebellion of Bai Lian Jiao led by Tang Sai'er marked as a historical moment. This rebellion was triggered by both direct and indirect causes. The indirect cause was the long-suffering the endured by Shandong people. Those poor people were very angry with the government, but did not know how to vent it. While the direct cause was Tang Sai'er's anger over the death of her husband, Lin San.
Tang Sai'er claimed that she got a magic sword that could summon the Heavenly Gods come to Earth to help her. She also mentioned that she possessed Bai Lian Jiao's magical book so that she knew every kind of magic to be used in war, including the magic to create mighty warriors from paper. The "sacred items", according to her, were found when she returned from her pilgrimage for Lin San's grave. By using them as evidences, shen then created herself as a "Female Buddha", announced that she was sent by Heaven to destroy the tyrannical government. Her army was called Bai Lian Army. Whether it was true or not, we would never know. Nevertheless, since the 15th century was so different from modern times, all Ming people believed in magic and supernatural powers, the myth soon got believed easily. Moreover, Tang Sai'er had physical evidence to make the people believe her - she was very skillful at fighting, and was very diligent in mantra chanting so that she memorized every Buddhist parittas by heart. As a result, everyone immediately believed in her. Tang Sai'er was also a persistent woman. She went secretly to many cities such as Yidu, Zhucheng, Anzhou, Yingzhou, Jimo, and Shouguang to gather soldiers. These cities were also filled with forlorn people. Poor people numbered far more than well-off people. Tang Sai'er quickly gained lots of followers. In an instant, her followers numbered more than twenty thousand people. Tang Sai'er was also an excellent strategist. Instead of choosing a city as the base for her rebellion, she preferred choosing a mountain. The mountain was seven or eight hundred high or more, also difficult to be attacked because it was surrounded by many rivers, forests, and ravines. One more information, it stood in the middle point between Yingzhou, Shouguang, Anqiu, and other cities, becoming a very strategic location. Thus, this mountain, which was hereinafter known as Tang Sai'er Mountain, became the main base for Bai Lian Army against the Ming government.
Tang Sai'er knew at once that the enemy underestimated her because she was a young woman. The Ming soldiers seemed lazy and even preferred to have fun. Watching from the top of the mountain, Tang Sai'er smiled with satisfaction.
"We'll be able to crush them easily," She said in confidence.
Tang Sai'er promptly made her words come true. The over-relaxed Liu Sheng and Liu Chong could be easily crushed. She led Bai Lian army in the late evening towards the Ming army's camp, and only in a swoop, she managed to kill Liu Chong.
Zhu Di was furious as he heard the progress of this war.
"How can a little girl be that powerful?!" He slammed the letter he had just read before onto the ground. It was the umpteenth time letter sent to the palace calling for panic over Tang Sai'er's attack as they managed to seizs the food supply from the barn.
At that time Xiang Yugong happened to be in there. He suddenly thought of something. "Well then, Sire. This case is very strange. How can a young woman be that powerful, especially her troops only consist of skinny peasants who are malnourished and totally inexperienced in war? If it is arranged by commoners, the impact won't be such terrible."
Zhu Di soon became interested. "What do you mean by that?"
"I don't believe that it is purely a popular uprising. I would rather believe that there is a greater power behind it."
"What do you mean by that?!?"
"Behind all of these, there must be a power that comes from the influential ones. Other countries, or traitorous military officers or generals... or maybe the royalty."
Zhu Di nodded his head. "Then... it doesn't sound strange anymore. It makes sense. But, who have utilized the peasants? Who is the mastermind behind all of these?"
"Let me find it out, Sire!"
Zhu Di immediately gave his consent. "Alright! But you must be quick. Otherwise, this rebellion will grow bigger and harder to contain."
"I obey your orders!"
Xiang Yugong immediately spread his intelligence net all around. To the Northern Yuan, which was in frequent conflict with Ming, as well as to the countries in the west, south, and east. Besides, he also sent people to the residences of the officials. And to Fan Wang Guos as well.
But it was a shame, Xiang Yugong did not get what he was looking for.
"However, I have a guess." In response to Zhu Di's annoyed expression, Xiang Yugong said, "I heard that, twenty years ago Zhou Wang recruited a large number of Bai Lian Jiao members. He clearly knew that they were the members of Bai Lian Jiao, but he still recruited them anyway. He said, it was because they were no longer members of Bai Lian Jiao and have pledged allegiance to the government. And more, he also recruited the people from dark cults. He even opened the recruitment publicly. The reason was, to get much more experts to help him complete Jiuhuang Bencao. But, perhaps he has another hidden agenda?..."
As Zhu Su's name being mentioned, Zhu Di felt his heart skipped a beat. "Su?... He is the mastermind of this rebellion?..."
Finally. Because of Tang Sai'er's rebellion which had completely nothing to do with Zhu Su, Zhu Di's long-forgotten suspicion of his full blood brother resurfaced. It is all a game of fate, somehow. No matter how hard we try to dodge it, if it becomes our fate, we will still be trapped in it. Zhu Su did not know Tang Sai'er, and Tang Sai'er did not know Zhu Su, either. Both of them came from two worlds whose conditions were totally different from each other, moreover, their dwelling cities were also separated for hundreds of kilometers, how could they get to know each other? Just because Xiang Yugong's suspicion sounded reasonable to Zhu Di, then his paranoid towards his younger brother soon got incited.
"Su. He always becomes a burden. Hui has been eliminated, Quan also turns silent, but now Su dares to make trouble?! However... the San Hu Wei he possesses is so massive, and they are very skilled in the military as well... so, it is he who teaches the peasants how to fight... okay, okay... the more I think, the more reasonable it is... Su must be the mastermind behind all this!"
"I will go to investigate Zhou Wang!"
Zhu Di nodded. "Alright. And get proof of Su's involvement in this treason, asap!"
Thence. After twenty years of serenity, the disaster came back to haunt Zhu Su.