Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 249: Envoy for Surrender

Since Qian Biao had told the fortune, he walked with his head held high and chest puffed out. He told everyone he met that Taoist Li's fortunes were accurate and that he was a hermit. In order to live up to his status as a duke, Qian Biao also found Gu Yanwu and shamelessly asked for some books. After Qian Biao's publicity, Li Wenda's reputation in the army soared. For a time, the soldiers who came to see the great fortune teller Li lined up in long queues.

Meng Jun was also very surprised when he heard this. He didn't expect that a rough man like Qian Biao would actually look for books to read. As for Li Wendao's fortune-telling for the soldiers, Meng Jun just laughed it off. After all, it was just nice words that would benefit the morale of the army.

Li Wendao accepted all comers and, through the art of language, each one came with trepidation and left with laughter. When the army returned to Nanjing, the morale of the whole army was high and their confidence was a hundred times higher. They said one after another that they would launch a northern expedition tomorrow and reach Beijing in half a year. The morale of the army was so high that it was invincible before the rewards for the officers and soldiers were handed down!

After Lin Shiqi gathered his troops in Changlin Town, he surrounded Shangrao City. After Jin Shenghuan was defeated, the defeated soldiers scattered and rumors spread. Some said that Jin Shenghuan had been captured, some said he was killed, and some even said that Jin Shenghuan became a monk after his defeat. The defending generals repeatedly forbad him, but the rumors continued. The morale of the soldiers in Shangrao City was unstable and the people were in panic.

Lin Shiqi had just led his troops to besiege the city. The siege equipment had not yet been built and the letter of surrender had not yet been written, but the defenders of Shangrao killed Luan Yi, the Shangrao garrison commander left by Jin Shenghuan, and the city surrendered.

At the time when Shangrao City surrendered, Meng Hong, the envoy sent by Meng Jun to persuade them to surrender, had just arrived in Nanchang.

Meng Hong was a scholar who had been conceited for many years because of his talent but was not appreciated. He decided to go back to his youth and went to Suzhou to join the army with a sword in hand. The officer did not accept him, but fortunately he met Xia Wanchun, who recommended him to Meng Jun. After more than a year in the army, he did nothing. Meng Jun asked the officers and officials with him, and Meng Hong volunteered himself, saying loudly: "I am willing to help the king pacify Gan. If I fail, I am willing to die as a token of my sin!"

Meng Jun tried to comfort him in a gentle voice, and seeing his solemn and determined look, he agreed to his request. He then sent Meng Hong as an envoy and led a team of cavalry to Nanchang. Although the journey was tiring, Meng Hong did not complain despite his old age, which impressed the guards greatly.

Jin Shenghuan was defeated and retreated hastily to Nanchang with the remaining troops like a stray dog. The people in the city were in a panic. Then came the news that the defenders of Shangrao had killed their generals and surrendered. This was like a blow to Jin Shenghuan, leaving him dazed.

Under so many blows, Jin Shenghuan, who was in his prime, could not bear it and had a splitting headache. When Meng Hong arrived in Nanchang, before he could enter the city, many generals in the city had secretly communicated with him and sent him secret letters.

Meng Hong felt relieved when he saw this, and then sent someone to write a letter to Jin Shenghuan, saying: "My king knows that the general is brave, so he sent me here specially, and I am willing to discuss major plans with the general." Jin Shenghuan felt sad when he heard this.

Wang Deren said to Jin Shenghuan: "General, he is just an old scholar. It's okay to meet him and listen to what King Zhou wants to do."

Jin Shenghuan asked in confusion: "Didn't you call Meng Jun a thief at first? Why do you call him King Zhou now?"

Wang Deren looked sad and murmured, "After all, the King of Zhou was conferred by the Emperor of Shaowu in the past..."

Jin Shenghuan took a deep look at Wang Deren and sighed, "Then let's meet him. Please ask the messenger to come!"

The next day, the two men sat opposite each other in the hall. The two rows were filled with Jin army officers. Jin Shenghuan was the first to speak: "Meng Jun has no one else, so he sent an old man like you to see me."

Meng Hong smiled upon hearing this, and then spoke, "General Jin, I have long heard of your great name. Today I am honored to meet you. What you said is very true. Haven't you heard that Lian Po was old in the past, but he could still eat three bowls of rice. An old horse in the stable has a thousand miles to run. How can age be used to judge him?"

Jin Shenghuan was a little annoyed when he heard this. He waved his hand and said, "Stop talking nonsense. What did Meng Jun ask you to do?"

"My Lord Meng Jun has heard of your loyalty and righteousness, so he sent me here to discuss peace with you."

"Haha, Meng Jun is so shameless. He just won a battle. I have over 100,000 soldiers and dozens of fortified cities. The outcome is still unclear, but he still dares to persuade us to surrender. What a bullshit peace talk." Jin Shenghuan responded disdainfully.

Jin Shenghuan looked around and saw that none of the generals had said a word. He said angrily, "I have not been defeated yet. The Qing army is stationed in Jiangbei, and General Li is marching into Fujian. We are attacking from three sides. The outcome is uncertain."

Meng Hong was not discouraged and replied, "General, what you said is wrong. Haven't you heard that the quality of soldiers is more important than the number? In the battle of Nanling City, the general had hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and my king had only 50,000. He defeated them in one battle and became famous all over the world. The general was just a laughing stock. In Shangrao City, there were still 10,000 soldiers. When Lin Tongzhen arrived, he didn't fire a single arrow, didn't lose a single soldier, and entered the city safely. The people welcomed him with food and drink! As for Li Chengdong and his ilk, when my king started his army, his soldiers were weak and his generals were few, but he was still able to defeat his army in one battle. Now my king has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, what is there for these officials to fear?

After taking a breath, Meng Hong continued, "As for the Tartars, their Bolo army was defeated in Zhejiang and captured Prince Lekedehun alive. Moreover, the danger of the Yangtze River is in the hands of our king. Looking around the south, no one can be his enemy. If the general persists in his delusion, I am afraid that his family will be destroyed and many soldiers will die on the battlefield. It will be too late to regret it!"

Upon hearing this, Jin Shenghuan was furious and said, "How dare you humiliate me, you bastard? When I was fighting on the battlefield, Meng Jun was nowhere to be found. How dare you send an old man like you to humiliate me? You thief, come here, come here, take this thief out and behead him! Hang his head on the top of the city wall!"

Wang Deren hurriedly advised: "General, don't be upset. It has been said since ancient times that when two armies are at war, they do not kill the messengers. He is just old and weak. Don't be upset, don't be upset!"

The Jin army generals nearby tried to dissuade him, and then Zhang Yingwei said, "Messenger, please withdraw and rest for a while!"

Meng Hong smiled slightly, stroked his beard, and said: "Okay, you must know that my king's power is well-known throughout the world, and the king's promise is worth more than ten thousand gold! Gentlemen, think carefully!" Then he held his head high and chest out, turned around and left leisurely.