readytorunbook Chapter 388 Sun Chuanting, Governor of Shaanxi
Chapter 388 Sun Chuanting, Governor of Shaanxi
Chapter 388 Sun Chuanting, Governor of Shaanxi
In Shaanxi, Sun Chuanting received an official document from the court, stating that Wang Wenzhou had recently gone to the Northwest to supervise the army. Sun Chuanting shook his head with a wry smile. Why did the Emperor send this mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, here? Did the Emperor really believe that Wang Wenzhou had repelled the rebel army in Hanshan and beheaded more than 30,000?
Sun Chuanting was a remarkable person, an exceptionally remarkable one. The History of Ming states, "With Chuanting's death, the Ming Dynasty perished," which speaks volumes about his high regard.
Sun Chuanting was the governor of Shaanxi, the hometown of the various bandit leaders. No one wanted to be the governor of Shanxi and declined the position. Sun Chuanting was different and volunteered to take up the post. After arriving in Shaanxi, he trained a strong army known as the "Qin Army".
Sun Chuanting was able to train such a powerful army because the rebel army was all out plundering, and no one was in their hometowns. Meanwhile, Gao Yingxiang, the rebel leader, was happily plundering in Huguang (Hunan and Hubei), Li Zicheng and Hong Chengchou were locked in a fierce battle in northern Shaanxi, and Zhang Xianzhong was robbing people in Henan.
Emperor Chongzhen's strategy for dealing with the rebel army was simple: to encircle them near Shaanxi, preventing them from looting indiscriminately, and gradually drive them back to Shaanxi before finally annihilating them. Therefore, even though there were no large rebel forces in Shaanxi at the moment, he still sent Wang Wenzhou to supervise the army there, because Shaanxi was the place where Chongzhen planned to fight the rebels in a decisive battle.
Although Wang Wenzhou's official position was that of a military supervisor without any real military power, Sun Chuanting still went out of the city to greet him. After all, a military supervisor was an imperial envoy, and a powerful military supervisor could seize the military power of the commanding generals. Sun Chuanting didn't want to fall out with Wang Wenzhou; he felt that Chongzhen had sent Wang Wenzhou to deliver victories and gain merit for him.
Sun Chuanting looked down on Wang Wenzhou because he had captured Gao Yingxiang's bandit army. According to the prisoners' confessions, Wang Wenzhou's troops had only fought the bandits twice in Hanshan and were defeated both times.
Moreover, Wang Wenzhou, in collusion with the rebel army, attacked the Hanshan Garrison, a grave crime of deceiving the emperor. Sun Chuanting only had the prisoners' confessions and no other substantial evidence, so he did not report it to the court. He did this to avoid making an enemy of Wang Wenzhou. Although Sun Chuanting was not present when Wang Wenzhou purged the civil and military officials, he had heard about it. He avoided provoking this mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, and only wanted to defeat the rebel army.
Outside the city gates of Xi'an, Sun Chuanting led his subordinate generals to welcome Wang Wenzhou.
Qiao Qiangao, one of Sun Chuanting's lieutenants, pointed to the marching troops in the distance and said, "Lord Sun, Lord Wang's troops are coming."
Sun Chuanting nodded, signaling his subordinates to pay attention to their appearance.
Sun Chuanting looked at the distant procession and suddenly frowned.
Wang Wenzhou brought a large number of people this time: a sedan chair carrier battalion of 400 people, a special forces battalion of 200 people, a female police team of 200 people, and a female guard team of 1,000 people provided by Dorgon.
As the procession drew closer, Sun Chuanting and the others were dumbfounded. Was this an army? The more they looked at it, the more it resembled courtesans on an outing!
No wonder Wang Wenzhou's reputation for womanizing was so widespread; it was truly the case! He brought nearly two thousand women with him, almost all of them girls, and all of them were beautiful. The girls were all dressed in black policewoman uniforms, black shorts, and black high boots over their white thighs, riding white warhorses. The contrast between black and white created a rather poetic and picturesque scene.
Although it looked very impressive, Sun Chuanting couldn't be happy at all! He hoped that Wang Wenzhou was just here to claim credit and wouldn't cause trouble! He had painstakingly trained tens of thousands of elite soldiers to quell the bandit rebellion, not to let that bastard Wang Wenzhou gain merit.
As the procession drew closer, Wang Wenzhou's distinctive sedan chair became particularly eye-catching.
"It seems that Wang Wenzhou is not only a lecherous man, but also a coward who is greedy for life and extravagant. He comes from a noble family, how can he ride in a sedan chair when marching, especially such a big one!" Qiao Qiangao mocked.
Sun Chuanting frowned and said softly, "I know. Didn't you notice that these sedan chair bearers are all elite soldiers?"
"Hmm?" Qiao Qiangao hadn't noticed before, but Sun Chuanting's reminder made him realize that Wang Wenzhou's entire entourage was on horseback, while the sedan chair bearers were on foot. Even so, the sedan chair's speed was almost the same as the horses'. Just by looking at the sedan chair, you could tell it was very heavy. A dozen or so people carrying such a heavy sedan chair, yet moving with incredible speed—truly the elite of the elite!
“Sigh…” Sun Chuanting sighed softly and said helplessly, “The sons of noble families are indeed incomparable to those of us from ordinary backgrounds. These elite servants who could fight a hundred men on the battlefield are now Wang Wenzhou’s sedan chair bearers. Their heroes have no place to use their talents!”
"Yes!" Qiao Qiangao said sourly, "I've fought on the battlefield for over ten years and only managed to get the rank of deputy general, while noble sons like Wang Wenzhou are born into families that inherit titles of higher ranks. Who can we blame? We can only blame God!"
"I understand. Don't be discouraged. Man can conquer nature! Whether you're a noble son or an ordinary citizen, on the battlefield, one blow will behead you. If you don't have real skills, going to the battlefield will only lead to your death. I hope Wang Wenzhou is wise enough not to go to the battlefield if war breaks out." Sun Chuanting was truly afraid that Wang Wenzhou would court death and then cause trouble for him afterward. He knew that Wang Wenzhou was currently enjoying great favor with the emperor.
Qiao Qian laughed and said, "The prisoners all said that Wang Wenzhou was a coward who wanted to die. As soon as the battle started, he fled, which led to his defeat. It would be a miracle if Wang Wenzhou even went to the battlefield!"
Sun Chuanting gestured for silence and said softly, "There are too many people talking, so don't say anything out of turn. We still need to maintain a good relationship with Wang Wenzhou in the future, after all, he is both a military supervisor and an imperial envoy."
"Understood!" Qiao Qian asked doubtfully, "Does Your Excellency fear that some villain might speak ill of you to Wang Wenzhou?"
Sun Chuanting said with a wry smile, "Although the Qin army was trained by me, most of the officers and colonels were not promoted by me. It's inevitable that some people want to climb up Wang Wenzhou's big tree."
"Understood, sir." Qiao Qian nodded.
As Wang Wenzhou alighted from his sedan chair, Sun Chuanting hurriedly led his men to greet him.
"Lord Wang, I am Sun Chuanting, the Governor of Shaanxi." Sun Chuanting introduced himself with his hands clasped.
"Greetings, Lord Sun! Lord Sun is my idol! I never imagined you would be so handsome!" Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
Sun Chuanting shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm almost fifty years old, and you actually praise me for being handsome? Lord Wang, you really have no manners! You're insulting me!"
"Babies, babies, come and meet my idol, Lord Sun Chuanting!" Wang Wenzhou greatly admired the historical Sun Chuanting and said that it was true that he was his idol.
Liu Rushi, carrying Liu Xiaohua, was the first to get out of the sedan chair. She gave a curtsy and said, "Greetings, Lord Sun!"
Sun Chuanting nodded to Liu Rushi. Wang Wenzhou's wives and concubines were indeed beautiful!
Wang Ying was the second to get off the sedan chair. She smiled awkwardly and said softly, "Greetings, Lord Sun!"
Sun Chuanting was completely dumbfounded. Wasn't this Consort Tian? So the rumors were true!
Wang Wenzhou was already used to it. Along the way, officials who had met Wang Ying before all reacted the same way when they saw her.