𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔𝟑.1: 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 (8)
Mu County Garrison Command.
“It’s time for us to step up to the plate now.”
The plague’s forces, centered around Kaifeng County in Henan Province, had begun to spread out in all directions. It had even begun to recruit followers, with one very capable frontman who had begun to rally people to the plague’s cause.
“I’m Guo Bufeng, the Governor of Henan Province. . .”
A Governor in charge of an entire province had taken the lead in worshipping the plague demons, and was now leading the charge to sell out this land and its people to the demons.
“Alright, it wouldn’t be bad to put forward a puppet state this time.”
The Imperial Family of the Great Zhou Empire remained holed up in Sichuan, even with the situation as it was. In that case, there was only one way to break the deadlock. That was to go independent and establish a new state, with Zhu Yuanji, the Governor of Xinjiang Province, as its founding father.
Local support was absolutely essential if they wanted to fight the plague’s forces, but the Imperial Family of the Great Zhou Empire was not only not helping, they weren’t even providing any support at all. The only one cooperating at all was the Governor of Xinjiang Province.
Afterwards, Oswald received approval for the puppet state operation through the Emperor, and immediately met with Zhu Yuanji, the Governor of Xinjiang Province.
“I’m here to answer you about the matter of declaring independence that you mentioned last time.”
“Oh. . . . . .has Your Majesty the Emperor finally given his instructions?”
“Yes, that’s right. His Majesty the Emperor has said that he supports the Governor’s declaration of independence. He has also indicated that he is willing to officially grant you the title of King if you wish.”
“Hahaha, very good. I will accept both.”
Feudation was more stable than ordinary diplomatic support. Especially in the East, where loyalty and filial piety were considered most important, a founding of a state through investiture was the most politically stable method.
Soon after, at the Shaanxi Province Chang’an Prefecture, Zhu Yuanji, the Governor of Xinjiang Province, offered sacrifices to the heavens, explained why the Mandate of Heaven of the Great Zhou Empire had fallen, and widely publicized his intention to establish a new country.
He then declared the founding of the state after proclaiming the national title to be ‘Qin’, and receiving the investiture ceremony from Oswald. Many of the people saw him, King Zhu Yuanji of Qin, and called out “Long live the King!”
“Now then, King Qin. Let us discuss how we will confront the plague’s forces.”
“Let us do so, Commander.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
Bang!
“How dare you! You have betrayed me and knelt before the Western Empire’s Emperor! Minister of War! Lead your troops at once and bring that bastard to me!”
“Your Majesty. . .forgive me. . .but currently we do not have the troops to send to Xinjiang Province.”
“What do you mean, we should just let that pretender be?”
At this, the Minister of Rites stepped forward and said,
“Would it be possible to try and resolve this diplomatically, for now?”
“Resolve it diplomatically with that rebel? Do you want to legitimize that rebel right now?”
“We should first lodge a protest with the Western Empire that granted him the investiture.”
“Then who will go to the Western Empire?”
“Since I was the one who suggested it, I will go.”
Zhu Shangluo ended the conversation by telling the Minister of Rites to do as he said. He then instructed the Minister of War to hurry up and prepare for a punitive expedition by gathering troops from Sichuan Province.
“However, Your Majesty, the situation in Sichuan Province is not very good.”
The current situation in Sichuan Province was not very good either. They did have one division of Imperial Guards (30,000 men), but 10,000 of them had been deployed to control the plague that was spreading throughout Sichuan Province, and the remaining 20,000 were guarding the Emperor in Chengdu Prefecture.
Furthermore, the number of plague patients in the province was increasing rapidly, so there were almost no able-bodied men who could actually be conscripted. However, they couldn’t withdraw the troops stationed on the border of the province either. After all, it would be difficult to defend the passes with just the militia.
“Then what about withdrawing some of the militia?”
“Regrettably, with the recent appearance of demons among the plague’s undead, withdrawing the militia could leave the passes into Sichuan Province vulnerable.”
In addition, even the loyalty of the militia to the Emperor was wavering. They were already outnumbered by the plague’s undead and the forces of the other provinces, and now that they were holed up in Sichuan Province, which could be called a natural fortress surrounded by mountains on all sides, without doing anything. . .it was only natural that their loyalty would waver.
In particular, with Zhu Yuanji, the Governor of Xinjiang Province, declaring independence this time, there were rumors among the vagrant militia that they might not receive their pay. Up until now, they had been able to pay their salaries using the assets of the Sichuan Provincial Prefectural Office, but as of next month, they would be in dire straits.
“This won’t do, that won’t do. What are you ministers even doing? I can’t bear to look at you, get out of my sight!”
At the Emperor’s order to expel them, the ministers of the Six Ministries were all thrown out.