Chapter 126: Fulfilling One's Wishes

Yang Wanzhe considered this a near-perfect plan, and the myriad-household and thousand-household commanders under his command responded with a chorus of enthusiastic approval: "Boss, I think it’s not enough just to marry the Pingzhang’s daughter; you yourself need to be a Pingzhang as well."

"Although the provincial government has promised you a future as a Left Chancellor, such things must be seized for yourself; you cannot simply wait for others to grant you a promotion!"

"We have suffered enough over these years and know that the imperial court is unreliable. It would be better to marry the Pingzhang’s daughter and then become a Pingzhang yourself for a change."

The Miao army led by Yang Wanzhe had performed countless meritorious services for the Great Yuan dynasty over the years, suffering at least ten thousand casualties in the process. However, the greater their achievements, the more deeply the Yuan court guarded against them, even going to great lengths to suppress Yang Wanzhe and his troops.

The more the court guarded against and suppressed this Miao army, the more lawless they became. If it were not for the formidable strength of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Shicheng, and the Jiangxi Red Turbans—which made it necessary for the Miao army to maintain the facade of the Yuan court—these commanders would likely have already suggested that Yang Wanzhe directly usurp the position of the provincial chancellor.

Even so, Yang Wanzhe found these treasonous words increasingly agreeable to his ears. "Brothers, you are too kind. I hadn't really thought that far ahead. For now, let’s just marry the Pingzhang’s daughter; we can discuss other matters later. She is the Pingzhang’s eldest daughter, after all, and one of the greatest beauties in the entire city of Hangzhou."

Unfortunately, the daughter of a Pingzhang Zhengshi (a high-ranking provincial official) was not so easily won. Although Yang Wanzhe spoke these words within the confines of his military camp, a Pingzhang Zhengshi was a top-tier figure in the province. Were it not for the court appointing a Left Chancellor who also served as the head of the Bureau of Military Affairs and commander of the Southeast, the Pingzhang Zhengshi, Qingtong, would be one of the most powerful men in the entire province.

As a Pingzhang Zhengshi is effectively a chancellor, news travels fast. The rumors reached Qingtong’s ears almost immediately: "Those Miao barbarians go too far! Do they really think I, Qingtong, am made of clay? I have only this one precious daughter."

Qingtong did indeed have only one beloved daughter, and he was determined to find a son-in-law to marry into his family to carry on his lineage, having planned every detail of this arrangement. He never expected that Yang Wanzhe would be so lawless as to covet his daughter—this would mean an end to his family line!

As a provincial Pingzhang, Qingtong was accustomed to being feared and respected. His first instinct was to kill Yang Wanzhe. However, the well-informed individual who brought him the news cautioned: "Lord Pingzhang, this matter requires careful deliberation. Yang Wanzhe originally had fifty thousand Miao troops, and he has recently recruited another ten thousand from Huguang. Add to that the desperate outlaws he has gathered along the way; if word of your hostility reaches him, it could lead to a catastrophic disaster!"

Qingtong was still somewhat skeptical. "I am, after all, a Pingzhang Zhengshi. Would Yang Wanzhe really dare to lay a hand on me? I refuse to believe it!"

Yet, as he spoke, his resolve wavered. Though he held the prestigious title of Pingzhang, Yang Wanzhe was a rogue who disregarded even the imperial court, the Chancellor, and the officials of the Bureau of Military Affairs, often resorting to violence at the slightest provocation. How could he possibly respect a mere Pingzhang?

If he truly respected the office, he would never have made such an outrageous demand. Qingtong had only one daughter, and he was counting on her and a son-in-law to provide for his old age.

Sighing, Qingtong asked, "Qin Conglong, since you have already defected to the rebels and have gone out of your way to bring me this news, what exactly is your scheme?"

The man before him was none other than Qin Conglong, the former Censor of the Jiangnan Regional Censorate. Not only had he turned to the rebel cause, but he was also hailed by Liu Yi as a "talent of a chancellor." Qin Conglong had worked tirelessly for Liu Yi and had even braved great danger to travel to Hangzhou.

Qin Conglong appeared exceptionally confident, not seeing his "defection" as a stain. "Lord Qingtong, I have come to Hangzhou to propose a marriage on behalf of my master. It would be far better for the young lady to marry our Yuanpan than to fall into the hands of the Miao barbarians!"

Qingtong was furious. "Qin Conglong, the court has treated you well, and I have treated you well. How can you be so shameless? I have but one precious daughter, and you want her to fall into the hands of rebels!"

Yang Wanzhe was a Miao barbarian, a heinous criminal who supposedly never bathed, but was Liu Yi, the rebel leader of Chaohu, any better? He was equally guilty of monstrous crimes!

While Yang Wanzhe was unforgivable, he at least fought for the court. But Liu Yi, the Red Turban bandit, had first attached himself to Xu Shouhui and Peng Yingyu, then defected to the fake regime of the Little Ming King. If not for the alliance between Liu Yi, the Chaohu Navy, and the bandits of Chuzhou, the situation in the Jiangzhe region would never have deteriorated to this point.

Qin Conglong remained unfazed. "Lord Qingtong, you have only one daughter. Only my master can save her now. Even if you do not consider the imperial court, you must consider your daughter!"

Qingtong remained unconvinced. "Only your Zhenjiang force can save my daughter? Qin Conglong, do not joke with me. Anyone could save her, except for your Zhenjiang forces, which are far too distant. By the time you arrive, it will be next year at the earliest."

Qingtong spoke the truth. Although the Chaohu Navy in Zhenjiang was the strongest naval force on the Yangtze River, it was far from Hangzhou. By the time they arrived, Yang Wanzhe would likely have already forced his will upon the situation.

Qin Conglong laughed aloud. "Lord Pingzhang, you underestimate my master. If he were merely an ordinary man, I would never dream of asking for your daughter’s hand. My master’s troops can descend like gods from the heavens!"

He grew even more animated. "I know you think I am spouting nonsense, but my master is a man of heaven-sent brilliance. He will arrive soon to accept an imperial amnesty and, incidentally, to marry your daughter! Lord Qingtong, I know you keep many loyal death-sworn warriors, but while they might be able to take down Yang Wanzhe, they cannot defeat a hundred thousand Miao soldiers!"

Qingtong was indeed a ruthless man. His first thought upon hearing the news was how to set an ambush to lure Yang Wanzhe in and kill him with a heavy mace. But as Qin Conglong pointed out, the aftermath of killing Yang Wanzhe would be an even greater problem.

Even if he were not just a Pingzhang, but the Left Chancellor of the Jiangzhe province and head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, he could not resolve this crisis. Yang Wanzhe currently commanded the only military force in the province that one could rely upon; he was essentially irreplaceable.

Therefore, even though he knew Qin Conglong was likely speaking nonsense, he still wanted to explore the feasibility of the plan. "Qin Conglong, are you talking about the fifteen hundred men sent from Zhenjiang? Even if they are all battle-hardened elites who can fight ten men each, Yang Wanzhe has a hundred thousand Miao troops."

Qin Conglong simply asked, "Lord Pingzhang, if my master manages to win this gamble, would you be willing to grant this union?"