Zhao An wanted the Hubei route not only to profit from the war that would break out in a few years, but also to establish a connection with the White Lotus Sect.
In history, even without a unified command center, the White Lotus Rebellion managed to fight the Qing forces for eight years, destroying hundreds of thousands of troops drawn from sixteen provinces. On the Qing side, over four hundred generals—including commanders, provincial military commanders, and regional generals—were killed in action, and the cost of suppressing the rebellion exceeded two hundred million taels of silver.
Consequently, the Eight Banners and the Green Standard Army, the two regular military forces of the Qing court, withdrew from the stage of history, forcing the dynasty to rely on local militias to suppress future rebellions.
Chapter 169