Stealing the Ming Dynasty [Complete] - 5

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Chapter 11:

The Scout Reports to Huang Shi and Fei Liguo that the North Gate has been opened, and dozens of soldiers and four or five mules have rushed out of the city, seemingly escorting an official. They are running eastward along the city walls, presumably trying to bypass Guangning and head south.

A dozen or so soldiers, all Huang Shi's old subordinates and relatively reliable, are lying in ambush outside each gate. The scout's men have already gone to seize the barbican of the North Gate.

Before the scout can finish speaking, Huang Shi and Fei Liguo's group leap onto their horses. The distance from their ambush in the woods to the North Gate is only ten li, and the horses cover it in the blink of an eye. They can see the group of dozens of people the scout mentioned fleeing less than three li away.

The North Gate is not closed, and a man is jumping around outside the barbican, frantically waving a red flag.

In high spirits, Huang Shi shouted, "That must be Lord Wang! Brother Fei, I'm counting on you at the North Gate. I'll intercept Lord Wang."

Just as Huang Shi was about to lead his men away, Fei Liguo hurriedly called out, "What if we don't enter the city immediately?"

Huang Shi led his hundred-odd cavalrymen away without looking back, shouting back, "Who else could it be but Lord Wang with dozens of men left?"

Fei Liguo's shouts drifted back from behind: "That's not necessarily true!"

Huang Shi glanced back; Fei Liguo had already led the remaining men towards the North Gate. He was quite pleased with himself: "In just two days, I've probably established my image as an infallible strategist in the minds of these few hundred soldiers."

When Huang Shi was a few hundred meters away from the group, they knew they couldn't escape, so they simply stopped and prepared for battle, surrounding an old man with several dozen men.

This group included about thirty Guangning soldiers, a similar number of servants and retainers, several donkeys, and two camels. The men were all disheveled, with the Guangning general at the forefront covered in blood, and the old man in the middle vaguely resembling Wang Huazhen.

Historically, Wang Huazhen fled Guangning with only a few dozen men, abandoning the army still resisting the rebels. Seeing this, Huang Shi didn't hesitate; he pulled on the reins, stopped his horse, and dismounted, saying, "Lord Wang, you've been frightened. I've come to protect you."

The cavalry behind him stopped several dozen meters away. Those facing him were all armed, on high alert, and silent. Huang Shi unfastened his sword and threw it and his helmet to the ground. He strode forward, and the men seemed relieved, parting to let Huang Shi stand before Wang Huazhen.

Huang Shi bowed deeply, saying, "Lord Wang."

"Raise your head."

Wang Huazhen before him had several bruises on his face, his official robes were torn in several places, half his beard seemed to have been pulled out, and his hair was disheveled. The only thing unchanged was his melancholy eyes.

Wang Huazhen slowly spoke: "Huang Shi, you have received the Emperor's grace, yet you do not repay it, and you have even colluded with the Jurchens. Aren't you afraid of bringing shame upon your ancestors?"

Huang Shi was taken aback by these words, but then he understood that Wang Huazhen had misunderstood the meaning of his word "protection."

At this moment, Wang Huazhen seemed to have come to terms with it, and continued calmly: "I am a minister of the court, and I cannot tolerate such humiliation. I will commit suicide before you. My head is enough for your father-in-law's wealth and honor."

Hearing this, the soldiers around Wang Huazhen began to shout, and their gazes towards Huang Shi turned fierce.

Wang Huazhen waved for them to be quiet before turning to Huang Shi and saying, "If you have any conscience left, release my men."

He then waited for Huang Shi's reply. Huang Shi bowed again, saying, "My lord, Sun's crimes are heinous and abhorrent to both gods and men. I have no connection with him whatsoever. I fought my way out of Xiping and have just returned to Guangning. Since you don't believe me, I will now charge into Guangning and take Sun's head."

Wang Huazhen's expression shifted rapidly as Huang Shi spoke. However, seeing Huang Shi still standing there, a cloud of doubt clouded Wang Huazhen's face again: "Then why don't you go quickly?"

"My lord, killing Sun is easy, but defending Guangning is difficult. If you leave now, my small force is no match for him."

Huang Shi knew that if Wang Huazhen escaped and Xiong Tingbi didn't come, he would have no chance of controlling the tens of thousands of soldiers in Guangning. He was determined to use his trump card.

Right in front of Wang Huazhen, Huang Shi knelt down with a thud: "Heaven above, earth below, I, Huang Shi, am utterly loyal to the Ming Dynasty, with no disloyalty whatsoever. If I have uttered any falsehood, may I be cut into a thousand pieces and die, may I never be reborn in the eighteenth level of hell, and may my ancestors' tombs never find peace!"

In this era, nothing was more effective than making a solemn oath, and Huang Shi immediately saw Wang Huazhen and the people around him relax.

Seeing that the other party had begun to believe him, Huang Shi said sincerely, "My lord, I humbly request that you stay here temporarily. I will go into the city to kill the bandits. If I am unfortunately killed by them, it will not be too late for you to leave."

Seeing that Wang Huazhen seemed somewhat tempted, but only moved without giving any guarantee, Huang Shi loudly questioned, "If you cannot save Guangning, how will you explain to the court? Today, the Jurchens are rampant. If you leave, the three thousand miles of Liaodong land and millions of lives will surely be lost. Do you think the court will forgive you?"

"How dare you!" A servant-like man beside Wang Huazhen immediately shouted, "Who are you, daring to..."

"Shut up!" Wang Huazhen shouted sharply, giving Huang Shi a deep look, "Continue."

"My lord, you are wise. Our army at Xiping Fort was defeated, but that has nothing to do with you. Guangning is indeed in grave danger. I humbly beg you to do your best and leave the rest to fate. If anything unexpected happens, the court and history will remember your loyalty and bravery. If you abandon Guangning, you may escape the court's punishment, but can you escape the condemnation of the people?"

Wang Huazhen suddenly burst into wild laughter: "I never thought that after decades of studying the classics, I would be less insightful than a mere soldier."

Then he ordered the servant from before: "Open the trunk, I need to change into my official robes."

"You speak well. I will return to Guangning immediately." Wang Huazhen looked at Huang Shi meaningfully and called out softly: "Supervisor Huang Shi."

"Your humble servant is here."

"Quickly arrest the traitor Sun Degong and quell the rebellion."

"Your humble servant obeys."

"Good!" Wang Huazhen's voice became deep and powerful; "Let me witness your heroic figure in killing the traitor and serving the country."

"Yes, sir. I will go kill the thief immediately. I would like to ask for a reward for the brothers in advance. Killing the thief Sun will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a hereditary hundred-household rank."

"Very well, I agree."

"Thank you, sir." Huang Shi said no more, got up and left. On the way, he picked up his sword and helmet and led his 140 men back. Although bringing so many soldiers would affect the strength of the assault, Huang Shi had to bring enough troops. Otherwise, Wang Huazhen, that idiot, might think this was a trick to lure him back. It would be a great injustice to be killed without knowing why.

Huang Shi believed that only by showing overwhelming strength would Wang Huazhen listen to him seriously and believe his sincerity. Huang Shi mounted his warhorse and immediately shouted, "Brothers, the governor has ordered that killing Sun Degong will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a hereditary hundred-household rank!"

Although Huang Shi had asked for this reward, in his and Fei Liguo's original plan, no one would get Sun Degong's head. Although the two of them really wanted to kill Sun Degong to silence him, when they were making a detailed plan yesterday, they realized that if they didn't want Sun Degong to escape, they had to disperse their forces and take all four city gates.

Their forces were already fewer than Sun Degong's, and potentially less reliable, so dispersing their troops seemed like a poor idea. If they deployed soldiers to defend all four city gates, their forces would become thin. If they failed in the battle to capture the city, they would be a complete failure. Furthermore, Guangning was a large city with barbicans at all four gates. Although the rebels didn't have many troops, there was still a possibility of unforeseen circumstances.

Huang Shi and Fei Liguo's troops were good at fighting when things were going well, but if they couldn't break through, they doubted the morale of their soldiers. Moreover, if Sun Degong was determined to break out, he could gather several hundred men. Even if Huang Shi and his forces deployed dozens or hundreds of soldiers at each gate, they might not be able to stop him. Forcing Sun Degong into a desperate situation might not be a good thing.

Therefore, Huang Shi proposed a strategy of feigned strength: to concentrate their forces into a single unit, sweep away small groups of enemy troops, first rendezvous with allied forces at several government offices, gradually strengthening their own forces, and ultimately scaring Sun Degong away. Huang Shi felt that as long as Sun Degong escaped, the recapture of Guangning would be a success, so he entered the north gate barbican with a relaxed mood.

But he was immediately startled. The sounds of fighting drifted from inside the city, and thick smoke and flames could be seen from within the barbican, along with the muffled sounds of cannons. Most of the soldiers remaining on the barbican were standing on the inner wall, peering into the city, and their expressions didn't seem very optimistic.

"Sir." Yang Luhuo on the wall recognized him, and dozens of soldiers on the wall saluted him. After cleaning up the battlefield this morning, Huang Shi's men were all well-equipped. Most of the soldiers wore red-tasseled iron helmets instead of straw hats, and many wore scale armor, or at least had breastplates.

"No need for formalities." Huang Shi anxiously looked up and asked Yang Luhuo on the city wall, "How is the battle going?"

Yang Luhuo, at the highest point of the wall, reported loudly, "Lord Fei is leading the main force near the armory. The offensive seems to have stalled, but we can't see the specifics. There's fighting everywhere in the city; it's very chaotic."

"You all carefully defend the city gates and don't leave. Also, immediately raise the governor's banner on the city wall." Yang Luhuo led sixty men to defend the retreat route, while the other half of his team followed Fei Liguo into the city.

With the governor's banner, they could attract stragglers, but it might also attract the attention of the rebels. Huang Shi ordered forty of his former subordinates to stay behind and protect the governor's banner with Yang Luhuo. Huang Shi instructed Yang Luhuo to appoint a captain from his former subordinates for every ten stragglers he had gathered, and lead them into the city as reinforcements. Since it had already devolved into a melee, it was a bloodbath; quality and discipline didn't matter anymore.

With the arrangements made, Huang Shi pointed his whip into the city:

"Men, enter the city!"

(Section 11) His subordinates briefly described the situation to Huang Shi, having already gathered information from various sources. Although Sun Degong's uprising was sudden, many low-ranking officers and soldiers spontaneously began to resist. Guangning Prefect Gao Bangzuo also reacted and attempted to suppress

the

rebellion. Therefore, most of Sun Degong's army was dispersed, mostly operating as detachments to suppress the rebellion in various locations, while simultaneously monitoring the Ming troops who had laid down their weapons.

Listening to the soldiers' descriptions, Huang Shi felt that Gao Bangzuo seemed like a fool; in just half an hour, he had lost all the warehouses and was besieged. At this time, warehouses were like small fortresses; once lost, retaking them required the suppressing army to launch a series of strong attacks.

After Fei Liguo led five hundred men into the city, the rebels were grouped into small groups of dozens. The suppressing army's offensive was like a torrent of boiling water, and the rebels everywhere retreated in defeat. The morale of the pacification army soared, advancing all the way to the Guangning Prefectural Government Office. Gao Bangzuo, who had been besieged inside the office, seized the opportunity to lead his constables and yamen runners out to join Fei Liguo in battle. Fang Zhenru,

the Liaodong Governor and Imperial Censor, unable to find Wang Huazhen and seeing the prefectural government office surrounded, had also planned to flee. Seeing the arrival of reinforcements, he quickly ordered his servants to join the fight, grabbing whatever weapons they could find and rushing to join Fei Liguo. Following his example, officials throughout the city organized even their cleaning servants into groups to join the melee.

These allied forces, along with a large number of scattered soldiers who had joined Fei Liguo, brought the pacification army to over two thousand men. Up to this point, everything was proceeding according to Huang Shi's strategy. However, unexpectedly, Sun Degong did not flee. Instead, he calmly began to gather his troops, attempting a counterattack.

Sun Degong understood that he couldn't outmaneuver the suppression army in a snowballing attack, so once he had gathered a force, he immediately launched a fierce assault on Fei Liguo's main force. At the time, Fei Liguo was commanding the suppression army to attack the Guangning armory. The rebels inside were putting up a fierce resistance, but suddenly attacked from the flank by Sun Degong's regular army, they were thrown into disarray.

Moreover, Sun Degong first attacked the friendly forces on the second line of the suppression army. Whether it was the Guangning prefect's yamen runners, constables, or even the servants and cooks of the officials, they all collapsed at the first touch.

The collapse of these friendly forces almost disrupted the suppression army's ranks. The suppression army, which was gaining momentum, was dealt a heavy blow, and its morale vanished instantly. Lacking officers and personal guards, the soldiers threw down their weapons and took off their uniforms to flee at the slightest setback, and in the blink of an eye, several-tenths of them had scattered.

"Jin Qiude has made a great contribution." These were Fei Liguo's exact words.

In the chaos, Jin Qiude led his men in a fierce battle against the rebel army, finally managing to stabilize the situation. Fei Liguo even felt that more people died at Jin Qiude's hands than at Sun Degong's. In this way, the pacification army, cooperating with friendly forces, relied on its superior numbers to withstand Sun Degong's initial onslaught.

Taking advantage of a brief lull in the rebel offensive, Fei Liguo quickly ordered his men to set fire to houses lining the streets and pile up kindling in the middle of the wide official road. This temporarily separated the two armies, and he quickly rallied his troops to regroup.

When Huang Shi arrived, Fei Liguo was directing a dozen soldiers in a tirade of insults, with many counterfeit Guan Ning Army flags standing behind him. The imposter military commander sat prominently at the back, looking very imposing.

"Sun Degong is utterly depraved and deserves a terrible death."

"Sun Degong abandoned his old subordinates for wealth and power, and even his son-in-law was not spared." "

General Xiong decisively defeated the Jurchens and captured the old slave Nurhaci alive. Sun Degong's fate is sealed."

"The Guan Ning army has already returned to Guangning. The other side should surrender as soon as possible to avoid death."

Shouts from the other side continued to come:

"Fei Liguo and Huang Shi are two ungrateful dogs!"

"Wang Huazhen has already escaped. The Jin army will arrive soon. If you don't surrender now, you will only face death."

Huang Shi found this kind of verbal battle quite interesting, but it was clear that the rebels' fighting spirit was still high, while the morale of the pacification army and a large number of friendly forces was low. Jin Qiude was still leading a group of soldiers, each holding a blood-stained broadsword, and they were all staring wide-eyed as they patrolled back and forth.

The two armies exchanged arrows, and the sounds of firearms could be heard intermittently. Huang Shi, not being very close, couldn't see clearly and asked Fei Liguo, "How many people are on the other side?"

"About two or three hundred."

"Only that few?" Huang Shi was greatly surprised; the opposing pacification army numbered five times that. They had stabilized their position but were unable to launch a counterattack.

Fei Liguo said with a wry smile, "The other side consists of Sun Degong's old guard, his personal guards and retainers. They're not the kind of people who will fight us to the death. Besides, Sun Degong is well-prepared and has an armory behind him; he has shields, spears, and everything..."

A loud explosion interrupted Fei Liguo's words, and several soldiers, covered in blood, collapsed to the ground, wailing. Huang Shi was startled, and the soldiers retreated a few steps, only to be driven back by Jin Qiude.

"After the stalemate was over, that scoundrel Sun Degong even dragged over a cannon," Fei Liguo said, pointing to the other side of the firewall. "He fires it every now and then."

It didn't look like a powerful heavy cannon; Huang Shi guessed it was probably a small field gun that fired iron shot, otherwise Sun Degong wouldn't have been able to drag it here. But this had a huge impact on morale.

Fei Liguo then began to complain about Jin Qiude: "He did make a great contribution, but he wasn't doing the work of a captain; he was doing the work of a personal guard. Your other subordinate, Zhao Manxiong, is even worse. He's always hiding at the back, shooting arrows. That's not the job of a captain either."

A hunter and a spy, both lacking in officer experience—what can you expect them to do? Huang Shi himself wasn't quite sure what a supervisor was supposed to do either. Logically, he should be commanding the captains, but Huang Shi didn't know what he should be commanding them to do either. He looked around for a while, then suddenly asked, "Why didn't you gather our men together? Instead, they've all scattered."

Fei Liguo gave another bitter laugh: "Our men weren't reliable to begin with, but those friendly forces are even less reliable. We had no choice but to disperse our troops among them to prevent them from running away." "

Where's Sun Degong?"

"He's directing the insults from behind. He personally led the charge just now and almost scattered our army. Luckily, Zhao Manxiong shot him with an arrow. Although his armor is thick, he still had to retreat."

Fei Liguo had been watching Huang Shi's expression closely, knowing that things on his side were probably going smoothly. Finally, he asked, "Where is Lord Wang?"

"He's waiting outside the city. He should be here soon."

"Great! Then the great undertaking will surely succeed." Fei Liguo said happily, rubbing his hands together: "I can now confidently hurl insults. Watch me rout the rebels."

"You're holding back your insults?" Huang Shi asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Of course, I was afraid that if I cursed too fiercely, it would provoke Sun Degong to fight desperately. Now that Lord Wang is back, he can quickly gather the scattered troops and they will come to support us in droves, so what do I have to worry about?" Fei Liguo excitedly called over the soldiers who had been cursing and began to give them instructions.

Fei Liguo's curses were indeed quite vicious. As the captain of Sun Degong's personal guards, he brought up all the affairs of Sun Degong's inner quarters, which were nothing more than which personal guards had affairs with Sun's concubines or maids. He

named, described, and mentioned the names, places, and times in great detail. In addition, he also mentioned the jokes made by some of Sun's servants behind their backs, who had taken a fancy to a certain maid, who said they wanted to sleep with a certain concubine, and he made every detail sound like a fact. Soon

the topic turned to the wives of the rebel generals and personal guards. In short, it all revolved around women, and all the shameful drunken ramblings came out. Huang Shi listened and secretly admired Fei Liguo. It was amazing that Fei Liguo remembered so many names and gossips so clearly.

The opposing army was indeed somewhat disorganized. Some soldiers charged forward with roars, but the gaps left by the flames were small. The pacification troops formed battle formations and forced them back

. The few brave warriors who managed to break through the wall of fire and thick smoke were immediately felled by soldiers on the rooftops with arrows, stones, and firearms. The sound of gongs rang out from the rebel side, desperately trying to quell the commotion. The rebels sat there enduring the insults, while the pacification troops laughed heartily, their morale soaring.

(End of Chapter 12)

Opening a Path of Life and Death with Both Hands Chapter 13

Huang Shi listened with a smile for a while. The pacification troops relaxed from their excessive tension, bursting into laughter. Those on the other side must have felt both ashamed and angry upon hearing the laughter and insults. The expressions on the faces of the protagonists in those stories facing Sun Degong must have been quite amusing. Huang Shi regretted that he wouldn't have the chance to see it.

Arrows continued to rain down, and cannons occasionally fired, but the pacification troops were no longer panicked. The wounded soldiers even cursed, "You bastards on the other side! After we deal with you, we'll deal with your sluts!"

With morale high, Huang Shi felt reassured. He didn't send his hundred men into battle, but instead called to Jin Qiude, "Take your men and come with me."

Since Fei Liguo could hold off Sun Degong's loyalists here, Huang Shi had no intention of staying. He gathered two hundred soldiers and began sweeping around Guangning City. The rebel forces throughout the city were now reduced to small groups, mostly composed of Sun Degong's old troops and Ming soldiers he had co-opted. Huang Shi was determined to eliminate these peripheral forces first.

After a while, a large group of people suddenly appeared behind Huang Shi—a group of laborers led by the prefectural yamen's officials. They carried water and planks to quench the thirst of the pacification soldiers and carried away the wounded. It turned out that Wang Huazhen had begun to gather scattered soldiers, and Prefect Gao Bangzuo gradually redeployed his constables.

With men at his disposal, Gao Bangzuo immediately began fighting fires, pacifying the people, and organizing laborers to transport the wounded, which greatly reduced the pressure on Huang Shi.

A little while later, Gao Bangzuo even managed to gather some camels to send, towing three small cannons. When Huang Shi encountered rebel strongholds, he ordered his soldiers to bombard them with the cannons, greatly accelerating the advance. Before long, Huang Shi had swept through the gunpowder and granaries. After each warehouse was captured, Prefect Gao would quickly arrive to take it over.

Along the way, Huang Shi continuously incorporated rebels and small groups of Ming soldiers into his army. In just over two hours, he appointed six captains, two of whom were former rebels. By the time all this was completed, it was past noon.

Before 1 p.m., the prefectural government office surprisingly delivered hot food, which greatly surprised Huang Shi. After inquiring with the yamen runners, Huang Shi learned that Gao Bangzuo was distributing rice and cloth, encouraging citizens to help cook and care for the wounded. The settled women were making bandages, washing vegetables and rice, and slaughtering pigs to cook. Every household in the area controlled by the pacification army had started cooking, and smoke was already rising from their chimneys.

Gao Bangzuo had been beaten to a pulp by Sun Degong during the turmoil, losing all his warehouses in less than half an hour. If it weren't for the arrival of the pacification army, even the prefectural government office wouldn't have held out for long. Therefore, Huang Shi, who had initially looked down on this scholar, now found himself drinking meat soup, his men eating hot meals, and his cart filled with buckets of well water. He thought Prefect Gao was actually quite decent.

After eating and drinking his fill, Huang Shi returned to the main battlefield. Sun Degong's soldiers, having fought hard for most of the day and still hungry, were now surrounded by reinforcements from the pacification army.

The officer from Guangning who had protected Wang Huazhen during her escape was now commanding the battle. He had removed his blood-stained battle robe, donned a new cloak, and was now sitting at the back of the lines, directing the shouts and curses. However, the message had changed to "Capture Sun Degong alive, reward him with a thousand taels of silver, and grant him the hereditary title of centurion.

" The fake Guan Ning military commander's banner was gone; now, the banner behind the officer bore the inscription: "Guangning Military Commander Jiang

." "This humble officer greets the General," Huang Shi said respectfully with a military salute. "The rebels at the Guangning granary, cloth warehouse, gunpowder depot, and the west and south gates have been wiped out."

"You are Commander Huang, right? This is Jiang Chaodong."

"General Jiang," Huang Shi saluted again, finding the words rather convoluted.

Jiang Chaodong smiled at Huang Shi and said, "I just asked Commander Fei, and I know about your loyalty. The governor also knows and has dismissed you. Now, the traitor Sun is completely surrounded. Commander Huang, are you willing to take this credit?"

"Thank you, Lord Jiang. This humble officer will definitely capture Sun Degong alive."

After arriving outside Sun Degong's residence, Huang Shi saw Zhao Manxiong. After the senior Commander Fei left, Zhao became the front-line commander. Wang Huazhen had just been to the armory and personally addressed the rebels. The morale of the pacification army and the rebels had been completely reversed.

In addition, as the battle continued, the rebels who were monitoring tens of thousands of Guangning soldiers in the city were either drawn into the battle by Sun Degong or surrendered or fled. Many Ming soldiers also took the opportunity to defect and gather under the banner of the governor and the prefect. Now,

only the east gate of Guangning City is still in the hands of the rebel general Lu Guozhi. Not long ago, Sun Degong led several hundred loyal followers to try to break through the east gate, but they were forced back home by the pacification army and heavily besieged.

Huang Shi and Fei Liguo discussed their story to Wang Huazhen. The gist was that Sun Degong had hinted at something to them, but neither of them complied. Before the Battle of Xiping, the two suspected Sun Degong and went to arrest him together, but he still managed to thwart their scheme. After discussing it further, they decided they couldn't escape alone, so they gathered their men and returned to Guangning.

Sun Degong's reputation is now ruined; no one will believe anything he says, and Huang Shi and his men suspect that Sun Degong also considers them traitors. This way, everything won't be exposed. However, Huang Shi still wants to personally question Fei Liguo and hear his side of the story. After searching for a long time without finding Fei Liguo, he became puzzled and asked Zhao Manxiong.

"After Lord Wang returned, he ordered General Jiang to command the battle. The armory was quickly captured, forcing Sun Degong back to his residence. Fei Liguo, wanting to show off, led the attack, but was hit in the calf by an arrow and retreated to recuperate."

"How many people are left in the Sun residence?"

"Over a hundred, maybe none."

"How could this happen? Why didn't he break out directly from the armory?" Huang Shi was puzzled.

Zhao Manxiong shook his head. His superior was only concerned with his own well-being, but others weren't. "Sun Degong's elderly mother, wife, children, and hundreds of his family members are all in Guangning. He wanted to cover his family's escape; otherwise, with his martial prowess, we wouldn't have been able to stop him."

But now that they were surrounded on all sides, the situation was different. Sun Degong had just carried his mother in an attempt to break through, but he had suffered several serious injuries, and it was said that his arm had been severed. Now the rebel army was at its last gasp. After the failed breakout and being trapped, Sun Degong had very few men left.

"I never imagined Sun Degong was such a filial son." Huang Shi suddenly felt a pang of sadness, but it was only for a moment. This man, for wealth and glory, had killed tens of thousands of Ming soldiers, leaving behind countless orphans, widows, and elderly people. "All troops, listen to my command! Smash the Sun residence! Leave no men alive, and you may take the women yourselves!"

"Attack!"

Huang Shi's men, seeing their victory within their grasp, were in high spirits. They quickly stormed into the Sun residence, capturing Sun Degong's accomplices, including Qianzong Lang Shaozhen and Shoubei Huang Jin. Sun Degong himself committed suicide at the last moment.

Most of Sun Degong's male servants and strong men had already died in battle, and the rest were immediately slaughtered. Each head was worth five taels of silver. The women of the Sun residence were then divided up by Huang Shi's soldiers. The cries that echoed throughout the Sun residence gave Huang Shi a sense of déjà vu, reminding him of the Ming spy in Liaoyang—the first man whose entire family was wiped out because of Huang Shi.

Sitting in the main hall of the Sun family mansion, Huang Shi was lost in memories, completely unaware that if the Sun family didn't cry, then hundreds of thousands of people in Guangning would cry. How could this be compared to the merchants who were murdered last time? Just as he was feeling somewhat gloomy, Yang Luhuo's voice startled him: "I've brought Miss Sun and her personal maid."

(Author's note: Based on the consistent logic of this book, and the character and scheming of the protagonist and his confidants, the fate of one of these two girls is already obvious. Gray Panda also considered revising the book to allow this girl to live a happy life, to be cherished by the one who loves her for life. After all, the author also has feelings for the characters he created.

But this book is not a beautiful fairy tale. The arrow is on the bowstring and must be released, which is also the style of this book. So in the end, I put down the pen and gave up. Please forgive me, readers.)

(End of Chapter 13)

Opening a Path of Life and Death with Both Hands Chapter 14

Since Sun Degong is a traitor, Huang Shi's marriage agreement with the Sun family is naturally canceled. However, no one would find it unreasonable for Huang Shi to keep her as a concubine. On the contrary, Huang Shi might even earn a reputation for being compassionate and righteous.

Miss Sun and the little girl were brought in together, and the soldiers didn't treat them roughly. Clearly, they didn't know how Huang Shi would deal with his former fiancée, so they dared not be disrespectful to her.

Contrary to Huang Shi's expectations, Miss Sun, though filled with grief and indignation, maintained her head held high. The little girl, however, kept her head down, and Huang Shi couldn't see her expression.

Huang Shi nodded stiffly and cleared his throat: "Miss Sun, your father's crimes are unforgivable. My feud with him is a national one, not a personal one..."

Miss Sun glared at him without saying a word, her gaze making Huang Shi's voice grow softer and softer. He could remain unmoved in front of Huang Taiji and Sun Degong, and could be impassioned before Wang Huazhen, but the gaze of this innocent young girl made Huang Shi feel overwhelmed.

He hastily ended his explanation, not even knowing why he felt the urge to defend himself: "From now on, I will take care of Miss. Slow Bear, please take Miss away."

"You villain!" the girl suddenly shouted. She seemed to want to say something more, but before she could finish, she choked up and couldn't speak. Zhao Slow Bear and several soldiers approached, but they didn't dare to forcibly pull her away. Shouting at the future young mistress seemed inappropriate, so everyone in the hall remained silent.

The girl quickly suppressed her weakness, and to Huang Shi, her expression seemed resolute. She gritted her teeth and said, "My grandmother, father, mother, and brothers all died at the hands of you, you villain! My sisters were all taken by your beast..."

Faced with such hatred, Huang Shi was speechless. He interrupted Miss Sun, "This is not my intention. I will ensure you have enough to eat and wear."

Hearing this, the girl's hatred turned to madness, and syllables were squeezed out from between her teeth: "You hypocritical villain, you deceived my father so cruelly, and now you want to deceive me again? My father and mother died tragically at your hands, and you still want to defile me. Huang Shi, you beast, don't think I know nothing. If it weren't for my father's sake, how could I have submitted to a despicable man like you..."

Yang Luhuo and Zhao Manxiong glanced at Huang Shi several times, but Huang Shi shook his head, indicating that there was no need to interrupt the girl's outburst. Although Miss Sun tried her best to berate him, she kept repeating the same few harmless words like "beast" and "villain," and eventually, exhausted, she stopped, panting heavily. During this time, the little boy lowered his head and tugged at her sleeve, but Miss Sun forcefully shook him off.

Like the merchant spitting in his face, when Huang Shi was being verbally abused by an innocent person, he felt not anger, but rather a sense of sorrow, a helpless feeling of being corrupted by fate, the times, and feudal traditions. Slaughtering innocent people was never Huang Shi's intention. Just as he averted that vicious gaze, Huang Shi saw Jin Qiude staring intently at him. As soon as he realized Huang Shi had noticed him, Jin Qiude immediately shook his head.

Thinking that Huang Shi could be intimate with a girl while scheming against her father, Jin Qiude felt a surge of genuine admiration; he admitted he didn't possess such refinement. When Huang Shi's gaze fell on his face, Jin Qiude knew that Huang Shi was ultimately somewhat soft-hearted; a woman who knew the secret couldn't be allowed to live.

Huang Shi swallowed hard, noticing Zhao Manxiong shaking his head at him. Zhao Manxiong felt this woman was too dangerous; a wise man doesn't stand under a crumbling wall. Yang Luhuo shared this feeling, but he avoided Huang Shi's probing eyes, biting his lip and remaining silent.

When Huang Shi raised his hand, Yang Luhuo finally blurted out urgently,

"My lord, please reconsider!"

His arm fell heavily, pointing at Jin Qiude, the words "It's up to you to handle" already on his lips, but Huang Shi remained silent, his mouth agape.

Jin Qiude waited a moment, seeing Huang Shi's hand still pointing at him without uttering a sound, then clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed, saying, "Understood."

When he took the girl away, Miss Sun neither cried nor made a fuss, calmly indicating she wanted to return to her room. Huang Shi stiffly withdrew his arm, his face as expressionless as a stone statue. The little girl trembled, rushed forward, knelt on the ground, cried out "My lord," and then kept sobbing. Huang Shi maintained his aloof, statue-like expression, seemingly oblivious to the cries.

Jin Qiude secretly rejoiced: "My lord has made the right judgment; my assistance played a part in this."

Miss Sun was taken away, and the little girl clung to Huang Shi's leg, pleading desperately, switching between addressing him as "My lord," "Master," "Lord Huang," and "Supervisor Huang.

" "My lord, please reconsider," Yang Luhuo couldn't help but speak again: "She's just a woman."

"Do you think I'm being overly cautious?" Huang Shi asked, his voice so cold he himself couldn't recognize it.

"This subordinate wouldn't dare."

"She's still beautiful, so you feel even more sorry for her." The emotionless voice was icy cold, its metallic emphasis masking the weakness and turmoil in the speaker's heart: "The hatred for one's parents is irreconcilable. No matter how beautiful she is, I believe there are women in this world more beautiful than her, and who have no blood feud with me."

The little girl screamed and fainted.

Zhao Manxiong, Yang Luhuo, and several soldiers were immersed in the tense atmosphere, none daring to breathe loudly. Jin Qiude finally returned, excitedly clasping his hands and saying, "Sir, it's done."

Huang Shi nodded silently. Jin Qiude then glanced at the little girl on the ground with disgust, looking up at Huang Shi and saying, "Sir, leave this to me too."

Yang Luhuo, hearing this, shouted again, "Brother Jin, you won't even spare a girl?"

"The Sun family has been very kind to her. I'm worried about keeping her by my side, sir," Jin Qiude said matter-of-factly.

"Nonsense, what's so important about a maid?"

Zhao Manxiong suddenly interjected. "If Miss Sun were here, no one could say anything if the lord took in a woman who was already engaged, and she would naturally be fine. But Miss Sun is gone, and the lord is taking in a traitor's maid as a concubine. I think this is inappropriate."

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a problem, but the relationship between Huang Shi and Sun Degong is very delicate, and right now it's something that can't be easily severed. A woman who is already engaged is one thing, but keeping a maid like Guai Baobao as a concubine might lead to some bad rumors. Furthermore, with the war still unsettled, it's not good for Huang Shi to be so eager to take a concubine instead of rewarding his subordinates.

Jin Qiude loudly agreed: "Exactly, we must eradicate evil completely."

"She's evil too?" Yang Luhuo retorted, his face red and his neck thick.

“Exactly,” Jin Qiude said righteously, “She is a confidante of the Sun family.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Zhao Manxiong chimed in, “Can you protect her? Can you bear the responsibility for the lord’s safety?”

Yang Luhuo couldn’t argue with them, so he simply bowed to Huang Shi, “Sir, she has no blood feud with you.”

Zhao Manxiong continued coldly, “The lord has clearly ordered that ‘the women of the Sun family may be chosen by themselves.’ Since the lord cannot keep her, are you going to push her to the soldiers outside? That would be worse than death for her. Or are you going to make the lord break his promise to the soldiers?”

“Don’t kill her, but don’t hand her over to the soldiers either,” Huang Shi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“Sir!” Jin Qiude and Zhao Manxiong cried out in unison.

Huang Shi waved his hand to signal them to be quiet, “I did say that the women of the Sun family would be given to my men.”

The girl’s lips, her body temperature, her smile and tears, her sorrow and joy. Hearing Zhao Manxiong’s words, Huang Shi understood that he could not keep her.

"Yang Luhuo is also my subordinate, right?" Huang Shi asked Zhao Manxiong, then turned to Yang Luhuo before he could answer: "I'm giving her to you."

Zhao Manxiong was indifferent, but Jin Qiude still tried to argue.

Huang Shi said weakly, "You all leave, Yang Luhuo, you stay."

After Zhao Manxiong and Jin Qiude left, Huang Shi pointed to Guai Baobao and told her about what happened that day, finally saying to Yang Luhuo, "She refused to betray you no matter what, she's a very good girl. I didn't touch her, she's still a virgin, treat her well."

Yang Luhuo, after hearing the story, was stunned for a long time before silently taking off his cloak and draping it over Guai Baobao, wrapping the girl from head to toe. Guai Baobao, awakened by the darkness, struggled to get up. Yang Luhuo gently patted the cloak, said a few words to comfort the frightened girl, then picked her up and stood up, respectfully saying to Huang Shi, "Yes, sir."

Sun Degong's study naturally needed to be dealt with immediately; Huang Shi didn't want any secret letters to fall into other people's hands. Huang Shi instructed Jin Qiude to handle the matter, then asked, "Where is Miss Sun?"

"In her boudoir," Jin Qiude immediately apologized, "I was forgetful and forgot to search her room."

"I'll go myself."

Huang Shi left his guards outside and pushed open Miss Sun's door, entering alone. The girl hanging from the rafters had her eyes wide open, her tongue lolling out unceremoniously, and her face a purplish-black.

Huang Shi gently closed the door, carried Miss Sun to the bed, closed her eyes and mouth, and after some preparation, the girl appeared to be fast asleep. At this moment, Huang Shi felt as if a giant sledgehammer was repeatedly pounding in his chest.

He saw a silk package on the dressing table, very exquisite, clearly something the girl valued highly.

Huang Shi gently opened it; inside was a branch covered in blooming plum blossoms.

"Master, I wish to ask for something, something to keep as a memento," the girl's shy, hesitant expression reappeared before Huang Shi's eyes.

Huang Shi stroked the plum blossoms on the branch.

"...

It's a pity the plum blossoms will wither in a few days." In ancient times, lovers would give jade as tokens of their affection—symbolizing a long and lasting love. The girl was slightly dissatisfied with Huang Shi's gift.

...

Gold and silver foil were carefully sewn onto each plum blossom, so the plum blossoms in Huang Shi's hands continued to bloom proudly, creating a plum blossom that would never fade.

...

"Don't worry, my lord, I have a way." When they parted that day, the girl touched the plum blossoms and pondered for a while, a happy smile appearing on her fair face.

...

"I wasn't originally this kind of person!" Huang Shi felt a sliver of conscience escape his eyes, and these traces of conscience slid down his cheeks. Huang Shi remembered his favorite Gu Long novels from his past life; the villains in martial arts novels rarely killed, unless they were high-minded scholars, famous ministers, great heroes, or beautiful women.

"If you can't even be a villain, how can you expect to be an emperor?"

Huang Shi quickly kissed the girl's forehead, turned and left the room, leaving behind another conscience that an emperor couldn't possess, beside the withered flowers.

(Chapter 14)

Opening a Path of Life and Death with Both Hands (Chapter 15)

The thousands of soldiers attacking the Sun residence were exhausted, and having already achieved merit, they were now plundering money and women, so they refused to continue fighting. The other detachments began to march towards the east city to attack the rebel army's last two strongholds: the east city camp and the east gate.

"Why won't you back down? You say you don't care about the hatred anymore? I thought women were weak creatures, and women in this era are even weaker. Just tell me..." While Huang Shi was drinking tea in the hall, Zhao Manxiong rushed back, startling him. He quickly asked what was wrong.

Just now, while Huang Shi had Jin Qiude deal with Sun Degong's study, he ordered Zhao Manxiong to lead men to the armory to take advantage of the chaos and bring back some equipment, but they were stopped by the prefect's yamen runners. Zhao Manxiong was also severely scolded by Prefect Gao Bangzuo. If it weren't for the fact that he was Huang Shi's subordinate, he would have been in danger of being beaten.

Just as Huang Shi was listening to his complaints, Yang Luhuo ran in. He took the baby back to Huang Shi's old residence and settled him in his small hut. Then he rushed back to lead the team, saying urgently, "Prefect Gao is here, and he's acting all aggressive."

Huang Shi threw down his teacup and led the two of them out. Gao Bangzuo, looking displeased, immediately launched into a tirade: "Prefect Huang, I know you've rendered great service, but the armory belongs to the state, and so does the equipment. How could you take it without authorization? If soldiers need weapons, I will naturally coordinate the arrangements. If everyone goes to get them on their own, wouldn't that cause chaos?"

After Huang Shi apologized for a long time, Gao Bangzuo's anger subsided slightly. He pointed to several boxes carried by the yamen runners behind him: "I've brought silver here. The reward for capturing the Sun family mansion is here, as are the rewards for killing bandits from this morning until now. Five taels for each head. Supervisor Huang, please help distribute them."

"Thank you, Lord Gao."

"I will naturally think of what the soldiers deserve. You can also report if you need anything. I'm very busy right now, Supervisor Huang, please do as you see fit." Gao Bangzuo still looked angry. He waved his hand and led his men away, leaving behind several large boxes of silver.

The total number of rebels this time was larger than Huang Shi and Fei Liguo had estimated, because several Guangning generals had also participated in Sun Degong's rebellion. All the rebels combined numbered nearly two thousand. There were still a few hundred stubbornly resisting in the east of the city. Everyone knew that time was of the essence.

If the rebels were not eliminated quickly and the city's defenses were not strengthened, the Later Jin army would still be doomed if they attacked from Zhenwu. It was only a little over a day's journey from Zhenwu to Guangning. The rebels seemed determined to hold the city wall and await reinforcements from the Later Jin.

Wang Huazhen personally went to the east of the city. He even ordered Gao Bangzuo to open the Guangning treasury and distribute all the stored silver as rewards, showing his desperation. Zhao Manxiong thought Huang Shi should personally distribute the rewards to make a name for himself; besides, such an opportunity to win hearts and minds was too good to pass up.

"Go and gather the soldiers to receive their rewards!"

Yang Luhuo responded and ran off.

"When will you officiate the wedding, sir?" Zhao Manxiong suddenly asked.

"I'll officiate the wedding?"

"Yes." After Zhao Manxiong's explanation, Huang Shi realized that if Yang Luhuo were to marry the baby, he would have to kowtow to him. Yang Luhuo, a soldier, had no elders, and in feudal society, Huang Shi was his god. Moreover, since it was Huang Shi's decision, the newlyweds would have to kowtow to him to thank him for his favor.

"Sir is wise and far-sighted," Zhao Manxiong flattered him again.

Huang Shi looked at him, bewildered. Zhao Manxiong continued, "Sir, you're giving Brother Yang a chance for revenge."

Zhao Manxiong had also noticed that Yang Luhuo had a crush on Guai Baobao, so he interpreted Huang Shi's conscience in a different way. As for Guai Baobao, she had always secretly bullied the guards, ordering them around and even taking their gifts of rouge. As the captain of the guards, Yang Luhuo naturally bore the brunt of it and suffered terribly.

"This time, Brother Yang will definitely get his revenge." Zhao Manxiong's face revealed an evil smile: "There will be plenty of eavesdropping this time! Among the rouge that girl took, there's also money from my subordinates. We must cheer for Brother Yang and make her suffer to death."

Eavesdropping? Eavesdropping is one thing, but cheering is another? Huang Shi's mind was a bit confused. He didn't know that eavesdropping on wedding nights was a very normal practice in this era. Not to mention military households, even when scholars or literati got married, a bunch of people would eavesdrop through the cracks in the door and the eaves of the window. Cheer for the groom is a common expression of affection among relatives and friends, and some even openly discuss it in public.

Huang Shi, unfamiliar with modern etiquette, assumed it was a Liaodong custom. Pretending to know, he said, "Be careful, Brother Yang might get angry with you."

"Eavesdropping is giving him face!"

"I understand," Huang Shi smiled awkwardly. He recalled the European tradition of watching from the bedside, even among royalty. It seemed the Chinese were more civilized than the barbarians. He casually remarked, "Don't give me face when I get married."

Zhao Manxiong smiled secretly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Huang Shi, focused on the road ahead, didn't notice his expression, otherwise he would have been wary.

The soldiers who came to Huang Shi to receive their rewards were all extremely grateful. A single head was now worth five taels of silver—an astronomical price. Looking at the mountain of heads around him, Huang Shi wondered how many were innocent civilians. However, Huang Shi neither intended nor dared to seriously concern himself with the heads; if it affected morale, everything would be over.

After dealing with the Sun family's problem, Huang Shi pondered the current situation. Although it differed from the original plan, Guangning City had been saved nonetheless. Although the chaos had caused many soldiers and civilians to flee, Huang Shi estimated that he could still muster nearly ten thousand soldiers. With Guangning's strong walls and high fortifications, they might be able to fight the Later Jin.

*Thud*

A large bunch of heads was thrown in front of the piecework soldiers. A soldier covered in blood tilted his head, his expression somewhat arrogant, and said, "Nine heads, forty-five taels of silver, count them." "

You killed them all?" one piecework soldier exclaimed in surprise. It was difficult enough for someone to get one head, and this guy had nine at once.

"Not bad."

Huang Shi was also drawn in. This pile of heads really did look like soldiers' heads rather than civilians. He casually asked, "Are they all rebels?"

"What a joke," the soldier sneered, "What other heads do you want? Do you want women's heads? Just say so, I'll go get them for you."

"Insolence! How dare a lowly soldier be so rude!" Zhao Manxiong's expression changed, and he shouted angrily.

The soldier then examined Huang Shi's armor closely, and somewhat defiantly bowed, saying, "This humble soldier, He Baodao, greets this sir."

Immediately, another soldier shouted, "Look closely, lad! Our sir is Commander Huang Shi."

He Baodao sneered, "I've long admired Commander Huang's name. This time, you're a hero in suppressing the rebellion. You were Sun Degong's son-in-law before, weren't you?"

Zhao Manxiong waved his hand, and several soldiers pinned He Baodao down. Huang Shi frowned and asked him, "I've never met you before, why are you speaking so rudely?"

(End of Chapter 15)

He

Baodao didn't struggle, his voice filled with anger: "I fought valiantly against the rebels, risking my life to obtain these heads. You, sir, didn't even look at them before asking if they were rebel heads. Clearly, you suspect me of killing innocent people and claiming credit."

"Killing one rebel is already difficult enough, let alone nine. Can't I even ask?" Huang Shi was greatly puzzled. This soldier's temper was so easily ignited; he wondered how he had survived to this day.

He Baodao shouted defiantly, "If the lord can't do it, how do you know the underlings can't either?"

The soldiers' faces paled at these words. Huang Shi stopped their movements and asked the piece-rate soldier, "Are they all rebel heads?"

The soldier glanced at He Baodao, who was pinned to the ground, and sneered, "I find it very suspicious and need to investigate carefully."

"Then investigate carefully," Huang Shi snorted. It was truly a miracle that a soldier with He Baodao's personality had survived. He pulled Zhao Manxiong aside and whispered, "Tell the truth."

After a long period of careful questioning, Zhao Manxiong secretly nodded to Huang Shi.

"Let him up and give him forty-five taels of silver."

He Baodao leaped to his feet, took the heavy reward, and casually bowed to Huang Shi: "Can the underlings leave now?"

"What is your current rank, brave man?"

"No rank whatsoever," He Baodao replied lazily.

"Whom do you serve, brave man?" Having been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, Huang Shi had never seen such a hero, whose legs didn't even flinch at the sight of his superiors.

"Reporting to Lord Huang, the troops under Commander Luo were all dead, including Lieutenant General Luo's subordinates, Lieutenant General Wang's subordinates, and Commander Chen's subordinates, including Commander Ma's subordinates. They're now scattered and disorganized."

"Would you be willing to serve under me, sir?"

"We'll talk about it later. Can you leave now?"

The personal guard beside him was breathing heavily, but Huang Shi was becoming increasingly interested in this rare individual: "You may leave now."

"Thanks." He Baodao strode away, with seven or eight soldiers waiting for him not far away. Seeing him casually toss the silver over, they cheered and rushed off, surrounding He Baodao.

The soldiers around Huang Shi all looked resentful, except for Zhao Manxiong, who secretly slipped over and said, "Sir, you admire this He Baodao, don't you?"

"Yes, but I don't know how to subdue someone like him."

"I do have a plan," Zhao Manxiong whispered in Huang Shi's ear.

After listening, Huang Shi loudly asked the surrounding soldiers, "Does anyone know the background of that He Baodao?"

Guangning City was so big, how many soldiers would know? The soldiers who came to claim the reward all shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.

"Truly a rare hero," Huang Shi praised loudly in front of everyone, "Whoever can persuade He Baodao to join me, Huang Shi, will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver!"

"Is this what 'buying bones with a thousand pieces of gold' means?" Huang Shi asked Zhao Manxiong after announcing the reward.

“This kind of person clearly cares about face, not money. With your outburst, the whole of Guangning knows you're eager to recruit talent, which will greatly enhance your reputation. Even if others want to recruit him, they'll have to give you face.” This kind of ungrateful person probably wouldn't obey military discipline either. Zhao Manxiong felt no officer would want to recruit such a hothead; his superior's selection criteria were rather unusual. Just

as the two were chatting and laughing, a loud bang suddenly came from the east of the city, followed by flames rising in the eastern sky. Huang Shi immediately sent a soldier to investigate.

“Sir,” the soldier rushed back, furious, “that scoundrel Lu Guozhi set fire to the east gate and even used gunpowder to blow up the enemy tower there!”

It turned out that the traitor Lu Guozhi, who was holding the east gate, had already planted explosives there as a precaution. After Sun Degong's death, the pacification army began a fierce attack on the east gate, but they couldn't hold out for long. After Wang Huazhen captured the Dongcheng military camp, Lu Guozhi, unable to hold out alone, could only lead a hundred men to retreat and defend the eastern gate's barbican.

Wang Huazhen, filled with hatred for the rebels, immediately sent men out of the north gate to encircle the eastern barbican, intending to wipe them out. Lu Guozhi knew the situation was hopeless; he knew he wouldn't receive any reinforcements from the Later Jin. In his escape, he detonated gunpowder beneath the barbican wall and set fire to nearby houses and the gate tower.

By the time Huang Shi arrived, the fire at the eastern gate was already raging, with many houses ablaze. The intense heat made it impossible to approach, and sporadic explosions could be heard intermittently.

A corner of the eastern gate tower had collapsed; although most of the remaining structure was obscured by flames and smoke, Huang Shi could still see that the bricks and stones were glowing red-hot.

Not far away, Huang Shi spotted Prefect Gao Bangzuo. The prefect's official hat had been swept away by the heat, and his blue robes were disheveled by the wind. He stared blankly at the raging fire. Huang Shi rushed over: "Prefect Gao, what are you looking at here for? Call more people! Put out the fire quickly! We still need to repair the city walls!"

Sensing Huang Shi's reproach, Gao Bangzuo, disregarding his dignity, angrily shouted, "Prefect Huang, are you criticizing me? Eight out of ten clerks and village heads have fled, and most of the people have escaped the city! Prefect Huang, where am I supposed to find people?"

This loud shout immediately reminded Huang Shi that the prefect was a civil official, far superior to him, a mere military man . The official rank was significantly higher than before, and he quickly stepped back and bowed, saying, "Lord Gao, things can be accomplished by human effort. This humble servant will immediately go to the governor to request troops, and asks Lord Gao to do his best to gather some manpower."

This attitude calmed Gao Bangzuo down, and he understood that this was not the time to flaunt his official power, so he said solemnly, "Then I will trouble Governor Huang."

The entire city of Guangning was in chaos. Both the rebels and the pacification forces had set fires during their battle, and flames were still everywhere along the road. Some people were struggling to save their homes. However, many burning houses were left unattended, probably because their owners had abandoned their property and fled Guangning.

Huang Shi often encountered fleeing soldiers on the road. Although the rebellion had been quelled, the chaos had just ended, and without officers to control them, some soldiers began to plunder the people. At first, they searched for empty houses and stole ownerless property, but it soon escalated into murder and robbery.

Although the yamen runners of the prefectural government were trying their best to suppress the rioting soldiers, most of their manpower had been diverted to protect warehouses and organize laborers. Moreover, the yamen runners had suffered considerable losses, and the number of mutinous soldiers was still large, so the city remained in chaos.

Under the heavy protection of his personal guards and troops, Huang Shi was naturally very safe, but he could constantly hear the screams of civilians, the angry shouts and fighting of men, and the cries of women and children. He could even see soldiers setting fire to houses.

Huang Shi felt he couldn't let this go unchecked, so he sent his men to assist the yamen runners in capturing the mutinous soldiers. He ordered his men to take them all to the prefectural government office or to bring them into the military camp for discipline.

He searched high and low, but Huang Shi couldn't find Wang Huazhen, nor could he find a trace of Jiang Chaodong, the military commander of Guangning. After searching for a while longer, Huang Shi discovered that the Liaodong governor's personal guards were also gone.

If Wang Huazhen escapes again, Guangning will be thrown into chaos once more. Thinking of this, Huang Shi broke out in a cold sweat and cracked his whip: "Immediately proceed to the East Gate."

(End of Chapter 16)

Clearing a Path of Life and Death with Both Hands Chapter 17:

Although the fire at the East Gate hadn't subsided, it was clearly under control. Gao Bangzuo had somehow retrieved his official hat, and his Ming Dynasty official robes were neatly arranged. Thousands of soldiers and civilians were forming a human chain to pass water buckets. Censor Fang Zhenru was also there, talking to Gao Bangzuo.

Upon seeing Huang Shi return, Gao Bangzuo hurriedly asked, "Did Commander Huang see the Governor? Lord Fang was also anxious to find the Governor, and even came all the way here."

Huang Shi smiled and said to Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzuo, "Reporting to you both, the Governor has ordered that the task of fighting the fire and repairing the city be entrusted to Lord Gao in full charge. We, the soldiers of Guangning, are also under your command."

"Thank you for your trouble, Commander Huang." Gao Bangzuo felt relieved and quickly turned to instruct the officials around him, "Pass down the order to immediately slaughter pigs and prepare food, and provide an extra meal at night to ensure that the soldiers and civilians are well-fed. At the same time, gather as much manpower and bricks as possible. After the fire is extinguished, immediately repair the city walls. The repair of the city walls must not be delayed tonight."

After giving some important instructions, Gao Bangzuo smiled at Huang Shi again, "Commander Huang, you have returned to quell the rebellion. This great achievement is naturally within your grasp. I have no say in this matter, I can only congratulate Commander Huang." However, rescuing the people is our duty. Governor Huang's great achievement in pacifying the rebels deserves a separate commendation.

"This is all within my duties, Lord Gao, you flatter me." Seeing that the situation at the East Gate had stabilized, Huang Shi considered making an excuse to leave and go find Wang Huazhen: "I still need to report to Lord Wang, I must take my leave." Fang Zhenru

also smiled and said, "I will go with Governor Huang. As the Imperial Censor and Governor of Liaodong, I must be by your side in times of crisis."

Even if Fang Zhenru hadn't mentioned it, Huang Shi would have dragged him away. If Wang Huazhen escaped, he would have to discuss a solution with the Imperial Censor. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Fei Liguo, disregarding his injured leg, arrived on horseback with four or five personal guards. Before even dismounting, he shouted at Huang Shi, "Lord Wang has left the city! Lord Wang has left the city!"

This shout not only immediately stunned Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzuo, but also caused an uproar in the crowd.

After dismounting, Fei Liguo hurriedly bowed to Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru, saying, "Lord Gao, Lord Fang."

Then, ignoring the gloomy-faced Gao Bangzuo, he pulled Huang Shi aside and shouted urgently, "General Jiang is protecting Wang Hua... protecting the Governor out of the city! It's true! My men are starting to panic; some are trying to escape. I've barely managed to control them, and they're now gathered outside the North Gate. Huang Shi, let's hurry, or the soldiers will scatter!"

"Keep your voice down," Huang Shi interrupted Fei Liguo, asking softly, "Where are you planning to go? Liaoxi? To be played to death by that Jurchen spy whose identity we don't even know yet?"

"We can't worry about that now. When we get to Liaoxi, we'll first accuse Zu Dashou. I've thought about it; the two of us will go together. Maybe it'll work."

"We don't even know if it's Zu Dashou or not, let alone that he's a famous general in Liaoxi and the deputy commander of Guan Ning. Do you think the two of us can accuse him?" Huang Shi retorted with a cold smile. "Besides, what about our speculation? Should we report our treasonous activities first?"

"Right now, we can only take it one step at a time. We can discuss it on the way." Seeing Huang Shi still hesitating, Fei Liguo jumped up and down anxiously. "Hurry up, hurry up! We can discuss how to accuse Zu Dashou on the way."

Huang Shi pondered without answering. He looked back at Gao Bangzuo's side. The subordinates of the Guangning Prefectural Government Office had all stopped what they were doing and gathered together, whispering among themselves. The soldiers and civilians at the city gate were also looking this way. Shouts kept rising from the crowd: "Governor Wang has already fled. The Jurchens are probably coming to kill us."

Sun Degong was dead, and Fei Liguo was in a state of panic. Apart from an unidentified Later Jin spy, no one else on the Ming court knew the truth. Huang Shi pushed Fei Liguo, saying, "I'll go with you. Let's go to Liaoxi first."

Fei Liguo agreed and turned to mount his horse, but Huang Shi drew his knife and plunged it into Fei Liguo's back. Huang Shi then twisted the hilt sharply, the blade churning violently. Fei Liguo coughed up blood and fragments of internal organs, collapsing to the ground without uttering a word.

Huang Shi stepped on the corpse, kicked it aside, drew his blood-soaked sword, raised it high above his head, and shouted at the crowd, "Fei Liguo spread rumors and has been executed! Do not panic, continue fighting the fire!"

At this moment, Jin Qiude's men had already captured several of Fei Liguo's personal guards, and with a gesture from Huang Shi, several more heads fell to the ground. Huang Shi called over Jin Qiude and pointed to his personal guards, "Take them and your men to the north gate immediately to take over Fei Liguo's troops. Jin Qiude, if the old captain disobeys, kill him and replace him with these men. Anyone else who is disobedient should also be killed."

After Jin Qiude left, Huang Shi rushed to Gao Bangzuo. Gao Bangzuo's face was ashen. Huang Shi forced a smile and said, "I'll go see the governor right away and ask him to continue organizing manpower. The east gate depends entirely on you, sir."

Gao Bangzuo silently shook his head, his voice sounding ten years older when he spoke: "Governor Huang, stop pretending. Are you still trying to deceive me now?"

Huang Shi whispered, "Sir Gao, I will definitely bring the governor back. Please don't be discouraged."

Gao Bangzuo shook his head again. Fang Zhenru's face was ashen. Some of the officials from the Guangning Prefectural Government had already dispersed, and the water-carrying procession had stopped. Many people began to flee noisily.

"Commander Huang's righteousness truly makes this old man ashamed." Fang Zhenru looked at Huang Shi's anxious face and felt ashamed. "If everyone were like Commander Huang, the Liaodong affair wouldn't have escalated to this point."

"My lords." "

Commander Huang, there's no need to say more. Look around." Gao Bangzuo pointed to the crowd outside the East Gate. Four-tenths of the Guangning officials had already fled, half of the soldiers in the prefectural government were gone, and the able-bodied men he had painstakingly organized had all deserted.

"The East Gate has collapsed, the governor has run away, the Jurchens are here!" Such cries echoed throughout half of Guangning City.

Seeing this, Huang Shi said urgently, "Lord Gao, how can we enter the pass if we cannot save Guangning?"

"My lord," as he spoke, one of Jin Qiude's personal guards rushed over. After bowing, he hurriedly reported, "Fei Liguo's men are causing trouble. Commander Jin is trying his best to suppress them, but half of them have scattered. They are now barely under control, but it is still very chaotic. Commander Jin requests that you send more men immediately."

"My lord," Zhao Manxiong also rushed over in a panic, "The defeated soldiers in Guangning have fled through the gates, and a large number of rioters are setting fires and looting. Our troops are also starting to fall into disarray. My subordinates dare not divide their troops to suppress them. They are now gathered together. Please go immediately to stabilize the morale of the troops."

"Take him to the north gate immediately and meet up with Jin Qiude. Wait for me there." After giving the order, Huang Shi apologized to Fang and Gao: "This humble official has failed in his duty to discipline the troops. Please forgive me, Your Excellencies."

Fang Zhenru coughed and cleared his throat: "I greatly admire Commander Huang's composure in the face of danger. However, with the governor and the military commissioner absent, I, the Imperial Censor, will temporarily take over the Guangning army. Commander Huang, please reorganize the troops and escort me and Lord Gao out of the city."

(End of Chapter 17)

(End of Chapter)

Extra Chapter:

"Records of the National History, True Records of Emperor Taizu's Military Achievements"

In the first month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, the Ming army fought against the Jianzhou Jurchens at Xiping. Degong, who had colluded with the enemy, was in front, while Dashou escaped behind. Both flanks collapsed, and the Ming army suffered a crushing defeat. Emperor Taizu broke through the encirclement and escaped with only a hundred men.

The crowd discussed fleeing south, but Emperor Taizu said it was not advisable and returned the army to the walls of Guangning. Degong's followers numbered in the thousands and occupied the four gates. Emperor Taizu breached the north gate, rescued Hua Zhen, and led his troops into Guangning. At that time, arrows rained down like snow, and flames raged across the sky. Taizu, wielding a three-foot-long sword, slew countless enemies, and those who faced him were routed. He was rewarded with his head, and Guangning was thus recaptured.

Taizu rallied the scattered troops, issued proclamations to reassure the people, and the city, once in danger, was restored; its morale plummeted, but it was restored. Observers all believed Guangning was secure.

Unexpectedly, Hua Zhen secretly fled, ruining the entire effort.

The historian Jing writes:

At that time, Zhao Manxiong, Jin Qiude, and Yang Zhiyuan all served in Taizu's army. Taizu was valiant, aided by Manxiong's wisdom and combined with Deyuan's bravery; fortifying the city was indeed easy.

If Hua Zhen had been close to and trusted by them, and Taizu had commanded tens of thousands of elite troops, Liaodong would not have been easily pacified. Why did he die in Dongcao, and why was his head sent to the nine border regions?

Hua Zhen was insignificant and mediocre. Taizu led a small force, returned to quell the rebellion, and recaptured Guangning, yet he failed to achieve complete victory—a great pity.

Volume 5,

Chapter 1:

A Scholar Who Cannot Be Trusted!

Thinking it over, the matter still needed to be handled. If he hadn't needed Huang Shi's help, Fang Zhenru wouldn't have used such a polite tone.

Although the censor was only a seventh-rank official, the Ming Dynasty ruled by civil officials, so their power was immense. Even a third-rank military officer like Huang Shi, a fourth-rank supervisor, could be beaten by a censor at the slightest provocation.

Huang Shi couldn't challenge the authority of the civil officials and could only turn to Gao Bangzuo, the prefect of Guangning, for help.

"The affairs of the Guangning army are not for me to decide. Everything is at your command, Lord Fang," Gao Bangzuo said, avoiding Huang Shi's gaze and ordering his subordinates to gather the soldiers of the prefectural government office.

"I know you, Commander Huang, are a brave general, but mere brute force cannot achieve great things," Fang Zhenru said in a very gentle tone, his words in line with the tradition of disdain for military officials. "I have my own plans; Commander Huang only needs to follow my orders."

"Yes, Your Excellency, I obey. Please give the order." Huang Shi knew that since the Prefect of Guangning and the Censor of Liaodong had lost confidence, he had absolutely no chance of winning against all odds.

Huang Shi escorted Fang Zhenru and the soldiers of the Guangning Prefectural Government to the North Gate. Jin Qiude and Zhao Manxiong had already reorganized the pacification army. Before Huang Shi could ask any questions, they rushed over to apologize: "Your subordinates are incompetent; some soldiers deserted in the chaos. Please punish us, Your Excellency."

"How many men do you have left?"

"I still have 460 cavalry and 600 infantry."

Most of the hundreds of deserters were those who had been organized after entering the city; the soldiers who had followed from Xiping were mostly still there. The series of military operations over the past two days had earned Huang Shi prestige. Most of the scattered cavalrymen gathered on the Xiping Road were willing to obey Huang Shi's orders, including some of Fei Liguo's followers.

When Huang Shi appeared, over three hundred cavalrymen who had followed him cheered and raised their weapons high. This scene inspired the other soldiers, greatly stabilizing morale.

"Commander Huang, please help this prefecture gather the refugees."

Huang Shi was still angry with Gao Bangzuo, but he still ordered his men to cooperate as much as possible. Although he had abandoned Guangning, Huang Shi didn't want the hundreds of thousands of residents to scatter and flee. He realized he still had his bottom line.

"Set fire to the granaries, cloth warehouses, and other storage facilities. Detonate the gunpowder magazines. Zhao Manxiong will lead the troops, and our soldiers will take turns changing into armory supplies, then burn them down." Huang Shi remembered that historically, Nurhaci had taken two hundred cannons, tens of thousands of suits of armor, a million shi of rice and beans, and a large amount of silver from Guangning, and it wasn't until the end of the third year of the Tianqi reign that he emptied the spoils

of war. Now, he wouldn't be able to get a single hair. Although it was still afternoon, the city of Guangning was soon engulfed in flames, clearly visible for dozens of miles around. Gao Bangzuo was still gathering the people, organizing them to help the old and young. The scattered civilians would certainly be plundered by bandits and defeated soldiers; in chaotic times, human life was worth less than a dog.

Fang Zhenru ordered the Guangning army to travel with Gao Bangzuo's refugee group to provide protection. The Guangning prefectural government led the refugees first, followed by the more than two thousand Guangning soldiers gathered by Huang Shi. The same old problem persisted: there were no officers. Their temporary supreme commander—Huang Shi—only hoped to avoid any battle.

Soldiers departed in columns, with Huang Shi leading three hundred cavalrymen to the rear:

"My lord, let's set off."

Gao Bangzuo ignored him, staring blankly at the raging fire atop Guangning City. Fang Zhenru secretly told Huang Shi, "The imperial court expanded Guangning City; every brick and stone of the city walls, countless warehouses and military camps, were all personally overseen and rushed by Lord Gao. Now, he's expected to watch the entire city burn to the ground."

Every night after nightfall, Huang Shi ordered the new recruits and the routed deserters gathered along the way to camp inside, while the veterans and soldiers from the prefectural government camped outside, surrounding the civilians on all sides. Gao Bangzuo was in charge of administration, and things were relatively orderly; thankfully, the historical tragedy of hundreds of thousands of refugees freezing to death in the wilderness did not occur.

Starting the next morning, the weather turned bad, and it began to snow. On the third day after leaving Guangning, a messenger arrived to convey to Fang Zhenru the order from Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner: burn all granaries and fortresses.

The Ming Dynasty had managed Liaodong for two hundred years, constructing hundreds of fortresses and storing vast amounts of supplies. When Korean envoys passed through Liaodong, they were often struck by the vast, sprawling network of fortresses stretching for thousands of miles, marveling at the abundance of Chinese resources. Upon hearing this order, Huang Shi realized that Xiong Tingbi had finally made a grave mistake.

The Ming Dynasty, having poured two centuries of national strength into building hundreds of miles of defenses deep in Liaodong, had reduced them to ashes by this order. Subsequently, the Liaodong region west of Fengji Fort was occupied by the Mongols, and the Jin cavalry, crossing the Liao River, traversed the plains unimpeded. Sun Chengzong was forced to rebuild from scratch outside Shanhaiguan.

Hundreds of fortified cities in Liaodong burned one after another, millions of people were displaced, and wherever Huang Shi traveled south, all he saw were ruins and wisps of smoke.

In addition, dozens of fortresses surrendered to the Later Jin. Because the garrisons of the surrounding fortresses withdrew, in the chaos, the troops, people, and supplies in these fortresses all fell into the hands of the Later Jin. These included: Jinzhou, Songshan, Dalinghe, Xiaolinghe, Qianmaling, Zhengan, Jinchang, Zhong'an, Panshan, Xingshan, Qiaoshoubao, Xixingbao, Tiechangbao, Jin'anbao, Youtunwei, Tuanshanbao, Zhenningbao, Zhenyuanbao, Zhen'anbao, Zhenjingbao, Zhenwubao, Zhenyibao, Daqingbao, Dakangbao, Dajingbao, Daningbao, Dapingbao, Da'anbao, Daxingbao, Damaobao, Dashengbao, Dazhenbao, Dafubao, Dadingbao, Zhuangzhenbao, Qijiabao, Lüyangyi, and Shisanshanyi.

After removing the people and supplies, the Later Jin burned all these fortresses to the ground. Historically, the Ming Dynasty, after exhausting its national strength for the next twenty years, caused widespread turmoil, yet the defense system in Liaodong had not recovered even a fraction of its former glory.

A few days after the great fire in Liaodong, Mongol reinforcements arrived in Guangning. Seeing the ruins, they were terrified and spread rumors of the Later Jin's power. The Mongols and the Later Jin vanguard clashed briefly before retreating, but this engagement halted the Later Jin's pursuit, allowing the Guangning army to safely advance south. However, since the Ming army had retreated into western Liaodong, many Mongol tribes believed the Later Jin could survive and became increasingly ambivalent, secretly colluding with them.

"Xiong Tingbi, Xiong Jinglue, if I didn't know you had Later Jin spies around you, I would truly say you were a minister who ruined the country, completely courting death."

Historically, the Guan Ning army only advanced as far as the Daling River, occupying less than seven percent of the entire Liaodong region. Most of the time, the 100,000 Guan Ning troops were compressed by the even smaller Later Jin army into the Liaoxi Corridor between Shanhaiguan and Jinzhou, occupying less than five percent of the land area.

Huang Shi believed that Xiong Tingbi's order to retreat was largely to blame for the dire situation Liaoxi would face in the future.

Since history hadn't changed drastically, Huang Shi knew he had no chance of achieving anything significant at Shanhaiguan. This order left the Ming army with no foothold outside the pass, and what they needed most now was a fortification expert like Yuan Chonghuan.

The next day, Huang Shi went for a walk outside the camp, accompanied only by Zhao Manxiong. The two talked as they walked, discussing not only military matters but also some petty squabbles.

Zhao Manxiong had some reservations about Jin Qiude, but Huang Shi disagreed. He believed that a "king's heart" included confidence, and being overly wary of subordinates was a sign of insecurity. As for Jin Qiude, as Huang Taiji said, if used well, he was merely a sharp blade in the hands of a powerful ruler.

Was Huang Shi himself any less insightful than Jin Qiude? Couldn't he see his ambition? It was simply that a true king has the bearing of a king and is not afraid of ambition.

"Ah—" In the deserted wilderness, Huang Shi roared to the sky, while Zhao Manxiong stood silently behind him.

Huang Shi shouted until he was exhausted before stopping, as if speaking to Zhao Manxiong, but also as if talking to himself: "I'm so tired, life is so tiring."

"Sometimes, I really want to retire to the mountains, farm a couple of acres, and hunt rabbits when I have nothing to do." Huang Shi plopped down on the ground, took off his helmet and threw it far away: "Marry a beautiful wife and have a bunch of fat sons."

"Farming? I think that's tiring too."

"Slip of the tongue." Huang Shi chuckled: "I meant to buy more land and hire some people to farm it. That way I can enjoy life, right?"

"Not bad," Zhao Manxiong applauded: "You can also take a few concubines, that would be even more enjoyable. Sir, please take me away quickly, let me be your steward and help you lead the dogs and hunt."

"Okay, I will definitely hire you as my steward." Huang Shi closed his eyes and fantasized, his face full of a faint smile, and after a long time he opened his eyes and said: "Brother Manxiong, you almost persuaded me."

"Just a little short? Oh dear, what a pity. If I had known, I would have used my full strength earlier, and then I would be Master Huang's steward."

The two men exchanged a smile.

"My lord, we will soon reach Ningyuan, and then we can head straight for Shanhaiguan, where we can finally relax." After laughing, Huang Shi and his men began to head back. A

leisurely life in Liaoxi? Huang Shi didn't speak, but stretched his arms and yawned. The north wind swept across the ground, and Huang Shi's armor fluttered in the wind. He stopped, closed his eyes, and listened to the rustling of the red tassel on his helmet. How leisurely and carefree! He wished he could stay like this forever. These past few days away from Guangning had been the most relaxed period Huang Shi had experienced in a long time.

"After the Battle of Guangning, Your Excellency has become famous throughout the land. With the army now defeated, Liao generals are either fleeing or surrendering. Once Your Excellency arrives in Liaoxi, you will surely be highly valued by the court." Zhao Manxiong spoke loudly behind him. Huang Shi stood with his hands on his hips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, his cloak fluttering behind him.

Huang Shi opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. A voice seemed to echo from above: "Go to Liaodong! There are thousands of miles of mountains and rivers there, a vast and promising land!"

Zhao Manxiong's voice continued: "Your Excellency is even more dashing. Along the way, I've seen many young ladies frequently casting their gazes at you. Given Your Excellency's limitless future, proposing marriage to a scholarly family wouldn't be an insult to them." "

Is that so?" Tall and imposing in his military uniform, Huang Shi was certainly eye-catching. A high salary and a good family beckoned to him from the other side of Shanhaiguan.

A voice from the depths whispered in his ear, "How can a true man be controlled by a civil official, spending four years in despair in Liaoxi, where there is no war?"

Ningyuan was soon in sight, and Huang Shi finally made up his mind, bidding farewell to Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzuo:

"Does Commander Huang intend to desert?" Fang Zhenru was taken aback, looking at Huang Shi in disbelief.

(Chapter 01)

Chapter 02

"Your Excellency, General Chen Qu and Deputy General Luo Yiguan of Guangning Town died in battle in Xiping. Now, Deputy General Mao Wenlong is the most respected commander in Guangning Town. As the Commander of Guangning Army, I should go to General Mao's place to await orders."

"But Deputy General Mao is far away in Korea!" Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru said in unison.

"A few days ago, Guangning reported that General Mao has recovered Lushun. I intend to lead my troops to Lushun."

Gao Bangzuo did not want Huang Shi's troops to leave, but Huang Shi, as a Guangning officer, going to Mao Wenlong's place to return to his post was a plausible reason. Gao Bangzuo was merely a local official, the prefect of Guangning, and had no real power over Huang Shi. He could only listen in at the moment.

Fang Zhenru, too, didn't want Huang Shi to leave. With Guangning fallen and 130,000 troops wiped out in a few days, it was no wonder the court was furious. Fang Zhenru's merit in rallying the remnants of the army and covering the civilians' escape south far exceeded his official position. In his eyes, Huang Shi was a rare commodity. If this hero, the primary contributor to suppressing the rebellion

, spoke well of him, his future would be very bright. He had been deliberately trying to win Huang Shi over these past few days. Furthermore, Fang Zhenru estimated that he would definitely have to stay in Liaodong. A "fierce general" like Huang Shi was not only a crucial ally in the army but also a lifeline. If Huang Shi left, he would no longer be able to write memorials in Huang Shi's name, nor could he rely on the "bravery" of this "fierce general."

As the Imperial Censor and Governor of Liaodong, Fang Zhenru had absolute authority over the Guangning Army. He decided to reason with Huang Shi: "Does Governor Huang know that the land route to Lushun is a thousand miles, and that we must pass through Haizhou and Fuzhou, which are occupied by the Jurchens?" "

This humble official only seeks to kill the Jurchens to serve the country, and dares not be afraid of death." Huang Shi knew that there was no threat of war in western Liaoning, so he said this casually. However, he immediately realized that it was inappropriate. The Ming court could not predict history, and the officials were naturally more concerned about Shanhaiguan.

Sure enough.

"Instead of striking the bell, you go to smelt copper? This argument is wrong, and I cannot agree with it. That's it, go down."

"Your Excellency is wise." Huang Shi's last reason was weak and feeble: "Many of my subordinates are from Liaodong. Your order to burn the city has already caused an uproar. Their parents and families are all in Liaodong. If I force them to go inside the pass, I'm afraid the morale of the army will be unstable."

"Solidifying your argument! Then you should suppress it instead of condoning it." Fang Zhenru was furious when he heard this and was about to reprimand him severely when Gao Bangzuo suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

Fang Zhenru was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on, and his tone immediately softened: "Does Governor Huang have some personal reasons? Do you have family or something in Liaodong? Tell me, and I will not blame you."

Huang Shi then recounted how Old Zhang had saved his life, saying that the thought of his savior still in danger made it impossible for him to leave in peace.

Fang Zhenru was dumbfounded and speechless for a moment. Putting his savior in danger was a great injustice. Although he felt that Huang Shi going to Liuhe might not be useful, and he would most likely still not be able to pick up the person, Fang Zhenru couldn't bring himself to advise someone to do something unjust.

Fortunately, Gao Bangzuo came to his rescue, interjecting in a dismissive tone, "Governor Huang, they have indeed done you a great favor, but you now hold an official position in the court. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be reconciled, nor can loyalty and righteousness... sometimes loyalty and righteousness cannot be reconciled either. Besides, serving the court is a greater cause, while the life-saving grace is a smaller one... no, it is also a greater cause, but still a little smaller. In short, of course, one should repay the kindness of the emperor and father first, and then talk about personal feelings with friends."

Fang Zhenru quickly nodded, "Lord Gao, this is the right thing to do, the right thing to do."

Seeing that Huang Shi was still trying to argue, Fang Zhenru's expression tightened, "Insolence! Why don't you step back and think carefully about what Lord Gao said?"

Huang Shi thought to himself that it was only right to be dragged out and beaten to death for contradicting a civil official, and he went back

to think about how he could avoid going to Liaoxi. Huang Shi couldn't think of anything by himself, so he pulled Jin Qiude, Yang Luhuo, and Zhao Manxiong over to help him think of a solution. Huang Shi first explained his thoughts, stating that there wouldn't be any significant military achievements in Liaoxi, so everyone should focus on developing their forces in Lushun.

"Does Your Excellency really believe there won't be any major battles in Liaoxi?" Jin Qiude objected immediately, "I believe Liaoxi will be the first to suffer."

"With Mao Wenlong there, the Jurchens can't launch a large-scale westward offensive," Huang Shi said impatiently. This question was neither important nor easy to explain, and he didn't intend to waste time on it.

Zhao Manxiong also objected, "Does Your Excellency overestimate Mao Wenlong? I heard he suffered a crushing defeat in Korea."

"If you want to achieve merit, you must go to Liaodong. That's it, no need to elaborate." Liaoxi had civil officials, and the military achievements wouldn't all go to Huang Shi.

Yang Luhuo had his own selfish motives: "This journey to Liaodong is a thousand miles long, and I'm afraid I'll face nine deaths and one life."

"No pain, no gain," Huang Shi said, standing with his hands behind his back, no longer intending to persuade him. "What do you say?"

The three exchanged glances and then bowed down together: "Since you have such aspirations, sir, we will certainly follow you."

"Good, now that Lord Fang and Lord Gao won't let me leave, come up with some ideas."

Jin Qiude's suggestion was immediately rejected; killing officials and rebelling—how could he even bring himself to say that? Yang Luhuo suggested a private escape, but that was also inappropriate, because not only would they be unable to gather a force, but they would also easily be arrested as traitors. Huang Shi hadn't realized Yang Luhuo was so foolish before. Huang Shi looked at Zhao Manxiong, who had been deep in thought, and asked him for his opinion.

Zhao Manxiong shook his head: "My lord, it's not that I haven't tried my best, but the Ming military system is based on civil administration. Officers and soldiers are used to obeying the orders of civil officials. Without their consent, we can't accomplish anything."

"Is there really no other way?" Huang Shi asked angrily.

Under his fierce gaze, Zhao Manxiong still shook his head: "There's no way, my lord."

Were these three people truly on his side? Just as Huang Shi was at his wit's end, Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru suddenly came to summon him.

Upon meeting, Gao Bangzuo sat solemnly to one side, while Fang Zhenru launched into a long, eloquent speech on loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. Then he asked Huang Shi if he understood.

"This subordinate understands," Huang Shi replied irritably, his tone not very respectful.

Fang Zhenru, unperturbed, continued solemnly, "Therefore, if someone requests to leave to repay a personal favor, I absolutely cannot agree. Do you truly understand, Governor Huang?"

His words seemed to have a hidden meaning, and Huang Shi didn't answer immediately but began to ponder.

Seeing Huang Shi's silence, Fang Zhenru spoke in an official tone, "Governor Huang is utterly loyal. Such a reason, let alone my disagreement, even if reported to the court, would not be believed. Didn't Governor Huang say, 'Without Guangning, I have no face to enter the pass'? If you are requesting to leave for this reason, perhaps I will grant it."

Huang Shi opened his mouth in disbelief, but Fang Zhenru's deadpan face remained expressionless. He then glanced at Gao Bangzu beside him, who gave him an encouraging smile.

"This humble servant, this humble servant..." Huang Shi was somewhat at a loss for words.

"Commander Huang, you've done so much for the country these past few days." Fang Zhenru suddenly smiled, a hint of humanity appearing on his zombie-like face, his expression becoming more complex. "Commander Huang and the Guangning Army are so loyal and brave, yet the Liaodong situation remains dire. It is indeed our dereliction of duty."

Gao Bangzuo chimed in, "Commander Huang, you military officers only know how to kill the enemy, but we must consider the nation's well-being and the people's welfare. So sometimes we may seem cold-hearted. Please don't take offense. To be honest, I greatly envy you; being a military officer doesn't require you to think so much." "

This humble officer thanks both of you."

Fang Zhenru tightened his expression again, took out a document, and began to read:

"Your subject, Fang Zhenru, Imperial Censor and Governor of Liaodong, reports: ...I have heard that a strong wind reveals the sturdy grass, and turbulent times reveal the loyal and virtuous. I have observed that Huang Shi, the Military Commander of Guangning, is commendable for his loyalty and bravery, and has a strong will to resist the Jurchens and never enter the pass. I deeply admire him and have discussed with my colleague, Gao Bangzuo, the Prefect of Guangning, that in this time of crisis, morale must be boosted and not dampened.

Therefore, I hereby appoint Huang Shi as a guerrilla commander in Guangning, and assign him two hundred elite soldiers to go to Liuhe and other garrisons to gather scattered troops, and to act as he sees fit..." Gao Bangzuo said to Huang Shi, "This Prefect and Lord Fang still need to cover the return of a large number of refugees, so we cannot give you too many soldiers, but you can take all the horses with you. Commander Huang

, take care on your journey." "What Commander Huang? He's clearly General Huang now." Fang Zhenru snorted, "General Huang, in terms of your merits, it wouldn't be unreasonable to grant you a deputy general title. However, my authority is limited, so I can only give you a guerrilla commander title for now."

"This humble servant thanks Lord Fang."

"No need to thank me, thank Lord Gao instead." Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzuo had been discussing this for a long time. They both honestly admitted that everyone has selfish motives. Huang Shi risked his life to return and quell the rebellion, saving the entire city's inhabitants. They felt Huang Shi should repay this debt of gratitude. Both men were followers of Wang Yangming, emphasizing the unity of knowledge and action.

Fang Zhenru, realizing his own motives for keeping Huang Shi around were largely self-serving, felt even more guilty. He felt that if even a Confucian scholar couldn't put public duty before private interests, how could he accuse a military man of being ignorant of the bigger picture? Huang Shi had left a deep impression on them. Fang Zhenru vaguely felt that Huang Shi was even more "loyal and devoted to the country" than himself. The thought that he was "oppressing" a loyal and righteous man made him feel even worse.

"This humble official thanks Lord Gao."

"General Huang, when the nation is in peril, every citizen has a duty. This is the great righteousness of our Chinese nation. Before parting, I have a few words to offer..." Gao Bangzuo said "a few words," but in reality, it was more than a hundred. Towards the end, he even took out several Confucian classics and gave them to Huang Shi, telling him to find a scribe to read them later.

"General Huang can read? That's even better." Gao Bangzuo quickly opened the books and pointed out some key points to Huang Shi: "These books are from my collection. General Huang's inherent loyalty goes without saying, but you should still read the teachings of the sages. And these annotations are my insights from my studies; I hope they will be helpful to you, General."

Huang Shi could tell that Gao Bangzuo had already positioned himself as a criminal, worried that he would have no more opportunities to preach to others.

Although Huang Shi didn't have a good impression of Confucianism, it was still a belief, and Huang Shi always held a certain respect for those who truly had faith.

Out of this respect, Huang Shi listened attentively and occasionally asked questions. The time spent on online forums in later generations gave Huang Shi a basic understanding of Confucianism. Modern people, with their broader horizons and stronger capacity for acceptance, were particularly pleased.

Gao Bangzuo was overjoyed, feeling that Huang Shi was a promising young man. However, he immediately thought that he was a local official who had abandoned his territory and city, while Huang Shi was about to embark on a long expedition. Their separation was imminent,

and a wave of sadness washed over him. Before parting, Gao Bangzuo patiently explained Confucianism to Huang Shi, his gaze filled with both joy and admiration, but also with regret and melancholy.

(End of Chapter 2)

Don't say there are no friends at the ends of the earth. Chapter 3:

When selecting his subordinates, Huang Shi did not hide his purpose, because he believed that it was better to be clear from the beginning than to have deserters everywhere. Problems did arise. Although many cavalrymen had developed initial trust in Huang Shi, many soldiers were still unwilling to undertake a long journey to Lushun. The only thing that pleased Huang Shi was that He Baodao brought more than twenty brothers to join him.

He Baodao was from Mizhi, Shaanxi, born into a hereditary military family in the Qin Chuan region. The current clan head was He Renlong, a hereditary commander of a thousand households during the Ming Dynasty, now holding the rank of adjutant general. Upon hearing his background, Huang Shi knew he had struck gold

. He Baodao was a genuine scion of a respectable family, raised with the martial spirit, possessing exceptional martial skills and having even learned basic tactics. Two years prior, the young He Baodao had traveled to Xi'an Prefecture and happened upon a group of officials' sons chasing a runaway female slave. While the buying and selling of people was common in the Ming Dynasty, the runaway female slave seemed to have been deceived and was quite beautiful. Hearing the woman's cries, He Baodao became enraged, convinced that the young scoundrels had brazenly abducted a woman in broad daylight.

Since the other party was an official's son with a written contract of sale, he naturally refused to back down. He Baodao argued with them for a long time, and in a fit of rage, he beat them soundly. The young nobleman was slashed three times by He Baodao and died within two days of being taken home. After the aggrieved party filed a complaint with the Xi'an Prefecture, He Baodao was sentenced to exile three thousand li to Liaodong.

This legendary experience left Huang Shi stunned: killing someone in broad daylight in the bustling city, He Baodao's crimes were reduced to mere exile—no wonder this young man was so arrogant. Although he could never return to his hometown, the He family would regularly send him silver, so He Baodao lived comfortably in Liaodong, and his wealth fostered friendships with many soldiers. When

Sun Degong rebelled in Guangning, He Baodao, from a family of generals, refused to side with the rebels and led his sworn brothers in a desperate battle. In a way, Huang Shi was his savior; without Huang Shi's army returning to rescue Guangning, He Baodao and his brothers would have long since perished.

He Baodao was well aware of this; though arrogant, he wasn't stupid. To clear his name and return home, He Baodao needed to achieve great merit. Huang Shi was currently at the height of his fame and greatly admired him, so He Baodao decided to risk his life to see if he could make a name for himself with Huang Shi.

He Baodao was very talkative and seemed quite well-read. Huang Shi enjoyed the conversation and, intending to win him over, personally escorted him back to camp only after nightfall. During this time, Yang Luhuo and Zhao Manxiong came to see him, but Huang Shi dismissed them casually, as they seemed to be dealing with trivial matters.

On his return, Huang Shi saw Yang Zhiyuan feeding his horses alone outside the nearby camp, with freshly cleaned horse tack at his feet, seemingly preparing for a campaign.

Huang Shi went over to greet him and casually glanced at the tack. Indeed, he was preparing for the expedition.

"Are you coming with me too?" This campaign wouldn't allow female relatives to accompany him, and Huang Shi later understood Yang Luhuo's ulterior motives, so he had no intention of having Yang Luhuo follow him. After reading the order, Huang Shi didn't ask him any questions, lest he

put Yang Luhuo in a difficult position. "Of course, does Your Excellency not want his subordinates to follow?"

"Then what about her?"

"Who?"

"Well, it's..." Huang Shi then realized he didn't know Guai Baobao's name at all: "It's that girl from the Sun family."

"Oh, she's already married." Yang Luhuo spoke with a hint of sadness.

"What?" Huang Shi wasn't blind; he could see the entanglement between Yang Luhuo and Guai Baobao.

“When you questioned me yesterday, the three of us said we would follow you, and naturally I must keep my promise.”

Huang Shi looked at him quietly for a long time. Yang Luhuo’s expression was calm. Huang Shi slowly said, “If you want to leave, I will not stop you.”

“My lord, you are wise. In Guangning, you told me her story. A woman refused to betray me because of her promise. How could I go back on my word and let her despise me for the rest of her life? I truly admire her.”

Yang Luhuo’s face lit up with a bright smile, as if he had seen a beautiful scene. “I originally planned to settle down in Liaoxi and then marry her properly, and ask you to officiate the wedding. Now that I cannot settle down, I naturally dare not delay another man’s daughter. Today, I heard that you have decided to send troops, so I acted as matchmaker and married her to an old acquaintance from Guangning, who is also one of your former subordinates.”

Huang Shi looked at Yang Luhuo and smiled to himself for a while, not knowing what to say. Finally, he asked softly, “Isn’t this too hasty?”

"That's why I had to do it in such a hurry. My old acquaintance is a kind and honest man, and he doesn't have any in-laws. But I still needed to see them pay their respects to heaven and earth and their ancestors before I could be completely at ease, so I took care of it this afternoon. Just half an hour ago, I personally—personally escorted them to their bridal chamber."

When he said "personally," Yang Luhuo's smile twisted, and he subconsciously raised his right hand and made a fist in the air. Realizing his lapse in composure, Yang Luhuo chuckled awkwardly, "So now, looking back, she's already a married woman."

His old friend and matchmaker wasn't at the wedding banquet; instead, he was feeding the horses. Huang Shi couldn't think of anything to say, so he just offered a few words of encouragement. Yang Luhuo also said a few words of nonsense, then suddenly said he wanted to change his name and asked Huang Shi if he could help him choose one.

"Zhiyuan, what do you think?" Huang Shi pondered for a moment and came up with a name, then explained the meaning of the two characters.

"Zhiyuan, Zhiyuan." Yang Luhuo murmured several times, praising, "A true man should indeed roam the world and laugh at the four seas. What a fine name!"

"Your subordinate thanks you for bestowing this name upon me, sir. From now on, there will be no more Yang Luhuo in this world." Yang Zhiyuan laughed heartily, bowing gracefully to Huang Shi, "Your subordinate has severed all ties with the past, and has no attachments whatsoever. This life, like the name Yang Zhiyuan, belongs to you, sir."

"Good, good." Huang Shi helped Yang Zhiyuan up, forcing a smile, and said, "Brother Yang, let me have a few drinks with you to celebrate your new name."

"Your subordinate obeys your orders, sir."

Huang Shi ordered his personal guards to fetch some wine, and pulled Yang Zhiyuan to sit down in his camp. While waiting for the wine, Huang Shi suddenly remembered something and quickly called to his personal guards, "Go find Zhao Manxiong and Jin Qiude, and tell them I invited them to drink."

“No need,” Yang Zhiyuan stopped his personal guards, explaining to the astonished Huang Shi, “They’re all gone.”

Although Yang Zhiyuan’s expression was a little strange, Huang Shi didn’t think much of it and casually asked, “Really? Where did they go?”

Yang Zhiyuan suddenly revealed a strange smile, a smile Huang Shi had never seen before in his life. “Reporting to you, sir, they went to eavesdrop.”

What kind of pain was hidden in those smiling words? In an instant, Huang Shi felt that heart-wrenching pain as well, causing his cheeks and fingertips to twitch violently.

He sprang to his feet and bowed deeply to Yang Zhiyuan. Facing his flustered subordinates, the thousand words in Huang Shi’s heart turned into a single, impassioned expression of gratitude.

Centuries later, in films and television dramas, young emperors, with the same respectful demeanor and solemn tone, repeatedly echoed Huang Shi's solemn promise made at that moment:

"Brother Yang, in this life and the next, I, Huang Shi, will never betray you!"

(End of Chapter 3)

Chapter 4:

Initially, Huang Shi had 150 followers, all of whom were his personal guards. They had no choice, as their futures were inextricably linked to Huang Shi's; they had no interest in starting as lowly soldiers in Liaoxi.

Huang Shi's trump card was to hint to his soldiers: going to Liaoxi would likely mean a long absence from home, and if they were unlucky, they would become ghosts in a foreign land. Driven by the fear of becoming a wandering spirit in this era, Huang Shi finally gathered the 200 soldiers he needed. Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzu generously gave Huang Shi and his men 450 warhorses.

Although many of his old subordinates did not intend to follow him, Huang Shi still wanted to leave them something. What is a feudal army? The Ming Dynasty army was one where soldiers and officers alike were bound to one person for life, sharing both honor and disgrace with their superior.

Now that these soldiers had left Huangshi, they would have to start afresh in Liaoxi, their achievements forgotten and their merits forgotten.

Huangshi entrusted his armor to the accompanying blacksmith, instructing him to dismantle it into scales. He planned to emulate later medals, leaving a souvenir for each soldier who followed him back to Guangning to quell the rebellion, making it easier for them to "find work" in Liaoxi.

Gao Bangzuo happened to be visiting him, intending to give this clever student another lecture on morality. Hearing of Huangshi's plan, Prefect Gao was surprised but also quite pleased with the idea.

"General Huang, what mark do you intend to add to these scales?" "

This humble general originally intended to engrave the four characters 'Guangning Suppression of the Rebellion,' but I'm afraid there's not enough time." Huangshi planned to part ways early the day after tomorrow; with the daytime march, the blacksmiths simply couldn't possibly engrave words on hundreds of scales over two nights.

“Nothing at all? That’s not good. Who knows where these scales came from? I have an idea.” Gao Bangzu suggested that each scale be sewn with a ribbon with four characters written on it.

Huang Shi thought for a moment; this was similar to a sash. “Lord Gao, your idea is brilliant. However, I hope it’s small enough that the scales can be hung on the uniform.”

Gao Bangzu didn’t know Huang Shi had excellent handwriting, so he volunteered to write the characters.

Jin Qiude, Zhao Manxiong, and Yang Zhiyuan were already official Qianzong (commanders) under Huang Shi. This time, He Baodao brought more than twenty men to join him, and Huang Shi decided to give him a Qianzong as well.

Although there were many Qianzong, there were only four Bazong (commanders-in-arms), all of whom were Huang Shi’s old personal guards. The remaining personal guard was his current captain.

Normally, Qianzong would appoint their own Bazong. In feudal armies, the soldiers and Bazong were loyal to their Qianzong, while the Qianzong were loyal to Huang Shi.

The solution employed by senior generals was to squeeze out two or three tenths of the officer positions from lower-ranking officers and directly appoint their personal guards to these posts. This eventually formed a family-like group. Over time, the descendants became an inextricably intertwined tangled mess.

Huang Shi disliked this model, but he had no immediate solution, so he used the excuse of a small army to stall, hoping to devise a plan before expanding the force.

Gao Bangzu wrote hundreds of ribbons overnight, and Huang Shi, following the experience of later generations, personally pinned these "medals" on every soldier who followed him back to Guangning. To avoid negative publicity, he asked Fang Zhenru to sit and observe the ceremony, a reasonable arrangement, as civil officials would not condescend to pin medals on soldiers.

Undeniably, this gesture was highly effective; the soldiers were deeply moved and vowed to take the medals to their graves to show their ancestors of their descendants' achievements. Furthermore, the practical significance of these medals was proof of their worth, providing them with unambiguous evidence of their military merit before other generals.

The military expedition was undoubtedly a secret, and with hundreds of thousands of Guangning residents following them south, Huang Shi didn't believe there weren't Later Jin spies among them. However, the awarding of medals would allow these people to witness it; Huang Shi believed that helping soldiers build a sense of honor was a meritorious act.

Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzu sat upright atop the earthen platform, surrounded by a sea of people. Having fled and received protection from the Guangning army, they now held these soldiers, whom they usually looked down upon, in high regard. In this era, there was no film or television entertainment, so such novelty was naturally something to see.

Old Mr. Zhao was also among the onlookers; he ran a private school in Guangning and fled south with his family after the chaos of war. At this moment, Old Master Zhao was stroking his beard, squinting as he watched the ceremony. He praised his two sons standing behind him, saying, "General Huang, though a soldier, is a man of principle who puts family aside for the greater good, possessing both wisdom and courage. Truly, a hero emerges from among the young!"

"Yes, Father," said the eldest son, a frail scholar, though inspired by the atmosphere, "seemingly eager to join the army and serve my country."

A nearby voice remarked, "General Huang, despite his imposing presence, seems to possess a touch of scholarly refinement."

"What a pity." Old Mr. Zhao stroked his long beard and nodded, it was unclear whether he was lamenting his son's frail health or regretting that Huang Shi wasn't a scholar or a licentiate.

Behind the crowded throng, some young women were also watching the spectacle, their mothers like mother hens, protecting their young girls.

Two girls, dressed in dark green shirts and lake-blue long skirts, stood side by side, clearly sisters. Their mothers frequently scanned their surroundings warily, afraid a fly might approach their precious daughters.

The one on the left, though maintaining a shy, demure demeanor, stretched her already thin neck, swaying her body from side to side, trying to find a wide gap to get a closer look.

"Sister, General Huang is very tall and imposing." Before the words were even out of her mouth, the girl received a sharp blow to the side.

"Bing'er!" Her mother turned halfway around and scolded softly, "A young lady shouldn't be so wild. I won't let you out next time."

"Mother," the girl called Bing'er on the left called sweetly, shyly hugging her mother's arm and wagging her tail in a coquettish manner.

"Look how quiet your sister is, and you're not ashamed at all." The mother lovingly patted her daughter, speaking sternly in a kind tone.

But it had no effect at all. The eldest daughter immediately retorted, "My sister was so captivated that she couldn't even speak."

"Don't talk nonsense again." The mother gently tapped her eldest daughter again, and the girl immediately made an exaggerated gesture to show that she was in pain.

"You child is not going to stay at home," the mother threatened her eldest daughter, "I'll tell your father in a little while to find someone on the roadside and marry you off without any ceremony, so that you won't get carried away and cause trouble for the family."

"Mother—" The eldest daughter was not afraid at all and threw herself into her mother's arms, continuing to act coquettishly.

“I heard…” The girl on the right had a beautiful voice, clear and bright like a nightingale, yet with the allure of a cuckoo.

“General Huang killed his betrothed…”

Her moist red lips were full and soft, and a thin tongue flickered between her two rows of white teeth:

“Killed!”

Hearing this jarring truth, the older sister’s body stiffened, her teeth unconsciously nibbling at her lower lip. She stared blankly at her younger sister beside her, the bloody truth laid bare before her eyes, a truth she refused to confront.

The awarding ceremony had ended, and Old Mr. Zhao, accompanied by his two sons, strode back. He first nodded to his wife, then looked happily at his two beautiful daughters, saying, "Bing'er, Xue'er, let's go home."

...

Not long after the awarding ceremony, Huang Shi's troops broke away from the Guangning Army and set out on their own: "Finally, we've broken free of our shackles!"

Jin Qiude, who was half a horse's length behind Huang Shi, overheard this and interjected, "Fortunately, Lords Gao and Fang aren't from the Donglin Party, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to send troops."

"Oh, Qiude, you've also studied the various factions in the court?" Huang Shi, in a good mood, joked, "Then which party are you, Brother Qiude?"

Jin Qiude shook his head: "I am a follower of Legalism, not Confucianism."

It seems that all heroes are Legalists. Huang Shi faced forward and loudly recited: "With the heart of a king in my heart, wielding the blade of a hegemon, I will slaughter the world, leaving millions of corpses, countless murders, and rivers of blood."

"Exactly, sir, you are right!"

Huang Shi was currently short of soldiers and supplies, but Jin Qiude knew very well that Huang Shi's loyalty to both the Ming Dynasty and the Later Jin was questionable. He had abandoned readily available wealth and status, and was even willing to embark on a difficult journey. "He abandons the small for the big," he seemed to be a ruler willing to wreak havoc on the world. Jin Qiude had finally found the answer.

On the 27th day of the first month of the Tianqi reign, Huang Shi returned to the vicinity of Guangning, based on information gathered from the surrounding people. They knew that the Later Jin army had occupied Guangning the day before, restored order to the city, and posted notices calling on the people hiding in the nearby mountains to return home.

Although the Later Jin had become the masters of this territory, they had not yet established a consolidated rule. Large numbers of defeated soldiers from various places had taken up mountain strongholds, becoming large bandit groups, and villages everywhere had formed fortified villages for self-defense. The Later Jin army was currently concentrated in Guangning city and had not dispersed to deal with the bandits scattered around Guangning.

Therefore, Huang Shi's small Ming army unit moved almost unopposed. Local bandits dared not provoke two hundred cavalrymen, and even those villages that surrendered to the Later Jin lacked the power to attack such a force. Landlords and powerful families in Liaodong, who had not fled, even sent food and drink, hoping Huang Shi would not cause trouble on their lands.

The biggest problem was the horses. Previously, the Ming army firmly controlled the surrounding lands, and horses could obtain fodder from local supply depots wherever they went. But now, Huang Shi and his men dared not approach the fortresses or main roads. So the horses could only eat grass, and after two days, they became listless.

Huang Shi's plan was to take advantage of the Later Jin army's presence in Guangning, pass through the Sancha River, gather fishing boats, and head straight for Lushun. If that didn't work, they would travel by night and hide during the day, bypassing Haizhou while it was undefended, and taking a land route to the Liaodong Peninsula. Due to the need to constantly guard against Later Jin scouts, and the lack of supplies and reconnaissance, their marching speed slowed down, and they frequently had to detour.

On the first day of the second month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, when Huang Shi emerged from his camp, he saw Jin Qiude already waiting at the gate. "Your subordinate is incompetent; eight more soldiers deserted last night." "Did they

lose their horses?"

"No, I've deployed a large number of men to guard against them."

Over the past few days, many of Huang Shi's men had deserted. Including these eight, Huang Shi's force now numbered only 153. Nearly 100 horses had died because they only had grass to eat. Fortunately, by evening, Huang Shi and his party had slipped into the vicinity of Zhao Manxiong's hometown, in the mountains next to Liuhewei. Beyond this point lay the Sancha River.

"My lord, Liuhewei is just ahead. What are your plans?" Zhao Manxiong asked.

"Liuhewei? I heard the entire garrison surrendered to the Jurchens, is that true?"

"That's what the woodcutters nearby are saying."

"Hmm." Huang Shi nodded. "Manxiong, you are familiar with the terrain. Arrange for them to camp. I'll take some personal guards to the village."

"My lord, please be careful on your journey."

(End of Chapter 4)

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