Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 24

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Chapter Twenty-Two: Li Zicheng's Reliance on Bravery Defeates the Three Armies; Minister of War Grants Favors to the Generals .

(A Presumptuous Remark) Volume Twenty-Two

: The Dull Old Man says:
Yue Fei said, "The way of a general is wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness; none can be lacking." This is truly sincere. After reading this chapter, I finally understand the reason for naming the generals "Shang Zhi" (尚智, meaning "valuing wisdom"). A general without wisdom cannot predict the enemy, hence "Shang Zhi" is paramount. With wisdom but without righteousness, one cannot lead the troops, hence "Xiu Yi" (慕义, meaning "admiring righteousness") is next. With both wisdom and righteousness, without a heart of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, one cannot serve the court above, nor can one inspire the soldiers below, hence "Lin Zhong" (林忠, meaning "loyalty") is next. Although "Zhong" (忠, meaning "loyalty") ranks third, it is truly the foremost of wisdom and righteousness. With wisdom, righteousness, and loyalty complete, and never forgetting the court, one is truly able to serve the country. With all three complete, what enemy cannot be destroyed? Therefore, they won repeatedly, becoming the shield of Jiangbei, and the enemy lost all courage. The author, fearing the reader might not understand, added Bao Xin (鲍信, meaning "Bao Xin"). This particular character, "信" (xin), is highlighted because it embodies wisdom, righteousness, loyalty, and trustworthiness—the qualities of a capable general. Readers should not dismiss it as mere anecdote. Even

a poorly played chess player cannot withstand a consistently superior opponent; how much more so when facing a master? How could he possibly escape with his entire game wiped out, ending up in a pathetic state? To flee in defeat would be a stroke of luck.

Li Zicheng, relying on his military might, appointed an ox as his strategist. He led a band of animalistic generals—sheep, horses, dogs, monkeys, apes, deer

, roe deer, foxes, and pigs—and commanded a group of sheep-mouthed bandits who rushed to the front, intending to confront a tiger army of wisdom, righteousness, and patriotism. It was like driving a weary beast to fight a fierce tiger; their utter ignorance was evident, and their defeat was inevitable. The description of Gao Jie and Xing, while praising their abandonment of rebellion and acceptance of imperial favor, actually highlights Li Zicheng's flaws—even his wife was not on his side. We see that this man was less insightful than a woman. The text then goes on to describe Yang's affair with Li Jin, and the self-satisfied traitor. It's all just calling him a bastard, wanting to humiliate him to the extreme. However, his three wives are all true, not the author's unjust accusation.

Shi Qi's return is truly reckless; he will surely die at the hands of the national defender. His reliance on mere bravado, resulting in the loss of both his reputation and his life, truly makes him a thief and a fool.

The repeated descriptions of the ugly behavior of the officials and soldiers, though exaggerated, are mostly true, with only a few unfounded accusations. It can also be a source of amusement.

With Yao Zemin's death, the case of Yao Guangxiao is resolved, and the phrase "to finish the previous mess" is found in Chapter 5. Lao Zheng and You Xialiu both meet a tragic end; the consumptive no longer fears a relapse, and those who indulge in depravity have nowhere left to go.

Regarding the daughter-in-law of Yu Yiming, one shouldn't laugh at Yu Chun's stupidity compared to Diao's cunning. In my opinion, Diao's cunning eventually reveals itself, unlike the foolish Yu, who still retains some integrity.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Li Zicheng, the Bandit, Relies on His Bravery to Defeat the Three Armies; Minister of War Grants Grace to His Generals.

Appendix: The Earl of Xingping Kills the Bandit and the Duke of Zeguo Resolves Old Sins

. Shi Qi, acting on the orders of the blind bandit, led a band of bandits, not attacking cities but plundering and killing along the way. Upon reaching Liuhe, they found it vastly different from before; the city was scorched, and the surrounding villages were completely empty. Not only could they not plunder women for their amusement, but they couldn't even steal pigs, sheep, cattle, horses, chickens, geese, ducks, wine, or rice to fill their stomachs. Seeing no host, the bandits were enraged. They rested for a night a dozen miles from the city, and the next morning, after a hearty meal, they were filled with renewed vigor, intending to attack the city for a good time. They wanted to both refresh their spirits and vent their anger. However, upon reaching the city, they saw the city gates wide open and assumed the city was deserted. Their initial enthusiasm for looting and killing waned, and their initial vigor diminished. The bandits, wanting to reach the city first and plunder some remaining goods, spurred their horses on, ready to charge in. Suddenly, a cannon boomed, and Shang Zhi, leading the central army commander Miao Ce and the right army commander Man Fu, ["With such a wise commander and a belly full of brilliant strategies, how could a fool like me not lose the whole game?"], led a contingent of Tiger Head Army soldiers charging out of the city. They were all clad in tiger-striped armor, numbering four or five hundred. Wielding broadswords, clubs, spears, and hooks, they struck men and horses alike, their spears and hooks flashing with ferocity.

This band of bandits, unmatched in their ferocity, had never been dared to fight them in nine out of ten places. They were completely taken aback by the fact that someone from this small county would come out to fight. Initially, seeing that the bandits were few in number and infantry, they didn't care. But when they arrived, they didn't form ranks, engaging in brute force and mowing down enemies in a chaotic, open battle. They had never experienced such fighting before and were caught completely off guard.

Unable to hold them off any longer, they were swarmed by tiger-headed figures, their bodies covered in tiger stripes, and even their horses were bewildered and terrified. The bandits, struggling to control their horses and fight back, were barely holding on despite being outnumbered. Suddenly, a commotion arose from behind, a cacophony of shouts and battle cries. It was the four hundred soldiers stationed in the fortress. A centurion of the left battalion, named Guo Shou, with a white face and long beard, clad in silver helmet and plain armor, riding a white horse and wielding a silver spear, resembled a ball of snow. He was joined by Zhuo Gao, the commander of the left wing, and Chang Sheng, the commander of the right wing, both dressed in white armor and riding white horses, who launched a fierce attack from behind. Shi Qi and his bandits, unable to stand firm, seized an opportunity to flee. Shang Zhi led a hundred cavalrymen, wielding broadswords, in pursuit, ordering his infantry to follow. The bandits rode strong horses, galloping swiftly, and Shang Zhi and his men could not keep up. In the distance, they saw banners fluttering, and two armies approaching.

As the bandits fled, they saw them and, thinking it was their reinforcements, slowed their horses, intending to wait for them to arrive so they could avenge themselves. But when they arrived, they found only Tiger Head soldiers. These were Mu Yi and Lin Zhong, who had learned of the bandits' attack on Liuhe and each led eight hundred elite men to their aid. They arrived just in time to find the fleeing bandits blocking their path.

Shi Qi and his bandits tried to escape, but there was no way; they had to fight for their lives. The bandits relied entirely on bows and arrows, but Shi Qi's padded armor protected him, making him light and fast. Upon reaching the bandits, they roared and attacked, rendering the bandits' arrows useless. Just as Shi Qi was in dire straits, Shang Zhi's cavalry and infantry caught up, also shouting, and launched a pincer attack. Shi Qi panicked, looking left and right, searching for an opening to escape. The garrison commander had already spotted them. One horse charged up behind them, shouting, "Black thief, don't run!" and thrust his spear. Shi Qi turned around, cried out "Oh no!" and dodged, only to have the garrison commander's spear pierce his left rib armor. The garrison commander quickly pulled back his spear, the force of which yanked Shi Qi, causing him to stagger and almost fall from his horse. Terrified, Shi Qi feared a second spear would come, so he slung himself over the saddle and fled.

Of the three thousand bandits, some were cut in two by a single sword, some had their brains smashed out by clubs, some had their hearts pierced by spears, and some had their limbs severed by hooks and sickles. Only a thousand or so escaped. [The previous scene, witnessing the bandits' ferocity, filled the garrison commander with extreme hatred and indignation. Seeing this, however, brought a slight sense of relief.] The garrison commander still wanted to pursue them, to exterminate them all. Shang Zhi said, "There's no need to pursue them relentlessly; let's withdraw our troops." Upon reaching the city, he ordered men to collect the weapons abandoned by the bandits and to identify the bandit leaders. The report came back that over 1,800 bandits had been killed, along with numerous weapons and horses.

Bao Xin quickly prepared official documents and sent messengers that very night to report the victory to Shi and Le in Nanjing. For years, no one had heard of such a decisive victory. Shi was overjoyed upon hearing the news and dispatched an official by horse to the capital to report.

Meanwhile, Shang Zhi ordered everyone to rest in the city for the time being, first rewarding Mu Yi and Lin Zhong's soldiers, and then preparing a feast to celebrate the victory with the officials. While drinking, Shang Zhi said, "If the rebels learn of this defeat, they will surely arrive within a few days. This time, however, it will be different; they will have tens of thousands of troops. My three thousand infantrymen are outnumbered and must use a clever plan to defeat them. If you two work together to achieve this great feat, firstly, it will not be in vain for this righteous act; secondly, it will repay the kindness of Lord Shi and Lord Le; and thirdly, it will ensure that the rebels will never dare to look our territory in the eye again." Lin Zhong and Mu Yiqi said, "Brother, what brilliant plan do you have? The three of us are of one mind and share the credit; how could we disobey your orders?" Shang Zhi said, "When the rebels hear of the defeat, they will surely come in anger. We will take advantage of their moment of respite..." Before the news was settled, I led the troops towards his front line. You two don't have to go far. You just need to keep your best animals more than ten miles away and keep snooping. As soon as the thief arrives, he will want to fight. My younger brother Su Zhi, Brother Lin, was extremely brave and led his troops to rush through his backbone and cut him in two. Brother Mu came from behind to disturb his rear team. If you work with him on all three sides, you will definitely win. However, this cannot be won without a bloody battle. Today we only encourage everyone to take the lead when facing the enemy. We all work together, so why not worry about one being equal to a hundred. "After receiving the order, the commander-in-chief of thousands of troops led his troops out of the city and divided up their camps.

Shang Zhi then said to Lin Zhong and Mu Yi: "But I am afraid that the thieves will be slow to come, and he has not let out his energy, making it difficult for him to be an enemy. It is necessary to use a false surrender plan to lure the thieves to come running at night. If the people are trapped and the horses are exhausted, the common people can succeed. "Bao Xin said: "All three of them have made meritorious deeds. This meritorious service is for me. "So a surrender form was prepared, in which it was roughly stated: "

The troops in front of us are approaching the city, and I intend to welcome the surrender." Shang Zhi is stubborn and reckless, relying on his mere courage to humiliate the royal army. Now, having achieved a minor victory, Shang Zhi boasts and even desires to surrender, harboring treacherous intentions. I know Your Majesty's might is awe-inspiring, feared throughout the land. If Your Majesty's army were to arrive, our small town would surely be reduced to dust. I anticipate that Shang Zhi would not dare to confront Your Majesty's might. If he hears of Your Majesty's imminent arrival, he will surely flee. I implore Your Majesty to descend immediately, catching him off guard and leaving him no time to escape. I will lead the people of the entire city as an inside agent, begging for your grace and reward, and to preserve our lives. If we capture Shang Zhi, we will present him to the army at the gate for the impeachment ceremony. This will fulfill my sincere devotion to Your Majesty and avenge the loss of my honor and life. Therefore...

They needed a trusted local strongman named Yi Ce. This man was skilled on foot, able to walk over three hundred li a day, faster than even a fast horse. Therefore, they sent him on his way. They also instructed him on these things, emphasizing the importance of not making mistakes. Success would bring a great reward. Yi Ce left, and scouts were sent to inquire along the route. Let's leave that aside for now.

Meanwhile, the bandits, having lived a carefree life for years, roamed freely through prefectures and counties, fleeing whenever government troops encountered them, wishing they had two more legs. They never drew a bow or arrow, expending no effort whatsoever. When they attacked a city, they conquered it, taking only the best gold, silk, and women. The rest were either abandoned or killed. They had never suffered such a great loss before. This time, many of their men were wounded, and a small portion of those who escaped were also injured, fleeing in panic. Fearing pursuers, they fled day and night. Shi Qi was shot by the governor and nearly died. He was terrified, truly fleeing on a pig. [Emperor Yizong of Tang was of lowly and uncouth character. Empress Wu appointed him as a general, but he suffered a crushing defeat and fled. Someone wrote an ancient-style poem to satirize him, the opening lines of which were: "A longbow passes a short arrow, a Shu horse veers off the steps, and in the middle rides a pig southward." Empress Wu said, "Emperor Yizong has a horse, why does he ride a pig?" He replied, "Riding a pig means running alongside a pig." Empress Wu laughed heartily. Now history is strange indeed; it means running alongside excrement.] Leading his defeated and emaciated troops to the main camp, he bound himself and begged for forgiveness.

The report to the rebel leader stated, "I led my troops to Liuhe, but unexpectedly, a group of soldiers emerged from the city, incredibly fierce and brave. Three or four reinforcements surrounded and attacked from all sides, resulting in a crushing defeat. Of my three thousand men, only a thousand or so returned. I know I deserve death for this missed opportunity, but I await Your Majesty's grace." Li Zicheng was furious, saying, "Many large prefectures and counties dare not face my might, fleeing or surrendering at the mere mention of their name. This small county, which I previously terrified of, dares to be so despicable?" He asked, "Have you inquired about the identity and name of the general leading these troops?" Qi Dao said, "I questioned the fleeing civilians along the way, and they said this man's name was Shang Zhi, a local militia leader. Recently, the Ministry of War in Nanjing appointed him as a garrison commander, to assist a civil official surnamed Bao in guarding Liuhe." Zicheng became even angrier, saying, "These nameless people are not worth mentioning. I won't be able to vent my anger until I slaughter all these people and crush this city."

Just as he was raging, a bandit general came in from outside the camp gate and reported, "We've captured a spy who claims to be carrying a letter of surrender and requests to see Your Majesty. He's being held outside awaiting your orders." The blind bandit ordered him to be brought in. He tore open the seam of his clothes, took out the letter of surrender, and presented it. The blind bandit was overjoyed upon reading it. Song Xianze took it and examined it, saying, "He surrendered after winning the battle; I fear there's some ulterior motive." The blind bandit laughed loudly, "I've long heard of your name. When we captured Guide the other day, I was more pleased to have you than the city. Why are you spouting such pedantic Confucian words today? As a seasoned military man, I've certainly considered this. Even if he has ambushes on all sides, what do I have to fear from this small county? Why would he feign surrender? Besides, the victor is wise, and the one who surrenders is like Bao Xin. It's true that a mere civil official would surrender out of fear of death; why be so suspicious?" The blind bandit never imagined that he was being lured away quickly to exhaust his troops. Hearing the blind bandit's words, Yi Ce was secretly delighted and quickly kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty's grace is boundless, your wisdom extends far and wide, and my desperate journey to surrender has not been in vain." The blind bandit rewarded him with a silver ingot and instructed, "Go back immediately and tell your official that when my army arrives, open the gates to welcome them. Only kill the soldiers; spare the common people. Write 'Submissive People' on the doors of every commoner's home. After our success, when I capture Fengyang, I will promote him to prefect. Tell him to prepare provisions and other necessities in the city for my army's arrival. Go quickly." Yi Ce kowtowed in gratitude and departed. The

blind bandit asked Shi Qi, "How far is it from here to Liuhe?" Shi Qi replied, "More than five hundred li." It was now late afternoon, and the blind bandit, eager for revenge, ordered his main camp to remain in Haozhou to rest. He only selected over twenty thousand elite cavalry from the Yangwu Camp, giving them two nights and one day to reach Liuhe. He feared that if they were late, Shang Zhi might flee upon hearing the news, and he would not be able to avenge his army. They were to set out that very night and assemble at dawn the following day to attack the city; anyone who delayed would be executed. He further instructed Shi Qi to atone for his crimes with his past merits, sparing him death but allowing him to be dismissed from his post and seek

redemption even while still guilty. Shi Qi thanked him for his kindness. The blind bandit then selected several skilled generals and launched a siege. He reasoned that a county town could only have a few soldiers, and that the government troops had occasionally won because of their smaller numbers. He feared that if they knew the government forces had a larger force, they would dare not engage in battle. He appointed General Gou Jie, nicknamed Dongguo Lu, as the vanguard, with Lieutenant General Hou Jiao, nicknamed Manshan Fei, as his deputy, leading 4,000 men as the vanguard; General Hu Weiqun, nicknamed Jiuwei Xian, was appointed as the left wing, with Lieutenant General Yang Wei, nicknamed Ran Canjun, as his deputy, leading 4,000 men to follow; the blind bandit himself commanded the central army, leading 6,000 men, along with strategist Niu Jinxing, deputy strategist Song Xianze, and guard general Ma Lei, nicknamed Qianli Zu, as the third force; the fourth force also consisted of 4,000 men, with General Zhang Huang, nicknamed Shexiang Nang, leading the right wing, with Lieutenant General Zhu Jiwen, nicknamed Ganglie Hou, as his deputy; General Lu Ben, nicknamed Baihua Jiangjun, who also served as the Five-Route Rescue Envoy, led 4,000 men as the rearguard, with Lieutenant General Yuan Hua, nicknamed Fuyuan Jun, as his deputy. He ordered that no provisions be transported, only dry rations. After the city was breached the next day, food would be provided. The men obeyed.

These bandits, accustomed to looting everywhere, had been delayed in Bianliang for over a year. Having long heard that the city was the wealthiest in the land, everyone thought that once conquered, gold and silver would be secondary; the first priority would be beautiful women to enjoy. Unexpectedly, the city was flooded and emptied completely, leaving nothing behind. Now, hearing that an attack on the city would surely result in its swift fall, they were overjoyed. Moreover, it was a place where they had previously amassed great wealth; there were no fierce generals or powerful soldiers to contend with, and plenty of women and treasures to plunder—a place they had longed for day and night. Their excitement was boundless. Everyone wielded swords and axes, armed with long arrows and light bows, riding sturdy horses, galloping through the night. You can imagine their ferocity:

banners blotted out the sun, and the air thick with murderous intent. Mountain-splitting axes gleamed, and meteor hammers gleamed brilliantly. The jujube wood spears and wolf-tooth clubs still reeked of the blood of those who had struck; the crescent-shaped blades and eighteen-foot spears still bore the marks of slaughter. They ravaged the land, leaving no grass to grow, and their rampage was so devastating that even ghosts in their dreams feared them.

When they were about several dozen miles from the city, another order came down: "If you are not far from the city, do not form a troop; rush forward all at once and attack the city. The first to enter will be rewarded, and those who retreat will be executed. If anyone opens the gate to let you in, kill only the soldiers; do not harm a single civilian. There are two large characters on the gate; do not enter without permission." [The two large characters are brilliant. The two characters mean "obedient people." However, many of the bandits are illiterate, hence the use of two characters. If it were simply "obedient people," it would also be acceptable. Upon closer examination, it seems illogical. This shows the brilliance of this book; not a single word is written carelessly.] The blind bandit, leading his valiant generals, including Niu Yangma, Gou Hou, Yuan Zhanglu, Zhu Hu, and others, thought that once they arrived, with an encirclement from all sides and inside help in the city, the soldiers from the previous day would be like turtles in a jar, none of them able to escape. They were full of pride and arrogance.

The blind bandit's military orders were extremely strict; he dared not delay in marching and relaying orders. As dawn approached, the bandits, having gone two nights and a day without much food, were growing hungry and weary from their journey. Seven or eight li from the city, they were on their way when they saw a troop of soldiers approaching in the distance.

This was because Yi Ce had returned overnight to report Li Zicheng's army's arrival, and Shang Zhi had led his men out of the city to wait, hoping to catch them off guard. The bandits, seeing this, rushed to report to their central command. Just as the bandits were about to form ranks, the fierce Tiger Army charged in. A shout rang out, like the sky collapsing and the earth crumbling, as swords, clubs, spears, and hooks were drawn. The bandits, caught off guard, rushed to report to Li Zicheng. The blind bandit leader, enraged, urged his troops to charge. The bandits spurred their horses forward to meet them, when suddenly another shout rang out, and a troop of soldiers charged from the center. Swords and spears on the left, clubs and sickles on the right, they cleaved the bandits in two—it was Lin Zhong's Tiger Army. Li Zicheng was dividing his troops to meet the attack when another shout arose from behind. Mu Yi led the Flying Tiger Army in, charging in. Three centurions led the charge, the central army was armed, the left battalion was skilled in martial arts, and the right battalion was wielded by Shu Li. [Excellent! Mu Yi is a man of exceptional martial arts skills; he can certainly eliminate the bandit Li.] They fought bravely. At this moment, the bandits, unaware of the number of government troops present, panicked and their ranks fell into disarray. They could not stand firm and only wanted to flee. Li Zicheng, seeing the fierce momentum, was also somewhat flustered. Suddenly, a troop of people rushed towards him. It turned out to be a female general. She wore

a golden crown to bind her hair, and silver armor covered her delicate body. A red lotus flower held up a jeweled stirrup, making her golden lotus feet appear even narrower; her two emerald eyebrows brushed against her autumn eyes, making her jade-like skin appear even more deep. Her graceful figure was elegant, as if she were idly sewing needles and wielding a spear; her jade-like fingers were slender, as if she were drawing phoenixes and riding a wild horse. People say that beauties are often fierce, but she was indeed a great heroine in her boudoir.

Who do you think this person is? She was Lin Zhong's wife, Lady Guo, the younger sister of Lin Baoguo. She was exceptionally beautiful and incredibly brave. She was skilled with her family's heirloom spear and rode a fiery red hare. Leading the charge, she was even more formidable than her brother. Since marrying Lin Baoguo, they had truly been a heroic couple, harmonious and loving. That day, she and her husband came to kill bandits. Alone on horseback, spear in hand, she charged straight into the enemy ranks. Wherever her spear touched, bandits fell from their horses. Li Zicheng was both surprised and delighted. He was delighted to see such a beautiful female general, one he had never seen before. He was astonished that such a heroine existed among women, even more formidable than his former wife, Lady Xing. He immediately ordered his generals Zhang Huang and Zhu Jiwen to meet her.

The two men, mounted and armed, faced each other, their spear tips flashing like snowflakes. Zhang Huang's eyes blurred, but the spear tip struck his throat, sending him tumbling from his horse. [Zhang Huang, in battle, was destined to die.] Zhu Jiwen, startled, turned to flee, but a spear pierced his back, piercing his chest. Guo Shi, pulling him back, also fell from his horse. [Zhu Jiwen became Zhu Zaowen (a reference to a historical figure known for his folly).] Li Zicheng was stunned and anxious when Lin Baoguo led his Tiger Army straight to the heart of the enemy. Along with the central commander Xiong Pi, the left commander Meng Ruhu, and the right commander Banbao, they broke through the enemy ranks, fiercely fighting their way into Li Zicheng's camp.

Lin Baoguo possessed immense strength, wielding a solid iron spear, invincible in his path. The enemy was routed, as if entering an empty field. From afar, they spotted a man in golden armor and embroidered helmet, recognizing him as a blind bandit, and charged straight towards him. Upon seeing this, the bandits rushed to protect their lord, surrounding Lin Baoguo. Lin Baoguo discarded his spear, drew his twin swords, and wielded them with the speed and power of a whirlwind, like snowflakes falling in the wind or pear blossoms in the rain. A flash of light appeared, and the bandits fell from their horses, none able to resist. Seeing the enemy closing in, Li Zicheng, realizing the situation was unfavorable and unlikely to win, led his elite guards and broke through to escape. [A loyal patriot, leading fierce generals, can easily crush bandits.] These bandits had initially wanted to flee, but because of Lin Baoguo's presence in the ranks, they had been forced to hold their ground and fight. Now that he was running away, who would dare to linger? With a shout, they scattered and fled on horseback. Seeing the bandits' defeat and chaos, the local militia also gave chase, fighting with great enthusiasm. Lin Baoguo and his wife led their troops in pursuit for several miles, but failing to catch up, they turned back. What a fierce battle they had fought!

Generals were killed, horse and all, while soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons. Heads were shattered by clubs, skulls crushed; hands and feet were wounded, every hair and muscle torn apart. Eighteen-foot spears moved like dragons probing for melons; tiger-headed soldiers lashed out like ferocious beasts chasing sheep. A somber atmosphere hung heavy with death, corpses littered the field, and the air thick with the chilling aura of slaughter. This villain, who thought himself invincible throughout the Central Plains, had his courage shattered by this encounter.

Shang Zhi dismounted to rest and addressed the group, saying, "Although the bandits have been defeated, they haven't suffered major losses. However, they've traveled over 500 li in two nights and one day, leaving them exhausted. We caught them off guard and attacked them unprepared, which is why we had a brief respite. Military strategy says, 'He who travels a hundred li will be defeated,' and this is exactly what we mean. If we wait for them to rest and regain their strength, their numbers will be overwhelming, and we'll find it difficult to defeat them. The bandits are even more exhausted after today's defeat. We should send someone to find out how far their camp is from here, and then we can raid it tonight. They won't be on guard. If we succeed in this great victory..." "The thief will surely not dare to come again. Everyone, please do not complain of your hard work." The others replied, "This is everyone's business, and it's the commander's order; how could we refuse?" The garrison commander said, "The blind thief's strategist, Niu Jinxing, and Song Hai'er are both renowned for their military prowess; they may be prepared." Shang Zhi laughed, "As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.' Since the blind thief became rampant, he has been invincible; who is he to be feared? Although our troops have achieved a small victory, he knows we are outnumbered and will not dare to raid our camp. Therefore, I wish to go." [Arrogance leads to defeat; this refers to the blind thief. Their discussion demonstrates both the garrison commander's ability and Shang Zhi's wisdom.] Everyone agreed, and they all ate their fill and rested.

As evening approached, Shang Zhi convened the group, and the three camps set off simultaneously. Everyone held their mouths shut, and the horses were restrained, moving slowly. The scouts from the village came to report: "The bandit camp is about forty li from here." Shang Zhi instructed, "Search again ten li from the bandit camp to see if they are prepared. If not, order the troops to rest for a while, eat some dry rations, and catch their breath. At the third watch, when the bandits are fast asleep, Brother Mu and I will attack from all sides. Brother Lin and your sister-in-law will each lead troops to ambush several li away, cutting off the bandits' retreat when they are defeated. Even if we don't capture the blind bandit, we will at least terrify them." Everyone said in unison, "Yes, sir."

Meanwhile, Li Zicheng had fled thirty or forty li and, upon learning that there were no pursuing troops, ordered his troops to set up camp. As evening approached, the defeated soldiers arrived. He summoned his generals and said, “Today’s defeat was due to my carelessness. I thought he wouldn’t dare to come out, so I wasn’t prepared. Secondly, my men were exhausted, which led to our defeat.” He ordered a count of the lost men. After a while, the five camps reported back, “There are still about 20,000 men left, but only the first 2,000 have been lost.” Li Zicheng said, “I think he has only four or five thousand men. [Four or five thousand men, brilliant. When facing him, he attacked from three directions, which seems like a large number, but it’s just an estimate. If a common writer says he has three thousand men, did Li Zicheng actually count his troops?] With four against one, how could we not defeat him? Order each camp to cut grass and feed the horses. Although we didn’t bring any rations, slaughter the wounded horses and feed them with the rations we brought. Let them eat their fill and sleep for the night. At dawn tomorrow, we will all eat our fill again and go to avenge ourselves. When we face the enemy, there’s no need to form ranks.” "We'll just fight in the open field. We're convinced that four or five men can take on one of them, and there's no way we can't win. We'll slaughter them until not a single one escapes, and we'll raze this city to the ground."

The strategist Niu Jinxing said, "I'm afraid they might take advantage of their victory tonight to raid our camp. Your Majesty must be on guard." Li Zicheng laughed loudly, "How foolish of you is the strategist? The way of war is to know yourself and your enemy. Everyone has heard of my army's reputation, who wouldn't be afraid? Today they've won by chance and think they're extremely lucky. How can they not suspect that I'm feigning defeat and fear that I'll attack the city tonight? They're too busy defending themselves, how dare they come to provoke me and raid my camp? If they really had the guts, why didn't they pursue me after my defeat? This shows their cowardice. Just tell the boys to go to sleep and rest, and we'll fight again tomorrow." The bandits, exhausted after hearing this order, were overjoyed. After eating their fill, they lay down and, without a care in the world, slept soundly.

Unexpectedly, at midnight, the Tiger Army arrived outside his camp, quietly removing the deer antlers from all sides, and broke into the encirclement with a great shout, launching a fierce attack. The bandits, fast asleep, were startled awake. They were caught off guard, their armor and horses unsaddled, unable to even find their weapons in the darkness, only concerned with escape. The local militia, seeing no preparation, were overjoyed and their strength doubled, like tigers among sheep, hacking and slashing indiscriminately. Under the starlight, they only saw tigers without heads and slaughtered them. The bandits stumbled and trampled each other in disarray. Li Zicheng, seeing the difficulty of fighting in the darkness and having been awakened from his sleep, panicked. He spurred his horse, took some of his personal guards, and his cavalry charged ahead, clearing a path. The blind bandits were in the middle, with Niu Jinxing and Song Xianze close behind, desperately breaking through and fleeing.

The fighting continued until dawn, truly leaving corpses strewn across the field and rivers of blood flowing. Some of the bandits were killed, others fled. Shang Zhi said, "Let's hurry forward to meet Brother Lin's troops." These local militia, overjoyed at their great victory, felt no fatigue and became even more excited, like a white-browed tiger unleashed by a whirlwind. Hearing that they were to go to meet them, they all rushed forward with great courage, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Before they had gone more than a few miles, they encountered Lin Zhong leading his troops back in triumph. When asked about Li Zicheng's whereabouts, he replied, "I was lying in ambush when Li Zicheng led over two thousand defeated soldiers to escape. I intercepted them. Seeing no way out, they fought desperately, and I killed four of their generals. Although they outnumbered me, they were startled, and a small portion of them were unarmed, so my troops also killed many of them. Just then, his defeated soldiers arrived, numbering over ten thousand. Seeing their superior numbers, I followed the military strategy: 'Do not ambush a retreating army, do not pursue a desperate enemy.' I had no choice but to let them live. After another round of fighting, the enemy was far away when I led my troops back." Everyone laughed heartily upon hearing this. The count revealed that seven or eight thousand bandits had been killed, and countless suits of armor and weapons had been

seized. Meanwhile, Li Zicheng, defeated by Lin Baoguo, had been pursued for some time. Seeing Lin Baoguo withdraw his troops, he felt relieved. As he walked, he suddenly heard a cannon blast. Looking around, he saw a small number of soldiers, led by a fierce general charging towards him. The blind bandit looked closely, and guess what she was dressed like?

She wore a three-pronged purple-gold crown and a suit of silver chainmail. Beneath this was a snow-white silk robe woven with golden-winged eagles. A carved bow was tucked into her left pouch, and a quiver of hard arrows filled her right. She carried a twelve-foot spear and rode a crimson steed, Red Hare. What a magnificent horse! Truly, it was like a fire dragon descending from the heavens, its bridle held high, its purple reins broken. [The description of Guo's attire has already been praised; it is repeated here because Li Zicheng was wounded by an arrow, hence the mention of the carved bow and hard arrows.]

Li Zicheng recognized the female general and panicked. Fearing he might injure the blind commander, Ma Lei had no choice but to step forward to meet the enemy. Suddenly, a sharp voice shouted, "Traitor, hold on!" Ma Lei, already wounded by a spear in the back, fled in pain. Li Zicheng also fled in disarray. Guo Shi lowered her spear, drew her precious carved bow, nocked a wolf-tooth arrow, and aimed at the blind commander. Unexpectedly, in her haste, she lowered her head slightly, and the blind commander was struck in the buttocks. He staggered, nearly falling from his horse, but endured the pain and spurred it on, fleeing at full speed. Seeing that he was far away, Guo Shi did not pursue him, but instead chased and killed the remaining bandits, returning with a great victory.

Back at the camp, she recounted the events, and everyone praised her. Shang Zhi then sent men to inquire about Li Zicheng's whereabouts, and the next day reported that he had returned to Haozhou overnight. Only then did the troops return to their camp. Bao Xin reported in a detailed account of the two consecutive battles, having killed ten thousand bandit leaders and several bandit generals, and reported the spoils of war. His report stated:

Both victories were primarily due to the efforts of Lin Zhong and his wife. Lin Zhong personally led the charge, capturing enemy generals and flags, pursuing the fleeing enemy, braving arrows and stones, and leading the charge with unwavering courage. His wife, Lady Guo, personally led the charge, first beheading two enemy generals, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy leader. The overall victory was largely due to Lady Guo's initial prowess. Later, she divided her troops to ambush the enemy, wounding another enemy general. Li Zicheng was hit by an arrow and nearly captured. No one could match Lady Guo's contribution in killing the enemy. Shang Zhi strategized and led the charge; Mu Yi circled around the enemy's rear, disrupting their morale. The night raid on the camp and the subsequent escape were both due to the efforts of these two, and their contributions were secondary. The thousand-man squad also contributed by beheading enemy soldiers. Their labor in the rush was secondary.

Shang Zhi and the other two also reported that

this great victory was due to Bao Xin's feigned surrender to lure the enemy. The enemy soldiers had traveled over 500 li in two nights and one day, exhausted, which enabled their success.

Upon seeing the report, the Ministry of War was overjoyed. A report of victory was submitted overnight, requesting imperial rewards. The Prefect of Music also submitted a memorial praising Bao Xin for his strategic planning in luring the rebels to their successful conclusion. Emperor Chongzhen had repeatedly dispatched generals and troops over the years, spending vast sums of money and grain, all to no avail; he had never received a report of a major victory. Today, however, news arrived that these rebels had been killed without costing the state a single penny. The

Emperor was greatly pleased. By imperial decree: those previously appointed on temporary assignments are now officially appointed. Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, and Shang Zhi are granted the title of Vice Commander-in-Chief. Lin Zhong is awarded two additional military merits, and his wife, Lady Guo, is granted the title of Lady of Heroic Virtue. Their local militia families are provided with household registration and exempted from this year's taxes and levies. Bao Xin is promoted to Registrar of the Yingtian Prefecture, still stationed in the three counties. This is to be known.

The official document arrived in Nanjing, and Shi Gong sent an official to deliver it. Mu Yi and the others came to the city to thank Shi and Music Gong. This time, their appointments were official, unlike before.

Seeing their repeated achievements and the glory they brought him, the two officials treated them with great favor, rewarding them with flowers, red envelopes, sheep, and wine, and holding a banquet to celebrate their success. They also issued an edict to the three counties, ordering them to establish their own government offices, complete with yamen runners and other duties. Bao Xin then reported, "I was tricked into the tiger's den by Yi Ce's feigned surrender; I beg for your reward." Lord Yue rewarded him with a silver ingot. Lord Shi, seeing him as a valiant man, bestowed upon him a deputy commander's post, making him Bao Xin's henchman, dedicated to gathering military intelligence and reporting urgent matters. Yi Ce thanked him profusely. When

Bao Xin arrived at his post in the Bureau of Records, his home was unusually lively. A banquet and opera were held. He invited Mu, Lin, and Shang, along with a thousand-strong battalion commander. Even Jia Wenwu sent a congratulatory gift. He specially hosted a banquet for Jia Wenwu to express his gratitude for his patronage, and invited his cousin Bao Fuzhi to accompany him. Hanxiang also specially invited Madam Fu and her four concubines, Jin, Yin, Zhu, and Yu, as well as Zhen Gu and her younger sister-in-law. She was Bao Fuzhi's younger sister, [who had already become famous when Zhen Gu hanged herself]. She came to accompany him. [This younger sister was Zhong Zixin's wife. Zhong Zixin hadn't even appeared yet, but this woman had already been mentioned twice. It seems the author had already foreseen this throughout the entire book.]

Meanwhile, Li Zicheng led tens of thousands of defeated and wounded troops, fleeing for over a hundred li. He was truly in a state of panic, seeing enemies everywhere. Only when he heard there were no pursuers did he feel relieved. Checking his subordinates, only the strategist Niu Jinxing, Song Xianze, Ma Lei, Hou Jiao, and Yuan Hua remained. The other six generals, Zhu Yang, Gou Lu, Zhang Hu, and others, had all died at the hands of the bandits. [Niu Jinxing and Song Xianze were civil officials of the rebels, so we need not discuss them. But many of the rebel generals were beheaded, and only three escaped back. Ma Lei was also wounded, and only Hou Jiao and Yuan Hua returned safely. This shows that not only do the cunning gain advantages everywhere, but even among bandits, the cunning benefit.] A disappointing turn of events.

Several days later, he fled to his old camp in Haozhou. The bandit generals greeted him and apologized, saying, "Reports along the way have told us of Your Majesty's defeat, but without Your Majesty's orders, we dared not act rashly." Li Zicheng said, "These two defeats were my fault for relying on my strength and underestimating the enemy; I underestimated them too much." The generals said, "How can we care about such a small place? With our numbers, we can stop a river with a whip, and cross the Yangtze River on horseback. We will lead the old camp to avenge you, leaving not a blade of grass, destroying the city and filling the moat, to vent Your Majesty's anger."

Li Zicheng said, "No need. What I'm fighting for is not this tiny place; now, great things are at stake. My troops are attacking Bianliang, which will take almost two years; these past few months have been arduous. Now..." "We'll rest for a month, then plunder some grain and goods along the four routes and return to Shaanxi to strengthen our troops. Once we're strong enough, we'll capture Beijing, and then the Jiangnan region will naturally be under our control. We won't have to worry about them flying to the sky." The bandit generals said, "Your Majesty's insight is far beyond our reach."

The blind bandit then pulled out eight command arrows and sent eight bandit generals—One Tiger, Purple Gold Beam, Scorpion Block, Sky-Crushing, Starry Sky, Lamp-Lighter, World-Disrupting King, and Manifesting God—to draw lots in each of the eight directions: east, west, south, north, northeast, southwest, southeast, and northwest. Each general was to lead three thousand elite cavalry and infantry, and to plunder in eight separate routes, with a deadline of one month.

One Tiger drew the Huai-Si route. This Tiger was named Li Guo, Li Zicheng's nephew, who had escaped with him that day. He led three thousand soldiers to the Xuzhou area, dividing them into several groups of two or three hundred each, scattering to plunder. He guarded the main camp alone, leaving only thirty-odd junior soldiers for his own use. These bandits, fearless and emboldened, raided and plundered villages and towns throughout the counties.

At that time, in Xuzhou town, there lived a man named Gao Jie, nicknamed "Mountain-Climbing Hawk," also known as "Shorty Gao" because of his short stature. He was short and stocky, but possessed extraordinary strength, wielding a forty-pound iron rod, and was invincible. He joined the bandit camp that day, and the three of them, Li Zicheng and Li Guo, formed a sworn brotherhood. [Uncle-nephew alliances are only seen in the novel *Water Margin* between Zou Yuan and Zou Run, and in this book between Li Zicheng and Li Guo; no other books mention this.] Li Zicheng, seeing him as a straightforward man, entrusted him with a confidant. Li Zicheng's wife, Xing, was exceptionally beautiful. An ancient saying describes her as: "

More perceptive than flowers, more fragrant than jade.

" This charming woman could ride a rough horse and wield two swords skillfully. She was also resourceful, often offering military advice, and her predictions were accurate eight or nine times out of ten. The bandit soldiers all feared her. He was very kind to people, and they were grateful to him. Therefore, Li Zicheng cherished him like a treasure, while he regarded the blind bandit as a burden. Li Zicheng heard that Zhang Xianzhong's wives, concubines, and children had been captured by government troops and imprisoned in Xiangyang. Because Zhang Xianzhong frequently went out to fight, he feared the loss of his main camp. Knowing Gao Jie's martial prowess, he entrusted Xing Shi to his care, ordering him to manage the inner camp affairs.

Xing Shi, a clever woman, had no choice but to submit to Li Zicheng as his wife; how could she remain a bandit's wife? She saw that Gao Jie, though a bandit, possessed a loyal heart and plotted to surrender to the Celestial Empire with him, but dared not speak out. She also saw that Gao Jie was handsome, with a square face, large ears, and a strong build, far superior to Li Zicheng. She felt some affection for him and devised a plan.

One day, the blind bandit led his men out, and Xing Shi took advantage of this opportunity to invite Gao Jie to the inner tent to discuss military affairs. They addressed each other as uncle and sister-in-law, chatted for a while, and then ordered wine to drink together. Although Gao Jie was a brave man, he couldn't resist the allure of wine and women. He was a great lover of alcohol, and Xing, being attentive, had her maids frequently urge him on, and Gao Jie drank heartily, laughing and talking. Before long, he was deeply intoxicated and lay down on a low table. Xing had several trusted maids carry him to bed and undress him. Xing also removed her clothes and shared a pillow and quilt with him. Gao Jie slept until dawn, still half-asleep. He saw a woman sleeping beside him, her fragrant hair permeating his senses. He touched her; her body was smooth as jade. Touching her most intoxicating place, even a strong man couldn't resist. He didn't know who she was, nor did he ask where she came from. In a moment of pleasure, he flipped her over, [and she was a cunning woman], and they made love. One was a capable female commander, the other a seasoned general; both were locked in a fierce struggle, unwilling to stop. Gao Jie, accustomed to wielding an iron rod, now wielded it with the same iron-like strength, charging forward relentlessly. Xing Shi resembled the ageless old woman from the Journey to the West, her mind reeling from the young monk's blows with his golden cudgel. His jade-fire tongs could no longer withstand the onslaught, leaving Xing Shi weak and limp, collapsed on her pillow.

As dawn broke, Gao Jie looked closely and realized it was Xing Shi. In this situation, formalities were irrelevant. Seeing Xing Shi's flushed cheeks, slight smile, half-closed eyes, and panting breath, he was utterly captivated. He resumed his domineering ways, and another fierce battle ensued. Xing Shi, who often indulged in pleasure with Li Zicheng, whose short, small, and quick skills were swift, had never faced a formidable enemy. Now, weakened by Gao Jie's ministrations, she pleaded with him to cease hostilities. Seeing that the sun was high in the sky, Gao Jie felt the clouds and rain had dispersed.

That evening, Xing invited him in again, and they drank several cups before going to bed. Fueled by the wine, the two engaged in a truly extraordinary display:

one was renowned for his iron rod, the other for his twin swords. The iron rod, famous for its power, split the twin swords in two; the twin swords, equally renowned, bound the iron rod into a bundle. The iron rod moved in and out relentlessly, the twin swords unpredictable in their movements. During the battle, the iron rod, as if tempered by fire, gradually softened; after the battle, the twin swords flowed smoothly, like water being polished. The one wielding the iron rod put it away; the one wielding the twin swords tucked them into his leather pouch. Their affection was boundless, their charm unparalleled.

Afterwards, Lady Xing, lying on her pillow, advised him, "Our love is like that of husband and wife; even death cannot separate us. If the King were to return and find out, your life would surely be in danger. Even if he doesn't know, we must sever our bond. Besides, you possess all the skills of martial arts; why not offer them to the royal family? If you could gain fame and fortune, make a name for yourself, bring glory to your ancestors, bestow titles upon your wife and children, and leave a good name in history, you would not have wasted your talents. But why, in this world, would you allow your parents' innocent body to fall into the clutches of traitors, inviting eternal condemnation? Moreover, throughout history, have any traitors ever been virtuous?" "Is this a good ending? If you immediately submit to the court, not only will you turn misfortune into fortune, but we can also be husband and wife forever. If you don't decide soon, I'm afraid that if this matter is exposed, it will be impossible to escape the disaster. What do you think?" Gao Jie, reminded of this, suddenly realized what was going on and replied, "Your words are golden, and I have long held this thought. However, because I did not know your confidants, I dared not speak out. Since that is the case, things should not be delayed." The next day, he and Xing Mingzheng officially became husband and wife. They slaughtered cattle and horses and held a banquet for all the soldiers in the camp. Everyone admired their virtue and power, and no one spoke ill of them.

Three days later, the couple gathered all the generals and soldiers. Lady Xing said, “The King has rebelled against the court, wantonly slaughtering people, incurring the wrath of Heaven and the anger of the people. Although we are currently only prolonging our lives, we will inevitably be defeated in the end. You and I are all innocent citizens of the court, captured and brought here by him. If we are defeated in the future, we will die in vain. I have now married General Gao, and I have discussed with him abandoning our rebellion and surrendering to the Heavenly Dynasty. Those of you who wish to go with us, please surrender together. Those who do not wish to, I cannot force them.” The crowd responded in unison, “We have followed the rebels here because he has slaughtered our entire families, leaving us nowhere to go. We have no choice. Who does not wish to be a good citizen? We are willing to follow you, Lady Xing and General, to surrender to the Heavenly Dynasty.” Lady Xing was overjoyed to hear their unanimous agreement. She and Gao Jie led the three thousand men guarding the old camp to surrender to the Heavenly Dynasty. A four-line poem praises Lady Xing:

“Do not underestimate the beauty of a woman in her boudoir; her bright eyes and beautiful eyebrows are indeed lovely.”
He was worthy to be paired with a hero and brought to the imperial court, ensuring his illustrious reputation would last for ten thousand years.

The emperor was greatly pleased and first bestowed upon Gao Jie the rank of adjutant general, then ordered him to lead his troops to slay bandits and achieve merit. Having served in the bandit camp for a long time, he knew its strengths and weaknesses well, thus achieving resounding victories and repeatedly establishing extraordinary achievements. Within a few years, he was further enfeoffed as the Earl of Xingping, given the seal of a general, commanding 5,000 elite troops, and garrisoning fourteen prefectures and counties including Xu, Si, Su, and Hao. Lady Xing was also granted the title of First-Rank Lady.

One day, reports came from various places that a tiger named Li Guo had led 3,000 bandits into the territory of this prefecture, dividing into more than ten groups to plunder in all directions. The old and young were killed, all the women were abducted, and no gold, silk, or grain was left; they were extremely ferocious. Gao Jie laughed, "That damned thief has occupied my Haozhou. Because I have few soldiers, I cannot fight him for it, yet he dares to disturb my territory. He's used to rampaging and killing elsewhere, and the government troops dare not confront him, hence his audacity in sending troops out in all directions. Today he openly comes to my territory to act recklessly; let him suffer a great loss so he'll know my strength." He then summoned six officers, gave them six command tokens, and instructed them, "Each of you lead five hundred men to scout out where the thieves are, and..." "Go and wipe them out. He cares for his children and possessions, and he has always looked down on government troops. If you all work together, you will be invincible. If you hesitate or are cowardly, and suffer any setbacks, you will be punished according to military law. If you kill everyone in one place, you are not allowed to go back. You must return immediately to report. If you are greedy for merit and disobey orders, you will be beheaded even if you gain merit. He has been wounded in six places, so he will lose his courage. When my troops return, we will rest and recuperate to prevent him from seeking revenge. I will wait in comfort and defeat him in one fell swoop. From now on, I can sleep peacefully within my territory." The generals received the order and left.

These bandits were in groups of more than three hundred or more, and in groups of more than two hundred. They killed everyone they encountered and looted everything they could find, leaving only young women to enjoy themselves. Within these hundreds of miles, there was not a sound of chickens or dogs. Their horses were all loaded with valuables and food, and the women walked. Their shoes were narrow, and they could only walk twenty or thirty miles a day. The bandits also walked slowly. They looted a lot of food along the way and chatted and laughed with the women, enjoying themselves immensely. Having been discovered by the government troops, they arrived with lightning speed.

The bandits' horses were laden with treasures; they wanted to abandon them but couldn't bear to. Caught in this dilemma, the government troops arrived. Outnumbered, the bandits surrounded them, cutting them down like vegetables. Among the bandits, some, disregarding their belongings, managed to escape, a dozen or so, while the rest were left headless. Their children and wealth were all recovered. A couple more bandit groups remained in the village, drinking and reveling with the women, all thoroughly drunk. Suddenly seeing the government troops arrive, they were all at a loss, only able to offer their heads for slaughter. All six groups were victorious, and the bandits returned to submit their orders. Gao Jie ordered a proclamation to spread throughout the area, calling on the villagers who had suffered to come and claim their wives and property; those without owners would be rewarded to the soldiers.

Meanwhile, Li Guo, in his camp, saw the bandits continuously delivering women and gold and silk to the nearby villages, and he was delighted. Though he didn't have three thousand beauties, he had more than a hundred and twenty hairpins. Looking around with a smug expression, Li Guo was about to enjoy himself with several fine women when news arrived that six groups of troops had suffered a major defeat and returned home. Li Guo was shocked and summoned them to inquire. They were told that each group had returned laden with spoils, including countless gold, silk, and women. However, due to a lack of preparedness, they had been ambushed by the troops of the "Flying Falcons" and were all killed, their spoils stolen. Of the more than 1,500 men, only a little over 100 escaped.

Upon hearing this, Li Guo was utterly disappointed and flew into a rage. He cursed, "You heartless, cowardly thief! We were sworn brothers, and the King treated you with utmost care, entrusting you with his wife and children. You've even abducted his wife, which doesn't affect me, so it's one thing. [Wonderful, extremely honest words, yet spoken by a thief.] Today you've also wounded my men; I swear I will never forgive you. [The King's wife is less valuable than a thief under his command.] He ordered all the soldiers to the camp, and after checking the numbers, found only 1,600 men remaining, half of whom were wounded. Li Guo was furious, leaving over a hundred men to guard the women and valuables, and led 1,500 men, swaggering towards Xuzhou.

Upon reaching the city, he found the gates tightly shut and the walls deserted, eerily quiet. Li Guo angrily said, "This coward is hiding his face; am I supposed to let this go?" "He ordered the bandits to shout and curse. They cursed for a long time until their throats were dry, but not a single one responded. He grew even angrier and shouted at the bandits, 'Since he dares not come out, are we to let him go? All of you, climb over the city wall shoulder to shoulder and see where he can hide!' The bandits dared not disobey, and secondly, they assumed he was cowardly, so they all dismounted. They grabbed their clothes, boldly took their weapons, and began to climb. Just as they reached halfway up, a cannon fired, and drums and horns sounded. Banners were densely packed on the city wall, swords and halberds were like a forest, and rolling logs and lime bottles rained down. By the time the bandits hurriedly retreated, seven or eight hundred lives had already been taken. Li Guo was filled with rage and urged them to continue. The bandits thought they couldn't climb up, and who wouldn't value their lives? Just as they were arguing, another cannon fired, and the north and south gates opened wide. Two armies rushed out, shouting and waving flags, heading straight for them.

Seeing that things were not going well, the bandits shouted and mounted their horses to flee." Unable to stop himself, Li Guo had no choice but to run as well. Several defeated and wounded bandits came running towards them, saying, "General, it's terrible! Our camp has been breached by the 'Mountain Falcons,' who killed us all. Only a few of us escaped with our lives and have come to report this." Li Guo and the bandits were startled again, panicked and disoriented, and could only run forward.

After running for several miles, they saw banners fluttering in the distance, and a troop of soldiers blocking their path. Li Guo was now somewhat timid; blocked in front, pursued behind, and with nowhere to run, he could only lead his men forward. From afar, they couldn't see clearly, but up close, they could see clearly. Under the banner, a great general stood at the head—Gao Jie. He wore a golden helmet and python armor, with jade bridle and carved saddle. He sat on a white horse, holding an iron club. He was imposing and dignified, unlike his former bandit self. He was surrounded by many officers and soldiers, a truly majestic and imposing sight.

Seeing his enemy, Li Guo's eyes blazed with hatred. He roared, "You short thief! You betrayed the King and abducted the Lady! Today you've wounded my men and now you block my path! The blood from our past is still fresh; aren't you afraid the gods will kill you?" Gao Jie laughed loudly, "Traitor! Those who obey Heaven live, those who defy Heaven perish. As the ancients said, 'If your friend is right but your ruler is wrong, then obey your friend; if your ruler is wrong but your friend is wrong, then obey your ruler.' I am a dignified man, of pure character, and I had no choice but to become a traitor in the past. Today, I am blessed by the Emperor's grace, serving as a commander-in-chief, and I only know how to kill traitors. What is the basis of our past alliance? The Sage said, 'Even if you make an alliance, the gods will not listen.' Do you understand? I value our past friendship; quickly dismount and surrender, and I will spare your life. If you do not stop, you will be a headless ghost by now." Li Guo was furious and cursed, "Others may fear you, but I do not! Today, I will fight you to the death!"

Just then, a general in the government army waved his command flag, and the drums thundered. With a shout, the soldiers rushed forward, surrounding him from all sides, and arrows rained down like locusts, causing the bandits to fall from their horses one after another. Li Guo panicked, dashing east and west, trying to find a way out, but the enemy was like an iron barrel. Just as things were at their most critical, a gong sounded, and the soldiers stopped firing. Then, an officer unfurled his command flag, and the troops parted, clearing a path. Seeing an opening, Li Guo spurred his horse and galloped away. He saw Gao Jie standing ahead, pointing at him with an iron rod, saying, "I'll spare your life to fulfill the oath you swore. I advise your uncle to surrender quickly, so he won't lose his princely position. If he remains obstinate, it will be too late for regrets." Li Guo knew Gao Jie was sparing his life, so he dared not curse again, nor could he reply. He simply lowered his head, whipped his horse, and rode away.

After running for several miles, looking back at their army, they saw only about four hundred men. Just then, they saw a female general on a small hill, her hair bound in a golden crown and armor, wielding two goose-feathered swords, riding a peach-blossom horse. Upon closer inspection, it was Xing Shi. A few lines of praise described her: "

Her hair piled high like raven feathers, her face like a peach blossom; her lotus-shaped hairpins adorned with phoenixes, perfectly suited to the skirt of the Xiang River. Her starry eyes, slightly shifting, revealed a hint of ferocity; her warbling voice, though audible, concealed a murderous intent. Beautiful and strong, she was clearly a skilled warrior; clever and intelligent, she was undoubtedly a strategist. Who would have thought that such a gentle woman could be a fierce general on the battlefield?"

She was closely surrounded by thirty or forty female soldiers, all fully armored and wielding weapons, while a hundred or so soldiers stood guard at a distance. Hearing Xing's sweet, delicate voice, she called out, "Li Guo, do you recognize me? Look at me, I've submitted to the court, now I'm a noblewoman of the state, what glory! What good have you bandits gained? Why not surrender and claim your own wealth and status?" Li Guo cursed, "Shameless harlot! You abandoned my king and ran away with that short, ugly fellow. You still have no shame, daring to talk back to me!" Xing said, "I abandoned my rebellion and submitted, what shame is there? I'll make you, you traitor who doesn't know the times, a ghost under the knife right now!" Seeing that she didn't have many followers, Li Guo said to the bandits, "Charge forward! If you capture this harlot, not only will you be able to avenge your humiliation, but the king will also reward you handsomely." The bandits, hoping for a lucky break, shouted and rushed up the hillside. The fastest horses arrived first, and with a loud crash at the bottom of the hill, the sky collapsed and the earth crumbled, and they all fell into the pit. By the time the rest hurriedly reined in their horses, two or three hundred had already gone down. Li Guo was still in shock when Xing Shi shouted from behind, and two groups of men charged out from behind the hillside on either side. Li Guo, disregarding the others, spurred his horse and fled. When he escaped, only about twenty survivors remained, and they fled together.

This was a brilliant plan devised by Gao Jie and his wife; they only wanted to instill fear in him without taking his life. He was the blind bandit's nephew; if they killed him, Li Zicheng would surely send his entire camp to avenge him. Not only were they afraid of being outnumbered, but even a draw would inevitably result in casualties. Moreover, killing him outright would instill fear in the enemy camp, giving them a preemptive strike. The couple, victorious, led their men back,
their whips cracking and stirrups jingling with joy, singing triumphant songs.

Gao Jie returned to the city, rewarded his soldiers, and then dispatched men to gather intelligence on the rebel leader day and night.

Meanwhile, Li Guo, with his twenty-odd survivors, rushed to Haozhou that very night. Upon meeting the blind bandit, they mentioned reaching Xuzhou, only to discover that Gao Jie was stationed there. Taking them by surprise, Gao Jie slaughtered all of their men, and all the gold, silk, and women they had captured were recovered. Li Zicheng was furious, saying, "That ungrateful, short bandit! I hate him to the bone, and I always regret not having met him sooner. Now that we've met on a narrow path, how can I let him pass?" It was truly a case of: "

I searched high and low, but found him without any effort."

He ordered his generals, "Leave half the troops to guard the main camp until their seven armies return, then we'll hold it together. When I return victorious, we'll all go back together. The rest of the soldiers will follow me to fight the enemy." The soldiers received the order and set up camp the next morning.

Gao Jie's scouts, having gathered information overnight, returned to report the news. Gao Jie sent a messenger on horseback with a letter to the Ministry of War in Nanjing, reporting that the enemy numbered in the tens of thousands and requesting reinforcements. Only through a pincer attack could victory be achieved. Upon seeing this, Shi Gong immediately issued a proclamation to Huang Degong, the Earl of Jingnan, urging him to provide immediate reinforcements. Huang Degong was considered the foremost general on the battlefield, possessing unparalleled bravery. He always led the charge, a lone rider at the forefront. He carried an iron whip under his left leg and an iron mace under his right, wielding an iron spear and two strong bows at his waist. Two attendants carried two quivers of two hundred arrows, following closely behind. When far from the enemy, he would draw his bows with both hands, the arrows flying like a string of pearls, never missing their mark. At close range, he used his spear; when the fighting became intense, he would discard the spear, wielding a whip in one hand and a mace in the other, charging straight into the enemy ranks. With both hands striking simultaneously, the enemy soldiers fell from their horses, trembling in fear at his sight. Among the enemy, he was nicknamed "Huang the Rebel." A short poem, "The Drunken Old Man," praised him: "

His face is as red as a ripe date, his beard flowing gracefully. His spirit is unrestrained, a thousand troops are but trifles. His might is fierce in battle, shattering the moonlight on the battlefield." A swift steed neighed, charging into the camp like lightning.

Zhang Xianzhong, the Eighth King of the bandits, had ravaged the regions of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Guangdong. He had a young general named Zhang, beautiful as a woman and strong as ten thousand men. He was invincible in battle, always at the forefront, and was known among the bandits as "Little Marquis Zhang." Government troops and soldiers avoided him at all costs. He often heard people speak of Huang Chuangzi and laughed, "I regret not meeting him; if I did, I would capture him alive." Huang Degong, hearing this, was furious and led his troops to find him to fight. Hearing that Huang Degong was coming, he was overjoyed. [Those who deceive their enemies will surely be defeated; this is the meaning of the bandit's words.] The next morning, he formed his battle formation and rode back and forth, challenging Huang Degong to battle.

Huang Degong, upon hearing this, drank several dou of wine, donned his armor, mounted his horse, and galloped out of the camp. He saw Little Marquis Zhang swaggering about, showing off. He roared and charged straight at him. Caught off guard, the bandit was captured alive. The remaining bandits, terrified, abandoned their flags and drums and fled, only to be overtaken and slaughtered by the soldiers. Thus, Huang Degong's reputation terrified even the most notorious bandits. When he brought the young Zhang Hou to the central command tent, he sat down and laughed, "You always boasted that you would capture me alive. Now that I've captured you, what do you have to say?" The bandit lowered his head and remained silent. Huang Degong, knowing his bravery, wanted to persuade him to surrender and become a subordinate general. He said, "I know you are a good man. If you submit, you will be rich and powerful in the future." He still didn't answer. Huang Degong angrily said, "I've heard that Zhang Xianzhong loves you and often sleeps with you on his belly. If you submit to me, I will treat you the same way. What do you say?" The young Zhang Hou just lowered his head and remained silent. Huang Degong ordered his men to take him away in chains and guard him. The bandit died after several days without food. Although Huang Degong resented him, he also pitied him as a loyal and righteous hero among bandits, so he had him buried. Shi Bingbu, having long heard of his reputation, specially appointed him as the General Commander of Chuzhou and Hezhou, and by imperial

decree bestowed upon him the title of Marquis, giving him control over eleven prefectures and counties in Chuzhou, Hezhou, Luzhou, and Wuzhou. Upon receiving the Ministry of War's dispatch that a neighboring prefecture was in trouble, he immediately led three thousand elite troops to meet the enemy. Shi Bingbu also ordered Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, and Shang Zhi to return quickly, each leading troops to firmly defend three border areas. If any bandits appeared, they were to be annihilated. The three men accepted the orders and departed.

Meanwhile, Li Zicheng led tens of thousands of troops to the territory of Xuzhou. In less than a day, they arrived at the city walls. Seeing that the city was heavily fortified, with piles of rolling logs and stones, yet no one came out to fight, Li Zicheng ordered his bandits to hurl insults at the city. They hurled insults for two or three days, but the city ignored them, as if they hadn't heard, and refused to come out. Enraged, Li Zicheng began building siege ladders, intending to attack the city. Suddenly, a messenger arrived with news that Huang Chuangzi had led his troops to the rescue and had already set up camp five li away.

Chuangzi, who always feared Huang, was startled by this report. Huang Degong rested overnight, and the next morning, riding high on his momentum, led his men to challenge them. Chuangzi ordered all troops to meet him, and the two sides formed ranks. Seeing that Huang's forces were small, Chuangzi was unconcerned. They faced off for a long time, neither gaining the upper hand. Suddenly, a series of cannon shots rang out, and shouts erupted from three sides behind them as government troops swarmed in. It turned out that Gao Jie, initially intimidated by Huang's initial momentum, had held firm and refused to fight. Now, after three days, knowing Huang's morale was waning, he was preparing to fight him. Hearing of Huang Degong's arrival and engagement with the rebels, he was overjoyed and led two thousand elite soldiers to attack from the rear. He ordered two generals to each lead a thousand men, flanking from the left and right. For years, these bandits had been capturing surrendered soldiers in various places. When government troops saw them, they either fled like the wind or surrendered without resistance. Accustomed to killing the readily available, they were now somewhat intimidated by these generals who were different from others, charging forward with fierce determination, ready to fight hand-to-hand. Moreover, everyone knew of Gao Jie's formidable skill in leaping across mountains when he was in their camp. Huang Degong's reputation was renowned among the bandits, striking fear into their hearts. Whenever they encountered him by chance, they would avoid him from afar. Now, facing him in battle, they harbored resentment. Because of his notorious reputation, they feared for their lives. If they had only encountered one of him, they could have managed to fight him. But now, with the two of them together, attacking from both sides, they couldn't help but feel afraid.

Just as they split up to meet the attack, Huang Degong, seeing Gao Jie leading his troops to attack from all sides, felt like a tiger with wings, his arrogance growing even stronger. He roared like a thunderclap in the sky, spear in his right hand and whip in his left, leading his iron cavalry into the bandit ranks. Seeing their commanders rushing forward, the generals under his command dared not lag behind. They charged forward with fierce courage, scattering the enemy troops and making them unable to hold their ground. Seeing the enemy's panic, Gao Jie also urged his troops to join the fray. From dawn to dusk, the rebels, seeing their forces gradually dwindling, realized they were no match for them and led their generals and soldiers in a retreat. Gao and Huang, seeing that their enemy still outnumbered them, also withdrew their troops to their camp.

Gao Jie went to Huang Degong's camp to meet him and thank him for his help. They discussed, "Our combined forces number less than ten thousand, while the enemy has tens of thousands. It's difficult to wipe them out. If we only fight them head-on, we fear we'll suffer many casualties. We must proceed in this way, not only to lift the siege but also to prevent any loss of our troops." Having made their decision, the two went their separate ways.

Gao Jie returned to the city and ordered that only a thousand soldiers remain, and that all the city's inhabitants be given armor, banners, and weapons to guard the city walls. He entrusted Xing to lead the civil and military commanders, while he secretly led his troops away that very night.

Li Zicheng returned to his camp in defeat, angrily saying, "Since I started my army, I have never suffered repeated defeats. I was defeated at Liuhe before, and today I have lost again here. How can I possibly vent this anger?" Li Yan said, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. Why should Your Majesty be so concerned? Today, we were attacked from all sides, hence the injuries. Tomorrow, let the troops rest for a day, and the day after, we will settle the score. Our army outnumbers theirs several times over; using the rotation method, there is no reason why we cannot win." Li Zicheng asked, "What is the rotation method?" Li Yan replied, "...take our troops..." The horses were divided into three groups. The first group went out to fight the enemy. After about two hours, the second group went up, replacing the first group and resting in the camp. After another two hours, the third group went up, replacing the second group again. Then the first group was replaced by the third group, and the fighting continued. Although they fought for three days and nights, neither the men nor the horses were exhausted. We were very relaxed, while they were very tired. People's energy is limited. Can one group of them outlast three of our groups? Even if they wanted to divide their forces, they would not dare because they had too few men. This is the method of Jin's three-pronged attack to exhaust Chu." Li Zicheng was overjoyed when he heard this.

He rested for a day the next day. On the morning of the third day, the bandits cooked and ate their fill. They prepared their horses and armor, got ready for battle, and the bandit generals led the first group of bandits out of the camp and set up their ranks in a wide open space. They saw a faint smoke rising from Huang Degong's camp, but there was no movement. So they sounded the horns, beat the drums, and shouted loudly as they approached, but it was the same. Not far from the camp, they climbed to a high place to observe the situation inside. Seeing only empty banners, they realized it was an empty camp. They quickly informed Li Zicheng and sent men to investigate. The scouts reported back that there was indeed no one there. Li Zicheng remained suspicious and sent two more generals to confirm. He then went to the camp himself and saw piles of provisions, and the soldiers' clothes and belongings in the tents were untouched. He was very suspicious. He sent men to inquire at the city walls, and they reported that the defenses were even stronger than the day before, with soldiers lining the parapets. Song Xianze said, "Huang Zicheng has suddenly abandoned his camp. He is knowledgeable in military affairs. In my humble opinion, could it be a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'?" Li Zicheng suddenly realized, "That's possible."

Just then, a scout rushed in with a report: "Huang Zicheng has directly attacked Haozhou, launching a surprise attack on our old camp, cutting off our retreat. He's been gone for a day and a night." Li Zicheng was already panicking upon hearing this. Suddenly, several more riders came to report that Zuo Liangyu, knowing that Bianliang had fallen, was leading 400,000 troops from Xiangyang to seek revenge. The blind bandit grew increasingly panicked, fearing that without a general in the main camp, they would be unable to withstand the attack. He ordered an immediate breakup and a night's retreat to the rescue.

After a day and a night of running, they reached the border of Xuyi County when they suddenly heard cannon fire behind them. Turning around, they saw Gao Jie's banner and heard shouts of pursuit. The bandits had no will to fight and retreated while fighting. The pursuing troops also did not fight with much effort, only chasing after them. After traveling several dozen miles, they heard cannon fire again, and a troop of soldiers blocked their path. The general at the front laughed and shouted, "Do you recognize General Huang?" The bandits looked and indeed it was him. Seeing that their retreat was cut off, the bandits had no choice but to urge their troops forward for a melee. The Gao family's troops gradually caught up with the Huang family's troops, but they were also not doing well. After fighting for a while, a main road opened up, and the bandits took the opportunity to rush out. Huang Degong and the Gao family's infantry caught up with them. These bandits had been running for two days and a night without cooking. Although they had eaten some dry rations, they were all exhausted. As dusk fell and they grew hungry and thirsty, they considered setting up camp for a rest. Suddenly, a deafening drumbeat erupted, and a troop of men charged out. Gao Jie led his soldiers into the ranks, hacking and slashing wildly. Li Zicheng exclaimed in surprise, "How come there are those short bandits here again?" Realizing they couldn't fight back, he fled. The bandits, only concerned with their own survival, rushed forward, slaughtering those who lagged behind. The two commanders, Gao and Huang, led their troops in pursuit for a while, but as night fell and the bandits had gone far, they finally withdrew to rest.

The next morning, they sent messengers to inquire, and received news that the bandits had all returned to Haozhou. The two had won two consecutive battles, beheading over ten thousand bandits and seizing countless weapons. They dispatched officials to Nanjing to report their victory. Returning to their original camp, Gao Jie invited Huang Degong and the other generals into the city for a banquet to celebrate their victory and reward them, sending officials with cattle, sheep, and wine to reward the soldiers. Huang Degong took his leave the next day and led his troops back to his town.

This was the ingenious plan devised by the two men. They led their troops, marching swiftly and silently through the night, catching the enemy off guard. They then ambushed and rested within a hundred or two hundred li of the city, deliberately making a show of attacking the main camp. This would deter the enemy from attacking the city and force them to rush back to its defense. They also spread rumors that General Zuo had arrived from Xiangyang with his troops. The blind bandits, who were always afraid of him, would naturally not dare to delay and would rush back. The two men, having rested and ready, first laid an ambush, feigning pursuit with Gao Jie's banner. The bandits, naturally running even faster, would then be ambushed by Huang Degong, who would startle them and prevent them from engaging in prolonged combat. They would not instruct their own troops to fight fiercely, fearing the bandits would become impatient and indiscriminately kill, thus leaving them a path. Seeing a way out, the bandits would not fight back, only pursuing them. When the bandits were exhausted, Gao Jie's ambush would again charge ahead, causing them to panic and dare not stop. This was because the two commanders, Gao and Huang, saw that the rebel army was too numerous to kill them all. They only wanted to scare them away quickly, thus ensuring the safety of the government troops and lifting the siege. If Li Zicheng had been unfamiliar with military affairs, they would not have treated him this way.

Some of the rebel soldiers scattered, forming groups of thirty to fifty, or a hundred or so, searching for a way back to their camp. Those who passed through the borders of Liuhe, Tianchang, and Jiangpu were either captured alive or beheaded by Shang Zhi, Lin Zhong, and Mu Yi; very few escaped. After discovering that the rebels had gone far away, the three of them personally went to the capital to present the captives, which greatly pleased Shi Gong.

Meanwhile, Li Zicheng, seeing that the pursuing troops of Gao and Huang had returned, felt somewhat relieved. Unexpectedly, he encountered another group of men coming towards him like a whirlwind.

Who could it be? It was Lin Baoguo and the other two who had returned from the capital after receiving Shi Gong's orders, each gathering strong troops to guard the borders. Guo Shi, upon learning this, wanted to lead troops to intercept the rebels' return route. Lin Baoguo said, "Master Shi instructed us to guard the border and not stray far. How can we disobey?" Guoshi replied, "As the saying goes, 'A general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders.' Master Shi's order was out of prudence, fearing that your troops were few and that the enemy was numerous. If there were any losses, I would certainly want to kill the enemy. Although I am a woman, I regard the bandit rabble as ants; I can turn them to dust with a single move." Guoshi insisted on going, and Lin Baoguo could not stop her, so he had to let her do as she pleased. Guoshi then summoned the strong soldiers and ordered, "I am going to cut off the enemy's retreat. Are you all willing to come with me?" Everyone knew her bravery, and who would not want to make a contribution? Jin Huan replied, "We are all willing to go with you, Madam." Guoshi said, "You don't all need to go. We still need some people to accompany my husband to kill the enemy along the border. Three hundred men are enough." She then selected three hundred strong men, took out three hundred taels of gold from her purse, gave each man one tael of silver, and prepared provisions. Upon returning with merit, he would report and request a reward, for which everyone was deeply grateful.

The next day, he led his men to the capital. He first sent two swift foot soldiers to gather intelligence on the bandits, so as to prepare accordingly. Two days later, they returned with news that the bandits had been utterly defeated by Generals Gao and Huang, and were fleeing all the way from Xuyi, arriving soon. The emperor ordered his men to eat their fill and await the battle.

Li Zicheng, having been routed by Generals Gao and Huang, was fleeing in terror when another army blocked his path. At first glance, seeing only a few infantrymen, he was not afraid. But in the distance, he saw a general at the head, wearing a silver headband, gleaming silver armor, and a steel spear that shone in the sun. She rode a fiery red horse, like a red cloud supporting a ball of auspicious snow. It was that same female general, as beautiful as a fairy and as fierce as Xiang Yu, who startled him so much that he almost fell off his horse. She said to her men, "This woman is not to be trifled with; escape is the priority." Hearing this, the men panicked, each concerned for their own lives, and scattered in all directions. Guo recognized the blind bandit at a glance and gave chase on horseback. The bandits, naturally wanting to protect their lord, rushed forward to block him. Guo unleashed his spear technique, a blinding flash of light that made it impossible to see either man or horse. Several bandits were already killed or wounded, and panicked, knowing the blind bandit had already fled. Guo, seeing the bandits were difficult to catch, ordered the horses and weapons to be collected and returned. A check of his men revealed no loss.

Bao Xin then meticulously reported this to Shi Gong, who praised him highly. He also reported the great achievements of Generals Gao and Huang, along with the diligent contributions of Shang Zhi, Lin Zhong, Mu Yi, and Guo, to Emperor Chongzhen. The Emperor was overjoyed, promoting Gao Jie and Huang to Junior Guardian, awarding Shang Zhi and the other two with gold coins, bestowing upon Guo the title of First-Rank Lady, and rewarding all the soldiers with honors.

At that time, people called Lady Guo and Lady Xing the two beauties among women, but Lady Xing was far inferior to Lady Guo in some ways. Although Lady Xing was brave and intelligent, her murderous aura was too obvious. Lady Guo was as beautiful as a delicate flower, trembling in the wind, and her skill in killing bandits was unparalleled; she was truly a rare woman in the world.

Now, Li Zicheng, with his defeated and ravaged troops, hurriedly returned to Haozhou like a dog with its tail between its legs. After catching his breath, he ordered an investigation into the number of his accompanying soldiers. The bandit general reported that the number of casualties was not large, only more than ten thousand men were lost, and all military supplies and equipment were lost. Li Zicheng had suffered two defeats, and he was somewhat fearful and also felt a bit resentful. He felt unwell and was determined to return to Shaanxi.

You might ask, why would this ruthless bandit tolerate such anger? Ever since Lady Xing went with Gao Jie, he had heard that there was a daughter surnamed Yang in Chang'an, Xi'an Prefecture, who was said to be as beautiful as Yang Guifei, so he sent men to forcibly take her away. How could her parents dare to disobey? The bandit saw her and indeed, she was a stunningly beautiful woman. This Lady Yang was:

as if about to take flight in the wind, as light and graceful as a swallow; in terms of grace, she truly surpassed even Yang Guifei. Her delicate fragility was pitiful, reminiscent of Wang Zhaojun's charm. A single glance from her could melt the soul of a strong man; her full figure could captivate the heart of a lustful man. A subtle fragrance lingered on her clothes, neither orchid nor musk; her face was adorned with the radiance of spring, like jade and fragrance. At the tender age of fifteen, she was just like Yang Guifei before her marriage.

There are also a few lines from the "Shuoren" chapter of the Book of Poetry, which perfectly describe him: "

Her hands are like tender shoots, her skin like congealed fat. Her neck is like a cicada's, her teeth like melon seeds. Her forehead is broad and her eyebrows are arched, her smile is charming, her eyes are bright and beautiful."

These few lines are not enough to fully express her beauty. The "Xie Lao" chapter says:

"How beautiful she is! Her black hair is like clouds, she doesn't need a wig, it's adorned with jade ornaments and ivory hairpins. Her skin is fair and bright, she is like heaven, she is like an emperor."

You say such a beauty would move even a stone man, an iron man would fall in love, let alone this blind thief? He was happier to have this Yang than to have conquered dozens of cities and looted thousands of loads of gold and jewels. When he married Han, he was still a rogue and poor. When he saw her, he thought she was a beauty of unparalleled grace and loved her dearly, as if he had found a rare treasure. Unexpectedly, Han was a courtesan, her heart devoted only to Gai Junlu. Their marriage was nominal, and they were not truly in love. Later, he acquired Xing, who was many times more beautiful than him. However, Xing only reluctantly submitted to him. Although Li Zicheng loved her deeply, he did not love this blind thief in his heart. [Interesting and apt: Han was a nominal wife, Xing a wife for show. Seeing such a wicked man, even his wife was not of one mind with him.] It was merely a marriage in name only. Moreover, she was a heroine among women; though beautiful and pleasing, there was a chilling murderous aura in her eyes, making her somewhat frightening even in their love. [As the proverb says: Ghosts fear wicked people. Even such a wicked blind thief has someone to fear.] Now, he had acquired Yang, whose beauty surpassed even Xing's. She was only lovable, not frightening; he truly loved her to death. But this delicate and beautiful woman, Yang, was with such a ferocious rebel. He only knew her as a wicked man who slaughtered living beings, a man with the ability to use soft, fragrant flesh. At night, when his desires were at their peak, he would treat her like a servant, roughly whipping and pulling her, finishing her off in a few strokes. He knew nothing of tenderness or pity. The rebel had previously entrusted Gao Jie with the management of the inner camp, hoping he would protect his wife. Unexpectedly, even his wife was stolen by Gao Jie, and he realized that entrusting someone with such a task was not something to be taken lightly.

He had a nephew named Li Jin, whom he thought was his nephew and would be of no use, so he put him in charge of the inner camp affairs, but also in charge of the wives and concubines. Little did he know that Li Jin was also a violent bandit since childhood, only knowing how to set fires in the wind and kill people at night. He had never touched a book and knew nothing of morality or etiquette. The moment he saw Yang, he was completely captivated by her.

Little did anyone know that Yang, who had always believed in her beauty, would surely marry a handsome young man. Instead, she found herself with a husband who was neither good-looking nor talented. Her heart ached as if she had swallowed buckets of bitter herbs; she couldn't express her bitterness, and her tears fell silently in her stomach. Although this blind bandit loved her, he was always busy attacking cities and plundering, deploying troops, and engaging in the tricks of a bandit. Their intimate moments were merely superficial.

Yang saw that Li Jin was only in his early twenties, a strong and muscular man. He was fair-skinned and had red lips. Although not a handsome man, he was much taller than her uncle, and she harbored the idea of making him her young husband. When they were alone, she would often try to seduce Li Jin. Li Jin, a clever and cunning bandit, knew this perfectly well. The two exchanged glances, both harboring feelings for each other.

One day, when no one was around... Li Jin smiled and said to Madam Li, "Madam is the renowned Yang Guifei. Yang Guifei was married to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, who was the third son, and everyone called him Li Sanlang. I am also the third son, and everyone in the camp calls me Li Sanlang. Yang Guifei should naturally be married to the youngest Li Lang, so why is she married to the uncle of the youngest Li Sanlang?" He continued, "I've heard that Yang Guifei was originally the wife of Emperor Xuanzong's son, but was taken by her father-in-law to be his wife. Today, Madam is his aunt, why not marry her nephew? Let's overturn the case and avenge Yang Guifei." Madam Yang also smiled and said, "You want to marry me? That's impossible. I've also heard that Yang Guifei had a godson named An Lushan. They were ostensibly mother and son, but secretly husband and wife, only deceiving Emperor Xuanzong. You are now her nephew, even closer than a godson. We can only keep it from your uncle, and we can secretly be a couple." The two secretly arranged their wedding date. However, with the maids lined up inside the inner tent, it was difficult to secretly meet.

This Lady Yang not only lacked Lady Xing's courage, but also spent her days guarding the blind bandit, finding no opportunity to strike. During the attack on Bianliang, the blind bandit was shot in the eye and cried out in pain day and night. For several days, the women served him, none daring to close their eyes.

That day, the blind bandit's eye pain subsided slightly, and he fell into a deep sleep. The maids, who had stayed up for several nights, also took the opportunity to slumber in various places. Every day at dawn, Li Jin would feign coming in to pay his respects, hoping to find a moment to fulfill his wish with Lady Yang. Little did he know that Lady Yang was also interested. Seeing that everyone was asleep, she sat alone, waiting for Li Jin. After a short while, Li Jin stealthily approached. He saw the blind bandit fast asleep, tossing and turning in his sleep. Seeing Lady Yang sitting alone, he dared not speak, but smiled at her and pointed to the back of the tent.

Lady Yang nodded with a smile. The two went together to the bed in the back tent, where they exchanged jade pendants and incense. One thrust repeatedly, yearning for more; the other welcomed him with abandon, fulfilling their long-cherished desire.

Yang saw that while Li Jin's outward prowess was less than a fraction of her uncle's, his skill beneath the covers was ten times greater. Li Jin saw Yang's beauty and the smoothness of her body, indescribable wonder. Moreover, her allure was unlike any woman abducted. Their love was beyond words. Look at their blissful state:

like Yang Guifei, her lotus feet held high, joyful and happy, truly a pair of lovebirds beneath the covers. The young man's jade stem moved busily, smiling, comparable to a pair of birds on the water's edge. One said, "Back then, I was Emperor Ming's private daughter-in-law; today, you, young man, have turned the tables." The other said, "In the past, I was Yang's thief; today, you, aunt, have replicated that." The third said, "An Lushan once saw my soft, freshly peeled chicken head meat; today, I have tasted your chicken head meat, this meat is good meat." The first said, "Li Sanlang once said that he believed the barbarian was just a softie, and now I've made you just a softie, isn't it soft?" The second said, "Take a break, your blind uncle is not as refined as Old Sanlang, would he allow me to carry that fat man?" The third said, "Take it slow, these little maids are not as jealous as the skinny plum spirit, let me help you steal your delicate flower." After a while, the first groaned and cried out, his whole body was numb. The second panted, finished speaking, and his whole body was pressed down. They had become a pair of colorful phoenix wings, their hearts connected by a single thread. [The whole story is based on the facts of Emperor Ming and Consort Yang, good.]

Fearing that someone would wake up and find them, they hurriedly stopped their passion, straightened their clothes and got up. After that, although their love was strong, they could no longer enjoy the pleasures of the Yangtai Terrace. This time, the blind bandit went to attack Xuzhou, and the two of them took advantage of this opportunity, their lust as bold as the sky. Ignoring the stares and pointing fingers of the maids, they openly clashed. One had taken her aunt as a concubine, the other had temporarily abandoned her husband for her nephew, and they were having sex day and night. Wasn't this the karmic retribution for the blind thief and his men's plundering of women? Yang discussed with him, "These maids can be controlled by force, and we can also befriend them. There are also the blind thief's concubines; I'm afraid they might get jealous and leak information, which would be no small matter. We should devise a plan to wipe them all out." Li Jin, relying on his strength and virility, was happy to oblige. Yang subtly persuaded them, saying that these women among the thieves had no shame and readily agreed. Seeing that there were no future troubles, the two of them indulged in nightly pleasures.

Suddenly one day, they heard a scout report that the blind thief had lost his chance and would soon return. They didn't know when they would have time to meet again, and they planned to have sex three to five nights a day, using up all the time beforehand. Unexpectedly, after a night of frenzied activity, they fell asleep at dawn. Unexpectedly, the blind bandit returned quickly, having suffered several defeats and fled back under cover of darkness. While the main force lagged behind, he led a dozen or so riders back to the main camp. The bandit generals were unaware of his return; he had already reached the inner camp and was heading towards his tent. Li Jin and Yang Shi were still asleep, embracing. A maidservant, who had risen early and heard of the blind bandit's return and entry into the inner camp, rushed into the tent and woke them, saying, "The King has entered." The two men, as if struck by lightning, scrambled to their feet. The blind bandit was already in the tent.

Seeing Yang Shi and Li Jin in bed, hastily dressing, he was filled with rage. He considered killing them, but one was his beloved nephew, the other his cherished wife; he couldn't bring himself to do it. But he exclaimed loudly, "This is truly strange. First, Han had an affair with Gai Junlu; then Xing went with Gao Jie; and now Yang is having an affair with her nephew. All three are the same. Why am I, a man of such stature, destined to be a tortoise?" He then swallowed his anger and lay in bed for several days before recovering somewhat. He expelled Li Jin and forbade him from ever entering the inner tent again.

The blind bandit, seeing the unsuccessful campaign, lost all interest and gathered his men to discuss returning home. The bandits, having toiled for a year, not only gained nothing but suffered countless losses, and were all disheartened, agreeing with his plan. At this time, the troops that had raided the seven routes returned to report, except for the northern route led by Dian Dengzi, who returned with several hundred defeated and wounded bandits.

Do you think it was he who was defeated? He led his men northward, passing through countless cities and towns, all ravaged and desolate. He finally reached Tai'an Prefecture, where he saw a village with several thousand households. It was bustling with people and prosperous. Overjoyed, they rushed towards it. Several miles away, they saw a flat plain. They had all arrived and were about to cook and eat their fill before plundering when

suddenly a loud bang, like the sky collapsing and the earth crumbling, created a huge pit that filled over two thousand bandits. The last soldier, who was bringing up the rear, was fortunate enough to escape the pit. He was stunned, seeing that only a few hundred men remained. While he was still in a daze, he heard shouts from two directions and saw two groups of soldiers, about two thousand strong, attacking from the left and right sides of the village. He dared not resist and led his remaining troops, fleeing back into the night.

This was Xin Tong and Bao De who, having learned of the bandits' arrival, used landmines, just as Guo Deng, the former general of Datong, had done, to protect their village. Unexpectedly, the bandits suffered a great loss and fled. [Ancient saying goes: "Knowledgeable people appear sometimes, but heroes are never absent." Shang Zhi and others, having met Shi Gong, were fortunate to enjoy imperial favor and receive titles and rewards. Bao De and Xin Tong, whose wisdom and courage were no less than theirs, were unrecognized and ultimately remained just rough-and-tumble heroes. From ancient times to the present, how many have possessed both literary talent and military prowess, yet without support, have died in obscurity? What a pity!] Seeing his repeated defeats, Li Zicheng ordered a break in camp the next day. Meanwhile,

Shi Qi, though spared death and rendered meritorious service after his defeat, remained resentful and unwilling to accept defeat. He said, “I have faced countless formidable enemies, achieving resounding victories and swift successes. Yet, in this insignificant place, I have suffered such a crushing defeat. Fame and glory are of no importance; how can I bear to stand among my generals? If I do not accomplish a great feat, how can I conceal my previous disgrace?” Seeing the blind bandit about to return to Shaanxi, he hurriedly knelt down and said, “I have served Your Majesty for many years and have rendered some minor service. Last time, I failed in my mission, but Your Majesty spared my life. However, how can I bear to stand among your generals? I beg Your Majesty to grant me three thousand men, so that I may attack and capture Fengyang, slaughtering the entire city. This will demonstrate Your Majesty's might and avenge my past shame.” Li Zicheng said, “My main force has been wiped out, and you are left alone without support. How can you guarantee victory?” Shi Qi said, “Although I am illiterate, I have heard people say that Xie Xuan, with ten thousand…” "I, a weak soldier, have defeated Fu Jian's hundreds of thousands of troops. With only three thousand iron cavalry, why should I fear failing to conquer a single isolated city? Moreover, we follow Your Majesty, hoping to unify the four seas and assist Your Majesty in ascending the throne. We also yearn for land and titles. If we cannot even conquer this one city, and are still so hesitant and timid, how can we roam the world freely? My previous failure was due to carelessness. If I cannot conquer Fengyang now, I am willing to accept military punishment." The blind bandit was overjoyed and said, "With your ambition and courage, you can directly swallow Fengyang. What is there to fear? You choose four lieutenants and three thousand men to go and achieve merit as soon as possible. I will rest at Tongguan and await your good news." Shi Qi kowtowed in gratitude, selected four minor generals—Zhong Yan, Tong Zhi, Jin Congzheng, and Fu Shun—and three thousand elite soldiers. He bid farewell to the blind bandit, beaming with pride, and marched towards Fengyang. Li Zicheng then gave the order to set off, and the main force returned to Tongguan.

Now, let's talk about Shi Qi. He was a brave but utterly naive man, devoid of any cunning. Relying on his great strength, he considered himself an invincible hero. He had previously encountered the governor of Liuhe and been terrified by his spear, so he dared not provoke him this time. Remembering the weak state of Fengyang, he thought he could use his power to break through the city and gain both fame and fortune. He never considered that his previous victory was due to his large and powerful army under Li Zicheng. Moreover, he encountered cowardly government troops. The mere mention of "bandits" terrified not only adults but also children, so who wouldn't run away upon seeing them? The civil and military officials were even more laughable. Yue Fei had once said, "If civil officials don't love money and military officials don't fear death, the world will naturally be at peace." This was utterly wrong. Civil officials were desperate for money, and military generals loved money but feared death. The bandits were still hundreds of miles away, yet he, carrying his official bag and accompanied by his wives and concubines, adopted the airs of the madman Jie Yu of Chu, avoiding them from afar. Seeing the government officials flee in disarray, the soldiers and civilians followed suit. Those who ran fast escaped, while the younger women became wives of the bandits, and the old, weak, men, and women perished in the ditches. Thus, these government troops, instead of learning to abandon their armor and weapons and run away, claimed these bandits were invincible, a fact the bandits took for granted. Whether from cowardice or not, the government troops openly believed these bandits were invincible heroes, capable of crushing thousands with their bare hands.

This Shi Qi, oblivious to the danger, boldly led three thousand isolated troops to attack and massacre Fengyang, assuming it was undefended. Years ago, when the blind bandit massacred Fengyang, Yao Zemin was the vanguard, and he was the deputy vanguard; upon arrival, the city fell instantly. They not only slaughtered mercilessly but also looted with great gusto. He was now just as excited as before, rushing in like swarms of bees, but this time was different. In the past, due to prolonged peace, people were unfamiliar with warfare. The name of the bandits was often heard, like thunder in their ears. Upon hearing of their arrival, their hearts sank to the ground, they fled in terror, scurrying away in disarray. Later, the bandits left laden with spoils, reclaiming their territory. Emperor Chongzhen executed several of the generals who had fled at the mere mention of the bandits, fortified the city walls, and reinforced its defenses.

Now, hearing that Li Zicheng's main force had left, leaving only a few thousand men, their courage swelled. Though they did not come out to fight, they dared not flee at the mere sound of their approach. The Governor-General of Fengyang, Ma Shiying, had no choice but to lead his troops in a steadfast defense, while simultaneously sending numerous dispatches to the Ministry of War in Nanjing, reporting the bandit situation and requesting reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Shi Qi, leading his men, was still dozens of miles from Fengyang. He sent a messenger on horseback to scout if the city had escaped. Before long, the scout returned, reporting that the city was tightly sealed and heavily guarded, as if no one had fled. Shi Qi roared in fury, "Our names are known to all, and this place is one we've terrified of in the past. How dare they not flee today? Who lent them some courage?" [The courage to lend is truly astonishing.] He addressed his generals, "It's Heaven's will that we achieve this great feat and reap this windfall, which is why they haven't fled. Let's hurry forward, and once we break through the city, we can seize some women for our pleasure." The bandits, excited by this, spurred their horses to the city walls as fast as they could.

Seeing that the walls were guarded, Shi Qi said, "Don't be afraid of them. Climb the walls, and they'll run away when they see you." The bandits, eager to seize the city and its riches and women, dismounted and began to climb. The soldiers inside panicked, unleashing cannons and raining down stones and logs. Those who reached halfway up the walls were wounded, numbering two or three hundred, and the bandits hastily retreated. Shi Qi, realizing they couldn't climb in, set up camp several miles from the city.

The next day, two bandit generals were sent to the city to persuade the officials and civilians to surrender. They were promised that if they opened the gates and surrendered, no one would be killed; otherwise, on the day the city fell, not a blade of grass would be left. Ma Shiying and his officials discussed the matter, not daring to reply harshly, lest they provoke the bandits into a full-scale attack, which they would be unable to withstand. They replied tactfully, "Since your troops have arrived, we should surrender. However, the court's laws are strict, and we fear further punishment later. Please, General, conquer Nanjing first, and we will naturally submit." The bandit generals reported this to Shi Qi, who angrily said, "They think we dare not attack the city, and they won't listen to reason. We will unite and attack again; we are not afraid of not being able to take it." They then built several siege ladders and pushed them down to the city walls. The city was also heavily fortified. As soon as the ladders reached the walls, cannons were fired, wounding hundreds more bandits.

Seeing that he could not break through, Shi Qi returned to his camp in a rage. He sent another bandit general to the city walls, saying, "Since you will not surrender, come out and fight to the death." The people in the city dared not agree and simply held their ground. Seeing no one agree, the bandit general had no choice but to return to camp to report. Shi Qi was furious and said, "He probably won't dare to come out. Let's go plunder elsewhere." He left only a few hundred men to guard the camp, while the rest split into seven or eight groups. Within a radius of several hundred li, they killed everyone they encountered, abducted all the women, and transported gold, silk, and grain to the camp, partly for their own amusement and partly as a plan to prolong the siege.

Meanwhile, Ma Shiying's plea for help arrived in Nanjing. Shi Qi, seeing that several letters had arrived in a single day, knew the situation must be urgent. He then convened a meeting of civil and military officials outside the Meridian Gate to discuss who should lead the troops to the rescue. These dukes, marquises, earls, commanders, and other military officials looked at each other, none of them stepping forward to agree. Seeing this, Shi Qi knew they were generals who feared swords and were wise to protect themselves. He intended to send a few, knowing they would not dare disobey. He feared that if they went there, they would suffer a crushing defeat and return in disgrace, thus damaging the morale of the imperial army. He feigned a stern expression and said, “Gentlemen, you have enjoyed the riches of the court for over two hundred years, generation after generation. In your leisure time, you discuss military strategy and tactics with such prestige. Yet now, upon hearing of the enemy's arrival, you are utterly helpless. I am not showing you any leniency by not sending troops there today. However, the ancestral tombs in Fengyang are a strategic location, and I fear that going there would be useless and might even jeopardize our important mission.” The military officials were all ashamed and blushed, but dared not agree.

Le Gong said, “Although we have no generals to send, reinforcements are needed urgently, like putting out a fire. Mu Yi and his men are victorious troops; we must send them to ensure success. What do you think, sir?” Shi Gong said, “My thoughts are precisely on these three. Your words are exactly what I think. But I fear their infantry have already been exhausted from two campaigns and are still catching their breath. Sending them to reinforce them again would only tire them out.” At this time, Mu Yi and his men were in the city. Shi Gong summoned the three of them and said, “Just now, we received a report that the main force of the bandits has returned to Tongguan and is now sending a branch to attack Fengyang. Our command wants you to go and provide support. What do you think?” The three of them replied in unison, “We are deeply grateful for the Emperor’s grace and your promotion, sir. We would gladly go through fire and water for you. Having received royal titles and stipends, it is the duty of a military officer to kill bandits and report our achievements. How could we refuse such a task?” Shi Gong laughed loudly, “If all military officers had the same magnanimity as you, those bandits would have been wiped out long ago.” "But they are all lazy and incompetent men, which has led to the fragmentation of the empire. It is both lamentable and hateful."

The meritorious officials thought to themselves, "His words are clearly directed at us, so we can only swallow our anger and remain silent. Who dares to argue back?" Shi Gong said, "But your men are all infantrymen. They have worked hard last time. You can select several thousand soldiers from the capital garrison to go. If they return with merit, I will strongly recommend them." The three men replied, "They are just small bandits. Why do they need the capital garrison? We have three thousand infantrymen. We will leave six hundred to guard the three county fortresses and take only two thousand with us. That will be enough to wipe out those rebels." Shi Gong said, "I know you are capable, but this is an official mission to support the local area. You must provide them with provisions. It is unreasonable to ask someone who works for the court to provide their own food." The three men said, "This is Your Excellency's grace. These soldiers will naturally be grateful and repay you with their lives." "Shi Gong said to Niu, the Minister of Revenue, "These soldiers are the same group you mentioned the other day, the ones you were referring to as impractical and unnecessary. They have not only repeatedly rendered meritorious service, but today they went to kill bandits. Would you be willing to provide them with provisions and pay? If you are worried that these men are useless and that the funds will be wasted, please recommend a general to lead the troops." Niu, looking ashamed, replied, "This is a matter of urgent military supplies. If you have a document to open our office, how much is needed? How could we dare not provide it?" Shi Gong said to the three of them, "Come to my office tonight, and I will secure the funds and

provisions. Tomorrow, you will all return to gather your troops and depart immediately." The three agreed and left. Shi Gong was touched and smiled. Yue Gong said, "Did you smile intentionally, sir?" Shi Gong said, "I just remembered that scholar Jia who donated the funds. Although he passed the imperial examination, he has not yet taken office and receives a salary from the court. This money should be left for his descendants." Moreover, since the imperial court had no control over the treasury and no official position, yet they still contributed 30,000 taels of silver. Judging by today's standards, no one would fail to laugh at their pedantry, hence I couldn't help but chuckle. Fu Sheng and Niu Ming knew Shi Gong was mocking them, but they could only lower their heads in shame.

After the officials dispersed, Shi Gong returned to his office and further encouraged the three men, rewarding them with horses, saddles, silver, and silk. He sent a document to the Ministry of Revenue, ordering the seizure of 15,000 taels of silver, and all local militia to receive five taels. He also issued a decree requiring local officials to provide provisions wherever they passed.

The next morning, Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, and Shang Zhi all returned home, distributing the silver, for which everyone was deeply grateful. Hearing that they were going to suppress the bandits, they, a victorious army, were eager to... Full of vigor and joy, the three men discussed the matter and decided to leave two hundred soldiers in each camp. One centurion would lead one hundred soldiers to assist the city garrison in commanding the defense of the city. Another battalion commander would lead one hundred soldiers to guard the fortress with the local people. The three positions would be supervised by Bao Xin, who would check on them regularly.

The three men set off that very day, first sending Yi Ce to gather intelligence on Fengyang and instructing him to report back immediately. Three days later, Yi Ce returned and reported: "The bandit general leading the troops is none other than Shi Qi, the same Shi Qi we defeated last time. He has now led three thousand men to attack Fengyang. He has already attacked the city twice, but the city's defenses are very strong, and we have lost several hundred soldiers. The bandit general is furious and has ordered his men to search for young women in the villages and take them for their own pleasure. He has killed all the old, young, men, and women to vent his anger. The surrounding area has been burned to the ground. The city is simply holding firm, and no one dares to come out to fight." Shang Zhi laughed and said, "This bandit is courting death. He will surely be beheaded this time." He took advantage of the lack of manpower in Fengyang and came alone. I defeated him with a plan, as easily as crushing dry leaves. How far is it from here to the enemy camp?” Yi Ce said, “More than a hundred li.” Shang Zhi said to Lin Zhong and Mu Yi, “The enemy is cruel and ruthless. We must come to their aid immediately to save the lives of the people. But this enemy has not gained any advantage in the past few times, and now he is furious. He has suffered a defeat under the city walls, and when he hears that reinforcements are coming, he will fight to the death. We should devise a plan to lure him and first blunt his edge.” The two said, “We will obey your strict orders, brother, and work together to kill this enemy and save the lives of the people.” Shang Zhi said, “I will lead my troops ahead. He will not know that we are coming to our aid and will surely lead his troops to fight us. I will also pretend to be a cowardly soldier and feign defeat to lure him. He will surely dare to pursue us. Brother Lin, lie in ambush a few li away. When the enemy passes by and his troops are in disarray, use the cannon as a signal and then charge from behind to attack.” I will lead my troops to a pincer attack, and there is no reason why we cannot win. Once the enemy troops are out, they will surely not dare to venture out of the city, and their camp will be empty. Brother Mu, go from Da Kuan and launch a surprise attack on the enemy camp. If you break through, set fire to it and disrupt their morale.” The two followed the plan.

The next day, they marched quickly for a day and camped for a night. At dawn, everyone ate their fill and continued on. Not far from the enemy camp, they proceeded slowly.

Meanwhile, Shi Qi had made some boastful remarks to Li Zicheng and signed a military pledge. He led his troops here, fully expecting to break through the city as soon as he arrived, loot and kill, and return to report his victory. Unexpectedly, the city gates were tightly closed. After two attacks, he had only lost several hundred men. He still couldn't break through. How could he report back to Yun Jiao? He had led a small, isolated army, stationed under the fortified city, fearing reinforcements from all sides. He was both fearful and angry. He ordered his troops to scatter and plunder in various places. Firstly, to vent their anger, and secondly, to bring some women into the camp to relieve their boredom.

If there were a good general in the city at this time, leading troops to annihilate them would surely lead to victory. And why would the bandits not flee in terror? Unfortunately, the government troops in the city feared the bandits like tigers. Seeing that the bandits did not attack the city, they were secretly delighted and extremely grateful. How could they dare to provoke them? The women who could not escape were taken to the camp by the bandits for their amusement, and the old and young civilians were slaughtered, leaving corpses strewn everywhere and blood flowing like rivers. The officials in the city were well aware of this, fearing that their heads might fall into the hands of some bandit, so they had no concern for the people.

Just like during the Jiajing era, when the Japanese... The Japanese pirates ravaged western Zhejiang, and seven of them came, heading straight for Nanjing. At that time, the city was filled with fierce generals and brilliant strategists, along with hundreds of thousands of imperial guards. Terrified, they kept all thirteen gates tightly shut, and not a single person dared to leave. They slaughtered them on the main road, inflicting countless casualties. That evening, they returned to the home of a wealthy man thirty li from the city at Banqiao, raped his women, and, drunk, slept soundly, leaving that night. Seven Japanese pirates were so afraid of this; what about three thousand bandits? The soldiers of this degenerate age could only laugh.

That day, Shi Qi was in his camp, feeling depressed. He drank his fill of morning wine, and then… In his drunken revelry, he had over a dozen women strip naked and surround him. They chose three of the best women, placed three chairs on three sides of him, and made the three of them lie supine on them, mimicking the scene of "bringing the three immortals out of their cave." Each time, one woman would grope him a few times, then he would drink a cup; another would grope him a few times, then he would drink a cup. Just as they were enjoying themselves, a drum sounded at the camp gate, announcing the arrival of reinforcements. He was enraged by this news, which dampened his spirits. He quickly dressed and went to the front tent, issuing the order: "Don't wait for them to arrive! Let's go and meet them! Kill them until they're terrified, then they'll retreat naturally, and we can come back to have our fun. Those in the city probably won't dare come out; just leave two hundred men to guard the camp." Having given the orders, he donned his armor, took up his spear, mounted his horse, and led over two thousand bandits, rushing towards them like the wind.

In the distance, they saw some government troops, also without armor, each carrying their own baggage, banners, swords, and spears, walking slowly. Suddenly seeing the bandits approaching, they turned and fled. Shi Qi laughed loudly, "This kind of army dares to come to defend us? Today we'll slaughter them all and vent my pent-up frustration of these past few days!" "Then he urged his troops to give chase. The bandits rode their horses for several miles, and seeing that they were about to catch up, the bandits abandoned all their belongings and scattered in all directions. Seeing this, the bandits forgot about chasing and began to scramble and loot. Shi Qi urged them forward, but these bandits, seeing the loot, didn't care about their lives. Who would obey his orders? Even if he wanted to kill them, he couldn't kill many.

Just as Shi Qi was getting anxious and the bandits were happily looting, they suddenly heard a signal cannon fire from behind, and a troop of soldiers, waving flags and shouting, attacked from behind. The bandits hurriedly turned around and saw that it was a Tiger Head Army. They had no choice but to turn around to meet the enemy. Among them were bandits who had suffered losses before. They were startled and began to panic." The situation was somewhat uncertain, and rumors circulated among the bandits about their strengths and weaknesses. As the old saying goes, "The first move is decisive." The bandits, intimidated, lost their fighting spirit. Now that the enemy was upon them, they had no choice but to fight back. Suddenly, a deafening shout rang out, and another force of soldiers charged back from the front. Looking closer, they saw it wasn't the same group as before, but rather the Tiger Head Army soldiers. Fortunately, Shi Qi's men were all handpicked elite bandits, and they managed to hold their own. In the distance, they saw the main camp ablaze, smoke billowing into the sky. Not only were they reluctant to abandon their loot, but they also had their beloved pets in the camp. Panic gripped them, and in their haste, they could no longer hold them off.

Shi Qi, weakened by days of women's indulgences, had also enjoyed a hearty drink this morning and was in high spirits. Suddenly, an attack came to seize him. He quickly captured the fleeing enemy and won a decisive victory, then returned to his camp to celebrate. However, two or three groups of men were engrossed in fighting, and Shi Qi, disoriented and desperate, was caught off guard when Guo Shou, spear in hand, and Lin Baoguo, wielding a lance, charged in. Shi Qi, a defeated bandit from the previous encounter, panicked, exclaiming, "Why is this scoundrel here again?" Realizing he couldn't withstand the attack, he fled in disarray. Guo Shou, seeing this, gave chase.

Seeing their leader gone and hearing the cry that those who surrendered would be spared, who wouldn't value their life? Hundreds surrendered, abandoning their armor. Of the thousands who fled, hundreds were killed. Shang Zhi sounded the gong to withdraw his troops and set up camp. He and Lin Baoguo sat down, and the others reported their achievements. Not long after, Mu Yi arrived with his troops. After settling down, he said, "The bandit camp was indeed unprepared. Some were killed, some fled, and many women were captured. The remaining grain and supplies were burned." Shang Zhi was overjoyed and ordered that some new tents be set up, [which were not only well-equipped but also managed by capable individuals]. He then checked the soldiers and was alarmed to find Guo Shou missing. Just as he was about to send men to search for him, a report came that Captain Guo had returned. When he was brought in, Guo Shou said, "That scoundrel Shi Qi was chased by Captain Guo on horseback and almost caught up. Dozens of men escaped from his camp, along with a bandit general, and rescued him. Captain Guo, being alone, dared not pursue him further, so he returned." Shang Zhi said to Lin Zhong and Mu Yi, "Today's battle has terrified the bandits. Tomorrow, we will fight another fierce battle and return with a swift victory to fulfill Lord Shi's expectations." He then ordered everyone to rest.

Meanwhile, Shi Qi had fled, and the camp was gone. Wanting to escape, but seeing that all their men and horses had been wiped out, and fearing that Li Zicheng would kill them, they had no choice but to dismount and camp in an open area with the remaining bandits. Sitting on the grass, they ordered their men to scatter and call for the remaining followers. As the sun was about to set, the bandits, knowing that their leader was still alive, gathered again. After checking, they found that 1,200 men remained. At this time, there were no tents, no cooking pots, and no food at all; even the dry rations had been burned in the camp. The surrounding area had been looted, and it was too late to plunder further. They had no choice but to let their horses graze in the open fields, and the bandits killed some of the wounded, made some kindling, and gathered some rotten firewood to cook and eat. With no firewood left, the bandits were all filled with panic. Among them was a minor general named Zhong Yan, who said to Shi Qi, "We can't station troops here. The enemy might know we're camping here, and if they come at night, how will we fight them? We should return tonight. The King hasn't been gone long; let's catch up. This place has nothing; it's still just a place to station troops." Shi Qi, not wanting to offend Li Zicheng, angrily retorted, "Victory and defeat are common in war! How dare you undermine our morale?" He drew his sword, determined to kill Zhong Yan. The others pleaded, "Since we won't retreat, we'll naturally seek revenge tomorrow. Why should we harm our own men when we need them? Please forgive him, General, and let him serve with all his might." After much pleading, they finally let him go. At this point, Shi Qi knew Zhong Yan meant well. But he was preoccupied with his own thoughts, caught in a dilemma, and could only sigh to the heavens. He thought to himself, "I'm so unlucky; I keep running into this nemesis, the governor." Deeply regretting his actions, he said, "I made a mistake, I made a mistake. Truly,

one wrong move in chess can ruin the whole game.

Today I can neither turn back nor stay; I am like a ram butting against a fence, caught in a dilemma. The gains of several battles have been lost in a single day." He sighed several more times, saying, "

To die before achieving one's goal often brings tears to the eyes of heroes."

He was deeply unhappy. Meanwhile, Zhong Yan had given Shi Qi some good advice, intending to help him advance but not retreat. Unexpectedly, his honest advice was hard to swallow, and he was almost killed. He retreated and gathered Tong Zhi and the others, saying, “We were all good people, but the bandits slaughtered and robbed our homes. We had no choice but to become bandits with them, and we’ve killed enough people over the years. Now, we look like we’re about to be killed ourselves. Look at you all, gathered in small groups, whispering amongst yourselves; your morale is completely shattered. What’s the use? Old Shi told the short old man to jump into the well; he wouldn’t even know if he died. In this situation, you’re still fighting for your lives—you’re just asking for trouble. It’s pointless for us to die with them. We should secretly send someone to surrender tonight.” "We'll ask him to lead his troops here early tomorrow morning. We'll surrender to the Celestial Dynasty, and then we'll save our lives. We're all just people with nothing to eat or wear, and no parents or wives to rely on. What do you gentlemen think?" Jin Congzheng said, "If a bee or scorpion gets into your bosom, you'll take off your clothes to save yourself. We can't worry about that now." Fu Shun said, "What you say makes sense. Look at how glorious it is that the Flying Hawks surrendered to the court. Now that we've submitted, we can earn our reputation on the battlefield with a single sword and spear. Even if we die, we'll have a good name, which is better than being a thief. We'll all obey your orders." Zhong Yan was overjoyed to see that everyone was of one mind. He then sent his personal thief, Xin Fu, to surrender. He whispered instructions in Xin Fu's ear, telling him to speak in this and that, and not to miss a moment. Xin Fu secretly slipped away. Meanwhile,

Shang Zhi and the others watched as everyone ate their fill, [this seemingly casual detail shows that sharing the hardships with the soldiers is the only way to gain their loyalty]. They took turns resting, and the watchtowers were kept watch. More than a day later, a report came from outside the camp that someone was requesting an audience. Shang Zhi ordered a search to find out who it was. [Beware of assassins. Emperor Guangwu treated the robbers who stole the bronze horse with utmost sincerity, which was indeed wise. But later, Cen Peng suffered the same fate. What can be done?] He brought the man in. When asked his purpose, Xin Fu explained in detail that everyone was willing to surrender, and that they would lay down their arms and kneel before the soldiers arriving at dawn the next day. He also described the actions of the bandits. Shang Zhi was overjoyed and ordered him to be taken to a feast.

Mu Yi said, "I fear he may be feigning surrender; we must be wary." Shang Zhi said, "Even if he surrenders, I will lead troops there tomorrow. Whether he surrenders or not, I will still lead troops there. Once we get there, it will be easier if he surrenders. If he doesn't surrender, it will only result in more bloodshed. In my opinion, surrendering is the only way to show sincerity. With the people's hearts turned away, who wouldn't cherish their life? Shi Qi is one of the blind bandits' trusted and fierce generals. If we can kill him, it will not only demoralize him but also cripple him. We just need to guard his escape route." He called over Guo Shou and said, "Shi Qi fears you like a tiger. Tomorrow, when he sees the crowd disperse, he will definitely flee towards Changhe Guard. You, Zhuo Gao, and Chang Sheng will lead three hundred soldiers to lie in ambush nearby. Either capture him alive or behead him; do not let him escape. You will lead the troops ahead at the third watch. Order all camps to eat their fill at the fourth watch and move at the fifth watch. We must reach the bandits by dawn; there must be no delay." After giving the orders, they rested for a short while and then got up to cook. After eating their fill and making preparations, they were all ready.

Shang Zhi said to Lin Zhong and Mu Yi, "As the saying goes, 'Accepting surrender is like facing an enemy.' We will split into three groups and set off one after another. I will go first. If they are plotting something, I will be ambushed, and Brother Mu will charge out from the outside. With the two of us attacking from both inside and outside, we will surely be victorious. Brother Lin, wherever there are many enemy soldiers around, we will charge them with courage. How can one or two thousand bandits stop our three righteous armies?" He ordered Xin Fu, who had surrendered the night before, to be their guide. Dawn broke, and they were not far from the enemy.

Meanwhile, the bandits had been squatting in the open all night, their clothes soaked with sweat. They had not eaten the day before, and were cold and hungry, feeling quite uncomfortable. They recalled the day before yesterday when they had eaten meat and wine in the camp, laughing and joking with the women. How joyful they had been! Tonight, they were suffering in such misery, and they felt very sad. They heard shouts in the distance, and saw that they were being attacked from all four directions. They looked around in panic. Shi Qi jumped up and hurriedly ordered everyone to put on their armor and prepare their horses. At this point, the soldiers no longer paid any attention to their generals, and they all pretended to ignore them. After being urged several times, the four bandit generals said to the remaining bandits, "Let's keep these weapons we use for food. What's the point of killing them in this state? Why don't we all surrender and save our poor lives?" The bandits, who were about to scatter and flee, heard this and shouted in unison, "We are willing to surrender!" Seeing that the situation was unfavorable and that the troops were approaching, Shi Qi led a few trusted riders and sped off towards Changhe Guard.

As soon as Shang Zhi's troops arrived, the bandits threw down their weapons, knelt down, and shouted that they were willing to surrender. Shang Zhi comforted Zhong Yan and the others. Before long, Lin Zhong and Mu Yi's troops arrived. They set up camp and sent men into the city to report to Governor Feng and the eunuch in charge of the imperial tombs. Shang Zhi knew that the bandits had not eaten the day before, so he ordered that they be given food and fodder, and the bandits cheered like thunder. He also ordered men to bring back the women and soldiers who had been abducted from the bandit camp, to be reported to Governor Feng, who would then issue a summons for the women to be taken back.

Meanwhile, Shi Qi, leading seven or eight petty thieves, fled. Seeing no one pursuing them, he rode on confidently, thinking to himself, "Guo Shou, Guo Shou, if you had laid an ambush here earlier, I, Shi Qi, would have been doomed." Unexpectedly, upon reaching Changhe Guard, he saw over a hundred Tiger Head Army soldiers arrayed before him. A general in silver helmet and white armor shouted, "Shi thief, where do you think you're going?" Upon seeing Guo Shou, Shi Qi was terrified and fled diagonally. His bandits, seeing the situation was dire, dismounted and surrendered, forgetting their master. Guo Shou and his troops gave chase.

Shi Qi, desperate to find a way out, was all alone, with no one around to help him. He was frantic. Zhuo Gao and his Tiger Army blocked his path, while Chang Sheng surrounded him from the side. Just as he was in desperation, Guo Shou galloped close on horseback, shouting. Shi Qi turned to look, and a spear pierced his back, causing him to fall from his horse. The governor beheaded him and returned in triumph to report his victory. [How laughable that Shi Qi, unaware of his own limitations, ultimately died at the hands of the governor.]

At this time, the crisis in Fengyang City had just been resolved. Governor Ma Shiying of Fengyang distributed many pigs, sheep, cattle, and wine, and sent a judge and a commander to reward the troops. Shang Zhi ordered a centurion to guard the camp, [to be wary of the surrendered rebels, lest they be treacherous.] The three men entered the city, paid their respects, and reported that all the captured women had been investigated and handed over. Governor Ma was overjoyed and offered more wine. Upon returning to camp, Shang Zhi sent someone with Shi Qi's head on horseback to Nanjing to report the victory. Meanwhile, he returned with his army, arriving in the capital several days later, and ordered all troops to return to rest. [Details.] The three men went to the capital to see Governor Ma, and handed over the surrendered soldiers and their weapons. Governor Ma was delighted, greatly praising them and submitting a detailed memorial to Emperor Chongzhen.

The Emperor, seeing that the three men had saved the important ancestral tombs... With only two thousand soldiers, they not only killed or forced surrender of the rebels, but also beheaded a major rebel general. An imperial edict was issued to the Ministry of War, ordering Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, and Shang Zhi to be promoted to Lieutenant General, with the additional title of Vice Commander-in-Chief, and granted them the rank and salary of a second-rank official. Lin Zhong, having already distinguished himself twice, and the Qianzong (military officer) Guo Shou, for his meritorious service in beheading rebels, were to be promoted to Garrison Commander, with the additional title of Vice Commander-in-Chief. All those who had served with merit were to be promoted one rank, and each soldier was to receive ten taels of silver. The surrendered rebel generals were to be promoted according to their abilities by Shi Kefa, the Minister of War in Nanjing, to encourage the remaining rebels to submit. Those surrendered rebel soldiers who wished to return to farming were to be given cattle and land and registered as commoners. Those who wished to serve were to be assigned to various battalions. Jia Wenwu and Bao Xin were both to be promoted one rank. The report was sent to Nanjing, and the order was obeyed. These three were all third-rank military officials, equivalent to marquises in ancient times. They also held additional titles and wore the rank-two robes with lion and monkey emblems, making them appear even more imposing and impressive. As the ancients said, "

Knowledgeable people appear sometimes, but heroes are never absent."

If they hadn't met the two gentlemen, Shi and Le, they would have been nothing more than peasants; how could they be qualified to be discussed?

Now, Governor Feng issued a proclamation throughout the city, ordering all people to come and claim their wives and daughters. Those with fathers, brothers, or husbands who came to claim them were to be taken home immediately. Those whose family members had been killed without exception were to be remarried. There was a man named Yu Yiming whose daughter, Chunjie, was born on the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), and his wife, Diao, had both been abducted. Hearing the government's proclamation calling for people to claim their families, he thought that if even one of them returned, he would be extremely fortunate. Unexpectedly, both his daughter and daughter-in-law were alive, and he was overjoyed, taking them home.

Yu Yiming, seeing that his daughter and daughter-in-law had been in the bandit camp for many days, although he knew they were not all alive, understood that they had suffered a great calamity and were not to be blamed. Seeing that they had endured such terror and returned alive, he was filled with mixed emotions of sorrow and joy.

He casually spoke with his daughter, asking about the situation among the bandits, "I've heard the bandits are exceptionally fierce. Are there any human beings left in their camp? What's it like?" This Yu Chunjie was incredibly foolish, replying, "Their clothes and food are just like ours, only a few things are different. Our houses are either tiled or thatched, while theirs are all small, low cloth houses. They don't use beds or tables for eating and sleeping; they're always on the floor. At home, we eat tofu and pickled vegetables, but they eat meat every meal. I see that every family here is monogamous, while in their small cloth houses, four or five men share one woman. Another difference is in how we sleep at night. We've always slept with our pillows on each other, but there, they put a pillow under my bottom to sleep." Hearing this, Yu Yiming knew his daughter was a fool and scolded, "Shut up!" Yu Chunjie continued, "They hoisted my legs straight up onto their shoulders, pressing my stomach tightly, and in the middle..." "It was even bolted shut with a big nail." Yu Yiming, seeing his incoherent speech, scolded, "Nonsense!" Yu Chunjie said, "Dad, you're from the countryside; you haven't seen how fierce they are. He stuffed his tongue into my mouth, and with the force of a pestle pounding earth, another person pushed me from behind, making me breathless and feeling like I was about to die. I couldn't utter a sound, let alone say anything. If we were idle at home, we'd just blurt things out, no matter what." Yu Yiming... He angrily shouted, "Bullshit, bullshit!" Seeing his father say "bullshit" twice, he became even more agitated, saying, "Father, you have no idea what's going on! You make it sound so nice, but four or five men took turns going up and down all night, their testicles raining down on you like raindrops, even bruising your anus! What farts are you talking about? If you were there, you probably wouldn't be able to get a fart out even with a furnace!" Yu Yiming, finding his words even more offensive, lost interest and pretended to walk away.

His wife, Diao, was quick-witted and praised him, saying he was pure and innocent, untouched by the thieves. There was no proof, so let her say what she wanted.

There were also other women in the village who had escaped, and hearing that the Yu sisters-in-law had returned alive from the bandits' camp, they felt as if they had escaped a tiger's den and came to inquire. He sat down and said, "Sister-in-law, you've been frightened and suffered these past few days. Poor thing, poor thing, it's a blessing you're back." Diao Shi said, "If you say frightened, when he took me, I was afraid he'd kill me, so I was a little scared. But after a night or two, I didn't feel it anymore. As for suffering, Amitabha! I'd be a terrible person. I'd be willing to suffer like that for a lifetime." One of the more honest men said, "I heard people say that bandits kidnap women and then send them to their camps, or five or six men to sleep with one woman. If there aren't enough women, there are more than ten bandits sharing one, so nine out of ten women die. Sister-in-law, haven't you suffered any losses?" Diao Shi said, "Oh, what are you talking about? Some shameless women just give in, laughing and joking, playing with those men. I just fought back fiercely. He pulled out a knife to scare me, and I stretched out my hand..." "Let him kill me. He tried to force himself on me, but I refused, so I let it go. I just cooked for them and mended their clothes. At night, I tied my quilt tightly and never took off my clothes, so I didn't touch them."

Among these women was a woman named Zhi, a cunning woman, who thought to herself, "He's clearly been violated by thieves countless times, he's probably pregnant with their child, yet he's still so aloof. I'll trick him." She said, "Sister-in-law, this is your good fortune. I've long heard people say that thieves' penises are fearless, all square, long and large, so many women die when they encounter them. I think all people in the world are the same, even their genitals have changed." Diao blurted out, "That's all nonsense, how could such a thing exist? I see they're all round, different sizes and lengths, who said they're all square and large?" The women all laughed. Diao realized she had given herself away, her face and neck turned crimson, and she fell silent. The others left. This Yu Chunjie was merely foolish, while Diao Shi could be described as both foolish and cunning; there are many such men today.

Enough of this digression. Let's talk about Li Zicheng, who stayed in Tongguan for some time, waiting for Shi Qi's letter. Little did he know that his entire army had been wiped out, and not a single messenger had come. Later, hearing rumors that Shi Qi's attack on Fengyang had failed and he had been defeated, he summoned his generals and ordered his Grand General, Yao Zemin, the Duke of Zeguo, "I know you are both resourceful and brave. You can lead 5,000 cavalry to escort Shi Qi back. I will return to Shaanxi first and wait for your arrival before we discuss a major offensive." Yao Zemin received the order, took two advisors from his Grand General's office, You Xialiu and Lao Zheng, and selected several valiant generals, leading 5,000 strong soldiers, and marched towards Fengyang overnight. The blind bandit also led a large force towards Shaanxi, awaiting their victory news to plan his next move. Truly:

such is the human heart, yet the principles of Heaven are not so.

You might ask, how did Yao Zemin, a marquis from the imperial family, become a general who rose to power through treachery? He was sent by Emperor Tianqi to visit his family in Guangxi. Passing through Nanjing, he visited the renowned Qian Gui, but his desires were not fulfilled, and he left in anger. Although he entertained two prostitutes, Xia Jin'er and Luo Chun'er, for two nights, he found no pleasure. Disheartened, he went to his father's post. Yao Huazhou had been dead for three days. He reported this to the local officials and handed over the imperial decree. He then loaded his father's coffin and returned south to his family home in Wuxi County for burial, before heading to the capital to report. Emperor Tianqi had died

, and Emperor Chongzhen had ascended the throne. Chongzhen had heard of Yao Zemin and his father while still a prince, and Emperor Tianqi had personally instructed him to inherit the title. Furthermore, his father had died in the palace, so he was granted the marquisate. In the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, Li Zicheng had been causing chaos in Shaanxi for three years. Despite repeated dispatches of generals, he could not be quelled, and his power gradually grew. Emperor Chongzhen knew that he and his father were skilled in military strategy, and that his father had quelled the bandits in Guangxi. As the son of a veteran general, he must possess some strategic acumen, so he specially granted him the seal of General Who Pacifies Bandits and ordered him to go to Shaanxi to suppress the rebels.

Although he could talk a good game about troop deployment and defense, his words were eloquent, but he knew nothing about military strategy. [The Bible says: "It is difficult to do what is true." Throughout history, there have been many like Yao Zemin. Those who boast are never true, and those who accomplish great things never boast. Just look at Yao Zemin!] His troops were disorganized, and there were no orders. They dared not act recklessly in their own territory. But once they crossed Tongguan, they began plundering along the way, becoming even more ruthless than bandits. Hence the saying, "The bandits comb the officials' hair." He didn't care for gold or silver, but he forbade his soldiers to selfishly give him any beautiful women they had captured, to be used for nighttime battles. Anyone who hid them would be punished according to military law. He had dozens of women in his tent. Among them was one captured from Huayin County, a woman from Nanjing, very beautiful, whom Yao Zemin greatly admired. When asked, she said her surname was Zhong, and she was the daughter of Zhong Qu. Because her father-in-law, Censor Lao, was a member of the Wei faction and had been exiled to Huayin as a soldier, she and her husband, Lao Zheng, were both sent there. Yao Zemin, firstly, admired her beauty, and secondly, because they were from the same hometown, made her his wife, [but this wife was not as powerful as Lady Jian]

. She led the other women, and they spent their days drinking and singing in the tent. Now, when Zhong married Lao Zheng, although her family was wealthy, Lao Zheng was a weak and timid man. Lao Zheng, seeing that she was a true virgin and beautiful, no less than Bao Gu, loved her dearly. However, he was physically weak and had a feeble waist. [Once, an old man took a concubine, and later suddenly contracted madness. His sons and nephews came to visit him. They asked his wife, "My lord has never had this ailment before, how did it suddenly appear?" At that time, the concubine was beside him, and the wife smiled and pointed, saying, "This is the beginning of madness." Having Zhong, Lao Zheng feared his body would become even weaker.] The pleasures of the embroidered bed and quilt, which Zhong had enjoyed for four years since her marriage, had not yet been fully experienced. Later, when her family fortune was confiscated, she went to Huayin with Lao Zheng and became a soldier's wife. Unable to even afford food and clothing, the pleasures of the bedroom became increasingly scarce. Now, she had been captured by Yao Zemin's infantry and presented to their commander.

Yao Zemin was overjoyed upon seeing her, seeing her as a superior wife to his stepmother, and could not wait a moment. He rushed forward and embraced her, intending to elope. Although Zhong had come to this point, she was still a woman of Confucian family and a wife of an official, and her conscience remained. She resisted with every push and pull. But Yao Zemin's lust could not be contained. Despite his position as commander-in-chief, he acted like a robber. He summoned three or five women, who pinned her to the bed and stripped her of her clothes. They saw her:

her flesh was as white as snow, her hair as black as ink. Her face was tender and delicate, her body fragrant and timid. Her fingers were like spring onions, and her feet were just the size of a pinch. Everywhere is alluring, and there is a particularly captivating spot.

When Yao Zemin saw that spot, he thought of Qiu Shi and the other beauties still in his household. Though a slight pang of sorrow lingered in his heart, he was also filled with intense desire. He thrust in and out, deep and shallow, slow and fast, tight and slow, slow and tight. He was completely oblivious to military discipline, yet he was quite adept at the art of lovemaking on the bed. [Spring riddles, swallow-themed notes, are Ruan Dacheng's secret techniques. Bedside battles, passionate fights under the covers, are Yao Zemin's courage and strategy. Each can be said to have its own strengths.] Zhong Shi was first forced into sexual intercourse by him. Seeing his imposing presence, she dared not curse him, but felt genuine shame and resentment. Tears streamed down her face, a picture of utter helplessness. Later, as things progressed, he realized that a woman's life after marriage was not merely about physical intimacy, but also about the many subtle and profound aspects of lovemaking. Her tears vanished, and her initial shame and anger transformed into a smiling face. Seeing that the women were still holding him down, he said, "That's all you want, why keep holding me down?" Yao Zemin knew she was convinced, so he dismissed the women and thrust his spear straight into her. Zhong Shi, unable to resist, embraced him and lifted him up. Yao Zemin, overjoyed, ejaculated, and they straightened their clothes and got up.

Zhong Shi saw that Yao Zemin was in his prime, much stronger than the sick man, not only with a magnificent penis but also with excellent technique, high rank, and wealth. Although she hadn't crawled on all fours, she was happy to be with him. Yao Zemin asked about her family background and hometown, and she recounted her father's and husband's family history in detail. Yao Zemin was overjoyed and made her his principal wife, in charge of all the concubines and maids. Zhong Shi was also overjoyed; a military wife suddenly becoming the general's secondary wife, her face only showed happiness and smiles, without any trace of worry or shame.

Yao Zemin spent his days and nights fighting with the women, completely forgetting about killing the bandits, and lingered in the camp all day. The blind bandit, having learned this, and knowing he was an undisciplined commander, devised a plan to lure him.

One day, Yao Zemin was drinking and making merry with the women in his inner tent when a report came from the gate that several bandits had surrendered and had confidential military information to report. Upon hearing this, Yao Zemin went out, ascended the central command tent, and ordered the surrendered bandits to be brought in. The bandits entered the camp, kowtowed, and reported, "We are all good citizens of the court, unfortunately captured by bandits and left homeless, with no choice but to seek refuge here. Now, hearing that the General has led the Heavenly Army to arrive, the bandit leader, knowing your reputation, is terrified. Our men are even more fearful, the entire camp is in a state of panic, each afraid of death. We have discussed this and decided to wholeheartedly submit to the Heavenly Dynasty. We have sent you, General, to request that you raid the main camp tonight. We are willing to act as inside agents. If we capture the bandit leader, we will atone for our crimes. We only beg the General to report to the court and pardon our sins, allowing us to return to farming. We would be eternally grateful." Yao Zemin listened and believed him, overjoyed. He ordered the men to be rewarded with food and wine, and told them to return and report that the attack would definitely take place that night, and that they should prepare to provide support.

As evening fell, Yao Zemin ordered the entire camp to raid the camp. Unexpectedly, upon arrival, the bandits ambushed them from all sides. He was surrounded and slaughtered by the bandits, who captured him alive. Upon seeing the rebel leader, he cried out, "I have come on His Majesty's orders. How could I dare to oppose Your Majesty? I am not a general who would rather die than surrender!" The rebel leader, wanting to win his loyalty, ordered him released and treated him with the utmost respect. He kowtowed in gratitude, gladly surrendering, and begged for the return of the women from his camp. Li Zicheng ordered a search in all camps. Because of the large number of rebel soldiers, the search took several days before all were found. All the others were unharmed, except for Lady Quan, who was weak and died upon arriving at the camp.

Why? When he was captured during the raid, the rebel leader had secretly dispatched a detachment to attack his main camp, capturing all the women he had abducted and dividing them among the rebels. Only Lady Zhong was taken by a group of rebels and made to enjoy herself in their tent. Ten thieves attacked his hairy hole with their purple-gold spears. At first, with two or three, he felt that although they differed in length and thickness from Yao Zemin's, each had a unique odor, and he was quite pleased with himself. But after five or six, he felt unbearable, his abdomen bloated, and he cried out in pain incessantly. The thieves, enamored with his beautiful appearance, couldn't bear to harm him, so they heated the soles of their shoes and rubbed them into his lower abdomen to expel their semen. The others did the same. Although Zhong felt some relief from the bloating, how could a tender bud withstand such a storm? Even though the thieves showed mercy, his flesh was already torn and his skin was chapped, his moans incessant, unable to stand. Because he had committed the four offenses of "debauchery and lewdness," these thieves could not easily seize such a beauty. They fought over her and took her to their camp. Every day, they took turns attacking one beautiful woman in one tent, how could she not end up in a miserable state? In the one eye that was empty before her thigh, semen flowed incessantly day and night; in the two eyes beneath her forehead, tears streamed endlessly, preventing her from swallowing food or drink. She only thought of Yao Zemin coming to save her, and kept reciting the two lines from Li Sanniang in "The Tale of the White Rabbit": "If

you come three days earlier, we will meet again; if you come three days later, you will face the gates of hell.

" When Yao Zemin returned after asking Li Zicheng to investigate, the two only saw each other briefly. Zhong Shi couldn't utter a single word, only shedding two tears before dying. This was because her good father, disliking poverty, had taken his daughter, a noblewoman, and sent her to be a soldier's wife, resulting in her dying in the camp with her manhood.

Li Zicheng, because Yao Zemin was a marquis, now that he had surrendered, wanted to elevate him by one rank. The blind bandit said: "His name contains the character 'Ze,' perhaps later, after unifying the country, he will be granted the fief of Zezhou in Shanxi, and first he will be granted the title of Duke of Ze." [Those who rob the people are called bandits, and those who rob the people are those who rob the country. Granting him the title of Duke of the Bandit Kingdom is the extreme.] He was overjoyed and had no way to repay the kindness. He repeatedly spoke of Nanjing's splendor and wealth, and its women, saying they were the most beautiful in the world, insisting that the blind bandit should have his way with him.

Later, when Li Zicheng massacred Fengyang, he was the vanguard, with Shi Qi as his deputy. He marched without encountering a single government soldier, gaining merit everywhere. The blind bandit, overjoyed, said, "If you continue to march like this, advancing without hesitation, the world will be at peace in no time. You have presented me with the glorious world of the Ming Dynasty." Therefore, he was also appointed General of Offering to the World. [Truly a General of Offering to the World. Reading this reminds me of a story. Once upon a time, there was a man who hung a plaque above his door with the four characters "Family of Literature and Talent." Someone, angered by his boastful words, covered two of the characters with paper at night, leaving only "Family of Literature and Talent." The next day, the family saw this and angrily tore the paper away. That night, the person covered the "family" character again, and even the dot on the characters, leaving only the three characters "Again Offering to the World." The next day, the family again angrily tore it away.] On the third night, the writing was covered up again, with a dot removed from the character for "family," leaving only the three characters "Xian Shi Tomb." Yao Zemin, as a general, was truly a scourge of the world. [

Initially, when Yao Zemin surrendered, Li Zicheng, knowing his wife had been killed by his soldiers, was very upset and wanted to kill some soldiers to appease him. He ordered Niu Jinxing to investigate, but because Yao had slept with many women, he couldn't kill so many and had to give up.]

Li Zicheng had a cousin, Li Guo's own daughter. Her husband had died, and she had no children, so she came to live with Li Zicheng. He wasn't particularly ugly, but his face was large and round, even more robust than a man's body. He was already fifty, and his temples were graying. He was extremely lewd. The blind bandit had no relatives, only this woman was his own flesh and blood, and the two siblings had some illicit affair. This woman disliked the blind bandit for being incompetent, and the blind bandit, partly fearing his advances in bed and partly disliking his advanced age, wasn't very close to him, so he had her stay with his nephew in his camp. Little did he know that Li Guo was a beast, knowing nothing of morality, and he began an affair with his aunt.

Seeing that Li Guo was often sent out to rob, Li Guo selected four or five handsome and strong young soldiers from the camp to be his personal attendants. Although Li Guo knew this, having already had an affair with his own aunt, how could he stop him from taking in young boys? Everyone in the Li family camp called him Princess, and even the blind bandit wanted to find him a son-in-law. Since none of his men had sons of noble lineage, and seeing that Yao Zemin was a marquis's son, and also wanting to win people's hearts—following the old trick of King Zhao—they intended to treat Yao Zemin well to attract generals from the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, they ordered Niu Jinxing and Song Hai'er to act as matchmakers, conveying the message to Yao Zemin that he wanted to marry him. Yao Zemin was overjoyed.

However, on their wedding night, he was met by an elderly beauty in her fifties with white hair, which greatly disappointed him. Because she was the blind bandit's sister, he dared not treat her poorly and had to do his best to please her. The Li family, seeing that he was very experienced in this field, surpassing all those she had ever met, also grew quite fond of him. Yao Zemin, however, was a man of force, showing no attachment whatsoever. He would often take a small job and abduct women for his pleasure.

Li Zicheng didn't care for just one of his men, and continued to send his old confidants to serve him. Yao Zemin, upon hearing this, was secretly pleased, thinking that since Li Zicheng had a husband, he could take some concubines himself, figuring Li Zicheng wouldn't be jealous. Although they were husband and wife in name only [Li Zicheng's marriage was merely nominal, and his sister's was no exception], they would meet during the day and chat affectionately. But at night, they would each attend to their own duties. Occasionally, they would spend the night together, but only superficially.

Li Zicheng had always greatly admired Yao Zemin's talent [Wonderful, only a blind man could appreciate Yao Zemin's talent]. Therefore, he sent him to rescue Shi Qi. How did Lao Zheng and You Xialiu end up as his advisors? Lao Zheng's wife had been captured by government troops. He learned that the commander was Yao Zemin, a fact he knew from his father's officialdom. Knowing they were from the same province and hometown, he followed them, begging for his release. Suddenly hearing that Yao had been captured by bandits, he went into the enemy territory to inquire. [Unexpectedly, he turned out to be a romantic.] It was just as Yao Zemin was being ennobled when he requested an audience. Yao Zemin recounted the whole story, and Yao Zemin said sadly, "There is such a person. When she came, I asked if she was the daughter-in-law of an official's family, and also from the same hometown. I treated her like a sister, and never did anything improper with her. Later, she suffered a robbery and fell ill from fright. I begged for her help to find her, and she passed away the next day. Several days have passed, and she is now buried somewhere." Yao Zemin sent someone to lead him to the grave, where Lao Zheng wept bitterly. Seeing the large, new grave, he didn't know it was built for Lady Quan, only saying it was a testament to Yao Zemin's kindness, and was deeply grateful, so he came to express his gratitude again. Yao Zemin, seeing that he was a Confucian scholar and mindful of the Zhong family lineage, kept him as an advisor in his staff.

This You Xia Liu has become a monk; how did he end up following him? Of all the sins in the world, every transgression can be repented for, except for the sins of disloyalty and filial impiety, which reach to Heaven and cannot be repented for. [Another wake-up call.] You Xialiu was unfilial to his parents from a young age and later suffered abuse from his wicked wife, Duoyin. After Duoyin's death, he regretted his past transgressions, sold his property in resentment, and became a Taoist priest. Thinking that there were many virtuous Taoist practitioners in the Zhongnan Mountains of Shaanxi, he went and sought refuge in a Taoist temple. He toiled for several years, carrying water and sweeping floors. One day, while wandering outside the mountains, he was unexpectedly captured by cavalrymen under Yao Zemin. Bringing him to the camp, he learned that You Xialiu was also from Jiangnan. You Xialiu was extremely eloquent, showering Yao Zemin with flattery. Yao Zemin regretted not meeting him sooner and wanted to keep him under his wing. You Xialiu, tempted by wealth and status, agreed to serve and returned to secular life. Yao Zemin also released him as an advisor and treated him even better.

This time, he led them in their southern invasion, their crimes now fully realized. Lao Zheng was the offspring of his father's infidelity, and You Xialiu was the result of his own unfilial sins; both were now receiving their retribution.

Yao Zemin led his men to Fengyang, but found it deserted and suspicious. He set up camp and sent men to scout. The city gates were tightly shut, and the defenses were tight. He ordered his men to search the area and seize any good women they could find, and to interrogate the men about General Shi's whereabouts.

The bandits returned a day later, reporting, "Upon hearing of the army's arrival, the locals were all terrified and fled. We searched everywhere for women, but found none. Only two old men, too weak to walk, were brought here." Yao Zemin ordered them brought in and asked where General Shi had gone after leading his troops here. The old men trembled and replied, "Your Highness, spare my life! We country folk don't know anything about General Shi. We only heard that a bandit leader fled to Changhewei and was killed by the government troops. Other bandit leaders were either killed or surrendered, and they were all taken to Nanjing to present as tribute." Zemin was furious and ordered the two old men to be taken out and executed. He ordered his troops to march straight to the six directions. Those wicked bandits were truly formidable. A few words were uttered about them:

A mournful wind howled, a murderous aura surged. Swords and halberds gleamed, a glint of light in the sky; banners fluttered in the darkness, daylight turned to twilight. They moved with frantic speed, a scene of utter carnage, a sight to behold. These traitors, foolishly clinging to their former glory, were utterly absurd today.

Yao Zemin, having been a ruthless bandit for years, ravaged counties and slaughtered the people. Lacking a strong general and a mighty army to fight against, he had forgotten that he was but a mischievous child, utterly incompetent. He openly considered himself a great general, imposing and invincible. He thought: "Now that I'm here, how can I return empty-handed? Shi Qi has twice lost his chance and his life, and Your Majesty has suffered two defeats here. If I return victorious today, not only will I have immense glory, but I will also be the first among the founding heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion. A title of 'One-Character King' will surely be mine, wouldn't that be as glorious as a Duke?" He focused on the benefit, completely forgetting the harm. Overjoyed, he ordered a swift advance.

Several days later, they arrived at Liuhe, about twenty li from the city. As dusk approached, he ordered the troops to set up camp and rest, deciding the next morning whether to attack or surrender, and then devise a plan. Zhengran then ordered his men to assess the suitable terrain for establishing a camp. Suddenly, a scout came on horseback to report: "Three miles from here, there is a large fortress. It seems they all fled at the first sign of the General's army, leaving not a soul behind. Every household has firewood, rice, food, and fine wine, and has come to request your service." Upon hearing the words "fine wine," Yao Zemin's mouth watered, and he was overjoyed, urging them to rest in the fortress. The bandits, hearing this, were delighted and rushed there in a flash.

There was a small government office [a discerning person would immediately recognize this as Bao Xin's official residence, not Yao Zemin's residence fabricated by the author]. This became their headquarters. When Yao Zemin came the day before, fearing he wouldn't be able to abduct any good women along the way, he had disguised several women from his camp as men and taken a handsome young bandit for his homosexual pleasure. Now, upon arriving at the office, men and women mingled together, cheering and drinking, while the officers... The bandits settled in various houses to rest. They found plenty of firewood, rice, and vegetables, and each house had two or three jars of different kinds of wine. After the bandits finished eating, they drank heartily, became extremely drunk, and lay down. This unlucky band of bandits was truly: "

Beheading is nothing to worry about, let's just get drunk and sleep soundly."

What kind of fortress is this? Where did everyone go? Where did all this wine come from? It turns out that Shang Zhi, Lin Zhong, and Mu Yi were in Nanjing when Shi Bingbu received a urgent report that the bandits had not attacked Fengyang but had instead fled to Liuhe. They discovered only five thousand men, led by Yao Hou, who had surrendered to the bandits years before. Shi Bingbu ordered the three of them to return that very night to prepare for battle. When they arrived in Liuhe, everyone wanted to gather their troops to meet the enemy. Shang Zhi said, "Our men have only recently dispersed, they are still recovering from their injuries, and if we gather again, they will inevitably be exhausted. I don't need to draw a single bow or arrow; I can make sure they cannot escape. My thousand men are enough." He then said, "Let's do it this way." "The crowd was overjoyed and emptied Zhiyong Fort, temporarily relocating everyone to the county seat. They transported thousands of jars of wine overnight, all laced with sleeping potion, waiting for the bandits to arrive. It was a plan:

to use fine wine to capture the rebels, and to lay bait to kill the villains.

But these thousands of bandits were unlucky; they were destined to perish together, all falling into the trap. Yao Zemin, seeing the good wine, drank one first, let alone the rest of the bandits. Before they were completely drunk, they were all passed out. In the middle of the night, Shang Zhi and his men, having learned their secret, led a thousand men, entering through the north and south gates. Although a hundred or so bandits who hadn't been sedated were still awake, what good were they? They were easily killed with a single blow; it was better to kill them all than to let the unconscious ones feel no pain." They were killing ready-made victims, easier than a butcher slaughtering a pig, as easy as chopping melons and vegetables. In less than a watch, all five thousand bandits had lost several inches, becoming headless creatures, not a single one had escaped. [The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* describes a country with only one shoulder and one leg, requiring two people to lean on each other to move, like a flounder. How could bandits move if they only had half a leg?] They had turned Zhiyong Fort into a city of the unjustly killed.

When the group arrived at the yamen, they found Yao Zemin naked and drunk, with two handsome young thieves sleeping on one side and three or four young women, also naked and drunk, sleeping soundly on the other. They killed all the men and women, bound Yao Zemin, and only then did he awaken.

Shang Zhi, knowing that Emperor Chongzhen hated Yao Zemin, captured him alive. He, along with his two advisors, You and Lao, and the other bandit generals, were all bound and taken to Nanjing. The number of horses and weapons was reported. Shi Gong meticulously prepared a report of victory, detailing the merits of everyone involved. A prison cart was prepared, and Yao and his band of villains were escorted to the capital.

Bao Xin ordered his men to dig a large pit outside Zhiyong Fort and bury the five thousand bandit corpses together in one place, forming a large heap. [As Huiming of *The Romance of the Western Chamber* says: "Five thousand people were used as filling for steamed buns." This is like five thousand people being used as filling for earthen steamed buns—a truly horrific sight.] At this time, people called it the "Tomb of the

Bandits." Zhiyong Fort later became deserted; although it was an empty lot, people called it "Blood Lake," and its ruins still exist today. Meanwhile, Emperor Chongzhen, upon seeing Shi Gong's report that Yao Zemin and the others had been brought to justice, was overjoyed. He presented the captives, reported the matter to the temple, and had Yao Zemin dismembered in the marketplace, while the heads of the other bandits were displayed in the marketplace. You Xialiu and Lao Zheng, along with them, were also executed, their bodies severed from their heads. The Yao family's hereditary title had been revoked since Yao Zemin's time. Out of consideration for his grandfather's merits, his family had not been further harmed. Later, because he served as a vanguard for the rebels, inducing Li Zicheng to desecrate the ancestral tombs, Emperor Chongzhen was furious and executed his wife, Gui, along with Yao Yumin's son, Yao Buwu.

After Yao Zemin's death, Gui only had Yao Buwu and Shengwang for company at night, taking turns. Shengwang was stronger and more vigorous, and since the family had few horses, Gui had other family members feed him and then used him as a purchasing agent. [Being a purchasing agent was interesting. It allowed him to earn money and recuperate.] She secretly instructed him to take good care of himself. Sure enough, within half a year, the thick calluses on Shengwang's hands and feet and the wrinkles on his face disappeared, becoming much smoother, a plump and strong man. Unlike before, he was no longer so rough and uncouth. He showed tenderness in his belly and even began to seek out new and unusual things.

Gui Shi doted on him immensely and was very affectionate towards him. At first, he didn't dare to be so bold, but after Yao Yumin's death, he became the head of Gui Shi's household. Yao Buwu was his nephew, and knowing he wouldn't be jealous, she made Shengwang the steward and gave him Yao Zemin's finest clothes. He was dressed entirely in silk, and given large sums of silver to use. At night, they openly acted like a married couple.

Yao Buwu knew this and was very angry. But he himself had an affair with his aunt, so how could he dare say anything to her? Shengwang eventually forgot that she was the mistress of the house and acted like a husband and wife. Even in broad daylight, he would embrace Gui Shi and the five women—Suqing, Xiang'er, Qingmei, and Lü'e—in the room for pleasure. [Let's summarize all of them and conclude this.] He rode a large horse outside, openly acting like a wild master at home, and a head steward of the Marquis's mansion outside, attracting the attention of everyone in the household.

When his family was executed, Shengwang, the head steward of the household, was also implicated and suffered the same fate—a fitting punishment for a wicked servant's adultery with his master. By imperial decree, Yao Huazhou's coffin was opened, his body burned, and his remains scattered.

At that time, Yao Yumin had already passed away, but out of imperial grace, considering his foolishness and ignorance, and that his crimes did not extend to his family, his wife and daughters were spared death but exiled to the Golden Tooth Guard. Even Yao Guangxiao's posthumous titles were revoked. His first wife enjoyed the favor of Emperor Chengzu, and even scattered his memorial tablet. At this time, Yao Zemin was executed by dismemberment, but the Emperor's wrath was not yet appeased. He issued an edict ordering Yao Guangxiao's corpse to be exhumed and mutilated. The officials argued, "Even if Yao Zemin were to die ten thousand times, it would not be enough to atone for his crimes. His ancestor, Guangxiao, had rendered great service to Emperor Chengzu. Besides, what do dry bones in a tomb know? This only shows that the Emperor's favor is not broad enough." Emperor Chongzhen was furious, saying, "Emperor Chengzu was unwilling to uphold his loyalty as a subject, but was misled by Guangxiao, leading to his uprising and seizure of the throne. Although he was the first to achieve this, he was already granted the title of Duke of Jin and Junior Tutor, enjoying the highest honors. Now his descendants have received the late Emperor's great favor and inherited the title of Marquis." "He betrayed our benefactors and surrendered to the traitors, inciting them to desecrate our ancestral tombs, kill our princes, slaughter our common people, and destroy our cities. What then of the rotting corpse of that bald traitor? If we do not punish him according to the law, how can we warn the people? Moreover, if future generations criticize Emperor Chengzu as disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and cruel, it will all be due to this bald traitor. How can he escape being the chief culprit? His sister once said: 'A monk who doesn't live to the end is not a good person.' With just this one sentence, his crime is already decided. How can we be angry? Issue the decree immediately!" Seeing the emperor's great anger and how he had clearly separated the merits and demerits, who dared to speak again?

The decree was sent to Wuxi County, where the local officials only said that he must have turned to dust after more than two hundred years. But when they dug him up, they found a freckled cedar coffin, completely intact. When they opened it, his face was lifelike, untouched. His clothes were torn to shreds in the wind, and he was pulled out naked. His bald head was cut off, and his body was stuffed into a dog's belly and buried in pieces inside. Yao Guangxiao, in his lifetime, persuaded the Prince of Yan to rebel, murdering countless loyal officials—his crimes were utterly heinous. Though he held the highest position in the mortal world, how much hellish torment did he suffer in the afterlife? Now, he has been reincarnated as Yao Zemin, subjected to the brutal punishment of dismemberment, with his corpse also subjected to mutilation? Yao Huazhou was his own descendant, yet even after more than two hundred years, his lineage was wiped out; how much more so for the wicked bald man in his present life? Disloyal to his country and cruel to his people, such is the retribution he has received—how can one not feel chilled to the bone?

Seeing the numerous merits achieved by Mu Yi and others, Emperor Chongzhen sighed, "If we had a dozen or so men like these, the rebels would be easily quelled." He then issued an edict: "Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, and Shang Zhi are each promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Right Army Commandery, and Guo Shou is promoted to Commander-in-Chief Shang Zhi. The centurions are promoted to Vice Commander-in-Chief, and their rewards are in varying amounts. Bao Xin is promoted to Vice Prefect of the Northern Arrest Hall, still in charge of the affairs of the three battalions.

Jia Wenwu is ill and has not yet taken office, but is promoted to Director of the Ministry of War's Department of Military Affairs. Shi Kefa and Yue Weishan are both capable of recommending virtuous men for the country, and are hereby granted the titles of Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and Minister of Rites." The edict was issued, and everyone expressed their gratitude, accepted their appointments, and celebrated joyfully.

As for Mu Yi… Lin Zhong, Shang Zhi, Bao Xin, and their entourage of a thousand men were all mere commoners. Although their loyalty, courage, and resourcefulness earned them their privileged status, it was also a matter of good fortune. Moved by this, I composed a four-line ditty: "

If fate is unkind and lingers, why force it?
When fortune smiles upon you, you'll find fame and fortune in laughter." Meanwhile,

Li Zicheng's entire army returned to Shaanxi. After waiting for a long time without any news of Shi Qi and Yao Zemin, he sent a spy to Nanjing to inquire. The spy returned some time later, reporting: "The two have been captured and executed, and the prisoners have been surrendered to the army. All their men and horses have been lost." Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng was furious, saying, "In over ten years of raising an army, I have never suffered such a defeat!" He immediately summoned Niu Jinxing, Song Xianze, and the other generals to discuss the matter, saying, "We have lost all our prestige over the years. From now on, there is no need to flee elsewhere. Instead, we should strengthen our troops, cultivate our fighting spirit, and march straight to Beijing." He also engaged in feigned benevolence and righteousness to win people's hearts, conquering cities and seizing territories without killing a single person. Once he reached Beijing and ascended the throne, he would then send troops out in all directions. Why should he worry about the world not falling into his hands? Everyone praised him, saying, "Your Majesty's strategy is divine and ingenious; how could we, your humble servants, possibly conceive of such a thing?" Afterwards, he trained his troops in various camps, awaiting the grand campaign. To see what will happen in the future, please read the following chapter. (

End of Chapter Twenty-Two

) [Last edited by jay-chou2010 on 8-12 04:13]

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