Stealing the Ming Dynasty [Complete] - 12

Seeing that his spear could easily pierce through, Wu Mu hesitated for a moment before looking at Huang Shi after the battle

, his face full of caution: "I'm thinking, should we select the strongest and most capable men for the army?" Seeing Huang Shi's sincere expression and focused attention as he listened to him, his tone became somewhat more assertive: "I think if we do this, more men will surrender on the battlefield in the future. What do you think, General Huang?" "

Eunuch Wu, your insight is excellent, but I have a thought. The Jurchens give these Han soldiers land, women, and gold and silver, while Changsheng Island can give them nothing. Today, they are only willing to surrender in hopes of escaping death. Such people cannot be trusted to be used, much less incorporated into our army." Huang Shi spoke politely. Changsheng Island was in dire need of reconstruction; sending these men to eat chaff and wild vegetables and become monks would probably not appease their wolfish ambitions.

"As for the future, as long as our army is strong, those rebellious Han soldiers will naturally surrender. If our army cannot defeat the Jurchens, those guys will definitely not be willing to part with the children they have captured." Huang Shi felt that these Han soldiers were all opportunists. If the Ming army was strong, they would naturally follow the trend, but if the Ming army could not defeat the Later Jin, they would definitely not have any sense of national righteousness or shame.

Wu Mu had a look of sudden realization. Now he felt that everything Huang Shi said was a profound truth, and the more he thought about it, the more correct it seemed: "General Huang, you are right, you are right!"

Four hundred soldiers gathered in groups to rest, and the pursuing cavalry had not yet returned. Three hundred auxiliary soldiers were cutting off heads and harnessing warhorses. Huang Shi felt that this feudal system of rewarding merit by the number of heads taken had a huge hidden danger. For example, he remembered that in the historical battle between the Qin army and the rebel army, Sun Chuanting initially won a minor victory, but the soldiers were busy cutting off heads, and Li Zicheng's defeated troops abandoned a lot of supplies and equipment, so the Qin army became a disorganized mess and was routed when the rebel army's rear guard launched a counterattack.

Another example was the last battle in Lushun, where Huang Shi was always worried about encountering an enemy counterattack, so the fire brigade strictly forbade soldiers from taking heads themselves, and the military merits on Changsheng Island were also calculated uniformly. If the soldiers did not participate in looting, the army would naturally not collapse instantly when attacked.

Wu Mu whispered with the two Jinyiwei for a while, and then Huang Shi saw Chen Ruike nod and run to the battlefield to search for corpses. A while later, he even tore off a piece of clothing and brought it back. Wu Mu took it, looked at it for a while, and then put it in his pocket. Although Huang Shi didn't know what they were up to, he figured it had nothing to do with him, so he didn't ask.

After waiting anxiously for nearly two hours, Huang Shi finally saw the cavalry slowly returning. The Ming soldiers, including He Baodao, were all exhausted, and their mounts were listless, each looking as if they were about to collapse. More than two hundred Later Jin soldiers had stolen horses and fled, but He Baodao and his men, acting on Huang Shi's orders, gave chase. The Later Jin's horses were no match for the well-trained Ming troops, and He Baodao's cavalry pursued and killed many more.

He Baodao weakly saluted, then dismounted and collapsed to the ground, saying, "My lord, that was exhilarating!" The other cavalrymen lay sprawled out, clamoring for water.

When He Baodao returned, he brought several young women and seven or eight boys with him. These were the families of Later Jin officers, seemingly spoils of war that He Baodao had intentionally kept. They were all tied to their saddles and led over by soldiers for Huang Shi to inspect.

The handling of these boys was simple: according to custom, they would be presented as captives to the capital. These barbarian boys would be castrated to become the lowest-ranking eunuchs. The Chinese emperor had always enjoyed humiliating foreign enemies in this way, and these young eunuchs would become targets of the palace's wrath.

Huang Shi sized up the several captured Manchu women for a while. When his gaze swept over one woman, the knight behind her grabbed her hair and turned her face up to show Huang Shi. One of them was a girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, her face still showing traces of childishness, her lips trembling with fear. The others were also women in their twenties, silent and seemingly quite brave.

"Sir, what should we do with them?" The soldiers who brought them seemed to be driven by lust, looking at them like wolves, their eyes gleaming with lust.

If they were women he had never met before, Huang Shi would have been perfectly justified in satisfying his men's desires, but these women were right in front of him. Seeing their resigned expressions, Huang Shi's face remained stern, but a slight pang of pity stirred within him.

Zhao Manxiong said from the side, "They're going to die anyway." Changsheng Island dared not keep these women. They couldn't bear the thought of them being tipped off or having someone whisper in their ear. No one dared to risk taking enemy tribesmen home as wives. "Let the soldiers deal with them." Zhao Manxiong was worried that if the officers tasted the benefits, some might be tempted to keep them.

"This is still dangerous." Huang Shi hesitated for a moment. Letting the soldiers vent their anger might affect the march. "Taking them back might cause trouble on the way." He couldn't help but want to give these women a quick death.

"The Jianzhou Jurchens won't arrive in time, sir, don't worry." Zhao Manxiong thought for a moment and felt that Huang Shi seemed to be overthinking it. "If anything happens, we won't let them escape, one by one."

Hearing this, the cavalrymen nodded repeatedly, shouting that they would never show mercy to the women at this critical moment, and that they would never lose control of themselves before returning to Changsheng Island. As they spoke, their hands kept wandering over the prisoners, pinching and kneading them, as if they wished their parents had given them two more arms.

Huang Shi then laid down three rules with them: no mercy in case of trouble; no food until they reached Changsheng Island; and no one was allowed to stay behind after feeding the soldiers for three days. They all excitedly agreed, and one of them, in his delight, pinched his prisoner's buttocks hard.

Heads were being tied up in strings, and the soldiers' eyes darted over several female prisoners. Huang Shi turned and shouted, "Quickly collect all the heads, then retreat and return to Changsheng Island." — Countless families, many people's lifelong hopes, ideals, and happiness would be destroyed by war… But this war was not started by me, Huang Shi, and I have a clear conscience.

Wu Mu nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, retreat immediately! General Huang, you are brilliant!"

(End of Chapter 13)

After

returning to Changsheng Island, the army immediately descended into chaos, with officers and soldiers eagerly boasting to their families and neighbors about today's victory.

Huang Shi immediately convened an emergency military meeting. His trusted officers were all beaming with joy, awaiting the final report on the battle results. Wu Mu stood arrogantly to one side, his eyebrows twitching incessantly. He burst into laughter, then stopped abruptly, slightly embarrassed, only to repeat it again a few moments later.

Finally, Yang Zhiyuan arrived with his report. He bowed to both Wu Mu and Huang Shi: "Reporting to the Supervisor, reporting to my lord, our unit suffered one dead and four wounded, with 467 heads taken, 352 warhorses captured, 570 waist knives, and 520 round shields… all have been stored in the armory."

Before Huang Shi could speak, Wu Mu stepped forward: "467 heads, is that truly accurate?"

"Supervisor, you are absolutely right."

"Good, good, good." Wu Mu laughed wildly three times, then turned and cupped his hands in a salute to Huang Shi: "I congratulate General Huang in advance. I'll go write my report now. General Huang, please make yourself at home."

"Take care, Eunuch Wu."

The other officers also bowed and clasped their hands in farewell.

After the smug Wu Mu left, Huang Shi smiled at the officers and said, "You all did a great job."

Immediately, a chorus of praise and vying for credit erupted. Everyone boasted about the great significance of their own work in this battle. Even Li Yunrui, who usually stayed in the back, desperately reminded everyone how accurate and timely the intelligence he provided was.

"No need to argue, the merit this time is great enough," Huang Shi said, letting them fuss for a while before interrupting their commotion. "My fire brigade reported 4,000 men. According to the military system of the Ming Dynasty, beheading 400 men in one battle is a great victory, a promotion of one rank." In the Ming Dynasty, beheadings reaching one percent of a general's troops was considered a major achievement; that's how feudal armies worked. "Every officer on Changsheng Island deserves credit this time, even those like Bao Jiusun who were responsible for farming; they're all counted as leading officers in this battle."

"The soldiers and auxiliary troops who went into battle will have three days' leave before returning to their units," Huang Shi felt it was crucial to maintain a sufficient number of veterans in the frontline army, so he wasn't expanding the army quickly. "Commander He, go and select another 500 soldiers to bring the total number of soldiers to 1,000."

"Yes, sir."

"Commander Yang, prepare a batch of medals; I want to award medals to some outstanding soldiers."

"Yes, sir."

"Finally, Commander Zhao, record this battle as a precedent for future officers of all ranks to study."

"Yes, sir. Is there anything you'd like to emphasize, sir?"

"One point to emphasize is the use of cavalry, which must be particularly stressed to the officers in the training team." Huang Shi had always felt that the Ming Dynasty's military system was very similar to that of the Western military system of the same period. The Ming generals and their retainers, as well as the Niru and White-Armor Guards of the Later Jin, were similar to Western knights and servants. These elite, combat-ready soldiers, who constituted less than 10% of the entire army, possessed strong horses and excellent armor.

As for the infantry, although the Ming infantry were not peasants temporarily recruited from their territories like in the West, they were generally low-ranking soldiers from military households. After winning the battle, they would want to cut off heads or loot the corpses; after losing, they would rush to flee. Therefore, the outcome of wars in both the East and the West during this era was basically determined by cavalry.

After such a major battle, the victorious cavalry would be very tired, so the pursuit would generally be concentrated on the enemy's infantry. The Later Jin army, because its second-rate troops had more horses, had a relatively large advantage. As long as the combat-ready infantry could be formed, the cavalry could be freed up from the frontal battle, making the pursuit more powerful and ruthless.

"My lord, my admiration and respect for you are beyond words," Yang Zhiyuan said, bowing deeply with great enthusiasm. "But I dare to ask you to clarify whether this infantry training method was created by you."

"Please enlighten us, my lord!" The other three officers echoed with praise and support, all addressing him as their trusted confidants. Only Li Yunrui stood awkwardly to the side, seemingly wanting to slip away.

"Yunrui, you stay here. Brother Manxiong, Brother Yang, Brother Jin, you all get up," Huang Shi waved his hand, signaling his confidants to rise and listen. "This training method has something to do with Brother He's hometown."

He Baodao looked at Huang Shi and tentatively asked, "The tyrannical Qin?"

Huang Shi sighed deeply, "Indeed."

In world military history, strict infantry tactics developed in China and ancient Greece, but they declined along with the cruel and inhumane classical militarism. The status of soldiers steadily declined, gradually surpassed by civil officials, and finally relegated to the ranks of the lowly—without honor, status, or discipline. The West retraced the classical path of the Greek era during the Renaissance before evolving into the prototype of the modern army, a lesson China failed to learn long ago.

Modern armies possess immense power, but the power of soldiers also expands dramatically, potentially reviving a militaristic system where "political power is controlled by officers and the state serves the interests of the army"—like the current military-controlled model on Changsheng Island without civilian oversight.

Huang Shi's Ming Dynasty subordinates didn't understand these things, but they knew that Qin's policies clashed with Confucian ideals of "benevolence and love for the people"—the Qin dynasty's system of exterminating ethnic minorities and collective punishment meant that Qin soldiers wouldn't even consider desertion; they'd be tempted to disobey orders. For millennia, Qin's brutal laws, where human life was treated like dirt, have been considered a prime example of Chinese atrocities. Confucianism disapproved of such killings, and the military laws of the Song and Ming dynasties were even less severe than Qin's civil laws.

The powerful and tyrannical Qin dynasty, with its invincible army, left countless dead and desolate landscapes.

The officers' impression of Qin caused a silence in the room. Zhao Manxiong was indifferent, Jin Qiude's face showed joy, Li Yunrui seemed somewhat longing, He Baodao was thoughtful, and Yang Zhiyuan looked serious... After observing, Huang Shi remained silent and went to see Wu Mu.

"How are these military merits calculated?" Wu Mu began to perform his supervisory duties again. Before coming, he had memorized the Ming army's military law, so he felt that Huang Shi's order for auxiliary soldiers to cut off heads would cause considerable calculation trouble.

"My fire brigade's military merits are awarded based on obeying orders and fulfilling combat duties," Huang Shi explained with a smile, then stated his plan: "This time, we've achieved quite a few decapitations. I propose that each man in the first rank of infantry be counted as one level of merit for each decapitation, the next two rank and cavalry be counted as one level of merit for each two men, archers as one level of merit for each three men, and auxiliary troops as one level of merit for each ten men. What do you think, Eunuch Wu?"

"General Huang's insight is excellent, so let's do it that way."

"As for any extra heads, distribute them to the officers."

"Good, good! In the Ming Dynasty's military system, for every 500 soldiers who decapitates five people, one can be promoted one level. General Huang led 4,000 soldiers from Changsheng Island, and in this battle, with 800 soldiers, he attacked and decapitated 500 people. I congratulate General Huang on his great achievement!" Wu Mu's smile widened as he spoke, increasingly feeling that coming to Changsheng Island to supervise the army was the best decision he had ever made.

"And these two Imperial Guard brothers," Huang Shi smiled, glancing at Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng, "both brothers have also achieved some success, each beheading five enemies in this battle."

"How can we accept this... we are truly embarrassed." The two Imperial Guards beamed with joy. Following a renowned general like Huang Shi was indeed a promising path. In other places, their only contribution was supervising the soldiers' battles, but on Changsheng Island, it was a genuine achievement.

"There's also the matter of reporting. Our advisor has already drafted the memorial. Let's read it to General Huang." Wu Mu called out his advisor, who began to read it with a swaying head.

"Stop, wait a minute." Huang Shi stopped his advisor after only hearing the beginning, looking at Wu Mu and the two Imperial Guards with suspicion: "Defeating six thousand Jurchens in a field battle with eight hundred soldiers, beheading four hundred and sixty-seven enemies?"

(End of Chapter 14)

"

Of course." Wu Mu and the two Imperial Guards answered in unison, their tone firm and unquestionable.

"One against eight? Do you think the officials in the court would believe that?" Huang Shi thought the number was insane; the three of them had multiplied the enemy tenfold in one fell swoop.

Wu Mu cleared his throat, speaking with absolute certainty and without a trace of shame: "Of course, it was six thousand Jurchens, utterly defeated by General Huang. My two brothers from the Imperial Guards and I witnessed it with our own eyes."

Although the two Imperial Guards didn't speak, their faces were full of apprehension, which made Huang Shi feel it necessary to give them a briefing on military intelligence.

"Eunuch Wu, Brother Chen, Brother Zhang. Liaonan is dominated by the two Red Banners of the Jurchens. These two banners only have a total of five thousand combat soldiers and over ten thousand auxiliary troops. Moreover, it's impossible for them to gather them all together, especially considering the battle of Lushun. Six thousand Jurchens is simply too many; it's impossible for them to appear on such a small battlefield."

The two Imperial Guards had a "so what?" expression, but with Wu Mu as the supervisor, it wasn't their turn to speak, so they remained silent.

"How could there not be six thousand? The Jurchens, like the Western barbarians, are cavalry. General Huang, am I right?"

"Yes, but..."

"General Huang, just tell me, am I right?"

"Yes."

"That's right. In the battle between our Great Ming and the Western barbarians, beheading half a percent is already a great victory. They can run away on horseback. Five hundred beheadings, we can say that defeating six thousand Jurchens is already a small feat."

"In the court..." Huang Shi wanted to refute, believing that winning a battle with one against eight in the field could only happen between government troops and bandits, not between regular armies.

Wu Mu retorted fiercely, "With those five hundred heads, who wouldn't believe it, and who would dare not believe it?"

Seeing Huang Shi's worried expression, Wu Mu's face also showed pity. Zhang Gaosheng sighed even more bitterly, "Having witnessed General Huang's martial arts, I've always wondered why he's only a lieutenant general. Now I finally understand."

At this, Wu Mu and Chen Ruike also shook their heads in indignation, sighing, "It's so unfair! It's truly so unfair!"

Having vented their dissatisfaction with Huang Shi's lowly position, Wu Mu once again displayed his supervisory authority: "General Huang, there's no need to say anything more. The memorial is ours to decide; General Huang just needs to remember it… Advisor, please continue reading." "Of

the eight hundred officers and soldiers in our unit, over a hundred died in this battle, and the rest were all wounded…"

Over a hundred died? That's not right. Only one died. Isn't this just smearing our reputation? Huang Shi immediately objected again: "Eunuch Wu, we didn't lose that many people."

“Yes, I saw it with my own eyes, but who would believe it if I reported it truthfully?”

Wu Mu stood up abruptly, looking around. Both Imperial Guards were looking up at him. Wu Mu flicked his sleeve and pointed at Chen Ruike: “Five hundred heads were beheaded, and one soldier died. Would you believe that?”

Chen Ruike shook his head hurriedly, his face full of sincerity: “This humble servant does not believe it, does not believe it.”

Wu Mu turned back, his finger almost poking Zhang Gaosheng’s nose, and pressed him with a sharp voice: “And what about you?”

Zhang Gaosheng let out a hearty, deep laugh, as if he had heard the most ridiculous story in the world: “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, this humble servant would never believe it, even if I died.”

Wu Mu smiled with satisfaction, then sat down cross-legged, his hands elegantly spread on his lap: “Both of them are here today. Even now, when I think back to what happened during the day, I can hardly believe it. If the memorial is written like this, who would believe it? General Huang, don’t you think so?”

Seeing that Huang Shi had been persuaded, Wu Mu asked his clerk to read it sentence by sentence, explaining each sentence as it was read.

"...The fact that everyone is wounded speaks volumes about General Huang's hardships. Besides, if they hadn't defeated six thousand Jurchens, no one would believe it."

"...Saying that some soldiers deserted and were executed on the spot by General Huang also shows how hard-won General Huang's victory was..."

Huang Shi wasn't going to compromise this time: "Eunuch Wu, I've painstakingly trained these soldiers, and none of them deserted. Saying that is tantamount to saying my soldiers weren't trained well!"

Wu Mu sighed repeatedly, both amused and exasperated. Chen Ruike leaned forward to explain: "Grandpa Yue Fei said: 'A soldier who can go into battle, hold a gun, and has saliva in his mouth is a good soldier.' General Huang's soldiers faced eight times their number of Jurchens, and not a single one deserted. Nobody would believe that!"

“Brother Chen, Grandpa Yue was talking about new recruits. New recruits can’t hold a gun properly, and their mouths get dry as soon as they go to the battlefield. Most of my soldiers are veterans. The new recruits are in the back ranks, and they’ve been training for a long time with veterans leading them.”

Chen Ruike glanced back at Wu Mu, who was too upset to speak. He could only continue to explain, “They are new recruits. Leading new recruits makes for greater achievements. With such a great victory, even if General Huang says a hundred men escaped, everyone will give him a thumbs up and say that the general has trained his soldiers well.”

Wu Mu had caught his breath: “General Huang, we must let the court feel your achievements and understand your hardships!”

How absurd! Huang Shi didn’t know whether it was his own absurdity or the absurdity of the memorial, but he compromised again.

"...General Huang, despite suffering six wounds, still fought valiantly, finally defeating the Jurchens in one fell swoop, pursuing them for over thirty li, and beheading four hundred and sixty-seven."

Wu Mu finished recounting his plan, then gave Chen Ruike a smug wink. Huang Shi watched as Wu Mu pulled a rabbit from a bamboo box. At that moment, Wu Mu pulled a large piece of cloth from his robes, which Huang Shi immediately recognized as the same cloth he had sent Chen Ruike to retrieve from the battlefield.

"Of course, the wounds won't be written in the memorial, but this..." Wu Mu calmly placed the cloth on the ground, rubbed it, then crumpled it into a ball before unfolding it.

Chen Ruike had already strangled the rabbit, and Zhang Gaosheng, with perfect understanding, drew his knife and made an incision in the rabbit's leg, then carefully presented it to Wu Mu.

"I heard General Huang can write, right?" As he spoke, Wu Mu took the rabbit and carefully sprinkled some blood onto the cloth, meticulously controlling the shape of the bloodstain.

"Yes, I will write a few words."

"Excellent," Wu Mu continued, intently tidying up the cloth without looking up, "After today's great victory, General Huang, in his excitement, tore this cloth from a Jurchen corpse, dipped it in his blood, and began writing a memorial, eager to present this good news to His Majesty!"

(End of Chapter 15)

Chapter 16: A Clever Move

. Late October of the third year of the Tianqi reign.

A biting wind blew across the coast of Changsheng Island once more. Over six thousand men, women, and children of Changsheng were building a shoreline. Under Duncan's supervision, the long wall was beginning to take shape.

"General Huang, this shoreline doesn't look very sturdy." Wu Mu jumped up and down, inspecting the shoreline. The entire wall was enclosed by wooden fences, filled with a large amount of weeds, pebbles, and clods of earth.

"Eunuch Wu is wise. When the ice freezes in winter, I will send people to pour water on the walls to form an ice wall, which will make it strong."

Huang Shi explained to Wu Mu with a smile. During the crisis on Changsheng Island, there is only a freezing period, and at that time the ice wall with water as an adhesive will be very strong. If the Jin Tieqi cannot come on the ice before the freezing period, it doesn't matter if the wall is not strong.

"General Huang, your insight is brilliant," Wu Mu exclaimed, then immediately posed another question: "Isn't it too dangerous to set up the main camp here? I think it would be better to set up the main camp on West Island, leaving only a small force at North Xinkou."

"The transportation between the two islands is inconvenient. If the Jurchens attack, we might not be able to provide timely reinforcements. Winters are freezing, and there's no food or supplies in the wild. The small Jurchen force would be gone in a few days. Setting up the main camp here is foolproof."

Wu Mu's eyes darted around a few times: "What if a large Jurchen force attacks?"

"The freezing period is only a few dozen days. I will organize people to break the ice, so the danger period won't exceed ten days. Our six thousand men and women from Changsheng Island are all here; that's enough to hold them off. Eunuch Wu, you don't need to worry."

"That's good, that's good." On the

fifth

day of the eleventh month, Chen Ruike returned happily from the capital. Wu Mu also had Huang Shi invited. When they met, Wu Mu was rubbing his hands together with delight and gestured towards Chen Ruike with his chin, saying, "Tell General Huang everything in detail."

Upon arriving in the capital, Chen Ruike submitted his memorial to the military supervisor and was quickly summoned. When he was received, he discovered that the person opposite him was none other than Eunuch Wei, the Director of the Eastern Depot.

Eunuch Wei not only smiled but also offered Chen Ruike a stool to sit on.

Even now, Chen Ruike's face is flushed with excitement as he speaks, gesturing wildly and spitting as he talks: "Eunuch Wei said the victory report from Dongjiang Town has been delivered to His Majesty, and General Mao also specially put General Huang's cloth-written report in a brocade box and sent it along with the report."

Chen Ruike excitedly slaps his thigh, letting out a loud, guttural laugh: "His Majesty is overjoyed, overjoyed..." He was already laughing as he spoke, and at this point he laughed even harder, doubled over with joy. Then came a violent cough, and he couldn't utter another word. Zhang Gaosheng, who had also been grinning broadly, rushed over to massage his back.

Wu Mu angrily kicked him, sending Chen Ruike sprawling to the ground: "You said it like that just now, and you said it again the second time! Get up and tell General Huang properly!"

"Eunuch Wu, please forgive me," Chen Ruike coughed and kowtowed.

“Continue,” Wu Mu said, “and let General Huang learn from His Majesty’s words.” Wu Mu didn’t seem too angry. He sat down cross-legged again, squinting as he waited to hear the story again.

“Your humble servant obeys,” Chen Ruike scrambled to his feet, moved closer to Huang Shi, and began to wave his hands in the air again. “Eunuch Wei said that General Mao’s victory report was personally delivered to His Majesty by him. When His Majesty heard that it was a victory report from Liaodong, he asked Eunuch Wei, ‘Is this Huang Shi or Zhang Pan?’ Of course, Eunuch Wei had already seen the victory report first, and he smiled and replied to His Majesty…”

As Chen Ruike got to this point, a dreamlike expression appeared on his face. His accent and intonation shifted between Tianqi and Wei Zhongxian as he narrated the dialogue, and his expression changed from a humble smile to the majestic demeanor of the emperor in his imagination.

"Eunuch Wei said, 'Your Majesty is wise. One report is from Huang Shi, and the other is from Zhang Pan.' The Emperor was overjoyed and said, 'That must be a great victory! Bring them up for me to see.' After reading them, the Emperor said, 'Wu Mu is efficient, and Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng are also very capable—they are all excellent.' Haha, hahahaha.

" When Chen Ruike said the word "I," he even dragged out the sound, fully embodying the joy. Although the other two people beside Huang Shi were hearing it for the second time, Zhang Gaosheng was so happy that he scratched his ears and cheeks, grinning foolishly at Chen Ruike. Wu Mu also kept his eyes closed, rubbing his chin and shaking his head, listening with great interest, only spitting out a soft "Chen Ruike, you dog, you even dare to imitate the Emperor and Eunuch Wei." "

Chen Ruike was already lying on his back, clutching his stomach. The thought of his name being known to the Emperor made him laugh uncontrollably. Huang Shi was also happy, but not as grateful as they were. To him, the Tianqi Emperor was still just a mortal, not a demigod.

'His Majesty has rewarded us and the two of them, all thanks to General Huang.'

Huang Shi quickly cupped his hands in greeting: 'Eunuch Wu, you flatter me.'

'General Huang's glorious victory of defeating six thousand Jurchens with eight hundred soldiers has been celebrated by His Majesty at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the ministers have all submitted memorials to congratulate him.'

Hearing this, Huang Shi broke out in a cold sweat: 'Eunuch Wu, is it really true that no one suspects anything?'

Chen Ruike sat up abruptly: 'Originally, there were, but after examining the heads, there was no more doubt. The cabinet also said that five hundred were beheaded in the field battle, and the Jurchens had at least five thousand if not six thousand.'" "

We didn't lie to General Huang, did we?" Wu Mu smiled smugly at Huang Shi. "General Huang, His Majesty has perhaps approved your idea of minting coins."

Huang Shi felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. Although this shameful matter was still a closely guarded secret, at least it was no longer a problem. He then ordered a celebratory feast, apologized to Wu Mu, and went out to make the arrangements himself.

Before he even returned to his residence, Huang Shi saw Zhao Manxiong waiting outside with a serious expression. Upon seeing Huang Shi return, Zhao Manxiong hurriedly ran over and whispered, "Little brother is back." "

From Shanhaiguan? Is everything settled?" Huang Shi asked casually. The marriage proposal was supposed to be a trivial matter.

"Things are a bit... a bit troublesome," Zhao Manxiong stammered. "

They're all jumping into your trap anyway, what trouble could there be?" Huang Shi raised an eyebrow. "Has the Zhao family agreed to the marriage?" "This should be a great victory, why do you look so dejected?"

(End of Chapter 16)

Seeing my spear pierce through Chapter 17,

Huang Shi pushed open the door and saw Zhang Zaidi pacing around inside. Before Huang Shi even entered, Zhang Zaidi knelt down with a thud, his head hanging low, not daring to look up.

"What's wrong?" Huang Shi knew from the look that something bad had happened. He had asked Zhao Manxiong outside the door, but Zhao Manxiong hadn't said a word.

"Let's go inside and talk." Zhao Manxiong waited for Huang Shi to enter before gently closing the door. The oil lamp flickered, and the shadows of the three people on the dim wall swayed eerily.

"Get up and talk." Huang Shi quickly went over to help Zhang Zaidi up, but he twisted his shoulder and kept his head down, not speaking. Huang Shi paused slightly, finally withdrawing his hand and asking softly, "What happened?"

"Brother." "Zhang Zaidi looked up and called out, but the courage he had just mustered vanished the moment he saw Huang Shi's face, and he slowly lowered his head again: "I messed things up."

Huang Shi turned around impatiently and asked Zhao Manxiong: "What happened? What exactly happened? Did the Zhao family agree to the marriage?"

Zhao Manxiong stammered and said in a low voice: "They refused."

Isn't that good? Huang Shi stared at Zhao Manxiong and asked: "What else?"

Zhao Manxiong avoided Huang Shi's gaze and gave Zhang Zaidi, who was kneeling on the ground, a deep look: "My little brother angered Old Master Zhao to death." For a moment ,

Huang Shi felt dizzy and disoriented. He'd angered a scholar to death—an old scholar whose son had become an official! What would become of his reputation and future if word got out? It might all be ruined. Huang Shi hadn't done much wrong in the matter of the Zhao family's eldest daughter, and few would believe it anyway. Now, all the sympathy would shift to the Zhao family. Huang Shi, a mere warrior, had ruined the Zhao family's eldest daughter's reputation, and even driven the Zhao family patriarch to his death after his marriage proposal failed… Huang Shi could guess many of these rumors without even thinking about them.

When he regained his senses, he found himself staggering to the table. He weakly dragged a chair under the table, covered his face with his hands, and sighed repeatedly. Zhang Zaidi secretly looked up to observe his elder brother's expression, his face a mixture of regret and shame.

Huang Shi's voice came from between his hands: "Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

Zhang Zaidi lowered his head again. Zhao Manxiong slowly began, "When I went there, Old Master Zhao was ill. I was determined to complete my superior's orders as soon as possible, so I insisted on going to propose marriage. The Zhao family treated me very badly, verbally abusing and humiliating me in every way. The youngest son of the Zhao family even threw a toilet in my face..." "

I don't want to hear any of this," Huang Shi interrupted Zhao Manxiong weakly. "I just want to know what you did." "

I insisted on seeing Old Master Zhao to get some answers, so..."

"Wait," Huang Shi abruptly lowered his hand, staring at Zhao Manxiong and asking, "Shouldn't a matchmaker be used for this marriage proposal?"

Zhao Manxiong swallowed hard. He had perfected his plan before Zhang Zaidi left: "I instructed you to make a big fuss about it, so that everyone knows." "Zhao Manxiong didn't know Qimen Dunjia, so he couldn't guess that Old Master Zhao was already seriously ill at the time. Zhang Zaidi faithfully carried out Zhao Manxiong's plan and kept making a fuss about seeing Old Master Zhao every day."

"My younger brother caused a ruckus for a few days, and Old Master Zhao, despite his illness, came to see him. Before he could finish cursing the adults, he passed out. He recovered a few days later. The Zhao family said it was my younger brother who caused the trouble, making the old man so angry he couldn't catch his breath, and so..." Zhao Manxiong stammered as he finally explained the whole process to Huang Shi. Zhang Zaidi had really caused a lot of trouble, and Old Master Zhao was disgusted by him. He tried to force himself to get rid of this troublemaker, but he couldn't manage it.

Huang Shi said in a hoarse voice, "My father died, and the Zhao family has to observe three years of mourning. I can imagine what Lord Zhao will write in his request to observe the mourning period..."

After standing up, Huang Shi walked around the room, sighing as he walked, "...Juehua is the granary of Ningyuan Circuit. Lord Zhao is either an official of the Military Front Circuit or the Military Defense Circuit. There's no difference. The request to observe the mourning period will eventually be sent to Ningyuan Prefecture." After Ningyuan Prefecture approves it, it will be reported to the Military Command and Lord Sun, the Liaodong Military Commissioner, and a document will also be sent to the Ministry of Personnel. Because it is on the Liaoxi frontier, a document will also be sent to the Ministry of War. For this reason, it might even be sent to the Ministry of Rites..."

"Are you afraid that all the officials in the world don't know? Are you afraid that those idle censors won't find an opportunity to impeach someone?" Huang Shi finished counting on his fingers, slammed his hand heavily on the table, and shouted angrily, "You two secretly plotted this vicious scheme, are you trying to force me to my death?"

"Brother, I'm sorry. You can scold me, hit me."

Although a million curses were churning in his mind, Huang Shi ultimately refrained from blaming the loyal Zhang Zaidi. He stood up, walked over, and, forcing a smile, helped Zhang Zaidi to his feet: "Yesterday's business is dead, today's business is alive. Let bygones be bygones."

Then Huang Shi gave Zhang Zaidi a tight hug, and the boy pouted, trying his best not to cry.

Huang Shi patted him again, then asked Zhao Manxiong in a seemingly casual tone, "Brother Manxiong, this isn't your fault. Nobody's Zhuge Liang, after all. But what should we do next?"

Knowing he had made a grave mistake, Zhao Manxiong thought for a long time before looking up again. Huang Shi's smile remained amiable, but his eyes were filled with anxiety and worry, mixed with a glimmer of hope and expectation.

“We can only send some apology gifts for now. As for what to do next,” Zhao Manxiong, the culprit, said, lowering his head. “…We can think about it slowly.”

Huang Shi tilted his head as if he didn’t recognize him, then leaned back with his mouth agape and uttered a torrent of mocking words: “Think about it slowly? Great, really great.”

Zhao Manxiong, with his head down, secretly closed his eyes. He didn’t know whether he was about to be slapped or beaten. The other perpetrator, Zhang Zaidi, was also so frightened that he couldn’t breathe.

"Drag the guy who came up with this bad idea out and beat him to death... No, this is taking it out on someone else... A historical hero would be smiling and encouraging his subordinates at this moment... pat him on the shoulder, laugh and say it's nothing..."

Various thoughts raced through Huang Shi's mind, and he finally shouted, "Very good, very powerful!" This left the other two bewildered. Then Huang Shi stormed out, slamming the door behind him. His final command echoed in the room: "Zhao Manxiong, this matter is yours. Think about it slowly!"

... Before

Ning Yuan

stood Zhao Yingong, his face filled with grief and indignation, head bowed, silent. Yuan Chonghuan, the Liaodong military commander and Ning Yuan prefect, stared intently at a piece of paper, shaking his head slightly.

"This prefect cannot agree. This time, we must disobey orders."

After throwing the paper on the table, Yuan Chonghuan stopped Zhao Yingong, who was eager to argue: "National affairs versus family affairs, which should we prioritize?"

Zhao Yingong remained silent for a long time.

"The sound of wind, the sound of rain, the sound of reading—all sounds enter the ear; family affairs, national affairs, world affairs—all are worries." Yuan Chonghuan sighed heavily. "The Jurchens are rampant, the Liaodong affair is in ruins, and the Holy Emperor has worries about the east. We, who study the classics, are now putting the country before our own families..."

Yuan Chonghuan gave a long speech, finally persuading Zhao Yingong to stay. Seeing that his efforts had not been in vain, Yuan Chonghuan said happily, "I hereby appoint Lord Zhao as the head of the Ningyuan Grain Transport Commissioner and concurrently the magistrate of Juehua County."

"Thank you, Prefect."

After encouraging him for a few moments, Yuan Chonghuan made up his mind and said earnestly, "I remember the Guangning Rebellion; it was Huang Shi who returned to rescue the entire city's people, including your family, right?"

(End of Chapter 17)

Seeing my spear pierce through... Chapter 18

Zhao Yingong, the nemesis, said hatefully, "It's this scoundrel!"

"Although Huang Shi has flawed personal character, he has rendered great service to the country. If Guangning had not returned to quell the rebellion, tens of thousands of people and millions of grains would have fallen into the hands of the rebels. Even for your family, he has saved your life."

"Your humble servant knows his mistake."

"In April, he and Zhang Pan defeated the Jurchens at Lushun Fortress. Last month, in the Battle of Jinzhou, he single-handedly beheaded 467 enemies, each one of which I personally examined," Yuan Chonghuan lightly patted the table and praised, "Since the rise of the Jurchens, our army has been invincible. Yet Huang Shi has won three battles in a row, and even managed to defeat thousands of Jurchens with only 800 soldiers. There is such a fierce general in the world! Without these heads, I would truly find it hard to believe."

These words made Zhao Yingong gasp for breath: "I have also seen this bandit prisoner. He is tall and strong, and looks like a valiant and desperate man."

Yuan Chonghuan stroked his beard and smiled. This description perfectly matched the image of Huang Shi in his mind: "Huang Shi was wounded six times this time, yet he fought to the death. He is indeed a brave and desperate man." Yuan Chonghuan tapped his finger on the table: "Lord Zhao, a thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a good general is hard to come by."

“I understand what you mean, sir,” Zhao Yingong bowed respectfully. “I will always keep a public-spirited heart and never let personal matters interfere with public duty, nor will I deliberately make things difficult for that traitorous prisoner.”

Yuan Chonghuan noticed a hint of worry in Zhao Yingong’s eyes as he spoke, so he had another heart-to-heart talk with him.

Zhao Yingong sighed and spoke his mind: "It's my younger sister. She's already signed a marriage contract with a colleague from Ningyuan Circuit, and they're only waiting for the betrothal ceremony. But now we have to observe three years of mourning, and I don't know if they'll be willing to wait or even hold the betrothal. If they aren't... my sister will be eighteen (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning) after this year. What will happen after three years?"

Yuan Chonghuan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. Since it was for the public good, he decided to take matters into his own hands and solve his subordinate's worries: "Give me the name of that family. Since they're officials from Ningyuan Circuit, I won't allow them to deceive me. Besides, since I've already taken your betrothal, I might as well take your sister's for a year too. They can get married in two years."

"This... this..."

"It's alright. Let the censors say what they want."

Yuan Chonghuan was also willing to help Zhao Yingong, after all, he was not only a subordinate official but also a rising star of the Donglin Party. Now, the eunuch faction in the court was expanding rapidly, and it was already a dark cloud looming over the city.

Furthermore, resolving the issue peacefully in this way can be considered as preserving a valiant general for the country—a nation in distress longs for a good general.

Zhao Yingong was overjoyed and bowed deeply: "This humble official thanks the Prefect."

Two years later would be the end of the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, and the other party should be able to wait. Zhao Yingong couldn't help but start calculating the dates. There were no auspicious days in the twelfth lunar month, and the first lunar month wasn't quite suitable either. He thought that his younger sister would get married in the second lunar month, and turning twenty wouldn't be too late... Hmm, that would be the second lunar month of the sixth year of the Tianqi reign.

...

"General Huang's trouble is nothing serious. I'll write a letter to Eunuch Wei right away. Eunuch Wei will speak on General Huang's behalf before the Emperor, so don't worry."

"Thank you very much, Eunuch Wu."

At the same time, on Changsheng Island. Wu Mu was chatting excitedly with Huang Shi when Huang Shi told him about the impeachment he might face. Wu Mu immediately patted his chest and took full responsibility. Meanwhile, Wei Zhongxian had received praise from the Tianqi Emperor after the Battle of Jinzhou, who commended his keen eye—the group of people he had personally selected, including Wu Mu, were all very capable. Therefore, Wei Zhongxian probably didn't want Huang Shi to get into trouble. Wu Mu immediately assured Huang Shi that he would arrange to suppress the Zhao family's affairs.

The reason he didn't write to Ningyuan Prefecture to plead for leniency was that Huang Shi simply didn't know how to deal with Yuan Chonghuan. The historical records he had read were insufficient to provide a clear picture of the man; the evaluations of him were either idealized to the heavens or utterly derogatory. Huang Shi remembered that Yuan Chonghuan could steadfastly defend his city, but he could also arbitrarily execute his generals and colleagues; Yuan Chonghuan had made inexplicable mistakes, but he had also fought on the front lines in heavy armor, enduring numerous arrow wounds without retreating—in short, Huang Shi couldn't grasp his thought process at all; this man's figure was deeply hidden in the mists of history…

Considering that Yuan Chonghuan had killed Mao Wenlong in history, he probably wouldn't speak well of a general from the Dongjiang faction, especially since he had refused Yuan Chonghuan's invitation to go to Ningyuan Fort at Shanhaiguan. Therefore, it was better not to humiliate himself; it was safer to follow the eunuch faction's route. He knew that if Wei Zhongxian was willing to help, he could naturally suppress the matter.

While giving perfunctory replies, Huang Shi's mind was racing with other thoughts—"If I don't alter history too much, a major war will still break out in Ningyuan. If my plan to train soldiers goes smoothly, I can personally lead troops to rescue Juehua and save Zhao Yingong's life, which can be considered repaying him. Hmm, January of the sixth year of Tianqi."

...

At the same time, in Shanhaiguan, at Zhao Yingong's home.

"Mother, let me help you."

"Good daughter."

The family boarded the carriage and headed straight for Juehua.

...

At the end of November of the third year of the Tianqi reign, Dongjiang issued an order for Huang Shi and Zhang Pan to immediately report to the Dongjiang headquarters. The imperial commendation had been issued, and Mao Wenlong was ordered to personally offer encouragement.

"During my time in Dongjiang, Zhao Shoubei will be in charge of military affairs, Yang Shoubei will be in charge of the main camp, Jin Shoubei will be in charge of military law, and He Shoubei will continue training the soldiers. If enemy activity occurs, Zhao Shoubei and He Shoubei will handle it together."

The Dongjiang headquarters had already sent orders for Huang Shi and Zhang Pan to go to Dongjiang Island immediately, and Huang Shi was giving instructions to his subordinates. All the officers were eager to go, except for Zhao Manxiong, who was still half-asleep, deep in thought. Huang Shi had recently become annoyed by his appearance.

"If anything major happens, it's not something one person can decide. The four of you should discuss it yourselves. If a stalemate occurs between two against two, then Commander Zhao will make the decision." Although he was angry, Zhao Manxiong was still the person Huang Shi trusted most, both in terms of ability and experience.

"Yes, sir."

After these questions were answered, everyone waited for Zhao Manxiong. After a while, he asked, "What about Supervisor Wu?"

Couldn't you ask a more meaningful question? Huang Shi frowned and said, "What else can we do? Of course, you should be respectful, but he's in charge of me, not you. The imperial edict in that brocade box can only kill me, not you. If there's really something going on, let Commander He handle it. Eunuch Wu admires his martial prowess."

"Don't worry, sir."

Looking at his solemn subordinates, Huang Shi smiled easily: "I'm going to receive a reward this time. Why do you all look so worried?"

After the great victory at Jinzhou, the Emperor appointed Mao Wenlong as Left Commander-in-Chief, leading the pacification of Liaodong General, with the hereditary title of Commander of the Dongjiang Garrison, and bestowed upon him the Imperial Sword.

At the same time, Emperor Tianqi issued an edict that Zhang Pan, the Assistant Commander of Dongjiang, would inherit the

title of Hundred-Household Commander of Dongjiang Town, and be granted the additional titles of Supervisor of Lushun and Supervisor of Jinzhou. Huang Shi, the Assistant Commander of Dongjiang, would inherit the title of Hundred-Household Commander of Dongjiang Town, and be granted the additional titles of Supervisor of Changsheng, Supervisor of Xidao, and Supervisor of Zhongdao, and be granted the Emperor's Silver Command Arrow.

(End of Chapter 18)

See how my long spear can easily pierce Chapter

19. The Emperor's seals to his subjects generally came in three types: 1. Shangfang Sword; 2. Royal Command Plaque; 3. Gold and Silver Command Arrows.

The Royal Command Plaque could execute officials of the fifth rank or lower, but could not handle local affairs; the Command Arrow could dispatch local troops, but could not kill people or handle local affairs. Command Arrows were generally given to high-ranking military officers, while the Royal Command Plaque could be given to military generals or high-ranking local officials.

The Shangfang Sword, also known as the Emperor's Sword, was a powerful imperial seal.

Originating from Han Fei, a Legalist philosopher, this concept posits that the emperor held absolute power over the life and death of officials, a power that should and should belong solely to the emperor. Therefore, even officials sentenced to death had to ultimately report to the emperor for a final decision. However, in ancient times without telephones or telegraphs, this undoubtedly reduced the efficiency of governance. While perhaps not a major administrative problem, it was a disaster in military terms.

The first military general in history to wield the Shangfang sword appears to be Wei Qing, a renowned general of the Han Dynasty. During wartime, Emperor Wu of Han bestowed his personal Shangfang sword upon Wei Qing, delegating the power of life and death over officers and subordinates to him, enabling him to command the entire army.

Later, an even more terrifying power emerged: the "fake yellow axe," also known as the emperor's axe. This axe could execute any official outside the imperial family without prior notification. The fake yellow axe was more akin to a regent, essentially acting as the emperor's proxy. Most who obtained this axe were either powerful ministers or potential usurpers. In Huangshi's original timeline, the fake Yellow Axe also appeared in the Ming Dynasty.

For example, when Wu Sangui attacked Yunnan, the Yongli Emperor bestowed it upon Li Dingguo. In the Song Dynasty, this military power of life and death was taken back by the emperor. Later, Kublai Khan of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty again bestowed the Emperor's Sword upon his subjects—for example, Zhang Hongfan. This Emperor's Sword was still called the Shangfang Sword.

The Shangfang Sword could be used to handle local government affairs, execute officials below the fifth rank without prior approval, and suspend officials below the third rank on the spot. The governors of the Ming Dynasty had immense authority because they were all granted the Shangfang Sword.

However, this was the first time since the founding of the Ming Dynasty that the Emperor's Sword had been bestowed upon a military general, indicating that the Liaodong military was becoming increasingly powerful.

Back at his residence, Huangshi began to instruct Hong Antong on his task: "The selection of Catholics is very important; you must ensure this is done well for me."

The full name of the Catholic Church on Changsheng Island is: The Great Ming Loyal Patriotic Catholic Church. Wu Mu was referred to as "Loyal Patriotic Religion," and the Jesuits as "Catholicism."

While the Ming court was wary of the spread of religion, it was relatively lenient. He Baodao's words reflected the general Ming view of religion—that it was a mob. Several cult uprisings during the Ming dynasty posed little threat. For example, the Wenxiang Sect rebellion in the second year of the Tianqi reign saw hundreds of thousands of followers facing fewer than 20,000 government troops, yet the battle was a complete rout.

The government troops had a command chain of officers—generals, colonels, captains, and lieutenants—while the Wenxiang Sect army consisted mostly of ignorant people seeking free medical treatment, and most of their commanders had infiltrated the sect with the intention of profiting. These people might have wanted to plunder the local populace, but the mere sight of the government troops' bayonets and spears caused them to immediately crumble and flee in terror.

After the imperial court issued a pardon for everyone except Xu Hongru, the leader of the Wenxiang Sect became isolated. The Ming court didn't even ban the followers afterward, but only treated the remaining religious leaders with a combination of kindness and severity.

Huang Shi believed that the cohesion of an organization depends on its selection system. For example, the Wenxiang Sect, which promoted members based on superficial fanaticism, would inevitably select a group of truly brainwashed fanatics and cunning, two-faced individuals.

Another example is the brotherhood or secret societies within the army. While forming private armies through sworn brotherhood and recognizing elder brothers could indeed create private forces, Huang Shi considered this a feudal military leader system, and he had no intention of promoting it in his own army, let alone creating it himself.

Huang Shi's plan was to develop a political party under the banner of religion. However, organizing one himself would easily arouse the suspicion of the court and the military supervisors, given the numerous rebellions that had occurred under this banner throughout history. Establishing a sect within the army was particularly sensitive. Therefore, the number of members could not be large; the followers should be kept within a small circle as much as possible.

Through political parties, Huang Shi could instill certain ideas in his soldiers, such as ideals.

Modern armies are war machines; through brutal corporal punishment and daily training, soldiers gradually lose their ability to think independently, developing a conditioned reflex to orders. In a modern army, the fear of batons and whips is deeply ingrained; the more fearful they are on the battlefield, the more mechanically they execute orders.

For example, the American troops in the Civil War, under artillery fire, marched a mile in impenetrable formation, then flawlessly changed formation and scaled low walls. From 400 yards away, they were subjected to relentless rifle fire; out of 10,000 men, 8,000 died in the attack before collapsing. The organizational structure

of feudal armies is self-evident; combat relied primarily on individual bravery, with merit based on kills, and morale maintained through looting. This is why feudal armies had sayings like "do not stop a retreating army" and "leave a siege open," meaning they hoped not to force the enemy to fight to the death. Modern armies lack these concepts; they fight to the death, essentially becoming zombies and walking corpses on the battlefield. An army without a soul can only rigidly engage in killing or being killed, unable to fight proactively. Therefore, when encountering modern armies, one-sided massacres reappear.

Only ideals can breathe life into the corpses of modern armies—not just mechanical rigidity, but also flexible tactics and resilient adaptability. Fighting with a burning desire to win, flexibly adapting to the battlefield situation to achieve victory, even defeated soldiers can regain their fighting spirit.

For example, large-scale guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines wasn't something the ancients were unwilling to do, but rather something that feudal and modern armies simply couldn't accomplish. Feudal armies trapped behind enemy lines were nothing more than bandits who only knew how to loot,

while modern armies without command were like lifeless corpses. Huang Shi didn't know if this plan would succeed, but he still wanted to try; if it didn't, so be it. Wu Mu's help in lying had its advantages; if they truly reported a victory of one dead and four wounded, this fighting strength would likely arouse suspicion from the court. It would be best if the court attributed the victory to Huang Shi's personal bravery; they absolutely couldn't let others realize it was the power of the military system—it wouldn't matter who the commander was.

Huang Shi disagreed with Duncan's statement. He told Duncan that soldiers who were religious could only be called believers, but they had to be selected before baptism. These believers had to first prove their love and loyalty to God before they could be baptized… well, their love and loyalty to Huang Shi. "

Prospective believer"—a new title Huang Shi gave these believer soldiers—had to demonstrate bravery in battle or work diligently in peacetime to earn the title of "active convert." These eager converts had to undergo further tests before becoming proud Catholics.

"These converts are nominally—note, nominally—developed by Duncan of the Jesuit order, including myself; I was recruited by Duncan, and I am equal to the other converts."

If the court wanted trouble, let them trouble the Jesuits. If the court became suspicious, at most they would only order Huang Shi to forbid him from converting. Huang Shi decided to pass the blame to his Jesuit brothers; as the saying goes, "better to die a fellow Jesuit than a poor one." If his "fellow Jesuits" didn't die, they could label the Jesuits as "Trotskyists" or "revisionists."

To help these eager converts attain enlightenment as soon as possible, Huang Shi also arranged study sessions and other organizational activities, and he had already prepared the necessary materials for these activities for Hong Antong.

"As for conversion, it should also follow the standard procedure. For example, you, Hong Antong, are now a proud member of the 'Great Ming Loyal Patriotic Catholic Church,' and your introducer is Huang Shi—that is, me. If you later apostatize… of course, that won't happen, but if that happens, the introducer will be held responsible."

Huang Shi hoped that this system of joint liability would ensure that introducers would not use conversion as a favor.

"Before joining the church, one must undergo review by the Changsheng Island Religious Committee. This title of believer must be given to the bravest and most diligent soldiers, so that believers can play a leading role in combat and production. Everyone must understand that joining the church is about enduring hardship, not about enjoying comfort."

Hong Antong seemed to understand but not quite: "Sir, may I ask, who would be willing to join the church under such circumstances? Those believers and soldiers only believe because of the benefits of heaven."

This question made Huang Shi smile: "Little Hong, do you believe?"

"As the sage said, 'Respect the spirits and gods, but keep them at a distance.'"

"Then why do you want to join the church?"

"It is your order, sir, and I will carry out your orders." Hong Antong answered fluently. Huang Shi had also explained to him that this would unite the soldiers and gain the support of the Jesuits.

"Well said. Anyone with your level of awareness can be promoted to join the church." Huang Shi always believed that the selection criteria determined the composition of the organization. If the Catholic Church on Changsheng Island used the fanaticism of the Jesuits as the standard for selection, then it would undoubtedly be full of fanatics. But if the selection criteria are based on the army's elite and their loyalty to Huang Shi is unwavering… then the title is just a facade. He casually circled two words on the textbook—honor and status—and then began explaining them to Hong Antong:

“Honor—on Changsheng Island, everyone must feel a sense of admiration upon hearing this word: ‘Ah, what a fine man!’; Status—the chief officers must recruit as many as possible into the church, and officers who are believers should be given priority for promotion, because this title already guarantees their excellence.”

Hong Antong scratched his head, trying his best to digest all of this. From any perspective, Huang Shi only intended to take the most essential parts.

“There are a few other things, but we'll talk about them when I get back.” Huang Shi figured this trip to Dongjiang wouldn't take more than a month, so there was no need to explain everything to Hong Antong all at once. “I don’t think the Jesuits will send anyone anytime soon, but if they do, follow Duncan’s instructions and don’t give anything away.”

“Yes, sir.” Hong Antong packed his things and was about to leave. “Luckily, Duncan was very cooperative, otherwise there would have been a lot of trouble.”

Huang Shi shrugged. “On matters of principle, you can’t back down the first step, or you’ll never be able to stop.”

As Hong Antong left, he had a slight doubt in his mind—would his plan really work?

Similar worries lingered in Huang Shi’s mind. Soldiers could be fooled all they wanted, but officers and elites had to be realists, and realists needed benefits. So far, the military reforms and the severing of feudal traditions had gone smoothly because Huang Shi controlled the distribution of benefits on Changsheng Island; here, heaven was the boss, and he was second only to heaven.

However, as his army grew, Huang Shi realized that he would need to offer more and more benefits. If he sacrificed the interests of Confucian scholars, it would mean a brutal class war: the powerful might completely crush the Confucian landlord-scholar class, or even lead to their death and extermination.

"Can I find new resources for my subordinates? Resources that allow me to compromise while satisfying their needs?" Huang Shi, racking his brains, decided to put this problem aside for now. He pulled out a piece of paper with a sketch of his power pyramid design on it.

"We have the Party, the government, and the army now, Hong Antong's religion, Yang Zhiyuan's old camp, and Zhao Manxiong's staff. The four pillars support the spire; now we only need a KGB. I think I can handle that, right?"

(End of Chapter 19)

Chapter 20: Friendship.

When Huang Shi went to Dongjiang Island, he only took Zhang Zaidi with him. Since that incident, Zhang Zaidi had been depressed for the past half month. Huang Shi felt he owed the Zhang family a great deal, and now their benefactors' fate was unknown. So, on the ship, he started telling Zhang Zaidi various stories, and the two brothers chatted happily.

"...A naked woman came in, and a child pounced on her, kissing and biting her. The man followed suit. That was the first thing..." Huang Shi told the famous bet story today, and after finishing, he laughed heartily to himself.

"Brother's story is indeed interesting, hehe." Zhang Zaidi's laughter was unnatural; he groaned a few times and stopped.

Huang Shi stared at him in astonishment for a long while, then slowly asked, "Little brother, is there something you want to tell me?"

Zhang Zaidi chuckled dryly, then resolutely raised his head: "Big brother, I thought it through last night. After returning to Changsheng, I'll go to Shanhaiguan again to apologize to the Zhao family and explain everything."

Looking at his naive innocence, Huang Shi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and could only gently pat his shoulder: "It's no use, the Zhao family won't believe anything you say."

"I thought of that yesterday too. If they don't believe me, I'll draw my sword and commit suicide to atone for my sins, so they'll know that this matter really has nothing to do with you, big brother."

Seeing Huang Shi's face turn very ugly, Zhang Zaidi hurriedly argued, "Didn't you always tell me, big brother, that a man should be responsible for his actions?"

"What kind of man are you? Just a brat," Huang Shi mocked sarcastically. It seemed he would have to instill some values of life in him in the future, and tell him less about chivalrous heroes and gangsters.

Noticing Zhang Zaidi's strong dissatisfaction, Huang Shi became serious: "You and Zhao Manxiong did this for me, and you had my approval beforehand, so you bear no responsibility."

Zhang Zaidi said anxiously, "But this will be very bad for you, brother! Didn't you say that the whole world would know and your future would be ruined?"

"It's not as serious as I made it out to be the other day. My reputation is good enough; this little stain is nothing. Of course, I have made foolproof preparations." Huang Shi chuckled and patted Zhang Zaidi's shoulder. "Don't forget, I'm a renowned general with unparalleled strategic acumen."

Seeing his younger brother still looking doubtful, Huang Shi closed his eyes and recalled the events. After a moment, he opened them and asked, "Do you remember when we first came to Dongjiang, I took the blame for Jin Qiude?"

"I remember."

"Then do you remember what I told you back then?"

"I said: 'Jin Qiude is my subordinate, so I must take the blame for him. I must take the blame for every subordinate.' I remember those words very clearly."

"I appreciate your patience; you remember so clearly. Let me tell you, whether you handle this matter or not, I will take full responsibility. Mistakes are inevitable in any undertaking; things will always turn out well or badly. If I don't take responsibility for my subordinates, no one will help me in the future. So don't think this is a special favor for you. If you truly care about me, then don't think about this anymore. I won't betray any loyal subordinate, whether it's you or not."

"Brother, I understand." Zhang Zaidi breathed a sigh of relief, his expression brightening. After all, no one wants to die.

Seeing that his words had opened Zhang Zaidi's heart, Huang Shi was satisfied with his communication skills: "Good. When we get back, I'll organize an internal security force. You'll be in charge; you should get some experience."

The internal security force was the final piece of Huang Shi's pyramid plan. Zhang Zaidi's loyalty was undoubtedly reliable, and the KGB would inevitably need to remain vigilant against the Ming Dynasty, requiring an absolutely reliable leader. At the Dongjiang Wharf

, Huang Shi saw a familiar face as soon as he stepped ashore. He darted forward and enthusiastically grabbed Kong Youde's hand, saying, "Brother, it's you who came to pick me up! You're too kind of me."

Kong Youde seemed quite embarrassed. He gently pulled his hand away from Huang Shi's grasp and cupped his hands in a respectful bow, saying, "General Huang, this humble general is here to await you on the orders of Commander Mao."

Huang Shi looked at Kong Youde in surprise, then smiled and said, "Brother Kong, why are you being so formal?"

Kong Youde's expression became even more awkward. He blushed and whispered, "This humble general is Mao Yongshi. This way, General Huang."

It turned out that Kong Youde had already become Mao Wenlong's godfather. Since he had even changed his surname and name, the sworn brotherhood between Kong Youde and Huang Shi had come to an end. Now, Kong Youde, using the alias Mao Youshi, was merely a garrison commander in Dongjiang, and naturally could no longer be on equal footing with Huang Shi.

The two set off in silence, taking the same route they had taken before, but their feelings were vastly different. Behind him, Huang Shi's guards unfurled two flags with a flick of their wrists, tearing them open with a whoosh in the wind. The leading Ming army flag bore the three large characters "Commander Huang," while the snake flag behind it prominently displayed the words "Fire Rescue Battalion," immediately identifying the newcomer to the Dongjiang soldiers.

"That's General Huang, who is renowned throughout Liaonan, a first-rate hero of our Dongjiang army!"

"General Huang Shi, who defeated six thousand with eight hundred men, has come to receive the imperial silver token!"

The cheers and praises were even more enthusiastic than before, but Huang Shi felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. Kong Youde had shared his fate and hardships; last time, the two rode side by side, chatting and laughing, full of vigor. This time, however, Huang Shi was in front, while Kong Youde, as the welcoming officer, lagged behind by a good half a horse length.

"General Huang's great victory over the Jurchens in Liaonan has impressed me greatly,"

Kong Youde's flattering words had barely reached his ears when Huang Shi angrily reined in his horse. "Brother, we've been through thick and thin together, why has it come to this?"

Kong Youde remained silent, turning his head away from Huang Shi's indignant gaze, his expression somewhat complicated. "This humble general is Mao Yongshi, unworthy of being addressed like that by General Huang."

Glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby, Huang Shi leaned closer to Kong Youde and whispered, "If you're willing, brother, let's become sworn brothers again."

(End of Chapter 20)

See how my spear can pierce through Chapter 21 Self-esteem

Kong Youde seemed a little excited, but only for a moment. He chuckled and said, "General Huang flatters me. What kind of person am I? I dare not presume to be worthy of such an honor."

Although Kong Youde said this, Huang Shi also felt that he was a little tempted. Huang Shi was even more unwilling to let go of this famous general in history: "Brother, the value of brotherhood lies in the heart. Don't you know my worth, brother?"

Huang Shi felt that there was nothing wrong with these words, but Kong Youde seemed to have heard something funny and chuckled: "General Huang, let's hurry up and not keep Commander Mao waiting."

Huang Shi deliberately slowed down his horse and rode alongside Kong Youde. The cheers from Dongjiang Island on both sides were still endless.

Kong Youde said with a complicated expression, "When General Huang came last time, I called him a great hero, but he was very modest. I really don't know much about General Huang's character. This time, I admit I couldn't have done it with only 800 men against 6,000."

"Brother, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Kong Youde seemed to find the word "brother" very grating, and his body would tremble slightly every time he heard it.

Seeing the general, who had been so bold and spirited last time, acting like this today, Huang Shi couldn't help but say indignantly, "Commander Mao underestimates you, elder brother. How about this, I will ask Commander Mao to transfer you to Changsheng this time, and from now on , we brothers will be of one mind."

Kong Youde squinted and scanned him. Huang Shi saw a sharp glint in his eyes, the kind of sharpness Huang Shi had often seen before. He was overjoyed and added, "Elder brother, you agree? I'll go and talk to Commander Mao today."

"No," Kong Youde shook his head and replied firmly, "Even if my godfather agrees, I will never go to Changsheng."

Ignoring Huang Shi's astonished expression, Kong Youde looked ahead and asked in a deep voice, "General Huang, would you be willing to tell me about the Battle of Jinzhou?"

Huang Shi coldly retorted, "Is this Commander Mao's adopted son asking me, or is Elder Brother Kong Youde asking me?"

"If my godfather wants to ask, he will naturally ask himself." Kong Youde's tone was calm, but the sharpness in his eyes was even stronger.

"Alright, now for what your younger brother has to say to you, elder brother..." Huang Shi recounted the battle in a calm manner, detailing his strategy of first defeating the enemy with infantry and then pursuing them with elite cavalry. Of course, he omitted most of the strategic judgment and intelligence gathering in between.

Upon hearing this, Kong Youde was already in a daze, his hand gripping the reins trembling uncontrollably. After a long pause, he finally asked, "One dead and four wounded, is that really true?"

"Indeed."

"Hahahaha," Kong Youde laughed heartily, then pointed at Huang Shi with a smile, saying, "Brother, you are a true hero, a true warrior. To befriend you is truly a life well-lived."

Hearing Kong Youde's change in address, Huang Shi felt a

sense of relief. After a moment of joy, he smiled and bowed slightly, saying, "Elder brother, have you recognized me as your younger brother again?" Kong Youde smiled faintly and said, "I am deeply moved by your brotherly affection, but in public, it's best not to address each other as elder brother and younger brother."

"Why is that?" Huang Shi's tone was already relaxed: "Elder brother and younger brother can simply become sworn brothers again."

“No.” Kong Youde’s expression darkened again. He said slowly and deliberately, “When I swore brotherhood with you last time, I didn’t think I was trying to climb the social ladder. I thought I was worthy of being your elder brother…”

Huang Shi interrupted, “You are still worthy of being elder brother now.”

Kong Youde chuckled dryly, “Mao Yongshi is absolutely unworthy of being General Huang’s elder brother. You should also think about me. If I were to swore brotherhood with General Huang again, I don’t know how badly people would talk about me behind my back.”

As Kong Youde rode his horse, an air of arrogance gradually emerged: "Brother, this battle was a resounding victory. I, Kong, humbly admit defeat. But next year, Commander Mao will again send troops from Kuandian. I believe I might not be unable to catch up with you..."

Huang Shi listened quietly to Kong Youde's confident words, thinking that this was not bad. Kong Youde's arrogance had created a rift between them, but now that it had dissipated, it was good. Having such an assistant in the Dongjiang headquarters was beneficial to him.

Upon arriving at the Left Governor's Mansion, Huang Shi stood with his hands at his sides outside the door. Before Kong Youde hurried inside to report the news, he secretly instructed him: "Don't speak carelessly when Commander Mao asks. Just report according to the memorial. This matter could be small or big, so be careful, brother."

In the blink of an eye, a messenger ran out to summon Huang Shi.

Huang Shi had already fastened his helmet, immediately gripped his sword with one hand, and strode into the camp gate following the messenger. On both sides, Dongjiang soldiers stood tall and straight, spears in hand, like nails. Each soldier's hat was adorned with spotless red tassels, and their gleaming spear tips sparkled like stars in the sunlight.

The tent was filled with Dongjiang officers. Huang Shi walked straight to the main hall, where Mao Wenlong, once again dressed in a bright red official robe, stared intently at him.

His left hand still gripping his sword, Huang Shi flicked the crimson cloak behind him with his right, and in that instant, knelt on one knee, bowing deeply forward. His right hand supporting him on the ground, he proclaimed loudly,

"This humble general, Huang Shi, pays his respects to the Commander-in-Chief." Mao Wenlong was now the Left Commander-in-Chief, effectively bidding farewell to his general title.

"Huang Shi, please rise." A very intimate address, indicating he had shed his status as an outsider general.

"Thank you, Commander."

Huang Shi bowed again, then stood up. The densely packed Dongjiang officers on both sides stared intently at him, their gazes now carrying a different meaning than when they last visited Dongjiang. Last time, it was more curiosity; Huang Shi, no matter how renowned, was still an outsider general, his merits unrelated to the Dongjiang army. But now it was completely different. Every merit Huang Shi had earned would be attributed to Dongjiang.

Mao Wenlong's bright eyes pierced him, and Huang Shi met their gaze without fear—Mao Wenlong, keeping me here wasn't a mistake, was it? My contributions to Dongjiang were enough to promote me to a direct-line general, weren't they?

Mao Wenlong, his face full of admiration and pride, whispered, "Good, Huang Shi!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

"Good, good!"

The entire camp of Dongjiang officers erupted in cheers.

(End of Chapter 21) After the

cheers

gradually subsided, Mao Wenlong stroked his beard and laughed, "Huang Shi, all these officers and colleagues in this room have heard about your great victory. They were all eager to meet you as soon as they heard you were coming."

Huang Shi clasped his hands and bowed to his colleagues, saying, "General, brothers, I am unworthy of such praise."

"You deserve it, you deserve it." Mao Wenlong stroked his beard and smiled again, "Huang Shi, you defeated six thousand Jurchens with only eight hundred soldiers, truly showcasing the spirit of Dongjiang, and inspiring the entire court and the public."

"General, you flatter me. This battle was truly a stroke of luck." Huang Shi guessed that Mao Wenlong probably also had doubts about the number six thousand, but even if he had doubts, Mao Wenlong wouldn't ask in front of so many people, after all, he still considered the morale of the entire Dongjiang army. However, Huang Shi also suspected that many Dongjiang officers had their doubts, but no one dared to pour cold water on their enthusiasm.

But rather than let this suspicion take root, it was better to eliminate it once and for all. Huang Shi tossed aside his cloak and knelt down on one knee again, clasping his hands in a fist salute, saying, "General, this humble general has something to report."

"What secrets? Huang Shi, don't be modest." Mao Wenlong laughed heartily, while muttering to himself—is this Huang Shi an idiot? It looks like he's about to say something unpleasant, but I can't let him go crazy; it wouldn't be good if it shook morale.

Kong Youde, standing to the side, also shook his head slightly in acknowledgment. The story of one dead and four wounded was too horrifying; probably everyone in the camp would be suspicious.

Huang Shi, kneeling on the ground, ignored him, remaining motionless with his fists clasped, and replied

in a deep voice, "General, please allow me to speak." Mao Wenlong sighed inwardly, realizing it wouldn't be good to stop him from speaking any longer. "Huang Shi , speak."

"General, please forgive me. My intention was to attack the fleeing Jurchens of Jinzhou—" Huang Shi remained kneeling, not rising, and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "

I'm sorry to have troubled you and my brothers. If I had known I would encounter several thousand Jurchens, I would never have dared to go." Mao Wenlong felt a sense of relief and laughed heartily twice. "Huang Shi, you are truly honest. Get up and speak."

"Thank you, General." Huang Shi stood up amidst the goodwill laughter filling the camp. These words had unconsciously brought him closer to his respected colleagues.

After finishing the memorial that day, Huang Shi first discussed the details with several of his old subordinates, finally managing to fabricate a plausible story. He also managed to get the narrative to be largely consistent among the troops involved in the battle. After all, there were no telephones in this era, and the soldiers were all illiterate, so even if there were any doubts, no one would have a chance to find out.

"This humble general will ambush the enemy on the roadside beforehand, and suddenly attack when the fleeing enemy from Jinzhou has passed halfway. At the same time, this humble general will order his men to create smoke and dust on both sides, so that the Jurchens will not know how many people are coming. The Jurchens will be desperate to escape, and this humble general will pursue them closely

." Upon hearing these arrangements, Mao Wenlong slammed his fist on the table and cheered, "Good! Do not block the retreating army, and make a show of force. Huang Shi, this is the way of warfare! All generals, you must remember this." Head-on blocking of a desperate enemy is not a wise move. If Huang Shi did not have absolute confidence in his troops, he would not have dared to take such a risk.

"This humble general originally intended to pursue them for ten miles, and beheading a few dozen would have been satisfactory."

Such a pursuit of cavalry usually resulted in the killing of less than ten percent of those who slackened. The officers listening in all pricked up their ears, waiting to hear what would happen next.

"Unexpectedly, after only one mile, the Jurchens fleeing from Jinzhou were blocked by another group of Jurchens heading south. Seeing that the approaching group was exhausted and their ranks had been broken up by the fleeing Jurchens, this humble general beat the drums and attacked, routing them all."

Mao Wenlong pondered and said, "This must have been because someone had discovered our movements beforehand. This group of Jurchens must have come from Fuzhou on a forced march, hence their scattered formation and exhausted men and horses."

"General, your insight is brilliant. This humble general thought about it carefully for a long time afterward, and I believe it must be so." Huang Shi gently flattered him. For an old military strategist like Mao Wenlong, there was no need to make up elaborate lies; he would naturally read the hidden details, which was far more effective than simply instilling everything in him.

Sure enough, this flattery made Mao Wenlong smile slightly: "Huang Shi, continue."

"Then, naturally, I continued the pursuit. Before half a mile had passed, I encountered another group, which was also scattered by the Jurchen rebels. I thought I might as well keep chasing them, but the number of Jurchens behind me kept increasing, countless."

Hearing this, Mao Wenlong laughed heartily, pointing at Huang Shi: "At this point, we were already in a precarious situation. Huang Shi, if you didn't continue the fight, the Jurchens would turn on you."

"General, you are wise. I was also terrified at the time, and I became more and more apprehensive, but I had no choice but to grit my teeth and continue the pursuit. Several times I wanted to turn around and run away." Huang Shi wiped his sweat with a wry smile, revealing a look of lingering fear.

As Huang Shi spoke, Mao Wenlong commented, loudly reminding the officers in the camp, "This is experience Huang Shi gained from real combat; you all need to listen carefully!"

The Dongjiang officers in the tent finally understood: the Later Jin army had clearly marched in columns, only to be pushed back one column at a time, having no chance to deploy and completely unaware of the enemy's size in the chaos. They all felt Huang Shi's fear was understandable, and imagining his tension, they smiled knowingly.

"I don't know how many Jurchens we defeated in the end, but after the battle we collected these 467 heads." As a lieutenant general, Huang Shi was awarded a first-class merit for every hundred or so heads collected, and this batch of heads was worth more than a third-class merit.

Recalling the scene at the time, Mao Wenlong stroked his long beard and chuckled, "Although we got these 500 heads with a bit of luck and chance, it was precisely because you, Huang Shi, dared to pursue us that we were able to win." He explained to the Dongjiang officers around him, "This is what they call 'it's easy to bind a tiger, but difficult to release it.' If Huang Shi had given up halfway because of cowardice, he would probably have died without a burial place long ago."

One Dongjiang officer, full of admiration, finally couldn't help but laugh and raise his arms in praise, "General Huang truly deserves to be called a man of courage."

This caused a great stir...

"General Huang is so brave."

"General Huang is courageous from head to toe."

Amidst the heartfelt shouts, Huang Shi secretly glanced at Kong Youde, who smiled at him.

(End of Chapter 22)

See how my spear can pierce through Chapter 23.

After hearing this account, Mao Wenlong felt that although the number might not be six thousand, the number of soldiers and auxiliary troops defeated along the way should be at least several thousand. After all, five hundred heads were there, so saying six thousand wasn't unreasonable. Anyway, Huang Shi's military merits were calculated based on the number of heads taken, and the number of enemies defeated was only meaningful for propaganda purposes for the court: "Huang Shi, with your achievements, you should be promoted to deputy general, deputy commander of Dongjiang Town. However, the court believes that you are young and have only been promoted recently, so you will only be promoted one rank."

Huang Shi also understood the meaning behind this. The court was worried that if he was promoted too quickly, he would become arrogant and complacent and lose his ambition. Depressing his rank was a way of training young generals. He quickly expressed his understanding: "This humble general knows that it was just a stroke of luck and has no resentment."

"Huang Shi, it's good that you understand, but in our Great Ming Dynasty, merit is always rewarded," Mao Wenlong stood up and said to the guards behind him, "Please bring the silver token!"

After the guards took out the silver token, Mao Wenlong personally took it out of the brocade box, held it high, and showed it to the generals. Then he walked down from the central hall and solemnly handed it to Huang Shi. Huang Shi also respectfully accepted the heavy imperial token with both hands, took two steps back, and stood solemnly.

Mao Wenlong read aloud, “With the imperial silver token in hand, you may first deploy local troops, and then report to the Emperor. Huang Shi, do you understand?”

“This subordinate understands.”

“With the imperial silver token in hand, local fifth-rank officials will obey your orders, and among those of the same rank, you will be the most respected. Huang Shi, do you understand?”

“This subordinate understands,” Huang Shi hurriedly asked before Mao Wenlong could continue, “May I ask, can civil officials of the fifth rank obey my command?”

The atmosphere in the tent became somewhat awkward. Mao Wenlong chuckled, “Huang Shi, you are indeed greedy. That’s right, it is the ancestral rule, but civil officials will not listen to you. Alright, the last point: with the imperial silver token in hand, Huang Shi, you may submit a memorial to the Emperor directly, and the Office of Transmission has no right to reject it. Huang Shi, do you understand?”

“This subordinate understands.”

After saying this final statement, Mao Wenlong’s personal guards presented the yellow silk box. Huang Shi carefully put away the silver token and then handed it to Zhang Zaidi to hold. The handover ceremony was thus concluded.

"Let's have a feast to welcome the heroes of Dongjiang Town!"

...

Two days later, another welcoming feast was to be held on Dongjiang Island, but this time it was for Zhang Pan of Lushun. The auxiliary troops of Jinzhou Fort (laborers who built the city walls, able-bodied men who dug trenches, etc.) all surrendered to the Ming army in Lushun after the main force of the Later Jin fled. Zhang Pan's territory was larger, and he had recently established a new fortress, so there was more work to be done. His civil and military officer system wasn't as focused on training as Huang Shi's, so he arrived a few days later than Zhang Pan.

Kong Youde went to the dock to greet him again, and Huang Shi went along.

"Brother Huang, we're neighbors, but it's surprising to see you here again after parting ways in Lushun." Zhang Pan greeted him warmly, then noticed Kong Youde beside him. He felt he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him, so he hesitantly asked, "Brother, haven't we met before?"

"This is Mao Youshi, the adopted son of Commander Mao, and I've known him for a long time." Huang Shi glanced at Kong Youde as he spoke, seeing that he accepted the "old acquaintance" explanation. Huang Shi now felt it was somewhat abrupt to have come along for the welcoming feast, but he had no choice but to bite

the bullet and continue, "Commander Mao and I arrived in Lushun together a year ago, Brother Zhang, don't you remember?" "Oh, I remember, Commander Mao, please forgive me." Zhang Pan was a smart man, and after a moment's thought, he understood the intricacies of the situation, and greeted Kong Youde with a smile.

As the three of them walked, Kong Youde lagged behind like a follower, which made Huang Shi even more embarrassed, and he cursed himself inwardly for coming along for the welcoming feast. Judging from Zhang Pan's tone, he didn't seem to respect Kong Youde very much; he clearly thought Huang Shi was more upright, having risen to the ranks of the Dongjiang direct line generals through military merit. Huang Shi sighed inwardly. A general like Zhang Pan, who came from Mao Wenlong's personal guard, really couldn't understand the suffering of non-direct line generals. He quickly changed the subject and started talking about the Battle of Jinzhou.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Pan frowned immediately. He stared intently into Huang Shi's eyes and asked, "I heard that in Brother Huang's report, only a few children were presented as prisoners. Did not a single Jurchen Han soldier surrender alive?"

Huang Shi did not intend to hide anything: "They were all killed."

These cold words made Zhang Pan's brows furrow even more. He closed his mouth and stared at Huang Shi for a while. Seeing that Huang Shi showed no shame, he couldn't help but say, "Brother Huang, killing prisoners is an ominous sign."

Huang Shi still showed no remorse: "Brother Zhang, in Sarhu, did the Jurchens leave any prisoners of our Great Ming? In Kaiyuan and Shenyang, not to mention prisoners, even civilians were all killed by the Jurchens—hundreds of thousands!"

"So they are barbarians. General Huang, why do you learn this instead of the good?"

Hearing Zhang Pan's change in address, Huang Shi snorted coldly, "General Zhang, those Han soldiers surrendered to the Jurchens, committing all sorts of atrocities, including rape, plunder, and robbery. They deserve to be executed ten times over."

Zhang Pan shook his head at these words. Traditional Chinese culture has always been critical of killing enemy prisoners and civilians. Historically, the Tang army, due to its large number of non-Han people, often carried out massacres of cities, which was frequently criticized in contemporary and later Chinese historical records as violating the sage's teachings on "benevolence."

“Brother Huang,” Zhang Pan said, “many of our men are Liao people. Many of their neighbors, even relatives, are living in the Jurchen territory. Many are forced into this situation. We are government troops; how can we indiscriminately kill them? Of course, we should execute the ringleaders and pardon the accomplices.”

Huang Shi coldly retorted, “The Jurchens can give them land, property, and women. What can our Dongjiang Town give them?”

“Then we should discern. If they are greedy for wealth, kill them. If they are forced into this situation, spare them.”

Zhang Pan’s words were resolute and forceful. But Huang Shi burst into laughter. As he laughed heartily, the guards around him cast surprised glances, and Zhang Pan’s face turned ashen.

Finally, still sneering, Huang Shi mocked, “Brother Zhang, your insight is brilliant, truly brilliant. But you can’t see into someone’s heart. How do you know if they are greedy for wealth or forced into this situation?”

The two remained silent for the rest of the journey, and then went their separate ways.

Huang Shi thought to himself, "Zhang Pan, in my original history, weren't you just too soft-hearted towards these Han soldiers, and ultimately betrayed and killed by them? But I can't say that now. I'll come back to embarrass you after I save your life."

(End of Chapter 23) Another major matter

concerning begging

in Dongjiang was the discussion of military pay. After nearly three years of wrangling, and relying on two years of beheadings and the presentation of prisoners, the court finally settled on a military pay of one tael and four qian of silver and one shi of rice per soldier for Dongjiang Town, equivalent to that of Liaodong Town. Since Mao Wenlong had already incorporated all the Liaodong refugees into Dongjiang Town as military households, he also registered all the farmers and fishermen.

Following this instruction, Huangshi counted all 7,000 males in Changsheng as soldiers, including over 1,000 combat soldiers and nearly 6,000 auxiliary soldiers. Zhangpan also counted over 20,000 soldiers in Lushun, bringing the total number of troops in Dongjiang Town to 170,000!

This would have resulted in an annual pay exceeding two million taels of silver. Unfortunately, the officials in charge of assessing the troops at the Ministry of War disagreed…

The Ministry of War planned to count able-bodied men as soldiers, excluding the elderly and weak. However, this would still leave over 80,000 men aged 18 to 40 in Dongjiang. Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue proposed an alternative method: only soldiers with weapons would be counted, and the rest would be excluded. This standard was more favorable to Lushun and Changsheng, as Lushun had already absorbed a large amount of weaponry, and Huangshi had also captured a significant amount in these two battles.

In the end, Huangshi counted 2,000 soldiers on Changsheng Island, over 4,000 in Lushun, and only 32,000 in the entire Dongjiang Town, resulting in a final pay of 480,000 taels of silver. However, due to the tight finances of the imperial court, only half could be paid. Therefore, Dongjiang Town would receive 240,000 taels of silver in military pay annually. In addition, the Ministry of Revenue would allocate 200,000 taels to Dongjiang Town as a supplementary payment, effectively wiping out the debts incurred from the first to the fourth year of the Tianqi reign. With

the local production of Changsheng Island and the annual military pay of 15,000 taels, Huang Shi estimated that he could support 1,000 soldiers to become full-time personnel. Only full-time soldiers could be fully trained and utilize their combat effectiveness. Considering his maritime trade and smuggling, Huang Shi was confident that he could build a professional army of about 2,000 men.

After everyone had divided the spoils, Huang Shi began to pack up and prepare to leave. In the evening, Mao Wenlong, of course, treated everyone to dinner. Some of the Dongjiang military officers performed at the dinner to entertain the guests. Huang Shi couldn't help but think that if he had brought He Bao's sword, he could have shown it off again.

Seeing the room full of young generals, Huang Shi couldn't help but admire them in his heart: "The Dongjiang Army is truly a young army."

A young military officer sidled up to Zhang Pan and whispered for a while before sitting down next to Huang Shi. This young officer was Chen Jisheng, Mao Wenlong's personal guard commander and chief strategist.

In Huang Shi's previous life, Chen Jisheng became the leader of the Liaodong military after Mao Wenlong's death. After taking command of the Dongjiang Army on Pi Island, he believed that the previous policy of strictly guarding the island had led to the Later Jin army retreating without a fight, which was not a good way to kill the enemy and serve the country. Therefore, Chen Jisheng deliberately left gaps for the Later Jin army to land, and then launched a counterattack while the Later Jin army was not firmly established. After inflicting casualties, he would retreat to lure the enemy to reinforce. He repeated this for five days, beheading over a thousand people.

Huang Taiji was deeply resentful of this and secretly ordered Liu Xingzhi to obtain Chen Jisheng's head. Upon receiving Huang Taiji's order, Liu Xingzhi went to Pi Island and launched a surprise attack, killing Chen Jisheng who came to greet him. However, when he later surrendered to the Manchus, he was also killed by Mao Wenlong and Chen Jisheng's former subordinates. The chaos in Dongjiang Town worsened daily as a result.

It was this history that made Huang Shi extremely distrustful of the Later Jin Han army generals, but he couldn't openly discuss these matters with the Dongjiang army generals.

Similarly, another confirmed Later Jin spy, Wang Zideng, also claimed credit in a letter to Huang Taiji, stating that he had framed Mao Wenlong to Yuan Chonghuan, leading to Mao Wenlong's death on Shuangdao Island. This was similar to another letter from a Later Jin spy, which also boasted to Huang Taiji that their spies had secretly informed Yuan Chonghuan of Mao Wenlong's betrayal, thus causing the Shuangdao Incident and the internal strife in Dongjiang.

These time travelers, able to see history, allowed Huang Shi to make the following judgment: the two most important figures he could absolutely trust in Liaodong were Yuan Chonghuan and Mao Wenlong. This was because Huang Taiji of the Later Jin dynasty did not believe Mao Wenlong would betray them; Huang Taiji also believed that Yuan Chonghuan had killed Mao Wenlong as a counter-espionage plot.

Of course, this also showed that Huang Taiji indeed favored using spies, something Huang Shi had to be wary of, lest he repeat Mao Wenlong's mistakes.

"General Huang, please," Chen Jisheng said, offering a toast after sitting down.

Huang Shi, naturally not daring to be impolite to Mao Wenlong's chief confidant, quickly raised his own cup, saying, "General Chen, please."

Chen Jisheng then indirectly brought up the issue of military pay. Because Lushun and Changsheng Island were closer to Dengzhou than Dongjiang, and Huang Shi and Zhang Pan both commanded significant troops, theoretically, the pay from Dengzhou would naturally be sent directly to their garrisons. However, Mao Wenlong wanted to use this money for business. His clever plan was to use the supervisor's approval slip to buy cheap cloth and tea in Dengzhou, then transport them to Korea to sell in exchange for ginseng and grain. He believed that Dongjiang Town could obtain several times the amount of supplies by profiting from the price difference.

Although misappropriating military funds for business was unacceptable, forcibly buying and selling from the vassal state of Korea was even worse. Historically, Korea's tribute to the Ming Dynasty was always reciprocated with gifts; it was more of a trade than a tribute. But Mao Wenlong had already persuaded the Ministry of Rites to establish the tribute route on Dongjiang Island. He only intended to give half the gifts in return and planned to offset the cost with the cheaply acquired supplies. Chen Jisheng, as expected, was eloquent and his arguments were quite reasonable, leaving Huang Shi nodding in agreement.

In fact, after arriving in Dongjiang, Huang Shi discovered that Mao Wenlong and his men did not dare to demand his tactical skills. As for the officers and soldiers trained by Huang Shi, they were considered his private property, and no one even considered taking any of them to Dongjiang. Theoretically, the military pay that should have been allocated to Huang Shi was, according to feudal tradition, his personal property, just like the property of Huang Shi's officers and soldiers, just as Huang Shi himself belonged to Mao Wenlong.

Therefore, Chen Jisheng came to act as an intermediary, hoping that Huang Shi and Zhang Pan could donate some military pay to support the Dongjiang headquarters' trade. After all, on average, Huang Shi and Zhang Pan were considered wealthy, receiving a large share of the military pay, much better than other struggling Dongjiang officers.

"General Huang, could you perhaps share some?" Chen Jisheng said, sounding like a beggar, then looked expectantly at Huang Shi, hoping he would relent and hand over some money.

Huang Shi wondered how much his trusted subordinate Zhang Pan had given him.

(End of Chapter 24)

See how my spear can pierce through Chapter 25.

"How about this, whatever General Zhang Pan gives, I'll give the same amount, how about that?"

Chen the Beggar breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing his hands and smiling: "General Zhang Pan gives five thousand taels."

"Then I'll also hand over five thousand taels."

Chen the Beggar lowered his eyelids slightly, paused for a moment before continuing to ask: "General Zhang Pan's military pay is thirty thousand taels, General Huang's is fifteen thousand taels, so you should hand over two thousand five hundred taels, right?"

This question made Huang Shi feel a surge of goodwill and emotion. It seemed that they really regarded him as a close comrade, so they not only wanted to smuggle some silver away, but also cared about the difficulties of Changsheng Island: "It's five thousand

taels, I'll do some business myself." Chen Jisheng, with a very feudal moral code, didn't ask anything, but just picked up his wine cup with a big smile: "Drink, drink." He got ten thousand taels of silver in just two conversations in one night. Chen Jisheng happily praised Huang Shi again and left happily.

Now that everything was clear, Huang Shi and Zhang Pan bid farewell to Mao Wenlong.

The next morning, after Mao Wenlong took his seat in his tent, Huang Shi and Zhang Pan knelt side-by-side on one knee, offering their superior a deep farewell salute. Mao Wenlong offered words of encouragement, and the two stood up and clasped their hands in a fist salute again: "Take care, Commander."

"Be careful in all things." In this era, a farewell could last for years, or even forever. Mao Wenlong solemnly stood up, clasped his hands, and returned the half-salute to the two frontline officers.

"Your subordinates understand, Commander, rest assured." Huang Shi and Zhang Pan maintained their clasped hands posture, each bowing deeply to their left and right: "Brothers, until we meet again!"

The officers throughout the tent returned the salute in unison, and the entire camp was filled with the clanging of armor and heartfelt shouts: "Until we meet again!" Everyone was scattered across the battlefield, and "until we meet again" was the most fitting wish for a soldier's spirit.

Zhang Pan and Huang Shi said nothing more. They simultaneously tossed aside their blood-red cloaks, turned sharply, and strode away without looking back. Mao Wenlong and the entire camp of generals behind them maintained their clasped-fist salutes, watching their figures gradually disappear outside the tent.

Upon reaching the port, Zhang Pan left first. Huang Shi glanced at Kong Youde, who had come to see them off again. The two had shared life and death experiences; he took a deep breath, trying to find something to say, but after opening his mouth, he didn't know what to say.

Seeing this, Kong Youde smiled slightly: "Brother, you are a true hero, why bother with such childish behavior?"

"I'm sorry to make you laugh, elder brother."

"Hmm," Kong Youde said with a smile, "I also received the military pay for over a hundred people this time, and I'll be going to the front lines in Kuandian next spring. Brother, do your job well, don't let me outdo you."

"Until we meet again."

"Until we meet again."

...

After returning to Changsheng Island, Huang Shi rushed to Nanxinkou without stopping, with several trusted officers hurrying after him on horseback, and Wu Mu and two Imperial Guards stumbling behind.

Upon reaching Nanxinkou, Huang Shi dismounted before even coming to a complete stop, stumbled, and hurriedly ran towards the sea. His guards, clutching their helmets, followed closely behind. When they arrived, they saw Huang Shi standing there blankly, gazing at the opposite shore.

Deep on the eastern bank, one could vaguely see auxiliary soldiers continuing to build a fortress, some Later Jin soldiers cutting down vegetation, and clusters of firelight and smoke. Amidst this smoke and ant-like crowd, a simple wooden castle was beginning to take shape…

Several officers had arrived long ago, standing behind Huang Shi, barely daring to breathe. After a while, two Imperial Guards arrived, panting, along with Wu Mu.

“General Huang, do you have any brilliant ideas?” Wu Mu asked hastily, his voice hoarse by the end, before he finished speaking and began to gasp for breath again.

After carefully observing the progress and scale of the fortress on the opposite bank for a long time, Huang Shi shook his head, stepped back, sighed, and pointed his whip at the Later Jin wooden fortress: "I've only been gone for less than a month, how could you allow the Jurchens to build a castle?"

No one answered for a long time. Huang Shi raised his voice: "Why don't you launch an attack to harass them? Are you all dead?"

"Replying to General Huang!" Wu Mu roared as soon as he caught his breath. He hadn't slept well for days, watching the castle on the opposite bank take shape day by day, making him as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. But no matter what he said, the officers from Changsheng Island would give him the runaround. Besides, Wu Mu had lost all his military confidence; that battle had completely shattered his and the two Imperial Guards' morale.

He Baodao, who always waded into troubled waters, finally stepped forward: "Reporting to you, sir, this humble servant advocates attacking." He glared angrily at Zhao Manxiong beside him: "But Commander Zhao always says he needs to think things through carefully. Every time he finalizes a plan, the Jurchens' deployment changes again, so Commander Zhao has to rethink it all, and in the end, we just watch helplessly as the Jurchens build a city for twenty days!"

"This humble servant deserves to die a thousand deaths." Zhao Manxiong was so frightened that he almost fell out of his skin and knelt down.

"Get up." Huang Shi chuckled self-deprecatingly. Zhao Manxiong was slow to react, indecisive, and extremely cautious—truly, every advantage has its disadvantage. "Military operations are ever-changing; there's no foolproof method. Sometimes, even without certainty, we must attack. You must remember this."

"This humble servant understands."

Seeing Huang Shi deep in thought again, Wu Mu suppressed his anxiety and didn't press him.

Huang Shi stared at the opposite bank for a while, then called out loudly, "Where is Commander Li?"

Li Yunrui rushed forward, "This humble servant is here." "

Are the Jurchens on the other side of the river the Bordered Red Banner of the Jurchens?"

"Your Excellency is wise, they are indeed the Bordered Red Banner originally stationed in Fuzhou."

"The Jurchens in Fuzhou, haven't they always been pointing towards Lushun?"

Li Yunrui replied with a wry smile, "This humble servant has only just gathered the intelligence. Since the Battle of Jinzhou, the Jurchens in Fuzhou seem to have adjusted their defensive direction, focusing all their attention on my Changsheng Island."

It seems that the soldiers who fled during the Battle of Jinzhou also caused a stir on the Later Jin side. Historically, they should have been continuously suppressing Lushun, and after the loss of Jinzhou, they should have urgently strengthened their defenses to the south. For the first time, Huang Shi felt that history was shrouded in a fog, and he could no longer see the changes that followed.

(End of Chapter 25)

See if my spear can pierce through Chapter 26 Threat

As Huang Shi fell silent again, Nanxinkou was also silent once more.

"Please rest assured, Eunuch Wu," Huang Shi said again, deciding to first reassure the supervising officer. He smiled casually, "The Jurchens stationed in Liaonan are two Red Banners, totaling over forty Niru, each with fewer than three hundred men, of whom no more than one hundred are combat soldiers. After the battles of Lushun and Jinzhou, the Jurchens' two Red Banners are severely weakened. This is merely a defensive fortress for the Jurchens; it poses no great threat."

"That's good." Wu Mu was clearly relieved, but then a question left Huang Shi speechless.

"But if this fortress is repaired, won't our army's movements be under the Jurchens' surveillance?"

How could Wu Mu, a mere bodyguard, speak so clearly? However, before Huang Shi could grasp this point, the next round of attacks began.

"Moreover, the Jurchens can stockpile siege equipment and provisions in the fortress; it seems they still pose a considerable threat, doesn't it?"

Both questions were difficult to answer. Huang Shi looked at Wu Mu strangely. Could this young man be a hidden master?

Wu Mu, oblivious to Huang Shi's unusual expression, turned to Li Yunrui and asked, "At the last military meeting, I remember you mentioned a third point, Li Qianzong. What was it again?"

"Reporting to the supervisor, the Jurchens can use this fort as a base to build another fort at Beixin Pass, cutting off our intelligence sources," Li Yunrui immediately reported to Wu Mu like a monkey presenting a treasure.

Huang Shi glared at Li Yunrui, realizing he needed to subtly instruct his subordinates on what to say to the supervisor and what not to mention.

However, since Wu Mu was looking at him again, Huang Shi had no choice but to force a defense: "The Jurchens have no troops to attack; that's for sure. The Jurchens' Plain Yellow Banner is with Ligdan Khan of Mongolia, their Bordered Yellow Banner is with the Bayan tribe of Mongolia, their Plain Blue Banner is fighting against our Dongjiang Army's Kuandian tribe in Lianshan, and their Bordered Blue Banner is defending against the Korean Dongjiang Army in Fengcheng. So there are only two Jurchen Red Banners here; they are absolutely powerless to attack!" "

Don't the Jurchens have eight banners?"

"Yes, and there are also the two White Banners stationed in Liaoyang and Shenyang." Huang Shi continued, forcing himself to speak, hoping to appease the supervising officer first: "These are to defend against the Guan Ning Army in western Liaoyang. The Guan Ning Army in Liaoyang has 160,000 troops, and the two Jurchen banners are already struggling. There is absolutely no way they can mobilize troops from southern Liaoyang."

This explanation was only enough to fool Wu Mu. Several officers around him looked unconvinced. Of the 160,000 troops in the Guan Ning Army, at least 100,000 were auxiliary soldiers used to build fortresses. Moreover, Ningyuan Fortress had only just been completed. Jinzhou was another 200 li ahead, and Dalinghe was over 100 li beyond Jinzhou. Several hundred li further was the Hexi region where the former Guangning Army was located, and from there it was several hundred li to Sanchahe. Once the Guan Ning Army had built the pontoon bridge, the two White Banners could make ten round trips.

Fortunately, Wu Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Huang Shi casually drew a map of southern Liaoning on the ground with his waist knife, and then said while the iron was hot, "The Bordered Red Banner has to defend against our army to the west and the Lushun Army to the south. It must be very difficult for them. After all, the Jurchen Plain Red Banner is far away in Gaizhou..."

At this point, Huang Shi looked down at the map, and his voice gradually became softer and softer until he stopped. Wu Mu looked at him hopefully for a while, and finally couldn't help but call out, "General Huang."

"Oh," Huang Shi looked up as if waking from a dream, blinked and smiled, "Nothing else. This humble general will walk along the coast again to see if there are any gaps in the defense. Please do as you please, Eunuch Wu."

After Wu Mu and the two Imperial Guards left, Huang Shi gathered the group together and pointed the tip of his knife at the location of Gaizhou: "Do you think the Jurchen Plain Red Banner will move south?"

The officers discussed for a while and all felt that the vast area from Gaizhou to Haizhou needed at least one banner for cover. However, the two Red Banners had suffered considerable losses this year, and the Later Jin was really struggling to defend against the two-pronged attack from Lushun and Changsheng with only the severely weakened Bordered Red Banner.

The final conclusion was: "It's hard to say." "

From Yaozhou and Haizhou to Gaizhou, there's a coastline stretching hundreds of miles. If the Plain Red Banner marches south to defend against the Lushun Army," Huang Shi gazed at the east bank again, unable to resist the urge to imagine, "if the Bordered Red Banner is also tied down on the other side, then this area will only have the Jurchen local fortresses defending it. There will be no mobile forces that can pose a threat to the Ming army's surprise attack."

"Sir, that's a long way off. Let's focus on the present."

"Commander Yang is right," Huang Shi snapped out of his reverie and called over a soldier: "Go and fetch Mr. Duncan immediately." He then instructed several of his men: "Since we have this fortress that can store weapons and provisions, we still need to break the ice. This year, we must organize all six thousand men, and the women must also go to boil water and care for the sick."

"Yes, sir."

"While increasing the patrols… Commander Li, mobilize our spies to monitor the road between Gaizhou and Fuzhou."

"Yes, sir." According to the existing regulations on Changsheng Island, Li Yunrui would analyze the number of messengers and the grain stored at each post station, and directly submit a brief forecast of the situation to Huang Shi.

Huang Shi didn't elaborate further; he once again suppressed his urge to intervene personally—I'm just an ordinary person, not a military genius. The only thing I can rely on to deal with the heroes of this era is a more modern military system.

After Duncan arrived, Huang Shi asked him what kind of cannons were used to bombard the fortress on the opposite bank.

“The Jurchens clearly have no understanding of artillery,” Duncan had already observed the deployment on the opposite shore. The fortress was only two miles from the southern coast of Changsheng Island, clearly set up based on experience from the era of cold weapons: “An eighteen-pound cannon could hit them.”

“Red-barbarian cannons?”

“Yes.”

Huang Shi’s expression darkened somewhat: “Do you know that a Jesuit red-barbarian cannon sells for five thousand taels of silver?”

“If we cast them ourselves, the raw materials would only cost a few hundred taels, and with the labor, it would probably be under a thousand taels.” Actually, Duncan’s estimate was too high, but Huang Shi had no idea.

“Alright, let’s get started as soon as possible.” Huang Shi stamped his foot on the ground, indicating that the gun emplacement would be erected here: “And then—the cannons will fire and blast their mothers!”

[Last edited by jay-chou2010 on 9-10 04:24]

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