Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

As dusk fell, the military camp in the northern earthen fort of Mong Bang was filled with the aroma of wine. The Burmese army leader, To Meng Wu Meng, was enjoying meat and wine while watching Shan (Dai) dancers gracefully perform. The female slaves had fair skin, slender waists, and bright, intelligent eyes that captivated To Meng Wu Meng.

“Baho (fortress or barracks commander), something’s happened,” Banya (captain) Sayepo burst in, oblivious to the situation.

"Something's happened? What happened?" Tuomengwu shouted fiercely. As a famous general under Mangqi, the governor of Mubangmiaowen (town ruler), he had killed countless people and carried a murderous aura. The dancers were so frightened that they trembled and stopped dancing.

“Ruwen (the captain) Wu Juemin led his squad out of the city this morning on patrol and has not returned yet,” Sayebo reported.

"Wu Juemin?" Tuo Mengwu was taken aback, then suddenly burst into laughter. "That kid has always been a bit of a scatterbrain. Last time he was punished with ten lashes for returning late from his patrol. This time he'll get twenty lashes!" After laughing, he ordered the female slaves to continue dancing, completely forgetting that patronizing prostitutes in the military camp was a violation of military law.

The dance was even more beautiful, the liquor even more fragrant, and night fell slowly. Tuo Mengwu, with a dancer in his arms, walked towards the back tent. Even tough men have tender hearts, and fierce generals can feel lonely. Occasionally, they would seek some amusement, which his subordinates had long been used to. Seeing Lord Bahu leave, they also went off to find their own entertainment.

On a dark, moonless night, a windy, arson-promoting day, Han Song, the Pacification Commissioner of Mubang, and Dao Paixuan, the Pacification Commissioner of Menglian, secretly led two thousand Shan (Dai) soldiers to the earthen fortress.

Finally setting foot on his homeland, Han Song struggled to suppress his excitement. With a wave of his hand, his nephew, Han Meng, led a hundred carefully selected warriors to the foot of the fortress. They threw out iron hooks with long ropes attached and began to climb the walls with great effort. The earthen fortress wasn't high, and they quickly reached the top. The guards were lying on the brick walls in twos and threes, fast asleep; not a single one was awake. It made sense; the generals were all out enjoying themselves, so why should the poor soldiers take it seriously? It was only natural that no one was on guard duty.

"Kill!" Han Meng coldly gestured, and his wolf-like subordinates pounced on the sleeping Burmese soldiers, quickly killing them, opening the city gates, and letting the army into the fortress.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The guards shouted as they stormed into the fortress. Tuo Meng Wu Meng was hacked to death before he could even wake from his reverie. His martial arts skills were ultimately useless. Of the more than seven hundred Burmese soldiers, only Sai Ye Bo escaped.

"Tell the people, I, Han Song, have returned!" Han Song roared excitedly, ordering his men to raise the family banner. Relatives, former subordinates, and people sympathetic to the Han clan flocked to him from all directions. In just three days, Han Song's forces grew from five hundred to fifteen hundred. After the Burmese army occupied Mongpan, they levied exorbitant taxes and were extremely brutal, causing the people to yearn for the good old days. Hearing of their former master's return, they flocked to him. With so many men, they were bold, and Han Song and Dao Paixuan's army quickly arrived at the walls of Mongpan.

"That idiot Tuomeng Wumeng! How dare he drink and patronize prostitutes, ruining my plans! Ruining my plans!" After hearing the report from Sayebo who had escaped back, Mubangmiao Wenmangqi was so angry that he cursed loudly.

Mang Qi's original surname wasn't Mang, but Si, a branch of the Mengmi Si clan, a chieftain's clan. "Mang" was a surname bestowed by the Burmese king. Years ago, Mengmi chieftain Si Zheng was loyal to the Ming Dynasty and led troops to resist the Burmese invasion, but was betrayed by cowardly Ming officials. Si Zheng was assassinated, and his body was handed over to Burma in exchange for the withdrawal of troops. Si Zheng's son, Si Li, in anger, surrendered to Burma. The Burmese king was overjoyed and bestowed the surname "Mang" upon Si Li and his relatives as a sign of honor. Afterwards, the Mengmi Si clan diligently helped the Burmese army attack other chieftains loyal to the Ming Dynasty. To set a good example for other chieftains, the Burmese king allowed the Mengmi Si clan to govern Mu Bang, with Mu Bang obeying the Mengmi, and the Mengmi then paying homage to the Burmese king. However, the Burmese king wasn't entirely comfortable entrusting such a strategically important military town as Mu Bang to the Mengmi Si clan, and appointed a resident representative (Shadu) to monitor them.

Just as Mang Qi was enraged, Shadu Fangsi rushed into his Miaowen residence. This man was originally a Kachin chieftain in the Mubang region. Because he actively pledged allegiance to King Narovara of Burma, he gained the trust of the king and was appointed as Shadu. "Miaowen, the Weiguo army is pressing on our border. We must prepare immediately," Fangsi said hastily upon seeing Mang Qi.

"Alas! A few days ago, some unruly people caused trouble, and I sent half of my army out of the city to quell the rebellion. I haven't had time to bring them back in time, and now there are only two thousand garrison troops in the city. Our forces are insufficient, so I have to ask Shadu to assist me in conscripting able-bodied men from within the city to guard it," Mangqi replied with a forced smile. Although he was Miaowen of Mubang, Fangsi was the king's special envoy, so how could he dare to offend him?

“That’s natural. But I’ve heard that the commander of the guards outside the city is Hansong, the son of Hans, the former pacification commissioner of Mubang. The Han family has ruled Mubang for generations, so there are bound to be some unruly people in the city who side with them. We need to conscript the able-bodied men in the city to guard it, in order to prevent these unruly people from causing trouble,” Fang Si said, expressing his concerns.

"No problem. We can divide them into groups of a hundred to guard the city, and send veteran soldiers to suppress them. If anyone dares to cause trouble, they will be executed on the spot. That way, there's nothing to worry about," Mang Qi had a good idea.

Beneath the walls of Mubang City, the Imperial Guards stood in formation, ready to pounce. Dao Paixuan approached Han Song to discuss, "Brother Han, should we wait until Vice Commander Mu's army arrives before attacking the city?"

“What you say, my virtuous brother, is very reasonable. However, I have waited too long and cannot wait any longer!” Han Song sighed and ordered his men to attack the city. Although he held the official title of “Pacification Commissioner of Mubang,” he had never wielded real power. If he did not achieve great military exploits, the court might not grant him the privilege of ruling Mubang hereditarily. To restore his ancestors' legacy, he had to fight to the death. Dao Paixuan, being a fellow sufferer, understood his feelings and said no more, leading his troops to assist in the siege.

The city of Mubang was well-fortified, and the attacking garrison was not composed of elite troops. Mang Qi and Fang Si defended the city and repelled the garrison's first attack. During the fierce battle, Han Song's cousin, Han Dai, was killed by a Burmese musket.

"Fellow members of the Han clan, follow me to reclaim our ancestral land!" Han Song gritted his teeth and led five hundred members of the Han clan toward Mubang City, the burial place of the Han clan's ancestors.

Perhaps his ancestors heard his cry and offered their blessings, for suddenly chaos erupted in the northern city of Mubang, and the heavy city gates opened from the inside. The able-bodied men, conscripted to guard the northern city and loyal to the Khan clan, defected, killing their supervisor, Banya (the captain), Sayebo, and opening the gates. The people of Mubang were known for their martial spirit, and they were far more formidable than Mang Qi had imagined.

Han Song was overjoyed and quickly led his army into the city. Hearing that some unruly civilians had opened the north gate, Mang Qi was alarmed and rushed with two hundred guards to stop them, but was thrown into disarray by Han Song's nephew, Han Meng, and his men. Mang Qi was killed by Han Meng with a single blow. Fang Si attempted to break out of the city but encountered Dao Paixuan's men and was hacked to death at the west gate.

“Bo (Father) ~ Me (Mother) ~ Your child is back ~” Han Song walked into the Han family ancestral home, which had been converted into the Miaowen Mansion, and knelt on the ground, overwhelmed with grief.

(End of this chapter)