Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 308, Bloodstained Kaifeng

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A single conscription order instantly plunged families on the grasslands into the agony of separation.

For the sake of Dorei Khan's great cause, all married men must take up their bows and mount their horses to join the army and serve their country.

The reason for requiring someone to have a family is, of course, because people with families are easier to control.

Zhou Shuan originally had an army of 60,000 men, and now he needs to recruit 40,000 more, which is a considerable number for the grasslands.

At the same time, a large number of grassland people were working as laborers in Ping'an Prefecture.

However, the grassland people had no chance to resist.

The Dorre are cruel and rule tyrannically, but anyone who dares to disobey is guilty of the crime of exterminating their entire clan.

In addition, there were those traitors, each one a vicious and ruthless individual, skilled at destroying families and wiping out entire clans.

……

"Traitors, lackeys, you will all die a horrible death!"

On the grassland, Hesheli roared in despair as the traitors surrounded him.

A few months ago, his clan, the Hesheli clan, was conquered by Zhou Shuan, their cattle and sheep were taken by the Zhongxia people, and their people became labor slaves.

Hesheli was a nobleman in his tribe. He took the initiative to surrender and was appreciated by the Zhongxia people, becoming a glorious traitor.

But what no one knew was that, on the surface, he was a traitor, but in reality, he was Tuolei's inside man.

Hesheli infiltrated the Zhongxia army, providing intelligence to the Tuolei troops outside, allowing the Tuolei to evade repeated attacks from the Zhongxia and enabling them to get through the most difficult period.

However, this time, Heseri was not so lucky.

When he released the falcon to deliver intelligence, he was spotted by another traitor, Sodetu, and Hesheli was quickly surrounded.

Hesheri attempted suicide, but failed.

"I will not reveal any information!"

"Hesheli roared."

With a sinister grin, Sodertu ordered his men to execute Hesheli.

Unfortunately, Hesheri was a tough nut to crack; he endured severe torture but did not divulge a single piece of information.

His mouth uttered nothing but insults directed at Sodertu.

They cursed him for working for the Chinese people and harming his fellow countrymen on the grasslands, calling him a traitor and a lackey of the Chinese people!
Sodertu was enraged and viciously ripped open Hesheli's heart.

"You dog, what do you know? What's wrong with being a dog!"

With that, Sodertu violently ripped out Hesheri's heart, killing him instantly.

Sodertu was still not satisfied and squeezed Hesheli's heart until it was crushed with his bare hands.

Hesheli will never understand Sodertu's position.

Unlike him, a natural-born nobility of the grasslands, Sodetu was born a slave, a person of utter lowliness on the grasslands, possessing nothing of his own. Once he was given an important position, he would immediately become the most loyal dog.

Hesheri is dead, but the information still got out.

The gyrfalcon, soaring high into the sky, arrived at Tuolei's camp carrying its master's last hopes.

"The people of Zhongxia are conscripting soldiers, with a total force exceeding 100,000, and a large-scale encirclement and suppression campaign is about to be launched..."

Tuo Lei obtained the intelligence.

But he had no way to solve it.

The disparity in strength between the two sides was too great, and the Chinese army's numbers filled him with despair.

During this period, he actively united with other tribes and adopted guerrilla tactics, gradually diverting the Huaiyin army's forces by leveraging the vast strategic depth.

But just as things were starting to look up, the Central Plains forces launched a siege.

Faced with the encirclement and suppression of the army, his small force had no ability to resist and could only abandon everything and retreat once again...

Compared to the brutal conscription on the grasslands, the process in Zhongxia was much more humane.

Fang Yong did not force soldiers to join the army; he simply promised soldiers benefits and privileges in order to entice people to enlist.

With real money at stake, people across the country were very enthusiastic about joining the army.

Meanwhile, Ma Laohei's army arrived in Kaifeng.

The prefect of Kaifeng and several prominent families in the city all went out forty li to greet them.

"The presence of Marshal Ma and Lord Gao at our residence is truly an honor to us. We, along with the local gentry, have prepared a simple banquet and are eagerly awaiting your arrival so that we may extend our hospitality!"

Gao Jing stepped forward and helped the Prefect of Kaifeng to his feet:
"Very well, very well, your kindness is appreciated by both Commander Ma and me! Now, let the army enter the city quickly." The Prefect of Kaifeng hesitated slightly upon hearing this.

"Is it inappropriate for such a large army to enter the city?"

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Laohei gave the Prefect of Kaifeng a cold look, which frightened the Prefect so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

Gokyungdo:
"Sir, you don't intend for the soldiers to camp out outside the city, do you?"

The magistrate of Kaifeng gave an awkward smile.

That's really what he thought.

After all, it was too dangerous for a large army to enter the city, especially since the Huaiyin army consisted of bandits...

However, given the current situation, it's clear that he has no choice but to agree.

The Prefect of Kaifeng had no choice but to agree to let the army enter the city.

Upon entering Kaifeng, the discipline of the Huaiyin army remained intact, which relieved the prefect of Kaifeng.

Everyone prepared a top-quality feast at the same location. Last time, Gao Jing hosted a banquet for everyone, and this time, everyone hosted a banquet for Gao Jing and Ma Laohei.

At the banquet, Tang Rong pushed a brocade box towards Gao Jing.

"Lord Gao, this is the silver you entrusted to us before, and it is now returned to you intact."

"Ok!"

Gao Jing gave a faint "hmm" and then continued watching the actors' performance.

The scene depicted Mu Guiying taking command.

The actress's performance was both heroic and graceful, demonstrating considerable skill.

Seeing this, Tang Rong felt a pang of regret and took out another brocade box from his bosom.

"Lord Gao, in order to support the Huaiyin Army in suppressing the bandit Tian, ​​we secretly set up a donation for suppressing the bandits. This is the amount of silver donated. However, due to the obstruction of the bandits Tian, ​​it could not be delivered to the Huaiyin Army. Now we entrust it all to Lord Gao. Please do not delay."

"it is good!"

Gokyungdo.

It's unclear whether he was applauding the actors on stage or responding to Tang Rong's earlier remarks.

Ma Laohei, standing to the side, remained expressionless. He took a sip of wine and tasted a few bites of food, but showed no other change.

Tang Rong and his companions felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

Tang Rong had no choice but to take out another brocade box from his bosom.

"Master Gao!"

Gao Jing looked at it and asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

Tang Rong took a deep breath and said:
“Lord Gao, the bandit Tian has rebelled against the court and gathered a crowd to rebel. We are all guilty of failing to investigate. This is our way of atoning for our sins. Please take a look, Lord Gao.”

Gao Jing laughed, took the brocade box, stacked the three boxes together, and picked them up.

Wow, it's quite heavy.

It seems that banknotes aren't always so convenient.

Gao Jing picked up the box, and in full view of everyone, left his seat and walked onto the stage.

The actress playing "Mu Guiying" paused for a moment, somewhat at a loss.

Gao Jing shoved the box he was holding into the arms of "Mu Guiying" and said, "It's too heavy. Hold it for me for now. Hurry up and don't get it covered in blood."

Before anyone could react, they saw Ma Laohei stand up, stretch his body, and say:
"Do it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of Huaiyin soldiers rushed out from the surrounding area.

The crossbow bolts mercilessly pierced the bodies of the local gentry and officials present.

"what!"

The crowd screamed.

Gao Jing shook his head as he looked at Tang Rong's corpse.

"Sigh, I don't know what you're thinking. How could a loyal man like me, Gao Jing, associate with a villain like you?"

(End of this chapter)