The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 61 Liu Zhaoshen and Sun Zhijun

The carriage slowly drove into Kaiyuan City. Liu Zhaosun temporarily put aside his pursuit of Buddhism and returned to the secular world. He said to the fleshy-faced Pei Dahu:

"Are all the people tied up?"

"They've tied them up. All the powerful clans in Kaiyuan are here, just waiting for Master Thirteen to come over!"

"Okay, let's go to the street corner. It's almost three quarters past noon! Go kill someone!"

At the intersection of Kaiyuan North and South Streets, the tent of Brigadier General Liu was raised, and the flag bearer raised a yellow flag in front of the tent.

According to the regulations of the Ming army, the yellow flag belongs to the earth and is used by the central army in the central camp. When you see the yellow flag, you know that the central army tent is below.

Liu Zhaosun sat under the umbrella. He had not slept the whole night before. He led the pacification soldiers to kill more than twenty defeated soldiers. He was already exhausted and his eyelids were drooping. However, there was nothing he could do. The overall situation in the city needed him to preside over, so he had to hold on.

His eyes were black and his face was covered in blood. He sat in front of everyone, looking like a butcher. Such an image was certainly intimidating without even being angry.

The street in front of the tent was already filled with Kaiyuan residents, and a group of soldiers were surrounding the crowd to maintain order. A small number of soldiers from each battalion were left to guard the city gates. Almost all the soldiers had arrived at the execution ground. When they saw Lieutenant General Liu approaching, they all looked over.

Today we must not only kill the rebels, but also let everyone know what the consequences will be for violating military law and plundering civilians.

While waiting for execution, the people below had already started talking about it.

Last night, Brigadier General Liu led his troops into the city, causing everyone to panic. They thought that the defeated soldiers had just left and were about to be robbed by Liu Zhaosun again.

However, unexpectedly, the Ming army led by Brigadier General Liu only killed the defeated soldiers and did not harm the civilians at all.

The strict military discipline displayed by this foreign army left a deep impression on the people of Kaiyuan.

It should be noted that the servants kept by General Li (Cheng Liang) also burned, killed, looted and committed many bad things in their own land. However, this group of foreign soldiers transferred from the south were able to abide by military laws, which was nothing short of bizarre.

The Liao people, with their faces filled with astonishment, began to ask questions one after another, who exactly was Brigadier General Liu?

The woman who was rescued by the lieutenant general began to use her life's energy to spread the great benevolence and righteousness of Lieutenant General Liu, and described the army under the lieutenant general's command as a benevolent and righteous army and a heavenly army.

When they heard that the army was going to kill the defeated soldiers, the brave people rushed to watch, looking at Liu Zhaosun and others with fear and curiosity.

The Liao people were fierce and brutal. Yesterday, the defeated soldiers killed many people in the city. Now the people were furious. If the pacification soldiers had not stopped them, the Liao people would have rushed up and beaten the defeated soldiers to death on the spot.

Among the crowd, in addition to ordinary people, there were also a few students. Liu Zhaosun also saw a few people dressed as Jiannu.

"Lieutenant General Liu, these are Jurchen merchants trading ginseng and sable fur. They didn't flee Kaiyuan after it was besieged. They're not Tartar spies, and the riot caused by the spies yesterday had nothing to do with them..."

Pei Dahu noticed that Brigadier General Liu was looking at these people and hurriedly explained.

The Jurchens all wore felt hats that covered their rat-tail braids on the back of their heads. The Liao people were not surprised by these Tatars.

Liu Zhaosun was quite surprised.

Kaiyuan City has been a place where Chinese and foreigners live together for a long time, and it seems that the Liao people have long been accustomed to it.

The Haixi Jurchen and Jianzhou Jurchen merchants all started to do business. Of course, we cannot say that they were all spies. After all, those who were determined to sell out their country like the Shanxi merchants in the late Ming Dynasty were a minority.

Kaiyuan was founded on commerce. If it wants to recover after the war, it needs to rebuild commerce, especially protect merchants. He turned to Pei Dahu and said:

"It's three quarters past noon. I'd like to say a few words first."

Pei Dahu and the other servants shouted to the surroundings: "Lieutenant General Liu is giving a lecture. Silence!"

The area around the execution ground was in chaos. The people of Kaiyuan picked up stones and threw them at the execution ground, cursing at the defeated soldiers as they threw. The defeated soldiers were tied to pillars and could not move, and were hit on the heads with stones until they were bleeding.

Pei Dahu gave a signal, and the servants went over with whips to beat the people, and the angry people immediately quieted down.

Liu Zhaosun looked around and cleared his throat, which had become irritated from staying up late.

"I am Liu Zhaosun, the Lieutenant General of Kaiyuan. I am here to protect the people of Liao!"

"it is good!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a cheer from the audience, and the people followed suit.

Liu Zhaosun smiled awkwardly and signaled everyone to be quiet.

He raised his head and slowly looked towards the execution ground, where more than 360 defeated soldiers were tied up. He took a quick look and found that he knew a few of them.

Yesterday's hero, today's deserter, is still burning, killing, and looting in the city. It can be seen that military discipline is the foundation of a strong army.

The area around the execution ground was unusually quiet. Hearing that the lieutenant general was going to discipline the army strictly and kill a hundred to warn the rest, all his men put down their work and rushed to watch the execution.

Mr. Yang, supported by his daughter and the fat girl, sat trembling on the chair, looking at his decisive son-in-law with satisfaction.

Qiao Yiqi and Mao Yuanyi paused the casting of the Red Cannon and hurried to the execution ground to watch the excitement. At this time, the two stood next to Kang Yinggan, with a smile on their faces.

"General Kang, what kind of general is he? I carry a sword every day, but I haven't killed many people. Look at this Lieutenant General Liu. He's so powerful. He kills hundreds of people at a time! In Kaiyuan City, I can kill anyone I want!"

Kang Yingqian heard the hidden meaning in Qiao Yiqi's words and snorted coldly:
"Mr. Qiao, not only you and I have swords, but Xiong Jinglie also has one. Your sword is too blunt, while Xiong Jinglie's is sharp! He's coming! We don't know who will kill him yet!"

Kang Yingqian stopped paying attention to the two of them. In his opinion, Qiao Yiqi was just a dandy boy who only knew how to hang out with craftsmen. It was a disgrace to him to be working with cannons! He was really not fit for any important task.

Master Kang looked at the execution ground ahead and sighed softly:

"Orders are strictly enforced, rewards and punishments are clearly defined, just like the style of Qi Shaobao back then!"

Jin Yuji, dressed as a servant, guarded Liu Zhaosun, her sharp eyes moving between Yang Qing'er and Kang Yingqian, paying attention to any movement around them, fearing that someone would do something to harm Liu Zhaosun.

Liu Zhaosun went up to the execution ground and shouted to the group of fleeing soldiers and civilians who were about to die:

"When you were soldiers, you received not a penny less in food and wages! Every penny of this money was collected by the government from the people. Before you were soldiers, who among you wasn't a farmer? Who among you wasn't a miner?"

"You really don't know. Don't you know how hard it is for the common people to farm? Don't you know how hard it is for me to raise money for the soldiers?!"

Liu Zhaosun looked back at Qiao Yiqi. Military Supervisor Qiao stepped forward and said loudly:

"The court has been slow to pay the military salaries, and Lieutenant General Liu has borrowed from everyone around him to raise money for you! I lent him eight thousand taels six months ago, and he still hasn't paid it back!"

Liu Zhaosun coughed twice and said seriously:
"I've raised soldiers for a thousand days, hoping you'd go into battle once. Now, not only are you refusing to kill the bandits, you're also harming the people. What's the point of raising you? What's the point of keeping you around?!"

"The Great Ming Code clearly states: 'Those who plunder the lands we have conquered, regardless of leader or follower, shall be beheaded! You slaughter the people to satisfy your own selfish desires. Even if the court doesn't kill you, I will! Even if I don't, Heaven will! This is the Way!"

Among the chaotic soldiers, some had red eyes and knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Brigadier General Liu, while others stared at the ground blankly without saying a word.

Liu Zhaosun looked up at the soldiers watching from a distance and said loudly to them:
"One misstep can lead to eternal regret! The people I want to kill today may not all be unforgivable criminals, but they made a grave mistake due to a momentary evil thought! However, military law is strict, and I, Liu Zhaosun, clearly define rewards and punishments. My soldiers will be rewarded for meritorious service and punished for mistakes!"

"You are soldiers! Not thieves. What is a thief? Stealing even a needle and thread from the people, touching even a blade of grass or a tree from the people, is a thief! Remember this, anyone who dares to be a thief in the future will suffer the same fate!"

The soldiers shrank their necks and dared not speak.

"Execution!"

Ten pacification soldiers carried heavy swords and walked onto the execution ground under the gaze of thousands of people.

The soldiers wailed, some begged for mercy, some collapsed to the ground in fear, and some, knowing they would not survive, simply cursed loudly.

Liu Zhaosun gritted his teeth and said loudly:

"kill!"

The pacification soldiers dragged the rioters to the edge of the stage, pinned them to the ground like slaughtering pigs, and killed them with their swords.

The people screamed in surprise.

Lieutenant General Liu turned to the people and said:
"I came to Kaiyuan to protect you. I led 3,000 brave soldiers and defeated 100,000 Jiannu troops. Amin is dead, Huang Taiji is dead, and of course, the military governor and general of Kaiyuan are also gone."

"For now, I will temporarily take charge of Kaiyuan and guard it. I will not, like some superiors, settle scores with the people later."

"Kaiyuan is a horse market, founded on commerce. I will not hold you responsible, no matter what you have done or said in the past. From now on, farmers should farm well, and businessmen should do business well. As long as you abide by the law, whether you are a Jurchen, a Korean, or a Mongolian, the Kaiyuan army will protect you, just like we did last night!"

Liu Zhaosun suddenly slammed the table and drew his goose-feather knife.

"I've killed so many people today, I've given you all the honor! From now on, anyone who dares to go against their conscience and commit crimes will be shown no mercy! Let me be frank! Anyone caught in a slave trade, regardless of the severity of your crime, will not only be killed, but your entire family!"

After saying that, he took the tea from Jin Yuji and moistened his throat.

The merchants standing around with their hands on their shoulders suddenly changed their expressions and fell to the ground, kowtowed to Liu Zhaosun and said:
"We will follow the instructions of Lieutenant General Liu and will never collude with the Jiannu!"

(End of this chapter)