My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 115 Bansheng City on the Chile River
Seeing the young man who broke in, Shen Li said helplessly:
"Brother Su, this is Zhu Juntang, a member of the Dai clan. He has been asking to see you these days. Today, I heard that you came to the Imperial College. It must be that the students outside the gate couldn't stop him."

A vassal of the royal family? Is he here to seek revenge?

Wait, Zhu Juntang, isn’t he the one who beat the drum to file a complaint against King Dai?

To a certain extent, Su Ze was able to successfully overthrow King Dai because Zhu Juntang and his son crossed the border to file a complaint. King Dai sent people to kill and silence them, but Zhu Juntang was missed, causing the entire plan to be exposed.

Zhu Juntang looked at Su Ze excitedly, then knelt down and said:
"My benefactor, Juntang pays homage to me!"

Su Ze hurried forward to help Zhu Juntang up, and Shen Li explained:
"Your Majesty also heard that Zhu Juntang passed the examination and was granted the right to study at the Imperial College and take part in the Shuntian Prefecture provincial examination next year."

Shen Li said again:
"Jun Tang has already been allocated land, and he can study in the capital with peace of mind, thanks to Brother Su's memorial."

After Shen Li finished speaking, Zhu Juntang was about to kneel down again, and Su Ze quickly helped him up.

"Brother Zhonghua (Shen Li's pen name), please don't embarrass me anymore."

Calling someone by their given name directly is a way to get closer. Su Ze's words brought him closer to Shen Li. Shen Li had no choice but to help Zhu Juntang up and said:
"Brother Zilin, to some extent, it was you who helped Juntang avenge his father, so it's only right for him to worship you."

Looking at Zhu Juntang who was about to kneel down again, Su Ze had no choice but to accept his kneeling again with a wry smile. Then Zhu Juntang knelt on the ground and cried bitterly.

Seeing this, Su Ze and Shen Li felt a little reluctant.

His father, with whom he depended on for survival, was killed by the King of Dai. Now that his enemy has been killed, Zhu Juntang is left alone.

Su Ze helped Zhu Juntang up and said:
"I just heard from Shen Siye that it was His Majesty's special decree that you study at the Imperial College, and your father risked his life to cross the border for your future. If that's the case, why don't you, a man of such talent, strive for fame and success?"

Su Ze knew that at this low point in his life, Zhu Juntang needed a goal even more, and the imperial examination was a good goal.

Moreover, Zhu Juntang and his son were only low-ranking royal family members, and the land they were allocated was not much. Although Emperor Longqing rewarded him with some gold and silver, if he did not pass the imperial examination, his wealth would be gone.

Zhu Juntang wiped away his tears and said to Su Ze:

"Jun Tang will always remember your teachings. If you need anything from me in the future, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to help you!"

Su Ze looked at Zhu Juntang with a wry smile, and seeing his determined expression, he could only agree.
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on the grassland.

"Brother! The government troops are chasing us again!"

Zhao Dazhu was standing next to several of his brothers from the same village, but all of them were injured.

The person who was speaking was Zhao Dazhu's close friend Zhao Erwa. He had a horrible wound on his face, but he didn't care that the wound was bleeding and was begging Zhao Dazhu to leave quickly.

Zhao Dazhu looked around blankly.

Over the past month, his life has undergone tremendous changes.

He was first deceived by Captain Zhao Cheng and imprisoned in the Captain's Office. He then instigated Zhao Dazhu's brothers to break into the prison and framed Zhao Dazhu as a traitor who defected to Altan Khan.

At the beginning, Zhao Dazhu did not dare to fight against the government troops, but just led his brothers to flee everywhere.

Zhao Cheng wanted to frame Zhao Dazhu for treason. If Zhao Dazhu had just fled, the charge of treason would not be reliable.

The ruthless Zhao Cheng couldn't catch Zhao Dazhu, so he led his troops to surround Zhao Dazhu's village and massacred the villagers on the charge of Zhao Dazhu's treason.

All the young and old in the village, including Zhao Dazhu's mother, died under Zhao Cheng's butcher knife.

This completely enraged Zhao Dazhu. He led his brothers to fight back and actually defeated the garrison army led by Captain Zhao Cheng with a smaller force.

Then Shanxi General Zheng Nian sent troops to suppress the rebellion. This time the army was far superior to Zhao Dazhu's brothers in both numbers and equipment. Zhao Dazhu knew that he was no match for them and could only lead his brothers to escape to the grassland.

Zhao Dazhu had often traveled to the grassland to trade horses and was very familiar with the grassland, so when he led his team to escape into the grassland, the government troops were actually unable to catch up.

Originally, Zhao Dazhu thought that this would be his life.

But what he didn't expect was that the situation in Datong changed rapidly.

Zhao Cheng, the centurion who forced him to rebel, was defeated by Qi Jiguang who suddenly broke into Datong.

The mastermind behind the rebellion, General Zheng Nian, was implicated in the rebellion of King Dai and was also sentenced to death by beheading.

Later, Zhao Dazhu learned through the news that the mastermind behind all this was King Dai, and he was just involved in the game between King Dai and the court, and became a pawn being used.

The final result was that the enemy, King Dai, was imprisoned behind the high walls of Fengyang by the emperor's order until his death. The Dai vassal state, which had plagued Datong for hundreds of years, was abolished overnight, and the sky suddenly became brighter for the people of Datong.

But what followed was Zhao Dazhu's nightmare.

Qi Jiguang became the new general of Datong. He led his troops to take the initiative to attack the grassland tribes near Datong.

Qi Jiguang's tactics were very powerful. He always sent out a small team of a hundred people, equipped with sturdy carts to transport supplies. These carts could also be transformed into sturdy fortresses when facing battle, providing hiding space for musketeers and archers.

In addition, there were a few elite scouts in Qi Jiguang's team. They didn't know what magic they used, but they could always detect the whereabouts of the enemy on the grassland from a distance, allowing the baggage trains behind them to respond and change formations in time.

Not long after Qi Jiguang arrived in Datong, he frightened the grassland tribes near Datong. Some tribes even abandoned their prime pastures and fled north.

But immediately afterwards, Qi Jiguang began to hunt down Zhao Dazhu.

Zhao Dazhu actually didn't want to fight with Qi Jiguang, so he led his brothers to escape.

Qi Jiguang's generals seemed to show mercy every time and always found a glimmer of hope for Zhao Dazhu at the most critical moment.

But even so, the brothers around Zhao Dazhu were captured one after another, and their number became fewer and fewer. Until today, only the twelve most loyal brothers were left around Zhao Dazhu.

Zhao Dazhu came to his senses, stopped Zhao Erwa, and said to the brothers around him:
"This whole thing started because of Dazhu. I've already implicated everyone. I really can't bear to see anyone else lose their lives in vain because of me!"

Zhao Dazhu said to Zhao Erwa:
"I'll surrender to the government troops right now. You take the brothers and head north, the farther the better!"

Zhao Erwa wanted to struggle, but was pushed onto Zhao Dazhu's mount by Zhao Dazhu and the brothers around him. Zhao Dazhu whipped the horse and the horse under Zhao Erwa galloped to the north.

The remaining brothers also said goodbye to Zhao Dazhu. After the brothers disappeared on the horizon, Zhao Dazhu shouted loudly:
"The rebel leader Zhao Dazhu is here! Capture him quickly!"

In less than an incense stick of time, a small group of cavalry appeared on the southern horizon. This cavalry was very elite. The cavalry leader led his men to slowly surround Zhao Dazhu, but he always left a few brothers on guard on the hill, ready to support at any time.

The cavalry leader dressed in official uniform came up to Zhao Dazhu, looked at the wounded Zhao Dazhu, and shouted with a smile on his face:

"Good man! Follow the general!"

After saying this, the cavalrymen behind the government troops dismounted and only stripped Zhao Dazhu of his weapons and armor, but did not tie him up. They threw him a horse and let Zhao Dazhu ride on it and follow the troops. Of course, Zhao Dazhu did not dare to escape under the escort of this elite cavalry, but the government troops did not chop off his head as soon as they came, which really made Zhao Dazhu very puzzled.

You should know that a notice has been posted in Datong City, and his head is worth a lot of money.

They walked like this for two days. The government troops did not speak to Zhao Dazhu, but they did not abuse him either. They even shared the military rations with him.

Two days later, Zhao Dazhu followed the government troops to a tent on the edge of the valley.

After the body search was completed and it was confirmed that there were no weapons, Zhao Dazhu was pushed into the tent. When he looked up, he saw a majestic-looking military general.

The general was wearing armor and sitting behind a temporary desk. In addition to books and documents, there was a round object covered with a black cloth on the desk.

Zhao Dazhu's ancestors had been military households for generations, so he naturally recognized the general's armor. He immediately said to the general:

"Meet General Qi!"

Qi Jiguang looked at Zhao Dazhu who was kneeling on the ground with a sharp gaze. He put down the military book in his hand and said:
"Zhao Dazhu, do you admit your guilt?"

Zhao Dazhu knelt on the ground and said:
"I know my crime."

Zhao Dazhu was full of doubts. He was a wanted criminal by the imperial court, and the other party was the commander-in-chief who was in charge of Datong's military affairs.

A traitor of his status did not need the personal intervention of General Qi Jiguang. Even if Qi Jiguang's men killed him, Qi Jiguang would still get a lot of credit.

There is no need for Qi Jiguang to see me!

Qi Jiguang got down from his seat, personally helped Zhao Dazhu up, and then said slowly:

"Zhao Dazhu, a native of Xiahe Village in Datong, was falsely accused of treason by his superior, Captain Zhao Cheng. All thirty-one members of Xiahe Zhaojia Village were massacred."

When Zhao Dazhu heard what Qi Jiguang said, his eyes were filled with tears.

Qi Jiguang sighed and said:
"You are also a pitiful person, but you are already a traitor recognized by the court."

Zhao Dazhu knelt on the ground and said to Qi Jiguang:
"General Qi! For a sinner like me to hear these words from you is worth dying for! Please execute me immediately and report to the court!"

Qi Jiguang changed the subject and said:
"This official means that you are now a traitor recognized by the court, but you still have a chance."

"Chance?"

Qi Jiguang returned to his seat and handed Zhao Dazhu a simple hand-drawn map of the frontier.

"You often travel to the border, so you know Bansheng City, right?"

Zhao Dazhu nodded repeatedly and said:
"I've heard from merchants on the grasslands that Alda Khan built the city of Bansheng, which is the most prosperous city on the grasslands."

Qi Jiguang nodded.

Bansheng City is the city built by Altan at Fengzhou Beach.

Unable to bear the oppression, most of the people living on the northern border of the Ming Dynasty fled to the Mongolian region and gradually settled in the Fengzhoutan area, living with the Mongolians near Bansheng City.

After Qi Jiguang arrived in Datong and collected information from the grassland, he quickly determined that the biggest threat to Altan's tribe was Bansheng City.

Altan Khan built cities and absorbed Han people's farming and trade, which meant he had a basic foundation. It was also from the time when Altan's tribe settled in Bansheng City that the Altan's tribe began to rise on the grassland and gradually became the overlord of the grassland.

Fengzhou Beach, also known as Chi Le Chuan, is the place described in the "Chi Le Song" of the Northern Dynasties.

The sky is vast and the wilderness is endless, the wind blows the grass low and cattle and sheep can be seen.

This was originally a fertile area suitable for both farming and grazing. After Altan Khan built the city, he absorbed craftsmen and technology from the Central Plains, and even set up an official system modeled after the Han system.

Qi Jiguang's research found that Bansheng City was the core of Altan's tribe. If Bansheng City could not be attacked, no matter how much military force was used on the grassland, the core of Altan's tribe could not be damaged.

Since Qi Jiguang could not harm the core of Altan's tribe, his clearing of other tribes on the grassland would actually help Altan's tribe establish its prestige, help it absorb these remaining tribes, and strengthen its strength.

After realizing this, Qi Jiguang took the initiative to change his tactics. He stopped clearing out the Mongolian tribes near Datong and instead tried to win them over.

At this time, Qi Jiguang received a letter from Su Ze.

This was Su Ze's reply to Qi Jiguang's extremely corny letter of greeting.

In the letter, Su Ze showed respect for Qi Jiguang and did not act in the condescending manner of other civil servants.

What made Qi Jiguang even more excited was that Su Ze also pointed out the problems of Bansheng City in his letter.

Su Ze wrote in the letter: "Altan's tribe built a city in Bansheng and took control of it. Their evil ambitions are obvious. As long as Bansheng City remains, Altan's tribe will remain strong."

After reading this reply letter, Qi Jiguang immediately regarded Su Ze as a close friend.

In addition to mentioning Bansheng City, Su Ze's letter also brought Qi Jiguang a new equipment called "Thousand-Li Eyes".

This monocular telescope allows scouts to see enemies in the distance. After personally testing it, Qi Jiguang was amazed. He gave the telescope sent by Su Ze to the craftsmen and ordered them to make it.

Qi Jiguang also followed Su Ze's advice and strictly controlled the craftsmen who made the telescopes. He numbered all the telescopes and assigned responsibility to each scout. Losing a telescope would result in severe punishment under military law.

At the end of the letter, Su Ze proposed a plan.

Qi Jiguang looked at Zhao Dazhu. He had been involved in military affairs for many years and had climbed up step by step from the grassroots level of the garrison. He had his own way of identifying and employing people, so when he saw Zhao Dazhu, he was sure that this person could be used.

Qi Jiguang didn't understand. Su Ze was far away in the capital and had never met Zhao Dazhu, so why could he conclude that this person could be used?
Qi Jiguang thought again that Su Ze recommended himself to Gao Gong based on Xu Wei's few words. Perhaps he really had the ability to recognize people from thousands of miles away.

Qi Jiguang said to Zhao Dazhu:
"In a few days, you will be able to reunite with your brothers and go to Bansheng City together. From now on, you will be a wanted criminal of the Ming Dynasty and will have no chance of coexisting with the Ming Dynasty."

"When Alda Khan takes you on a campaign, even if he asks you to attack the Ming army, you must not show any mercy."

"do you understand?"

Zhao Dazhu immediately understood Qi Jiguang's intention, and Qi Jiguang continued:
"I have already buried your mother's body. I can assure you that when Bansheng City falls, you will be able to return to the Ming Dynasty in glory, and your mother will receive an imperial decree."

Then, Qi Jiguang lifted the black cloth covering the table. Zhao Dazhu's eyes were bloodshot, because it turned out that this was the head of his mortal enemy, Captain Zhao Cheng.

At this moment, Zhao Dazhu prostrated himself and said:
"I, Zhao Dazhu, am willing to die for the general!"

(End of this chapter)