The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 9 The General's Death
boom! boom! boom!
Just as Wu Zimian was looking down to check the horse's injuries, several deafening cannon shots suddenly rang out behind him.

His heart sank – Duan Rong's army had probably already collapsed.

"Useless! Both father and son are useless! They can't even last a moment!"

Wu Zimian gripped the riding whip tightly, cold sweat pouring down his face.

If the soldiers on horseback were to pursue him now, he wouldn't be able to escape far with this lame and inferior horse.

If only my jade horse were still here!
Thinking of this, Wu Zimian gritted his teeth in hatred: "Li Xuan! You just wait! Once I'm free, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

But now was clearly not the time to worry about such things. Looking at the injured horse, Wu Zimian came up with a plan.

I can't go far on horseback, so I might as well find a place to hide and wait until it gets dark. Maybe then the pursuers won't be able to find me.

So Wu Zimian gritted his teeth, took out his waist knife, and stabbed the horse's rump hard.

The warhorse, in pain, galloped away, and Wu Zimian took the opportunity to find a tree pit and hide there silently.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, the sound of galloping hooves came from not far away, followed by several hurried voices, as if they were discussing something.

Wu Zimian hid in the tree pit, his heart pounding like a drum, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his hands gripping the hem of his clothes tightly, afraid that he might accidentally reveal his whereabouts.

"Chief Qi, this is strange. We've searched back and forth several times, but we still haven't found him. Could Wu Zimian have really escaped?"

Jiang Han shook his head, quite certain:
"Impossible. Wu Zimian's horse has been found. Where could he have run off to?"

Jiang Han frowned and looked around. This was the middle of nowhere, and it was getting dark soon. Where did Wu Zimian go?

Just as the two were talking, Jiang Han suddenly noticed a pool of blood on the ground that was particularly conspicuous.

Without saying a word, he immediately squatted down and began to examine it carefully.

Shao Yong, standing nearby, followed suit, staring at the bloodstains from left to right, but after a long time, he still couldn't find anything.
"Lord Jiang, this blood is most likely from Wu Zimian's horse. It must have dripped here when it passed by, right?"

Jiang Han shook his head and explained in a low voice:
"Look closely, the bloodstain is quite heavy, and it's even splattered."

Jiang Han gently rubbed his fingertips across the dark red soil and continued his analysis:

"If it were an old wound, the blood would be dripping. This is clearly a new wound, and..."

Jiang Han suddenly stopped—wasn't there a hideous wound on the hindquarters of the horse Wu Zimian was riding? His eyes lit up as if he had grasped something crucial.

He immediately fell silent, lightly tapped the surrounding woods with his finger, and winked at Hei Zi and Shao Yong.

The two understood each other, immediately held their breath, bent over, and slowly searched the surrounding woods.

Hiding in the shadows, Wu Zimian listened to the commotion made by Jiang Han and the others. His heart pounded like thunder. He desperately suppressed his breathing and pressed his body tightly against the tree roots, afraid of making any sound.

Time seems to have frozen.

After an unknown amount of time, the surroundings finally quieted down, and Wu Zimian let out a long breath, his tense body relaxing slightly.

Just as he cautiously prepared to peek out and observe his surroundings, a cheerful voice suddenly rang in his ears:

"Lord Wu, how have you been?"

Jiang Han reached out and grabbed Wu Zimian, who was hiding in the tree pit, and dragged him out like a dead dog.

Wu Zimian's face was covered in blood, his clothes and armor were in disarray, he was in a sorry state, and his eyes were filled with terror and despair.

"My comrades, let's talk this out! We're all brothers-in-arms, why is it like this?!"

"Why is this so?"

Jiang Han, holding a blood-stained goose-feather saber, pointed at Wu Zimian, who was slumped on the ground, and shouted sternly:

"Wu Zimian! My soldiers from the rear camp have traveled thousands of miles to defend the emperor, and not only have your provisions and pay been completely embezzled by you, but you even want to lure and kill us?"

"If it weren't for the warning from heaven, we would all be innocent victims of your blade tomorrow at the training ground!"

Wu Zimian was trembling all over, but still clinging to a sliver of hope, he forced a smile and tried to remain calm.
"Luring and killing? My lord, what makes you say that?"

His eyes darted around, and he said, feigning grievance:
"I have already sent word that pay will be distributed at the drill ground tomorrow. Why can't you all wait even one night?"

Jiang Han smiled, tapped Wu Zimian's cheek with the tip of his knife, and said in a chilling tone:
"Lord Wu is really stubborn; he's lying even when he's about to die!"

"Someone, bring me the document!" In no time, Dong Erzhu and Heizi brought up the document that had been used to deliver the message.

Seeing Jiang Han covered in blood, Wenshu was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down.

Under the intense scrutiny of everyone, the clerk trembled and nervously revealed his and Wu Zimian's conspiracy in detail.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han sneered and, without hesitation, raised his hand and slashed with his knife.

With a "thud," the clerk let out a scream, his eyes wide open, and collapsed into a pool of blood.

Jiang Han sheathed his sword, slowly turned to look at Wu Zimian, and spoke in an icy tone:
"Lord Wu truly loves his soldiers like his own children!"

Wu Zimian, still unwilling to give up and trying to find a glimmer of hope, hurriedly shouted:

"Good sir, it's just military pay, right? No problem! No problem at all!"

"I still have more than a dozen chests of gold and silver hidden in my central command tent. I'll go find them now and distribute them to the brothers!"

Jiang Han smirked, looking at Wu Zimian with a mocking expression:
"Lord Wu, isn't it a bit late to only think of setting it off now?"

"We will divide the gold and silver ourselves. If Lord Wu has nothing else to say, then go and accompany the clerk!"

Having said that, Jiang Han raised his goose-feather saber, as if to strike.

Wu Zimian was shocked and quickly raised his hand to stop him:

"Hold on! I still have money! I still have money!"

"There's still a sum of money owed for the sale of military horses. If you can let me go, you can have that money too!"

His face was filled with terror, his voice was trembling with sobs, and a pleading look flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Han squinted and continued the interrogation:

"Where is the money from the sale of military horses? And why hasn't it been recovered?"

Wu Zimian quickly replied:
"It's in Liujiazhuang, north of Pingshan County, not far from here. This money is the proceeds from the sale of military horses, but the Liu family has been making excuses and trying to embezzle it!"

Jiang Han frowned slightly: "And who exactly is the Liu family?"

Wu Zimian explained cautiously:
"The Liu family is the same family as Liu Youfu, the Imperial Son-in-Law. Liu Youfu married Princess Ningde."

Jiang Han racked his brains, trying to recall: Princess Ningde? Imperial Son-in-Law Liu Youfu?
I don't think I've ever heard of such people since the late Ming Dynasty; they must have been some low-class characters.

If you know what's good for you, you'll obediently return all the money you made from buying and selling military horses.

If they don't know their place, the goose-feathered sword in my hand won't recognize any princess or prince consort.

Wu Zimian, with tears streaming down his face, repeatedly kowtowed and pleaded:

"I've confessed all the money, please spare my life, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han turned to look at the soldiers behind him. In the firelight, everyone gritted their teeth, wishing they could tear Wu Zimian apart alive.

Jiang Han looked at the enraged soldiers and shook his head:
"Lord Wu, even if I agree, I'm afraid my brothers won't!"

Wu Zimian crawled on his knees, tears streaming down his face:

"Hero! Hero! I was wrong, I was really wrong, I'll never do it again! Please forgive me this once!"

Seeing Wu Zimian's despicable appearance, Jiang Han couldn't help but think of Duan Rong and his son, and his anger flared up.

"Wu Zimian, you are a garrison commander, yet you are not as tough as your soldiers."

"Look at yourself now, how can you face the soldiers who were willing to die for you?"

Jiang Han glared at Wu Zimian with resentment:
"wrong?"

"You'll never know you're wrong; all you know is that you're going to die!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Han raised his knife and brought it down. With a flash of cold light, Wu Zimian's head rolled to the ground, blood splattering everywhere. His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes wide open, unable to close them in peace.

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(End of this chapter)