Huangming

Chapter 390 Merit Must Be Rewarded, Blood Feud Revenge Arrives

Hetu Ala.

The cold wind from the city seeped in through the cracks in the wooden windows of the Tong family's courtyard, causing the candlelight inside to flicker slightly.

Tong Guoyao clutched the cloth in her hand, her face filled with disbelief and astonishment, her eyes fixed on her grandfather Tong Yangxing, who sat at the head of the table.

"Grandpa, are we... are we really going back to Fushun? Back to the Ming Dynasty?"

His voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

Tong Guoyao grew up in Hetu Ala since childhood. Although she has Han blood, she has long been accustomed to life here.

Previously, the Han people's lives on the side of the Great Jin were like walking on thin ice.

Because of the defection of Liu Xingzuo and Li Yangeng, Nurhaci became extremely suspicious of the Han people. He would confiscate their property or even execute them. The Tong family was able to save their lives entirely because they had submitted to the Jurchens in their early years and had also married into the royal family.

In addition, there was the secret help of the Grand Consort Abahai.

But after Nurhaci died in battle and Huang Taiji ascended to the throne, the lives of the Han people gradually became easier.

Unlike his father, Huang Taiji did not reject Han culture. Instead, he often summoned Han advisors such as Fan Wencheng to discuss matters, and even sent Tong Yangxing to join the army in the conquest of Korea.

Upon his return, Tong Yangxing was not only promoted, but also received a reward of one hundred taels of gold and fifty slaves.

Even his grandson got a small job in the Han Army Banner because of his grandfather's connections, so he no longer had to be subservient to others like before.

Just when things were starting to look up, his grandfather suddenly told him to pack his things and return to the Ming Dynasty.

Tong Guoyao's heart was pounding like a rabbit.

Although he was an inside agent planted by the Ming Dynasty in the Jin Dynasty, he had not made any significant contributions these days, except for occasionally sending out some unimportant messages.

Would the Ming Dynasty accept him as an "insider"?
The thought of being arrested as a "traitor" and subjected to torture, such as being skinned alive and slowly sliced ​​to death, sent chills down his spine.

Tong Yangxing sat on a chair covered with wolf skin, his face expressionless.

He looked up at his grandson, his tone as calm as if he were talking about something trivial:
"The Great Jin is finished. Now the people of Hetu Ala are scattered, and the number of deserters is increasing day by day. Even the Beile are secretly hoarding gold and silver. The Great Khan can hardly protect himself, so how can he care about us Han people?"
Don't hesitate any longer, hurry up and pack your things. We'll leave for Fushun first thing tomorrow morning.

"Can……"

Tong Guoyao opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something more.

He hadn't even had time to send the news that "Huang Taiji was going to surrender" back to the Ming Dynasty. If he went back, he wouldn't even have a "pledge of allegiance" to prove his identity.
Seeing his grandfather's cold expression, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and could only hang his head, turning away with a heart full of disappointment.

As she reached the courtyard gate, Tong Guoyao couldn't help but look back.

After Abahai was ordered to be buried alive with Huang Taiji, he lost his spies in the harem and could no longer obtain key information.

Now even my grandfather says that the Great Jin Dynasty is doomed, so it seems that Huang Taiji really is going to surrender.

Perhaps, by telling the Ming Dynasty this news, he could at least get a chance to "redeem himself through meritorious service"?

Inside the house, Tong Yangxing watched his grandson's disappearing figure, his originally calm eyes instantly turning sharp.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked at the scattered lights in Hetu Ala City, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Go back to Fushun?
How could he possibly go back?

As a Han Chinese who betrayed the Ming Dynasty in his early years and assisted Nurhaci in conquering Liaodong, his hands were stained with the blood of his compatriots, and he was already a "great traitor" whom everyone in the Ming Dynasty wanted to kill.

Going back will only lead to certain death!
The so-called "return to Fushun" was merely a task assigned by Huang Taiji.

Using the pretext of "Han people surrendering," Xiong Tingbi was lulled into a false sense of security, leading the Ming army to believe that the Jin dynasty was losing popular support and preparing to surrender, thus lowering their guard against Hetu Ala.

The surprise attack on the Khorchin tribe was the biggest secret of the Jin Dynasty. Apart from key figures such as Huang Taiji and Amin, very few people knew about it.

If word gets out, not only will he be executed by Huang Taiji, but the entire plan will also be completely ruined.

Even if it's your own grandson, you can only keep him in the dark.

Sometimes, being unaware is a form of "protection".

"As long as I can help the Great Khan succeed in his surprise attack, once the Great Jin recovers its strength, I, Tong Yangxing, will still be a hero of the Great Jin."

As for the Ming Dynasty...

There's no going back.

the other side.

Filled with fear, Tong Guoyao left her family residence and hurried through the snow-covered streets and alleys of Hetu Ala.

He dared not delay and went straight to the shop in the west of the city that had a sign that read "Northern Fur Shop".

This was the contact point he had arranged with the Imperial Guards in Fushun; the shopkeeper was an Imperial Guard spy who had been turned against them.

As you lift the curtain, a warm scent, a mixture of fur and charcoal, wafts out.

The shopkeeper was busy fiddling with his abacus when he saw Tong Guoyao enter. He didn't even lift his eyelids, but said in a low voice, "The price of fox fur has increased by 30% today."

This is the code for the connection.

"I need to exchange some loose silver."

Tong Guoyao lowered her voice, took out a folded piece of paper from her bosom, and quickly stuffed it into the shopkeeper's hand.

"This is important news."

If Huang Taiji is truly going to surrender, he will soon lead his troops back to Fushun. We Han people have also been notified to pack our things and set off tomorrow.

You must pass this on to the important people in Fushun as soon as possible to help me prove my identity—I am not a traitor!

The shopkeeper took the slip of paper, glanced at it quickly, and then looked up at Tong Guoyao.

"Don't worry, the message will be delivered on time. Just do as Huang Taiji instructs. When you arrive in Fushun, someone will naturally help you verify the information."

Tong Guoyao breathed a sigh of relief, gave a few more instructions, and then hurriedly left the shop.

Little did he know that this note, carrying the "false information," would soon be delivered to Fushun by the caravan's horses through the snowstorm.

What he didn't know was that there were many Han Chinese like him in Hetu Ala who were eager to "show their loyalty."

Some were minor officials in the Han army banners who wrote down their intentions overnight and entrusted passing peddlers to deliver them to Fushun.

Some were Han Chinese landlords who had been captured in their early years and later submitted to the Jurchens. They brought their treasured jade and silk items with them and went to Fushun ahead of time under the pretext of "presenting surrender gifts".

There were even a few centurions of the Han Banner who secretly copied down the roster of the soldiers under their command, hoping to use it as a "pledge of allegiance".

Everyone was afraid. They were afraid that if they were a step too late, they would be treated as "traitors" by the Ming Dynasty and their skins would be peeled off and stuffed with straw. This was a nightmare they dared not even imagine.

These messages, like snowflakes, poured into the Jinyiwei stronghold in Fushun, and were then gathered at Xiong Tingbi's military headquarters.

At first, Xiong Tingbi carefully checked each message, but the contents were largely the same.

"Huang Taiji has ordered the abolition of the national title," "Han Chinese troops are packing their bags," and "He will personally go to Fushun to plead guilty in five days." In addition, the news brought back by the scouts that "no large-scale troop mobilization has been seen in Hetu Ala City" gradually dispelled his doubts.

"It seems that Huang Taiji really can't hold on any longer."

Xiong Tingbi put down the news briefing in his hand and said to Zhou Wenhuan beside him, "Pass on my order: the scouts in the Hetu Ala direction no longer need to scout twice a day, morning and evening, but only once a day."

The primary focus should be on monitoring Huang Taiji's movements toward Fushun; other efforts should be concentrated on receiving and resettling the surrendered Han Chinese.

Although Zhou Wenhuan still had some reservations, he felt that with multiple pieces of information corroborating each other, it must be true, so he bowed and replied:

"Yes, my lord."

Just as Xiong Tingbi turned his attention to the "preparations for the surrender", a series of rapid hoofbeats came from outside Fushun City.

In the snow, a procession bearing the banner of "Imperial Envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty" was slowly approaching.

Leading the procession was Wang Chengen, dressed in a python robe, followed by an endless line of oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages. The carriages carried many boxes, each sealed with a bright yellow seal, clearly gifts bestowed by the emperor.

Upon hearing the news, Xiong Tingbi immediately led generals such as Ma Shilong and He Gang to personally greet them at the city gate.

"Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong Military Commissioner, pays his respects to the angel!"

Behind Xiong Tingbi, military officers and generals saluted one after another.

"Greetings, angel!"

"You're welcome."

Wang Chengen walked forward with a smile, his voice loud and cheerful.

"I have come on His Majesty's orders to bestow rewards upon the soldiers of Liaodong. His Majesty is greatly pleased with the three great victories at Honghe Valley, Tieling, and Kaiyuan, and has come to distribute these rewards!"

Xiong Tingbi quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude: "Your subject Xiong Tingbi, on behalf of all the soldiers of Liaodong, thanks Your Majesty for your divine grace!"

But when his gaze passed over Wang Chengen and landed on a person behind him, the smile on his face faltered slightly.

The man was dressed in a scarlet official robe, with a thin face and sharp eyes; he was the imperial envoy sent by His Majesty.

Yang Lian.

Behind Yang Lian stood a thousand elite soldiers clad in black armor.

Xiong Tingbi's heart sank instantly.

Wang Chengen seemed oblivious to Xiong Tingbi's odd behavior and introduced him with a smile:
"This is Yang Lian, the Chief Minister. His Majesty specially ordered him to assist us in distributing the rewards and to take a look at the defenses of Liaodong."

Yang Dutang is His Majesty's most capable general. His previous efforts in reorganizing military affairs in Jizhou were remarkably effective!

"I have long admired General Xiong."

Yang Lian stepped forward, his tone calm, but his eyes swept over the generals beside Xiong Tingbi like a hawk.

"Greetings, Yang Dutang!"

Xiong Tingbi suppressed his unease and returned the greeting with a bow, but his mind was already in turmoil.

Assist with the award presentation?

Why bring a thousand soldiers?

These people look like members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
Moreover, he had long heard of Yang Lian's reputation:

Not long ago in Jizhen, Yang Lian, under the pretext of "rectifying corruption and enforcing strict military discipline," turned the entire town upside down.

More than 100 officers were found to have embezzled military pay and colluded with the enemy. More than 30 of them were beheaded and their heads displayed in public, and nearly 100 were exiled to the army. Even the commander-in-chief of Jizhou was rendered powerless by him.

Now that Yang Lian has brought the Imperial Guards to Liaodong, does that mean His Majesty wants to investigate the military affairs of Liaodong?
Xiong Tingbi became increasingly alarmed as he thought about it.

If Yang Lian were to launch a "great purge" in Liaodong like Cha Jizhen, not to mention whether it would arouse dissatisfaction among the soldiers, the mere unrest in the hearts of the people would be enough to give Huang Taiji an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

If the Jurchens seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack, the war situation in Liaodong may completely spiral out of control.

But can he drive away the people His Majesty sent?
Xiong Tingbi had no choice but to keep his worries hidden deep in his heart.

Afterwards, he put aside these emotions and led Wang Chengen, Yang Lian and others into the city.

It didn't take long.

In the center of the drill ground in Kaiyuan City, hundreds of black lacquered wooden boxes were neatly arranged, their lids open, revealing piles of gleaming silver, brightly colored silks, and exquisite armor and swords.

This is a reward of nearly two million taels of silver and various gifts transported from Beijing and Jizhou. It is a reward from the Ming Dynasty for the three great victories of the Liaodong soldiers, and also Emperor Zhu Youxiao's promise to the soldiers and civilians on the border.

Of course, what was on the training ground was only a portion of the prizes.

Another portion of the rewards was distributed while they were in Liaoyang.

after all.

The Ming army in Liaoyang killed Nurhaci, and Zhu Wanliang, Sun Chengzong, and others were also richly rewarded.

Xiong Tingbi's eyes shone as he looked at the mountain of prizes.

On the day.

Officials from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Liaodong Military Governor's Office stayed up all night, checking the list of war merits one by one by candlelight:

The Shenji Battalion that resisted Nurhaci in the Battle of Red River Valley, the suicide squad that was the first to scale the city walls during the siege of Tieling, and the pioneers who breached Fushun...

Every contribution was meticulously recorded, and every name was repeatedly verified to ensure that "no merit was overlooked and no reward was undeserved."

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds the following day, the ceremony to reward merits officially began. Xiong Tingbi, dressed in the robes of a military commissioner, slowly walked to the high platform in the center of the drill ground.

The master of ceremonies, holding the imperial edict, spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the drill ground:
"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner, was a skilled commander who led troops to defeat Nurhaci in the Red River Valley, recapture Tieling, and take over Kaiyuan. His achievements were remarkable.

He was specially granted the title of Earl of Dongning, with the additional title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. He was still in charge of the Liaodong Military Commission, concurrently serving as the Governor-General of Liaodong Military Affairs and in charge of provisions and pay. He was also granted the Imperial Sword and permitted to dispose of officers below the rank of Deputy Commander-in-Chief at his discretion.

He was also bestowed with a python robe, a jade belt, one hundred taels of gold, and one thousand bolts of silk…

After the imperial edict was read, two eunuchs respectfully presented Xiong Tingbi with the python robe and the imperial sword.

Xiong Tingbi took the sword with both hands, his fingertips touching the cold scabbard of the Shangfang sword, and then stroking the gold-threaded python pattern embroidered on the python robe. Suddenly, his eyes welled up with tears.

Since being appointed to manage Liaodong, he has endured the doubts of the court, the shortage of military pay, and the brutality of the enemy. He has spent countless nights on the city walls during the cold winter and has simulated battles countless times in his military tent. This reward is not only an affirmation of him personally, but also an affirmation of all the soldiers in Liaodong.

He suddenly knelt on one knee, raised the Shangfang sword high, his voice choked with emotion yet powerful:
"Your subject, Xiong Tingbi, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor! I will do my utmost to protect every inch of Liaodong and pacify the Jurchens as soon as possible, so as not to fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty!

Upon seeing this, the soldiers on the drill ground also knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The sound shook the snow and made it fall in a flurry, and even the distant city towers seemed to echo.

Next came the rewards and honors bestowed upon the other generals.

Liu Xingzuo, dressed in armor, strode forward.

For his meritorious service in pacifying the Mongol tribes and assisting the Ming army in attacking the Later Jin, he was awarded the title of "Admiral of Liaodong Mongol Affairs" and was allowed to establish a "Mongol Affairs Office" in Kaiyuan. He was also allowed to dismiss subordinate officials of the fifth rank or below from the position of director.

When Liu Xingzuo received the imperial edict, his eyes were filled with excitement.

As a general who had returned to the fold, His Majesty treated him with immense kindness and had no grudges whatsoever.

This further fueled his resolve to repay the emperor's kindness with his life.

He kowtowed three times and shouted loudly:

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust and manage Mongolian affairs well, ensuring that all the tribes of the grasslands serve as a shield for the Ming Dynasty!"

Man Gui was promoted from a military officer to the deputy commander-in-chief of Jizhou, and was given the title of "assistant governor".

This valiant general, who came from a military background, held his official seal, a simple and honest smile on his dark face, and kowtowed three times deeply towards the direction of Beijing:
"As long as I am stationed in Jizhou, I will guard Jizhou for Your Majesty and not let the Jurchens or Tartars set foot on it!"

The most attention-grabbing player is veteran Chen Ce.

For his numerous bloody battles and outstanding achievements, he was promoted to "Earl of Dinglu" and then to "Right Commander of the Right Army Commandery" (a first-rank official), concurrently serving as "Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern and Western Route Armies of Liaodong".

When the eunuch handed him the golden seal symbolizing his count status, this elderly general, well past sixty, had tears in his eyes and his voice trembled:

"Though I am old, I can still take up my sword and mount my horse! I am willing to fight for Your Majesty for another ten years and march straight to Hetu Ala!"

After the generals finished bestowing their rewards, the atmosphere on the training ground reached its climax.

Subsequently.

This was a reward for ordinary soldiers.

Every soldier who participated in the three major battles of Honghe Valley, Tieling, and Kaiyuan was rewarded with five taels of silver and two bolts of cloth.

The fallen soldiers were posthumously granted hereditary military household status, and their families were exempted from corvée labor for three years.

Wounded soldiers were given sinecure positions in the garrison and received half a salary for life.

As the soldiers lined up to receive heavy silver coins and neatly folded cloths from the officials, cries and cheers mingled together on the drill ground.

A young soldier held five taels of silver, his fingers repeatedly tracing the teeth marks on the edge of the ingot, tears streaming down his face.

He was a refugee from Shaanxi who joined the army just to make a living. He never imagined he would receive such a generous reward. These five taels of silver were enough to allow his mother and sister back home to live a good life for a year.

Another veteran, who had lost his right arm, received the document for a "non-essential post" in the garrison, and tears streamed down his face.

"Following His Majesty in battles throughout my life has been worthwhile! Even if I lose an arm, I'll still have food to eat and won't have to worry about being destitute in my old age!"

The soldiers raised the silver or cloth in their hands and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" towards the high platform. Their voices were full of heartfelt gratitude and loyalty, without any perfunctory tone.

Standing on the high platform, Xiong Tingbi looked at the scene before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He recalled how, throughout history, countless armies had suffered morale collapse and eventual defeat due to the lack of rewards for merit and punishment for wrongdoing.

Now, His Majesty has put into practice the principle of "rewarding those who have made contributions" by providing tangible rewards such as silver, official positions, and favors.

These seemingly simple four words are more effective at uniting the morale of the army than any harsh laws or punishments.

At this moment, in the hearts of the soldiers in Liaodong, there was no longer any distinction between "Shaanxi soldiers", "Zhejiang soldiers" and "Liaodong soldiers", nor was there any barrier between "generals" and "soldiers".

They shared a single belief: to fight alongside His Majesty, for which merit would be rewarded and hardship would be alleviated.

In their hearts, there is now only one common "sun," and that is the Ming Emperor Zhu Youxiao.

If anyone dared to say a bad word about His Majesty at this moment, these soldiers, who had just received their rewards and were filled with gratitude, would not hesitate to draw their swords and fight that person to the death.

"They are all loyal subjects!"

Wang Chengen was very satisfied with the soldiers' reaction.

Spreading influence for the emperor was also something this angel was supposed to do.

In retrospect, he did a pretty good job with this task.

Beside Wang Chengen, Yang Lian looked at the cheering soldiers with a smile on his face, but a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

The rewarding of meritorious service in Fushun lasted for three days.

The excitement at the military training ground of the governor's mansion never ceased.

Every day, soldiers would bring silver and silk, along with official documents, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" before leaving with joyful faces.

But this sense of security was always shrouded in a shadow in Xiong Tingbi's heart.

Yang Lian's presence was like an unremoved thorn, preventing him from completely relaxing.

Over the past three days, Xiong Tingbi has made no small effort to "test" Yang Lian.

He deliberately brought up the issue of "receiving salaries without working and drinking the blood of soldiers" during the meeting.

He then brought up the "difficult problem of resettling military households".

Later, it was even said that there were also corrupt generals in Liaodong Town.

Each time, Yang Lian would simply sit to the side, brush in hand, diligently recording in her notebook, neither questioning the details nor raising any doubts, occasionally only uttering a casual remark:
“The Duke of Jinglue handled the matter properly and should report it to His Majesty in accordance with the truth.”

Or "on record".

He said no more.

On one occasion, Xiong Tingbi even had the quartermaster check the list of meritorious officials against the actual amount of silver and silk distributed in front of Yang Lian, deliberately revealing a few flaws.

For example, the number of soldiers killed in battle in a certain battalion was incorrect.

Yang Lian simply had the accompanying Imperial Guard captain check it once, and after confirming that the error was indeed due to "objective reasons," he signaled to continue, without any intention of investigating further.

This made Xiong Tingbi even more confused:
If Yang Lian came to investigate a case, he neither investigated corruption nor checked military pay; instead, he showed "pure concern" for the details of rewarding merits and defense.

However, if he was only there to assist in distributing rewards, then the fact that a thousand elite Jinyiwei guards routinely patrolled the defenses of Fushun and occasionally went to the outskirts of the city to verify the military household registers makes it seem less "simple."

"Perhaps... His Majesty truly sent him to understand the real situation in Liaodong, rather than to investigate a case?"

As Xiong Tingbi gazed at the smiling faces of the soldiers receiving their rewards outside the window, a thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

When Yang Lian investigated Jizhou, he initially "listened without investigating," only taking swift action after figuring out the details, and killing more than thirty generals.

He dared not gamble, much less could afford to gamble.

Liaodong has just been stabilized. If the investigation causes further turmoil, and Huang Taiji seizes the opportunity to launch a counterattack, all previous efforts will be in vain.

"That's all."

Xiong Tingbi gently stroked the hilt of the Shangfang sword, his eyes regaining their composure.

"As long as Yang Lian doesn't interfere with defense or stir up morale, I'll cooperate with whatever he wants to investigate or look at. The overall situation in Liaodong is the priority; a few personal concerns are nothing."

at the same time.

Late at night!

On the snowy field ten miles outside Hetu Ala City.

Huang Taiji stood on a high slope outside Hetu Ala City, wearing yellow leather armor and with the Shun Dao left behind by Nurhaci hanging at his waist.

His warhorse pawed restlessly, its breath quickly dissipating in the cold wind.

Down the slope, tens of thousands of Jurchen cavalry had already assembled.

They did not wear heavy iron armor, but only light leather armor. Three days' worth of dried meat and mare's milk wine hung beside their saddles, and they carried bows and arrows and short knives on their backs. Even their horse tack was simplified in order to reduce the load and increase speed.

"Everyone!"

Huang Taiji tightened the reins, his gaze sweeping over every face, red from the cold yet filled with fierce anger.

"Do you remember how the wise Khan died? Do you remember how many of your fathers, brothers, and sons died under the swords of the Ming army and were buried under the frozen soil of the Red River Valley?"

The cavalrymen remained silent, but their grip on their sabers tightened even more.

The disastrous defeat at Red River Valley and Nurhaci's death are bloodstains etched into the hearts of every Jurchen.

This is the depth of their blood!
Seeing that the people's anger had been stirred up, Huang Taiji continued to incite them:

"I remember, and you should remember too! Recently, some people have thought that I, Huang Taiji, am going to surrender to the Ming Dynasty?"

"This is fake news! It's meant to lull Xiong Tingbi into a false sense of security, a necessary humiliation for us to achieve victory!"

"We Jurchens have never been cowards!"

Huang Taiji's voice suddenly rose, filled with heart-wrenching rage.

"We will not accept surrender! We will seek revenge! We will make the Great Jin Dynasty great again!"

He abruptly changed the subject, pointing in the direction of the Khorchin tribe, a greedy glint in his eyes:
"Now, a group of traitors are standing in our way: the Khorchin tribe!"

They once made an alliance with us, but they broke their promise and sided with the Kingdom of Nikan. They even dared to send scouts to plunder our people!

Today, we will go and collect this debt!

"We will trample their pastures, seize their treasures, and capture their women and slaves!"

Let them taste the consequences of offending the Great Jin! Let them know that our wrath is enough to burn down the entire grassland!

"Burn down Horqin! Loot them all!"

One of the cavalrymen roared and raised his saber.

"Burn down Khorchin! Avenge them!"

More and more cavalrymen roared in response, their swords and spears gleaming coldly in the snow.

Looking at the boiling morale, Huang Taiji's lips curled into a ruthless smile.

He suddenly drew the curved sword from his waist and pointed it to the northwest.

"Set off! Destination: Horqin! On this journey, victory is the only option; defeat is not an option!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen roared in unison.

Huang Taiji spurred his horse and charged forward, his yellow figure like a bolt of lightning.

The cavalrymen behind them, one man and three horses, followed closely behind. The horses' hooves thundered as they galloped towards the Khorchin tribe.

What they wanted was a swift victory, to seize all of Khorchin's wealth and population before the Ming army could react.

Huang Taiji launched a surprise attack on the Khorchin tribe.

The dark clouds of war have begun to drift over the skies of Liaodong and the southern steppes of Inner Mongolia once again!
(End of this chapter)