Huangming

Chapter 412 The Corrupt Officials are Executed, and Liaodong is Pacified

The main hall of the Hetu Ala Palace.

Fan Wencheng stood bowing before the desk, his eyes constantly watching Huang Taiji's expression.

When he mentioned Zhang Bingyi's invitation to join the army, Huang Taiji's eyes flashed with light, but his brows furrowed slightly, clearly indicating that he was weighing the risks.

As a Han official who had followed Huang Taiji for many years, Fan Wencheng knew best that this former Fourth Prince, though seemingly decisive, never fought a battle he was not confident of winning. His hesitation at this moment was because he was afraid of falling into the trap of the Ming army.

Fan Wencheng immediately offered words of comfort:

"Great Khan, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we must not miss it!"

"In my humble opinion, we should immediately order the Eight Banners soldiers to prepare armor and horses, stockpile three days' worth of rations, and first move the troops to the banks of the Suzi River to await orders."

"As soon as news of a mutiny comes from Liaodong, we will send light cavalry to raid Fushun Pass and plunder the grain routes and villages around Liaoyang."

If Zhang Bingyi and his men fail and Liaodong remains uncontested, we will hold our troops in check, treating this as mere military training, without incurring any losses!

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Fan Wencheng's face, and his fingertips finally moved away from the map.

"Fan Qing has thought things through, but you've forgotten that Xiong Manzi is not someone to be trifled with."

"Now that Sun Chengzong is in charge of civil affairs in Liaodong, the refugees have been settled, the wasteland has been cultivated, and the soldiers are able to eat their fill and stay warm."

Yang Lian took charge of the censors and investigated corruption for two months, thoroughly uncovering the true nature of those generals who were exploiting soldiers.

These two men, one responsible for stabilizing the rear and the other for reforming the bureaucracy, are both highly capable.

"More importantly, the imperial court paid Liaodong three years' worth of back pay, and last winter it also sent 30,000 winter clothes."

“Those ordinary soldiers are now receiving their pay and wearing clothes. They may have resentment, but that resentment is directed at generals like Zhang Bingyi who embezzle military rations and seize military land, not at the emperor of Nikan.”

"Tell me, how many people can Zhang Bingyi and his few cowardly followers incite to rebel?"

The foundation of the Ming army in Liaodong was no longer as loose as before. With the emperor's benevolence and authority, and the governance of capable ministers, the personal grudges of a few generals could not cause any major waves.

"But... in the thirteenth year of Jiajing's reign, there was also a rebellion in Liaodong. Didn't the Ming court also fail to control it then?"

Fan Wencheng was still somewhat unwilling and argued in a low voice.

That was a precedent he found after searching through the archives of border affairs in Liaodong, and he used this case to persuade Huang Taiji.

However, Huang Taiji laughed, his laughter tinged with sarcasm.

"That was decades ago."

"Decades ago, we Jianzhou Jurchens were not even worthy of carrying shoes for the Ming people, and we had to be slaves to the Mongols, sending cattle and sheep to beg for peace every year."

What about now?
Our Great Jin Dynasty was able to stand in confrontation with the Ming army in Liaodong, and deterred the various Mongol tribes from easily provoking us.

Times have changed, the Ming Dynasty has changed, and Liaodong has changed. Zhang Bingyi still wants to rebel using the old methods of the Jiajing Emperor; isn't that just courting death?

"These people are plotting rebellion and are destined to die."

"But...a person who is doomed to die may not be useless to us."

Fan Wencheng stood there, his brows furrowed, not immediately understanding the meaning behind Huang Taiji's words.

He instinctively bowed and asked, "What does the Great Khan mean...?"

"Think about it."

Huang Taiji turned around, his expression resembling that of a fox.

"If Zhang Bingyi really causes trouble and Liaoyang falls into chaos, we will lead a light cavalry south and take advantage of the chaos to plunder the granaries around Liaoyang, and bring back some grain and people."

These are exactly what Daikin is lacking right now.

If they fail to cause trouble and are suppressed by Xiong Tingbi, those generals and servants who didn't have time to escape will definitely flee towards us.

"Zhang Bingyi was the deputy commander-in-chief of Liaoyang, and he had thousands of servants under his command."

These men were no ordinary soldiers; they were elite troops he had raised at great expense, wearing padded armor and carrying waist swords. They had fought alongside him year-round and were far more capable than the Ming army's garrison soldiers.

"If we can recruit these people and find out from them about the defenses of Liaoyang and the Ming army's grain storage locations, wouldn't we have a better chance of winning against Xiong Tingbi's next offensive?"

These words struck Fan Wencheng like a thunderbolt, instantly bringing him to his senses.

He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with sudden realization:

"Your Majesty is wise! This servant understands! Regardless of Zhang Bingyi's success or failure, we will benefit."

If they succeed, they will plunder to replenish their own resources; if they fail, they will recruit and gain their loyalty!

The more he thought about it, the more ingenious the plan seemed, and he quickly bowed and said:

"Then we must immediately send a small force to ambush in the mountains outside Fushun Pass!"

Fushun Pass is the closest to Liaoyang. If Zhang Bingyi and his men are defeated and flee, they will definitely enter the pass from here, which will be perfect for us to provide support!

"Yeah, that suits me perfectly."

Huang Taiji nodded, walked to the desk, picked up a wolf-hair brush, and quickly wrote down several instructions on the paper.

"Go and relay my order: have Jirhalang lead two hundred elite cavalrymen, disguised as hunters, to lie in ambush in the Sarhu Mountains west of Fushun Pass."

"Tell Jirhalang that if you see any officers or soldiers of the Daiming Army fleeing towards Hetu Ala, keep them calm and treat them well if they bring their servants with them."

If he were alone, he should first bring the enemy back to the Jin dynasty and thoroughly interrogate them about the military situation in Liaoyang.

Fan Wencheng bowed and replied, "This servant will take care of it immediately!"

After Fan Wencheng turned and left, Huang Taiji walked back to the map and pointed to the official road between "Liaoyang" and "Fushun Pass".

He whispered to himself:
"Zhang Bingyi, Zhang Bingyi, although you are doomed, you have at least given my Great Jin a small gift."

"Whether you can wreak havoc in Liaodong or not, I'm determined to take your people, your provisions, and your military intelligence."

On the other side, inside the main hall of the Liaoyang Prefectural Government.

On the table lay newly delivered military reports, the pages still bearing the creases from their relay at the post station, the ink fresh, recording unusual movements during the troop rotation.

Sun Chengzong, dressed in a scarlet official robe, placed his hands on the edge of the table, his brows furrowed, and his voice was somewhat hurried:

"Lord General, something has happened! The order to rotate the troops has just been issued to the Liaoyang garrison, and someone has already openly disobeyed it!"

Xiong Tingbi was stroking the scabbard of the Shangfang sword when he heard this. He looked up, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"Which garrison dares to disobey orders?"

"Dingliao Left Guard, Dingliao Right Guard, Dingliao Central Guard, and Dongning Guard!"

Sun Chengzong strode to the map and marked the garrisons around Liaoyang.
“The soldiers in these garrisons started talking privately yesterday, saying that ‘the rotation of garrisons is meant to reduce their military power.’ This morning, some of them refused to hand over their defensive equipment and even refused to move from their posts!”

Yang Lian, standing to the side, had already gripped the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard tightly in his hand, his face even more somber than Sun Chengzong's.

"Governor Sun, the Imperial Guard has traced the source: it was Zhang Bingyi, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaoyang, who instigated it!"

He handed over the secret report, which clearly stated Zhang Bingyi's movements:

“In the past few days, Zhang Bingyi has sent three groups of envoys: one group went to Guangning to find Sun Degong, one group went towards Hetu Ala, and the other group went to the grasslands!”

Yang Lian's voice was filled with suppressed anger:

"This person was already one of the top criminals on the list of those who took the blame in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's criminal records."

He embezzled military pay, exploited soldiers, embezzled 5,000 shi of military rations, seized tens of thousands of acres of military farmland, and even resold over a hundred suits of armor to the Mongols!
"This man should have been dealt with long ago; even on his deathbed, he still wanted to cause chaos in Liaodong!"

"Who were they contacting? Have you found out?"

Xiong Tingbi's eyes were already filled with murderous intent.

Yang Lian glanced down at the secret report and said in a deep voice:
"The envoy mostly contacted people who were on the previous list of criminals, such as Bao Chengxian and Zhang Cunren from Guangning, as well as several garrison commanders, all of whom were Zhang Bingyi's old subordinates."

"They really are a bunch of parasites banding together!"

Xiong Tingbi slammed his hand on the table, causing the silver wine pot to shake violently.

"These people dare to disobey even the imperial court's order to rotate troops; they have long lost all sense of awe and are already courting death!"

He immediately turned around and shouted towards the outside of the hall: "Pass on my order to summon the four generals, Hou Shilu, Liang Zhongshan, Jiang Bi, and Zhu Wanliang, to the government office for a meeting immediately!"

These four generals were all core commanders of the Ming army in Liaodong:

Hou Shilu and Liang Zhongshan were the generals who aided Liaodong.

Jiang Bi and Zhu Wanliang were native Liaoyang generals who controlled the main force of the local garrison.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the four of them quickly entered the main hall.

When Xiong Tingbi suddenly summoned them urgently, all four men wore expressions of solemnity, and even unease.

With the crackdown intensifying recently, everyone is afraid that "discussion" will turn into "punishment".

Xiong Tingbi didn't beat around the bush. He pulled out four books from under the table and threw them in front of the four men with a "thud." The covers of the books clearly read "Record of Crimes and Responsibilities" in red ink.
"Look for yourselves, everything the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated over two months is on here."

The four of them quickly picked up the book, but after turning just two pages, their faces turned pale instantly.

This document records evidence of their crimes, including receiving salaries without working, embezzlement, and having an excessive number of servants.

These things might have been overlooked when military pay was in arrears, but now that the court has made up for the shortfall, every penny is accounted for clearly. If a crime is to be committed, the lightest punishment is dismissal, and the heaviest is beheading.

Before being weighed, it weighed only four ounces; once it was on the scale, it was a ton.

After reading it, the four men's legs went weak, and they all knelt on the ground, their heads hitting the blue brick floor with a "thud."

"This humble general has been foolish! Please punish me, General!"

However, after kowtowing, the four gradually calmed down:

If Xiong Tingbi truly wanted to punish someone, he would have had the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrest him directly long ago. Why summon him to show them the evidence in person?

There must be room for maneuver here.

Looking at the four men lying on the ground, Xiong Tingbi softened his tone slightly, but still maintained his authority: "There's no need for punishment."

“The things you’ve done would have been understandable a few years ago when there were delays in food and wages and a shortage of winter clothing.”

After all, we need to support our troops and make a living.

But things are different now. The imperial court has paid Liaodong three years' worth of back pay and distributed 30,000 winter garments. To dare to embezzle or falsify reports again would be to treat His Majesty's benevolence as a joke!

He paused, then gave his final condition:

"You have three days to return all the salaries you've taken without working and the bonuses you've fraudulently claimed."

"Make sure the military roster is thoroughly reviewed again, and anyone who overreported or falsified information is removed!"

Upon hearing this, the four people felt a sense of relief.

Xiong Tingbi's meaning was crystal clear: as long as one is willing to mend one's ways, previous mistakes will not be pursued.

Hou Shilu was the first to react, and kowtowed again, saying, "This humble general thanks General Xie for his leniency! I will make up for the missing pay and correct the roster within three days!"

Liang Zhongshan, Jiang Bi, and Zhu Wanliang also quickly kowtowed, their voices filled with gratitude for surviving such a calamity:

"Thank you, General Xie! We will certainly serve the country wholeheartedly and never repeat this mistake!"

Xiong Tingbi looked down at the four people below who were genuinely repentant. The murderous aura that had been ignited in his eyes because of the "disobeying orders to change responsibilities" gradually dissipated.

In Liaodong Town, almost everyone is corrupt; he couldn't possibly kill them all.

At present, Zhang Bingyi is colluding with rebels and secretly communicating with foreign enemies. After the spring, he will also be pacifying the Jurchens. Liaodong is in dire need of manpower.

If these generals can be persuaded to genuinely submit and make amends for their past mistakes, it will be a double boost to quelling rebellions and defending against enemies.

“Zhang Bingyi has embezzled military funds and seized military farmland. Now he has also disobeyed orders, rebelled, and colluded with the Jurchens. His crimes are heinous and he must be severely punished.”

Xiong Tingbi's voice was deep and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

"But Liaoyang is in chaos, and Guangning is not necessarily safe either, Marquis Zhongyong."

His gaze suddenly turned to Zhu Wanliang, and his tone became more serious.

Zhu Wanliang suddenly looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

The title of "Loyal and Brave Earl" was given to him last year for his military achievements in killing Nurhaci. The fact that Xiong Tingbi mentioned it now was both a sign of trust and a heavy responsibility.

"The general is here!"

Zhu Wanliang stood up abruptly, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, showing no trace of his earlier fear.

"You are a hero who killed the Jurchen chieftain. You are decisive in your military tactics. This time, the important task of suppressing the rebellion in Guangning is entrusted to you."

Xiong Tingbi walked up to Zhu Wanliang and patted him on the shoulder.

"You shall immediately accompany Yang Dutang with five thousand elite troops to Guangning. If Sun Degong, Bao Chengxian, and their ilk dare to cause trouble, there is no need to report to the emperor; execute them on the spot!"

We must restore order and peace to Guangning as quickly as possible!

"I will obey your orders!"

Zhu Wanliang's voice was firm and resolute.

He had long disapproved of Sun Degong and his ilk's collusion with the Jurchens, and now that he had Xiong Tingbi's order, he could take the opportunity to purge these parasites.

Xiong Tingbi nodded, then turned to look at Hou Shilu, Liang Zhongshan, and Jiang Bi, his tone becoming increasingly stern:

"The three of you shall each lead your own troops and separately garrison the Left Guard, Right Guard, and Central Guard of Dingliao."

Those restless soldiers who wish to return to their ranks will be forgiven for their past transgressions.

Anyone who dares to follow Zhang Bingyi in causing chaos will be killed without mercy!

Zhang Bingyi and his henchmen must be captured within three days, without fail!

"I will obey your orders!"

The three responded in unison, their previous fear replaced by a sense of mission.

This was Xiong Tingbi's chance for them to atone for their sins. As long as they could quell the chaos in Liaoyang, their previous mistakes of receiving salaries without working and supporting their own servants would be wiped clean.

As the four men were about to leave after receiving their orders, Xiong Tingbi suddenly spoke:
"You may set off first, and I will follow you to Shenyang."

Hou Shilu paused, instinctively turning back: "Generalissimo, what about Shenyang..."

"Shenyang is a key location in Liaodong, harboring many parasites who collude with Zhang Bingyi, and some who secretly send military intelligence and sell weapons to the Jurchens."

Xiong Tingbi's eyes turned cold.

"To repel external aggression, we must first pacify internal strife! Without eliminating all these traitors, the foundation of Liaodong will not be secure."

"With an unstable foundation, how can we deal with the Jurchens? How can we prevent the steppe tribes from making any moves?"

He paused, his voice carrying a do-or-die determination:
In the thirteenth year of the Jiajing reign, Lü Jing wanted to reorganize Liaodong, but in the end he could only compromise and appease the rebels, which made them even more arrogant and sowed the seeds of a century-old problem.

But this strategy is not the same as Lü Jing's.

He will take 200,000 taels of silver to Liaodong to reward the army and quell the internal strife. I, Xiong Tingbi, only believe in the four words 'those who rebel will be punished'! This time, what Lord Lü failed to do, I will do!

Zhang Bingyi thinks he can force me to retreat by creating chaos in the army? No way!

Xiong Tingbi suddenly drew the Shangfang sword from his waist; the cold light flashed, causing the shadow of the candlelight to flicker.

"You must act quickly."

Liaoyang, Guangning, and Shenyang are working together to completely eradicate these pests from Liaodong Town before spring!

The four men were all shocked when they saw the Shangfang sword in Xiong Tingbi's hand.

Hou Shilu clasped his hands in greeting first: "Rest assured, General, I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

The other three also bowed: "Your humble servants will certainly not fail in your mission!"

Soon, the four turned and walked out of the hall, their footsteps hurried but firm, heading towards their respective military camps.

On the day.

late at night.

The streets of Liaoyang were deserted, with only soldiers on night patrol carrying lanterns.

In the study of the Liaoyang Deputy Commander-in-Chief's residence, the candlelight was still burning.

Zhang Bingyi, the deputy commander of Liaoyang, sat in a grand chair, but his face was far from calm.

From evening onwards, he was restless and uneasy. He sent out servants to gather information, but each time they returned with bad news.

"Commander! Something terrible has happened!"

The study door was suddenly kicked open, and a trusted servant dressed in a black outfit stumbled in.

The servant's face was deathly pale, his lips trembling, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing deeply.

"The Ming army has moved! Hou Shilu and Liang Zhongshan's troops have surrounded the Dingliao Left Guard's camp, Jiang Bi's men have set up roadblocks on the streets, and even the north gate has been guarded by Zhu Wanliang's troops!"

Zhang Bingyi suddenly stood up from his chair, smashing the wine glass in his hand to the ground with a "clatter," splashing wine onto his boots.

"Can't even the chaos of war make Xiong Tingbi and his men retreat a single step?"

His voice trembled, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

In the past few days, he had his servants sow discord in the military camps of various garrisons, saying that "Xiong Tingbi wants to use soldiers as scapegoats" and "the court wants to take back all military pay." He thought he could create chaos, but now it seems that all his efforts were in vain.

The trusted servants prostrated themselves on the ground, their heads bowed even lower, their voices trembling with sobs:

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid the level of chaos and disorder wasn't high enough."

The lower-ranking soldiers had instigated trouble in the Right and Left Guards of Dingliao, but only one or two out of ten soldiers were willing to join the rebellion.

Most people say, "We're getting paid and have warm clothes now, so there's no need for us to rebel..."

"No wonder...no wonder!"

Zhang Bingyi staggered back a step.

The time of Jiajing was different from the current second year of Tianqi.

At that time, it was common for garrison officers to embezzle rations and pay. Soldiers would not see a single tael of silver all year round, and they could not even afford a single layer of clothing in winter. In the end, they were forced to unite and occupy the passes to resist.

But now?

The imperial court paid the back wages, Sun Chengzong reclaimed wasteland to give the soldiers a way to make a living, and Yang Lian investigated corruption only targeting generals and not implicating ordinary soldiers.

With no reason to rebel, the lower-ranking soldiers were no longer willing to follow him to their deaths, no matter how much he instigated them.

"Damn Xiong Tingbi! Damn Sun Chengzong!"

Zhang Bingyi spat fiercely on the ground, the spittle tinged with blood, clearly indicating that he was extremely agitated.

He clenched his fist tightly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes:
"We can't stay in Liaoyang any longer! If we stay any longer, we'll be captured and beheaded by Xiong Tingbi's men sooner or later!"
Go and issue the order now to have our men assemble and head to the Dongningwei military camp!
"My old troops, whom I previously placed there, are still there, and the camp has several thousand soldiers. I simply don't believe Xiong Tingbi would dare to lead his men to attack!"

Upon hearing this, the trusted servants, as if grasping at a straw, hurriedly scrambled to their feet, wiping away their tears:

"General, you are wise! This should have been done long ago! I'll go and fetch the brothers right away!"

The servant turned and ran outside, his footsteps quickly disappearing into the night.

Zhang Bingyi walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked out at the street outside the mansion.

In the distance, the faint glow of Ming army lanterns could be seen moving towards the deputy commander's residence.

His heart jumped again, and his hand unconsciously reached for the sword at his waist. The cold scabbard calmed him down a little.

About an hour later, the sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Zhang Bingyi strode out of the study and saw five hundred fully armored servants standing in the courtyard.

They wore the finest cotton armor, held sharp sabers in their hands, carried powerful bows and arrows on their backs, and had ropes and tinderboxes hanging from their waists; they were clearly elite soldiers who had trained for many years.

These people were his private soldiers, whom he had supported for five years with embezzled military funds. His parents, wives, and children were all housed in a manor outside Liaoyang City, and they had no choice but to follow him down this path for the rest of their lives.

"Commander! All five hundred brothers have arrived!"

The head of the guards and his trusted confidants knelt on one knee, speaking in a loud voice.

Looking at the five hundred people in front of him, Zhang Bingyi's panicked heart gradually calmed down.

He walked up to his confidant and patted him on the shoulder:

"Good! Good brothers! With you guys here, we have confidence!"

He took a deep breath, drew his sword from his waist, and said coldly, "Now, come with me! We'll leave the city through the north gate and head to Dongningwei! Once we get there, we'll be safe!"

"As ordered!"

Zhang Bingyi waved his hand and led his servants toward the back gate of the mansion.

The night was as dark as ink. The group of five hundred people trudged along the muddy path, trying to keep their steps as light as possible, towards the north gate.

Zhang Bingyi walked in the middle of the group, feeling both nervous and hopeful.

He knew that the north gate was guarded by Ming troops, but he had five hundred elite soldiers. If he could break through, he could regroup at Dongningwei.

But he didn't see that not far behind his group, several people dressed in ordinary clothes were following them at a distance.

Those were secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They had been keeping an eye on this team ever since their trusted servants went out to deliver the order.

From the direction of the North Gate, the faint shouts of Ming soldiers could be heard.

Zhang Bingyi's heart leaped into his throat again. He gripped his sword tightly and whispered to his trusted confidant beside him:

"If we get stopped later, just charge! Kill anyone who tries to stop us!"

Qin Xin nodded firmly, placing his hand on the scabbard at his waist.

The procession continued forward, getting closer and closer to the North Gate, and the glow of the Ming army's lanterns became clearer and clearer.

Zhang Bingyi took a deep breath, ready to fight at any moment.

This is his last chance. Whether he can escape Liaoyang and survive depends on this one opportunity.

now.

The commander guarding the north gate was Jiang Bi, a local general from Liaoyang.

He had received Sun Chengzong's secret order half an hour earlier.

“Zhang Bingyi will surely escape through the north gate. Set up an ambush and wait for him to escape.”

At this moment, the torches on the city wall of the North Gate were burning brightly, and the orange-red flames illuminated the faces of the soldiers behind the crenellations. The muskets in their hands were already loaded with lead bullets, and the breech-loading cannons on the gun emplacements had also had their covers removed, with their black muzzles pointing towards the road outside the city.

Hidden in the dark alleys beneath the city walls are a thousand swordsmen and shieldmen and two thousand musketeers, who will rush out to block all escape routes as soon as the signal is given.

Jiang Bi, dressed in bright silver armor, stood on the city gate tower, his hand on the sword at his waist, his gaze coldly fixed on the darkness outside the city.

soon.

Faint footsteps came from the darkness in the distance, followed by a dark mass of people.

There were about five hundred people, lined up in a loose queue.

The man in the lead, wearing the black scale armor of a deputy general and with a jade-inlaid sword hanging at his waist, was none other than Zhang Bingyi.

He walked at the head of the procession, turning back every now and then to give instructions to the servants behind him, his eyes full of urgency, but he didn't notice the torches that had already been lit on the city wall, which were several times brighter than usual.

"Deputy Commander Zhang, where are you going so late?"

Jiang Bi's voice drifted down from the city gate tower, carrying a hint of mockery, like a bucket of cold water poured over Zhang Bingyi's head.

Zhang Bingyi suddenly looked up and saw Jiang Bi on the city gate tower.

At this moment, Jiang Bi was leaning against the edge of the stack, his arms crossed over his chest, looking at Zhang Bingyi with the eyes of a cat looking at a mouse.

Zhang Bingyi's heart skipped a beat. The excuse he had prepared to trick his way out of the north gate suddenly got stuck in his throat, and even his voice trembled slightly:
"General Jiang... what are you doing here?"

"That's what I should be asking you."

Jiang Bi walked down from the city tower and stood on the stone steps inside the city gate. His gaze swept over the servants behind Zhang Bingyi, and his tone suddenly turned stern.

"In the dead of night, without military orders or verification, he privately gathered his household servants and led his troops close to the city gate."

Zhang Bingyi, are you plotting a rebellion?

The word "treason" struck Zhang Bingyi's heart like a heavy hammer.

At this point, there's no point in pretending anymore.

hiss~
Zhang Bingyi took a deep breath, drew the jade-inlaid sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly in the firelight, and his face gradually contorted into a ferocious expression.

“General Jiang, we are all comrades from Liaodong. If you would spare me for the sake of our past friendship, I, Zhang Bingyi, will definitely repay you handsomely in the future.”

If you insist on stopping me...

He brandished his sword, and the servants behind him drew their own.

For a time, the sounds of swords being drawn were incessant.

"Then don't blame me for resorting to arms and fighting to the death!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bi suddenly laughed, his laughter filled with disdain: "A fight to the death? You think your five hundred private soldiers are worthy?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand to signal to the guards beside him.

The guard immediately pulled a red signal flare from his pocket, pulled the fuse, and with a muffled "bang," the flare shot into the night sky, trailing a red flame, and exploded into a dazzling spark against the dark sky.

Before the sparks had even died down, the sound of orderly footsteps echoed from all around the north gate.

From the dark alley on the left side of the city, a thousand swordsmen and shield bearers rushed out, instantly blocking Zhang Bingyi's retreat.

On the open ground to the right of the city, two thousand soldiers armed with muskets were lined up in three rows, their muskets pointed directly at Zhang Bingyi's troops.

Even the cannons on the city tower were adjusted to their angles, with their muzzles pointing directly at the densest part of the crowd.

In no time at all, Zhang Bingyi and his five hundred henchmen were surrounded in the open space at the North Gate, like prey trapped in an iron barrel.

Zhang Bingyi's face turned deathly pale as he looked at the Ming soldiers surging from all sides, and his hand gripping his precious sword began to tremble.
"Good...good! So you were all prepared all along! Xiong Tingbi, Jiang Bi...you've really got a plan!"

"It wasn't that I was plotting against you; it was that the General had already predicted that you would escape."

Jiang Bi took two steps forward, his tone softening.

“Zhang Bingyi, you have embezzled military funds, seized military farmland, and colluded with the Jurchens. Every single one of these crimes is punishable by death.”

However, the governor has decreed that if you surrender, he will spare your life and leave your family a way out.

"Surrender."

"surrender?"

Zhang Bingyi suddenly burst into wild laughter, his laughter filled with despair.

"Which of the things I, Zhang Bingyi, have done is not punishable by death by a thousand cuts?"
The so-called 'lenient treatment' is nothing more than letting me die a quick death!

Since I'm going to die anyway, why not take a gamble? Maybe I can break out of Liaoyang and join Huang Taiji!

Knowing he had no way out, Zhang Bingyi became somewhat insane.

He whirled around and roared at the panicked servants behind him, “Brothers! We have no way out! Our only chance of survival is to break out of Liaoyang! Follow me, let’s fight our way out!”

After saying that, he raised his precious sword and charged towards the city gate.

Seeing that he was stubborn and unyielding, Jiang Bi's last trace of hesitation disappeared, replaced by a cold killing intent.

He coldly shouted at the messenger beside him, "Pass on the order! Fire! Open fire!"

No sooner had the messenger’s shout fallen than the breech-loading cannons on the city wall roared to life.

"Boom boom boom!"

Three cannonballs whistled down into Zhang Bingyi's ranks, exploding instantly. Shards of stone and wood flew everywhere, and dozens of servants were thrown into the air, their blood splattering all over the ground.

Immediately afterwards, three rows of musketeers pulled their triggers at the same time, and the sound of gunfire rang out in unison, with lead bullets raining down on the crowd.

Zhang Bingyi, who was at the forefront, was instantly struck in the chest by several lead bullets. His black scale armor was pierced, and blood gushed out from the gaps in his armor.

He staggered a couple of steps, the precious sword in his hand clattering to the ground. He took one last look at the darkness outside Liaoyang City before collapsing heavily and falling silent.

Some of his retainers were blown to pieces by cannon fire, while others were hit by muskets and fell to the ground. The rest, seeing that their commander was dead, lost all courage to resist and threw down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

Moments later, only the pungent smell of gunpowder and blood remained on the open ground at the North Gate. The torchlight illuminated the corpses and bloodstains scattered on the ground, making the scene appear particularly gruesome.

Jiang Bi walked to Zhang Bingyi's body, squatted down, drew the short knife from his waist, and cut off his head.

He looked at the severed head in his hand, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever:

"Zhang Bingyi, Zhang Bingyi, this is the path you chose yourself. Since your hands are stained with blood, you can't blame me."

Jiang Bi took Zhang Bingyi's head and prepared to report back to Sun Chengzong.

however.

Zhang Bingyi's death was not the end, but rather the beginning.

The slaughter of those parasites who embezzle salaries, exploit soldiers, and collude with the Jurchens continues!

Tonight in Liaoyang, it is destined to be a bloody night!
PS:

A long chapter of 8000 words!
I've tried my best, and I'm a little dizzy.

Needless to say great!

In addition~
Such a great update! We need to keep up with the monthly pass and subscription! Seventeen thousand words were updated today!
(End of this chapter)