Huangming

Chapter 413 Joint Action by Various Fortresses, Raiding Wealthy Houses

The second year of the Tianqi reign.

March 1st.

late at night.

Yang Lian and Zhu Wanliang led five thousand soldiers, slowly advancing along the frozen riverbed. Their horses' hooves, wrapped in hemp cloth, made almost no sound as they stepped on the frozen ground.

To avoid alerting the enemy, they deliberately chose to march at night, and dared to light only a few torches, their dim yellow light flickering in the darkness, barely illuminating the road ahead.

"Lord Du, Xiping Fort is just ahead."

Zhu Wanliang reined in his horse and turned to Yang Lian, saying...

He was a native of Liaodong and knew every fortress and village in the area well. At this moment, he pointed to the dark figure standing in the darkness and spoke with a certainty in his tone.

Yang Lian looked in the direction he pointed and saw the outline of a tall fortress gradually becoming clear on the distant horizon.

The walls of Xiping Fort are made of rammed earth and are two zhang high. Although they have been exposed to wind and rain for many years, the walls are covered with cracks and some of the rammed earth has even peeled off. However, the thick crenellations and the tightly closed city gates still exude the majesty of a military fortress.

A few lights flickered occasionally on the stockade wall, presumably the soldiers on night patrol. The dim light reflected on the cold wall, making the silence of the night even more pronounced.

"Xipingbao..."

Yang Lian repeated the name in a low voice, his brows furrowing slightly. He then reached into his robes and pulled out a booklet wrapped in oiled paper from his inner pocket.

The booklet had been repeatedly read and was worn, the pages were yellowed with age, and it was the list of officials in Guangning who needed to be punished, which was previously investigated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He carefully unfolded the booklet, and by the light of the torches held by the soldiers beside him, quickly turned to a page. His gaze fell on the three characters "Bao Chengxian," and he lightly tapped them with his fingertip.
"This place seems to be the garrison of Bao Chengxian, the military commander of Guangning?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Wanliang nodded in agreement, his tone tinged with disdain.

“This Bao Chengxian was a veteran of Guangning Guard. At the end of last year, he was promoted to deputy general (deputy commander-in-chief).

Logically, given his qualifications, he should have been accepted, but the Ministry of War investigated and found that he had embezzled winter clothing supplies last year, so they rejected his application.

He had been harboring resentment and discontent towards the imperial court for a long time. It's likely that Bao Chengxian had already been involved in Zhang Bingyi's collusion with people in Guangning.

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian's gaze darkened.

He had long known about Bao Chengxian's corrupt practices from the secret reports of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Embezzling military rations, reselling weapons, and even secretly having dealings with Mongol tribes are crimes deserving of death!

"Lord Du, why don't we send troops to surround Xiping Fort right now?"

With just a single command, five thousand brothers could surround the fortress in no time, ensuring Bao Chengxian would have no chance of escape!

Seeing Yang Lian remain silent, Zhu Wanliang couldn't help but make a suggestion.

He was straightforward and couldn't stand these bloodthirsty generals. At that moment, he wished he could rush in and tie up Bao Chengxian immediately.

"No."

Yang Lian waved his hand, his tone firm.

"As the saying goes, 'A single hair can affect the whole body.'"

Bao Chengxian has always been on good terms with Sun Degong, Zhang Cunren, and others. If we make a move against him first, Sun Degong in Guangning will definitely be on high alert and might even incite his soldiers to rebel in advance. In that case, we will be attacked from both sides and put ourselves in a passive position.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the silent soldiers marching behind him, and then said:
"Our purpose in coming to Guangning is to eliminate the rebels in one fell swoop, not to alert them."

At this point, a resolute glint flashed in Yang Lian's eyes, and he gave an order to the guards beside him:

"Go quickly and invite Deputy Commander Luo Yiguan here. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him."

The guards received the order, mounted their horses, and galloped towards Xiping Fort.

Zhu Wanliang looked at Yang Lian with some doubt: "Commander, what business do you have with General Luo?"

Yang Lian smiled faintly and explained:
You may not know much about Luo Yiguan.

He was raised by his widowed mother from a young age, and he was strong-willed and upright, and he had the greatest indignation at corruption and bribery.

The Imperial Guard investigated him for two months but found no trace of illegal or disorderly conduct.

He shared weal and woe with his soldiers in the army. While his soldiers ate coarse grains, he never enjoyed fine grains alone.

When a soldier's armor was torn, he personally led his personal guards to help mend it, earning him immense prestige within the army.

"In the previous battle of Fushun, he led his troops to be the first to attack the city, killing more than a hundred Jurchens and making great contributions. His Majesty specially issued an edict to promote him to the rank of deputy commander-in-chief."

Such loyal, brave, and upright individuals are precisely the kind of capable people we need for our current efforts to rectify Guangning.

"The reason why Commander Xiong was transferred here was for today."

As they were talking, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and a general dressed in black armor rode up on horseback.

The general was about thirty years old, with a resolute face and a shallow scar on his forehead; he was none other than Luo Yiguan.

He dismounted and strode quickly to Yang Lian, kneeling on one knee.
"This humble general, Luo Yiguan, greets Your Excellency! May I ask what brings Your Excellency to summon me here so late at night?"

Yang Lian quickly stepped forward, grabbed Luo Yiguan's elbows with both hands, and gently lifted him up, helping him to his feet steadily.

"General, there's no need for such formalities. I summoned you so late at night because there's a matter of great importance concerning the safety of Guangning that I must entrust to you..."

Luo Yiguan had just straightened up when he heard this and was taken aback.

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise appearing on his resolute face.

"I wonder what task Your Excellency wishes to entrust to me? My men are all ready and prepared, and can go into battle at any time if necessary!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lian took out a booklet wrapped tightly in oil paper from his inner pocket.

"Look at this."

Yang Lian handed the booklet to Luo Yiguan.

"This is the result of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's investigation over three months. Every name on it is a parasite that sucks the blood of the military households in western Liaoning."

Luo Yiguan took the booklet with both hands and, by the light of the flickering torches held by the soldiers around him, carefully read it line by line.

The writing on the page was extremely small, yet each stroke was clear and distinct:
"Wang San, a junior officer from Xiping Fort, has been found guilty of embezzling salaries from five individuals and illegally selling twenty shi (a unit of dry measure) of military rations."

"Commander Li Da embezzled fifty winter clothes and resold them to Mongolian tribes."

……

The further you flip through the pages, the higher the official rank of the person listed, and the more shocking the evidence becomes.

When Luo Yiguan turned to the page about "Bao Chengxian, the military commander of Guangning", his breathing suddenly became heavy.

“Bao Chengxian… In the winter of the first year of the Tianqi reign, he embezzled 3,000 shi of military rations and 2,000 pieces of winter clothing, causing 26 military households in Xipingbao to starve to death.”

In the first month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, he sent his personal attendants to deliver 300 catties of gunpowder to the Naiman tribe of Mongolia in exchange for 3,000 sheep.

In February, a secret meeting was held with Jurchen spies in a dilapidated temple outside the fortress, revealing news of the troop rotation in Liaodong…

Luo Yiguan read the evidence in a low voice, his face growing increasingly shocked.

"I never imagined there would be so much evidence of this crime?"

It's bad enough that they embezzle public funds and exploit soldiers, but they even dared to colluded with the Mongols and the Jurchens!
Those soldiers who starved to death, weren't they all families with elderly and young members, relying on that meager military rations to survive?

He slammed the booklet shut, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"These people are all parasites in Liaodong!"
"As long as this problem persists, the military households in Liaodong will never have peace, and the border defenses will never be secure!"

As he finished speaking, his voice rose involuntarily, drawing the attention of several guards nearby.

By this time, Luo Yiguan understood Yang Lian's intentions perfectly well.

"Does Your Excellency intend for me to capture these people and bring them to justice?"

Yang Lian nodded slowly, his tone becoming serious: "That's right. But we won't act now; we'll have to wait three days."

Luo Yiguan was taken aback at first, then a look of understanding flashed in his eyes. He followed Yang Lian's gaze and looked into the darkness in the distance.

That's the direction of Zhenwu Fort and Zhenning Fort.

"Is the governor going to other fortresses? Does he intend to wait until everything is set up before launching a coordinated attack in three days?"

"exactly."

Yang Lian's gaze swept over the five thousand soldiers who were quietly waiting behind him. The torchlight reflected on his face, creating a play of light and shadow.

"Next, I will go to Zhenwu Fort, then Zhenning Fort, followed by Luyang Post Station, Dalinghe Fort, Guangning City, and other places."

“If we take action against Bao Chengxian now, his entourage will surely inform Guangning.”

At that time, these people will either close the city gates and resist, or flee with their valuables to the Jurchens or Mongols.

They possess defense maps and military intelligence records of Liaodong; whether they resist or flee, it would be a huge problem for the imperial court.

"The general understands!"

Luo Yiguan nodded heavily, wrapped the booklet again in oil paper, and stuffed it into the inner pocket close to his body.

Seeing that he understood, Yang Lian mounted his horse.

"General, you were raised by your widowed mother from a young age. You rose from a common soldier to the rank of deputy commander through your own abilities. His Majesty promoted you because he valued your upright and unyielding character."

If I can achieve merit this time, I will be able to repay His Majesty's kindness and also advance further in my career.

Liaodong desperately needs someone with a heart of gold like the general to hold the fort. Only with you here will the soldiers dare to trust the court, and only then will they dare to fight to the death.

Upon hearing this, Luo Yiguan felt a surge of warmth welling up in his chest, rushing from his heart to his eyes.

He suddenly straightened up, his right fist pressed against his chest, the armor clashing together with a crisp clang that drowned out the sound of the wind.

"Don't worry, Du Tang!"
I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor and the trust of the Governor-General, and I will certainly not let these corrupt officials escape!
Within three days, this humble general will keep a close watch on Xiping Fort. The moment the commander's signal arrives, we will immediately seize Bao Chengxian and his gang of traitors. If even one of them escapes, this humble general will offer his head!

Yang Lian looked at the fire in his eyes and nodded in satisfaction.

He didn't linger, nor did he allow the troops to enter Xiping Fort. He cupped his hands in greeting to Luo Yiguan, flicked his whip, and his personal guards began to move.

The horses' hooves, wrapped in hemp cloth, made only a faint sound as they trod on the frozen ground. Like a flock of night falcons, they silently crossed Xiping Fort and headed towards Zhenwu Fort.

Luo Yiguan stood there, watching Yang Lian's team disappear into the night, then lowered his head and touched the booklet close to his body, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Bao Chengxian.
And those woodworms
Let you live a few more days!
Next, Yang Lian's journey to Zhenwu Fort, Zhenning Fort, Luyang Post Station, and Dalinghe Fort followed a similar route to Xiping Fort.

There were already trusted military officers who had been relieved of their posts, so the task of arresting people was entrusted to these officers who had been relieved of their posts.

Yang Lian personally gave each person a secret order, handed them a copy of the book of incriminating evidence, and carefully instructed them on troop deployment.

Luyang Post Station was tasked with intercepting rebels fleeing to Mongolia, and Dalinghe Fortress was tasked with guarding the vital route to the Jurchens; every detail was meticulously planned.

On the third day of the third month of the second year of the Tianqi reign (1623), the Shangsi Festival was held.

Yang Lian finally arrived in Guangning City.

The Central Plains have a long-standing custom of "On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head; on the third day of the third lunar month, Xuanyuan is born." The Shangsi Festival was originally a day for purification rites, praying for blessings, and enjoying spring outings and feasts.

In Guangning City, half of the residents migrated from Shandong and Henan in earlier years, and naturally brought this custom with them.

Along the Daughter River in the southeast of the city, dozens of blue cloth tents had already been erected. Powerful officials and local gentry gathered inside the tents, with smoked meat, dried fruit, and Liaodong liquor laid out on the tables. The sounds of string and wind instruments drifted far away on the river breeze.

On the official road in the suburbs, women dressed in new clothes flew kites with their children, and vendors hawked sugar figurines and windmills, filling the air with a sweet fragrance—a lively scene.

But this liveliness belonged only to these officials and gentry.

Yang Lian reined in his horse and glanced at the refugee slums near the city gate.

Hundreds of thatched huts leaned precariously against the city wall, their roofs riddled with holes, barely covered by tattered mats.

Several ragged refugees huddled in front of the house, clutching blackened cornbread in their hands. Upon seeing the Ming army's cavalry, they quickly shrank back and hid.

Not far away, two emaciated soldiers were weakly guarding the city gate, chewing on grass roots.

This scene is completely different from the orderly layout of Liaoyang and Shenyang.

When he passed through Liaoyang a few days ago, the refugees had already been resettled in new villages outside the city and given oxen and seeds.

The military households in Shenyang, dressed in new winter clothes and with smiles on their faces, were busy with spring plowing.

But Guangning remains the same.

"Humph!"

Yang Lian let out a cold snort, his right hand unconsciously tightening its grip on the riding whip.

"Just as the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard stated, the three years' worth of military pay and 30,000 winter clothes that His Majesty had reissued were all embezzled by these parasites!"

The soldiers are starving, and the displaced people have nowhere to go; yet they have the leisure to feast and enjoy the spring scenery by the river!

Zhu Wanliang frowned and whispered:

"Lord Du, should we send someone to check on the other side of the Daughter River? Those officials and gentry might still be feasting."

"No need."

Yang Lian waved his hand, his tone resolute.

"Enter the city first and summon the generals for a meeting. After we've dealt with the important matters, let them properly 'enjoy' the Shangsi Festival."

Having said that, he flicked his whip and took the lead towards the Guangning Prefectural Government Office.

Five thousand Ming soldiers stood in neat rows, their armor clanging against each other, exuding a chilling aura that caused the people on the roadside to instinctively stop in their tracks.

Soon, Yang Lian and his party arrived at the Guangning Prefecture government office and ordered that all the generals be summoned.

Yang Liangan had just sent someone to deliver the order to "summon all the generals for a meeting," and in less than half an hour, Wang Huazhen, the governor of Guangning, Qi Bingzhong, the general, Sun Degong, the deputy general, Zhang Cunren, the assistant general, and others arrived one after another.

Wang Huazhen, dressed in a scarlet official robe, found a seat at the head of the table as soon as he entered the hall, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

He stroked his beard, glancing sideways at the hall door, his heart filled with displeasure.

Yang Lian has been visiting Zhenwu Fort and Zhenning Fort these past few days, but he hasn't exchanged a single word with him, the governor of Guangning, nor has he even sent him a single document. This is clearly a sign that he doesn't take him seriously!
Since he took office as governor of Guangning in the first year of the Tianqi reign, although he had not made any great contributions, he believed that he had stabilized the situation in western Liaoning. How could he swallow this "overstepping of authority" by Yang Lian?

Qi Bingzhong stood on the left side of the hall, expressionless, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

As the ninth-generation descendant of Duoerzhishijie, the Right Vice Minister of Gansu during the Yuan Dynasty, he had Mongolian blood but had studied Confucian classics since childhood and was deeply Sinicized. Even his speech carried the composure of a scholar from the Central Plains.

In the year since he arrived in Guangning, he had witnessed the rampant corruption and chaos there, but because his military power was less than Sun Degong's, he was unable to intervene.

At this moment, he simply gripped the hilt of his knife, his eyes calmly fixed on the ground, waiting for Yang Lian to arrive.

The most uneasy were Sun Degong and Zhang Cunren.

Sun Degong sat in the chair, rubbing his knees repeatedly with both hands, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

A few days ago, Zhang Bingyi sent someone to Guangning to contact him and ask him to incite a mutiny together. Before he could reply, he heard that Zhang Bingyi had been beheaded by Jiang Bi at the north gate of Liaoyang.

Now that Yang Lian has arrived with five thousand soldiers and summoned them for a meeting, it's clear he's here to settle scores!
He tried several times to leave, but he was afraid that Yang Lian would catch him on the spot, so he could only sit there with a stiff upper lip, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

Zhang Cunren sat next to Sun Degong, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the armrest of the chair.

He was even more panicked than Sun Degong.

Last year, although he secretly sold military equipment to the Jurchens, it was still hard to guarantee that the Embroidered Uniform Guard hadn't found out.

soon.

A series of steady footsteps came from outside the hall, and Yang Lian and Zhu Wanliang walked in one after the other.

Yang Lian, dressed in the scarlet official robes of the Censorate with a jade belt around his waist, his face expressionless, glanced at everyone in the hall before finally settling on Wang Huazhen, and spoke calmly:
"Governor Wang, I have summoned you all here today to discuss an important matter: the matter of eradicating corruption in Guangning and reorganizing border defenses."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall instantly turned even colder.

By this time.

Wang Huazhen finally couldn't contain her dissatisfaction any longer. She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a hint of accusation:

"Purifying corruption in Guangning and rectifying border defenses are my duties as governor."

"Lord Yang, how come you didn't even give me a heads-up about such a big commotion beforehand?" He emphasized the words "duty" in his speech.

Firstly, he was dissatisfied that Yang Lian bypassed him, the governor, and directly visited various forts and mobilized troops, which made him lose face.

Secondly, it's out of jealousy.

Yang Lian carried the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor, and was respected by soldiers wherever he went. Even Xiong Tingbi treated him with deference. This imperial favor was something that Yang Lian, the "parachuted" governor, could never hope to achieve.

The atmosphere in the council chamber instantly froze. Qi Bingzhong remained expressionless, while Sun Degong and Zhang Cunren exchanged a glance, both seeing a glimmer of hope in each other's eyes.

Wang Huazhen's attack might throw Yang Lian off balance?

As long as the situation becomes chaotic, they can take the opportunity to escape, summon their old followers, and whether they resist or flee to the grasslands, there is always a way to survive, isn't there?
Yang Lian remained completely calm. Standing in the hall, his posture as upright as a pine tree, he merely smiled faintly upon hearing this, and took out a book from his sleeve with the cover bearing the words "Secret Files of the Embroidered Uniform Guard," handing it to Wang Huazhen.
"Governor Wang, please don't be anxious. This matter involves secrets and was obtained by the Embroidered Uniform Guard through two months of undercover investigation. We dare not make it public easily."

"Your Excellency, take a look and you will understand why I, the Chief of the Metropolitan Government, have launched this 'surprise attack.'"

Wang Huazhen reached out and took the book. At first, she seemed a little indifferent, but when she turned the first page, her expression remained calm.

But when he saw entries such as "Sun Degong embezzled 100,000 taels of military pay", "Zhang Cunren had three dealings with Jurchen spies", and "Zhao San, a commander of the Guangning Guard, sold military equipment to the Mongols", his fingers trembled violently.

The more he turned over, the paler his face became, until finally even his lips lost all color, and cold sweat streamed down his temples.

Every piece of evidence in the book was written down with evidence, including the time, place, witnesses, and even which bank Sun Degong hid the embezzled silver in.

"How...how could this happen?"

Wang Huazhen's voice trembled. He suddenly looked up at Yang Lian. His previous dissatisfaction and jealousy had vanished, leaving only panic and lingering fear.

"I never imagined that there would be so many corrupt and treacherous people colluding with the enemy under my jurisdiction!"

It was my oversight and dereliction of duty as the governor that led me!

After this matter is resolved, I will certainly submit a memorial to the imperial court requesting punishment!

He was genuinely scared.

If these people really lead the Mongols south, he, the governor, will probably lose his head.

At the same time, it also means yielding to the situation.

With such irrefutable evidence in hand and the emperor's backing, Yang Lian's continued insistence would only bring trouble upon himself.

Seeing that he was sensible, Yang Lian immediately stepped forward, her tone softening considerably, and gave him a way out:
"Governor Wang need not blame himself so much."

It took the Embroidered Uniform Guard two months to find out the details of these people, which shows how well they had hidden themselves.

The governor only took office in Guangning at the end of last year, and with so many affairs to attend to, it's understandable that he didn't notice it immediately.

This statement both affirmed Wang Huazhen's "innocence" and implied that "corruption has been going on for a long time and is not a recent occurrence," thus giving Wang Huazhen ample face.

Yang Lian was quite adept at understanding human relationships and social dynamics.

Wang Huazhen, being extremely shrewd, immediately followed the advice, his face regaining its color. He stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yang Lian:

"Thank you for your understanding, Director Yang!"

"If that's the case, these corrupt officials who have undermined discipline and colluded with the enemy will be dealt with personally by this official, so as to give an explanation to the court and the people of Guangning!"

Having said that, he turned abruptly, his gaze sweeping like a knife over Sun Degong and Zhang Cunren, and shouted sharply:
"Somebody come!"

Four bodyguards dressed in light blue outfits immediately rushed into the hall, their swords drawn half an inch from their sheaths, gleaming coldly.
"My subordinate is here!"

"Arrest Sun Degong, Zhang Cunren, and Zhao San, Li Wu, and others listed in the register, and imprison them all. Keep them under strict guard, and do not make any mistakes!"

Wang Huazhen's voice was firm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation as before.

"what?!"

The color drained from Sun Degong's face instantly, and his last glimmer of hope was shattered.

If I had known, I should have run away when Yang Lian led over a hundred soldiers to my residence to invite me.

But
It's too late to say anything now.

However, he did not give up completely.

Sun Degong suddenly stood up and reached out to push aside the guards beside him and run away.

He had been operating in Guangning for many years and had five hundred retainers outside the city. If he could escape, he could seek refuge with the Mongol tribes!

But just as he broke free from a guard's grasp, a tall figure suddenly appeared behind the hall door. The man was wearing black armor and had a cold face. It was none other than Li Hongji, the deputy general that Yang Lian had arranged beforehand.

Li Hongji had just been promoted to deputy general by His Majesty for his meritorious service in repelling Huang Taiji, and was now in a state of great pride.

Before Sun Degong could react, Li Hongji delivered a powerful punch to his forehead.

That fist was wrapped in an iron glove, and its strength was astonishing.

With a muffled thud, Sun Degong collapsed to the ground unconscious without uttering a sound. His eyes rolled back.

Two guards immediately stepped forward, chained his hands and feet, and dragged him away.

Zhang Cunren, who was standing to the side, was already terrified. He fell to his knees with a thud, his knees hitting the blue bricks with a crisp sound.

He kept kowtowing to Yang Lian and Wang Huazhen, his forehead quickly bleeding, and he cried out:

"Spare me! Governor, Magistrate, spare me!"

The guilty party knows they were wrong! The guilty party is willing to atone for their sins through good deeds!
A criminal general can go and persuade the Mongol tribes to surrender, or he can go and become a spy for the Jurchens!

Please spare my dog's life!

Looking at Zhang Cunren's cowardly and self-serving appearance, Yang Lian felt even more disgusted, and her voice was devoid of any warmth:
"Make amends for your crimes? When you were colluding with the Tartars, did you never think about the court's favor?"

When you withheld military rations and let soldiers starve to death, did you never think of the word "spare their lives"?
Want to live now? Too late!

He waved to his guards, his voice resolute:
"Strip him of his military armor, throw him into the death row, and after his crimes are fully investigated, hand him over to the three judicial departments for disposal!"

Two guards stepped forward and roughly tore off Zhang Cunren's armor, revealing the silk lining underneath.

Zhang Cunren was still crying and begging for mercy, but his guards gagged him and dragged him out like a dead dog.

The council chamber finally returned to calm.

Wang Huazhen looked at the empty corner, the cold sweat on his forehead still wet, but he cupped his hands in greeting to Yang Lian, his words no longer showing any arrogance.

"I admire Governor Yang's profound wisdom and foresight."

Yang Lian nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Qi Bingzhong and the others in the hall, his voice steady:

"Your Excellency is too kind. Eradicating corruption is only the first step. Next, we need to reorganize the military and reassure the military households. Only when the people of Guangning are at peace can the border defense be truly secure."

"However, although the bandit leader was eliminated, the henchmen of Sun Degong and Zhang Cunren were still scattered in the city, and their servants were hiding weapons."

If these people are not eradicated completely, they will surely become a menace in the future. They must be arrested today and none can be spared!

"Your Excellency is right! The garrison troops and the governor's battalion in Guangning City are all under your command!"
"As long as these pests can be eradicated, just send as many people as you need!"

Having just seen the detailed list of convicted generals, he already understood that Yang Lian's actions were not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Only by fully cooperating could he redeem himself from the mistake of "dereliction of duty."

"very good."

Yang Lian nodded and turned to Zhu Wanliang, saying, "Bring me the map of Guangning."

Zhu Wanliang immediately took out a roll of map with a hemp cloth bottom from his bag and unfolded it on the table.

The map was several times more detailed than ordinary prefectural and county maps. The streets, alleys, and fortresses of Guangning City were outlined in ink, and the residences of all the criminal guerrillas, garrison commanders, and centurions were circled in vermilion, with small notes next to them:

"Li Youji's residence had thirty servants, and knives and bows were hidden in the west wing."

“Wang Shoubei was stationed at Dongguan with fifty household guards, and he had connections with Bao Chengxian’s personal guards.”

The names of each servant's residence, number of servants, and location of weapons storage were clearly marked, and even the names of the servants responsible for guarding the armory were written next to them.

Wang Huazhen was secretly alarmed: 'Yang Lian has such a thorough understanding of Guangning's situation, not even overlooking these minute details. It seems he was well-prepared.'

In that case
Wang Huazhen suddenly looked up, her tone resolute.

"There's no time to lose, what are we waiting for?"

"Yang Dutang, make your move!"

Yang Lian no longer hesitated, picked up a wolf-hair brush, and drew three lines on the map:

"General Qi, you shall lead your troops to the East Gate and North Gate to capture the guerrillas and centurions stationed there. Their retainers are mostly cavalrymen, and your troops are skilled in riding and archery, which will be a good counter to them."

Commander Zhu, you are familiar with the streets and alleys of Guangning City. Lead your troops to search for the garrison commanders and captains in the city. Make sure to block all the back gates and not allow a single person to escape.

"Lieutenant General Li, take your 'Breaking the Enemy' Battalion to the South Gate and wipe out the household guards and retainers of Sun Degong and Zhang Cunren. They possess standard-issue weapons, so do not underestimate them!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Qi Bingzhong, Zhu Wanliang, and Li Hongji accepted the order in unison.

As night fell, the sound of horses' hooves echoed simultaneously from all three city gates of Guangning City.

Qi Bingzhong's cavalry charged toward Dongguan and ran into Liu San, a guerrilla fighter who was trying to escape with his servants.

As soon as Liu San mounted his horse, Qi Bingzhong shot an arrow through the horse's leg, causing both man and horse to fall to the ground. When the servants saw their leader captured, they were thrown into chaos and were all subdued in less than half an hour.

Zhu Wanliang was searching the city when a garrison commander tried to escape by climbing over the back wall. He had just climbed onto the top of the wall when he was pulled down by soldiers from the standard battalion who were lying in ambush outside the wall. He didn't even have a chance to beg for mercy.

Li Hongji encountered some resistance when he was clearing out Sun Degong's retainers in Nanguan.

Sun Degong's retainers were mostly veterans, holding waist knives and shields, trying to break through a path.

Li Hongji personally drew his sword and charged into battle, cleaving the shield of the leading guard in two with a single stroke, and roared:
"Those who surrender will be spared death; those who resist will suffer the same fate as Sun Degong!"

Upon hearing this, the guards threw down their weapons and surrendered.

In just one day and one night, the names circled in vermilion on the map were crossed out one by one.

All the guilty generals were arrested, and only a handful managed to escape.

Their servants were also confiscated of their weapons and armor and imprisoned in an empty camp of the garrison, guarded by heavy troops.

The next morning.

Yang Lian presided over the joint trial by the three judicial departments in the main hall of the Guangning Governor's Office.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review have all arrived.

Yang Lian invited Wang Huazhen and Qi Bingzhong to supervise the trial, and also brought in previously recorded confessions and evidence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He also summoned military households and vagrants who had been persecuted by corrupt military officers as witnesses.

With conclusive evidence and consistent testimonies, no guilty party can deny their guilt.

Some collapsed to the ground, some looked ashen-faced, and some even tried to beg for mercy, but were silenced by Yang Lian's cold gaze.

Three days and three nights later.

The joint review has concluded.

Yang Lian ordered his men to build a two-zhang-high platform on an open ground outside Guangning City, using rammed earth. A large red flag with black characters, bearing the four characters "Suppress Corruption and Pacify the Border," was hung on the platform.

A row of guillotines stood in front of the platform, and executioners dressed in red, holding ghost-head knives, were waiting there early in the morning.

Yang Lian had a notice posted, inviting all the people of the city to come and witness the public trial.

At first, the people hesitated, afraid of getting into trouble, but when they saw the governor and the provincial governor sitting on the high platform, they gradually gathered around.

In the end, the area below the platform was packed with people, and even the distant earthen slopes were filled with people standing on tiptoe to look out.

"A guilty general!"

At Yang Lian's command, the soldiers escorted the convicted generals one by one onto the high platform.

Yang Lian picked up the book of crimes and read out their crimes one by one:
"Guerrilla commander Liu San has embezzled 5,000 shi of military rations and colluded with the Mongols. He shall be executed!"

"Commander Wang Er, for embezzling military pay and assaulting soldiers, shall be executed!"

After each head was read out, the executioner would raise his knife and bring it down, the head rolling into a bamboo basket in front of the platform, blood splattering onto the yellow earth, staining it red.

The people were initially silent, but when they heard about Liu San and Wang Er's crimes, someone suddenly shouted:
"Good kill!"

Immediately afterwards, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd, and some people even threw stones and rotten vegetable leaves at the criminals who had not yet been executed.

The last one to be escorted to the high platform was Sun Degong.

He was chained, his hair disheveled, his face covered in blood, yet he still tried to struggle:
"I am the deputy commander-in-chief! You can't treat me like this!"

Yang Lian stood at the edge of the platform and shouted loudly to the people below:

“Sun Degong embezzled 100,000 taels of military pay, colluded with the Jurchens, leaked military intelligence, and caused the deaths of more than 300 of our Ming soldiers!”

These traitors should be executed by slow slicing as a warning to others!

As soon as he finished speaking, the executioner stepped forward and tied Sun Degong to the rack.

The punishment of slow slicing was extremely cruel. When the blade fell, Sun Degong's screams echoed across the wilderness. Some people couldn't bear to look and covered their eyes, while others gritted their teeth and stared at the rack, as if they wanted to watch this parasite being cut into a thousand pieces.

Yang Lian stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the people below, then looking at the Ming soldiers lined up in the distance, and said loudly:

"Today's execution is not to show violence, but to tell everyone."

In Liaodong:
Corrupt officials shall die!

Death to collaborators!

Those who harm the people shall die!

Anyone who dares to follow in Sun Degong's footsteps in the future will suffer the same fate!

Upon hearing this, the soldiers felt a pang of sympathy and shouted in unison:

"Don't dare!"

"From this day forward, anyone who has been wronged may bring their grievances to light!"

Those who are in arrears with their pay, this Imperial Household Agency will make up your pay on behalf of His Majesty!

For those whose land has been occupied, the local council will redistribute the land according to the Yellow Register.

"

Thanks to Yang Lian's swift and decisive actions in eliminating corrupt officials and easing the burdens on military households and civilians, Guangning did not experience any major trouble.

the other side.

In Zhenwubao, Xipingbao, Zhenningbao, Luyangyi, Dalinghebao and other places, they also started their operations together at the agreed time.

Although there were a few minor disturbances, the chaos was quickly quelled by the well-prepared forces, and no criminals escaped.

Following Yang Lian's instructions, officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate were dispatched to interrogate and convict them. Then, public trial platforms were immediately set up in places such as Zhenwu Fort, Xiping Fort, Zhenning Fort, Luyang Post Station, and Dalinghe Fort. In front of the local military households and civilians, these corrupt officials were questioned one by one.

Those who committed serious crimes were even subjected to slow slicing, skinning, and stuffing with straw.

Even minor crimes warranted beheading, and everyone's head fell to the ground.

For a moment, Guangning was solemn!

The people shouted "Long live the Emperor! Yang Dutang is wise!"

After the murder, the Embroidered Uniform Guards raided the house.

When the lists of confiscated property from various places were compiled and delivered to Yang Lian, even he, who was used to seeing corruption in officialdom, couldn't help but gasp and swear.

motherfucker.

So much money, land, and armor
These bookworms truly deserve to be torn to pieces!

Killing them once is not enough to atone for their crimes!
PS:

A long chapter of 8900 words!
Asking for a monthly ticket!
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In addition:

The author is in Guangdong, and a typhoon is coming soon.

Hopefully there won't be any power outages or internet disruptions, otherwise the author won't be able to write.
(End of this chapter)