Huangming

Chapter 444 The Nine-Border Strategy: Deterring the Mongol Tribes

June 10th, the second year of the Tianqi reign.

Xuanfu.

The sun hung overhead, like a red-hot copper basin, its rays carrying a scorching heat.

Stepping on the dirt road outside the city, you can clearly feel the heat of the ground under your shoes, and there is not a trace of moisture in the cracks in the soil.

The wind that brushed against my cheeks carried a dry, hot breath, and even the roadside weeds drooped, their leaves curled into thin strips.

On this sweltering afternoon, a cloud of dust suddenly rose from the end of the distant official road.

Followed by.

A series of muffled sounds of hooves and wheels carried on the wind, growing closer and louder, like muffled thunder rolling across the earth.

"They've arrived! The General's army has come!"

The sentry on the city wall shouted a message, his voice filled with excitement.

The soldiers guarding the city all poked their heads out, looking toward where the dust was rising.

First, a dense array of banners emerged from the horizon. The large red banners bearing the character "Bear" fluttered in the wind, followed by the banners of "Liaoning Army" and "Beijing Garrison." One after another, they formed a dense, overlapping mass, obscuring almost half of the sky.

Further on, the line stretched as far as the eye could see:

Ahead were armored cavalrymen, their hooves kicking up dust that formed a yellow mist.

In the middle were infantrymen pushing chariots and shield wagons. The chariots were lined up one after another, their wheels leaving deep ruts on the ground. The iron plates on the chariots were shiny from the sun, and the wooden planks of the shield wagons still bore the marks of previous battles.

At the very back was a mule and horse caravan pulling cannons. The barrels of the breech-loading cannons gleamed coldly, and heavy ammunition boxes were piled up beside them. There were also small-caliber tiger crouch cannons and thunder cannons, lined up in rows, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The locals along the way roughly counted that there were more than 500 cannons alone, not to mention the muskets held by the soldiers, their dark muzzles pointing forward, which was quite eerie.

"My God, are these the elite troops from Liaodong?"

The soldiers guarding the city couldn't help but sigh softly.

The Liao soldiers at the forefront wore gleaming iron armor, with arm guards on their arms, curved swords hanging at their waists, muskets on their backs, and water bags and rations hanging beside their saddles.

The warhorses were also clad in armor to protect against arrows, and their manes were neatly combed, clearly indicating that they were well-cared for and of superior quality.

Looking at the guest army behind them, although their equipment was not as sophisticated as that of the Liao army, more than 80% of them were wearing armor. Every soldier had a calm demeanor that showed no signs of fatigue.

As for why this army was so well-equipped...
Very simple.

Their equipment was acquired through numerous victories.

When they were in Liaodong, they won battles, and the imperial court's rewards were never delayed; silver and grain were distributed in full.

These soldiers were used to life and death and knew that on the battlefield, "the stronger the armor, the greater the chance of survival."

After receiving the reward, the first thing he did was to raise money to buy better armor and stronger warhorses.

Some veterans even paid out of their own pockets to have blacksmiths make breastplates that fit their bodies, or to add sights to their muskets.

Over time, this victorious army became even better equipped than the Beijing garrison.

Outside the city gate.

The generals who had been waiting there also went to greet them.

Ma Shilong, newly promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Xuanfu, wore the red robes of a commander-in-chief, with a jade belt around his waist and a ring-pommel sword in his hand. Behind him stood Chen Ce and Qi Jin, the commanders-in-chief of the border pacification region.

Further back.

They were Zhou Tong, Zhao Chengye, Ma Chengxun, and Wu Qian, all local military officers from Xuanfu.

The group was dressed in military uniform, with their personal guards following behind them. Upon seeing the army arrive, they quickly stepped forward.

at this time.

A burly general leaped down from the lead horse.

It was Xiong Tingbi, the former Liaodong Military Commissioner, Governor-General of Liaodong Military Affairs and in charge of grain and provisions, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Earl of Dongning.

of course
Now he has another title.

That was the Military Commissioner of the Nine Border Regions.

He was over fifty years old, but his figure was still upright. He wore a heavy suit of fish-scale armor, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His face was covered with wrinkles and dust, but he did not look tired at all.

He landed swiftly, his gaze swept over the approaching generals, he raised his hand and waved, his voice booming.

"No need for formalities, everyone! We've been traveling a long way and have been delayed. Let's go inside and discuss our business!"

"Yes!"

The generals responded in unison and quickly stepped aside to make way for them.

Ma Shilong stepped forward and made a "please" gesture:

"General, you must be tired from your journey. Tea has been prepared at the General's residence. Let's go inside and talk in detail."

Xiong Tingbi nodded and strode toward the city gate.

The generals followed behind him, forming a grand procession that drew the attention of passersby who stopped to watch with awe in their eyes.

Not long after.

The group then entered the General's Mansion.

Crossing the front yard, we arrived at the main hall.

The room had already been cleaned up, and in the center stood a large pear wood table with a brand-new map of Xuanfu on it. Passes such as Dushikou and Zhangjiakou were circled in red on the map.

There were writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the table, as well as several open military registers, which were obviously prepared in advance.

There were more than a dozen chairs on both sides of the lobby, all left by Wang Guoliang, and they were spotless.

Xiong Tingbi walked behind the desk and sat directly in the main seat in the middle.

Ma Shilong, Chen Ce, and others sat on the guest seats on both sides according to their official rank, while their personal guards stood at the entrance of the hall to keep irrelevant people out.

After Xiong Tingbi sat down, he spoke directly: "Before I came here, I had received His Majesty's secret decree, knowing that Xuanfu has been pacified, but the remnants have not been eliminated, and the border towns need to be reorganized."

"The reason I've called you all here today is to discuss how to pursue and suppress Wang Guoliang, how to reorganize the garrisons, and how to handle the treason case."

As soon as Xiong Tingbi finished speaking, all the generals straightened their backs and even subconsciously softened their breathing.

Ma Shilong was the first to stand up. He took two steps forward, holding a thick book in both hands, and bowed as he handed it to the table, his voice steady:
"Lord General, all those involved in the Xuanfu rebellion have been apprehended and brought to justice, totaling more than 1,200 people, from Wang Guoliang's deputy commander to the garrison captains, none of them have escaped."

This is their register of incriminating evidence, containing confessions and records of stolen goods; it awaits the magistrate's decision on how to handle it.

Xiong Tingbi took the book from his hand, but did not open it. Instead, his gaze fell on Ma Shilong's face.

"That's good, the evidence is conclusive. But there's still no news about Wang Guoliang's whereabouts?"

Ma Shilong's composure vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of embarrassment.

He scratched his temple, his voice lowering slightly:
"According to the scout report sent by the garrison commander of Dushi Fort yesterday, Wang Guoliang led several hundred surviving cavalrymen across Dushi Pass about five days ago and headed towards the southern grasslands of the Gobi Desert."

The grassland stretched as far as the eye could see, and the scouts had chased for a hundred miles, only to have even the hoofprints buried by the sandstorm. To continue the pursuit... seemed unlikely.

"Disaster?"

Xiong Tingbi repeated the word.

"So you stopped chasing because the grasslands were so vast?"
Wang Guoliang is familiar with border defenses and leads his remaining troops. If he were to seek refuge with the remnants of the Chahar tribes on the grasslands, or collude with other Mongol tribes, and then raid Xuanfu again, who among us would bear the responsibility?

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and suddenly asked:

"Have you inquired with Subudi yet?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce, Qi Jin, and the others all nodded slightly.

The Kharachin tribe, led by Subudi, was originally a former Mongol tribe, known as the Harachi during the Yuan Dynasty.

When he came to the Ming Dynasty, he was renamed Harachen. He not only had the herdsmen of the Kharachin tribe under his command, but also the Uriyangkhads of the Doyan Guard, which were commonly known as the "Thirty-Six Families of Doyan".

Although it was a vassal of the Chahar tribe, it secretly grew stronger after the internal strife in Chahar, and held several thousand elite cavalry. It was entrenched in the eastern part of the southern grasslands, right in the middle of the key road from Dushikou to the heart of the grasslands.

Ma Shilong quickly replied:
"Of course I asked!"

Three days ago, an envoy was sent to the Kharachin tribe's headquarters, but Subu said... he had never seen Wang Guoliang's troops, and offered to send tribal scouts to assist in the search, but so far there has been no news whatsoever.

"never seen it?"

Xiong Tingbi snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

He had been in Liaodong for many years and had dealt with at least eight or ten Mongol tribes, so he knew the thoughts of these tribal leaders best.

If Subudi had truly never seen it before, why would he only send some insignificant scouts to deal with it?

They probably realized long ago that Wang Guoliang still had value, or they wanted to wait and see, hoping to gain benefits from both sides.

"Send another messenger!"

"Tell Subu that the Ming Dynasty is willing to offer 10,000 taels of silver in exchange for Wang Guoliang's head."

He was given one month to either deliver Wang Guoliang's head to Xuanfu or bring him here by kidnapping.

If the Ming Dynasty does not see Wang Guoliang within a month, then don't blame the Ming Dynasty for being impolite.

Upon hearing this, Ma Shilong asked with some concern:

"Lord General, isn't this a bit too impolite? Won't it hurt him too much?"

Xiong Tingbi snorted coldly and angrily rebuked:
"Slap his mother's head!"

"A mere ten thousand households leader dares to oppose my Great Ming Dynasty?"

You can say that Xiong Tingbi said:
The southern grasslands cannot tolerate those whom the Ming Dynasty wants to kill.

Anyone who dares to accept someone the Ming Dynasty wants killed will have nowhere to hide on the southern grasslands!

The lobby fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Zhou Tong, Wu Qian, and other local military officers from Xuanfu were all dumbfounded, and they almost dropped their teacups.

Although they knew Xiong Tingbi was upright, they did not expect him to be so tough, daring to directly threaten even the Mongol tribes.

It should be noted that although the Kharachin tribe was not considered the overlord of the grasslands, a force of several thousand cavalrymen could still give the Xuanfu border defenses a run for their money.

Such harsh words, leaving no room for negotiation, might anger Subudi and create new trouble.

Ma Chengxun instinctively wanted to speak up and offer advice, but Chen Ce stopped him with a look.

He turned to look at Chen Ce, only to see that Chen Ce and Qi Jin were both calm, as if they were already used to this scene.

Back when Xiong Tingbi dealt with the Jurchens in Liaodong, he used even more "barbaric" methods than this, and the Jurchens privately called him "Xiong the Barbarian".

When dealing with tribal leaders like Subudi, gentle words are truly useless; only by being more savage than these barbarians will they fear you.

Seeing the various expressions on everyone's faces, especially the restraint of the Xuanfu military officers, Xiong Tingbi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Do you think I'm too domineering?"

Zhou Tong quickly bowed: "This humble general dares not, but... if Subudi really rebels, I fear it will affect all the tribes of the grasslands..."

"opposite?"

Xiong Tingbi interrupted him, his tone carrying a hint of contempt.

"The Kharachin tribe survives only because of the trade with the Ming Dynasty. Salt, iron, tea—which of these can they do without the Ming Dynasty?"

If Subu is wise, he will know which choice to make.

He stood up, walked to the map, and slowly said:
"Guns and cannons are indiscriminate, and we can't understand the Mongolian language."

"Reasoning with these barbarians is useless. Only by showing them that the Ming Dynasty's swords are strong enough and its silver is plentiful will they obediently listen to us."

The 10,000 taels of silver was an incentive, while the imminent arrival of a large army was a deterrent. Using both tactics simultaneously, Subu dared not refuse.

Upon hearing this, all the generals bowed and said:

"The strategist is truly wise!"

The doubts on the faces of Zhou Tong, Wu Qian and others gradually dissipated.

It turned out that Xiong Tingbi had already calculated the weakness of the Kharachin tribe. His so-called "domineering" was nothing more than a confident intimidation.

Xiong Tingbi waved his hand and sat back down in the main seat.

"Enough with the small talk, let's discuss how to deal with the rebels."

Wang Guoliang's core cronies, such as his deputy general and the chief of the grain supply, had the blood of government troops on their hands and should be executed according to the law. They were to be publicly executed at the Xuanfu drill ground on a chosen day as a warning to others.

As for the coerced garrison soldiers, if they were willing to atone for their crimes through meritorious service, they would be incorporated into the border army and sent to guard the border passes such as Dushibao and Zhangjiakou.

The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were sent back to their hometowns, given three taels of silver as a resettlement allowance, so they could farm properly.

"The general will obey the order!"

Ma Shilong quickly agreed and took out paper and pen to write it down.

Xiong Tingbi then looked at Chen Ce:

"The task of pursuing and eliminating the remaining troops will be entrusted to Commander Chen. Select five hundred skilled archers from the Liao army and transfer three thousand men from the Xuanfu garrison to form a scout team to patrol outside Dushikou."

Firstly, to receive Subu's men; secondly, to prevent the remnants of Wang Guoliang's forces from turning back and attacking.

"The last general takes command!"

Chen Ce stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke in a firm voice.

Xiong Tingbi's arrival instantly put many stalled tasks into operation.

The orders were clearly conveyed to the generals, from dealing with rebels to deploying border defenses, from contacting Mongol tribes to reorganizing garrisons, all in a clear and orderly manner without any delay.

As Zhou Tong, Wu Qian, and the others looked at Xiong Tingbi, who was calmly making decisions in the main seat, they gradually felt a sense of awe.

No wonder His Majesty sent him to reorganize Xuanfu. Such swift and decisive methods and such far-sighted planning are indeed capable of quelling this border town that has just experienced a rebellion.

The next day.

The scorching summer sun had just climbed over the archway of the East Market when it was oppressed by a heavy, pungent smell of blood.

The East Market was usually the busiest market in Xuanfu, filled with vendors selling grains and cloth. But now, half of the area was fenced off, with a dozen wooden stakes erected and the ground covered with a thick layer of yellow earth.

Three days ago, this place was a bustling marketplace where people gathered to buy goods, but now it has become an execution ground for those who plotted rebellion.

On the morning of the first day, the area around the execution ground was crowded with people.

People, young and old, some carrying freshly bought pancakes, others holding children who were watching the commotion, stood on tiptoe to peer inside.

Wang Guoliang's rebellion has dragged on for so long, and now that the rebels are finally going to be dealt with, everyone wants to see what happens.

At 3:45 AM, accompanied by a series of urgent gong sounds, armored soldiers escorted the first batch of rebels over. Leading them was Wang Guoliang's deputy commander of the central army, whose hands were chained and a wooden plaque with the character "斩" (meaning "execution") stuck around his neck. His face was ashen.

"Operation!"

At the executioner's command, the executioner swung his executioner's blade. A head rolled onto the yellow earth, blood spurting out and splashing onto the shoes of the onlookers.

A gasp erupted from the crowd. Some timid women immediately covered their mouths, while others pressed closer, pointing at the severed head on the ground and discussing it:
"Is this the deputy general who rebelled with Wang Guoliang?"
Deserve it! "

But the atmosphere changed the next day.

More than 400 people were executed in succession. The loess soil was soaked in blood and formed dark brown lumps. The smell of blood wafted across half the street.

The people had lost their enthusiasm from yesterday. Most of them stood at a distance, their faces no longer showing the excitement of watching the spectacle, but only solemnity.

An old woman carrying a basket saw soldiers escorting a minor officer who had once bought cloth from her shop, and couldn't help but sigh:

"Why not just enjoy a good life instead of rebelling?"

The children nearby were frightened by the noise from the execution ground and cried. The adults quickly picked up the children and walked back, never daring to look back.

On the third day, the area around the execution ground was even more deserted.

The open space, which could have been packed with people, now only had a few dozen people standing there, mostly government officials sent to maintain order.

The executioner was replaced by a third one.

The first one was executed yesterday, and his hands were so trembling that he couldn't hold the knife. The second one vomited bile twice and couldn't even eat.

The new executioner was a bearded man who drank most of a jug of strong liquor before the execution.

But when he raised the demon-headed sword again, he couldn't help but feel nauseous. After beheading dozens of people, he turned around and leaned against the wooden stake, retching so badly that he almost dropped the sword.

Three days down.

Twelve hundred heads were hung on the archway of the East Market, stretching from the South Gate all the way to the street corner. Dark brown blood flowed down the pillars of the archway, and the smell of blood could be carried by the wind to the General's Mansion.

No one in Xuanfu dared to mention "watching an execution" anymore. They even avoided passing by the East Market. At night, children would cry, saying they were "afraid of ghosts," and their mothers could only comfort them.
"Those were all bad people, they deserved to be killed, they won't come after us."

The officials and military officers from Xuanfu who were watching the execution from the high platform were utterly shocked by the scene.

Ma Chengxun, dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant general, stood at the back of the crowd, his face as white as paper and his palms covered in cold sweat.

He recalled how he had followed Wang Guoliang as a traitor, and if he hadn't defected in time, his head would probably be hanging on the archway right now.

Zhou Tong, Wu Qian, and the others fared no better. Watching the officers of the garrison who had worked with them being executed one by one, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly. The resentment they had felt towards Xiong Tingbi had long since vanished in fear.

"Treason will only lead to death."

These words, which they had previously taken for granted as mere platitudes from the imperial court, now held true weight as they witnessed the blood and heads in the East Market.

Upon returning from the execution ground, Ma Chengxun and Wu Qian immediately donated half of the private silver they had hidden at home, saying it was to "help with military expenses."

Zhou Tong then proactively reported the falsely reported troop numbers in the garrison to Xiong Tingbi, without daring to offer a single word of explanation.

They knew in their hearts that if they disobeyed in the slightest, the execution ground in the East Market would be their fate.

This execution became the "stepping stone" for Xiong Tingbi to reorganize Xuanfu.

The next half month.

His movements were so fast that they caught everyone off guard.

First, Liao soldiers were sent to take over the twelve garrisons in Xuanfu, with armored Liao soldiers standing at the entrance of each garrison.

During the inspection of the military register, it was discovered that some captains had falsely reported the number of soldiers and embezzled military pay. They were immediately bound and taken to the military governor's office without even a chance to explain.

then.

The Eastern Depot agents and the Imperial Censor went together to raid the residence of the traitor. They found 100 taels of gold, 500,000 taels of silver, and more than a dozen boxes of silk and antiques in Wang Guoliang's general's mansion. Even the stolen silver he had hidden in the wall was found.

Although generals like Ma Chengxun and Wu Qian, who "returned to the fold after joining the rebels," were not punished, they were forced to pay "punishment silver."

Ma Chengxun paid 50,000 taels, Wu Qian paid 30,000 taels, and other generals paid between 10,000 and 30,000 taels according to their rank. No one dared to delay.

In the past, would the military families and garrison officers of Xuanfu have been so obedient?

Let alone confiscating property, even checking military records would take half a month of haggling with officials.

And they resisted it secretly.

But now, the 1,200 heads in the East Market are still hanging there, and no one dares to gamble with their own life.

They clearly saw the consequences of resistance.

Half a month later, the accounts of the confiscated property and the fines for crimes were presented to Xiong Tingbi.

He sat at his desk in the general's mansion, flipping through the account books, a faint smile playing on his lips:

"A total of 1,983,000 taels of silver... Although it cannot compare to the 10 million taels in Liaodong, it is enough."

Of this sum, 1.2 million taels belonged to the family assets of Wang Guoliang and his core cronies, while 780,000 taels were awarded as punishment for crimes committed by Ma Chengxun, Wu Qian, and others.

Xiong Tingbi immediately reported the amount of the embezzled silver to the imperial court.

At the same time, it is hoped that this embezzled silver will not be transported to the capital, but rather divided into two parts:

A portion was allocated to the Xuanfu Garrison to make up for the soldiers' back pay.

A portion was left at the General's Mansion to cover the costs of subsequent reorganization of the garrisons and repair of the passes.

"In this way, the military funds allocated by the imperial court will not need to be touched."

Xiong Tingbi said to Ma Shilong, who had come to report:

"His Majesty's biggest concern is finance. We can solve it ourselves, which will save him from worrying about it in the capital."

Ma Shilong immediately flattered, "Generalissimo, you are truly wise!"

at this time.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, accompanied by the shouts of the guards:
"Who goes there? How dare you trespass into the General's residence!"

"I am a messenger from Dushibao! I have urgent military information to report to the Commander!"

A hoarse voice, panting, came through.

Xiong Tingbi raised his eyes and put down the military register in his hand:
"Let him in."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a soldier covered in dust staggered in.

He was dressed in the blue uniform of the border army, his armor stained with yellow sand and dried mud from the grassland, his trousers torn in several places, and his exposed calves wrapped with blood-soaked strips of cloth.

He clutched a copper tube tightly in his hand. The sealing wax on the tube had softened slightly from being soaked in sweat, clearly indicating that he had rushed here at breakneck speed without daring to stop for even a moment.

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate is from the Dushibao scout camp, and has come to report to the Governor!"

The messenger knelt down with a thud, his chest heaving violently, and raised the copper pipe high.

"Subudi... Subudi's chief sent someone to report that they have found Wang Guoliang's whereabouts!"

He led his remaining troops to hide on the shores of Chahan Lake in the eastern part of the grasslands. Subu pleaded with the Ming army to send troops to assist in suppressing the rebels!

Xiong Tingbi's gaze fell on the brass pipe, and a smile finally appeared on his face.

Sure enough, tempted by the prospect of 10,000 taels of silver, and deterred by the presence of troops stationed at Dushi Fort, Subudi ultimately dared not be negligent.

A few days ago, he specially ordered Chen Ce to send an additional 3,500 soldiers to Dushibao, ostensibly to guard against the grassland tribes, but in reality to put pressure on Subudi.

In retrospect, this combination of kindness and severity proved to be most effective against these grassland chiefs.

"it is good!"

"Subudi is at least pragmatic."

He looked up at Ma Shilong, who was standing to the side.

"General Ma, this task is now in your hands."

Upon hearing this, Ma Shilong immediately stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"Yes!"

"You will lead three thousand cavalry from Xuanfu and set off immediately. Go out of Dushibao and join up with the people of Subudi."

Xiong Tingbi stood up, walked to the map, and pointed heavily at the location of Chahannao Lake with his fingertip.

"Remember, there's no need to get entangled with Wang Guoliang's remnants; the primary task is to take his head."

"Once Wang Guoliang dies, his remaining troops will fall into disarray, and Subu will be able to take care of them."

A fighting spirit instantly ignited in Ma Shilong's eyes, and his clenched fist tightened slightly.

When Wang Guoliang rebelled, he was still the deputy commander of Xuanfu. Although he did not participate in the rebellion, he was still responsible for the oversight.

His Majesty not only did not punish him for his mistakes, but also promoted him to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Xuanfu. He always kept this favor in his heart.

Now that he finally has the opportunity to capture and kill Wang Guoliang himself, he can both wash away his past guilt and repay His Majesty's trust. How could he not do his best?
"The general will obey the order!"

Ma Shilong practically gritted his teeth as he uttered those words.

"We will bring Wang Guoliang's head back to Xuanfu to thank His Majesty for his great favor!"

Xiong Tingbi nodded and then added:

"Let Ma Chengxun and Zhou Tong accompany you."

They are familiar with the terrain around Dushibao and know the rules of the grasslands, so they can help you coordinate with Subudi.

Remember, when dealing with the people of Subu, maintain the dignity of the Ming Dynasty, but don't trust them too easily.

"I will finally understand!"

Ma Chengxun and Zhou Tong hurriedly stepped forward to accept the order, their eyes filled with solemnity.

Although they had submitted during the previous reorganization of the garrisons, they always felt inferior to Xiong Tingbi. Now, being able to participate in the task of eliminating Wang Guoliang is a good opportunity to redeem themselves.

A few hours later.

The deafening sound of horses' hooves echoed across the drill ground outside the city.

Ma Shilong, dressed in brand-new red general's armor and with the ring-pommel sword bestowed by His Majesty hanging at his waist, mounted a snow-white warhorse.

Ma Chengxun and Zhou Tong followed behind him, each riding a brown-red warhorse.

Three thousand Xuanfu cavalrymen had already assembled.

They wore bright silver armor, held spears in their hands, carried muskets on their backs, and had water bags and food sacks hanging beside their saddles.

The warhorses' manes were neatly combed, and each horse had a red ribbon tied around its neck, making them look like a flowing silver-red ocean from afar.

"set off!"

Ma Shilong drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist, the tip pointing north.

"kill!"

Three thousand cavalrymen shouted in unison, their hooves thundering like lightning, kicking up clouds of dust.

The procession set off from the drill ground and headed north along the official road of Xuanfu.

Ma Shilong sat astride his warhorse, his gaze fixed firmly ahead, a murderous glint in his eyes.

Wang Guoliang!
You stray dog ​​who murdered the imperial envoy and betrayed the court, this is your death day!
I will hang your head on the gate of Xuanfu City so that everyone knows the consequences of betraying the Ming Dynasty!
The group quickly exited the north gate of Xuanfu and sped towards Dushibao.

ps:
7000-word chapter

(End of this chapter)