Huangming

Chapter 464 Stinginess Leads to Loss of Heart and Turn Against Them
South of Datong Prefecture City.

a mess.

The autumn wind blew across the dilapidated courtyard walls, stirring up scraps of cloth and dust on the ground. Occasionally, from one of the collapsed houses, the suppressed sobs of a woman could be heard, but they were quickly drowned out by the soldiers' shouts and the laughter of the displaced people.

The once orderly streets and alleys were now filled with makeshift tents.

This place became a temporary camp for rebels and refugees, while the people who once lived in these streets and alleys had long since become victims of the chaos:

able-bodied men were either forcibly conscripted into the army or were chopped down on their own doorsteps for resisting.

The elderly, women, and children were driven to street corners. Those who were lucky could get half a piece of moldy dry food, while those who were unlucky could only wait to die in the cold wind.

Many young women were abducted into tents and subjected to humiliation day and night, but no one paid any attention to them.

Amidst this chaos, Seonhwaji Temple appeared to be less chaotic.

This ancient temple, originally built in the Liao Dynasty, was once a sacred site in the south of Datong City, with flourishing incense offerings and a constant stream of believers.

But now, the temple gates are wide open, and two rebel soldiers holding spears stand in front of them; the incense inside the temple has long since died out.

Inside the main hall, the statues of the Three Buddhas still sit serenely on their lotus pedestals, but their golden bodies are covered with a thick layer of dust. In the dim light, their compassionate faces appear somewhat sorrowful.

The solemn Buddhist hall had become Liu Zhenbang's temporary command post.

Liu Zhenbang stood with his hands behind his back on the stone steps in front of the main hall, his brows furrowed.

He looked up at the Buddha statue in the hall, his eyes filled with annoyance.

Wang Wei ordered him to lead 6,000 soldiers to raid the camp and directly attack Xiong Tingbi's main camp. This was not a raid, but a suicide mission!

The Liaodong and Jingying cavalry under Xiong Tingbi's command were extremely elite. Yesterday, he only fought with Cao Wenzhao's vanguard and lost nearly a hundred brothers. Now, to charge the government army's camp head-on was simply like throwing an egg against a rock.

"General, the man is back."

The voice of a personal guard behind him interrupted Liu Zhenbang's thoughts.

He turned around and saw the servants sent to inform the generals under Sun Zhen and Ma Rong walking towards him with their heads down.

"They're coming?"

Liu Zhenbang stepped forward and asked.

The servant shook his head, his voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum:
"General, the subordinates of Lieutenant General Sun and Lieutenant General Ma... are all unwilling to come."

They said they would not send troops unless they received personal letters from Generals Sun Zhen and Ma Rong, and also said...

They also said that mobilizing troops without the commander's order was a violation of orders.

"Disobeying orders?"

Liu Zhenbang clenched his fist tightly and spat on the ground.

"At this point, you're still telling me you're disobeying orders!"
Wang Wei has rebelled; who are they talking to about violating the law?

He grew angrier as he spoke, and kicked the stone incense burner next to him. The burner tipped over with a crash, scattering the remaining incense ash all over the ground.

"Let me lead this bunch of hypocritical people to raid the camp?"
"I'm afraid that as soon as we left the city gates, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's men would run away first, leaving only my thousand loyal followers to serve as targets for Xiong Tingbi!"

The servant shrank back in fear and dared not utter a word.

Liu Zhenbang paced back and forth on the stone steps, his heart burning with anxiety.

Wang Wei was clearly trying to use someone else to do his dirty work, using him, Sun Zhen, and Ma Rong's troops to be wasted in front of the government army camp.

To go is to die.

If he doesn't go, Wang Wei will definitely kill him on the grounds of "disobeying orders," and he will die anyway.

Is there really no way out?
Liu Zhenbang stopped and his gaze fell on the dusty Buddha statues inside the hall.

The Buddha's eyes were half-open, as if looking down upon his predicament.

He suddenly remembered Xiong Tingbi's shouts outside the city during the day.

"Only the ringleader Wang Wei will be executed; all the others who were coerced into surrendering will be pardoned."

But Liu Zhenbang was listed as one of the "principal culprits" by Xiong Tingbi, so even if he surrendered, it would be useless.

Wang Wei was certain of this, which is why he dared to entrust him with the task of raiding the camp, knowing that he wouldn't dare to betray him.

"Don't you have the guts to turn against us?"

Liu Zhenbang's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, but his eyes gradually brightened.

If Wang Wei won't give you a way out, can't you find a way out yourself?
Xiong Tingbi wants his life, but if he can make a great contribution, he might be spared!
He turned abruptly, lowered his voice, and said to the servant:
"Leave now and exit the city through the secret passage behind the temple."

That secret passage was used by the monks of Shanhua Temple when they fled during the famine. Only a few old soldiers know about it. Be careful not to get discovered.

The servant hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded: "General, what message do you want me to convey?"

“Go to Xiong Tingbi’s camp and tell him…” Liu Zhenbang paused, carefully choosing his words.

"Just say that I, Liu Zhenbang, am willing to defect and help the government troops take Datong Prefecture and capture Wang Wei alive."

But I have one condition.
General Xiong personally promised to spare my life and forgive my past transgressions.

After saying this, he took a waist tag engraved with the character "Liu" from his waist and stuffed it into the servant's hand:

"Take this. If Xiong Jinglue's men don't believe you, just show them your waist token."

Remember, this matter must never be known to a third person. If word gets out, we're all dead!

The servant gripped the waist token tightly, feeling its coldness, and understood the seriousness of the situation. He nodded solemnly.
"Rest assured, General, I will certainly handle it properly!"

As Liu Zhenbang watched the servant turn and walk quickly toward the back of the temple, his figure soon disappearing into the shadows of the corridor, the weight on his heart eased slightly, only to be lifted by another weight.

Will Xiong Tingbi agree?

If Xiong Tingbi does not accept his surrender, his escape route will be completely cut off.

But now, he has no other choice.

He walked back to the main hall, looked at the Buddha statue inside, and took a deep breath.

Previously, he thought he could gain benefits by following Wang Wei, but now he realized that Wang Wei was just using him as a pawn that could be discarded at any time.

If that's the case, why should he follow Wang Wei to his death?

outside the city.

The government army camp.

It's not going to be bright yet.

Inside the central command tent, the candlelight was still burning, illuminating the Datong Prefecture city defense map spread out on the table.

Xiong Tingbi, dressed in a light blue robe with a plain jade belt around his waist, was looking down at a map, his finger slowly moving along the lines of the city wall.

A few drops of candle wax clung to the white hair at his temples, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's, showing no sign of fatigue.

Last night, three more groups of "insiders" from within the city secretly sent out messages, from the refugee army's food shortage to the resistance of Sun Zhen and Ma Rong, and Wang Wei's absurd superstition about the sorcerer. Every single thing was recorded in the notebook in his hand.

"My lord, this is a secret report that I just received this morning."

The strategist Zhou Wenhuan stepped quietly into the tent, handed over a folded piece of paper, and spoke in a very low voice.

“An old servant from the Prince of Dai’s mansion risked his life to escape through the waterway and said…that Prince Zhu Naijun of Dai had been publicly executed by Wang Wei and his body was thrown into the drill ground in front of the mansion.”

Xiong Tingbi took the note, unfolded it, and paused slightly at the tip of his finger.

Although he had expected it, he still couldn't help but frown when he actually heard the news.

The Prince of Dai was a member of the Ming imperial family. Even if he was incompetent and greedy, he was still a prince appointed by the court. Wang Wei's actions undoubtedly solidified the charge of treason to the extreme.

He crumpled the note into a ball and said in a deep voice, "Draft two documents immediately."

A fast horse was sent to the capital to report the tragic death of the Prince of Dai to His Majesty, stating that the strategist was unable to provide timely assistance and was willing to accept the punishment for dereliction of duty.

Another message was sent to the temporary residence of Crown Prince Zhu Dingwei, informing him... "Please accept my condolences. After the city falls, I, the military governor, will certainly exonerate the Prince of Dai and execute Wang Wei to appease his spirit."

"Yes."

Zhou Wenhuan bowed in agreement, but was about to turn around when Xiong Tingbi called him back.

"Wait, send some calming medicine and snacks to the young master. He is now the only son left in the Prince of Dai's mansion. We don't want the lineage of the Prince of Dai's mansion to end."

Zhou Wenhuan nodded and withdrew, and the tent returned to silence.

Xiong Tingbi looked at the map in front of him, his eyes flickering.

The power that Wang Wei gathered through coercion and plunder was like a sandcastle—seemingly massive, but actually crumbling at the slightest touch.

Those petty officials, soldiers, and even ordinary people who secretly passed on messages were the sand that brought down the castle.

Land rebellion in the Ming Dynasty
Do you really think you can succeed?

"Lord General! General Chen requests an audience!"

A report came from outside the tent from a personal guard.

"Let him in."

As soon as he finished speaking, General Chen Ce, the commander-in-chief of the border pacification force, strode into the tent.

He was dressed in full armor, the plates still glistening with morning dew, and his face showed a hint of urgency. As soon as he entered, he clasped his hands in greeting:

"My lord! I have captured a man who claims to be Liu Zhenbang's personal servant. He says he has important business to discuss with you and that... Liu Zhenbang is willing to surrender, only asking that you spare his life!"

"Liu Zhenbang?"

Xiong Tingbi raised an eyebrow, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He remembered that this son-in-law of Wang Wei had shown no mercy when chasing Zhang Wei and his group in Kaolao Mountain, killing many officials and their families in Datong Prefecture, his hands stained with blood.

Previously, the government troops had called for his surrender, specifically listing him and Wang Wei as "unforgivable" bandit leaders in order to cut off his escape route. Unexpectedly, this man panicked first.

"He certainly knows how to pick his time."

Xiong Tingbi walked to the table, sat down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"Tell me, what else did his messenger say?"

"The servant said that Wang Wei gave Liu Zhenbang a death order, ordering him to lead his troops to raid the camp at midnight tonight. He also assigned Sun Zhen and Ma Rong's 2,500 men to him, clearly intending to use them as cannon fodder."

Chen Ce walked to the table and lowered his voice:

"The servant also revealed that Sun Zhen and Ma Rong were unwilling to send troops at all, and their subordinates also said that they would never follow Liu Zhenbang to their deaths without seeing Sun and Ma's written orders."

Liu Zhenbang was afraid and said that as long as you could pardon his crimes, he would be willing to provide support within the city.

Not only can we rescue Sun Zhen and Ma Rong, but we can also open the south gate and let our people in!

Xiong Tingbi tapped his fingers on the table, making a "tap-tap" sound.

Liu Zhenbang's surrender was a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, if Liu Zhenbang could truly provide support, the government troops could open the city gates without bloodshed, reducing countless casualties and dismantling the core strength of the rebels.

On the other hand, Liu Zhenbang has too many blood debts on his hands. If he is easily forgiven, it may chill the hearts of the families of the victims and make other rebels think that "surrender can absolve them of their crimes," making it even more difficult to deter them in the future.

"Why are you thinking about survival now? Where were you before?"

Xiong Tingbi snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain. "Back in Kaolao Mountain, when he was killing those officials' families, did he never think this day would come?"

Chen Ce stood aside without saying a word.

He knew Xiong Tingbi's temperament; he seemed stern and cold, but in reality, he valued the "advantages and disadvantages" most.

He could put aside personal grudges as long as it was beneficial to suppressing the rebellion.

Sure enough, after a moment, Xiong Tingbi stopped tapping his fingers on the table, and his eyes became firm.

"Go and tell that servant that I, the strategist, can spare Liu Zhenbang's life."

However, there are three conditions:

First, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong must be rescued before midnight tonight.

Secondly, when attacking the camp, one should try to open the south gate to allow government troops to enter the city.

Third, after entering the city, you must cooperate with us in wiping out Wang Wei's loyal followers. If you utter even the slightest falsehood, this commander will execute you without mercy!

He paused and added:

"In addition, make it clear to him that he can forget about the position of brigadier general and that he can no longer serve in the army in the future."

This strategist guarantees with his personal integrity that after the matter is settled, he will be given a sum of money so that he can return to his hometown and live a wealthy life.

This was the biggest concession he could get: do it if he wanted, otherwise, let him die with Wang Wei!

Chen Ce's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed and said:
"Understood! I'll go and tell that servant right away!"

After Chen Ce left, Xiong Tingbi looked at the documents beside him and said:

"By order of the General, Qi Jin and Ma Shilong shall each lead one thousand cavalrymen to wait outside the South Gate at the third watch tonight. Once the signal for the city gate to open is received, they shall immediately rush in!"
All other units, strengthen your defenses to prevent Wang Wei from resorting to desperate measures and breaking out through other city gates!

"Yes!"

The clerk accepted the order and left.

Xiong Tingbi walked back to the city defense map and pointed to the "South Gate" position.

Tonight will be crucial in quelling the rebellion. (Liu)
If Zhenbang truly surrenders, Datong Prefecture can fall in no time.

If it's a feigned surrender, the government troops will likely pay a heavy price.

the other side.

South of Datong Prefecture City.

Inside the Mahavira Hall of Shanhua Temple.

Liu Zhenbang sat on the offering table in front of the Buddha.

"General, good news! Xiong Tingbi has agreed, but he has a condition."

Liu Zhenbang did not show any joy after hearing the news brought back by the messenger.

"Your position as a military commander is in jeopardy, but I'll save your life and make you a wealthy man."

"A wealthy man..."

Liu Zhenbang murmured softly, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

He served in the army for twenty years, rising from a junior officer to a brigadier general. He did not rely on family background, but on military achievements earned through countless battles.

Her later marriage alliance with Wang Wei was merely a way to curry favor with him.

How could he be willing to relinquish his military power and live off a pile of silver?

Hey ~
Following Wang Wei means certain death sooner or later.

In his resistance against Wang Wei, Xiong Tingbi offered only one path: to become a "rich old man."

He exhaled a heavy breath.

During the pursuit of Zhang Wei a few nights ago, nearly half of his troops were lost. If they had followed Wang Wei's orders to attack the camp, they probably wouldn't have even been able to reach Xiong Tingbi's camp before becoming victims of his blade.

"Being alive... is better than being a corpse."

Liu Zhenbang stood up, dusted off the offering table, and his eyes gradually hardened.

He made his choice immediately.

I'll just be a rich man!

However, even if one wants to become a wealthy man, one must first live to receive that share of money.

But in his heart, he already had a plan to betray them.

"Let's set off for the General Headquarters!"

Just after 7 PM, Liu Zhenbang rode his horse to the General's Mansion.

Beside the stone lions in front of the mansion gate, two guards held long spears, their eyes warily watching those coming and going.

He dismounted and was about to enter the gate when he was stopped by his personal guards.

Last night, Wang Wei issued an order that non-direct subordinate generals must report before entering the residence.

Liu Zhenbang waited patiently for a while before being led inside by a servant.

As he walked through the courtyard, his gaze was drawn to the wooden crates piled up under the eaves.

The boxes were open, filled with high-quality gold ingots, and the pearls that had rolled out of the boxes gleamed with a bright white light. Even the silk used to line the boxes was brocade from Jiangnan.

Liu Zhenbang's Adam's apple bobbed, his mouth dry.

The wealth confiscated from the Prince Dai's mansion is staggering!
Wang Wei would rather let these treasures gather dust here than give a single penny as a reward to his soldiers, instead forcing them to their deaths.

"That old man is stingy to the core!"

Liu Zhenbang cursed inwardly, but his steps did not stop.

He recalled how many times he had followed Wang Wei, how many scapegoats he had taken the blame for, and how many grievances he had swallowed, yet now he couldn't even get a single benefit.

"You brought this upon yourself by betraying me!"

He found a noble reason for himself in his mind, and his original guilt vanished without a trace.

In the main hall of the General's Mansion, Wang Wei sat in a grand chair, holding a talisman drawn by a sorcerer in his hand, his brows furrowed tightly.

Seeing Liu Zhenbang enter, he threw the talisman onto the table, his tone tinged with impatience:
"We're setting out at midnight today. Why aren't you gathering your troops? What are you doing here?"

Liu Zhenbang quickly bowed and greeted them respectfully:

"Your son-in-law greets your father-in-law. It is not that your son-in-law is lazy, but that the soldiers under Sun Zhen and Ma Rong are not obeying orders."

Last night, the messenger my son-in-law sent returned with news that the guerrillas and centurions said they would not send troops without orders from Sun Zhen and Ma Rong themselves.

"what?!"

Wang Wei slammed his hand on the table.

He stood up, pointed to the door, and angrily shouted:
"These soldiers! How dare they disobey the orders of this town?!"

Liu Zhenbang quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice:

"Father-in-law, please calm down. We need manpower right now, and if we force you, things may go wrong."

Why don't you take Sun Zhen and Ma Rong with you and let them personally summon their subordinates and give them their authorization?

Once this is over, we can send the two men back to the general's headquarters. This will neither delay the deployment of troops nor hinder their movement.

Wang Wei's brows furrowed into a knot.

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong were already resistant, and if they were allowed to meet with the soldiers, it might cause trouble.

But if we don't let them go, the raid on the camp will fall through.

Wang Wei pondered for a moment, then glanced at Liu Zhenbang.

This is his son-in-law; he wouldn't betray him.

"That's fine."

Wang Wei nodded, his tone carrying a warning.

"But you must be careful and keep a close eye on Sun Zhen and Ma Rong. Don't let them out of your sight! If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"

"I understand!"

Liu Zhenbang bowed and agreed, but felt a sense of relief.

The first step was successful.

Wang Wei immediately sent someone to summon Sun Zhen and Ma Rong.

Before long, the two entered the lobby.

Sun Zhen was wearing old armor and looked somewhat haggard.

Ma Rong kept his head down, clearly preoccupied with something on his mind.

When Sun Zhen heard Wang Wei tell them to go see the soldiers, his eyes lit up instantly, but when he saw Liu Zhenbang standing to the side, his eyes quickly dimmed again.

With Liu Zhenbang watching over them, even if they met their own soldiers, they might not be able to say a few words from the heart.

"You two, summon your subordinate general and personally authorize him to let Liu Zhenbang lead the army, understand?"

Wang Wei's words contained a threatening tone.

"You will finally understand."

The two echoed each other, their voices tinged with a hint of helplessness.

After leaving the General's Office, Liu Zhenbang, along with Sun Zhen and Ma Rong, rode straight to Shanhua Temple in the south of the city.

Along the way, groups of refugees gathered in twos and threes in the streets and alleys. Some were robbing the people of their food, while others were jeering at a woman. Screams of agony rose and fell.

Sun Zhen frowned even more as he watched this scene unfold.

He was a veteran of the Datong border army, and had never seen such chaos before.
Following Wang Wei in rebellion was indeed a mistake.

soon.

The group then arrived at Shanhua Temple.

Upon entering, the gate of Shanhua Temple was immediately closed.

Liu Zhenbang immediately dismissed his attendants, leaving only Sun Zhen and Ma Rong in the main hall.

He walked to the palace gate, made sure all his personal guards were stationed outside, then turned around, looked at the two men, and said in a solemn tone:
"Gentlemen, Wang Wei is now at his wit's end. Xiong Tingbi's army has besieged the city. If we continue to follow him, we will only face certain death."

I wish to restore order and surrender to the government troops. Gentlemen, do you share this sentiment?

"what?!"

The horsewhip in Sun Zhen's hand clattered to the ground. He stared wide-eyed at Liu Zhenbang in disbelief.

This is Wang Wei's son-in-law, how could he betray Wang Wei?

(End of this chapter)