Huangming

Chapter 466 The Great Harmony is Established, and the Nine Border Regions are Subdued
"put!"

Zu Dashou, standing on the high platform, gave the order.

The fuses of the artillery battalion crackled, followed by a deafening roar.

The shells flew like meteors toward the rebels at the north gate.

The rebels running at the front were instantly blown to pieces by the shells, and blood and bits of flesh splattered all over Wang Wei.

The musket battalion soldiers also pulled the triggers, and the "bang bang" of muskets rose and fell, and the rebels fell like wheat being harvested.

Wang Wei's personal guards were terrified.

"Run!"

"Help!"

Among these soldiers.

Some turned to run into the city, but were blocked at the city gate by the rebels behind them, unable to move forward or backward.

Some simply threw down their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy, but they still couldn't escape the musket fire.

Looking at the tragic scene before him, Wang Wei was utterly devastated.

Looking at the banner bearing the character "祖" (ancestor) fluttering in the distance, and remembering the gold and silver jewelry he hadn't had time to take from the General's Mansion, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.

He worked hard for a long time, but in the end, it was all for nothing.

Rebellion, ransacking homes, and treason—in the end, all they got was a prisoner's life.

but
He absolutely refused to accept his fate and had no intention of surrendering!

"No one can kill me, no one can judge me! Not even God!"

He roared, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes filled with the madness of a cornered beast fighting for survival.

"My men! Surrendering means certain death! Follow this town and charge out. If we reach Shaanxi, we might still have a chance to survive!"

The remaining few hundred guards, who were already terrified, were also roused by their commander's resolute decision.

They picked up their weapons and followed Wang Wei as they charged toward the government troops' barricades.

Horse hooves trampled over the corpses of their comrades, spears pierced the billowing smoke, and some men, having only taken a few steps, were struck by lead bullets from muskets and fell to the ground with a thud.

Some managed to reach the chevaux-de-frise, only to have their abdomens pierced by the soldiers' spears. Blood flowed down the spear shafts, staining the wooden spikes of the chevaux-de-frise red.

Zu Dashou stood on the high platform, coldly watching this scene.

He waved his command flag, his voice booming like thunder:

"Stubborn fool! Fire!"

The breech-loading cannons, already loaded with ammunition, instantly spewed fire, and more than a dozen shells, trailing black smoke, hurtled towards Wang Wei's troops.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The explosion was deafening, the ground trembled violently, and mud mixed with bits of flesh and armor flew high into the air, as if the air itself was being torn apart.

The first few dozen cavalrymen were instantly swallowed up by the cannonballs. Some were blown to pieces along with their horses, while others had broken arms and legs and lay on the ground howling in agony.

Wang Wei was thrown to the ground by the blast wave, his boots stained with the blood and bits of flesh from his men.

He struggled to his feet, and looking at the horrific scene before him, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.

The guards who had been charging alongside him just moments before were now reduced to a few dozen men, each with a look of fear on their faces, their former ferocity gone.

Morale has completely collapsed.

"Withdraw! Quickly withdraw!"

Wang Wei's voice had lost its previous madness, leaving only an undisguised chill.

He dared not charge toward the government troops' positions again, and turned to run toward Datong Prefecture.

"Go through the west gate! To the west gate!"

The remaining guards, as if granted a pardon, stumbled and ran back with him.

Along the way, the streets and alleys were filled with scattered refugees and remnants of the rebel army. Some huddled in corners trembling, some trampled each other for a way to escape, and some simply threw down their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy from the approaching government troops.

Wang Wei ignored everyone else; his eyes were only on Ximen.

If we can break through the west gate and run towards Shaanxi, we might still be able to save our lives.

But when he ran breathlessly to the west gate, his steps suddenly stopped, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.

The rebel flags that used to hang on the city tower at the west gate have disappeared, replaced by two bright red flags.

One side is embroidered with the character "明" (Ming), and the other side with the character "熊" (Xiong), which flutters in the evening breeze.

The city walls were lined with soldiers in Ming army armor, their bows and arrows and muskets all aimed at Wang Wei and his entourage below.

The leading general was looking at him coldly; it was Cao Wenzhao, who had been ordered to launch a surprise attack on Gaoshan Fort.

"Ximen...is also trapped?"

Wang Wei muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair.

He never expected that Xiong Tingbi's army would arrive so quickly, even blocking his last escape route.

"General, to the east gate! Zhang Tianlin's refugee army is still there at the east gate!"

The bodyguard beside him trembled as he reminded him.

Wang Wei, as if grasping at the last straw, suddenly came to his senses:
"Yes! East Gate! To the East Gate!"

The group then ran wildly toward the east gate.

But along the way, the previous speed was long gone.

They were exhausted and frightened. Along the way, people kept falling behind, running away, and being killed by pursuing government soldiers.

As they approached the East Gate, Wang Wei looked back and saw that there were less than fifty men left behind, all dressed in rags, covered in blood, and barely able to hold their weapons.

But before they could get close to the East Gate, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the side streets.

Liu Zhenbang led his cavalry, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong led their infantry, and the troops of Ma Shilong, the general of Xuanfu, surrounded them from all sides, trapping Wang Wei and his party in the middle.

"Wang Wei, stop running!"

Liu Zhenbang reined in his horse, looked down at him, and spoke with a tone full of sarcasm.

"Do you think Dongmen is still in Zhang Tianlin's hands? He's a stray dog ​​now."

Wang Wei looked around and saw that he was surrounded by a dense swarm of government soldiers, the cold glint of their swords and spears reflecting on his face.

Finished!

I have absolutely no way out.

The South Gate, West Gate, and North Gate were controlled by government troops, and the refugee army at the East Gate was also defeated, extinguishing even their last glimmer of hope.

"Hahaha……"

Wang Wei suddenly burst into a bitter laugh, his laughter filled with resentment and sorrow.

"I, Wang Wei, have fought for half my life, and in the end, I've come to this! I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"

I was a perfectly good General of Datong.

Is there anything wrong with me profiting from soldiers' blood, drawing salaries without working, and cultivating my personal power?

Don't other people do the same thing?

Why can't Your Majesty let me go?

Why are you forcing me to die?
"what!"

He suddenly raised the long sword in his hand, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Those around him assumed he was going to put up a final stand and raised their weapons in preparation.

But Wang Wei didn't rush towards anyone. Instead, he turned the blade and slashed it fiercely at his own throat.

"Shh!"

A flash of light, and blood gushed out instantly, splattering onto the bluestone slabs on the ground.

Wang Wei swayed, the long sword in his hand clattered to the ground, and then he fell heavily to the ground, his eyes wide open, still filled with endless resentment.

Suicide is better than being slowly sliced ​​to death.

With Wang Wei's fall, the few dozen guards who remained by his side completely lost the courage to resist.

They all threw down their weapons and knelt down with a thud, some even bursting into tears:
"We surrender! We surrender!"

Liu Zhenbang looked at Wang Wei's body and breathed a long sigh of relief.

He dismounted, walked to Wang Wei's corpse, kicked his body to confirm he was dead, and then said to the soldiers beside him:
“Take his body away and hand it over to Xiong Jinglue for disposal.”

After Wang Wei's death, the resistance in the city immediately weakened considerably.

Only from the direction of the East Gate could one occasionally hear the muffled boom of cannons, like the last echoes of this rebellion.

not long ago.

As the shouts of battle subsided in the direction of the General's Mansion, Zhang Tianlin was already preparing to break through from the East Gate.

Although he had 30,000 refugees under his command, they were mostly a rabble without any decent weapons. If they were to fight the government troops head-on, they would only be throwing their lives away.

But these 30,000 people are his best "shield".

"Open the city gates! Let the refugees rush in first!"

Zhang Tianlin gave a low shout to the guards beside him.

The city gate bolt creaked open, and the refugees swarmed out like headless flies. Some carried hoes, others clutched bundles they had stolen. Cries and shouts mingled together, instantly filling the open space at the east gate.

Upon seeing this, the government troops blocking the east gate immediately lit their cannons. With a "boom," the cannonballs landed among the refugees, exploding into a cloud of blood mist.

The musketeers pulled their triggers in unison, and lead bullets whistled through people's bodies. The refugees fell in droves, but they were still pushed forward by those behind them.

Zhang Tianlin led several hundred elite troops, moving rapidly along the base of the city wall.

These men were all ruthless bandits he had handpicked from the refugees; each of them carried a curved knife at his waist, held a short gun, and had dried bloodstains on their faces.

Taking advantage of the lull in the government troops as they reloaded their artillery and the musketeers busied themselves cleaning their barrels, Zhang Tianlin suddenly waved his hand:
"rush!"

The elite troops darted out like arrows released from a bow. With a flash of blades, several government musketeers who had no time to react were cut down on the spot.

They bypassed the government troops' barricades and charged towards the valley to the west.

That was the weak point in the government army's encirclement, and also the only way to Shaanxi.

Upon seeing this, the commander in charge of the defense of the East Gate hurriedly ordered a pursuit, but was entangled by the surging refugees.

By the time the refugees were dispersed and the group was reorganized, Zhang Tianlin's figure had already disappeared into the twilight, leaving only scattered packages and the corpses of refugees on the ground.

The commander, enraged, slammed his fist on the city wall.

"Chase them! Even if we have to chase them all the way to Shaanxi, we must bring this traitor back!"

But the pursuit was ultimately a step too late.

The next morning.

As the first rays of sunlight fell upon the blue bricks of Datong City, the flames of war at the East Gate had been completely extinguished.

The city and its surroundings were so quiet it felt unreal. The only sounds were the footsteps of government troops clearing the battlefield, the creaking of stretchers carrying the wounded, and occasionally the soft rustling of people peeking out from under doors.

At the porridge stall on the street corner, several cooks were adding rice to a large pot, and wisps of smoke rose up, adding a touch of life to this city that had just experienced war.

The city of Datong finally fell completely silent.

North of the city.

The former garrison headquarters has now been completely renovated.

The bloodstains in front of the door had been washed away, but dark red marks could still be seen on the blue bricks.

The mountains of gold and silver treasures that once filled the mansion had vanished, leaving only a few empty wooden crates leaning in a corner.

A temporary military tent was set up in the main hall, with a map of Datong Prefecture spread out on the table and several account books piled up next to it. This place became Xiong Tingbi's temporary military headquarters.

Zhou Wenhuan, an advisor, carried a thick volume of documents and walked lightly into the main hall.

He was dressed in a blue scholar's robe, with a few ink stains on the cuffs. Seeing Xiong Tingbi bent over looking at a map, he stood in front of the desk and bowed, saying:
"My lord, the remaining valuables in the General's mansion have been inventoried."

Xiong Tingbi straightened up and pointed to the chair beside the table:
"Tell me, how much?"

"One and a half million taels of silver, eighty-seven land deeds involving more than three thousand mu of fertile land, and forty-two shops."

In addition, there were numerous treasures such as jade, agate, and calligraphy and paintings, totaling approximately three million taels of silver.

"It's one million taels less than the four million taels confiscated from the Prince Dai's residence. It's likely that during the chaos last night, soldiers from both sides took the opportunity to hide some of it."

While cleaning the mansion earlier, we found many scattered silver ingots behind the pillars and in the crevices of the artificial hill.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Tingbi smiled faintly, but said nothing more.

In times of war, it is common for soldiers to hoard some valuables. As long as the overall situation is settled, such losses are insignificant.

He couldn't possibly incite a mutiny among his soldiers for a million taels of silver.

He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of the cold tea, and asked:

"What about casualties and prisoners of war? How are the statistics?"

"The exact number of people is still being verified, but the approximate number has been determined."

Zhou Wenhuan's tone became more serious.

"More than 21,000 rebel soldiers were captured, many of whom were Wang Wei's direct subordinates."

More than 34,000 refugees were captured, most of whom were civilians coerced by Zhang Tianlin.

but……"

He paused, a hint of regret on his face.

"Zhang Tianlin led several hundred elite troops to break through the encirclement and fled towards Shaanxi."

My subordinates have already informed General Cao Wenzhao; he led his cavalry in pursuit before dawn this morning, and news should arrive soon.

"You did a good job." Xiong Tingbi nodded, his gaze returning to the map, and murmured in admiration:

"This suppression of the rebellion went much more smoothly than expected."

Wang Guoliang of Xuanfu, although he also plotted rebellion, still knew how to win people's hearts and strengthen the city's defenses. But what about Wang Wei?

He was ambitious but blinded by money. He neither rewarded his soldiers nor appeased the people. Instead, he allowed the refugees to plunder. In the end, he was abandoned by everyone and ended up committing suicide.

His foundation was shallower than Wang Guoliang's, and his intelligence was far inferior.

"This is also due to the wise leadership and the timely defection of Liu Zhenbang, Sun Zhen, and Ma Rong, which prevented the war from dragging on for too long."

Zhou Wenhuan offered a timely compliment.

Xiong Tingbi waved his hand, not daring to take credit, and instead cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the capital.
"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune that the suppression of the rebellion in Datong was able to proceed so smoothly."

"However, although the overall situation has been stabilized, we cannot ignore the suffering of the people."

Zhou Wenhuan felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood what he meant.

During Wang Wei's rebellion, the city and surrounding areas of Datong suffered the most severe damage, especially the counties of Zuoyun and Youyu, where the rebel army burned, killed, and looted as they passed through, leaving many villages as scorched earth.

A few days ago, scouts reported that there were often corpses of starving people lying along the official road outside Youyu County, and some people even exchanged their own children to eat.

The grain shops in the prefectural city were looted by refugees, and many families had been without food for three days, surviving only by digging for wild vegetables and gnawing on tree bark.

“What you say is absolutely right, sir.”

Zhou Wenhuan bowed and replied, "I have already had someone check. Although the prefectural treasury has suffered losses, it still has 5,000 shi of grain and 3,000 bolts of cloth, which is enough to provide relief to the disaster victims in the city."

However, the distance between Zuoyun and Youyu counties is quite far, and it will take time to transport grain by cart, so it may be necessary to send troops to escort them.

Now that the refugees have just dispersed, there is a fear that some remaining bandits may take the opportunity to loot the grain.

"Send Ma Shilong's 1,000 cavalry to escort the grain convoy; they shall depart tomorrow."

Xiong Tingbi immediately made the decision.

"In addition, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong were instructed to lead their troops to assist local officials in setting up relief tents, with two medical officers assigned to each tent to prevent and control epidemics."

All registered disaster victims will receive one liter of rice daily.

In times of chaos, preserving the lives of ordinary people is the true measure of maintaining stability.

His gaze swept over the list of prisoners on the table, and he said again:
“Those prisoners shouldn’t be idle either.”

Of the 34,000 displaced captives, besides the elderly, women, and children, there were more than 20,000 young and strong men, most of whom were farmers and craftsmen who had been coerced by Zhang Tianlin.

"When taking stock of household registrations, local officials were instructed to register their places of origin and skills."

Those who knew how to farm were allocated wasteland on the outskirts of the city to cultivate.

Those skilled in blacksmithing and mining were incorporated into official kilns and coal mines.

Those skilled in carpentry and masonry were sent to repair the fortified village system and city defenses of Datong.

Zhou Wenhuan quickly picked up his pen to take notes and asked:

"Does Your Excellency intend to use prisoners of war as laborers?"

"It is both labor and a form of appeasement."

Xiong Tingbi nodded, his tone carrying a hint of consideration.

“They will be given work points, and half a liter of rice for a day’s work. If they can complete the land reclamation and city building tasks on schedule, they will be allowed to return to their hometown after a year.”

This would not only solve the labor shortage problem, but also deter them from joining the bandits in their rebellion.

He looked at the "Yungang Coal Mine" and "Yanghe Iron Mine" marked on the map and added:
"Coal and iron are essential materials for the border troops to make weapons and keep warm. Let the prisoners work hard to mine them, which will not only replenish the army's pay, but also make Datong's foundation more solid."

As they were talking, Zhou Wenhuan remembered something, stepped forward with the roster in his hand, and spoke cautiously:

"My lord, there is still one matter that needs to be decided."

What should be done with the three military generals who defected: Liu Zhenbang, Sun Zhen, and Ma Rong?

These words made Xiong Tingbi, who was serving tea, pause in his actions.

Sun Zhen and Ma Rong were former generals of the Datong border army. When they were coerced by Wang Wei into rebellion, although they did not actively commit evil deeds, they allowed the refugees to plunder.

Needless to say, Liu Zhenbang had personally killed many officials of Datong Prefecture during his pursuit of Zhang Wei, his hands stained with the blood of officials and commoners.

But if it weren't for these three, things would be different.

Sun Zhen controls the refugees, Ma Rong seizes the South Gate, and Liu Zhenbang pursues and annihilates Wang Wei.

The suppression of the rebellion in Datong would not have gone so smoothly; it is likely that several thousand more government troops would have been lost.

"Sun Zhen and Ma Rong will remain in their original positions and continue to command their respective border troops."

Xiong Tingbi put down his teacup and slowly said:

"The border troops in Datong have just experienced war and their morale is low. It is safest to have old generals in charge of old troops."

However, a military supervisor must be sent along. Anyone found embezzling military funds or allowing soldiers to harass civilians will be immediately dismissed and arrested.

As for Liu Zhenbang...
Xiong Tingbi's eyes flickered.

I had previously promised to save his life, and I have no reason to go back on my word. However, his blood debts are not yet cleared, and if he is still kept in the army, it will be difficult to win over the troops.

"Liu Zhenbang was relieved of his post as a military commander, rewarded with five thousand taels of silver, and allowed to return to his hometown with his family."

Xiong Tingbi's voice turned colder.

"But a message must be sent down: if he dares to get involved in military or political affairs again after returning to his hometown, or colludes with bandits, his entire family will be executed."

Zhou Wenhuan understood that this was already the greatest leniency shown to Liu Zhenbang.

This kept his promise and also eliminated any possibility of him causing trouble again.

He was about to respond when Xiong Tingbi abruptly changed his tone, his voice suddenly sharp:

"As for the rest of those who participated in the rebellion, whether they were Wang Wei's direct subordinates or minor leaders of the refugee army, their crimes must be investigated one by one."

Anyone who personally kills, plunders the people, or actively joins the rebellion will be dealt with according to the treason provisions of the Great Ming Code, subjected to slow slicing or beheading, without any leniency!

The air in the main hall froze instantly.

Zhou Wenhuan looked up and saw Xiong Tingbi's gaze as sharp as a cold blade, without the slightest hesitation.

This military commissioner of the Nine Border Regions was not bloodthirsty, but he knew that Datong was a key location among the Nine Border Regions. If the roots of rebellion were not completely eradicated, and if those who harbored illusions were not thoroughly killed and frightened, even if Wang Wei was pacified today, Li Wei and Zhao Wei might emerge tomorrow.

Only by establishing authority with an iron fist can Datong enjoy decades of peace and stability.

"My subordinate understands."

Zhou Wenhuan bowed and accepted the order.

Looking at the list of prisoners on the table, he could already see the scene of the people clapping and cheering when those heinous criminals were brought to justice.

This is not cruelty, but the most practical long-term strategy for maintaining peace and stability in chaotic times.

Meanwhile, in Datong Prefecture, outside the General's Office.

The common people are also silently licking their wounds.

On the open ground not far away, the prisoners were being organized into groups. Although they looked pale, they had lost their previous panic.

A new order is being rebuilt little by little through these subtle actions.

"Datong is the gateway to the nine border regions."

Xiong Tingbi said softly, as if talking to himself.

"Pacifying the people, reorganizing the border troops, and reclaiming land... none of these things can be delayed."

Only by establishing a solid foundation can we defend ourselves against the Mongols' future southward invasion, and only then can His Majesty sleep soundly.

Fortunately, Xiong Tingbi had already accumulated rich experience in suppressing rebellions and building up the country in Liaodong and Xuanfu, so he was even more adept at handling things in Datong.

In the five days following Wang Wei's suicide, Xiong Tingbi issued a constant stream of orders.

Three thousand cavalrymen from the capital were dispatched to Yanghewei, Gaoshanwei, and Tianchengwei. Upon arrival at each location, they first took over the garrison's armory, then checked the military registers, and immediately arrested anyone involved in Wang Wei's rebellion.

Most of the veterans in the garrison bowed their heads and obeyed the government troops clad in black armor.

Wang Wei's loyal followers were dead, the refugee army had scattered, and no one dared to gamble their lives on a sure-to-lose resistance.

The officials investigating the crimes carried account books and checked each household one by one. From the general's staff to the garrison commanders, all those involved in corruption and treason were listed in the register and piled up on the desk of the military governor's office, like a heavy "mountain of crimes".

The incident occurred on the afternoon of the fourth day.

Cao Wenzhao's scouts galloped into the prefectural city, bringing news of victory at Niuxin Mountain.

When Zhang Tianlin led several hundred elite troops to escape to the Niuxin Mountain ravine, they were blocked by the Beijing garrison cavalry who had taken a detour beforehand.

There was only one narrow path through the mountain stream. The cavalrymen dismounted, formed ranks, and fired their muskets in unison. Instantly, a large number of the elite refugees fell.

Zhang Tianlin tried to draw his sword to commit suicide, but was tackled to the ground by a captain and bound with ropes like a rice dumpling.

When he was escorted back to Datong Prefecture, his hair was disheveled and his clothes were covered in mud. His former prestige as the "General of the Refugees" had long been devoured by fear.

On the morning of the fifth day, three tall execution platforms rose from the ground in the drill ground outside Datong City.

Dozens of bright flags were planted beside the wooden platform, beneath which stood government troops, their swords gleaming coldly in the morning sun.

People inside and outside the city were notified to "watch the execution." At first, some people timidly hid in the street corners, but when they saw Zhang Tianlin being led onto the platform, curses gradually rose from the crowd.

The refugees under this man's command once plundered Youyu County, causing countless families to be destroyed and people to die.

At noon, the executioner threw down his token, and as soon as the words "death by a thousand cuts" were uttered, the executioner's knife slashed open Zhang Tianlin's clothes.

Some people turned their faces away, while others clenched their fists. When the first piece of meat fell, the crowd erupted in a long-suppressed cheer.

Although Wang Wei is dead, he still has descendants.

The two sons were taken to the execution platform to be punished in their father's place.

The two young men were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they cried out for mercy, only to be met with the executioner's cold stare.

The screams of the slow slicing lasted for nearly an hour, and the people below the stage gradually went from being shocked to being filled with silent awe.

Immediately afterwards, nearly a thousand rebels who had not defected were brought up the platform in batches. The flash of blades as they were beheaded was constant, and blood flowed down the cracks of the wooden platform, staining the ground below red.

On this day, almost all the officers above the rank of captain in Datong Town were executed.

Those who had sided with Wang Wei, embezzled military pay, and condoned looting were all brought to justice.

Of course, if someone is killed, the vacant position must be filled.

Before the blood sacrifice site had been cleaned up, Xiong Tingbi's promotion order had already spread throughout Datong.

Li Jin, a centurion from Liaodong, was promoted to vice commander of Yanghe Guard after killing three rebel leaders in an ambush at the North Gate.

Zhao Shan, a cavalry captain in Xuanfu, was promoted to the position of Assistant Magistrate of Gaoshan Guard for his meritorious service in pursuing and suppressing Zhang Tianlin.

Even the local soldiers who defected from Datong were incorporated into the new army and given the positions of junior officer and general officer as long as they fought with injuries during the suppression of the rebellion.

Xiong Tingbi's influence, or rather the emperor's influence, was permeating every vein in Datong.

at the same time.

The results of the raid left the staff of the military governor's office speechless.

In addition to the three million taels initially counted by the General Headquarters, another two million taels of silver were subsequently confiscated from the homes of the Datong Guard Commander and various garrison commanders, bringing the total to five million taels!
Ten boxes of gold bricks and a fox fur coat bought from the Mongols were found in the mansion of Yanghewei Commander.

The land deeds of Tianchengwei's thousand households filled half a room, involving more than 50,000 mu of fertile land.

Even the tax collectors of Datong Prefecture had 30,000 taels of private silver hidden in their homes.

These assets were registered one by one, with some used as military pay, some reserved for disaster relief, and the remainder sealed and stored for future use in reorganizing the border troops.

Just as Xiong Tingbi was looking at the account books, pondering how to restore the people's livelihood in Datong, Zhou Wenhuan strode in, holding a letter sealed with cowhide, his tone filled with surprise:

"My lord, it's a letter from Du Wenhuan, the General of Yansui Garrison! It's a letter of apology!"

Xiong Tingbi took the letter, stroked the character "Du" on the wax seal, and opened it to find that the wording inside was very humble.

In his letter, Du Wenhuan bluntly stated that the Yansui Garrison had "long-standing problems, with embezzlement of military pay and desertion of soldiers being repeatedly prohibited but not stopped."

He admitted that he was "incompetent in military management" and earnestly requested Xiong Tingbi to send a special commissioner to Yansui to "clarify long-standing problems and rectify military discipline".

He even offered to "hand over all the military registers and grain records of Yansui Town to the Military Governor's Office for verification."

After reading the letter, Xiong Tingbi finally smiled, a smile he hadn't shown in a long time.

This smile wasn't one of relief after suppressing the rebellion, but rather a joy at the gradual achievement of strategic goals.

Wang Guoliang of Xuanfu was executed, and Wang Wei of Datong committed suicide. The rectification of these two border towns served as a warning to others. Now, even Du Wenhuan of Yansui Town has taken the initiative to submit. How could the other border towns in Shanxi and Gansu dare to resist in the slightest?

The situation of the nine border regions being subdued has finally begun to take shape.

"Well done! Well done, Du Wenhuan!"

Xiong Tingbi placed the letter on the table, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Immediately send a detailed report on Zhang Tianlin's capture, the execution of the traitors, and the seizure of their wealth, along with this letter of apology, to the capital by express courier to report the victory to His Majesty!"

Zhou Wenhuan bowed and replied, "I will take care of it immediately!"

Xiong Tingbi walked to the window, feeling excited.

When he took over the post of "Commander of the Nine Border Regions", His Majesty secretly wrote to him asking "when will the reorganization be completed?" He replied at the time, "Five years."

But now it seems that Xuanfu and Datong have been settled, Yansui has voluntarily submitted, and the remaining border towns are just going with the flow.

"Three years."

Xiong Tingbi murmured to himself, his eyes full of confidence.

"As long as we proceed at this pace, within three years we will definitely be able to completely transform the Nine Borders and eliminate any further threat of rebellion!"

Once the nine border regions are secured, Your Majesty will personally control most of the military power in the empire.

By then.

Whatever demons or monsters His Majesty desires to eliminate, whatever policies he wishes to implement, no one can stop him!

PS:

A long chapter of 7300 words!
另外
There should be an extra chapter tonight.

(End of this chapter)