Huangming

Chapter 502 Liangyu Avoids Disaster, Chongming Accumulates Rebellion

January 15th, the third year of the Tianqi reign.

The snow in Chongqing's old city finally began to melt. Icicles dripping from the eaves dripped cold water, creating small pits on the bluestone pavement. The water mixed with mud and flowed into dark brown streams, meandering along the streets towards the Yangtze River.

The damp, cold air was filled with the smell of coal smoke; even though it was past the first month of the lunar calendar, it felt more biting than the dead of winter.

What's even more disheartening is the tense atmosphere that permeates the city.

The street in front of the government building, which should have been bustling with vendors' cries on ordinary days, was deserted at this moment.

The doors of several cloth shops and grain stores were tightly closed, with only pairs of wary eyes peeking out through the cracks.

Occasionally, pedestrians would hurry by, their necks hunched, walking briskly close to the wall.

A few days ago, Zhang's Grain Shop in the west of the city was robbed of half a warehouse of rice by a group of white-armored soldiers with knives. When the shopkeeper tried to reason with them, he was slashed on the arm with a knife.

Yesterday, there were rumors that a tenant farmer in Lijia Village outside the city was dragged to the old locust tree at the village entrance and beaten with twenty lashes simply for saying "the soldiers shouldn't take things." He is still lying there unable to get up.

"Those aren't the White-Spear Soldiers..."

In the teahouse, a peddler dressed in short clothes sighed in a low voice to the people at the same table.

“I saw some soldiers at the city gate the day before yesterday. Their accents clearly indicated they were from Guizhou.”

"It's probably someone from the She family, using General Qin's name to commit evil!"

Upon hearing this, the person at the table quickly waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking.

Nowadays, everyone in the city knows that the "White Spear Soldiers" have a terrible reputation, but no one dares to say it openly for fear of getting into trouble.

The gentry were extremely anxious, and the petitions submitted to the government office in the past few days had piled up to half a foot high, all requesting Governor Xu Keqiu to expel Qin Liangyu.

If this continues, the people of Chongqing will lose all support.

now.

The inner hall of the government office.

Xu Keqiu sat in the main seat on a rosewood chair. He was wearing a scarlet official robe, and the white hair at his temples was particularly noticeable in the candlelight. His brows were tightly furrowed, and he was obviously also annoyed by the noise outside.

To the left of the lower seat, She Yan sat upright and solemnly.

He picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it. He simply blew on the foam and said:

"Governor, you are truly tolerant! Look at the mess Qin Liangyu and her White-Spear Soldiers have made in Chongqing Prefecture!"
The common people were full of complaints, and the gentry were all in danger.

Even if His Majesty valued her merits in suppressing the rebellion, he cannot ignore the livelihood of the people in Chongqing Prefecture, can he?
If this kind of person isn't driven out of Chongqing, she's likely to cause even bigger trouble in the future!

As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Shou-kui on his right immediately nodded in agreement.

The deputy commander of Sichuan was dressed in a dark green military officer's robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His face was resolute, but there was a hint of imperceptible urgency hidden in his eyes.

"Young Master She is absolutely right!"

Huang Shou-kui leaned forward and said:
"Qin Liangyu, as a general, was unable to control her subordinates and allowed her soldiers to plunder the people. This has caused her to lose the hearts of the army and the people!"
In my humble opinion, she is completely unworthy of the position of General of Sichuan!

Xu Keqiu was not oblivious to the ulterior motives in those words.

Huang Shoukui was the third-ranked military officer in the 17th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign. He rose from the garrison commander of Puzikou in Nanjing to the deputy commander-in-chief of Sichuan. His seniority and military achievements were well-established, and he was just waiting to take over the position of commander-in-chief.

Who knew that last year His Majesty issued an imperial edict, giving the position of General to Qin Liangyu? Everyone in the government office knew how frustrated Huang Shoukui was.
Now that he has the opportunity to oust Qin Liangyu, he naturally won't let it go.

Xu Keqiu remained silent, seemingly softening his stance.

She Yan, with her sharp eyes, noticed that Xu Keqiu's expression was softening and immediately seized the opportunity.

"Your Excellency, there is one more matter."

I've heard that in Jiangnan, Lord Yuan Keli has already launched a military campaign against Wang Haoxian of Suzhou Prefecture.

Wang Haoxian is a scoundrel who colludes with rebels and wields considerable power. But if he's defeated, he'll definitely flee south, and then Quzhou will be in danger!

He paused, then his tone became more earnest.

"Now is the time when we need troops to support Jiangnan. Why not take this opportunity to transfer Qin Liangyu and her White Spear Army to Quzhou?"

This would relieve the urgent situation in Jiangnan and also give Chongqing a breather—wouldn't that be a win-win situation?

These words struck a chord with Xu Keqiu.

If Qin Liangyu could be transferred away, it would not only avoid directly punishing her and thus angering His Majesty, but also quell the public resentment in Chongqing Prefecture and give the court a political achievement of "supporting Jiangnan," which would be a win-win-win situation.

He looked up at Huang Shoukui and saw that Huang Shoukui was nodding repeatedly, and the hesitation in his eyes gradually disappeared.

Yes, that seems to solve all the problems.

"But how can we get Qin Liangyu to transfer willingly?"

The anger that had just been stirred up by She Yan and Huang Shoukui was now suppressed by a hint of worry.

Although Qin Liangyu's reputation was damaged in Chongqing, her White-Spear Army was still a formidable force, and if pushed too far, it could lead to disaster.

She Yan immediately stepped forward, holding a roll of plain paper in both hands, and handed it to Xu Keqiu.

"Has the governor forgotten? We've already planned this; we'll force her to hand over the person!"

Look at this list, these are all the White-Clad Soldiers who 'violated violence in the street' a few days ago, and..."

His gaze swept over Xu Keqiu, and he continued:
"And his son, Ma Xianglin."

Xu Keqiu took the plain paper. The names on it were densely packed, and each name was marked with the "crimes" of "harming people" and "damaging property." But he knew in his heart that it was probably the people from Sheyan who disguised themselves as White Spear Soldiers to cause trouble and then blame Qin Liangyu.

"This……"

Before he could speak, She Yan leaned close to his ear, her voice even deeper:
"If she hands them over, we'll throw them into the prison. Don't worry, everyone in the prison is ours. We'll make sure they don't live more than three days."

Seeing their comrades die tragically, the White-Spear Soldiers will surely mutini, and Qin Liangyu will be held responsible.

If she doesn't hand it over, it will be considered disobedience, and the governor can then impeach her. Even if His Majesty values ​​her highly, he cannot tolerate a general who disobeys orders!

These words precisely hit Xu Keqiu's concerns.

He stared at the name on the blank sheet of paper, then finally gritted his teeth and slammed the paper down on the table:
"Send a document!"

Not long after, the clerk rushed over, and by this time, Xu Keqiu's tone was no longer hesitant.

"Draft a document and send it to the Sichuan General's Office, ordering Qin Liangyu to hand over all the people on the list within three days. If she makes any excuses, she will be punished for disobeying orders!"

The clerk bowed his head in agreement, then took the plain paper and left.

After the clerk left, Xu Keqiu, covered in sweat, paced back and forth in the hall.

"But just in case..."

Before Xu Keqiu could finish speaking, Huang Shoukui had already stood up abruptly.

He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice booming:

"Your Excellency, have no worries! My five thousand troops are already deployed around the government office. If the White-Spear Soldiers dare to make any unusual moves, I will be able to suppress them and protect you!"

There was a hint of urgency in his eyes.

As long as Qin Liangyu falls from power, the position of Sichuan General will be within his grasp, and now is the perfect time to show his loyalty.

She Yan nodded in agreement.

"Rest assured, Governor, my men are also waiting outside the city. If anything goes wrong, they will be there to provide immediate assistance."

Qin Liangyu is just a woman; although the White-Spear Soldiers are brave, they can't withstand our attack from both inside and outside."

The two of them, speaking in unison, finally put Xu Keqiu's mind at ease. He picked up his now-cold teacup, took a sip, and his brow relaxed slightly.
"Alright! We'll do as you say, but remember, don't cause too much of a commotion, lest His Majesty hold you accountable."

Soon after.

Inside the Sichuan General's Mansion.

Ma Xianglin knelt on the cold ground, his head bowed, his voice filled with suppressed anger:

"Mother, Xu Keqiu and the others have gone too far!"
Those so-called "insulting" brothers were either framed by the She family soldiers or acted in self-defense. Now they want us to hand them over—this is clearly an attempt to wipe us out!

Below the hall, more than ten White-Spear Army generals also knelt on the ground, their eyes red and their voices choked with sobs:
"General, we've had enough of this humiliation in Chongqing!"
The people call us "bandits," and the She family's soldiers raid our outposts every day. Now they're going to hand people over to jail.

"If we're thrown into prison, what chance do we have of survival?"

"Let's go back to Stone Pillar!"

Ma Xianglin suddenly looked up, his eyes full of pleading.

"Shizhu is our root. If we stay here, they will kill us sooner or later! Even if we don't go back to Shizhu, we must make His Majesty give us justice!"

Qin Liangyu sat in the main seat, still wearing her silver armor.

She looked at her son kneeling on the ground, then glanced at the generals who had followed her through thick and thin, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was anger, there was heartache, but above all, there was a calm and composed demeanor.

She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, her voice not loud.

"Since neither the officials nor the people of Chongqing welcome us, then let's leave."

"Mother!"

Ma Xianglin froze, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with disbelief.

He thought his mother would argue her case and impeach him, but he didn't expect her to actually leave.

Qin Liangyu stood up, walked to Ma Xianglin, reached out to help him up, and said softly:
"Go and give the order to the men to pack their things and leave Chongqing Prefecture City at daybreak tomorrow, and return to Shizhu."

"But you are the General of Sichuan!"

"Leaving your post without cause is dereliction of duty, and Xu Keqiu and his men can use that to impeach you!"

Qin Liangyu sighed softly as she looked at her son's anxious expression.

"If I don't leave, their next moves will only become more insidious."

Frame us, trap us, even send troops to encircle and suppress us. We'll be attacked from both sides, and we won't even be able to return to Shizhu."

Her gaze drifted toward the stone pillars outside the window, her voice now carrying a hint of calculation.

"Mother's move was a strategic retreat."

They think that by driving us away, they will lower their guard.

She Chongming thought that by eliminating the thorn in his side, his true colors would be revealed.

Let's go back to Shizhu to regroup and wait for them to make a mistake before coming back to salvage the situation.

You should learn this well; sometimes, the struggles outside the battlefield require even more patience than the actual fighting.

Ma Xianglin stared blankly at his mother, only then realizing that his mother was not truly backing down, but had already seen through the situation and laid out a much longer-term plan.

He nodded vigorously, clenching his fists:
"Understood! I'll go and give the order to the brothers to prepare!"

The generals below the hall also realized what was happening, and their initial frustration gradually faded, replaced by renewed fighting spirit.

They rose, clasped their hands in greeting, and replied in unison, "As you command, General!"

soon.

The news that Qin Liangyu was going to evacuate Chongqing Prefecture reached the Chongqing government office.

now.

Xu Keqiu was frowning at the "Sichuan Military Affairs Register" on his desk when the clerk stumbled in, carrying a secret report that had just been sent back from near the General's Mansion. His voice trembled.
"Your Excellency! Something terrible has happened! No, it's...it's the White-Spear Soldiers packing their bags, saying they're leaving!"

"gone?"

Xu Keqiu suddenly looked up.

He strode up to the document and snatched the secret report from it.

"Say it again? Is Qin Liangyu really going to withdraw? Or is this just a delaying tactic?"

"Absolutely true!"

The clerk swallowed hard and quickly added:

"The men I sent saw with their own eyes that in the White-Spear Army's camp, soldiers were setting up tents, packing up weapons, and saddles on horses."

Overhearing the white-clad soldiers on guard duty chatting, they said that General Qin had given the order to break camp and return to Shizhu at dawn tomorrow!

"Good good!"

Xu Keqiu said "good" three times in a row, his tense face instantly relaxing. He even couldn't help but slap the table, causing a few drops of steaming tea to splash out.

He turned to look at Huang Shou-kui beside him, his eyes filled with barely suppressed excitement:

“Deputy Commander Huang, listen to this! Qin Liangyu really can’t hold on, and he’s actually going to abandon his post!”
I will draft a memorial to the throne and submit it to her.

"Departing from her post without permission and showing disrespect to her superiors—even if His Majesty values ​​her highly, he will not forgive her!"

Huang Shou-kui also breathed a sigh of relief, a smug look on his face.

He stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of seeking credit:

"Your Excellency is wise! I sent scouts to keep an eye on the General's residence early this morning. Just now, the scouts reported that the White-Spear Soldiers had even dismantled their cooking stoves, which doesn't seem like they were just putting on a show."

"As soon as she leaves, the position of General of Sichuan will be gone..." Before she could finish speaking, she looked at Xu Keqiu with expectant eyes.

Xu Keqiu naturally understood his thoughts, but he didn't respond. Instead, he looked intently at She Yan, who had remained silent.
"Young Master She, there's no time to lose!"

You shall immediately issue an order for Yongning's troops to quietly assemble.

I will immediately submit a memorial to the imperial court, stating that the Jiangnan region is short of troops for suppressing the rebellion, and recommending that troops from Yongning be sent to provide assistance!
"Once your men enter Chongqing, we'll have someone to look after the defenses of Sichuan!"

"Yes! Rest assured, Your Excellency!"

She Yan bowed deeply, her voice filled with barely suppressed elation.

His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched quietly, and his body trembled slightly with excitement.

He spent half a year working on various things to force Qin Liangyu to leave.

She bribed minor officials in the government office to spread rumors, had her men disguise themselves as White-Spear Soldiers to plunder the people, and secretly contacted officials who were dissatisfied with Qin Liangyu...

Now my wish has finally come true!
He looked out the window, where the city walls of Chongqing were faintly visible in the cold mist, and his mind was already making plans.

With Qin Liangyu gone, the Ming army in Chongqing was leaderless.

The Yongning troops entered Chongqing and then, under the guise of "suppressing the rebellion," took control of the surrounding prefectures and counties...

This Chongqing, this Southwest, will sooner or later fall into the hands of the She family!
The next morning.

Before the east gate of Chongqing Prefecture was fully opened, the ranks of the White-Spear Soldiers were already lined up outside the city.

Qin Liangyu, clad in silver armor, rode a tall horse, her gaze calmly sweeping over the ranks behind her.

The White-Spear Soldiers carried their weapons and led their warhorses in neat formations, showing no sign of disorder, a stark contrast to the "chaotic soldiers" described by the common people.

She didn't go to the government office to say goodbye, nor did she offer any explanation to the people. She simply tightened the reins facing the stone pillar and said in a deep voice:

"Set off."

The White-Spear Soldiers moved slowly, like a long silver dragon, gradually disappearing on the mountain road outside Chongqing Prefecture.

She Yan stood on the arrow tower of the East Gate, watching the White-Spear Soldiers disappear completely before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

The scouts he had sent had already followed and were now riding back to report:
"Young Master, the White-Spear Soldiers did indeed head towards the stone pillar; they didn't detour or stop!"

"it is good!"

She Yan gave a low shout, turned around and went down from the arrow tower, mounted his horse and galloped towards a secluded manor outside the city.

The manor was hidden deep in a bamboo forest, surrounded by guards dressed in black who patrolled the area. From a distance, all that could be seen were the sharp blades of armor protruding from the walls, exuding a chilling aura.

She Yan lifted the curtain and entered the manor, where the armored soldiers bowed respectfully.

He walked straight through the courtyard and into the inner hall, where he saw a burly man standing with his back to him in front of a map of the southwest.

The man was wearing a set of heavy armor in the Yi ethnic style, with a polished bronze breastplate on his chest and back, the surface of which was engraved with the wolf pattern of the She family.

The shoulders are covered with animal-head shoulder armor, with sharp iron plates held in the animal's mouth; the elbows are covered with ringed arm armor, and the waist is covered with layers of iron-scaled skirt.

He wore a "hero's knot" style iron helmet on his head, the red tassel on top swaying slightly in the candlelight, making him look particularly majestic.

It was She Yan's father, She Chongming, the Pacification Commissioner of Yongning.

"Father!"

She Yan strode forward, her voice filled with excitement.

"That woman Qin Liangyu has really left! The scouts followed her for thirty miles and confirmed that she went to Shizhu!"

She Chongming slowly turned around, a rare smile appearing on his face.

He reached out and stroked the breastplate on his chest, saying "good" three times in a row:

"Good! Good! Good! I've been waiting for this day for over a decade!"

In his youth, he witnessed the Ming Dynasty's increasingly stringent control over the southwest, and the seeds of rebellion had long been sown in his heart, but he had never had the opportunity to do so.

Now that Qin Liangyu has been forced to leave, Chongqing's defenses are weak, and there is unrest in Jiangnan, it is the perfect time for him to raise an army.

But he quickly suppressed his smile, and his gaze regained its composure.

"However, there's no need to rush."

He pointed to Chongqing Prefecture on the map, his tone solemn.

Although Qin Liangyu has left, the White-Spear Army has not dispersed.

Yongning's follow-up army is still on its way; launching an attack now might alert the enemy.

"Wait another ten days, until the army is fully assembled and supplies are plentiful, then we will take Chongqing under the pretext of 'recovering the Southwest and eliminating treacherous officials,' and subsequently sweep across the Southwest!"

She Yan paused for a moment, then understood what her father meant.

We've waited for over a decade, so what's another ten days?

He bowed and replied, "Your son understands! I will do as Father instructs, stabilize the situation, and wait for the army to arrive!"

Ten days passed by quietly.

The cold fog still shrouded the mountain city, but the stagnant feeling in the air was heavier than usual.

There were far fewer people on the streets, and when pedestrians did pass by, they all hurried along, their eyes filled with unease.

The garrison on the city wall was changing shifts more and more frequently, giving off a sense of impending doom.

In the manor deep in the bamboo forest outside the city, She Chongming stood leaning against the railing.

He had removed his heavy beast-head shoulder armor and was now wearing only a dark brocade robe with gold patterns, a leather belt inlaid with jade around his waist, and a short knife with an ivory handle in his hand.

Looking through the gaps in the bamboo forest, one can see the dark mass of camps on the distant plains.

All 20,000 Yongning cavalry and infantry have arrived, and the character "She" on their banners flutters in the cold wind.

"finally……"

She Chongming sighed softly.

For years he had been biding his time in Yongning, paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty while secretly training troops and stockpiling grain, all in preparation for this day.

With Qin Liangyu forced to leave, Chongqing's defenses are weak, and Xu Keqiu is incompetent and easily deceived. It's time for the situation in the southwest to change.

He raised his hand and rubbed his temples. The preparations over the past few days had left him somewhat exhausted, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips. This was the first time in his life that he felt power was so close to him.

"Father!"

Hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. She Yan lifted the curtain and rushed in, her forehead covered with fine beads of sweat.

"Xu Keqiu has sent someone to urge us to send troops to Jiangnan immediately. He also said that the imperial court has sent several reports urging us to quell the rebellion!"

She Chongming took the document, glanced at it only once, and threw it on the table. The document fell next to the inkstone, splashing a few drops of ink.

He scoffed, his voice full of disdain:
"A corrupt official is a corrupt official; even at this point, he was still dreaming of 'borrowing troops to quell the rebellion.'"

Does he really think my She family's soldiers are just running errands for him?

"Go to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion? What I want is this Chongqing city, and the entire Southwest!"

He Xuqiu said, "We need to enter the city to prepare provisions before heading north."

Upon hearing She Chongming's words, She Yan hesitated for a moment.

"Can……"

"If we say we need to prepare supplies in Chongqing before heading north, will it arouse Xu Keqiu's suspicion?"
Although he's senile, Huang Shou-kui is still by his side. What if they notice something's wrong...?

"So what if you notice?"

She Chongming interrupted him, his tone filled with absolute confidence.

"Qin Liangyu left, and the White-Spear Army returned to Shizhu. In Chongqing, the only fighting force left is Huang Shoukui's five thousand remnant soldiers."

"Does Xu Keqiu have any other choice but to rely on us?"

"Furthermore, entering the city under the pretext of 'preparing provisions' can reduce casualties during the siege and allow us to take control of the city gates."

Once our men enter the city, Chongqing will be ours for the taking!

"I understand, kid!"

She Yan suddenly understood, bowed in agreement, and turned to relay the order.

now.

Chongqing Prefectural Government Office.

After the clerk finished reporting She Chongming's request, Xu Keqiu slowly put down his pen, picked up the hot tea on the table, took a sip, and spoke in a calm tone:

"Agree to his request. Pass on my order: the garrison at Tongyuan Gate shall immediately allow the Yongning soldiers to enter the city to prepare provisions, and they shall not obstruct them."

"Governor!"

Huang Shou-kui, who was standing to the side, suddenly stood up, his face changing instantly.

“This is absolutely unacceptable! She Chongming has been gathering troops too quickly these past few days. Twenty thousand cavalry and infantry are already blocking the city's entrance, and now he wants to enter the city.”

If he harbors any disloyal intentions, Chongqing is doomed!

These days, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Qin Liangyu's departure was suspicious, and She Chongming's actions were too hasty. He didn't seem to be there to "rescue Jiangnan" at all; he was clearly there to seize power!

Xu Keqiu looked up at him, and the gentle and restrained mask on his face was finally torn off completely at this moment.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, his eyes showing no panic, but rather confidence.

"Of course he has ulterior motives. From the moment he started disguising himself as a White-Spear Army to plunder the people, and from the moment he forced Qin Liangyu to hand over people, I knew he was going to rebel."

Huang Shou-kui was stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

So Xu Keqiu already knew?
Was all that forbearance and coercion of Qin Liangyu all...?

"The whole charade I put on with General Qin was to lure him into being a big fish."

Xu Keqiu stood up.

"Qin Liangyu withdrew to make him lower his guard."

I forced him to hand over the person so that he would think I was stupid and easily bullied.

Letting him into the city now is a way to lure his main force in and wipe them out in one fell swoop!

How could the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials be implemented in Southwest China if She Chongming did not rebel?
Since there had already been a battle with these chieftains, it was natural to inflict heavy damage on She Chongming in order to lay a solid foundation for the subsequent pacification of the southwest.

He turned to look at Huang Shou-kui, his tone becoming serious.

"Deputy General Huang, can your five thousand soldiers hold the government office for three days?"

"Government office?"

Huang Shou-kui frowned, quickly calculating in his mind.

Although the government office was surrounded by walls, they were mostly brick and wood structures, making them easy to attack but difficult to defend, and the military equipment was insufficient.

"The government office is difficult to defend! If we can move our defenses to the armory in the west of the city, where the walls are high and the fortifications are thick, and there is a sufficient stockpile of bows, arrows and gunpowder, I am confident that I can hold it for five days!"

"Furthermore, the Fotu Pass outside the city is a strategically important and dangerous place, surrounded by water on both sides and cliffs on three sides. It has been known since ancient times as 'the most dangerous pass under heaven.' It is a vital fortress that military strategists have fought over for centuries. It is necessary to send troops to guard it."

"it is good!"

Xu Keqiu immediately made the decision.

"You shall immediately lead your troops to the armory to set up defenses, reinforce the city walls, and take inventory of the weapons. I will then take the personal guards of the government office there."

"Send another thousand men to guard Fotu Pass!"

The Fotu Pass is a strategically important location with towering cliffs and winding paths, with the two rivers forming a narrow, ribbon-like barrier. It is a vital choke point, and the entire city could be protected if it could be defended.

Along the eastern road to Chengdu, this is the only land pass.

By blocking this place, we can block their way to Chengdu.

"After entering the city, She Chongming will definitely attack the government office. If he finds the government office empty, he will definitely chase after the armory."

That's where he met his end!

Seeing Xu Keqiu's confident demeanor, Huang Shoukui's previous worries vanished. He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice booming:
"Your subordinate obeys! We will defend the armory and Fotu Pass until the governor arrives!"

Having said that, he turned and strode away.

Xu Keqiu picked up the document on the table again, his fingertips brushing over the three characters "She Chongming" on it, his eyes cold.

This months-long covert operation, from Qin Liangyu's "forced withdrawal" to She Chongming's "leading troops into the city," is finally coming to an end.

He raised his hand and threw the document into the brazier; the flames shot up and engulfed the writing.

She Chongming, your ambition to seize the Southwest should be shattered.

The policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials was a national policy.

You barbarians from the southwest should become subjects of my Great Ming Dynasty and contribute taxes to my Great Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)