Sweep Yuan

Chapter 65 Even the bravest man is easily defeated at the gate.

"stable?"

Although Fang Zhongwen lacked the will to die for his cause, he instinctively resisted being driven by the rebels. He didn't want to speak, yet dared not remain silent. After hesitating for a long time, he tentatively asked:
"This humble official is dull-witted and dares not instruct the general. In haste, I have only come up with three crude strategies, and I do not know whether I should speak of them or not?"

"speak!"

"The stability of a region depends on the hearts of its people, and the stability of the hearts of the people depends on the gentry. I, the corrupt official, have dared to ask that since Magistrate Cao has been executed and his crimes have been forgiven, I urge the General to remember his meritorious service in governing Hong County and allow his family to collect his remains and escort his coffin back to his hometown."

Fang Zhongwen leaned forward with extreme respect, but his eyes remained fixed on the stone mountain, ready to change his tune if he sensed anything amiss.

Shi Shan's expression remained unchanged, only slightly raising his eyebrows when he heard that he had "made meritorious contributions to the governance of Hong County".

"Oh? What merit did you achieve?"

"In the eighth year of the Zhizheng era, the Bian River flooded, destroying three townships and seventeen villages in this county. The magistrate of Cao County organized the people in the city to raise funds, and took the lead in donating a year's salary to provide timely disaster relief, so that the villagers would not suffer from displacement."

Shi Shan didn't believe that there could be such a clean official in the Yuan Dynasty. The so-called fundraising was mostly a farce where "the wealthy and powerful return all their money, while the common people split their money 30/70."

Otherwise, Cao Shixian's reputation would have spread far and wide beyond Huai'an Road, so there would have been no need for Fang Zhongwen to introduce him.

Fang Zhongwen's strategy was actually a test of Shishan's bottom line and a hidden escape route. However, what Shishan wanted was to stabilize Hong County as soon as possible, not to investigate whether the officials were truly honest or not. And why didn't they need to put a dead man out to make a name for themselves?

"Granted. Fourth son, prepare a fine coffin, then go to the back residence and inform the magistrate of Cao County that his family must leave the city today. They are not allowed to take anything except their personal belongings and the coffin!"

"Yes, foster father!"

After deciding to keep Tong Si'er by his side to raise him, Shi Shan, following the custom of the time, recognized him as his adopted son, but did not let him change his surname to Shi.

Tong Si'er knew what this meant, and she became even more diligent in her work.

Fang Zhongwen bowed down and took the opportunity to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"The general is benevolent and righteous!"

Shishan disliked such empty talk and waved his hand, saying:

"Get up and continue."

"Secondly, the government is harsh and there are many unjust cases in the local areas. I request that the general clean up the criminal cases and avenge the people's grievances."

The Yuan Dynasty may have been dark, but it wasn't really that harsh in its governance; at least it wasn't as harsh as the Song or Jin dynasties.

Cleaning up prisons was also a common tactic used by rebel armies to win over the people. They usually just released people directly, but the method was cruder. This strategy was cheap and inexpensive, with no new ideas and no sincerity.

"Alright! The third strategy—what's going on outside?"

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the yamen. Shi Shan recognized the voice of Zhang Dan, the captain of the second squadron of the fifth battalion. His unit's task was to maintain military discipline, and they wouldn't come unless it was something urgent. So he gave the order:

"Let them in!"

"Your Majesty!"

Fang Zhongwen consciously stepped aside and saw six "Red Heart Battalion" soldiers enter, two of whom were tied up.

"You're Tian Jiang, the platoon leader of the second company of the second battalion?"

With bloodstains on his clothes, Tian Jiang shouted outside the yamen that he wanted to see the commander, but as soon as he entered, Shi Shan revealed his identity. Tian Jiang's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt a little scared.

“Thousand, thousand households, it’s me.”

Tian Jiang was Chang Tietou's old subordinate, and he was most likely caught red-handed by Zhang Dan for violating military discipline.

What did you do wrong?

Tian Jiang calmed down a little, knelt on the ground, and replied with his neck stiff:
"I haven't done anything wrong. I was fighting the government troops when I was—"

"Fuck your mother! I didn't see your Second Battalion put in the slightest effort during the siege, but you're all ruthless at stealing credit and harming the people. You can only produce this kind of trash when fighting against the government troops?!" Zhang Dan couldn't stand it anymore and suddenly reached into Tian Jiang's arms, pulling out a red bodice. A series of jingling sounds followed as the gold and silver jewelry inside scattered on the ground.

Shi Shan's face darkened; he had no interest in pressing for details about the "fight against the government troops." He stared at Tian Jiang and said coldly:

"I remember you're from Luyi, and you have an elderly mother at home, right?"

Tian Jiang understood the unspoken meaning in Shi Shan's words and immediately kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

"I was confused for a moment. Please, Commander, spare my life, considering that I risked my life and bled for you."

Tian Jiang did bleed last month when they wiped out Hu Pingren's family, but it wasn't from fighting to the death; it was from a fight with his teammates over money. Shi Shan waved his hand in disgust and said:
"Drag them out and behead them both. Display their heads throughout the city as a warning to others!"

"Shishan! Without our brothers' help back then, what the hell are you doing! Crossing the river and burning the bridge—whoa—, Grandpa's down there—"

Knowing he was doomed, Tian Jiang stopped pretending and started cursing. Zhang Dan punched him, knocking out his teeth, but he continued to struggle and mumble curses.

After the tactical discussion meeting held last night, Shi Shan specifically clarified the rewards for meritorious service, emphasized the importance of Hongxian County to the "Red Heart Battalion" to establish itself on Huai'an Road, and reiterated the necessity and seriousness of military discipline, precisely to prevent these long-time bandits from committing crimes again.

Tian Jiang's bandit nature is incorrigible; he insists on walking into the line of fire. It's a good opportunity to take his head to uphold military discipline and stabilize the morale of Hong County. A few curses from a dead man won't affect Shi Shan's mood at all.

"Registrar Fang, please continue."

……

"Bandits!"

Deng Youlong spotted the Red Turban Army as soon as he stepped into the alleyway entrance and quickly retreated. The three men behind him immediately tensed up. Zheng Zhongliang glanced instinctively at the alleyway entrance to see if there were any pursuers and asked urgently:
How many bandits are there?

"I didn't see clearly, but there were at least twenty or thirty."

"Why are the bandits so fast! Shall we take a detour back?"

The fastest route back to Deng Shunxing's house in Qing Shi Fang from this alleyway would take you through the East Market. It's not that you can't take a detour, but having finally shaken off your pursuers, taking a detour is clearly not a wise choice.

Han Tieyi was calmer than Zheng Zhongliang and didn't believe the rebel army was more familiar with the city's terrain than they were. He asked doubtfully:

"Could it be another group of bandits? What are they doing in the East Market?"

Deng Youlong pondered for a moment and said:

"Unlike the group that chased us, they're carrying wounded soldiers. Maybe they're looking for a quack doctor to treat their wounds? Dad, what should we do?"

"What to do?"

Deng Shunxing leaned against the alley wall, looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with confusion.

The battle at the west city wall resulted in the loss of the fourth brother, Meng Ping. Fortunately, Han Tieyi was there to meet him at the city wall. Although Deng Shunxing fled in a sorry state, he managed to abduct dozens of young men. Due to the large number of people, more and more defeated soldiers joined him along the way, reaching a peak of nearly a hundred.

At that time, Deng Shunxing still had fighting spirit. He believed that with these people in his hands, he had some resources to defend key points in the city and negotiate with the bandits, or to raise a flag and form a righteous army to fight the bandits after escaping the city.

Unexpectedly, the northern rebel army, which had been attacking without actually fighting, entered the city and began to hunt down the fleeing soldiers. Deng Shunxing's troops were the largest and were inevitably targeted.

Deng Shunxing was confident in his bravery and was not afraid to fight the bandits again. Moreover, street fighting was not conducive to the deployment of troops, and his own force of nearly a hundred men was not small, so he was not without the ability to fight.

But the rebel army quickly engaged them, with shield bearers in front and spearmen behind, creating a strong sense of oppression. Although, under Deng Shunxing's encouragement, the routed soldiers followed him and thrust their spears, they only managed to leave a few marks on the enemy's iron-clad wooden shields.

The rebel army advanced like a wall, followed by another drumbeat, and spears were thrown from behind the lines. The morale that the fleeing soldiers had managed to build up was instantly shattered, and they scattered like birds and beasts.

Deng Shunxing, the leader, was so tall and imposing that the bandit leader mistook him for someone extraordinary and relentlessly pursued him. If it weren't for his second brother Zheng Zhongliang and eldest son Youlong coming to his rescue in time, he might have perished in the chaos of battle.

Even now, recalling the perilous pursuit by the bandits, he still feels lingering fear.

"Ugh--"

(End of this chapter)