I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

As Yang Gun and Yang An, the two elite Khitan forces, joined forces outside Mingzhou City, plotting how to make a few more days of easy money amidst the cartloads of supplies and the crowds of women and children, they completely forgot about it.

The backbone of Hebei consists not only of the warriors fighting on the battlefield, but also of the loyal ministers trapped deep behind enemy lines.

In a secluded courtyard within Zhenzhou City, the aroma of wine filled the air, yet there was no joy to be found.

He Fujin, Li Rong, and several other Han generals were sitting facing each other, drinking wine.

It was ostensibly a drinking session, but in reality, it was a pledge of allegiance.

"Drink! This wine today may be the last bowl of our final toast."

He Fujin picked up the earthenware bowl and glanced at the faces of the Han generals beside him.

He was once the Yingzhou Defense Commissioner, clad in scarlet robes, but now he could only live a precarious existence under the Liao people.

"Brother He, Yang An has also left, and I'm afraid he has gathered in Mingzhou along with Yang Gun's troops."

Li Rong put down his wine bowl and casually wiped the wine stains from his lips.

"There are only about 800 Liao soldiers left in the city. If we let this opportunity slip by, we'll probably be slaves to Mada for the rest of our lives."

Liu Zhiyuan has already entered Daliang, and Du Chongwei of Yecheng is trapped like a turtle in a jar. If they can make a commotion in Zhenzhou City, they will not only save Mingzhou, but also half of Hebei Province.

He Fujin knew that Li Rong was right; as the saying goes, there are many speculators but few martyrs.

But he was, after all, a mature and prudent man, and he knew that starting a rebellion was no child's play. If it were exposed, the entire city of Han officials and generals would be doomed.

The remaining Han generals also discussed the matter amongst themselves.

"Although Mada is arrogant, the remaining Liao soldiers are not to be trifled with."

"Ever since Liu the Emperor entered Daliang, the backbone of the Han people in this land has been strengthened. What kind of logic is it for us to stay here guarding this empty city, watching over that Ma Da's house?"

"Although the people in the city are eager for change, without a plan, they are nothing more than a disorganized mess."

The group exchanged glances, each reading the long-held thought in the other's eyes: to start a rebellion.

"The bylaws have already been established!"

Li Rong smiled and revealed the entire draft he had prepared.

"At noon tomorrow, the bell of the Great Buddha Temple in the city will serve as the signal. After three rings, the whole city will rise up in rebellion."

This is to use the name of gods and Buddhas to carry out the act of killing the barbarians.

"Starting an uprising is not difficult; the difficulty lies in how to achieve a swift victory," He Fujin added. "Commander Li, you are the fastest; you take your men to the North Gate."

As soon as the big bell in the Buddhist temple rings, kill the city gate guards.

Remember, the city gates must not be closed. We must leave an opening for the people outside the city to rush in and embolden them.

Li Rong nodded and added, "After killing the Liao soldiers guarding the gate, I led my men straight to the armory behind the government office."

With iron weapons, the more than 10,000 Han soldiers and civilians in the city gained confidence.

An uprising cannot rely solely on passion; it requires weapons, provisions, and must be visible to the common people huddled in the alleys and the scattered Han soldiers.

Working with them means you can hold a powerful weapon in your hand and have a full stomach.

"I'll go protect those big Buddhas." He Fujin also took on a tough task for himself.

The generals were initially taken aback, but quickly came to their senses.

The "big Buddhas" that He Fu mentioned refer to Feng Dao, Li Song, and others.

These high-ranking officials who were captured and taken to the north lost face in front of the barbarians and were criticized by their contemporaries.

However, in the eyes of Han scholars and their former subordinates, they remained symbols of legitimacy.

Especially Feng Dao, as long as he is still standing, the ownership of Zhenzhou City will be defined in the eyes of the official in Daliang City as a rebellion, rather than a banditry.

"only..."

One of the officers in the room suddenly spoke up, "What if Bai Zairong refuses to submit?"

Bai Zairong.

The current deputy commander of Zhenzhou is a man with extremely long tenure in the city.

But his problem lies in his complacent nature.

A few days ago, when Ma Da sent Yang An on a transfer, Bai Zairong even painstakingly devised a plan for him, citing the city's weak defenses.

If Bai Zairong sides with the Han army, Zhenzhou City can be captured overnight. If he continues to be a loyal dog of the Khitans, our small force is just going to our deaths.

Li Rong remained silent for a long time.

"If he is willing to join us in this uprising, that would be good. If he is not willing, then there is nothing we can do about it."

"At the beginning of the uprising, Li would send someone to kill Mada's close followers first, and then stuff the head into his arms. By then, he would be covered in the blood of the Liao people, and even if he had a hundred mouths, he would not be able to explain himself."

When you can't persuade someone to join your side, the best way is to cut off their escape route and make them a mortal enemy in their eyes.

The ultimate form of a power struggle is often not a win-win situation, but rather a hostage situation where both sides perish.

This world doesn't tolerate fence-sitting.

"Alright! Let's proceed according to this plan!"

He Fujin stood up.

"We Han Chinese have been the dogs of these barbarians for so long. Tonight, it's time to test how tough their numb necks really are!"

The crowd responded enthusiastically and then dispersed under the cover of night.

However, this conspiracy in the secluded house, which seemed to have taken full advantage of the timing and location, overlooked Ma Da's trump card.

Why would Mada dare to deploy all his troops at such a delicate moment?

Is it because he's stupid?

No.

As a noble Khitan, Mada had far better access to information than these Han generals.

Just three days ago, a secret letter from the north had been delivered to his desk.

The situation in the north has changed.

After Yelü Deguang's sudden death, the fierce struggle for the throne within the Khitan was miraculously brought to a halt thanks to the mediation of Yelü Wuzhi.

Although Empress Dowager Shulu was unwilling, she eventually lowered her proud head at the Hengdu River in the face of Yelü Ruan, whose power was already secured.

The new emperor of Liao has already secured his position.

What gave Ma Da even more confidence was that Yelü Ruan's trusted confidant, Yelü Jiali, had already reached a place less than a hundred miles from Zhenzhou.

Yelü Jiali carried with him an imperial edict from the Liao dynasty.

They took away Jin officials such as Feng Dao and Li Song to be buried alive with Yelü Deguang, who died on his way back north.

In the Khitan people's mind, since these southern prime ministers failed to assist the late emperor and led to the Liao's defeat in the Central Plains, they should go underground to continue to serve their country.

This is the source of Mada's confidence.

Ma Da was indeed unaware of He Fujin and his group's conspiracy, but in his eyes, the Han generals in the city were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter.

Now that the northern route is open and the army can arrive at any time, he naturally has no fear.

The conflict of interests has reached its extreme at this moment.

The Han generals were gambling on internal strife within the Khitan to survive, while Mada was waiting for the Khitan to unite in order to establish his authority.

The next day at noon, the sun was high in the sky.

Inside the sparsely populated Buddhist temple, a monk was habitually walking towards the large bell.

One pull, one push.

"Thump!"

A deep, resonant Buddhist bell rang out from the temple, instantly echoing throughout every corner of Zhenzhou.

At the city gate, Li Rong drew the horizontal sword from his robes and pointed it diagonally to the sky.

"Kill the Khitans, and you'll have a way to survive!"

An uprising has begun!