All Heavens and Worlds Modified History System

Chapter 11 If the court doesn’t care about you, I will!
Hanerzhuang, the tent of Huang Taiji.

Wearing fur coat and holding a hand warmer, Huang Taiji, who was slightly fat, half-closed his eyes and looked at Abatai who was kneeling below. "How many people were lost?"

Abatai, with his bald head lying on the ground, responded in a muffled voice, "I have counted and found that there are more than 2,000 people missing."

'boom! '

The hand warmer in Huang Taiji's hand hit Abatai directly on the forehead.

Blood immediately gushed out.

Abatai groaned but did not dare to look up or speak.

The Manchu and Mongolian high-ranking officials around him all had different expressions, and they looked at Abatai with unfriendly eyes.

They are all high-level officials, so they naturally know the strengths and weaknesses of their own side.

Although it was claimed that there were 100,000 troops, in reality, including the Mongols, the total strength was only more than 30,000.

Maybe later on there will be some scattered small tribes that will come in and grab a piece of the pie, but they won’t count.

More than two thousand people were lost in a battle outside Zunhua City. Who could bear this?

Although it is mainly composed of the Bordered White Banner and Abatai's direct-controlled Niulu, it also represents the strength of the entire Eastern Tartar bandit group.

"Stand up and speak." Huang Taiji said solemnly, "Tell me everything from beginning to end!"

"Yes."

Ignoring the blood dripping from his forehead, Abatai stood up with his head lowered and described the battle outside Zunhua city in detail.

"You said that it was Ajige who abandoned his horse and led his warriors to charge the Ming army's musket formation on foot?"

Even the thoughtful Huang Taiji couldn't control his expression at this moment, and his face was full of astonishment, "How is it possible?"

Ajige had fought in many battles, so how could he do such a stupid thing?

"Don't you think that since Old Twelve hasn't come back, you want to put all the blame on him?"

Upon hearing this, Abatai immediately knelt down again and kowtowed vigorously, "Great Khan, everything I said is true, and Ge Leng Taiji and others can all testify to it."

The taijis of various Mongolian tribes who participated in the Battle of Zunhua and the ezhens who escaped from the Bordered White Banner all insisted that the reason for the defeat was that Ajige Beile led his warriors to charge into the Ming army's musket formation on foot.

At this time, the Later Jin was still in its start-up phase and had strict military laws.

The possibility of so many people lying together is almost non-existent.

"This is not right." Daishan, one of the four great beiles, wondered, "Even if they were on foot, with the Twelveth Master leading thousands of warriors, wouldn't it be possible for him to break a small Ming army formation?"

Based on their previous combat capabilities, thousands of warriors were enough to easily defeat the Ming army's 10,000-man formation.

But at this time, it was said that it was defeated by a small Ming army formation of only a thousand people. It was really unbelievable.

Abatai was of low birth, so he did not dare to call Daishan "Second Brother", but called him "Second Beile, that Ming army is different."

"What's the difference?" Obviously, this question aroused everyone's interest.

"That Ming army." Recalling the thick smoke and deafening sound of muskets outside Zunhua City.

Abatai couldn't help but shudder, with a complicated expression, "It looks like the Zhejiang soldiers on the bank of the Hun River."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sudden silence in the tent.

Most of the people here personally participated in the bloody battle of Hunhe River that year.

The Zhejiang soldiers' muskets and the Sichuan soldiers' white-handled spears left an indelible impression on everyone.

How many warriors tried to sacrifice their lives but just couldn't break through!

Dai Shan clenched his hands and said, "I never thought that the Ming people had such elite troops!"

Seeing the morale in the Khan's tent gradually declining, Huang Taiji immediately waved his hand and said, "Since there is a tough guy, then break him! The whole army will march to Zunhua City!"

Zunhua City, Governor's Office.

"To defend the city is not to hide in the city like turtles."

Chen Ran, who was only a small captain, yelled at the civil and military officials in the main hall, "Building camps outside the city to support each other, constructing sheep and horse walls, building corridors, and setting up enemy towers can be considered a defense system. Putting all the people in the city is nothing!"

He had little experience, but at least he had read "Jixiao Xinshu", "Lianbing Jishi", "Lirong Yaolue" and "Wubei Xinshu".

According to the views of later generations, what Qi Jiguang said on military affairs was definitely right, and it would never be wrong to do as he said.

Now that they knew the Eastern Tartar army was approaching, everyone in Zunhua City hurriedly took all their troops into the city, intending to defend it to the death.

This was hard for Chen Ran to accept.

Are you stupid? But the books of the predecessors clearly state it, and you can't even copy it?

In the past, if a small general had dared to be so presumptuous in front of the governor, he would have been dragged out long ago.

But Chen Ran was different. Not only did he make great contributions in the previous field battle outside the city, but he also uncovered the spy hidden in the city.

With such solid achievements in hand, both civil officials and military officers could only endure it.

Seeing Chen Ran constantly offending the civil and military officials, Zhao Lujiao couldn't help but say, "Okay, this matter has been settled, no need to say more."

After saying that, he stood up and walked to the back hall, calling Chen Ran, "Follow me."

Arriving at the back hall, Zhao Lujiao explained with a smile, "We understand what you said, but we can't do it."

"You have trained your troops well, and your soldiers are elite." He changed the subject and said, "But there are more than 10,000 soldiers and horses in Zunhua City right now. Who can compare with your soldiers?"

"I also understand that we can build strongholds outside the city to support each other." Zhao Lujiao stepped forward, "But the soldiers are weak and can't take on the responsibility. Only the tall city walls can boost their morale."

"I understand." Chen Ran nodded. "No need to say more, Governor. I understand."

He really understood.

The soldiers under his command were well fed and clothed, and they received full pay. They had also undergone hard training, and dared to fight even if they had to go out of the city to build a stronghold. However, those soldiers who were not well fed and clothed, and who had been owed food and pay for many years, did not have such morale and determination, nor did they have such physical strength and physique.

Only by hiding behind the city walls can we muster the courage to resist.

"Chen Ran." Zhao Lujiao said in a gentle voice, "Defend Zunhua City and hold back the Eastern Tartars. When the troops from all directions gather to defend the king, we will surely be able to win the battle. By then, you will be given important positions for your military exploits."

"Thank you Captain."

After leaving the governor's office and riding his horse through the empty streets of Zunhua City, Chen Ran seemed a little hesitant.

"This Ming Dynasty is even worse than I imagined."

"The elite troops of Jizhen didn't even dare to leave the city to build a stronghold and form a corner to support each other. It's obvious that they just lie down and do nothing. If the mighty soldiers of Han and Tang knew about this, how embarrassing it would be."

As I was thinking, I heard a noise not far ahead.

Glancing over, I saw a group of yamen runners waving sticks to drive away the people who were huddled in the corner of a wealthy family's house.

Sticks were flying and screams and wails were heard continuously.

The pale-faced woman bent her waist to protect the baby in her arms. The yamen runners' sticks fell on her thin back without any mercy.

The sound of horse hooves rang out frequently, and the yamen runners wielding sticks turned around in shock.

Before he could see the situation clearly, he saw a flash of a knife and his vision suddenly became dizzy.

Shaking off the blood stains on the Yanling knife in his hand, Chen Ran said in a low voice with an expressionless face, "Kill them all."

Dozens of cavalrymen following him drew their swords together.

The leader of the team couldn't help but ask, "Sir, who should we kill?"

Pointing the goose-feather knife in his hand at the panicked yamen runners, Chen Ran said sternly, "These people are all Donglu spies. Don't spare any of them."

"General, general, general!"

A yamen runner's team leader pleaded in a trembling voice, "We are not spies, we are county yamen runners~~~"

"Ya'er?" Chen Ran lowered his eyes, as if thinking, "What are you doing here?"

"It was Master Gao who said that there were refugees gathering outside the house, and he was afraid that something bad might happen. He sent a notice to the government office, and Master ordered us to come and disperse them."

"I see." Chen Ran turned his head and looked at the gate of Gao's mansion not far away. There were many figures looking in this direction. He immediately told the cavalrymen behind him, "Question them and kill them all."

Most of these cavalrymen were originally the night guards of various tribes in Jizhen, or servants of various generals.

He was recruited by Chen Ran with generous treatment.

They are well fed, well clothed, and adequately fed and paid.

According to the rules of that era, he was a servant.

The servants didn't even recognize the imperial court or the imperial edict; they only recognized their masters.

After receiving Chen Ran's order, they rushed forward on horseback and beheaded dozens of yamen runners in the street.

The yamen runners also wanted to resist, but how could the sticks in their hands fight against the goose-feather swords?

They wanted to escape, but how could a pair of legs outrun the four-legged war horses?
In just a cup of tea, the street quickly became quiet.

This place was not far from the governor's office, and soon someone came over to check out what was going on.

The person leading the team was Zhao Lushi's close confidant Zhao Twelve.

Seeing Chen Ran wiping his knife, Zhao Shier was slightly surprised and said, "Master Chen, this is..."

"Master Zhao." Chen Ran explained with a serious expression, "These people are spies from the Eastern Tartars who sneaked into the city. I happened to run into them and killed them all."

Hearing this, Zhao Shier's face twitched uncontrollably.

"What the hell are spies! The yamen runners in various places are passed down from father to son. Could it be that the Eastern Tartars arranged people to be spies a hundred years ago? At that time, Zunhua City had not yet been rebuilt!"

Zhao Twelve rolled his eyes wildly, not knowing how to complain.

"This matter." He thought for a moment and said, "I will report it to the governor."

If the people who were beheaded were civilians, he would despise them in his heart but pretend that he saw nothing.

But these yamen runners, although of low status, were considered members of the imperial court and were even more involved with civil servants.

Even if he only killed a few, it would be fine, but he killed dozens of them in one go.
The civil officials will definitely make a fuss about this matter, and there is no other choice but to ask the governor to take charge.

"Master Zhao, just do it." Chen Ran simply turned over and dismounted. "I won't run."

Zhao Shier smiled bitterly, turned around and ran straight to the governor's office.

Looking at the high wall in front of him, Chen Ran's face turned pale. "The Ming Dynasty is like shit. If you piss me off, I'll just go to Liangshan!"

The people on the street all came from villages and towns outside the city.

The Eastern Tartars were rampant, killing and looting everywhere they went, and the people had no choice but to hide in the city in order to survive.

But they had neither money nor food nor shelter, so they could only struggle to survive outside the walls of the rich families' homes.

However, wealthy families, like the Gao family, actually called in yamen runners to violently evict people.

This despicable Ming Dynasty really made Chen Ran angry.

He really couldn't figure out whether he should save the Ming Dynasty.

"Go back to the camp and order the laborers to bring wood and pots, and another 200 dan of grain."

The cavalrymen received the order and immediately split off several horses and galloped back to the camp.

"Don't be afraid, everyone." Chen Ran said in a deep voice to the cowering people, "The court doesn't care about you, I will!"

(End of this chapter)