The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The moonlight shone quietly, and Bai Hongzhi's camp was shrouded in peace.

A team of White Lotus followers replaced the original White Lotus followers who were guarding the gate and lined up on both sides of the gate.

Teams of White Lotus sect members holding torches patrolled around the stockade.

At this moment, a lantern illuminated two people walking out of the camp.

The White Lotus leader shouted, "Who?"

When the person approached, it turned out to be Bai Hongzhi with the elderly steward.

The White Lotus leader was startled at first, then he quickly stepped forward and saluted: "Master!"

Bai Hongzhi nodded: "Keep a close eye! If there is any sign of trouble, sound the alarm immediately!"

The leader responded loudly, "Yes."

Bai Hongzhi looked around again, then nodded with satisfaction and said to the elderly steward, "Let's go and have a look somewhere else." Then he turned and left.

Seeing Bai Hongzhi walking away, the leader muttered in a low voice: "It's the middle of the night and there's not even a ghost around. What the hell are you doing? You're disturbing my sleep." He tightened his cotton jacket and said, "What a horrible weather! It's so cold even though it's not snowing!" After that, he looked around, grabbed a handful of hay, walked to the wooden fence and sat down, covering his face with his hat and taking a nap.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt a chill on his face and slowly opened his eyes. What came into view was a strange face. Before he could say anything, the man grabbed his neck with both hands and twisted it.

Without even a sound, his eyes bulged out and he died.

A gust of night wind blew by, making the White Lotus flag on the flagpole flutter.

The gate that had been tightly closed was opened at some point, and the White Lotus members on duty were lying on the ground. Several people dressed like White Lotus members were holding torches and waving flags in the distance.

"What are you doing!"

In the distance, a White Lotus leader led a group of White Lotus followers and walked over, shouting and asking loudly.

Just then, a shocking sound of horse hooves rang out.

The White Lotus leader exclaimed, "Enemy attack!"

But it was too late. Countless cavalrymen rushed in at high speed and killed anyone they saw. Countless White Lotus members who had just woken up from their sleep were killed in a panic. The sound of the White Lotus members' screams and cries of fear could be heard everywhere!
Bai Hongzhi was bareheaded and wearing slippers. He didn't even have time to put on his eye mask. He buttoned his robe and ran out of the central army tent, shouting, "What's going on?!"

Bai Hongzhi raised his head and looked towards the rear camp. Flames were shooting into the sky and the shouts of people and the neighing of horses could be clearly heard.

The old steward came running over with sweat all over his forehead, shouting, "Enemy attack! The cavalry came from nowhere, the rear camp has collapsed, and they are charging towards the center army."

Bai Hongzhi was horrified: "Where did the cavalry come from?!"

The old steward: "The only person in Hubei who can have such a large cavalry is Li Hu!"

Bai Hongzhi's mind buzzed: "What? Li Hu is here?"

The old steward: "I should have thought of it a long time ago. Li Hu is best at long-distance raids!"

Bai Hongzhi suddenly realized: "This is not the grassland outside the Great Wall. He has only 3,000 to 5,000 men at most. I still have nearly 100,000 troops. I can kill him with a pile of human lives! Let's go to the front camp."

Before he could finish his words, there were explosions from the front camp, followed by countless shouts of killing.

Bai Hongzhi was stunned at first, then he realized that the government troops in Anlu City were counterattacking!

At this moment, Bai Hongzhi's confidant ran over in a rage and shouted, "Master, it's bad. Several old battalions in the central army have surrendered!"

Bai Hongzhi: “What!”

The old steward asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

The confidant said: "It was not the government troops who attacked us, it was, it was"

Bai Hongzhi: "Speak!"

The confidant: "It's the leader"

Bai Hongzhi didn't react: "What leader?" The old steward said in a daze: "Shui Rong!"

Bai Hongzhi's face suddenly changed.

The confidant: "Yes, it's Shui Rong."

The old steward: "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

The confidant nodded slightly, then looked at Bai Hongzhi: "The people in the old camp have turned against us, our people can't hold on for long"

The old steward sighed: "There are also many elderly people in the front camp."

Bai Hongzhi trembled slightly and did not respond.

The old steward: "As long as there is green, there is no need to worry about running out of firewood. Back then, King Chuang was beaten by Sun Chuanting and only 18 people were left. In the end, the Ming Dynasty was destroyed! If we leave now, we will at least have tens of thousands of brothers."

There was the sound of horse hooves, and a bloody-faced and disheveled White Lotus leader came running towards them, shouting, "Master, run away! Brothers, either die or flee. The rebels are already here to kill us."

Before he could finish his words, an arrow shot out and hit the man in the back, causing him to fall off his horse.

The old steward was shocked: "Quick, escort the leader away from here!" After that, he pulled Bai Hongzhi, who was still in a daze, and ran towards the stable.

The guards looked at each other, some followed him, some dropped the knives in their hands, and the rest dispersed.

Soon, the White Lotus Sect members came with long spears and swords raised high. Those who laid down their weapons and Bai Hongzhi's luxurious tent fell to the ground together.

The crowd continued to flow toward the front camp.

Soon, Shui Rong arrived here surrounded by Yang Qilong and many White Lotus leaders.

After more than two months, Shui Rong suddenly lost a lot of weight, his cheeks and eye sockets became sunken. Looking at the ruins of the central military tent, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

At this time, a White Lotus leader ran over from the front camp and reported to Shui Rong: "Master, the government troops in Anlu City are attacking the front camp."

Shui Rong understood that they regarded him as reinforcements, and laughed loudly and said, "Take down Anlu City and let the brothers be happy!"

The White Lotus followers behind him cheered loudly.

Yang Qilong did not speak. They were able to get out of the mountains alive only by burning, killing and looting. They destroyed all the villages and mountain strongholds they could see along the way, collected supplies, and took young and strong men with them. When they got out of the mountains, they already had 5,000 to 6,000 men and horses, and they all became desperate criminals who killed without blinking an eye. It took them less than a day to break through the county town outside the mountain pass.

They captured cities and plundered territories along the way and were invincible. Except for the provincial capital, they captured the county town in almost one day. The number of people also increased from thousands to 30,000. Now with Bai Hongzhi's more than 100,000 troops, not to mention sweeping across Hubei, even if Li Hu led the main force of the government army, they would not dare to launch an attack on them rashly.

Shui Rong sighed: "Bai Hongzhi is a good man!"

All the White Lotus leaders laughed.

A White Lotus leader spoke up: "Master, the traitor Bai Hongzhi must have fled to the mountains and forests. Should we send someone to capture him?"

The White Lotus leaders started shouting:

"Catch him back and enforce the rules!"

"Light that traitor on fire."

Shui Rong raised his hand and said, "No. He is unkind, I can't be unjust and just let him go."

As soon as these words came out, the White Lotus leaders immediately flattered him.
In the forest opposite the central army camp, Zhang Cheng and others were looking here at this time.

Zhang Cheng put down the telescope and shook his head. Anlu City is finished!

There was a sound of footsteps, and a man in night clothes ran over and reported to Zhang Cheng: "General, Bai Hongzhi is here, and there are less than 30 people following him."

So little? Zhang Cheng's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "Let's go and welcome the selfless Great Master Bai!"

Everyone laughed. Bai Hongzhi had worked in vain and made things easier for Shui Rong! (End of this chapter)