In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 915 Sake Reddens the Face, Wealth Moves the Heart

As the sun sets and dusk deepens, it slowly envelops the earth.

The city gates of Dingzhou slowly closed, and the soldiers guarding the city walls began their changing of the guard.
The torchlight flickered on the brick wall, like a long, winding orange-red dragon.

The Ming army camp in the mountain valley also fell silent.
Only a few campfires remained burning, illuminating the tense faces of the soldiers.

Tuoluhuchaer led one hundred Doyan Guard cavalrymen.
They have already changed into captured Goryeo army armor.
Holding a Goryeo army longsword, he was making no attempt to conceal his intentions as he made his way towards Dingzhou City.

Dusk turned the blue bricks of Dingzhou City a deep gray.
The drawbridge at the west gate was not yet fully lowered, and the iron chains swayed in the cold wind.

Tuoluhuchaer pulled on the reins.
The warhorse beneath him snorted, its breath carrying white vapor that drifted away with the fine snow!

Behind him followed soldiers of the Doyan Guard, also clad in Goryeo armor.
The thunderous sound of horses' hooves was exceptionally clear in the silence.

The soldiers guarding the city wall had noticed them long ago, and their torchlight swept over them.

"Who is under the city!"

The soldiers guarding the city wall shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices carried by the wind.

"Do you have a token for coming here so late at night?"

Tuoluhuchaer didn't look up, deliberately making his voice sound impatient, imitating the tone of a Goryeo general:
"Blind fool! This is a messenger under Prime Minister Li, sent on orders to deliver a message!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and patted the cloth bag on the horse's back.

"Inside is a military order personally written by Prime Minister Li. If it delays important matters, can you bear the responsibility?"

The soldiers guarding the city wall paused, clearly hesitant.

An older soldier leaned over and whispered:
"Boss, the situation is tense these days."

Li Xiang's side does indeed send messengers frequently; why don't we let them in?

The garrison commander was a burly man with a fierce face, surnamed Park. He had fought alongside Yi Seong-gye in the Nahachu campaign in his younger days, and was now squinting at the people below the city.

He always felt that these messengers were more robust than ordinary Goryeo soldiers.

The one in the lead, in particular, had broad shoulders and a thick back, making him look like a herdsman from the grasslands.

"Wait!"

Park Shou-jang suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Show your tokens, and once they're verified, you'll be allowed into the city."

Tuoluhuchaer gave a soft snort, then suddenly raised his voice, deliberately making sure everyone on the city wall could hear him:
"Insolence! The military situation is urgent. Both the Northeast Route Army and the Northern Route Army are wiped out. We don't have time to show you any tokens!"

The city gate tower fell silent instantly!
Commander Park's expression changed drastically, and he leaned forward, asking urgently:
"What did you say? You lost?"

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Tuoluhuchaer said in a deep voice:
"We will not enter the city. Upon hearing the military order, execute it immediately. Those who refuse to obey will not be spared by Prime Minister Li!"

"The day before yesterday at noon, the Northern Route Army was ambushed at Huangtuchi."
Of the five thousand men, only a little over a thousand deserters remained. Of the eight thousand men under General Lu of the Northeast Route, only six hundred survived!
Those Jurchen soldiers are well-equipped and their armor is sturdy. Li Xiang sent messages to all cities in the Northwest Circuit, instructing them to guard the city gates and not to venture out of the city uninvited!

As he spoke, he observed the activity on the city wall.

Through the firelight, one could see that the faces of the guards were all pale.
Someone brandished a long spear.

They were clearly frightened by the news of the defeat.

Park Shou-jang felt a chill run down his spine and pressed for an answer:

"Where are the Jurchens now? How is Prime Minister Li?"

Tuoluhuchar deliberately feigned impatience and tugged at the reins:
"Li Xiang is still gathering the remnants of his army. The Jurchens are unpredictable. Who knows if they might suddenly sneak into Dingzhou?"
I need to deliver messages at other city gates; I don't have time to waste with you!

After saying that, he made a gesture as if to turn his horse around.

"and many more!"

Park Shou-jang quickly called out to him, his voice trembling.
"Brother, brother, come in and we'll talk in detail!"
Seventy percent of the garrison in Dingzhou has been withdrawn, leaving fewer than a thousand men in the city.

In case the Jurchens come, we'll be prepared!

Tuoluhuchaer chuckled inwardly, but his face remained impassive:

"We're busy, you all guard the city. If the city falls, you'll be punished according to military regulations! Let's go!"

"No, no, no! Brother, my elder brother is right next to Prime Minister Li. Don't leave yet, I have something I want to ask you."

General Park panicked and hurriedly shouted to the soldiers around him,

"Quickly! Lower the drawbridge and open the city gates! Prepare some hot soup; I have important matters to ask him!"

The suspension bridge creaked and groaned as it was lowered.
The city gate slowly opened a crack, revealing the dim yellow firelight inside.

Tuoluhuchaer gave the Duoyan guards a wink, and the men subtly tightened their grip on the short knives hidden in their sleeves.

Although the blade is short, it is more suitable for close combat.

"My lord, please come in!"

Park Shou-jang personally came out to greet him, his face plastered with a smile, but the panic in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"We just made ginger soup in the city. Have a bowl to warm yourself up, and then tell me about what's happening at the front."

Tuoluhuchar did not dismount, but looked down at him from his superior position:
"No need, I still need to go to Suzhou and Yizhou to deliver messages."
Remember Li Xiang's orders: if Dingzhou is lost, you will bring his head to meet him!

Park Shou-jang nodded quickly, then stepped closer and lowered his voice:

"My lord, to be honest, the city has been in a state of panic these past few days. Some merchant caravans have brought rumors and gossip."

"Tell me the truth, are the Jurchens really that powerful?"

"Okay, then I'll tell you about it."

Tuoluhuchaer dismounted with lightning speed.

Before Park Soo-jang could react, he grabbed him by the collar.

"Isn't that amazing?"

Tuoluhuchaer sneered, his voice instantly changing tone.
It's no longer an imitation of Korean accent, but Mandarin with a grassland accent.
You'll see soon enough!

As soon as he finished speaking, he drew a short knife with his other hand, and with a flash of cold light, he slit Park Shoujiang's neck.

Fresh blood spurted out with a "plop," splashing onto Tuoluhucha'er's armor and instantly freezing into ice particles.

Park Soo-jang's eyes widened, and he made a "hoarse" sound.
Unable to make a sound, he collapsed limply to the ground.

The guards at the city gate were dumbfounded.
She was stunned for a few seconds before she realized what was happening, and screamed as she reached for her weapon.

The Doyan guards brought by Tuoluhuchaer had already rushed forward, their short swords flashing, and they quickly dealt with the guards at the gate.

A soldier tried to run into the city, but after taking only two steps...
He was stabbed in the back by the short knife thrown by Tuoluhuchaer.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Quickly! Take control of the city gates!"

Not far away, Lu Yunyi stood on a hillside, holding a telescope in his hand, gazing at Dingzhou City in the distance.

Night had fallen, and the wind was picking up, whipping up the snow that stung our faces.

"General, Lord Toruhuchar has sent a signal!"

The guard suddenly shouted, pointing towards the west gate.

A faint light flickered three times in the night.

This was the agreed-upon signal, indicating that the west gate had been taken control.

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes as he loudly gave the order:

"All troops, move out! Destination: Dingzhou City!"

The Ming soldiers, who were already fully equipped and ready to go, immediately mounted their horses.
One by one, the torches were lit, their orange-red glow blending together in the night.
Like a raging fire dragon, it sped towards Dingzhou City.

The sound of horses' hooves broke the silence, but there was no disorder in it; instead, it conveyed a heart-stopping sense of order.

At the west gate of Dingzhou, Tuoluhuchaer was standing on the gate tower, holding a torch in his hand.

Looking at the Ming army gradually approaching in the distance,
A smile played on his lips as he addressed the soldiers beside him:
"We're almost there. Once the army has entered, close the city gates."

Beneath the city gate, the captured Goryeo soldiers trembled and squatted on the ground.
Looking at the imposing Jurchen army before him, his eyes were filled with fear.

They couldn't understand why these allied forces would suddenly attack.
Why are there so many Jurchens here?

Soon, Lu Yunyi's army arrived at the west gate.
He dismounted, walked over to Tuoluhuchar, and patted him on the shoulder:

"here you go."

"General, you flatter me."

Lu Yunyi's gaze swept across the city.
"Control the granaries, armories, and the four city gates. As for the royal family, leave them to their own devices for now; there's no rush."

After saying this, he turned around and shouted loudly to the Ming soldiers behind him:
"Brothers, today we enter Dingzhou City only to take back what belongs to us!"
Remember, military discipline must be strictly enforced. Those who disobey orders will be dealt with according to military law!

"Yes!"

The soldiers responded in unison, their voices so powerful that the snow in the air began to fall in a flurry.

Subsequently, the Ming soldiers divided into several teams and entered Dingzhou City in an orderly manner.

One team went to take control of the granary and armory, and the third team went to the other city gates.

Another team patrolled the city to maintain order.

Half an hour later, the Goryeo army camp in the north of the city was completely surrounded.

The cold wind swirled up snowflakes, which lashed against the soldiers' armor, splashing up fine ice shards. The crisp sound of the armor plates colliding was particularly jarring in the early morning.

The camp gates were tightly shut, and the Goryeo military flags planted on the walls were being blown crookedly by the wind.

"Listen up, you inside! Lay down your weapons and surrender, or your lives will be spared!"

There was a moment of silence behind the camp wall, followed by a hoarse, angry roar:

"Don't even think about it! We are the sons of the Northwest, we would rather die than surrender!"

Immediately afterwards, arrows rained down!

Tuoluhuchaer reined in his horse, his brow furrowed:

"General, these men seem to be quite elite; I'm afraid we won't be able to persuade them to surrender."

Lu Yunyi stood at the front of the group, scanning the camp walls with his binoculars.
The Goryeo soldiers on the wall all had flushed faces, and their hands gripping their weapons were frozen purple.

Yet he still stared intently outside, his eyes filled with resolute determination.

Judging from the list seized by the county government,

Most of these people were former subordinates of Yi Seong-gye or local soldiers from the Northwest Province, and they were extremely loyal to Yi Seong-gye.

Forced into a corner, they became even more determined to resist.

"There's no need to waste any more time."

Lu Yunyi's voice was cold, carrying an undeniable determination.
"Pass down the order: break down the door, hold back."

"Yes!"

The guards responded loudly, and as the command flags waved, the Ming army's formation shifted rapidly.

Hundreds of figures broke away from the vanguard, stuck the gunpowder in their hands to the camp wall, lit it, and quickly retreated!

"Three, two, one!"

Ten breaths later, boom! A deafening roar erupted, and flames shot into the sky.

The explosion instantly woke up everyone who was sleeping in Dingzhou City!
Amidst the swirling smoke, the camp walls vanished, revealing a series of large holes.

"kill!"

Ariza, who had been demoted to a centurion, led his troops in a massive swarm, and the camp instantly descended into chaos!
The two sides clashed fiercely!
Although the Goryeo soldiers were brave, they could not withstand the superior equipment and numerical superiority of the Ming army.
Moreover, after two major battles, the soldiers of the Duoyan Guard had already developed a tacit understanding and coordinated their movements, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner.

Goryeo soldiers charged forward wielding long swords, but were immediately pierced through the chest by Ming soldiers' spears as soon as they got close.
Some longed to escape from the camp, but were riddled with crossbow bolts and fell to the ground in the snow.

An elderly Goryeo soldier with gray hair, clutching a broken sword, desperately protected several young soldiers behind him, roaring:

"Let's fight them! Even if we die, we'll take one of them down with us!"

He rushed forward and slashed at the Ming soldiers with his sword, but the attack was blocked by their shields.

Immediately afterwards, a spear thrust in from the side, piercing through his abdomen.

The old soldier lay on the ground, still muttering:
"The Northwest Road must not be lost."

Lu Yunyi stood at the camp gate, watching the fighting inside, his face expressionless.

An hour later, the sounds of fighting in the camp gradually subsided.
The bodies of Goryeo soldiers lay scattered haphazardly on the snow.
Blood stained large areas of snow, and the snowmelt mixed with blood froze into thin ice on the ground, making it slippery to walk on.

The Ming army did not let their guard down, but carefully searched the military camp and checked the survivors.

A short while later, a guard approached and reported in a low voice, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of gravity:

"General, all of the more than 1,000 Goryeo soldiers have been killed."

Lu Yunyi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the corpses in the camp, and said in a deep voice:

"No need to dispose of the body, just leave it here and let the royal family come and see it later."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the military camp.

At this moment, dawn had broken, and the eastern sky was beginning to lighten with the pale glow of dawn.

Sunlight streamed through the clouds, falling on the rooftops of Dingzhou City.

The snow-covered tiles were edged with gold.

Overnight, Dingzhou City underwent a dramatic change.

On the street, the Jurchen Three Guards were patrolling.
Their steps were synchronized, and their expressions were serious.
The once bustling morning market was now deserted.
Only a few shops still bear the marks of their hasty closure last night.

When Lu Yunyi returned to the county government office, it was already broad daylight.

The charcoal fire in the county government office was still burning, though the flames had weakened, and a faint smell of blood lingered in the air.

He took off his armor and changed into clean civilian clothes.

I had just sat down and taken a sip of hot tea when a guard came in to report:
"General, Lord Wang Junping is already waiting outside."

"Let him in."

When Wang Junping walked in, his face was as pale as paper, and his hands were trembling slightly.

His clothes were wrinkled.

Upon seeing Lu Yunyi, he immediately bowed and greeted him, his voice trembling:

"Lord Lu Lu."

Lu Yunyi raised his eyelids, looked at him like this, and said calmly:
"Didn't sleep well last night?"

"No, no."

Wang Junping quickly shook his head, clenching his hands together.

Lu Yunyi put down his teacup and stood up:
"Since you're awake, take me to see the royal family."

Wang Junping's body trembled violently. He looked up at Lu Yunyi, his eyes filled with terror:
"Sir, shall we go now?"

"What? Is there a problem?" Lu Yunyi's gaze turned cold.

"No no!"

Wang Junping quickly waved his hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“I will take you there right away! The royal family is currently residing in the Duke’s mansion in the west of the city. She is the mother of His Majesty’s favorite concubine, Madam Jin.”

Lu Yunyi didn't ask any more questions and turned to walk out.

"lead the way."

Wang Junping hurriedly followed, his steps faltering slightly.

Along the way, he secretly observed Lu Yunyi's expression.

Seeing his calm expression, she felt even more anxious and didn't dare to breathe.

Ask yourself,

He also harbored some resentment towards Madam Jin.

If you had given the promised money earlier, you would have been done with it. Why did things turn out like this?
He fought desperately for a chance to survive, but someone behind him kept sabotaging him.
"Ugh"

The Duke's Mansion in the west of the city was indeed magnificent, with vermilion gates, towering walls, and two red lanterns hanging at the entrance.

The Ming soldiers at the gate saw Lu Yunyi approaching and quickly saluted:

"General!"

Lu Yunyi nodded and said to Wang Junping:
"Knock on the door."

Wang Junping swallowed hard, stepped forward, and gently knocked on the door.

"Madam Jin, open the door. It is I, Wang Junping."

There was a moment of silence inside the door, then a maid's trembling voice came from inside:

"Who is it? We can't open the door now. Madam said she won't see anyone!"

Lu Yunyi frowned and said to the guards beside him:
"Break the door."

The guard stepped forward and kicked the door open.
With a loud bang, the door opened.

The maid inside the door screamed in fright and turned to run into the courtyard, shouting:

"Madam! Madam! Something terrible has happened! They've come in!"

Lu Yunyi stepped into the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

The courtyard was large, paved with bluestone slabs.
Several pine trees were planted on both sides, their branches covered with snow, making the place look rather desolate.

The door to the main room was tightly closed, and the curtains were drawn completely.
Clearly, the people inside dared not come out.

"Mrs. Jin, come out."

Lu Yunyi's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly into the main room.

After a while, the door to the main room slowly opened.

A woman dressed in a gorgeous brocade dress came out.

She was in her early thirties, with fair skin and a touch of elegance still lingering in her eyes.

At this moment, his face was deathly pale, his hands were tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Two maids followed behind her, also trembling with fear, not daring to look up at Lu Yunyi.

"You...you must be Lord Lu? I've heard so much about you!"

Mrs. Jin's voice trembled as she tried to remain calm.

But when she met those emotionless eyes, she couldn't help but take a step back.

Lu Yunyi didn't answer her question. He glanced at her and said calmly:
"Where's the silver?"

Madam Jin was taken aback, clearly not expecting Lu Yunyi to be so direct.

She swallowed hard and forced a smile.
"General Lu, please don't worry. We are currently raising the funds, but the amount is too large and will take some time."

"is it?"

Lu Yunyi sneered and took a step forward.
Madam Jin was so frightened that she quickly stepped back and almost fell, but fortunately the maid behind her caught her.

"I gave you chances, but you didn't cherish them." Lu Yunyi's tone turned cold.

"Search!"

The soldiers immediately rushed into the courtyard!

Madam Jin panicked and stepped forward to stop them, but was blocked by her guards.

"Lord Lu! You can't do this!"

This is the Duke's mansion, a royal residence! Your search is no different from that of robbers!

Her voice rose a few decibels, filled with anger.

Lu Yunyi looked at her, his eyes completely unmoved:
"Robber? You were the one who reneged on your debt first; I haven't even settled accounts with you yet."
Five hundred thousand taels of silver, not a penny less.
If not, I will throw you all into the army camp!

Mrs. Jin was so frightened by his words that she trembled all over and dared not say another word.

The soldiers searched very thoroughly and soon made a discovery.

"General! There's silver here!"

Immediately afterwards, shouts came from the side room:
"General! There's one here too! Hidden in the secret compartment behind the wardrobe!"

"And here too! There are several large chests in the cellar!"

Madam Jin stood aside, watching the soldiers carry out chests of silver and pile them in the courtyard. Her face grew paler and paler until her legs gave way and she almost collapsed to the ground.

Although this silver wasn't hers,
But to have it found now is more heartbreaking than having her flesh torn off.

Lu Yunyi walked to the pile of silver, where his guards were counting the amount.

"General, according to the initial count, there are about 300,000 taels, plus some gold and silver jewelry, which comes to about 50,000 taels."

"Keep searching."

Lu Yunyi's gaze swept across the courtyard.

The soldiers continued their search and finally found a hidden compartment behind the bookshelf in the study.
Inside were more than a dozen small boxes, which, when opened, were filled with silver.

"General! We've found it! There are 300,000 taels here!"

Lu Yunyi nodded, a hint of satisfaction on his face.

He turned to look at Madam Jin, a slight smile on his face:

"Madam Jin has prepared so much extra silver; I am very grateful."

Looking at the silver before her, Madam Jin finally couldn't hold back her tears, but she dared not cry out loud.

She could only bite her lip tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Lu Yunyi didn't look at her again, and said to his guards:

"Load all the silver into carts and send them to the military camp for safekeeping. Keep an eye on her and don't let her leave the Duke's mansion even for a moment."
"Oh, and I'll take them to see the corpses later, so they can see the price of breaking a promise."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)