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After Su Ning's relentless rebuke, the envoys from the Mu Prince's Mansion, the Yanping Prince's Mansion, and the Heaven and Earth Society all left the main hall of the government office, their faces flushed with shame and indignation.

The anger that had been building up in the side hall not only failed to dissipate, but intensified due to Suning's "humiliation" and "desecration" of their respective "orthodoxy".

The moment he stepped out of the government office, his suppressed anger erupted completely.

"Hmph! A bunch of overseas loyalists dare to speak ill of the imperial family's legitimacy. They really don't know their own limitations!" The nephew from the Mu family sneered.

His words were sharp, deliberately meant for the Zheng family's envoy to hear.

Zheng Jia, who was already seething with anger, immediately retorted: "It's better than some people who cling to their rotten wood as a signboard, living a life of complacency in a corner, and now they come here to point fingers!"

"Who are you calling rotten wood?!"

"I'm talking about your incompetent Prince Gui's faction!"

The pent-up resentment between the two sides was instantly ignited, and the verbal argument quickly escalated into a shoving match.

It's unclear who drew their short blade first; a flash of cold light, accompanied by a scream, and the conflict suddenly spiraled out of control!

Especially those dimwits from the Heaven and Earth Society, they were all incredibly brave and fierce; perhaps that's the problem with them being江湖人士 (jianghu figures, people of the martial arts world).

"Protect the general!" "Fight them!"

In an instant, the once spacious street in front of the government office became a battleground for these two groups of loyalists from the Ming Dynasty!
The guards of the Mu Prince's Mansion and the personal soldiers of the Zheng family drew their concealed weapons and roared as they engaged in a fierce battle.

Swords flashed and blood flew everywhere!
They seemed to be venting all the anger they had suffered at Suning's hands on the other side, acting ruthlessly and without mercy.

The people on the street were terrified and scattered in all directions, screaming in alarm.

Upon seeing this, the guards at the entrance of the government office immediately blew their whistles and sent someone inside to report the incident.

When Su Ning strode out of the government office under the escort of a team of elite guards, he was met with a scene of utter chaos.

More than ten people were lying on the ground, their blood staining the bluestone slabs red, and groans and curses filled the air.

The remaining members of Mu and Zheng's sides continued to hack and slash at each other with bloodshot eyes, appearing as if they were insane.

"Take them all down!" Su Ning's face was ashen, his voice filled with thunderous fury. "How dare you engage in a brawl in front of my Red Flag Army headquarters in Linyi City, disregarding military law?!"

"Yes!"

The Red Flag Army patrol, which had already arrived after hearing the news, pounced on them like wolves.

These well-equipped and well-trained soldiers, who had experienced the bloody battle of Black Wind Valley, easily crushed the messenger guards who were bloodthirsty but poorly equipped and exhausted.

They used either rifle butts to strike or skillful grappling techniques to quickly subdue all the dozens of people involved in the fight, pinning them to the ground, disarming and binding them.

"Commander Su! We are envoys from the Mu family! How dare you do this!" The Mu family nephew, with his arms tied behind his back, still shouted defiantly.

Zheng Jia, the military advisor, also struggled to say, "This is an internal affair of our Great Ming Dynasty, what does it have to do with you!"

"Internal affairs?" Su Ning walked up to them, looking down at them with eyes as cold as knives. "On my turf, drawing knives and guns, killing people, and disrupting order are the affairs of my Red Flag Army! Don't think that you are envoys from a royal palace; even if the Heavenly King himself came, you would have to abide by my rules!"

His gaze swept over the wounded and injured on the ground. Among them was a girl in a light green dress with blood on her shoulder and a pale face. She was being protected by a woman in tight-fitting clothes behind her. The woman in tight-fitting clothes also had a knife wound on her arm, but she was still protecting the girl tightly.

On the other side, several members of the Zheng family delegation were also seriously injured.

"Throw all those involved in the brawl, regardless of their background, into the dungeon and keep them under strict guard!" Su Ning ordered, then added, "Medics! Immediately treat the wounded, especially the little girl and the woman protecting her. Make sure they are treated properly, without any mistakes!"

"Yes, sir!" Soldiers immediately brought over a stretcher, and a medic stepped forward to provide emergency treatment.

Mu Jianping was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip and refused to cry out. As she was being carried away, she glanced at the young commander who had ordered their arrest but then had someone treat her wounds.

Fang Yi stood guard protectively beside Mu Jianping, her cold eyes sweeping over the surrounding Red Flag Army soldiers.

As Zheng Jia was being taken away, he shouted, "General Su! Aren't you afraid of disappointing the heroes of the world by treating the righteous army messengers this way?"

Su Ning snorted coldly, his voice echoing throughout the hall: "Heroes of the world? All I see is a bunch of fools who can't tell what's important and are killing each other! Wait until you're in jail and figure out whether internal strife or expelling the Tartars is more important, then come talk to me about heroes of the world!"

After dealing with this farce, Su Ning turned and returned to the government office.

He felt little pride, but rather a sense of heaviness.

The corruption and internal strife within these former Ming forces were far more severe than he had imagined.

But at the same time, this strengthened his resolve to start afresh and forge a completely new path.

Meanwhile, in the wounded soldiers' camp, Mu Jianping and Fang Yi, who were injured, began to undergo subtle changes in their mentality after receiving proper medical treatment.

This "rude and disrespectful" Marshal Su seems... to be quite different from what they imagined.

At least, the Red Flag Army was disciplined and did not exterminate these "prisoners".

The glimmer of hope and order amidst this chaos left them feeling both indignant and somewhat lost and thoughtful.

……

Linyi, the headquarters of the Red Flag Army.

On the huge sand table, the enemy's and our own positions are clearly visible.

The blue flags representing the Qing army were still densely distributed in the capital region, Shandong, and the Central Plains, but some of the most important ones were slowly moving from different directions toward the red area where Linyi was located.

"Commander Su, latest intelligence." Chief of Staff 002 (AI)'s voice remained calm, but the content carried an oppressive feeling of impending doom. "Ao Bai and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang have reached a temporary ceasefire agreement. They have mobilized the Beijing Garrison and the Zhili Green Standard Army, and have strictly ordered the remnants of the Shandong and Henan armies to gather what they claim to be an army of 100,000, with Ordo, the commander of the Mongol Eight Banners, as their commander-in-chief, intending to encircle our Red Banner Army from three sides and annihilate it in the Linyi area in one fell swoop."

Inside the command post, all the officers at the regimental level and above stood solemnly, their eyes fixed on Su Ning, who sat in the main seat.

The air was thick with the tension of an impending battle, but even more so with a fierce fighting spirit ignited by a formidable foe.

Su Ning's finger slammed down on the location of Linyi on the sand table, then suddenly drew three sharp red arrows, like three unsheathed swords, piercing straight to the north, west, and south! "Wait for the enemy to come to our doorstep, to bring the war to our very base? That's not the style of our Red Flag Army!" Su Ning's voice was resolute, carrying a defiant determination. "They want to encircle us? Then we'll break out before they can encircle us! We'll bring the war to their territory!"

"Pass on my order! The entire army shall launch an attack, divided into three routes, to counterattack the Northern Qing!"

"The First Route, the Northern Expeditionary Force, codenamed 'Dawn'!"
The main force of the First Regiment, led by 011, was reinforced with a part of the division's artillery.

Following the northern foothills of the Yimeng Mountains, passing through Xintai and Laiwu, it heads straight for Tai'an, threatening Jinan!

Su Ning pointed to the map: "With Ordos' army coming south, Jinan will inevitably be vulnerable. 011, your unit's mission is to launch a fierce attack on Jinan as quickly as possible! Take Tai'an and then advance directly towards the provincial capital! This move will surely shake the Qing court, forcing Ordos' army to divide its forces and return to reinforce, or at least disrupt their offensive rhythm and prevent them from coordinating their efforts!"

011 rubbed his hands together, his voice booming, "Don't worry, Commander Su! I, Old Zhao, will definitely make a big fuss and make sure the Tartar officials in Jinan can't sleep peacefully!"

"The Second Route, the Western Advance Corps, codenamed 'Thunderclap'!"
He personally assumed the position, leading the main forces of the Second and Third Regiments, the main force of the division's artillery, and all directly subordinate units.

Starting from Linyi, we will march west, passing through Feixian and Pingyi, forcibly crossing the Yellow River, and capturing Kaifeng, a crucial city in the Central Plains!

"This is the true direction of our Red Flag Army's main force's decisive battle!"

Chief of Staff 002 added, “Kaifeng is the heart of the Central Plains. Taking it is of immense significance. First, it can completely sever the Qing court's connection between the north and south, drawing the battlefield into the Central Plains and turning its capital region into an isolated island. Second, the Central Plains is the center of the world, with a large population. Our army can gain enormous strategic space and manpower by establishing a foothold here. Third, it can greatly boost the morale of the anti-Qing forces in the north and even the whole country, and form a fatal attraction for the various forces that are still observing. This path is crucial to the overall situation!”

The generals' eyes burned with determination; they all knew this would be a tough battle, but having witnessed so many miracles under Coach Su's guidance, they were full of confidence.

"The Third Route, the Southern Expeditionary Force, codenamed 'Prairie Fire'!"
The newly formed 4th Regiment was led by 021, supplemented by some elite reconnaissance companies.

Heading south to Tancheng, they will enter Jiangsu Province and join forces with various anti-Qing rebel armies in the Huaibei region (such as those led by Zhang Qi and Wang Qi) who have already made contact, to launch a combined attack on Xuzhou!

"Xuzhou has been a strategically vital location since ancient times! Controlling Xuzhou means controlling the throat connecting the Central Plains to Jiangnan!" Su Ning's gaze swept over 021. "021, your mission is not to launch a direct assault. The primary task is to unite with the Huaibei rebels, forming a cohesive force with our army at its core. If we can capture Xuzhou, the gateway to Jiangnan will be wide open, exposing the Qing court's financial heartland to our military might! If it's difficult to capture immediately, you must firmly restrain the Qing army in Xuzhou, preventing them from heading north to support Ordo's main force, thus creating favorable conditions for our westward advance to conquer Kaifeng!"

021 calmly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Understood! Your subordinate will certainly use troops cautiously, unite with all parties, and ignite this fire in Huaibei, ensuring that not a single soldier from Xuzhou advances westward!"

"Gentlemen!" Su Ning surveyed the entire audience, his voice rousing, "Does the Qing court think that assembling an army of 100,000 will intimidate us? Little do they know, the response of our Red Flag Army is an even fiercer offensive! We will use these three iron fists to tell the world that times have changed! The roles of offense and defense have shifted! The enemy may go, and so may we!"

"Expel the Tartars and rebuild China!"

"We swear to follow Commander Su to the death!"

Amidst thunderous slogans, the massive war machine of the Red Flag Army began operating at its most efficient pace.

The three armies, like three red torrents of steel, with an indomitable momentum, faced the Qing army, which was said to number 100,000, and launched this counterattack that would determine the fate of the Central Plains and even the world!

At this juncture in Linyi, the wheels of history were forcefully pushed onto a different track by a new force!
……

Inside the city of Linyi, in the makeshift camp for wounded soldiers, Mu Jianping's arrow wound on his shoulder had mostly healed, and Fang Yi's knife wound on her arm had also largely healed.

They were placed in a relatively clean and tidy room by themselves. Although their movements were restricted, they were not mistreated and were provided with three meals a day and medicine.

Early that morning, just as dawn was breaking, a deep and rhythmic horn call shattered the silence of daybreak.

Then came the sound of uniform, heavy footsteps and the rumbling of wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement, approaching from afar as if it would never end.

Mu Jianping curiously peered out through the crack in the window, and Fang Yi stood warily beside her.

Through their narrow field of vision, they saw a sight they would never forget.

Squads of Red Flag Army soldiers, dressed in uniform dark military uniforms, wearing leggings, and carrying packs, silently passed through the streets.

The morning light outlined their resolute faces, their eyes fixed straight ahead. There was no whispering among them, only the swishing sound of their boots on the ground, which combined to create a chilling, menacing atmosphere.

The procession included mules and horses carrying supplies, as well as uniquely shaped cannons made of steel and covered with tarpaulins, which were dragged by strong soldiers or mules and horses, making a dull rolling sound.

The entire procession resembled a silent, cold, giant steel python, meandering out of the city in the morning light, with no end in sight.

"Senior Sister Fang...where are they...where are they going?" Mu Jianping asked softly, her voice carrying a hint of shock that she herself was unaware of.

She had seen Mu Wangfu's troops in Yunnan and had heard of the fame of Wu Sangui's Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, but she had never seen such a well-disciplined and imposing army.

Fang Yi frowned, her gaze fixed on the seemingly endless ranks of troops outside the window. She said in a deep voice, "Judging from the direction and the scale of this operation, it's definitely not a small-scale bandit suppression or troop rotation. They... are going to launch a preemptive strike to engage the main Qing army force in a decisive battle!"

"Taking the initiative?" Mu Jianping's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. "But... but didn't they say that the Qing court had stopped its internal strife and was gathering an army of 100,000 to attack Linyi? Instead of defending the city, they... instead launched an attack?"

Just then, a young Red Flag Army soldier guarding them outside the door overheard their whispered conversation. A look of pride and honor crept onto his face, and he couldn't help but interject, "Ladies, you don't understand! Our Commander Su said that the best defense is offense! How frustrating is it to wait for the Tartars to come and attack? Our Red Flag Army is determined to take the initiative and bring the flames of war to the Tartars' territory!"

The soldier's words struck Mu Jianping and Fang Yi like a heavy hammer blow.

Take the initiative and make the call!
Bring the war to the Tartars' territory!
What courage and confidence that is!
Looking back at the Mu Prince's Mansion and the Yanping Prince's Mansion, although they also raised the banner of anti-Qing and restoration of Ming, they mostly defended their positions in strategic locations or operated in the peripheral areas where the Qing army's strength was weak. They never had the spirit to confront the main force of the Qing army head-on.
Fang Yi recalled that day in front of the government office, when Su Ning rebuked them for only knowing how to fight among themselves and not how to resist the Qing.

At the time, I only felt that it was jarring and embarrassing. But now, looking at the silent and powerful army outside the window, and comparing it with the ugly scene of our own envoys fighting in the street for the sake of their own legitimacy, an indescribable sense of shame and powerlessness welled up in my heart.

Mu Jianping also fell silent. Looking at the heavy packs carried by the Red Flag Army soldiers and their resolute eyes, she murmured, "They...they really seem different. They're not fighting for any emperor...Senior Sister Fang, did you hear that? That soldier said 'Expel the Tartars,' not 'Restore the Ming Dynasty'..."

Fang Yi took a deep breath, her tone complex: "Yes! It's different. We're still fighting tooth and nail for the long-blurred notion of 'legitimacy,' while they already possess a clear objective and the absolute power to achieve it. Our Mu Prince's Mansion... even if we join forces with the Yanping Prince's Mansion, do we have such a disciplined and disciplined army? Do we have the courage and strength to face 100,000 enemy troops head-on and launch a proactive attack?"

The gap became crystal clear at that moment, like an insurmountable chasm.

Looking out the window at the seemingly endless marching troops, Mu Jianping's eyes held less of her spoiled nature and more of a sense of confusion and contemplation.

For the first time, she truly felt that overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming was perhaps not just a slogan, nor simply about supporting a descendant of the Zhu family. What was needed was a real force capable of crushing all enemies, and a completely new atmosphere that transcended the old framework.

All of this seemed to be embodied in the receding red dragon flag and the young commander who ordered the "rebellion against the Northern Qing."

Fang Yi gently put her arm around Mu Jianping's shoulder and whispered, "Princess, we...maybe we really were wrong. At least, here we see a completely different possibility."

Outside the window, the iron torrent of the Red Flag Army continued to roll forward, heading to the battlefield that would determine their fate with the determination to change the world.

Inside the prison, two hearts from the old era are undergoing an unprecedented shock and baptism.

...(End of chapter)