Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 130: What can we use to fight Lin Dao?

"Ouch! It hurts so much!"

"Stop hitting me, please spare me!"

"I've already told you everything, I really have!"

"My teeth~ My face~ My legs~"

The Duke of Wei's mansion was in complete disarray.

The nobles who used to be able to silence the city of Jinling are now being subjected to brutal torture.

Lin Dao sat on a chair made of Phoebe zhennan wood, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Hurry up, I need to get to the palace."

The soldiers obeyed the order and continued to beat the nobles mercenaries mercenary.

Amidst the punches and kicks, the screams of the nobles echoed endlessly.

These teenagers, without any restraint, have knocked out the teeth of several noblemen, and broken their arms and legs as well.

"General Lin."

Marquis Zhao Zhilong of Xincheng bowed and said, "If we beat them like this, we won't be able to extract much information from them even if we kill them."

"Oh?"

Lin Dao instinctively gripped the hilt of the knife. "You have a way?"

Zhao Zilong visibly trembled.

"If we're talking about using torture to extract information, the veteran officials of Yingtian Prefecture, Shangyuan, and Jiangning counties are the real masters."

“Summon them, and they will surely open their mouths.”

Ancient trials were not as sophisticated as those in the modern world, nor did they involve advanced equipment.

The most important interrogation method was torture.

Various forms of torture, developed over thousands of years, are truly horrifying.

The punches and kicks from these young bodyguards, though seemingly bloody and mangled, were actually not very intimidating.

"Zhao Zhilong!"

Zhang Guobi, the Duke of Baoguo, who was being kicked on the ground, cursed loudly, "You deserve to die!"

The nobles were also furious.

That bastard is wicked! He actually tried to use the old officials in the government office to deal with them!

They had heard of those cruel methods before.

At the time, I was only thinking about the filth of the world and feeling compassion for humanity.

I never imagined that I would be punished like this!
"Shut up!"

Zhao Zhilong roared at Zhang Guobi, "You all don't understand the greater good, you defy the will of Heaven and oppose the Commander-in-Chief, you deserve it!"

He's a ruthless person.

After confirming that Lin Dao held an absolute advantage, he immediately knelt down and expressed his willingness to serve.

'I would serve as a dog or horse, crawling on my knees to the commander's side, carrying grass and rings in my mouth.'

These are Zhao Zhilong's original words.

He also voluntarily disclosed the locations of his family's various estates, fields, shops, fleets, distant relatives, and buried wealth.

Lin Dao laughed for a while, muttering something like, "If it can subdue wild boar skin, it can subdue me too."

He actually agreed and took Zhao Zhilong as his servant.

The way he kept glancing at Zhao Zhilong was strange, making Zhao Zhilong break out in a cold sweat, as if he might lose his life at any moment.

"If that's the case, then let's go find the old jailer."

Lin Dao glanced at the sky and simply stood up. "Take them all. Let's go to the palace first."

These lords can't die before they're completely drained.

Similarly, it must be carried with you at all times.

The nobles all held military positions, and if even one of them ran away, they had the power to rally the military households in the city.

Although their combat strength is negligible, they are still a troublesome opponent.

The imperial palace in Nanjing has extremely strong symbolic significance.

This is the true heart of Jinling City, at least nominally.

Only after taking this place can we truly say that we have captured Jinling City.

Under the protection of his personal guards, Lin Dao headed straight for the palace.

In the eyes of others, his personal guards were nothing more than trusted servants.

If they knew that the guards were all teenagers, then they were adopted sons.

In fact, these bodyguards were his officers.

It was the training team he carefully cultivated.

This time, we got things done, and we learned from the experience.

When the army expands, he will be assigned to be a centurion, and the centurion will be used to control the army.

Military expansion is necessary.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Lin Dao currently has 20,000 to 30,000 troops at his disposal. If he brings out his family and relatives to cheer him on, it could be called an army of 100,000.

However, compared to the entire Ming Dynasty, it was like salt being sprinkled into water—far from enough.

Right now, they only control Jinling City. If they want to control Jiangnan, they need at least 100,000 people.

If you want to move north, you'll have to double your investment.

The Jingyang Bell has stopped ringing, and the outer city of the palace has been occupied.

In a panic, Han Zanzhou led the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards into the three main halls.

Seeing Lin Dao riding towards him, Han Zanzhou was filled with bitterness.

"You, old and blind, can't judge people well."

Han Zanzhou raised his hand to rub his eyes. "What use are you two?"

He hates it.

I thought Lin Dao was a figure like Zhang Jiangling.

Unexpectedly, this was clearly the same kind of people as Wang Mang and Cao Cao!
Without making a sound, they managed to pull out an army by using the name of the Brave Guards.

If I'm not blind, what else could I be?
Since you're blind, what use are these eyes anyway?

If I hadn't died at the hands of that traitor Lin today, my entire family would have ended up in the Iron Mound Tomb one day.

For a little wealth and treasure, he really dug his own grave.

Thinking of this, Han Zanzhou hardened his heart and wanted to gouge out his own eyes!
Unfortunately, he didn't have the courage.

"Lord Han~~~"

Lin Dao, on horseback, chuckled and shouted, "How have you been?"

Surrounded by Imperial Guards and eunuchs, Han Zanzhou had a face as black as iron.

He wanted to curse Lin Dao, but he was afraid that he would be killed after he finished cursing.

I felt a lump in my throat, and I didn't know what to say.

Lin Dao spoke up for him, saying, "Surrender. Why make so many people die with you?"

The area around the three main halls was filled with a vast, dark mass of eunuchs, palace maids, imperial guards, and other personnel from various guards protecting the palace.

In terms of numbers, they even outnumbered the people Lin Dao brought. Unfortunately, they were all cowards.

"If you are willing to surrender, you can return to your hometown."

Han Zanzhou cursed inwardly, "Going back to the countryside my ass! Are you looking for death?"

He was from Shaanxi. If he returned to his hometown, he would either be captured and beheaded by Sun Chuanting or by the bandits.

It won't end well anyway.

Fortunately, Lin Dao gave him another way out: "If you don't want to return to your hometown, you can find a house in the city to live out your retirement."

Han Zanzhou's expression shifted uncertainly.

He now has two options: either fight Lin Dao and get killed, or surrender.

What can we use to compete with Lin Dao?

Looking around at the crowd, he saw eunuchs and soldiers with terrified and hungry faces.

These people have been starving for a long time and can't even hold a knife or a gun.

Looking at the other side, it's a sea of ​​heavily armored soldiers. How can we fight them head-on?

Even if he fought to the death, the imperial court would not forgive him.

Because Lin Dao was someone I promoted, and even the Emperor knew about it!

In the letters to the Emperor, he praised this fellow quite a bit.

Given the Emperor's temperament, he would certainly not let his entire family off the hook.

Lin Dao spoke again, "It's getting late. With the last incense stick's time left, whether you surrender or not, we await your decision!"

Han Zanzhou was truly terrified.

He subconsciously looked around and saw his godfather, Eunuch Wang.

Upon seeing this person, Han Zanzhou wished he could bite him to death.

It's all that scoundrel's fault! If it weren't for his introduction, none of this mess would have happened!
Wang Gonggong was a shrewd man. Sensing Han Zanzhou's gaze, he immediately stepped forward and spoke.

"Ancestor, things have come to this point, those who understand the times are the heroes."

He lowered his voice and said, "Let's save our lives first."

"We're nothing but rootless duckweed, all exiled to Jinling City. Do you really think we can die for the Emperor?"

"Your Majesty, think about it carefully. Over the years, which of the civil and military officials who risked their lives for the Emperor had a good ending?"

"does it worth?"

Military generals during the Chongzhen reign who had fought and lost all their troops for the Chongzhen Emperor would be killed without hesitation.

Those who avoided battle and fled to preserve their strength were instead promoted and given higher ranks.

Civil officials also met with bad ends, often taking the blame for the emperor.

Emperor Chongzhen's actions had already chilled the hearts of countless people.

If even civil and military officials are in such a state, what about the servants and eunuchs?

Even if it means fighting to the death, it's about being loyal to the country.

But when it comes to the Emperor, there won't be a single word of praise, only a single sentence.

'You've misled me!'

With this in mind, Han Zanzhou finally understood.

With the garrison eunuchs surrendering, the Imperial Guards and others naturally followed suit, abandoning their weapons and surrendering as well.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to serve the Ming Dynasty; they simply couldn't win.

The Imperial Guards wore brocade robes, and although they were outwardly impressive, they were actually quite weak when it came to wielding swords and clubs.

The enemy team consists entirely of heavily armored soldiers. How can we fight them?
Not to mention the eunuchs and palace maids, they didn't even have weapons.

With the garrison eunuch taking the lead, everyone willingly gave up resistance.

Lin Dao took Han Zanzhou's hand and led him to the Meridian Gate.

Here, Han Zanzhou's last glimmer of hope was shattered.

All the nobles and officials of Jinling City, as well as the civil and military officials who were subsequently arrested and sent there, were present.

As the saying goes, a snake cannot function without a head.

Those with any status in Jinling City have all been arrested, and even if there are troops outside who want to come to the rescue, there is no one to lead them.

"Please sit down, Lord Han, let's watch the play together."

With a beaming smile, Lin Dao warmly invited Han Zanzhou to sit down in a chair.

The two chairs were side by side, and he sat next to Lin Dao.

Han Zanzhou was clearly uneasy, wondering what Lin Dao was up to.

"Earl of Xincheng".

With a broad smile, Lin Dao gestured to Zhao Zhilong, "Let's begin."

"I accept my order from my humble position!"

Zhao Zhilong, who defected to the enemy on the battlefield, quickly became a sycophant.

He beckoned to the old jailer who had been summoned, "Come, let's start with the Duke of Baoguo."

The old jailers were somewhat afraid and dared not move.

Zhao Zhilong roared in fury, "Do you all want to die?!"

Looking around at the numerous armored soldiers, the jailers gritted their teeth and dragged the Duke of Baoguo out.

Zhang Guobi cursed and struggled desperately.

Zhao Zhilong stepped forward and said, "Brother Zhang, I advise you to be pragmatic."

"Pooh!"

His response was a mouthful of thick saliva.

Wiping the spittle from his face, Zhao Zhilong, his face as black as iron, shouted, "Put him in the leg clamps!"

A clamping rod is commonly known as a three-foot-long wooden rod.

Use wooden ropes to clamp the legs together.

Even after being put in a cangue, Zhang Guobi continued to curse and shout.

They even specifically targeted Zhao Zhilong, saying that he would not have a good end, and so on.

Zhao Zhilong snatched the lever and slammed it hard on Zhang Guobi's shin.

Blood gushed out immediately, and the ankle and leg bones were shattered.

Zhang Guobi's shrill, inhuman wails echoed throughout the Meridian Gate.

Han Zanzhou suddenly shuddered.

He understood what Lin Dao meant; this was a warning to others, a show put on for him.

The Duke of Baoguo was no hero; the reason he stubbornly resisted was because he had never experienced hardship.

From childhood to adulthood, whenever he got a scrape on his hand, a maid would put it in her mouth.

Little did they know that the punishment would be so terrible.

I used to think it was nothing special, but after losing my leg, I immediately became a slug.

"Here you go, all my valuables are yours, please spare me~~~"

"Waaaaaahhhhhhh~~~"

(End of this chapter)