Qing Yao

Chapter 397 Certificate of Surrender

Heiyan Village is the gateway to Wulongling, the stronghold of the salt bandits. The change of flags here means that the Qing army can advance unimpeded, and it also means that if everything goes smoothly, the soldiers who participated in the war can go home to have a good New Year, including Zhao An himself, who can go back to Anqing to be with his wife and children.

The Qing army was naturally overjoyed, but Zhao An, though pleased, did not show it on his face.

Not showing one's emotions is also a basic quality of an official.

After entering Black Rock Village surrounded by people, Zhao An briefly toured the village before entering the village's council hall. He then ordered Xie Hongwu and other surrendered leaders to be brought in.

When Xie Hongwu and others were brought in, Zhao An was sitting in his original seat, with officers on either side standing solemnly with their hands on their swords, creating an extremely dignified atmosphere.

The person who led Xie Hongwu in was Chen Zhijie, who had previously entered the village to persuade Xie to surrender. After Chen Zhijie whispered Zhao An's identity to Xie, Xie Hongwu, feeling uneasy, quickly stepped forward and knelt down, saying nervously, "This sinner Xie Hongwu pays his respects to Your Excellency!"

"Kowtow to your lord!"

The other leaders quickly followed suit and knelt down.

Zhao An did not immediately tell Xie and the others to get up, but looked at them expressionlessly, which made Xie Hongwu, who was kneeling on the ground, even more uneasy.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't scared!

Who dares to say that this young official won't suddenly turn on him and order him to be dragged out and beheaded? After all, he had previously commanded his bandits to almost annihilate a Qing army battalion.

Such a record deserves to be called a great thief.

To quell the resentment in the army, it was only natural to execute him, the culprit.

Fortunately, he was overthinking it; the young official in front of him was a man of his word.

After a moment, Zhao An slowly spoke: "Xie Hongwu, you were able to pull back from the brink and avoid a bloodbath between the two sides, saving many lives. This is a merit in itself. Now stand up and speak."

"Thank you, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Hongwu cautiously stood up, not daring to look Zhao An in the eye. The other leaders behind him did the same, all looking down at their toes.

"I have heard that you are different from your stubborn and obsessed elder brother Xie Hongyi, who is obsessed with the White Lotus Cult. You are not a believer in the cult and easily misled. Your previous military campaign was also quite methodical. You are a talented person."

Zhao An softened his tone, revealing a hint of appreciation for talent. “The court is currently in need of capable people. I will temporarily appoint you as a battalion commander and have you serve in the governor’s garrison. Your former subordinates may be incorporated into the governor’s garrison as appropriate, and you will still be in charge of them. I hope that you will be conscientious in your duties, serve the court, live up to my expectations today, and also strive for a dignified future for yourself.”

After saying this, he stood up and walked to Xie Hongwu. “I have always trusted those I employ and not employed those I don’t trust. Now that I’m employing you, I will not hold any grudges against you because of your past. You don’t need to feel uneasy about the past either. You will be rewarded for your merits and punished for your mistakes. I hope you will behave yourself and not disappoint me.”

Zhao An's words were sincere; Xie Hongwu was indeed a talented individual.

A single act of luring the enemy deep into our territory is far superior to that of many Green Standard Army officers!
This tactic would be incredibly simple in later times, but in this era, for the vast majority of officers who were illiterate and had never even formally studied military strategy, Xie Hongwu, who was self-taught, was already an outstanding figure.

Being given a seventh-rank military officer position, the same rank as a county magistrate, although in reality he was at most a battalion commander, or even just a company commander, was undoubtedly a tremendous blessing for a salt merchant.

Xie Hongwu's heart was filled with a turbulent mix of emotions, an indescribable complexity.

There was a sense of relief and excitement at escaping dire straits and being given an important position, as well as a heavy sense of guilt for betraying his brother, and a hint of bewilderment about the uncertain future and the helplessness he felt.

The transformation from a salt smuggler targeted by the government to a member of the government was indeed somewhat sudden.

Xie Hongwu was so stunned that he didn't know what to do.

Seeing this, Chen Zhijie quickly smiled and gently reminded, "Commander Xie, why don't you thank the magistrate for his great kindness?"

"what?"

Realizing what had happened, Xie Hongwu quickly knelt down again, his voice trembling as he said, "You sinner."

“What criminal? You are now an official of the imperial court!” Zhao An corrected him with a smile.

"Yes, yes, this humble servant Xie Hongwu kowtows to thank Your Excellency for your kindness! This humble servant will certainly do anything, even die a thousand deaths, to repay Your Excellency's kindness!"

Xie Hongwu kowtowed three times to Zhao An, his gratitude evident at a glance.

The group of leaders behind him breathed a sigh of relief. If Boss Xie could become a battalion commander, it wouldn't be a problem for them to get a sentry officer position.

No matter what, it's better than being starved to death by the government troops.

From another perspective, it can be considered bringing honor to one's ancestors.

Zhao An nodded, sat back in the main seat, and looked at Xie Hongwu, who was "reborn," and said indifferently: "The terrain of Wulong Ridge, where your brother Xie Hongyi is based, is several times more dangerous than that of Black Rock. If our army launches a strong attack, we will inevitably suffer heavy casualties. Now that you have surrendered to me, do you have any brilliant plans to help me?"

Chen Zhijie spoke up at the opportune moment: "Commander Xie, you are familiar with Wulong Ridge. No one can surpass you in understanding its strengths and weaknesses. Why don't you lead your troops as the vanguard of the army to Wulong Ridge? Whether to persuade your brother to surrender or to help the lord break through the stronghold is up to you to decide."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Hongwu's face turned pale, and he instinctively wanted to refuse.

Human nature.

Sending a younger brother to lead troops to fight his own brother is tantamount to stabbing a knife into the heart of a loved one and then twisting it around.

But did Xie Hongwu have a choice?
From the moment he ordered the gates of Black Rock Village to be opened, he not only severed ties with his brother, but also embarked on a path of no return.

You can only move forward, not backward.

The eight-character phrase "Use people without suspicion, and don't use those you suspect" embodies the essence of trust.

Only by withstanding the most brutal tests could Xie Hongwu truly gain trust and establish himself in the Qing army.

If he shows the slightest hesitation or resistance at this moment, everything that has happened before, including the lives of his old brothers who surrendered with him, could vanish in an instant.

Therefore, he had no choice.

The reality, though harsh, is also an opportunity for him to prove himself.

In the silence, the leaders behind him were all on tenterhooks. Even though they remembered the past kindness of the Xie brothers and valued brotherhood above all else, all kindness and brotherhood vanished the moment they left the stronghold to surrender.

All they wanted was to survive.

Whether he survives or not depends entirely on Xie Hongwu's decision.

The atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.

Zhao An remained expressionless. He could give these salt bandits a chance and would absolutely keep his promise, but fame and fortune weren't given away for free. In the words of the outlaws, one had to submit a pledge of allegiance.

If Xie Hongwu doesn't agree, Zhao An won't kill him, but he'll lose his title as a seventh-rank officer. He can go home and do small business to live out his life, which is also Zhao An's benevolence.

"Commander Xie, this is a serious matter that cannot be taken lightly. Whether your brother's life can be saved depends on your decision."

Chen Zhijie felt it necessary to remind you again: if you, Xie Hongwu, go, things might turn out well; but if you don't go, your elder brother has absolutely no chance of survival.

"This humble officer is willing to lead the troops to Wulong Ridge!"

Xie Hongwu's voice was very bitter, but to the group of leaders behind him it sounded like heavenly music.

(End of this chapter)