The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 150 The Traitor Bai Guang'en

Once the plan was decided, Hong Chengchou immediately mobilized his troops.

He immediately made the decision, ordering Zhang Fuzhen, the governor of Yansui, to lead troops, with Zhang Yingchang, the deputy commander-in-chief, Ai Wannian, the brigade commander, and Zuo Guangxian, the guerrilla general, as his deputies, and to muster a thousand elite soldiers.

With Bai Guang'en as their guide, they sneaked into the valley at night and headed straight for Hejia Old Village.

The night was deep, and the mountain wind howled.

Bai Guang'en led the way, with a thousand soldiers, moving swiftly and quietly along the rugged mountain path.

This path was indeed hidden, winding left and right, and in many places it was even difficult to find a place to step. It was all thanks to Bai Guang'en and the soldiers that it was temporarily cleared out with knives and axes.

The army marched through the mountains all night, and just as dawn broke, the low-lying outline of Hejia Old Village finally came into view.

The village was built in a gentle valley, surrounded by simple wooden walls and moats, but it was far inferior to the impregnable walls of Ironhorn City ahead.

The village is filled with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking, and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, resembling a secluded paradise.

The village was mostly inhabited by He Chongwei’s family and relatives, as well as some elderly, weak, women and children. Only a few hundred able-bodied people remained.

He was mainly responsible for farming and taking care of his family on weekdays, never expecting that government troops would suddenly appear out of nowhere.

"kill!"

Bai Guang'en took the lead, raised his waist knife, and led his troops straight into He Family Village.

The soldiers swarmed in, hacking down anyone they saw and burning down any houses they encountered.

In an instant, cries, screams, and the crackling of burning houses echoed through the valley, and the stench of blood quickly filled the air.

Although the guards in the village fought back with all their might, they were no match for the government troops who outnumbered them several times over.

Blood quickly stained the land, and the once peaceful village was transformed into a living hell in the blink of an eye.

The news reached Ironhorn City at top speed.

At this time, Ke Tianfei and He Chongwei were discussing with Hao Lin'an and others how to defend the city.

Upon hearing the news that Bai Guang'en had defected to the enemy and led government troops in a surprise attack on Hejia Old Village, He Chongwei felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
"Bai Guang'en!"

How dare you harm me like this!

He Chongwei's eyes turned bloodshot, and he immediately wanted to lead his troops back to provide reinforcements.

At this moment, Hao Lin'an, who was standing nearby, quickly stopped him:
"Brother He, calm down! This is definitely a diversionary tactic by the government troops!"

"If you lead your troops back to reinforce now, Ironhorn City's frontal defenses will be vulnerable, and the main force of the government army will launch a fierce attack. How can I resist?"

He Chongwei certainly knew this principle, but in the old village of Hejia, there were not only his wife, children and elderly parents, but also his blood relatives who had always supported his uprising.

Now that all the elders of Jiangdong have fallen into the hands of the government troops, how could he not save them?

"Brother Hao!"

He Chongwei's voice was hoarse, with a hint of determination.
"If I, He Chongwei, cannot even protect my relatives and clansmen, what good will it do to become emperor?"

Having said that, he ignored Hao Lin'an and the others' earnest attempts to dissuade him, mustered his thousand men, and headed back towards He Family Village.

He Chongwei was extremely anxious and kept urging his warhorse to gallop wildly along the narrow mountain road.

Behind him, a thousand soldiers stood in a long, straight line, but he was completely unaware of them.

When the army reached the mouth of a valley, suddenly shouts of battle arose from the forests on both sides, and arrows rained down on them like locusts.

Zhang Yingchang, Ai Wannian, and others had already laid a trap here, just waiting for He Chongwei to walk right into it.

Bai Guang'en not only betrayed the exact location of Hejia Old Village, but also revealed to the government troops the several routes that He Chongwei would inevitably take to return to reinforce the village.

"The bandit leader, He Chongwei, is right ahead!"

Bai Guang'en took the lead, pointing at He Chongwei in the crowd and shouting loudly,
"Master He, surrender at once!"

Upon seeing the traitor, He Chongwei was consumed by rage and had no intention of answering. "Kill—!"

He roared, raised his lance, spurred his horse, and charged straight at Bai Guang'en ahead.

He Chongwei was already quite brave, and now, enraged, he attacked, forcing Bai Guang'en to retreat repeatedly, unable to fight back.

Meanwhile, Zuo Guangxian, who was beside him, led his troops to surround He Chongwei, attempting to strangle the bandit leader.

In the midst of the fierce battle, a short arrow with a hook silently shot from a tricky angle from the side and rear, striking He Chongwei squarely in the back of the heart.

He felt a sharp pain in his back, his vision went black, his body trembled violently, and he fell off his horse.

"Take charge of the plate!"

Upon seeing this, his personal guards immediately rushed forward, attempting to carry He Chongwei away to break through the encirclement.

He Chongwei felt his strength receding rapidly like a tide, his body trembling from the cold, and his vision gradually blurring.

He knew that he was probably doomed today.

He Chongwei slowly turned his head, glanced in the direction of He Family Old Village, and reluctantly breathed his last.

"The bandit leader is dead!"

"Those who surrender will not be killed!"

A thunderous cheer erupted from the government troops.

With He Chongwei dead, his subordinates were leaderless and immediately collapsed, scattering and fleeing.

Apart from a few loyal guards who stubbornly resisted, the remaining bandits had no choice but to kneel down and surrender under the encirclement and pursuit of the government troops.

After incorporating and reorganizing the surrendered soldiers, Zhang Fuzhen immediately led the government troops to attack the rear of Tiejiao City, attempting to launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside and capture Tiejiao City in one fell swoop.

Inside Iron Horn City, Hao Lin'an and the others were terrified upon hearing the news of He Chongwei's death in battle.

Meanwhile, Hong Chengchou outside the city launched a general offensive. The defending troops inside the city were already in a state of panic and could hardly resist.

After a fierce battle, Iron Horn City was breached. Hao Lin'an fought to the death in the street fighting, and his main force resisted stubbornly, but was eventually annihilated.

The remaining starving people who had been coerced, seeing that all was lost, threw down their weapons and knelt down by the roadside, begging the government troops to spare their lives.

After the great victory, Zhang Fuzhen, along with Zhang Yingchang, Ai Wannian, and others, immediately began the work of cleaning up the aftermath.

Looking at the mass of starving people kneeling before him, their clothes tattered, he felt a mix of emotions and a pang of pity.

He planned to follow past practice and screen these surrendered soldiers, picking out habitual bandits and old thugs to be executed.

The rest of the starving people who had been coerced into coming were dispersed on the spot and allowed to farm and make a living.

Just then, Cao Wenzhao arrived on horseback with a group of his personal guards.

"Prefect Zhang".

Cao Wenzhao dismounted, his tone icy and devoid of any emotion.
"Order from the military headquarters!"

"I order you to execute all those who have been coerced into service within Ironhorn City, regardless of age or gender, and leave their corpses to rot in the wilderness as a warning to others!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Guang'en, who was standing nearby eagerly awaiting his reward, was completely stunned.

His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

"Kill them all? You won't kill me too, will you?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fuzhen was struck dumb, almost unable to believe his ears:

"What?"

"General Cao, what did you say? Kill them all?"

(End of this chapter)