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

Chapter 158 Using an Adopted Son to Pay Off Debts

After the drums sounded three times, the leaders of each battalion arrived one after another at Jiang Han's central command tent.

Jiang Han looked around and saw that Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and the others were all covered in dust, their armor was disheveled, and they were exhausted.

Despite their exhaustion, the battalion commanders still needed to report their battle losses.

The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy. The leaders took their seats and began to tally up the losses of their troops.

Jiang Han's side, thanks to their proper response, only suffered losses of over forty brothers in this battle, with twelve seriously injured and twenty-eight slightly injured.

Most of these casualties were caused by Cao Wenzhao's spear-throwing attack, combined with the heavy cavalry charge.

In return, Cao Bianjiao and Sun Shoufa left behind forty-two corpses of men and horses, plus twenty-eight border infantrymen under Ai Wannian's command.

Judging solely from the casualties, the two sides were evenly matched, with each side having its own victories and defeats.

But for the other leaders on the plateau, the night was not so pleasant.

First were Li Zicheng, Zhang Tianlin, Liu Guoneng, and others.

Their camp was first burned down by Cao Wenzhao, and then they were relentlessly pursued and killed by Cao Bianjiao, suffering heavy losses.

The men were on the verge of tears. At the beginning of the night raid, with the help of the personal guards sent by Jiang Han, their soldiers were able to barely keep their composure and maintain their formation.

But who would have thought that Cao Bianjiao, leading thousands of Zhang Xianzhong's defeated soldiers, rushed over like a torrent, instantly shattering their army's formation.

What's even more infuriating is that the number of soldiers who actually died under the swords and spears of the government troops was not that many.

Most of the soldiers died on their escape route, trampling and fighting amongst themselves.

For this reason, Li Zicheng and his men looked at Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying with displeasure.

Damn it, I was doing just fine on this plateau, but you two insisted on leading the government troops here!
Looking at the expressions on everyone's faces, Zhang Xianzhong felt like he was swallowing a bitter pill, unable to express his grievances.

The ones who suffered the most heavy losses tonight were Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying.

Cao Wenzhao originally launched the night raid with their camp in mind.

The Guan Ning soldiers first set fires everywhere, forcing Zhang Xianzhong's soldiers out of their tents like cattle, and then fired at them from a distance.

A rough estimate suggests that at least one hundred people died in the fire and smoke, or were shot dead on the spot by government troops.

But many more died in the ensuing rout, trampled to death by their own people, or killed each other in the darkness without distinguishing friend from foe; as many as five or six hundred of them perished.

Zhang Xianzhong and Ma Shouying brought back more than a thousand remnants of their defeated army from Puxian. After a post-battle inventory, less than three hundred men remained.

What made Zhang Xianzhong even more devastated was that the three thousand shi of life-saving grain that Jiang Han had lent him just two days ago had been burned to ashes before he could even enjoy it!

The fire burned for more than two hours, during which people tried to put it out, but it was all in vain.

Zhang Xianzhong's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he cursed Cao Wenzhao's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind.

That damn Cao Wenzhao, why did he single me out and beat me to death?
He disregarded all pretense of saving face, stood up, bowed slightly to Jiang Han and the other leaders present, and said with a hint of apology:

"General, esteemed leaders, this night attack by government troops is entirely my fault."

"Now that we have suffered such a crushing defeat, I have no face to stay any longer. I plan to lead the remaining troops to develop in the Wangwu Mountains."

"We are simply powerless to fight against the government troops on this plain and dam."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han quickly stepped forward to support Zhang Xianzhong and comforted him, saying:

“Eighth Prince, night attacks are inherently difficult to defend against, let alone when they come from the elite government troops.”

"Since we've already lost, let's start over. There's no need to belittle ourselves."

"If we fight side by side, we might just be able to make a comeback in the future." He was joking, of course. Jiang Han was even thinking of poaching Zhang Xianzhong's men. But if Zhang Xianzhong had gone into the Wangwu Mountains, how could he possibly recruit them?

Jiang Han even harbored a secret hope that if Zhang Xianzhong were to accidentally die in battle one day, he could then legitimately recruit Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these two were one inside and one outside?

But Zhang Xianzhong seemed determined, repeatedly shaking his head in refusal:
"I appreciate your kindness, General."

"However, I am ashamed to fight alongside you all again, as this has caused you all such heavy losses."

"My mind is made up. After I've packed up tomorrow night, I'll set off for Wangwu Mountain."

"However, I have another favor to ask, and I hope that the commander can save my brother."

Jiang Han was somewhat surprised:
"What kind of unkind invitation?"

Zhang Xianzhong looked up at Jiang Han, then forced himself to speak:

"Could you... could you lend me some more grain to tide me over?"

"I don't need more, just 800 shi, no, 500 shi! 500 shi is enough!"

After saying this, Zhang Xianzhong felt his face burning, and he knew that his request was a bit excessive.

Just a few days ago, he borrowed three thousand shi of grain from someone, and now, only two days later, he wants to borrow grain again, and he asked for another five hundred shi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time.

Zhang Xianzhong actually wants to run away, then I'll lose a lot of money on this deal.
The other leaders in the tent looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.

Jiang Han secretly calculated in his heart that Zhang Xianzhong's troops had suffered repeated defeats and had become a bottomless pit. If he continued to provide free assistance, he would probably be dragged down by Zhang Xianzhong sooner or later.

He hesitated for a moment, then immediately tried to politely decline.

Seeing Jiang Han's appearance, Zhang Xianzhong knew exactly what the other man was thinking.
He was afraid that Jiang Han would shake his head and refuse, at which point there would be no room for negotiation.

In a moment of desperation, a brilliant idea flashed through his mind, and he hurriedly said:
"General, I know that it would be unreasonable to ask you for grain again without any proof."

"Well then, General, I... I'll leave my adopted son, Li Dingguo, with you for now, and we'll talk about it later after we repay the grain."

"Although he is a little young, he has been intelligent since childhood and will surely achieve great things in the future!"

"Moreover, he is also acquainted with your nephew Yu Chengye, and the two are as close as brothers, having long been sworn brothers."

This time, Zhang Xianzhong was truly out of options and had no choice but to swallow his pride and offer his adopted son to pay off the debt.

He has nothing left now, out of ammunition and food, and only three hundred soldiers under his command. These are his bargaining chips for a future comeback, and he would never use them to pay off his debts.

His other three adopted sons, Sun Kewang, Liu Wenxiu, and Ai Nengqi, are now barely capable of standing on their own and are his reliance in leading troops into battle. Naturally, they cannot be used to pay off debts.

After much thought and consideration, only the young Li Dingguo remained as a means to settle the debt.

Therefore, Zhang Xianzhong praised Li Dingguo, who was only eleven or twelve years old, to the skies, hoping to "sell" him for a good price.

Upon hearing this, even Zhang Xianzhong, with his thick skin, couldn't help but blush deeply.

In front of all the leaders, he found it difficult to say that he would offer a boy of about ten years old in exchange for 3,500 bushels of grain.

But now that he was desperate, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask Jiang Han to lend him some more food.

Jiang Han was stunned by Zhang Xianzhong's words.

what?
Who is as close as a brother to Li Dingguo?
(End of this chapter)