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

Chapter 180 Go ask the founding emperor why he rebelled back then?

The news that the students had gathered to cause trouble at Mingde Academy, only to be soundly beaten by the bandits, spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Shanzhou City.

Many bold civilians even witnessed from afar the horrifying scene of the bandits brutally beating the pale-faced scholar in the street.

In teahouses and taverns, and on every street corner, people were talking about this matter.

"Hey, have you heard? Those scholars from Mingde Academy really got what they deserved today!"

"A peddler who had just returned from the west of the city said excitedly."

"What else could it be? They just gathered a crowd to cause trouble and got beaten up by those soldiers. My wife's cousin's neighbor, who owns a shop nearby, saw it all clearly!"

"Tsk tsk, what a miserable sight! Those arrogant scholars were beaten like grandsons!"

After hearing this, the peddler shook his head, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously:

"No, I heard that one of these people was planning an assassination!"

"hiss"

Upon hearing this news, everyone gasped in shock:
"Do you think these people have gone stupid from studying too much? Do you think those soldiers are easy to mess with?"

"They dare to kill even high-ranking officials of the imperial court, why would they care about a few scholars like you?"

A seasoned shopkeeper sipped his tea and spoke slowly.

"Who says it isn't?"

"I reckon they just saw that these soldiers were well-disciplined and didn't harm us ordinary people, so they thought they were easy to talk to, and that's why they gathered a crowd to cause trouble."

"And what happened? You kicked a hornet's nest!"

"This guy is a classic example of bullying the weak and fearing the strong!"

"From now on, we have to be careful not to anger these men who are armed with knives and guns, or we ordinary folks will be the ones who suffer."

For a time, discussions arose throughout Shanzhou City, and people were filled with anxiety.

But unlike before, when the people in the city discussed the matter in private, few sympathized with the students; instead, many sided with the rebels.

The reason is simple: recently, the lives of ordinary people in Shanzhou City have improved considerably.

The wealthy merchants and gentry who used to bully others were purged, the thugs and ruffians disappeared, and many merchants even made a lot of money.

The people aren't stupid; they know perfectly well who's right and who's wrong.

Those students who managed to escape or slipped away beforehand were dejected when they saw their classmates being caught.

In an effort to rescue their captured classmate, they used all their connections in Shanzhou City, either pleading with their elders or entrusting their teachers and classmates to negotiate with the bandits and plead for his release.

But these people aren't stupid. This matter involves assassination, so who would dare to plead for them?

Aren't you afraid of being labeled as an accomplice?

For a time, everyone in Shanzhou City fell silent, fearing they might get into trouble.

Just when everyone was in despair, Yu Guanyu, the head of the Shanzhou Academy, stepped forward. He was prepared to go to the bandit camp alone to plead for mercy.

There was no other reason than that Yu Guanyu had heard that the leader of the gang was planning to execute all the troublemaking students as a warning to others.

This group of people can basically be considered his students, and he cannot sit idly by.

Yu Guanyu is a native of Shanzhou. Now over sixty years old, he only managed to pass the imperial examination at the age of fifty-three.

Knowing that his official career was hopeless, he simply gave up and returned to his hometown of Shanzhou, where he devoted himself to teaching the younger generation.

He was also terrified when the rebels broke into the city, but fortunately the rebels did not make things difficult for them, the lower-ranking officials.

Faced with the desperate pleas of his many students and their families, Yu Guanyu, driven by a desire to save lives, agreed to the task and prepared to personally go to the bandit camp to negotiate.

He was greeted by Zhao Sheng.

Upon seeing the elderly man with white hair and beard, Zhao Sheng didn't make things too difficult for him, but simply led Yu Guanyu into the camp.

Yu Guanyu walked shakily through the military camp, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

No one was trying to scare him; he was just a little scared himself.

Jiang Han's military camp was set up in the former garrison of Hongnong Guard.

After the city fell, Jiang Han occupied the place and turned it into a military camp.

Yu Guanyu had lived most of his life, and he had never seen anything like this before.

Back then, the garrison of Hongnong Guard was mostly staffed by the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. The vast garrison was empty and its defenses were practically nonexistent.

But now, looking around the camp, all that comes and goes are incredibly strong and menacing.

These people all had sharp eyes and cold expressions. The occasional glances they gave Yu Guanyu made him feel as if he were being stared at by hungry wolves.

The clerk who was leading the way beside him seemed very approachable and his speech and behavior were quite measured.

The clerk introduced himself as Zhao Sheng, saying that he used to be a scholar from Qingjian, Shaanxi.

Upon hearing that the other party was also a scholar, Yu Guanyu relaxed slightly.

Since they were both disciples of the same sage, the two began to chat.

Yu Guanyu looked at Zhao Sheng, completely puzzled:
"Zhao, forgive my bluntness, but why did you give up your promising future as a scholar and choose to become a thief?"

“We Confucian scholars, well-versed in the books of sages and worthies, should think of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, sharing the burdens of the court. How can we stand up for traitors?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng simply smiled casually and said no more, focusing instead on leading the way.

Seeing this, Yu Guanyu could only follow behind Zhao Sheng. He dared not make eye contact with the passing bandits, fearing that a single wrong glance would bring about his death.

Despite his fear, Yu Guanyu couldn't help but curiously look around the newly renovated military camp.

He can see all kinds of people:

On the drill ground, squads of bandits were practicing their formations, their slogans ringing out loudly and clearly; not far away, by the stables, several riders were tending to their horses with great care.

The auxiliary soldiers, carrying various weapons and armor, moved about the camp in an orderly fashion.

What surprised him even more was that in a sheltered corner, a disheveled man was using a wooden stick to write and draw on the snow.

At the same time, he used his hoarse voice to teach a group of neatly dressed soldiers to read and write.

Zhao Sheng didn't seem to care about Yu Guanyu looking around, nor did he say anything to stop him.

Yu Guanyu couldn't help but lean forward, craning his neck, and saw the man pointing at the words in the snow, muttering something under his breath:
"Look carefully!"

"This character is pronounced 'fan,' the 'fan' in 'rebellion.'"

Yu Guanyu glanced at it once, then quickly covered his ears and urged Zhao Sheng to move forward, afraid of staying any longer.

Throughout the camp, there were makeshift sheds, simply propped up with a few spears and tarpaulins.

Under some of these sheds, a hundred or so people were scattered around.

Most of these people were dressed as ordinary soldiers, gathered around the campfire, and intently watched the man in the middle.

The man was wearing an indigo-blue cloth armor and had a long sword at his waist. According to Zhao Sheng's introduction, he seemed to be a newly appointed "commander".

He stood ramrod straight beside the campfire, speaking with a thick Shaanxi accent, his expression impassioned:
"Brothers! The emperor is incompetent, the officials in the court are useless, the princes and nobles are greedy, and the local gentry are immoral!" "The world is in such bad shape because of these people. If we follow these scoundrels, none of us will survive!"

"We have a glimmer of hope only if we follow our wise and mighty commander!"

"The commander-in-chief emphasized that the imperial court is determined to destroy us, and we must not harbor any illusions or expect to be granted amnesty!"

"The world will eventually belong to us. As long as we are united as one, we will surely be able to overthrow the court and restore the dynasty!"

With each word spoken by the commander, the surrounding soldiers became agitated, clenching their fists and shouting slogans such as "Invincible" and "Overthrow the Ming Dynasty," their voices echoing across the land.

Along the way, everything he saw and heard made Yu Guanyu's heart pound with fear, and every place was full of strong impact, overturning his previous understanding of "bandits".

These aren't bandits, they're clearly a group of traitors trying to overthrow the dynasty!

In Yu Guanyu's imagination, the bandit camp should be filled with groups of fierce-looking bandits practicing their killing techniques in hand-to-hand combat.
And I, too, should be bound hand and foot, escorted by fierce henchmen, and taken to the bandit leader's tent.

The bandit leader must have been a leopard with bulging eyes and a face full of scars, sitting high on a tiger-skin chair, eating meat and drinking wine with his subordinates, big and small.

Several bloody human heads must be placed on the table to enhance the drinking atmosphere. Their speech and behavior are vulgar and uncouth. They are prone to beating and cursing, and they will take someone's life at the slightest disagreement.

But the scene before him was completely different from, even the exact opposite of, the image in his mind.

Although the bandit camp was filled with a chilling atmosphere, it also possessed a strange order and a high morale.

After a journey of stops and starts, led by Zhao Sheng, Yu Guanyu finally arrived outside the tent where the bandit leader was.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with anxiety, his legs feeling as heavy as lead.

Yu Guanyu composed himself and cautiously lifted the heavy tent flap.

As soon as he stepped into the tent, he was stunned by the sight before him!
Inside the tent stood a tall, youthful-looking general, draped in a bright yellow robe and wearing an ancient-style crown.

Beside him, seven or eight soldiers dressed in red coats stood respectfully.

"What...what's going on?"

Yu Guanyu stared wide-eyed at the bright yellow robe.
"It's over! Is this bandit leader planning to declare himself emperor?!"

"Wouldn't this trip be like walking into a trap?"

He then thought, if this bandit wants to become emperor, does that mean he, a scholar, is going to be forcibly made a "regent minister"?
The thought of the tragic fates of those who betrayed the country in history books made Yu Guanyu feel dizzy and weak in the knees. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, covered in cold sweat.

Just then, a furious shout came from ahead:

"Insect! Fool!"

"Take them all out and behead them!"

Hearing this, Yu Guanyu felt even more desperate, thinking, "My life is over!"
He closed his eyes and waited tremblingly for a long time, but the expected blows of sword and axe did not come.

The surroundings were quiet, with only a few suppressed coughs.

He was puzzled, so he mustered his courage and slowly opened one eye, cautiously peering into the tent.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the young general, dressed in a yellow robe and wearing a crown, was holding a stack of papers and gesturing at several soldiers in red coats around him, muttering something under his breath.
"The key to this scene lies in the outburst of emotions."

"You must all put on that feeling of disappointment and frustration at their lack of ambition!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Guanyu suddenly realized what was happening, and his heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled down a little.

After all that commotion, it turns out this gang of bandits were just putting on a play. How interesting!

But the next second, he couldn't laugh anymore; instead, he was so scared that he almost wet his pants.

The yellow-robed general cleared his throat and gave instructions:

"Remember, you must portray the domineering aura of an emperor who has the power of life and death!"

"Let me demonstrate for you."

Having said that, he stomped his foot and shouted sternly:

"You worm! You idiot!"

"Guards! Arrest Zhang Honggong and Geng Ruqi, drag them out and behead them!"

Upon hearing these lines, Yu Guanyu wished he could bury his head in his crotch. My god, he's playing an emperor!
Zhang Honggong and Geng Ruqi, weren't they the two unlucky guys who went to the capital to defend the emperor in the year of Ji Si?

Yu Guanyu felt his scalp tingle and his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

Fortunately, the general in the yellow robe noticed him and Zhao Sheng, and waved away the soldiers beside him.

"Secretary Zhao, and who is this?"

The general's voice returned to normal and sounded rather gentle.

Upon seeing this, Yu Guanyu quickly stepped forward and explained his purpose, hoping that the general in front of him would release the students in Shanzhou City.

"General, please forgive these young and ignorant students who have offended you. We beg you to be magnanimous and spare them this time!"

This general was naturally Jiang Han. He snorted coldly and looked at Yu Guanyu in front of him:

"Yu Xuezheng, this group of people stormed my academy's lecture hall, intending to assassinate me in the chaos. How can I let them get away with this so easily?"

"There's no need to say more about this. The fact that I only killed these people who gathered together is already a great favor."

Jiang Han's voice suddenly turned stern.

"If you dare to say another word, my gang of killers will not admit it."

"When the time comes, follow the clues and believe me, I'll drag out all the students in Shanzhou City and slaughter them all?"

Yu Guanyu was so struck by this fierce aura that he almost lost his balance again, but fortunately Zhao Sheng reacted quickly and caught him.

Seeing this, Jiang Han's eyes flashed with disdain. He shook his head helplessly, then said no more and turned to leave the tent to inspect the camp.

But just as Jiang Han turned around, Yu Guanyu, seemingly out of nowhere, mustered the courage to block his way, his voice hoarse yet unusually firm:

"General! General, please wait! Please hear what this old man has to say!"

Jiang Han stopped and looked at the old scholar in front of him with some surprise.

Yu Guanyu mustered his courage and passionately offered his advice:
"General, you are all soldiers of the imperial army on the border, and your families have been loyal for generations."

“Rebellion now will only cause more innocent people to be displaced and their families to be destroyed.”

"General, if there is any injustice, we can sit down and talk it out openly. Why must we resort to violence?"

"This will only lead to widespread suffering and death, and the people will suffer. I urge you, General, to reconsider!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Han grinned, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world:

"You, surnamed Yu, your high-sounding principles are quite impressive."

"Unfortunately, you can't say these things to me; you should say them to the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Guanyu paused for a moment, then instinctively asked in return:
“What are you talking to the emperor about? I’m talking to you border soldiers.”

Jiang Han snorted coldly, staring directly into Yu Guanyu's eyes, and said, word by word:

"Tell Zhu Youjian to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and ask the ancestors why the founding emperor, when he was a subject of the Yuan Dynasty, did not think of serving the court, but instead gathered people to revolt and raise the flag of rebellion!"

　Chapter 178 has been blocked and is being edited.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)