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

Chapter 352 The Bitter Meat Scheme

After deciding on the strategy of sending spies, Hong Chengchou immediately ordered people to secretly search for suitable candidates in Nanyang Prefecture.

In his plan, this person needed to have a certain status that would attract the attention of thieves; but not too high, otherwise it would easily arouse suspicion.

Ideally, there should be some leverage to exploit, making it easy to control.

After several rounds of screening, an officer named Zhao Shicheng came into his view.

This man was a hereditary centurion under the Nanyang Guard. His family had been rooted in Nanyang for generations and had close ties with the local guard and powerful local families.

More importantly, this guy himself was not clean either. He had done a lot of things such as receiving salaries without working, encroaching on military farmland, and embezzling military rations. He was a typical corrupt officer.

Hong Chengchou was looking for someone who had both local roots and fatal weaknesses.

Soon, Zhao Shicheng was "invited" to Hong Chengchou's office.

As we walked along, we saw rows of armored soldiers, their swords and spears dazzling, and a chilling aura emanated from them.

Zhao Shicheng was filled with anxiety and fear.

He was just a minor hereditary centurion, and it was already quite an achievement for him to be able to see Commander Wei on ordinary days. He never imagined that one day he would be personally summoned by the Governor-General of Five Provinces.

He walked into the main hall with trepidation, only to see Hong Chengchou dressed in a scarlet robe, sitting expressionlessly behind his desk, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

The guards on either side stood with their hands on their swords, staring coldly at the newcomer.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Shicheng's legs went weak, and he immediately knelt on one knee, his voice trembling as he said:

"This humble general, Zhao Shicheng, a centurion of Nanyang Guard, pays his respects to Commander Hong!"

Hong Chengchou seemed not to hear him, not even lifting his eyelids, and simply flipped through a scroll of documents in his hand.

The tent was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and Zhao Shicheng's heavy breathing.

Zhao Shicheng remained kneeling, not daring to move an inch. Cold sweat trickled down his temples, soaking his collar.

After a long while, just as Zhao Shicheng was about to collapse, Hong Chengchou slowly raised his head and glanced at him:
"Zhao Shicheng, is that right? Stand up and answer."

Zhao Shicheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly expressed his gratitude, his hands and feet weak as he struggled to his feet. He bowed deeply, not daring to look directly at Zhao.

Hong Chengchou casually picked up a roll of names and read it aloud, word by word:

Zhao Shicheng was born in the thirty-first year of the Wanli reign.

"Our ancestor, Zhao Dayong, followed Emperor Chengzu in raising an army to quell the rebellion. For his merits, he was granted the hereditary title of centurion, which has continued to this day..."

"Hmm, not bad, they can be considered descendants of meritorious officials."

Upon hearing the governor mention his family's glorious history, Zhao Shicheng's tense nerves relaxed slightly, a smile appeared on his face, and he nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, yes, Governor Hong is wise!"

"It is entirely thanks to the blessings of my ancestors that I was able to join the ranks of soldiers and serve the country."

He thought he was going to be rewarded or given an important position today, and he was full of anticipation.

However, Hong Chengchou's next words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Hong Chengchou slammed the roster onto the table, his face suddenly darkening, and he said sternly:
"As descendants of meritorious officials, we should be even more dedicated to our duties and share the burdens of the country."

"Yet you choose to degenerate!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making Zhao Shicheng tremble.

"An investigation has revealed that Zhao Shicheng, a centurion of the Nanyang Guard, has been falsifying troop numbers and embezzling grain and salaries since assuming his post."

"They forcibly seized military farmland in huge amounts; they colluded with local authorities to resell military funds!"

"Every single one of these cases is irrefutable!"

"According to the law, he should be stripped of his hereditary title, his family property confiscated, and exiled three thousand li to the border region!"

"Do you admit your guilt?!"

A series of charges struck Zhao Shicheng like a bolt from the blue, leaving him completely stunned.

They were just talking about their ancestors' achievements, how come they've turned on him in the blink of an eye and are going to confiscate his property and exile him?

His mind went blank, and he fell to his knees with a thud, begging for mercy incoherently:

"Commander! Commander, have mercy!"

"This humble general was merely confused for a moment!"

"This humble general is willing to offer half of his family fortune, only begging the military commander to show leniency and spare my life!"

Hong Chengchou snorted coldly upon hearing this, and said sarcastically:
"Give up your family fortune?"

"How dare you openly bribe this governor?! Your crime is doubled!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shicheng was completely stunned. He had no idea what the governor was trying to do and could only kowtow and beg for mercy.

Seeing that the time was right, Hong Chengchou changed the subject, softening his tone slightly:

"Considering that your ancestors once served the country, I can give you a chance to redeem yourself through meritorious service."

"It all depends on whether you... are willing to seize the opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shicheng abruptly raised his head and repeatedly affirmed:
"Yes! This humble general is willing!"

"I will obey the orders of the military commander, even if it means going through fire and water!"

Hong Chengchou nodded slightly, leaned forward, and lowered his voice:

"Now that the rebels are lurking around Dengzhou, I want to plant an inside agent among them."

"Are you willing?"

Zhao Shicheng was stunned. He never expected that this was such a task. If the thieves found out, he was afraid that he would be disemboweled and left to die on the spot.

But now he had no choice but to comply. Seeing his hesitation, Hong Chengchou immediately threatened him:

"If you are unwilling to do it, then I will have no choice but to sentence your whole family to exile three thousand miles to the northwest to guard the border."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shicheng's face drained of color; it seemed he had no choice but to go today.

He sighed and asked in a dry voice:
"What are the commander-in-chief's plans?"

Hong Chengchou smiled slightly and asked in return:
"I ask you, have you ever read the popular novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'?"

Zhao Shicheng was taken aback by this abrupt question, but still answered honestly:

"Reporting to the commander, this humble general...this humble general has read some of them in his spare time."

"Since you've read it, you must know the story of Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai, right?"

Upon hearing this, he instantly understood Hong Chengchou's intention:
"A self-torture trick?"

"But……"

Before he could finish speaking, Hong Chengchou immediately waved his hand to interrupt him:
"There are no 'buts'. You have to go today, whether you like it or not."

"Otherwise, the whole family can go to the Northwest and eat sand!"

Seeing this, Zhao Shicheng could only nod helplessly:

"I am willing to obey the military commander's orders, even at the cost of my life!"

The next morning, Hong Chengchou launched a large-scale investigation in Nanyang Prefecture under the pretext of rectifying military discipline and cleaning up the long-standing problems in the garrisons.

He ordered a thorough investigation into the illegal activities of Nanyang garrison officers, including embezzlement, receiving salaries without working, and encroaching on military farmland.

As soon as the order was given, the Nanyang Guard garrison was thrown into chaos.

Hong Chengchou also personally received officers of all ranks from the Nanyang Guard at the drill ground, and he ordered them:

Whether they were commanders of the guards or lower-level banner officers, they were required to return the illegally occupied land within a specified period and pay hefty fines as a warning to others.

Upon hearing this, the faces of everyone in the audience changed drastically, and they began to whisper among themselves, but no one dared to openly object.

Just then, Zhao Shicheng suddenly stood up from the crowd:

"Wait!" He looked very nervous; it was his turn to perform according to the script.

"General Hong, isn't this a rather inappropriate move?!"

“We garrison officers don’t receive a salary, and we still have to support our families and maintain our dignity. Without these regular sources of income, how can we survive?”

"Besides, which garrison under heaven isn't in this state?"

"You can manage Nanyang Guard, but do you think you can manage all the guard posts in the Ming Dynasty?"

"Such harsh criticism will surely chill the hearts of the soldiers!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked!

All eyes were on Zhao Shicheng, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Has the man surnamed Zhao gone mad?

How dare a mere centurion openly defy the governor-general of five provinces?

Where did he get the guts? Wasn't he afraid that Hong Chengchou would behead him on the spot in a fit of rage?

Everyone glanced furtively ahead and saw Hong Chengchou's face darken with rage:
"presumptuous!"

"Zhao Shicheng dares to roar in the military camp, openly criticize national policies, and advocate for corruption!"

"Someone, get it for me!"

At his command, several fierce-looking guards immediately stepped forward.

"Seize this scoundrel! He shall be punished with thirty strokes of the military rod!"

"His entire family property shall be confiscated, and his family members and relatives shall all be exiled to the border garrisons for garrison duty!"

The moment the order was given, the entire room was stunned.

Several officers who had some connection with Zhao Shicheng wanted to plead for him, but after being swept over by Hong Chengchou's cold gaze, they immediately fell silent and dared not speak.

Zhao Shicheng was roughly dragged outside the tent and, in front of everyone, received thirty strokes of the military rod.

The soldiers who carried out the execution showed no mercy, each blow landing squarely on Zhao Shicheng's skin, causing him to scream in agony until he finally lost consciousness.

The execution only stopped when the crowd could no longer bear to watch and came forward to plead for mercy.

Watching Zhao Shicheng being dragged away like a dead dog, Hong Chengchou said coldly:
"Watch closely, you should all take this as a warning!"

"If he commits any further illegal acts, this is his fate!"

"Go back all!"

That night, a pall of gloom hung over the Nanyang garrison. Everyone was relieved to have escaped a calamity, but at the same time, they felt sorry for Zhao Shicheng's miserable state.

Four or five days later, some of his comrades who were on good terms with him came to visit him.

Inside the barracks, Zhao Shicheng lay weakly on the bed, his back wrapped in a thick layer of wound medicine.

Everyone who saw this sighed in dismay.
"Commander Zhao, why are you doing this?"

"If the governor wants money, we can just chip in and give it to him. Why did you have to be the one to stick your neck out and get caught to establish his authority? You almost lost your life!"

Zhao Shicheng had a bitter pill to swallow, but he couldn't express it. If he didn't step forward, how could this self-inflicted injury ruse continue? And how could he gain people's trust?
Helpless, he could only force himself to stay calm, forcing a look of resentment onto his face, and angrily cursed:
"Establish authority? Establish authority my ass!"

"This guy surnamed Hong was reprimanded by the Emperor, and his elite troops were transferred away. He's holding back his anger and has nowhere to vent it."

"He doesn't dare to cause trouble for the capital, so he can only vent his anger on us nobody soldiers!"

"I've seen through it all. Staying here means certain death!"

"Why not just defect to the thieves..."

Upon hearing this, the visitors were so frightened that their faces changed drastically, and they quickly interrupted him:
"Brother Zhao! Be careful what you say! Be careful what you say!"

"We know you're upset, so we'll pretend we didn't hear that, but please don't bring it up again!"

"Well... brother, take good care of your injury. We... we'll come see you another day!"

After saying this, the group hurriedly got up as if avoiding a plague and fled the barracks without looking back, fearing that if they stayed any longer they would hear some more outrageous words.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhao Shicheng and his three personal guards remained in the room.

The group looked at each other, feeling both sympathy and fear for their former benefactor who had fallen to such a state, unsure of what to do.

At this moment, Zhao Shicheng spoke again and asked:
“You are all my most trusted confidants.”

"You all see the current situation."

"Give me a straight answer: are you willing to come with me to seek refuge with Gao Yingxiang, the rebel leader in Dengzhou?"

"Now that I am seriously injured, I am unable to travel far on my own and need your help."

"If you're willing, we'll leave tonight; if not... I won't blame you, you can find your own way out."

To maintain absolute secrecy, Zhao Shicheng didn't even reveal a word to his personal guards.

The three men, believing their patron had truly been driven to desperation, gritted their teeth and nodded, indicating their willingness to follow him and join the rebels.

That night, Zhao Shicheng, enduring excruciating pain, secretly stole four warhorses with his personal guards. Under the cover of darkness, he hastily fled the government army camp and headed straight for Dengzhou.

Soon, Gao Yingxiang received an urgent report from the outer scouts:

It was said that there were several government soldiers, one of whom was seriously injured. He claimed to be a centurion of the Nanyang Guard and had come to surrender.

Upon hearing this news, Gao Yingxiang's first reaction was not joy, but rather some doubt.

He had dealt with the government troops for many years, and there were indeed many Ming soldiers who had surrendered in his army.

But things are different now. He is surrounded by a large army in the Dengzhou area, and the situation is extremely precarious.

Anyone with eyes could see that his future was bleak. At such a time, why would any government troops still come to surrender?
This doesn't make sense.

But when he saw Zhao Shicheng's pale face with his own eyes, some of his doubts dissipated.

This injury cannot be faked.

"Hiss... He's that badly injured?"

Gao Yingxiang crouched down and carefully examined the wound on Zhao Shicheng's back, then gasped in shock.
"It seems that the man surnamed Hong really went all out."

"What happened? Tell me in detail."

Zhao Shicheng lay on the camp bed, wincing in pain.

Although he had rested for several days before setting off, this horseback raid undoubtedly aggravated his injuries.

He forced himself to be alert, his tone extremely venomous:

"What else could it be?"

"That guy surnamed Hong suffered a setback in the imperial court, and his troops were transferred away. He had a bellyful of resentment with nowhere to vent it, so he took it out on us low-ranking officers and made us suffer to death!"

“He not only wanted to confiscate my family’s property, but also threatened to exile my entire clan to the border.”

"I...I was forced into a corner and came here with a grievance, only begging King Li to give me a way out and take me in!"

After saying this, Zhao Shicheng choked up, overwhelmed with grief.

Gao Yingxiang didn't speak, but stared at Zhao Shicheng silently for a moment before instructing his men to take good care of him and leading them out of the tent.

Upon returning to his central command tent, Gao Yingxiang immediately summoned his trusted general Liu Zhe and his younger brother, Gao Ying'en, the star of the Central Army.

He first explained the ins and outs of the matter, and then gave the instructions:
"The sudden arrival of government troops, especially at such a critical juncture, seemed rather suspicious to me."

"You two go and interrogate that man surnamed Zhao and the three soldiers he brought separately."

"Start by asking about the recent troop movements, the details of Hong Chengchou's reorganization of the garrisons, and their escape."

"Let's see if their testimonies match up and if there are any flaws."

"If we can match them up, we'll send someone in disguise to Nanyang Prefecture to investigate!"

(End of this chapter)