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

Chapter 95 Shanxi Bandits
Faced with the traditional virtue of petty corruption in the Ming Dynasty officialdom, Yang He dared not openly disagree.

Even if I don't take this money, it will eventually end up in someone else's pocket. Rather than letting it benefit others, I might as well pocket it myself.

Besides, Wu Sheng's words do make some sense; if you want a horse to run, you have to let it eat grass first.

Yang He kept repeating these words in his mind, preparing himself mentally so that he could accept the money with a clear conscience.

"Who cares! Everyone else is taking it, so it's not good to stand out."

Yang He ultimately chose to accept reality.

Thus, Yang He, Zhao Jinzhong, and Wu Sheng tacitly agreed to each receive three thousand taels of "office expenses."

After dividing the spoils, the group smiled at each other, feeling that their relationship had become even warmer.

Zhao Jinzhong, all smiles, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to the other two:

"Gentlemen, let's put this official business in Shaanxi on hold for now."

"We still have to go to Shanxi. His Majesty has personally issued an edict to pacify that Jiang fellow and his rebel army."

"Does Governor Yang know their current whereabouts?"

Mentioning Jiang Han, Yang He's expression darkened further, but he still told the truth:

"Since that thief crossed the Yellow River and entered Shanxi, he hasn't caused any major disturbances; it seems he's been resting."

"According to the scouts, they are currently active in the vicinity of Yonghe County, in the area where Pingyang Prefecture and Fenzhou Prefecture meet."

He thought for a moment and added,
“If the angels wish to go, they can go through Suide Prefecture, cross the river at Wubu, and enter Shanxi. The journey is relatively shorter.”

Zhao Jinzhong nodded and noted down the route:

"Okay, I understand."

He was carrying out an imperial mission and dared not delay. After exchanging brief pleasantries with Yang He and Wu Sheng, he immediately set off with a large entourage heading towards Shanxi.

At almost the same time, Li Zicheng, carrying out Wang Jiayin's request, was also heading towards Yonghe County.

The two groups, one representing the imperial court and the other representing the rebel army, both aimed to win over Jiang Han.

At this moment, Jiang Han, who was at the center of the storm, was completely unaware of this.

Jiang Han was currently leading his troops to camp and rest in Nanzhuang Village near Yonghe County.

The continuous battles had exhausted the soldiers, and he also needed time to digest the results, reorganize the troops, and think about the next step.

To Jiang Han's utter surprise, upon arriving in Shanxi, he would face neither the pursuing government troops nor the like-minded righteous army.

Instead, they were a group of utterly depraved and wicked bandits from Shanxi.

This group of people were the Shanxi loyalist soldiers led by Geng Ruqi, the governor of Shanxi, and Zhang Honggong, the general of Shanxi.

They traveled thousands of miles to serve the emperor, but ended up changing their posts three times in three days and didn't receive a single grain of food, which led to a mutiny.

In the end, both Geng Ruqi and Zhang Honggong were beheaded by Emperor Chongzhen, and the loyalist soldiers fled back to Shanxi.

Without provisions and without restraint, some of the bad apples among these defeated soldiers completely dropped their pretense.

One of the centurions gave himself the nickname "Tiger on the Mountain," and then gathered seven or eight hundred loyal soldiers to occupy Shilou Mountain near Yonghe County.

They established strongholds on the mountain and started a business of robbery and plunder with no initial investment.

This band of bandits, composed of loyalist soldiers, acted a hundred times more ruthlessly than ordinary bandits!
They occupied Shilou Mountain, harassing the villages and towns everywhere, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of evil deeds!
Women were raped and abducted at will, and the able-bodied men in the village who resisted were arbitrarily had their hands and feet cut off, or even their heads chopped off for their amusement!
Even worse, some women rape their wives in front of their husbands, then lock them in a room and burn them alive.

Their evil deeds are countless; they are nothing short of a bunch of beasts.

Now these people have extended their reach to Nanzhuang Village, sending a small group down the mountain to gather grain, only to run into Jiang Han's troops who had just entered Shanxi. How could Jiang Han tolerate them?

He immediately ordered Shao Yong to lead a cavalry unit to attack, and with just one charge, the band of bandits was scattered and defeated.

Except for a few who were left to speak, the rest of the bandits were cleanly and efficiently slaughtered by the cavalry.

After some torture and interrogation, they quickly confessed everything.

According to the statements of several people,
Their leader, Shangshanhu, was an old acquaintance of the garrison commanders of Kulongguan and Guangwuzhuang nearby, which is why he brought them here to become outlaws.

Because of this relationship, the nearby garrison turned a blind eye to them.

Shangshanhu was also very disciplined; he would distribute the loot he stole to the guards of Kulong Pass and Guangwu Village.

This mountain tiger was not only brutal, but also very shrewd, knowing who it could afford to offend and who it couldn't.

They only dared to target unarmed common people, but never dared to harm the fortresses and manors of officials, gentry, and landlords.

For this reason, the magistrate of Shilou County, which is nearby, turned a blind eye to the band of bandits and let them run rampant in the countryside, harming the people!

"Beasts! A bunch of beasts!"

Looking at these bandits, Jiang Han angrily cursed:
"Why don't you plunder the castles and manors of so many local tyrants and bullies, but instead target the common people who toil in the fields for a living? Are you even human?"

"Men! Drag these bastards out and chop them up! Send their heads to the nearby disaster-stricken villages!"

Several guards immediately stepped forward and dragged the wailing bandits away.

After dealing with these scoundrels, Jiang Han summoned his officers to discuss how to eliminate Shangshanhu and his gang.

Although Jiang Han wasn't one to meddle in other people's business, he couldn't suppress his anger after hearing about such bestial acts.

"Damn it! These bastards are even more ruthless than the Tartars!"

The hot-tempered Li Laowai spat and said viciously,

"Lord Jiang, these bandits number only seven or eight hundred."

"Give me two of your brothers, and I guarantee I'll raze that Stone Tower Village to the ground and skin that Mountain Tiger!"

Although Jiang Han also wished he could wipe out the bandits immediately, he remained cautious:

"We must not underestimate the enemy. After all, Shilou Village is built on a mountain, and its terrain is treacherous."

“We are unfamiliar with the terrain in the nearby mountains. If we attack rashly, we could easily fall into their ambush.”

Hearing this, Li Laowai also thought it made sense, scratched his head, and tentatively asked:

"How about this, I'll look around the nearby villages and see if there are any villagers who have been harmed by this gang of thieves and are familiar with the terrain of Shilou Mountain."

"Let them lead the way. We'll send a few capable men in to scout out the terrain first, and then we'll make further plans, how about that?"

Jiang Han nodded, thinking that Li Laowai's suggestion was quite prudent, and was about to give the order to make arrangements.

Just then, a guard rushed in and reported:

"Master Jiang!"

"A group of people have arrived outside the camp and request an audience!"

"The leader claimed to be a eunuch from the palace, named Zhao Jinzhong! He was accompanied by several officials from Shilou County!"

"They said they came specifically to appease us on the Emperor's orders!"

(End of this chapter)