Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 230 The Bad Guy Commander! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

However, Yan Maoqing was not an inflexible person.

Since Shen Kun, Gao Gong, and Yan Shifan had Zhang Liang's plan, he could also settle for second best and come up with a way to get over the wall.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he came up with another brilliant plan.

"well--!"

With a seemingly helpless sigh, Yan Maoqing turned his back and waved to the crowd.

"How could I not know the good intentions of you soldiers? Fine, fine, I will do as you say this time."

"The remaining rebels need not be exterminated. Those who voluntarily accept tattooing will be given one last chance to reform. They will be incorporated into the Bad People, led by Yan Shifan, and sent to Ying County to investigate illegal activities."

"Those who can help us apprehend corrupt officials, bullies, and traitorous merchants will be considered to have redeemed themselves through meritorious service and may be spared from death."

"Those who cannot atone for their crimes by performing meritorious service shall be executed by hanging or beheading in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty."

"I'm tired, I'll go back to the car and rest first. You can handle this yourselves."

After saying this, Yan Maoqing shrugged and walked dejectedly toward his carriage.

He then jumped into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and ordered the driver to drive to the back, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"..."

Watching the carriage sway and its desolate silhouette recede into the distance, Shen Kun, Gao Gong, Yan Shifan, and the soldiers of the Heroic Battalion felt an inexplicable sense of guilt welling up within them.

They didn't realize that Yan Maoqing was deliberately putting on an act, and therefore didn't realize that this was actually a shameless tactic by Yan Maoqing to manipulate them.

If we apply this to romantic relationships in later generations, this tactic can actually be summarized in just one word:

—Silent treatment!

However, at the same time, they had to admit that Yan Maoqing's "Bad Guys" strategy was indeed a win-win solution.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was an old practice of conscripting people with bad records to serve as detectives and arrest officials; these people were called "bad people".

These people also fall into the category of local bullies. They know many people in the area and are aware of many secrets that are unknown to their superiors. They are also like snakes and rats, and they are usually brave and fierce. They can quickly complete many investigation tasks that are difficult for the government to accomplish.

Now that Yan Maoqing intends to investigate the officials, powerful figures, and merchants of Ying County, these people are the most suitable collaborators.

With them leading the way, we'll surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Moreover, according to Yan Shifan's idea, after forcibly subjecting them to two tattooing punishments, any further offenses would result in hanging or beheading.

This act not only branded them with the mark of death, but even if they escaped to other places, as long as they remained within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, their situation would not change.

This could also motivate them enough to work diligently for the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, engaging in cutthroat competition with the officials, powerful figures, and merchants of Ying County...

This is simply maximizing the use of waste, calculating gains and losses to the extreme!

If we were to point out any shortcomings...

It's likely that these scoundrels are too numerous and talkative. If someone were to spread what they just said and what happened today, it might still cause Yan Maoqing some trouble.

However, this trouble is much smaller now, and it's easier to defend oneself. It's still better than bearing the infamy of letting soldiers kill civilians and undermining national unity.

"So... I'm the Bad Guy Commander again now?"

Yan Shifan was somewhat flattered and said that this official position sounded much more prestigious than something like an envoy, and he liked it very much.

Moreover, he felt that this model could be vigorously promoted in the future, since the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had received the special privileges of the Western Depot and would have many more cases to investigate in the future.

"We're... safe from death?"

A glimmer of hope ignited in the hearts of the group of scoundrels who had long since given up hope.

Although they were still branded, they were burdened with the heavy shackles of identity, and any crime they committed would result in the death penalty.

But who would want to die if they could live? It's the human instinct to survive. And right now, becoming a "bad person" and being used by Yan Maoqing is just a straw floating in front of them.

"I'm alive... I can live... I want to live!"

Relying on his companions' bodies, the bald man, who had miraculously survived the musket fire of the Heroes' Camp, felt a tremor in his heart. He somehow mustered the strength to scramble to his feet and began to kowtow frantically towards the Heroes' Camp:
"Sir, you are kind and righteous! Sir, spare my life! If you spare me, I will endure anything and do anything!"

Upon hearing the bald man's words, all the hooligans realized what was happening and immediately rushed to kowtow and beg for forgiveness.
"Sir, spare my life! I'll do anything you ask..."

"I kowtow to the soldier..."

……

Three hours later.

"You mean, General Yan led his troops into Ying County?"

Zeng Xian looked doubtful after hearing the scout's report.

After leaving Taiyuan, Yan Maoqing traveled in a hurry, hardly stopping in any of the county towns he passed through, only using the official roads outside the cities.

Now that we have passed Yanmen Pass and entered the jurisdiction of Datong Prefecture, Ying County is still hundreds of miles away from Datong Prefecture.

Yan Maoqing suddenly stopped and led his troops into the county town.
What does he mean?
Zeng Xian already knew the contents of the imperial edict delivered by Eunuch Chen: the emperor ordered Yan Maoqing to travel day and night to Datong immediately to handle official business.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the "Datong" the Emperor refers to is definitely "Datong Prefecture City," not the entire Datong Prefecture. Why did Yan Maoqing suddenly stop in Ying County? Was he perhaps trying to play word games with the Emperor?

But then again.

Taking a short break wouldn't be a bad thing. He had been leading the supply corps in pursuit for the past few days, and the entire army was quite exhausted.

After all, unlike Yan Maoqing's Hero Battalion, the Grain and Supplies Army transported grain and supplies, which were not as fast as the Hero Battalion's.

In addition, when he was in Taiyuan Prefecture, he left some soldiers to assist Gao Jie and Eunuch Chen in their work, waiting to escort Eunuch Chen to escort the criminal officials back to the capital. This meant that he no longer had as many men as before...

"General Zeng, not only that, General Yan also seems to have encountered a small-scale battle on the official road 25 miles outside the city."

The scout then said with some concern.

"What do you mean by suspected?"

Zeng Xian's expression tightened, and he immediately frowned and pressed for an answer.

The scout quickly bowed and explained:
"When I led my men there, we saw a lot of bloodstains on the road. Judging from the lingering smell of blood, they must have been left not long ago."

"Aside from some musket pellets, I did not find a single body or any witnesses at the scene, so I cannot be certain for the time being."

"However, I have already sent men to continue the pursuit, and news should arrive soon."

"Is that so?"

Zeng Xian breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"According to the agreement between General Yan and me, if we encounter a battle, the Hero Battalion should light the beacon fires they carry to warn of an impending attack... Since there was no warning or call for help, it shouldn't be a big deal."

Moreover, he knew that the Heroes' Battalion's fighting strength was not to be underestimated, and that ordinary garrison troops would probably find it difficult to gain an advantage over them.

Even at the worst, the Heroes' Camp had a full two thousand soldiers. If it weren't for an enemy force dozens of times larger than the Heroes' Camp, it would have been impossible to annihilate them all in such a short time, let alone clear the battlefield so quickly. The scouts he sent out could not possibly have only seen bloodstains on the road.

Therefore, he felt that Yan Maoqing was not in danger. Even if a battle broke out, it would likely be a small-scale battle, and probably one-sided.

He just couldn't figure it out for the time being.

Yan Maoqing is an imperial envoy, acting on imperial orders. Who would dare to openly resist him with force?

This is not a simple military conflict; to put it more bluntly, it could even be classified as a rebellion...

Just as I was thinking this.

"Crunch! Crunch!..."

Several fast horses galloped up quickly, followed by two knights dressed in the uniforms of the Heroes' Camp, in addition to the supply cavalry knights leading the way.

"This is a message sent by General Yan..."

Zeng Xian's heart jumped again upon seeing this. Could something have happened after entering Ying County?

But that doesn't make sense. If something really happened and it was urgent, lighting a beacon fire to call for help would be the fastest way to do it. How could cavalry messengers compare?

"Greetings, General Zeng!"

The two knights from the Heroic Battalion dismounted, saluted, and immediately reported for duty.

"General Yan requests that General Zeng not garrison outside the city, but lead his troops into Ying County as soon as possible, and divide his forces to take over the county government and the Andong Zhongtun Guard Commandery!"

"Divide forces to take over?"

Zeng Xian was taken aback. The last time he was stationed outside Taiyuan City, the knights of the Hero Camp came to deliver an order and used these four words as well.

So this is Yingxian County...

"Indeed, the magistrate of Ying County and a few officials put up a stubborn resistance, but General Yan has already killed them on the battlefield."

The knights of the Heroic Battalion then gave a brief description of the current situation in Ying County.
"The commander of the Andong Zhongtun Guard has surrendered without resistance. The other corrupt officials, powerful figures, merchants, and White Lotus rebels have all been apprehended. All of them have irrefutable evidence. General Zeng, please go and handle the aftermath as soon as possible. General Yan is also in a hurry to go to Datong Prefecture City on business!"

"this!!!"

Zeng Xian was immediately dumbfounded.

What kind of incredible efficiency is this?!
In Taiyuan, it could be said that Yan Maoqing took a clever approach, thus controlling the situation in less than two hours.

Apart from Zhang Yin, Guan Jieshan, and those White Lotus rebels, the remaining officials, powerful figures, and merchants still need to be investigated by the Deputy Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Gao Jie. Chen Xi should still be waiting in Taiyuan Prefecture.

As a result, upon returning to Ying County, within a maximum of three hours, they not only completely controlled the situation but also managed to gather evidence.
But just now he was judging a gentleman by his own petty standards, misunderstanding that Yan Maoqing was playing word games with the emperor.

They had no such intentions at all. Entering Ying County to handle business was as casual as kicking a stone on the side of the road while passing by, with almost no delay.

Zeng Xian suddenly remembered the traces of a possible battle that the scout had just reported on the official road...

Yan Maoqing never stopped in other counties, but this time he made a special trip into a county town and dealt with the county's officials, powerful figures, and merchants with swift and decisive measures. Could this be related to that?

and so……

Did the people of Ying County provoke him first?
What are these people thinking? Why did they set off this firecracker?

(End of this chapter)