Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

In truth, Wen Gongren was not from a poor family at all; his ancestors were already counts during the Silla era.

The title of Earl of Nampyeong was held from the Silla Dynasty to the Goryeo Dynasty.

However, the Wen family of Nanping was indeed in decline. Although they were known as a prestigious and powerful family, they were not much poorer than those from poor families.

Wenren Gong was persuaded by Zheng Zhichang to become an inside agent for the Ming Dynasty. However, as the Cui family of Haizhou revived due to maritime trade, he, as the son-in-law of the Cui family, also benefited from it.

As his official rank rose higher and higher, he gradually stopped mentioning his humble origins. When he died of illness six years ago, he was already a Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

His sons were all killed by Zheng Zhongfu!

The current leader of the poor is Jin Yungui, who was sent as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty a few years ago and ceded the territory north of the Daedong River.

This guy was thus branded with infamy and demoted repeatedly, so angry that he resigned from his post and started spreading "Ming Studies".

"The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty values ​​Mencius," Kim Yun-gyu said to a group of scholars from humble backgrounds. "Mencius said, 'The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important.'"

"What is the people? We scholars from humble backgrounds are the people."

"The ruler and the scholars are secondary; the most important thing is that the people must live well."

"In the Ming Dynasty, the imperial examination system was highly valued. Anyone who dared to cheat in the examinations, even the prime minister, would be beheaded. Whether one was from a powerful family or a poor family, as long as one had real talent and learning, one could become an official through the imperial examinations."

"Moreover, promotions are based solely on political achievements, not family background. Scholars from humble origins like us can still become prime ministers..."

After recounting the imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty, Kim Yun-gyu then described the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

His eyes shone brightly as he spoke with boundless longing: "There are no beggars in Luoyang and Kaifeng. The widowed, orphaned, and lonely are provided for by government agencies such as almshouses and orphanages."

"The peddlers and laborers there eat better than the officials of Goryeo, and they have wine and meat every few days."

A poor scholar named Zhang Mingli asked, "Did the common people and laborers of the Ming Dynasty really eat meat?"

Jin Yungui laughed and said, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. One day you'll go to Luoyang and Kaifeng yourselves and see if the common people can eat meat."

Zhang Mingli sighed, "But where would we get the money to go to the Ming Dynasty?"

Kim Yun-gyu said, "Once the Ming Dynasty annexes Goryeo, you will all pass the imperial examination and be able to go to Luoyang to participate in the metropolitan examination!"

Many of the impoverished scholars present were not surprised by this; clearly, they often said such things and had long hoped that the Ming Dynasty would swallow up Goryeo.

Only a few newly arrived scholars from humble backgrounds turned their heads in alarm to look outside, fearing that their words might be overheard by others.

Chapter 3982 Only Scholars Can Traitor Their Country

Jin Yungui continued, "The Huangfu clan, the largest clan in Huangzhou, must have been descended from Han Chinese ancestors. According to research, they migrated here at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty."

"At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, even Kaesong was part of Cao Wei territory, but it was divided up by Goguryeo and Silla."

"Many of us are descendants of the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor, while the powerful and aristocratic families are descended from barbarians."

“Especially the large clans in the south, whose ancestors were mostly barbarians.”

“We, the poor and the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, have been ruled by the barbarian tribes of Goryeo for far too many years.”

"It's time to acknowledge our ancestors, return to our motherland!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly surprised.

Although they previously identified themselves as of Chinese descent, they never talked about tracing their ancestry or returning to their motherland.

Because it is not a sin to consider oneself a descendant of the Chinese people, even many prominent families in Goryeo (Korea) have tried to claim kinship with China.

For example, Wang Geon, the founding monarch of Goryeo, claimed to be related to the Langya Wang clan in order to glorify himself.

This thing is quite credible; Wang Jing, the governor of Lujiang during the Eastern Han Dynasty, was born in Pyongyang.

His eighth-generation ancestor, Wang Zhong, had moved there as early as the Western Han Dynasty, and the Wang family had long been a prominent clan in Lelang County.

After Goguryeo conquered Lelang County, Wang Jing's branch returned to the Langya Wang clan, while another branch of the Wang clan went south to Baekje and settled in the place where Wang Geon rose to power.

Another branch of the Wang clan of Lelang Commandery joined the Murong clan of Liaoxi during the Western Jin Dynasty. Yuwen Tai's biological mother came from this branch of the Wang clan.

Kim Yun-gyu suddenly stood up and took several books on Chinese history from the bookshelf:

"In the past few years, I have been reading through Han and Tang history books and have learned about the origins of various surnames in Goryeo."

"For example, my own surname is Jin, and my ancestor was actually a descendant of the Jin Prince of the Han Dynasty."

“At that time, my ancestor Wangsun Gong had a son, but his mother-in-law forced him to divorce his wife.”

"His wife remarried Emperor Jing of Han and gave birth to a son who became Emperor Wu of Han."

The group of scholars from humble backgrounds were astonished to discover that Jin Yungui's ancestor was actually the ex-husband of Emperor Wu of Han's biological mother!

Kim Yoon-gyu then took out a small booklet: "I have recorded the origins of various surnames in Goryeo in this book, based on the historical records of the Han and Tang dynasties."

"If you don't know where your ancestors came from, you can find out from this booklet."

A group of impoverished scholars rushed forward. Their status in Goryeo was awkward, and they were eager to find a powerful ancestor.

Zhang Mingli, who had spoken earlier, quickly found his ancestor and exclaimed with joy, "So my ancestors came from Wu County and migrated to Silla during the Northern and Southern Dynasties!"

Everyone found their ancestor, and the scene was filled with joy.

Kim Yoon-gyu said, "The fall of Goryeo is imminent. We have been away from China for a long time. Now is the time to serve our ancestral country!"

……

More than 3,000 Goryeo laborers were captured by the Ming army during their rout.

The remaining laborers disappeared into the mountains, and the Ming cavalry were too lazy to waste time capturing them.

More Goryeo soldiers were captured because the laborers fled in fear, while the soldiers were ordered by Jeong Jung-bu to put on their armor and form ranks.

Now, all the soldiers handed over their armor and knelt obediently on the ground.

The guide rode up to the laborers and said to them, who were filled with fear and trepidation, "Put on your armor and take up your weapons. You will escort the captured soldiers, who are responsible for transporting the provisions."

"Upon reaching Kaesong, each person will be rewarded with two dou of rice!"

Chapter 3983 Advanced Combat

The laborers went to put on the armor with trepidation, most of them not knowing how to do it.

The guide then selected several dozen of the captured soldiers to teach them personally.

After a long and complicated process, fully armed Goryeo laborers escorted the captured soldiers to Kaesong to transport grain.

One thousand elite Ming cavalrymen were divided into two groups.

Five hundred elite cavalrymen headed straight for Kaesong as soon as the battle ended.

The remaining five hundred elite cavalry followed the prisoners and provisions.

Along the way, they came across the ancestral home of the Han family in Kaizhou. Li Junyi led the Ming cavalry and captured dozens of Han family members in the vicinity.

A few members of the Han family were quick enough to escape on horseback to Kaesong.

"The Ming army is here! The Ming army is here!"

A member of the Han family was the first to arrive outside the city, shouting in terror at the guards.

The soldier let the man into the city, and soon a group of civil and military officials rushed over upon hearing the news.

Li Shaoying asked, "How many Ming troops have come?"

Han's son said, "I don't know. I saw many cavalrymen charging towards us. Their armor was different from that of the Goryeo soldiers, so I was frightened and quickly rode here to report the news."

Li Shaoying then asked, "Where are the General's troops?"

The Han family member shook his head: "I don't know."

Li Yifang asked, "How far away is the Ming army?"

"We should be there soon," said the Han family son.

We've arrived. Suddenly, billowing smoke rises from the mountains west of Kaesong.

Kaesong is also known as Songak Fortress.

To the north of the city are continuous mountains covered with pine trees, hence the name Songyue Mountain.

In fact, the city is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with the most rugged mountains in the north, west, and southeast.

The other directions are also hilly areas.

The current city wall of Kaizhou has been built over several decades.

After the city was destroyed by the Liao army, Goryeo conscripted 340,000 laborers to rebuild only the outer city and the royal palace.

It took another twenty years to reinforce the outer city and build the inner city wall.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides, with inner and outer city walls, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack!

The five hundred elite Ming cavalrymen, forming the vanguard, dismounted and rested immediately outside the city.

A direct assault won't work; we have to wait for the artillery to arrive.

Li Junyi, carrying Zheng Zhongfu's head, rode his horse across the moat and shouted towards the city wall: "Zheng Zhongfu's head is here! Why don't you surrender immediately!"

Li Shaoying was furious: "You traitor! You actually colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, plotting to murder the Grand General!"

Everyone looked at Li Yifang. Li Junyi, who was shouting outside, was Li Yifang's half-brother.

Li Yifang quickly said, "This matter has nothing to do with me. I am loyal to Goryeo."

Li Shaoying really didn't dare to take direct action. If he killed Li Yifang, his troops would very likely rebel.

Even the civil officials from prominent families dared not speak at this moment.

They couldn't figure out what the warriors were thinking, and they were afraid that if they rashly offered to surrender, they would be killed by those warriors.

Civil officials from humble backgrounds often have more ideas.

Zheng Zhongfu promoted these civil officials from humble backgrounds, and they were grateful to him. Seeing his head now, they were inevitably saddened.

However, their sadness was limited; they were happy to see the Ming Dynasty annex Goryeo, thus ending their oppression by powerful clans.

Although they hold real power, they have the least say at this moment.

Therefore, the Goryeo civil and military officials within the city had actually been divided into four factions.

That is, powerful family officials, officials from humble backgrounds, Zheng Zhongfu and Li Yifang are both military men!

Chapter 3984 Persuading to Surrender

With ulterior motives on their own, cooperation is difficult.

Just as the civil and military officials on the city wall were at a loss, dozens of Ming cavalrymen rushed over, escorting members of the Han clan they had captured nearby.

"Go and persuade them to surrender!"

A group of Han clan members, men and women, young and old, were forced to leave the city while crying and wailing.

Vice Minister Han Lai's expression changed drastically; his own mother was right there.

After letting the Han clan members cry and shout for a while, Li Junyi began to shout again: "The Ming Dynasty has sent 100,000 troops this time and has captured Huangzhou and Haizhou. Zheng Zhongfu's elite troops have been completely wiped out."

"These Ming cavalry are just the vanguard. One hundred thousand Ming troops will arrive in a few days. Do you really think you can defeat the Ming army?"

One hundred thousand Ming troops have arrived?

Goryeo's civil and military officials were horrified; they couldn't even defeat 10,000 men, let alone 100,000.

Due to Jeong Jung-bu's rebellion, the central government and local authorities of Goryeo were separated, and the local armies were all controlled by powerful clans.

The Andong Protectorate's garrison in Gyeongju, having followed the Kim clan in defending the king, had already been defeated by Jeong Jung-bu's army.

The remaining Protectorates of Annam and Anbian disobeyed Zheng Zhongfu's orders and did not send troops to defend against the enemy.

There are currently only 12,000 troops in the city, and even with the royal guards, the total is less than 15,000, and more than half of them are farmers who were temporarily conscripted.

How to fight this?

Li Shaoying and Li Yifang were wary of each other and neither dared to make a statement first, thus inviting an attack from the other.

Fortunately, it was already getting dark, so we could postpone it until tomorrow.

As a result, a group of civil and military officials, each with their own ulterior motives, all insisted on defending the capital to the death.

Moreover, they even assigned tasks in a seemingly professional manner, with some responsible for setting up city defenses, some for arranging logistics, and some for organizing the people.