Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

The torrential rain poured down, causing the bronze tripod outside the Chengyun Hall to emit plumes of white mist.

The mist, mixed with the lingering smell of burnt tung oil, enveloped the entire hall, filling the air with a pungent odor.

Just then, the palace doors burst open with a loud crash.

Liu Wenxiu, dressed in a dark red battle robe and soaked from the rain, rushed in, his iron boots shattering the puddles on the ground.

Ai Nengqi followed closely behind, his right hammer still dripping water, and half an arrow feather stuck in the seam of his left shoulder armor.

The four Great Western Generals gathered at Chengyun Hall.

Zhang Xianzhong paced back and forth in the palace, his brow furrowed, as if he were repeatedly deliberating whether to send troops to aid Chongqing.

He suddenly stopped, his gaze sweeping over the "four adopted sons," and said in a deep voice:

"My ancestors—in Chengdu, the crotch area can't be drafty!"

His gaze swept over the scholar's cap bobbing within the cauldron, his killing intent intensifying.

"Dingguo led 30,000 elite cavalry through Yongchuan. Qin Liangyu's white spear can pierce the sky? Melt it down and cast it into a Portuguese machine."

Li Dingguo knelt on one knee, splashing water in the process.

"Your subject obeys! I will take the white-pole spearhead to forge cannons, and make that old hag's apricot-yellow flag wrap Yang Zhan's corpse and return to Chengdu."

"We can expect to lead 30,000 troops from the Left Battalion out of the Jialing River!"

Zhang Xianzhong slammed his hand on the map on the table, making the ink on the brush dance.

"Wang Yingxiong's wrecked boat should all be sunk into the river to feed turtles."

Sun Kewang clasped his hands in acceptance of the order:

"Your subject will cut Hou Tianxi's command flag into foot-binding cloths and stuff them into that child commander's mouth."

"Boom!"

A thunderclap struck the glazed tiles on the roof of the palace.

Broken tiles and raindrops fell in a downpour, splashing at Zhang Xianzhong's feet, but he remained motionless.

The electric light illuminated Liu Wenxiu's anxious face as he stepped forward:

"Father! Three months ago, that bastard Zeng Ying set up his Hongyi cannons at the Kuimen Pass and blasted my warship into pieces."

"Your Majesty, I will lead 30,000 rattan shield soldiers along the ancient Wushan Road and hang this pedantic scholar's head on the Kui Xing Tower."

A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Xianzhong's eyes:

"Alright! Wenxiu, take 30,000 and bring me Zeng Ying's head!"

"Father, allow your son..."

Ai Nengqi couldn't contain himself and was eager to volunteer for battle, but Zhang Xianzhong stopped him by raising his hand and suddenly threw a bronze talisman at him:

"Qiwazi, stay in Chengdu. Keep a close eye on this cauldron for me. Add three loads of firewood every day. If even half a stick is missing, I'll chop off your balls and use them as firewood."

......

at the same time.

Twenty li outside Fotuguan Pass, Chongqing: White-Spear Army Camp

Lian Guoshi stepped into the military tent, his leather boots soaked with rain.

The first thing that caught my eye was a 12-foot-long white spear stuck diagonally in the mud, its red tassel long since faded to a dark brown.

"I will remember your hard work, Junior Commander, braving the rain to come to our aid!"

A hoarse female voice came from behind the sand table.

When Lian Guoshi looked up, he saw half a set of plain silver armor with inscriptions.

The collar of the inner robe peeking out from the gaps in the armor plates was embroidered with a second-rank lion emblem, but the auspicious beast had been worn down to only half a tail.

Lian Guoshi placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword and gave a military salute:

"The Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu has not removed his armor for twenty-seven years, which makes us men ashamed."

Sitting behind the sand table was Qin Liangyu, the only female general of the Ming Dynasty.

The seventy-year-old general rose, her armor clanging. Her straight back was like an unyielding mountain peak.

The years have etched deep wrinkles on her face, but they cannot conceal the burning light in her eyes.

This spear once beheaded She Chongming's rebel army twenty years ago.

The numerous engravings on the gun barrel today are the marks of a lifetime of military service.

Qin Liangyu suddenly raised her hand, a look of doubt on her face:

"For thirty years, the cuckoos of Sichuan have wept blood; today, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of War personally visits the Sichuan Gorge, commanding troops and holding imperial insignia to oversee northern Sichuan—"

She flicked her finger, and the model on the sand table plunged into the Jialing River depicted on the sand table.

"The imperial court's move is even more significant than the campaigns against extravagance and the pursuit of enlightenment during the Wanli era."

Lian Guoshi smiled, but his smile carried a hint of unfathomable meaning:

"The imperial edict is resounding, ordering the Grand Marshal to wield the Imperial Sword and oversee the five provinces, while I, this official, will assist in managing the grain and fodder—when General Qin's spear reaches Chaotianmen, the Ministry of Revenue's granaries should be opened in Wanxian."

Qin Liangyu rose with the grace of an old pine tree shaking off snow, her gaze sharp as a knife.

"The ink on the memorial outlining the four-pronged encirclement was barely dry, yet the commander-in-chief ordered a six-day halt to the campaign. What was his intention?"

Before she could finish speaking, her wristband slammed heavily against the edge of the sand table.

"Clang—!"

The model of the Yuzhou city wall collapsed, creating a deep crater in the sand table.

The two female guards behind her instantly gripped the hilts of their swords, and the red tassels of the white spears outside the tent trembled in unison in the rain.

"The garrison in Chongqing numbers only a little over ten thousand. With my five thousand elite troops, plus the combined forces of Zeng Ying and Hou Tianxi, taking this city will be a piece of cake."

Just then, a thunderbolt struck, illuminating Lian Guoshi's suddenly tense jaw.

"Does Commander Qin know that the Chongqing treasury is empty, with only three thousand shi of grain remaining in the granaries?"

Qin Liangyu's gaze sharpened, and she pressed for an answer:

"What does this have to do with food supplies?"

Lian Guoshi spoke calmly, but his eyes darted away slightly.

"If we take Chongqing, our army will have to garrison 30,000 troops. If the rebel army of 100,000 marches down the river, these 30,000 men will be doomed."

A glint of light flashed in Qin Liangyu's eyes:

"That order to hold the troops in place for six days... could it be a ploy to lure the Western bandits out of Chengdu?"

Lian Guoshi suddenly chuckled:

"General Qin is joking. Commanding troops is like a game of chess, where each move must be linked to the next. All we need to do is plant the command flag correctly."

A low laugh escaped Qin Liangyu's throat:

"Wherever the commander's flag points, I will nail my white spear there."

Her tone suddenly changed, becoming increasingly sharp.

"However, those eight kings are scoundrels who have been boiled in oil; when a hungry tiger pounces on its prey, one must be wary of them turning around and biting at the vital spot!"

The sword tassel, as Lian Guoshi turned, traced a semi-circle:

"General Qin has a keen eye! The Chess Classic says, 'When three kos occur, one must escape first.' In this game, the eye is hanging over the city wall of Chongqing."

Qin Liangyu suddenly walked around the sand table and slowly approached Lian Guoshi, her eyes filled with worry:

"I've heard that the Grand Coordinator is the same age as the Emperor—I wonder if this young Grand Coordinator can withstand the harsh winds of the Jinjiang River?"

The moment the list was written, Lian Guoshi's calm expression froze, and his eyes widened abruptly.

Suddenly, lightning pierced through the rain curtain outside the tent, and the bright light instantly illuminated the tent, making the silver fish charm at Lian Guoshi's waist shine with a bluish-white luster.

......

Six days later, on the second day of the ninth month, at the third quarter of the Shen hour.

The Temple of Loyalty is located in the eastern suburbs of Xiaoquanchang.

Zhu Cilang silently stared at the damp salt frost on the bluestone wall.

This shrine, dedicated to "Duan Wenchang, a loyal and valiant general of the Tang Dynasty," is now crowded with elite soldiers of the Beijing Garrison, all clad in armor.

Sunset.

Suddenly, rays of light burst forth from the clouds, and the torrential rain that had lasted for seven days finally stopped this morning.

The east wind, carrying the scent of pine needles, swept across the Chengdu Plain, carrying the traces of the march towards the western camp.

Inside the Jingzhong Temple, the blood-red color of the setting sun was reflected in the puddles.

Zhu Cilang stood in front of Duan Wenchang's clay sculpture, the iron-scaled wrist guards hovering three feet away.

His gaze was deep, as if he were having a silent conversation with this famous Tang Dynasty general.

"When Lord Duan was in charge of Xichuan and pacified Nanzhao, he led only eight hundred Mo Dao soldiers when he launched a night raid on the Tibetan camp."

In the instant he turned around, the incense ash swept away by his cloak fluttered like fine snowflakes.

"All generals, listen to my command!"

Zhu Cilang slammed the gilded hilt of his sword heavily onto the blue brick.

The setting sun swept across their brow bones, creating a line of light and shadow on the generals' faces.

"Commander Zhou!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

Zhou Dingchang clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell.

"You are to lead a thousand light cavalry and take down the Guanghan outpost before 7 PM."

Zhou Dingchang's Sichuan accent, booming like muffled thunder, erupted from his thick beard:

"Your subordinate obeys! I will lead my men to raze the Sevenfold Deer Fortress!"

Upon receiving the order, the generals stood in solemn silence.

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over everyone, and the plan to launch a night raid on Chengdu Prefecture officially began at this moment.