The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

The plaza in front of the castle tower was piled high with the loot from the past three days, including thousands of sacks of grain neatly stacked at the base of the stone wall.

Gold and silver utensils and various copper coins were piled up like a small mountain on several straw mats dragged out from the rice shop, and several women were squatting beside them picking and choosing.

In a corner of the square, more than a hundred young Japanese women huddled together. They were the ones the hunters had spared because they couldn't bear to kill them. Some were still sobbing softly, while others had already cried their eyes out, staring blankly at the ground.

Yarha stood on the stone steps in front of the main gate of the castle tower, looking up at the five-story, six-tiered castle tower. The stone base of the castle tower was about three zhang high, and the gray-white stone cracks were filled with glutinous rice mortar, so thick that even a blade could not be inserted.

The outer defensive walls of the Honmaru, the First and Second Wings, had already been dismantled by the garrison inside. They moved timber and stones into the Honmaru to reinforce the last line of defense, and all troops were concentrated in the main castle tower.

All the windows of the main building were boarded up, leaving only firing ports. You could vaguely see people carrying matchlock guns walking back and forth inside. Under the eaves of the roof, there were also more than a dozen iron cannons weighing five or six hundred pounds each, with their muzzles pointing down at the stone wall, covering the entire square with their firing arc.

Yarha roughly estimated that there were at least a thousand able-bodied men inside, including the remaining samurai of the Kuroda clan, the guards of the castle tower, and some men who had hidden themselves in. These men were relying on the stone walls and cannons of the castle tower to defend it to the death, and he could not afford the cost of a direct assault.

"A direct assault won't work," Yarha said, turning to the old hunter. "Those dozen or so cannons are firing down from above. Half of our men will be dead as soon as they reach the foot of the stone wall. They have stored food and wells; they can hold out for half a month."

"Surround them and kill them!" A Jurchen woman squatted on the stone steps, took out a dry biscuit and took a bite. "We have plenty of food. Surround them without attacking, let them die of thirst and starvation!"

Yarha rolled his eyes. He had already interrogated some Japanese samurai and knew that this castle tower was the headquarters of a feudal lord, and that the grain stored inside was enough to feed ten thousand people for three years.

Before Yarha could speak, he suddenly stopped, glanced towards the square, and saw the old hunter leading a Japanese man towards them. The man broke free from the old hunter's grasp and shouted in Chinese, "I want to see your leader!"

"Let him come over." Yarha beckoned, and the two hunters released their grip. The Japanese man dusted off his knees and strode over.

He was a good 1.7 meters tall, considered tall among the Japanese. He had broad shoulders and a very upright posture. He wore a patched coarse cloth shirt and worn-out straw sandals. His face was angular, with thick, dark eyebrows, and he appeared to be around thirty years old.

The old hunter pointed the tip of his knife at the Japanese man: "Yarha, this is the man we just found in the slums. His name is Gao Yi. His father was a merchant from the Ming Dynasty, and his mother was a dancer here. He speaks fluent Chinese, even better than I do."

Yarha looked him up and down. The rule of the Han people was that Han people were supreme. Even if this person was only half Han Chinese and was a traitor, according to the military, he was still one of their own.

He planted his long sword in the ground, his tone much gentler than when he spoke to the Japanese: "Your name is Gao Yi? What do you want with me?"

Gao Yi didn't waste any words and went straight to the point: "You're from the Han army, aren't you? I saw your ships in Hakata Bay."

Yarha neither confirmed nor denied it. "What are you trying to say?"

Gao Yi turned around and pointed to the direction of the slum behind him, then pointed to the coastline of Hakata Bay to the west.

"I know you need more Han Chinese. Hakata Port is a major port with a history of trade between China and Japan for thousands of years. Merchants from China have been doing business here since the Tang Dynasty."

"Merchants would stay in the port for a year or two at a time. Some couldn't find wives in their hometowns, while others couldn't stand the loneliness and sought out women locally. After these Japanese women gave birth, the merchants from the Central Plains dared not bring them back to China because of court regulations or fear of their shrewish wives at home!"

These children were all left around Hakata Port, and generation after generation, the population grew to over a thousand in Hakata Port alone, and even more in the Nagasaki Domain to the west, an old trading port for both the Dutch and Chinese, where there were at least several thousand mixed-race children.

At this point, his tone became somewhat heavy: "People like us are neither human nor worthy of respect in Japan. The Japanese don't see us as Japanese; they call us 'Tang bastards.'"

Our father returned to the Central Plains and never came back. Most of the mixed-race children in Hakata Port lived in the slums near the port, making a living by fishing and carrying goods for others. No one cared for them; some didn't even have surnames, just randomly choosing a Japanese name.

Upon hearing this, Yarha's mind was already racing with calculations.

Before setting sail, Zhao Lie told him in Tianjin that once they arrived at the Japanese islands, anyone who could speak Chinese and was willing to serve the Han people was someone they could recruit.

As for granting them commoner status, that's a matter for the Ministry of Revenue; he doesn't need to worry about it.

As for granting them commoner status, that's a matter for the Ministry of Revenue; he doesn't need to worry about it.

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Book lovers are hotly debating: What exactly happened? Join the discussion!

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Exclusive! An exclusive interview with Fat Fish Who Is Not Afraid of Fire and behind-the-scenes stories of creating "The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in Betting in Beijing," available only to those who are not afraid of fire.

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Welcome to the fantasy world of historical fiction! The entrance is here:

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

Having a reading slump? Check out these historical novel recommendations!

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"

As for granting them commoner status, that's a matter for the Ministry of Revenue; he doesn't need to worry about it.

Thinking of this, Yarha asked.

"Of these people, how many could actually wield a knife?"

Gao Yi smiled upon hearing this. He knew he had made the right bet and could change his fate: "The young men are at least 300 or 400 years old. They are all used to doing rough work. If they can carry goods, they can also handle knives. And like me, they can all speak some Mandarin, recognize a few Chinese characters, and grew up listening to their fathers speak Mandarin."

"Three hundred." Yarha repeated, his gaze towards Gao Yi now changed, like a hunter suddenly smelling his prey. "So, are there really still several thousand in Nagasaki?"

"Yes, in recent years, Nagasaki has become the only trading port for the shogunate, resulting in an even larger number of people like us. There are also people from Hirado and Shimabara."

"Gao Yi," Yarha pulled his long sword from the ground, tapping the tip on the ground, "I'll give you a chance. Go to Hakata Port and bring all these people over here. Tell them that when the soldiers of the Great Han arrive in Kyushu, anyone of Han blood who can speak Han language and is willing to fight for the Great Han is a brother of mine, Yarha. The Great Han court recognizes this bloodline." He paused, then added, "If you bring them over, I'll make you their leader. For thirty years in Japan you've been called a Tang bastard; from today onward, you are a soldier of the Great Han."

Gao Yi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt on one knee, pounded his chest with his right hand, the movement clumsy but extremely forceful: "I am willing to serve you, sir."

Yarha reached out and pulled him up, saying to the old hunter, "Take the one with the quick legs and go with him to Hakata Port. Don't let those blind Japanese mess with him."

The old hunter responded, stuffed a dry biscuit into his mouth, clapped his hands, and turned to select men. Yarha turned back to Gao Yi, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go. Bring them all here. Tell your brothers that the Great Han won't let them be bullied again!"