With 100,000 elite soldiers at the start, what should you call me?

……

Massacre of the city.

This was a tactic familiar to all Qing soldiers.

The Qing Dynasty had a set of policies for the Han Chinese territories that had not yet been recovered.

Any town that resisted the Qing Dynasty's recapture efforts was massacred after the city fell. Those who were sensible enough to shave their heads, change their clothes, and surrender could live peacefully.

For those places that surrendered and then rebelled again, the city would be massacred after being recaptured, but the slaughter would be even more thorough, with every single person in the city killed.

For example, in the second year of the Shunzhi reign, the Qing army captured Yangzhou, and Dodo ordered a ten-day massacre of the city, turning the prosperous Yangzhou into a living hell in an instant.

The people of Jiading rose up in rebellion after shaving their heads, surrendered but then rebelled again. Li Chengdong ordered the massacre of the city three times, resulting in no fewer than 200,000 deaths and rivers of blood.

The people of Jiangyin defended the city for 81 days. After the Qing army breached the city, they carried out a large-scale massacre, killing no fewer than 170,000 people. Only 53 people survived.

The Qing army's swords showed no mercy to men, women, or children; they were all demons on earth.

However, this act of slaughtering the people in the areas they occupied before the war broke the bottom line for both Kong Youde and Zhang Cunren.

However, this makes sense, since two hundred years later, in the battle against the British army in Zhenjiang, the Qing army first massacred the city before starting the battle.

Moreover, the Qing army is now even more brutal.

"General Jingnan, this might not be a good idea," Zhang Cunren said tentatively.

Chen Tai glared fiercely at Zhang Cunren; "Not good? What's wrong with it?! I believe Bahana and the others will agree! Prince Gongshun, don't you think so? Do you two want to defy the decision of the Manchu Eight Banners?"

Upon hearing this, Kong Youde felt as if the whip on the back of his head was being tugged, and he instantly remembered his identity and immediately agreed.

"Very well, General Jingnan's plan kills two birds with one stone, why not do it?"

Chen Tai burst into laughter; "King Gongshun is a true friend!"

"There's no time to lose, let's act now."

Chen Tai led his Eight Banners soldiers and immediately launched an operation in Jianyang City.

Kong Youde followed, and Zhang Cunren followed closely behind.

Even before the war began, the people of Jianyang were filled with fear and unease.

"Has the rebel army broken into the city?" Wang You'er heard the sound of horses' hooves running in the street and thought about the many unfamiliar soldiers who had appeared in the city in recent days. He became alert and exchanged most of his family's money for food.

He hid at home with his wife, son, and daughter.

Just then, there was a loud banging on the door of the neighbor across the street, and a group of soldiers stood at the door, brandishing swords and shouting.

"Open the door! If you don't open the door, I'll kill your whole family!"

"Why are you knocking? Get out of the way."

Several soldiers carried wooden stakes and rammed them directly into the gate, which opened with a bang.

The soldiers swarmed in, and then there was a cacophony of shouts, screams, and pleas for mercy.

The Wang You'er family was terrified.

"Eat sparingly, and don't light a fire. I'm going to check on the situation across the street."

Wang You'er mustered his courage and went to the front door. Through the crack, he saw the tragic scene of his neighbor across the hall.

The child was impaled on a spear, the man's legs were broken and he lay on the ground covered in blood, and the woman's body was covered in wounds, like a broken rag doll.

Wang Youer, a grown man, was so frightened that his legs trembled and he covered his mouth with his hands to prevent himself from vomiting.

He quickly went back inside.

"Woman, Zhixing, Jiajia, hide quickly!"

Wang You'er looked terrified and panicked, and hurriedly tried to hide with the child.

Just then, a deep, forceful knocking sound came from outside the door; it was more like a banging on the door than a knock.

"Open the door, fellow villager, I need to borrow something."

The Qing army has arrived.

Wang You'er pulled his two children and ran towards the cellar.

His wife, carrying a bag of grain, followed at the back.

"Zhixing, Jiajia, no matter what happens later, don't come out of here."

The two children seemed to realize something, and their eyes immediately reddened.

"Don't cry!"

"You're not allowed to make a sound!"

As the father, Wang You'er lowered his voice and sternly rebuked his two children.

Before they could say anything, the door was kicked open with a bang.

A look of terror flashed in Wang You'er's eyes. He quickly stuffed a bag of grain into the cellar and blocked the entrance.

He pulled his wife to the master bedroom, and the couple huddled together, trembling.

Just then, several fierce Qing soldiers kicked open the door and saw the couple. They couldn't help but sneer.

"Hand over the grain and silver, and we'll let you go."

His wife nestled in Wang You'er's arms, on the verge of tears, and Wang You'er spoke tremblingly.

"Gentlemen, the silver is all yours, and the grain is in the kitchen."

Wang You'er trembled as he took a sewn purse out from under his pillow.

The leading Qing soldier snatched it away and poured it out; it was all copper coins and two pieces of silver.

"This little bit isn't even enough to fill a gap between the brothers' teeth."

"Are you kidding your brothers?"

"I think you're tired of living. Brothers, beat him up, drag his wife out, and let the brothers vent their anger."

The Qing soldiers behind them let out strange cries and pounced on them like beasts.

Wang You'er yelled and pulled out a kitchen knife from under the covers, slashing at the target. His wife also pulled out scissors, ready to fight back.

However, the couple were ultimately no match for the Qing soldiers and were tragically raped and killed.

While the Qing army was massacring Jianyang, the New Army's operations were progressing smoothly.

When Zhou Zhi led his navy to break the blockade and sail upstream.

The Qing navy was not idle either. After receiving Kong Youde's order, Wan Deren assembled the Qing navy at the water gate, ready to set sail.

"Damn it, what a bunch of beasts." Wan Deren had gathered his troops outside the city when he overheard some noises inside. He sent someone to inquire and learned that the Qing army inside the city was massacring people.

Wan Deren couldn't help but curse under his breath.

But he dared not show it, because there were Manchu Eight Banners people around him, and if he dared to show the slightest dissatisfaction, he would be beheaded.

However, most of his soldiers were from Jianning Prefecture, and many were from Jianyang. When they found out, they became somewhat out of control.

Most of the Manchu Tartars were not good at swimming. They were invincible in horsemanship and archery, but they were no match for naval warfare. Therefore, only a few Manchus could be sent to monitor Wan Deren.

Just then, a fast horse came galloping in.

"General, the King of Gongshun has ordered you to annihilate the rebel navy."

"understood."

Upon receiving the order, Wan Deren immediately commanded: "Brothers, set out, defeat the rebels, and I'll give you silver and wives."

However, when he uttered those words, no one moved.

The deputy general standing to the side frowned and reprimanded him.

"Why can't any of you understand what I'm saying? Are you trying to rebel?"

At this moment, a captain looked at Wan Deren and shouted, his voice trembling with grief and indignation: "General!"

"Please tell us, General, what has happened inside the city?"

At this moment, all the soldiers turned their gazes toward Wan Deren.

When the soldiers saw Wan Deren, he instinctively looked away, not daring to meet their gaze.

"Wan Deren, is this the subordinate you trained?" Hajid stared intently at Wan Deren.

"Zhu Wu, step back now!" Wan Deren shouted.

"General, do you know but don't want to talk about it? Fine, I'll tell you all. Kong Youde has ordered a massacre of the city, to kill all of our relatives and family members inside!" Zhu Wu shouted, he couldn't hold back any longer.

He immediately drew his longsword; "I've rebelled! Kill the Tartars!"

These words caused an immediate explosion at the scene, as if a powder keg had been ignited by a flame.

Hajid was horrified and wanted to lead his men to escape.

Zhu Wu and other generals immediately stepped forward to subdue Wan Deren, and seized Hajid and several other Manchus, hacking them to death with knives.

The Qing navy mutinied.