Chief Armaments Master of the Ming Dynasty

Outside Puxian County, there are two roads.

One road leads eastward to Zhaocheng, Hongdong, and Huozhou, which is the Fenhe River Valley, the granary of Shanxi, densely populated and prosperous in its villages and towns.

One road leads westward to Shilou, Yonghe, Jizhou, and Xizhou, which is the Lüliang Mountains. The land is barren, the people are poor, and the population is sparse, but the mountains are high and the forests are dense, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Miao Mei chose the East Road.

"Brother, the east is rich, the west is poor," Miao Mei said. "I'll go to the east to draw the government troops' attention there. You take the main force to the west, find a place that's easy to defend and difficult to attack, and establish a foothold there, leaving us a way out."

Wang Zishun looked at him.

He knew perfectly well what Miao Mei was planning—the eastern route was rich, but also more dangerous.

The government army's main forces were concentrated along the Taiyuan-Pingyang line, and the eastern route was right in the heart of the government army's territory.

Taking the eastern route would be tantamount to walking into the line of fire of the government troops.

"Miao Mei, the eastern route is too dangerous," Wang Zishun said. "You come with me to the western route, and let Liu Guolong—"

"Brother, listen to me," Miao Mei interrupted him, her smile faint. "You saved my life. That year, I owed gambling debts in the border town, and the creditors came to cut off my hand. You paid off the debts for me. I've said it before, this life belongs to you. Now that the troops are being divided, someone has to draw the government troops away. I'm the most suitable."

Wang Zishun fell silent.

Miao Mei patted his shoulder. "Brother, stop being so wishy-washy. We rebels have already risked our lives. I'm not afraid of death. I'm just afraid of dying in vain. As long as we can find a way to survive for our brothers, my life, Miao Mei's life, will be worth it."

Wang Zishun's Adam's apple bobbed. Then, he hugged Miao Mei tightly.

The two parted ways at a crossroads outside Puxian County.

Miao Mei led more than a thousand people eastward.

The prince then led the remaining people westward.

Huan'er, riding on that skinny horse, glanced back at Miao Mei's group.

She saw Miao Mei walking at the very front of the group, her back straight, like a flag.

She didn't know where Miao Mei was going. All she knew was that with her uncle gone, she didn't know if she would ever see him again.

Wang Zishun walked at the front of the group without looking back.

The group marched silently along the rugged mountain paths of the Lüliang Mountains. Steep cliffs lined both sides, and a narrow sliver of sky hung overhead. The sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps echoed through the valleys.

A dozen days later, Prince Shun captured Shilou.

Shilou is a small county town in the western part of Pingyang Prefecture. Its city walls are even lower than those of Puxian County, and the garrison is less than fifty men.

Prince Shun's troops entered the city with almost no resistance.

The county magistrate had long since fled, and the garrison commander had surrendered.

Prince Shun did not kill those who surrendered.

He incorporated the surrendered soldiers into his ranks, opened the granaries to distribute grain, and replenished supplies.

After resting in Shilou for a period of time, they continued westward and captured Yonghe.

Yonghe was smaller and poorer than Shilou.

The county treasury only had a few hundred bushels of grain and a few dozen taels of silver.

But Yonghe has one advantage—it's located deep in the Lüliang Mountains, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only a treacherous path leading to the outside world. It's easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Wang Zishun decided to settle down in Yonghe.

Meanwhile, Miao Mei's forces were advancing rapidly eastward along the Fen River Valley.

First stop, Zhaocheng.

Zhaocheng is a small county town in the northeast of Pingyang Prefecture, located on the east bank of the Fen River. It is a necessary route from Taiyuan to Pingyang.

The garrison in the city was larger than that in Pu County, numbering two hundred, and was led by a commander surnamed He.

Miao Mei did not launch a strong attack.

He sent several men, disguised as refugees, to infiltrate the city.

At night, they set fire to the city and created chaos.

The defending troops panicked and scrambled to put out the fires. Miao Mei seized the opportunity to breach the city gates.

Commander He was killed in street fighting, and Zhao City fell.

After resting in Zhaocheng and replenishing her supplies and weapons, Miao Mei continued eastward and captured Hongdong.

Hongdong is a large county in the northeast of Pingyang Prefecture, with a large population and prosperous commerce.

There are many wealthy households in the city, and the county treasury is relatively full.

The garrison consisted of three hundred men, commanded by a military officer surnamed Ma.

Ma Dusi was a better fighter than He Qianzong. He received advance notice of the fall of Zhao City and strengthened its defenses, setting up several small cannons on the city walls.

Miao Mei's troops had just reached the city walls when the cannons fired. Iron balls whistled through the ranks, felling several men. Miao Mei's first attack was repelled.

"Brother, this city is not easy to take." A leader named Zhang Erhu wiped the blood from his face, his voice hoarse. He was a capable henchman of Miao Mei, originally a border soldier from Yansui Town, with immense strength, and wielded a long-handled axe.

Miao Mei frowned as she looked at the few small cannons still smoking on the city wall.

His men had no cannons or siege equipment.

A direct assault would only result in certain death.

"No rush," he said. "Let's just circle around it first."

On the third night of the siege, Miao Mei sent a few men to sneak up to the city wall, dig a small hole at the base of the wall, and stuff in several packets of gunpowder.

He seized the gunpowder from a warehouse in Zhaocheng County; it was of poor quality, but there was a considerable quantity.

As dawn approached, the gunpowder was ignited.

boom--!

With a deafening roar, a breach was blasted in the city wall. Debris flew everywhere, and dust billowed. The defending troops panicked and retreated in disarray.

"Charge!" Miao Mei drew her knife and charged towards the opening first.

Zhang Erhu followed closely behind, wielding his large axe.

The two rushed into the breach, one after the other.

The defenders fought desperately, their swords clashing and screams echoing through the air.

Miao Mei's face was splattered with blood, it was impossible to tell whether it was from the enemy or her own.

Zhang Erhu swung his axe, splitting open the head of a garrison soldier, splattering brains and blood all over him.

He laughed wildly, like a madman, and charged at another enemy.

Ma Dusi, with his personal guards, fought to the death at the breach and refused to retreat.

He wielded a long spear with ruthless skill, and successively stabbed down several rebel soldiers who charged at him.

Miao Mei and he met.

The two clashed with their weapons amidst the ruins of the breach, sparks flying everywhere.

Ma Dusi's marksmanship was steady, accurate, and ruthless, clearly showing he had formal training. Miao Mei's knife skills were chaotic, but every strike was aimed at vital points, all practical skills honed in the crucible of death.

The two fought for more than a dozen rounds, with neither gaining the upper hand.

Just then, Zhang Erhu rushed in from the side and swung his axe at Ma Dusi's ribs. Ma Dusi hurriedly parried with his spear, and Miao Mei seized the opportunity to stab him in the throat with her knife.

Ma Dusi's eyes widened, blood gushed from his mouth, and he slowly collapsed.

Hongdong, collapsed.

Miao Mei stood on the city wall, gazing at the city he had just conquered.

The people in the city hid in their homes, trembling with fear.

The streets were littered with corpses—some of the guards, others of his brothers.

Zhang Erhu walked over, his face still smeared with brains and blood. "Brother, the county treasury inventory is out. Three thousand shi of grain, eight hundred taels of silver, and quite a bit of cloth and iron."

Miao Mei nodded. "Distribute half of the grain to the people in the city first."

Zhang Erhu was taken aback. "Distribute it to the people?"

"Why should the people side with us if we don't distribute grain?" Miao Mei said. "We are no longer bandits. We are the soldiers of 'Hengtian Yizi Wang'. Go and post notices saying that Hengtian Yizi Wang is opening the granaries to distribute grain, and the people of Hongdong, regardless of age, will each receive five dou of grain."

Zhang Erhu opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, and turned to give the order.

Miao Mei stood alone on the city wall, gazing at the vast plains of the Fenhe River Valley outside the city.

The wheat field is covered with withered grass—not a drop of rain has fallen since last autumn.

Even in Shanxi, a relatively prosperous region, the shadow of drought still looms over every inch of the land.

Will the people who receive the food be grateful to him?

Perhaps. But more importantly, they'll know that following "King Hengtian Yizi" guarantees a living. That's enough.