The New Destiny of the Ming Dynasty

After analyzing the advantages of timing and location for both sides in front of everyone, Yang Zhen publicly promised that if the Tartars landed on the island and everyone was in danger, he would lead his troops to stay behind to cover the retreat, while the other troops would evacuate first.

Yang Zhen's actions greatly calmed the people's hearts, and the panic caused by the Tartars' burning of the reed marshes quickly dissipated on the sandbar island.

The fire in the west continued to burn fiercely under the strong sea breeze, and continued to spread south and north, with the fire area growing larger and larger.

Xu Changyong, Yuan Jin, and Zu Keyong, after listening to Yang Zhen's analysis, all knew that what Yang Zhen said was true. Now that they had received Yang Zhen's promise that they would retreat once the Tartars attacked Shazhou, they were all relieved.

Seeing that the fire showed no signs of abating, the group dispersed, some returning to control the army while others went back to sleep and rest.

After the outsiders left, Yang Zhen gave his old subordinates some instructions for the night and was about to send them away so he could relive his old dreams when he suddenly saw a person in the distance carrying a torch in his left hand and a heavy object in his right hand, walking quickly toward him.

As the man walked, he shouted, "Lord Yang! It's me, Ma Liu! I've found it! I've found Arsalan's head! The head of a Jiala Zhangjing! You've done a great service, sirs!"

This guy, Ma Liu, was a bit like Zhang Guogan in his chatter; he walked quickly forward while constantly shouting.

When he got closer, Yang Zhencai could see clearly the heavy object he was carrying in his right hand. It turned out to be a huge, shiny, bluish-black head!

Ma Liu came to Yang Zhen, then knelt on one knee, stuck the torch in his left hand into the ground, held the big head in his hands and handed it forward, and immediately said: "My lord! This is the head of the Manchu Banner of Bordered Yellow, Bayara Gabuxi Xianjiala Zhangjing, Alsalan!"

"I've seen him several times and recognize him clearly! I even found my master Wuyashan's head in that pile! He forcibly took my own sister!"

"My sister is only twelve years old! I truly wish I could eat her flesh and drink her blood! I also want to thank you, sir, for avenging me!"

After hearing Ma Liu's words, Yang Zhen took another step closer to him, looked down at him, and asked, "Are you sure this is Al-Saran's head!?"

Yang Zhen stepped forward, and the others around him, such as Zhang Degui, Zhang Chen, Li Lu, Pan Wenmao, Yan San, and others, also stepped forward a step or two, surrounding Ma Liu in the middle.

Although these people did not know who this Alsalan, whom Yang Zhen was concerned about, was, they were all intrigued when they heard from Ma Liu that he was a Jiala Zhangjing in the Bayala Camp of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner.

Now, the military system within the Manchu Eight Banners has changed. The general is no longer called the general, but the Angbang Zhangjing, and the deputy general is no longer called the deputy general, but the Meile Zhangjing.

As for Jiala Zhangjing, he was a general second only to Angbang Zhangjing and Meile Zhangjing, equivalent to a military officer in the Ming Dynasty.

Considering his status as a Jiala Zhangjing in the Bayala Camp of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, he was far more powerful than an ordinary Jiala Zhangjing.

The night before last, they launched a night raid on the Tartars' grain supply camp, claiming to have killed a Tartar prince, but ultimately failed to bring back the prince's head.

So, in the end, it's impossible to prove anything. The biggest gain that can be proven is actually the head of this Jiala Zhangjing right in front of us.

Everyone was staring at the huge head in Ma Liu's hand when Yang Zhen suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the small braid on the top of the head, and lifted the head up in front of him.

Using the torches handed to him by the crowd, Yang Zhen carefully examined the front of the head. It had a thick beard, a flat nose, and a face full of scars. There were also a pair of eyes bulging out on its large face, which clearly showed that the person must have been extremely angry when they were alive.

Yang Zhen grabbed the braid on the top of the head with his right hand, brought the face close to his eyes for a moment, then casually tossed it back to Ma Liu, and said, "Very good! You recognized Alsalan, so you've done a small favor! Ma Liu—I'm letting you go now, are you willing?!"

Yang Zhen's words startled everyone around him, including Ma Liu, who had obviously not expected this. He was stunned for a moment and then looked up at Yang Zhen.

Upon hearing Yang Zhen's words, Ma Liu's heart was in turmoil.

Of course he wanted to leave. He didn't want to fight. He was just a poor Han Chinese bondservant who was forced to follow his master to the battlefield. He only wanted to make some contributions to change his status as a slave, but because he was afraid of death, he dared not go to Songshan Army.

It just so happened that his master, Uyashan, had forcibly taken his sister, and out of consideration for this, he left him in the rear camp to guard his belongings.

But to his utter surprise, even though he managed to stay in the rear camp, he couldn't escape the unexpected disaster. He encountered a raiding party of the Ming army. If he hadn't been quick-witted, he would be lying dead somewhere by now.

Of course he wanted to go back. Even if he had to continue being a servant, at least he would have a relatively stable place to live, and a younger sister who depended on him for survival was waiting for him.

However, the current situation made him hesitant to reveal his intentions. The Ming general had spared him because he had said he recognized Al-Saran, but now that he had found Al-Saran's head among the pile of heads, it was probably useless to the Ming general.

Thinking of this, Ma Liu felt a chill run down his spine. Could it be that the Ming general in front of him was just testing him and actually wanted to kill him?!

Ma Liu thought about it more and more and felt that this was indeed the case. After pondering for a moment, not daring to keep Yang Zhen waiting any longer, he immediately said, "Sir, you have avenged me! I must repay your kindness! I do not wish to leave!"

"Besides, my master, Uyashan, is already dead, and I've seen his head! Even if I went back, I would definitely not have a good end! My master is dead, but I am alive; if I went back, I would be punished! Moreover, I have already cut off my queue; I cannot go back!"

Yang Zhen did indeed have murderous intent for a moment. If Ma Liu had shown an expression of delight, joy, and gratitude, he would have killed him without hesitation.

Fortunately, Ma Liu was quick-witted. Not only did he not feel elated, but he also repeatedly expressed his unwillingness to leave, which surprised Yang Zhen.

"Ma Liu, how many years have you been living in the Tartar den? Can you speak the Jurchen language of the Manchu Tartars?"

If Ma Liu could speak Manchu, Yang Zhen wouldn't mind keeping him around. After all, Yang Zhen didn't have anyone around him who understood the truth about the Manchu women. In the future, when fighting against the Tartars, it would be impossible not to know the enemy and know oneself.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! My family used to live in Gaizhou City. After Gaizhou City was occupied by the Tartars, my family and I fled all the way to Marshal Mao! Later, Marshal Mao was gone, and my family and I went ashore and fled to Anzhou in Korea. Later, Anzhou was also captured, and my family and I became slaves of the Manchu Tartars!"

"If you do the math, the youngest was only fifteen or sixteen years old that year, and his little sister was not even three! Now, it's been about ten years—"

Hearing this, Yang Zhen raised his hand to interrupt Ma Liu, saying, "Since you don't want to go back and prefer to stay and serve in our advance camp, then stay for now! You'll serve in my personal guard under Commander Yan San. If you make further contributions in the future, I, Yang Zhen, will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

As soon as Yang Zhen finished speaking, Ma Liu knew that his life was spared, and immediately expressed his gratitude profusely. He then went to pay his respects to Yan San.

At this point, Yang Zhen temporarily put aside this matter and said to Zhang Degui, "Yang Zhan'ao and Guo Xiaowu haven't returned yet. I'm worried they might have encountered some danger. Go to Yuan Jin's camp later and ask him to send a team and a boat to search along the edge of the reed marshes to the west! If Yang Zhan'ao and the others return, we can provide backup!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Degui readily agreed and led several men to Yuan Jin's camp.

Yang Zhen glanced at the still raging fire in the west, then turned to the others and said, "Go back! Keep an eye on your own camps and your men! Make sure nothing goes wrong tonight! We'll discuss everything tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, everyone left without lingering and returned to their own camps. Only Yan San and Ma Liu stood to the side, carrying torches and Alsaran's head, waiting.

Yang Zhen looked at the raging fire in the west, then at the severed head in Ma Liu's hand, and was filled with mixed emotions.

The Tartars weren't stupid at all; they set fire to the reed marshes before Yang Zhen could, but even so, it did not diminish Yang Zhen's confidence in continuing to change his fate.

Because Al-Saran's head was with him, he was certain that his previous efforts had not been in vain, and he had begun to change his tragic fate in history.