Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

Because of Zhang Da's decision, the candlelight in the county government's main hall burned from dusk till late at night, the flickering flames casting anxious shadows throughout the room.

Upon hearing Zhang Da's unwise decision, the room was filled with pleading, attempts to dissuade him, indignation, and worry; the clamor almost lifted the roof off.

Everyone was desperately trying to hold him back, to hold onto this young pillar of strength who had just pulled Shaoyang out of the flames of war and had just given everyone land to cultivate and food to eat.

Some even threatened suicide...

Even so, Zhang Da remained determined.

"If we want to climb to the next level, this is the way we have to go."

Zhang Da said this

Li Er immediately knelt down, and the arrow wound on his shoulder, which had not fully healed, bled again with the violent movement.

"Brother! I'll go with you! We happen to have three hundred cavalrymen protecting you. If anything happens, we'll definitely bring you back safe and sound!"

"Yes!" Liu Binghuo, Sun Min, Wang Tui, and the others knelt down in unison. "We'll all go! With our numbers, the government troops won't dare to make a move!"

Zhang Da stood before the jury, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"Get up, everyone."

Nobody moved.

Zhang Da raised his voice, enunciating each word clearly: "I told you all to get up."

The crowd reluctantly stood up, but still stared intently at him.

"Do you think that bringing a few hundred or a few thousand more men will guarantee my safety? Or make Yang Sichang think twice?"

Zhang Da sneered.

"Innocent."

"Yang Sichang is the Grand Coordinator, wielding the Imperial Sword and controlling the troops of six provinces. If he really wanted to kill me, let alone three hundred cavalrymen, even if he brought three thousand soldiers and all the people of Shaoyang, he could still kill me when the time came."

His words left the entire room speechless.

"I will go alone. It would be best if I could come back. If something happens and I can't come back, you have soldiers, food, and cities. You still have room to negotiate with the court and have a chance to live."

"Dalang..." Zhou Wenqu's eyes reddened, and his voice choked with sobs, "How could you say such a thing... You will definitely come back, we are all waiting for you to come back."

Zhang laughed, increasingly resembling a competent leader, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke in a tone that was calm to the point of being cruel.

"Life is unpredictable. There are some things I must make clear now."

He turned to face the assembled key personnel, his expression as resolute as if he were issuing a final testament.

"If I, Zhang Dayi, go to Xiangyang and there is no further news, please remain calm and do not raise an army to seek revenge. Do not rebel."

Zhang Wen immediately retorted, but was stopped by Zhang Da with one hand.

"My death is my own affair. It has nothing to do with you. If you truly care about me even a little bit, then hold onto Shaoyang and live well. Then I can rest in peace in the afterlife."

Perhaps it is true that a dying person's words are kind.

Zhang Da's words brought tears to the eyes of all the men in the room, and sobs rose and fell.

"If I do not return, Zhang Wen will take over as the prefect of Shaoyang. — Zhang Wen, you are quick-tempered and impulsive. In the future, listen to the advice of Zhou Wenqu and Li Er. Do not raise troops without authorization, and do not act rashly. Guard the four gates and pacify the people."

"Zhou Wenqu, you are in charge of household registration, land register, grain and salary, taxes, and appeasing the local gentry. All civil affairs are under your jurisdiction."

Zhou Wenqu bowed, his voice choked with emotion: "Your subordinate... obeys."

……

……

With the orders issued and responsibilities clearly defined, Zhang Da meticulously organized the key positions in Shaoyang.

In this way, Zhang Da spent another half an hour arranging his affairs after his death.

The sound of weeping rose from inside the hall, becoming increasingly difficult to suppress, and the crowd once again tried to persuade each other.

"Da Lang—!"

"Brother, you can't leave—!"

"We're waiting for you to come back, you must come back—!"

Zhang Da closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a deep stillness.

He walked into the hall and slowly bowed to the crowd.

"I, Zhang Daxian, would like to express my gratitude to you all."

Then Zhang Dazhi stood up, his tone suddenly changing to one of utmost solemnity and seriousness.

"And one more thing, you must remember it perfectly—"

"Our enemies have never been the Ming Dynasty's officials and soldiers, Zhang Xianzhong, or the refugees of the world."

"They are the Later Jin Tartars from outside the Great Wall."

The entire room was stunned.

No one expected that he would say this at this critical moment of life and death.

Zhang Da earnestly instructed

"I predict that within ten years, the Tartars will break through the pass and march south. At that time, their iron cavalry will trample across the Central Plains, burning, killing, looting, massacring cities, and exterminating the people."

When the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed, whether they are Ming soldiers or local militiamen like us, no matter what grudges or grievances we may have, we must put aside our personal feuds, forget past grievances, and work together to drive out the Tartars!

"Remember, we are Han Chinese. We are not guarding the Ming Dynasty's territory, but guarding the homeland of the Han people, our wives, children, and the elderly, and this land."

"When the Tartars come, everything will be destroyed. At that time, whoever fights the Tartars will be an ally; whoever surrenders to the Tartars will be a sinner for all time."

"Did you all remember that!"

Although the crowd did not understand Zhang Da's intentions, they roared in unison in the face of this scene, their cries turning into grief and indignation, and their grief and indignation turning into vows.

"Got it!"

"Drive out the barbarians and defend our homeland!"

The sound shook the roof tiles and lingered for a long time.

Zhang Da let out a long sigh of relief, hoping they could really do it.

"Disperse, everyone. What happened tonight must not be told to outsiders. Everyone should perform their duties and keep the people at ease."

……

……

The hall finally fell silent, with only the candlelight burning quietly.

Zhang Da was in no hurry to go to Xiangyang with the envoy. Instead, he turned around and walked towards the county government office.

Passing through the corridor and across the courtyard, the lamplight was warm and gentle; Zhou Nianhui must be waiting for Zhang Da.

As I pushed open the door, a wave of warmth washed over me.

Zhou Nianhui was sitting under the lamp mending clothes, her needlework was fine and the light was soft, a scene of tranquility.

These past few days had indeed been quite peaceful, giving her a rosy glow.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"My husband is back."

She put down her needlework, rose to greet him, and naturally smoothed the wrinkles in his robes.

"It's chilly at night, why aren't you wearing another layer? Have you finished the meeting in the hall? You don't look well, are you tired? I'll go heat up some soup for you."

As she was about to turn around, Zhang Da gently grabbed her wrist.

Zhou Nianhui was taken aback, turned to look at him, and asked with a puzzled look in her eyes, "Husband?"

Zhang Da looked at her, originally intending to say goodbye and tell her, "I'm going to Xiangyang."

It's a pity that once I saw her, I couldn't bear to say anything more.

Zhang laughed and gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired from discussing things for so long."

Zhou Nianhui reached out and touched his forehead to make sure he didn't have a fever. She scolded him a few times, then started rambling on about the interesting things that had happened to her in the county in the past few days...

Zhang Da took her hand, pulled her to sit down under the lamp, and then listened quietly to her story.

"Niannian," Zhang Da suddenly spoke after listening for a while, "No matter what happens in the future, you must live well, eat well, sleep well, and take good care of yourself."

Zhou Nianhui was taken aback, looked up at him, and a hint of unease flashed in her eyes.

"Husband, why are you saying such things? Has something happened?"

"No." Zhang Da immediately smiled, ruffled her hair, and said in a relaxed tone, "I just suddenly realized that being able to marry you is the greatest blessing of my life. No matter where I go or what I do in the future, I will always remember you and will definitely come back to find you."

Although Zhou Nianhui still had doubts, she was comforted by his gentle tone, nodded, and nestled on his shoulder, "Yes, I'll wait for you. No matter where you go, I'll wait for you to come back."

They leaned against each other under the lamp, feeling warm and cozy.

Zhang Da held her tightly for a long, long time, until Zhou Nianhui nestled in his arms and gradually fell asleep, her breathing even and her eyes serene.

Zhang Da gently picked her up, placed her on the bed, covered her with the blankets, and finally, he bent down and gently kissed her forehead.

"Wait for me to come back."

……

……

The messenger sent by Yang Sichang had already prepared horses and was quietly waiting outside the county government office.

Upon seeing Zhang Da arrive alone, the envoy's eyes flashed with surprise, and he immediately bowed in greeting.

"Master Zhang, are you ready?"

Zhang Da mounted his horse with swift and decisive movements, without any further hesitation.

"Let's go."

.