Chapter 53

In Zhang Ke's memory, Doctor Zhou had always been a plump old man with a ruddy complexion, neatly dressed. However, the man before him now had disheveled hair, a bruised forehead, and had lost one of his shoes, his exposed foot frozen red like a carrot, looking utterly wretched.

Zhang Ke quickly reached out to help Doctor Zhou up, asking in surprise, "Sir, what happened to you? Qiao Gui, take Mr. Zhou to change his shoes and get some medicine."

"Ah!" Qiao Gui turned to support Doctor Zhou, but Doctor Zhou clung tightly to Zhang Ke's arm, tears streaming down his face.

"Zhang Erlang, even if we are not close, we are still fellow villagers of Dacheng Fort. I beg you, find a way to save Dacheng Fort!"

Doctor Zhou's face was full of anxiety, clearly not feigning it. Zhang Ke was also puzzled; what could have happened to Dacheng Fort? Even if the Tartars attacked Dacheng Fort, He Bay Village could hold out, so there was no reason for Dacheng Fort to fall.

"Mr. Zhou, don't worry, let's talk slowly."

At this moment, Qiao Tieshan, Qiao Fu, Yue Zixuan, Wu Boyan, and others had just returned from distributing relief funds. They all gathered around to listen to Doctor Zhou's account.

"Zhang Erlang, this matter starts with Wan Baihu's son, Wan Anliang. That boy heard of your success, and out of jealousy, fear, and lust, he fell ill. Today, while I was treating Wan Anliang, I overheard a conversation in a room. They were discussing how the Taiji would withdraw if given three hundred people and two thousand taels of silver. Then I heard Wan Baiquan's voice, suggesting that the newly relocated villagers and several dozen families from the eastern city be sent outside the walls to the Tartars!"

As Doctor Zhou spoke, his eyes blazed with anger. "Is Wan Baiquan even human? As the head of Dacheng Fort, he should be protecting the people, not pushing them into the fire! My father-in-law and in-laws are in the eastern city. How can I stand by and watch them die!"

Qiao Tieshan gritted his teeth and said, "Wan Baiquan is indeed a scoundrel. Mr. Zhou, how did you get out of the city?"

Doctor Zhou hurriedly explained, "I overheard this and immediately left the Wan family. Just then, the Tartars attacked from the northwest, causing chaos. I went to find Magistrate Sun, but his door was tightly shut. Fortunately, Commander Xie, who guards the southern wall, is my friend. I once saved his mother, so he risked his life to let me out. I was originally going to seek help from Zhenyi Fort, but on my way, I passed He Bay Village and was brought in by Young Master Qiao."

Doctor Zhou recounted the events in detail, and as Zhang Ke and the others listened, their anger grew. Xu Bangyan and Wan Baiquan were truly despicable, treating the people as grass, ready to sacrifice them at will!

Zhang Ke, suppressing his anger, said, "Let's sort this out first."

Wu Boyan, quick-witted, said, "Sir, the Tartars who invaded this time are Dai An Ergai. He was enraged by our escape and attacked. After suffering losses here, he moved to Dacheng Fort to make up for his losses, demanding silver and people. This makes sense, but it's shameful that Dacheng Fort has no backbone, allowing the Tartars to take whatever they want!"

Qiao Tieshan sighed, "The officials in our court are already corrupt. Xu Bangyan can hire bandits to attack us, so selling out the people of Dacheng Fort is no surprise!"

Doctor Zhou, unaware of the bandits, asked urgently, "Someone attacked you?"

"That's right!" Zhang Ke smiled. "Three days ago, a group of bandits attacked us but were driven off. Yesterday, Dai An Ergai, the leader of the Tartars attacking Dacheng Fort, first attacked He Bay Village. Thanks to everyone's united efforts, we killed over a hundred Tartars. This morning, they returned to Dacheng Fort."

Thud!

Doctor Zhou knelt heavily on the ground, banging his head. Initially, he had only wanted to seek help from Zhang Ke's forces, but now he placed all his hopes on Zhang Ke. Looking around at the other warriors, who could match the feat of killing over a hundred Tartars?

"Zhang Erlang, I beg you on behalf of the people of Dacheng Fort. Please don't stand by and watch us die!"

"Mr. Zhou, please get up. I will do my best, but this is not easy."

Doctor Zhou's eyes widened, and he said sternly, "Zhang Ke, have you changed since becoming an official? You can kill over a hundred Tartars, so why not lead your troops to Dacheng Fort?"

Zhang Ke couldn't help but laugh bitterly and shake his head.

Qiao Tieshan, displeased, said, "Mr. Zhou, you care about the people, and I, Qiao Tieshan, am also from Dacheng Fort. However, this is not simple. We have only been training for less than ten days. With the protection of the city walls, we can fight the Tartars, but in the open field, their cavalry would crush us in one charge."

Doctor Zhou was stunned, as he knew nothing about warfare.

"Can't we just enter Dacheng Fort? It has walls and a garrison. Can't they hold off the Tartars?"

Zhang Ke smiled bitterly, "Mr. Zhou, Xu Bangyan and Wan Baiquan might hate me more than the Tartars. They want to kill the innocent to claim credit, fearing I would expose them. They hired bandits and now are selling out the people to the Tartars. If the higher-ups knew, they would be executed ten times over!"

Doctor Zhou was shocked, sitting dazed on the kang. Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped his own face.

"It's all my fault, my incompetence! My poor daughter, I can't save you!"

Seeing Doctor Zhou's swollen face, everyone felt a burning shame. They were soldiers, some even former slaves of the Tartars, and they couldn't bear to see others suffer.

They looked at each other, their eyes falling on Zhang Ke.

Zhang Ke sighed, "Mr. Zhou, I will save the people, but we need a plan. A direct attack won't work; we don't have the strength. We need to use strategy! By the way, Mr. Zhou, who else knows about Xu Bangyan's plan to sell out the people?"

"They were discussing it in a secret room. I overheard it by chance. I found Magistrate Sun, but he wasn't there, so I left the city immediately, without even going home."

Zhang Ke frowned, pacing the room, then shook his head.

"That's not right!"

"What's not right?"

Zhang Ke smiled, "Xu Bangyan can't hide from the local power!"

Qiao Tieshan's eyes lit up, "Right, the defense commander of Dacheng Fort is still Sun Youguang. He must know. However, given his character, even if he knows, he won't intervene, as the Tartars leaving would benefit him."

Zhang Ke smiled, "A strong dragon can't overpower a local snake. If Sun Youguang can help, we have a chance. Mr. Zhou, can you return to Dacheng Fort and persuade Sun Youguang to cooperate?"

Doctor Zhou stood up, bowing, "To save my family and the people, I am willing to die!"

Zhang Ke nodded, smiling, "With Magistrate Sun as an insider, we can help save the people of Dacheng Fort. Yue Zixuan, you and Qiao Fu select fifty of the best horsemen and prepare for battle."

"Understood!" They bowed and left.

Zhang Ke and Qiao Tieshan escorted Doctor Zhou out of the village, giving him detailed instructions. Doctor Zhou, with years of medical experience, remembered everything.

Qiao Gui personally guided him around the Tartar camp to the southern wall. Three li away, Qiao Gui bowed and left. Doctor Zhou, determined, ran to the city wall, vowing he had never run so fast in his life!

"Is Commander Xie still there? I'm back!"

Commander Xie was startled, lowering his voice, "Mr. Zhou, are you crazy?"

"Commander Xie, no time for talk. The lives of the people are in your hands. Pull me up; I need to see the defense commander."

Commander Xie looked around. Xu Bangyan's men had just passed, so he secretly had his men lower a basket. Doctor Zhou returned to Dacheng Fort.

"Mr. Zhou, did you find reinforcements?"

Doctor Zhou nodded, "Commander Xie, your family has lived in Dacheng Fort for generations. For the sake of our people, you must do the right thing!"

"Mr. Zhou, I will do my best, but I fear I can't do much."

"You can if you want to. Tonight, someone will enter the city. Let them in."

Commander Xie patted his chest, "No problem, I will do it!"

Doctor Zhou gave a few more instructions and then secretly ran to Sun Youguang's house.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Open the door, open the door!" After two calls, no one answered. Doctor Zhou thought to himself, Zhang Erlang is indeed extraordinary!

He took out a name card and slipped it under the door. Less than half a minute later, the side door opened, and Sun Youguang's fat head appeared.

"Mr. Zhou, come in quickly."

"Humph!" Doctor Zhou sneered and walked in. Sun Youguang looked embarrassed, explaining as they walked, "Mr. Zhou, I am indeed ill, very ill..."

"Sir, you are ill, but with a madman's illness!" Doctor Zhou shouted, "Watching Xu Bangyan and Wan Baiquan act recklessly, are you still a defense commander of Dacheng Fort? Do you still care about the people?"

Sun Youguang's face was full of shame, saying, "I am forced to do this. They have more troops and power, and I have no choice but to comply."

"Sir, if they are executed, will you be spared? I secretly went to He Bay Village and told Zhang Erlang. He knows Wang Huazhen, and if this is exposed, as a defense commander, can the court spare you?"

Sun Youguang's forehead was sweating, his face twitching. In the morning, the Tartars attacked for an hour, causing heavy losses. Xu Bangyan and Wan Baiquan then found him, saying that if they paid two thousand taels of silver and three hundred people, the Tartars would withdraw.

Sun Youguang knew selling out the people was wrong, but he feared the Tartars and didn't dare offend Xu Bangyan. After much thought, he pretended to be ill, letting Xu Bangyan do as he pleased.

But when Sun Youguang saw Doctor Zhou with Zhang Ke's name card, he was truly afraid. If Zhang Ke knew about this, the court might execute his entire family!

"Mr. Zhou, you are harming me!"

Doctor Zhou smiled, "Sir, I have a message from Zhang Erlang. Protecting the people is your duty. Saving the people of Dacheng Fort is not harming you; it is saving you!"