Chapter 54

The night fell over Dacheng Fort, and every household in the city had their doors tightly shut. Some people trembled under their quilts, some hid in the woodsheds with their valuables, some blocked their doors with water jars, and some smeared soot on their faces...

The Tartars are coming!

It was like a curse, echoing incessantly in their ears.

"Will the court be able to hold them off, my husband?"

The man lowered his head deeply, "Sigh, if they could hold them off, they would. But... don't talk about it. Quickly, blacken your face more, tie up your cotton pants and coat. If the Tartars break in, we'll just have to leave it to fate!"

...

"Open the door, open it quickly!"

The courtyard gate was kicked open, and over a dozen soldiers rushed in with their weapons.

"Are they Tartars? Have the Tartars broken in?"

The woman was panic-stricken, her mouth wide open. The man, quick to react, stuffed his rough hand into her mouth.

"Damn woman, do you want to get us all killed!"

The man made a gesture to be quiet and cautiously peered out through the door crack.

It was Wan Baiquan's soldiers! What do they want?

"Han Changlu, get out here quickly! If you pretend to be a coward, I'll come in!"

The woman clung tightly to her husband's hand, her eyes red and shaking her head.

"Don't be afraid, they're all from Dacheng Fort. They probably want me to be a laborer and help move things. It's nothing to worry about."

Han Changlu, trembling, walked out of the house, his face pale as he looked at the soldiers.

"Sir, is there something wrong?"

"Hehe, if there was nothing wrong, who would come to you! You're in luck, come with us quickly!"

Han Changlu asked shakily, "What's going on? Explain clearly, and I'll go with you."

The leading soldier smirked, "Don't ask, you'll know when we get there!"

Several soldiers rushed forward and dragged him out without a word. Outside, Han Changlu was surprised to find that the entire street was being raided. Young and strong men were being taken, and even women were not spared. In the distance, he could hear the heart-wrenching screams from the corner of a wall.

Han Changlu could only pray silently that these beasts would not find his wife.

More and more people were being brought to the north of the city, gradually reaching two or three hundred, a large, dense crowd surrounded by soldiers with weapons.

"Is it enough?" Xu Bangyan asked, squinting his eyes.

Wan Baiquan hurriedly smiled, "Just a few dozen more, they'll be here soon."

"Hmm, make them hurry, we need to get rid of the Tartars quickly!"

Wan Baiquan nodded in agreement but then frowned, speaking in a low voice, "Son-in-law, I'm feeling uneasy. If this gets out, we're all finished!"

"Hehe, who dares to expose it? Who has the guts?"

"Zhang Ke!" Wan Baiquan said through gritted teeth, "This kid not only has backing but also some skills. He didn't manage to take down the Downhill Tiger, and it's said the Tartars didn't gain any advantage either!"

"Hahaha, Father-in-law, you're just not ruthless enough. Zhang Ke has some skills, but he doesn't know what's happening in Dacheng Fort. Even if he does, I have ways to pin the blame on him."

Hearing that Zhang Ke was in trouble, Wan Baiquan was overjoyed and asked eagerly, "Tell me more."

"Hehe, call Sun Youguang over in a bit. The old man wants to hide, but he can't! We'll pin the blame of the Dacheng Fort people giving in to the Tartars on him, making him take the fall for us."

"Ah? Old Sun isn't a fool, he's slippery!"

"Hahaha, no matter how cunning, it won't help. Once the Tartars leave, we'll kill Sun Youguang and all his people in the city. Then we'll say that Sun Youguang, to make the Tartars retreat, offered the people, and we, upon discovering this, fought to the death to protect the people and kill the traitor Sun Youguang. The Tartars took advantage of the situation, causing countless casualties. Commander Xu Bangyan and Wan Baiquan fought bravely and finally secured Dacheng Fort, driving the Tartars out of the city."

Wan Baiquan nodded repeatedly but still had a question.

"Son-in-law, the Tartars are gone, right? If they really broke in, how could we resist?"

"Hahaha, the real Tartars are gone, but there's still the Downhill Tiger. As long as he cooperates, we'll not only be blameless but also earn great merit. As for Zhang Ke, I'll immediately submit a report, saying he harbored bandits, angered the Mongols, and brought the Tartars to invade, causing the people to suffer. Even if someone protects him, as long as we speak with one voice, I don't believe a mere civilian can stand up to me!"

After hearing Xu Bangyan's words, Wan Baiquan gave him two thumbs up.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant! Son-in-law, if Sun Youguang is dead, will Dacheng Fort..."

"Father-in-law, the defense will be yours, but remember, Zhang Ke must be suppressed at all costs. He can't break through the ice walls now! We'll wait until spring, when the ice melts, and his end will come!"

As they were plotting, a dozen more soldiers brought another group of people.

"Hmm, it's enough. Go call Sun Youguang over."

Before Xu Bangyan finished speaking, someone laughed and said, "Sir Xu, no need to call, I'm here!"

Sun Youguang rode up, followed by Tang Bi and several dozen soldiers, panting as they reached Xu Bangyan's horse.

"Sir Xu, what are your orders?"

"Hahaha, Sir Sun, here are three hundred people. Take them outside the city and hand them over to Dai An Ergai Taiji. They will retreat as agreed, and Dacheng Fort will be safe. This will be a great deed for you!"

Xu Bangyan's voice wasn't loud, but he didn't deliberately lower it, and some of the captured people heard.

They are going to hand us over to the Tartars!

It was like pouring water into a hot oil pan, a thunderclap on a clear day, stunning everyone.

Suddenly, a woman rushed out from the crowd, holding a pair of scissors, madly charging forward, ignoring the weapons.

"You beasts, corrupt officials, I'll kill you!"

Wan Baiquan turned back and saw it was Flower Sister. He waved his hand impatiently, "Haven't you caught this madwoman yet?"

The soldiers rushed forward, and Flower Sister cursed loudly.

"Wan Baiquan, you took my house and now want to hand me over to the Tartars. Even as a ghost, I won't let you off! You shameless scoundrel, your precious son and third concubine are involved, and you're wearing a green hat, a living turtle, a leftover Wang Ba!"

Flower Sister, determined, revealed all the dirty secrets, and Wan Baiquan's face turned green with anger.

"Quick, shut her up, shut her up!"

Several soldiers grabbed Flower Sister, pulling her hair and slapping her, leaving marks all over her face.

"Wan, if you have the guts, kill me. I'd rather die than fall into the hands of the Tartars!"

"Hmph, too late. You'll serve the Tartars well."

Wan Baiquan sneered and turned to Sun Youguang, "Sir Sun, Sir Xu has given the order. Don't delay, take them out of the city."

Sun Youguang saw everything and felt a chill. If these three hundred people were really handed over, the people of Dacheng Fort might dig up his ancestors' graves!

Fortunately, he had a change of heart. He glanced back and quickly turned away.

"Sir Xu, I will follow your orders, but I'm worried. Can the Tartars be trusted? If we hand over the people and they don't retreat, but instead attack the city, we'll lose everything."

Sun Youguang's face was grim, and Xu Bangyan nodded, acknowledging the risk.

"Sir Sun, do you have any ideas?"

Sun Youguang thought for a moment and said, "Sir Xu, I'm too fat to lead troops. Why don't you go out first and negotiate with the Tartars? If they really leave, then we'll hand over the people. If they renege, you can come back. This way, we won't lose anything."

Wan Baiquan's eyes widened, and he sneered, "Sir Sun, what a plan. Sir Xu's life is precious, can he easily leave the city?"

"Hehe, Sir Wan, if Sir Xu can't go, you can go instead."

Wan Baiquan blinked, speechless, and he was also a bit worried.

Xu Bangyan frowned, thought for a moment, and called Wan Baiquan over.

"Sir Sun has a point. I'll go out first to negotiate and also meet the Downhill Tiger to set the stage."

Wan Baiquan nodded, "Son-in-law, what should I do while you're out?"

"I'll leave you two hundred elite soldiers to watch Sun Youguang. Once I return, kill him and take the fall."

"Understood!"

Xu Bangyan finished his instructions and smiled at Sun Youguang, "Sir Sun, I'll follow your advice and go out. But keep an eye on the city gate."

"Don't worry, if you don't trust me, there's still Sir Wan."

Xu Bangyan nodded, and the city gate creaked open. He led his three hundred men out.

Wan Baiquan, obedient to his son-in-law, rode up to Sun Youguang and kept a close watch.

"Sir Sun, you've been a defense officer for a long time. Have you thought about stepping down?"

Sun Youguang smiled, "What? Sir Wan, if you want to be a defense officer, you need to be promoted to a thousand-man commander first."

"Hehe, no need to rush, the opportunity is right here!"

Wan Baiquan's words were ominous, and the atmosphere became tense. Time passed, and everyone was sweating coldly. Suddenly, someone ran down from the city wall.

"Sir Wan, Sir Xu has negotiated with the Tartars and is sending people out."

Wan Baiquan breathed a sigh of relief, his face cold, his eyes gleaming like a wolf's, his hand on his saber. He sneered, "Sir Sun, you've had your glory. It's time to step down."

Sun Youguang was shocked, "What do you want to do?"

"Nothing, send you to the afterlife!"

Wan Baiquan drew his saber and swung at Sun Youguang, but someone was faster. From Sun Youguang's left, a figure darted out, a samurai sword flashing and piercing Wan Baiquan's side, slicing a wound over half a foot long, blood and organs gushing out.

Wan Baiquan, not yet dead, his mouth twitching, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Ho, w, ho, w, is, is... you..."

"Hahaha, the killer is Zhang Ke!"

The samurai sword was yanked out, and Wan Baiquan fell off his horse like a broken sack.