Chapter 55

Wan Baichuan fell to the ground, his mouth twitching twice, and a gush of blood foam spurted out, taking his dream of defense to the grave with him.

The moment he died, chaos erupted. Xu Bangyan's remaining subordinates and Wan Baichuan's close allies all drew their swords and knives, shouting as they prepared to charge forward.

Sun Youguang secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling fortunate. If Zhang Ke hadn't saved him, he wouldn't have to worry about the court, but even Xu Bangyan wouldn't have let him off.

After thinking it through, Sun Youguang gritted his teeth and raised the steel knife in his hand.

"Brothers, listen! We are all from Dacheng Fort, and we have the duty to defend our land. Can we let Xu Bangyan take our fellow villagers?"

"No! No!"

Tang Bi, who was following behind Sun Youguang, was the first to shout. His voice was loud and carried far, and the soldiers lying in ambush all rushed out.

In total, over three hundred people surrounded Xu Bangyan's men. In addition to them, the people of Dacheng Fort also sprang into action. With their relatives being taken away and the news that they would be given to the Tartars as slaves, who could bear it? Men, women, and children, armed with sticks, hoes, kitchen knives, and basins, surged out, forming a large encirclement around the army.

A leading villager shouted loudly, "Sir Sun, you did the right thing! Kill these traitors, kill them all!"

The villagers clamored and surged forward. Tang Bi's face was grim, and he shouted, "Sir Sun, you heard the people's voices, act now!"

"That..." Sun Youguang wanted to say yes, but he couldn't help but look back at Zhang Ke. After all, today's events were all orchestrated by him, and he would have to bear the consequences. Sun Youguang didn't dare to make a decision on his own.

"Headman Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Ke smiled and walked to the front of the group. Facing him were Xu Bangyan's subordinates, who were much fiercer than the soldiers of Dacheng Fort. However, now leaderless and surrounded, their morale was weakened.

Zhang Ke, unhurried, wiped his knife on Wan Baichuan's body twice, then smiled and said, "Everyone knows, this guy is called Wan Baichuan. He was Xu Bangyan's son-in-law. They decided to give the Tartars two thousand taels of silver and three hundred laborers to make them leave!"

"Bring it over!" Zhang Ke gestured, and four soldiers carried two redwood chests to the front of him.

Zhang Ke suddenly reached out and lifted the lid of the chest, the silver inside gleaming softly in the torchlight.

"Silver!"

The soldiers all involuntarily swallowed their saliva. Ninety-nine percent of them had never seen so much money! Although they knew their situation was dangerous, they couldn't help but steal glances.

Zhang Ke picked up two ingots and chuckled, "To be frank, I don't think there's anyone here who doesn't love silver. Everyone wants to be rich, to have a lot of silver! But not everyone knows how to spend it. Do you want to know what I would do with these two thousand taels if they were in my hands?"

A hundred-household leader surnamed Wang, holding a knife, shouted, "We are all Xu Bangyan's soldiers. You killed Lord Wan, which means you are against Lord Xu. We will kill you!"

"Right, kill you!"

Zhang Ke looked at the clamoring crowd and laughed fearlessly.

"Let me tell you, my subordinates have fought against the Tartars, and fifty of them have died. I gave each of them thirty taels of silver, twenty acres of good land, and a stone of rice every month!"

The soldiers present all drew a sharp breath. Although the Ming Dynasty did provide compensation for fallen soldiers, most of it was deducted at various levels, especially for the soldiers who were treated like grass. Giving thirty taels for a death and land and rice to the family was unimaginable!

"Ha ha ha, the two thousand taels your lord intended for the Tartars will now be divided into two parts. If you want to be a hero protecting the people, you can take ten taels immediately. If you die in battle, your family will get thirty taels, and if you are injured, you get twenty taels. In fifteen minutes, those who want the silver and to be heroes, line up on the left; those who want to remain loyal to your lord and oppose me, stand on the right. The people around will settle accounts with you later!"

Zhang Ke stepped back three steps, crossed his arms, and watched with a smile.

The soldiers looked at each other, unsure of what to choose. On one side was silver, on the other, their master! To be honest, no one was inherently unrighteous, and Zhang Ke's words truly touched their most sensitive nerves. Giving silver to the Tartars and nothing to the subordinates, believing in the Tartars' mercy and not in the subordinates' bravery!

With such a leader, it's no wonder the Ming army lacked fighting spirit!

After a full three minutes of silence, a veteran in his thirties suddenly ran out, approached the chest, took a deep breath, and trembled as he picked up an ingot!

"Brother, why did you step forward first to take the silver?"

The veteran's face turned red, and after a long pause, he said, "I want to get married. Ten taels for the dowry, I've been a soldier for over ten years and haven't saved a single string of cash. I don't want to be a bachelor anymore!"

"Well said, that's the truth. After this battle, I'll be your matchmaker."

"Thank you, thank you, Sir!" The veteran stood to the side, his chest puffed out with pride.

Many soldiers who knew him found it hard to swallow, who didn't want to get married, who didn't want to continue the family line!

Enough! Enough! Enough!

"Lord Xu, it's not that we are disloyal to you, but you looked down on us first!"

A large group of soldiers rushed over, obediently took the silver, and stood on the left side of the open ground. Like dominoes, once there was a leader, the rest followed in a steady stream, and in a moment, about half of them had defected.

Sun Youguang and Tang Bi were both stunned. This Zhang Erlang was truly amazing, how did he come up with such a good plan, disbanding the enemy without a single soldier or casualty? It wasn't easy to eliminate these two hundred men, and if time was delayed, who knew what might happen...

"Sir Sun, it's not good. Lord Xu is calling from outside the city, demanding we quickly send the people and the money. He, he, he seems suspicious and wants Lord Wan to talk to him!"

"Hmph, what Lord Wan, he's just a scoundrel!" Sun Youguang cursed, feeling relieved. He thought, thanks to Zhang Ke, if a fight had broken out, Xu Bangyan would have already led his men back, and Dacheng Fort would have been lost!

"Brother Zhang!" Sun Youguang, who was older than Zhang Ke's father, now spoke humbly.

"Brother Zhang, how should we deal with Xu Bangyan?"

"Sir Sun, don't worry about him for now." Zhang Ke looked at the remaining half and asked coldly, "Have you made up your minds to follow Xu Bangyan to the death?"

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding soldiers all gripped their knives and moved closer.

Wang Hundred-Household looked around, then at the hundred or so defectors, and said with a mournful face, "Sir, it's not that I want to offend you, but Xu Bangyan holds the power of life and death. Our families are in his hands, we can't disobey!"

"Ha ha ha ha, can't you see what Xu Bangyan has done? Do you think he can continue to be an official? If he isn't exterminated, it would be a great act of grace!"

Sun Youguang, with his large belly, said, "That's right. I will personally report to the court and punish Xu Bangyan. If you turn against him now, not only will you not be punished, but you will be rewarded. If you remain stubborn, don't blame me!"

Wang Hundred-Household lowered his head, still thinking, but many soldiers couldn't bear it and knelt down, forcing Wang to follow.

"Sir, we are willing to follow your orders. Xu Bangyan is not a good man, we will no longer serve him!"

Zhang Ke stood beside Sun Youguang and whispered with a smile, "Sir Sun, your authority is impressive."

"He he he, it's your idea, Brother Zhang." Sun Youguang smiled, "Tang Zhenfu, take them to defend the east and south gates. This place is left to me and Sir Zhang!"

"Understood!"

Tang Bi turned and led the men away, while Sun Youguang held Zhang Ke's hand and gave him a thumbs up.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant. To win without fighting, the highest strategy in military tactics."

"Sir, you flatter me. It's just that our strength is not enough. If we fought inside the city, it would alert Xu Bangyan. This way is faster!"

Sun Youguang nodded, his large head swaying, and said, "Brother, my life depends on you. Tell me, how should we deal with the troops outside the city?"

Zhang Ke smiled, "Sir, don't worry. The show outside the city should be starting soon!"

Sun Youguang was puzzled but followed Zhang Ke to the city wall, ready for battle.

At that moment, a small group of twenty men quietly approached the camp of Xiashanhu, led by Yue Zixuan. He held a longbow and, with a swift pull, shot an arrow, felling a patrolling soldier.

Yue Zixuan shouted triumphantly, "Kill the Tartars, charge, kill!"

The twenty soldiers followed him into the camp, where Xiashanhu was discussing with his military advisor, Lan Banshen.

"Lan Sir, the Tartars are truly spineless. I thought they would flatten Dacheng Fort, but they just took some silver and laborers and left. What cowards!"

"Chief, the Tartars are few in number and have suffered losses, so they are naturally more cautious."

"Hmph, they got their share, but I got nothing!"

Lan Banshen squinted and smiled, "Chief, don't worry. Xu Bangyan asked us to feign an attack on Dacheng Fort. Why not make it real..."

"Brilliant, brilliant!"

...

"Chief, it's not good, the Tartars are attacking us!"

"What?" Xiashanhu stood up abruptly.

"Are you crazy? Why would the Tartars attack us?"

The small thug said with a mournful face, "Chief, listen, it's the Tartars' battle cries outside."

Lan Banshen listened and confirmed it was the Tartars.

Xiashanhu, furious, picked up his machete and said, "Let's go see what the Tartars are up to!"

Xiashanhu led his men outside and saw the scattered bodies and a group of riders disappearing into the night. Enraged, he mounted his horse and led his men in pursuit. Not far away, they met a group of Tartars head-on.

"Watch out, it's an ambush, brothers, prepare to fight!"

The Tartars on the other side also shouted, Shanba gritting his teeth, "The Han are despicable, warriors, kill!"

They fought, and Yue Zixuan and Qiao Fu, watching from the shadows, were almost laughing out loud. After arriving at Dacheng Fort, Zhang Ke had brought ten men into the city, leaving twenty soldiers to act as matchmakers. They agreed that once three red lanterns were hung on the city wall, they would attack Xiashanhu and the Tartars separately.

This plan worked, and the Tartars and Xiashanhu fought each other in confusion.

Zhang Ke, on the city wall, heard the battle cries and gestured urgently.

"Quick, fire the cannons!"

The two bronze cannons on the city wall fired, and Zhang Ke shouted, "Lord Xu, Xiashanhu has already attacked. What are you waiting for? Kill the Tartars!"

Zhang Ke's men, including Ma Biao, also shouted, "Kill the Tartars, kill the Tartars!"

...

Outside the city, Xu Bangyan was troubled by the lack of silver and people to send. Suddenly, he heard the shouts and felt a sense of foreboding. He looked up and saw a young man standing proudly in the torchlight.

"It's you, I won't let you off!"

Zhang Ke laughed, "Lord Xu, look behind you, the Tartars are coming!"