Chapter 741: Put to Hard Labor
Wang Chenggong surrendered!
Watching the Mongol cavalry charge, only to be decisively defeated by the opposing Ming soldiers with their firearms, he knew instantly that he was no match for them.
Just moments ago, he had been preparing to lead his men out to charge; if not for the sudden appearance of the Mongols, he would have already been halfway through his own assault.
But the Mongols, mid-charge, had been cut down by their disciplined firing lines.
Wang Chenggong mused that his two human legs were no match for the four equine legs of the Mongol cavalry.
If even the Mongol cavalry couldn't break through, what special ability did he possess to succeed?
He didn't need to dwell on the situation; even the most basic instinct told him his demise was certain.
So, he ceased to struggle with the decision. Surrender, decisively.
The moment he saw Wang Chenggong about to surrender, Commander Luo Xi erupted, shouting, "Wang Chenggong has surrendered once before, and now he's rebelled again! This kind of man cannot be kept. Execute him! Execute him!"
Shi Jian, however, hesitated, unsure whether he should execute the man or not.
Killing a surrendered enemy... it felt a little...
Just then, the Heavenly Lord's embroidery on his chest spoke in a low voice, "Do not attack. Let that man come forward! Speak with him for a few moments, then decide how to handle him."
Shi Jian's spirits lifted. With instructions from the Heavenly Lord, everything would be fine.
He quickly shouted, "Cease attack!"
The militia soldiers lowered their firearms.
Seeing that the Ming soldiers had no intention of attacking, Wang Chenggong raised his hands high, signaling that he was unarmed, then slowly walked forward.
After walking for a good while, he finally reached the group.
Commander Luo Xi stamped his foot and railed, "Wang Chenggong! The imperial court treated you well! After you surrendered last time, the court gave you grain and arranged for you to farm garrison lands in northern Shaanxi. Who would have thought that at the slightest hint of trouble, you'd rebel again? You, a man of such fickle loyalty, how dare you surrender a second time? If I were you, I'd take a knife to my own throat right now; at least that would make you seem like a man."
Wang Chenggong's face was flushed with embarrassment. Clearly, he knew his fickle behavior was shameful, yet he still mumbled a defense, "The imperial court only gave us two months' worth of grain, then expected my thousands of brothers to meekly stay in a godforsaken place. How were we supposed to survive?"
Luo Xi started, "But even so..."
Shi Jian raised a hand, blocking Luo Xi...
Luo Xi immediately fell silent.
He was a third-rank Commander, yet he now had to defer to Shi Jian, a fifth-rank Garrison Commander. It was rather comical, but no one around felt Shi Jian was overstepping, not even Luo Xi himself.
Li Daoxuan murmured, "Ask him why he didn't seize the opportunity to charge alongside the Mongol cavalry, even though it was his best chance."
Shi Jian listened, then repeated the question, his face grim.
Wang Chenggong's face darkened. "Though I, Wang Chenggong, may not be a true hero, I would never ally myself with the Northern Barbarians. I refuse to lose face in such a way."
Li Daoxuan responded, "Those who achieve great things don't fuss over minor details. If you had abandoned your pointless pride earlier, and momentarily swallowed your shame, you might have won the battle and saved your life."
Shi Jian repeated the words...
Wang Chenggong retorted, "Are you looking down on me? If I die, I die. This life isn't worth keeping if it means doing such a foolish thing!"
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Do you truly believe that rebelling again after surrendering once is not foolish? Who would tolerate a man of such fickle loyalty?"
Shi Jian repeated the words...
Wang Chenggong sighed. "Anyway, I know my life can't be saved, and I know the imperial court won't accept me again. Just cut me down. I only ask that you spare my brothers in Wangjia Fork Fortress. They only rebelled because the drought returned, and they couldn't survive otherwise. They're merely accomplices; surely they can be spared?"
Luo Xi snapped, "Execute them! Execute them all! Slaughter all two thousand of those rebels! Save us the trouble of them rebelling again and again, defying heaven and earth!"
However, Li Daoxuan had no intention of executing anyone.
The mere fact that they hadn't charged alongside the Mongols, despite the opportune moment, indicated that this group still possessed a tiny shred of salvageable potential.
He decided against further idle chatter, and in a low voice, instructed Shi Jian, "Take them back for labor reform."
Having spoken, he fell silent.
Upon receiving the "highest directive," Shi Jian immediately knew how to proceed. Having spent some time navigating the imperial court's system, he understood what to say. Smiling, he addressed Commander Luo Xi, "General Luo, calm your anger, calm your anger. It's not worth spoiling your health over these small-fry."
Luo Xi nodded. "Ah, General Shi speaks wisely. One shouldn't get angry without good reason."
Shi Jian continued, "As a humble officer, I am under orders from the Ministry of War to guard the Longmen Yellow River Bridge. There is much work to be done on both sides of that bridgehead: building fortresses, digging trenches, hauling stones, carrying stones... In previous years, these tasks were handled by conscripting commoners for corvée labor. But as you know, commoners are scarce now..."
Luo Xi nodded. "Indeed. The rebels have wreaked havoc for years, leaving Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces nine out of ten households empty. Now, we can't even find people to perform corvée labor."
Shi Jian concurred, "Precisely. I can't find anyone to do the work at my Longmen Bridgehead Fortress."
Luo Xi finally understood. "General Shi, are you suggesting taking these men to work for you?"
Shi Jian affirmed, "I'll point a firearm at them. Those who refuse to work will get a shot to the forehead."
Luo Xi exclaimed, "An excellent plan! That's exactly how we should deal with these scoundrels!"
At that, Luo Xi stopped his calls for "Execute them! Execute them!" The powerful general needed laborers to drag back for work, and he, the lesser official, was naturally keen to cheer him on. He pointed at Wang Chenggong and declared, "Fine, I'll give you another chance. Go work for General Shi, and don't even think about playing any more tricks."
Thus, the surrender was settled!
Luo Xi then went to write his official report. Naturally, he wouldn't describe how his forces were routed at the first engagement, nearly costing him his life. Instead, he would portray it as a grand battle where he fought the rebels for three hundred rounds. However, due to the rebels' formidable fortress and his own soldiers' exhaustion from their long march, they suffered a minor setback and couldn't breach Wangjia Fork.
It was then that Shi Jian arrived, leading his relief forces.
With Shi Jian's assistance, the Ming soldiers fought with renewed vigor and achieved a great victory. Just as they were about to annihilate the rebels, Mongol cavalry suddenly appeared.
At this point, Luo Xi didn't dare claim credit. He knew that trying to seize undeserved glory again would lead to trouble, so he honestly wrote that Shi Jian was a military genius who decisively routed the Mongol cavalry and captured Wang Chenggong...
As for the detailed account of how the Mongol soldiers were defeated, there was no need to fabricate anything to deceive the imperial court. He simply wrote the truth: General Shi led one thousand firearms soldiers, who fired in rotating volleys. In just four rounds, taking only ten breaths of time, they utterly routed the Mongol cavalry, sending them fleeing in disarray.
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