Chapter 84: Clearing the Court
Chi Ming was just thinking that the purpose of the person behind the scenes would not be so simple.
The soldiers were stripped naked and thrown here, definitely not just to steal their armor and clothes.
What do they want to do?
He looked around at the surrounding mountains. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides with only a small opening.
From a war perspective, this was an ideal opportunity for an ambush.
Sure enough, those people were just trying to lure him into the trap.
His purpose was to kill him.
As long as he dies, given the lazy attitude shown by the emperor, the chances of their rebellion succeeding are very high.
Unfortunately, they miscalculated.
Shu Feng had already flown down from the mountain and nodded at him.
Chi Ming no longer hesitated and ordered Lieutenant General Tao to lead his men to retreat into the mountain from the rear.
If these soldiers continue to freeze, there will be no chance of survival.
The soldiers they brought with them were blocking the front, so the private troops outside could not see them.
Chi Ming walked in front, and the private soldiers subconsciously took a few steps back.
The Regent of Dongxi is so famous that no one is not afraid of him.
The leading general, Han Nuo, stepped back and wished he could slap himself twice.
To retreat would be to show one's cowardice.
So we decided to strike first.
"Regent, if you stay today, we will move aside and let those soldiers who are about to freeze to death go. How do you think?"
In a word, Chi Ming was put on the fire.
If he didn't stay, he would be disregarding the lives of 50,000 people.
If you stay, you will die.
The choice is between his own death or the death of fifty thousand people.
The soldiers behind him who had not yet retreated looked at Chi Ming quietly.
They believed in their king and he would not let them down.
"You want to rebel?"
"Hahaha... Chi Ming, you control the government and bring chaos to the world. We are ordered to purge your entourage! Kill the treacherous ministers!"
"By order? By whose order?"
"That's nothing for you to worry about."
Chi Ming also recognized the man: "Han Nuo, I remember that you were the centurion of the Northwest Army, right?"
"Yes, I am a centurion."
"I have killed countless enemies and should have been promoted to a captain of a thousand men, but you would rather promote an unknown soldier than me. You are treating me unfairly."
Han Nuo gritted his teeth when he thought about what happened in the army.
If he had become a captain of a thousand men back then, he would have become a general with a rank now.
There is no need to hide your identity and train a private army here.
"You were treated unfairly? You are brave, but you killed the enemy on the battlefield by stepping on the corpses of soldiers. Ask yourself, did you really kill all those Xirong people?"
"You are greedy for merit and you are reckless. You killed your companions and took credit for something. How did I wrong you?"
A flash of guilt flashed across Han Nuo's eyes: "You're talking nonsense, of course I killed him myself."
Anyone who is close to him can tell that he is timid.
If this isn’t guilty conscience, what is this?
"I saw it with my own eyes. It's useless for you to argue."
"That year, I was also at the front line. I saw with my own eyes that after your companions killed five Xirong people, you killed your companions and brought back the five heads, saying that you killed them yourself."
He also started out as a small soldier. Ten years ago, when he was fifteen years old, he had already become a general.
He saw it with his own eyes, and it was he who blocked his path to promotion.
I had planned to deal with him after I came back, but he died before he could do anything, so I didn't pursue the matter any further.
I never thought that he actually faked his death and escaped.
The hands of the people behind the scenes had already reached the military many years ago.
Or maybe even earlier.
Han Nuo's thoughts were exposed, and he shouted at the top of his lungs: "You're talking nonsense, I didn't do that."
"Today is the day you die, yet you still have the audacity to slander this general."
The private army behind him didn't know who to trust for a moment.
If not, why is General Han so excited?
If so, General Han has been very good to them over the years, and he doesn't seem like a villain who would stab others in the back.
Chi Ming didn't intend to make them believe it all at once, it was enough to plant a seed of doubt in their hearts.
"Han Nuo, when you died on the battlefield, the court comforted your family. I, the king, let bygones be bygones, gave your family a full 100 taels of silver and exempted you from taxes and labor service for three years. Is this how you repay the court?"
"Shufeng."
"exist."
"Pass the order down. Han Nuo, the centurion of the Northwest Army, faked his death and fled the battlefield ten years ago. Now he is participating in rebellion. His crime is unforgivable. Kill! All! His entire clan!"
He spoke word by word, and Han Nuo was heartbroken.
He faked his death and didn't even tell his parents in order to train his troops.
In his parents' hearts, he had died a long time ago. Fortunately, he still had a son, and his parents were able to survive by taking care of their grandson.
When he becomes successful and returns home in glory, he will definitely compensate them well.
But Chi Ming wanted to kill all nine clans.
This is all his own behavior and has nothing to do with his family.
If Chi Ming really succeeded, he would be the sinner of the entire Han family!
He was determined not to let Chi Ming step out of the valley today.
Otherwise, his nine clans will not be saved!
How will he face his ancestors in the afterlife?
"Everyone, listen up!"
"Anyone who leaves the valley will be killed without mercy!"
Chi Ming stared at him dimly: "You really refuse to repent!"
Then he used his inner strength and shouted in a deep voice:
"Listen, soldiers! This is a crime of treason and usurpation of the throne. It has brought disaster to the people and caused the country to fall. It is condemned by both heaven and man. This crime deserves death!"
"Now lay down your weapons and join the light. I will forgive you for your past mistakes and incorporate you into the official army. Your families will enjoy the same treatment as military households."
Han Nuo pointed his spear at Chi Ming and said, "Don't try to deceive people. Let bygones be bygones. The imperial court would like to kill those who plot treason as soon as possible."
Looking back again, he looked at the soldiers eagerly:
"And you, we are all in the same boat. We are not rebelling, we are trying to purge the emperor. The regent is in control of the government. Cholera is beyond the law of nature. The snowstorm in Fuzhou is a punishment from heaven. We have no choice but to kill the traitor. We have no way out. Don't believe the lies of a traitor."
The soldiers on the opposite side didn't care about anything at all about clearing out the imperial court. What they cared about was whether they could survive and whether their families could live.
They were indeed moved by the Regent's words.
Most of them were originally captured. If they could become formal soldiers and their families would enjoy the treatment of military households, that is, exemption from taxes, their families could spend this winter in peace.
You should know that military households are generally designated by the imperial court, and the male members of the family serve in the army for generations.
There is no way for an ordinary soldier's family to become a military household.
A soldier quietly put down the spear in his hand, and then more and more people gradually put it down.
Han Nuo's eyes turned red when he saw this, and he became furious.
He wielded his gun mercilessly and killed more than a dozen people in a row.
"Those who lay down their weapons will be killed! Those who disobey military orders will be killed!"
The spear so close before their eyes made those who also wanted to put down their weapons feel frightened and they dared not to put them down anymore.
If you want to be a military household, you must first be alive.
And seeing the leader's look, they believed the regent's words even more.
After that, you must never turn your back to him to avoid being stabbed in the back.
"Whoever captures Chi Ming's head will be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"
Chi Ming was so angry that he laughed: "A title of Marquis? You have so much power!"
"Only the emperor is qualified to confer a title of nobility. The person behind the scenes is just a rat in the gutter. He dares not even show his face, and yet you are conferring a title on others?"
His disdain made Han Nuo even crazier.
He wished he could rush forward and kill Chi Ming right away.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
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