Chapter 8: Betting One's Life

  Half an hour later, Xia Qi arrived on horseback.

  Half a time later, the horse-faced pockmark who was ambushing at the traffic hub around the manor also returned, and indeed brought back dozens of human heads. When the big beard attacked the manor, these dozens of Jian slaves saw the opportunity early and slipped away over the wall. If Wang Pu hadn't prepared early and laid out a net around the surroundings, these guys would have really messed things up.

  Although there are only children and old men in the city of Shengjing, if Jianzhou had made preparations beforehand, the red-haired cannons placed on the city walls would have fired a few rounds, and Wang Pu's more than 1,000 family soldiers would have been reduced to cannon fodder. This is not an unfounded worry, as Geng Zhongming, Shang Kexi, and Kong Youde also brought the powerful red-haired cannons to Jianzhou after surrendering to the Qing dynasty. Since Shengjing is the lair of Jianzhou, there must be at least a dozen or twenty cannons placed on the city walls.

  Su Da La's two upstairs rooms have now become Wang Kuo's headquarters.

  Inside the headquarters tent, torches illuminated everything, and Wang Pu was discussing matters with Xiao Qi, Knife Scarface, and Big Beard.

  Wang Pu asked Big Whiskers: "Big Whiskers, are both the open and secret signals all set?"

  "It's all set up." The big beard patted his chest and said, "General, you can rest assured that not even a single mouse will escape."

  "Hmm." Wang Pu nodded, and after a moment of contemplation, he said to Xiao Qi, "Xiao Qi, later you go among the villagers and select several dozen young and strong ones. Distribute the captured Jianshuo soldiers' weapons to them. After we leave early tomorrow morning, let them guard the village themselves."

  "Shall we not take them away?" Xia Qi said with some pity, "Once Jian Nu's army returns, they will surely die."

  "Sentimental nonsense!" Wang Pu rebuked in a low voice, "Taking them along would save their lives? If we really take them with us, everyone will die."

  Xiao Qi was silent.

  Wang Pu turned to Big Beard and said, "Big Beard, go select one hundred strong and sturdy brothers. Let them have a good drink and eat their fill of meat, then sleep soundly for two hours. After that, wake them up and have them put on the armor stripped from Jian Nu's men. While it's still dark, follow me to deceive the guards at the Shengjing city gate."

  "Yes."

  The big-bearded man responded with a loud "hmmph" and strode away with large steps.

  Xiao Qi said: "General, are you thinking of letting our brothers pretend to be Jian Nu cavalry to deceive the city gate?"

  "Right," said Wang Pu, "but we're still one person short."

  "Who is it?"

  "A person who can understand and speak Manchu."

  "Ah?" Little Qi exclaimed, "None of the brothers understand Manchu, why don't we go ask the Han people outside to see who can speak Manchu?"

  "Don't ask," Wang Pu shook his head and said, "These Han people are locked up like livestock by the Jian Nu, how can they possibly learn to speak Manchu?"

  "What can we do?"

  "There's someone who might be of use." Wang Pu said: "Xiao Qi, bring Zhen Youcai up here."

  Xiao Qi led the way and soon brought Zhen Youcai in, carrying him like a small chicken. After entering the door, he threw Zhen Youcai to the ground and shouted loudly: "General, Zhen Youcai has arrived."

  Wang Pu said in a low voice: "Zhen Youcai, you have a big nerve!"

  Zhen Youcai shivered with fear and repeatedly said: "I don't dare, I don't dare."

  Wang Pu shouted: "Didn't you say that there were only over 300 slaves in the village, and they were all old, weak, sick and disabled?"

  "Yes." Zhen Youcai nodded and said, "There are only over 300 old, weak, sick and disabled people in the village."

  "Nonsense!" Wang Pu slammed his fist on the table and stood up, shouting loudly. "The village clearly has over a hundred of Jian Nu's Iron Cavalry, I almost suffered a great loss because I didn't know the truth. Speak, why did you deceive me?"

  "Ah? This......" Zhen Youcai's face suddenly turned pale, and he trembled with fear, saying "Little...little people really don't know ah."

  "How dare you quibble!" Wang Pu shouted loudly, "Guards, take this scoundrel out and chop him into minced meat to feed the horses!"

  "Yes!"

  Scarface and Little Qi rushed over, their killing intent soaring. Scarface kicked Zhen Youcai's butt and laughed loudly, scolding: "Haha, General, this guy is really useless, he's so scared that he peed his pants!"

  Xiao Qi said: "General, it seems this kid really doesn't know."

  "Get him awake," Wang Pu said expressionlessly.

  Scarface fetched a basin of cold water and splashed it on Zhen Youcai's face. Zhen Youcai let out a loud cry and suddenly woke up with a start: "No, no, don't kill me!"

  "It's not necessary to kill you," said Wang Pu, "but you must tell the truth. Can you speak Manchu?"

  "Really? Really?" Zhen Youcai nodded repeatedly and said, "I can say a few common Manchu phrases."

  Hahaha...

  Wang Pu looked at Xiao Qi and then at Knife Scarface, and all three of them burst out laughing at the same time.

  Zhen Youcai was laughed at by the three men until he was frightened and his heart was racing, and he asked in a trembling voice: "General, what...what are you laughing at? I...I didn't lie."

  "It's fine as long as you didn't lie." Wang Pu said loudly, "Xiao Qi, take Mr. Zhen down to rest."

  "Yes."

  Xiao Qi roared in response, stepped forward and lifted Zhen Youcai with a chest chop, then walked away. Zhen Youcai hurriedly hugged Xiao Qi's strong arm and repeatedly begged for mercy: "General... General, please be gentle, my neck is being strangled..."

  Xiao Qi walked away with Zhen Youcai until he was out of sight, then Knife Scar asked Wang Pu with some concern: "General, are you planning to let this Zhen Youcai go shout at the gate?"

  Wang Pu nodded and said: "Now there is no other choice, only he can speak Manchu."

  "However, we also don't understand Manchu. What if this kid doesn't shout the password and instead alerts the guards, then we'll be done for."

  "It's come to this, and now we can only gamble." Wang Pu slammed his fist on the table and said in a deep voice, "This Zhen Youcai is indeed a fearless master who is willing to risk his own life for the sake of building slaves. This time, I admit defeat!"

  Scarface's face twitched, and he couldn't help but steal a glance at Wang Pu with an unusual gaze. He thought to himself that the general had really changed. Since being rescued by his brothers after falling off the cliff last time, the general seemed like a different person. The current general not only had a strong sense of initiative in dealing with things, but was also ruthless and cunning, making even this rustic bandit feel inferior.

  But to tell the truth, Scarface admires Wang Pu's current style of doing things. Scarface thinks that now General is like a man who can do great things, unlike before when he was just a useless young master.

  ■■■

  Shengjing, Imperial Court.

  Here is the translation:

  First, let's briefly introduce the imperial palace of Shengjing. During the time of Nuerhachi, Chongzheng Hall and Shi Wang Pavilion were built. During the time of Huang Taiji, the imperial palace was expanded, and a large inner palace covering an area of 300 hectares was constructed. This inner court was where the empresses lived, and it mainly consisted of five buildings, which were ranked in order as Qingning Palace, Guanxu Palace, Linzhi Palace, Yanqing Palace, and Yongfu Palace.

  In the Qingning Palace lived Shunzhi Emperor's Empress Xiaozhuang, also known as Empress Dowager.

  In the palace of Guan Yu, Hai Lan Zhu, also known as Empress Chen, lived. She was the most favored woman of Huang Taiji, and it is said that she excelled in Taoist techniques, her skills in bed were unparalleled, and she had Huang Taiji under her spell, making him dizzy and infatuated, wanting to be by her side every day.

  Lin Zhi Palace housed Namuzhong, also known as the Noble Consort, and Yun Qing Palace housed Baterma, also known as the Pure Consort. These two women were originally wives of Lin Dan Khan, the last great khan of Northern Yuan. After Lin Dan Khan was defeated by Dorgon, they brought the imperial seal and their tribes to surrender to the Qing dynasty. To win over the Mongols, Hong Taiji took them in as consorts.

  Finally, I want to emphasize Yongfu Palace. The woman who lived in Yongfu Palace was named Bumubutai, also known as Dayer by the people. She was the niece of Empress Zhezhe and the younger sister of Consort Hailanzhu. She was also known as Zhuangfei, or later, Empress Dowager Cixi. Readers who have seen Peking Opera must be familiar with this woman. Although she wasn't as exaggerated as in TV dramas, she was indeed an extraordinary woman.

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