Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"Bang bang bang bang!"

The first rank of flintlock musketeers fired a volley of one thousand muskets.

They fired indiscriminately at the fleeing friendly forces and the Jurchen soldiers in pursuit.

After firing, squat down to reload ammunition.

The commander of the second rank quickly waved his command flag and blew his brass whistle as a warning.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

Another thousand muskets were fired in a standing volley.

After firing, he quickly crouched down.

The third row of flintlock musketeers repeated the above operation.

After the three rounds of shooting ended, the two thousand riflemen who were crouching in the front row gradually raised their rifles.

As the smoke cleared, there were no survivors on the battlefield ahead.

More than two hundred friendly soldiers who were unable to evade the enemy lines were closest to the musket firing point and were all killed without exception.

These surrendered soldiers from Bohai did not die at the hands of the Jurchens, but instead perished under their muskets.

Of the hundreds of Jurchen cavalrymen who pursued them, two-thirds fell on the spot, and the remaining lucky ones fled the battlefield in fear.

"Follow me to kill the enemy!"

Liu E, who was the first to lead his troops in a rout, had become incredibly fierce—he charged bravely towards the remnants of the Jurchen army.

The defeated soldiers of various ethnic groups were still fleeing.

Upon discovering the Ming Dynasty musketeers' achievements, they all turned around and charged back.

Yang Zaixing's side has already engaged in battle with Wanyan Zongfu.

In addition to a thousand Jurchen cavalry, Wanyan Zongfu also had more than two hundred Hezha Meng'an.

More than a hundred of them, the Heza Meng'an, had lost their armor during their escape.

More than a thousand Ming cavalrymen and several hundred Bohai cavalrymen, under the command of Yang Zaixing, launched a pincer attack.

Yang Zaixing led his troops at the forefront, heading straight for Wanyan Zongfu, who was charging forward.

Wanyan Zongfu drew his bow and shot, but due to the close distance, although Yang Zaixing dodged in time, he was still hit in the right breastplate by an arrow.

The two armies clashed, and the cavalry at the front were already mixed together.

At the moment of engagement, Yang Zaixing ducked to dodge Heza Meng'an's spear to his left front, while simultaneously thrusting his spear at Wanyan Zongfu to his right front.

Wanyan Zongfu was not known for his military prowess. In the early stages, he served alongside Aguda, handling military affairs, and in the later stages, he was mainly responsible for major military and political matters in the Jin capital, Shangjing.

Wanyan Zongfu's spear was deflected by Yang Zaixing, and Yang Zaixing also stabbed him in the chest.

Another lance came thrusting, and Wanyan Zongfu was directly stabbed off his horse.

"Hoohoo!"

One of the Jurchen soldiers threw a saddle axe, which nearly hit Yang Zaixing on the forehead and knocked his helmet askew.

"Boom!"

Hundreds of Ming cavalry and hundreds of Bohai cavalry suddenly crashed into the flank of the Jurchen cavalry.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, the cavalry of various tribes, who had been routed but then rushed back, had already circled around to the other side of the Jurchen cavalry.

The Jurchen cavalry could not break through the lines, and the rear units attempted to disengage from the battlefield, create distance, and then charge again.

Liu E and Wang Zheng also led their remaining troops to the scene and entangled these Jurchen cavalry.

The Ming Dynasty's close-combat infantry, under Hua Rong's command, had already charged on horseback into the midst of the battle.

The spearmen dismounted and formed small teams of three to surround and kill the Jurchen cavalrymen who could only move short distances.

Wanyan Zongfu, who has fallen from power, has been trampled into mincemeat!

"After the Jurchens ravaged the land, they burned and looted everything, and the wealthy perished, barely surviving."

"When the Khitans arrive, we submit to the Khitans; when the Jurchens arrive, we submit to the Jurchens; when the royal army arrives, we submit to the royal army."

"But if the camp is only meant to avoid slaughter, how can it be defended?"

This statement was made by Ma Kuo.

At that time, the emperor and his ministers of the Song Dynasty discussed military matters and how to defend the Yan and Yun regions after the ransom had been paid.

Privy Councilor Zheng Juzhong suggested that local heroes from Yan and Yun be used to guard the area for generations.

Ma Kuo knew the Han people in the north very well, so he said those words.

The Han Chinese in the north, whoever surrenders to whom, will not help the Song Dynasty defend its territory.

Ma Kuo then suggested that immigrants be stationed along the border, and that military settlements be established over several years to consolidate the new territory.

His suggestion was good, but the Song emperor and his ministers did not adopt it because they did not have enough money and grain to carry it out—the Song treasury's money and grain had all been given to the Jin state to redeem territory.

"The Zhao family, descendants of the Five Dynasties, kowtow to His Majesty the Han Emperor. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Han, a Han from the North, pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming!"

"..."

When Zhao Yuan led his army to Xianping Prefecture, the place where the most Han people had been relocated and resettled, Ma Kuo's words from years ago were once again proven true.

Chapter 3444 Audacious

Those once-powerful Han Chinese clans, now in decline, came to submit to the Ming Dynasty, bringing with them the old and the young.

It's truly a case of whoever comes first subdued whom!

Furthermore, they distanced themselves from the Liao and Jin dynasties, either claiming to be descendants of the Five Dynasties or Han Chinese from the north.

Now, the entire clan is overjoyed to have returned to the rule of the Han emperor.

Zhao Yuan acted very kindly, accepting their surrender with a smile.

After entering Xianping Prefecture, Zhao Yuan instructed his men: "Write this down. Some of the Bohai people from Liaoyang Prefecture have migrated to Youyan."

"The remaining half will be relocated to Xianping."

"Of the Han people in Xianping, one-third migrated to Liaoyang and one-third migrated to Shenzhou."

Such a large-scale relocation and migration may result in many deaths and may cause some chaos.

But Zhao Yuan wouldn't consider all that; all ethnic groups must live together, and no single ethnic group could be allowed to dominate.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Yuan said, "Order all ethnic groups to hand over books written in Khitan and Jurchen scripts."

"Anyone who secretly hoards such items will be punished for treason!"

"All buildings, inscriptions, and plaques in various places bearing Khitan or Jurchen script shall be destroyed!"

This might damage cultural relics, historical materials, and so on, but it didn't matter to Zhao Yuan.

The Khitan and Jurchen scripts must disappear from this day forward!

"Your Majesty, the people of the four surnames and six clans are still guarding outside," Bai Sheng muttered.

Zhao Yuan said, "Let them in."

The Liao Kingdom had four major surnames and six major clans: Han, Liu, Ma, and Zhao. Although their strength was greatly diminished after migrating to Liaodong, even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse.

A group of people came in and knelt down. They had kowtowed when they were greeted outside the city, and now they kowtowed again and again.

Liu E was kneeling there too!

"Is there anything else you'd like to say?" Zhao Yuan asked.

Everyone looked at Liu E, after all, he had rendered meritorious service by surrendering.

Liu E braced himself and said, "The four families of Youyan request to move back to their ancestral lands."

Zhao Yuan sneered: "Which one is from the Han family of Youzhou?"

An old man stepped forward: "This humble subject, Han Zhen, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Emperor."

Zhao Yuan questioned, "Is Han Chang from your family?"

He was quite brave when fighting for the Jurchens, but he was forced to surrender to the Ming Dynasty in the end.

"There are also officials from the Han family of Youzhou in the capital of the Jin state."

"Is it because my blade is dull, or has the Han family done something to deserve this?"

"They actually want to move back to Youzhou!"

"This humble subject dares not!" Han Zhen was so frightened that he immediately kowtowed.

Zhao Yuan said, "The Han family of Youzhou, before next year's spring planting, half of them shall move to Liaoyang and the other half to Shenzhou. There must be no mistakes!"

Han Zhen hesitated, then stopped, ultimately daring not to say anything more.

Zhao Yuan then asked, "Where is the Han family of Jizhou?"

Another man surnamed Han knelt forward: "Here!"

Zhao Yuan said, "Half of the Han family from Jizhou migrated to Liaoyang."

"Yes."

Where is the Ma family of Yingzhou?

"exist."

"Half of you migrated to Shenzhou. Where is the Zhao family of Lulong?"

"This humble subject, Zhao Qi, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Half of the Zhao family from Lulong migrated to Shenzhou."

"..."

Zhao Yuan then said to Liu E, "Your Changping Liu clan has already been divided up by the Jin state."

“Now that you have returned to righteousness, there is no need to dismantle your clan and relocate again.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Liu E was not happy at all.

Many of the clansmen and villagers of these large families were conscripted into the army, and a large number of them were captured by the Ming army.

Those prisoners who surrendered or were captured earlier have received food and been sent back to their hometowns.

Many prisoners remained, and they were temporarily incorporated into the army or as laborers.

Chapter 3445 Runaway Slave

They were not allowed to return to their hometowns; they had to obey the imperial court's arrangements and were placed in other prefectures and counties in Liaodong.

As for their relatives, they can send a message back to their families, and those who are willing to relocate together can be allocated land.

Zhao Yuan then said, "All your household slaves and serfs must be released immediately, and I will distribute land to them to cultivate!"

“Slaves who voluntarily stay must sign an employment contract.”

"Remember, it's voluntary for you to stay."

"If any of your servants escape and report that you are secretly keeping slaves... hehe, you can think of the consequences yourselves."

Everyone was as silent as a cicada.

A few days ago, Jin Wuzhu, who was fleeing in a frenzy, robbed a group of people when he passed through Xianping Prefecture.

They not only robbed the grain of prominent Han families, but also burned what they couldn't take with them.

They've already suffered terribly, and now the Ming Dynasty is going to dismantle and relocate them, and even force them to release slaves.

How will we get through the days to come?

……

Countless ordinary people live in far worse conditions than these large families.

Northern Shanxi.