Southern Ming Rebel Army

In the Suzhou prefectural government office, Zhong Kuan was anxiously waiting for news. He was becoming increasingly uneasy. As he was pacing back and forth, the guard almost crawled in and said, "Prefect, someone opened the gate to the south city, and now the thieves are rushing in."

Zhong Kuan stood there in shock as if struck by lightning, and almost couldn't stand. If the guards hadn't helped him, he would have fallen to the ground. Zhong Kuan almost shouted, "Where is Xue Dao? Where are the others? You can't even guard such an important place as the city gate. You are a waste, a waste, an idiot!"

The guard said with a sad face, "I don't know where Captain Xue is. I saw Captain Yu on the road. I just called him and he ran away. The city is in chaos. I heard someone say that the Ming army entered the city from the south, so I ran back quickly."

Zhong Kuan looked as pale as death. No one could save him in the current situation. Having lost such an important financial center as Suzhou City, it was probably too late to run away now. Even if he was lucky enough to escape, he would probably be punished and imprisoned in Jiangning. If he surrendered, he might even be beheaded by the bandits. Zhong Kuan sighed and said, "It's God's will. I, Zhong Kuan, have studied hard for ten years, but now I have ended up like this. It's fate and destiny. Today I can only die to repay the emperor's kindness." After that, he turned around and went back to the house to end it all by committing suicide.

"My Lord, don't be impulsive." Zhong Kuan turned around and saw that it was the master who ran in. As he was too anxious and didn't pay attention to the threshold under his feet, the master fell face forward. The master touched his mouth and found that his two front teeth were broken and his mouth was full of blood. The master had a long beard and a wrinkled face, which looked a little funny.

"Sir, let's surrender. The Ming army's entry into the city is a foregone conclusion. We can't run away. Why don't we surrender voluntarily? I'm sure the Ming army won't kill you. After all, you are familiar with Suzhou City. If you are willing to surrender, the Ming army will definitely save a lot of trouble," the lawyer said to Zhong Kuan while covering his mouth.

Zhong Kuan hesitated and said, "The Ming army is now on the decline. I'm afraid it will not be a match for the Qing Dynasty after all."

The master sighed and said, "Sir, no matter whether the Ming Dynasty can win in the end, we have to get through this level first."

Zhong Kuan covered his face helplessly and said, "I surrendered to the Qing Dynasty the day before yesterday, and surrendered to the Ming Dynasty today. I have been fickle-minded and have lost all my dignity. I might as well die and leave a trace of my reputation behind."

The master despised him in his heart, but he consoled him, "It is not easy to keep a peace in troubled times. You are a scholar, and the war is not your fault. Don't blame yourself too much. You can only blame that idiot Xue Dao."

Zhong Kuan nodded helplessly and said, "Today I know that the only difficulty in life is death. My death is a small matter, but I still have young children at home and I cannot abandon them."

............

On the other hand, Meng Jun attacked Suzhou City and the city became more and more chaotic. Every household closed their doors, and some even used tables or cabinets to block the doors. Everyone lay terrified in the door cracks or window sills, watching the rebels running on the street.

Meng Jun ordered the soldiers to shout, "The Ming army has entered the city, no one will be harmed, the gates are closed, no one is allowed to leave, those who surrender will not be killed, those who hold weapons will be beheaded..." The voice spread throughout the city, and more than a thousand Green Camp soldiers on the parade ground near the east city listened to the shouts in the city in fear. Everyone knew that it must be the Ming army entering the city. With this sound and scale, it was clear that Suzhou City was finished. Unfortunately, Xue Dao was not in the barracks at this time. He was drinking and having fun with several confidants in Lixiang Garden in Suzhou City, and there were several pretty girls accompanying him. "Oh, Master Xue, you really have a huge capacity for alcohol," the woman sitting next to Xue Dao laughed tenderly, with a lewd look on her face. Xue Dao was warm and soft in his arms, and the woman made a tender hum from time to time.

Xue Dao laughed loudly, drinking and touching the woman in his arms. The woman in his arms seemed to be pretending to dodge, but also seemed to be deliberately catering to her. When Xue Dao and others were having fun, a soldier hurriedly pushed open the door. Xue Dao heard the voice, took a look and cursed, "What are you in such a hurry for? Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?"

The soldier stammered, "There are... Ming troops entering the city."

"Nonsense...nonsense, there is no Ming...Ming army in Jiangnan." Before Xue Dao could speak, a drunken officer next to him said

The soldier was about to cry, "It's true, they really entered the city. I don't know who opened the south city gate. The Ming army has rushed in and the city is in chaos now."

Xue Dao was stunned. There was no news during the day. How could Suzhou City be lost just because he went out for a drink? Xue Dao pushed the woman away and said to everyone, "Let's go back to the camp." After saying that, he stood up and ran downstairs. Seeing this, everyone followed Xue Dao and ran out. After leaving the house, one or two smart people saw that something was wrong and slipped into the alley under the cover of night...

Xue Dao led the remaining three people to the direction of the military camp. He heard a burst of noise in the distance. Xue Dao was sober at this time. He just wanted to get back to the Green Camp as soon as possible. He ran faster and faster. Suddenly, he heard the sound of horse hooves. It was getting closer and closer. He turned around and saw a group of cavalrymen coming towards him...

The people on horseback were naturally Meng Jun's cavalry. Although these cavalrymen had insufficient combat capabilities, the sight of a team of cavalrymen gathering on the street and charging together was still very shocking. Soon Meng Jun and others could see Xue Dao and his four companions in front of them. Meng Jun thought that these were unlucky passers-by and did not intend to pay any attention to them.

"General, that's Xue Dao, the garrison commander of Suzhou City." Zhang Bo's words came to Meng Jun's ears. Zhang Bo's eyes were very sharp. Zhang Bo almost shouted at Meng Jun. Because the sound of horse hooves was very loud, if the voice was not loud, it might not be heard. Meng Jun heard Zhang Bo's words and shouted "Kill them!"

When Xue Dao turned around and saw the cavalry rushing towards him, he was so scared that he could hardly move, and the three people next to him had the same reaction. However, when he saw Meng Jun getting closer and closer, Xue Dao shouted miserably "Get out of the way!" Unfortunately, it had no effect. The doors of every house nearby were closed, and Xue Dao had nowhere to hide. Xue Dao leaned against the wall, his face full of dejection. Three of his subordinates had been chopped to the ground, and blood was all over the floor, spreading to Xue Dao's feet. Xue Dao went out to drink at night without armor or weapons.

Xue Dao raised his hands tremblingly and said "I am willing to surrender". But when he saw that there was no mercy on the faces of the surrounding cavalrymen, Xue Dao's heart sank. Xue Dao shouted "Asshole...ah..." and rushed forward. How could he hurt the fully armed cavalrymen with his bare hands? Meng Jun drove his horse forward and swung hard, chopping Xue Dao's chest with a knife. Xue Dao lay on the ground gasping for breath. Meng Jun looked at Xue Dao and said, "Cut off his head and take it away."

Lin Shiqi jumped off his horse, pulled up Xue Dao's braid, wiped it against his neck, blood spurted out, Lin Shiqi raised his knife and chopped at Xue Dao's neck with force, one or two chops, Xue Dao's neck rolled out, Lin Shiqi grabbed Xue Dao's braid and tied it to the saddle, sneering "Haha, this braid of the Tartar is quite convenient to carry." Meng Jun waved his hand and laughed, "The prefectural government office is just ahead. Capture the prefect Zhong Kuan, and with Xue Dao's head, how can those soldiers still rebel? I, Meng Jun, have taken over Suzhou City."