Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Zhang Shikang knew that these people were servants of Qian Rulong and others.

It was very common for military generals to keep servants in the late Ming Dynasty, especially for border troops. Although the border troops were said to have 200,000 soldiers, in fact most of them were cannon fodder.

When going to war, military generals basically rely on their servants. In order to make the servants loyal, the generals not only give these people higher salaries, but also the best food, clothing, weapons and equipment.

To put it bluntly, they use the military pay of other soldiers to support their own people. These servants are only loyal to the military generals and ignore the imperial court.

A big part of the reason why Zu Dashou, Wu Sangui and other military generals dared to obey orders but not decrees was because of this.

Although the Beijing Army is not as strong as the border troops, a deputy general must have at least one or two hundred servants, all of whom are dangerous elements.

However, Zhang Shikang was not panicked. It was obvious that these generals had chosen the wrong time.

Before Zhang Shikang could say anything, Sun Weifan stepped forward and protected Zhang Shikang behind him. Then he drew out his sword with a clang, pointed the tip of the sword at Qian Rulong and said:

"Do you want to rebel?"

Zhang Shikang had no personal guards, and was not protected by any imperial guards when he came. Sun Weifan's forehead was bulging with veins, and he felt that now was a critical moment.

After all, Qian Rulong held a high position. He didn't know who Zhang Shikang was, but he did know Sun Weifan, Marquis of Huaining.

In Qian Rulong's opinion, the new admiral was too young and not capable of convincing the people. He could even write a joint memorial with several other lieutenants and lieutenant generals to the emperor, requesting him to replace him.

Those who can become senior generals of the Beijing Camp basically have the shadow of noble relatives behind them, which is also the biggest reason why Qian Rulong dares to do so.

"Assistant Sun, you misunderstood. It's just that the Admiral wanted to torture us right away. This is really against the rules. I just hope that the Admiral will think twice."

Beating them with military sticks in front of so many soldiers is not just hitting their buttocks, it is clearly hitting their faces.

Sun Weifan also felt that it was inappropriate to beat senior generals of the Beijing camp with military sticks in public. Although he believed that these generals were indeed wrong, they should be punished in private rather than in front of so many people.

The reason why he stood up was because Zhang Shikang was the commander-in-chief of the Beijing camp, and military orders were as heavy as a mountain. Even if they were inappropriate, they had to be executed. He was a new official, and the first thing he had to do was to start a new job, even if it might burn him to death.

Zhang Shikang did not respond to Qian Rulong's words. There was definitely no problem with the military law, and before coming to the Beijing camp, Emperor Chongzhen gave him full authority to handle the matter.

He opened a mahogany box from the reviewing table without any hurry, took out a long object wrapped in yellow brocade, and said to Qian Rulong with a smile:

"Qian Rulong, do you recognize this sword?"

The yellow brocade was opened, revealing a long sword with a scabbard made of light brown hardwood and a five-clawed dragon carved on the scabbard.

Yellow was not an ordinary color in those days. It was only used by the royal family. As for the sword that could be wrapped in yellow silk and have a dragon carved on its scabbard, there was only one answer.

"The Emperor's Sword!"

Qian Rulong swallowed his saliva and said, the highest honor for a military general is not to become a general or a governor, but to wear the emperor's sword, which represents the emperor's absolute trust.

Anyone who sees this sword is like the emperor himself. Anyone who holds this sword will kill first and report later.

Yuan Chonghuan dared to kill Mao Wenlong of Pi Island because Emperor Chongzhen gave him the Emperor's Sword. You should know that Mao Wenlong was a general.

As soon as the Emperor's sword was revealed, not only did Qian Rulong lose his ruthlessness, but the servants also panicked. After all, this was not a remote border town, the Xishan camp was right under the feet of the Emperor.

However, Zhang Shikang did not use the reputation of the Emperor's Sword to establish his authority. Instead, he looked again at the ordinary soldiers below who were also staring at the Emperor's Sword.

"Who just said that you can beat whoever I tell you to beat? Now the opportunity has come, and you have seen that these people want to kill me. How is this different from rebellion?

This admiral orders you to capture these people on the spot, and those who dare to resist will be killed without mercy!"

Zhang Shikang pointed at the more than one hundred servants with a grim expression and loud words.

It is definitely necessary to establish authority. Of course, it is possible to do so with the Emperor's Sword, but it is not as practical as using the lower-level soldiers. They have been oppressed for too long, and we must find a way to activate their fighting spirit and courage.

The lower-level soldiers are not stupid. Now that the Emperor's Sword has been revealed, what is there to hesitate about?

The entire parade ground suddenly became chaotic. The soldiers who were closer to the reviewing stand were the first to get the upper hand. Except for a few servants who dared to resist, most of them gave up resistance.

Those who dared to take action suffered a miserable end. They were chopped to pieces by the lower-level soldiers in an instant. Even those who gave up resistance were affected, and some were kicked unconscious.

The deaths of several servants added a solemn atmosphere to the parade ground.

Sun Weifan took the opportunity to order the soldiers to tie up Qian Rulong and others, who immediately wilted.

"Sir Admiral, we are not guilty of such a crime. The Earl of Jiading is a distant relative of mine. Please forgive me, Sir Admiral."

The other people also quickly begged for mercy and reported the people behind them one after another. They thought that even if Zhang Shikang wanted to establish his authority, he would have to consider the people behind them.

But they had no idea that Zhang Shikang had already dealt with all the nobles and relatives of honor. Although the emperor said that he would not hold the nobles and relatives of honor accountable for their past deeds, he still had the leverage over them in his hands. Who would be so blind as to dare to openly trip up the emperor?

They had been abandoned by the nobles and relatives of the emperor long ago, otherwise they would not have been notified at all. Zhang Shikang even felt that the nobles and relatives of the emperor might want them dead even more.

After all, these guys are witnesses of the nobles drinking the blood of the Beijing troops.

Zhang Shikang was too lazy to pay attention to these soldiers who cried only when they saw the coffin, and continued to say to the soldiers under the reviewing stand:

"Now I have changed my mind. You will still be in charge of the beatings, but each person can only be beaten once at most."

Qian Rulong's face turned pale. He didn't understand why Zhang Shikang did this. Holding the Emperor's Sword, if Zhang Shikang really wanted to establish his authority, he could just kill him directly. Why did he go to so much trouble?

The soldiers below looked at each other in bewilderment. They had never heard such a strange order in their lives.

The person being beaten was once their highest commander. Who would dare to take action?

After being oppressed by these generals for many years, Qian Rulong's vicious look was enough to frighten many soldiers.

Seeing that no one took action, Zhang Shikang was not anxious, but continued to encourage with a pleasant face:

"These guys are trying to kill me today, so the charge of treason is a foregone conclusion, and those behind him are all accomplices.

I could have killed them directly, but this admiral felt sorry for you and knew that you must have suffered a lot of bullying from them over the years.

That's why I give you this opportunity. Maybe you only get one chance, so you should seize it.

If you are all cowards, then you deserve to be bullied for so many years. I, the admiral, have overestimated you.

I'll count to three."

Zhang Shikang adhered to the principle of maximizing profits and felt that it was a waste to kill these soldiers directly. It would be better to make use of the waste and test whether the soldiers under him were also waste.

Although he spoke gently, his sarcasm was not concealed at all. I've given you this opportunity, don't waste it.

"one."

Zhang Shikang restrained his expression, stared at the soldiers below, and shouted with a hint of indifference.

These people have been oppressed for too long. Asking them to torture their former top official is tantamount to asking a seventh-rank official to chop the emperor with a knife.

This takes courage.

"two."

Some of the soldiers below frowned, some looked at Qian Rulong and then at the people around them, clenching their fists, as if waiting for the first person to stand up.

Zhang Shikang was somewhat disappointed and was about to order Sun Weifan to kill him directly.

Finally, the first soldier stood up.

"My Lord Admiral, I am willing to be the first to fight."

……