Chapter 513: Pandora's Box Opens (Part 2)

Wen Fangliang looked at the merchants' expectant gazes below, clapped his hands, and several staff officers from the Advisory Department came out, carrying out several sand tables — three-dimensional terrain maps of the lands beyond the frontier, with rivers and mountains all vividly displayed.

The merchants crowded around; many immediately found places they knew well, all marveling and discussing in astonishment. Some merchants from distant routes in particular, having heard much of the Jingbian Army's formidable prowess, now seeing the sand tables, were full of admiration.

A merchant from Taiyuan even exclaimed, "This device is supremely useful — the mountains, rivers, and the realm, all contained within a single tray."

A glimpse reveals the whole leopard; from these sand-table maps alone, one could see the Jingbian Army's extraordinary quality, and at once the merchants' confidence grew a few more notches.

Wen Fangliang glanced at Advisor Wen. Advisor Wen understood, gave Wen Fangliang a slight bow, stepped forward, and briefly explained.

Regardless of whether Advisor Wen was Wen Fangliang's father or whatever, on the surface, Wen Fangliang was an army Assistant Regional Commander and also the Director of the Advisory Department — in the army there are no father and son; the formalities cannot be discarded. When a bow was due, one bowed; when kneeling was due, one knelt, with no ambiguity.

He stroked his fine beard, stepped out calmly, and addressed the crowd: "Gentlemen, thanks to the reconnaissance efforts of our Jingbian Army's Intelligence Department over these years, and with the support of you proprietors, long before the troops set out, our army had already thoroughly ascertained the intelligence on the various northern caitiff tribes beyond the frontier…"

"At present, several hundred li to the east, southeast, and northeast of our new Yongning City lie the Eastern Caitiff outer-subject Mongol Tumed Right Wing Banner, the Kharchin Left and Right Wing Banners, and also some small tribes the Tatars call the Juu Uda League, which includes the Aokhan, Naiman, and Barin tribes. They are now generally grazing in the areas of the Xun River and Kuan River."

"Of course, those closest to our new Yongning City are mostly the Kharchin Right Wing and the Tumed Right Wing Mongol tribes. Everyone here is no stranger to the Kharchin — they are the Mongols of the former Uriankhai Doyan, Taining, and Fuyu Three Guards. The original Doyan tribe in particular is the ancestor of both the Kharchin and the Eastern Tumed tribes."

"After submitting to the Eastern Slaves, the slave chieftain Hong Tai assigned them pasture territories. Compared to the migrating Hu people of past dynasties, they no longer move around much. Finding them is very easy…"

As Advisor Wen spoke calmly, he planted small flags one by one at various spots. Instantly on the sand table, the territorial spheres of influence of the various tribes beyond the frontier were clear at a glance. The surrounding merchants sighed in admiration — with intelligence gathered so meticulously, how could the Jingbian Army not win battle after battle?

Many inwardly felt a chill, awed by the Jingbian Army's might, their hearts filled with even greater submission and respect. The merchants present, while listening intently to Advisor Wen's explanation, also studied this advisor of the Jingbian Army with some curiosity.

To everyone, especially some merchants from distant routes, everything about the Jingbian Army was mysterious, and rumors about them abounded.

This powerful army, like divine soldiers descending from heaven, had suddenly appeared in the Great Ming, emerging into everyone's field of vision. From its rise to becoming renowned across the realm, it seemed not to have taken very long. Their formidable strength drew the attention of countless interested parties.

Many studied them, yet this army seemed shrouded in a veil — indistinct, hazy, and unclear. Every time you thought you understood them, you inadvertently discovered that what they revealed to the outside world was merely the tip of the iceberg of their strength, time and again leaving one with the feeling that one's reach exceeded one's grasp.

Of course, the more this was so, the more the Jingbian Army attracted the attention of various interested parties. The army's advisors were also one of the focal points of outside attention.

These advisors — that is, staff officers in later ages — had existed in China since ancient times, mostly filled by literati. Even in the army, they mostly wore loose robes and large sleeves, with the air of pointing out the realm's affairs and declaiming passionately, or wore official robes with the manner of bureaucrats.

Unlike the impression in everyone's minds, the Jingbian Army advisors' attire combined a soldier's efficiency with a scholar's refined elegance.

Advisor Wen at this moment wore a soft cap and a close-fitting dark-green robe, with a sharp sword at his waist. Over the dark-green robe he wore a short-sleeved greatcloak that reached down to his calves; the cloak had fastening sashes and could be tied on like a cape.

Advisor Wen was a handsome man to begin with; now dressed in the advisor's uniform, he was refined yet dashing, his bearing capable of mesmerizing young maidens and married women alike. In fact, Advisor Wen's private life was rather dissolute — in this respect, Wen Fangliang greatly resembled him.

This attire was also the result of the Jingbian Army's new uniforms and the establishment of the new battalion system, striving to display each branch's most heroic aspect and each troop type's distinctive character. Clearly, Wang Dou's goal had been achieved: many scholars and students of the Eastern Circuit, upon seeing Advisor Wen, felt the impulse to cast aside their brushes and join the military.

Facing the crowd's attentive gazes, among which were even a few strange and greedy looks, Advisor Wen's expression remained unmoved.

He continued calmly: "…East past the Laoha River and the Kuan River are the various Kharchin Left and Right Wing Banners. Further northeast are the greater part of the Tumed Left and Right Wing Banners — all of them part of the Eastern Tumed tribe, different from the Guihua City Tumed to the west. And the various Khorchin tribes lie even further to the northeast…"

Advisor Wen unhurriedly planted small flags at various spots on the sand table. The distribution of these flags was mostly in river valleys.

In ancient times, whether on the march or encamped, both men and livestock needed large amounts of drinking water; this was especially true for nomadic peoples who followed water and pasture. Their tribal encampments were almost all situated beside rivers. Particularly where mountain ranges separated the tribes, any military movement would follow the river valleys.

The Jingbian Army's operations beyond the frontier were no different. In the past, the Intelligence Department and the Vanguard Scout Camp, when scouting beyond the frontier, also searched along the river valleys, or bribed certain Mongols, or contacted captured Han people within the various tribes to serve as guides, or used merchants as spies.

Generally speaking, although the tribes beyond the frontier feared the Jingbian Army, because the Great Ming had not mounted any large-scale expeditions beyond the frontier for a hundred years, on the whole, the tribes beyond the frontier were not strongly on guard. Many tribes gathered not far from the Ming border walls.

Their nomadic skills had also degenerated; they were half-farming, half-herding. Many large tribes had even built crude stockaded forts at their encampment sites. In particular, after the various tribes submitted to the Qing troops, their pasture territories were demarcated and their movements restricted, making intelligence gathering for the Jingbian Army even easier.

His gaze slowly swept across everyone present: "I may reveal a little of the operational plan for this campaign. Of course, not a single word of this plan may be leaked to the outside by any of you. Otherwise…"

He pressed his hand on his sharp sword, cast a sidelong glance at the crowd, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "I trust none of you gentlemen wish to see your families ruined and your people destroyed?"

A chill seemed to course through the hearts of every merchant present, making them all shiver involuntarily. This advisor was formidable — outwardly all smiles and pleasantries, refined and genial, yet the words he spoke were so chilling.

Yet this advisor was not merely intimidating the merchants present. Everyone knew that the Loyal and Brave Count was cold and merciless toward rebels and traitors — who did not fear having their entire household executed? Even if a single survivor were left, the fate was to be enslaved in the mines for generations.

And even if one fled, everyone knew the prowess of the Shogunate's Intelligence Department. The various arrest squads and anti-treason squads under its jurisdiction could stop children from crying at night. Especially those newly inducted members of the Swordsmen Hall, eager for merit, would willingly pursue them to the ends of the earth.

So as soon as Advisor Wen spoke these words, the merchants present immediately erupted in a chorus of sycophantic assurances, each pounding his chest and vowing that he would never commit such a heartless and treacherous act — with Lai Mancheng's voice being the loudest and most resolute.

Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi exchanged a glance, both twisting their mouths. This Advisor Wen, outwardly so refined and graceful, was inwardly dark and venomous; the more one dealt with him, the more chilling it became. Though the two were ruthless themselves, they both preferred open blades and straightforward spears, and were somewhat unaccustomed to Advisor Wen's style. But the Jingbian Army contained all sorts of people, and their own temperaments had to bend.

Wen Shiyan also nodded slightly, reckoning that the merchants present would not be so tactless. Moreover, the Eastern Circuit practiced the mutual responsibility system and the guarantor system — the price of betrayal was extremely high and difficult. And the specific plan this time, for the sake of secrecy, was not even known in detail by the various officers under the Loyalty Battalion.

His hand left his sword hilt, and he continued calmly: "Our great army of fifteen thousand men is divided into three forces. Two battalions of Jingbian Army first-class troops, plus several thousand men from the Loyalty Battalion, form the vanguard — about six thousand in total, all cavalry, divided into several large detachments. With a thunderclap strike and lightning speed, they will sweep away the resisting forces of the various tribes in one blow."

"Then the armed merchant companies will follow, rounding up the population, cattle, and horses everywhere, suppressing the remaining northern caitiff herders, and transporting the spoils back to New Yongning, where the garrison colonists there will be responsible for receiving and sorting them. Finally, the Jingbian Army infantry from the two battalions will serve as the rear guard, protecting the army's rear line, and bringing artillery to deal with any possible assaults on fortified stockades, or any possible attempts by the Tatar caitiffs to encircle the rear."

Wen Fangliang's and Gao Shiyin's two battalions had over six thousand troops, about half of whom were first-class veteran soldiers, every man with a horse.

And the Loyalty Battalion, about three thousand men, was also entirely a mounted cavalry force, almost all of them elite retainer cavalry. Following behind the Jingbian Army, they could still fight — not to mention that their opponents were only Mongols.

And for this expedition beyond the frontier, the combined Eastern Circuit merchants and the many armed merchants from distant routes, when assembled, amounted to four or five thousand men and horses, among them no fewer than three thousand armed personnel, many with carts or horses.

Many of these men were desperadoes; their combat strength was not to be underestimated. Of course, they had no discipline and no organization — in Wang Dou's view, they were merely a rabble. That said, Wang Dou would not give them the chance to unite with a single purpose.

"The main areas for this campaign beyond the frontier will be the regions of the Xun River, Kuan River, Laoha River, and Qinglong River. You proprietors' sphere of activity will also mainly be there. As for the Daling River basin further northeast, you need not go there. Even if our forces reach that area, they will only kill people, not seize population, cattle, sheep, or goods — horses, of course, are excepted…"

Advisor Wen spoke in measured tones. The proprietors listened, both excited and anxious. From Advisor Wen's calm words, they could faintly sense the bloody atmosphere and imagine the scale of the coming events. And that they themselves would participate in such grand events — how could they not be thrilled, not be restless with anticipation?

And listening to Advisor Wen's explanation, even those merchants ignorant of military affairs nodded repeatedly. Coupled with the sand table, the military operations were clear at a glance, with no sense of groping in the dark whatsoever — vastly different from the armchair strategizing of the usual literati and advisors.

Everyone felt this operation had an extremely high chance of success, that they would surely reap great wealth and earn ample merits. They all excitedly whispered among themselves.

Watching the expressions of everyone present, Advisor Wen stroked his beard and smiled. He liked this feeling of controlling the crowd's emotions.

Finally, he said: "According to the strategy the Grand General has determined in advance…"

At this point, he cupped his hands toward the upper-right sky, expressing his reverence for the Loyal and Brave Count.

The merchants were momentarily stunned, then all made the same gesture. Whatever they thought in their hearts, on the surface they all wore expressions of respect and veneration.

Advisor Wen continued: "…the population, cattle, sheep, wealth, and goods seized in this campaign will all be sold to you gentlemen at twenty to forty percent of the market price. For the specific price of each item, you may discuss in detail with Commercial Affairs Director Tian and Vice Chairman Lai of the Zhendong Trading Company."

He smiled at Commercial Affairs Director Tian Changguo, then glanced at Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, and the others. Everyone nodded. Amid the merchants' unanimous chorus of "We bid farewell to you, Generals," the officers pressed their hands on their sword hilts and strode out proudly, and in a moment they had all left.

Tian Changguo stepped forward, his large, bulging eyes shining with dazzling light, thinking to himself, "At last, it's my turn."

He cleared his throat, looked at the expectant merchants below, and said: "Well then, gentlemen, the time for doing business has arrived. Old Tian here has carefully calculated that this campaign beyond the frontier may yield one hundred and seventy-six types of commercial goods. For each type, I have marked a price. Let us all discuss them in detail…"

Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, Shen Shiqi, and the others left the great hall and came up onto the city gate tower.

Looking out over the city, whether soldiers or garrison colonists, all were busily making preparations for the expedition. Looking beyond the city, the Chao River flowed like a jade ribbon past the northeast side of the city; fields and gardens dotted the riverbanks. On some grassy flats, cattle and sheep clustered in herds — quite a scene of frontier charm.

Looking further at the sky, it was cloudless for ten thousand li, a vast expanse of azure. The air in this era was truly fine.

The flesh on Gao Shiyin's face twitched a few times, and finally he said: "Damn it all, I really couldn't get used to it in that hall. Those merchant types reek of copper."

Wen Fangliang gazed ahead, lost in thought, and murmured: "Old Gao, you must learn to get used to it."

Shen Shiqi looked at the scenery outside the city, somewhat entranced, and sighed: "Truly beautiful."

He said, "This time we ride beyond the frontier — can it be counted as sealing Langjuxu?"

Without waiting for anyone to answer, he suddenly said, "Two elder brothers, this scene, this moment — your younger brother feels stirred in his heart and wishes to sing a song aloud."

Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin said in one voice, "Don't."

Looking at Shen Shiqi's aggrieved expression, Gao Shiyin frowned for a long while, finally his heart softened, and he said, "Really, don't sing. If you must sing, tomorrow when we march out, we'll all sing together."

……

The fourteenth year of Chongzhen, eighth month, fourth day, the hour of the Dragon, at New Yongning City.

The sky was still very high. The eighth month of the lunar calendar, by the solar reckoning, was already September — just the season when autumn air is crisp and clear, the grass tall and the horses fat.

Early in the morning, Wen Fangliang's Left Guard Azure Dragon Battalion, Gao Shiyin's Vanguard Vermilion Bird Battalion, and Shen Shiqi's Loyalty Battalion were all arrayed in the eastern outskirts. Also present were the armed merchant regiments of the various merchants, numbering several thousand, and about twenty thousand garrison settlers from New Yongning City and the surrounding forts, all gathered here.

The sea of people seemed boundless, one orderly square formation after another stretching beyond sight, banners and pennons snapping in the wind, the blood-red waves of the Sun-and-Moon flags surging.

Wherever the eye fell, within each square formation were dense rows of brimmed helmets, dense rows of bright red long-body overcoats, trimmed in black, trimmed in blue-green. Those trimmed in blue were the mark of the Loyalty Battalion; they all wore armor equivalent to the Jingbian Army's second-class troops, distinguished by the blue trim, and their flag borders were the same.

Dense weapons stood like a forest, flashing metallic gleams from time to time. Even the garrison settlers of New Yongning City, men and women, old and young alike, every one of them had a waist saber, a bird gun, and a long spear. Living beyond the frontier, their peacetime military training was even stricter than within the passes. After several years, whether man or woman, old or young, when they formed ranks, they too were stern, orderly, and solemn.

Of course, there were discordant elements — namely those folk gallants of the jianghu. Not only did each man's weapon resemble an exhibition display, their armor and attire also came in a multitude of styles, and they stood sloppily and loosely.

And the officers and men of the Loyalty Battalion — although they had undergone a period of crash training after being organized into a battalion, in terms of formation orderliness and strictness of discipline, they still fell short of even these garrison settlers beyond the frontier.

Yet such a martial display, in the eyes of those armed merchant regiments and the old soldiers of the Loyalty Battalion, was already exceedingly fierce and mighty, its killing aura surging to the heavens.

Infected by this atmosphere, every man was panting with excitement. A merchant beside Lai Mancheng could not help saying, "Our great army is truly mighty and majestic. Once the royal host marches forth this time, the caitiff tribes will surely be scattered like smoke and extinguished like ashes."

Lai Mancheng had once again donned his iron armor, making him look like an iron can, but his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, resting on his shoulder, diminished much of his martial majesty.

At this moment he shook his head and said, "Indeed, though this is not the first time I have seen the great army's heroic bearing, still — truly mighty, ah."

Yang Dongmin, Zhang Wenru, Xu Youyu, and the others in the Loyalty Battalion were also exchanging excited glances.

After Shen Shiqi's training and discipline, they all had a certain understanding of military law. At this solemn moment, they absolutely dared not make a clamor; otherwise, who knew whether that fellow Gao or that fellow Shen would enforce military law upon them?

Only Xu Lu, Liu Wei, Yu Qingyuan, and Lan Bulian of Yang Dongmin's unit secretly resolved that this time, no matter what, they would earn some military merit. Seeing Wen Fangliang's manner, they were envious.

Before the great army's high platform, Adjutant Wen stepped forth from the ranks. He unfurled a proclamation of war against the Hu barbarians, reading it aloud with cadenced intonation, detailing at length the crimes of the northern caitiffs over the years, and then enumerating the necessity and righteousness of the Jingbian Army's expedition beyond the frontier this time. When the reading was finished, the assembled troops roared like a mountain, "Ten thousand victories!"

They shouted in unison, almost with all the strength in their bodies, a voice like toppling mountains and overturning seas, sounding as if it shook the hearts of men.

Wen Fangliang stood upon the high platform. He, who usually wore a cynical, irreverent expression, now had a solemn countenance, bearing only an air of authority.

He looked down from the platform at the dense, dark torrent of steel that seemed to stretch to the ends of the sky. Before the formations of some second-class troops were also arrayed a number of cannons, several tens of them, all falconet cannons — light, nimble, and with quite formidable firepower — intended for potential siege assaults against Tartar caitiff forts and stockades.

And on the horses of the Jingbian Army's first-class troops were placed fried-noodle bags, capable of sustaining seven to fifteen days of dietary needs.

For the purpose of achieving a rapid strike, this time the first-class troops and the Loyalty Battalion, aside from essential weapons, did not even bring tents. In this weather, even when camping in the open, there truly was no need to carry marching tents.

Wen Fangliang looked again toward Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi; the two men at this moment also kept their faces taut, wearing stern expressions. Seeing Wen Fangliang look their way, the three seemed to share a tacit understanding, all nodding at the same time. Dressed in full battle gear, they descended the high platform, mounted their horses, and slowly passed before each square formation.

Hoofbeats sounded. The three horses rode abreast, and wherever they passed, the soldiers of each square formation rendered them eye-salutes and presented-arms salutes.

When they passed before the garrison-settler formations, everyone looked at the three generals with some curiosity, their gazes resting especially upon Wen Fangliang.

It had long been heard that the Jingbian Army had two famously handsome men — one was Gao Xun, and the other was this very Assistant Regional Commander Wen, the Director of the Staff Department. There were many tales about Wen Fangliang, and now that the garrison settlers saw him with their own eyes, they all revealed expressions of satisfied gossip. Truly, his reputation was well-deserved — who would have thought a man could be so strikingly beautiful.

Reaching the middle section of the military formations, Wen Fangliang sighed and said, "If you want to sing, then sing."

Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi both exhaled. The two exchanged a glance, both nodded heavily, drew a deep breath, and suddenly roared together, "Hey…"

Before the military formations, the two men sang out loudly, "O beautiful great grasslands, I shall come, I shall come."

Everyone froze for a second, but very quickly, from countless military formations, the voices of tens of thousands singing in unison rose, "Ayo ayo, ayo ayo!"

Shen Shiqi's ghost-scaring voice howled out, "I shall make the Tartars' skulls into my wine cups."

Tens of thousands sang mightily in unison, "Ayo ayo, ayo ayo!"

Gao Shiyin's voice, like a broken gong, sang loudly, carrying far and wide, "Their wives shall be my concubines, their sons shall be my servants."

Countless military formations chorused, "Ayo ayo, ayo ayo!"

Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi sang loudly, "My horsewhip shall flog them heavily."

Countless people chorused, "Ayo ayo, ayo ayo!"

"Cross the high mountains, cross the plains, tread across the great earth, tread across the grasslands."

"Ayo ayo, ayo ayo!"

"Until the farthest ends of the sky, hey."

Tens of thousands roared in unison, "Kill kill kill kill, kill kill kill kill!"

With the ringing dragon-cry of blades unsheathed, Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, and Shen Shiqi all drew their weapons and raised them high.

All the soldiers and civilians raised their weapons, and waves of dazzling cold light flashed continuously from within each military formation.

Zhang Wenru hoisted his great spear in one motion, and Lai Mancheng raised his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

The crowd roared in unison, "Kill all, burn all, loot all!"

The roar was like a sudden thunderclap, shaking the fields in all directions.

A cannon boomed, and upon the high platform, Adjutant Wen shouted, "The auspicious hour has come!"

A stern, severe light flashed in Wen Fangliang's eyes, and he shouted, "Sacrifice to the banners! Bring forth those Tartars!"

Amid a moment of silence across heaven and earth, the sounds of the barbarians' weeping, cursing, and struggling came through. Passing through one military formation after another, they saw a dozen or so Tartars in fur caps and fur robes, bound tightly with ropes, being escorted forward by some Jingbian Army armored soldiers.

Along the path they passed, from within every military formation, the gazes cast upon them were filled with fury and hatred.

These Tartars had all been captured by the Night Scouts or the Intelligence Department during reconnaissance missions outside, conveniently seized from the outskirts of some tribes along the way — just in time for the great army's march, to be used as banner sacrifices.

These Tartars, seeing the Ming army's ironclad great host arrayed solemnly everywhere, in this scene and this moment, how could they not know the fate that awaited them?

Terror filled their hearts. Since when did the Ming army ride beyond the frontier? What did they intend to do? Under shock and fear, every one of them struggled desperately. Some pleaded, some were merely numb, and some, knowing hope was lost, hardened their hearts and burst out in furious curses.

Among them, one thick-set Tartar struggled and cursed the most fiercely. He even shouted and cursed at those beside him, "Descendants of Genghis Khan, children of the Eternal Blue Sky, do not beg mercy from these southern barbarians! We are all warriors of the tribe. Even in death, we return to the embrace of the Sky God — what is there to fear?"

He showed no trace of terror, only his eyes were crawling with bloodshot veins, and from his throat came a wild beast's low growl. Struggling, he roared toward the high platform, "You lowly nikan, you base southern barbarians! When the jasagh of our tribe returns, he will surely avenge us. They will also bring countless Great Qing soldiers and slaughter every last one of you southern barbarians clean!"

Gao Shiyin had served as a Night Scout and understood Mongolian. He naturally knew what this Tartar was cursing. The fierce flesh on his face twitched violently, and he gave a savage grin, "Good. Very good."

Wen Fangliang's expression remained indifferent. He asked, "What is that Tartar cursing about?"

Gao Shiyin had spoken, and Shen Shiqi roared with fury: "Even at death's door you still dare to talk tough — watch how I torture him!"

Wen Fangliang watched this Tartar with a faint, ambiguous smile, then suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Good! Worthy of a warrior among your tribe, indeed. I, Wen Fangliang of the Pacifying Frontier Army, admire warriors most. I shall certainly grant you the death at the banner a warrior deserves."

He spoke a few words to Shen Shiqi, and Shen Shiqi chuckled darkly, saying: "Satisfying."

He passed the order to several officers of the Loyalty Battalion, and they too chuckled darkly upon hearing it — especially Zhang Wenru, on whose face an even crueler smile surfaced.

Swiftly, several dozen soldiers of the Loyalty Battalion rushed out, stuffed this Tartar, along with several others who had cursed just as fiercely, all into hemp sacks. The sack openings were tightly bound with rope.

With the Pacifying Frontier Army acting this way, how could those Tartars inside the sacks not understand what awaited them? All around rose piercing, wretched howls; even half of them repented, no longer cursing but desperately begging for mercy. Their voices came out from within the sacks, muffled and indistinct, all the more eerie.

And those Tartars beside them who had not been stuffed into sacks were scared out of their wits, shrinking to one side and trembling uncontrollably.

Zhang Wenru let out a wild roar, yanked his horse's reins, and bellowed: "A hundred men, come forth! Follow me and trample them to death!"

Amid the neighing of horses, Zhang Wenru spurred his mount and charged out fiercely. He picked out one sack, and the two front hooves came crashing down heavily.

The clear sound of shattering bones, along with piercing shrieks of agony, came from within the sack. The stench of incontinence, and what seemed like blood gushing like a fountain inside the sack, instantly dyed a large patch of the sack red; the blood even seeped through to the ground, staining the earth a dark crimson.

The one inside this sack was precisely that Tartar who had just been cursing the most viciously. He was bound hand and foot, trussed up with his four limbs facing the sky.

Thus, aside from struggling and curling up, he could make no other movement. Zhang Wenru's horse trampled down, landing squarely on his chest — instantly, who knew how many bones snapped. Several ribs even protruded outward, piercing through the sack in multiple places, the red-and-white jagged ends of bone jutting out.

This Tartar was in agony worse than death, writhing with all his might. Seen from outside, one could not make out his expression within the sack, only that his contortions seemed excessively grotesque.

Zhang Wenru spurred his horse over again and trampled down viciously once more. It seemed as if the blood inside the sack suddenly burst; across the entire upper part of the sack, a mist of blood squeezed upward and sprayed out. In mere moments, that sack had become a sack of flesh and blood.

The Tartar inside seemed not yet dead, only that his body's writhing had already assumed a full three-hundred-sixty-degree contortion.

Zhang Wenru laughed maniacally, spurring his horse to trample wildly, while beside him, shrieks that could rupture eardrums rose unceasingly. A hundred riders of the Loyalty Battalion came forth, spurring their horses to trample indiscriminately over those Tartars in the sacks. Amid the unending sound of shattering bones, those Tartars were trampled alive into pulp amid their screams.

The surrounding area, too, seemed to have become a mire of blood and flesh, dark red blood flowing everywhere across the ground.

Within the army formation, whether soldiers or garrison farmers, all watched with immense satisfaction; only some merchants' faces turned pale — the scene before them was far too horrifying. As for those Tartars beside them who had not been stuffed into sacks, every one of them was scared out of their wits, feces and urine flowing freely; they shrank upon the ground, begging only for a swift end.

Only after confirming that these Tartars had all been reduced to pulp did Zhang Wenru lead his subordinate riders back. These riders, too, all shouted that it was thoroughly satisfying, each declaring that if they captured Tartars in the future, they would surely handle them this way.

Seeing that the hour was about right, the remaining Tartars were dispatched with a single blade, and the banner-sacrifice ceremony concluded in triumph. Adjutant Wen, who had watched all this without a change of expression, now stroked his beard and said: "The banner sacrifice is greatly auspicious; the officers and men have drunk deeply of the Tartar slaves' blood. In this battle, our army shall surely win a great victory."

Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi both nodded in approval as a matter of course.

Wen Fangliang cast a deep gaze toward the east, then looked down at the mighty army below the platform, raised his sharp sword, and shouted: "March forth!"

"Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories! Ten thousand victories!"

Amid earth-shaking cheers, the two battalions of the Pacifying Frontier Army's first-class troops, along with the riders of the Loyalty Battalion, spurred their horses and rode out at the forefront.

Like a tide of crimson, they surged toward the east, iron hooves pounding the ground with a tremor as if the earth were shaking and the mountains swaying... To be continued.