Chapter 727: Purge

The terrain of Zanhuang is high in the west and low in the east, with continuous mountain peaks and crisscrossing giant ravines within its borders, long known as a land of seven parts mountain, one part flatland, and two parts field. Because mountains are many and land is scarce, and the soil is barren, the common people struggle to survive, which instead made this place a haven for bandits and thieves great and small.

Numerous bandits great and small seized the mountains as kings, kidnapping for ransom and extorting, leaving the law-abiding common people in unbearable misery.

This situation persisted until the eleventh year of Chongzhen, when the female horse-bandit Xu Yue'e rose to prominence. She led the heroes of Huwei Stronghold, exterminated the local bandits great and small, unified the local underworld, and upheld the principle that a rabbit does not eat the grass by its burrow, making life much better for the local people of Zanhuang County, and even leading some gentry to sing praises of Xu Yue'e.

In the time that followed, Xu Yue'e extended her reach into neighboring counties, successively clashing with the Yang horse-bandit faction of Lincheng County, the Zhao bandit faction of Yuanshi, and the Sun horse-bandit faction of Gaoyi, annihilating them all. Her power swelled, and her followers reached a thousand. In the third month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Xu Yue'e established military law and no longer plundered the people within the borders of Zhending Prefecture.

Under Xu Yue'e's discipline, local livelihood was stable, praised by the village gentry and commoners. Xu Yue'e's prestige surpassed that of the local government, and people began to call her a hero.

In the winter of the eleventh year, when the eastern slaves invaded, Xu Yue'e renamed her force the Slave-Slaying Army, killed over two hundred Qing soldiers, and also participated in the Battle of Julu, becoming famous far and wide. Afterwards, she was appointed Garrison Commander of Zanhuang, completely washing herself clean, transforming from a bandit figure into a government official, becoming a legend of the time.

In the several years that followed, Xu Yue'e worked diligently in places like Zanhuang, Lincheng, Yuanshi, and Gaoyi, apportioning expenses, collecting taxes, and maintaining several thousand troops. By the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, Xu Yue'e had even become a Mobile Corps Commander, her prestige long established. The local people knew only Lady Xu, and not the government.

In the fourth month of that year, the Loyal and Brave Count Wang Dou passed through Zanhuang, and Xu Yue'e became pregnant. When the news spread, the local people were all delighted, and many gentry and commoners spontaneously sent items for stabilizing the pregnancy.

In the second month of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, Xu Yue'e gave birth to a son, naming him Wang Yi. The local elders celebrated again, and several months passed in a flash. It seemed that during this time Lady Xu had fallen silent, only focusing on quiet recuperation and raising her child within her residence, appearing somewhat indifferent to external affairs.

And on this day, within the Mobile Corps Commander's residence in Zanhuang City, the sound of a baby's laughter and play suddenly rang out. This place was near the west side of the city, originally the local Garrison Commander's residence, with a tower inside. Climbing the tower, one could see the ravines and mountains northwest of the city.

"Baby, come to Mother..."

On a luohan bed covered with a brocade cushion, a small baby boy with a tiger-like head and brain was walking unsteadily. He spent more time crawling around on the bed, his big eyes open, his little mouth only emitting vague, indistinct mutterings.

Looking at his mother by the bedside, he giggled, took a few tottering steps, and rushed into his mother's embrace.

"My son..."

Xu Yue'e scooped up Wang Yi, kissing his face fiercely, making the baby laugh even more uncontrollably.

Perhaps due to having given birth, Xu Yue'e's face held a maternal radiance, her bosom fuller and more prominent, a trace of charm within her heroic spirit. Her figure was still undiminished, still with a slender waist and full hips, only her fine eyes faintly carried frost and killing intent, revealing the bearing of one long in high position.

"The young master truly resembles the Grand General."

A woman beside her, who had left with her back then and now served as a personal guard, praised.

However, several women beside her hesitated to speak, until finally one could not help but say, "Sister Yue'e, must we really do this?"

Xu Yue'e smiled, only lovingly stroking her son's little face. A woman beside her said indignantly, "Don't you see how excessive Yu Luan, Jian Yao, and Lu Jingxiang have been? Coveting the generous profits offered by that old scoundrel Xu Biao, wanting to pull our troops away. If we don't ruthlessly kill a batch, how can we command obedience?"

During the period from the winter of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen to the winter of the fifteenth year, Xu Yue'e, following the trend, had actually been training some new troops, and had even hired some instructors from the Jingbian Army.

After Xu Yue'e rose to power, although her forces quickly swelled to a thousand cavalry and three to four thousand infantry, she lacked sustained momentum afterwards. Over several years, she only managed a cavalry force of two thousand and infantry of five thousand, unable to increase further.

Moreover, the quality was uneven; many soldiers, especially the cavalry, found their bandit habits hard to change.

This was unlike Wang Dou, who, after enduring an initial period of building up strength, could rapidly expand his forces to tens or even hundreds of thousands, all elite soldiers from good families. Therefore, after Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Cao Bianjiao, and others vigorously trained new armies, Xu Yue'e also contemplated organizing and training a new army.

However, due to her pregnancy, postpartum confinement, and focusing on raising her son and other miscellaneous matters, she inevitably relaxed her management of political affairs. Xu Biao, the Provincial Governor of Zhenbao, seized the opportunity to extend his hand into Xu Yue'e's command.

Although Xu Yue'e diligently emulated Wang Dou's training methods, her control over the army could not compare to Wang Dou's. Wang Dou's Jingbian Army soldiers could ensure that even if a general left, he could not pull away a single soldier, not even a single guard. But Xu Yue'e could not achieve this.

Already dissatisfied with the organization of the new army, and enticed by Xu Biao's promises of governing their own territory, along with generous offers of positions like Mobile Corps Commander, and even Assistant Regional Commander or Vice Regional Commander, Yu Luan, Jian Yao, Lu Jingxiang, and others—who were originally Xu Yue'e's trusted confidants but held only the ranks of Garrison Commander and Company Commander—were tempted.

Back when Xu Yue'e killed the seven minor leaders like Dai Xi who refused to submit to her authority, Yu Luan, Jian Yao, and the others were promoted in that batch. The troops they commanded were all first-class combat soldiers within the three-tier military system.

Over the years, these men had followed Xu Yue'e in campaigns north and south, and had even fought in the Battle of Julu. The bond between leader and follower could not be called shallow.

Yet, all this could not withstand self-interest.

Although these men had been allotted land, they had no patience for farming. Xu Yue'e's organization of the new army also gave them a feeling of being marginalized. Coupled with Xu Biao's enticements, they all wanted to leave. Not only leave, but also pull away the cavalry under their command.

Xu Yue'e watched coldly. Although she said nothing, outside, undercurrents were already surging.

Listening to the women beside her speaking angrily, Xu Yue'e remained silent, only looking lovingly at her son.

After a long while, she said softly, "Ah, my son, everything your mother does is for you."

She slowly put down her son, her eyes filled with icy coldness and indifference. She said disdainfully, "They want to overturn the heavens, but they don't realize that here, I, Xu Yue'e, am the one in charge."

She asked, "Is everything prepared?"

A woman beside her revealed a cold, grim look in her eyes: "Everything is arranged."

Xu Yue'e slowly fastened her cloak and overcoat. She wrapped her headscarf, tucked an item at her waist, and finally a cruel expression appeared on her face: "Let's go."

The women all followed her. When they reached the door, four stout and robust female sumo wrestlers silently fell in beside them.

Wang Dou's Grand General's residence had trained a group of female sumo wrestlers, both for the entertainment of the household women and also to serve as guards. Xie Yike's personal maidservant, Chunchun, was a sumo expert, proficient in wrestling and grappling.

At this moment, these four female sumo wrestlers also wore fine chainmail under their clothes, sent specifically by Xie Yike from the residence for Xu Yue'e after she heard of her pregnancy.

"Haha, drink..."

Inside the Assembly Hall of Huwei Stronghold, a group of burly men were shouting and hollering, raising their cups. Although they were now government troops, they were still dressed in a motley assortment of padded jackets and leather robes, each one unruly and with eyes full of reckless defiance.

An endless stream of wine and dishes was brought up, fish and meat, very sumptuous. These men ate and drank even more messily, spilling wine and overturning cups, shouting and yelling, challenging each other to drinking bouts, leaving the table in complete disarray.

The crude-mannered Yu Luan and Jian Yao saw Lu Jingxiang looking pensive and called out, "Blind Lu, what are you thinking about? You're not eating this good wine and meat—are you thinking about women?"

Another wave of raucous laughter filled the hall, displaying their crude and unrestrained nature.

That Lu Jingxiang was somewhat lean and dry, considered a man of cunning within the Slave-Slaying Army. Because he was always squinting his eyes and also had poor eyesight, he had the nickname Blind Lu.

Hearing this, he put down his wine cup and said, "Tell me, what scheme does Xu Yue'e have in summoning us to the main hall? There wouldn't be some plot, would there? Everyone knows her history; this woman is ruthless and kills people like cutting grass."

Yu Luan disagreed: "What scheme could she have? Seeing that the brothers are about to leave, she finally can't hold back and wants to appease us, that's all."

Jian Yao also said, "Right now within the old army, whether cavalry or infantry, many have been won over by us. If Xu Yue'e doesn't lower her stance now, she'll be left as a bare commander with no troops. What use would that be? Rely on those new troops who've never seen blood and are soft as dough?"

As he spoke, a look of resentment appeared in his eyes. Damn those new troops, impervious to any persuasion, impossible to win over no matter what.

Seeing Lu Jingxiang still uneasy, he reassured him: "Relax, I've checked inside and outside the hall. There's no one but serving maids and cooks. There won't be any hidden troops. Below the stronghold gate, the brothers have also arranged men... Xu Yue'e hosting us in this old stronghold hall probably just wants to move us with the old bonds of loyalty, right?"

Yu Luan leered: "Maybe she'll even use a honey trap."

The crowd burst into even more unhinged laughter. To be honest, Xu Yue'e was cold, proud, and dignified, yet full of allure. Especially after giving birth to her son, her charm had only increased rather than diminished. That heroic bearing mixed with a woman's allure often made them, though her subordinates, secretly drool. Now that the topic was raised, they were all full of interest.

Lu Jingxiang laughed until he was out of breath, and he also relaxed. He pointed at Yu Luan with a lecherous grin: "Brother Yu has the right idea... But honestly, a woman's place is at home raising children. What kind of decorum is it to show her face in public? Besides, they are inherently disadvantaged. See, once pregnant and bearing a child, military power unknowingly just..."

"The Mobile Corps Commander has arrived!"

Just then, a sharp shout cut off everyone's foul talk. They saw Xu Yue'e walk in calmly with some guards. Especially the four female sumo wrestlers behind her, like mountains of flesh, gave everyone a heavy sense of pressure.

Immediately, the hall fell silent. Xu Yue'e's authority had been built over many years. Although Yu Luan and the others had spoken without restraint earlier, when facing Xu Yue'e herself, each man could not help but feel fear in his heart.

Xu Yue'e slowly sat down in the main seat. A female guard beside her poured her wine. Then she raised her wine cup. Yu Luan, Jian Yao, Lu Jingxiang, and the close subordinates they had brought along all involuntarily raised their cups as well.

Xu Yue'e held her wine cup, her gaze sweeping over each person, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. She spoke slowly: "That this little sister could come this far, you brothers have done no small part. I remember how back then we faced life and death together, even fought the Tatars side by side…

"Defender Yu, you took a blade for this little sister. Company Commander Jian, you took an arrow for this little sister. Defender Lu as well, time and again offering plans and strategies. This grace, this virtue, I, Xu Yue'e, have never dared to forget!"

"Only…"

A fierce, ruthless look suddenly flashed in her eyes, and she shouted harshly: "Have your wings grown stiff? Do you want to fly off on your own? Do you want to betray me?"

She slammed a palm onto the table, making the bowls and chopsticks clatter.

A stir ran through the hall. The situation had taken a sudden sharp turn. Lu Jingxiang and the others all involuntarily stood up, as if this woman's hospitality this time had been ill-intentioned from the start! But where were the hidden troops? Could Xu Yue'e really intend to deal with this hall full of stout men with just these few female bodyguards? What a joke!

Yu Luan abruptly stood up. With one sweep, he cleared the cups and bowls before him, shards clattering to the floor. He roared in fury: "Xu Yue'e, what the hell do you mean by this?"

Xu Yue'e's eyes revealed a cold, detached look: "In the next life, we can be brothers again!"

Just then, from the barracks below the mountain stronghold came the loud crack of firearms, mixed with bursts of wailing and shrieking. Then the sound of heavy footsteps arose from the rear hall, and squad after squad of New Army soldiers, clutching bird-beak muskets, surged in.

Yu Luan and the others turned ashen-faced, and cried out almost in unison: "The tunnel, there's a tunnel behind the hall…"

Lu Jingxiang let out an even more piercing, miserable laugh: "I forgot, I really forgot. This damn bitch used this exact trick to kill Dai Xi and the others back then… Haha, how I hate myself…" (To be continued...)