Chapter 207

Half of the Red Flower Society's leaders naturally couldn't use force to persuade Bai Lang—Zhang Zhaozhong's death at Bai Lang's hands had already spread far and wide, the martial prowess of the world's top warrior was naturally also number one, even the Chief felt that even if his own master plus those two incessant 'old friends' and himself all went up together, they probably wouldn't be a match for this Big Man before them...

Originally that was the thought, but now feeling the killing aura on Bai Lang's body only confirms it more. Avoiding combat with him is the best plan; Bai Lang's doing this certainly gives them a headache, but they still must try to persuade him—just as the Chief and Wen Fourth Master exchanged glances, deciding whether to reveal their trump card.

"How about the other half of you? You wouldn't be going to protect that little Hongli, would you? Let the Tartar emperor rebel against himself? You're lucky to have thought of that." Bai Lang's words were like a thunderclap; at least two people before him stood dumbfounded like toads, while several others were utterly astonished, "Really?!"

The Chief's brows were like a sharp blade, completely bearing the heroic vigor of Zhan Huwei, not the feeble weakness of Chen Jialuo: "How do you know that?"

Bai Lang laughed, "Ah, how could Yongzheng alone possibly seal the mouths of the world? The rumor that he swapped the son of the Haining Chen family back then had already spread far and wide many years ago—though basically everyone took it as mere idle chatter. Since you say you have some means and also want your side not to go north—what else could it be besides that rumor possibly being true? Have you already won over the military officers stationed in many places in the north?"

It's not impossible, after all—consider how dire Yongli's situation was back then, yet even genuine Manchu Eight Banners supporters rallied to him as the main force resisting the Qing and restoring the Ming; we can't rule out the possibility that Manchu Qing officers have addled brains. However, the other half of the leaders really aren't going to protect Qianlong. Although they're reluctant, the Chief still said that some of them have returned to their hometowns to raise troops and rebel.

Bai Lang clapped his hands, "Exactly, this is the right way! Rely on the Tartar emperor? Even if he's Han, what does it matter? If he succeeds in rebellion he becomes emperor; if he doesn't rebel he's still emperor." Bai Lang couldn't believe the Chief before him didn't understand this; perhaps he's just afraid... understandable, it's only human nature to be gullible and take shortcuts.

Bai Lang chuckled, "You can take the Red Flower Society believers among the Hangzhou Luying Bing; though I think the Red Flower Society is top-notch White Lotus Sect, these troops might still be somewhat useful—I suppose this is my gift to you. As for who knows the world today, you probably have to go through it to find out."

After saying that, Bai Lang waved his hand to indicate they could leave. If they didn't go, it's uncertain whether he'd strike. Princess Xiangxiang also didn't want to give Bai Lang another glance; she had already gone with Huo Qingting to another room, and as for Princess Xiangxiang's looks—she is indeed pretty, but in Bai Lang's eyes perhaps just so-so. "She's prettier than her sister, and prettier than the poor Wen Fourth Master's wife; she counts as a world-class beauty, yet funnily enough I have no interest at all."

Bai Lang glanced at Princess Xiangxiang a few times and then withdrew, "Chief, you haven't congratulated me on my heavenly match, eh. You didn't invite me to the wedding wine, but I'll still give a red envelope." Bai Lang casually picked up a gold ingot, and in a few quick motions pinched it into a thin gold leaf like paper; with a twist of his wrist it flew to Zhan Huwei's front.

That made those two flush red, Bai Lang stood up—he was going to deal with those officials in Hangzhou city. Officials in disguise and hiding have always existed, but what's the point? Bai Lang stormed the office; if any officials were hiding, he'd set it on fire, burning the office and thus sweeping away official authority. Wanting to regain official authority and control a region—at first they could do that, but once the uprising surged, it was useless.

The Red Flower Society also realized they couldn't persuade Bai Lang; using force wasn't an option from the start, so they could only limit losses—gather those believer troops. Moreover, the leaders' minds became active, and they of course realized that relying on the emperor for rebellion probably wouldn't work...

Bai Lang reached outside the city; it was already known inside Hangzhou—southern forces no longer had regular troops able to withstand the tens of thousands of troops following Bai Lang. These people equipped themselves with weapons seized from the Qing armory; although they unfortunately also got many crude and shoddy weapons, this merely brought their quality up to the level of the Luying Bing. However, these people have Bai Lang, while the Qing troops do not.

Eight Banners troops? Hahahahaha.

Bai Lang rode all the way here; the Hangzhou city gate stood wide open, not a single guard soldier. The battlements were utterly deserted—soon before Bai Lang arrived, the city's officials and soldiers had fled, even taking their superiors along out of a sense of duty—though perhaps the superiors led the flight. The Governor-General's office, the Prefect's office, and the Provincial Administration office were all empty; the Luying Bing and the Commander had likewise scattered, taking the opportunity to loot the city.

When Bai Lang entered the city, he only saw soldiers who hadn't had time to flee, lying on the ground looting, prostrating themselves motionless; the shops along Hangzhou's main streets likewise set up altars and posted 'loyal subjects' on their doors, and of course there were also those who spontaneously went out to loot the city and beat the soldiers— in Jiangnan, resisting the Qing is also a tradition.

During the Ming-Qing transition, Jiangnan's resistance was also at its fiercest.

Bai Lang felt bored; having come this far, he hadn't even managed to kill a few people—"This won't do; I'll definitely shake off that bunch of useless followers." He decided to spur his horse straight upstream, heading straight to Nanjing to kill. He abandoned the cities along the river to avoid alerting the enemy; once he stormed the Prefecture of Ying Tian, he could enjoy himself properly.

Bai Lang's plan was set; that day in the daytime he accepted a fine meal offered nervously by the trailing rebel leaders and local merchants, and later that evening he brought a female slave and set off on a lone journey of ten thousand li, running away directly.

The Prefecture of Ying Tian is basically indefensible; though it's a place of coiled dragons and crouching tigers, stopping Bai Lang's solo charge is utterly impossible. The Liangjiang Governor-General and his ilk still haven't fled—come on, Bai Lang is hundreds of miles away; if they ran now the emperor would certainly not spare them. Even if you're lowly courageous, at least let Bai Lang run to a hundred miles from you before you flee? This top rebel is hundreds of miles away, yet you've already run—can you justify the emperor's patronage?

Moreover, the Governor-Generals, inspectors, provincial administrators, and prefects are all high officials of the dynasty; naturally they must die for the country—the degree of martyrdom ranked by official rank. The Governor-General certainly cannot run; seeing Bai Lang's slaughter approach, he cannot run either; perhaps the Prefect may be allowed to flee a little......