Chapter 130: Competing with Lin Dao, With What?

"It hurts~ it hurts so much~"

"Stop hitting, spare me~"

"I said it all, I really said it all~"

"My tooth~ my face~ my leg~"

Inside the Wei Guogong Fu, everything was in disarray.

The various dukes and lords who could once silence all of Jinling City were now enduring cruel torture.

Lin Dao, seated on a Huanghuali chair, frowned slightly.

"Hurry up, I'm rushing to the Imperial Palace."

The soldiers received the orders one after another and continued to beat the meritorious nobles with their fists.

Under the punches and kicks, the screams of the dukes and lords never ceased.

Children in their teens struck without restraint; several dukes had all their teeth knocked out, and some had their hands and feet broken.

"General Lin."

Xin Cheng Bo Zhao Zhilong bowed and saluted, "Beating them like this, they might be beaten to death before we can extract much."

"Oh?"

Lin Dao subconsciously gripped the hilt of his knife, "You have a way?"

On this side, Zhao Zilong visibly trembled.

"If we're talking about torture for interrogation, the veteran clerks of Ying Tian Fu and Shangyuan, Jiangning Er Xian, are the true masters."

"Summon them, and they will surely make these people open their mouths."

Trying cases in the ancient world was not as meticulous as in the Modern World, and there were no advanced devices.

The most important interrogation method was the use of torture.

Various tortures, developed over a thousand years, were truly hair-raising.

The punches and kicks of these young bodyguards before them looked bloody and mangled, but actually had no deterrent power at all.

"Zhao Zhilong!"

Bao Guogong Zhang Guobi, pressed to the ground and kicked, cursed loudly, "You deserve to die!"

The meritorious nobles were also furious.

This bastard was too terrible, actually wanting to use the old clerks in the yamen to deal with them!

They had heard of those cruel methods before.

At that time, they only thought of the world's filth and pitied humanity.

Who would have thought they would actually have a day where they would suffer punishment themselves!

"Shut up!"

Zhao Zhilong roared at Zhang Guobi, "You lot do not understand righteousness, defy Heavenly Will and oppose the General; you deserve it!"

He was a ruthless man.

After confirming Lin Dao held absolute advantage, he knelt on the spot to express his desire to surrender.

"Willing to be a dog and horse~~~ tying grass and carrying rings, kneeling-walking at the General's left and right~~~"

These were Zhao Zhilong's original words.

He also proactively explained the various estates and fields, shops and fleets, distant relatives and collateral branches, as well as the locations of hidden wealth in his home.

Lin Dao laughed for a while, still muttering something like "If he can subdue wild boar skin, he can subdue me" and so on.

He actually agreed and accepted Zhao Zhilong as a dog and horse.

It was just that his gaze toward Zhao Zhilong was strange, making Zhao Zhilong break out in cold sweat on his back, as if he might lose his life at any moment.

"Since that's the case, let's go find the prison wardens and old clerks."

Lin Dao glanced at the sky and simply stood up, "Take them all away, first go to the Imperial Palace."

These dukes and lords cannot die before being squeezed dry.

Similarly, they must be carried along.

The dukes and lords basically also held military posts; if even one escaped, they had the influence to summon the military households in the city.

Although their combat ability was not worth a blow, they were still trouble after all.

Jinling Cheng Huang Gong had extremely strong symbolic significance.

This was the true core of Jinling City, at least in name.

Only by taking this place could it be considered truly seizing Jinling City.

Lin Dao, under the protection of his bodyguards, headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

These bodyguards of his, in others' eyes, were just trusted household servants.

If it were known that the bodyguards were all teenage boys, they would be adopted sons.

Actually, these bodyguards were his officer seeds.

They were the teaching squad he carefully cultivated.

This time they handled affairs, saw blood, and gained experience.

When the troops are expanded in the future, arrange them to serve as a hundred-total or a chief-total to control the military.

Expanding the army is necessary.

Don't look at Lin Dao now having twenty or thirty thousand troops; if he pulls out his dependents to wave flags and shout, he could call it a hundred-thousand great army.

But compared to the entire Great Ming, it was like salt thrown into water, far from enough.

For now, he only controls Jinling City; to control Jiangnan, he needs at least over a hundred thousand.

To go northward, he needs to double that.

The Scenic Yang Bell had already stopped tolling; the Imperial Palace's outer city had already been occupied.

The panicked Han Zanzhou, leading the eunuchs, palace women, and the various guards' troops, hid inside the San Da Dian.

Seeing Lin Dao ride forth on horseback, Han Zanzhou's heart was full of bitterness.

"Look at you, dim-sighted in old age, unable to judge character."

Han Zanzhou raised a hand to stroke his own eyes. "What use is keeping the two of you?"

He hated it.

He had originally thought Lin Dao was a figure like Zhang Jiangling.

He never expected this was clearly the likes of Wang Mang and Cao Cao!

Without a sound, borrowing the Yongwei Camp's skin, he actually managed to pull out a body of troops.

If this isn't being blind, what else could it be?

Since he's blind, what use is keeping this pair of eyeballs!

If he doesn't die at the hands of the bandit Lin today, one day his nine clans will all enter Tie Qiu Fen.

For a bit of wealth and treasure, he has truly trapped himself.

Thinking here, Han Zanzhou's heart turned ruthless, wanting to gouge out his own pair of eyeballs!

Unfortunately, he didn't have that courage.

"Lord Han~~~"

Lin Dao on horseback laughed and called out, "Have you been well?"

Han Zanzhou, surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and eunuchs, had a face like black iron.

He wanted to curse Lin Dao roundly, but feared he'd be slaughtered the moment he finished cursing.

A breath stuck in his throat, and he didn't know what to say.

Lin Dao spoke for him: "Surrender. Why bother letting so many people accompany you to death."

Inside and outside the San Da Dian, eunuchs, palace women, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the various guards defending the Imperial City — a dense, dark mass.

In numbers, they even exceeded the men Lin Dao brought.

Unfortunately, they were all cowards.

"If willing to surrender, you may be released to return home."

Han Zanzhou cursed inwardly: 'Return home my ass! Seeking death.'

He was a Shaanxi man; if he returned home, he'd either be seized and beheaded by Sun Chuanting, or seized and beheaded by the roving bandits.

Either way, no good ending.

Fortunately Lin Dao gave him another way out: "If unwilling to return home, you may also find an estate in the city interior to live out your old age."

Han Zanzhou's expression fluctuated uncertainly.

He now had two roads: either fight Lin Dao to the death and be beheaded, or surrender.

Fight Lin Dao — with what?

Look at the people around him — each face fearful and terrified, Embroidered Uniform Guards and military households who couldn't eat their fill.

These people had long been unable to eat their fill, and couldn't even hold knives and spears steady.

【94】 Look at the other side — all heavy-armored soldiers; go fight them with heads?

Then look opposite — nothing but Heavy Armor soldiers; you gonna ram your heads into them?

Even if they fought to the death, the Imperial Court wouldn't forgive him.

Because Lin Dao was someone he himself had propped up — even His Majesty's side knew!

In the letter to His Majesty, he hadn't spared beautiful words for this fellow.

Given His Majesty's temperament, he would certainly not let his whole family off.

Lin Dao's side spoke again: "The hour is not early. One last incense stick's time — surrender or not, I await your decision!"

Han Zanzhou's scalp truly went numb.

Subconsciously looking left and right, he caught sight of his adopted grandson Eunuch Wang.

Seeing this man, Han Zanzhou wanted to bite him to death.

It's all this thief grandson's fault; if not for his recommendation, how would there be all these subsequent messes!

Eunuch Wang was alert; sensing Han Zanzhou's gaze, he immediately stepped forward and spoke.

"Old Ancestor, things have come to this; a wise man submits to circumstances."

He lowered his voice: "Save your life first, then talk."

"We're just rootless duckweed, all exiled to Jinling City — could it be you still want to die for His Majesty?"

"Old Ancestor, think carefully: all these years, which of the civil and military officials who fought to the death for His Majesty had a good ending?"

"Is it worth it?"

The martial generals of the Chongzhen reign, who expended their troops fighting for the Chongzhen Emperor, would be killed without hesitation.

Those who avoided battle and fled, preserving their strength, instead received endless promotions and enfeoffments.

Civil officials had no good ending either, constantly taking the fall for the Emperor.

The Chongzhen Emperor's such conduct had long chilled countless hearts.

Civil and military are like this; how much more so us house slaves and eunuchs.

Even if we fight to the death, loyal to the nation.

At His Majesty's place, there won't be half a word of praise — only one sentence.

'You have failed Us!'

Thinking here, Han Zanzhou finally saw things clearly.

The garrison eunuchs all surrendered; the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the rest naturally followed the trend, throwing down their weapons and surrendering.

It's not that they were unwilling to serve the Great Ming loyally; they simply couldn't win.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards wore brocade robes, and the various guard units protecting the Imperial Palace were merely impressive on the surface — in reality, they lacked the strength even to brandish swords and staves.

Opposite them stood nothing but heavy-armored soldiers; how could they fight?

The eunuchs and palace women need not even be mentioned — they didn't even have weapons.

With the garrison eunuch taking the lead, everyone gave up resistance from the heart.

Lin Dao took Han Zanzhou by the hand, pulling him to Wu Men Wai.

Here, Han Zanzhou's last shred of illusion shattered.

All the meritorious nobles of Jinling City, as well as the civil and military officials subsequently arrested and brought in, were all present.

As the saying goes, a snake without a head cannot move.

Everyone of status inside Jinling City had been arrested; even if there were troops outside wanting to mount a rescue, they had lost their leaders.

"Lord Han, please sit; let's watch the show together."

Lin Dao, his face full of smiles, enthusiastically invited Han Zanzhou to sit down in a chair.

The two chairs were side by side; he sat at Lin Dao's side.

Han Zanzhou was obviously somewhat anxious, not knowing what Lin Dao intended to do.

"Marquis of Xincheng."

Lin Dao, his face full of smiles, signaled Zhao Zhilong, "Begin."

"This commander obeys the order!"

Zhao Zhilong, who had defected to the enemy before the battle, slipped into the role of a lackey with remarkable speed.

He greeted the summoned jailers and veteran clerks, "Come, start with the Grand Duke of Baoguo."

The jailers and veteran clerks were somewhat apprehensive; none dared to move.

Zhao Zhilong flew into a great rage, "Do you all want to die?!"

Gazing around at the numerous armored soldiers surrounding them, the jailers and veteran clerks, biting the bullet, stepped forward and dragged the Grand Duke of Baoguo out.

Zhang Guobi cursed viciously, struggling desperately.

Zhao Zhilong stepped forward, "Brother Zhang, I advise you to be sensible and submit."

"Pah!"

The response to him was a mouthful of thick spittle.

Raising his hand to wipe the spittle from his face, Zhao Zhilong, his face dark as iron, shouted, "Apply the leg-squeezing sticks to him!"

The leg-squeezing sticks, commonly known as the three-foot wood.

Using wood and rope together, they clamp both legs.

Zhang Guobi was subjected to the leg-squeezing sticks, yet he continued cursing without cease.

He even singled out Zhao Zhilong, saying he would not meet a good end and the like.

Here Zhao Zhilong snatched the large lever and struck Zhang Guobi's calf fiercely.

Instantly blood gushed forth; ankle and leg bones shattered.

Zhang Guobi's miserable shrieks, inhuman in their agony, resounded inside and outside Wu Men.

Han Zanzhou suddenly shuddered violently.

He understood Lin Dao's meaning now — this was killing the chicken to warn the monkey, a performance for his benefit.

The Grand Duke of Baoguo was no hero either; the reason he had held out stubbornly was because he had never suffered hardship.

From childhood to adulthood, if he so much as scraped a piece of skin on his hand, a maidservant would hold it in her mouth.

Who could have known that enduring punishment would actually be so terrifying.

He had previously thought he could face it with indifference, but the moment his legs were broken he instantly became a sniveling wreck.

"I'll give it, I'll give it — all my family wealth, I'll give it to you, spare me~~~"

"Wuwuwuwuwu~~~"

(End of Chapter)