[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-ming":3,"chapter-stealing-ming-stealing-ming-chapter-50":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Stealing Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1220667,1614,"Chapter 50: Section 15","stealing-ming-chapter-50",50,"\u003Cp>The thousand or so soldiers attacking the Sun residence were already utterly exhausted, and having earned their merit, they were busy looting wealth and women, so they were unwilling to continue fighting. The other units began marching toward the eastern city to strike the rebels' last two strongholds: the eastern city barracks and the East Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why wouldn't you just soften a little, say you won't hold a grudge? I always thought women were very weak creatures, and women of this era even weaker. If only you had told me...\" While Huang Shi was drinking gloomy tea in the hall, Zhao Manxiong hurried back, his expression startling Huang Shi, who quickly asked what was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, while Huang Shi had sent Jin Qiude to deal with Sun Degong's study, he had ordered Zhao Manxiong to lead men to the armory and take advantage of the chaos to grab some equipment. They had been stopped by the prefectural government office runners guarding the armory. Zhao Manxiong had also been harshly scolded by Prefect Gao Bangzuo, and if not for his being Huang Shi's subordinate, he would have risked a beating with the plank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Huang Shi was listening to his complaints, Yang Luhuo ran in. He had sent the obedient girl back to Huang Shi's old residence, settled her in his small room, and immediately rushed back to lead the unit. He said breathlessly, \"Prefect Gao is here, and he looks furious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi threw down his tea bowl and ran out with the two of them. Gao Bangzuo looked thoroughly displeased and launched straight into a tirade: \"Military Commissioner Huang, this prefecture knows you have rendered great merit, but the armory belongs to the state, and the equipment also belongs to the state. How could you take it upon yourself to seize it? If the soldiers need weapons, this prefecture will naturally arrange it in a coordinated manner. If everyone goes and takes things on their own, wouldn't that lead to utter chaos?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi spent a long time apologizing before Gao Bangzuo's anger subsided slightly. He pointed at several chests carried by the government office runners behind him: \"This prefecture has brought silver. The reward for taking the Sun residence is here, and the reward for killing rebels from this morning until now is also here — five taels per head. Military Commissioner Huang, help distribute it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, my lord Gao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the soldiers are due, this prefecture will naturally consider. If you have needs, you may also report them. This prefecture is very busy now; Military Commissioner Huang, do as you see fit.\" Gao Bangzuo still seemed very angry. He waved his hand, took his men, and left, leaving behind several large chests of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The total number of rebels this time was larger than Huang Shi and Fei Liguo had estimated, because several other Guangning officers had joined Sun Degong's rebellion. All the rebels together numbered nearly two thousand. Now a few hundred were still holding out stubbornly in the eastern city, and everyone knew that time was everything now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they did not quickly wipe out the rebels and reorganize the city's defenses, when the Later Jin army came charging from Zhenwu, it would still mean death. From Zhenwu to Guangning was just over a day's journey. And the rebels still seemed intent on holding the barbican, waiting for Later Jin reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Huazhen went to the eastern city in person. He also ordered Gao Bangzuo to open the Guangning prefectural treasury and bring out all the stored silver for rewards. It seemed he was desperate too. Zhao Manxiong thought Huang Shi should personally distribute the rewards to become a familiar face; besides, such an opportunity to win people's hearts was not to be missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go summon the soldiers to receive their rewards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Luhuo acknowledged and ran off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, when will you preside over the wedding?\" Zhao Manxiong suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I preside over the wedding?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" Zhao Manxiong explained, and only then did Huang Shi learn that if Yang Luhuo and the obedient girl were to marry, they would have to kowtow to him. Yang Luhuo, as a conscripted soldier, had no elders by his side, and in this feudal society, Huang Shi was his heaven. Moreover, since this matter was decided by him, the newlyweds would have to kowtow to him to thank him for his bestowal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord is brilliant, deeply far-sighted.\" Zhao Manxiong offered another round of flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi looked at him blankly. Zhao Manxiong continued: \"My lord has also given Brother Yang a chance to avenge his grievances.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Manxiong had also noticed today that Yang Luhuo had a bit of a thing for the obedient girl, so he interpreted Huang Shi's conscience in a different way. As for the obedient girl, she had always secretly bullied the personal guards, ordering them around and even taking the rouge they had respectfully offered her. Yang Luhuo, as the captain of the personal guards, naturally bore the brunt and had been tormented badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time Brother Yang will surely take fierce revenge.\" A wicked grin spread across Zhao Manxiong's face: \"This time there'll be something to hear at the wall! That girl's powder money included contributions from your subordinate. We must cheer Brother Yang on extra loud and put her through hell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening at the wall? Listening at the wall was one thing, but cheering too? Huang Shi's mind was a little jumbled. He did not know that in this era, listening at the wall on the wedding night was perfectly normal behavior. Not just military households — even when Confucian scholars and Licentiates married, crowds of people would listen at the door cracks and window eaves. Cheering on the groom was a way for friends and family to show affection; sometimes they even openly discussed it outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfamiliar with the era's customs, Huang Shi assumed it was a Liaodong tradition. He pretended to understand and said, \"Careful, Brother Yang might get mad at you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listening at his wall is giving him face!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood,\" Huang Shi laughed awkwardly. He recalled that the traditional European custom was bedside observation, even for royalty and nobility. It seemed Huaxia was still more civilized than the barbarians. He casually added, \"When I get married, just don't give me that kind of face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Manxiong smiled secretly and did not answer. Huang Shi was looking ahead at that moment and did not notice his expression; otherwise he would certainly have grown wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers who came before Huang Shi to receive their rewards all expressed profuse gratitude. Now a single head fetched the sky-high price of five taels of silver. Huang Shi looked at the mountain of heads piled beside him, wondering how many of them were actually innocent civilians. But for now, Huang Shi did not intend to, nor did he dare to, seriously scrutinize the heads. If it affected morale and the soldiers' spirit, everything would be lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dealing with the Sun residence problem, Huang Shi pondered the current situation. Although it had deviated from the original plan, no matter what, Guangning City had still been saved. Even though the great chaos had caused many soldiers and civilians to flee, Huang Shi estimated they could still muster close to ten thousand soldiers. With Guangning's strong walls and high ramparts, they might not be unable to fight the Later Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large string of heads was tossed in front of the soldiers tallying the count. A soldier drenched in blood tilted his head and said with a somewhat arrogant air, \"Nine heads, forty-five taels of silver. Count them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You killed all of them?\" one of the tallying soldiers exclaimed. Getting even one head was not easy; this fellow had brought nine at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi was also drawn over. This pile of heads actually looked like soldiers rather than civilians. He casually asked, \"All rebels?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A joke,\" the soldier sneered. \"What kind of heads do you want? Women's heads? Just say the word, and I'll go get them for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insolence! How dare a common soldier be so disrespectful.\" Zhao Manxiong's face darkened as he rebuked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the soldier take a closer look at Huang Shi's armor. Somewhat grudgingly, he cupped his hands: \"Your subordinate He Baodao, greets my lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately soldiers shouted, \"Look carefully, you lout! Our lord is Military Commissioner Huang Shi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Baodao sneered: \"Long have I heard the great name of Military Commissioner Huang, the hero who put down this rebellion, and formerly Sun Degong's son-in-law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Manxiong waved his hand, and several soldiers pinned He Baodao down. Huang Shi frowned and asked him, \"I have never met you. Why do you speak with such malice?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1464,"2026-06-04T07:54:30.907Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","62ad697bfd87d582d66e417392ad08ba4f349be70eea18dd5da6db1ddc7ce279","stealing-ming-chapter-51","stealing-ming-chapter-49",323,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-ming-cover.jpg"]