Chapter 50 They Are Rebellious

Faced with Gu Zhenhua's stern questioning, the officers and soldiers of the Ningyuan Army present all lowered their heads. Having fought against the Manchu Qing for decades, the thought of surrendering to them overnight and becoming traitorous lackeys was something none of their hearts could bear.

Right at that moment, Yue Polu scrambled up from the ground, his eyes burning red, and shouted loudly, "My ancestor was the loyal Marshal Yue of the Great Song! Wanting me to surrender to the Tartars is utterly impossible. Whoever bows to the Manchu Qing is my enemy!"

With that, Yue Polu consciously stepped over to stand by Gu Zhenhua's side. All eyes then shifted toward Guo Yunlong.

"Lord Gu, Guo is a proud descendant of Huaxia and a true man of honor; I am by no means willing to surrender to the Manchu Qing. It's just that... the situation remains murky. The Commander-in-Chief, perhaps he hasn't surrendered to the Qing yet, and this is all a misunderstanding."

"Hahaha, what the Major Commander says also makes sense. Then how do you propose to prove that Wu Sangui has not surrendered to the Qing?"

"I..." Guo Yunlong was suddenly at a loss for words.

Just as the deadlock peaked, a flurry of rapid hoofbeats echoed from outside as a troop of cavalry charged in. The leading general bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Guo Yunlong, why hasn't Gu Zhenhua's head been taken yet?!"

Guo Yunlong and the others jerked their heads up. He recognized the newcomer instantly as Wu Sanrong, the cousin of Wu Sangui. Perched proudly on a white steed, the man gripped a heavy saber and looked down his nose at everyone.

The very instant Wu Sanrong appeared, Gu Zhenhua sprang forward with explosive force, leaping onto Li Xu's warhorse. Two days prior, Li Jibo had already sent a secret message to Gu Zhenhua, finalizing their plan. Though Li Xu's injuries had not yet fully healed, he had still brought along a contingent of men to secretly protect his benefactor.

It was precisely because of this pre-arranged confidence that Gu Zhenhua had dared to face Guo Yunlong alone. Even if Guo Yunlong had strictly followed Wu Sangui's orders, he would have never been able to harm Gu Zhenhua.

Now, mounted on Li Xu's steed, Gu Zhenhua let out a long, ringing shout, "Wu Sanrong, do you still wish to take this marquis's head?"

Catching sight of Gu Zhenhua, Wu Sanrong was initially startled, but then he burst into hearty laughter, "Gu Zhenhua, your head is specifically requested by the Prince Regent; don't blame my saber for being ruthless!"

Possessing formidable strength and completely devoid of fear, Wu Sanrong spurred his horse and charged directly at Gu Zhenhua. Separated by mere dozens of paces, their charging mounts closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

The enemy's face swelled larger and larger within his field of vision. Wu Sanrong's heavy saber was raised high, flashing with a chilling light as he brought it down with ferocious momentum. It descended like a falling cloud, instantly looming over the crown of Gu Zhenhua's head.

Fast as Wu Sanrong was, Gu Zhenhua's speed was even more astonishing. He gripped his iron spear tightly. The split second Wu Sanrong raised his blade, Gu Zhenhua thrust his spear straight for the center of Wu Sanrong's chest with relentless force.

The warhorses crashed together like colliding comets. In a flash of sparks and stone, the two riders swept past one another. The entire exchange took less than ten seconds before Gu Zhenhua's steed carried him a dozen paces further, slowly wheeling around.

At that moment, a long spear was pinned squarely through Wu Sanrong's chest, skewering him like a candied gourd. Fresh blood dripped steadily downward as his lifeless body plummeted to the ground with a heavy thud, his helmet rolling away to the side. A formidable general had thus perished at the hands of Gu Zhenhua.

"Ah!"

The moment Wu Sanrong's helmet hit the ground, the surrounding crowd could not help but gasp in shock. His head had been shaved clean and shiny, save for a thin strip of hair at the back left in the shape of a so-called money-tail!

"Shaved heads and altered attire—Wu Sangui has truly surrendered!"

Seeing this, even the most foolish among them understood. Wu Sanrong had shaved his head, which meant Wu Sangui was beyond redemption. Just as Gu Zhenhua had warned, they had indeed become traitors to the Han people.

Consumed by rage, Yue Polu lunged forward, severed Wu Sanrong's head with a single slash of his blade, and hoisted it upon the tip of his sword.

"Brothers, take a good look! Who among you still wants to keep that abomination on your head?"

Li Xu also shouted from the sidelines, "Brothers, follow Lord Gu and turn against Wu Sangui!"

"Right, rebel against Wu Sangui and refuse to be running dogs!"

"Rebel against Wu Sangui!"

...

The echoing cries were not limited to those inside the courtyard. Over two hundred men suddenly poured in from outside—all operatives contacted by Li Jibo and Li Xu. Having spent years in Shanhai Pass, their influence was by no means negligible.

Especially Li Xu, who before his injury had been a major commander himself. Possessing exceptional martial arts skills and deep respect among the Ningyuan Army, recruiting his former subordinates was no difficult task.

Seeing these men flood in, Guo Yunlong knew instantly that Gu Zhenhua had orchestrated everything in advance. Though still feeling somewhat conflicted, he had no choice but to flow with the current.

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Gu Zhenhua urged everyone, "Brothers, we are all men of boiling blood; none of us wishes to be a slave to the Manchu Qing. Charge with me and fight our way out of Shanhai Pass!"

With that, Gu Zhenhua took the lead, closely followed by Li Xu and Yue Polu. Of course, Gu Zhenhua wasn't foolish enough to blindly rush out of the pass; his immediate destination was the city wall, where over two thousand soldiers were waiting for him.

As they rounded the street corner, they saw the fierce, bloody clash between the Dashun Army and the Ningyuan Army. Amidst roars and curses, men fell continuously, while others trampled over corpses to press the fight.

Hushen's poleax had long since broken, his sword blade was notched, and blood seeped from multiple wounds across his body. He slashed an enemy across the shoulder only to find it failed to pierce the heavy iron armor. A Dashun soldier abruptly raised his leg and kicked him to the ground.

Hushen had never felt so weak before. The enemy raised a heavy saber, preparing to bring it down upon his head. Hushen wanted to dodge, but his limbs refused to obey. He bared his teeth in a bitter smile—was he truly going to die here?

In a fraction of a second, a heavy arrow pierced straight through the Dashun soldier's forehead. Struck as if by lightning, his brains and blood splattered in all directions.

"It's Lord Gu! Lord Gu has come!"

Hushen shouted in joyous surprise, struggling to his feet just as Gu Zhenhua and his men charged up. Gu Zhenhua stood firmly in his stirrups, drawing his bow back to its full extent. With every twang of the bowstring, another Dashun soldier crashed to the ground.

Within moments, two full quivers of arrows were completely exhausted, leaving the ground strewn with fallen Dashun soldiers. Made of flesh and blood like anyone else, and terrified by the lethal efficiency of the archer, the enemy troops began to retreat in panic.

Seizing the moment, Gu Zhenhua spurred his horse forward, his saber slicing through the enemy like a hot knife through butter, carving a bloody path. The Dashun soldiers shrieked in terror, meeting a wretched end.

Emboldened by Gu Zhenhua's leadership, the Ningyuan Army finally mustered their remaining valor and charged alongside him. With a flurry of hacking and slashing, corpses littered the top and bottom of the city wall, and the gap was finally plugged once more.

"Long live the Marquis! Long live the Marquis!"

Having snatched survival from the jaws of death, the soldiers cheered from the bottom of their hearts. Every single one of them gazed at Gu Zhenhua with deep gratitude, adoration, reverence, and even a hint of devotion.

Gu Zhenhua had spent less than a month with these soldiers, but he had utilized every waking moment to cultivate deep bonds with them. He had visited every camp, memorized every man's name, sparred and trained with them, taught them basic medical care, and instructed them in hygiene.

Faced with the fickle and vicious wolf that was Wu Sangui, Gu Zhenhua had risked his life to rally these soldiers not out of sheer boredom.

The Ningyuan Army was an elite force forged through the Qing Dynasty's immense financial resources. Gu Zhenhua knew full well that resisting the Manchu Qing required formidable cavalry, and the Ningyuan Iron Cavalry was the only viable choice!

Historically, this very force had followed Wu Sangui, acting as the running dogs for the Manchu invasion and handing the rivers and mountains of the Great Ming over to the Qing dynasty on a silver platter.

Through deep familiarity with the soldiers, Gu Zhenhua had discovered that no one was born willing to be a traitor; their hot blood still coursed through their veins. Especially those who originally hailed from Liaodong—their lands seized and their families slaughtered by the Manchu Qing, mountains of blood debts were deeply carved into every man's heart. They had enlisted precisely to avenge their grievances and reclaim their homeland!

Indeed, at the crossroads of history, as long as someone pointed out the correct path, these men would never take the wrong turn!

"Brothers, take a look at this!"

Having just beaten back the Dashun Army, the soldiers collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted. Yet when they instinctively raised their heads, they were dumbfounded.

"Is... is this a Tartar's head?"

Gu Zhenhua sneered coldly, "Take a good look, everyone. This is the head of Wu Sangui's cousin, Wu Sanrong. He has already shaved his head and become a running dog of the Manchu Qing. If he can do it, Wu Sangui is no exception. Very soon, the Ningyuan Army will be forced to shave their heads just like the Han Eight Banners traitors, dressing like dung beetles to serve as slaves to the Manchu Qing."

Faced with this explosive revelation, the assembled soldiers were stunned. Staring at Wu Sanrong's severed head—especially that glaring money-tail braid—sent shivers of dread down their spines.

Suddenly, several soldiers leaped up from the ground, weeping bitterly, "We won't shave our heads! We won't be Tartars! We refuse to be barred from our ancestors' graves!"

In an instant, the emotional atmosphere boiled over. Hushen, Hou Sanhuai, Zou Tong, and others took the lead in shouting, "We will follow Lord Gu! We won't be traitors!"

"Right! Lord Gu, show us a clear path, and we'll all follow you!"

"We are men of the Great Ming, not Tartars!"

Faced with the impassioned, indignant soldiers, a smile touched the corner of Gu Zhenhua's lips. It seemed his efforts during this period had not been in vain; a vast number of men were indeed willing to follow him.

Naturally, the deeply entrenched prestige and complex web of influence Wu Sangui had built over the years meant winning these men's absolute allegiance would not be easy.

"Brothers, once we fight our way out of Shanhai Pass, a vast world awaits us. This marquis once promised the men following me five hundred acres of land and a thousand taels of silver each, with double for those who fall in battle. You are no exception! As long as you fight your way out with this marquis, not only will you live upright lives as men, but you will also receive your silver and land!"

For men of this era, preaching abstract patriotism and national righteousness was far too hollow. Material benefits were paramount. Hearing Gu Zhenhua's generous promises, every single man's heart skipped a beat. The common soldiers, in particular, felt their blood surge and their faces flush with excitement.

"My Lord, we will follow you! We rebel against Wu Sangui!"

Rebel!

In an instant, out of the two thousand soldiers, sixteen or seventeen hundred roared their assent. Though the remaining few still hesitated, they were swept along by the momentum and forced to comply.

Seeing this, Gu Zhenhua felt a surge of excitement. Yet, escaping with merely two thousand men was not enough to satisfy him; he intended to deal Wu Sangui an even heavier blow.

"Brothers, follow this marquis to seize warhorses first! Whatever horses you capture belong entirely to you!"