Chapter 70: If There Is Even a Single False Word, Let Me Be Struck by Five Thunderbolts This Very Day!

The emperors watched in secret awe.
This must be the eldest grandson’s immortal arts; what else could explain why a bolt of lightning struck down so precisely upon that treacherous traitor!
Disaster! Disaster!
Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer sit still, regretting deeply—if only he had summoned his own son, so he might learn something from this!
“Fourth son, did you understand that?”
“What?”
The two Zhu Dis were still reeling from the shock, unable to process their father’s cryptic question, bewildered by his words.
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head in lament; none could match his beloved eldest son. He quickly shifted his expression, putting on a warm smile and asked,
“My grandson, shall Ningyuan City be kept or destroyed?”
Immersed in a sense of transcendence, Zhu Youjian considered for a moment and replied, “Ningyuan must be kept. But since filth has entered, it must be rebuilt.”
With Wu Sangui leading all the soldiers and civilians in retreat, the empty city of Ningyuan was occupied by Qing troops.
Now the city was infested with mites.
Most of the Jianzhou’s military might was concentrated here; one decisive blow would cripple them for decades, perhaps even wipe out their men entirely.
It would save trouble when it came time to destroy Shengjing.
With that in mind, Zhu Youjian commanded, “By the will of the Grand Ancestor, order the artillery of every dynasty to advance upon the city! Leave no man or beast alive in Ningyuan!”
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced aside, nodded in satisfaction—decisive and ruthless, truly worthy as his descendant.
“As you command!”
Over a hundred messengers mounted their horses and scattered in all directions, each time passing a formation, ten secondary messengers would echo the command. In less than an hour, the order reached the entire army!
Rumbling!
Nearly ten thousand red-coated cannons rolled through the army’s passageways, emitting deep, muffled sounds. These cannons were not superior to those of the Chongzhen era; they bore the roughness and weight of their primitive origins.
Lacking in firepower, they compensated with numbers!
To conquer Japan and prevent land-sea battles, the dynasties spared no expense, madly manufacturing cannons for half a year. Their artillery stockpiles had quadrupled from over a thousand to nearly four thousand!
...
Upon the city wall.
“Traitorous scum! You all deserve to die!”
Dodo’s face was fierce, his clothes disheveled, whip in hand, lashing the bound Hong Chengchou and the others.
He was furious, burning with rage!
These traitorous ministers, like pigs and sheep, had no honor, ambushing their thirty-year-old master!
If not for the patrol guards being Eight Banner sons, these weak old men might have actually succeeded!
The banner commander’s face was grim. “The fool you sent out failed. The Ming emperor did not release him!”
Hong Chengchou moistened his cracked lips, silent, gazing at the endless army outside the walls. No matter how unwilling, he could not deny the reality.
Regret consumed him!
Had he known, he would have died on the battlefield!
He’d fasted for days—just a tremor away from heroic martyrdom and eternal fame!
But instead... damn Fan Wencheng!

He suffered terribly because of him!
He’d heard the emperor had bestowed nine altars for sacrifice, established a shrine, and granted a posthumous title. Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou was overwhelmed with shame, but never considered betraying again, for in his eyes, Ming was already breathing its last, beyond salvation.
A wise bird chooses its tree, and he had not chosen wrong!
Yet Chongzhen, unstoppable as a rolling tide, suddenly crushed Li Zicheng, leaving him bewildered and anxious, his fears finally realized today!
A million strong soldiers—the pressure alone suffocated!
“Emperor Chongzhen! You have ruined me!”
Hong Chengchou’s eyes were bloodshot, his emotions collapsing. He wailed, “You wronged me, Your Majesty, it was not my fault, not my fault!”
Why didn’t you show this strength earlier!
Why conceal it and let me suffer!
“Shut up, dog!”
The banner commander frowned, impatient. “You Ming ministers always claim to be the reincarnation of Martial Marquis—then come up with a plan!”
Many Qing officials drooped their heads, weeping within, knowing these wild boar heads loved the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
If only they liked Water Margin, they could claim to be Wu Yong!
“Useless lot!”
Dodo cursed them, restless. “We can’t sit here waiting for death! Can we break through the siege?”
“Hold! They are too many. If we defend for a month or two, the Ming will lack supplies and withdraw...”
The banner commander inhaled deeply, but suddenly choked, lips trembling, “Red... red-coated cannons!?”
“Cannons!?”
Dodo glanced and, without hesitation, thundered down from the wall.
His father, Wild Boar Skin, had died by cannon fire; seeing those weapons filled him with terror, wishing his parents had given him more legs!
(The translation of Nurhaci: Wild Boar Skin)
The banner commander forced composure, hoarsely shouted, “Quick, push the Han civilians to the front! The Ming emperor cares much for reputation...”
Boom!
The cannons gave him no time to finish; the first barrage shattered Ningyuan instantly!
The walls rumbled and sank!
More shells crashed into the city, horses and Qing soldiers screaming everywhere!
The walls slowly collapsed, crashing to the ground, and the terrified Qing officials blacked out, silenced forever.
When Hong Chengchou opened his eyes again, his bones felt disjointed, and behind him, Ningyuan was now a complete ruin!
Ten rounds of bombardment, tens of thousands of shells—only one in ten Qing soldiers survived, and the remaining two or three thousand learned
that truth exists only within cannon range!
Large numbers of Ming cavalry from the Chongzhen era galloped through, escorting the surviving Eight Banner troops.
For those gravely wounded, the compassionate Ming soldiers would mercifully finish them off, sparing further pain.
Step!
Hong Chengchou heard footsteps, struggled to lift his head, stared in dazed silence, and then burst into tears, wailing,
“Your Majesty, your servant never thought to see your imperial countenance again in this life—now I die without regret.”

Just as Zhu Youjian stepped down from the imperial carriage, he frowned slightly.
Wang Cheng’en immediately stepped forward, whispering, “Your Majesty, this is Hong Chengchou.”
Hope flared in Hong Chengchou’s eyes—surely the court did not know of his surrender to the Qing!
Yes!
It must be so!
Else why would they go to such lengths to build a shrine and grant a posthumous title?
Feigning concern, Zhu Youjian asked, “Why are you bound this way? Untie Hong Gong at once!”
“Your Majesty...”
Hong Chengchou choked with emotion, immensely grateful to Dodo for tying him up. In this state, he looked just like a loyal minister trapped by the enemy!
“Yes!”
Wu Mengming, always prepared, waved his hand, and several imperial guards cut the ropes.
The emperor commanded to fight the rebels, and the rebels died; then he sent three thousand cavalry to Ningyuan, and Ningyuan fell!
Though Wu Mengming did not always understand the emperor’s intentions, obeying them was always right—this was his truth!
Zhu Yuanzhang and the others quietly watched from the imperial carriage. Matters of other dynasties would not be interfered with; this was an unspoken agreement among the emperors.
Except for Jianwen and Yongle—whenever Old Zhu so much as farted, both Zhu Dis would rush to sniff it.
Hopeless!
Hong Chengchou, freshly freed, was in pain everywhere, yet still thanked, tearfully, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your graciousness. For two and a half years I have prayed for Your Majesty every day—may Heaven bear witness...”
“Two and a half years? I only recall eight hundred fifty-one days.”
Zhu Youjian suddenly questioned, “Hong Gong, you have served the enemy for years—have you ever wavered?”
“I would spill my guts for Your Majesty and for Ming, loyal and true, as the sun and moon bear witness!”
Hong Chengchou declared righteously.
“You are not deceiving me?”
Zhu Youjian smiled lightly.
Hong Chengchou hurried to please him, “Should there be even a half-word of falsehood, let Heaven strike me with five bolts of thunder!”
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered above Ningyuan, unsettling all present.
Boom!
A dazzling lightning bolt struck!
Hong Chengchou stiffened on the spot, his expression frozen in a sycophantic smile, and collapsed.
He’d been waiting for those very words!
Zhu Youjian sighed—if you want to make a grand gesture, you must lay the groundwork; how troublesome.
...