220: When Shunyi was in distress, Ma Kun rescued the people. However, Ma Kun, greedy for money, offered up his stronghold to gather troops and plan the campaign against Russia.

The morning light at the Beijing Suburb Horse Ranch had just washed over the bright silver armor of the Black Armor Cavalry. Shuanger squatted in front of a pile of supplies, her fingertip tracing the words 'Shunyi Stronghold' on the ledger. Her brush ticked off 'fifty jars of detoxification powder, three hundred bottles of trauma medicine.' 'Brother Hui, the Shunyi area has many mountains and forests. I've tucked Mosquito-repellent Grass into every recruit's pack, as well as the weaponry parts Miss Zeng Rou mentioned, all packed according to the quantities,' she said, handing over a cloth bundle containing wound medicine wrapped in oil paper. 'This is for General Tu's cavalry. The Black Armor plates can easily chafe the skin; applying this medicine will help it heal faster.'

Zeng Rou ran over then, clutching the weaponry ledger, her blue skirt dusted with a bit of iron filings—she had gone to inspect the cannons at dawn, and the words 'Enemy-Breaker' on the cannon barrels had been polished to a shine by her. 'Big Brother Xie, the Qing Army at the Shunyi Stronghold often uses "Heaven-Shaking Thunder." I've marked the disassembly method in the ledger. Our improved cannons can counter them; as long as we aim at the barrel's joint, one shot can blow it apart,' she pointed to a sketch in the ledger. 'Also, I've contacted the brothers from the Green Wood Hall's Shunyi branch. They said the stronghold's commander, Ma Kun, is a greedy man with a lot of silver hidden in his manor. We might be able to persuade him to surrender.'

Chen Yuanyuan sat on a nearby stone bench, holding a newly written letter of surrender, her white skirt swaying gently in the morning breeze. 'I know Ma Kun; he used to be Wu Sangui's grain officer and values profit above all else,' she handed the letter to Xie Hui. 'I mentioned the salary after the anti-Qing cause succeeds and guaranteed his hidden silver. If he's sensible, we might take the stronghold without a fight.'

'Silver?' Songgotu suddenly leaned in, a small scale sliding out of his sleeve. 'How much silver has Ma Kun hidden? this official will go talk to him! I guarantee he'll hand over both the silver and the stronghold, and even submit to us. Two birds with one stone!'

Wei Xiaobao quickly pressed down on his scale. 'Lord Suo, don't cause trouble! Last time in Tongzhou, you tried to pocket the emerald hairpin. If you go this time, you might end up paying Ma Kun our entire military budget!'

Tu Hai flipped onto his horse at that moment, the light reflecting off his bright silver armor making it hard for anyone to keep their eyes open. 'Stop arguing! Any more delay and we'll miss the morning watch at Shunyi. The Black Armor Cavalry will lead, Lord Xie will take the recruits and the Heaven and Earth Society brothers through the middle path, and Miss Chen and Miss Zeng will stay by the medical point. Safety first.'

Just as the horse troop left the ranch, they saw a man in a coarse cloth shirt running out of the woods, clutching a broken bowl, his knees still bleeding. 'Lord Xie! Save the people of Shunyi! Ma Kun has taken the people from our village to the stronghold as hostages, saying if you dare to come, he'll push them off the city walls!'

Xie Hui's heart sank, and he pulled on the reins. 'Where did Ma Kun take the people from? How many villagers are there?'

'At Li Family Village outside the stronghold. He took over thirty people—the old and the young,' the man wiped his tears. 'I escaped while they were changing guards. Any later... any later and it'll be too late!'

Chen Yuanyuan suddenly spoke, 'Though Ma Kun is greedy, he fears the imperial court's accountability most. If we let him know that capturing civilians is a capital offense, combined with the terms in the surrender letter, he might relent.'

Zeng Rou also nodded. 'I was just looking at the weaponry ledger. The hostages in the stronghold are kept in the woodshed on the east side. There's a Secret Passage behind the woodshed once used for transporting grain. We can bypass them to rescue the people.'

Xie Hui immediately adjusted the plan. 'General Tu, take the Black Armor Cavalry and form a battle array at the front of the stronghold. Pretend to attack to draw Ma Kun's attention. Long'er, take five improved cannons and set them up on the western hillside, ready to blast the armory at any time. I'll take Wei Xiaobao and Fang Yi through the Secret Passage to save the people. Zeng Rou and Miss Chen will follow behind. Zeng Rou will be responsible for disarming the "Heaven-Shaking Thunder," and Miss Chen will prepare for the surrender negotiation.'

The group split up to act. Xie Hui followed the man toward Li Family Village. The Secret Passage entrance was hidden in a dry well behind the woodshed, the well covered by a stone slab carved with a grain storage mark. 'It's here!' The man lifted the stone slab, and a musty smell wafted out. 'The bottom leads to the cellar of the woodshed; the people are locked up above.'

Xie Hui first had Wei Xiaobao throw a torch down. After confirming it was safe, he was the first to jump in. The Secret Passage was low and damp. He circulated the Lightness Skill of the Nine Yin Manual, his toes tapping the ground as he rushed forward. Before long, he reached the wooden boards of the cellar. Ma Kun's voice came from above, coarse and gruff: 'Tell Xie Hui, if he doesn't withdraw his troops, I'll push this old man down first!'

'Stop!' Xie Hui suddenly flipped the wooden boards open, his black iron sword held against the necks of two nearby Qing soldiers. 'Release the people! Or I'll cut you down right now!'

Ma Kun was sitting on a chair in the woodshed, playing with a gold ingot. Seeing Xie Hui burst in, he quickly shoved the ingot into his robe and grabbed a nearby saber. 'Xie Hui! You dare to break in! Believe it or not, I'll...'

'You wouldn't dare!' Chen Yuanyuan walked in then, holding up the surrender letter. 'Ma Kun, you've taken civilians as hostages. If the Emperor finds out, not only will you lose your silver, but your life as well. Big Brother Xie promises that after you submit, he'll protect your hidden silver and let you manage the Shunyi Grain Camp. That's ten times better than being a mere stronghold commander!'

Ma Kun stared at the surrender letter, then at the sword in Xie Hui's hand, and swallowed hard. 'How do I know you'll keep your word? If I release the people, what if you kill me?'

Songgotu suddenly crawled out of the Secret Passage, waving his small scale at Ma Kun's chest. 'Lord Ma, this official can testify! this official is the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Songgotu, and I am most honorable! Hand over the silver for counting, and after you submit, this official guarantees to return it to you and even give you a raise!'

'Who are you?' Ma Kun frowned. 'Why should I believe you?'

'By this!' Songgotu pulled out the Medallion given by the Kangxi Emperor. 'The Emperor's Medallion! If you submit, the Emperor will even reward you with a hundred taels of gold—ten times more than that ingot in your pocket!'

Ma Kun's eyes lit up, and he quickly threw his saber to the ground. 'I surrender! I'll release the people right now!' He called the Qing soldiers to open the woodshed door. The villagers rushed out, some even bowing to Xie Hui. 'Thank you, Lord Xie, for saving our lives!'

Xie Hui had Fang Yi take the people to the medical point while he followed Ma Kun to the stronghold's main gate. Tu Hai's Black Armor Cavalry was already in formation, and Long'er's cannons were set up on the hillside, waiting for the signal. 'Ma Kun has surrendered!' Xie Hui raised Ma Kun's saber and shouted toward the stronghold. 'Those who surrender will be spared! Those who resist will be treated as collaborators with the enemy!'

Seeing their commander had surrendered, the Qing soldiers in the stronghold threw down their sabers one after another. Zeng Rou took the opportunity to lead men to the armory and disarm all the fuses of the 'Heaven-Shaking Thunder.' 'Big Brother Xie, all the weaponry has been inspected. The "Heaven-Shaking Thunder" have no fuses, and the cannons have been fitted with our locks. No need to worry about them being used against us.'

After taking Shunyi, the group began to inventory the stronghold's supplies. Songgotu squatted in front of Ma Kun's silver treasury, his small scale 'clinking' incessantly as he counted. 'Fifty thousand taels of silver, three thousand taels of gold, and this emerald ornament—it's worth at least twenty thousand taels! Lord Ma, you've hidden quite a lot!'

Ma Kun quickly smiled apologetically. 'It's all what I saved up before. Now I donate it all as military funds for the anti-Qing cause! I only ask Lord Suo to put in a good word before the Emperor.'

Wei Xiaobao leaned over and snatched the emerald ornament. 'I want this ornament! I'll place it before Big Brother Mao's spirit tablet. If his soul is watching from heaven, he'll surely like it!'

Xie Hui walked over and patted Wei Xiaobao's shoulder. 'Don't fool around. Give the ornament to Shuanger for safekeeping. Once the New Dynasty is established, it will be placed in the Ancestral Shrine of Loyal Martyrs so everyone remembers Big Brother Mao's contributions.' He then looked at Ma Kun. 'You used to manage the Grain Camp. From now on, you'll follow Shuanger and be responsible for grain transport. Don't be greedy again, or I won't let you off.'

Ma Kun nodded quickly. 'I wouldn't dare! I'll definitely work hard from now on!'

As evening fell, the lights in the Shunyi Stronghold were lit. Shuanger and Zeng Rou were inventorying the grain and fodder, while Chen Yuanyuan was writing a second surrender letter to Wu Sangui's former subordinates. Tu Hai led the Black Armor Cavalry on patrol outside the stronghold, and Songgotu was still rummaging through the silver treasury, muttering, 'It would be great if I could find a bit more gold.'

Xie Hui sat on the stronghold's city tower, holding Mao the Eighteenth's big blade. The calluses on the handle seemed to still carry a lingering warmth. He thought of Big Brother Mao's sacrifice during the decisive battle at Black Water River, and of the brothers and beauties he had gathered along the way. His heart felt steady. 'Big Brother Mao,' he said softly, 'Shunyi has been taken. Only two strongholds remain on the outskirts of the capital. Once we've settled them all, we'll march on the Forbidden City. By then, I'll surely have you in the Ancestral Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, watching us establish the New Dynasty.'

Wei Xiaobao also walked over, holding a freshly roasted sweet potato. 'Brother Hui, eat some sweet potato to warm up. Ma Kun just said that Russia has been restless lately. Princess Sofia has been hanging around the border with her people, as if she wants to talk cooperation, but also as if she wants to fight.'

'Sofia?' Xie Hui's heart stirred—the outline mentioned bringing Princess Sofia into his fold, so it seemed the clues for the conquest of Russia were beginning. 'After we take the last two strongholds, we'll go to the border to take a look. General Tu's Black Armor Cavalry can fight, and Long'er's cannons have been improved. Even if Russia wants to fight, we aren't afraid.'

At that moment, Chen Yuanyuan walked over with a letter she had just received. 'Big Brother Xie, it's from the former subordinates of Yunnan's Prince Mu's Residence. They say the remnants of Wu Sangui's forces are gathering at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, wanting to seize the golden buddha we discovered before. They've also contacted Russian Scouts, intending to coordinate from inside and out.'

Xie Hui frowned and took the letter. 'It seems we need to speed up. Tomorrow we'll take the last stronghold, Changping, then return to the capital to meet with the Kangxi Emperor and discuss the conquest of Russia and the seizure of the golden buddha. Lord Suo, stop digging for silver. Before we set out tomorrow, transport all the supplies in Shunyi to the Beijing Suburb Horse Ranch. If a single coin is missing, I'll throw your scale away!'

Songgotu quickly ran out of the silver treasury, still clutching a gold ingot. 'Don't worry! this official guarantees the inventory will be perfectly clear! It'll all be moved by tomorrow morning. I won't delay the trip to Changping!'

As the night deepened, people gathered around the bonfires of the Shunyi Stronghold. Shuanger was distributing sweet potatoes to the new recruits, Zeng Rou was explaining the disassembly of 'Heaven-Shaking Thunder' to the artillerymen, Chen Yuanyuan was discussing the border situation with Tu Hai, Wei Xiaobao was teaching the recruits Mao the Eighteenth's blade techniques, and Songgotu was squatting by a bonfire, weighing the gold ingot in his hand with his small scale, still calculating, 'How many Sesame Cakes can this ingot buy?'

Xie Hui looked at the scene before him, his heart full of drive. From leaving the capital to the decisive battle at Black Water River, and then taking Fangshan, Tongzhou, and Shunyi, there had been sacrifices, gains, laughter, and tears. Now, the anti-Qing forces were growing stronger. With a famous general like Tu Hai, the assistance of beauties like Shuanger, Zeng Rou, and Chen Yuanyuan, and brothers like Wei Xiaobao and Songgotu, even with the struggle for the golden buddha at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Russia's fifty thousand cavalry ahead, he had the confidence to face it.

He felt for the key to his inner universe. Inside were neatly placed the eight volumes of the forty-two chapter sutra, the blueprints for the improved cannons, Mao the Eighteenth's big blade, as well as the clothes the girls had sewn for him and the wound medicines they had prepared. These were his foundation, the stepping stones as he walked toward the New Dynasty.

'Tomorrow, Changping!' Xie Hui shouted to the crowd by the bonfires, his voice ringing out clearly in the night.

'Changping!' everyone echoed in unison, their voices making the stronghold walls tremble slightly.

Xie Hui knew that by taking Changping, the outskirts of the capital would be completely cleared, and the first step of the anti-Qing cause would be complete. Next would be marching on the Forbidden City, toppling the Qing Dynasty, then conquering Russia, winning over Sofia and AQi, and finally establishing their own 'Hui' Dynasty. And all of this would begin with tomorrow's battle at Changping—he was ready, leading everyone by his side, moving forward toward the goal.