Chapter 9: Kill the Slave

Wang Dou pulled out his long spear from the corpse of the white-armored soldier of the Later Jin and strode towards the armored figure.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Night Watch was composed of elite troops from various camps and fortresses. Due to the inherent dangers, only the most outstanding individuals from the Ming army were selected to join the Night Watch. The Ming government treated them very generously; even in the event of their death or injury, their descendants would receive rewards. At the end of each year, the officials would also set up altars in the town to offer sacrifices in their honor.

The bloody battle finally came to an end, and Wang Dou suddenly seemed to lose all strength in his body, collapsing to the ground...

Wang Dou and Han Chao walked at the forefront, heading straight towards their objective. Wang Dou carried a bow and arrows on his back, a dagger at his waist, and tightly gripped his spear in hand. Although a great battle was imminent, he felt an unusual calmness within. Perhaps he truly was suited to live in chaotic times; this life of bloodshed not only did not frighten him, but instead filled him with an inexplicable excitement

Wang Dou walked up to him, and the Manchu soldier shouted even louder. He looked at Wang Dou, his eyes filled with fear and a plea for mercy.

Wang Dou thrust his spear fiercely into the heart of the enemy, who let out a horrifying scream. The soldier from the Later Jin gripped the spear shaft that had penetrated deep into his body with both hands. Wang Dou forcefully jabbed again, causing the soldier to writhe in agony. Ultimately, he lost all his strength, his hands fell limp, and his body twitched occasionally.

Wang Dou let out a furious roar: "Kill!"

Night raid, this was Wang Dou's suggestion. Indeed, if they were to face the nine men in the wild during the day, they would not stand a chance against the forces of the Later Jin. The only option left was to engage in night combat. In ancient times, night battles were rare; aside from many soldiers suffering from malnutrition and night blindness, the most significant issue was the high difficulty of organizing night operations. The communication methods of the time were primitive, and there were no comprehensive maps for reference. Even controlling the direction of the troops during a night march was challenging, let alone engaging in combat.

The others rushed out one after another, and in an instant, they collided with the troops of the Later Jin.

Kill

That group of Shiku shouted as they charged towards Wang Dou, who suddenly drew his waist knife. With a swift motion, like the sound of thunder, he exclaimed: "Kill the slaves!"

Gradually, the sound of the horse's name diminished, and finally it lay motionless on the golden white armor, having already breathed its last. However, even in death, its face still bore a joyful smile.

Seeing the situation before them, Wang Dou and the others were filled with extreme anger; these barbaric Tartars had committed acts that were inhumane.

Wang Dou felt a surge of blood and energy rising within him, yet he forced himself to suppress it and continued to focus on the book. He desperately told himself: "Stay calm, stay calm, it is not the right time yet"

Since everyone is fully committed, this matter is settled. Before the great battle against the enemy, it is only natural to have a good meal. Regarding this, Zhong Dayong and Wang Youjin are also very enthusiastic; the two have invested significantly, specifically bringing in some meat from Dongjiazhuang and Xinzhuang to ensure that all the heroes are well-fed and satisfied

The crowd cautiously approached the edge of the woods and looked up, only to see several campfires lit in the clearing by the stream. Beside the campfires were tents, and some soldiers from the Later Jin were gathered around the fires, laughing and talking loudly.

A group of people quietly made their way to the woods beside Zhangzhuang, where faintly, the loud cries and cheers of several Later Jin soldiers could be heard, interspersed with the weeping and pleas of women. Everyone realized that the Later Jin army was right in front of them, and no one dared to be careless. They cautiously slipped through the woods. At this moment, the advantage of Han Chao and others as Ming Dynasty scouts became evident; they moved without making a sound, something even Wang Dou could not achieve.

On the morning of the second day, Han Chao and others returned. They had already ascertained the location where the Later Jin army had settled, which was near a grove close to Zhangzhuang Village, not far from here. The Later Jin army was overly arrogant, not bothering to conceal their movements, which allowed Han Chao and his companions to easily determine their whereabouts

The horse named Ma behind Wang Dou was trembling all over, clearly unable to control itself. Wang Dou turned his head to glance at him, signaling him to calm down, yet Ma's eyes remained bloodshot, evidently the current situation reminded him of his deceased wife.

At this moment, all three of them were already wounded. Han Chao had been struck by an axe on his shoulder, Han Zhong had been shot in the thigh, and Gao Shiyin had also been slashed several times. However, with their eyes reddened, they gritted their teeth and fought fiercely. Their opponents were in even worse condition; seeing military achievements within reach, the three of them seemed to gain boundless strength, shouting and roaring.

The night of the eighth month in the lunar calendar of the Ming Dynasty already carried a considerable chill, yet everyone was filled with fervor and passion, and not a single person felt cold

The armored figure of the Later Jin let out a thunderous roar, as Wang Dou's spear pierced through his back and emerged from his chest. The armored figure stared blankly at his own chest, yet still attempted to strike Qi Tianliang with the iron-tipped knife in his hand. Wang Dou had no time to draw his weapon; he leaped up and delivered a heavy knee strike to the figure's head, causing the skull of the armored figure to crack. Staggering backward, the armored figure was met with several heavy punches from Wang Dou, and the sound of his ribs shattering could be distinctly heard. Wang Dou had no time to draw his weapon; he leaped up and delivered a heavy knee strike to the figure's head, causing the skull of the armored figure to crack. Staggering backward, the armored figure was met with several heavy punches from Wang Dou, and the sound of his ribs shattering could be distinctly heard.

Han Zhao, Han Zhongye, was also blushing, shouting hoarsely, and brandishing his weapon as he rushed out closely behind Wang Dou.

In the blink of an eye, the Later Jin army had suffered heavy casualties, particularly with the death of the strongest and most valiant White Armored Army, which dealt a significant blow to the remaining troops. Furthermore, Wang Dou's ferocity was evident as he single-handedly killed several men, instilling a sense of dread among the remaining Later Jin soldiers. One soldier, caught off guard while entangled with Han Chao, was suddenly struck in the chest by Han Chao's spear, the hooked halberd piercing deeply into his body, causing him to scream in agony.

Especially in recent days, Wang Dou's display of calmness and cunning has instilled great confidence in everyone, as if following him would guarantee success in any endeavor.

Wang Dou's spear technique is inherited from his ancestors, and the ancestral spear technique was passed down from the Qi family army. The Qi family army practiced spear skills, aiming to strike the opponent's eyes, throat, heart, waist, and feet within twenty steps of a drumbeat to be considered qualified. Is this not a matter of great significance? The death of the Later Jin armored soldiers is indeed not unjust

After these events, Wang Dou's skills earned the admiration of many, including Han Chao. Han Chao believed that his abilities were on par with Gao Shiyin's, and now that even Gao Shiyin is no match for Wang Dou, it stands to reason that he would be as well

Wang Dou shouted loudly: "Kill!"

At this moment, both sides were entangled in a chaotic melee, with the sounds of clashing weapons and anguished cries intermittently echoing, rendering the battlefield bloody and brutal

Suddenly, the horse behind me reared up and shouted: "Damn Tartars!"

The cries of the Later Jin army had a significant impact, and in succession, the Later Jin soldiers who were fighting against Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin were also continuously killed, leaving only the one wielding the tiger spear and two infantry soldiers from the Later Jin.

However, in front of Wang Dou were only a small elite force, and most of the people were accustomed to nighttime activities, known as the "Night Uncaught"; thus, there was naturally no issue with night combat

The first person Wang Dou encountered was a Manchu soldier wielding a crescent-shaped long-handled axe. The incident occurred suddenly, and the soldier had not yet had the chance to swing the long-handled axe.

Under Han Zhong's loud proposal, everyone unanimously recommended Wang Dou as the leader, and Gao Shiyin also acquiesced.

The women who had been captured huddled in fear, each one afraid to speak. However, when they saw the Ming army suddenly launch an attack, many of their eyes ignited with hope, praying that these brave soldiers of the Ming would eliminate the Tartars before them and rescue them from their dire situation.

Wang Dou drew his gun, and blood gushed forth. The Manchu soldier, on the verge of death, still had his eyes wide open, as if unable to believe what he was witnessing.

As Wang Dou approached like a fierce deity, his long spear still dripping with fresh blood, several Ming soldiers surrounded him with murderous intent. The Qing soldier, clad in armor, showed signs of fear in his eyes; he suddenly knelt on the ground, crying out loudly, seemingly pleading for mercy in the Tatar language

At present, everyone has returned to Jingbiandun to discuss matters. At this time, Tan Jinrong from Julu Dun, who does not retreat at night, is also willing to risk his life with everyone to launch an attack on the Later Jin troops in exchange for military achievements and silver rewards. Thus, the number of those willing to engage in the assault has reached seven.

Seeing that the two were unconvinced, Wang Dou took the initiative to step forward and accept their challenge. From fists and kicks to knives and guns, and finally to bows and arrows, in the end, the two united against him but were no match for Wang Dou. This left them both astonished; when did this big fool Wang, this big softie, become so formidable? Although they were filled with doubt, in the military, strength is respected, and in the face of reality, they tacitly acknowledged Wang Dou's leadership position, even though the doubts in their hearts could not be dispelled.

The first strike came down on the Bashku, who instinctively raised his gun to block. Wang Dou swung his blade down, directly severing the gun barrel. The momentum of the strike did not diminish as it continued down along the Bashku's head, ultimately cleaving him in half from head to toe, a strong smell of blood spreading in the air

Wang Dou recognized that this person was the White Armored soldier of the Later Jin whom he had injured under the Jingbian Dune. Although he was wounded in the shoulder and chest, he still displayed such fierce bravery. After consecutively killing Tan Jinrong and Zhang Ruchun, he severed Ma Ming's left arm with a single stroke, not pausing for a moment, and then swung his knife directly at Qi Tianliang, who screamed in terror as Wang Dou's spear swung out violently.

As night fell, the nine individuals, fully armed, bid farewell to the anxious people within Jingbiandun and quietly disappeared into the night sky

The ambush has failed, and only open battle remains. Wang Dou shouted hoarsely, brandishing his spear, and charged forward at the forefront.

At that moment, a woman's scream suddenly pierced the air. Everyone turned to look, only to see a woman resisting the lewd advances of a Tartarian man in her arms. In response, the Jin soldier, filled with rage, stood up and struck her head and face fiercely with the hilt of his knife, all the while shouting and cursing in his native tongue. The woman was covered in blood, her head and face drenched, and despite her desperate struggles, she could only cry out in pain. A few soldiers from the Jin army nearby watched with unabashed laughter, pointing and mocking her for their amusement

On that evening, Han Zhong of the Han Dynasty, along with Gao Shiyin and Tan Jinrong, set out in advance to scout the area, in order to ascertain the whereabouts of the Manchu army. They were seasoned scouts of the Ming Dynasty, accustomed to working under the cover of night, and their expertise lay in infiltrating enemy territory to gather intelligence on enemy movements. Reconnaissance was second nature to them.

The long spear in his hand suddenly pierced into his heart, and the armored man from the Later Jin let out a thunderous roar, desperately trying to bring down the axe he held. Wang Dou thrust again fiercely, lifting him up and sending him crashing into a nearby bonfire, where the armored man was engulfed in flames, his screams echoing with a terrifying intensity.

One of those engaged in combat with the armored soldier was Qi Bing of Julu Dun, who had just fought hard against his opponent. Before he could even celebrate, he was stabbed in the back by a spear from the assailant, which sent him flying to the ground, lifeless.

Like poking a hornet's nest, the soldiers of the Later Jin jumped up one after another by the bonfire. They pushed away the women in their arms and shouted questions in a harsh tone. The soldier who had been beating the woman also paused and looked over in this direction.

With a whoosh, the sound of a bowstring being drawn resonated, and a heavy arrow pierced the darkness, striking forcefully into the throat of the Manchu soldier, sending him flying and pinning him directly to the ground

Suddenly, the horse named Ma charged forward, knocking the white-armored soldier of the Later Jin to the ground. Blood flowed continuously from the severed left arm, yet he desperately clung to the body of the white armor. The white-armored soldier of the Later Jin was still alive, struggling with all his might. Ma brandished a dagger in his right hand and plunged it into the heart of the white-armored soldier, stabbing again and again until he lay motionless.

In the end, only one armored soldier from the Later Jin remained, and among ten men, he was the last one left. Upon witnessing Wang Dou's formidable presence, he seemed to be utterly stunned.

When Han Chao and the others returned, they unexpectedly brought back two individuals who had not been collected at night, namely Zhang Ruchun and Qi Bing. The two had a good relationship with Han Chao and had been impoverished for a long time. Under Han Chao's persuasion, they readily agreed to join the group and fight together to earn military merit in exchange for reward money.

Wang Dou said in a low voice: "It is not the right time yet; we will act once the Tartars have rested."

Beside a bonfire, there lay several corpses of Ming women, all completely naked, their bodies contorted, clearly having suffered immense torment before their deaths. Next to a tent, a group of women in tattered clothing sat huddled together, their expressions filled with extreme fear, and the sound of soft weeping could be heard from time to time

Kill!

Suddenly, this group of Shiku saw Wang Dou turning his head to look at him, his gaze extremely frantic

Ma Ming burst into loud laughter: "Haha, I killed him, haha, Er Ya, Er Ya, did you see that? Your man avenged you, avenged you..."

However, by the time of Chongzhen, such generous treatment had become a thing of the past. Like the ordinary border troops, the soldiers in each camp and fortress faced the same hunger and cold during the night. This is also the reason why Han Chao and others were willing to risk their lives; rather than die of starvation, it was better to die in battle.

Wang Dou observed the battlefield, continuously shooting to kill one enemy. At this moment, he had already slain three of the Later Jin soldiers, leaving seven remaining, who were entangled in combat with Han Chao and others. Han Chao wielded a hooked spear, while Han Zhong used a large stick, and Gao Shiyin fought with a halberd. The three of them were engaged in battle with a single Later Jin soldier before them

As if two eyes were growing from behind, with a swift turn of the foot, the gun, like a swimming dragon, instantly pierced the throat of that armored soldier from the Later Jin dynasty

Another Manchu soldier wielding a tiger-toothed saber swung it towards Wang Dou from behind

During the day, everyone was resting, enjoying good food and drink, and replenishing their energy. Wang Dou took the opportunity to visit Xin Zhuang and, seeing that both his mother and Xie Xiuniang were free, he finally felt at ease

Seeing that more people had joined, everyone was greatly encouraged. At this moment, the number of combatants had reached nine, among whom there were even six who had not rested at night, making the chances of victory extremely high. However, Zhang Ruchun and Qi Bing were deeply dissatisfied to see that the leader was Wang Dou, whose previous reputation for being foolish and weak was well-known in the Dongjia Village area, something Zhang Ruchun and Qi Bing were naturally aware of.

He carefully counted the number of the Later Jin soldiers and discovered that there were actually ten of them, which took him by surprise. He had not expected the number of the Tartars to have increased by half, contradicting his earlier estimates. Han Chao and the others also noticed this situation and were equally astonished. However, at this moment, retreating was not an option; they had to face whatever dangers lay ahead, even if it meant confronting a mountain of knives or a sea of fire.

The most striking scene features a burly man wielding a long-handled iron cleaver. He is exceptionally fierce, and the heavy cleaver in his hand dances through the air with great vigor. Tan Jinrong and Zhang Ruchun have already been cleaved to death by him, yet he continues to shout in the heat of battle

Perhaps it was the evening rest, and these soldiers of the Later Jin were not wearing armor, revealing their greenish scalps and the small, slender queues of hair at the back of their heads. Their weapons were also carelessly placed aside. Each of them was embracing a disheveled Ming woman, laughing and chatting while engaging in various indecent acts. The women dared not resist, only weeping softly, their expressions filled with sorrow and despair.