Chapter 1: Killing the Good and Usurping the Merits

Is it that joy leads to sorrow

My luck is so poor that I actually witnessed such a situation

Cold sweat broke out again from my head; this is not acting, nor is it a dream, this is real

I merely went hiking with a group of friends and accidentally slipped into a valley. I was quite alert during the fall. It was a minor incident; why did it lead to such a dramatic change

Regarding the events during the Chongzhen era, there are countless accounts in both official and unofficial histories, but there are a few points that are credible

The peasant uprisings surged like a storm, with leaders of the rebel armies such as Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai, and Ma Shouying gradually developing and growing stronger, making it difficult for regions such as Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, and Shaanxi to experience a moment of peace

To refer to oneself as a bandit is unnecessary; these individuals are merely soldiers within the army. The headless corpses lying on the ground, dressed in tattered clothing and devoid of visible weapons, are certainly not bandits; they could more accurately be described as displaced persons.

The waist-high grass effectively concealed Su Tiancheng, who felt an urge to vomit; he had never witnessed such a bloody scene before

A line of poetry floated into his mind: Looking back at the desolate place, returning, there is neither wind nor rain, nor sunshine.

Two horseback riders approached, but they did not dare to come too close. There were not many of them, only five people and five horses. If they encountered an ambush from a large group, it would be more than sufficient to turn around and flee without getting too close.

It is unfortunate that beneath the beautiful scenery, such a disharmonious and even cruel scene has emerged

Su Tiancheng felt somewhat unwilling and bit his arm hard; it hurt, genuinely hurt.

In the late Ming Dynasty, incidents of killing the innocent to claim merit were rampant. Some soldiers, in pursuit of so-called rewards and to avoid punishment from their superiors, resorted to all means necessary to exterminate ordinary citizens. They would present the severed heads of the people, seeking accolades and rewards, claiming they were bandits.

Without any time for adjustment, Su Tiancheng found himself in a life-and-death situation

The setting sun resembled blood, and he witnessed a terrifying scene

During the Chongzhen period, the Central Plains region experienced consecutive years of disasters, with the land barren and nine out of ten houses empty. The common people struggled to survive, relying on tree roots and the soil of Guanyin to get by, and even tragic incidents of cannibalism occurred.

In just a few minutes, the slaughter came to an end. The mounted warriors dismounted and began to sever heads.

The scene before me is one that is rarely seen even in movies; it is excessively violent and bloody. Could it really be that in the third year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, chaos had reached such a level?

He slowly stood up from the grass, elegantly brushing off the roots from his robe, with a nonchalant smile on his face, despite the tension causing cramps in his calves.

Su Tiancheng, who was quick, had no time to react and no time to resist

Cold sweat broke out on Su Tiancheng's forehead; he had never worn a long robe in his entire life, it was as if he had seen a ghost

Su Tiancheng was still discovered by the person on horseback

Not far away, several individuals riding chestnut-colored warhorses, wearing felt hats and dressed in brown clothing, were protected by armor on both their chests and backs. On top of the felt hats, there was also a red scarf.

I have traveled back to October of the third year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty

Su Tiancheng was dressed in a brocade robe made of silk, standing at a height of 7 feet, equivalent to 1.78 meters today. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding the demeanor of an educated person.

"Wuna the bandit, why do you not come out quickly to meet your death?"

The scene before me was too strange; even murder and robbery are not so brazenly obvious. It is beyond explanation

In the late Ming Dynasty, human life was as insignificant as grass. Observing these soldiers, their actions of severing heads were so skilled, they must have been accustomed to such tasks. If they discovered the secret, would it not mean eliminating the root of the problem

Having read countless online novels, he would always smile at the miraculous occurrences of time travel, yet he never expected to encounter such an event himself

Su Tiancheng quickly thought of this word

Everything has been explained through the harmony of images and texts, clarifying why one wears a long robe, why those on horseback don felt hats and armor, and why those who have been slain are dressed in tattered clothing

The more one fears something, the more it comes to pass

These individuals, while beheading others, wore smiles on their faces, showing no concern whatsoever

Killing the good and taking credit for the achievements of others

In an instant, he felt a surge of agitation, wishing he could stand up immediately and loudly curse the heavens. Damn it, I am a civil servant in a great country of the 21st century, already receiving significant recognition from the organization. Why must I traverse time, at least to the Zhenguan era or the prosperous Kaiyuan period? Why have I ended up in the Chongzhen years?

His body began to tremble, but at this moment, he had to do his utmost to suppress his emotions; otherwise, if he were discovered, there would certainly be dire consequences.

The most critical point is that I am about to receive another promotion, as the organizational department has just completed the assessment and the results have been made public

During the Chongzhen period, natural disasters occurred incessantly, and global climate underwent significant changes. From 1600 to 1644, global temperatures reached their lowest point in a millennium, a historical phase referred to as the alternating period of warming and cooling, commonly known as the Little Ice Age. Amidst this global catastrophe and crisis, the disasters that struck China during the Ming Dynasty were the most severe.

Su Tiancheng groggily opened his eyes, feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by the surroundings.

Instinctively reaching for my pocket, if not to call the police now, then when else would be the time

These individuals are wielding steel knives, striking down upon a group of raggedly dressed people with pallid faces

In the realm of officialdom, I have witnessed countless upheavals and weathered many storms; this time, I wonder if I have capsized in the gutter.

Enduring the excruciating pain in his mind, with no time to ponder, he thought of a word: traverse

I encountered a deadlock myself

It is no wonder that he hid in the bushes, trembling for quite a while; if others could not discover him, they would truly be fools

In a time of chaos, during the reign of Chongzhen, it was truly an era of turmoil, with the winds and clouds shifting dramatically

The surrounding scenery is beautiful, with a blue sky, a setting sun, green grass, and verdant mountains, exuding an ancient aura

Before the transition, I was a civil servant in a government agency, living a life free from worries about food and clothing. While I wouldn't describe myself as wealthy by the standards of the tall, handsome, and rich, I also do not belong to the category of the underprivileged. I have many aspirations for life.

Su Tiancheng felt a moment of panic, as this was somewhat at odds with his understanding of history. It is often said that what one hears is illusory, while what one sees is real. However, what he had witnessed could not possibly be false

He is still clear about at least the basic historical knowledge

Several military gentlemen, I am not a mere bandit; I am a scholar.

The situation is certainly not good, and it is exceptionally dire, yet Su Tiancheng did not complain about the time on m.hetushu.com. He needs to contemplate how to respond to the current circumstances

The steel knives of these individuals struck firmly against the bodies of the people, and those who fell to the ground struggled for a moment before quickly becoming motionless

The threat posed by the Later Jin was immense. In the 46th year of the Wanli era, Nurhaci declared the "Seven Great Hatreds" against the Ming Dynasty and began military campaigns against it. After Nurhaci's death, his son Hong Taiji ascended the throne and intensified the attacks on the Ming Dynasty. The conflict between the Ming and the Later Jin would become increasingly fierce, and within just a few years, the flames of war would spread across the land of China.

The mature and composed style developed through long-term refinement has led him to a state of awakening; the more critical the situation, the greater the need for calmness, as impulsiveness is the devil.

At that very moment, Su Tiancheng's mind began to throb with pain, as a series of inexplicable thoughts gradually entered his consciousness. These thoughts started to merge with his own, forming a cohesive whole in the flicker of electric sparks.

There is a saying that those who are not familiar with history cannot grasp the direction of the future. Leaders of any nation at any time must be well-versed in the past and predict the future based on the course of historical development

The tragic wails echoed, and streams of blood surged continuously towards the sky

The hands are empty, and I am wearing a long robe without pockets

These soldiers, when truly confronted by bandits, run faster than rabbits