Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 252 Jin Shenghuan is captured

As the saying goes, it is easy to change the country but difficult to change one's nature. However, in an abnormal environment, a person's character will inevitably succumb to the changes in the environment. Jin Shengheng was defeated in Nanling City, while the Zhou army won a great victory. The impact of this rise and fall far exceeded what Jin Shenghuan had imagined.

Jin Shenghuan thought that although he had lost the battle, most of Jiangxi was still in his hands, and the number of troops on paper was still over 100,000. Even though his fantasy of besieging Nanjing was shattered, it was enough to defend himself in Jiangxi. Besides, Li Chengdong had already sent troops to the north to provide assistance, which gave Jin Shenghuan greater confidence. However, the only thing he failed to consider was the people's hearts.

Jin Shenghuan ruled Jiangxi. He was neither the Ming court nor the Qing court. No matter whether it was the Ming or the Qing court, if they lost one, two, or even three battles, they could still gather troops and regroup. They could afford to lose, but Jin Shenghuan did not have the conditions to do so. He had already been notorious in Jiangxi. Although he tried to win over his subordinates with money and goods, money alone could not make his subordinates sacrifice their lives. Jin Shenghuan only lost one battle, but this battle made the power he had gathered disappear, and he knew nothing about it.

After the secret meeting, Hu Zhan and Zhang Yingwei left respectively. When it was daybreak, Wang Deren led 2,000 elite soldiers towards Nanchang City.

At the city gate, Xu Guang looked at the soldiers entering the city one after another, feeling a little uneasy for no reason. He sent someone to inquire the commander-in-chief last night after Wang Deren left the city, and Jin Shenghuan's reply was that it was indeed his order and all the procedures were complete. Xu Guang looked at the backs of the departing soldiers and comforted himself that perhaps it was due to the recent stress.

After Wang Deren entered the city, he felt relieved. He just had to wait for Hu Zhan and Zhang Yingwei to send their troops into the city. As soon as the two controlled the city gate, he would immediately turn his guns and besiege the government office. But now, he surrounded the post station first, openly for the purpose of capturing them, but secretly for the purpose of protecting them.

As Wang Deren led his troops to surround the posthouse, Meng Hong's guard captain Zhou Guangyuan was horrified, but still pretended to be calm, closed the door tightly, gathered the guards together, and prepared for a fight. Then he walked quickly into the house with an ugly face and said to Meng Hong in a low voice: "It's not good, Master Meng, the Jin thieves broke the rules and want to kill you."

Meng Hong turned his back to Zhou Guangyuan and said slowly, "Captain Zhou, although Wang Deren's troops have surrounded the posthouse, they have not yet attacked. We must not lose our composure."

Then he turned around and looked at Zhou Guangyuan and said, "Since I was sent on this mission, I have made all the preparations. Your Majesty treats me as a national hero, and I will definitely treat him as a national hero! I will never bring shame to Your Majesty's reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Guangyuan said in a deep voice: "Master Meng, if the Jin thieves want to come in, they have to step over my body first!" Then he bowed to Meng Hong and turned to leave. He secretly made up his mind that even if he died, he would drag the thieves down with him.

Meng Hong was somewhat puzzled. Last night, Wang Deren was still testing the treatment for surrendering, but after one night, he actually dispatched troops to surround the palace. What happened last night? With too little intelligence, Meng Hong was helpless and could only wait and see.

At this time, the soldiers who were watching outside the posthouse were all terrified and ran back to their homes. Soon, several Jin army generals came running over. General Liu Shen was the first to arrive. As soon as he came, he asked anxiously, "General Wang, why did you send troops to surround the envoy's posthouse?"

"This is the military order from the commander-in-chief, saying that the envoy is rude and he wants to be torn into pieces by five horses. Why don't you go and ask the commander-in-chief?" Wang Deren showed a smile.

"This...isn't this too hasty? Why don't we persuade the commander again? It's better to drive this old man away than to kill him!" Liu Shen hurriedly dissuaded him. At this moment, several other generals of the Jin army also rushed over, surrounded Wang Deren, and tried to persuade him.

Just when Wang Deren was a little overwhelmed by the questions, the guard Wang An came running over hurriedly and nodded to Wang Deren, indicating that everything was ready. Wang Deren immediately felt relieved and said to Liu Shen and others: "Then I will go and persuade the Marshal again, everyone, come together!"

"Yes, we are still under the banner of the Ming Dynasty, so it is better to negotiate peace. If we kill the envoy, it will be a fight to the death."

"Yes, the Marshal must have listened to some villain. Let's persuade him again and again."

Afterwards, Wang Deren led an army of 500 people and marched towards the government office. Passersby along the way avoided him. Liu Shen asked hesitantly, "General Wang, why are you traveling with so many people?"

Wang Deren laughed and said, "Ah, we are the accompanying guards. With the army leading the way, we can show off our power for once."

When they arrived at the government office, Wang Deren waved his hand while the guards looked somewhat puzzled, and Wang An led his personal guards to rush forward and control all ten guards at the door. One of the personal guards was shouting, and Wang Deren glared at him, and Wang An swung his sword and chopped him to the ground.

Wang Deren waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to move. Soldiers rushed into the government office, screaming everywhere. Wang Deren led his troops straight to Jin Shenghuan's bedroom. Jin Shenghuan was in his bedroom, not realizing the impending danger. Only when he heard the screams did he sit up suddenly and shouted, "Who? Who's shouting outside?"

It was not until the door was suddenly pushed open and a group of armored and armed soldiers rushed in that he realized something was wrong. Jin Shenghuan instinctively wanted to resist, but he was quickly held down by the soldiers, who then roughly tied him up.

Jin Shenghuan widened his eyes, looked at the soldiers in disbelief, and asked, "Who is it? Who dares to betray me?"

The soldier did not reply, but pushed him out. Jin Shenghuan was extremely horrified, and he cursed loudly while struggling with the ropes on his body. Until Wang Deren came in, Jin Shenghuan looked at Wang Deren, who was holding his sword and covered in blood, and his eyes were red with anger. He cursed loudly: "Wang Deren? Wang Zamao, you dare to betray me, the bandits are really untrustworthy, thief! Dog thief! Evil thief!"

Wang Deren felt a little guilty when he heard this, and whispered: "General, after the battle of Nanling City, the fate has been decided. Now that King Zhou is in control of Jiangnan, how can we defeat him? I am also concerned about your safety. Don't worry, even if I sacrifice my life, I will ask King Zhou to spare your life!"

"Hahaha, so I have to thank you, you bastard, for saving my life." Jin Shenghuan said gritting his teeth.

At this time, Zhang Yingwei also came in with a knife in hand, panting as he walked, and then said to Wang Deren: "Everything outside has been cleaned up."

"Zhang Yingwei, you are also a thief, a thief, a thief who murdered his master, a thief, a thief..." Jin Shenghuan saw Zhang Yingwei coming in and kept cursing. Zhang Yingwei was really angry. He picked up a piece of rag on the ground and stuffed it into Jin Shenghuan's mouth. Then he whispered in Jin Shenghuan's ear: "Marshal, life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor are determined by God, you have to admit defeat!"