Zhu Erdan also glanced in the direction where Ming Xing and others had fled, saying, "I think it's unlikely. After all, this is a main road that can be seen from end to end. If the Tatars were to make a surprise return, not only would we discover it, but my elder brother would also be alerted. The fact that he hasn't sent us a warning yet means the Tatars haven't returned."
Speaking of which, Zhu Erdan looked hopefully in the direction Ming Xing and others had fled and said, "Besides, wouldn't it be a good thing if the Tatars returned?"
As the old saying goes, Wu Dalang raising night cats; different people play with different birds—
Chen Tailai was a man who wanted to gain merit but was afraid of death, and his personal guards were much the same. As soon as they discovered Zhu Erdan looking in the direction of Ming Xing's rout, the personal guards sent by Chen Tailai to investigate the situation became timid.
Especially when these guards saw that the city walls of Mengyin County were still on alert, and that there were many young men patrolling around Zhu Erdan and Ke Zhiming, many of them holding the "demonic objects" that had initially stunned the river marker soldiers, these guards scrambled back.
"The rebel's advance and retreat were quite orderly, and their handling of prisoners was not chaotic at all!"
"Hundreds of rebels were patrolling back and forth outside the city gate, all holding the demonic objects that had stunned the river marker soldiers!"
"The rebels who went out to collect prisoners were very imposing, all like towering figures!"
"..."
In short, the rebels showed no signs of letting up. With our thousand or so routed soldiers, we probably wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth!
The more Chen Tailai heard, the more his heart pounded, and the more his mind became tangled and distressed. In the end, he simply looked at Ming Xing and tentatively asked, "Your Excellency?"
The rebels were too terrifying. This old Chen had no courage to attack Mengyin County again. He also hoped that Your Excellency would be wise enough, otherwise, Your Excellency would only be forced to die heroically in loyalty.
However, Ming Xing simply snorted coldly and said to Chen Tailai and all the prefects and magistrates, "Withdraw! Send men to round up the routed soldiers!"
Ming Xing's decision made everyone, including the two thousand Manchu Maji, breathe a sigh of relief.
However, if they couldn't exterminate Zhu Ni, would Your Excellency have to change his name to Zhu Mingxing? If this name had been good in the previous dynasty, it might have been a good thing, but in my Tatar Qing...
Ming Xing was naturally unaware of the grumbling among his subordinates. For Ming Xing, the most important issue now was not whether to change his surname to Zhu, but how to get out of this situation.
Now there were only two choices before Ming Xing: either report the matter to Fuk'anggan, who was leading the attack on the Bagua Sect, or quickly round up the routed soldiers and strive to regain military superiority over Mengyin County before attacking Mengyin County again.
After careful consideration, Ming Xing still chose the latter.
If he reported the matter to Fuk'anggan, it would be equivalent to reporting it to that old dog Qianlong, and he would definitely be in trouble.
If he could round up the routed soldiers and regain military superiority over the rebels in Mengyin County, there might be a chance to turn the tide—although Manchu Maji did not refer to cavalry but to soldiers of the骁骑营 (Xiaojiying), and although the 骁骑营 was already in ruins, relying on these two thousand Maji as a foundation, and perhaps recruiting some able-bodied men, it should not be difficult to gather ten to twenty thousand people?
Ten to twenty thousand people, steady advance, using a long serpent formation when advancing, and upon reaching Mengyin City, first besiege without attacking, trapping Zhu Ni to death in Mengyin County.
Wouldn't that be a reversal?
Ming Xing, having studied military books since childhood, naturally knew how to choose the path most beneficial to him.
As long as he could turn the tide, the previous losses of troops and generals would be nothing!
However, after sending out the two thousand Manchu Maji to round up the routed soldiers, Ming Xing suddenly remembered something.
What had he said when he had called to exterminate Zhu Ni?
It seemed he had said that if he couldn't kill the rebel surnamed Zhu, he would adopt Zhu's surname?
Zhu Mingxing?
Never mind, never mind. Didn't I say it wouldn't be done in one go? Isn't it the same to kill him next time?
However, before Ming Xing could figure out how to kill Zhu Xiaosong, the Maji he had sent to round up the routed soldiers returned first.
The commanding參將 (Cānjǐang - Brigadier General) looked dejected and cupped his hands towards Ming Xing, saying, "Your Excellency, most of those damned mud cans have scattered and fled. We've only managed to round up less than two thousand men."
Ming Xing grunted and said, "It doesn't matter. The reason those rebels are difficult to deal with is only because of their sharp firearms. Later, we'll capture more able-bodied men to serve as substitutes, and send them to scout ahead."
Hearing Ming Xing say this, the Maji参将's expression became somewhat excited, saying, "I also considered the power of the rebels' firearms, so while rounding up the routed soldiers earlier, I also searched some items from the nearby villages."
"We have prepared a lot of things like black dog blood, menstrual cloths, and chamber pots. When we attack the rebels again, we will first sprinkle these things out, which will definitely greatly reduce the power of the rebels' firearms!"
...
Zhu Xiaosong was very happy, so happy that he wanted to sing.
Of course, the reason Zhu Xiaosong was happy was not because he was about to gain a cheap adopted son who was a provincial governor of the Tatar Qing.
For Zhu Xiaosong, adopting a cheap adopted son from the Jurchen would not be a cause for celebration; on the contrary, it was very disgraceful!
What truly made Zhu Xiaosong happy was that Ming Xing, the "great transport captain," had performed well!
Lacking labor, Captain Ming Xing had delivered as many as twenty thousand. Although over a thousand were killed by explosions, and more than ten thousand simply scattered on the spot, only a little over three thousand actually fell into Zhu Xiaosong's hands, but this was also what Captain Ming had painstakingly delivered, wasn't it?
Lacking equipment, Captain Ming Xing had delivered as many as twenty thousand sets of weapons and armor. Although most of them were cold weapons like sabers, spears, and swords, and there were only a few firearms like matchlocks, this was also what Captain Ming had painstakingly delivered, wasn't it?
These laborers and equipment were exactly what Menglianggu lacked the most.
Zhu Xiaosong laughed and said, "It's a pity that Ming Xing, this great transport captain, came too hastily this time and couldn't transport money and food. Otherwise, wouldn't our bellies be bursting?"
Zhu Erdan also laughed heartily and said, "Big brother is right. This time Ming Xing sent us so many sabers, spears, swords, and armor, as well as clothes. Isn't he a great transport captain?"
Ke Zhiming also laughed heartily and said, "It's still the young master's brilliant planning, having precisely calculated that Ming Xing would rashly use his troops, which allowed him to lay landmines in advance and heavily damage the Tatar soldiers!"
Hearing Ke Zhiming say this, all the captains and lieutenants, big and small, on Menglianggu also remembered that it was the great leader who had modified the landmines to be ignited by fuses before the battle, which had heavily damaged the Tatar soldiers.
If it were according to their original plan, these landmines would probably have been buried as tripwire mines, which would have exploded and killed a few Tatar soldiers, but the current results would have been unimaginable.
All the captains and lieutenants, big and small, were stunned!
"The great leader is too divine!"
"The great leader had already guessed the troop deployment style of Ming Xing, this Governor of Shandong!"
"Fighting with the great leader is so satisfying! We rarely suffer losses, and the results are always great!"
"..."
Zhu Xiaosong accepted everyone's praise without blushing or panting.
Although it was only because he disliked the low power of the landmines and wanted to wait for Ming Xing to send a large army to attack the city to blast him to his heart's content, and not because he had learned of Ming Xing's troop deployment style in advance, but no one knew that he was a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, right?
Besides, this gentleman Zhu is not blind. It's just that no one expected that idiot Ming Xing would commit all his troops at the beginning of the battle. It was a coincidence, a complete coincidence.
After thanking Captain Ming's cooperation once again, Zhu Xiaosong looked at everyone and said, "Although we have repelled the Tatars' first attack, we cannot relax at all. I believe the Tatars will soon organize a second attack."
Zhu Erdan grunted and asked, "Then what are big brother's plans? Should we continue to defend Mengyin? Or go to Lanshan County?"
Zhu Xiaosong tapped the table with his finger and pondered for a moment before saying, "Continue to defend Mengyin."
"This defeat can only be said to have broken a front tooth of the Tatars; it is still far from crippling them. Ming Xing, this Governor of Shandong, will certainly not be willing to accept defeat, so the Tatars will soon make a comeback."
"If we go to Lanshan County, Ming Xing, this Governor of Shandong, might be so enraged that he slaughters the city, this is the first reason."
"Secondly, if Captain Ming Xing cannot find us, how will he transport the supplies to us?"
The atmosphere in the hall immediately became cheerful again, with constant talk of "great transport captains" and other such phrases, which were difficult to understand.
Only after everyone had finished laughing did Zhu Xiaosong lightly tap the table and instruct, "Second brother, you will lead the men to lay mines again this time. This time, bury them directly on the main road, using tripwires."
After Zhu Erdan agreed, Zhu Xiaosong said to Ke Zhiming, "Have the villagers in the nearby villages be careful. Even if they suffer some losses for the time being, do not provoke the Tatars, lest they become enraged and massacre the villages. If the villagers suffer any grievances, we will avenge them later."
Ke Zhiming cupped his hands and replied, "Young master, rest assured, the common people have long been guarding against the Tatars."
In fact, it was not necessary for Zhu Xiaosong to remind them; the people in the nearby villages were already guarding against the Tatar government and soldiers.
Previously, in order for the Tatar government to co-opt the Farmers' Association and use it to find Zhu Xiaosong's whereabouts, the Tatar government not only promised the members of the Farmers' Association official positions and salaries, but also promised an additional reward if they found any trace of Zhu Xiaosong.
When Zhu Xiaosong appeared in Mengyin, the Tatar government immediately turned its back.
What Farmers' Association? Did I, the master, allow you common people to establish a Farmers' Association? Do you want to rebel?
What about official positions and money? Who promised you? X Bāntóu (班头 - a minor official)? He's a temporary worker, can he represent the government?
You common people, trying to extort money from the government? In my opinion, you all want to rebel!
The Tatar government's act of turning its back stunned the common people.
In addition to this, the history of the Tatars massacring villages and cities was also innumerable. In ancient times, there were people like Dorgon and Hooge, and in recent times, there was also Zhaohui massacring the Dzungars, and even more recently, Fuk'anggan massacring several villages in Shan County.
That's right, Fuk'anggan, while suppressing the Bagua Sect in Shan County, massacred several villages involved with the Bagua Sect in order to deter the populace and force the main force of the Bagua Sect to confront him.
Under normal circumstances, the news of Fuk'anggan's village massacres would have gradually spread after the complete pacification of the Bagua Sect. However, with the participation of Zhu Xiaosong and the Tiandihui, the news of Fuk'anggan's village massacres quickly spread throughout Shandong and was gradually spreading to farther places.
What made the common people even more disheartened was that the Tatar Qing, from the court to the local government, was all cheering, and even those widely known as "blue sky officials" did not care about the冤死的百姓 (innocently dead common people). xxs
The result was that more and more commoners in Shan County joined the Bagua Sect to rebel against the Qing, while the commoners outside Shan County became even more cautious in guarding against the Tatars.