Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Outside Xuzhou City.

The chaotic battlefield was nearing its end.

The peasant army gathered outside the city gates of Xuzhou had been dealt a heavy blow by the Camp Destroyer, with the dead dead and the fleeing fleeing.

Only some wounded peasant soldiers were left, lying on the ground groaning.

"Stop!"

Seeing that the peasant army had lost its ability to resist, Xu Chang did not pursue relentlessly or exterminate them all, but quickly issued an order to stop.

The soldiers of the Camp Destroyer returned to their ranks, and the outside of the city gate was unobstructed, with no one daring to stand in front of the Camp Destroyer again.

At this moment, Gao Shun and Wang Zhi from the central army also slowly came to the front of the army, looking at Xuzhou City in front of them.

"General Gao Shun, the people obstructing the city have dispersed, and the Camp Destroyer can attack the city at any time!"

Gao Shun nodded, and just as he was about to issue the order to attack the city, the tightly closed city gate in front was suddenly opened.

A middle-aged man in military uniform led a dozen people out of the city gate and cupped his hands towards them.

"Your humble servant, Cui Zhu, Commander of Xuzhou Prefecture, respectfully welcomes the imperial army to enter the city and quell the rebellion!"

The meaning was already very clear. Cui Zhu took the initiative to surrender the city, wanting to show his allegiance.

However, only after the peasant army blocking the road was defeated did you know to open the city gate and surrender.

It is conceivable how much sincerity there was in Cui Zhu's behavior of opening the door to surrender at this time.

Gao Shun's expression did not change much, he just waved to the army behind him: "Enter the city and take over all military and political affairs of Xuzhou Prefecture."

"Yes, General!"

Under the command of Xu Chang, the Camp Destroyer, the Three Thousand Camp, the Divine Machine Camp, and the border troops who came to support were divided into two groups, entering Xuzhou City from both sides in order.

Gao Shun, Wang Zhi, Xu Chang and others entered Xuzhou Prefecture City from the very center of the city gate.

"They oppress the common people, exploit the villages, and occupy a lot of the farmland of the people of Xuzhou Prefecture."

Cui Zhu became more and more excited as he spoke, appearing righteous and awe-inspiring.

"To be honest, the previous incitement of the people to attack the Peixian County Yamen, killing the Peixian County Magistrate, and driving away the imperial envoy, were all secretly supported by these four patriarchs."

"Their purpose is to prevent the imperial envoys from investigating the fields in Xuzhou Prefecture and to protect the land they had fraudulently occupied."

"In addition to this, today it was also these four people who gathered the surrounding peasant army and blocked them at the gate of Xuzhou City, trying to prevent you adults from entering the city to quell the rebellion!"

"These four people are simply guilty of heinous crimes!"

Cui Zhu spoke with gnashing teeth, acting as if he was about to believe it himself.

"This humble servant has long wanted to eliminate this harm for the people and take down these four people, but the four major families have a huge influence in Xuzhou Prefecture, and even I, the commander, can't do anything about them."

"Fortunately, His Majesty sent troops to Xuzhou Prefecture to quell the rebellion, which gave this humble servant the opportunity to eliminate violence and bring peace."

"This humble servant also spent a lot of effort before capturing these four people alive, and now I specially hand them over to you adults for disposal!"

After Cui Zhu finished speaking, he bowed deeply to Gao Shun and the others, his face full of gratification at having endured hardship, borne humiliation, and finally achieved success.

Gao Shun did not speak, but looked at Wang Zhi beside him.

He was only responsible for quelling the Jiangnan rebellion and eliminating all enemies blocking their path.

As for how to deal with these criminals, it was up to Wang Zhi, the Superintendent of the Western Depot, to take charge.

Wang Zhi said expressionlessly: "Tan Lu."

"Your subordinate is here."

Tan Lu stepped forward from behind Wang Zhi, glanced coldly at the four kneeling patriarchs and Cui Zhu, and then respectfully bowed to Wang Zhi.

After seeing Tan Lu's appearance, the four patriarchs were shocked, and their eyes revealed deep despair and regret.

"Ah Aba… Aba Aba…"

They opened their mouths wide, trying to roar, wanting to say something.

But what came out of their mouths was only a series of meaningless roars.

Tan Lu had dealt with the people of these four major families a lot when he was clearing the land in Fengxian and Peixian, and both sides were still very familiar with each other.

How could these four patriarchs not be excited when they saw Tan Lu appear?

But what happened later deeply stimulated their nerves, making them extremely agitated.

"The four major families, regardless of young or old, male or female, are all to be executed!"

"Take more people and kill them carefully, leaving no one related to them behind!"

"Yes, Superintendent!"

After Tan Lu respectfully accepted the order, his gaze towards the four patriarchs was sinister and devoid of any emotion.

Such a cold gaze made the four patriarchs' hearts panic and they were extremely terrified.

They never expected that the Western Depot's spies would be so ruthless when they took action.

It was not enough to just take their lives, they wanted to exterminate their nine clans!

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Aba! Aba Aba!"

The four patriarchs shouted heart-rendingly, but no one in the field cared about their feelings.

After hearing Wang Zhi's order, Cui Zhu's heart was filled with fear, but his face showed an expression of incomparable approval.

Cui Zhu was extremely afraid and felt extremely fortunate.

Fortunately, he had predicted the situation in advance, took the initiative to open the door to surrender, and offered these four patriarchs up.

Now it seems that the focus of these adults who came south was on these four major families, and he was able to escape a disaster.

Just as Cui Zhu was thinking this, suddenly, Wang Zhi's eyes looked directly at Cui Zhu.

Cui Zhu's heart suddenly shrank, as if he had missed a beat, and he fell straight into the abyss.

Cold sweat silently slipped from Cui Zhu's forehead, and just one look made Cui Zhu feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body cold from head to toe.

Immediately afterwards, Cui Zhu heard the verdict that knocked him from the clouds to the ground.

"Commander Cui Zhu, also arrest him and punish him together after the Western Depot investigates!"

"Yes, Superintendent!"

In an instant, Cui Zhu only felt dizzy, his eyes darkened, his head was heavy and his feet were light, and he was about to faint to the ground.

Before he fainted, spies from the Western Depot rushed forward, pressed him to the ground, and controlled him.

Cui Zhu woke up suddenly, and a huge panic surged into his heart. He struggled desperately, roaring excitedly.

"I am loyal to the Ming Dynasty, why do you want to arrest me, adults!"

"Please be aware, adults! Please be aware!"