Chapter Eight: The One-Sided War

In his previous life, Zhu Youxiao harbored a deep loathing for cults, fully aware of their skill in manipulating hearts and minds. Once brainwashed, their followers could no longer be reasoned with by ordinary logic. Determined to make an example of them, he resolved to strike decisively to intimidate the scheming cult leaders.

The Imperial Guard set out on the thirteenth, advancing at a pace of over thirty miles a day, entering the territory of Yanzhou Prefecture by the fifth day of June. Along the way, Lu Xiangsheng maintained the stance of a mere observer. He personally took in soldiers who had fallen behind, carried weapons for the physically weak among them, and fostered warm relations with the troops. However, he strictly refrained from participating in strategic planning, following Yang Guangkui’s orders without question.

Meanwhile, on May 13th, Xu Hongru, leading the White Lotus cultists, had already captured Yuncheng. The county magistrate, Yu Ziyi, was so terrified upon hearing the news that he offered no resistance, fleeing hastily with his family. The White Lotus army quickly seized Juye thereafter. Wherever the army passed, they opened granaries to provide relief to the people. Within a few days, their numbers swelled to tens of thousands, sending local officials and landlords into a panic and prompting mass flight.

On the first day of June, Xu Hongru advanced eastward, crossing the canal to capture Zou County. Acting magistrate Zheng Yijie fled with his family. The army then moved on to Teng County, where Magistrate Yao Zhiyin also fled at the mere rumor of their approach. The White Lotus army’s reputation soared as they attracted cultists and dispossessed peasants from across the region, quickly swelling their ranks to hundreds of thousands.

Zou and Teng counties bordered Jining to the north and Xuzhou to the south, forming a crucial section of the canal transportation route. Their capture nearly paralyzed the entire grain shipment system. Yet the Imperial Guard did not directly assault Zou County but first targeted its origin, Yuncheng.

On the afternoon of June 7th, the Imperial Guard arrived under Yuncheng’s walls. Cao Wenzhao led the cavalry in a circuit around the city, banners raised high bearing the words “Only Punish the Main Culprits” and “Companions Not Pursued.” Loud-voiced soldiers called out, “The Emperor decrees: only the main culprits will be punished; companions won’t be pursued. Tomorrow’s assault will commence—villagers and elders, please leave through the south gate.” That night, they camped on three sides of the city, leaving the south gate unguarded.

That same night, a large number of rebels and civilians fled through the south gate, leaving only a small group of diehards behind. Thus, the next morning, the artillery fired just two shots, neither hitting the walls, and after a few arrows were exchanged, the city surrendered. Cao Wenzhao executed a few ringleaders and left a regiment of infantry to maintain order before quickly moving on to Juye. The same procedure was followed there, but Juye surrendered before the assault began.

This time, Yang Guangkui forbade Cao Wenzhao from killing the captives, reasoning that since they had surrendered, further bloodshed was unnecessary. Cao had no choice but to imprison the leaders, leaving the arriving officials to handle them.

After resting overnight, the army set off immediately for Jining and then aimed straight for Zou County. By then, the White Lotus forces had grown to several hundred thousand, their momentum formidable. On the morning of June 12th, the Imperial Guard reached Zou’s walls.

Cao Wenzhao did not circle the city as before but placed banners declaring “Only Punish the Main Culprits” and “Companions Not Pursued” at the forefront of the troops. The White Lotus army was arrayed outside the city, mostly armed with farming tools rather than armor, but their sheer numbers—estimated at over thirty thousand—made Yang Guangkui uneasy. Such a force would not be easily wiped out, even if the Imperial Guard slaughtered all who resisted.

Yang arranged two infantry battalions and an artillery company in the center, with Cao’s cavalry on the flanks. Just as the formation was set, the White Lotus army charged.

When the chaotic rebels came within about seventy paces of the infantry, Yang ordered segmented volleys. The crack of firearms and thick smoke stunned the attackers momentarily, and then comrades began to fall. A shout went up, and the front ranks broke, retreating in disarray.

As the smoke cleared, no living rebel remained standing before the Imperial Guard. In the distance, the White Lotus troops fled in wild confusion. Yang commanded his men to halt, reload, and then advance in six tight columns. The cavalry on both wings maintained pace without charging.

After advancing, a well-formed infantry force appeared ahead, numbering about five to six thousand, all clad in padded armor. Some leaders wore iron armor like the Imperial Guard. Their weapons were no longer farming tools but long spears, swords, and shields. A large banner bore the words “Heroic Martyrs’ King,” revealing them as the troops of Xu Hongru’s brother, Xu Heyu.

Xu Heyu, observing the ironclad Imperial Guard armed with firearms, sneered. Not long ago, when they attacked Zou County, the Ming soldiers had been similarly equipped—gleaming armor, sharp weapons—but when faced with rebels wielding hoes, they’d abandoned their gear and fled, effectively providing supplies to the rebels. It seemed today would be no different; another supply convoy had arrived.

Xu Heyu ordered the horn to sound. The rebels advanced slowly; at about a hundred paces, the horn suddenly stopped and then blared again. The rebels let out strange cries and charged forward. This time, Yang was steadier. When the rebels were about fifty paces away, he waved his hand. The drummers beat a sharp rhythm as commanders shouted, “Segmented volley, first wave!” The artillery captain yelled, “Fire!”

Amid the sharp reports of matchlock guns and booming cannon fire, nearly all the front rebels fell, most dead. The few wounded writhed on the ground, their cries deterring those behind from advancing further. The unscathed rebels froze in shock, staring at the moans and bodies around them, forgetting even to flee.

The rear ranks hesitated before spurred on by the horn, glancing nervously at the nearby execution squad’s raised blades. Mustering courage, they charged again. Drums and gunfire rang out, felling more rebels. The horn blared urgently as the rebels pressed forward, cannons and firearms alternating in deadly rhythm. The bodies piled high at the front, blood slicking the ground beneath the advancing feet.

Within thirty minutes, each soldier of the Imperial Guard had fired about twenty rounds—a light task given their ability to load and shoot three per minute—and the artillery had fired over twenty times. The relatively low number of volleys was due to the slow rebel charges and Yang’s strict order forbidding his men from advancing to finish off the enemy.

Eventually, Xu Heyu’s elite troops faltered and began to retreat. Cao Wenzhao gave the order, and the left cavalry wing launched a pursuit, soon matched by the right wing’s charge. Yang commanded the infantry to reload and advance steadily, using bayonets to dispatch stragglers. The supply train followed behind, tending to the wounded, collecting discarded weapons, and stripping armor from fallen foes. Wounded enemies were dispatched with a single stroke but not beheaded, as per the Emperor’s instructions forbidding decapitations in domestic conflicts. Merit was measured by mission accomplishment rather than trophies.

The author believes that any uprising must be crushed swiftly and without delay.

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