latelenovela Chapter 278 Qihe County Shahe Gang Uprising Against the Jin Dynasty
Chapter 278 Qihe County Shahe Gang Uprising Against the Jin Dynasty
On the north bank of the Yellow River, in the quiet night of Zhua Town, Qihe County, several young men quietly gathered together. A dim oil lamp flickered with a yellowish light, barely illuminating their resolute faces.
“Brother,” one of them said in a low, urgent voice, “have you heard that the Li family army in the west has already captured Dong’e County with unstoppable momentum? At this rate, our Zhu’a Town will probably be affected as well.”
After saying that, he casually picked up the rough porcelain wine bowl on the table, took a small sip, and then lightly flicked a peanut between his lips and teeth, making a soft but crisp sound.
"The rule of the Jurchens was already like a candle flickering in the wind, about to collapse."
He put down his wine bowl and glanced at everyone's faces. "Why don't we, brothers, take advantage of this chaotic world to make some good plans and do something meaningful?"
As they spoke, an air of ambition and eagerness to prove themselves permeated the simple room, as if even the dim lamplight trembled, reflecting the boiling passion and determination in their hearts.
Everyone around focused their attention on the bald man respectfully addressed as "Boss," and time seemed to freeze for a moment. After a long silence, he slowly opened his lips, his voice steady and powerful: "Our Shahe Gang has been teetering on the brink of collapse under the heavy pressure of the Jurchens for years, no longer possessing its former glory. Back then, our brothers lived in luxury, enjoying great prestige, but now even a full meal is a luxury. The root of all this is the Jurchens."
"But now, the Jin dynasty's fate is sealed, and this is a golden opportunity." He looked around with piercing eyes and continued, "You should quickly contact your brothers and join forces to take down Zhu'a Town. This will not only relieve our brothers' urgent needs, but also be a generous gift to the Li family army. With this opportunity, we may be able to restore the former glory of our Shahe Gang."
The night was as dark as ink. After their hushed discussion, the group quietly dispersed under the cover of darkness, each disappearing into the vast night. This Shahe Gang initially consisted of small-time smugglers who secretly sold salt along the Yellow River. However, in an era when smuggled salt was highly profitable, they snowballed, growing from a handful of people into a force of hundreds. Ultimately, through ruthless methods, they monopolized the local smuggled salt market, enjoying unparalleled power and influence.
However, their good fortune was short-lived. As the Jin army swept south, this land changed hands, and their good days came to an end. In the past, they had spared no expense in winning over many Song officials, creating a protective umbrella for themselves. However, when the Jin army swept in like a whirlwind, those Song officials who had once colluded with them, like frightened birds, abandoned them and fled south.
The newly arrived Jurchen officials were not as easy to talk to as the greedy Song officials. They were impartial and incorruptible, and did not listen to the Shahe Gang's ways. As a result, the Jurchen officials directly used their army to launch a continuous crackdown and annihilation campaign against the Shahe Gang.
As dawn broke, the market in Qihe County slowly awoke in the morning light, with various stalls dotting the streets like stars. To consolidate their defenses, the Jin army concentrated its forces, scattered across the countryside, in the county town. This move unexpectedly rekindled the almost extinguished flame of hope in the hearts of the Shahe Gang members; the events of the previous night were the prelude to this revival.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the town's market gate creaked open, announcing the start of another busy day. The administrator appointed by the Jin people, dressed in official robes, walked through the morning dew as usual, moving among the vendors and collecting various fees. His figure stretched long in the morning light, carrying an indescribable air of authority.
As the manager approached a grain stall, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to several new faces. Some were standing, others not, standing out starkly against the familiar faces around them, making them particularly eye-catching.
The manager frowned slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on the stall owner, Li Laosan, as he asked, "Li Laosan, when did you get these new faces at your stall? They look quite unfamiliar." His words carried both a routine indifference and a barely perceptible hint of curiosity.
At this moment, Li Laosan no longer bowed his head as usual; instead, he grabbed the administrator and pulled him close.
"Xue Yi, you've bullied me for so long, let's settle some scores today."
After saying that, Li Laosan plunged a sharp knife into the heart of the administrator, Xue Yi, and bright red blood instantly flowed onto the ground. Xue Yi's entourage was stunned; they couldn't understand why Li Laosan, who was usually so docile and let them bully him, seemed like a completely different person.
"Killing! Killing!"
The henchmen shouted and tried to run, but were blocked by several men next to Li Laosan. Without a word, the men used their weapons to kill the henchmen, then hoisted a large flag from Li Laosan's stall, on which were embroidered the three characters "Shahe Gang" in yellow thread.
The leader of the Shahe Gang, a majestic bald man, stood proudly on an ancient wooden table. His voice, like a booming bell, pierced through the clamor of the onlookers and resounded through the sky: "Today, my Shahe Gang vows to stir up a storm. Are you all willing to follow me on this journey to annihilate the Jin traitors and make the Jin people in this town pay for their blood debts!"
Having said that, he raised his arm and waved it. Behind him, hundreds of gang members surged like a raging tide, wielding clubs and blades, their eyes flashing with resolute light, and marched towards a mansion in the center of the town. The people in the mansion, upon first seeing this spectacle, were all dumbfounded, their astonishment overflowing. In an instant, they were overwhelmed by the ferocious power of the Shahe Gang. The courtyard was thrown into chaos, with shouts of killing and pleas for mercy mingling together, forming the most realistic background sound of this storm.
In those turbulent days, Zhu'a Town was not an isolated case; the surrounding towns and villages also saw the flames of resistance ignite. Heroes from all walks of life converged into a torrent of different forces, raising together the banner of resistance against the tyranny of the Jurchens, vowing to wipe out the officials forcibly installed by the Jurchens from this land.
Upon hearing this news, Wanyan Cong, the Jin general stationed in Yucheng, was enraged. He immediately ordered the Jin cavalry in Qihe to extinguish this flame of rebellion in its infancy.
The Jin army, like a beast unleashed from its cage, left devastation and carnage wherever it went. They indiscriminately dragged innocent civilians into this merciless slaughter, filling the villages surrounding Qihe County with an atmosphere of sorrow and despair.
In this brutal crackdown, countless families were torn apart, and cries of despair filled the air. Yet, even so, those people who held fast to justice did not give up their yearning and pursuit of freedom. They knew that only by uniting as one could they find a glimmer of hope in this chaotic world.
Many rebels, seeing that they were no match for the Jin army, sent messengers to the Li family army in Dong'e County for help. Some who could not withstand the attack led their rebel troops to Dong'e County overnight.