The sound of a creak echoed as the door of a temporary cell, newly converted in the quarters of the special envoy, was opened softly.
The person curled up in the cell was startled by the sound. The sunlight streamed in from the door, and the person squinted, shielding their eyes with one hand while still trying to look through the door as much as possible, wanting to see clearly who had entered.
The man isolated in the quarters of the imperial commissioner was a stocky, robust figure with a dark complexion, bushy eyebrows, and sharp eagle eyes. His unkempt beard was wild and full, indicating he was a man of valor. It was clear that this brave man could have a private cell in the jail of Sai Shang'A's quarters because he was no ordinary person; he was the younger son of God, Hong Quan, the elder brother of Hong Xiuquan, the Heavenly King of the Taiping Rebellion, who shared no blood relationship with him nor his faith.
Hong Xiuquan seems to be a "quan" word generation, and Hong Dahuan is also a "quan" word generation. Moreover, "Dahuan" is definitely bigger than "Xiuquan", so he is Hong Xiuquan's elder brother, which is no problem.
The Taiping Rebellion leader who called himself Hong Dahuan said this when he was found by the Qing army in Yanyang Town. He also claimed to be the King of Tian De, or the Heavenly virtuous king, of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!
The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom originally had six Kings of the First Uprising, all from God's family. Yet, he arbitrarily added one more! One wonders how they calculate lineage in God's eyes?
And yet, he fabricated the story so wild that the imperial envoy Sai Shang'A actually believed it!
When Ce Shangtang learned that he had captured Hong Xiuquan's elder brother, Hong Dahuan, he regarded it as a precious find and immediately ordered that Hong Dahuan's life be spared—no casual beheading! How else could he prove that he was Hong Xiuquan's brother? Such an important traitor had to be escorted to Beijing and publicly executed with a thousand cuts at the vegetable market crossroads, right?
Moreover, Ce Shangtang also hoped to gain a deeper understanding of the Taiping bandit's situation through Hong Dahuan. Knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to victory, after all!
So, Hong Dahuan was temporarily saved from death and received the treatment of a bandit leader. Not only did he enjoy good food and drink in a single room and ride in a prison car, but Sai Shang'A also gave the order to drink at will after he mentioned good wine, as long as he could provide valuable information.
But such a "good life" would not last long!
Hong Dahuan was well aware that once he had fully disclosed the internal affairs of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, there would be nothing left to say, and the Qing demon, Sai Shangtang, would sentence him to death in Beijing at a place called the vegetable market. It wouldn't be beheading, but rather a slow death by slicing and cauterizing!
A thousand cuts and a thousand cauterizations!
To even think about it is painful!
Recently, Hong Dahuan has already faced the reality that there is little internal affairs left to disclose. In fact, he knows very little about the internal affairs of the Heavenly Kingdom, as he is not actually Hong Xiuquan's real elder brother!
His real name was Jiao Liang, a hero of the Tian Ti Hui in Hunan, who was active in the Tian Ti Hui recruitment hall in Chenzhou, Guiyang, and Yongzhou. He was the leader of this secret society and also a hero who had a heartfelt desire to overthrow the Qing Dynasty!
So when he heard about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Guangxi, he led a group of a dozen brothers to make contact.
The Heavenly King Hong Xiuquan of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was quite warm-hearted towards him, treating him like a brother, and clearly regarded him as someone of great importance. However, that eccentric and occasionally " possession" leader Yang Xiuqing did not get along with him. To make matters worse, he was left behind when the Taiping Rebellion forces evacuated Yanyang Town, resulting in his capture by the Qing army. If it hadn't been for his quick wit and his claim of being Hong Xiuquan's elder brother, coupled with his appearance as a bandit leader, his head might have been chopped off long ago......
Now, he has already disclosed the little that he knew about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, adding salt and spices to it. Even when he tries to fabricate stories that sound more authentic, he can't come up with anything that seems believable anymore!
So at this moment, Hong Dahuan sees someone entering and starts to feel anxious.
It's not mealtime now!
What are they here for?
Just as Hong Dahuan was feeling anxious, several burly men had entered the cell. The one in charge, clearly a Gaojia Yuanbao, walked in.
All the men who followed Gaojia Yuanbao into the cell were his own people who had come from Heping. They had now secured Hong Dahuan's cell, keeping him surrounded both inside and outside. They had also sent away all the prison guards from Guilin Prefectural Office who were brought in.
"Guard!" Gaojia Yuanbao barked, then pointed at Hong Dahuan who had sat up, "Seize him!"
"Yes, your servant!"
The two guards from Gaojia Yuanbao's Green Camp replied, and then they attacked Hong Dahuan like ravenous tigers, locking his arms in iron shackles and twisting them tightly.
Hong Dahuan's heart sank: Oh no...they're going to take me to Beijing and have me executed at the vegetable market crossroads?
Thinking about this, Hong Dahuan sighed deeply and shouted with a melancholic voice: "I have the heart to fight the thieves, but I have no power to turn the tide!"
"Slap!" Hong Dahuan was slapped across the face by Gaojia Yuanbao, who then shouted, "You rebellious traitor! Confess immediately!"
The Green Camp soldiers who had come with Gaojia Yuanbao also took advantage of the situation, barking together, "Are you going to talk or not?"
Hong Dahuan huffed in response, showing a defiant attitude.
Gaojia Yuanbao also huffed: "If you don't talk, we will beat you. Bring the guards! Have a hundred lashes first to loosen up your muscles!"
"Yes!"
The two Green Camp soldiers pulled up their sleeves, showing a fierce appearance as if they were about to start a fight.
Hong Dahuan, being a hero who would not lose face in the moment, shouted out, "Wait! Wait...What am I supposed to say? No one has asked me anything yet. How can you just start hitting me? Do you know how to interrogate a prisoner?"
Upon hearing Hong Dahuan's words, Gaojia Yuanbao laughed heartily, "You still want to be asked? Fine! Ask away! Are you named Hong Dahuan? Are you the elder brother of the bandit leader Hong Xiuquan?"
"Yes, I am!" Hong Dahuan's eye balls narrowed, "I am the King of Tian De in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and Hong Xiuquan is my younger brother!"
"Then how is your lineage calculated in God's eyes?" Gaojia Yuanbao asked, "I know God has a first-born son called Jesus.... Are you him?"
Hong Dahuan was completely confused. How had he become Jesus all of a sudden?
"I'm not...," Hong Dahuan explained, "The Heavenly Father and Elder Brother are all fabricated by Hong Xiuquan to deceive others!"
Gaojia Yuanbao barked loudly: "You're lying!"
Am I lying?
Hong Dahuan was stunned for a moment, thinking: What side are you on?
Seeing Hong Dahuan in a daze, Gaojia Yuanbao helped him recall: "Your younger brother Hong Xiuquan truly has an 'Ama' up in heaven!"
What?
Really? Heavenly Father?
Hong Dahuan was beginning to suspect that the young Qing military officer standing in front of him, dressed in a military jacket, was a spy from the Taiping Rebellion. However, "Ama" was a term used by Manchu people.
Gaojia Yuanbao told Hong Dahuan: "Only a few days ago, our Great Qing army fought a fierce battle with your younger brother's bandit army at Suo Yi Tu across the river. We were about to win big, but suddenly, a thunderstorm rolled in, and an evil demon appeared in the sky, driving a purple thunderbolt and flying chariot. It directly attacked our cannonade... This scene was witnessed by thousands of people that day. I was one of them. Moreover, I also got an object from that demon as proof. Now we just need one more witness."
Hong Dahuan, do you still want to cover up for your brother Hong Xiuquan?"
Ah... So that's how you can fabricate a story like that!
Hong Dahuan naturally didn't believe Gaojia Yuanbao's words – this was too fantastic!
And a demon descending from the sky? Is this the "Bian Shen Yuanyi" or some Western version?
Seeing Hong Dahuan's expression of disbelief, Gaojia Yuanbao didn't give him any leniency and immediately took out a picture of "Niurang King Riding a Cow," throwing it in front of Hong Dahuan. "Take a look, do you recognize who is depicted on this picture?"
There are several copies of the "Niurang King Riding a Cow" picture, and one of them is even enclosed in He Chun's confidential report, which was sent to Beijing via six hundred miles of urgent courier.
As Hong Dahuan took advantage of the sunlight coming in through the cell door to examine the picture, he recognized it: "Isn't that Niurang King?"
"Recognize it?" Gaojia Yuanbao asked with a smile, "Then confess honestly!"
"What do you want me to confess?" Hong Dahuan asked in confusion.
"Say, what is the relationship between Niurang King and your younger brother Hong Xiuquan?"
Ah... Hong Dahuan truly had no choice but to concede.
Hong Dahuan had originally thought that the most imaginative among all was Hong Xiuquan, but he never expected the Qing demons to have such morons as well.
Gaojia Yuanbao saw Hong Dahuan in shock, knowing that he needed to give him a wake-up call: "Hong, do you not have an idea of the crime you've committed? This is no crime that can be resolved with one stroke of the blade. It's a fate of being torn apart slowly and painfully!"
Hong Dahuan narrowed his eyes and huffed, "I'm not afraid! I've long put life and death out of my mind!"
Gaojia Yuanbao saw his fierce appearance and couldn't help but burst out laughing: "You two look quite alike... Are you related? Is your 'Ama' in the sky a big Niurang King? Did you both come back as Niurang Kings in this life?"
Think about it carefully...If you have nothing to do with this Niurang King, you will be sentenced to be torn apart slowly tomorrow! But if you are related to the Niurang King, then we can't chop you up, can we? We have to send you to Beijing and let the emperor decide your fate!"
He pointed at the sky and said, "If you really have an 'Ama' up in heaven, the emperor might let you live a few more days... You really need to think about this!"
Hong Dahuan's eye balls turned, and another cold huff escaped his mouth: "You Qing demon, what are you talking about? My brother Xiuquan's Heavenly Father isn't some Niurang demon, but rather a true God who sent the Niurang demon to protect Xiuquan. My brother Xiuquan's Heavenly Father... is none other than the Sky God!"
Gaojia Yuanbao laughed heartily: "Well done! You're quite the expert!"
