Yue () Ni Wenhuan () Yang Weiyuan () Lu Wanling () Martial artists hired by Zheng Hongtai Zhao Ting () is from the Songyang School. He leaves after realising that he was tricked into helping the spies. Fan Zhu () is killed by Lian Nichang. Ling Xiao (), nicknamed "Jade Faced Demonic Fox" (), is killed by Lian Nichang. Taoist Qingsong () leaves after realising that he was tricked into helping the spies. Government officials Xiong Tingbi () is the military governor of Liaodong. Viewed as a hero by the people, he is tasked with defending the Ming Empire's northern border from the Manchu invaders. He is defeated by Manchu forces when Wang Huazhen refuses to cooperate with him, and is executed as punishment for his defeat. Before his death, he wrote a book, Discussion on Liaodong (), explaining his strategies to counter the Manchu invasion. Ministers in the Three Departments and Six Ministries: Sun Shenxing () is the Minister of Rites. Zhou Jiamo () is the Minister of Personnel. Hui Shiyang () Ministry of War: Yang Kun () is the Minister of War. Li Jingbai () succeeds Yang Kun as Minister of War. Liu Guojin () Liu Tingyuan () Yang Lian () is a loyalist who opposes Wei Zhongxian. After he is framed and imprisoned, Lian Nichang breaks into prison to save him but he refuses her help. He is murdered in prison by Wei Zhongxian's men. Sun Chengzong () Officials in the Censorate: Yao Zongwen () Feng Sanyuan () Wang Anshun () Zou Yuanbiao () Zuo Guangdou () is Du Mingzhong's uncle. He is murdered in prison by Wei Zhongxian's men, along with Yang Lian and other loyalists. Military personnel: Wang Zan () is Xiong Tingbi's bodyguard and an apprentice of Qiu Taixu. Wang Huazhen () is appointed by Xiong Tingbi as the Inspector of Guangning. Unwilling to cooperate with Xiong Tingbi, he causes the Ming forces to be defeated by the Manchus. He is demoted after his defeat. Yuan Yingtai () is sent to replace Xiong Tingbi after the latter is executed. He is incompetent and suffers defeats at the hands of the Manchus. He Shixian () is Yuan Yingtai's subordinate who is killed in action. You Shigong () is Yuan Yingtai's subordinate who is killed in action. Yuan Chonghuan () is a general who succeeds Xiong Tingbi as commander of the Ming forces on the northern