Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

northeast.

With the arrival of summer, the rivers thaw.

Ships from the Ming Dynasty arrived one after another, delivering supplies to the army in the Northeast.

The newly appointed governor of Jinning, Li Zunzu, quickly determined the direction of the advance.

That is to cross the Xing'an Mountains and continue the pursuit of the Jurchens:
"Although the Jurchens have fled, they still pose a threat to Jinning."

“If they establish a foothold on the grasslands, Jinning will not be able to settle down.”

"I intend to lead my elite troops to deal with the matter of Jin Ning and hand it over to the Heilongjiang Inspectorate."

"Inspector Kong, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Please send troops to suppress the bandits along the river."

The areas under the jurisdiction of the Jinning Protectorate and the Heilongjiang Inspectorate overlapped to some extent.

According to the imperial court's division, the Inspectorate was responsible for river basin management, and could govern the areas through which the Heilongjiang River's main stream and tributaries flowed.

Local military and political affairs were mainly handled by the Protectorate General, who needed to cooperate with the Inspectorate General in managing river affairs.

In the mainland, the Inspector General's office wouldn't have much power. At most, it could establish customs offices and have financial authority in areas with open sea routes.

However, in Northeast China, the Heilongjiang Provincial Governor's Office wielded immense power.

Because this place is too far from the Ming Dynasty, and the post roads have long been abandoned, the only way to obtain supplies is by water transport.

Neither the Jinning Governor's Office nor the Heishui Governor's Office could afford to offend the Inspectorate if they wanted to obtain supplies from the imperial court.

In particular, the Heilong Camp, Heihe Camp, Heishui Camp, and Mohe Camp are still under the jurisdiction of the Inspectorate General's Office. The military strength of the Heilongjiang Inspectorate General's Office is not weak, comparable to that of the Jinning Protectorate General's Office.

Li Zunzu also needed to consult with the Inspectorate if he wanted to mobilize these troops.

Kong Zhenyun pondered the matter and finally nodded, saying:

"As long as navigation is possible, the surrounding bandit patrol offices will be cleared out."

"However, the Inspectorate also has troops that want to go west, and they will go together with the troops of the Blackwater Protectorate."

"I hope that everyone will work together to eliminate the fleeing Jurchens as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this reply, Li Zunzu smiled.

The greatest contribution to Northeast China now is the escape of the Jurchens.

While capturing barbarians in Jinning can earn merit, it's difficult for the commander to advance his rank based on such achievements.

However, the barbarians of Jinning could not be left unattended, because many meritorious officials were waiting to establish their fiefdoms here.

Li Shunzu sent many messages from the capital, all from nobles who had chosen to establish fiefdoms in Jinning, hoping that he could clear out their fiefdoms under the pretext of suppressing bandits.

Li Zunzu did not want to waste military resources on this matter, so he asked Kong Zhenyun to help him with it.

Kong Zhenyun agreed not because he was unaware of the great merit in pursuing the Jurchens, but because he was unlikely to be the commander-in-chief and saw no need to compete with Li Zunzu for credit.

In particular, according to news from the capital, there is a high probability that he will be transferred back to the capital during this reshuffle, and may be appointed as one of the Nine Ministers.

In this situation, the most advantageous option is to quickly clear the ground to gain merit and to establish good relations with the nobles enfeoffed in Jinning.

Therefore, he decided to send Li Zicheng, Liu Zongmin, and others to clear out the bandits along the river.

Of course, he wouldn't stop anyone who wanted to pursue the Jurchens and make a name for themselves. If these people made a contribution, he, as the inspector, would also have a share of the credit.

Therefore, he and Zhang Tongchang, the governor of Heishui, agreed to send troops together to pursue them.
-
Soon, the orders from the Protectorate General and the Inspectorate General were issued to the various armies in the Northeast along with the supplies.

The various businesses along the river received the news quickly and established stable connections through the river.

In the earliest Black Dragon Camp, Gao Yingxiang convened representatives from various camps to discuss the matter:
"Inspector Kong's meaning is very clear: we can either follow Duke Jiangling to pursue the Jurchens or go to Jinning to clear the ground."

"What are you all thinking? Do you want to go to the west to seek a title, or go to Jinning to steadily achieve merit?"

Liu Zongmin, the commander of the Blackwater Battalion, arrived in person and said:

"Inspector Kong has been incredibly kind to me. I heard he's about to be transferred back to the capital. I'll definitely serve under him for the next few months, do my best to help him achieve merit, and return home in glory."

"However, some of the young men do want to go west to try their luck in getting a title and a good family. Anyone who wants to chase after the Jurchens can be taken along."

He said this, and Li Zicheng, who had also been promoted by Kong Zhenyun, naturally couldn't abandon Kong Zhenyun to seek merit. He similarly said:

"I was also promoted by Inspector Kong, so of course I'll listen to him on this matter."

"But my nephew wanted to earn credit, so I let him go after him."

He then asked Gao Yingxiang:

"Uncle, what are you thinking?"

"Should we go to the west to make a name for ourselves, or go to Jinning?"

Gao Yingxiang pondered for a moment but did not respond.

Li Zicheng noticed his hesitation and feigned cheerfulness, saying:

“My uncle’s Black Dragon Camp is in Jiangbei, not in Jinning territory, so there’s no need to worry about the Jinning Protectorate.”

"Following the Blackwater Commander in pursuit of the Jurchens, no one could point out any problems."

He helped Gao Yingxiang make a decision and told him to go after the Jurchens.

Others who wanted to pursue the Jurchens and make great contributions immediately spoke up.

Seeing that he had so much support, Gao Yingxiang immediately made a decision:
"it is good!"

"I'll lead everyone to make a name for ourselves right now."

"If Zhang Huanghu can be granted a title of Earl over a thousand miles of land, let's also bring back an Earl title."

"Lord Jiangling wants to go to Fenglangjuxu this time, and we will go with him."

With boundless ambition, he declared his intention to accompany Zhang Tongchang to Fenglangjuxu, reclaim the lost grasslands, and earn the title of Marquis or Earl.

Li Zicheng had read some books in recent years and knew the story of the "Fenglang Juxu" (a legendary martial arts technique). He looked at Gao Yingxiang with envy, and for a moment felt a pang of regret:
Because he also wanted to become a marquis, but he lacked the ability to do so.

Among the various camps along the Heilongjiang River, the Heilong Camp was the earliest to be established. Later, because Zhang Xianzhong established the Daxi Camp, those who wanted to establish their own independent forces formed the Heihe Camp, Heishui Camp, and Mohe Camp.

These battalions were newly established and their combat strength was not particularly strong. Even if they were pursued to the grasslands, they would hardly achieve any significant feats.

With a determined heart, he had secretly decided to train his troops well during the bandit suppression in Jinning and build an elite force.

Given the current emperor's ambition to recover the lost territories of the Han and Tang dynasties, he will have no shortage of opportunities to make contributions.
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Coincidentally, Ji Jike had the same idea.

As the winner of the first martial arts tournament, he is recognized as the greatest warrior in the world.

Although Ji Jike was highly regarded by the emperor, he did not achieve many merits.

Let's not even talk about Cao Bianjiao and Yang Yufan, who came from the military. They were originally mid-level officers in the imperial court, and they were given even more attention after the martial arts tournament. Ji Ji couldn't compare to them.

However, he felt quite resentful that Gao Yingxiang, Zhang Xianzhong, and others, who also came from humble backgrounds, had made their achievements by building their own armies.

What particularly moved him was Tian Jianxiu, who appeared at last year's martial arts tournament. In just a few months, he had earned the title of viscount for his meritorious service in Liaodong by raising a Han restoration army.

This made him realize that he couldn't continue like this, otherwise he, the number one warrior in the world, would be a joke, and his martial arts skills would be completely wasted.

Therefore, he actively requested to be transferred to a post outside the capital, giving up his position as president of the martial arts association to serve as a general in another region.

Coincidentally, Zhang Xianzhong, who was concurrently serving as the garrison commander of the Mohe Military and Civilian Prefecture, had led his troops westward and needed someone to replace him.

Ji Jike was recommended by Kong Zhenyun because he had escorted Kong Zhenyun to the grassland alliance meeting, and became the commander of the Mohe Camp and the garrison commander of the Mohe Military and Civilian Prefecture.

He was to be in charge of the establishment of the various guards in Mohe and to select elite soldiers to join the Mohe camp.

On his way to Jinning, he secretly observed who was suitable to be a general:
"The Mohe battalion is not easy to set up!"

"Although we fought a war last year, it was essentially a hollow shell."

"The new army, equipped with firearms, cannot use non-Han ethnic groups; we must recruit more Han Chinese from the interior." "We need to recruit more immigrants to form the Mohe Guards."

Having a good understanding of the military system after the court's reforms, Ji Ji knew that in addition to stabilizing the local area, the role of the garrisons was to provide a source of soldiers.

If he wants to train the Mohe Battalion well, the first thing he needs to do is to establish the Mohe Guards.

However, Mohe is located in the northernmost part of Jinning, where the climate is not only cold but also mostly mountainous and forested.

Finding enough immigrants is a major challenge.

Ji Jike, who was not good at recruiting soldiers, was at a loss.
-
On the same ship bound for Jinning, Feng Dazhu felt both excited and uneasy about the future.

After all, he is only seventeen years old this year. Although he has reached adulthood, he is still a young man.

He traveled from the capital to the distant Jinning, not knowing if he would ever return alive.

Sometimes he regretted refusing Wang Baihu's help, because if he had the help of this hereditary official from the capital, it would have been much easier for him to establish himself in Jinning.

However, thinking of the mountain his father had risked his life to secure, his resolve was renewed:

No matter how hard or tiring it is, we must not let others take what belongs to us.

He already considered the Iron Mountain, whose location he didn't know, as his own.

Anyone who tries to compete with him will be willing to risk their life.

Having nothing, he often cleaned his hunting rifle. If it weren't for the inconvenience on the ship, he would have liked to practice shooting there.

This made him very envious of those who knew how to use the equipment, because even on a ship, these people could exercise.

Especially Ji Jike, the number one warrior in the world, was utterly astonished by the opponent's spear technique.

If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, no one would believe that he could wield a spear as easily as an arm.

When Ji Jike practiced martial arts, he often went to watch, and even borrowed a wooden stick to practice by imitating the movements.

That day, as he was thrusting with a wooden stick, he suddenly heard a voice:
"Kid, that's not how you practice with a spear. Your thrust isn't steady enough."

With a gentle pull, Feng Dazhu stumbled and nearly fell.

Feeling angry, Feng Dazhu was about to curse when he suddenly saw that the person who had attacked him earlier was Ji Jike, the one he had been secretly learning from.

This made him swallow back the words he was about to say, and he bowed and said:

"General, I..."

I don't know what to say; my mind is completely blank.

Prior to this, apart from Wang Baihu, he had never had contact with such a high-ranking military officer.

Ji Jike had also trained new recruits and knew how to communicate with them. He patted Feng Dazhu on the shoulder and said:
"Good lad! You're in good shape, a real hero."

"It's a pity that cold weapons are no longer used in the army. You need to practice more with firearms."

His words carried a hint of melancholy, for he was a victim of the advancements in firearms. He possessed unparalleled marksmanship, yet found it difficult to demonstrate his prowess on the battlefield.

If not so few people were willing to learn from him, why would he care so much about Feng Dazhu, this kid who was secretly learning from him?

Based on his observation, this young man was quite good. Although somewhat taciturn, he possessed considerable resilience.

Such a person would certainly be a good soldier in the army, just like his father, Feng Tieshan.

Thinking of the information he had read about Feng Dazhu, Ji Jike said:

"Do you want to learn how to shoot with me?"

"You can come with me to Mohewei."

"Once you join the Mohe camp, you can practice shooting with me every day."

Feng Dazhu was very excited when he heard this, because he had never been recruited by such a high-ranking official before.

Despite his apparent lack of success, Ji Ji was a genuine fifth-rank military officer, capable of leading a guerrilla battalion on his own.

In the border regions where the commander-in-chief wields exceptional power, this person can completely determine his fate.

His heart pounded, but Feng Dazhu still spoke the truth to Ji Jike:
"General, I'm not practicing shooting like you, I'm practicing bayonet fighting."

"The Emperor said, 'A hero is one who can use a bayonet, but a fool is one who only uses bullets.' To be a hero, you must know how to use a bayonet."

He felt rather uneasy, as if he had let Ji Jike down.

Ji Ji was indeed somewhat disappointed when she heard Feng Dazhu explicitly say that he was practicing bayonet fighting.

This made him realize even more the decline of cold weapons; the spear skills he had painstakingly honed throughout his life had been rendered obsolete by the times.

The young soldiers no longer practice shooting; at most, they practice bayonet fighting.

This made him feel very uncomfortable, yet he knew it was inevitable.

The first task of the Martial Arts Research Institute is to study bayonet techniques.

Other types of cold weapons have been phased out of the military.

Looking at the young Feng Dazhu, he suppressed his thoughts and praised him:

"A true hero is one who dares to fight to the death with bayonets. No matter how well you've mastered bayonet skills, you have the courage of a hero."

"The Martial Arts Research Institute has developed a bayonet technique. I'll teach you it during this time so you can have more ways to save your life."

"When you go to the battlefield in the future, you must dare to fight to the death and not let down the hard training you have received now."

Feng Dazhu was extremely excited and immediately wanted to perform the apprenticeship ceremony.

However, considering the solemnity of their master-disciple relationship, he stopped halfway through his bow.

Ji Ji knew his concerns and said gently:
"Just call me teacher, there's no need for any formal apprenticeship ceremony."

"I'm afraid my marksmanship will not be passed down to anyone."

Upon hearing his exclamation, Feng Dazhu was momentarily overwhelmed with emotion and bowed down, saying:

"I am willing to learn marksmanship so that my descendants can pass it on in the future."

"Please accept me as your disciple, General, and pass on your spear skills."

With so many people learning Ji Jike's spear skills, how could no one possibly pass them on?
He was just casually remarking that he felt no one would practice shooting like him in the future, nor would they be able to develop his own skills.

Upon hearing that this young man, Feng Dazhu, wanted to learn how to shoot from him, he shook his head and laughed:
"You should learn bayonet fighting! Learning to use a gun is useless."

"Practicing this is tiring and thankless, far less practical than a musket."

However, after his initial enthusiasm subsided, Feng Dazhu came to a realization and said:

"I want to become a temple keeper in Tieshan; I can't rely solely on muskets."

"If one has excellent marksmanship, one can better deter thieves."

"Please teach me your spear skills, General. My Feng family will definitely pass them down."

He solemnly bowed to Ji Jike and requested to learn spear techniques.

Ji Jike now took it seriously, because if Feng Dazhu were to become a temple keeper, his marksmanship would indeed be useful.

After repeated inquiries, he decided to take Feng Dazhu as his disciple and pass on his spear techniques and martial arts skills.

We don't expect Feng Dazhu to learn it very well; it would be enough if he could leave behind a legacy.

In particular, his spear skills can be transformed into fist techniques, which are very useful in martial arts battles.

Although Feng Dazhu's position as temple keeper was appointed by the imperial court, he was still considered a member of the martial arts world. Since he knew this skill would be useful, he would naturally take it more seriously. (End of Chapter)