The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 881: Cowboys who have lost their way and returned to the right path

The pioneer group's journey ahead was not smooth. They needed to cross the central plains with a dense river network and head east to reach the east coast where Europeans were stationed.

Although King George had reached some kind of agreement with Qi, in North America, in this barbaric land, the governor did not obey all the orders of the king or parliament.

Jiang Bailing said worriedly, "Our situation isn't very good. Our former allies may have become enemies. At least that's the case in North America."

Jiang Bailing grew up in a colony. The extreme eccentric education in the Taizu era had very limited influence on him. Although he lived in the 18th century, he was an open-minded person.

Although the European colonists had shown strong hostility, the commander decided to use these Europeans as guides.

This journey is inseparable from the cowboys' precise navigation.

Cowboys are the eyes of this continent. Without them, the pioneers might easily intrude into Indian territory along the way, or end up stuck in a swamp and fed by giant alligators.

The crocodiles here are quite large and are said to be able to hunt tigers and leopards.

The pioneers need cowboys like Satan needs Judas.

What if we refuse to cooperate with the people of Qi?
The end will be the same as those Indians.

Dong Shaowei urged the cowboys to make a quick decision.

"The commander-in-chief will forgive the past. No matter who you served in the past, as long as you can abandon the dark forces and join the pioneer group, we will give you everything you want."

The young officers particularly emphasized that the pioneer group represented the will of Da Qi.

There is no need to doubt the will of Da Qi.

This country once defeated Luosha within three months, captured the arrogant Peter the Great and brought him back to Tianxin City, and performed the swan dance in front of the empress.

The country can change its course several times in just a few decades, seamlessly moving between different ideologies.

To use the words of the later Celestial Empire, this country accomplished in just a few decades what other countries had failed to accomplish in hundreds of years.

In short, Da Qi is either winning or on the way to winning.

After some discussion, the cowboys realized that there was no better choice than to cooperate with the Qi people.

But doing so might go against the professional ethics of cowboys.

Isn’t the professional ethics of a cowboy to help the weak and fight against the strong, and to keep his promise?

The interpreter said impatiently, "This land originally belonged to the Great Qi. The British took advantage of our civil unrest to occupy it. Now it's time to return things to their original state."

"Join the pioneer group and you'll be given three gold bars every month. You'll have no worries about food and clothing. After arriving on the East Coast, you can choose to continue serving the pioneer group or leave this land."

The interpreter obviously did not make it clear whether leaving this land meant leaving the colony or leaving this world.

But what is certain is that if the cowboys do not agree, the people of Qi can immediately send them away from this world.

In short, on this land, all rights of interpretation belong to the pioneer group.

Fortunately, gold bars are attractive enough.

"I am willing."

Finally, a cowboy raised his hand tremblingly, expressing his willingness to join the pioneer group and serve as a guide.

Dong Shaowei nodded with satisfaction: "Very good, what's your name?"

"Woodrow Lincoln."

"Dear Mr. Dong," Lincoln stammered, "could you please pay me part of my salary in advance? I still owe Miss Mary the accommodation fee..."

Although they don't speak the same language and there are huge cultural differences, Dong Shaowei still understands the things between men and women.

"of course can."

The young officer turned around, took a gold bar from the quartermaster, and handed it to the disheveled cowboy.

The power of example is great. With Lincoln taking the lead, other cowboys followed suit and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the people of Qi.

Finally, everyone's eyes turned to the silent bounty hunter.

"Marston?"

The bounty hunter was silent for a while, and finally lowered his head, surrendering to reality. He half-knelt on the
"Dear Boss of Tianxin City, I am willing to go with you."

Jiang Bailing stepped forward and took the bounty hunter's left hand, kissed the back of his hand gently, and said in a hoarse voice:
"In the name of the Father, God bless you and your cowboy, and those two poor cows, Amen." ~~~~~~~
Thus began the long journey.

In early October of the eleventh year of Tianshou, the pioneering group headed south along the west coast in search of supplies.

According to Marston and several other cowboys, if you continue south, you can find a settlement on San Diego Bay.

The bounty hunter said cautiously:
"There is a group of Spaniards living there. They are very hostile to you. I believe the commander-in-chief should know the reason."

Jiang Bailing certainly knew the reason.

More than a hundred years ago, the Spanish were the first Europeans to explore the west coast, arriving more than half a century earlier than Jiang Liuer and his friends.

That year (1542), Portuguese captain Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led a Spanish maritime expedition that entered Santiago Bay on September 1542, 9, and headed north to at least São Miguel Island.

Over the next half century, the Spanish established several missions, forts, and villages along the west coast.

Until Jiang Liuer and his expedition team landed on the west coast and announced that this was the homeland of Da Qi.

As soon as the Qi colonists jumped off the sampan, they announced to the world that they were going to "recover" this land.

The reason Jiang Liuer gave was that the local indigenous Indians (also known as Yin people) were highly similar to the people of Qi in terms of appearance, skin color, and language habits.

In other words, the people of Qi are descendants of Indians, and both legally and emotionally, this land should belong to Qi.

During the reign of Liu Zhaosun, the people of Qi generally believed that the truth was within the range of cannons. Fortunately, the cannons of the Qi army at that time could shoot far enough.

Under the fierce offensive of the Qi expeditionary force, the Spanish colonists who had occupied the west coast for many years suffered a series of defeats and were forced to abandon the land they had managed for many years and flee to the Mississippi River basin further east.

The bounty hunter briefly recounted this colonial history and added:

"Later, you withdrew, and the Spaniards returned. The new generation of colonists did not forget their hatred. They called you Khitans. In North America, Khitan scalps are as valuable as those of Indians..."

Jiang Bailing was still lost in thought when the energetic Dong Shaowei shouted in anger, "How can this be? You've taken over my place and you're so arrogant!"

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers around gnashed their teeth and shouted for revenge, demanding to take action against the Spaniards who were so close.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and the cowboys on horseback didn't dare to speak.

It is conceivable that once the fighting starts, the cowboys will run away at the first opportunity.

At this time, the scouts discovered a settlement ahead.

There are more than a dozen small wooden houses connected together. Women's laughter can be faintly heard from the houses, and there are a few cows on the farm grass.

"Is it Spain?"

Marston turned his head and said nothing. When he asked others, a cowboy whispered back:
"He's new from the mainland. I've never seen him before."

Dong Shaowei said murderously:

"Never seen it? Do you dare to swear to God?"

The cowboy was silent.

Dong Shaowei gave a wink, and the musketeers in the back rows began to load ammunition.

It was as if the crimes committed by the first generation of pioneers on the West Coast could be completely forgotten, or even not worth mentioning.

The only thing that needs to be remembered is the provocation of Qi by European colonists.

This cannot be blamed on the pioneer group. When Taizu was seriously ill, the Qi forces retreated from North America, and tens of thousands of family members who did not have time to escape were slaughtered.

It is said that during that period, every household in Tianxin City wore mourning clothes at their doorsteps...
But the mission of the pioneer group is to take over the territory on the east coast, so why should they get entangled in the west coast?
Jiang Bailing saw that the situation was not right and wanted to step forward to stop it, but it was too late.

Dong Shaowei's eyes reddened as he shouted, "How far is it?"

The scout sensed a strong murderous aura and said with lingering fear, "Less than two miles."

The cowboys hummed cattle-driving songs, not because they cared about life and death, but because they did not want to be involved in the killing of their companions.

Dong Shaowei drew out his pistol, rubbed the dagger back and forth on the gong belt, and said with red eyes:
"My grandfather died at the hands of those sons of bitches. I heard he wasn't even left alive. Grandpa, I'm going to avenge you today!"

He became more and more emotional as he spoke, raised his pistol and pointed it at the blue sky.

"Everyone, dismount and walk. Once you get close, kill without mercy! Kill all the red-haired barbarians above the wheels!"

(End of this chapter)