The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 381 Returning Home in Glory Zhang Quanxia

Southern Fujian, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu County, Nanxi Caijia.

Cai Xin's eldest son, Cai Benchu, stared at the letter in his hand in amazement, and then said to his sixth brother, Cai Benjun:

"Has Shi Jinghai lost his mind? He actually asked me to gather the militia and go to Fuzhou to wait for orders!"

The Shi Jinghai mentioned by Cai Benchu is the fifth generation Marquis of Jinghai, Shi Qi. He is the fourth generation grandson of the indescribable and difficult to evaluate Marquis of Jinghai, Shi Lang.

As a family with great influence in southern Fujian, Emperor Qianlong sent the fifth-generation Marquis of Jinghai, Shi Xi, from Beijing to Fujian after Huang Shijian, the admiral of the Fujian Navy, was beaten to death in Qinzhou Bay.

He was appointed as the Governor of Fujian and the Admiral of Fujian, hoping to use the Shi family's influence in southern Fujian and Taiwan to stabilize the situation, just like during the Three Feudatories Rebellion.

Hearing his brother's words, Cai Benjun also frowned. Shi Qi had been in Fuzhou for almost half a year. He had been making a big fuss, pretending that he was not afraid of Mo Guangzhong, and even went south to attack Guangdong, but in fact he did not dare to come to Zhangzhou and Quanzhou.

Since he himself was so cowardly, the only people who responded to him were the descendants of those former military heroes in southern Fujian. For example, Huang Bingchun, the son of Huang Shijian, led the entire Huang family and more than a thousand recruited men to Fuzhou.

Apart from these people, no one from other powerful places in southern Fujian went there, and their wait-and-see attitude was obvious.

The Cai family is the leader among the big families in southern Fujian. Logically, even if Shi Qi wanted to win over the Cai family and let the Cai family set an example, he should at least send his sons and nephews to lobby them, not to mention coming in person.

How could someone just write a letter in the form of an official document and try to get the Cai family to Fuzhou?

Cai Benjun pondered for a moment, then suddenly took the letter sent by Shi Qi and read it carefully twice, then said with some doubt:
"This letter is too official. No matter what, we are all from the same hometown as Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. Shi Xi is of the same generation as my brother, so we should be more friendly. Is he testing us by doing this now?"

Cai Benchu's expression also grew serious. He sighed and said, "Father is still in the capital. We can't take any risks. And His Majesty Guangzhong is the same. Why hasn't he come to take Fujian yet? It's so frustrating!"

Although Cai Xin planned to die in Beijing because he was too big a target and there was no way he could escape, his son Cai Benchu and others still hoped to get Cai Xin back.

At the same time, they have only given Mo Zibu a small gift that is not even a token of their allegiance. If the Xing Tang Army had not come, the Cai family would have taken Ding Zhuang to Fuzhou, which would be equivalent to having already taken sides, and the previous gift would have been given in vain.

Just when the two brothers were in a dilemma, Cai Benchu's son Cai Xingda ran in ecstatically.

"Father, Sixth Uncle, there's news from Dunzhao Town. A large ship with a blue flag and a golden sun and moon. The Xingtang Navy has arrived!"

Huh! Cai Benchu let out a long sigh, "Great, they're finally here. Lao Liu, I'll go gather the men and take 200 people to Fuzhou.

As soon as I leave, you will use gunpowder to blow down the outer perimeter of our old house, and then take a few injured relatives to the county government office to report that our house was captured by the Xing Tang army."

Cai Benjun's eyes were a little red, and he nodded slowly.

Cai Benchu looked at his younger brother and patted him on the shoulder, "You are the most talented among us brothers. You must seize this opportunity. It is something your father risked his life to get.

In the future, if you can achieve great things in Dayu and continue the glory of our Cai family, that would be a real reward for me and my father."

This is the strength of local clans. They always have something that the rulers can use, and they also have sufficient manpower, financial resources and vision to make diversified investments.

. . . .

Yunxiao Town, which is Yunxiao County in the future, did not have the Yunxiao Fumin Hall at that time, but it was already one of the largest towns in Zhangzhou. The Qing Dynasty stationed the Zhangpu County Magistrate here to be in charge of its management.

If we were to ask where in Zhangzhou responded most actively to the Xing Tang Army, it would definitely be Yunxiao Town.

Because Wu Rang, the head of the eight vassal states of the Dayu Dynasty, was from Yunxiao Town, and the Wu surname was one of the three major surnames in Yunxiao Town.

There are more than 70,000 people in this town, and at least 10,000 of them have crossed over to Andai Province to live with Wu Rang, and they all live well.

Wu Rang stood at the bow of the fifth-class sailing cruiser Xia Wanchun, passed Xiawei Island, and entered Yunxiao Port. The blue flag with a golden sun and moon on the bow fluttered in the wind, and the officers and soldiers on the ship were dressed in bright red military uniforms, looking majestic.

On both sides of Yunxiao Harbor, countless Zhangzhou folks cheered and jumped for joy. Everywhere there were people armed with guns and knives running after the large ships. They were not coming to attack the place, but returning home in glory.

"Is it Master Wu, is it Master Wu?" shouts were heard from afar.

Wu Rang's effortless pretense of lordliness could no longer be maintained. He quickly took two steps to the front of the boat and shouted, "Grandpa Wa, Grandpa Wa, I am Jean Valjean, I am Jean Valjean!"

Before the boat reached the shore, Wu Rang impatiently asked someone to lower a small boat, and rushed forward with his son Wu Wenhui.

As soon as he got ashore, Wu Rang knelt down on the ground with a thud, and then knocked his head against the ground with a loud bang. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his grandfather, so he had a very deep relationship with his grandfather.

Wu Rang's grandfather's surname is Fang. Although he is over 60 years old, he is still strong and agile. Fang is the largest surname in Yunxiao Town, and almost all the people with the surname Fang in Zhangzhou are here.

This is the terrifying thing about the southern clans. Just like 70% to 80% of the people in Qingyuan County have the surname Chen, more than 60% of the people in Yunxiao Town have the surname Fang, and the rest are basically relatives of the Fang family.

In such a place, as long as there is strong external support, the imperial court will have little presence at all. It only takes a few Fang clan leaders and elders to raise their arms and the imperial court's rule will immediately collapse.

Grandpa Fang looked at the dragon robe on Wu Rang and was so happy that tears came to his eyes. He quickly ran a few steps and helped Wu Rang up.

"Well done! My dear grandson, you have brought honor to our family. Your father would rest in peace knowing this." Grandpa Fang sighed several times and then scolded:
"You are now an imperial noble, and you are wearing the robes bestowed upon you. How can you kneel before a commoner like me? It's disrespectful!"

But despite the blame, Grandpa Fang was still very happy. Wu Rang's uncles and cousins also gathered around him with a bit of awe, marveling at him.

"Grandpa, look, I bought a piece of land for you in the Principality of Pahang. It's not very big, just four villages, more than 30,000 acres of land, and 200 native families."

As Wu Rang spoke, he also brought out a set of blue and white country clothes and handed them to his grandfather.

Strictly speaking, this cannot be considered a gift uniform. There is a flying tiger embroidered on the chest. If it were blue, it would be a gift uniform given to brave warriors in the army. The blue and white ones in the countryside can actually be bought with money.

Just like the four villages that Wu Rang bought, when the Xing Tang Army conquered Pahang last time, Wu Rang sent two hundred samurai and more than two thousand civilians to cooperate with the Xing Tang Army in the battle, and then spent another four thousand taels of silver to obtain them.

"My grandson has named the location of these four villages New Yunling. I've already assigned five households of samurai to Grandpa. Grandpa only needs to take a few servants with him to govern. Including the fish harvest, we should be able to collect more than 3,000 dan of grain a year."

The word "samurai" was first used by the Japanese people in Hoi An who served Mo Zi Bu to refer to their vassal subordinates. Later, it was gradually accepted by the Nanyang vassal states of Dayu, and the name was finalized.

Don't underestimate these four villages. They can collect more than 3,000 stones of land tax, and the total output is about 13,000 to 14,000 stones. If they were in Japan, they would be considered a daimyo.

"Hahaha, an old man like me can also become a vassal?" Grandpa was quite excited. As for the Chinese, especially the Chinese at that time, the ultimate pursuits of most of them were two things: titles and lands to be passed down to their descendants.

And this vassal immediately solved both ultimate pursuits.

"Yes, of course not!" Wu Rang said loudly, looking at the villagers who were surrounded in three layers, "Now is a good time. Emperor Guangzhong is the emperor of our Han people.

As long as one dares to cross the border, dares to kill people with a knife, and can use a musket, he can become a vassal in Southeast Asia, and at least have two or three hundred acres of land, and capture one or two indigenous families as tenants.

You can ask around and find out who has come over here, and as long as they haven't gotten sick or died of bad luck, they all have a glorious life."

This made the surrounding villagers extremely envious. Those who originally did not dare to go abroad for fear of dying in a foreign country could not help but feel eager to try.

As they were talking, Wu Rang and his son Wu Wenhui put the blue and white Flying Tiger uniform on Grandpa Fang.

Wu Rang's cousins and several young uncles around him stared at the Flying Tiger uniform with red eyes of envy.

Since Grandpa Fang is so old, it is naturally impossible for him to go abroad, so he must choose one or two of his children and grandchildren to go.

Thousands of people surrounded Wu Rang and walked towards the town, talking and laughing. After walking a few hundred meters, they saw more than 40 people tied up outside the town gate.

The leader was wearing the uniform of an eighth-rank official of the Qing Dynasty, and his official hat had been torn and thrown on the ground. The dozens of people behind him were all wearing the uniforms of soldiers or even yamen runners.

Wu Rang walked forward, looked at the county magistrate whom he did not know, and asked his sixth uncle beside him, "Sixth uncle, what is this man's surname and where is he from?"

The Sixth Uncle couldn't hide the joy on his face. He and Wu Rang were of similar age and had always had a best relationship. It seemed that Wu Rang had decided to let him go abroad to be a master.

"My surname is Shi, and my ancestors are from the same clan as Shi Jinghai."

"Then there's nothing we can do!" Wu Rang smiled viciously, drew out his sword and handed it to his sixth uncle.

"The Emperor has ordered that the descendants of traitors like Shi Lang and Huang Wu be strictly investigated and punished. Those who, like their ancestors, have served the Tartars will be severely punished.

I'm in a good mood today, so I won't judge you, I'll just kill them to cheer you up."

The sixth uncle took the knife, took a deep breath, grabbed County Magistrate Shi by the collar, and was about to stab him in the chest.

County Magistrate Shi, with a bruised face and nose, burst into tears of fear, his fat body twisting constantly, and Sixth Uncle could hardly control himself for a moment.

Seeing this, Wu Rang waved his hand, and a Han Chinese warrior from Luzon who had come from Manila to seek refuge stepped forward and punched County Magistrate Shi in the chest.

County Magistrate Shi's eyes went dark, and he vomited a mouthful of blood along with gastric juice. He suddenly became weak and no longer had the strength to struggle.

"Sixth uncle, don't stab him in the heart!" Wu Rang made a downward chopping gesture, "Chop his neck, chop his head off directly."

Being a master here seems good, but you still have to have some skills yourself. If you are not ruthless and can't kill, you will not be able to control the native tenants below, and it will be difficult to make the samurai who follow you convinced. In a place like that, who doesn't want to follow a big boss who can fight and kill?

"Okay!" Sixth uncle had never killed anyone, but he couldn't retreat at this moment. He roared, pulled up the still vomiting Shi County Magistrate and made him kneel straight, then chopped him down with a knife.

County Magistrate Shi let out an earth-shattering scream, and then began to twitch stiffly. His sixth uncle also screamed, and blood splattered up, spraying him.

At the same time, the waist knife was stuck in Shi County Magistrate's thick and fat neck and could not be taken out, and his hands were numb from the shock.

But this instead aroused the ferocity of Sixth Uncle. He yelled again, kicked County Magistrate Shi's waist and ribs with his feet, and pulled out his sword with a roar.

Then he found an axe for chopping wood, and with three blows, he completely severed the neck of Shi Xiancheng, who was not yet completely dead but was already oozing feces and urine.

Blood and minced meat were flying everywhere. My sixth uncle, who was already tall and strong, now looked like a Tai Sui with blood all over his face.

Wu Rang nodded with satisfaction, and Grandpa Fang also laughed out loud.

"Okay, my son, you're a good guy. Go abroad and live a good life. Just send some extra money home to your brothers every year."

My sixth uncle was overjoyed. He knelt down and kowtowed three times to Grandpa Fang, his father, and said, "Thank you very much for the reward, Dad."

Wu Rang then stepped forward and said to his sixth uncle, "Uncle, pick three of these yamen runners to go with you. The rest will have to do hard labor!"

When the yamen runners and Green Camp soldiers heard this, they came to hug the sixth uncle's thighs with tears in their eyes. No matter who he chose, this favor was given to him generously.

After his sixth uncle had mobilized all the people, Wu Rang said to his grandfather, "Every household should send out some men to lead the imperial army to recapture the various places."

At the same time, in Zhangzhou City, Cai Qian, an orphan from Tong'an, Quanzhou, was cleaning fish and shrimp for a ship owner in exchange for a meal.

At the age of fifteen, he was already taller than the average adult, but long-term malnutrition made him look very thin, like a bamboo pole.

Just as Cai Qian was listlessly cleaning up the small fish and shrimps, the sound of clanging gongs rang out, and a small leader of the Xiaodao Society ran along the Jiulong River outside the city.

He ran while shouting, "The Emperor Guangzhong's heavenly soldiers are coming, the Emperor Guangzhong's heavenly soldiers are coming, come with me if you have any balls, let's go kill the prefect and get the first merit!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Qian threw away the small fish and shrimp in his hand, snatched the boat owner's sharp knife for killing fish, and followed the leader of the Small Knife Society into the city.

In the city, the people of the Huang family in Zhangzhou had already fled, and the prefect from outside the city was hiding everywhere like a rat. Most of the yamen runners in the city were from the Small Knife Society. They took off their official uniforms and stood shirtless to show the way for the Small Knife Society members who launched the uprising.

Cai Qian ran the fastest. He quickly rushed into the prefectural yamen and stabbed to death the corrupt official who was hiding there, the magistrate of Longxi, who was in charge of the Fukuo County. The Xingtang Army led by Chen Lian had just arrived outside the city of Zhangzhou.

At the same time, outside Quanzhou City, Wu Rang led more than 70 warships, led by the Xia Wanchun, to surround Quanzhou and bombard it. Members of the Small Knife Society in the city also continued to occupy the streets and alleys to attack the Qing army in the city.

An hour later, hundreds of more than a thousand Green Camp soldiers from the Xiamen Town navy stationed in the city were killed, and the rest surrendered. Jin Biao, the general of the Xiamen Town, was killed.

Afterwards, under the command of Chen Xu and Yin Chengfang's contacts with various parties, the Xiaodao Society assisted the Xingtang Army to attack various prefectures and counties. In less than a month, the entire Fujian Province, except for Fuzhou and Funing prefectures close to Zhejiang, was recovered.

Afterwards, Yin Chengfang, escorted by hundreds of Xingtang troops, went to Ningdu, Jiangxi, preparing to launch a more violent large-scale Hakka uprising in southern Jiangxi and western Fujian.

(End of this chapter)