The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 522 A real man should travel thousands of miles
Jinjibao.

When the emperor's edict reached here, Jinjibao was finally captured by the army that came to suppress the rebellion.

The battle lasted for two months, until the gunpowder stored in Jinjibao was used up and the cannons on the fortress could no longer bombard the rebel army. Only then was the fortress, which had been operated by the rebel army for more than a hundred years, finally captured.

In order to capture Jinjibao, the army suffered heavy casualties, with more than 500 people killed in battle. Even the core team brought by Li Xianwen, the Jingying Fenwu Army, had more than 100 killed and nearly 1,000 injured.

The reason for such high casualties was that the road leading to Jinjibao at the foot of the mountain was dug up and even artificially dug into a very steep slope.

This made it impossible for the army to transport the 36-pound cannon weighing more than 6,000 kilograms, not only because it was heavy, but also because there was a cannon aimed at it.

You are dragging a cannon weighing thousands of pounds up a steep hillside, and someone can kill a large number of your men with just one shot.

So in the end, Li Xianwen had no choice but to use trenches to advance like he did when attacking a bastion, and transported lighter mortars through the trenches to the base of the city wall and fired indirect fire, finally breaking through a section of the city wall.

As for the extremely dangerous job of digging trenches, there happened to be more than 100,000 captured rioters with nowhere to use them, so it was just right to use the supervision team to force them to dig trenches.

A burst of cheers mixed with screams suddenly rang out. Li Xianwen looked up and saw more than a dozen men in brocade clothes being escorted out by soldiers.

The oldest one saw Li Xianwen and opened his mouth to beg for mercy, but Li Xianwen waved his hand in disgust, turned around and walked down the hillside.

The soldiers were overjoyed and quickly stripped off the men's brocade clothes and even knocked out their gold teeth with hammers.

After looting all the valuables from their bodies, they chopped off the necks of the rebel leaders directly at the gate of Jinjibao.

And even louder screams just came from Jinjibao.

Li Xianwen did not order the soldiers to observe military discipline or anything like that. Giving such an order at this time would have caused resentment from the soldiers.

If we have to blame someone, we can only blame the fierce resistance of the rebels, which caused such heavy casualties in the army that was suppressing the rebellion. The two sides have become mortal enemies and there is no room for tolerance for each other.

"Sir, the large ship from Lanzhou capsized in the Yellow River. Over 4,000 dan of grain was lost. The more than 30 laborers who were transporting the grain were unable to even retrieve the bodies."

Upon hearing the report from the shogunate's logistics officer, Li Xianwen sighed and said, "Give them generous compensation, and also urge the Shaanxi side to respond."

Even if we have to requisition all the old oxen that plow the fields, we must deliver 10,000 dan of grain within half a month. This is for the army’s emergency needs, and we absolutely cannot afford to lose any of it.”

While Li Xianwen was speaking, he was also feeling fortunate that Jinjibao was taken.

These chaotic troops in the trenches actually burned all the surplus food, resulting in him being unable to collect any food at all and having to transport it from Lanzhou.

Lanzhou had just suffered from the war, and food was deducted from the rations of local people. Moreover, the Yellow River section from Lanzhou to Lingzhou was not easy to travel, with various canyons and rapids. If you were not careful, the boat would be destroyed and people would die.

"Master, the grain in Shaanxi is still not enough to save the emergency. It would be better to ask the Mongols outside the Helan Mountains to drive the sheep here. If we can get 50,000 sheep, it can save at least 30,000 dan of grain."

Hearing what his subordinates said, Li Xianwen nodded. Mutton is more filling than rice, and adding some wild vegetables can feed more people. Moreover, 50,000 sheep is much more convenient than transporting 30,000 shi of grain from Guanzhong.

"Okay, then hurry down and make arrangements. If there aren't enough sheep, horses will do. We absolutely cannot have a food shortage."

After saying that, Li Xianwen went downstairs to arrange other things, but Deng Chenchang, who had been beside Li Xianwen, did not follow him. Instead, he waved to a group of young officers behind him.

"It will take seven days to transport 50,000 sheep from Alxa and Ordos. What's the use of that? If we want to save food, we have to rely on this." While speaking, Deng Chenchang patted the long knife at his waist.

This guy was originally the first person from Bac Ha to defect to Mo Zi Bu. After Mo Zi Bu took control of Thang Long (Hanoi), he was indeed given an important position.

Of course, Deng Chenchang also made great contributions to Mo Zibu's efforts to deal with the disobedient Jinghan nobles in Beihe.

But although this man has good abilities and the nature of a cruel official, he has two very big problems: he likes money and women.

Well, actually, all men except Ling like these two things, but Deng Chenchang likes them too much and has no self-control.

A few years ago, Mo Zibu fought back to Nanjing and appointed Deng Chenchang as the governor of Guangnan and the admiral of Guangnan’s military affairs. At that time, Guangnan and Rinnan were still one province, and this position was actually the governor-general of the two Nans, which was a high and powerful position.

Deng Chen was good at his job, but when the wealthy merchants of the Thirteen Hongs were building the Guangnan coal and iron base, he accepted bribes in the form of both money and beauties, and even took the initiative to ask for bribes in the end.

Except for Fuxing Company, which he did not dare to target, no other company could escape the clutches of Mr. Deng.

Then, not surprisingly, he was reported.

Back when Deng Chenchang helped Mo Zibu deal with the high-ranking families in Beihe and Jinghan, the hatred they made was not small. People who reported him were all over Beihe, and the evidence was solid, so even Mo Zibu couldn't protect him.

According to the law, he should have been beheaded, but Mo Zibu thought about his merits, especially since one of the main reasons for Deng Chenchang's downfall this time was that he killed the entire family of Li Guidun, an independent theorist from Jing, for Mo Zibu.

In Guangnan, some people were secretly unhappy, but they didn't dare show it to Mo Zibu, so they took their anger out on Deng Chenchang.

Therefore, Mo Zibu issued an imperial decree, pardoning him and sparing his life, but only exiling him to Nanji Island. Then, last year, he secretly pardoned him again and allowed him to return to the mainland.

However, although his life was saved, Deng Chenchang could no longer enter the officialdom. So when he heard that Li Xianwen had obtained the power to establish a government, he followed the path of the emperor's sister, Princess Mo Hui of Yue, and came to serve Li Xianwen.

"But there are more than 100,000 prisoners. Isn't this a bit too cruel?" A burly officer asked hesitantly.

These young officers basically graduated from military academies like the Whampoa Military Academy. Although they learned killing skills, some of them still had a bit of the silly and cute temperament of college students.

Deng Chenchang grinned after hearing this. "Stupid! They burned all the food themselves, and they still want us to be responsible? When they burned the food, they should have thought this day would come. This is what they call "you reap what you sow."

Besides, why do we need to kill so many people? We can just pick out 30,000 to 50,000 of the most disobedient ones and clean them up." Hearing Deng Chenchang say this, most of the young officers nodded, some agreeing with Deng Chenchang's words.

But there were also those who disagreed. Liu Rongqing from Taizhou, Jiangsu, flatly refused, saying, "Sir Deng, I spent three years at the Guazhou Army Officer School, learning skills to fight for our country and expand the living space for the Chinese people. They were not meant to be used in executing prisoners. Please forgive me for not obeying you."

Deng Chenchang sneered, "Well said, but I want to tell you that the fastest way to expand your living space is to use the sword in your hand to free up this space.

If we develop slowly, it will take decades to see results. Why would we choose the long way over the short way, or the slow way over the fast way?

After listening to this, Liu Rongqing still showed a resolute look on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Sir, we have different ideals and cannot work together. I will take my leave!"

After saying that, Liu Rongqing left without looking back, taking some young officers who agreed with him.

Li Xianwen actually did not go far. He watched all this with a smile from a distance. Ruan Youzheng, the commander of the Fenwu Army, also smiled and said to Li Xianwen:

"Master, the Liu family of Taizhou is a family of martial arts. Brothers Liu Rongqing and Liu Guoqing are skilled in archery and horsemanship, and are unstoppable. Even Hailancha praised the two brothers as being like flying generals on horseback."

In history, the Liu brothers were indeed a rare breed. This term is not a derogatory term used in later generations, but a compliment that should be given at this time.

Brothers Liu Rongqing and Liu Guoqing actually learned martial arts in a place like Taizhou in Jiangnan, and their riding and archery skills were very strong.

In history, Liu Tongqing won the title of martial arts champion in the 1784th year of Qianlong's reign (1789), and his younger brother Liu Guoqing also won the title of martial arts champion in the th year of Qianlong's reign ().

The two brothers also served in Yili in the Western Regions at the same time. The younger brother Liu Guoqing was the hero who suppressed the rebellion of Zhang Geer. They can be said to be two pillars of the same family.

After praising Liu Rongqing, Ruan Youzheng changed the subject, "But Liu Rongqing is so straightforward, I'm afraid it will be hard for him to get along in the army. After all, soldiers are supposed to kill with swords, and they can't be soft-hearted."

Li Xianwen smiled faintly, "In this world, there are all kinds of people, and it is normal to have all kinds of people.

We need people like Deng Chenchang and Liu Rongqing. If everyone in the country were made from the same mold, that wouldn't be a good thing."

After saying this, Li Xianwen patted Ruan Youzheng on the shoulder and said, "Transfer the Fenwu Army and the Guyong Army to Lingzhou. Deng and Chen Chang will take care of these matters."

After Ruan Youzheng left, Li Xianwen called his trusted officers over and said, "Transfer Liu Rongqing and his men to my side to prevent them from clashing with others.

Go tell Deng Chenchang that this duke will submit a memorial to His Majesty tomorrow, recommending him as the governor of Lingwu Road."

The title of Zhizhishi was originally an official position in the Tang and Song dynasties, and did not exist in Dayu. However, in order to facilitate local stability, Li Xianwen created this official position and used it as a small governor.

The Lingwu Daozhishi was in charge of three prefectures and one state, namely Ningxia, Pingliang, Qingyang and Jingzhou, all of which were places where the unrest was very serious. Li Xianwen's intention was obvious when he placed cruel and ruthless people like Deng Chenchang here.

As for people like Liu Rongqing, they naturally have to be transferred to his side to protect him and train him well.

What else can he do? If he keeps Deng Chenchang by his side, how can Li Xianwen sleep at night?

While Li Xianwen was making final preparations for Zheng Xin's arrival, brothers Mao Xiangsheng and Mao Xiangxin, who had followed him from Sichuan to Gansu, were also saying their final goodbyes.

At this time, not only had Mao Xiangsheng grown much stronger and already had the temperament of an officer, but the tall and thin Mao Xiangxin, who had originally been unable to even grab a meal in the army, had also become very tall and strong.

Although Mao Xiangxin doesn't know any martial arts, he is dexterous and very good at using muskets. He is a very famous talented sharpshooter in the Changde Town Army.

"Xin'er, have you made up your mind? Do you really want to go to the Western Regions to try your luck?" In front of the two brothers were half a roasted lamb, two roasted chickens, and a jar of good wine.

Although the supply in the army was a little tight, they, brave officers who had made great contributions, naturally had no shortage of food.

The two of them munched on the delicacies that they had never dared to imagine in their hometown. Mao Xiangxin took the time to take a big gulp of liquor, wiped the liquor off his beard, and nodded heavily.

"Go, Brother Sheng, I finally see clearly that this is an era where wolves travel a thousand miles to eat meat, and dogs travel a thousand miles to eat shit.

No wonder my fellow villagers often say that once you leave Hunan, the world is wide open. It is true. If you don’t leave Hunan, you and I will never be able to eat such food in our dreams.

Brother Sheng, I don’t want to farm anymore. I don’t want my descendants to farm in the future. Farming is not as good as being an official.

Your Majesty allowed warriors outside the Huiliang Army to join the Thirty-Six Clans of Huiliang. It happened that I had been an instructor in the Huiliang Army for a period of time, and there was a group of forty or so believers surnamed Ma who wanted to find a way out.

They said that if I was willing to marry three women from their family and invite them to the selection process, they would take my surname Mao and head west with their group.

The Thirty-Six Huiliang Surnames is just a general term. It is no problem to add a few more. Mo Zibu would not be stupid enough to really select all of them from the Huiliang army that surrendered first. If there is someone like Mao Xiangxin in the army who is willing to go, Emperor Mo would be more than happy to have him.

"Okay, as long as you've thought it over. But don't go alone. I'll ask around for you. If there are any Hunanese people who are willing to go to the Western Regions, ask them to come with you."

Mao Xiangsheng still felt that something was missing. He gritted his teeth and said, "We followed Major General Chen into Sichuan and then into Shaanxi and Gansu. I'll go and ask him to find a way to get you another batch of weapons."

"Hahaha, that's great!" Mao Xiangxin laughed loudly. After laughing, he raised his wine bowl with some sadness.

"Brother Sheng, after drinking this bowl of wine, we brothers may be separated. If you hear of a powerful family named Mao in the river in the future, you will know it is me."

Mao Xiangsheng was also very sad. The two brothers who had been through life and death together were about to separate.

"Brother Sheng, if you return to our hometown in Xiangyin, please tell our ancestors that our descendants will surely be successful. When the time comes, don't forget to go to the river and enjoy the pig's head meat I offer them as tribute."

When they finished drinking, Mao Xiangxin said very solemnly, with a faint glow on his face.

(End of this chapter)