Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 173 Qing Army Scouts
When Sun Bin came to Annan, he originally planned to visit Liu Yongfu in person. However, he was busy settling Chinese refugees who had come to Annan and had no time to go. After staying in Annan for more than a month, he also had to consider returning to Natuna Island to arrange other things. So, before he left, he asked Ye Chenglin about Liu Yongfu's news.

"When I met with Chief Liu, I mentioned you. Chief Liu was very happy to hear about you and said he would follow me back to meet you. Later, he gave up the idea of ​​leaving the stronghold immediately after being persuaded by his subordinates. He then told me to tell you that he would meet you in person after he finished his work in the stronghold."

"I can't wait for him to come to Xialong." Sun Bin shook his head and said, "There are many things going on in Nanyang, and the affairs on the Malay Peninsula have not yet started. I will leave Annan in two days to go back and take charge of other things. I can't stay here to wait for him to arrive."

Sun Bin used to work under Liu Yongfu. Although he later left the peasant army, he still had some personal feelings for Liu Yongfu.

"It's a good thing that Mr. Sun is thinking about his friend, but Chief Liu's current situation is different from when he first fled to Annan. There are thousands of large and small forces in Gaoping who have defected to the Black Flag Army. The Black Flag Army has five or six battalions and more than a thousand young and strong soldiers. Its strength is not much different from when it was on the mainland."

"Brother Ye, did you find out something from Chief Liu?"

Sun Bin noticed that there was something else behind Ye Chenglin's words and asked.

"Mr. Sun and Chief Liu are old friends. Please don't be offended if I tell you the truth."

"It's okay, just say it."

"When I first entered Gaoping, I discovered that several sneaky people left the camp. I was cautious and sent five brothers to follow them secretly. When the five brothers followed them, they found that they were spies sent by the Qing army, specifically responsible for contacting the Black Flag Army."

"Is there any real evidence?"

"I dare not speak nonsense. The three Qing army spies have been brought back to the camp. You can ask them in person." After Ye Chenglin said this, he signaled to the soldiers who followed him back. Several soldiers quickly brought back three men with braids.

"Take off their outer clothes and let the gentleman see their true faces."

"Yes, sir." Five or six soldiers stepped forward and quickly took off the coarse cloth clothes they were wearing on the outside, revealing the Qing army's green camp uniforms underneath.

"Tell me who is the leader among you. What is the purpose of the Qing Tartars sending you out of the country?"

"Hmph! I am the commander under the command of Lord Feng, the governor of Guangxi of the Qing Dynasty. You rebels, don't think you will be safe if you flee to Annan. Lord Feng has already asked the governor and the court for permission to suppress the bandits at Zhennan Pass. When the army leaves the pass, it will be your time to be destroyed."

Among the three, a sturdy soldier with pigtails was not afraid of Sun Bin and the others. He knelt on the ground with his shoulders held down by two soldiers and still said, "Lord Feng thinks that you rebels are originally good people. You joined the bandit army out of poverty and had no choice. So Lord Feng has mercy on you and gives you a chance to atone for your sins. As long as you agree to join Lord Feng and serve the current court, your past sins will not be investigated. If you help the imperial army to suppress the Wu rebels, Lord Feng is willing to report to the court and guarantee you an official position."

The Qing army commander tried to persuade Sun Bin in front of him. Seeing that no one objected, he thought he had convinced them and continued, "Don't miss this great opportunity. Let me go. I won't care about what happened today. If you delay and cause trouble for Lord Feng, you won't be able to save your heads no matter how many!"

"You Tartar running dog, you want to scare your grandfather, but your grandfather is not afraid of you!"

Sun Bin and Ye Chenglin did not make any move, but they angered a soldier from Rio Grande do Sul, who kicked the Qing army commander to the ground and stomped on him several times, still not satisfied, saying, "Mr. Sun, don't listen to the Tartar's nonsense. I'll settle this with one sword."

"If you dare to beat up a high-ranking official of the imperial court, I will not let you go!"

The Qing army commander was kicked to the ground, but he refused to give in. "Sun Xianxian, the old thief Feng is good at commanding his troops. It will be difficult to get useful information from his officers and soldiers."

"Feng Zicai is a famous general in the Qing army and is indeed good at managing his subordinates." Sun Bin nodded, not denying Feng Zicai's talents.

"Brothers, stop it first. I still need to ask him a few questions." Stopping the National Defense Army soldiers who were beating him, Sun Bin said, "Did Feng Zicai send you out to contact Liu Yongfu? Tell the truth, otherwise the camp will have plenty of ways to make you talk."

In order to suppress the Han uprising, the Qing court formulated extremely harsh punishments. Correspondingly, in order to retaliate against the Qing army, the peasant army also used a variety of methods to punish prisoners.

Perhaps Sun Bin's threat worked, the Qing army commander directly confessed: "Liu Yongfu is cowardly and cowardly. He wants to surrender and return to his hometown, but he is unwilling to be an accomplice of the court to encircle and suppress Wu Yazhong's rebel forces. I failed to complete the task assigned by Lord Feng, and was caught by you on the way back. Now that you have finished your questions, please give me a quick death and don't be so nagging!" After the Qing army commander finished speaking, he twisted his neck upwards, looking like a loyal minister.

"Take them away first and keep them under strict supervision!"

"Yes, sir." The soldiers beat and kicked the three Qing spies and dragged them away. The high slope suddenly became quiet.

"Brother Ye, you have met Chief Liu in person. How did he perform?" After thinking for a while, Sun Bin broke the silence and asked.

"I have expressed my intention to recruit him in a tactful way, but Chief Liu deliberately changed the subject and did not give a direct answer, so I don't know what Chief Liu really thinks."

Sun Bin had been with Liu Yongfu for a year or two and had some understanding of his character. Liu Yongfu had no ambition and had been forced to follow the Tiandihui uprising. Now that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had collapsed, large groups of rebel forces in the country had been dispersed and suppressed by the Qing army. The Qing government had hundreds of thousands of troops with experience in suppressing rebellions, and the chances of overthrowing the Qing court were extremely slim. In disappointment, given Liu Yongfu's character, it was very likely that he would consider surrendering to the Qing court.

Judging that what the Qing army commander said was roughly true, Sun Bin's face immediately became solemn.

"Feng Zicai was born a surrendered general. In order to gain the trust of the Tartar court, he will certainly try to eliminate the Wu Yazhong peasant army scattered in the border areas. The Qing army's entry into Annan is of great importance, and we must prepare in advance.

Brother Ye, while I am away from Annan, you will be responsible for all matters in Halong. You must always pay attention to the activities of Wu Yazhong's troops. If there is any emergency, send someone to notify me immediately. I will leave two armed merchant ships in Halong to be used as liaison ships."

"If what the Qing spies said is true, a large number of Qing troops will soon enter Annan to fight. If you leave at this time, the troops will be in chaos."

"Feng Zicai may have really petitioned the Qing court to send troops to Annan, but the Tartar court was busy suppressing the rebellion in Shaanxi and Gansu. If Wu Yazhong did not take the initiative to return to Guangxi to cause chaos, they would not agree to send troops to Annan. Moreover, Annan was the French sphere of influence, and the Qing army would have to worry about French interference if they sent troops. Even after some wrangling and compromise, the Qing army would have to wait for a year or so before they could send troops to Annan. Now, they don't have to worry about the threat of the Qing army."

The issue of the Qing army was put aside for the time being, but Ye Chenglin was undecided about how to treat Liu Yongfu, and finally had to ask Sun Bin for advice.

"Captain Liu has already expressed his intention to be recruited. After I leave, you can continue to keep in touch with the Black Flag Army, but do not trade rifles and other weapons to them to prevent the Black Flag Army from actually joining the Qing Army."

"The staff understands"...

(End of this chapter)