Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 208 Hong Chunkui End

ps: Thanks to Xiaobaicaidunmogu for the tip and support!
"There are millions of Chinese living in the Nanyang region, including Annam, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and the East Indies, while the Chinese population in Rio Grande do not exceed 300,000. Compared with the Chinese in the Nanyang region, the Chinese population in Rio Grande do not exceed 300,000."

Li Mingyuan glanced across the huge map on the wall and muttered.

After meeting a man in plain clothes who looked like an old friend of the Taiping Army outside the Hall of Heroes, Li Mingyuan returned to the National Defense Forces headquarters and kept thinking about a question: The Taiping Rebellion swept across most of China. After the uprising was suppressed, why did the surviving Taiping Army generals remain unknown and did not play a key role in the uprisings in the late Qing Dynasty?

According to the intelligence Sun Bin sent back from Southeast Asia, most of the remnants of the Taiping Army who fled to Annan, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and other places chose to hide their identities and sell themselves as laborers to make a living. A small number of remnants of the Taiping Army who were unwilling to be driven by foreigners did not choose to restore their identity as the Taiping Army, but instead joined various local Hongmen organizations and gathered Chinese forces to protect themselves as Hongmen disciples.

“I only know the Hongmen, but not the Heavenly Kingdom.” Less than five years after the demise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, in Southeast Asia and the mainland, the anti-Qing forces originally led by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had been replaced by the Hongmen organizations.

Whenever a dynasty collapsed or a large-scale peasant uprising was suppressed, the remnants of the movement would often continue to exist for more than ten years, and the influence of the uprising would not dissipate in just a few years. However, the phenomenon that emerged after the demise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is difficult to understand.

"Could it be that the corruption and infighting among the top leaders led to the collapse of faith among the middle and lower level soldiers, so the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was abandoned by the surviving Taiping Army?"

Li Mingyuan thought of a possibility in his mind.

"Tramp, tramp, tramp", the sound of military boots stepping on the ground interrupted Li Mingyuan's thoughts. He turned around and saw eight or nine soldiers escorting three Chinese to the door of the room.

"Your Highness, the person you requested is here."

The leading officer saluted and pushed the plain-clothed man who was tied up with ropes into the room.

"Untie their ropes." Li Mingyuan didn't expect that his men would tie up the plain-clothed man as a criminal. He said helplessly.

"Yes." The leading officer did not hesitate and subconsciously carried out Li Mingyuan's order.

"My soldiers are ignorant and have offended you. Please forgive me."

Li Mingyuan put aside his previous doubts for the time being and said politely.

"I dare not." Hong He said calmly, "I am just an ordinary commoner. I don't know why Your Highness summoned me here."

"Do you still want to hide your identity? There are many old brothers from the Taiping Army in the National Defense Army. A few Taiping Army brothers will come to meet you later. Will you still not admit it by then?"

"Your Highness has a great vision. No wonder he was able to lead a group of remnants of the army to build a large foundation after the fall of the Heavenly Kingdom."

The commoner exclaimed, and then said: I followed the Heavenly King to start the rebellion when I was fourteen years old, and I have fought in no less than a hundred battles of all sizes. After the fall of the Heavenly Kingdom, I originally wanted to hide overseas and spend the rest of my life there, but I didn't expect to hear the news that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was in Rio Grande do Sul in America. Out of curiosity, I sold my property in America and raised enough money for the voyage to Rio Grande do Sul. During the few days I stayed in Rio Grande do Sul, I originally just wanted to see how the surviving Taiping brothers were doing, but I didn't expect to be discovered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"At the age of fourteen, he followed Hong Xiuquan in the uprising and used the pseudonym Hong." Li Mingyuan vaguely guessed his true identity from the commoner's mouth.

"You should be His Royal Highness Hong Chunkui, the Prince of Ying, the Left General of the Heavenly Kingdom?" "Haha, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince still remembers me?"

"I don't remember clearly, I just remember meeting His Highness Hong a few times when I was a child with my father."

Li Mingyuan shook his head and continued, "Your Highness Hong is a famous general in the Heavenly Kingdom. Now that the Chinese brothers are building a foundation in Rio Grande do Sul, they are in urgent need of all kinds of talents. Your Highness Hong might as well stay and help me manage the troops. What do you think?"

"It's rare that His Royal Highness has taken a liking to us, but aren't you afraid that the descendants of the Hong family will seize power and swallow up Rio Grande do Sul?"

"Your Highness Hong underestimated Li Mingyuan's tolerance." Li Mingyuan said indifferently, "Your Highness Hong has been observing Rio Grande dome for a few days. May I ask Your Highness Hong, what is the weather like in Rio Grande dome dome?"

"The country is stable and the people are in high spirits."

"Are the soldiers of the National Defense Force elite? Are they loyal and brave?"

"The National Defense Force is disciplined and majestic. Your Highness has a high status in the National Defense Force and is deeply loved by officers and soldiers. No one in Rio Grande domineering can replace your Highness in the army."

Hong Chunkui admitted objectively.

"Haha, Your Highness Hong, you are too kind." Li Mingyuan chuckled and said confidently, "The National Defense Army may not be as powerful as the main forces of the great powers, but in terms of soldiers' loyalty, I believe that the troops I have personally organized will definitely obey my command. As for the descendants of the Heavenly King wanting to seize power, even if I agree to abdicate and let others take over, do you think the National Defense Army soldiers will agree?"

Li Mingyuan looked straight at Hong Chunkui and said seriously, "Your Highness Hong, I sincerely invite you to join the National Defense Army. All the grievances in the past can be abandoned. However, if you agree to join the National Defense Army, you must abide by the discipline of the National Defense Army. During the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period, those who used the army as their own private armed forces were banned at one stroke. In addition, the National Defense Army emphasizes receiving positions according to merit. After Your Highness Hong agrees to join the army, I will first arrange for you to serve in the General Staff and be responsible for managing the training of the troops. After you have made achievements in the General Staff, I will arrange for you to lead the army in the field.

This is roughly your arrangement. I hope you will think about it carefully before giving me your reply. "

"Your Highness doesn't despise a half-old disabled soldier like me, and treats me sincerely. How can I not appreciate it?"

Li Mingyuan did not shy away from Hong Chunkui's identity and directly expressed his views to him. Hong Chunkui was very moved by Li Mingyuan's straightforward and generous attitude. He did not hesitate and said decisively: "Hong Chunkui is just a distant nephew of the Heavenly King. Even the Heavenly King's legitimate descendants cannot shake His Highness's rule over Rio Grande do Sul. With Your Highness's trust, I, Hong Chunkui, am willing to join the National Defense Force and obey Your Highness's command."

"It's a good thing that His Highness Hong is willing to join the National Defense Forces, but after joining the National Defense Forces, His Highness Hong will have to give up everything he originally had in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Can His Highness Hong do it?"

“It has been nearly five years since the destruction of the Kingdom of Heaven. If I had not met His Royal Highness, I would have ended up living in America. As for my previous title in the Kingdom of Heaven, now that even the Kingdom of Heaven is gone, it would be a joke to keep the empty official hat.

Your Highness, since I have joined the National Defense Force, everything will naturally follow the rules of the National Defense Force. Your Highness does not need to worry about other issues. "

"Your Highness Hong is not concerned with fame and status, which makes me ashamed."

Li Mingyuan smiled awkwardly. It was indeed difficult to say that he had just recruited someone to work for him and then asked the other party to give up all his status in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. However, considering that more and more remnants of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom would defect to Rio Grande do Sul in the future, Li Mingyuan had to step forward to formulate rules. Otherwise, it would be even more troublesome to arrange for a large group of princes and marquises in the future.

(End of this chapter)