Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Chapter 366 One-Man Rule! The North-South Alliance of the Martial World
The Tongbei Sect's branch in Jinling is the strongest.

Yuanzhang not only enjoyed great prestige within the Tongbei Sect, but was also adept at management.

In Nanjing, through his efforts, Tongbeimen's shipping business flourished.

Tongbeimen (通背门) business existed from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River all the way to Songjiang Prefecture.

in addition,

There were also strongholds of Tongbeimen in southern Sichuan, Wuchang Prefecture, Jiujiang Prefecture, and other places.

Due to the rebellion and chaos during this period in the Great Qian Dynasty, many supplies needed to be transported by ship.

Yuanzhang encouraged Tongbeimen's business to expand northward.

The canal gangs and Tongbeimen had many business dealings, and recently the trade volume in the south has surged.

Therefore,
Tongbeimen's business also established branches in South China, undertaking a considerable amount of shipping business.

In fact, many of Ximentang's businesses spanned the north and south of China, including many goods produced in Shandong, which were transported to the south by boat through Tongbeimen.

of course,

The development of Tongbeimen (a type of doorway) is naturally subject to many constraints.

The money they earned had to be handed over to major gangs such as the Green Gang, Taiping Gang, and Gelaohui.

The Tongbei Sect has a total of 383 disciples, and Yuanzhang is the sect leader.

Although Ma Tongming came here seeking refuge, he was appointed as the hall master by Yuanzhang because he brought many disciples from the Tongbei Sect in the capital.

Tongbeimen has a total of five halls.

Under Yuanzhang's management, the team was very united and there was no infighting.

The other four branches each have their own areas of responsibility, and there is no overlap in their business. Almost each branch can operate independently.

All the core members are fellow apprentices and share a common goal.

A train runs fast because of its locomotive!
Yuan Zhang's martial arts skills were only at the early stage of the Marrow Transformation and Energy Conversion stage, which was not considered anything special in the martial arts world.

However, his remarkable success in developing Tongbeimen was no fluke.

The shipping business was originally very profitable.

but,

Because they have to pay protection fees to various powerful forces, it's difficult to get rich; they can only ensure that all the disciples of Tongbei Sect have enough to eat and wear.

With the rebellion in eastern Zhejiang, the world became increasingly difficult.

If the supplies being transported on the ship are stolen, the ship will have to pay a lot of money in compensation.

In the past two weeks, the shipping business at Tongbeimen has decreased by 80%.

Before the rebellion, the martial arts world still valued morality and followed the rules.

No gang would act recklessly, lest they be attacked by other martial arts forces.

but,

Since the rebellions broke out in various parts of the Great Qian Dynasty, banditry has been rampant, with burning, killing, and looting everywhere, giving rise to many new forces that commit all kinds of evil.

These bandits were not honest, ordinary people, but rather itinerant bandits, and even some deserters.

They were armed, skilled in combat, and had considerable martial arts abilities.

In order to expand their own power, they don't care about any of the rules of the underworld.

Rob us if you can, kill us if we resist!

In the past, even if bandits blocked the road, the most they would do was give them some money.

But now, in the midst of war and chaos, if they encounter those newly emerged bandits, they will simply rob all the goods and even kill people.

There is no code of honor among the martial arts community.

Therefore, during this period, Tongbeimen suspended many shipping businesses to minimize losses.

Jinling is not far from Wuchang Prefecture.

Since Li Ben, the Prince of Han, raised his banner in rebellion, the shipping business at Tongbeimen has stopped going upstream on the Yangtze River.

After Wuchang Prefecture was captured by Prince Li Ben of Han, the rebel army marched down the river and headed directly towards Jiujiang Prefecture.

The business at Tongbeimen has shrunk considerably.

In other areas, there are now many refugees and banditry is becoming increasingly rampant, which has further affected the shipping business at Tongbeimen.

During this period, Yuanzhang wanted to expand northward.

However, the north was the territory of the Grand Canal Gang, and the shipping business had been almost completely monopolized.

With Ximen Tang as their backer, the Caobang (Grand Canal Gang) expanded its influence in the north very rapidly.

For many important supplies, Ximentang directly dispatched troops to escort them. Who would dare to mess with the Canal Gang?

not to mention,
The Caobang (a powerful gang) united many forces in the north, and almost became the spokesperson for Ximentang in the northern martial arts world.

Therefore, Tongbeimen faced numerous difficulties in expanding its shipping business to the north.

Tongbeimen had no choice but to expand its shipping activities primarily to eastern Zhejiang.

The recent rebellion in eastern Zhejiang has caused significant losses to Tongbeimen.

After Hangzhou was captured by the rebels, the shipping business in eastern Zhejiang through Tongbei Gate almost came to a standstill.

Judging from the current situation, the future of Tongbeimen is not optimistic.

The key is,
The Tongbeimen branch locations across the Daqian Dynasty require a significant investment.

The expenses for nearly four hundred people are a very large number.

In order to keep Tongbeimen afloat, Yuanzhang has begun to sell off many of the properties he had previously acquired, including many transport ships.

But how long can it last?
do not know!
Not to mention others who didn't know, even Yuan Zhang, the leader of the Tongbei Sect, was unsure.

Chen Jie understood the predicament of Tongbeimen and nodded slightly.

I never expected that Tongbeimen, who are already in such dire straits, would still be able to come up with a thousand silver dollars.

This shows that Yuanzhang is a person who values ​​loyalty and brotherhood, and has high emotional intelligence.

For those in the shipping business, ships are their lifeline.

Tongbeimen has already started selling off its transport ships, which shows that it is already operating at a loss and is about to go out of business.

in fact,

It's not just the Tongbei Gate.

When the war broke out in the Great Qian Dynasty, many martial arts forces faced great difficulties.

This is also the main reason why banditry has become increasingly rampant.

Because most banditry evolved from various Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) forces.

Chen Jie said calmly:

"Sect Leader Yuan, how many ships does your fleet have in total?"

"Furthermore, how much development space does Tongbeimen in the entire Jinling East Gate District need?"

Yuan Zhang was taken aback by Chen Jie's question, not understanding why Chen Jie had suddenly asked such a question.

He hesitated for a moment before answering:
“We have a total of 32 transport ships at the docks in Jinling, and we have also rented two cargo warehouses.”

"Six months ago, we purchased a steam-powered ship from Westerners, but unfortunately we only paid a deposit and it has not been delivered yet."

“Last month, the Dutch said the steam engine transport ship had arrived, but they wanted to add 20% to the transportation cost. We can't afford that much money, and we are still negotiating.”

"As for the place you mentioned, we currently have a large mansion and four houses in the East Gate area."

"The houses aren't expensive; what we're lacking right now are transport ships and guns and ammunition."

"War is raging everywhere, and we are short of guns. Before this, we bought muskets from the Dutch, but after the Western Allied Forces were defeated, muskets and bullets were strictly controlled."

"We don't have enough guns. We can't even deal with a slightly larger band of bandits."

Chen Jie said with a smile:

"Sect Leader Yuan, how about this, I'll give you 50,000 silver dollars to expand your operations!"

"The Grand Canal Gang has already monopolized the shipping business in the north, and your mission, Tongbeimen, is to monopolize the shipping business in the south!"

"The 50,000 silver dollars is just the initial investment. As your business expands, you will invest more money in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhang was taken aback.

He exclaimed in surprise:

"My lord, you mean—?"

Chen Jie said calmly:

"Simon Hall, located in the Jiangnan region, needs a spokesperson!"

"This is an opportunity for your Tongbei Sect."

"In the coming days, once our Ximen Hall army is stationed in Jinling City, we will cleanse the Jianghu (martial arts world) of Jiangnan!"

"You must remember one thing: in the martial arts world, there can only be one voice, and that is Ximen Tang!"

At this point, the meaning is quite clear.

Yuan Zhang couldn't help but take a deep breath.

This is an opportunity!
This is an opportunity for Tongbeimen to rise to prominence.

With the support of Ximentang, Tongbeimen will not only be able to overcome difficulties, but will also be able to develop into the most powerful force in the Daqian Dynasty.

but,

He's a seasoned veteran; he's very careful and cautious about this matter.

Although Chen Jie was the Grand Commander of the "righteous groups" of the Great Qian Dynasty, all the major "righteous groups" were under his jurisdiction.

but,

Chen Jie had close ties with the court of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If Tongbei Sect becomes too closely associated with Ximen Hall, it will easily be criticized by other sects in the martial arts world.

In general,

All the major sects in the martial arts world would associate with people in the imperial court, but they would keep their distance and not form deep relationships.

Choosing the wrong side could lead to utter destruction.

Decades ago, Tongbeimen suffered a disaster because they chose the wrong side and were almost wiped out.

call--!
Yuan Zhang couldn't help but take a deep breath, and he pondered for a moment.

Now that Chen Jie has spoken, if I refuse, I'll miss this opportunity. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance!

If he agrees, with the support of Ximentang, Tongbeimen has the opportunity to develop into a force like the Grand Canal.

The Canal Gang is now the leader of the martial arts world in the north, with great wealth and tens of thousands of elite troops under its command.

In less than half a year, no one in the entire Jianghu of the Great Qian Dynasty dared to provoke the Canal Gang.

quickly,

Yuan Zhang made up his mind and said in a deep voice:

"Tongbeimen is honored to have gained your favor, sir. Whatever your orders, sir, I will do my utmost, even if it means going through fire and water!"

do my best!

Yuan Zhang knew very well that if he didn't seize this opportunity, he would never have another chance.

of course,

More importantly, Chen Jie's mark was already deeply imprinted in his mind.

Although the mark was very shallow for someone at his level of spiritual refinement, it still subtly influenced his decision-making.

Chen Jie smiled calmly and said:

"Don't worry too much, I won't let hundreds of Tongbeimen brothers take risks."

"Before you garrison the Ximentang troops in Nanjing and wipe out the rebels in eastern Zhejiang, there are some things that need to be done by you."

“You will not be in danger, and you do not need to openly pledge allegiance to Simon Hall.”

"The world of martial arts is rife with conflict and disputes. Before the situation in Jiangnan is stabilized, Ximen Hall does not need your help."

Yuan Zhang nodded, his face serious.

"Understood! All 383 members of the Tongbei Sect will obey your orders, sir!"

After thinking it over, he had made up his mind.

Tongbeimen wants to develop and change its current predicament.

Then,

Joining forces with Ximentang is definitely the best choice.

Chen Jie was silent for a moment, then said:

"I want you to gather information throughout the entire Jiangnan region for the time being!"

"Remember, you are not here to investigate the rebels' secrets, nor are you here to spy on the Japanese military."

“Our Ximen Hall has a special organization that gathers intelligence on the enemy.”

"All you need to do is pay attention to the dynamics of the martial arts world and find out information about the major forces in the martial arts world."

“Shipping routes cover the entire Jiangnan region, and you, Tongbeimen, have extensive connections, so you should be able to complete the task with ease.”

"After the rebellion is quelled, our Ximen Hall will expand its business operations throughout Jiangnan. Whether it's shipping or various other businesses, we need you to investigate thoroughly in advance."

"Besides the Green Gang, Taiping Gang, Red Lantern Gang, and other gangs, you should go and win over other smaller sects."

"Once I've wiped out these major gangs, I hope your Tongbei Sect will be able to hold your own."

"Of course, if you need money, you can come to me directly, and I will fully support you."

Upon hearing this, Yuanzhang lowered his head and thought for a moment.

All of Chen Jie's requirements were not particularly difficult for Tongbeimen.

Gathering information in the martial arts world might be difficult for others.

but,

Tongbeimen was in the shipping business and had contact with all sorts of people.

Therefore,
If it were just about gathering information and learning about things in the martial arts world, it would be incredibly easy for the Tongbei Sect; they were very familiar with the process.

As long as it doesn't involve rebels, Japanese, or imperial secrets.

Then,

With the connections to Tongbeimen, it should be easy to find out.

Understanding the dynamics of the martial arts world is a fundamental skill for anyone navigating it.

Moreover, Tongbeimen required major underworld forces such as the Green Gang and Taipinghao to pay protection fees every month.

Under normal circumstances, other martial arts factions would not deliberately make things difficult for Tongbei Sect.

With Ximentang's strong financial backing, Yuanzhang felt that there would be almost no danger in gathering information about the martial arts world in Jiangnan.

therefore,

He took a deep breath, nodded, and said:
“Alright! Sir, I promise you. We will try to win over other gangs and form a business alliance.”

"There is war everywhere now, and everyone is short of money."

"As long as there is money to be made, I am confident that I can attract a lot of people."

Chen Jie nodded, said no more nonsense, and directly ordered someone to return to the military camp and prepare 50,000 silver dollars.

With Tongbei Sect establishing a foothold in Jinling, I can quickly learn about the movements of various gangs and sects in Jiangnan.

After garrisoning Jinling,

Every move in the entire Jiangnan region can be under one's control.

He wants to take control of the entire martial arts world in the shortest possible time!
The martial arts world in the north, under the influence of the Canal Gang, has almost become a one-man show dominated by Ximen Tang.

Any gang or sect must rely on Ximen Hall for survival.

In Jiangnan, he plans to use the same methods.

If the North and South are unified, then Ximentang will have complete control over the entire Jianghu (martial arts world) of the Great Qian Dynasty.

-

Three days later.

Chen Jie continued to wander around Jinling City, while he sent everyone from Tongbeimen out of Jinling to investigate news in various parts of Jiangnan.

Unexpectedly, news of war broke out in Hanzhong.

Hong Yanchuan, Minister of War of the Great Qian Dynasty, led a large army to Kaifeng Prefecture, and then marched south, directly capturing Honghu.

Next,
Hong Yanchuan's army clashed head-on with the army of Prince Li Ben of Han in Yueyang Prefecture.

Prince Li Ben of Han led an army of 100,000 to meet the army of Da Qian.

Hong Yanchuan's army truly lived up to its reputation as the elite force of the Great Qian Dynasty. His two armies employed a "gourd tactic" to capture Zuo Qing, a general under Prince Han, Li Ben.

Li Ben, the Prince of Han, suffered a major defeat and nearly lost his life in Yueyang Prefecture.

at the same time,

Tang Youwang's army from Guangdong and Guangxi, in coordination with Hong Yanchuan, captured Yueyang Prefecture and marched westward, heading straight for Xiangyang.

Tang Youwang's army completely destroyed the stronghold of Prince Li Ben of Han in Huarong Prefecture, killing tens of thousands of enemies.

King Li Ben of Han suffered heavy losses and retreated towards Xiangyang.

After Hong Yanchuan and Tang Youwang's armies joined forces, their combined strength exceeded 400,000.

then,

Hong Yanchuan submitted a memorial to the imperial court, planning to send troops to attack Xiangyang.

He planned to press his advantage and not only completely defeat Prince Li Ben of Han, but also Prince Li Mu of Ning in the Northwest Army.

For a while,
Throughout the campaign to quell the rebellion, victories were reported one after another, greatly boosting morale in both the government and the public.

Not only were the officials and civil servants in the capital full of confidence in the upcoming suppression of the rebellion.

Even Xu Shichang and all the officials in Nanjing were in an uproar.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xu Shichang requested that General Li Qiong depart from Wuchang Prefecture and station himself in Suizhou Prefecture.

at this time,

Throughout the Hanzhong region, the armies of Hong Yanchuan, Li Qiong, and Tang Youwang have reached 500,000.

A major battle between the two sides is about to break out.

This time,
The imperial court not only wanted to eliminate Prince Li Ben of Han, but also to defeat Prince Li Mu of Ning.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Jie immediately ordered Xu Xiaodao, who was stationed in Xianning Prefecture, to remain inactive.

Although the war in the Hanzhong region has reached a fever pitch and tensions are high.

but,

Chen Jie was very clear that the Daqian Ministry of War was destined to lose this campaign to quell the rebellion.

Hong Yanchuan's most prominent characteristic is his love of grandiose achievements.

He was able to lead his army from Kaifeng in Henan, fight his way through the Hanzhong region, and easily defeat Prince Li Ben of Han in the Battle of Yueyang.

The main reason is that Ximentang has already pulled out the teeth of Prince Li Ben of Han.

However, Li Mu, the Prince of Ning of the Northwest Army, not only had ample firepower, but also had 80,000 elite troops from the Kwantung Army assisting him.

Hong Yanchuan's army forced the Prince of Han, Li Ben, to retreat and pursued him all the way to Xiangyang Prefecture.

This is clearly a trap!
Under the management of Prince Ning, Li Mu, Xiangyang Prefecture had long been as solid as a rock and as indestructible.

Their fighting strength was originally much greater than that of Li Ben, the Prince of Han.

not to mention,
After being defeated by Ximentang, the 80,000-strong Kwantung Army did not retreat but joined the army of Prince Ning, Li Mu.

Chen Jie received the latest news that the Kwantung Army fleet had transported a large number of weapons into Xiangyang from the Fujian direction.

Even if Ximen Tang wanted to attack Xiangyang Prefecture, he would need to prepare for a considerable amount of time.

therefore,

Hong Yanchuan's rash attack on Xiangyang Prefecture with his army is doomed to failure!
Therefore, when Chen Jie learned of this news, he ordered Yan Kuangtu's "war division" to mobilize 30,000 troops to go to Xianning Prefecture to assist Xu Xiaodao in garrisoning.

He worried that after the defeat of the Daqian army, the rebels would launch a counterattack and retake Hanzhong.

Within the city of Jinling,
When Chen Jie saw Xu Shichang, Guan Qilin, He Guangbao and other elite troops celebrating the situation in Hanzhong, he was filled with joy and excitement.

He remained silent throughout, observing coldly from the sidelines.

It seems that the entire court underestimated the fighting power of Prince Li Ben of Han and Prince Li Mu of Ning.

Once they obtain the weapons and equipment of the Japanese, the army of the Daqian Ministry of War alone will be utterly defeated.

(End of this chapter)