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The news of the fall of Yanjing and the destruction of the Qing central government swept across the area south of the Yangtze River like a belated hurricane.

However, it was different from the earth-shattering shock of the north.

After the initial panic and disbelief, Qing officials and garrison generals in various parts of Jiangnan quickly fell into a strange silence and restlessness, each with their own hidden agendas.

Jiangning (Nanjing), Hangzhou, Nanchang, Guangzhou...

In the government offices and mansions of these important southern towns, lights burned all night, and secret meetings were held continuously.

They also controlled a considerable number of Green Standard Army troops, a full local treasury, and a relatively complete administrative system.

But at this moment, the rope that came from the capital and bound their power and loyalty suddenly snapped.

"Gentlemen, the capital... is no more. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Grand Secretary Ao... are all missing!" General Echu of Jiangning announced this devastating news to his generals and staff with a pale face and a dry voice.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, which was then broken by suppressed gasps and whispers.

"General! What should we do now? Fight or surrender?" a lieutenant asked anxiously.

"Surrender?" another Manchu officer immediately retorted, his tone agitated. "Surrender to whom? Are we to surrender to those rebellious Wu Sangui and Zheng Jing, or the Mu family in Yunnan? What right do they have? They're nothing but traitors and rebels!"

These words resonated with many Manchu and Han officials present.

Surrendering to their former enemies, especially the Three Feudatories who were considered "fickle villains," was psychologically unacceptable to these self-proclaimed "officials of the court," and it was also a matter of life, death, and posthumous reputation.

"Wu Sangui is a wolf in sheep's clothing, fickle and unpredictable; how could he be entrusted with anything?"

"The Zheng family, occupying the islands and refusing to submit to the king's rule, are no different from pirates."

"The Mu family mansion is confined to a corner of the country and can barely protect itself. How can it command the world?"

For a moment, the hall was filled with contempt and distrust of other forces in the south.

At this moment, a Han Chinese clerk with a goatee coughed lightly, attracting everyone's attention.

His eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice, saying, "General, gentlemen, since the capital to the north is now without a ruler, and the southern vassal states disdain us... why not... find another way?"

He paused, looked around at everyone, and said, word by word, "Jiangnan is prosperous, with well-trained soldiers and ample provisions, and is protected by the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. In the past, during the Three Kingdoms period, why did the Sun family manage to establish their own independent regime? It was simply because they held their ground along the river and observed the changing landscape of the world! Now, although the imperial court has fallen, our foundation remains. If we can unite as one and jointly elect a virtuous and respected leader, we may well be able to create a new era in this land of Jiangnan!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake!
Be independent!

This word, full of temptation and risk, instantly took root in the minds of many people.

Yes! Why should we surrender to others?

We have soldiers, money, and territory, so why can't we be in charge of our own affairs?
"The advisor is right!" someone immediately echoed. "We, the people of this land... uh, as local officials, have a duty to protect our territory! In these chaotic times, we should safeguard our borders and maintain order!"

"That's right! Instead of bowing and scraping to those treacherous officials, let's do it ourselves!"

"But... who should be the 'master'?" Someone raised the most crucial question, their gaze involuntarily drifting towards General Echu, who sat at the head of the table, and the other governors and viceroys who held real power.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became subtle.

The group, who had just been united in their hatred of the enemy, began to show signs of calculation and wariness in their eyes.

Who wouldn't want to be that "highly respected person"?
Who wouldn't want a piece of the pie in this chaotic world, or even aspire to the throne?
Echu was a Manchu with little influence in Han-dominated areas; the Governor-General of Liangjiang was a Han official, but he did not directly command many troops; and the garrison commanders in various regions held considerable power and influence…

Suddenly, undercurrents surged, and the seeds of alliance and betrayal were quietly being sown.

Similar scenes unfolded almost simultaneously in Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Wuchang, and other places.

Without the constraints and command of the central court, these former "regional officials" did not first think about how to unite against the enemy or how to choose a lord to serve, but rather how to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime power vacuum to amass military power and establish their own independent regimes.

They began to tighten their control over the military, finances, and personnel appointments within their jurisdictions, while sending out treacherous envoys to test, form alliances, and threaten each other, staging a series of treacherous dramas.

As for the Red Flag Army in the north and the Three Feudatories in the southwest, they were temporarily relegated to a secondary position...

After all, in the eyes of these people, consolidating their territory and seizing the greatest power is the most important thing at hand.

The Jiangnan region, this prosperous land, did not immediately usher in a unified new order after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Instead, due to the selfishness of the old bureaucrats and warlords who were like "headless flies," it was the first to fall into an even more intricate and unpredictable prelude to separatism.

A new chaos is brewing.

All of this was recorded by Suning's spies sent to the south and quickly transmitted back to the decision-making center in the north.

……

With successive military victories, the rule in the north became increasingly stable.

Suning knows all too well that conquering the world is easy, but governing it is difficult.

Especially when faced with a vast empire ravaged by war and in dire need of reconstruction, the traditional civil service system was not only inefficient but also rife with corruption and internal strife that were difficult to eradicate.

He had neither the time nor the patience to carefully select, cultivate, and manage those old-style literati or surrendered officials with their own differing thoughts.

His solution is simple, direct, and ahead of its time, fully utilizing his own AI robots.

Under Afu's leadership, a silent yet profound administrative revolution quietly unfolded.

Next to the original Wuying Hall, a new building with a simple style and strong lines was erected, named "Huaxia Central Hub".

This is the brain of the new dynasty.

With him at its core, Afu quickly assembled a cabinet and a framework of six ministries and nine ministers, consisting of highly anthropomorphic AI robots with super-strong logic and data processing capabilities.

With the help of AI's vast database and precise algorithms, the Ministry of Personnel conducted ruthless performance evaluations and ability analyses on all retained officials and newly selected personnel in the occupied areas. Appointments, removals, promotions, and demotions were based solely on merit, with no regard for human feelings.

The Ministry of Revenue began to use AI to integrate the chaotic household registration and land data, and calculated taxes and levies with astonishing efficiency, and formulated budgets.

The same applies to the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, and so on.

Through high-speed information flow and collaboration, instructions are clear and execution is precise, eliminating buck-passing and raising administrative efficiency to an unprecedented level.

There is no selfishness, no partisan strife, only absolute rationality and absolute loyalty to Suning.

At the same time, batches of AI "officials" who looked no different from ordinary people were secretly or openly dispatched to the prefectures, states, and counties that had been occupied in Jiangbei.

They took over the government, inventoried the treasury, comforted the displaced people, and implemented new policies formulated uniformly by the central government...

This included preliminary land surveys, the abolition of some exorbitant taxes and levies, and the construction of water conservancy projects.

These AI-powered local officials work tirelessly, refusing bribes and showing no favoritism. Their ruthless efficiency and strict enforcement of policies instill fear in the old-fashioned officials and local tyrants who were accustomed to "human relationships," but also gave them a glimpse of a possible new order.

To revitalize China's economy, unifying the chaotic monetary system is key.

Thus, under Afu's planning, "Huaxia Tongbao Money Shop" was officially established, with its headquarters in the capital and branches at various levels in major towns and cities.

Money shops issued new banknotes, using seized silver, gold, and imperial credit as collateral.

The banknotes were exquisitely designed, with anti-counterfeiting technology that was ahead of its time. It was forcibly stipulated that all transactions, tax payments, and the distribution of salaries to officers and soldiers within the occupied territories must use these banknotes.

The city of Yanjing, ravaged by artillery fire, became the largest construction site showcasing the power of this new order.

Under the unified planning of AI officials from the Ministry of Industry, an unprecedented reconstruction project was launched.

Tens of thousands of refugees and captured soldiers were recruited as laborers. Instead of being forced into corvée labor, they received monthly wages in banknotes issued by the "Huaxia Tongbao Money Shop"!

Of course, those heinous Manchu officials did not receive this treatment; they were imprisoned in shackles and handcuffs.

On the construction site, traditional brick and wood structures are being replaced by more robust cement and prefabricated components.

In the former inner city area, rows of neat, modern residential communities with five-story buildings have sprung up.

Although the internal facilities are simple, the unified planning, glass windows, concrete corridors, and sewers already give it the beginnings of a modern community.

The originally bumpy dirt road was leveled and widened, and paved with smooth cement. Horse-drawn carriages no longer experienced the bumpy ride of the past.

Even more awe-inspiring is the commencement of surveying and roadbed laying for railways connecting Beijing to Tianjin, Baoding, Xuzhou, and other destinations. The steel tracks symbolize the pulse of the industrial age about to beat across this ancient land. Meanwhile, the Forbidden City, damaged by artillery fire, has not been restored to its original imperial palace state. Instead, it is being planned as the central government's administrative center, undergoing structural reinforcement and modernization, and will become the physical offices of the AI ​​cabinet and the Six Ministries in the future.

The migrant workers were initially bewildered and doubtful when they received the money.

But when they discovered that they could actually buy necessities such as grain, cloth, and salt from government-run grain stores, cloth shops, and general stores with these flimsy pieces of paper, trust began to be built.

Prices in state-run stores were strictly controlled, ensuring the purchasing power of banknotes.

Money, labor, wages, consumption, stimulating production, more jobs...

A rudimentary economic cycle based on credit money was thus forcibly injected and began to operate.

The once stagnant economic landscape was miraculously revitalized in this seemingly simple and direct way.

Goods began to circulate in the market, commercial activities gradually recovered, and people's faces were no longer filled with despair, but with anticipation for tomorrow.

While all of this is built on a strong military deterrence and AI’s cold and efficient administration, there is no denying that a new vitality is sprouting in this wounded land.

A new era blueprint built from data and steel is being transformed from paper into reality at an unprecedented speed.

……

The new policies in the capital were in full swing, while the war on the western front was raging even more intensely.

The expanded and better equipped First and Second Field Armies, like two giant iron pincers, launched a swift offensive against the vast areas of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu, which were occupied by the remnants of the Qing dynasty, in accordance with Su Ning's established strategy.

The commander of the First Field Army was still the highly decorated 011.

Before him lay the latest maps, sent back by high-altitude reconnaissance balloons and frontline scouts.

"Commander, the remnants of the Qing army in the Datong and Taiyuan directions seem to be trying to put up a stubborn resistance by relying on strategic passes such as Yanmen Pass and Ningwu Pass," the chief of staff said, pointing to several points on the map.

011 grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, but his smile carried a chill: "Relying on passes? I'll attack passes! Pass down the order, the artillery cluster advance! Don't try to save ammunition, the Commander-in-Chief said we'll pave the way for the brothers with steel!"

boom! boom! boom!
Faced with the overwhelming artillery firepower of the Red Flag Army, the so-called strategic passes and dangerous passes appeared so fragile.

The sturdy gate walls collapsed under the continuous bombardment of heavy artillery. The Qing troops guarding the gate often suffered heavy casualties and their morale collapsed before they even saw the Red Flag Army infantry.

"Surrender! We surrender!" White flags were raised on the dilapidated walls.

Faced with surrender, 011 strictly carried out Su Ning's orders: "Disarm and do not kill, but investigate and deal with them! Those who want to go home will be given travel expenses; those who want to join the army can stay after review and training; officers and die-hards will be detained in solitary confinement to await their fate!"

The army swept through the land with unstoppable momentum.

Apart from a few sporadic skirmishes, the First Field Army was taking over the prefectures and counties of Shanxi at almost the speed of marching.

After learning of the fall of Beijing and the annihilation of the Northern Route Army, most of the former Qing officials and gentry in the area chose to open the city gates and surrender.

Those who stubbornly resisted were quickly crushed under the Red Flag Army's fierce offensive.

……

Meanwhile, another main force of the First Field Army, led by the valiant general 031, marched straight towards Tongguan.

Tongguan Pass is a strategically important pass, the gateway to the Guanzhong Plain, and has been a battleground since ancient times.

The Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, E Zha, who had retreated to this place, gathered nearly 20,000 Qing troops that could still be mobilized within Shaanxi Province, attempting to hold the position by relying on the natural defenses.

031 stood on the high ground outside Tongguan, holding up binoculars to observe the majestic fortress.

Flags fluttered on the gate tower, suggesting a fairly tight defense.

"General, shall we proceed with the artillery preparations as planned?" the artillery commander inquired.

031 put down his binoculars, shook his head, and a sly look appeared on his face: "A strong attack can certainly take it, but casualties and time must be considered. Ezha is not a loyalist to the death; he is just now out of options."

He summoned a quick-witted reconnaissance company commander and whispered, "Find a few former Qing army officers who have surrendered. Have them take my personal letter and sneak to the pass under cover of night. Try to shoot the letter in. Tell Ezha that fate has changed, and resistance will only lead to death. Surrender the pass and you can save your life and even have a place in the new dynasty. If you remain stubborn, on the day the pass is breached, not a single chicken or dog will be spared!"

Psychological warfare and military deterrence are being used in tandem.

At the same time, the Red Flag Army's artillery also began to build positions in conspicuous locations outside the pass, and the dark muzzles of the cannons put enormous psychological pressure on the defending troops.

At dawn the next day, the Tongguan Pass slowly opened.

The Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu, E Zha, dressed in plain clothes, led a group of officials, holding the official seal, and went out of the pass to surrender.

His face was ashen, and he bowed deeply to the ground before 031 on horseback: "Your sinful subject, E Zha, is willing to lead the soldiers and people of Guanzhong to submit to the royal army..."

031 nodded in satisfaction. Taking Tongguan without bloodshed meant that the gateway to the prosperous Guanzhong Plain was wide open.

The Red Flag Army's iron torrent surged into the Qin River Valley, and pacified important towns such as Xi'an with a single proclamation.

……

The Second Field Army, on the other hand, shouldered more complex tasks.

They split into two groups: one heading west to sweep away the remaining Qing troops in Gansu and intimidate the Mongol princes in Qinghai and western Xinjiang; the other heading north to eliminate resistance forces along the Great Wall and closely monitor the infighting between the Hong'an Tong Shenlong Sect and the remnants of the Manchu Qing dynasty and the Russians outside the Great Wall.

In Gansu, resistance was relatively weak, with local powerful clans and Mongol tribes mostly observing from the sidelines.

The Second Field Army adopted a strategy of both suppression and appeasement.

Those who voluntarily submit will be treated with preferential treatment; those who dare to resist will be resolutely eliminated with swift and decisive measures.

Meanwhile, the propaganda team followed closely behind the main force, explaining the policies of the Red Flag Army and stabilizing the local area.

The entire westward advance was less a brutal campaign of conquering cities and seizing territory and more like an armed parade and a large-scale surrender ceremony.

The rapid collapse of the Qing central government caused local forces to lose their core allegiance and their will to resist.

The Red Flag Army's powerful military force, efficient administrative infiltration, and relatively clear surrender policy jointly facilitated the rapid pacification of the Northwest region.

……

Yanjing, the central hub of China.

Afu presented the latest battle report from the western front to Suning.

"Master, the First Field Army has taken control of the entire Shanxi province and is now sending troops into Shaanxi. The Second Field Army has pacified northern Zhili, and its vanguard has reached Liangzhou in Gansu. It is expected that the main areas of the Northwest will be basically pacified within three months."

Su Ning looked at the red area on the map that was constantly extending westward and nodded.

It was faster than he had expected.

Once the Northwest is secured, all efforts can be focused on developing the North, laying a solid foundation for resolving the issues in the Jiangnan region and beyond the Great Wall.

This war of unification, driven by steel and efficiency, is changing the world's landscape at an astonishing pace.

Su Ning suddenly gazed south and muttered to himself, "Next, it's time to launch the river-crossing operation and eliminate those rebel troops as soon as possible."

"Uh? Master, how should we deal with those rebel armies that oppose the Qing and seek to restore the Ming?" At this moment, Afu looked at Su Ning and asked a crucial question.

"Hmph! This world belongs to the Chinese people. Those who obey me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish." Su Ning had no psychological burden whatsoever when killing people in the dungeon world.

"Should we prepare for the establishment of a nation? And what system will the new dynasty adopt?"

"The country will be named Huaxia! We will use both the Huaxia calendar and the Gregorian calendar! As for the system, we will continue to use the emperor system, after all, we need to consider the people's acceptance. However, the power of the emperor and the power of the prime minister will be equal, since with the existence of AI, many problems are no longer problems."

"Yes, Master! Afu knows how to prepare for the founding ceremony of China."

"This matter is not urgent! We should quickly assemble an army to cross the river and quell the rebellion."

"Yes! Master."

...(End of chapter)