Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 485 Preparing for War
In early spring, the drums of conscription have been sounding continuously for thirty days in Luoyang.

On the bluestone steps in front of the Ministry of Personnel of the Great Sui Dynasty, the conscription rosters were piled up like a small mountain, each page marked with a bright red fingerprint. Three million young men poured into the military camp from Sili, Yuzhou, and Jizhou.

The blacksmiths in the armor workshop worked day and night, and sparks flew onto the mountains of armor, making their bloodshot eyes shine.

This time, the eyes of the conscripted young men were no longer dim; instead, they were all full of fighting spirit.

The four powerful clans generously donated funds, and every able-bodied man who was conscripted was properly settled in his family. The money spent in just one month was enough for Yang Guang to launch five more campaigns against Goguryeo.

Why are the common people unwilling to fight to the death?
Then let's use money and land to buy it.

Every able-bodied man who was conscripted received three mu of fertile land, fifteen taels of silver, and twenty shi of grain.

If one dies on the battlefield, one will receive ten acres of fertile land and one hundred taels of silver for beard care.

The four major clans and various powerful families all clearly understood that if they could not win this battle, no matter how strong their foundation was, they would be reduced to ruins, worthless paper, and laughable empty talk under the iron heel of the Ming Dynasty.

So they all generously donated money, even making empty promises.

Let alone promising ten acres of fertile land, even twenty or thirty acres would be something to do after this battle. If the alliance is feasible and they really break through the gates of the Ming Dynasty, their gains will definitely be more than just a little land and silver.

If they fail, the four major clans and other powerful families will, as in the past, preserve their lineage, change their identities, and serve the Ming Dynasty again.

Such a promise naturally becomes an empty promise.

This is also why, despite the Sui Dynasty's conscription of three million soldiers, many ordinary people still enthusiastically participated.

They can't see things that are too far away, but if a able-bodied person comes out of the family, they can get three acres of fertile land, fifteen taels of resettlement silver, and twenty shi of grain, which are real and tangible benefits.

If the imperial court hadn't only wanted able-bodied men this time, perhaps all sorts of old, weak, sick, and disabled people would have wanted to take the job.

To provide a better life for my family.

Emperor Yang Guang of Sui stood on the Qianyang Hall, listening to the reports from his officials, nodding occasionally. A jade pendant gleamed as he rubbed it between his fingers: "Issue my decree to expedite the manufacture of armor. The Ministry of War and all relevant departments must complete the initial requirement of 500,000 armored soldiers within fifteen days."

The eunuch's hand holding the gilded command flag trembled slightly, yet he still responded loudly, as if this response could suppress the fear of the Ming Dynasty in his heart.

In Lin'an, a city a thousand miles away, the candlelight in the Southern Song imperial palace burned all night.

Zhao Kuo slammed the imperial edict ordering a "nationwide war" onto the dragon desk. The ink on the Xuan paper, which read "five million young men," spread and dampened the cuffs of his dragon robe.

The shouts of the Imperial Guards during their drills echoed outside the palace. He could foresee how many newly recruited local militiamen of the Southern Song Dynasty were running across the muddy training ground, even though most of the spears in their hands were newly made from farm tools, with the grain of wheat straw still remaining on the wooden handles.

"Your Majesty, the Beggars' Sect has 600,000 disciples; we are ready for a fight."

"The Quanzhen Sect, the Power Gang, the Imperial Sword Manor, and other sects are also willing to give their full support."

"We will win this battle!"

"We must win this battle, we cannot afford to lose. If we lose, our country will be destroyed and our families will perish." Zhao Kuo's voice was deliberately raised with fervor. "Tell them that I will not forget their contributions, and that we will continue to search for top experts. With the Grand Preceptor absent, my Great Song must have at least a few terrestrial immortals stationed in the army to prevent Ming experts from breaking into our camp."

"Yes, Your Majesty, many reclusive experts have already emerged from seclusion."

"When the Liao's 500,000 iron cavalry march south, together with the strength of our two Song dynasties and the Sui dynasty, and with the cooperation of smaller countries such as Tibet and Jin, they will launch a three-pronged attack with the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Even if the Ming dynasty has the power to reach the heavens, it cannot stop this mighty army of tens of millions!" Zhao Kuo's gloom was dispelled considerably. He knew clearly that the Ming dynasty was very strong, but seeing the united will of the Southern Song dynasty, the concerted efforts of the court and the martial arts world, and the reclusive masters who came out of seclusion to help in the face of national crisis, he was deeply moved.

Zhao Kuo felt a bit more confident.

But when he caught a glimpse of the secret report on his desk, which contained the rumor that "a thousand new Tian Ce recruits had decisively defeated fifty thousand Jing garrison troops" during a drill at the Jing garrison, his fingertips involuntarily curled up. ...

On the grasslands of Shangjing Linhuangfu, hundreds of thousands of Liao cavalrymen were raising clouds of dust.

Yelü Hongji, wearing the silver armor passed down from his grandfather, reined in his black horse, Wuzhui, and looked at the cavalry formation behind him arranged in the "Heavenly Wolf Formation." As he drew his scimitar, the ruthlessness in his eyes was reflected: "Tell Xiao Talin to intensify the training of the iron cavalry. This is a joint effort by all countries, and we must not afford any failures, or we will be punished according to military law!"

Just as the guards were about to turn around, they were interrupted by the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

An envoy from Dali stumbled in, his peacock feather talisman at his waist askew, shouting, "Tibet has gathered 100,000 archers, and the Jin's Iron Pagoda and 300,000 armored soldiers have also assembled in Cangzhou."

Yelü Hongji threw his head back and laughed, pointing his whip southward, as if he could already see the allied forces trampling through the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Only Yelü Wudi gazed worriedly in the direction of the Ming Dynasty, but upon closer inspection, one could easily discern the fierce flames of war burning in his eyes.

Clearly, he still harbored resentment over the time when the Mongols and Liaodong joined forces to invade the border, only to be utterly defeated and nearly killed by Zhu Jinzhen.

Northern Song Dynasty, Imperial Court.

A slight smile finally appeared on Zhao Ji's face.

The 108 heroes recruited from Liangshan were all at least at the Vajra Realm to the most powerful Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

Furthermore, the Imperial Preceptor Lin Lingsu recruited powerful figures from the Shenxiao Sect and other Taoist sects, giving the Northern Song Dynasty more than five terrestrial immortals to oversee it. Shaolin also produced a sweeping monk, an old monk who seemed to be on his deathbed, yet Lin Lingsu admitted that he had at most a 50% chance of winning.

Seven terrestrial deities!
When did the Northern Song Dynasty have such a magnificent lineup?

Not to mention the assistance of masters from various martial arts sects. Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, was able to exchange blows with even a terrestrial immortal with his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Not to mention the top fighters in the Northern Song army, such as the Yang family generals and Yue Fei.

"Your Majesty, we have followed your orders and conscripted three million able-bodied men."

"Marshal Yue and Marshal Yang are working hard to train the troops, and the results are already visible."

"The newly recruited Imperial Guards, under Lin Chong's training, are already taking shape. When the alliance is formed, they will surely be a force to be reckoned with."

"Good, good, good!"

Zhao Ji laughed heartily, as if he had the support of such a powerful army and skilled warriors, and the cooperation of various states, so there was no reason why he couldn't accomplish great things.

But Lin Lingsu, standing before him, quietly frowned. He wanted to tell Zhao Ji that it was too early to be happy. Last night, when he was observing the stars, the guest star next to the Ziwei star shone brighter and brighter, which was an ominous sign in the "Song of Stepping the Heavens" that "great warfare will break out."

Moreover, Lin Lingsu knew quite a bit about the situation in the Ming Dynasty.

If Emperor Huizong hadn't personally invited her, made numerous promises and offered benefits, and even allowed them to leave if their army suffered a crushing defeat and things became hopeless, Lin Lingsu would never have gotten involved in this mess.

"Alas, man proposes, God disposes."

"I hope this ominous sign of war won't bring disaster to the world or to myself!" Lin Lingsu sighed. Even though she was wary, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue on, otherwise the Great Song Dynasty would have no place for her and the Shenxiao Sect.

After all, others could retreat, but if he, the Grand Preceptor of the Song Dynasty, ran away, then Lin Lingsu would truly be nailed to the pillar of historical shame and be cursed by countless future generations.

(End of this chapter)