Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 505 Refusal of Aid?

On February 7, 1642, a biting wind swept across the vast plains east of the Ussuri River, whipping up the loose snow on the ground and pelting it against the solid log walls of Changning Fort (now Shuangchengzi), making a dense "rustling" sound.

At the top of the watchtower inside the fortress, a red five-star flag fluttered in the wind. Although the flag was frozen stiff, each unfurling of it carried a resounding clang, as if proclaiming to this vast land the tenacious existence of a new force.

This place was once the site of the Shuangchengwei of the Ming Dynasty, with Fuldan in the east and Zhuergen in the west, facing each other across a vast white snowfield. The remaining earthen walls and foundations tell the story of the Ming Dynasty's former glory. However, in the following centuries, this place was once again covered by wind, snow and wasteland, returning to desolation.

Until six years ago, a group carrying the banner of "Xinhua" arrived in this land, driving oxcarts and carrying exhausted Ming Dynasty and Korean immigrants with eyes burning with the desire to survive, as well as precious grain seeds, ironware and firearms, breaking the silence of this land for a century.

They built cities and fortresses, reclaimed farmland, constructed water conservancy projects, and created new homes.

However, Xinhua did not use the old name "Shuangchengwei" but gave it a new name - Changning.

Prosperity and peace.

This highly symbolic name embodies the most basic and heartfelt wishes of these people who are far from their homeland and struggling to survive in dire circumstances.

The castle in winter is not bustling with noise, but rather a kind of orderly and vibrant busyness.

Inside the sawmill, the huge waterwheel was stopped turning because it was covered in ice, but the hardworking immigrants were using saws to break down the felled giant trees into neat planks. The clanging of sawing and the shouts were deep and powerful.

The blacksmith's furnace roared and clanged as the craftsmen toiled, sweating profusely, to repair the farm tools damaged during the busy season, preparing for the upcoming spring planting.

On the open plains, a group of militiamen, under the guidance of their instructors, clumsily pulled the triggers of their muskets during winter training.

The air inside the fort was filled with the mixed scents of cooking smoke, pine wood, and freshly shavings, along with a faint hint of gunpowder—a unique aroma belonging to the pioneers.

Inside the central council chamber of the fort, the fire was burning brightly, and the pine wood crackled in the flames.

Zhang Dashan, the commissioner of the Haidong Colonization Zone, was discussing a rough but finely drawn map of the Changning area with several village chiefs and craftsmen.

On the map, Changningbao is the core, surrounded by scattered markings of names such as "Lijiatun", "Maoshantun", and "Qingyuantun" (a settlement of Korean immigrants), as well as large areas of cultivated and uncultivated fields. Waterways and roads are also marked with lines of different colors.

"The first priority after the start of spring is to dredge and reinforce the irrigation canals of the North Branch River (Lakovka River) so that the 5,000 mu of new farmland on the west slope can receive sufficient irrigation." Zhang Dashan pointed heavily on a spot on the map. "The virgin land cleared last year is not fertile enough. This year, we must cultivate it carefully. Potatoes and oats should be rotated. We can no longer rely entirely on the fertility of the forest."

"Commissioner, the forests upstream of the Beicha River are too dense, with intertwined roots. The project is quite large, and I'm afraid it will delay the farming season." A seasoned village head looked worried.

“Then send more people! Draw more able-bodied men from each village, and hire a hundred or so natives from the nearby Gashan (Jurchen villages). With the tools we provide, the clearing must be completed before spring planting!” Zhang Dashan said decisively, slamming his hand heavily on the map. “You must remember, in our colonization zone, food is our lifeline!”

"This year, it is said that there are more new immigrants sent from the Ming Dynasty than last year, probably seven or eight thousand. Changning is located in Tongheng, which is part of the expansion zone. You must provide enough food for the immigrants who come and go. You cannot rely on Yongming City to provide relief! You must become the cornerstone of food production, not a bottomless pit that consumes food!"

His gaze swept over the crowd: "Seven years ago when we first came here, what was there besides meadows and forests? And now? We have forts, fields, and firearms and militia to protect ourselves! More than 20,000 people have taken root on this land, relying on this spirit of not waiting for handouts and relying on ourselves!"

He paused, glanced at the documents on the table, and continued, "Several Hezhe tribes in the western forests want to come to Changning to pay tribute and trade, which is a good thing and should be treated leniently. At first, we can be a little generous in exchanging goods and let them have a taste of the benefits. In the process of trade, we should subtly subdue and assimilate them, and also have them help keep an eye on the movements at the western mountain passes to prevent the Tartars and some Jurchens from sneaking over."

Sun Shoude, the head of Changning Fort, sat at the lower end of the table, listening quietly, occasionally scribbling incomprehensible symbols on his notebook with a charcoal pencil. Changning Fort, as one of the core large fortresses within the Haidong Colonization Zone, had a population of over 700 and oversaw 17 immigrant settlements, with a total population of nearly 4,000.

As the person in charge of the entire region, Sun Shoude faced immense pressure.

He was responsible not only for maintaining security, defense, and food reserves within the fortress, but also for coordinating relations with neighboring tribes and organizing production and development.

Seven years.

Seven years have passed since Xinhua's ships first appeared on the shores of Vladivostok in 1635, bringing the first batch of Liao and Korean people to this harsh land.

From the initial struggle for survival by building shacks on the beach with only a hundred or so people, to today, there are twelve large and medium-sized fortresses like Changningbao with a population of over three hundred, and more than sixty immigrant settlements, which, like nails, are firmly driven into this vast black soil.

More than 27,000 immigrants!
Thinking of this number fills Sun Shoude with a surge of warmth.

Over the past seven years, boatloads of people have braved storms, diseases, hunger, and the cold arrows of the indigenous people, using their blood, sweat, and lives to build this foundation.

In addition, there are many local tribes such as the Fiyaka, Hezhe, and Oroqen, who have been gradually intimidated and subdued through trade or force, and are willing to accept Xinhua's protection and control, bringing the total population to over 50,000.

This former territory of the Nurgan Regional Military Commission of the Ming Dynasty, abandoned by the Ming court hundreds of years ago, has now been transformed into a completely new world.

"Commissioner!" An armed guard entered the council chamber and strode up to Zhang Dashan. "An urgent message has arrived from Yongming City."

As he spoke, he bowed and handed over the two letters.

Zhang Dashan took the letter and removed the sealing wax.

The letter was forwarded by the magistrate of Yongming City. It mentioned that Suianbao had launched a surprise attack on a Qing outpost near the Tumen River, captured three prisoners, and obtained some information about Shenyang.

In addition, the letter mentioned a crucial matter: Kong Youde, who was based in Hamgyong Province of North Korea, sent an envoy to Xinhua to purchase grain in order to alleviate the food shortage problem in his territory.

The letter mentioned that Yongming City had ordered Suian and the surrounding forts to be on high alert and strengthen patrols to prevent small groups of defeated soldiers or refugees from attacking the city due to the famine in Hamgyong Province.

"I never thought that Kong Youde... would be so short of food that he has to come to us!" Zhang Dashan's lips curled into a sneer.

“It’s no use him asking us to buy grain!” Sun Shoude said, shaking his head. “Even if our Haidong Colonization Zone has some grain reserves, it’s not enough for the hundreds of thousands of starving people in Xianjing Road! Besides, the grain stored in the various forts and villages is the ration for the new immigrants this year. We absolutely cannot give it to Kong Youde.”

“That’s for sure.” Zhang Dashan put the letter away and shook his head. “If more than 10,000 immigrants are sent this year, our grain reserves might not be enough. We’ll need some support from Beiying Island. Where would we get any extra grain to sell to them?”

"Back then, this fellow rebelled against the Ming Dynasty in Dengzhou, wreaking havoc in Shandong. Later, he fled to Korea and took advantage of the situation in Hamgyong Province to act arrogantly and domineeringly. Unfortunately, God did not forgive him and let them suffer from floods last year. Ha, hundreds of thousands of mouths to feed, that's enough to make him suffer."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the hardworking villagers outside, his tone hardening: "Our grain was grown grain by grain and saved bite by bite by our own people. The granaries in each fortress didn't appear out of thin air. Asking for grain won't be so easy!"
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(End of this chapter)