Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 151 If I can't deal with the rebels, can't I at least deal with you?
“My virtuous younger brother Xianzhi.”

With a strange expression, Qian Qianyi stared at Shi Kefa and said, "You really have a lot of influence."

"Ok?"

Shi Kefa was taken aback at first, then realized, "It was I who was being presumptuous."

"You actually want to inspect the military camp?" Qian Qianyi shook his head repeatedly. "The commander-in-chief actually agreed."

"Does the General intend to recruit you?"

“Impossible.” Shi Kefa immediately denied it. “As a minister of the Ming Dynasty, I should be loyal to the Ming Dynasty.”

He admitted that the people under Lin Dao's rule were doing quite well.

But to ask him to join Lin Dao is absolutely impossible.

Putting everything else aside, the fact that Lin Dao abolished the official career path for scholars was something he couldn't accept.

He came from a family of officials and was a hereditary commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, making him a true member of the Ming Dynasty.

To defect to a thief?

Do you really think everyone is Qian Qianyi?

"Let's go." Qian Qianyi boarded the carriage and said, "Once you join the army, don't talk or move around too much. The commander-in-chief is very strict in his military discipline."

"It's nothing more than harsh laws and severe punishments." Shi Kefa got into the carriage and chuckled softly. "It's the same for all the military units."

When both money and food are scarce, the only way to keep the soldiers in line is through harsh laws and severe punishments.

He opened his mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out.

No matter how much I talk, it's not as good as seeing it for yourself!

The convoy left the city and arrived at a military camp more than ten miles away.

The accompanying guards from the Marshal's Mansion stepped forward, presented Lin Dao's written order, and processed the entry into the camp.

The convoy was then allowed to enter.

After getting off the bus, Shi Kefa looked around and his first impression was that the area was very large.

"This used to be an estate belonging to the Duke of Wei."

Qian Qianyi explained, "The commander-in-chief took it and turned it into a military camp."

Shi Kefa nodded without saying anything.

Scholars were actually more aware than anyone of how nobles had seized and plundered fertile land.

However, since they did the same thing themselves, they naturally had no face to criticize others.

Shi Kefa, dressed in the official robes of the Ming Dynasty, attracted the attention of many in the military camp.

Fortunately, military discipline was strict, and the soldiers at most just looked him over; no one rushed over to cut off his head for military merit.

The acting battalion commander of this camp followed closely behind with a stern face, remaining vigilant and attentive at all times.

Lin Dao's various battalions did not have guerrilla units; the division commanders were organized into different units, and each battalion was led by a commander.

However, all these commanders have the prefix "authority".

It's temporary, not a permanent position.

To be promoted to a regular military position, one must achieve corresponding military merits.

Among the rebels, the most eager were actually the commanders, each one of them with bloodshot eyes, wanting to fight and make military achievements.

In the Middle Kingdom, once you enter this industry, no one doesn't want to become a full-fledged professional!

Shi Kefa's first question was this.

"Is it time for dinner?"

Having led troops before, he naturally understood the importance of food in the military.

Originally, I just wanted to check on the military's food and ration reserves.

Unexpectedly, the commander nodded with a stern face, "It's just time to have lunch."

Shi Kefa was stunned on the spot.

He asked uncertainly, "Is today's meal?"

The commander immediately responded, "The commander-in-chief's order is: three meals a day!"

For people in the modern world, three meals a day is a perfectly normal thing.

They even need a late-night snack.

But for people in ancient times, especially the poor, being able to eat two meals a day was already considered a blessing.

In the Ming Dynasty's army, those who eat two meals a day are the elite troops.

Three meals a day—that was the treatment given to officers and elite guards.

Shi Kefa came to his senses, his heart filled with worry.

He silently followed the commander to the kitchen.

Watching the soldiers line up in an orderly fashion to receive their meals, and seeing their bowls full of food.

Shi Kefa instinctively thought, 'You're just putting on an act to fool me~~~'

But when the words were about to come out, he changed them to "The commander-in-chief is upright and honest, and is definitely not that kind of person."

Although he had only met Lin Dao once, he trusted Lin Dao's confident demeanor.

He believed that Commander-in-Chief was not a hypocritical villain who was deceiving and bluffing.

This is why Shi Kefa's worries became even more pronounced.

He understood all too well the importance of three meals a day.

The rebel soldiers, who had plenty of vegetables and meat to eat, had a fighting spirit and combat effectiveness that far surpassed that of the Ming soldiers who ate only two meals a day, or even just one meal of coarse grains and wild vegetables.

Qian Qianyi, who hadn't said much since entering the military camp, smiled and said, "Better late than early. How about we have a meal here?"

Shi Kefa and the others naturally would not refuse.

The large bowls of rice are plentiful, and the rice is fragrant, sweet, and white, with very little sand or grit.

Their timing was perfect; today's meat dish was luncheon meat stir-fried with potatoes.

According to the rules, the portion of the dish listed first is larger, and the portion of luncheon meat is quite substantial.

Add a large spoonful of oil to stir-fry the cabbage.

In the military camp, cooks are not allowed to have shaky hands when serving food.

Anyone whose hand trembles will be beaten up on the spot by the soldiers.

When the military judge arrives, the cook is also doomed.

One bite and your mouth is filled with juicy goodness and the aroma of meat fills your mouth.

"They even added spices!"

It was clearly delicious, but Shi Kefa found it tasteless and bland.

Throughout the meal, he seemed preoccupied and frowning.

On the contrary, the eunuchs and imperial guards ate happily without a care in the world.

Thinking back, he realized what his soldiers had been eating.

Compared to the food Lin Daojun was eating, Shi Kefa was so distressed that he could barely eat.

He was certain that if war broke out between the two sides, Lin Dao only needed to set out the food, and most of the imperial troops would be lured away.

"Why, why are military households given such high treatment!"

"Wouldn't it be better to use the money to subsidize those who want to study!"

The food tasted bland and tasteless.

The subsequent visit to the barracks and such was also somewhat of a blur.

It wasn't until he arrived at the drill ground and saw a large number of soldiers training that Shi Kefa regained some of his spirits.

"Today's drill?"

Upon hearing the question, the commander looked at him as if he were a fool. "You eat so much, of course you're training every day!"

Shi Kefa fell silent again.

Among the Ming army, those that conducted drills every five days and exercises every ten days were undoubtedly elite troops.

Ordinary military households spent far more time wielding hoes than knives and guns.

Such a large gap in training will directly manifest in combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

Shi Kefa looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh.

What can I do? What can I do?
Before leaving the military camp, Shi Kefa saw a large open space with a layout plan and lines marked with lime powder.

Unable to resist asking, "Where is this?"

The commander's response dealt him another blow.

"This is an outdoor night school."

"Night school is a school."

"The soldiers train during the day and study at night, so it's called night school."

"Learn to read and write, and understand principles. Learn arithmetic and measurement. Learn morality and repay kindness and righteousness."

"Soldiers who complete their studies can be promoted in the military. After retiring, they can enter local government offices. Their desire to learn is extremely strong."

"After starting night school, I realized that it's not only bookworms who are considered 'reading talents'!"

These words made Shi Kefa tremble with fear.

Shi Kefa was in a daze the whole way.

He left Jinling City in a daze, boarded the ship in a daze, and returned to Luzhou in a daze.

When writing memorials to the emperor, he skillfully grinds ink and lays out paper.

But when I sit down and pick up my pen, I don't know what to write.

This trip to Nanjing brought him a tremendous shock.

He even had a vague feeling that this was the Ming Dynasty he had always envisioned!

"Very well, the military supervisor and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will report accordingly."

"Just tell the truth."

After finishing writing the memorial, he carefully reviewed it.

In the end, Shi Kefa couldn't help but add a few more words.

Your Majesty, please prioritize appeasement over conflict, even if it means marrying someone to become your son-in-law. Do not engage in direct warfare.

No matter what, we must do everything we can to appease him.
no doubt.

Shi Kefa's memorial was delivered to Emperor Chongzhen, which resulted in the emperor's fury!
Appeasement, appeasement—what can we offer in return?
You even dare to mention marriage alliances? You call yourself a scholar? Have you forgotten the past?

The enraged Chongzhen Emperor, after reading the memorial submitted by the accompanying eunuchs, was filled with both fury and apprehension.

He could vaguely sense that Lin Dao, this rebel, was not like Li Chuang and his ilk, and was even more difficult to deal with.

It's not that it's difficult to deal with, it's that there's no way to deal with it.

The area outside the pass had long been ravaged, and the Guan Ning cavalry were hiding inside Shanhaiguan, barely clinging to life.

With Sun Chuanting's defeat, the Central Plains were already in grave danger.

Now they've even lost Jiangnan, this Ming Dynasty...
Emperor Chongzhen couldn't deal with the rebels, but he could deal with the civil and military officials who still obeyed the court.

The Imperial Guards left the city and headed south to arrest Shi Kefa and imprison him in the imperial prison.

If I can't deal with the rebels, I can at least deal with you.
Next, Emperor Chongzhen's imperial edict fell into the hands of Lu Jiude and Huang Degong.

Faced with the emperor's urging, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and prepare for the attack.

But before they could make any preparations, the emperor's edict arrived again.

This time, instead of urging them to recapture Jinling, he ordered them to hurry to Huguang to rescue the King of Chu.

Zhang Xianzhong marched south from Huangmei, captured Qizhou, took Qishui River, and seized Huangzhou, Macheng, and other places.

Their troops were poised to strike Wuchang Prefecture.

Emperor Chongzhen panicked and dared not allow the Prince of Chu to fall into enemy hands again, so he hastily ordered the nearby Ming army to come to his rescue.

As for Lin Dao in Jiangnan, he has been training his troops in Jiangnan and has not made any major military moves, so let's just pretend he doesn't exist.

The news quickly reached Lin Dao's side.

A map was spread out on the table, and Lin Dao's finger landed on Wuchang Prefecture.

"The Great Western King has not yet been crowned king."

"Huguang is a good place, the granary of the world."

"We can't let Zhang Xianzhong destroy this place."

My finger slid down and landed on Jiujiang Prefecture.

"To take Huguang, we must first capture Jiujiang."

Lin Dao slapped his hand on the map.

"Zuo Liangyu of Jiujiang, a bandit!"

"Gather our troops, it's time for us to send out our forces."

The recruit training has already shown initial results.

Another batch of veterans were transferred to form a legion and advance westward along the Yangtze River.

In the battles south of the Yangtze River, the fleet was of paramount importance.

Lin Dao also invested heavily in the navy, pouring in a large amount of money.

Fishermen and sailors along the river were conscripted to fill vacancies in the navy.

They even ordered large quantities of wooden sailboats with engines in the modern world.

As for cannons, the craftsmen of Yonghe Time and Space have been making them.

The problem is that the workload is too heavy and there is a shortage of manpower, which prevents production from increasing.

Lin Dao purchased a large number of cannons from Macau through the Jesuits.

The price paid was the confiscation of a large quantity of porcelain, silk fabrics, and various basic industrial products from the modern world.

Having made all the necessary preparations, Lin Dao personally led more than ten battalions of troops, mainly from Yiwu, Taizhou, Chuzhou, Wenzhou and other places.

They advanced by both land and water, heading straight for Jiujiang Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)