Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 154 This King Has No Money!

Pengze County Government Office.

Looking at Zuo Liangyu's hideous head, Lin Dao felt somewhat disappointed.

"He could be considered a powerful and ruthless figure, if not a truly cunning one."

"How could he die so tragically?"

"You've been beheaded by bandits, what a disgrace you are."

"General," the guard reported, "those pirates are demanding a reward."

Lin Dao frowned. "Are they mountain bandits or outlaws?"

"Their main camp was in the mountains, and they usually operated on the river, mainly collecting fees from fishermen, extorting and robbing passing ships, and doing shady work for local gentry and landlords."

"Their business is quite extensive." Lin was amused. "Arrest them all and interrogate them."

"Ask them which master they served and what they served."

"After you've finished questioning them, slaughter them all and throw them into the river to feed the fish."

The guard was somewhat surprised and subconsciously replied, "General, they've come to present the enemy chieftain's head."

“They are bandits.” Lin Dao’s expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, “Bandits are bandits. We cannot erase our past sins just because we have done something.”

“This is not a Buddhist temple; we don’t preach the idea of ​​‘laying down the butcher’s knife and instantly becoming a Buddha.’”

"Interrogate them thoroughly, and punish all those who have committed crimes."

The guards who had received the order were about to leave when Lin Dao called them back.

“They brought Zuo Liangyu’s head; they should be given the reward they deserve.”

"If any of them are innocent and have not committed any evil deeds, they shall be allowed to take the reward and leave."

Lin Dao knew very well that if he did this, local forces would no longer willingly submit to him.

Okay~~~
He never expected anything from these people in the first place!
Again.

If the goal is to achieve speedrunning and unify the world.

He had long since compromised with powerful eunuchs, cooperated with gentry, incorporated local bandits and pirates, and recruited and accepted the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty.

If that's the case, then why is Tataliang struggling so much right now?

Mountain bandits, outlaws, and river pirates—aren't they all wicked and vicious villains who have committed countless evil deeds?

Because they had taken Zuo Liangyu's head, they were spared.

How much pain and despair must the people who have died tragically at his hands and been harmed by him have felt over the years?

Even in the underworld, there would be endless wailing.

What Lin Dao needs to do is not compromise and co-opt them, but to speak up for those people who no longer have the chance to speak!

A thousand years have passed, and few people speak up for these poor souls.

Then I'll do it!

When the army reached Hukou, they learned that the garrison of Jiujiang Prefecture had collapsed and was looting the city.

The fleet, laden with soldiers, quickly docked and easily entered the city to quell the fleeing troops.

This fortified city was easily captured without even experiencing much fighting.

Outside Jiujiang City, rows of wooden poles were covered with the heads of defeated soldiers and ruffians who had looted both inside and outside the city.

Lin Dao entered the city and readjusted the deployment.

He divided his troops into three.

They traveled south from Hukou, entered Raozhou Prefecture in Jingdezhen, then Guangxin Prefecture, and headed towards Jianchang Prefecture, approaching Fujian.

Another route was to travel south from Jiujiang to De'an, then to Nanchang Prefecture, then down to Linjiang, Fuzhou, and finally to Ganzhou.

These two groups of people traveled south along both banks of Poyang Lake, accompanied by a large number of boats carrying supplies.

Lin Dao's order to them was to recruit local people in each prefecture along the way to form a battalion of soldiers.

They distributed land, provided equipment and training, and assigned bodyguards and senior sergeants to command the troops.

While defending the local area, they also quelled bandits, mountain bandits, and river pirates, and suppressed local gentry, landlords, powerful families, and temples.

"Once you conquer a place, you must hold it."

"Do not trust the local officials and gentry; the only people you can rely on are the people who have been allocated land."

Historically, Li Zicheng swept across northern China.

People everywhere surrendered without resistance and raised Li Zicheng's banner.

However, when news of Li Zicheng's defeat came, these former Ming Dynasty officials and local gentry immediately turned against him.

These real-life examples serve as a warning to Lin Dao that these guys are unreliable.

Only those who have been allocated land will risk their lives to protect it and their hard-won good life!

Lin Dao personally led a group of men westward along the Yangtze River towards Wuchang.

"Huang Hu, you have too much bloodlust."

Passing through Huangmei, all I could see was dilapidated ruin.

The villages and towns were dilapidated, with ruins and broken walls everywhere.

Corpses littered the roadside, with red-eyed stray dogs carrying bones weaving through them.

All able-bodied men and women were captured, and their wealth and food were looted.

The sight terrified the soldiers.

It's unimaginable what would happen if bandits invaded my hometown.

The prefectures in Jiangnan have basically never experienced war.

Although life is tough, we can still get by.

They never imagined that the land ravaged by bandits would be so terrifying.

Amidst the shock, a surge of courage and fighting spirit gradually welled up within him.

Under no circumstances should we allow the bandits to reach our hometown.

"Provide disaster relief first." Lin Dao instructed his personal guards, "The wounded soldiers can be discharged along the way to stabilize the local areas."

“Recruit the remaining people along the way, distribute land and supplies, and carry out self-rescue.”

The guards obeyed and left, leaving Lin Dao scratching his head in bewilderment.

Previously, they had been operating in wealthy areas like Jiangnan, and the spoils they seized far exceeded their expenses.

Now that we've officially entered the ravaged territory, it goes without saying that expenses will far exceed income.

"If I have the chance to go to another time and space, I hope to go to a place where I can at least be self-sufficient in food."

Turning his gaze away, Lin Dao considered Huang Hu and Zhang Xianzhong.

"Historical records cannot be entirely trusted, especially the 'History of Ming' compiled by Yezhupi."

"However, as bandits, wanton plundering and killing are inevitable."

“Zhang Xianzhong may not have been as despicable as the history books portray him; the massacre of Sichuan was more likely carried out by Yezhupi and Wu Sangui.” “But he was still guilty of heinous crimes.”

"We must make sure to keep him here on this trip to Wuchang Prefecture!"

"This will prevent it from continuing to roam around the country and causing countless harms."

Outside Wuchang city, the old camp of the bandits.

"Ah Qiu~~~"

Zhang Xianzhong sneezed a few times, shaking his head. "Who's talking bad about me, Old Zhang?"

He shook his head and looked at his adopted sons. "When will we be able to take Wuchang?"

The adopted sons exchanged glances, and Sun Kewang stepped forward to bow, saying, "Father, Huang Degong is quite capable in battle. We attacked him several times but failed to take him down."

“Huang Degong.” Zhang Xianzhong scratched his head. “Old Huang is a master of warfare.”

"His eunuch soldiers are also capable of fighting; this is troublesome."

Zhang Xianzhong preferred to speak vernacular Chinese and was quite humorous.

The term "eunuch soldiers" actually refers to the Brave Guard Battalion, which was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Horse Administration.

The eunuchs were in charge, but the soldiers were not eunuchs.

This army was essentially Emperor Chongzhen's private army. Its provisions and supplies did not go through the hands of civil officials, so it was unlikely that 30% of its provisions would be lost before it even left the capital.

With ample food supplies, the morale and combat effectiveness of the Brave Guard Battalion were naturally guaranteed.

"Zuo Liangyu from Jiujiang has gone to fight Commander Lin," Li Dingguo added. "If he defeats Commander Lin or reaches an agreement, he might turn around and attack us."

"That Lin Dao is really lucky." Zhang Xianzhong clicked his tongue repeatedly. "He occupied the best land in Jiangnan, and he has money, grain, and people."

"Why not choose a nickname? Using your real name is really bold."

"Never mind Zuo Liangyu, he won't come until we take Wuchang."

“Only after we break through Wuchang and gather our treasures and people will he come to reclaim the lost territory and ask the emperor for rewards.”

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Having dealt with the government troops for so many years, the bandits had long since figured out their intentions.

I come to plunder the land, and you come to get promoted and make a fortune.

Everyone should keep that in mind.

As for those who were truly loyal to the emperor and fought desperately against the bandits...

People like Cao Wenzhao, Cao Bianjiao, and Lu Xiangshan had already been wiped out by the combined efforts of all parties.

At this point, all those remaining were intelligent people.

"Father, Commander."

Liu Wenxiu stepped forward and said, "Huang Degong's eunuch soldiers are indeed capable fighters, but there are too few of them."

"The majority of the men in Wuchang were the able-bodied men recruited by the King of Chu."

"Let's treat it like we did when we attacked Xiangyang, and bribe those able-bodied men to open the city gates."

"Good!" Zhang Xianzhong slapped his thigh and pointed at Liu Wenxiu, "You're the clever one."

Sun Kewang, standing to the side, lowered his eyes and twitched the corner of his mouth.

He had intended to make the same suggestion, but Liu Wenxiu beat him to it.

hateful!

"Tell the able-bodied men guarding the city."

Zhang Xianzhong laughed loudly, "After it's done, I'll give them a reward of 200,000 taels of silver and allow them to plunder several streets for three days!"

Inside Wuchang city.

Huang Degong and Lu Jiude arrived at the Chu Prince's Mansion to visit Chu Prince Zhu Huakui.

"Why are you asking for money and grain again?"

Upon learning that the two men had come to demand money and provisions, the chubby Zhu Huakui was greatly displeased.

"I have already provided funds and provisions to recruit able-bodied men to defend the city."

"Why do you still need to ask for more?"

Huang Degong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the money and provisions for the able-bodied men have been collected, but most of them have disappeared without a trace."

“The recruited men not only lacked resettlement allowances and military pay, but they also had little to no food.”

"The people are in a state of panic, and we urgently need Your Majesty to provide funds and provisions to appease the army and the people."

This has been a tradition of the Ming Dynasty.

Even the money and grain paid out of the Prince's residence were embezzled without hesitation by the civil and military officials of Huguang.

They colluded with the stewards of the Prince's mansion and embezzled all the money and grain that Zhu Huakui had gritted his teeth to hand over.

The able-bodied men recruited were actually all forcibly conscripted.

Not only did they not pay the soldiers or give them rewards, they even required the able-bodied men to bring their own food.

In this situation, the able-bodied men were not only unwilling to defend the city, but they also had thoughts of wiping out the entire city.

Upon learning of this, Huang Degong was at a loss and could only bite the bullet and beg the King of Chu for another sum of money and grain.

"The Prince's mansion is already starving."

Zhu Huakui was truly stingy, and at the same time, he was well aware of the character of the high-ranking officials in Huguang.

He knew very well that even if he emptied the entire palace, the civil and military officials of the Ming Dynasty would still dare to embezzle all of the palace's property!

If that's the case, then we might as well not give a single penny.

Huang Degong was extremely anxious. "Your Majesty, our Brave Guards have come from afar and are short of food and pay."

"The soldiers who fought bravely to protect the king were not allowed to have money for burial, and the wounded soldiers had no money for medical treatment."

"If this continues, the morale of the entire army will surely plummet."

They were visiting troops, and they had only brought some provisions with them in a hurry.

As for the emperor's salary, Wuchang Prefecture was besieged, so who could deliver it in?

At this point, the only option left was to ask the King of Chu for help.

After all, this man was the real richest man in Huguang. Even a small amount of his wealth would be more than enough for the soldiers guarding the city to use.

"You should go to His Majesty and the imperial court about this matter."

Zhu Huakui, his white hair neatly combed, leisurely accepted the teacup offered by the beautiful maid.

He took a sip of tea, handed the teacup back, and then patted the chair he was sitting on.

"I have no money!"

"How about this, you can take this golden chair bestowed by the founding emperor and sell it for money!"

(End of this chapter)