You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 294 The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army Voluntarily Attacks Fenglingdu in Shanxi!
"The first bend of the Yellow River stretches for thousands of miles, and there is an ancient pass on the banks of Fenglingdu."

"We first met at Fengling Ferry, and one glimpse of Yang Guo changed my life forever. I only regret that I was born too late for him, and I remember the ancients before the Cliff of Broken Hearts."

Fenglingdu!
It is extremely famous.

Located at the southern gateway of Shanxi Province, it holds an extremely important military position.

Governor-General Meng Qiaofang of Shaanxi and Gansu was well aware of the significance of the pledge of allegiance: firstly, to demonstrate his attitude, and secondly, to demonstrate his strength.

He mobilized 15,000 Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers to set off quickly, march swiftly, and launch an attack, all in order not to be looked down upon by Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek.

……

On the banks of the Yellow River.

Behind head coach Meng Qiaofang stood more than a dozen members of the Meng clan.

As the saying goes: "Father and son fight together, brothers go to war together, and the rise and fall of a family is the responsibility of the male members; this has been the case since ancient times."

Meng Qiaofang deliberately asked:
"Your Excellency, what do you think of the military bearing of my soldiers from Shaanxi and Gansu?"

"High morale and strict discipline."

A middle-aged general rushed over, knelt on one knee, bowed his head and clasped his hands.

"This humble general greets Your Excellency the Governor-General and Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy."

"Meng Qiaomei, listen to my command."

"The end will be here."

"Your unit must capture Fenglingdu Fortress before sunset. If you fail, you will be beheaded."

"I will obey my orders."

Wu Yong found the format of the name somewhat familiar, so he tentatively asked, "And who is this?"

"He is my younger brother."

Instantly, Wu Yong was filled with awe.

Amidst the deafening sound of war drums, Meng Qiaomei loudly gave a pre-battle pep talk.

"All personnel, remove your armor and prepare to cross the river."

"The governor has ordered that Fenglingdu Fortress be taken at all costs before sunset today. If all the soldiers are dead, the battalion commanders will fill the gaps; if all the battalion commanders are dead, the centurions will fill the gaps; if all the centurions are dead, the captains, lieutenants, and adjutants will fill the gaps. If they are all dead, I will fill the gaps myself."

"General, is there any money to be paid?"

A young soldier in the ranks shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes! Each person who crosses the river will receive 5 taels, those who die in the river will receive 7 taels, those who die on the other side will receive 10 taels, their heads will receive 2 taels, and the first to reach the other side will receive 50 taels."

"Good~"

The soldiers seemed quite satisfied with the price and began to clamor to go into the water.

One after another, simple ferries sailed towards the other side. Although it was not the flood season, the Yellow River's temperament was still not to be underestimated. The small boats rose and fell in the waves, making people hold their breath.

Before long, a boat capsized.

Wu Yong heard a gasp behind him.

"You coward, you died young."

"Damn it, he should die on the other side."

Wu Yong felt as if he had entered a new world; he had never encountered such a ruthless and dangerous man who risked his life like this before.

……

"Your Excellency, here you go."

Wu Yong took the brass telescope handed to him by Meng Qiaofang and looked at the opposite shore more clearly.

The first line of defense at Fengling Pass was a low wall built of stone along the riverbank, where Jin soldiers used matchlock guns, three-eyed muskets, and bows and arrows to intercept and kill the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers who landed.

The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers who landed charged forward desperately, shields in hand. People kept being hit by arrows and falling, but those around them kept charging forward regardless.

In just half an hour~
The Jin army's first line of defense has been breached.

The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army began its siege of the fortress.

At the same time, the air ferry also returned.

The second group of soldiers boarded the ship with great fanfare and rowed frantically to the other side, seemingly not to fight a war, but to make a fortune.

Smoke filled the air, and arrows pierced the sky.

The walls of Fenglingdu Fortress are neither tall nor thick, but as long as the defenders are determined enough, the attacking side cannot take it down without four or five times the number of troops and at the cost of heavy casualties.

General Meng Qiaomei drew his sword and roared, "Brothers, set up the assault poles, hook the grappling hooks, and the first to scale the ramp will be rewarded with 100 taels of silver!"

The incentives were effective.

The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers, shields raised, charged fiercely against the gunfire. Those in front were killed, and those behind took their place. They charged all the way to the city wall and exchanged fire with firearms and bows and arrows.

The Jin army on the fortress walls began to suffer continuous casualties.

The battle was fierce, and Wu Yong watched intently.

At this moment, the third group of soldiers crossed the river.

……

The Jin army defending the Fenglingdu fortress collapsed. It was impossible to verify who the first person to flee in the face of battle was. In any case, the collapse of a small snowflake triggered the entire avalanche.

On the blood-stained city walls, the figures of Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army soldiers appeared.

Meng Qiaofang put down her telescope, coughing and laughing loudly at the same time. "I urge Your Excellency to report the loyalty of the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army to the court upon your return."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Although Wu Yong didn't understand military affairs, he understood politics. Meng Qiaofang finally pledged her loyalty.

Fifteen minutes later~
The Green Standard Army's triangular flags were raised on the fortress walls of Fengling Pass, and the city gates were opened from the inside.

Meng Qiaofang smiled:
"Imperial Envoy, would you like to cross the river with me?"

"it is good."

Although he was on a relatively large ferry, Wu Yong still felt his heart pounding with fear amidst the surging waves of the Yellow River.

The wind is howling, and people are shouting.

Ah ~
Yellow River
……

The Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army executed all prisoners on the banks of the Yellow River, partly to mourn their fallen comrades and partly to collect more bounty.

Wu Yong looked at a shirtless man being cheered and surrounded by a crowd, feeling slightly puzzled.

"What are you doing?"

"Your Excellency, he was the first brave warrior to scale the walls."

"Let him come over."

Before long, the first warriors arrived.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy."

"What is your name? What is your official position?"

"Dong Tianbao, a petty scoundrel, is a brigade commander in the Green Camp."

"What reward did Shangguan give you?"

"Promoted to deputy commander, rewarded with 100 taels of silver."

Wu Yong thought to himself, "What a damn stingy guy! A reward of 100 taels of silver is far too little. Even doubling it wouldn't be enough." So, he took out some gold melon seeds from his sleeve.

"Take it."

"Thank you, Lord Qincha, thank you, Lord Qincha."

Dong Tianbao kowtowed repeatedly.

It's not surprising that a mere brigand is greedy for money; what is surprising is that a guerrilla general standing next to Dong Tianbao also revealed a wolf-like greed.

Wu Yong thought to himself, "What, you've never seen money before?"

……

while eating.

Wu Yong specifically asked about it.

"Your Excellency, what are the casualties of our army in today's battle?"

"Nearly two thousand men died, and the Jin army on the other side suffered about the same fate. But those guys were really cowards; they didn't even set fire to the fortress when they fled, leaving us with all the food and supplies. Hahahaha~"

After three rounds of drinking.

Meng Qiaofang suddenly said, "Imperial Envoy, I am willing to obey the court's orders."

“Great! I think the Grand Secretary will be very happy to hear this news. After we join forces to open up Shanxi, it will be much easier to transport military supplies from the capital to Shaanxi and Gansu.”

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

That evening, Wu Yong wrote to the capital, informing them that Fenglingdu had fallen and it was time to take over Shanxi and plunder the wealth accumulated by generations of Shanxi merchants.

……

Suburbs of Beijing.

Xishan Camp.

Suddenly, the drums sounded to signal the assembly, and the flag bearers, who were running shirtless, quickly assembled.

"The Grand Secretary has arrived!"

Everyone knelt down on one knee to welcome the "loving yet strict father, brave yet tough leader".

That's how the Grand Secretary is described in plays.

The public did not object to this.

However, everyone was hoping that the Grand Secretary would lead them to a crucial military victory, dispelling the last lingering unease in their hearts.

A leader must establish himself after one or two key military victories.

A leader who cannot win battles is not a qualified leader!

……

Under the watchful eyes of the bannermen~
A 10x10 cavalry square marched in first! All were black warhorses, all carried rectangular bright red banners, all wore black armor, and all wore black masks.

The cavalrymen were spaced at the same intervals, and the horses' hooves moved in unison.

Uniform and orderly, a perfect example of violent aesthetics!
Everyone couldn't help but get excited!

A shampoo boy once said:
In this world, no male can resist the aesthetics of the Germans! No male can resist the power of the Germans!

If he were, his name would be Judas.

(End of this chapter)