Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The news of Dali City changing hands was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, instantly shattering the psychological defenses of the chieftains throughout Yunnan.

Some of the chieftains, large and small, who had originally been subordinate to Mu Tianbo were still observing, while others were eager to make their move and try to gain benefits from the chaos.

But Xiao Chen's reaction was faster, more ruthless, and more thorough than they had anticipated.

At the Daming Gate of the capital, amidst the sounds of morning bells and evening drums, an imperial edict was dispatched via express courier, traveling 800 li to Yunnan and proclaiming its message throughout the land:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Yunnan is located in the remote southwest. Since previous dynasties, local chieftains have been established to control it."

However, as time went by, the chieftains became hereditary, effectively independent, and even colluded with foreign powers, obstructing the nation's development—a heinous crime!

The decree to abolish the hereditary chieftain system in Yunnan Province is hereby issued: Effective immediately!

The Yunnan Provincial Administration Commission was reorganized, with a governor, an inspector, and a military commander appointed directly by the imperial court to govern the province!

All territories under the jurisdiction of the Tusi (chieftains) shall be subject to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty in accordance with the procedures for census, land survey, and tax collection.

Those who perform meritorious service will be rewarded; those who disobey will be punished! So be it!

This imperial edict was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pan, instantly igniting the entire Yunnan province.

"Reform the native chieftain system and replace it with centrally appointed officials?"

Ma Qiancheng, who was handling the aftermath at the Kunming residence (formerly Mu Tianbo's mansion), frowned as he held the newly received official report. "His Majesty is serious now. This is much more difficult than winning a few battles."

Shen Dong, now acting governor of Yunnan, stood to the side with a grave expression: "General Ma, the chieftains have been operating in Yunnan for hundreds of years, their influence is deep-rooted. They have their own army, laws, and even their own writing system. If we suddenly abolish hereditary titles and replace them with appointed officials, will those chieftains be willing to accept it? I'm afraid rebellions will break out in various places one after another."

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Deng Zhilong, rubbing his hands together eagerly, shouted, "Anyone who dares to disobey? Our flintlock muskets and mountain guns don't discriminate! This humble general will go and twist the heads off those chieftains who are jumping the highest!"

"stupid!"

Ma Qiancheng glared at him. "Killing people is easy, but governing them is difficult. Since His Majesty dared to issue this decree, he must have considered everything. Moreover, look at the detailed rules attached to this edict."

He pointed to the densely packed articles at the back of the official gazette:

"First, any chieftain who voluntarily surrenders his seal and submits to the government shall be granted an honorary title and rank according to his or her contribution, be given a thousand taels of silver, be relocated to the interior, and be well supported for life."

"Second, those who originally had private armies and were willing to submit should be selected to be incorporated into the Shenwu Army or local garrisons, while the rest should be dismissed and given land."

"Third, after the land survey, taxes will be waived for three years, land reclamation will be encouraged, and advanced agricultural tools and crops from the Central Plains will be promoted."

"Fourth, establish the 'Yunnan Provincial Education Commissioner' to hold imperial examinations and select officials. The sons of chieftains will take the exams at the same time as Han Chinese, and the best candidates will be selected for employment."

Shen Dong gasped, "Your Majesty is using... a carrot and a stick approach! First, military intimidation; then, enticement with benefits; and finally, cultural assimilation!"

"good."

A hint of admiration flashed in Ma Qiancheng's eyes. "Dealing with these chieftains can't be done by just killing them. We need to show them benefits and a future. Especially this imperial examination system—that's the real solution! If the chieftains' sons are willing to study and take the exams, who would want to go back to being a mountain bandit?"

However, on the seventh day after the edict was issued, the rebellion still broke out.

In Simao, southern Yunnan, the Dai chieftain Dao Hanmeng, together with several local Jingpo and Achang chieftains, raised the banner of "driving out the Han and protecting the land," gathered 30,000 people, besieged the newly appointed county government, killed officials, and blocked the grain supply route.

Almost simultaneously, the Naxi chieftain of Lijiang in northwestern Yunnan also detained the envoy who came to deliver the imperial edict, threatening to fight the court to the death.

News of the rebellion spread like wildfire to Kunming.

"General, this humble general requests permission to lead the troops!" Deng Zhilong pleaded again, "This humble general is willing to lead my elite troops straight to Simao and wipe out Dao Hanmeng's stronghold!"

Ma Qiancheng remained unusually calm. He unfolded the map and traced his finger across several key points: "No rush. Dao Han's sudden appearance is just right. His Majesty said he wants to make an example of him."

He immediately assigned tasks:

"Deng Zhilong, you're taking two thousand men, not to attack Simao, but to attack his backer—the grain supply route on the Lancang River! Cut off his connection with the Toungoo Dynasty of Burma!"

"Li Rumei, you will lead a portion of the Divine Martial Army, equipped with new artillery, to Chuxiong, creating the appearance of an attack on Lijiang, but do not actually attack. Surround them without attacking, just to scare that Naxi chieftain!"

"Send an order to Governor Shen to immediately reinstate those minor chieftains and Han officials we previously persuaded to rebel, and have them step forward to appease the other wavering tribes. Tell those chieftains that as long as they don't join the rebellion, their previous privileges will be recognized by the court and they will even be given new land!"

"Most importantly—"

A cold glint flashed in Ma Qiancheng's eyes. "Send out the Imperial Guards to investigate evidence of Dao Hanmeng's collusion with the Dongyu Dynasty! Especially his correspondence with Dongyu general Mangyingli (Mangyinglong's brother)!"

In just half a month, the situation changed drastically.

Dao Hanmeng realized that he was being isolated.

The Burmese government was preoccupied with internal power struggles within the Toungoo Dynasty and had no time to attend to him.

Other chieftains, seeing that the imperial court not only did not send a large army to suppress them, but also sent people to appease them and promised benefits, began to waver.

Even more fatally, Ma Qiancheng obtained irrefutable evidence that Dao Hanmeng was colluding with foreign powers.

"Order the entire army to attack!"

Ma Qiancheng finally issued the order for the final assault: "Target: Simao! I want all the chieftains in Yunnan to see the consequences of colluding with foreign powers and resisting the imperial court!"

This battle is known as the "Simao Punishment Battle".

Instead of using a large army to besiege the city, Ma Qiancheng demonstrated what "dimensional reduction attack" means.

He dispatched a small elite force to quickly move along the newly built post road and cut off all external access routes to Simao.

Then, the Shenwu Army's flintlock musketeers occupied the surrounding hilltops to carry out precise sniping.

Mountain howitzers, meanwhile, conducted indirect fire bombardment across several mountain ridges, specifically targeting enemy assembly points and command posts.

Dao Hanmeng's "army" was utterly routed in the face of modern firepower, like clay chickens and earthenware dogs.

Just three days later, Dao Hanmeng was killed by a stray arrow in the chaos of battle (actually, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who secretly carried out the attack).

When Simao fell, Ma Qiancheng did not carry out a massacre. Instead, he publicly read out the charges against Dao Hanmeng for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. Then, he brought to the forefront a Han official who was well-versed in the Dai language and was fair-minded, as well as some local chieftains who were willing to cooperate.

"From now on, Simao will be under the jurisdiction of the Great Xia Dynasty! We will pay taxes according to the laws of the Dynasty, but we will also enjoy the protection and relief of the Dynasty!" Ma Qiancheng's voice was broadcast throughout the city through the megaphone.

This combination of swift suppression and gentle appeasement had an immediate and remarkable effect.

Upon seeing this, the Naxi chieftain of Lijiang immediately released the envoy and wrote a letter to apologize.

Other chieftains who had been eager to rebel also submitted petitions to submit their allegiance, and some even voluntarily surrendered their official seals.

In just three months, the situation in Yunnan has achieved the initial "reform of local chieftains and direct administration" with almost no large-scale bloodshed.

In Kunming, inside the newly established Yunnan Provincial Administration Office, Shen Dong looked at the mountain of household registers and land maps on his desk and sighed with emotion: "General Ma, it seems that His Majesty's strategy is correct."

Military force is a backup, but shared interests and cultural values ​​are the foundation for integration.

Ma Qiancheng wiped his short-handled flintlock pistol and said calmly, "This is just the beginning. The chieftains are gone, but their influence remains underground. Moreover, there's that tiger, the Toungoo Dynasty, watching from the border. However..."

He gazed northwards, his eyes resolute: "As long as His Majesty controls the Yunnan copper, and with money and guns, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau will eventually become the most secure rear area for the Great Xia!"