Colonial Era: From Remnants to European Dominator

The land of Northwest China always gives people a sense of desolation and loneliness, like wild birds and horses flying over the desert, free and wild.

Just like the sorghum grown locally, it is so resilient and so full of vitality.

"The Yellow River's water is still bitter!!"

Li Yuanheng scooped up a handful of fairly clear river water, and as soon as it entered his mouth, he spat it out:

"The tributaries are the same way. How many years has it been since the Qing dynasty properly managed the Yellow River?"

"Hu Qing was mostly just going through the motions in managing the Yellow River. Moreover, managing the Yellow River is a major undertaking that will cost a lot of money. Wouldn't it be better to use that money to support the people of the country? Why would he spend money on river management?"

Luo Guisheng, standing to the side, launched into another tirade against Hu Qing:

"In the past, when Guanzhong suffered from a drought, the government ostensibly provided disaster relief, but in reality, they joined the merchants in hoarding and speculating, making a fortune from the disaster. The amount of relief they actually provided was only one or two out of ten."

"If Shaanxi is like this, the Hetao region is not much better. When Mongolians sell sheep, they are also subject to heavy taxes. The so-called Qing Dynasty is actually just a slave of the Aisin Gioro family."

"Moreover, the Mongols also needed to shave their heads and change their clothes, following the bad custom of the Jurchens from beyond the Great Wall."

"Do Mongolians also have to shave their heads and change their clothes?"

In Li Yuanheng's view, what he had just mentioned were all basic practices of the Qing Dynasty. However, the fact that the Mongols were also forced to shave their heads and change their clothes, just like the Han Chinese, truly refreshed his understanding of the so-called unity between the Manchus and Mongols.

Aside from the one in the palace, everyone else in the world is just a servant; no one can truly remain untainted.

"That's not all. The Jurchen people outside the Great Wall also had a hard time. When I was in Xi'an Prefecture, I met a Han official who had been granted special permission to leave the Great Wall. He told me that some civil officials who had been exiled to the area, along with their families, not only taught in the area but also taught them how to farm. In just a year or two, the Jurchen people there had a much better life. However, this matter eventually leaked out and was quickly wiped out by the Qing army stationed there."

"Even that Hu emperor in the Forbidden City said not to learn the extravagant habits of the Han people, lest their courage and vigor be lost."

Luo Guisheng spoke with resentment, but Li Yuanheng, after listening, responded with a mixture of disdain and respect:

"Such shamelessness is how one manages to secure their position as the ruler of the Central Plains!!"

"One cannot rule the world without being shameless!!"

Luo Guisheng was speechless for a moment. The Yellow River beside him was still boiling, constantly splashing waves onto the riverbank, wetting the shoes and socks of many of his followers, including Li Yuanheng's own.

On the banks of the Yellow River, there was an endless stream of people, men and women, strong men and young boys, all carrying shoulder poles or driving horse-drawn carts, donkey carts, mule carts, or even oxcarts, heading towards the direction of the army ahead.

Witnessing this scene, Li Yuanheng had mixed feelings. In fact, from the perspective of a person's conscience, what he did was definitely wrong, but as a person in power, everything he did at this moment was correct.

To put it nicely, what he did was to free these people from the enslavement of the Qing dogs, and I believe that in the future, their descendants will understand the significance of all this.

But now, this team is probably filled with curses and self-reproach.

Gazing at the seemingly endless crowd, listening to the cries of cattle, horses, mules, and even children, Li Yuanheng remained silent for a long time.

"Only the Spring and Autumn Annals know my sins!!"

---------

At night, a dozen or so people huddled around a campfire for warmth. Tens of thousands of people had consumed countless amounts of firewood along the way. Even if people were organized to go up the mountain to cut firewood, the firewood would not be enough for the time being. They could only supply more and save some firewood for later use.

"The little sister got into the bridal sedan chair----"

"Wearing a red flower on his head and riding a big horse, with a face like a knife and eyes like a dragon—"

"Just waiting to enter the bridal chamber, to enter the bridal chamber----"

The folk tunes of the North, illuminated by the campfire, allowed people to temporarily put aside the fatigue of the day. Children gathered together to play, some snored loudly, and some elders told stories from long ago, surrounded by a group of children with their own local accents.

Meanwhile, the grassland soldiers guarding them also had their own entertainment: singing, dancing, laughter, and the smell of alcohol—all for amusement and fleeting pleasure.

"Brother, those guys are really bold. The day before yesterday, they fought with the local Mongolian tribes in Mongolia. I heard that both sides suffered losses. The Qing army sent several thousand cavalry to help them, and they only managed to retreat several dozen miles."

"But we'll have to fight sooner or later."

Hu Wu sat cross-legged, chewing on a slightly burnt dried date. The bitter and sweet taste made his mind clearer, and he spoke more coherently than usual.

"In my opinion, these Dzungar women are only good at raiding. We've won all the major battles, while they're good at plundering. They loot every place they go, taking people, food, and money. We did the hardest work, and in the end, we still have to share half with these bastards. How unfair is that?!"

"Anyway, I can't stand it anymore. I might as well part ways with these bastards. If something really goes wrong, I can just push it onto the Qing dogs. What can that so-called Dzungar Khan say? He won't even be able to fart."

Li Yuanheng drank the meat soup from the earthenware pot.

"It's not that simple. Think about it, if the Dzungar allied forces hadn't helped us draw the attention of the Qing army in the north, would we have been able to fight so smoothly in Yulin, just for the battle of Yansui Town?"

"Besides, these people are our greatest benefit. There is no greater benefit than these. Why would I rather give more money to that good-for-nothing Nayan? It's all for the sake of these people. Remember, in chaotic times, people are worthless, but without people, you are nothing."

"Jinshan is short of people; people are more precious than gold and silver. I would rather give money than give people."

Hu Wu, sitting opposite him, scratched his head:

"I, Old Hu, don't understand all of Da Lang's intricacies, but what's our next step? We can't just lead these people home like this, can we? The troops haven't been fed yet!!"

Li Yuanheng, holding the charcoal fire and poking at the sweet potatoes inside, smelled the aroma and answered in a way that was both joking and serious:

"How about attacking Guihua? Let's break through Guihua and let the world see the might of the Jinshan men and know the prestige of Jinshan."

"Guihua—whatever Dalang says goes. Even if we wipe out the dog's lair and capture that dog emperor, I won't bat an eye."

Li Yuanheng looked at the domineering but loyal Hu Wu, as if he had remembered something, and immediately asked:

"Among those steppe soldiers, are there any men you'd be satisfied with?"

"There are several of them, all of whom were originally warriors from the tribe. Two of them speak excellent Chinese, and the highest-ranking one is currently serving as the captain."

Hu Wu didn't understand why this matter was being asked, and pressed for an answer with some confusion:

"Why is Dalang asking all this nonsense? Does he intend to give him an important position?"

"That's right. We should give important positions to all the grassland soldiers who participated in the battle against Yansui Town, and we should also reform the military system and promote more talented people."

Li Yuanheng's sudden answer left Hu Wu dumbfounded:

"If they are all promoted, what will happen to the rest of us? What if, in the future, these scoundrels are also on the same level as us?"

"Of course not. I plan to add another layer to the current battalion system to accommodate meritorious officials like you and Lu Heng."

"Add another layer----"

Hu Wu's eyes widened like glutinous rice balls as he stared at Li Yuanheng, who had a serious expression on his face, wondering what trick his eldest son was up to.

"The new system is called a brigade, with five battalions forming one brigade. The brigade commander is called a brigade commander and also holds the rank of captain. He is a captain under the same rank as the captain of the rank of officer, but one rank higher. The brigade's strength ranges from three thousand to four thousand men."

"The entire army now has a total of six thousand men. We will select four battalions from our headquarters plus one battalion of elite armored cavalry, totaling three thousand five hundred, to form the Eagle Division Brigade. You will be the brigade commander, and Lu Heng will be the deputy commander, leading the armored cavalry."

[A large elite cavalry unit of a thousand men, belonging to a specially organized battalion.]

Hu Wu swallowed hard, cold sweat suddenly beading on his forehead. He immediately knelt down on the ground, reddened by the campfire. Not knowing how to express his gratitude, he simply kowtowed a few times, then paused, leaving Li Yuanheng both amused and exasperated. He had to scold and pull Hu Wu until he finally stood up and, somewhat shyly, began to speak:

"Does my eldest son like beautiful women? In the future, I, Old Hu, will definitely lead this Eagle Division to break down that damned Forbidden City, seize all the wives of the Tartar emperor, and present them to my eldest son----"

"Bring his mother here too!!"

"roll!!"