Late Ming Dynasty: Special Forces in 1645

The next day, Yang Xuedong made up his mind and went to the government office to say goodbye to Li Chengming.

Seeing that Yang Xuedong was determined to leave, Li Chengming asked, "Judge Yang, what's wrong with scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants all paying taxes together?"

Yang Xuedong said, "The monarch governs the world with the scholar-officials, not with the common people!"

It means that scholars are the ruling class and should be superior to others.

Li Chengming was disdainful and decided to give him a taste of his own medicine: "I have heard the sage say: the people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important. The country is based on the people, and the state exists for the people! On the contrary, the sage never said that the scholar-officials are the most important."

"This..." Yang Xuedong's face flushed red. These words were indeed spoken by the sage, and he had no way to refute them. He could only stubbornly say, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are not the same as the common people. The sage also said: Governing is not difficult; one must not offend the powerful!"

This means that not all people, including scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, are considered "people" as described by the sage. Only landlords, gentry, and scholars are considered "people," and governance should not offend landlords, gentry, and scholars.

Li Chengming was too lazy to argue with him and said directly, "I took Xinzhou City with the help of soldiers from the common people. I treated them well and fed them well, so they helped me take Xinzhou City and helped me repel the Zheng family's five thousand elite soldiers!"

The Ming Dynasty court treated scholars well, entrusting the country to them for governance. What did these scholars give back to the court? When Emperor Chongzhen committed suicide, how many scholars followed him in death? Didn't they all surrender to the new rulers?

When Li Zicheng came, people knelt before him; when Dorgon came, people knelt before him. Tell me, where has the backbone of scholars gone?

Li Chengming was also furious. At this point, you still insist on maintaining your status as a scholar? Where is your face?

If it weren't for your ability to get things done, we would have kicked you out of the city long ago!

After hearing Li Chengming's words, Yang Xuedong turned pale and stood there at a loss for what to do.

Because what Li Chengming said was true, and it touched on the sore spot of intellectuals.

Even though Yang Xuedong believed that it was only the work of a small number of shameless officials, he had no way to refute it.

The world has become like this, and scholars bear at least half the responsibility.

Seeing Yang Xuedong standing there speechless, Li Chengming gestured to Yan Huidong, who was watching the show from the side, that it was time for his performance.

Yan Huidong then took the box, took out the drone, and said, "Chief Secretary Yang, let me show you something first, then you can decide whether you want to join the Restoration Army!"

Yang Xuedong asked instinctively, "What is it?"

After assembling the drone, Yan Huidong began to exaggerate, "This thing is called a drone. It was a gift from heaven to us brothers when we were learning our skills overseas."

Yang Xuedong: What does it mean to study abroad and receive divine guidance?

Yan Huidong explained, "The eight of us brothers came from different provinces. During the Chongzhen era, we went to sea to make a living. We met overseas and formed a team to fight against the hunting by the local natives. The team we formed was called a special forces unit, or a commando unit..."

Li Chengming knew that many people were asking about their backgrounds, so he thought it was time to fabricate a plausible origin for the assault team members.

After all, no one wants to follow a group of people of unknown origin.

Yan Huidong continued, "Later, my brothers and I encountered a man who claimed to be Zhang Bairen, well, the Jade Emperor as everyone says, but at the time, we brothers didn't know..."

Yang Xuedong asked, "What happened next?" Although he didn't believe it, he still followed Yan Huidong's instructions and asked.

"...Later, he taught us brothers the principles of military campaigns and the pursuit of knowledge, and he also bestowed upon us long-range firearms and drones..."

Yan Huidong didn't care whether Yang Xuedong believed it or not; he just wanted to fool him for now. He figured that once Yang Xuedong saw all sorts of amazing things, he would convince himself to believe it and spread the word.

Yan Huidong said, "Zhang Bairen told us brothers that he taught us various skills because the land of China is experiencing a calamity, and he wanted us to return to help the people..."

After exhausting himself with his rambling, Yang Xuedong simply smiled calmly, showing no sign of disbelief.

Yan Huidong then showed the drone to Yang Xuedong, saying, "This is the drone bestowed by the Jade Emperor. It can fly and look down upon the earth."

Yan Huidong took the drone outside and piloted it into flight.

This left Yang Xuedong speechless with astonishment, his hands and feet trembling slightly with excitement. He murmured, "A miracle! This is absolutely a miracle!"

He didn't believe Yan Huidong's strange story at first, but when he saw the drone take off in front of him, he started to believe it.

Yan Huidong held the tablet computer up to Yang Xuedong, which startled Yang Xuedong once again.

"What, what is this?" Yang Xuedong's voice trembled as he saw the footage captured by the drone on the tablet.

The tablet displayed the government office in Xinzhou City. As the drone flew higher and higher, the entire city of Xinzhou gradually came into view on the tablet.

Yang Xuedong was stunned, but the drone continued to rise!

The outlines of mountains and rivers gradually appeared on the tablet, showcasing the magnificent landscape of Xinzhou.

After showing Yang Xuedong the amazing capabilities of the drone, Li Chengming invited him back to the hall and said, "Well, Judge Yang, we are not people who speak carelessly. There are gods watching over us; who would dare to joke about matters of ghosts and spirits?"

Yang Xuedong nodded repeatedly, his gaze still fixed on the tablet computer in Yan Huidong's hand outside, looking as if he hadn't had enough.

Li Chengming said, "With those drones, the enemy's troop deployments are completely clear to our Restoration Army. With the skills bestowed upon us by heaven, our Restoration Army will surely conquer the world in the future. Magistrate Yang, are you still willing to follow us?"

Yang Xuedong hurriedly knelt down: "This humble servant is willing, I am willing to follow the general to cleanse the world, and I will not hesitate to go through fire and water!"

Looking at Yang Xuedong's apprehensive appearance, Li Chengming wondered if they had gone too far in deceiving him.

It's good that Yang Xuedong is willing to surrender; he's seen such confidential information. If he didn't surrender, they wouldn't be able to let him leave Xinzhou City.

At this moment, Yang Xuedong was truly amazed by the drone, and at the same time, he believed what he had previously thought was a hoax.

Yang Xuedong's true thoughts were: "If I am granted this mandate by Heaven, isn't that the divine right of kings? I am the chosen emperor! If I can follow the Restoration Army and achieve great things, what do my family's lands matter? What do mere empty titles matter..."

Li Chengming helped Yang Xuedong up and said to him, "In the eyes of Heaven, all beings are equal, so you don't need to kneel before us. Remember, the Restoration Army does not practice kneeling.

Li Chengming exchanged a glance with Yan Huidong, who had just put away the drone and entered. He was secretly pleased: now they had someone in charge of implementing the new policy. The land survey and the unified taxation of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants would provoke countless resistance efforts. Finally, they had someone to test the waters.

Yang Xuedong knew exactly what Li Chengming wanted him to do, and volunteered, "General Li, I have many former subordinates, some of whom are still serving in the city, while others have been sent back home. May I summon them back to work together for the Restoration Army?"

Li Chengming quickly agreed: "Sure, of course."

They even brought their own team, saving Li Chengming a lot of trouble. How could he refuse? However, he could recruit the clerks himself, but the officials would have to pass Li Chengming's assessment.

Finally, we have skilled personnel to implement the new policy, and all the previous deception and performance were worthwhile.

Next, a new policy of "land surveying and taxation, with scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans paying taxes together" will be implemented in Fenglingtou Town.