roccoschili Chapter 5409 Reform through labor
Chapter 5409 Reform through labor
Chapter 5409 Reform through labor
In the dense forest, Li Jinxing, fully armored, looked at the native sentry at his feet whose throat had been cut, then looked up and saw through the gaps in the leaves and branches that a crescent moon rose and hung in the northern night sky. The unchanging Purple Star was nowhere to be seen, and a sense of unreality rose in his heart.
Perhaps one day, in some place, the sun rising in the west won't be just a wild guess...
The dense forest is located on the south slope of the mountain, at the foot of which is a valley. To the north, there are towering cliffs with a stream flowing slowly along the edge. On the side facing the dense forest, there is a gentle slope with more than a hundred thatched wooden houses scattered among them. Under the cover of night, it is quiet and peaceful, and no one is aware that the sentries who were on night duty have been silently eliminated.
Down the hillside, a group of natives on night patrol hurried past, carrying torches.
Li Jinxing raised his arm to attract the attention of nearby soldiers, then, holding a knife in one hand and a crossbow in the other, crouched low and nimbly crept forward. Dozens of soldiers, who were hiding in the bushes and leaves, followed closely behind. They moved swiftly and lightly, quickly spreading out to the sides as they ran, forming a charging line about several tens of feet wide by the time they broke out of the dense forest.
The soldiers, in groups of three, silently stormed into the indigenous tribe, breaking down doors, charging in, and killing—men, women, children, and even chickens and dogs were all spared.
Exclamations, curses, and screams shattered the tranquility of the night.
The natives were awakened from their sleep. These natives, who had long been in a state of combat, were all warriors. They quickly grabbed the various weapons at hand and rushed out of their houses to fight the enemy and defend their homeland.
However, how could the natives, who were chronically malnourished, poorly armed, and lacked any tactical skills, resist a well-trained and well-equipped regular army?
The Tang soldiers were divided into groups of three, with clear division of labor. Some used crossbows for long-range shooting, some used swords for close combat, some charged ahead, and some were responsible for defense. They rushed out of the dense forest and descended the hillside, slaughtering everything in their path. No one could resist them. Their swords flashed with cold light, and crossbow bolts shot in all directions, resulting in a thorough massacre.
Although the natives fought bravely, the difference in combat strength between the two sides was like heaven and earth. They were quickly defeated and forced to retreat to the stream below the cliff. After the Tang army used crossbows to shoot the old, weak, women and children, the rest dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground.
Li Jinxing raised his hand to signal a halt to the attack. He ordered his men to tie the hands of the captured natives behind their backs while simultaneously ordering a self-assessment of the battle damage.
After a self-check, the captain reported: "No dead, no seriously wounded, three slightly wounded, all personnel are present."
The natives' weapons were nothing more than various sticks or stones and bones with sharp edges tied to them. They were passable for hunting wild animals, but they could not harm the Tang soldiers. The three lightly wounded were injured either by twisting their ankles or by stones thrown by the natives during the charge.
Li Jinxing was completely relieved.
Although he was confident in his own fighting strength, he was a newcomer and knew nothing about the local people. If they were strong, the Tang army would suffer heavy losses. Therefore, he had to advise Li Zhi to adopt a different strategy.
Since these natives didn't even have a single piece of iron, they had no worries at all.
They then searched the indigenous tribe, took all the food, and then burned the thatched-roof houses to the ground...
……
Upon returning to the camp, all the officials, soldiers, and craftsmen gathered around, commenting and marveling at the native prisoners strung together with hemp rope.
Doulu Qinwang stood beside Li Zhi and said respectfully, "Your Highness is truly farsighted. Even as prisoners, these natives are still wild and unruly. If we cannot intimidate or capture them, they will surely become a major threat in the future."
The Tang people were already few in number, and there was still much construction to be done. How could they be on guard against these natives who were hiding somewhere and could suddenly appear at any time?
Only by striking with swift and decisive action can the problem be solved once and for all.
Wang Benli worried: "But such actions are against the natural order and will inevitably be labeled as tyrannical and condemned by people. The reputation of our newly established country and Your Highness will be damaged."
Liu Yizhi laughed and said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Once Xinxiang City is built and the new Jin Kingdom has established its foundation, these natives will be almost completely tamed. At that time, we can grant them the citizenship of the new Jin Kingdom, recognize them as citizens of the new Jin Kingdom, and allow them to enjoy the same treatment as the Tang people. Do you think these natives will be grateful? When the news gets out, will people outside praise Your Highness as a 'benevolent ruler'?"
Wang Benli was stunned.
Does a person deserve the greatest praise no matter how much they have done, as long as they can pull back from the brink and turn over a new leaf?
Just thinking that the construction of Xinxiang City and the newly established state were built on the white bones of the natives, and that showing them even a little mercy and preferential treatment in the future would not only make the surviving natives forget their hatred but also bring them praise from all over the world, Wang Benli fell silent.
It sounds hard to accept, and it seems completely at odds with what I've learned in my life, but that's the truth...
"Let these prisoners cut down trees and clear wasteland, and tie them up with ropes so they cannot resist or escape!"
Li Zhi rubbed his hands together, very excited.
The soldiers and artisans of the Tang dynasty should not be exploited too much, as they are the foundation of the future nation and should be treated well. These native prisoners are different; they only need to be given a little food to keep them from starving. Their labor intensity can be maximized, and even if they die, it won't matter, as we can just capture more. The progress of various projects can definitely be accelerated rapidly.
Moreover, the climate here is mild, and even in winter it is not cold. Compared to Chang'an, one year here is equivalent to two years!
After the prisoners were assigned to work, he took Li Jinxing's hand and asked, "General Li, when will you return to the Tang Dynasty?"
Li Jinxing said, "Before leaving, the Grand Commandant instructed him to wait until His Highness was settled before returning to the Tang Dynasty to report back, but there was no strict order. However, the military officers stationed in Taixifeng serve two-year terms, and at the end of next year, he may go to Taixifeng to replace General Xi Junmai."
Li Zhi was overjoyed: "Heaven is helping me!"
He is now increasingly fond of Fang Jun's people, finding them extremely easy to use. Not only are they all highly capable, but they also have few moral constraints and execute orders very decisively.
Holding Li Jinxing's hand tightly, he pleaded, "Since the general is not in a hurry to return to the Tang Dynasty, how about staying here for a few more days? As you can see, everything is in need of rebuilding, and the most lacking resource is labor. I am counting on the general to lead troops out to eliminate hidden dangers and capture more laborers at the same time!"
"Cough cough!"
Li Jinxing coughed twice and corrected, "Your Highness is mistaken. It is not that we plunder laborers, but that we reform these fierce, violent, and ignorant natives through labor, making them realize that their previous actions of being enemies of the Tang Dynasty were extremely wrong. In the process of reformation, they will gradually feel the warmth and care of the Tang Dynasty in healing the sick and saving lives and in learning from past mistakes, and thus recognize the leadership of the Tang Dynasty, follow in the footsteps of the Tang Dynasty, and contribute to the construction of the new Jin Kingdom with the Tang Dynasty as the core and the various tribes as the auxiliary!"
Li Zhi: “…”
Doulu Qinwang, Wang Benli, and others: "..."
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Li Jinxing, their expressions of shock and astonishment impossible to conceal.
You, a mere naval vice admiral, dare to utter such shameless yet politically correct remarks. Do you aspire to be prime minister?
Is this the kind of perception a deputy should have?
What was clearly a bloody and violent act of enslavement, is described in your way that it is imbued with humanistic concern, giving it a refreshing and unconventional feel...
What kind of place is your navy that teaches this kind of thing every day?!
Unexpectedly, Li Jinxing didn't stop there. He continued, "Your Highness could make an application to the navy, requesting that they send more Sima to the newly established Jin Kingdom. While the indigenous people undergo labor reform, they can also receive patriotic education. Most of these indigenous people are illiterate and have no sense of national identity. As long as they can experience the essence of Chinese culture, they will surely recognize Chinese culture in the future and even consider themselves inheritors of Chinese culture. In the long run, where will there be any indigenous people or savages? They will all be Your Highness's citizens!"
Li Zhi asked in surprise, "You naval forces teach this?"
"Starting next year, the military commanders of each unit in the navy, in addition to assisting the commander-in-chief in formulating battle plans, will also be responsible for spreading patriotism and stabilizing morale, so that soldiers can correctly face the responsibilities and duties of the army in the new era, and safeguard the creation of an unprecedented golden age..."
Li Zhi fell silent.
Others may not understand the purpose of such chaotic and irresponsible actions, but he saw the significance behind them at a glance with his keen political talent.
Throughout history, what kind of army has been the most powerful and strongest?
It's not about good equipment or good recruits, but about an army with a firm pursuit and unwavering beliefs.
For example, those rebels who were fighting to survive were ragged and pale, carrying simple weapons and charging forward barefoot. Because their pursuit was victory and their obsession was survival, they were fearless, killing gods and Buddhas alike, and often defeating well-equipped regular armies.
If the entire navy has a firm pursuit and unwavering belief, who can defeat this army?
Having such an invincible and indestructible army is certainly a good thing, but the problem is that Fang Jun's "patriotism" is genuine, but his "loyalty to the emperor" is not necessarily true!
In addition, there are the Left and Right Imperial Guards of Chang'an City...
Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the fear in his heart as much as possible.
He is no longer in Chang'an, and is no longer even a prince of the Tang Dynasty. He is merely a "savage chieftain" exiled overseas. He only needs to take care of his own little territory. Why should he worry about the throne in the Taiji Palace in Chang'an?
Moreover, based on his understanding of Fang Jun, it was absolutely impossible for him to start a rebellion. At most, he could only completely sideline the emperor and transfer all power to the Council of State Affairs and the Grand Council...
He nodded: "Alright, I will write a letter to the Grand Commandant later, requesting that more Sima be sent to Xinxiang. This will not only reassure the soldiers to follow me in building meritorious achievements, but also allow the locals to experience the warmth of the Tang Dynasty and contribute to the construction of the new Jin Kingdom."
(End of this chapter)