Stealing the Ming Dynasty [Complete] - 8

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A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 9:

A half-joking remark left Yang Zhiyuan speechless with anger. Huang Shi, feeling somewhat sorry for him, quickly comforted the old minister and began discussing the grand plan of reclaiming farmland.

Of course, the more people the better. Changsheng Island had approximately 60,000 mu of flat land and over 200,000 mu of mountainous land; it was just unknown how much of that could be reclaimed for farmland.

“Flatlands can be turned into paddy fields, and although there are many mountains, they can also be terraced. Moreover, hillsides are better than flat land, as they have a larger area.” Yang Zhiyuan had the ambition to conquer nature: “We can set fire to the forests and carefully divert water to the mountains. We can definitely create 200,000 mu of arable land.”

In the 21st century, Huang Shi estimated that he would be shot for burning hundreds of thousands of mu of forest. However, food comes first now, and environmental protection can be left to future generations: “200,000 mu can probably support 15,000 households, which is 15,000 able-bodied men, plus the same number of women, which can supply about 5,000 peasant soldiers. If it is a field army, it can support more than 2,000 people.”

“When busy, they eat; when idle, they drink porridge. We don’t need to feed everyone to the point of being full, just enough to keep them from starving.” Jin Qiude interjected with a reasonable suggestion. By this calculation, 15,000 mu would be enough to support 1,500 military households. It seems that anti-environmental and anti-humanitarian work is not so urgent.

Huang Shi concluded, "The most important task at present is to cut down trees and build boats. Then, three hundred people will go fishing, one hundred will be responsible for processing the fish caught each day, fifty will go hunting, and the rest will reclaim wasteland. With deer and fish, reclaiming a few thousand acres of land will be enough."

Although manpower was severely insufficient, Yang Zhiyuan did not dare to complain further: "Your subordinates will do their best, and hopefully we can make it in time. We will first plant sesame and clear away weeds on the reclaimed land, and plant some miscellaneous grains in the fall. Next year, we will prepare the cultivated land into arable land, and then we can count on the millet harvest."

During the Little Ice Age, the rain belt shifted southward, and wheat would most likely freeze to death due to the lack of snow in winter. Huang Shi did not intend to waste food, so he was not in a hurry to discuss this. Next year, the cultivated land would definitely be planted with corn, but there was even less of a rush to discuss this. He could persuade Yang Zhiyuan, that blockhead, later.

He Baodao, who had been unable to get a word in edgewise, finally got his chance: "Sir, there are also weapons, cloth, and tools—these can't be grown in the ground."

Iron and cloth were theoretically allocated by higher authorities, but they couldn't expect much from the Dongjiang headquarters right now. These supplies could be purchased from merchants in Shandong, but it would cost silver.

"I don't know if Changsheng Island has any iron mines, but we certainly can't produce cloth ourselves; our land needs to be used for growing grain," Yang Zhiyuan said, still thinking about his food supply.

Jin Qiude chimed in, "I don't know if there are any iron mines, but we have salt here; we can boil salt."

The hands-off manager, He Baodao, exclaimed, "Selling salt requires salt permits, which we don't have."

"No, we can sell it." Jin Qiude seemed confident.

"Tell me about it." Huang Shi's eyes lit up; if they could sell salt, it would be a fortune.

Under the Ming dynasty system, salt production in Shandong and Lianghuai required salt permits to be sold, but Liaodong never had salt fields; each garrison could produce and sell salt independently, with the proceeds used for military purposes. Since the Later Jin dynasty implemented the maritime ban, the salt fields of Fuzhou and Jinzhou had been abandoned. The revenue from Haizhou was sufficient to meet the Later Jin's salt needs.

"In the past, Fuzhou and Jinzhou had thousands of soldiers engaged in salt production, reportedly producing 400,000 to 500,000 jin (200,000 to 250,000 kg). It's only because the weather has been so cold these past few years that the salt fields have been abandoned; otherwise, several million jin wouldn't be impossible." "

I see," unless there's a technological breakthrough, salt production is still impossible in the near future. Huang Shi racked his brains but couldn't come up with any relevant knowledge about salt production. He silently calculated for a while: "If we could produce 300,000 jin of salt, how much silver would it be worth?"

Five thousand taels of silver was considered a reasonable figure. Boiling salt required timber, which was easy to solve; at worst, they could indiscriminately cut down trees and let future generations worry about vegetation. However, manpower was a more troublesome issue. All problems boil down to food, so Huang Shi decided not to worry about that problem anymore; things would work themselves out.

"Deer hides can also be sold; a good deer hide can be worth seven or eight taels of silver," Zhao Manxiong suggested another brilliant idea for making money.

"Oh, right, send people to scout the nearshore waters and see if there are any sea cucumbers or abalone. Those things can also be sold... What, nobody eats them? Don't worry, sea cucumbers can enhance male virility, and abalone can nourish yin... Yes, they have the effect of tonifying the kidneys and promoting sperm production... Look, sea cucumbers look almost like... well, as for abalone, anyone who's tasted a woman knows what I'm talking about... Especially our Changsheng Island sea cucumbers, Changsheng, Changsheng, it clearly aligns with the natural order of seven losses and eight benefits... Ah, and deer antler, that has the miraculous effect of making one's erection last forever!"

Huang Shi's words were very persuasive, and his subordinates all showed expressions of sudden realization, and they all let out lewd laughter, appearing somewhat eager to try.

Medical and health knowledge in this era was still very limited, basically stuck at the stage of "you are what you eat," and "whatever it resembles, it has a certain effect." For example, in the "Compendium of Materia Medica," the most effective medicine for treating infertility in couples was spring rain, because the ancients believed that spring rain had the magical effect of bringing all things to life. Of course, this spring rain that could cure infertility had to be before it hit the ground; if it was the first rain, the effect would be even more perfect.

Huang Shi believed that in this era, miracle pills would sell much better. Those who could afford sea cucumbers and abalone were certainly not poor, and he had no qualms about making some money off them. Huang Shi pondered for a moment. Widespread promotion of "longevity sea cucumbers" was a given, but perhaps finding some more popular brands and hyping them up with claims like "genuine longevity sea cucumbers, authentic longevity sea cucumbers, truly authentic longevity sea cucumbers" would be even better.

"However, we can't give them to the soldiers, or we'll be in trouble," Yang Zhiyuan said with a grin. He meant the issue of homosexuality, which was widespread, especially since there were over a thousand bachelors on the island.

"We do need women, but we'll have to wait on that issue for now. We can't resolve it until at least the end of the year. Furthermore, until 50% of the soldiers have settled their family affairs, no officer may consider marriage. Do you understand?"

"Understood, sir!" the crowd roared in response. Perhaps it was just psychological, but Huang Shi felt Yang Zhiyuan's voice was the loudest.

"There's another problem..."

The problem of bound feet wasn't severe at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Only daughters of royalty and wealthy families had bound feet; daughters of scholars and officials mostly had unbound feet, not to mention maids. Over 90% of women were still healthy. The era that truly promoted the national essence hadn't yet arrived, and its contribution to this cause was destined to be nipped in the bud by Huang Shi.

Huang Shi, abusing his power for personal gain, loudly ordered: "No one is allowed to marry a woman with bound feet! We can't support women who do nothing! Starting with me, all officers must set an example."

In these extraordinary times, the officers understood. The first to loudly agree was Jin Qiude, who felt that Yang Zhiyuan had stolen the limelight when answering the previous question: "Anyone who marries a woman with bound feet but has no wife shall be executed without mercy! Anyone who dares to bind the feet of his wife and daughters shall be skinned alive and stuffed with straw!"

(End of Chapter 9)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 10

After the meeting, Zhao Manxiong sneakily approached Huang Shi: "Sir, I think the women's problem should be resolved as soon as possible. Not only the soldiers, but even the officers need it."

"I know that, but there isn't enough food."

"I do know a place with plenty of food." Zhao Manxiong blinked, indicating that there were others beside Huang Shi, Hong Antong and Zhang Zaidi, who were still listening.

"It doesn't matter, are you talking about Shanhaiguan?" Huang Shi was somewhat dismissive of this cautiousness.

"My lord, you are wise."

"I'm afraid it won't work." Shanhaiguan had enough food, but unfortunately Huang Shi didn't have enough connections in Liaoxi. Not to mention he didn't have silver, even if he did, he couldn't buy food.

"I wonder how Lords Gao and Fang are doing? You should also write a letter to thank them for their care."

"Hmm, let me think about it."

"It's a private letter, sir." Zhao Manxiong was afraid Huang Shi wouldn't understand his meaning.

"I understand what you mean, you can go now." A private letter isn't an official document and doesn't need to be reported to Mao Wenlong of Dongjiang.

For the next few days, Huang Shi hesitated about whether he should write a letter to Shanhaiguan. Based on his previous experience, Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru still had a good impression of him, and perhaps he could borrow some grain.

However, there was still a concern: Huang Shi was now Mao Wenlong's subordinate, and it was a major taboo to bypass his superior and deal directly with other officials. After much deliberation, Huang Shi regretfully abandoned the idea. At

the end of April, an envoy arrived from Dongjiang. Huang Shi opened Mao Wenlong's letter and read it for a long time without saying a word.

"Sir, what did General Mao say in his letter?" He Baodao couldn't bear it any longer and asked.

Yang Zhiyuan, standing beside him, tugged at his sleeve: "Don't disturb the lord."

Huang Shi slowly put down the letter: "Lord Mao said he wants me to go to Shanhaiguan."

Mao Wenlong's letter had already been sent to the Liaodong Military Commissioner, Wang Zaijin. Wang Zaijin was very dissatisfied with Mao Wenlong's bargaining and suspected that Mao Wenlong was trying to blackmail his superior, so his reply was rather harsh. Therefore, Mao Wenlong wanted Huang Shi to go to Shanhaiguan himself and explain things clearly to Wang Zaijin, the Liaodong Military Commissioner.

Since Huang Shi himself wanted to stay in Liaodong, he naturally had to make his position clear. He couldn't let Mao Wenlong take all the blame while he had to appease both sides.

Huang Shi felt a surge of excitement. It was truly a case of what he wished for coming true. He had only considered begging for food at Shanhaiguan a few days ago, and the god of fate had opened the door for him again.

"I will depart for Shanhaiguan tomorrow. Besides my personal guards, He Baodao and Yang Zhiyuan will come with me. Zhao Manxiong will be in charge of all matters on the island, with Jin Qiude assisting."

He Baodao was bored out of his mind all day; rather than leaving him on the island to waste food and cause trouble, it was better to take him to Shanhaiguan to eat Guan Ning's food. Yang Zhiyuan was always thinking about planting crops; if he were left behind, he would inevitably fight with Zhao Manxiong sooner or later.

"Yes, sir," the four officers replied in unison.

Most of the personal guards followed, except for Hong Antong, who was literate, and was left behind by Huang Shi on Changsheng Island to report on Zhao Manxiong and Jin Qiude's movements. After replying to Mao Wenlong's letter, Huang Shi quickly set sail and soon arrived at Juehua Island. When he landed at Ningyuan and headed south towards Shanhaiguan, the area outside

the pass was already a scene of devastation; there were no houses on either side of the official road. On the fifth day of the fifth month, when Huang Shi arrived at Shanhaiguan, the scene was completely different.

The camps of 70,000 Guan Ning troops were scattered across the mountains and plains, their banners standing like a forest of fire. When Huang Shi arrived, he and his men had changed into their best military uniforms and were all in armor. But when they arrived at Shanhaiguan, they saw the Guan Ning army with their long spears and broadswords, their bright clothes and imposing aura of killing intent that shook the heavens and the earth, making Huang Shi's men feel inferior.

Yang Zhiyuan exclaimed, "My lord, what a mighty and magnificent army!"

He Baodao scoffed, "In my opinion, they're nothing but clay chickens and clay dogs, monkeys in crowns. What a waste of these weapons, what a pity!"

When He Baodao spoke the first part, his demeanor was remarkably similar to Guan Yu in Huang Shi's mind, but the second half of his sentence completely ruined the atmosphere. The sour tone in it almost made Huang Shi spit out laughter: "The Guan Ning Iron Cavalry is a genuine field army, an elite border force heavily supported by the imperial court. Their equipment is naturally better than my Dongjiang Army's reclamation troops. What, are you regretting it?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare," He Baodao and Yang Zhiyuan replied immediately. Huang Shi knew they weren't entirely telling the truth, but time would tell, so he wasn't worried.

Huang Shi waited outside the military governor's office for a while. At first, he thought they didn't have enough money, and although he was puzzled, he still took out more silver. The soldier at the gate somewhat sheepishly accepted the bag, then told him the truth: more than one person wanted to see him, and Huang Shi could only wait outside until all the officials arrived.

The governor's household guards stood at a distance from the main hall entrance, and Huang Shi was somewhat surprised to see—there were even black people among them! He rubbed his eyes, examined them carefully, and confirmed they were indeed black. The Liaodong soldiers at the gate shrugged at Huang Shi's question; they didn't know the origins of these black people either.

After drinking three pots of tea, the long wait finally ended. Huang Shi carefully straightened his armor, strode inside, and first bowed to Governor Wang Zaijin, who sat high in the central hall.

Wang Zaijin laughed loudly, "General Huang, why are you so late?"

"Please forgive me, Governor."

"No offense, no offense, General Huang, please pay your respects to these three officials."

Three men sat beside Wang Zaijin, the Governor of Liaodong; Huang Shi didn't recognize two of them, but the third was none other than Fang Zhenru. Because of Huang Shi's counterattack on Guangning, Fang Zhenru no longer had to flee on a donkey. He was credited with leading the retreat of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians to Shanhaiguan, and thus received high praise.

Fang Zhenru was renowned for his incorruptibility, enjoying a high reputation during the Wanli and Tianqi reigns. Historically, his reputation as the most incorruptible official during this period was well-deserved, and his position as the Liaodong Inspector was secure.

However, Fang Zhenru was unaware that he wouldn't have lost his position otherwise, and thus remained grateful to Huang Shi for the counterattack on Guangning. Fang Zhenru, reflecting deeply on his past mistakes, realized that his biggest error was constantly praising Wang Huazhen, which put him in a passive position. Therefore, he refused to say anything good about Wang Zaijin again.

The other two were both dressed in sixth-rank official robes. Huang Shi bowed to them first, and then to Fang Zhenru last—a order he dared not reverse. The other two nodded slightly, but Fang Zhenru smiled at Huang Shi, expressing his sympathy.

Wang Zaijin began to question Huang Shi in detail about the journey to Lushun. Since Kong Youde wasn't present, Huang Shi readily claimed all the credit, launching into a rambling tale that captivated the four civil officials. When discussing the rearguard action, he embellished the story, portraying a crushing defeat as a resounding victory.

After Huang Shi's extravagant boasting, Wang Zaijin snapped out of his reverie, coughing twice to indicate he had no further questions. The other two sixth-rank officials then began to inquire about the details. Once they had finished, Fang Zhenru immediately smiled and said, "This humble official has no further questions. Lord Wang, please offer General Huang a seat."

(End of Chapter 10)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 11:

For a general of Huang Shi's illustrious reputation, Wang Zaijin felt he could be lenient and ordered a stool brought out. Huang Shi thanked him profusely, offering a seat to everyone from Wang Zaijin to Fang Zhenru, before carefully settling down to the side. He stood ramrod straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead, but inwardly he was extremely displeased.

Wang Zaijin casually mentioned Mao Wenlong's letter: "Guerrilla General Huang is really eager to be recruited everywhere. General Mao argued his case forcefully, insisting that you are an officer from Guangning, and now you are undoubtedly his subordinate."

After saying this, Wang Zaijin looked at Huang Shi, eagerly waiting for him to pledge his loyalty, but after a while, Huang Shi remained silent. Wang Zaijin couldn't wait any longer and snorted, taking the initiative to start the conversation, his tone becoming somewhat unfriendly: "Transferring someone here is so troublesome, I really didn't expect it! Huang Shi, what do you say?"

"My lord, whether in Liaodong or elsewhere, this humble general is your subordinate." As the Liaodong Military Commissioner, Wang Zaijin's Dongjiang Army was currently under his jurisdiction, but Huang Shi's words were far from what Wang Zaijin had hoped for.

Wang Zaijin's tone grew even harsher: "Huang Shi, are you determined to stay in Dongjiang?"

Forced into a corner, Huang Shi sighed and could only feign bravado: "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, this humble general only seeks to kill the enemy and serve the country, daring not to seek peace within the pass."

But Liaozhen was ultimately a military town directly under his command, while Dongjiang was thousands of miles away. This answer silenced Wang Zaijin for a long time before he snorted again, but his tone had softened considerably: "That's true, but each soldier in Liaozhen receives one tael and four mace of monthly pay. Dongjiang currently has no fixed pay, let alone officer stipends. Huang Shi, if you don't intend to accept military pay, don't your men want it either?"

Huang Shi was speechless. He couldn't very well say he wanted to transfer to Liaodong Garrison, as that would be a fatal offense to Mao Wenlong. Mao Wenlong had intervened to keep him after Huang Shi's desperate pleas; what would it look like if he turned against him now? On the other hand, he couldn't refuse the military pay. If he said something wrong today, it would be used against him later

, and the consequences would be dire. He absolutely couldn't make any more grand pronouncements now. If so many people heard them, he would be easily silenced when he tried to get his pay. Besides, Huang Shi had come here determined to get some grain; he couldn't afford to contradict himself. Moreover, Mao Wenlong was currently arguing with the Liaodong military commissioner about military pay. If Wang Zaijin used his grand pronouncements as ammunition, it would be very damaging to Mao Wenlong, and Huang Shi might incite public outrage in Dongjiang, making his position untenable.

Huang Shi racked his brains but couldn't find a way to appease both sides.

"Guerrilla Commander Huang, I'm asking you a question," Wang Zaijin pressed on.

Huang Shi glanced furtively to the side, seeking help from Fang Zhenru, but the latter avoided his gaze. It seemed impossible to shirk all responsibility; he couldn't get past Wang Zaijin without offending him. Huang Shi had no choice but to bite the bullet and say,

"Reporting to the General, I come from the Guangning Army. Unless the Ministry of War or the General orders a transfer, I am naturally under Mao Wenlong's command. As for military pay, please allocate it as appropriate, ensuring my men have food and clothing. As for myself, I don't care about not receiving a salary; I will certainly serve the country wholeheartedly."

Wang Zaijin was too busy winning over the generals of various garrisons to openly defy Mao Wenlong and forcibly seize his subordinates, especially since Mao Wenlong's letter was quite forceful. Although he desperately wanted Huang Shi transferred, he hoped Huang Shi would ask for it himself, so Wang Zaijin could easily take him without being criticized by the generals. Even if Mao Wenlong was dissatisfied, he wouldn't have anything to say; at most, he would vent his anger on Huang Shi.

Unexpectedly, Huang Shi was as stubborn as a rock, repeatedly passing the buck back to Wang Zaijin, refusing to give him any face. This displeased the Liaodong Military Commissioner, who coldly said, "Whether there is cloth or rations is not something I can decide. The Dongjiang soldiers haven't been properly documented, and the Ministry of War hasn't allocated any to me, so I can't give them to you."

Although Fang Zhenru was unwilling to offer help in his time of need, since Huang Shi had taken the lion's share, he didn't mind adding to the good fortune. He cupped his hands and said loudly, "Lord Wang, I believe that Guerrilla General Huang has rendered great service to the country, and his sincere heart is truly admirable. Since he is determined to stay in Liaodong to serve the country, I don't think we should force him. If Guerrilla General Huang has a valid reason, I think we can allocate military pay as appropriate. If Lord Wang is worried about the Ministry of War, I can also jointly submit a petition with you."

“Since Lord Fang says so, then this censor has no objection.” Wang Zaijin sighed inwardly. Fang Zhenru, as the disciplinary official supervising the Liaodong censor, could submit a memorial to the court at any time criticizing Wang Zaijin’s actions. If Huang Shi were isolated and helpless, Wang Zaijin was still confident he could force him to surrender, but if he were impeached by the imperial inspector for this, it would be a completely different story.

Making things difficult for meritorious officials was already unpleasant, and the disciplinary official could easily accuse him of seeking personal revenge. Wang Zaijin’s future was already bleak; the cabinet was constantly demanding explanations from him, and the already overwhelmed Wang Zaijin did not intend to create any more trouble for himself.

Therefore, Fang Zhenru's casual remark was worth ten thousand of Huang Shi's. Since Huang Shi had such powerful backing, Wang Zaijin knew he couldn't do anything to him: "Huang Shi, why don't you thank the Imperial Inspector?"

Huang Shi stood up and bowed to Wang Zaijin first: "This humble general thanks the Grand Marshal for his understanding."

Having connections in court makes things easier, so he turned to Fang Zhenru and sincerely said: "This humble general thanks Lord Fang."

"Alright, Commander Huang, you may leave." Wang Zaijin gave the order to leave in an annoyed tone. He still had some military issues to discuss with the other three civil officials. These strategic plans naturally didn't need the opinion of a military man. Before leaving, Huang Shi saw Fang Zhenru give him a look.

Before Fang Zhenru left, Huang Shi had already summoned several confidants and given them a brief overview of the day's events. As soon as Fang Zhenru left the military governor's office, Huang Shi led them all in bowing down:

"Lord Fang, you have requested provisions for us. All officers and soldiers are deeply grateful for your kindness!"

"You're too kind, you're too kind." Fang Zhenru helped Huang Shi up.

The zombie-faced man was smiling again and again today, which Huang Shi found somewhat strange. He and Yang, along with their personal guards, bowed several more times before also getting up.

"Commander Huang, I'd like to host a banquet for you tonight. Please come and have a simple meal at my place."

"Yes, thank you for the banquet, sir."

Fang Zhenru laughed a few times, then waved his long sleeves elegantly at Yang Zhiyuan and the others: "You are all General Huang's confidants, aren't you? Come along, come along."

(End of Chapter 11)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 12:

Fang Zhenru refused to get into the sedan chair, insisting that Huang Shi walk back to the official residence with him. Their personal guards followed behind. Along the way, Fang Zhenru was all smiles, chatting and laughing as he told Huang Shi many stories about Shanhaiguan. He also acted very amiably towards Huang Shi's subordinates.

While Huang Shi was waiting at the gate, he had been carefully observing the black man at the entrance, and now he casually asked Fang Zhenru about him.

"Those are slaves brought in from the West. Many wealthy families in the capital like to buy a few as gatekeepers; they're quite conspicuous, aren't they?" Fang Zhenru seemed a little envious, his expression slightly disappointed. "They're all strong and robust, and supposedly very loyal and dutiful. It's a pity I can't afford them; each one costs five taels of silver."

Historically, Zheng Yiguan had bought a batch as soldiers and even formed a black guard. Although Huang Shi didn't know the exact number of slaves traded, the information that black slaves could be bought in the Ming Dynasty stirred his interest. He then smiled wryly; if there was enough food, why worry about a lack of strong laborers? Black slaves didn't speak the language, and farming required training fees.

Fang Zhenru's last words made Huang Shi's heart skip a beat; it seemed he was implying money. He secretly calculated the money on his hands and said with a forced smile, "This humble general is willing to offer you five taels of silver so you can buy one."

The salaries of officials in the Ming Dynasty were very unreasonable. Even the ministers under Zhu Yuanzhang had to plaster their own houses, and retired old men still had to plant rice seedlings—this goes without saying. After the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Hai Rui was probably the only one who had absolutely no illicit income. Therefore, he could only afford to buy meat once a year, and his act of filial piety towards his mother caused a sensation in the court and among the public.

In the late Ming Dynasty, exchanging gifts among officials was a normal means of social interaction. Although Fang Zhenru was known for his integrity, Huang Shi probably wouldn't be too bothered by the amount of five taels of silver since Fang Zhenru still had several attendants and was willing to treat him to a meal.

Fang Zhenru hesitated for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Are you trying to give me a gift? Forget it, I won't be able to sleep well if I take military pay."

"Lord Fang, five taels of silver is just a small token of my appreciation," Huang Shi quickly and firmly stated, "It's all a reward for my meritorious service in Guangning, Lord Fang, this is all legitimate money."

Fang Zhenru's leisurely steps suddenly stopped, and his smile gradually faded. He stood still and looked at Huang Shi seriously for a while, making Huang Shi feel uncomfortable all over. He quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake: "Lord Fang, I misspoke, please forgive me."

"Huang Shi, with this money, you should buy some meat and a bowl of wine for your men." Although Fang Zhenru's face was still deadpan, his tone softened: "Although I mentioned buying slaves, I had no intention of asking you for a gift."

"Lord Fang, your noble character is truly admirable,

I am deeply grateful..." Fang Zhenru waved his hand to interrupt Huang Shi's flattery: "Huang Shi, you and I are of different paths, one of civil and one of military, but our friendship is based on mutual respect, so there's no need for so much flattery. You don't need to take today's matter to heart, and I certainly don't look down on you. In the past, when fellow villagers and friends gave me gifts, I accepted them, but your money was earned with your life, so I cannot accept it."

The two walked for a while longer, and seeing Fang Zhenru's icy expression gradually melt away, Huang Shi began to secretly inquire about what had been discussed later that day. Fang Zhenru hesitated for a moment: "We'll talk about it tonight. Even if you don't ask, I'll still tell you."

It seemed Old Fang wasn't after money. As Huang Shi nodded in agreement, his suspicions deepened. His attitude towards him was completely different from when he was in Guangning.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from the side: "Is that General Huang Shi over there?"

Huang Shi looked over and saw a general striding towards them. The general first bowed deeply to Fang Zhenru, then looked at Huang Shi.

"This humble general is indeed you. May I ask your honorable name, General?" Huang Shi didn't know who the other party was, so he naturally didn't dare to be negligent.

Fang Zhenru coldly interjected, his tone devoid of any warmth: "Huang Shi, this general is your relative, and he's also a guerrilla commander now."

Huang Shi glanced at Fang Zhenru, his lips moving mechanically as he spoke, his eyes and eyebrows miraculously motionless, his eyelids drooping as if carved from wood.

"I am Huang Long, currently the guerrilla commander of Liaozhen." The general grinned, beaming, and said to Fang Zhenru, "Lord Fang, I heard that another guerrilla commander, Huang, has arrived, so I rushed here immediately, determined to have him drink with me."

The moment the name entered Huang Shi's mind, he remembered the man's life. Huang Long came from a military family in western Liaoning. After Mao Wenlong's death, he succeeded him as the commander-in-chief of Dongjiang, and was one of the catalysts for the Dongjiang Rebellion. During the Ming army's internal strife, Huang Long was captured by Geng Jingzhong. Although his personal guards rescued him in time, his nose and ears were still cut off by Liaodong warriors.

After the rebellion of Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and Mao Chenglu, Huang Long, together with the brothers Shang Keyi and Shang Kexi, ambushed them, capturing Mao Chenglu alive and thwarting Kong Youde's attempt to seize control of Liaodong. However, the resentment between Liaoxi and Liaodong could not be resolved in the end. Kong Youde, who had surrendered to the Manchus, launched a counterattack under the banner

of Liaodong military men. The Dongjiang government troops surrendered at the mere sight of him. Huang Long fought bravely at Lushunkou and then committed suicide in martyrdom, dying a very heroic death. As he thought about these things, Huang Shi's expression changed slightly—he had not yet figured out how to handle his relationship with the Liaoxi military families. Regionalism was very strong among the people of the Ming Dynasty, and Huang Shi would inevitably become a core member of the Liaodong military group—if he was not yet considered one.

The carefree Huang Long didn't see it, but Fang Zhenru saw it clearly. He immediately asked Huang Long, "Are you and Huang Shi old acquaintances?"

"Replying to Lord Fang, this humble general doesn't know General Huang. Today, Commander Zu is hosting a banquet to welcome General Huang, so this humble general has come to escort General Huang to the banquet."

Hearing that it was Zu Dashou hosting the banquet, a slight ripple appeared on Fang Zhenru's usually calm face. He said to Huang Long in a flat, official tone, "Zu Dashou? Huang Long, go back and tell Zu Dashou that I am hosting a banquet to welcome Huang Shi today. If you want to invite him for drinks, you can do it another day."

"Lord Fang," Huang Long said urgently, "Commander Zu insists that this humble general must be invited to the banquet. Otherwise, please invite Lord Fang to come along. Commander Zu will be deeply honored by your presence."

"This humble official doesn't want to go." Fang Zhenru was too lazy to say anything more. He flicked his long sleeves, turned his neck mechanically, and said to Huang Shi, "Huang Shi, come with me."

"Lord Fang, please wait!" In his haste, Huang Long didn't think things through and reached out to grab Fang Zhenru, tearing Fang Zhenru's sleeve with a ripping sound. Everyone was speechless.

"How dare you!" After a moment of silence, Fang Zhenru roared deafeningly.

"Lord Fang, please forgive me, please forgive me!" Huang Long, pale-faced, immediately knelt on the ground.

(Chapter 12)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 13

"Men, give this scoundrel twenty lashes!" At Fang Zhenru's command, two attendants rushed forward, pinned Huang Long down, and pulled down his trousers. People nearby were already raising sticks.

"Lord Fang," Huang Shi quickly pleaded for Huang Long, both for the sake of the public and the private. Moreover, as a fellow military officer, he also felt a sense of shared fate: "This humble general dares to beg Your Excellency to calm your anger."

"Please calm your anger, Lord Fang." Huang Shi's subordinates, being astute, followed suit, pleading for Huang Long.

Just now, Huang Long had been pleading guilty, and his personal guards, who had all hidden to the side, immediately knelt down upon seeing someone leading the plea for mercy, adding to their bravado: "Please forgive us, Lord Fang."

After Huang Long's men knelt for a long time, Fang Zhenru, who remained silent and expressionless, calmly said to him, "Considering General Huang's pleas, I will spare you this time. And considering the respect of General Huang's subordinates, I will spare you again. I'll only give you eighteen strokes."

"Thank you, Lord Fang," Huang Long said, gritting his teeth and enduring the eighteen strokes. Each blow landed, accompanied by splattering blood and large beads of sweat rolling down his face.

After the beating, the guards helped Huang Long put on his clothes and dragged him away. Judging from his injuries, he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for several days.

Fang Zhenru, preoccupied with fixing his torn cuffs, only commented after Huang Long fled in terror, amidst the fearful gazes of Huang Shi and the others: "These soldiers in Liaodong are becoming increasingly unruly." As

he chatted with Huang Shi about their shared hardships, a smile returned to Fang Zhenru's face, his earlier official arrogance vanishing instantly. The two walked and talked until they reached the governor's residence. Fang Zhenru went in first to change, while Huang Shi and the others waited in the courtyard.

"Now you know why I'm going to Liaodong, right?" Huang Shi asked softly to the two men behind him. Both were military officers, and the recent spectacle should have given them a better understanding of Liaodong's future prospects.

He Baodao was twenty years old (by Chinese reckoning), and Yang Zhiyuan was two years older, but still too young to grasp the gravity of the situation—both were rookies who had just become officers. When they first left the governor's office, they had listened in, occasionally chuckling. But since Huang Long was beaten, the two had remained silent, hiding far away in the back.

Hearing Huang Shi's question, the two men exchanged a glance and whispered, "Your Excellency is wise."

Huang Shi said softly to them, "Although Dongjiang is poor, there are no civil officials there. We military officers can hold our heads high. Changsheng Island is our home. Only in our own home can we avoid being humiliated."

As a modern man, although Huang Shi was used to kowtowing, he still longed for a dignified life. For military men, Dongjiang was truly a paradise under the Ming Dynasty. The two young military officers behind him, still young and impetuous, nodded vigorously in agreement.

Huang Shi recalled his experience that day. Fang Zhenru had first had him and Wang Zaijin take the fall, then rushed to his rescue, and what had just happened—could all of this be just a coincidence?

Fang Zhenru told Yang Zhiyuan and the other sixth-rank military officers to go to the kitchen for dinner. He wanted to talk to Huang Shi privately. Eating with Fang Zhenru, Huang Shi felt even less comfortable than when he ate with Li Yongfang and Huang Taiji. It wasn't because the food was simple—he could tell Fang Zhenru was poor—but mainly because Huang Shi felt "not treated like a human being" in front of the Ming Dynasty's civil officials.

"You just asked me what we discussed afterwards, right?" With no outsiders present, Fang Zhenru's address became more intimate.

"I was being reckless."

"Not reckless at all. This is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you tonight."

After listening for a while, Huang Shi understood that the topic involved strategic decisions regarding the Later Jin. When Wang Huazhen was appointed Governor of Liaodong, he strongly advocated for an offensive to recover Liaodong territory. Now that Wang Huazhen had suffered a crushing defeat, the proactive faction had suffered a fatal blow.

According to Fang Zhenru's description, the voice of proactive attack was no longer heard in the court. The remaining two factions were active defense and passive defense:

the core idea of passive defense was to temporarily abandon the territory outside Shanhaiguan and hold the Great Wall.

The theory of active defense involved gradually building fortifications in western Liaoning and restoring the burned-down castles.

The current regional governor, Wang Zaijin, supported the passive defense approach, strongly advocating for the construction of a fortified complex between Shanhaiguan and Beijing, using Shanhaiguan as the main gate, while simultaneously reinforcing the Great Wall.

Fang Zhenru briefly explained the situation and then asked Huang Shi for his opinion: "Huang Shi, you've gained some renown in the court now; even the Emperor has inquired about you."

"How could my humble name reach the Emperor's ears? What am I to do?" Huang Shi hadn't anticipated this, so he was flustered and unsure how to express his overwhelming gratitude.

Fang Zhenru, however, thought he was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Besides hereditary military generals like Zu Dashou from Liaoxi, Minister Sun also wants to hear the opinions of military generals from Liaodong. He specifically requested to hear your opinion."

Sun Chengzong was one of the few civil officials in the Ming Dynasty who valued military generals. He had always loudly advocated "reinforcing the power of generals," arguing for more consultation with frontline generals and the willingness to delegate authority to them, allowing frontline officers to make their own judgments and commands.

"Come on, tell us your thoughts," Fang Zhenru encouraged again with a smile.

Huang Shi pondered for a moment before offering his advice: "Lord Wang's idea is certainly sound. First, the Jurchens will have ample warning time at Shanhaiguan if they attack Liaoyang. Second, Shanhaiguan is protected by the sea and the Great Wall on both sides, preventing it from being surrounded and cut off from supplies. Third, Shanhaiguan is close to the capital, making it easy to receive reinforcements and transport supplies, thus saving money."

"Looking at you, Huang Shi, as you go through these points, you really do sound like a high-ranking official in the court," Fang Zhenru said dismissively. "Saving money? What are you, a military general, thinking about saving money for? The Ming Dynasty is rich beyond measure; what's a little money? Just tell me your plan to recover Liaodong."

A little money? The Wanli Emperor in history was extremely stingy. When preparing for the three major campaigns, he only spent four million taels of silver after fighting hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops in Korea for several years, trying to stretch every penny.

When the Tianqi Emperor ascended the throne, this generous emperor wrote a single stroke of his pen, and the Guangning Army's supplies, including pay, provisions, cannons, and gunpowder, were worth ten million taels of silver a year. If Huang Shi hadn't counterattacked Guangning, the 50,000 suits of armor, millions of taels of silver, over a million shi of grain, and other supplies in the stockpile would have changed hands. These things he had personally burned had already caused Huang Shi heartache several times on Changsheng Island.

Seeing Huang Shi remain silent for a long time, Fang Zhenru suppressed his smile and lightly tapped the table, saying, "Your words are my words. There's no third person here. Huang Shi, you don't need to worry about the Grand Marshal. Feel free to speak your mind; there's absolutely no need to worry."

(End of Chapter 13)

A tall building rises from the ground. Chapter 14.

The meaning of these words was clear: what he had just said did not align with Fang Zhenru's thoughts. Hearing Fang Zhenru's tone, Huang Shi immediately realized he couldn't speak his mind so casually: "This humble general is foolish and speaks nonsense. May I ask what Your Excellency's meaning is?"

"Establishing a stronghold within the pass is too risky. Once Shanhaiguan is lost, the capital will be in crisis, and the whole country will be shaken." Fang Zhenru stopped pretending and spoke frankly: "Some people in the court have submitted memorials saying that as long as we hold onto the land within the pass, the country is already at its peak, and we can watch the Jurchens fall on their own! What a joke! How can the Jurchens fall on their own without annihilating them?"

"Your Excellency is absolutely right," Huang Shi subconsciously agreed.

This issue involves the perspective of observation. From Huang Shi's hindsight perspective, watching the Jurchens fall on their own was indeed insightful. After the defeat at Guangning, Wang Zaijin believed that Liaoxi was beyond control and that it would be better to use Shanhaiguan and Jizhou as the core of defense. Huang Shi had imagined himself in the positions of the Tianqi and Chongzhen emperors; without increasing military spending, there would be no major chaos within the pass, and the Ming Dynasty would be free from worries about the rear.

The Little Ice Age in Northeast China had lasted for fifty years, and it wouldn't end for another twenty. The Ming Dynasty could rely on grain from the south, but the Later Jin Dynasty couldn't. As long as the interior was stabilized and assistance was provided to Korea and Mongolia, preventing the Later Jin from plundering, their starvation was inevitable.

The time traveler, with the eyes of history, had an even more ruthless method—eliminating the Shanxi merchant group. In Qing Dynasty documents seen during the Republic era, the intelligence provided by Shanxi merchants to the Later Jin regarding the capital region was incredibly detailed, including the names of the generals guarding each pass, the number of soldiers, and their equipment details, as well as a considerable number of military intelligence reports.

In the early years of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, the famine brought by the Little Ice Age had completely devastated the people of Northeast China. Although the Later Jin-controlled area had only 700,000 people, people resorted to cannibalism, and the price of rice reached as high as 80 taels per shi (a unit of dry measure), and cloth cost 20 taels per bolt. Historically, the Shanxi merchants, who were allied with the Later Jin regime, provided Huang Taiji with all of his gunpowder, 80% of his grain, and over 60% of his metal.

Through the Shanxi merchants, the Later Jin were able to convert their looted wealth, antiques, and gold and silver into food to feed the hundreds of people they had abducted. The price of rice in Liaodong eventually dropped to 1.4 taels, while the population increased several times over, yet grain prices were reduced to a fraction of their peak. The eight major Shanxi merchants had hoarded tens of millions of taels of silver by the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, and for these achievements, they were granted the title of Imperial Merchants by the Qing Dynasty, creating the legendary status of the eight major Shanxi merchants who were the wealthiest in the land for over 270 years.

Although Huang Shi currently lacks evidence—even if he did, he would find a way to profit from it—he is certain he has a chance to sever the lifeline of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Without the assistance of the Shanxi merchant group, the Manchu army would quickly degenerate into a state of mere bone arrows and cloth clothing, not to mention food and intelligence; the mobilization capacity of the army would be predictably reduced.

Fang Zhenru was unaware of Huang Zhuge's cunning scheme, nor could he possess Huang Zhuge's strategic judgment: "General Wang is not thinking about recovering Liaodong, but is determined to defend the Great Wall to the death. I have already impeached him several times. Even his subordinates, Lord Sun and Lord Yuan, have expressed their dissatisfaction."

"Lord Yuan? Lord Sun?" Huang Shi was taken aback.

"Yes, you met them today." The two officials Fang Zhenru mentioned were the same six-rank officials Huang Shi had seen at the General's office. "They are both Assistant Military Commissioners of Liaodong, Lord Yuan Chonghuan and Lord Sun Yuanhua."

As he spoke, Fang Zhenru was drinking with his head down and did not see Huang Shi's drastic change in expression. Huang Shi chuckled dryly and said, "So these are the two officials. I remember their names."

"Yes, they also believe that the city should be built along the Liaoxi Corridor, extending beyond the pass. Huang Shi, what is your opinion on this?" Fang Zhenru spoke politely, but his tone showed no concern for Huang Shi's opinion.

Of course, the Ming people couldn't predict the future behavior of the sun, much less foresee that the Nine Border Garrisons would face twenty years of famine. Perhaps next year would bring a bumper harvest, eliminating the need for additional military pay. Since they already had their own opinions, why would Fang Zhenru bother asking a crude soldier?

Full of doubt, Huang Shi honestly replied, "This humble general was just about to ask Lord Fang for his opinion."

"To recover all of Liaodong, we must first recover what is under our feet. The opinions of both of you are certainly correct. As for General Wang..." Fang Zhenru carefully considered his words before commenting, "Lacking in wisdom."

So that's how it is. These civil officials also need military support. Huang Shi knew that by coming here for dinner today, he had already boarded Fang Zhenru's pirate ship and could only follow to the end: "Your insight is profound, sir."

"Huang Shi, do you think I'm right?"

Now Huang Shi understood what kind of task Fang Zhenru had given him: to report the opinions of the civil officials who opposed Wang Zaijin as his own. With the suppression of the rebellion in Guangning and the expedition to Lushun, the rising star Huang Shi was finally drawn into the political vortex. Sun Chengzong, who was wielding considerable military power, wanted to hear the opinions of his generals, so Wang Zaijin summoned Zu Dashou to rally support. Meanwhile, the civil officials who adhered to a different approach turned to Huang Shi as their scapegoat.

Wang Zaijin advocated for strengthening defenses within the pass, while Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Yuanhua advocated for strengthening defenses outside the pass. Historically, Wang Zaijin was right, but Huang Shi believed it was inaccurate to conclude that Wang was necessarily more capable. After all, the perspective of the Ming dynasty was completely different from that of hindsight.

Huang Shi didn't intend to delve into whose approach was better; all he could do for now was to side with the victor. Therefore, he replied without hesitation, "Your Excellency's vision is far-reaching, and I admire you greatly. However, Your Excellency is indeed quite old and weary."

With such a clear statement, Huang Shi had no room for maneuver.

"Good!" Fang Zhenru quickly had his clerk bring a document, a petition written in Huang Shi's name to Sun Chengzong. "Signature, oh—affixing your seal is also acceptable."

Huang Shi chuckled inwardly, picked up a pen, and without even glancing at the petition, scrawled his name in a crooked hand.

Fang Zhenru put away the letter and smiled at Huang Shi, saying, "You don't need to return to Dongjiang. The salary in Liaodong is very generous, and the monthly stipend for a guerrilla is five taels. For your merits, I will also petition the court to grant you a hereditary centurion title."

It was indeed time to reward merit.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Fang, but I still wish to return to Liaodong to serve. Please grant my request."

"Haven't you found your benefactor's family? Lord Yuan said he wanted to appoint you as the Liaodong garrison commander." Fang Zhenru, who was about to reward Huang Shi for his cooperation, was surprised to see him refuse.

"Lord Yuan, the Liaodong military commissioner?" Huang Shi looked up in surprise.

"It is indeed Lord Yuan Chonghuan. I have spoken with him about you. He greatly admires your loyalty and bravery. Furthermore, he is deeply dissatisfied with the progress of the Ningyuan city construction and intends to have you supervise the construction. After completion, he will appoint you as the Guan-Ning Military Commander and the Ningyuan Fort Commander!"

(Chapter 14)

A towering building rises from the ground. (Chapter 15 )

"Lord Fang, during the battle at Lushun North Palace, I promised everyone that I would avenge them. My words still ring in my ears, and I can see them even with my eyes closed. Fame and fortune are indeed my wish, but I dare not forget the entrustment of those soldiers."

So what if he was a military commander? Jin Guofeng even became a general.

Jin Guofeng was promoted to general by Emperor Chongzhen for his meritorious service in killing the enemy, but he was not from a military family in Liaoxi, so he could not command the Guan-Ning cavalry. In the end, General Jin could only lead a few dozen of his nephews to fight the Qing army. The tens of thousands of Guan Ning cavalry behind him, under the command of their officers, did not offer any assistance. After witnessing the massacre of Jin Guofeng and dozens of his relatives, the ten thousand Guan Ning cavalry, under strict discipline, marched away in orderly fashion from before the thousands of Qing soldiers. The Liaoxi officers maintained tight control over the army throughout.

"I see," Fang Zhenru sighed, but out of good intentions, he still advised, "Killing slaves in Liaoxi is not forbidden; it's serving the court in Liaoxi."

Besides Jin Guofeng, Man Gui was another good example. Immediately after the Ningyuan campaign, Zhao Shuaijiao and other Liaoxi generals tried to seize credit, infuriating Man Gui. In the end, Yuan Chonghuan also gave Man Gui's credit to the Liaoxi generals. During the Ningjin campaign, Man Gui's credit for defending the city and killing enemies was divided among the vulture-like Liaoxi generals, who ultimately ousted him.

"Please, sir, grant our request." With the powerful families of Liaoxi in charge, the Guan Ning Army is a bottomless pit of trouble. It's their business whether Jin Guofeng and Man Gui are willing to wade into those troubled waters. Huang Shi had long seen that Liaoxi was a dead end; the greatest strategic advantage of a time traveler is that they won't be misled by petty gains.

"Alright, I won't force you. Stay here for a few days. Minister Sun will soon come to Shanhaiguan for an inspection, and then you can return to Dongjiang."

"Thank you, Your Excellency." At this point, Huang Shi remembered a question he had forgotten to mention in Lushun: "May I ask, Your Excellency, General Mao Wenlong is the General Who Pacifies Liaodong, so why does everyone call him the Dongjiang Army instead of the Pingliao Army?"

"Oh, the Pingliao Army was Wang Huazhen's idea. The Liaodong garrison and the Liaodong army were very dissatisfied with it, so no one said the words Pingliao. Since Mao Wenlong is on Dongjiang Island (Pi Island), then it will be called the Dongjiang Army."

A casual question led to Fang Zhenru's long speech. He described the thrilling struggle and the hardships endured to achieve the results. The civil officials had been arguing for more than a year over the terms "Pacifying Liaodong" and "Aiding Liaodong," and a large number of memorials on this matter had piled up on the emperor's desk.

The debate over this name alone lasted for months between Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong military commissioner, and Wang Huazhen, the Liaodong governor. Both men wisely elevated the issue to a matter of Liaodong's victory or defeat, even its fate, in their memorials, neither willing to back down.

Numerous court officials and those advising on Liaodong military affairs repeatedly argued from various angles, including morale and military spirit. These officials, concerned for the nation's future, even considered the implications of omens and prophecies, relentlessly petitioning the court. Only after the downfall of Wang Huazhen, the mastermind behind the name "Ping Liao," did the debate over this "major military issue" in Liaodong finally end.

Huang Shi was then informed that the Liaoxi military families, led by Zu Dashou, had completely placed their bets on Wang Zaijin, the Liaodong military commissioner. Not only had they submitted petitions supporting the decision to defend along the Great Wall, but they were also passively delaying the construction of Ningyuan City, with less than a tenth of the planned progress after several months.

Huang Shi smiled outwardly, but inwardly grew increasingly annoyed. The Ming Dynasty was truly devoid of any sense of crisis, making a fuss over such a trivial matter. At this moment, the Ming Dynasty completely disregarded the Later Jin rebellion, refusing to believe that a Jianzhou Guard of 200,000 people could cause such a ruckus. Huang Shi, however, consistently viewed the Later Jin as a mortal enemy.

Huang Shi had come here only to obtain some grain to take back, but he had been involuntarily drawn into the political struggle. However, he felt no burden about it; the Ningyuan route was bound to succeed—history clearly stated this, and he had placed his bet on the right thing.

"Where is Lord Gao?" Huang Shi suddenly thought of Gao Bangzuo, the prefect who had lost the city and territory; he wondered what had become of him.

Fang Zhenru's expression suddenly darkened: "Huang Shi, are you still reading the book Lord Gao gave you?"

"This humble general has been reading it."

"That's good. Don't let his good intentions go to waste; Lord Gao in the afterlife would be very pleased."

Fang Zhenru told Huang Shi that Gao Bangzuo often muttered Huang Shi's words, "Without Guangning, there's no face to enter the pass"—these were originally Gao Bangzuo's own words, but Huang Shi's preemptive remark resonated deeply with him. A few days after Huang Shi left, the refugees from Guangning safely arrived in Ningyuan. Feeling his mission accomplished, Gao Bangzuo hanged himself there—just as in the original history.

Huang Shi forgot he had plagiarized Gao Bangzuo's original words, and thus said with deep remorse, "I should apologize to Lord Gao's family."

"No!" Fang Zhenru retorted decisively, "When Lord Gao left, he had already made clear things to his family, and he also had a deep conversation with me before his departure. Lord Gao's wife and sons are all very understanding, and we all think what you said is the truth, the very essence of righteousness."

"Before his departure?" Huang Shi was puzzled.

Fang Zhenru explained, and Huang Shi finally understood that before committing suicide, Ming Dynasty scholar-officials would first make arrangements for their affairs with their families and explain the reasons for their suicide to their colleagues before calmly facing death. Gao Bangzuo quietly committed suicide in a small house, while Fang Zhenru and Gao's family waited outside the door.

Once a Confucian scholar-official has made up his mind, the persuasion of others is mostly meaningless, and family and colleagues will not throw tantrums to stop him. On the contrary, influenced by Confucianism, family members will send their lord off with smiles, showing their understanding of his noble aspirations, and only after tidying up the body can they begin to vent their grief.

"Huang Shi, do you know how His Majesty learned your name?"

Gao Bangzuo wrote in his blood before his death, his memorial containing not a trace of self-justification, but an entire examination of his own responsibility, while also heavily writing Huang Shi's name.

"Lord Gao said you are both wise and brave, born with loyalty and righteousness, and given time, you will surely become a pillar of the nation. Lord Gao asked the cabinet to give you an important position and not to bury your talent. The cabinet forwarded the blood-written letter to His Majesty, who then ordered the cabinet to choose a posthumous title for Lord Gao to commemorate his loyalty."

Gao Bangzuo's last letter was presented by Fang Zhenru.

"If you truly wish to repay Lord Gao's kindness, strive to kill slaves in Liaodong. Your achievements will comfort Lord Gao's bereaved family more than any words. Lord Gao's recommendation of you will become a celebrated story passed down through generations, for all eternity."

Fang Zhenru concluded solemnly, "Huang Shi, you must not let Lord Gao down, or I will never forgive you!"

(End of Chapter 15)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 16:

"The corrupt and ignorant Confucianism suppresses humanity!"

After leaving Fang Zhenru's house, Huang Shi cursed inwardly. The death of this traditional Chinese scholar-official was full of tragic beauty and power, making Huang Shi feel a tightness in his chest. After cursing silently, Huang Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Having chosen his side, Huang Shi politely declined Zu Dashou's welcome banquet. Wang Zaijin still had some advantage for the time being. Relying on the support of the Liaoxi military families, he forcibly formulated a plan to reinforce the border walls. This plan would build a new fortified complex within Shanhaiguan, starting from Yipianshi in the south, extending to Huanxiling in the north, and reaching Jimen in the west, all forming a fortified zone.

During this period, Wang Zaijin did not summon Huang Shi again, and the Liaoxi military group also kept their distance from him. Fang Zhenru, on the other hand, comforted Huang Shi several times, telling him not to lose heart, and his expression showed some guilt. Huang Shi calmly awaited Sun Chengzong's inspection, then transported the grain—his reward for loyalty—back to Changsheng Island.

"General Huang, this is Huanxi Ridge," the guide introduced to Huang Shi and his men. Now free of trouble, Huang Shi spent his days touring the area around Shanhaiguan, ostensibly to familiarize himself with the terrain.

"It's also called Heartbreak Ridge, right?" Huang Shi asked with a smile.

"Yes," the guide hesitated for a moment, then flattered, "General Huang, your knowledge is truly admirable."

"Why is it called both Huanxi Ridge and Heartbreak Ridge?" He Baodao immediately asked, his curiosity unbearable.

Half a month ago on Changsheng Island, Huang Shi had explained the "boiling frog" technique to his men, who all praised and admired it. Only He Baodao immediately went to conduct an experiment, proving that the frog would jump out on its own instead of waiting to die, leaving Huang Shi humiliated. What was particularly egregious was that He Baodao had thrown a frog into boiling water in front of everyone, and it immediately rolled belly up and died. This made Huang Shi even more displeased—he should have just kept quiet about the experiment; why make such a fuss, as if afraid everyone wouldn't know the commander had made a mistake?

"When our Ming Dynasty border troops return, they look towards this ridge and know that they are about to go home and see their parents and wives. Everyone is happy, so naturally it's called Joyful Ridge," Huang Shi boasted, showing off a story he had heard from a tour guide in his previous life.

"When the troops went beyond the Great Wall, it was called Heartbreak Ridge?"

"Yes." Huang Shi sighed. Before, he had only heard this story for fun, but in this era, life and death separated people in the blink of an eye, like that soldier who died in the line of duty. This made Huang Shi feel a deep connection to the name.

"For nearly three hundred years, millions of our comrades have perished beyond the Great Wall, only then did we achieve peace and prosperity within the land. How magnificent!" He Baodao's heroic spirit soared, and he sighed repeatedly that he had no wine at hand: "Since the Three Dynasties, the martial prowess of China has undoubtedly belonged to our Great Ming. How magnificent! How magnificent!"

Although Huang Shi disagreed in his heart, he did not want to say more. The pride of the country and the nation is a praiseworthy emotion in any era, and the pride of soldiers is even more inspiring.

Seeing that his superior didn't agree, He Baodao glanced at Huang Shi several times, appearing somewhat rude. Huang Shi calmly explained, "I think the Han and Tang dynasties are also good."

"Haha," He Baodao burst into wild laughter, "Your Excellency is mistaken! Our Great Ming has never made peace with the Xiongnu like the Han, nor has it formed brotherhood alliances with the barbarians. Anyone who dares to offend our Great Ming must be exterminated. The surrounding barbarians must be made to submit. The Tang emperor wanted to call himself the Heavenly Khan to win over the barbarians. By the Song dynasty, not only did they have to pay tribute, but there were also those bird-like Aguda and bird-like Genghis Khan who wreaked havoc on China. Now, those Mongolian barbarians, even Genghis Khan's title was bestowed by our Great Ming! Haha!" "

Commander He, watch your words!" Huang Shi shouted sharply. The position of the Yuan Taizu was appointed by Zhu Yuanzhang. Although the current Khan of Mongolia was officially appointed by the Ming Dynasty, according to the logic of this era, He Baodao's disrespect for the Mongol founder was tantamount to disrespect for the Ming founder's imperial pronouncements, disrespect for the Ming emperor, and disrespect for the court…

He Baodao deflated after being scolded by Huang Shi, but still muttered under his breath, "You bastards."

The guide turned his face away, pretending not to hear anything. This guide was also from a military family; for hundreds of years, the Ming army and the Mongols had fought repeatedly, and soldiers would never have any goodwill towards the Mongols or their ancestors.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty always maintained a tough policy towards foreign races, never negotiating or compromising. Even if the emperor was captured, they would fight until he submitted. A Ming emperor had even personally gone to the battlefield and killed a Mongol soldier with his own hands, a unique occurrence in the history of Chinese dynasties.

After a while, He Baodao became restless again: "The mighty Han Dynasty can still compare to my Great Ming Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty, from its founding, treated barbarians as brothers, but later abandoned the capital and fled. A hundred years after its founding, its capital was captured, and for the next two hundred years, barbarians repeatedly invaded the Central Plains. The Tang emperors didn't have any capable generals or warriors; how could they compare to my Great Ming Dynasty? Haha, haha."

Speaking of warriors and military men, He Baodao was just talking nonsense, since he had mainly been exposed to the Ming Dynasty's glorious achievements. The lessons of the Han and Tang dynasties' military-driven chaos led the Song Dynasty to begin emphasizing civil administration and suppressing military power. From then on, the magnificent scene of the emperor ascending the platform to appoint generals and warriors marching off to war amidst the cheers of the people

was never seen again. He Baodao continued rambling on, but Huang Shi didn't hear a word. Having been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, he had gradually learned to see things from the Ming perspective.

Perhaps because the tragic state of the Song Dynasty had shocked the Ming people so much, this dynasty was the most rigid in Chinese history, with a completely different way of thinking. All diplomatic tactics were dismissed as cowardice.

Huang Shi discovered that during the Ming Dynasty, the most popular saying was, "Barbarians are human in appearance but beast in heart, fickle and untrustworthy."

The brutal Mongol massacres reduced the Han Chinese population in the north by 60%, and the south suffered losses exceeding 30%. The benevolence and tolerance of the Han Chinese vanished from history, replaced by vigilance and suspicion from top to bottom. The Ming Dynasty had only one language towards the northern barbarians—fight.

Huang Shi recalled many experts and professors criticizing this barbaric ethnic policy, believing that the methods used by the Manchus after they entered the Central Plains were far better. The Qing emperors did not discriminate against what the Han Chinese considered "barbarians," and even sent princesses to Mongolia—maintaining peace with women's bodies was so convenient, and it provided plenty of romantic gossip.

A mocking smile appeared on Huang Shi's lips.

As a certain chairman aptly put it, the Manchus laid the foundation for China's modern borders. Without the Manchus, there would be no 56 ethnic groups; without the Manchus, there would be no Northeast, Xinjiang, or Tibet.

What were the Nurgan Regional Military Commission and the ü-Tsang Regional Military Commission of the Ming Dynasty? Illusions! These are shameless lies spread by anti-Manchu figures.

The War of Resistance against Japan never actually occurred, and the People's Republic of China never sent troops to Tibet or Xinjiang. These are all illusions! They are all deliberate distortions of the facts to slander the great Qing Dynasty.

The historical truth is that when the Chinese people shouted, "We are the inheritors of the Manchu legacy!" the Japanese obediently returned to where they came from, separatists returned to their homeland weeping, and the gods eagerly sent them wealth. China's prosperity has nothing to do with the self-reliance of its people, the blood shed by its soldiers, or the sweat shed by its ancestors; it is all due to the lingering influence of the Manchu Qing.

Huang Shi has no doubt that the Ming Dynasty rulers and ministers were incompetent, clinging to outdated ideas—"The ancestral land, the ancestral people, cannot be abandoned"—only understanding "The ruler of China governs the people of China," only understanding "The ruler of China dies for the state," lacking the political "wisdom" of the Manchu Qing.

“The Ming Dynasty monarchs could not utter the words ‘I would rather give to friendly nations than to my own slaves,’” Huang Shi, an atheist, could not help but pray to the heavens: “Bless my China, and may we never hear such words again.”

(End of Chapter 16)

A towering building rises from the ground Chapter 17

“Well done!” The guide’s shout interrupted Huang Shi’s prayer. It turned out that He Baodao was talking about how he killed the rebels in Guangning.

Looking at the fanaticism in the eyes of these Ming soldiers, Huang Shi suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness—forgetting war is dangerous, loving war is deadly. During the Han and Tang dynasties, China had a broad mind, embracing foreign cultures: "I'm just an ordinary person with only a few decades to live. Even if I gain power in China, can I truly reopen the hearts of the Chinese people? Can I reverse the influence of the Han and Tang warlords who wreaked havoc on the world?"

Just as he was feeling somewhat dejected, a figure flashed before Huang Shi's eyes—the "Later Jin spy" he had seen in the dungeon when he became Sun Degong's personal guard. Even on the verge of death, the man's eyes still radiated a chillingly fanatical faith, a feeling that had never diminished in Huang Shi.

Since he believed in his ideals, he should strive to achieve them!

Suddenly snapping out of his reverie, Huang Shi coughed: "Let's go see Yipianshi."

"Yipianshi, there's nothing to see there." The guide briefly described Yipianshi; indeed, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.

Huang Shi had been to Yipianshi before; in his original history, it was a place worth remembering, but the Ming people of today wouldn't value it. Since that was the case, Huang Shi didn't insist. He felt that in this timeline, the Battle of Yishan might not happen, so it was better not to go and see it. "Where's Yang Zhiyuan?"

"Brother Yang, um, um, he's not feeling well." He Baodao suddenly became hesitant.

"Oh?" Huang Shi himself was bored out of his mind, wandering around all day. Yang Zhiyuan, on the other hand, could stay calm and not leave the house, which puzzled Huang Shi.

Life in Shanhaiguan was very boring. Ever since Huang Shi made his stance clear, the generals of Liaoxi had kept their distance from him. Huang Shi and Zhao Manxiong exchanged letters and learned that everything on the island was normal, and all the work had been proceeding smoothly for the past ten days.

The first thing Yang Zhiyuan said to Huang Shi was, "Damn sesame seeds again." He had been wondering if they had started planting sesame seeds and clearing away the weeds on the island. After talking for a while, Huang Shi felt that Yang Zhiyuan was indeed a bit depressed, so he adopted his superior authority and demanded that he confess honestly.

"Sir, a friend wants me to go to a matchmaking banquet tomorrow."

Huang Shi sighed inwardly. Why was it always this foolish emotional matter? Yang Zhiyuan's friend was doing quite well in Liaozhen. Thanks to the medals Huang Shi had left behind, he'd become a battalion commander and even built a house. A few days ago, he ran into Yang Zhiyuan and practically dragged him out for a meal, inviting him to another banquet in a few days—that is, tomorrow. During the meal, his friend, nicknamed "Good Girl," even came out to serve tea; she was pregnant.

Forced to smile, Yang Zhiyuan returned to his lonely little house, unable to suppress a wave of sadness and resentment. He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, thinking that if he hadn't gone to western Liaoning, this happy life should have been his. This thought made Yang Zhiyuan feel guilty towards his friend and Huang Shi, but he couldn't shake it off. After a few days of this self-torture, Yang Zhiyuan felt like he was living a life worse than death; he couldn't bear to spend another day in Shanhaiguan.

“I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Huang Shi said, knowing that matters of the heart couldn’t be controlled or explained with reason. “Your friend is also one of my former subordinates; it’s perfectly reasonable for me to go see him.”

The last hundred taels of silver were already at Old Zhang’s house. On the way to Lushun, including the copper coins he’d stolen, Huang Shi only had less than ten taels of silver and a dozen strings of copper coins left, some of which had been spent on the door-to-door baggage.

Huang Shi asked Zhang Zaidi to take out the last five taels of silver, which he had originally intended to give to Fang Zhenru. There were only some coins and a few coins left in the bag, and for a moment Huang Shi felt a little reluctant to part with them. “Take this with you tomorrow.”

The former subordinate was flattered to see his old superior arrive and quickly offered him the seat of honor. Little Zhang gave him the wrapped silver, and the subordinate thanked him profusely before quickly taking it back to the back room to hide it.

Huang Shi and Zhang Zaidi were not like Yang Zhiyuan; they weren’t close friends with that former subordinate, and his wife and daughters didn’t seem to mind. Therefore, it was understandable that the little boy didn’t come out to meet people. Huang Shi thought this was for the best, saving Yang Zhiyuan from further torment.

On the table, Huang Shi praised Yang Zhiyuan, saying that following him would guarantee a bright future. The former subordinate nodded repeatedly and offered his congratulations. Huang Shi felt this was a way of saving face for Yang Zhiyuan.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, followed by a sweet female voice.

"My lord, please forgive me," the former subordinate apologized, then beckoned to Guai Baobao to open the door.

"A friend of my wife's, please forgive me, my lord."

"It's alright." As Guai Baobao went to open the door, Huang Shi tried his best to suppress the urge to peek inside.

Although he hadn't seen her, it didn't stop him from fantasizing: "...I wonder what that little girl will look like after she becomes a wife? Will she be even more rounded and full-figured?"

As the guest passed by the outer room, Huang Shi, who had been lost in thought and wandering to Java Island, whether out of habit, leg discomfort, or fate, in any case, inexplicably stood up. The other three people at the table, startled, also hurriedly stood up straight, a scene that startled the newcomer.

Huang Shi cursed himself for being a lunatic and planned to say a few polite words to ease the awkwardness.

"General Huang." The woman's voice was filled with surprise.

"Indeed, it is I," Huang Shi quickly glanced at the newcomer, a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen, with her hair still styled like that of an unmarried girl: "How should I address this young lady?" "

Greetings, General Huang. My surname is Zhao." Miss Zhao curtsied.

Huang Shi returned the curtsy and then looked away. She was a very pretty girl with fair skin and graceful manners. He heard the sound of two women moving into the inner room and couldn't help but turn his head again to admire the young girl.

Although Miss Zhao walked forward, she stole a glance back. Their eyes met, and the girl, overcome with shyness, fled into the inner room.

Huang Shi warily scanned the people around him. His former subordinate seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with Yang Zhiyuan, and none of them were focusing their attention on him as before. After a while, the former subordinate gave a brief introduction: this Miss Zhao was the close friend of the girl, who had also escaped from Guangning. He proudly told Huang Shi that Miss Zhao's father was a private tutor, and her brother was taking the imperial examination for the lowest degree, and he heard that he had a good chance of passing.

The former subordinate lowered his voice and said, "She also has a younger sister who seems to look down on us military households. She came twice and left. The older sister is very kind and often comes to chat with my wife."

It was clear that the former subordinate was very proud to have made the acquaintance of a scholar and was careful to maintain this rare friendship.

"A scholarly family, huh?" Huang Shi was filled with suspicion. "How could a girl from a scholarly family associate with someone like you?"

(End of Chapter 17)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 18

"Of course it's because of you, sir. They are the people of Guangning. You saved the whole city, so you are their savior. You also escorted them south, protecting them from being plundered by defeated soldiers and bandits. Naturally, they are grateful."

The old subordinate described what he had seen and heard at Shanhaiguan. After the scorched earth order was issued, the Ming army and local government outside the pass completely collapsed. People in other areas died in the wilderness, and they suffered harassment along the way. Countless people had their property stolen, their wives and daughters were violated, and many defeated soldiers simply kidnapped good children and sold them to the Mongols. Only Fang Zhenru's Guangning headquarters was orderly and well-fed. Even the elderly and children traveled safely for eight hundred li and entered the pass safely.

It was indeed tragic, but Huang Shi still didn't think this answer made any sense. In the Ming Dynasty, the literacy rate was less than one percent, and intellectuals held a higher status than university professors in the 21st century. Military households weren't just the lowest of the low; they were criminals and villains. A minor officer in that era was only slightly better off than a beggar. It was questionable whether military households could even be compared to brothels. This friendship was utterly unreasonable.

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious!

Huang Shi glanced at Yang Zhiyuan beside him. Could there be some kind of underground women's organization? This was far too advanced. Perhaps being soft-hearted back then was a mistake; the seemingly innocent girl might be more than she seemed.

"Does this Miss Zhao live far away?"

"Sir, this is a military settlement, so her family certainly wouldn't be here. She always comes at dawn and leaves before dark." After speaking, the old subordinate thought for a moment, then reported the distance and time as if reporting military intelligence.

"She came on foot?" It seems the Zhao family isn't exactly wealthy—well, in the late Ming Dynasty, young ladies from modest families in the north generally had unbound feet, so this isn't surprising, and it's even less surprising if she's a female underground party member.

The meal was almost finished, and Huang Shi was pondering what excuse to use when Yang Zhiyuan suddenly suggested playing a couple of rounds of dice, which the old subordinate readily agreed to—it really is true that when luck comes, even city walls can't stop it.

As expected, Miss Zhao returned home in the evening. Huang Shi had just moved to indicate he wouldn't disturb her any longer when the old subordinate jumped up, quickly escorted Huang Shi to the door to mount his horse, and repeatedly said he wouldn't see him off any further.

With something on his mind, Huang Shi spurred his horse and galloped away.

"Miss Zhao," Huang Shi called out with a smile, dismounting and bowing. Escorting a girl home was always a convenient excuse. "How far is your home, Miss Zhao? Would you like to travel together? I apologize for my intrusion."

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious!

Miss Zhao, both shy and delighted, agreed, and Huang Shi led his horse to the side. Zhang Zaidi was about to follow when Yang Zhiyuan grabbed him and dragged him to the back.

Although Miss Zhao wasn't bound-footed, she moved slower than a snail, and Huang Shi had been subtly testing her all the way…

"My home is just ahead. Thank you, General Huang," Miss Zhao said politely.

"In that case, I'll take my leave," Huang Shi said, his heart already at ease, turning to mount his horse.

“General Huang,” Miss Zhao called out urgently. Huang Shi turned around in surprise and saw the girl blushing as she said, “My father and brother greatly admire you, General, and have always hoped to get to know you. If you have time in the future…”

As she spoke, Miss Zhao lowered her head and gently pointed to her humble abode, “That is my humble abode.”

“I am but a soldier, uncultured and uneducated, and I fear I may offend your esteemed father. It is already an honor that your father would even mention the humble name of a warrior like me. How could I dare to hope for such an acquaintance? Haha, Miss Zhao, I will take my leave now.”

“No, my father really wants to get to know you, General,” Miss Zhao said, her face flushed, as if she had made a great decision. “I also think that you are a man of great integrity and righteousness, no less than a scholar.”

“You flatter me, Miss Zhao.” Huang Shi pondered the meaning behind her words, a hint of pride rising in his heart, but this did not overshadow his rationality. “I am currently busy with military affairs, but perhaps I will have time to visit your father.”

“My father will be very happy.” Miss Zhao’s face lit up with joy; she took this as a promise.

The girl slowly walked towards her home, then stopped and looked back for a long time when no one was around…

On the way back to the camp, Yang Zhiyuan said sarcastically, “Sir, you’ve found someone to practice your swordplay with again?”

“What swordplay?” Zhang Zaidi was completely baffled.

“Just wielding a big sword, and I can practice for two hours straight.” Yang Zhiyuan chuckled as he answered, waving his arms in a strange pose.

“Nonsense!” Huang Shi scolded softly, “Don’t gossip when you get back.”

“Yes, sir.” Yang Zhiyuan solemnly assured him, but immediately reverted to his previous demeanor: “When does sir plan to visit Old Master Zhao?”

“Never.” Huang Shi coldly replied. Legends might sound romantic, but the reality of Liaodong was incredibly harsh. Why waste someone else’s innocent girl’s time?

"Why?" Yang Zhiyuan exclaimed. "Sir, your future is limitless. Becoming a deputy general or brigade commander is just a matter of years. Even if her brother passes the imperial examination, it won't be a disgrace to her family."

"Perhaps her brother can even pass the provincial or metropolitan examinations," Huang Shi said, not intending to explain further.

"He hasn't passed yet, has he? By the time he does, it'll be a done deal. At that time, we'll probably wish her family had a few more top scholars." If a military officer has a relative who is a civil official, it's like climbing a tree to become a phoenix.

Huang Shi snorted and fell silent. He was currently considering this issue from a political perspective. He had no clan to rely on, and if his wife's family couldn't provide the necessary support, even if he gained the throne, his successor would risk dying after only two generations. The ideal marriage partners were still military families and powerful clans. Moreover, after talking with Miss Zhao all the way, he felt that she couldn't be described as "shrewd."

Zhang Zaidi had been frowning tightly, afraid of missing a single word, and his ears were perked up like a rabbit's. Finally, he suddenly realized and slapped his thigh: "So, sir, you've taken a fancy to this young lady."

"Clever, clever." Yang Zhiyuan grinned mischievously and wanted to pat him on the shoulder, but since they were both on horseback, he lightly flicked him with his riding crop.

"But sir said he wouldn't go see Old Master Zhao." Zhang Zaidi was still hesitant.

"I bet a hundred taels of silver." Yang Zhiyuan leaned back, seriously waving a finger, his tone like that of a gambling god.

"But I don't have any." Of course, he couldn't have any; with his salary, he would have to work for more than ten years without eating or drinking.

"You can owe me... or are you too scared?"

Impulsiveness is the devil.

"You've got it all figured out!" Huang Shi assured his trusted confidant as soon as he returned to camp. "We martial artists had better know our place. Besides, we're going back to Changsheng Island. What family would send their daughter to suffer on a deserted island?"

Zhang Zaidi, almost eighteen, stared wide-eyed, seemingly understanding. "Big brother, are you really not in a hurry to get married?"

(End of Chapter 18)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 19

In early June, Fang Zhenru gave Huang Shi a sum of money. The thirty soldiers he brought were given their pay... He also counted the sailors as soldiers, along with temporary servants and guides—in the end, fifty soldiers. Each soldier received one tael and four mace, a captain two taels, and Huang Shi also received five taels of salary. In addition, each person received one shi of grain. This made him regret not bringing more soldiers, and even more so, regret not giving Yang Zhiyuan and He Baodao higher ranks.

"Thank you, Lord Fang." Huang Shi sang a curt "Thank you." Although the man before him had an air of righteous indignation—almost deathly indignation—he still cautiously asked, "Could we hold off on issuing the military pay for now?"

"Huang Shi, withholding military pay is a serious crime." The zombie-faced man appeared.

"This subordinate understands."

The zombie-faced man took a breath, as if he hadn't finished speaking. Was he afraid that Huang Shi would dare to disobey orders at this time?

"Withholding military pay has caused riots among the soldiers more than once or twice..."

So as long as there's no mutiny, it's not a serious crime?

"...If such a thing really happens, even I might not be able to protect you." The zombie-faced man became even more lifeless.

Even if there's a mutiny, there's still a "maybe." So that's how it is.

"This subordinate thanks you for your guidance, Lord Fang."

Huang Shi's men couldn't possibly have any complaints. Everyone was going back to Changsheng Island anyway. Huang Shi was the local tyrant there, with the power of life and death decided by a single word.

The other soldiers on the island received no pay. The problem wasn't the scarcity, but the unequal distribution of resources. While others toiled on the island these past few days, a group of soldiers vacationing with their superiors received silver. This was utterly unfair.

Besides, what would they do with silver on an island? Buy food or wine and meat; they couldn't just throw

it away, could they? They didn't plan to distribute the grain in Huangshi. There wasn't enough for one soldier; since they had no families, they could continue eating in the mess hall. The surplus grain could be sold off; grain was very expensive here at Shanhaiguan, ten shi could be exchanged for five taels of silver and more.

The large amounts of silver the court provided to the nine border regions daily had already caused inflation. The soldiers had bought up all the salt, cloth, and other necessities, leaving the local people suffering greatly.

After Zhang Juzheng implemented the Single Whip Law, all agricultural taxes and corvée labor south of the Yangtze River amounted to over one million taels of silver. Meanwhile, the 70,000-strong army at Shanhaiguan, with ordinary soldiers receiving one tael and four mace, earned over 100,000 taels of silver a month, and a year… Huang Shi was too lazy to calculate it precisely.

This enormous sum of silver flooded into the impoverished frontier like a tidal wave. In ancient times, without supermarkets or chain stores, and in the late Ming Dynasty, without chemical fertilizers and affected by the Little Ice Age, the people of Shanhaiguan certainly couldn't afford eggs and salt. The common people in the nearby towns might not even be able to afford food or clothes; their annual income might not even cover a month's expenses, and they might not even be able to afford charcoal in winter…

Well, this tragic scene didn't actually happen, because the Ming Dynasty court wasn't stupid:

"Hemp cloth, sturdy hemp cloth, only twelve qian of silver a bolt!"

"Shandong flour, one shi and one tael of silver!"

"Rice from Southern Zhili, one tael and one and a half shi!"

Huang Shi weaved through the vendors' eager shouts. Since he had made a fortune, he also planned to buy some clothes and food for his subordinates, and today he had called a guide to make the purchases.

"The price of rice here is already twice that of the capital," the guide, the same one he had been assigned last time, explained, "This is because of the strict orders from the Liaodong Governor's Office; all merchants are forbidden from hoarding and raising prices, and must send the full amount of goods from afar."

The Liaodong Governor's Office of the Ming Dynasty, of course, was not foolish.

"But it's still thanks to the Shanxi merchants, right?" Dozens of Shanxi merchants transported goods from Zhangjiakou, forming a huge caravan to transport various goods for the nine border garrisons. Salt permits and road permits were the court's magic weapon to threaten Shanxi merchants into compliance; if the goods were insufficient, they would be punished.

Road permits and salt permits brought huge profits to the merchants, but since the rise of Jianzhou, the court quickly realized the importance of trade to the Later Jin regime and issued a trade ban on the Northeast, preferring to sacrifice the interests of merchants rather than the interests of the state—a very wise move. Although, some Shanxi merchant businesses had already gone bankrupt.

"General Huang, they've doubled the price of grain!" the guide said indignantly.

"The mules and horses on the road need to eat grass, and people need to eat, not to mention these peddlers who have to work themselves to the bone." Not to mention the tributes to the government, the cost of maintaining the shops, and the manpower hired in the various garrisons.

"Our soldiers' money is earned with blood and sweat; aren't they making money through dishonest means?" the guide exclaimed, agitated. This General Huang wasn't a fool; why was he siding with outsiders?

As a high-ranking military officer, Huang Shi also enjoyed privileges. He didn't linger with the vendors but was led directly to a large shop by a guide. The shopkeeper immediately rushed out to greet him.

Huang Shi inquired about the types and prices of goods. They had all the usual military supplies, even sheepskin gloves for sale. Although travel permits to the Northeast were no longer issued, Shanxi merchants still traded with the Mongols beyond the Great Wall, exchanging salt and cloth for meat and furs.

The prices were very cheap. Generals, based on their rank, could receive a kind of "discount coupon," and Huang Shi had obtained one from Fang Zhenru. This coupon allowed him to buy military supplies at a discount, but merchants had to sell according to the prices set by the governor's office.

"Please have a seat, General Huang," the shopkeeper said, immediately calling for a waiter to serve tea after checking the discount list.

Huang Shi ordered a batch of supplies, the amount exactly matching the discount on the general's list. The shopkeeper, with a bitter expression, hinted several times, hoping to bribe Huang Shi with a kickback to let him off the hook, but all his efforts were met with a humiliating failure.

Since there was no way to salvage the situation, the shopkeeper could only offer a professional smile. A clerk brought over an account book for the shopkeeper to record in detail.

"The goods General Huang took from our shop are as follows..." the shopkeeper read aloud, shaking his head. "Please affix your seal, General."

Huang Shi observed the shopkeeper for a long time. His eyes were clear, and his speech was impeccable. The receipts to be affixed proved they had completed the task assigned by the court. Huang Shi tried to recall the shopkeeper's name near the entrance, hoping to confirm if it was one of the Eight Great Merchants of Shanxi... but failed. Huang Shi had forgotten the names of the Eight Great Merchants, or perhaps he simply didn't know.

"How many soldiers does the General command?"

The shopkeeper's question after the seal was a thunderbolt to Huang Shi's ears.

Wasn't this a military secret? In the 21st century.

"Two centurions and fifty soldiers,"

the guide replied. Was he an idiot?

"Where is the General's garrison?"

Another thunderbolt.

Wasn't this also a military secret? In modern society.

"At..." The idiot guide was about to reveal another secret.

"Shut up!" Huang Shi jumped up abruptly, startling the shopkeeper.

Huang Shi stared intently into the shopkeeper's eyes, his stern question laced with murderous intent: "Why are you asking these questions? Who instructed you?"

The shopkeeper dropped the ledger, staring at Huang Shi, speechless, his face a mask of innocence and fear.

"General Huang, please calm down..." the idiotic guide began, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

A furious roar cut the guide's words short.

"Are you an idiot? Why did you tell him all this?"

Merchants transporting goods to military camps was a form of corvée labor, and asking the number of soldiers was to prepare supplies for the army—wine, clothing, etc.—a disguised form of taxation on the merchants.

The idiot Huang Shi, feeling humiliated, slunk away from the shop, feeling as if the shopkeeper, the shop assistant, and the guide were looking at him like he was mentally challenged.

In the afternoon, the merchants brought the goods to the military camp. Huang Shi refused to let them in, ordering his soldiers to unload them themselves, which drew surprised glances... not just from the merchants' hired men.

Huang Shi felt it necessary to establish a modern-style military supply system, but the quartermaster was a thorny issue; the system needed time to be tested and perfected. During this period, the quartermaster had to be a shrewd person, but Huang Shi worried that this might lead to embezzlement. There's a saying: "The world doesn't lack talented horses, but it lacks discerning judges," but now there wasn't even a donkey—in short, Huang Shi felt he didn't have a suitable candidate in his pocket.

One Hundred Taels of Silver came to Huang Shi with advice: "The soldiers have been at Shanhaiguan for over twenty days. Sir, shouldn't you consider the women?"

"Prostitutes?"

"Yes."

"Approximately how much?" One Hundred Taels seemed to be a meticulous person, very thoughtful.

"Two qian of silver per time, six qian for one night."

"That's expensive! Fifty people would cost six taels and four qian! No way! Go talk to a brothel and see if they can do it wholesale." This 100-tael brothel is quite meticulous.

"What do you mean by 'wholesale'?"

Huang Shi explained.

"I'm afraid not. They just paid their wages, and those brothels only want to do 'retail'... Yes, that's the word you just used, sir. I think it's very apt."

"Then wait and talk to them again. Tell the soldiers to be patient for a few more days." 100-tael brothel is very meticulous and trustworthy.

"Your subordinate obeys. I think it will be fine in five or six days. I think we can get it down to five taels for fifty people, and less than fifteen taels for the girls coming to the camp..."

"Hmm, then thank you for your trouble." 100-tael brothel is indeed meticulous... a little strange.

"Don't worry, sir, I will definitely argue my case." 100-tael brothel patted his chest and assured Huang Shi.

Huang Shi found these words somewhat familiar, and that impassioned demeanor seemed… he seemed to have seen it before.

Yang Zhiyuan was very diligent in his work; a few days later, he had chosen a company and negotiated all night. When he came to report to Huang Shi in the morning, he looked quite haggard, as if he hadn't slept well the night before.

Would Yang Zhiyuan, lacking sleep, lose out in the negotiation? Huang Shi worried that he hadn't done a good job, or that he had negotiated back only six or seven taels. However, Huang Shi was prepared to accept it, as long as it wasn't too outrageous, after all, he owed Yang Zhiyuan a lot.

"Reporting to you, sir," the listless 100 taels bowed weakly. He looked really tired; he must have negotiated with more than one person.

"Fifty soldiers cost four taels and eight mace; if we send girls to the camp, it will cost thirteen taels."

(End of Chapter 19)

A towering building rises from the ground. Chapter 20:

In June, after Sun Chengzong inspected Shanhaiguan, Fang Zhenru immediately summoned Huang Shi, looking quite pleased with himself. He addressed the Liaodong military commissioner with even less respect: "Wang Zaijin is finished."

Sun Chengzong and Wang Zaijin argued for seven days and seven nights, but Sun Chengzong still couldn't persuade Wang Zaijin to abandon his view of defending the Great Wall. Finally, Sun Chengzong asked him what would happen if the soldiers in the fortresses in front of Shanhaiguan deserted and fled, wouldn't they be hunted down by the Jurchens? Wang Zaijin naturally replied that they could set up large camps in strategic locations so that these soldiers would have a place to retreat.

Sun Chengzong immediately scolded Wang Zaijin: If large camps are set up to shelter the fleeing soldiers, wouldn't that encourage them to desert? Then he wrote a memorial to the Tianqi Emperor, saying that Wang Zaijin was completely unreasonable, spoke incoherently, and absolutely could not be entrusted with important responsibilities. Wang Zaijin thus fell from power.

This was merely Huang Shi's personal opinion; Sun Chengzong's statement seemed somewhat far-fetched. However, Huang Shi was no longer in Wang Zaijin's faction and remembered that Sun Chengzong was indeed far more capable than Wang Zaijin. Huang Shi verbally agreed and praised him, but inwardly he was slightly skeptical.

"Lord Fang, is the construction of Ningyuan a done deal?" "

Indeed. Since Minister Sun rejected Wang Zaijin's plan, he has been wasting national funds during this period. At best, he will be sent to Nanjing; at worst, he will lose his position." In this kind of political struggle, which includes factional strife, defeat is catastrophic. Wang Zaijin's career is undoubtedly over. And aside from Wang Zaijin's faction, those remaining all advocate for the construction of Ningyuan and Juehua. With

his future ruined, Wang Zaijin was quickly transferred to Nanjing. Sun Chengzong decided to construct Ningyuan, and Yuan Chonghuan was sent to carry out this task. The Liaoxi military group immediately snapped to attention, with Zu Dashou being the quickest to react. The Zu family, who had initially been passively resisting, mobilized all their manpower, including servants and slaves, to work overtime to expedite the repairs of Ningyuan.

The Ningyuan city-building project, which had been less than a tenth complete in the past six months, was now over-achieved by Zu Dashou in just half a month. His hard work and dedication earned him Yuan Chonghuan's trust.

Amidst this joyous scene, Huang Shi finally received his reward: a full ten thousand shi of rice and beans, personally obtained by Fang Zhenru.

Fang Zhenru, being a good friend, asked, "Is there anything else you need?"

"This humble general also needs cloth, armor, bows and arrows, pig iron..." Huang Shi rattled off a long list, essentially saying he wanted everything.

"Liaodong is in such dire straits, Huang Shi, are you really not going to reconsider?" Fang Zhenru carefully observed Huang Shi's expression as he spoke.

Huang Shi simply smiled; his strategic resolve would not waver, regardless of either profit or hardship.

"I've met countless people in my life, but sometimes I truly don't understand you. Your loyalty... is extremely precious." Fang Zhenru felt that Huang Shi's loyalty was so strong it seemed unreal, or rather, too real, like a fabricated legend. Fang Zhenru thought he knew Huang Shi well, but after spending time with him, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity and distance. He wasn't sure he could get the supplies, after all, Fang was just a disciplinary official: "As for what you want... I will do my best."

During this time, Huang Shi was also fortunate enough to be summoned by Sun Chengzong once. Gao Bangzuo had greatly moved Huang Shi, so when he met Sun Chengzong, Huang Shi finally revealed his full understanding.

"You think building Juehua is better." Sun Chengzong raised an eyebrow in surprise. The letter Fang Zhenru submitted for him stated that he supported the defense of Ningyuan.

"Yes, this humble general dares to suggest: build a city on Juehua Island, construct warships, then seize Yaozhou, build a port, and then seize Haizhou..." Huang Shi, a believer in naval supremacy, had no intention of fighting the Later Jin on land. His overall plan was to establish a series of fortified strongholds along the Bohai Sea, from Juehua, Yaozhou, Niangniang Palace, Fuzhou, Jinzhou to Lushun. Since the Later Jin, lacking a navy, couldn't cut off the food supplies to these strongholds, they could only launch a direct assault on the Ming army's fortified cities. In this attrition war, the Ming would never suffer a loss.

"Stop," Sun Chengzong interrupted Huang Shi with a smile. "Did Lord Yan teach you to say these things?"

"Lord Yan? This humble general doesn't know. Please enlighten me, sir." Huang Shi was completely bewildered. He didn't know that Yan Mingtai advocated for the construction of Juehua; Sun Chengzong mistakenly thought he was acting as an advocate for this plan.

"What you're saying now doesn't match the memorial you submitted. Why?"

Huang Shi had no choice but to explain that this was a new perspective he had reached in the past few days, hence the difference from his previous memorial.

"Haha, Huang Shi, you're quite tight-lipped." Although he felt Huang Shi wasn't telling the truth, Sun Chengzong wasn't offended. He casually asked a few more questions, thinking that it was better to discuss it directly with Yan Mingtai than to listen to a military man relaying

his words. In the Ming Dynasty, the construction of city walls, whether for attack or defense, was always decided by civil officials. The Ming court could carefully listen to the opinions of seventh-rank military supervisors, weighing and discussing them repeatedly, but it never considered any voices from military generals. Although Sun Chengzong valued the opinions of military generals, he only aimed to improve, not completely overturn, deeply ingrained traditional thinking.

As for Huang Shi's view of using the sea as a road, Sun Chengzong only smiled and offered encouragement, clearly unconvinced. The Ming officials' view of using the sea as a wall had existed for hundreds of years. Before this, there had been no wars in Chinese history for the struggle for sea power, so the Ming people had no experience. If Sun Chengzong were to formulate a court plan based solely on Huang Shi's words, he would be a reckless and foolish man.

Therefore, building cities must be done practically, extending supply routes step by step along the land to ensure stability. There are many lessons learned in this regard, both painful and successful. Building cities isolated deep within enemy territory, relying on sea routes, is considered a crooked path in this era.

"No wonder you always want to go back to Mao Wenlong, Huang Shi," Sun Chengzong said, having also heard of Huang Shi's plans. "This idea of using the sea as a route is Mao Wenlong's, isn't it? Indeed, only under him can you truly showcase your talents, haha."

Mao Wenlong hadn't thought that far ahead; his understanding included elements of using the sea as a moat, at most the nascent idea of using the sea as a route. Huang Shi finally understood that the thoughts of people in every era must be based on the facts they can see; it's impossible to impress historical figures with empty words. Sun Chengzong was very kind to Huang Shi, but that was as far as that went.

The Battle of Guangning had already made the court listen to Huang Shi's voice. The Ming dynasty's scholar-officials weren't fools unwilling to listen; on the contrary, they were shrewd enough to see tangible results before listening. Realizing his own shortcomings, Huang Shi immediately requested to return to Changsheng Island in Liaodong. Sun Chengzong offered encouragement, and Huang Shi took the opportunity to obtain some supplies.

"Sir, are you really not going to visit Master Zhao?" Yang Zhiyuan's concern touched Huang Shi.

Huang Shi resolved to use a personal example to help the man with his one hundred taels of silver's resentment: "There's a story about two fish that, after a pond dried up, comforted each other with the water from their mouths, sharing joys and sorrows like a married couple. Yang Zhiyuan, what do you think of these fish?"

"Friends made in poverty should not be forgotten, and a wife who has shared hardship should not be abandoned." Unexpectedly, even the illiterate Yang Zhiyuan knew these two idioms.

“That’s right, but if you were one of these two fish, would you rather wait to die on the dry ground with your companion, or would you rather both live and roam freely in the world?”

“Of course, the latter. It’s better for two people to live than for two people to die.” Yang Zhiyuan was a straightforward man, without any bourgeois sentimentality.

Huang Shi seized the opportunity to elaborate. He couldn't stay in Liaoxi for a woman, and the woman might not like the hardships of Liaodong

. Rather than being entangled in a messy relationship, it was better for them to find their own happiness. He hoped Yang Zhiyuan would understand his deeper meaning and sever the emotional ties to the "good boy": "As the saying goes, it's better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes than to be together

in hardship." Huang Shi smiled broadly as he set off, admiring the fully loaded hold. He had acquired all three large cargo ships and taken ten apprentice craftsmen with him: "A full load! It was definitely worth the trip."

------------

"General Huang has returned to Liaodong...it's certain, many people saw General Huang go to sea." A young girl said with difficulty, quoting the news she had just heard: "He won't be visiting my father." The

somewhat haggard young woman's face showed heartbreaking disappointment and disbelief. So many days of self-deception had finally reached its breaking point.

That damned villain! The little sister gently embraced the heartbroken, tearful woman, saying, "General Huang also has his reasons. He's too sentimental, and even heroes have their weaknesses. He's afraid of holding his sister back."

(End of Chapter 20)

(End of Chapter) Side

Story: From *

The Records of the National History, Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu*:

In the second year of the Tianqi reign, Ming general Mao Wenlong dispatched Emperor Taizu to garrison Changsheng. The accompanying army numbered no more than a hundred soldiers and a thousand civilians. Changsheng was merely a desolate island in the Liaodong Peninsula, with no more than 300,000 mu of land, devoid of fields and mulberry trees. "

When a wise ruler is born, good ministers emerge; this has always been true."

Emperor Taizu trained his army and conducted military exercises. Xiong Conglong assisted him, seeking virtue and establishing laws for the masses. Zhiyuan managed the treasury, and Dingyuan trained the troops. With meticulous laws and strict orders, the Changsheng army flourished!

Bao Bowen was promoted to expand the land and encourage agriculture, along with fishing and hunting. Liu Qingyang opened a sea route, attracting merchants from all directions. The fields were crisscrossed, yielding abundant produce, and Changsheng became a paradise in a chaotic world.

People, young and old, flocked to Changsheng; heroes of Liaodong admired him and vied to serve at the front; even Duncan from the West traveled hundreds of millions of miles across the ocean. For a time, all the wise men gathered, like rivers flowing into the sea.

In August of the sixth year of the Tianqi reign, Empress Gao visited Changsheng and was greatly amazed: "How talented is Changsheng?"

Emperor Taizu smiled and said: "I don't worry about a lack of thoroughbreds, but about a lack of discerning judges."

The Empress congratulated Emperor Taizu: "Your thoughts are truly insightful!"

Shi Shijing commented: "

Emperor Taizu's rise from obscurity at Changsheng, with his ministers following suit, was both divine will and human effort. Emperor Taizu's training of troops at Changsheng and his gathering of talented individuals were truly the foundation of our dynasty's rule."

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