On June 8, the Prussian army captured Huating.
On June 17, the Prussian army captured Cheung Chau.
After only three days, the Prussian army captured Wuxi.
Five days later, Wujin, guarded by 100,000 rebels, also fell.
Facing the fierce offensive of the Prussian army, the rebels in various places were almost unable to resist. They barely parried a few times and then abandoned the city and fled.
On June 24, with the help of the Ming Empire fleet, 15,000 newly arrived Prussian troops in the south of the Yangtze River landed on the outskirts of Nandu.
The rebel army with 300,000 troops only held out until July 2, when its main force retreated towards Xuancheng.
The next day, Dantu changed hands, and Jiangdu became the first remaining large city in the Jiangbei region to be captured by the Prussian army.
Thanks to the efforts of the rebels, less than a month and a half later, more than half of the cities in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were owned by Prussia.
This is a result that the top rebels in various places had never thought of before, but now they have to accept that staying where they are is waiting for death. Everyone blames each other while trying to escape to the mountains.
Sun Guangling's family followed the team fleeing westward and ran around the clock day and night. From time to time, they were also attacked by enemy air raids. Fortunately, they were blessed with good luck, destiny, and good fortune, and they often burned incense, so they were able to turn the corner.
It was only twelve days later that we arrived at the foot of Mu Mountain in northern Zhejiang Province. Although everyone was disgraced, we finally arrived at our destination.
However, this place is no longer the former Meishan. The entire mountainous area is controlled by more than a dozen gangs.
The most powerful group is the "Oolong Army", with no less than 5,000 troops, and more than 10% of them are retired soldiers.
In addition, he was a local, familiar with the terrain, and had fellow villagers to help him, and he was able to get weapons by himself, so he was able to get along well.
Nearly one-third of Meshan's territory is controlled by the Oolong Army, and it is also the best place.
"Who is coming? Tell me your name!"
The era of shouting at the top of one's neck has passed. Nowadays, even if the grass is falling, you can still greet visitors with a loudspeaker.
"We are all ordinary people who came from Huating. We just want to take refuge in the mountains for no other reason!"
Sun Guangling took advantage of the fact that he still had some experience, so he took the initiative to start a fight.
"Each person has to pay fifty silver coins or twenty pounds of food to enter the mountain. If you don't have money or food, you can pay with a beautiful young woman!"
The mountain cannot let you enter in vain. I am not a philanthropist.
Even if you go to a wealthy gentry's house these days, can you eat and drink for free without working a long-term job?
"There are so many of us, and we are here in a hurry. It is really difficult to raise so much money and food! My dear friend, can you be accommodating and give us ten silver coins per person?"
It wasn't that Sun Guangling didn't want to pay, he just didn't want to give the other party so much money.
"Old man, why are you farting here? This is the price set by our military. You are a child, so you can change it? Who do you think you are? If you don't want to spend money, then go to other mountains and ask. !”
Although this gangster has a bad tone, he will not easily call on his brothers to take action without the permission of the leader. Each profession has its own rules, and you cannot break the rules, otherwise you will be punished by the boss when you return.
The Oolong Army's territory is very dangerous and there is only one way into the mountain from the east. As long as artillery is added on both sides of the ravine and minefields are laid at the foot of the mountain, it will be foolproof.
Even if the Prussian army attacked, they would not be able to pass through here unless 1,800 people were killed, let alone dealing with ordinary people who did not know how to fight.
"Lucky for you, our army has just lowered the fee to enter the mountain. Each person has ten silver coins. If you pay, you can enter the mountain!"
At this time, the leader next to him had just been notified that the entrance fee to the mountain had been significantly reduced. Now, it was better for the group in front of him.
"That's very good, I thank you all very much!"
Sun Guangling was overjoyed when he heard this. As long as he could enter the mountain, he wouldn't have to go around other places anymore. He would find a chance to go out after he had escaped for a while.
"Brother Hai, we have received 500,000 Nanmin one after another in the past month. If this continues, I'm afraid there won't be enough food in the mountains!"
The second eldest son, Chang Shan, knew the situation in the mountain very clearly. They were here as a prison, not a shelter. Even if they paid a fee to enter the mountain, it would not be enough to eat.
"Collect as many as possible, preferably one million!"
The boss, Li Hai, touched the beard on his chin and gave serious instructions. He had already thought of a way out for his brothers.
"Ah? Brother, did I hear you right? With so many people, we will soon be impoverished. No matter how rich our family is, we can't feed so many mouths!"
Laosanguan Yongwang was greatly surprised by this. They were in a mountainous area, not a plain, and their limited food could only feed half a million people.
If I really get a million dollars, I'm afraid half of them will starve to death in the end, unless the boss is concerned about other people's wealth, which will ruin the reputation he has built up so hard.
"Do you really want to be a bandit in this mountain for the rest of your life?"
Li Hai looked at the two brothers who started his own business and asked meaningfully.
"Brother, what do you mean..."
"Why do we go into the mountains to do this business? Isn't it just to make money!"
"That's true!"
"The rich gentry has his own way of making money, and we guys also have our own way of making money."
"Then let's..."
"With the support of Emperor Haojing, it is only a matter of time before the Prussian army takes over the entire Jiangnan. By then, no matter how big Jiangnan is, there will be no place for our brothers. I heard that other places will be returned to the Western countries, and there will be no place in the mainland. Once we have a foothold, we will eventually have to live outside the sea.”
"That's true!"
"You have to have enough travel expenses to live overseas. Aren't those refugees outside our travel expenses?"
"But if we do this, won't we already have a falling out with the court?"
"Whether we fall out or not is not up to us, but to the court. Think about it, if we dedicate these difficult things to the court..."
"That's it, big brother is wise!"
One million Nanmin was dedicated to the court at one time, even if it was reduced by half, it would be enough for the three brothers to live a life without worries about food and clothing.
"If it's not far away, let's learn from Song Jiang. The court's recruitment will do us more good than harm!"
"What if the imperial court kills the donkey?"
"Our Ming Dynasty is not Zhao Song, Emperor Hao Jing is not a faint emperor, and we are all veterans, and we have given such a big meeting gift. Due to emotions and reasons, the court will treat us as an example of recruiting peace, otherwise we will be everywhere. Thief, then we have to go into the Year of the Monkey and the Moon of the Horse?"
"Brother is right. Isn't the imperial court always short of miners? Let's just do what they want!"
"That's exactly what it means!"
"As long as the court pardons my brother and his family, we will give these people to the court for free!"
This transaction was done very well, and it can be said to be a huge profit.
The three of them were originally special forces, but they served in different places and retired and returned home after the European War.
Wukang, Deqing, and Xiaofeng happened to be located at the foot of Mu Mountain, so the three of them cooperated and gathered a team of troops to occupy Mu Mountain.
Because of his outstanding professional abilities and knowing how to lead his brothers in guerrilla warfare, he soon became the strongest team in the area.
As for the future of his brothers, Li Hai had long thought about this aspect, and it was just a matter of accepting recruitment from someone else.
If the rebels from various places can finally succeed, they will naturally not need to leave their homes.
On the contrary, the brothers are still loyal to the imperial court. After all, the Ming Dynasty is the orthodox one!
They didn't want to do anything wrong. Didn't you know that the Eight Great Kings Zhang Xianzhong had to run away to North America in the end?
As long as the imperial court can provide a way to survive, the brothers will have no complaints even if they go to Yahaijiao.
Recruitment?
OK!
Since ancient times, the emperor can be immoral, but not short of money!
Regarding the "two-legged sheep" business, a certain emperor started doing it when he was still in charge of the country.
Not only must we recruit people, but we must also make the people we recruit feel satisfied.
The King of the Ming Dynasty did not have time to help Frederick go into and suppress the bandits in the mountainous area. He was so busy with his own work that he lost his vitality. How could he contain France for the Ming Dynasty in the future?
Therefore, recruitment has become the most appropriate and lowest-cost way. Everyone can solve the problem without losing harmony. It can be called the best of both worlds.
Twenty silver coins for adults, five silver coins for the elderly and children, the price is only ten silver coins, the more the better.
On the contrary, they will eventually be sent to mine, and the court will be able to earn back their capital with profits.
The total number of Nanmin in the mountainous areas of northern Zhejiang is about six to seven million, with a maximum of ten million, and the total price is only one hundred million silver coins. This amount of money can be fully paid by a certain emperor.
All veterans who join the gang can receive priority treatment. After all, they are their own people. As long as they are willing to turn back, the court will naturally give them a way to survive.
Not only can they enjoy the pardon of the whole family, but they are also provided with villas and farms in the West, plus a large sum of money from selling Nanmin, which is enough for them to live a life without worries about food and clothing.
In those days, an emperor could pardon Zhang Xianzhong, Liu Guoneng, Xue Chengcai and other tough criminals, but now it is even easier to pardon those who are not a big threat.
In early September, Sun Chuanting, the special envoy appointed by Emperor Haojing, arrived at Mushan to discuss the matter with Li Hai and others.
Li Hai and others were naturally overjoyed at the court's sincerity.
In their hands, they had 780,000 Nanmin and 7.8 million silver.
This made Li Hai so excited that he was willing to spend one million silver coins to honor Mr. Sun Ge.
Sun Chuanting was already very old. Of course, he was not serving the emperor just to gain advantage, so he declined the other party's kindness.
As long as the handover goes smoothly, then it means that my hard work has not been in vain and I can return to Beijing to resume my life.
He is not worried about the other party attacking him. They even brought their old superiors with him on this trip.
Regardless of whether it is face or smugness, the possibility of another mistake is extremely slim.
Li Hai was not a greedy person. He was already satisfied with this huge sum of money and was willing to spend five million to pay for his brothers to live overseas.
The remaining 2.8 million between the three brothers is enough. Each of them can get 900,000, and the remaining 100,000 is used as travel expenses. No matter how you calculate it, it is enough.
Emperor Haojing provided them with several places to stay. Those who are willing to live a peaceful life can go to East Africa or northern Australia. Both places have a good environment.
Those who are willing to serve the imperial court can settle in the Kingdom of Naples, where there are many stubborn natives.
It was inconvenient for the court to send troops to deal with these natives, so they were assigned to mercenary groups to deal with them.
The best way is to establish Akito settlements, which can gradually encroach on their territory.
Louis XIV exchanged the Kingdom of Naples for the Liaodong Peninsula. It was obvious that he wanted a certain emperor to be shut out.
Unexpectedly, a certain emperor has good teeth. Even if your soup is made of lava, I can still eat it.
Those who are not so honest in the Ming Dynasty can go to settle in the Kingdom of Naples.
There is a sea view room when you arrive, and it doesn't cost you a single silver coin. The climate is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful. What a bargain!
There are so many people who don't want to settle in the cold north, and this is when the advantages of Naples become apparent.
It is true that it was an important financial and taxation place for Louis XIV, but it was not considered an important financial and taxation place for the Ming Empire in the future.
A certain emperor did not expect to make money from this piece of land. He could only catch some tuna from the Mediterranean.
Entering the industrial age, the ports in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula are still of some use, but the inland areas are useless.
This low-value-added land can only be used as a settlement. If the indigenous people on it are disobedient, they will have to bear the consequences...
They may commit suicide, but if they don't want to, a certain emperor can send a fleet or a bomber formation to "greet" them!
Even if chaos breaks out in the future, it will have to be between people of the Ming Dynasty and each other, not the local indigenous people who can fight against the imperial court.
A certain emperor will use all means to change the blood of the Kingdom of Naples.
Now that he has become the king of the kingdom, he can do whatever he wants legitimately.
As long as those who are willing to settle there will be treated favorably, those who are willing to have sex with the locals in Linfang will also receive additional rewards.
For those slave miners who have been purchased, they will first mine to atone for their sins, and then all will be arranged to settle in the Northland.
Don’t you want to go to the North?
The less they wanted to go, the more a certain emperor arranged for them to live there!
Many southerners think that the dry and cold weather in the north is not as cold as the wet and cold weather in the south. Isn't that a good thing?
Similarly, it can be proved that the dry cold in the North is not colder than the wet and cold in the South, and the environment in the North is better than that in the South.
Therefore, the North is not only not a bitter cold place, but also a very livable place, especially suitable for southerners to settle.
For a certain emperor, obedient southerners can choose where to stay, and those who are disobedient will be sent to the north to open up wasteland!
The Northland is large enough that 500 million people could move there without being overpopulated. The severe cold can also prolong life and resist aging. What a great thing!
A certain emperor believed that doing so was a very humane and major act of kindness, and would definitely receive unanimous support from the general public!
Purchase 20 million slave miners from the Jiangnan region, even if only 5 million can be used as labor force.
Each person can also create an income of at least 50 silver coins for the court every year, totaling 250 million silver coins.
If the people do nothing, they will be sold by bandits and become slave miners. This is the fate of the smart and energetic people.
After this time, the Ming Dynasty gave birth to a large number of wealthy wealthy people, who could leisurely go to the West and enjoy life.
But the veterans in Luocao basically agreed to be recruited by the court. They didn't look like they had been bandits all their lives.
Being able to get amnesty and make a lot of money is really a double blessing.
The same goes for Liu DaDa, who received amnesty by virtue of his status as a veteran and married Xie Chunyu, the boss's daughter.
Later, when he settled in Sicily, although he was not rich and powerful, ten thousand silver coins and a house were enough to make a living.
Even so, my father-in-law Xie Xuming still has to thank him. Without his guarantee, he would have been sent to the mines on the grassland to work as a slave miner...
