Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 7 Famine and War

Tian Cong is the first year name given to himself by Empress Jinhuang Taiji to replace Nurhachi's "Mandate of Heaven".A great mission has come down from heaven, and Hou Jin at this time can be described as mixed happiness and sorrow.On the one hand, the territory of Hou Jin was unprecedentedly vast, and the Ming Dynasty had nothing to do with them.On the other hand, the country changed to a new master, and people's hearts were unstable. Daming began to become tough because of Ningyuan's victory.Everything is still unknown.

However, this year, as soon as Huang Taiji came to power, the grain harvest in Liaodong fell short.Once Hou Jin's food was short, he could only use the ideas of the people around him, or supply it from the rich territory.Among the territory of Hou Jin, southern Liaoning is relatively rich, and it was the territory of the Ming Dynasty a few years ago.Southern Liaoning is divided into four prefectures, Jin, Fu, Hai, and Gai, and it is even more fertile.

Li Yongfang, who is in charge of the four states in southern Liaoning, is worried.This year's grain harvest in the four states of southern Liaoning is not good, and it is difficult to feed the people in the four states of southern Liaoning. The higher-ups have to find ways to prepare grain and grass for 3 people in the Eight Banners for the winter.That's 3 people!Not to mention 3 people, even [-] pigs cannot be fed.

But it is not easy to offend those high-ranking Eight Banners and masters. Based on his understanding of Huang Taiji, if he cannot satisfy Huang Taiji, he will probably lose at least three layers of skin.

Li Yongfang rubbed her temples with a headache.Administering the four states in southern Liaoning may seem like a good job, but it is actually thankless.

Just when Li Yongfang was having a headache, a young officer came in from the door, holding a few pieces of letter paper in his hand.Li Yongfang turned her head and looked over, it turned out that it was her third son Gang Atai.

"Father, there is information from Fort Wanghai that several teams they sent to the countryside to collect food were attacked by unknown troops and the entire army was wiped out. The castle owner Wang Yang who is currently stationed in Fort Wanghai is hiding in the fort and asked us to send A troop went to support." Gang Artaihui reported.

"Needless to say, it's the group of thieves from Dongjiang Town. They come at this time, even if they don't come sooner or later. This is adding fuel to the fire!" Li Yongfang became angry from embarrassment.

"Yeah, Dongjiang Town is not strong, but they just fight if they can beat them, and run away if they can't beat them, which makes us lose our temper." Gang Artest nodded.

"But this time we have to ensure food safety, and we still need to send a force to drive them out." Li Yongfang sighed.

"Father, please assign me an army. I will definitely drive the Dongjiang army into the sea!" Gang Atai said.

"Okay! I'll give you five hundred soldiers and seventy cavalry. You only need to drive them into the sea, and you can't love to fight."

This year's severe cold, many places in the north have poor harvests, and the price of food has risen wildly, which not only affects Houjin, but also affects the jurisdiction of Dongjiang Town above the sea.Dongjiang Town is located on the sea, and its own food production is limited. Most of the food is supplied by caravans.When the grain harvest is in short supply, there will be fewer sources of supply, and the price of grain will go up.Therefore, supplying and storing food has become a top priority.

The unidentified troops who attacked the Wanghaibao grain collection team this time were naturally Chu Yun's Fu Liao camp equipped with new muskets.

Since Wang Changyuan sent a ship to deliver the raw materials, Chu Yun urged the staff of the French Empire Ordnance Bureau to speed up the production of rifles.Three hundred rifles were manufactured in two months and equipped with troops.

Among them, two hundred rifles were brought out by Chu Yun for sneak attacks, and another hundred rifles were stationed on the island for defense.The battalion subordinate team, one part of Yang Tai's brigade, and one part of Changyi brigade were attacking this time.

"My lord, there is a food requisition team of more than 20 people in front of us. The equipment is poor, and there are seven or eight carts of food!"

Chang Yi, who took the risk himself as a scout, came back to report to Chu Yun.

"There are only more than 20 people who dare to swagger, let's go up and make dumplings for them!"

On the rugged mountain road, as described in Changyi’s report, more than 20 Houjin soldiers whipped the mules carrying the cart with whips, urging them to move forward.

"The eight banners are a group of wolves who eat people and don't spit out their bones. We don't have enough food to eat, and we have to transport it to Shengjing. How can we survive this winter?"

"Don't complain, it's better to not survive the winter than to be killed now."

"It's really frustrating to be alive. Although we were often deducted from military pay when we served in the Ming court, at least we could have a full meal. How is it like now?"

More than 20 people complained one after another.

On the muddy mountain road, when they turned a corner, they suddenly found that there were already neat rows of Ming soldiers in front of them, pointing their muskets at them.The dark hole made them feel the threat of death.

"It's Daming... Ming army... let's run away!" After regaining consciousness, the Jin soldier tried to turn around and run away.

Immediately, they discovered that there was also a Ming army behind them at some point, pinching them head to tail on the mountain road.

Looking at the dark crowd of Ming soldiers ten times their size, they felt fear in their hearts, and their legs trembled involuntarily.

"boom!"

When a post-golden soldier tried to escape into the woods, Chadley shot the soldier with sharp eyesight and quick hands.It happened that the ammunition hit the head, and a piece of red, white, and black was scattered.

"Grandpas, please spare your lives. We are all Ming people. We really can't survive. We joined Houjin with the officer just to make a living. Please spare your lives, grandpas!"

Seeing such a horrific scene, the remaining food requisition soldiers threw down their weapons and kowtowed in surrender.

"You said that what you did was wrong, but you just wanted to be Houjin's lackeys and help Houjin bully the folks and elders. How can I forgive you?"

Chu Yun walked over slowly, picked up the iron knife on the ground, and gestured at the neck of a Houjin soldier, as if to see from which angle it would be easier to cut.

"Mr. Jun, we don't dare anymore. We are willing to work with you in the future! It's not easy for the young ones. There is an 80-year-old mother and a newborn child to take care of. Who will take care of them when the young ones die..." Chu Yun held up the knife and threatened the Houjin soldier, hugging Chu Yun's thigh, crying with snot and tears.

From the bottom of his heart, Chu Yun looked down on this kind of person the most.However, Guanglu Island is too short of labor, and it would be a pity to kill them.

"I'll let you off this time. Someone, tie them up and transport them to our ship together with the seven or eight carts of grain. After they landed on the island, they were low-class islanders. In the first two years, they had no wages except food and lodging. Only those who perform well later can become ordinary islanders.”

"Thank you, Mr. Jun, for not killing him!" The Houjin soldier was lucky if he escaped from birth. As for two years of free labor, it was better than death.

Mrs. Yang led his men to clean the battlefield, but he was still a little dissatisfied: "Master Qian, why do we only hunt small fish and shrimp these days, when will we be able to get a big one?"

"Look, after we make noise, the big fish will come soon." Chu Yun took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped his flintlock pistol carefully.

(End of this chapter)