Traveler Major League

Chapter 309: Ming Dynasty

Chen Feng, the significance of the stone slab coordinates was deeply engraved in his heart. The tragic scenes of the past were like etched copper plates, clear and piercing. Before he fell into a coma, the figure in black combat uniform shuttled through the gunfire, and his comrades fell one after another, blood-soaked on the battlefield, and died heroically. In countless nightmares since then, the stone slab coordinates seemed to be within reach, but like the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror, they would shatter at the touch. He would wake up every time with a start, sweating profusely, and feeling lost.

The news of the sudden appearance of silicon-based life forms in Tokyo was like a huge rock thrown into a lake, causing a thousand waves, which made Chen Feng's heart hang in his throat and he was uneasy. He had a premonition that the situation might be far beyond his imagination, like a dark and misty night, full of endless dangers.

Three days passed in a flash. Chen Feng, as the only remaining scientific research elite in the base, was ordered to take a special plane to Tokyo. The fleet consisted of three Y-20 military aircraft. The huge fuselage was covered with dark gray paint. It lay proudly at the Xi'an Airport, like three dormant beasts, majestic and solemn. Inside the airport, rows of soldiers armed with live ammunition lined up neatly, with sonorous and powerful steps and resolute faces. Forklifts shuttled back and forth like busy ants, carrying military green ammunition boxes piled up like mountains. Armed mechanical wolves and "Lynx" assault vehicles followed the soldiers' square formation. The mechanical wolves had green eyes and sharp metal teeth; the "Lynx" assault vehicles had sharp edges and corners and wide tires, just like a steel beast. This scene came into Chen Feng's eyes. In a trance, he seemed to be in a sci-fi battle, not an ordinary scientific expedition.

"Military action against Japan?" Chen Feng pondered, then shook his head violently to dispel this absurd thought.

At this moment, a military vehicle of the Mengshi Army came to a sudden stop, raising a cloud of dust. The door of the vehicle opened, and a sturdy middle-aged man jumped down and nodded to Chen Feng. His face was peculiar, a mixture of two very different temperaments: solemnity and cynicism, just like strong liquor mixed with aged vinegar, unique in style.

"Hey, isn't this Dr. Chen? Are you going to Tokyo? What a coincidence, we are going the same way!" The man's voice was as loud as a bell.

Chen Feng nodded slightly, as a response, but his eyes were attracted by the person who got off the car later. He was wearing a straight gown that reached his knees, with slits on both sides, and his sleeves fluttering in the wind. He wore a square scarf on his head, and looked dignified and simple. His face was gaunt, with a silver beard hanging down to his chest, and his eyes were deep like the abyss, with a restrained brilliance, as if he had traveled through time from an ancient painting.

Yu Chengdong pointed at the old man and introduced him with a smile: "This is Lao Kong from the People's Alliance. You should have heard of him. He has been in charge of negotiating with the five countries. Since the passage to the Third World was closed, he has been idle and has been stranded in Xi'an. When he heard that we were going to Tokyo to see the silicon-based life form, he immediately asked to go with us."

Yu Chengdong came forward, made a trumpet shape with his right hand, and lowered his voice: "I guess he wants to find the way home." After he finished speaking, he winked at Chen Feng.

"May I ask who you are?" Chen Feng asked.

"I'm just a small policeman. I've been in Daming for a while. So, I was assigned here to accompany Lao Kong." After Yu Chengdong answered, he patted Chen Feng on the shoulder and smiled heartily, without any awkwardness.

Soon, everyone was led to the small private room at the front of the military aircraft. Yu Chengdong took out a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his leather jacket and smoked them casually. What surprised Chen Feng was that Mr. Kong also took the cigarette with ease, tilted his head to light it, and puffed out smoke, a strange blend of ancient style and modern atmosphere.

Chen Feng took the cigarette, holding it between his fingertips without lighting it. His eyes were fixed on Lao Kong's outfit, his curiosity burning like a flame that could not be concealed.

Lao Kong glanced at him and said with a half-smile: "Are you interested in that side?"

"Ah."

Old Kong smoked a lot of cigarettes and closed his eyes for a moment, as if looking back in time. He slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Yu Chengdong. Seeing him coughing lightly, he spoke: "He was also involved in the Ming Dynasty and knows a lot about it."

"In the beginning, the Ming Dynasty was in chaos, with various forces competing with each other, people's livelihood was in decline, and there were starving people everywhere, just like Shura Purgatory. But soon, heroes emerged, and warlords competed for power, and gradually the country was pacified and the seas and rivers were peaceful. Looking at this place today, it seems to be shrouded in haze, and a storm is about to come. The world is in turmoil, and there may be major changes." Yu Chengdong leaned back in the seat, closed his eyes, and spoke slowly.

At this moment, the plane engine roared, and the announcement came that the plane was about to take off. After a moment of noise, the cabin was as quiet as a pond. Everyone had their own thoughts, and worries were like lead, weighing heavily on their hearts. The cigarette smoke rose up, and the smoke circulation system started quietly. The faint wind sounded like hidden thunder, gradually diluting the thick smoke and turning it into a light mist. Chen Feng held his chin and stared at Lao Kong, his eyes were like torches. Lao Kong seemed to sense something and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Want to hear a story? I'll tell you one."

"This is a long-standing legend. In the long river of time, it can be regarded as the relic of ancient times. It is just a joke, and there is no need to be surprised and delve into it. In the past, in Guanzhong, the center of the 800-li Qinchuan, there was a county. It was ordinary, not a paradise, nor did it suffer the pain of purgatory on earth. It was just like a drop in the ocean, quietly hidden in the world.

"In a teahouse in the city, I met an old man. He had white hair and wrinkled face, but he was not sick and weak. Although he was in his sixties, he was vigorous, with strong teeth and bright eyes, and a strong body. In this life, he was trapped in the realm of a boy, and he failed in the examinations many times, and the fame of a scholar was out of reach. Later, he used his connections to get a job in the government, doing clerk work and making a living. He was gentle and modest, abided by the law, did not bully the people, and did not flatter. His salary was meager, just enough to feed himself, but he was content with poverty and did not covet improper wealth. However, he did not refuse gifts and carbon tributes, and followed the doctrine of the mean and lived in harmony with the world. People gave him the nickname "Qinglu Weng", which was appropriate and accurately outlined his life.

"At that time, the county magistrates changed frequently, like a revolving lantern. The successive county magistrates were of different heights, weights and sizes, but their character was the same. They sat in the hall under the plaque "upright and bright" hanging high, and regarded the people as ants. They shouted and roared at those who knelt in the hall, and acted arrogantly. They flattered their superiors, served tea and water, and were very attentive; they extorted and blackmailed their subordinates, made up excuses, and used the law as a fig leaf. The people were miserable, but there was no way to appeal. When their term of office expired, they were either transferred to other places or promoted to other places. Their bags were bulging, full of the people's fat and blood. Before leaving, they asked the gentry and the people to send them umbrellas and erect monuments of good governance. They returned home with full loads amid the noise of drums and music, abandoning the people in danger.

"During this disaster year, the old county magistrate left office. Drought and locust plagues followed one after another. The land was barren for thousands of miles, and the roads were blocked by starving people. The old county magistrate was extremely greedy. He plundered the land like leaves in a gust of wind. He plundered everyone, regardless of whether they were rich or poor. The gentry were not spared and lost face. His baggage left when he left office was so heavy that it attracted people's covetousness.

"Then a hero appeared. His name was lost, and everyone called him 'One-eyed Han Boss'. It was rumored that his followers were all fierce bandits who committed all kinds of evil. In fact, it was totally wrong. Han Boss's real name was Han Yuechuan, with the courtesy name Lingyue. He was a scholar with a thin body and a gentle manner.

The year before last, there was a famine and drought, and the villagers could not survive, so they joined together to rob the rich and powerful. Han Yuechuan could not bear to see the bloody and evil deeds of the villagers, and his own family could not even make ends meet, so he appealed to their emotions and courtesy in front of everyone, and unexpectedly won the support of all the villagers. He became a leader, went up the mountain, joined the bandits, and started a business with no capital.

This business without any capital is different from the previous business of risking one's life to break the village. It requires brains and does not involve bloodshed. In short, it is to set up a stronghold, abide by the rules, and emphasize sustainable development. It will never drain the pond to catch fish. It is to send visiting cards and communicate with the gentry and powerful people from time to time. If you lend me some money and food, I will do you a small favor within my ability, and we can become friends. There will never be any more hungry people causing trouble, killing, robbing or harassing you.

Merchants passing by don't have to be afraid. After passing our territory, they can just stay at the inn at the crossroads, which provides affordable food and hire our guides. They will have smooth sailing and no one will dare to do such stupid thief-like things.

There is absolutely no vicious crime such as highway robbery that cuts off business routes.

On the one hand, the gentry were delighted by this reasonable bandit, but on the other hand, it also made them anxious and angry, because this group of righteous thieves and bandits would not allow the gentry to collect their debts.

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The so-called debt collection means that the gentry and landlords in the countryside would lend money at high interest rates and collect high rents during famine years. The rents had to be paid even if there was no harvest in the famine years. If they did not pay, their houses and cattle would be taken away, and their children and daughters would be sold, and they would be forced into slavery. This was an open secret to expanding family businesses during famine years in the Ming Dynasty. Of course, they would occasionally send some armed lackeys to commit vicious crimes as part-time bandits to make some money.

This was exactly inconsistent with Han Yuechuan's concept of sustainable development, and he was severely cracked down on by the bandit gang headed by Han Yuechuan. They also announced that anyone who disrupted stability and peace would have his house raided.

This led to the conflict. Although soldiers came to suppress the rebellion occasionally, they could not find any trace of them at all. Therefore, Han Yuechuan's gang quickly became powerful and achieved a dynamic balance between the righteous bandit gang and the gentry.

Peace has come, everyone is on the same side as the bandits, bandits and civilians are one family, long live unity, it’s good for you, it’s good for me, it’s good for everyone.

The news that the old county magistrate had retired and a fat sheep had arrived was naturally brought to Han Yuechuan by the local gentry who had been eager to get their hands on it. According to the old rules, the profit was split 30% and 70%.

(End of this chapter)