flstandardbreds Chapter 1088 Another Attack on the Mountain Stronghold
Chapter 1088 Another Attack on the Mountain Stronghold
Yang Tong's heart pounded, and his blood inexplicably felt hot.
Li Che pointed to the kneeling chieftains on the ground and said to Yang Tong:
"Go and select three hundred elite soldiers to help them quell the rebellion."
"They know better than you which ones should be killed, which ones should be spared, and which salt wells need to be taken over immediately."
"After the matter was completed, a salt supervision office was set up on the spot, and a minor official from Qing was appointed to supervise the road repair work."
Yang Tong finally understood; this was the final step His Majesty had mentioned, and this was the complete teaching process.
Negotiations and promises are merely a facade. From the very beginning, His Majesty intended to plunge the Shuliao tribes into internal strife, and then forcefully intervene as the queller of the rebellion, thus legitimately extending the imperial court's reach into the core of each tribe.
These chieftains who have lost everything can only be restored to their positions by relying on the power of the imperial court. In the future, what other choice do they have but to wholeheartedly become puppets?
After all, a leader who has to rely on others to seize power cannot possibly gain the support of his subordinates.
Yang Tong took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree! I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"
Li Che nodded slightly and said no more.
Yang Tong straightened up, and when he looked at the disheveled chieftains on the ground again, his gaze was completely different.
Previously, they were objects of control that needed to be handled with care, but now they are like a pile of clay idols being reshaped.
Unlike what I did in the Ciyan tribe, although I also set up a puppet, I still need to treat him well and issue orders in his name.
The emperor, on the other hand, had no such concerns; he could replace these chieftains whenever they became disobedient.
Such methods are truly worthy of making him stand out among the princes and unify the world through military achievements.
Fortunately, he was quick-witted and gained the emperor's trust immediately.
But then he remembered something, and a perfectly timed look of embarrassment appeared on his face. He bowed deeply to Li Che once more:
"Your Majesty, although I have some knowledge of human affairs and worldly matters, I am a complete novice when it comes to military strategy and tactics. I fear I may fail Your Majesty's trust and jeopardize the overall success of suppressing the rebellion..."
What he said was half true and half false.
It's a lie that he was ignorant of military affairs; the fact that he was able to firmly control the Ciyan tribe shows that his military skills were not low.
But he was indeed all talk and no action; he had no real experience in leading troops into battle.
On a deeper level, it meant to show the emperor that he had no ambition to amass military power.
Li Che looked at him, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, and then said calmly, "You are indeed cautious... In that case, Ma Xiao!"
Upon hearing this, the young general, who had been standing with his arms crossed at the corner of the tent, brightened up and immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Your subordinate is here!"
"You will lead a company of infantry to accompany and protect Yang Tong. You will be in charge of attacking fortified positions and commanding on the battlefield; Yang Tong will be in charge of pacifying the troops and establishing salt supervision. Discuss matters before acting. Go!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Ma Zhong replied crisply and decisively, his face showing no superfluous expression.
He glanced at Yang Tong beside him and nodded, as if to say hello.
Yang Tong felt a great weight lifted from his heart and quickly bowed to Ma Zhong, saying, "Thank you for your help, General Ma. This trip was entirely thanks to your valiant efforts!"
Both men are intelligent, and in just a few words, their responsibilities were roughly defined.
At dawn the following day, a mixed force of about five hundred people quietly set out from the Ciyan tribe's fortress.
In addition to Li Che's three hundred personal guards and Ma Zhong's one hundred elite infantrymen, there were also one hundred men selected by Yang Tong from his own men, most of whom were familiar with the mountain roads.
Among the group were several disgraced individuals, their eyes filled with complex emotions as they watched the receding gate.
Several light mortars, pulled by mules, were carefully covered with tarpaulins, but the sinister aura they exuded could not be concealed.
The soldiers carried gleaming black flintlock muskets, inspiring awe in the local people.
The first target was Langdong tribe, which was closest to Ciyan tribe.
According to the people of Langdongtou, the new chieftain is a distant cousin of his, who is brave and strong, but also irritable and reckless.
He gathered together a dozen or so fierce and brave kitchen servants who were dissatisfied with his service to the imperial court, and seized power while he was away, though he had not yet fully taken control of the tribe.
The mountain road was rugged, but the team moved at a fast pace.
Ma Zhong was usually amiable to everyone, but he was extremely strict in disciplining his troops. When scouts went out several miles ahead, the troops would march silently and quickly, not daring to make the slightest unnecessary noise.
Although Yang Tong was not familiar with military tactics, he could tell that this Qing army was completely different from the Shu army he had seen before. Their silence revealed a sharp and disciplined spirit.
Several miles away from the Langdong tribe's mountain stronghold, the scouts ahead had already reported that the gates were tightly shut and shadowy figures were moving on the walls.
Ma Zhong signaled the team to stop and rest in a clearing in the woods.
He summoned the headman of Langdong and spread out a simple map: "How many gates does the village have? Where is the weakest point? How high are the walls? Where does the new headman reside?"
The people of Langdongtou had never seen such a detailed question before, and after a moment of stunned silence, they stammered out an answer.
As Ma Zhong listened, he drew on the map and guided him to reveal important information.
Yang Tong observed silently from the side, making notes in his mind.
After resting for about half an incense stick's time, Ma Zhong got up and began assigning tasks.
"The musketeers of the first company, led by Company Commander Wang, will stealthily advance along the left side of the mountain forest to the southeast corner of the stockade wall. There is a rocky cliff there with a good view, about eighty paces from the stockade wall, just within the reach of the muskets. After hearing the cannon fire, you will focus your fire on those peeking out from the top of the wall and those suspected of being leaders."
"Second Company, follow me in a feint attack from the front to draw attention. Third Company, protect the artillery positions."
"Lord Yang, you take Langdong chieftain and his men, along with my personal guards, and once the gate is breached, immediately rush in, head straight for the chieftain's residence and the salt well workshop, seize the key points, and appease the salt cooks."
Everyone obeyed the order with awe.
Several mortars were silently pushed uphill about 150 paces from the village gate, their muzzles slightly raised and aimed at the gate.
The gunners quietly loaded and measured the distance, and once everything was ready, they nodded to Ma Zhong beside them.
"Release them!" Ma Zhong ordered in a low voice.
boom! boom! boom!
Several loud bangs, almost in quick succession, suddenly ripped through the silence of the mountains and forests!
Thick smoke and flames spewed from the cannon muzzle as heavy, solid iron bullets whistled as they crashed into the village gate.
Wood chips mixed with smoke and dust shot into the sky, causing the seemingly sturdy gate to tremble violently. Two huge dents appeared in the center, and the sound of wood fibers breaking could be clearly heard.
Chaos erupted on the wall in an instant, with screams and cries filling the air.
Clearly, this was the first time the Liao people of Langdong had witnessed the power of cannons.
The last time we attacked Langdong tribe, we only used muskets, not cannons.
The thunderous strike fell like divine punishment in their eyes.
"Musketeers, fire!"
Before the echoes of the cannon fire had faded, gunfire erupted again from the southeast corner of the cliff.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
A burst of rapid, crisp gunfire rang out, and plumes of white smoke rose into the air.
Several figures on the wall fell to the ground, adding to the chaos.
"Kill!" Ma Zhong drew his longsword and pointed it forward.
He personally led his infantry, who charged forward with a unified shout, the rear ranks raising their muskets and the front ranks holding their shields.
Despite the impressive scale, the speed was well controlled, making it seem more like a shooing operation.
The will to resist within the village had already crumbled when the artillery bombarded them.
As the Qing army infantrymen charged in with shouts, the gate of the stockade was frantically pushed open from the inside.
Dozens of disheveled Liao men scrambled out, dropped their weapons, and knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically.
Ma Zhong waved his hand and ordered a halt to the charge. The infantry quickly took control of the gate and formed a defensive formation.
The musketeers then advanced in sequence, bringing the entire stronghold under their guns.
The whole process was swift and efficient; from firing the cannons to taking control of the stronghold, it took less than fifteen minutes.
"Lord Yang, it's your turn," Ma Zhong gestured to Yang Tong.
Yang Tong took a deep breath and said to the pale-faced man from Langdongtou beside him, "Please, remember His Majesty's decree: the ringleaders will be punished, but those who are coerced will not be questioned."
The man from Langdongtou nodded hurriedly, and under the protection of ten Qing army swordsmen and shieldmen, he straightened his chest and shouted loudly in Liao language.
They claimed to have been sent by the Qing emperor to eliminate the rebels, and that those who submitted to the emperor would not be killed.
The village was in a mess. Many Liao women and children huddled in fear in the corners of the sheds, while some people who looked like salt cooks stood blankly beside the salt stoves.
Resistance was virtually nonexistent. Guided by a few former members of the Langdong tribe, the usurper's cousin and several core henchmen were dragged out of a bamboo house by soldiers.
The man from Langdongtou looked at his cousin with a complicated expression. The latter kept begging for mercy and crying his heart out.
Although they are Liao people, familiar Liao people are different from unfamiliar Liao people. Having been in contact with Shu people for so many years, their customs and habits have been integrated, and they have developed a sense of kinship.
The man from Langdongtou had no son of his own, so he raised this nephew as his own son...
However, even if these words were spoken, Yang Tong and Ma Zhong would see them as nothing more than scenes from a play. They only knew how to complete His Majesty's mission and paid no attention to such matters.
The chieftain gritted his teeth and took the knife from his subordinate.
Without any trial, with red eyes, he personally killed his cousin with a knife while Yang Tong and Ma Zhong watched coldly.
The remaining henchmen were taken to an open area in the salt field and, in front of many salt workers and villagers, were beheaded one by one after their crimes were announced by the headman of Langdong.
The stench of blood filled the air, sending chills down the spines of the Liao people.
Yang Tong then announced that a Salt Supervision Office would be established in Langdong, with the original headman temporarily serving as his deputy, to cooperate with the chief official appointed by the imperial court in managing the salt wells.
Starting today, a census of the population will be conducted to prepare for the allocation of labor for road repairs.
He also announced the emperor's grace to the ordinary salt cooks and the people, saying that he would grant new laws to increase salt production and that the salt profits would increase after the road was repaired, so that everyone could benefit.
By employing both kindness and severity, followed by swift and decisive measures and promises of benefits, coupled with the testimony of the headman of Langdong, the unrest within the village was temporarily suppressed.
Aside from controlling key points, the Qing army soldiers did not loot or harass the area. Instead, they helped extinguish several fires caused by artillery fire, which reassured the Liao people somewhat.
The first battle was a resounding victory, more decisive than anyone could have imagined.
The man from Langdongtou knelt before the two men, overwhelmed with gratitude, and swore that he would never betray the imperial court for the rest of his life.
Yang Tong believed he was sincere, at least for this moment, but what about the future?
No one can predict the future, after all, people's hearts are fickle and loyalty cannot be guaranteed.
What Li Che taught him was to use rules to guarantee loyalty.
So, leaving behind a small squad of soldiers, Yang Tong continued on his way.