Chapter 86: Dong Zhongshu Went Mad from Killing

And at this time, the Southwest Qiongdu Yi.

After Hai Lu received the three strategies transmitted by Dong Zhongshu, his eyes were full of determined light.

He knew well that this was the key to pacifying the Southwest Yi, and he began to seriously and meticulously deploy the battle plan.

The Qiong tribe first sent out elite scouts, penetrating the various Southwest Yi tribes, carefully probing their mutual interests disputes and conflicts.

Through skillful maneuvering and persuasion, they successfully won over several tribes dissatisfied with the current situation, turning them into Han's internal allies within the Southwest Yi.

These tribes not only provided Dong Zhongshu with important intelligence, but also assisted the Han Army in battle at critical moments, undermining the Southwest Yi's resistance from within.

Immediately afterward, Hai Lu and Yue Man, following the 'you fight yours, I fight mine' strategy, took the initiative to attack.

He led the tribal warriors, taking advantage of the night, to launch a surprise attack on several Southwest Yi tribes that frequently rebelled.

Their actions were swift and coordinated, like a series of sharp blades piercing straight into the enemy's heart.

Faced with the sudden assault of the Han Army and Qiong warriors, the Southwest Yi tribes instantly fell into chaos, unable to offer any resistance.

After several fierce battles, Dong Zhongshu successfully struck the Southwest Yi's arrogant spirit, making them dare not invade lightly again.

At the same time, Qiongdu Yi also received the Son of Heaven's commendation, developing a deeper sense of belonging to the Han.

On another front, the frontline of suppressing the rebellion.

Zhao Chongguo was leading the Han Army and the Southwest Yi allied forces in a life-and-death struggle.

On the battlefield, cries of killing shook the heavens, smoke filled the air, arrows flew like raindrops, and the blood of soldiers from both sides dyed the ground red.

The Southwest Yi allied army was numerous and fought bravely, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, they continuously launched fierce attacks on the Han Army.

Although the Han Army was well-trained, under the allied forces' frenzied assault they gradually became overmatched, suffering successive defeats.

Zhao Chongguo rode on his warhorse, holding a long spear, desperately resisting the enemy's attacks. His armor was stained with blood, and his face was covered with fatigue and anxiety.

Watching his comrades fall one by one, he was anxious beyond words, yet helpless.

"Could it be that we are really going to lose here?"

Zhao Chongguo secretly thought this, his eyes revealing a hint of despair.

Just as Zhao Chongguo was about to give up, suddenly, a hurried hoofbeat came from afar.

He looked up and saw a unit rushing swiftly toward the battlefield.

On the unit's banner, the character 'Han' was conspicuously written.

"It's Dong Zhongshu!"

Zhao Chongguo's heart shook with shock; Marquis Xuanwen wasn't supposed to be suppressing the rebellion in Qiongdu Yi?

How could he pacify the Dian tribe with just five hundred Han Army so quickly, and then come to reinforce?

Upon seeing that the vast majority of Dong Zhongshu's forces were Southwest Yi warriors, his shock grew even greater.

Immediately, he felt a surge of wild joy.

Dong Zhongshu led his forces, piercing the Southwest Yi allied army's camp like a sharp sword.

Their morale was high, they fought bravely, and wherever they went, enemies fell one after another.

Under Dong Zhongshu's command, his forces and the Han Army formed a front-and-rear pincer, launching a fierce counterattack against the allied army.

The Southwest Yi allied army was caught off guard by this sudden attack, and their formation instantly fell into disarray.

Zhao Chongguo seized the opportunity, leading the Han Army in a final charge.

He brandished his long spear and shouted loudly: "Brothers, the time to counterattack has come! For the Han, charge!"

The Han Army soldiers were encouraged, morale soared, they fearlessly charged at the enemy, and together with Dong Zhongshu's forces, they routed the Southwest Yi allied army.

After a fierce battle, the Southwest Yi allied army could no longer hold out, and they fled in disarray.

Zhao Chongguo gazed upon the battlefield's devastation, his heart filled with myriad emotions.

He rode his horse to Dong Zhongshu's side, dismounted, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said: "Marquis Xuanwen, you are truly a divine person! If you had not arrived in time to reinforce, we would likely have perished here today. Your wisdom and courage have made me, Zhao, admire you with all five bodies prostrate."

Dong Zhongshu quickly dismounted, helped Zhao Chongguo up, and smiled, saying: "General Zhao, you flatter me. I merely did what I ought to have done. Our victory over the allied army relied entirely on everyone's united effort. The Han Army under your command, brave and skilled in battle, is the key to this victory."

Zhao Chongguo looked at Dong Zhongshu, his eyes full of admiration.

The news of Dong Zhongshu, Zhao Chongguo, and the Southwest Yi allied army's successful suppression of the rebellion instantly spread across every inch of Han territory.

The court was even more elated, and consequently, more and more caravans headed to the Southwest Yi.

On the Southwest Yi lands, the defeated Southwest Yi tribes fled into the deep mountains, but they still occasionally emerged to harass the Han army and caravans.

At the same time, Liu Ju's 'paper currency policy' was being vigorously implemented in the Southwest Yi, and the Tea Horse Ancient Road began to take shape.

Liu Ju understood deeply that to truly integrate the Southwest Yi into the Han economic system, changing the local backward barter trade was crucial.

Thus, he continuously dispatched batch after batch of experienced, eloquent officials to the Southwest Yi to promote and popularize paper money among the locals.

These officials, upon arriving in the Southwest Yi, set up temporary lecture platforms in the markets of various tribes, cooperating with Han media newspapers to jointly publicize.

In the central plazas of important towns in the Southwest Yi, the lecture platforms were stacked with brand-new paper money, which, under the sunlight, emitted a unique luster.

Officials held up the paper money and loudly explained to the onlookers: "Folks, this is the convenient item that the Han Son of Heaven has brought for you—paper money. Though it looks like just a sheet of paper, it possesses miraculous power. From now on, when you trade, you no longer need to lug heavy goods around; simply holding this paper money lets you easily exchange for whatever you want."

The locals listened to the officials' explanations, their faces showing puzzlement and incomprehension.

An old man furrowed his brow and asked: "This light piece of paper, how can it compare to the grain we painstakingly grow and the livestock we raise? Can it really be used as money?"

The officials had anticipated such doubts from the locals, and they patiently explained: "Elder, this paper money is not ordinary paper; it was issued by the Son of Heaven's personal order, backed by the credit of the Han court. You all know the Son of Heaven's dignity and reputation—how could he deceive you? Moreover, we have set up redemption points in every market; if you are uneasy, you can at any time take the paper money to exchange for tangible goods."

Although the officials spoke eloquently, many locals still remained skeptical.

To dispel the locals' concerns, the officials decided to take some concrete actions.

They selected several well-performing shops in the market and used their own paper money to purchase goods.

The shop owners were initially hesitant, but seeing the officials easily buy goods with paper money and receive appropriate change, they gradually put their minds at ease.

As time passed, more and more locals began to try using paper money.

They found that paper money was indeed far more convenient than barter, not only easy to carry but also greatly speeding up transactions.

Thus, paper money gradually became popular among the various tribes of the Southwest Yi.

After Dong Zhongshu learned the news that the "paper money policy" was being implemented in the Southwest Barbarians, he also actively participated in its publicity and promotion.

He used his local prestige to explain the benefits of paper money to the tribal leaders and the common people.

Under his influence, more and more people began to accept and use paper money.

With the widespread use of paper money, the economy of the Southwest Barbarians developed rapidly; the variety of goods in the markets became increasingly abundant, and transactions became more frequent.

The people's standard of living saw a significant increase, and their sense of identification with and belonging to the Great Han Court grew stronger.