Chapter 588: Once on the Pirate Ship, You Can't Get Off

In recent years, as the northern barbarian threat grew more severe by the day, the Shandong theater — situated to the flank and rear of the battlefield and capable of supporting the front via sea transport — became increasingly vital. Dengzhou, as the seat of the theater Commander and the Denglai Governor, naturally became a key military stronghold.

Consequently, military structures around Dengzhou City multiplied. Setting aside the long-neglected and crumbling guard-post fortresses, newly built encampments and drill grounds alone numbered several. Most of these encampments had been constructed in the past two years since Sun Yuanhua took office, their purpose being to house the New Army units: the Dengzhou Left Guard, Dengzhou Right Guard, Dengzhou Rear Guard, and others.

Speaking of New Armies, historically, when the Manchu Qing was on its last legs, it also seemed to have drilled a New Army — the Beiyang New Army. In the end, that New Army did not preserve the court's splendid realm; instead, its masters had their rear lines cut off by President Yuan.

At this moment, the New Army that Sun Yuanhua — a convert to Christianity who embraced Western military thought — was drilling in Dengzhou would, in the future, not only fail to slay the Great Ming's enemies but would likewise stab the Great Ming in the back, ultimately hatching the Three Successive Kings. Just like the Beiyang New Army, it would nail the coffin shut on its own dynasty.

So, don't go drilling New Armies without good reason. This thing brings disaster to its master.

Time: Three days after the night talk in Kong Youde's cabin.

Place: Outside Dengzhou City, the Left Guard encampment.

The Dengzhou Left Guard encampment already qualified as a permanent installation. Its outer wall was rammed earth faced with brick, covering a vast area, and within were drill grounds, barracks, and a dedicated firearms range.

As the saying goes, since they were brother units, there was no such thing as one-sided exchange. Thus, three days after Kong Youde returned to camp, the commanders of the guest army that had traveled far to Dengzhou received an invitation from their host. And so Zhang Zhongqi, Sha Zhengming, and the others brought a group of staff officers to the Dengzhou Left Guard early that morning.

Zhang Zhongqi sat in a black-lacquered walnut official's armchair, a jar of hot tea cradled in his hands. At that moment, he chatted with Li Jiucheng, who sat beside him, while occasionally sweeping his gaze over the Left Guard battalion troops drilling strenuously below the command platform.

After a period of observation, in the guests' eyes, the Left Guard battalion troops under Kong Youde's command appeared reasonably well-ordered in spirit, their formations and basic drills passable, the entire camp area rigorously disciplined — every aspect seemed decent enough on the surface.

As for whether this whole setup was a show deliberately staged to pass a "superior's inspection," the Transmigrators did not care. What the Transmigrators wanted was the attitude.

The late Ming was mainly about comparing who was worse. These military strongmen and government troops were all birds of a feather, none better than the other. They fought viciously among themselves, but the moment they faced the Later Jin's iron cavalry, their true colors were instantly exposed.

After a series of traditional formation changes, cold weapon drills, and cavalry demonstrations, the main event of today's observation arrived: Bird Blunderbuss shooting and live-fire artillery exercises.

Sun Yuanhua was a prized disciple of the renowned Western Learning scholar Xu Guangqi. The Dengzhou army assembled this time was a New Army that Sun Yuanhua deliberately intended to use as an experiment in Western-style weaponry and Western-style training methods.

After previously taking in Kong Youde and his men, Sun Yuanhua used his Christian connections not only to hire zero Portuguese soldiers from Macau as instructors but also to purchase Red Barbarian Cannons and Bird Blunderbusses, forming China's first pure firearms unit in the seventeenth century.

With the support of Sun Yuanhua's relatively advanced Western Learning faction, Kong Youde's artillery and Bird Blunderbuss units today could be considered the Great Ming's strongest artillery force — aside from the Crossing Faction, that is.

However, this was of No Use.

The Dengzhou Left Guard's firearms demonstration might have been a refreshing sight for other Great Ming units, but before Transmigrators, it was mere child's play.

Li Jiucheng, having already witnessed the guest army's exaggerated firearms systems, naturally dared not flaunt anything now. After his own breech-loading cannon battery finished firing, he put on a smiling face and said in a self-deprecating tone, "Lord Zhang, our brothers' humble methods surely cannot meet your discerning eye. Heh heh, we've made fools of ourselves before an expert."

"Brother Gongji, there is no need for worry."

Zhang Zhongqi was now quite interested in this native general whose face was square and honest but whose nature was deeply prone to gambling: "After today, we are all on the same side. As for these cannons and Fire Lances, including the corresponding soldier training, my side can provide them."

"Is that truly so?"

Zhang Zhongqi's promise, to be honest, Li Jiucheng found somewhat hard to believe.

In Li Jiucheng's view, cannons like those on the ship and the corresponding soldier training should all be considered "dragon-slaying arts" — the most precious possessions of a military strongman aspiring to contend for the realm. How could they be brought out and shared with others?

"Brother Gongji, the world has changed." Zhang Zhongqi launched into his customary persuasion mode: "In the present age, East and West intersect, exchanging what they have for what they lack, transformation occurring with each passing day. It is no longer the same old drama of shutting the door and fighting over the Emperor."

At this point, Zhang Zhongqi's gaze turned earnest: "Brother Gongji, you have both courage and strategy. Find an opportunity to go south and see for yourself. Once you've witnessed the societal development there, old brother, you will understand which way the great current flows. As for weapons like cannons, they are merely the Way."

Li Jiucheng had not expected the other party to say such a thing. Although there were a few uncommon words he Could Not Understand, he still felt the other's sincere attitude.

And Li Jiucheng then grasped: Could this be a benefit of his siding with them?

Previously, at the internal meeting of the Liaodong generals responding to the Transmigrators, the radical and conservative factions had been locked in dispute from the start.

Yet Li Jiucheng, the Mobile Corps Commander who normally never stuck his neck out, this time broke from his usual pattern and launched into a fierce Controversy with Geng Zhongming, who tried to advocate conservative watchfulness.

So, character determines fate. Li Jiucheng's character inherently carried a strong element of gambling.

Historically, Li Jiucheng played an important role in the Wu Bridge mutiny: he had squandered public funds without purchasing enough Horses, and then seized the opportunity to incite Kong Youde to revolt.

This time, although there was no Wu Bridge, he still saw an opportunity: making contact with an outside power — advance, and he could achieve great things and contend for the realm; retreat, and he could borrow external strength to protect himself. Why not do it?

In any case, his private, overflowing discontent with the court meant Li Jiucheng needed no psychological preparation to advocate wholeheartedly for an alliance with the Crossing Faction.

In the end, after weighing the pros and cons, Kong Youde still adopted Li Jiucheng's opinion. Because Kong Youde realized one thing: in truth, from the very moment he met Zhang Zhongqi, he had already stepped onto the pirate ship.

Kong Youde's reasoning was simple: regarding such a momentous "rebellion matter," since the other party had already spoken the words, they had the group firmly in their grasp. It was probably not something a simple "I'm not getting on this boat" could shrug off.

Kong Youde had accurately gotten the Transmigrators' meaning: Since this Great Lord has humbled himself to come and open his mouth, do you think he'll allow you to not get on board after hearing it? What are you thinking?

If you truly refuse to get on board, those political and military strengths of overwhelming power the Great Lord previously revealed would most likely be used against you. The question is, can you withstand it?

After the Dongjiang group analyzed the situation, they thoroughly understood: this was a textbook case of unprovoked calamity. They'd been tricked; they had no choice; they couldn't be good men. That rotten old scoundrel was utterly wicked.

Matters having reached this point, after discovering they had no choice, the Dongjiang Generals, Led by Kong Youde, could only compromise in the end. Thus came the Scene of inviting the allied army for an exchange and observation: it was actually an occasion to seal the alliance.

Consequently, when Zhang Zhongqi and his party arrived at the Left Guard encampment today, he quickly sensed the new dynamic: the one Responsible For receiving them and showing goodwill was Li Jiucheng.

This made it clear who to prioritize in winning over. This was also why Zhang Zhongqi extended the invitation to Li Jiucheng: any native elite who went south even once and witnessed a Primary Industrial Society would surely experience a sudden awakening and unite tightly around the core of Cao... (the following three hundred characters omitted).

To be honest, when Li Jiucheng suddenly received Zhang Zhongqi's invitation, he was very tempted at First Moment. However, he quickly sobered up — after all, even the smallest military strongman was still a military strongman. Given the Current Age's circumstances, Li Jiucheng certainly could not abandon his troops and travel far.

But since Li Jiucheng had, after all, placed his bet on the Transmigrators, after a moment's thought, he quickly produced a solution: his eldest son, Li Yingyuan, could travel in his father's stead.

Zhang Zhongqi immediately nodded in agreement.

Zhang Zhongqi had some understanding of the Li father and son. Historically, Li Yingyuan was also an officer who participated in Kong Youde's rebellion; this gentleman was fully qualified and Capable of traveling south on his father's behalf.

And so, right there on the command platform, the Dongjiang general most enthusiastic about dealing with the Crossing Faction, in just a few brief exchanges, reached an extremely important exchange project with the Transmigrators — one sufficient to influence the future grand trajectory of both father and son.

As the private agreement was reached, the public observation activities on the command platform also drew to a close.

The final item in today's public session was for the participating Soldiers to collectively pay respects to the General-in-Chief and receive their rewards.

After distributing the customary reward money of this era, the exercise was officially concluded. The next step was a long-prepared banquet awaiting the honored guests. Having braved the icy winds of a glacial-period winter all morning, everyone needed a good rest and recuperation.

The banquet atmosphere was naturally excellent. The host drank the premium erguotou brought by the guests, and the guests savored a shark-fin feast prepared by a master chef invited from within Dengzhou City. During the feast, everyone exchanged compliments in cheerful harmony; both host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

After the wine and food, the tables were cleared and tea was served. After This, the General-in-Chief Kong Youde came forward to invite the honored guests to the central command tent for a discussion on the matter of dispatching troops to relieve Dalinghe Fort.

Since the two sides' commanding generals were to discuss the most critical military strategy, irrelevant personnel naturally had to withdraw. Soon, with a single order from the General-in-Chief, within the Spacious central command hall, the hosts Remaining were only Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Li Jiucheng. On the Crossing Faction's side, there were only Zhang Zhongqi and Sha Zhengming.

At this stage, there was no longer any need for probing; the moment to reveal the dagger had arrived. In the next instant, Zhang Zhongqi came straight to the point and, word by word, formally laid out the detailed terms of the Crossing Faction's "alliance" conditions.

Regarding these conditions, Kong Youde had already heard the general outline previously on the ship.

What Zhang Zhongqi now laid out were even more detailed, more critical, and more "treasonously heretical" clauses: in addition to emergency provisions and military supplies, Zhang Zhongqi also promised that a heavy garrison at Tianjin would maintain an emergency fleet and war-preparedness supplies at all times. Should anything "happen" here in Dengzhou, then no matter what predicament Kong Youde's Forces found themselves in, they could set sail upon the sea to plan their next move.

Furthermore, Zhang Zhongqi once again promised the thing Kong Youde and his peers currently lacked most: political protection.

All the above benefits had no time limit; as long as the current Great Ming situation remained unchanged, they would be effective forever.

In short, whether tangible goods or intangible assets, Zhang Zhongqi's side generously gave everything without the slightest stinginess, displaying the bearing of a great house and leaving their negotiating counterparts in an awkward position: everything they had thought of and everything they hadn't, the other side had already promised. How was one supposed to negotiate now?

Of course, if one only gives without asking for anything in return, it easily breeds suspicion and slackness in the partner — that is not a healthy cooperative relationship.

So after the intermission, Zhang Zhongqi put forward a "modest" request of his ally: as far as he knew, over a hundred thousand soldiers and civilians in Dongjiang Garrison were currently trapped and starving. As it happened, Tianjin, Shanghai, and other places were all short of laborers right now; he hoped his ally could take advantage of this voyage to sea and assist him in the "recruitment" of a group to go work there.