Chapter 80: Xianbei Murong Clan

Xianyang Hall.

Lin Daozheng sat in the center.

Those under his command each took their seats.

"Don't panic." Lin Dao's expression was calm. "With me here, the sky won't fall."

"Jinglue."

He directly named Wang Meng. "Speak clearly, slowly. What exactly happened?"

"Lord."

Wang Meng rose, stepped forward, and saluted. "The Di people, Fu Hong's faction, fled Bingzhou for Youzhou."

"General Po Lu heard the news and urged his troops to pursue directly."

"Reaching Changshan Commandery, Zhen Ding County's borders, General Po Lu caught up with the Di people, and both sides engaged in battle."

"At the height of the fighting, the Xianbei Murong Clan's Longcheng Armored Cavalry suddenly arrived at the battlefield, striking from the flank and charging the formation."

"Caught off guard, General Po Lu was defeated."

"General Po Lu gathered his remaining soldiers, engaging in constant battle along the way, delaying the Xianbei Murong Clan's southward advance."

"A fast horse was sent to urgently report to Ye City."

One could hear that Wang Meng had done some covering for Ran Min.

He emphasized it was an ambush, and by the extremely powerful Longcheng Armored Cavalry of the Xianbei Murong Clan at that.

These fully equipped cataphracts, like steel monsters, rushed across the battlefield with no one able to stop them.

Ran Min's defeat was due to the enemy's surprise attack.

At the same time, he also emphasized that although defeated, he still maintained his troops and was still fighting.

Lin Dao heard it, but did not expose it.

An army formation primarily of infantry, when fighting head-on, encountering a flank attack by cataphracts.

Even Ran Min would find it difficult to resist.

"Xianbei Murong."

Lin Dao calmed his breath, his gaze sharp. "The grudge of Yi Shui hasn't been settled with you yet, and now you actually deliver yourselves to my door."

"Good, very good, extremely good!"

Forty years ago, in Yongxing Year One, the Xianbei Murong Clan once breached Ye City.

Hu soldiers crazily massacred the city, wantonly capturing and plundering women.

One hundred thousand women were captured and plundered northward by the Xianbei Murong Clan.

Along the way they suffered endless humiliation, treated as military provisions and consumed.

Reaching the banks of the Yi Shui River, the only remaining eight thousand women were all thrown into the Yi Shui River and drowned; the Yi Shui ceased to flow.

They are undoubtedly a beast-man legion.

Several years later in history, Ran Min's Ran Wei was destroyed, and the Xianbei Murong Clan breached Ye City again.

After the massacre, hundreds of thousands of women fell into their hands.

A whole winter passed, and these women were eaten clean by the beast-man legion, not a single one left.

Shattered bones and remains outside Ye City piled up like mountains.

Compared to the Qianghu, their cruelty and ferocity, their extinction of humanity, surpassed them without falling short.

Lin Dao originally wanted to stabilize for a period of time first, then send troops to attack.

He never expected that seeing Later Zhao's destruction, the Xianbei Murong Clan would actually take the initiative to move southward to pick up a bargain.

Due to the slow speed of information transmission, they didn't know what kind of terrifying existence they had provoked.

"Jinglue."

Lin Dao, his face frosty, looked at Wang Meng. "Ye City is entrusted to you."

Wang Meng's heart tightened; he understood the Lord was going on a personal campaign.

He wanted to persuade him, after all the Lord's person was tied to the common people of the world.

If there were any mishap, with the source channels for grain and supplies cut off, who knows how many people would starve to death.

But these words absolutely could not be spoken.

"Lord Xie."

Lin Dao looked at Xie Yi. "The matter of trade with Jiangzuo, I entrust to Lord Xie."

"Grand Commander, rest assured." Xie Yi nodded. "This matter, I will certainly handle properly."

He changed the subject. "My daughter Daoyun wishes to follow the Grand Commander to serve and attend; I hope the Grand Commander will permit it."

Lin Dao's brows furrowed slightly.

Going out on a campaign, how could he bring a woman by his side.

Subconsciously he looked at Wang Meng, but saw him nodding in agreement.

Lin Dao hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement. "Fine."

After explaining the many matters, everyone went off to their respective miles to busy themselves with preparation work.

Returning to the prefecture, Xie Yi summoned Xie Daoyun and informed her of the matter.

Xie Daoyun was instead worried about Xie Yi. "A Ye returning to Jiangzuo, will there be any hindrance?"

"No matter."

Xie Yi waved his hand. "News from the north, by now Jiangzuo should more or less know too."

"They'll be envious before they'd ever make things difficult for me."

Aristocratic clans placing bets separately is a routine operation.

The Xie clan managed to place a winning bet when Lin Dao rose to prominence; other aristocratic families could only look on with envy.

"But as for your side."

Xie Yi gazed at his daughter and earnestly instructed her, "This opportunity is rare; you must seize it."

"Best if you can bear a son."

Although her temperament was very good, Xie Daoyun was, after all, a young girl.

Hearing these words, she naturally felt shy.

"Father, rest assured; your daughter understands."

Lin Dao was very busy.

He continuously transported all kinds of supplies, trip after trip, into the various warehouses throughout Ye City.

These were all essential items for Wang Meng to carry out his work.

The bulk was naturally still grain, and within the grain, potatoes remained the main staple.

In the Central Plains of the Modern World, annual potato production reached over a hundred million tons.

Unlike rice and flour, this commodity faced no export restrictions.

Potatoes so abundant they couldn't all be eaten could be exported in large quantities — they would be more than welcome.

In addition, there were various other supplies.

Such as all kinds of goods prepared for the aristocratic families of Jiangzuo.

Various tools for repairing water conservancy facilities, and so on.

"Jinglue."

Lin Dao pushed the tray holding metal coins over to Wang Meng.

"These are samples of the new currency; take a look at what you think."

Wang Meng stepped forward, reached out, and took two coins of different shapes from the tray, examining them carefully.

The coins varied in size and weight, so their denominations naturally differed as well.

The smallest denomination was one wen; it was actually a plastic game token.

The largest was ten wen, a game token made of copper-zinc-lead-tin alloy.

"Exquisitely made," Wang Meng praised. "They are simply exactly the same."

Machine-stamped, they were naturally exquisite and fine-looking, with nearly identical shapes.

Lin Dao instructed, "All copper collected from various places can be melted down and handed over to me."

Copper is also relatively expensive.

If raw materials can be supplied, the processing plant's price will naturally drop significantly.

Lin Dao picked up a silver coin and handed it over. "Look at this one."

Receiving the silver coin, Wang Meng's first impression was that it had substantial weight.

Exquisite workmanship, high luster.

"One coin equals one guan," Lin Dao signaled. "All collected silverware should also be melted down and given to me."

In the Modern World, he had placed the order under the name of commemorative coins.

Likewise, if raw materials are provided, the price will drop considerably.

Both large and small denominations were now ready.

"In this way, money and goods can replace rewards," Wang Meng pinched the silver coin and praised. "The Lord's side will not need to distribute excessive physical rewards."

"As for promotion, it still requires Jinglue's careful attention."

Lin Dao instructed, "The monetary system is very important; we cannot issue too much."

Overall, the Beggar Army was still in a stage of material scarcity.

Over-issuing currency would lead to having money but being unable to buy anything.

The impact on military morale is very great.

Wang Meng saluted. "Yes, sir~"

Lin Dao selected troops and horses here, assembling them to march out.

He brought only a small number of civilian laborers to transport military supplies.

After all, he himself was a mobile transport point.

Inside the off-road vehicle, Xie Daoyun, now dressed in men's clothing, kept looking around curiously, her beautiful eyes full of wonder.

"She Lang has read in ancient codices that Mo School Mechanism Beasts can move on their own without external power."

"But Mechanism Beasts can at most carry a person, and they move extremely slowly, stopping after a few dozen paces."

She looked at Lin Dao. "Why is the Grand Commander's Mechanism Beast both fast and long-lasting?"

"This is truly hard to explain."

Lin Dao, driving with one hand, reached for the thermos.

Xie Daoyun picked up the thermos, opened it, and blew on it near her mouth.

She held it out with both hands. "It's a bit hot; Grand Commander, drink slowly."

Lin Dao was somewhat dazed.

A woman's tender affection has always existed.

It's just that in most cases, it is only shown to capable men.

As for what constitutes capability, the most intuitive measures are power and wealth.

He took a sip of water and casually replied, "It involves a vast range of knowledge; even if I told you, you would find it hard to understand, so it's better not to say."

He had tried riding a horse before.

Qin Lang and the others specially chose a gentle horse.

Short-term riding is fine, but if the time is long, the inner thigh gets chafed uncomfortably.

Driving is more convenient.

This off-road vehicle has been modified and can adapt well to the terrible roads of this era.

Xie Daoyun picked up the sugar orange Lin Dao bought from Snack Street.

She peeled the orange skin, tore off the white pith, and fed Lin Dao segment by segment.

Jin Lian and Sun Rong sitting in the back row had different expressions, but both were silent.

Their statuses were different, and they were not slave maids.

One managed the small kitchen, medical office, and Shang Bing Ying of the Wounded Soldier Camp; the other managed the disbursement of logistics supplies.

In the army, they held formal military positions—this was the dignity Lin Dao gave them.

Between slave maids and formal military positions, the status difference was worlds apart.

Ancient armies usually marched only dozens of li per day.

In the afternoon, they began setting up camp to rest.

Stationed in the central army, the camp they stayed in was built in advance by the vanguard.

After setting up camp, the first task was eating.

The treatment of the Qi Huo Army was extremely high, absolutely unrivaled in this era.

When marching and fighting, the staple food was fine rice and white flour, supplemented with some mixed grain.

This was Lin Dao's requirement; adding some mixed grain could prevent diseases like beriberi.

Besides that, there was meat soup.

Vegetables such as bok choy and wild greens were stewed together with boxes of meat cans.

Each person got a large bowl, and their stomach felt comfortable even when sleeping.

"Grand Commander."

Xie Daoyun brought a lacquer tray.

On it were a bowl of meat porridge made on a small stove, a roasted lamb leg, and several plates of pickled vegetables.

"Good."

Lin Dao picked up chopsticks and ate by himself.

Courtesy and treating ladies well do not work in this time and place.

Doing so would make no one think you are refined and courteous; they would only think you are like a little daughter, unfit for great use.

Xie Daoyun herself also felt it was only natural.

She picked up a small knife from the lacquer tray and cut the meat on the roasted lamb leg.

Liu Hu standing by had his hand on the sword hilt, his eyes always on the small knife in Xie Daoyun's hand.

At the slightest suspicious movement, he would immediately draw his sword and strike.

Xu Zhu by Cao Boss's side did exactly this kind of work.

After finishing the meal, Xie Daoyun took away the lacquer tray.

Lin Dao sat there and began reviewing the materials.

The Xianbei were originally one branch of the Donghu.

After the Donghu were defeated by the Xiongnu, they retreated to Xianbei Mountain, named after the mountain, and submitted to the Xiongnu as slaves.

From the Han Dynasty onward, the Xianbei constantly harassed the border and were beaten by the Han Army many times.

Until Tanshihuai unified the various Xianbei departments did they truly become a force.

The Xianbei Murong Clan rose in the war where Wei destroyed Yan.

Because of military achievements, they occupied the land of Liaoxi and gradually grew strong.

By the time of the Jin Dynasty, the Xianbei Murong Clan consecutively defeated Affluent and Gaogouli.

They crushed the Yuwen, Duan, and other tribes of the same Xianbei stock, becoming the strongest in this area.

The Xianbei Murong Clan were very capable in battle, and afterward defeated the Later Zhao, the Central Plains conqueror, many times.

A few years later in history, they even defeated Ran Min and destroyed Ran Wei.

"Everyone is armored cavalry."

Lin Dao carefully looked at the printed materials, "Why are you the best at fighting?"

Until he saw the materials about double-sided stirrups.

"I see!"

End of Chapter