Chapter 363: Ding Xiu

Half a month later, in the land of Lingnan,

As the Governor of Liangguang, Zhang Cheng arrived here at a gallop.

In a restaurant filled with guests,

Zhang Cheng looked at the generals who had come to attend the banquet and immediately raised his wine cup: "This Governor has come here to suppress the rebellion, but I still need to greet you all! After all, military law is merciless!"

"My lord, you are too serious!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, the generals below raised their wine cups one after another.

And in the next second, Zhang Cheng continued: "Someone, bring up the crates!"

"Clatter, clatter, clatter!"

Heavy crates appeared, and Zhang Cheng opened them, revealing the golden items inside: "Everyone, divide these up!"

"Governor, these?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in disbelief, the generals below were dumbfounded.

Because they never expected that the first thing Zhang Cheng would do was distribute money to them!

"This official only talks about three things: if there's money, we all earn; if there's money, we all rake it in; if something happens, I'll take the blame!"

Raising his wine cup and drinking it in one gulp, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but slap the table: "This battle, victory is required, no defeat allowed! For the Great Ming!"

"Yes, Governor! We will fight to the death for the Great Ming!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, many generals now had expressions of gratitude in their eyes.

Because being a general here, never mind a future, if you weren't careful, something could happen.

After all, Lingnan had been a place of exile since ancient times; if there was any place further away, it was Qiongzhou!

Spending three months reorganizing the army, Zhang Cheng not only made up for the arrears of previous years but also paid out of his own pocket to replace the army with new armor.

However, the name used wasn't his own, but "donations from merchants."

And if it were known that Zhang Cheng had paid out of his own pocket, never mind the Longqing Emperor being suspicious, even Zhang Juzheng would have to be wary of him!

In the fourth month, just as Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but send a letter to inquire, Zhang Cheng finally mobilized his troops.

Riding a horse, Ding Xiu looked at him: "Are we really not being militaristic by fighting south and north like this?"

"Militaristic means you didn't get any silver; what can you get from fighting those barbarians on the grasslands? Cattle and sheep!"

Looking at Ding Xiu with annoyance, Zhang Cheng chuckled: "Fighting South Asia is different; men can be slaves, women can be maids, and land can be used to grow food..."

Looking at Zhang Cheng in shock, Ding Xiu asked in astonishment: "When did you calculate all this?"

"Oh, I calculated it before I came. I'm telling you, we've made a fortune this time!"

Patting Ding Xiu on the shoulder, Zhang Cheng laughed loudly.

And just at this moment, Jin Yichuan, who was accompanying the army, asked: "Senior brother, what fortune did we make?"

"None of your business; don't ask about the lord's affairs!"

Pushing Jin Yichuan aside, Ding Xiu continued to lean in: "Then my lord, can I do some business? For example, I feel like maids could earn quite a bit of money!"

Looking at Ding Xiu with a face full of mockery, Zhang Cheng raised his brows: "Maids count for nothing? Robbing gold is the right way; don't you know South Asia worships golden Buddhas?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in disbelief, Ding Xiu was now stunned.

"Really? Golden Buddhas? How big could they be!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in disbelief, Ding Xiu was now astonished.

"I don't know how big, but they're definitely bigger than your head!"

Looking at Ding Xiu, Zhang Cheng laughed, appearing exceptionally hearty.

Because he had come to wreak havoc on the monkeys again!

Seventy thousand Great Ming troops first entered the northern Mo Dynasty.

Facing the envoys from the Celestial Empire, the Mo King was very happy, thinking they were here to help him defeat the Later Le Dynasty, but he never expected that the Great Ming envoys would first present several crimes, accusing the Mo King of having a rebellious heart.

Facing the "righteous" accusations of the Great Ming envoys, the Mo King immediately felt insulted.

That night, after more than ten Great Ming soldiers "went missing," Zhang Cheng immediately launched a verbal attack, accusing the Mo Dynasty of not following the rules of martial arts and daring to take action against the Celestial Empire.

In such an intense exchange, the Mo Dynasty prince immediately accused Zhang Cheng of not being worthy of being a general of the Celestial Empire.

"Enraged," Zhang Cheng launched an attack on the royal capital that very night.

And under the powerful offensive of the seventy thousand Great Ming troops, the Mo Dynasty fell completely within half a month.

Seeing the neighboring Mo Dynasty beaten and fleeing like stray dogs, the neighboring Later Le Dynasty was terrified.

Because he didn't know if the Mo Dynasty respected the Ming Dynasty, but he truly had provoked the Great Ming!

And before the Later Le envoys could set out, the Ming Dynasty had already begun its advance. When the wolf soldiers, who were good at fighting in mountains and forests, launched an offensive with sufficient pay, the Later Le's so-called harassment tactics didn't achieve any effective results.

Facing the irresistible Great Ming, Later Le also urgently sent envoys to seek support from the Lan Xang Kingdom.

And the so-called Lan Xang Kingdom was the ancient name for Laos!

It was also the first unified kingdom in history!

Due to fear of the lips being gone and the teeth being cold, the Lan Xang Kingdom also urgently dispatched thirty thousand troops to join forces with Later Le's sixty thousand men to resist.

Between some mountains and forests, dark figures were advancing.

Looking at the battle situation below, Ding Xiu walked up: "The army has assembled; shall we take action?"

"Beat the drums!"

Signaling to Ding Xiu, Zhang Cheng immediately raised his arm.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The intense war drums sounded, and the Great Ming soldiers assembled one after another.

Holding Lu Mi guns, a large number of Great Ming soldiers immediately set up their guns.

And in the next second, a uniform sound rang out.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

!. Read

As a large number of South Asians fell, the elephant troops were frightened and at a loss.

"Advance, advance!"

Directing the soldiers, the Great Ming generals in the rear roared.

And in such waves of attacks, the coalition forces of the two dynasties were beaten and fled in disarray.

Watching the figures running around like monkeys, Zhang Cheng said with contempt: "With this level of combat power, they want to block the Great Ming's footsteps? I truly don't know who gave them the nerve!"

And while Zhang Cheng was conquering South Asia, Zhang Juzheng was also carrying out major reforms in the court.

Facing the obstruction of opening the seas, he didn't say a word and directly mobilized the navy of the two provinces from the Iwami Silver Mine in Kyushu Island.

Watching Zhang Juzheng raise his butcher's knife, the southern wealthy merchants finally realized that this newly promoted Zhang Cabinet Minister was not on the same path as them!

Arriving in the south, the navy of the two provinces also executed orders without hesitation, carrying out a bloodbath in cooperation with the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

If it were in the past when they were poor, they might have been tempted, but now? A few taels of silver a month—you want them to risk their lives? Don't they know that following Marquis Zhang means eating meat and drinking soup, and occasionally experiencing exotic styles?

Three years later, the Great Ming army, having completely fought through South Asia, entered India.

When he saw the golden Buddha that was a full three meters tall, Ding Xiu opened his mouth in disbelief: "No, where did we come from?"

"The place where Tang Seng went to get the scriptures—this is it!"

Pointing at the land beneath his feet, Zhang Cheng chuckled.

"Three years, I've been fighting with you for three whole years, and you only tell me this now!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in shock, Ding Xiu was stunned.

And Shen Lian, stroking his beard, stepped forward with a serious face: "My lord, how should we deal with this Federal King?"

"Drag him out and slaughter him!"

Speaking in fluent "Lingnan dialect," Zhang Cheng raised his brows.

Because the Great Ming soldiers under his command were basically all from Lingnan, so he could speak a few words too; after all, it was more convenient for communication!

"Ask Lu Jianxing where he has fought to; if he doesn't hurry up, I'm going to start cursing!"

Looking at Ding Xiu from the side, Zhang Cheng pointed at the golden Buddha before him: "It's yours! You like it, right?"

"Really?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in disbelief, Ding Xiu was stunned.

"Of course it's fake! Such a big golden Buddha, of course I'm moving it back to melt into gold beans!"

Patting Ding Xiu and laughing, Zhang Cheng walked toward the front.

And as the view zoomed out, in the burning city, cries, the sound of weapons, and the wailing of monks constantly filled the entire city!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 364 =====