Chapter 799

Eastern Jin, Jiankang.

When they learned that Huan Wen's Northern Expedition had failed and the army had lost seven or eight out of ten, the entire court was shaken.

Because no one dared to believe that Huan Wen, who had recovered the Chengdu region, had failed in his first Northern Expedition.

Even the soldiers who escaped back numbered less than ten or twenty thousand; this was simply a disastrous defeat!

Moreover, this Northern Expedition not only lost them the opportunity to stabilize the North, but they even lost their ally, Duan Qi. The entire Jiaodong and Xuzhou regions fell into the territory of Northern Ming.

What kind of place is Xuzhou? Perhaps everyone doesn't know very clearly, but you need to know one thing: taking Xuzhou is equivalent to having the qualifications to move south and north.

As the most important city in the Central Plains, Xuzhou has experienced thousands of battles of all sizes in history.

Among them, the famous Huaihai Campaign was an attack centered on Xuzhou!

"A disgrace to the nation!"

Roaring in anger, Sima Dan sat on the throne and began to bellow.

However, looking at Sima Dan, the Four Great Families were silent at this moment, because they didn't take this failure seriously at all.

After all, noble families are like iron, while emperors are like flowing water.

Even if Northern Ming is terrifying, could they swallow the world in one breath and slaughter their Jiangnan noble families?

Holding such thoughts, everyone was not worried. After all, whoever becomes emperor needs their support; otherwise, you can't move an inch in Jiangnan!

But unfortunately, they underestimated Zhang Cheng's ruthlessness. He even dared to move against the strongest Buddhist temples in the North; what are noble families?

In front of countless common people, how much can noble families account for?

Fleeing back to Eastern Jin in a panic, Huan Wen, who had crossed the Yangtze River, was still in fear.

Because the Battle of Taihe made him witness the terror of Northern Ming and the unstoppable momentum of Zhang Cheng and the others.

As an emperor, he could lead troops into battle himself; what was there to fear about the Northern Ming soldiers?

"This monster will definitely be a heart-and-gut disease for my Great Jin!"

Thinking of Zhang Cheng, Huan Wen couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood.

Because he suddenly thought of a terrifying thing: Zhang Cheng's age is currently only eighteen or nineteen!

Such a young emperor is even more shocking than other things!

Even if Zhang Cheng is given thirty years, is it possible for him to cross the Yangtze River?

Thinking of this, Huan Wen felt panicked, because this seemed very likely to happen!

After crushing Huan Wen, Zhang Cheng appeared in the prisoner-of-war camp.

Looking at the dejected Eastern Jin soldiers before him, he walked to the front and shouted, "Soldiers of Eastern Jin, you are all free. If you want to go back, please come to the front to collect your travel expenses. Those without homes can confirm with the clerks to settle down and start a business in our Northern Ming. You can choose any county, and you will be distributed twenty mu of fertile land and two concubines."

"Ah?"

Raising their heads in shock, the defeated Eastern Jin soldiers were stunned on the spot when they heard this sentence.

Because is this true? Why does it feel like a joke?

But before the Eastern Jin soldiers could react, Zhang Cheng continued, "The North has just been stabilized, and a large amount of fertile land lacks owners. These fields are distributed to you by the imperial court. Three years of tax exemption. After three years, one out of twenty. Apart from the land tax, Great Ming will have no other taxes targeting the common people. I said this. If anyone collects taxes from you, you can cut off his head, and I will ensure you are safe and sound!"

As Zhang Cheng finished speaking, the Eastern Jin soldiers, who had been dumbfounded, shouted, "Your Majesty, is this true!"

"My words are as heavy as nine tripods; I will never go back on them. Even if I collect your taxes, you can kill me!"

Looking at the people below, Zhang Cheng became serious.

Because in Great Ming, taxation is a very important matter. Apart from the agricultural tax, the common people don't need to pay other taxes. This is the method for quickly restoring the North. As for money and grain, Zhang Cheng will find ways from his neighbors.

Later Zhao once valued Buddhism; Zhang Cheng wasn't the only one whose eyes turned red at the wealth of those monks; even the Eastern Jin noble families would have to swallow their saliva if they came.

Although he held the four provinces of the mountains and rivers in his hands, don't forget that the land of Western Qin was still in Fu Xiong's hands!

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

As Zhang Cheng finished speaking, the Eastern Jin soldiers roared loudly.

And even the defeated Eastern Jin generals suddenly understood why the Chiliang Army was so good at fighting.

Because military merit means land!

When the Eastern Jin soldiers, who were originally alone, began to settle down in Northern Ming, Zhang Cheng also generously distributed travel expenses to the remaining people to go back.

After all, as compatriots, Zhang Cheng wouldn't use a butcher's knife to weaken the vitality of Eastern Jin.

Letting them go back is the only way to promote the "benevolence" of Great Ming!

However, this benevolence is only aimed at his compatriots. Once he hits the outside, Zhang Cheng won't be "polite."

He will slaughter cities when he should, and bury people alive when he should. As long as he can destroy the opponent's belief and make the enemy feel fear, Zhang Cheng will even flatten the wheels and leave no one, old or young!

Xuzhou, looking at the blood-stained city walls before him, Zhang Cheng walked up and touched them, saying, "Stabilizing the Central Plains. Throughout history, how many heroes have died in battle here!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng's sigh, Deng Qiang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the current trend of the world is all in your hands!"

"No, it's still a little bit short. Western Qin!" With eyes flashing, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes.

Former Qin was still there, making him feel very uneasy at this moment.

After all, the alliance between Fu Jian and Wang Meng made him feel quite anxious, so he must destroy Former Qin as soon as possible.

"The army has been fighting for a long time. Do they need to rest?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Li Nong stepped up to ask.

"Have people draft the auxiliary troops to join, give them Great Ming status. Their descendants can go to school, can become officials, and can have land in their hometowns!"

Looking at Li Nong beside him, Zhang Cheng smiled.

Hearing Zhang Cheng's plan, Li Nong fell silent instantly, because he was going to make the auxiliary troops fight for their lives!

Although the Chiliang Army currently has a number of one hundred thousand, Zhang Cheng won't draft them completely. They need to defend against the Tuoba clan in the North, as well as Eastern Jin.

This time, Zhang Cheng intends to select a strong force of thirty thousand men, plus fifty thousand auxiliary troops, to crush Former Qin in one fell swoop, thereby stabilizing the entire North.

Standing with his hands behind his back, Zhang Cheng entered along the city gate. Looking at the happy children on the street and the shops set up along the street, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "This is the fireworks of the human world!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is the world that belongs to us!"

Laughing loudly, Deng Qiang smiled.

"Your Majesty, do you want a pancake?"

!

With a pancake stuffed in his mouth, Zhang Hao asked.

"Yes!"

Taking the pancake, Zhang Cheng put it in his mouth and said, "The taste is not bad!"

"Indeed!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Deng Qiang and Li Nong beside him laughed.

Moving forward, Zhang Cheng stopped in his tracks, because a young man in a green shirt was looking at him with a smile.

Holding the pancake in his hand, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Do you want some?"

"Then thank you!"

Watching the young man walk up and take the pancake from Zhang Cheng's hand, Zhang Hao and Deng Qiang were shocked, because they didn't know the person.

Li Nong also had a strange attitude: "Your Majesty, who is this?"

"He is Wang Meng! He once refused my recruitment, but now, why have you come to find me?"

Looking at Wang Meng, Zhang Cheng asked.

"I want to see the Great Harmony of the world!"

Speaking of this, Wang Meng bowed and said, "Meng was too young back then. Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Patting Wang Meng on the shoulder, Zhang Cheng didn't speak and walked forward.

And looking at Zhang Cheng, Wang Meng hadn't reacted yet when Deng Qiang turned around and said, "Let's go, the road to the Great Harmony of the world is still far away!"

"Yes, Meng is coming!"

With a wry smile, Wang Meng immediately followed the pace of the crowd.

As the sun set, Xuzhou was filled with ten thousand lights, and it was also the road that the five of them had to walk!

(End of chapter)