117
Fang Tianxi originally thought that he would be placed under house arrest and would not be exposed to the affairs of the Red Flag Gang. However, Miss Qiu had no intention of caring about him at all. As long as he did not leave the camp, it did not matter what he saw or asked.
This made Fang Tianxi marvel. Apart from anything else, this person's temperament was much stronger than that of Tian Yu.
Without wasting the opportunity, Fang Tianxi quietly inquired.
He had sent people to investigate before and learned a lot about the Red Flag Gang, but what he saw with his own eyes still surprised him again and again.
Fang Tianxi had long known that the Red Flag Gang was capable of fighting.
When it comes to leading troops, no one in the world can surpass General Qiu, and Miss Qiu's training methods are quite similar to her father's. Just by looking at the daily training, you can tell that this is a strong army.
However, surprisingly, the gang's food was not distributed according to military rank. As long as the "canteen" was open for meals, all the leaders and soldiers would eat from the same pot. Even if Miss Qiu, the gang leader, went there in person, no special meals would be prepared for her.
Sharing food and clothing is a good way to win people's hearts, but even in times of crisis, not everyone can do this. How can we establish this principle if everyone eats and wears the same food? Will it really prevent soldiers from forgetting their superiors and inferiors?
When he asked these soldiers, he got a surprisingly consistent answer: "We are all brothers in the gang, so we should eat and live together!"
The smaller bosses would chuckle and say, "Why not eat something for free? The food isn't bad. Besides, we all have salaries, so it's easy to have a good meal."
The food in the canteen is really not bad. There are two meals of dry rice and one meal of porridge every day, with plenty of pickles. You can also have a spoonful of stew with the dry rice, and there are chicken, duck, fish, meat and eggs in turn. It is much better than what you get at an ordinary fisherman's house.
If you can eat something like this, why worry about people's disunity? However, the cost is also extremely staggering, just the calculation is staggering.
Then Fang Tianxi discovered another thing, that the Red Flag Gang had people who raised poultry and livestock, and there were quite a few of them.
Not to mention pigs and sheep, which can't be raised in large numbers on the beach, but Muscovy ducks are as numerous as cattle hairs. They dig for food on the beach all day long, and the eggs they lay are really big and round, and taste great.
The extra ones have even started to be pickled, probably to be sold to the county.
In addition, there are fields dedicated to growing taro and vegetables, and there are servants to take care of them. It cannot be said that they can be self-sufficient, but at least they can provide some supplement.
The specially designed toilets can also collect manure, and the fermented manure is quite considerable. Whether it is used for farming or sold elsewhere, it can be put to good use.
Defecation and urination have always been the most troublesome problem in the military camp. If you are not careful, an epidemic may break out. Even thinking of this shows that he is extremely meticulous.
All these things can help us see the big picture from the small details. However, when we grow old over the years, we may not be able to be so thorough.
Was this really something a young girl could come up with? Was she naturally thoughtful, or did she have the foresight to understand the benefits of doing so? Despite her doubts, Fang Tianxi had to admit that these were things no one else could learn.
For a gang like the Suoyi Gang, it is impossible for the generals and soldiers to eat together, not to mention anything else.
All the rebels used the hungry people. Driving the people to rob the rich was their way of making a fortune. They were lucky enough not to starve to death, so how could they talk about these fancy things? It was even more impossible for those bandit leaders to lower their status to eat bran and bean flour.
Of course, the Red Flag Gang’s training method also has its shortcomings.
The troops emerging from the main camp were elite, but how could they expand their forces? Maintaining them like this was like throwing money into the ocean. Five hundred men might be affordable, but how about five thousand? Fifty thousand? The Red Flag Gang wouldn't even engage in looting. How could they grow and survive in this chaotic world?
However, as soon as this thought arose, Fang Tianxi discovered that there were more small fishing boats outside the camp.
There were also many people who looked like fishermen who joined the camp and did odd jobs.
The camp is currently being expanded, and labor is most needed. No one knows where these people come from, but they can work very hard as long as they eat some coarse grains and taro flour every day, which makes the houses in the camp built faster.
The Red Flag Gang has been in Dongning for a year. Now it is the spring planting season, which is the busiest time. Where can they find so many laborers?
Confused, Fang Tianxi immediately went to find Tian Yu: "Danhui, where did you find the new laborers?"
Tian Yu glanced at the unrestrained old man and snorted, "They are all boat people."
Fang Tianxi frowned. "You're starting to use the Tanka people? Wait, could it be that the Red Flag Gang is planning to recruit the Tanka people for their own use? Can you afford to support them?"
As General Qiu's aide, Fang Tianxi understands the stubbornness of these boat people better than most people.
Because they have no fixed place to live and love to wander on the sea, half of the pirates along the coast are of boat people origin.
This kind of banditry that could not be eradicated gave Qiu Sheng a lot of headaches back then, and he even thought about letting them settle down on the shore.
As a result, as soon as the news got out, the entire boat village scattered and it was impossible to catch up with them, let alone do anything else, so they had to give up.
Can the Red Flag Gang really use a group of people like this? That's over 10,000 mouths to feed. How can they possibly afford it?
Tian Yu sneered, "Who said the Red Flag Gang wants to support them? They're just hired to do temporary work, building houses, moving goods, and reclaiming land. A bit of strength is enough."
Fang Tianxi immediately shook his head: "One year is fine, but how can it be like this every year?"
This camp will eventually be built, right? By then, these boat people will still be coming and going like the wind, wreaking havoc on the nearby seas.
Moreover, if we bring people in to work, they may learn the secrets of the camp. What if we send troops to launch a surprise attack?
"If we can do this this year, we can naturally do something else next year. As long as Dongning has work all the time, why worry about them not working hard?" Tian Yu was the one who knew Cheng Xi's plan best. She wanted to build more than one or two workshops. Not to mention temporary jobs, it was estimated that some fishermen would have to change their careers in the future and work exclusively in workshops.
Fang Tianxi was speechless. This was too far-fetched, wasn't it? Wait, were they just here to work? Suddenly realizing what was happening, Fang Tianxi pressed on, "What benefits did you give the Tanka people?"
Is it a low-interest loan, or a high-priced purchase? Without profit, there's no such thing as unwarranted trust.
Tian Yu chuckled, "This matter is not something that can be told to outsiders, but there is one thing I can say: the boat people of the South China Sea will not attack the Red Flag Gang's ships anymore."
People like Tian Yu wouldn't lie, but how could he win over more than 10,000 Tanka people and make them obey his orders? If this could come true, the situation of the Red Flag Gang would be completely different.
As long as they raised the Red Flag Gang's banner, they would be able to make those Tanka-born bandits retreat. How many merchant ships would be willing to pay a sum of money to buy peace? And when everyone knew that the Tanka people were connected to the Red Flag Gang, these Tanka people would truly become vassals of the Red Flag Gang.
How much effort would it take to hire workers or receive goods?
Unable to hold back any longer, Fang Tianxi asked, "Did you come up with this idea?"
"Of course it was the gang leader who came up with it." Tian Yu raised his chin slightly and asked, "Why, don't you believe it?"
It wasn't surprising for anyone to think of this. Why did it have to be Miss Qiu? Was this really the Qiu Yuehua he knew? Fang Tianxi was momentarily confused. Could it be that he and Tian Yu had recognized the wrong person? Where in the world could such a powerful woman exist? Even with all her experiences, it was impossible for such a gentle and timid woman to become like this?
However, I can't tell these doubts to Tian Yu.
After observing for a few days, Fang Tianxi couldn't help but find Qiu Yuehua.
"Miss Qiu, I really admire your skill." Facing the main person, Fang Tianxi did not show any surprise, but stroked his beard and praised.
Cheng Xi glanced at him and said, "Not many people in the camp know my identity yet. Mr. Fang, just call me Cheng Xi."
This made Fang Tianxi's showy movements freeze. Is now the time to change the address? Aren't you going to ask me what I know?
After two dry coughs, Fang Tianxi said, "I'm sorry for being rude. Using the Tanka people to suppress the merchants is a good tactic, but if the sea is full of Red Flag Gang ships, won't the Tanka people complain?"
This strategy of leveraging the enemy's strength is a good one, but if it continues like this, there will inevitably be more and more ships on the sea, just like the salt ships, paying the Red Flag Gang and flying their flags. In that case, where will the Tanka people get their money? Temporary labor isn't a long-term solution; people still need to eat.
Cheng Xi glanced at Fang Tianxi and asked, "Would people who have enough to eat rebel so easily? If the price of seafood is raised by two percentage points, they can have enough to eat and drink. If the interest rate on loans is lowered by two percentage points, they can safely weather the disaster. If they are desperate, they can hire a few temporary workers and avoid taking risks. Don't you know how to keep the people safe?"
Fang Tianxi choked when asked this question. This was indeed not something a business group would do, but rather something the government would do.
But how much benefit can the Red Flag Gang gain in this case?
Perhaps sensing the doubt in his heart, Cheng Xi said calmly, "Sir, do you think I'm being too extravagant and shouldn't be spending so much effort to support a bunch of low-class people?"
Fang Tianxi hesitated for a moment before saying, "You can't afford it."
Cheng Xi smiled. "I really can't afford to support them, but they can support themselves. As long as I earn a little less, these people will have enough food and clothing, and I can use them. With the support of the Tanka people, all merchant ships on the sea will bow to the Red Flag Gang. I can use the money to support the army and hire more workers to control the fish market and collect customs duties. In the long run, why worry about unrest in the South China Sea?"
This is definitely not what the boat gang should do! Fang Tianxi is now convinced of what this little girl wants to do.
Use taxes to support officials and soldiers, use officials to shepherd the people, use soldiers to quell rebellions, and then let more people willingly pay taxes. This is what the court should do! However, this dynasty has a maritime ban, which means that as long as Cheng Xi can really make this system work, it would be like building a small court in the South China Sea.
It may not be very stable, but as long as it runs for one day, there will be countless people supporting it openly or secretly.
In this way, those big businessmen whose interests have been harmed will probably be powerless to object.
The several threats she had counted out at the beginning had been eliminated one by one without her noticing. As long as the government did not intervene, they would not be easily broken.
Fang Tianxi couldn't help but say, "If the imperial court knew about this, they would probably raise an army to quell the rebellion. How is your method any different from treason?"
"What if the imperial court is unwilling to send troops? Dongning, and even Guangdong Province, will have many workshops in the future, and countless merchants will join forces with me. I have a large amount of gold and silver in the bank, and I can even guarantee the ships at sea and compensate for the losses caused by shipwrecks. If the Red Flag Gang is in turmoil, how many merchants will beat their chests and stamp their feet in regret? As long as I can't wipe out the Red Flag Gang in one go, these people will choose to open up connections for me to protect this huge, ill-earned profit." Cheng Xi sighed softly, "This is the southern border. What do you think, sir, they care about themselves or the imperial court?"
She actually made such an arrangement!
The missing piece of the puzzle was finally revealed, but Fang Tianxi was more and more shocked and almost speechless.
This really wasn't the way to conquer the world. He had originally thought this girl was too soft-hearted, lacking the courage to fight for the world. But if things continued like this, who would own Southern Xinjiang? Could the imperial court truly quell the rebellion? Perhaps in their eyes, these boat gangs, who neither disturbed the people nor plundered, weren't even considered rebels.
He had indeed never seen such a method of cannibalization before, and he even felt curious and wanted to add a few strokes to this blank painting.
However, Fang Tianxi quickly came back to his senses and frowned, "You can't do it. As long as the Long Whale Gang is there, the Red Flag Gang will never be able to take over the South China Sea."
This is the most crucial point and also the only weakness of this extraordinary woman.
The Red Flag Gang had only been established for a year and did not yet have the strength to fight against other large gangs.
If she were given three to five years, this scroll would surely be completed smoothly, but does she have that much time?
Cheng Xi looked at the old man and suddenly asked seriously, "What do you think I should do?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
