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When a woman says "seduce me", she should appear seductive and frivolous, but coming from Cheng Xi's mouth, it is a condescending scrutiny that creates an unwarranted sense of oppression.
He is truly a powerful figure who rules a region. Sun Yuanrang sighed in his heart, but his answer was very straightforward: "There is a copper mountain in the territory of that group of rebels."
As soon as these words came out, not to mention Cheng Xi, even Tian Yu, who was watching coldly from the sidelines, couldn't help but blurt out: "But Wude Copper Mountain? Wait, they even took over the Copper Mountain?"
It's no wonder Tian Yu's fear changed. You have to know that copper mines are different from iron mines. Every copper mine in the Dagan Dynasty was required to mint coins. This was a business involving real money. Even if it was for personal gain, the local military leaders treated the copper mines with the utmost care and would not allow anyone else to touch them.
How could a group of bandits who had just occupied a territory even take down Tongshan?
Cheng Xi didn't know much about the Copper Mountain in this world, but anything that could make Tian Yu scream in shock was definitely no small matter. After a moment's thought, she understood the twists and turns here and sneered, "Brother Sun, are you planning to use the Copper Mountain as a reward? Not to mention who owns it now, even if I really took it away in the future, it would be extremely difficult to keep it."
This was the truth. Although the Beijiang River bordered the Jinghu East Road, the waterway was extremely narrow and the terrain was uneven, making it difficult for large fleets to reach. Without ships, occupying Tongshan in the hinterland was basically impossible, as the manpower and material resources were insufficient.
Sun Yuanrang smiled. "Of course I won't bring up these empty claims, but it's true that there are copper mines all over Jinghu, and even in Jiujiang. If we eliminate the rebels, the Suoyi Gang and the Tianding Army will have enough money to mine copper. Then we can sell it to the gang leader at a low price and exchange it for food, cloth, and sea salt."
This statement is quite reliable. I'm afraid they also used the copper mine to lure the Tianding Army to get them to agree to join forces. As long as they have the copper mine, they will directly control the right to mint coins. For local warlords, the temptation can be imagined.
As a powerful tycoon, Cheng Xi also needed copper, and because he needed to build cannons, the demand for copper ore was staggering. However, there was not much copper in Yuezhou, so if he wanted to build cannons, he had to ship it from Japan or even further afield, Southeast Asia. However, if he could ship it from the neighboring Jinghu, the cost savings would be staggering.
Similarly, Cheng Xi was not afraid that the other party would break their promise. Copper can only be used as a general equivalent if it is cast into currency. Otherwise, it is just a piece of stubborn stone, and it takes a lot of effort to mine it. It will take more than a day or two to develop coinage and even promote it throughout the country.
For this group, selling copper mines was the most cost-effective option, as food and salt were essential needs. Once they gained power, there would be no shortage of people eager for wealth and glory. Panyu was a hub for international luxury goods trade, so there was simply too much to exchange for copper mines.
To put it more extremely, perhaps because of the developed trade, the Red Flag Gang was the first force to master the right to mint coins. After all, maritime trade mostly used silver, and currency exchange and circulation must be more convenient than other forces.
In this case, there is really an irresistible temptation in front of us.
Cheng Xi sat up straight and said seriously, "I need more than just copper. I also need a craftsman to cast cannons. Brother Sun should be able to find one, right?"
"That's easy. When we captured Chang'an Prefecture, we recruited all the master craftsmen from the Ordnance Bureau into our gang. If the gang leader wants people, just ask." Sun Yuanrang answered very straightforwardly.
This is truly a case of sending a pillow when one is sleepy. Cheng Xi glanced at the people in the tent and said, "If that's the case, we can certainly fight this battle. But I wonder how your gang and the Tianding Army plan to advance?"
Seeing her finally nod, Sun Yuanrang immediately had his men fetch the map, unfolding it before everyone, and explained, "There's a naval leader among the rebels. He's taken nearly 80% of the gang's ships and is now entrenched in Luling Prefecture, planning to attack Xinchang Prefecture along the river. Once Xinchang is captured, with the city and the Tongshan canal transport system at their disposal, it would be difficult to control. That's why the Marshal has resolved to join forces to repel the enemy."
As he spoke, he pointed his finger over the rebels. "The Tianding Army's main camp is near Xinchang, so they naturally don't want to see another naval force nearby. If Military Advisor Fang can convince General Yuan, they will send a fleet south to encircle those rebels."
As he spoke, he drew another line on the left. "We'll take this route by land, with the Straw Cloth Army as the main force, aiming to force the rebels out of the city for a field battle. Those rebels have fought with the Marshal before, and they know we're good at sieges, but they're not good at defense. Plus, with the advantage of our navy, they'll most likely choose to march out of the city to meet the enemy. Once their rearguard is empty, it's time for your surprise attack."
He made it clear, and the map made it even clearer. Above the rebels were the Tianding Army, below them the Red Banner Army, and to their left, the Suoyi Army stared intently. Faced with enemies on three sides and without a numerical advantage, it seemed like a battle that would be easy.
Cheng Xi looked up at the sky and suddenly asked, "I guess the rebels have guessed your movements, otherwise they wouldn't have driven the refugees south to disturb Yuezhou. If that's the case, we have to be on guard against them making a backup plan."
The clearer the situation is, the more people can understand it. The obvious cards are the most difficult to play, and if you are not careful, you will fall into the set trap.
Sun Yuanrang immediately said, "Don't worry, Boss. I have a group of spies under my command who will report every detail of the rebels' movements. Furthermore, the key to this battle lies in our special forces. I came here alone precisely to conceal this information. If no one else knows your movements, how can we predict the outcome of the battle?"
This was one of the reasons Sun Yuanrang had come personally. Not only him, but even Fang Tianxi couldn't see through Miss Qiu's tactics. Now that the news had been blocked, they had become a hidden pawn that no one could see through. While the frontal battlefield was crucial, ambushes often determined victory or defeat.
This is really cautious. Cheng Xi said: "Then I'm afraid Brother Sun will have to stay for two more days to discuss your arrangements."
The ambush was able to strike unexpectedly because they had a clear grasp of the overall situation. In this era of cold weapons, without instant communication, processing information was far more difficult than in later times. "Temple calculation" meant gathering as much intelligence as possible for effective analysis. Now that they had a messenger, they naturally couldn't let him go.
Sun Yuanrang said, "Even if the leader didn't tell me, I'd also like to stay a few more days. This Leren City is really beyond my expectations. It doesn't seem like a place that was just broken into. If I can learn a few tricks, I'll definitely be able to settle the people more safely in the future."
He wasn't talking about commanding the army, but about keeping the people safe. Cheng Xi couldn't help but look at him a little longer, then smiled and said, "Brother Sun, just read it casually. If you don't understand something, you can ask me."
She had previously allowed Military Advisor Fang to freely explore the camp. Hearing the same words, Sun Yuanrang couldn't help but show some surprise, but soon he regained his smile and said, "Then I would like to thank the leader on behalf of the people."
It wasn't him who was thanking, but the people. Cheng Xi could hear the difference, but he didn't know if it was a deliberate act or a genuine one. For someone who was good at pretending, it was really not easy to tell the difference.
But Cheng Xi didn't care to make any distinction. As long as it could help those who were trying to survive in troubled times live a better life, she didn't care.
…
In reality, Sun Yuanrang hadn't lied. His curiosity about the Red Flag Gang had led him to come personally, rather than sending a trusted aide. After receiving permission to move freely within and outside the city, Sun Yuanrang first went to the refugee camp.
Refugees have always been the most difficult to deal with. They can be used to capture cities, but they can also cause mutiny and escape due to one's carelessness. Sun Yuanrang thought he had treated the refugees well, and had won the hearts of many people with this. However, when he saw the refugee camp of the Red Flag Gang, he realized that he had not done enough.
The camp was unusually well-organized and orderly. Washing, receiving meals, and even defecation all had designated areas. Almost everyone could live in a hut, and the elderly, the weak, and the disabled were cared for by assigned personnel. Almost everyone had work to do. The women took care of children, washed clothes, and handled chores around the camp, while the men were assigned to build the main camp or the city walls. I heard there were even teams, and the most diligent and hardworking were rewarded. This gave everyone a lively air of life, unlike the apathetic, ordinary refugees.
That would have been fine, but even more remarkable were the numerous officials who were responsible for compiling the names and origins of the refugees. These weren't all officials from Leren City, but rather members of the Red Banner Gang. Being able to write and calculate wasn't enough, but they were also able to meticulously register so many people. With the register, these people would eventually become civilians under their control. With tens of thousands of people added to their numbers, it was a formidable force no matter where they were placed.
The Red Flag Gang has only been around for a few years, how come it has so many talented people?
After consulting with several minor officials, Sun Yuanrang learned that these people had all been to school. Some attended night classes in workshops, some attended military classes, and a few young ones even attended elementary school. After just one year of study, they could recognize two to three thousand characters and knew how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. With just a little training, they were ready for the job.
This was far simpler than training actual scholars, but Sun Yuanrang only considered it for a moment before shaking his head with a wry smile. The Straw Clothes Gang had few scholars to begin with, and most of them held important positions like counselors, accountants, and legal advisors. How could they possibly teach? And how much money would it cost to employ teachers and run a school? For them, waiting for someone to join them was naturally more cost-effective.
The same goes for these refugees; they're not bandits or pirates, but legitimate herdsmen, perhaps even more disciplined than the imperial court. If the Red Flag Gang can just operate as thieves for a year and a half, the city will be completely overrun.
The more he watched, the more astonished he became, yet also the more admiration he felt. Sun Yuanrang wondered if Cheng Xi was able to do things so meticulously because she was a woman. He'd heard the Red Flag Gang even employed women. If this continued, wouldn't they have twice as many people available as other gangs?
Besides these, what interested Sun Yuanrang most were the storytellers. He had wandered for many years, had come into contact with all kinds of people, and even knew some disguises. It was for this reason that Sun Yuanrang attached great importance to spies. He not only raised a group of trusted and loyal men, but also frequently used them to spy on secrets.
Sun Yuanrang had teamed up with Cheng Xi to cause a major incident in Tingzhou before. He felt that this woman was very similar to him and was also good at disguising herself and spying. He probably had the same spies under his command. However, he did not expect that she could use such tricks in public.
The world is full of fools, often believing rumors at face value. Many are also naturally afraid of "rebels." Reclaiming a city or territory requires more than simply conquering it. Yet, simply employing storytellers can change the ignorant masses' perception of the Red Flag Gang. Besides reassuring the people, they can also quickly convey orders and prevent rumors from spreading. This is far more effective than ordinary spies. It's no longer about spying, but about guiding the people's hearts. Is this something the average person could imagine?
Of course, it was also necessary to discipline the soldiers. Without this, no matter how nice the words were, it would be useless. Sun Yuanrang was quite regretful about this. He could still discipline his subordinates, but the entire Suoyi Gang was unable to enforce his orders. For a city like this, it was unthinkable that they could just leave their doors unlocked and not pick up anything on the road after capturing it.
It seems that what Military Advisor Fang had seen before was only the performance of the Red Flag Gang when they were not fighting. During the war, especially after the war, they were far superior to other rebel armies.
Sun Yuanrang carefully observed each and every one of these, secretly memorizing them in his mind, constantly pondering which ones he could use and which ones he couldn't. But after entering the General Temple and learning about the so-called "Public Good Teaching," Sun Yuanrang was completely certain of one thing: Cheng Xi probably wanted more than just to be a large ship owner, or even simply to dominate a region.
Could it be that she, too, was planning to compete? Could a woman also aspire to be a powerful figure?
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