Volume 5: Overlord of the Sea Chapter 535: Chen Gong's Magical Use
In southern Xinjiang, Chen Gong was in the commander's tent, facing the sand table in silence.
Of course, the Southern Xinjiang where Chen Gong was at that time was not the Southern Xinjiang south of the Tianshan Mountains in later generations, but the Yunnan-Guizhou area referred to as the "Southern Xinjiang" in ancient times.
The sand table in front of Chen Gong is much smaller and more detailed than Zhang Ren's.
Moreover, in comparison, Zhang Ren’s sand table focuses more on terrain simulation, while Chen Gong’s map... looks more abstract!
The development zones are specially divided into blocks, and a series of resource signs representing wood, stone, minerals, various salt wells, salt springs, etc. are placed in them.
And mark the cost of road repair...
Southern Xinjiang is an area of China that is relatively rich in gold and silver minerals. After establishing stable, reasonable and legal trading channels, it is no longer a place that just waits for supplies .
Otherwise, the Shuhou Mansion would have already sent a message to Zhang Ren to defend . Why would he still hold on to the "Southern Barbarians" and refuse to let go?
The reason why I can’t bear to leave is because I can’t bear to leave the “specialties” of southern Xinjiang.
However, for those officials in Xichuan who were used to being "middlemen", using the low-priced industrial products of Chu to trade with the barbarians in southern Xinjiang for their gold, silver, and minerals... this method of quickly cashing in was what they were pursuing.
As for the construction and development of southern Xinjiang? What does it have to do with us?
In comparison, although southern Xinjiang is still generally subsidized by the State of Chu, if we consider road construction, the cost of this subsidy is actually far less than the cost of road construction!
It is equivalent to mobilizing the people in southern Xinjiang to build roads together...
This road is indeed in southern Xinjiang, but it is equally significant to the State of Chu - if the road is unobstructed, then southern Xinjiang will have no basis for independence from Chinese civilization.
Not to mention, the current funding also includes the expenses of the Ministry of Rites for promoting Chu studies.
Firstly, the efforts made in the village and county schools of Chu State greatly increased the proportion of "scholars". Secondly, Chu learning was different from the old Confucianism. It had a strong communication ability and also attached importance to spreading to the real grassroots. The "bottom" of Confucianism was also the "bottom" of the gentry, and the grassroots of the people were far from being included.
After all, when Confucius traveled around the countries, the "wild people" outside the city walls still had a system similar to that of a tribe.
At least you have to have a foothold to be considered the bottom level. Pure "savages" can only be considered tools...
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucianism was already the most advanced doctrine and indeed played a huge role in social progress. However, it is too metaphysical to define the current propaganda goals by Confucian standards.
The uniqueness of Chuxue and the level of popularization of basic education in Chu State ensured that the Ministry of Rites of Chu State had enough manpower to promote Chuxue!
As for the migrating tribes to the north, as well as the disputes between the big tribes in the south and the Marquis of Shu, Chen Gong doesn't want to pay any attention to them now, and the State of Chu means the same!
It’s not that I’m not interested, but… it’s not the time to intervene yet.
What Chu State needs to do now is to completely take control of Southern Xinjiang.
Due to its rugged terrain and isolated area, southern Xinjiang has always been very different from the Central Plains civilization during the feudal dynasty period, even though it belongs to the same Chinese culture. Even during the Ming and Qing dynasties when the feudal dynasty was at its peak, the proportion of Han people in Yunnan and Guizhou was already quite large. However, when people mention "Miao Xinjiang", they still think of legends such as poisonous insects and corpse drivers.
Chen Gong is not only an expert on the battlefield, but also an expert in internal affairs. And...what he is best at is the "StarCraft"-style internal affairs.
If we break it down into details like factional struggles, party-building, guessing people's minds, guiding public opinion... Chen Gong can only be considered quasi-first-rate, or even second-rate. However, Chen Gong is good at retreating more and supplementing less, and "pointing out" where things are not working.
If other people were to watch at this time, they would only see a crude sand table, but in Chen Gong's eyes...
The sand table is shrouded in a layer of light and shadow, as if it has come alive. In each grid, there are mini figures swaying around representing logging, farming, mining, fishing and hunting, road construction... and all kinds of construction activities!
Even each grid can "show" the growth of the number of people employed in various fields and various resources, as well as the consumption during road transportation...
It is the effect of Mingce that extends to the development of the internal governance category!
The range is larger than that used on the battlefield, but there are no "details". All you can see are thumbnails and symbolic "sticker silhouettes".
The nature of the pioneering army meant that Chen Gong did not need to guess the mentality of various places and classes like he did when governing the court, to ensure that everyone's interests were maximized, or at least to blunt the voices of opposition...
The pioneering army will not refuse orders. Chen Gong only needs to arrange the manpower and projects. This is the most comfortable thing for him.
The Chen Gong model is actually a summary and generalization of the pioneering work in Danzhou and Yizhou, and it has been streamlined. Today, the Chen Gong model is also highly respected and studied in many areas that need to be developed and integrated, including Jiaozhou.
Although other people do not have the ability to "make clear plans", as long as they calculate and arrange step by step, they will only be slightly less efficient in deployment and require a higher level of information mastery.
As for looking to the north, Chen Gong actually didn't care much about those big clans in the south and the migrating tribes - they were just dry bones in tombs.
"Military advisor, if we go further west, even the tribes in the central South will be rare. Do we really need to explore further?" Shamoke couldn't help but ask after watching Chen Gong making gestures on the sand table for a long time.
Shamoke was still accustomed to calling Chen Gong "military advisor".
"We have to explore. Even overseas places like Tanzhou are being explored, so why shouldn't we? But Xiaosha, don't worry. As we go further west... the altitude is getting higher and there are indeed not many people, so there is no need for the army to keep watching over it. The subsequent land reclamation will also be adjusted to a development zone of 300 or even 500 miles in length and width, and it can be handed over to the land reclamation army." Chen Gong closed his eyes and cancelled the effect of "Ming Ce".
The word "pioneering" meant a lofty sense of mission in the State of Chu, but it did not mean a brutal campaign. Chen Gong was able to grasp the scale.
The southern Xinjiang area, with the ancient Ailao Kingdom and the ancient Dian Kingdom - which is Kunming in later generations - as the boundaries, can be developed more comprehensively. Then to the west... we can gradually relax our pace, after all, the natural environment is here.
Even the line from the later city to Kunming seemed to be the edge of a natural moat. Further west, the road network began to become noticeably sparse.
When Shamoke heard that he would not have to stay here any longer, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. If he continued to stay like this, the Wuxi Independent Division would soon be able to be included in the list of the pioneering army!
"We can finally attack... ahem, I mean, we can finally rescue the people of Xichuan and resolve the crisis of Chu?" Shamoke asked with shining eyes and rubbing his hands.
"No, after things here are settled, we will leave a few regiments to defend Yelang, Tan Gao, Louwo, and Mumi to prevent a counterattack from the tribes fleeing northward. Zhongda will also stay, and we will take the other half of the people and go to Jiaozhou first." Chen Gong shook his head.
Jiaozhou has the advantage of being located on the coast. At this time, the Chu navy was also directly escorting troop transport ships, allowing part of the pioneering troops to land directly in the southern part of Jiaozhou and overseas Leizhou and other places, thus "attacking from both sides" the pioneering troops entering Jiaozhou from the north.
Chen Gong and Shamoke went there first to take charge, in case some tribes might be confused, or the Shi clan might cause any more trouble - anyway, the distance was not very far, and this kind of mountainous terrain was also the strong point of the Wuxi Independent Division.
After hearing this, Shamoko lost interest. Chen Gong changed the subject and asked, "How is Bai Yipian doing recently? Even in Chu, you are now of marriageable age. Do you want me to help you find a husband?"
Sure enough, when Shamoko heard this, his face immediately turned pale and he shook his head repeatedly...
Seeing this, Chen Gong just chuckled and didn't continue - in Chen Gong's opinion, it would be difficult for Shamoke to "escape".
As for the invasion of the southern barbarians in Xichuan... we can just let them "let it alone" for a while!
…
Neither Xichuan nor Jiaozhou are now the focus of the Chu State. The sea, which was once ignored, is now the source of the Chu State's "headache".
In August of the sixth year of the Chu calendar, not only the Marquis of Qi and the King of Wei were eyeing the ports in Qingzhou and Jizhou controlled by the Chu State, but even Gongsun clan could not hold back!
Although Gongsun clan did not dare to do anything to Andong Port (Andongjin) and Liaodong Port (Dajin) blatantly, they were already deliberately suppressing the entry and exit of Chu ships in Liao Port (Liaokou)...
Originally, according to the agreement between the State of Chu and the Gongsun clan, Andong Port was directly under the jurisdiction of the State of Chu and was also the main place where the navy was stationed. In Liaodong Port, also known as Dajin before, the number of Chu troops was restricted and was subject to the supervision of the Gongsun clan. There were clear boundaries for the landing troops. Liao Port was built by the State of Chu with the assistance of the Gongsun clan and was garrisoned by the Gongsun clan, but Chu ships could enter and exit.
However, the State of Chu has not taken the initiative to cross the border. Instead, Gongsun has repeatedly tried to move its garrison southward to compress the boundaries of Liaodong Port. In Andong Port, there are thousands of cavalry stationed not far from the port!
Moreover, when Gongsun bought the plate armor, the minerals that were mortgaged to Chu State also began to experience violent conflicts in several places, and were forcibly taken back in some ways...
Facing the accusations from the State of Chu, the Marquis of Yan still tried to appease them and even admitted his weakness, but his actions were still as ruthless as ever!
Bai Tu could also guess that Gongsun Kang was willing to do this. It was simply because Chu State intervened in the Chaohai Peninsula, assisted and even led the local people in fighting against the pirates, which made Gongsun Kang feel threatened. After several attempts to stop Chu State, Gongsun Kang became dissatisfied.
After all, Gongsun Kang has always regarded the Peninsula as his own back garden. Although he does not want to offend the State of Wei, he is even more unwilling to let Bai Tu meddle in his affairs - taking away some slaves is far less serious than taking away his prestige.
However, Bai Tu dared to say with confidence that there was nothing wrong with Chu's action. After all, it was the Marquis of Yan himself, the overlord of Liaodong who regarded himself as the "grand leader", who failed to protect these dependent forces.
Even the State of Chu invited the Marquis of Yan to work with him to solve the problem of pirates at sea and bandits on land, but Gongsun Kang himself did not participate!
Chu assisted Buyeo and Han in fighting against pirates, and logically owed no one anything...
On the other hand, it was also because Wei State and Qi Hou were eyeing the ports of Chu State in Jizhou and Qingzhou at this time, which gave Gongsun Kang more confidence!
