Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5086: Conquering the "Witch Clan"

When Yang Zhou and Xi Junmai saw Zhang Liang's indignation and eloquent speech, they were all speechless.

They knew that the island where the "Witch Tribe" was located was quite large, and they also understood Zhang Liang's intention. This Duke of Yun probably had nothing to do on Luzon Island all day, and he was a little unwilling to be lonely, so he wanted to expand the territory and establish unprecedented merits...

But this goes against the navy's strategy.

After all, the other party's official position, status, and qualifications were far superior to his. Although he was dissatisfied, he patiently explained: "You don't know, Duke. Since the island is drawn on the sea chart, it means that the navy already knows it very well. The reason why they have never sent a caravan there is that the sea area is densely covered with islands and the waterways are dangerous. Secondly, there are many tribes on the island, and they are constantly attacking each other. Even if the navy intervenes, it may not be able to quell the dispute. An island of chaos and war is not worth the navy's heavy deployment of troops."

At this point, he raised his head, looked at Zhang Liang, and said slowly: "The most important thing is that the navy does not allow massacres."

How to quell chaos in a certain area?
It's difficult to say, but it's also easy to say. Kill all the disobedient ones, and the rest will naturally obey...

But this is seriously contrary to the navy's consistent strategy.

Zhang Liang said decisively: "What your navy allows or does not allow has nothing to do with me. I only know that my subordinates who have followed me for many years are in danger, and I must go to save them."

He stared at Yang Zhou and said word by word: "At any cost!"

Yang Zhou looked at him, and after a moment, his attitude softened: "But I will inform you in advance that the navy will not send a single soldier, ship or cannon, nor will it provide any reinforcements to you. You will bear all the consequences."

Xi Junmai next to him frowned and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Zhang Liang's face suddenly became kind, and he laughed loudly: "General Yang is a man of quick words and courage. I, Zhang Liang, accept this favor and will repay you one day!"

……

Back in the navy barracks, Xi Junmai asked in confusion, "On the first day the Marshal formed the Royal Navy, he wrote 'No Massacre' at the top of the military discipline. Now Zhang Liang knowingly violated it, and the general not only did not stop him, but condoned him. I'm afraid this is a bit inappropriate, isn't it?"

Yang Zhou asked him to sit down and told the guards outside the door: "Hurry up and prepare some side dishes and get a pot of wine. General Xi and I will have a drink to fill our stomachs."

After the guards left quickly, he turned to Xi Junmai and complained, "Zhang Liang is a duke and a governor, but he is very stingy. He didn't even invite us to have a meal when we came to visit him. It's really rude."

Xi Junmai said nothing and just looked at him.

Seeing that no one was outside the door, Yang Zhou whispered to Xi Junmai, "Military discipline is indeed like this. We obey the commander's orders and dare not violate military discipline. But in fact, massacres are not uncommon. You haven't killed anyone, and neither have I. But how many of the officers and soldiers under you have killed over the years? Don't you really know?"

Mr. Xi bought silence.

This is the military discipline, and everyone in the navy can understand it. After all, the mission of the Tang Dynasty Navy is to escort merchant ships, trade with all countries and tribes in the universe, and bring all wealth earned in the form of trade to the Tang Dynasty.

However, the military is responsible for war and attack. No matter how the military discipline is, how can there be no murderous spirit?
It was fine at home or on the border, under the eyes of the commander, even the most arrogant soldiers had to be cautious. But on this ocean, thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty, no matter how many troops there were, they had to be dispersed. Often, only one brigade, even a regiment or a team was on a mission, and a lieutenant could decide whether to fight or retreat in the event of an emergency.

From a sensible perspective, the captain and his soldiers face each other day and night. They are comrades and brothers who have experienced life and death together. If a soldier is injured or killed by the natives, how can he sit idly by?
Logically, if soldiers are brutally slaughtered but no retaliation is taken, who will still fear the might of the Tang Dynasty in the long run?
Even if one is unwilling and concerned about military discipline, if one does not take revenge, the morale of the people will be dispersed and how can one lead the team?
Therefore, when encountering most emergencies, the Tang army never retreated.

And attacking means slaughter...

This is something that cannot be forbidden.

After a slight hesitation, Xi Junmai said, "But this kind of thing can only be tolerated by default. How can it appear openly?"

Yang Zhou was surprised and asked, "Who allowed this to happen? You or me? Zhang Liang is the Duke of Yun and the Governor of Luzon. What does he want to do? If you and I are firmly against him, will he just stop doing it? He can do it, and we will just report it to the Grand Commander. Any consequences will be borne by Zhang Liang. What does it have to do with us?"

Xi Junmai felt a little depressed. He admitted that what Yang Zhou said made sense, but he still felt uncomfortable in his heart.

After all, "no massacre" was the Marshal's order, but now the navy is trampling on the Marshal's order in a roundabout way...

Yang Zhou patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly: "No one in the navy dares to disobey the military discipline established by the commander-in-chief, but everyone is profit-seeking. When interests are involved, it is rare to be able to stick to one's heart, strictly abide by military discipline, and use others to achieve one's own interests."

Xi Junmai sighed, he knew that what Yang Zhou said made sense.

Why do all those who go overseas abide by the military discipline set by the Marshal? It is because of the Marshal's authority, but also because these military disciplines protect the interests of the vast majority of people.

When military discipline conflicts with personal interests, people will think of violating military discipline.

As maritime trade became more and more prosperous, more and more islands and lands were discovered, and everyone began to become restless.

After all, "opening up new frontiers" has always been on par with "sealing the wolf's lair", and it can be said to be the obsession of Chinese men...

Ambition began to grow, and the military discipline that was originally used to protect him began to become a set of rules and regulations that bound him. He thought about how to break free and how to break it.

Zhang Liang is the first, but he will definitely not be the last.

"Moreover, a massacre can also effectively deter people. How can the little barbarians be willing to crawl at the feet of the Tang Dynasty if they are afraid of power but not morality and don't want to see blood?"

Although the country is big, belligerent must perish.

The same is true of an army.

However, if a necessary small-scale war can deter people and avoid a larger-scale war, and if there are people willing to take responsibility...why not do it?

Xi Junmai nodded in approval, but still said, "I will report this matter in detail to the Grand Commander."

Yang Zhou nodded: "That's right, but don't worry, the Grand Commander will definitely agree with me."

Xi Junmai said worriedly: "I hope so."

*****
The Tang people have always been proud. All other races in the world are regarded as "barbarians", and all countries except the Tang Dynasty are regarded as "foreign countries". They call themselves the Celestial Empire and the Chinese nation, so they must act uprightly and have a legitimate reason for conquest. "Killing without teaching" is considered despicable.

So the next morning, Zhang Liang asked Cheng Gongying to write a letter and ordered someone to send it to the leader of the "Witch Clan". In the letter, he angrily denounced the "Witch Clan" for their despicable behavior and was extremely angry that they dared to offend the majesty of the Tang Dynasty. He ordered them to release the kidnapped Tang army soldiers, otherwise they would all be crushed to pieces wherever the majesty of heaven came!
The messenger traveled across the sea on a large ship and brought back the news in a few days.

It is naturally impossible for the "Witch Clan" to release the so-called kidnapped Tang Dynasty soldiers. They can't just go out and catch one and then hand him over to Zhang Liang, right?
However, the reply was still extremely cautious, explaining that there was no kidnapping and that the "Witch Clan" had always admired the Tang Dynasty and was willing to trade with it and cultivate friendly relations.

Zhang Liang was fully prepared, so he naturally scoffed at the reply from the "Witch Clan". He skinned and pulled out the tendons of the "Witch Clan" envoy and hung him on a flagpole to intimidate the natives of Luzon Island. Then he gathered 500 fully armed soldiers under his command, boarded a merchant ship under the leadership of several adopted sons, and with the help of a guide to indicate the route, more than a dozen merchant ships set sail from Lingayen Gulf, and headed south along the western coastline of Luzon Island, embarking on the road of conquest.

No one knew what was happening with the "Witch Tribe", but the natives of Luzon Island were already shocked.

Although the Tang people fought with the natives when they first arrived, there was no large-scale military attack and not many native deaths. On the one hand, they were afraid of the strength of the Tang people, and on the other hand, trade could give the chiefs better enjoyment, so they leased ports and land and traded with the Tang Dynasty.

However, as a large number of Tang students came to Luzon to open schools and teach Confucian classics, the natives had an illusion - although the Tang people represented the highest level of civilization in the world, with benevolence, wisdom, and strength, they were also kind.

In the eyes of the indigenous people, the word "kindness" is equivalent to weakness.

They have the most powerful weapons in the world, but they are full of benevolence, morality, and love for the world. Various laws and regulations restrict the soldiers from killing at will...

Therefore, the natives were not very afraid of the Tang people, because they knew that if they behaved obediently on the surface, the Tang people would have no legitimate reason to do anything to them.

But now the style of this poisonous chief of Luzon makes them terrified.

As for the so-called "kidnapping Tang army soldiers and extorting money", everyone knows it is impossible. Are the "Witch Clan" so bold that they dare to kidnap Tang army soldiers and extort money from them? !
Even a fool knows it's an excuse.

But it was this style of "finding a pretext to accuse someone of a crime" that made the chiefs tremble with fear, because they suddenly discovered that the Tang people sometimes did not follow the rules...

Several chiefs gathered together privately and exchanged opinions. They found that everyone was afraid of this. No one knew whether the Tang people would use such means on them. They seemed honest on the surface, but they had done many things in secret to cheat Tang merchants. What if the Tang people were dissatisfied and wanted to kill one to warn the rest?

It’s impossible to guard against it.

After some discussion, everyone came to the Lingayen Gulf Port and waited outside the navy ship at the dock, asking the trainee to buy it.

Xi Junmai invited these people onto the ship.

When the chiefs stepped onto the deck from the gangway, they were shocked beyond words. This was the first time that the natives had set foot on a Tang ship. It was fine when they were standing on the shore and looking from afar, but now that they were there, they felt more and more how majestic and sturdy the ship was, and their hearts were filled with even greater awe.