The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 661: Disasters Come from the Sky When You Are at Home
The Governor of Hanchuan, Huating Earl Chen Qiuze is very young, only 33 years old this year, and is the youngest provincial governor in the entire Dayu.

Moreover, in this era when the distinction between civil and military officials is becoming increasingly clear, Chen Qiuze can be both a civil official and a military general, and is also a meritorious official.

This was because when he ventured south from Songjiang Prefecture to join Mo Zibu, he entered Guangdong as a Confucian scholar, but later insisted on studying at the Whampoa Military Academy and embarked on the path of a military general.

However, because he was a member of the Jiangnan literati and his ancestor was Chen Zilong, a loyal minister, great writer, and leader of the Fushe Society, he was also accepted by the civil servants.

He has always been believed to be sure to enter the cabinet in the future, or even become the prime minister.

Because in addition to his ability, he is also the descendant of a loyal hero, a hero in the restoration of the country, and a scholar in Jiangnan. He also graduated from the Whampoa Military Academy, which is known as the cradle of meritorious officials and generals in Fujian and Guangdong.

So many labels mean that Chen Qiuze is easily accepted by all parties, which is the best help for him as a cabinet minister, especially the prime minister.

However, Chen Qiuze is not without shortcomings. His biggest problem is that he likes to take shortcuts.

Or to be more precise, this person is a natural gambler, with a bit of the all-in spirit of betting on the fate of a country with a small notebook in history.

Back then, he risked great danger and traveled south from Jiangnan. Although it was more out of national justice and to avenge the blood of his ancestors, he might also have had a speculative mentality.

Later, in the Battle of Hangzhou, he sneaked in alone, and with a small investment but a big win, he gathered Hangzhou volunteers to encircle and kill the Hangzhou Eight Banners Army. This was an extremely thrilling but extremely beneficial operation.

These two successes brought Chen Qiuze unimaginable gains. This was how he got the title of "Guangzhong Restoration Hero" and the title of Earl of Huating.

You should know that those who can have the title of Guangzhong Restoration Meritorious Official are all recognized as restoration meritorious officials by the emperor, similar to Zhu Yuanzhang's founding meritorious official and Zhu Laosi's Fengtian Jingnan meritorious official.

The title of Marquis of Huating, a formal imperial title of meritorious official, was more valuable than that of a vassal prince, and there were only more than thirty of them in the Dayu Dynasty.

With such huge profits, Chen Qiuze naturally hopes to repeat it again. These experiences also give his actions a strong radical style.

For example, this time, the Burmese King Meng Yun is already trapped in a jar, and the current mainstream opinion in the Dayu court is to boil the frog in warm water.

In about ten years at most, Meng Yun would either make a desperate attempt or go to Nanjing to live as a retired official, so as to minimize the harm caused by the unrest.

But Chen Qiuze couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to get rid of Meng Yun right away, resolve the last worry for the people of Hanchuan Province, and contribute to his own further success.

So, during the three years since he took office as Governor of Hanchuan, he has been constantly provoking and trying to anger Meng Yun.

Including but not limited to allowing the Chinese to wantonly plunder the property of the Burmese, condoning the Chinese to capture the Burmese as serfs, promoting Chinese Buddhism and suppressing Theravada Buddhism, compressing the area controlled by Meng Yun, and placing Chinese officers to control the army that the emperor allowed Meng Yun to send to the Kingdom of Arakan to gain some benefits.

At this point, Meng Yun was almost forced into a desperate situation.

"Your Excellency, a letter has arrived from Lord Lin, the Marquis of Enping. Your Majesty will return to Nanjing from Beijing as soon as the weather warms up. By then, the memorials Meng Yun submitted to the capital this year will surely be delivered to Your Majesty's desk."

Chen Qiuze's staff whispered to him that Chen Qiuze had been suppressing Meng Yun over the years, and Meng Yun had been resisting. He kept reporting to the emperor Mo Zibu and even sent envoys to Nanjing City to file a complaint.

However, for more than a year, His Majesty the Emperor has been in Beijing and has not returned to Nanjing because he has to pay attention to the situation in the Xianbei Desert.

Because Dayu's territory was so vast, no matter how strict the system was, there were still many loopholes.

For example, according to the regulations, when the emperor was in Beijing and there were many memorials from Lingnan and Nanyang, the cabinet ministers would select and deliver them to Beijing according to their level of urgency, while general affairs would be handled directly by them to avoid delays.

So, is Meng Yun’s letter for help important or not?

There are too many variables to manipulate here.

As for why the Cardinal Minister of the Inner Court, Enping Hou Lin Tong, wanted to cover up for Chen Qiuze, it was very simple, because Lin Tong was born into the Mo family as a servant and was a Mingxiang native for four generations.

He was born and raised in Southeast Asia, and had a very good understanding of the natives of Southeast Asia, especially the Burmese. He was also influenced by the fierce struggle between the Han and the non-natives in Southeast Asia. Lin Tong supported a quick solution to Meng Yun.

With the support of Lin Tong, a high-ranking confidant of the emperor, the ministers in the outer court would not be so nosy as to send Meng Yun's memorial to Beijing as an urgent matter.

After all, in the eyes of these cabinet ministers, a local chieftain who was destined to be eliminated in Hanchuan Province was not as important as the disaster suffered by the people in a county or township in the country. If they did not give Lin Tong face, they would probably not report it so quickly.

Therefore, Emperor Mo Zibu now had no idea that Chen Qiuze had pushed Meng Yun to the brink of rebellion.

"Is the Governor's standard-bearer ready? What did Huang Teng say?" Chen Qiuze took a deep breath and then asked.

The Huang Teng he mentioned was the eldest son of Huang Zhen, the first Prime Minister of Nanyang.

Huang Zhen was a Chinese nobleman from the former Ayutthaya Dynasty of Siam. After being rescued from Ayutthaya by the emperor, he was responsible for guarding the Lower Burma area for the emperor.

Now, Huang Zhen suffered many injuries in the battles in his early years, so he ran back to his hometown of Jieyang, Chaozhou in his fifties to spend his old age and enjoy life. Now, his son Huang Teng has succeeded Huang Zhen.

At the same time, the areas east of Pegu, including Mawlamyine on the (Sar) Win River, as well as Yecheng (Yecheng), Tucheng (Tower), Dancheng (Danasalin) and other places were all fiefs of the third son of the emperor, Dancheng Prince Mozhouyu.

Therefore, although Huang Teng's official official position was the governor of Hanchuan, he basically stayed in Moulmein, southeast of Hanchuan.

However, Governor Chen Qiuze was unable to command Huang Teng and the vassal states in Burma, including Chen Xingtai, the Marquis of Resident Horse, and Chen Jiansheng, the Marquis of Tongzhou, who were surrounding Huang Teng.

If there were no Hanchuan garrison troops under Huang Teng, and no vassal troops led by Chen Xingtai, Chen Jiansheng and others, then Chen Qiuze could only mobilize his governor's standard bearers in three battalions with 4,500 men.

The staff shook his head and said in a low voice, "General Huang, I still say the same thing. The Hanchuan garrison troops are the army of the country, the army of His Majesty. If you want to mobilize them, please bring His Majesty's imperial edict and the order from the Ministry of War. If not, there is no need to discuss it!"

"General Huang, you are truly a loyal minister to the country!" Chen Qiuze sighed upon hearing this, and then said bitterly:

"It's a pity that he is so old-fashioned. Now is such a good opportunity, but he doesn't take advantage of it to deal with Meng Yun. Is it really going to drag on for more than ten years?
Now is the time for Hanchuan Province to develop rapidly. Once Meng Yun is dealt with, we can fully develop this place. In five years at most, this place will be a Nanyang rice-producing area that can rival Taiping and Jiading.

Such a missed opportunity is despicable, despicable!"

Chen Qiuze was so anxious that he was running around in circles. In Nanyang, the only person who could make Huang Teng send troops was the Nanyang Prime Minister Zheng Miao.

Because the Prime Minister of Nanyang can control all the troops in Nanyang, Huang Teng has to obey as long as he gives an order.

At the same time, as the eldest son of Zheng Xin, the Cihang Pudu Zun Buddha, and the emperor's brother-in-law, Zheng Miao is smart enough to take any blame.

The last time Dong Jinfeng caused such a big mess, Zheng Miao was only called into the palace and kicked and scolded.

Unfortunately, Zheng Miao had seen through guys like Chen Qiuze and knew that they wanted him to take the blame again, so he simply refused to meet anyone coming from Hanchuan, not even for official business, and simply acted like a coward.

There's no other way! Chen Qiuze gritted his teeth. Now the arrow was on the string and had to be shot. "Bring the governor's standard-bearers with you. Third brother, go to Fuxing Bank and Feiyang Bank and borrow 10,000 silver dollars in my name.

Damn it, I'll take out a loan to recruit mercenaries and kill Meng Yun!"

Chen Qiuze's younger brother Chen Qiuduan suddenly opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth so wide that an egg could be stuffed in.

The Governor of Hanchuan and Earl of Huating actually had to take out loans to recruit mercenaries to fight against the foreign chieftains under his jurisdiction.

This world is so fucking magical that Chen Qiuduan almost thought he was hallucinating.

The governor's staff around him also sighed secretly. His boss was good in everything. He became famous at a young age, had outstanding abilities, and was especially good at encouraging people to develop agriculture and colonization.

He was favored by the emperor and was also a count. He was also an extremely honest official. After ten years in officialdom, he only had a fortune of a few thousand silver dollars, so he couldn't even take out ten thousand silver dollars and had to take out loans.

But his ambition is too strong, and he wants to make progress so much that he is too impatient in some places, like this time.

"Go ahead! What are you still standing there for?" Chen Qiuze shouted loudly when he saw his brother Chen Qiuduan was unable to move. "Meng Yun still has 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. If we don't take 20,000 of them with us, how can we win?"

Chen Qiuduan had no choice but to prepare to go to Daguang to apply for a loan. However, before he stepped out of the study, he heard officials under the Censor Wang Yong running in shouting.

"Great joy, great joy! Prince Lu has arrived from Jiaoren Port. He has hundreds of elite cavalry and is willing to assist us with the Imperial Flag!"

Chen Qiuze jumped up with a whoosh, the gloom on his face gone, "Hahahaha, with the imperial flag, we can openly recruit Chinese volunteers in Lower Burma!
Come with me, and go with great fanfare to welcome the Prince of Lu."

Outside Baimiao City, a cold wind blew, and Mo Gongze couldn't help but shiver. Why did he feel more and more like he had been cheated the closer he got to Baimiao City?

At the same time, at the mouth of the (Sal) Wein River, in the city of Mawlamyine.

Huang Teng was also discussing Chen Qiuze's actions with vassals from Lower Burma, including Chen Guangtai, the Marquis of Zhuma, Chen Jiansheng, the Marquis of Tongzhou, and Armand, the Gentleman of Tiangang.

Among these three people, Chen Guangtai is Chen Guangyao's cousin. Twenty years ago, when they went upstream to fight the White Elephant King, Chen Guangtai, as the company commander, led the troops in the Battle of Mawlamyine and fought to the death.

After the war, he suffered heavy bleeding and was almost killed. He had to retire and was granted the title of nobleman in Zhuma City (Mottama, Myanmar) north of Mawlamyine.

Chen Jiansheng was a tin mine owner outside Dancheng (Tanasarin). He made the first contribution when Mozibu took over Tanasarin. He was willing to recruit fellow villagers to open up wasteland in Lower Burma, and was named Tongzhou Junbo (Tongzhou, Myanmar).

Armand, the Tiangang gentleman, was a captain of the French artillery in Hoi An who had followed Mo Tzu Bu since Hoi An. He was wounded in the battle to capture Moulmein together with Chen Guangtai.

At that time, this man's eyeballs were smashed out by the Burmese with an iron hammer, but he fought to the death and refused to retreat. Therefore, Mo Zibu used him as an example and made him a baron. Later, he was promoted to viscount at his discretion.

These three people, together with Huang Zhen’s son Huang Teng, are the most important Chinese vassals in Lower Burma. They are also the pillars of Mo Zibu’s control over Lower Burma.

"This Chen Zhitai is already an Earl of Internal Honors, but he still doesn't keep quiet. If it were me, if Your Majesty asked me to go back to my hometown to be an Earl now, I would leave without saying a word." Chen Jiansheng, the Earl of Tongzhou, rubbed his chin and said with confusion.

"With a big turban like that, who knows what he's thinking? Some say he's Zhang Dun of the Great Yu Dynasty. I think he's quite similar, but he's also a bit too rash in his actions.

No! I think he is more like that fool Wang Xuance. If there were a Tubo here at this time, I am afraid that the trouble he caused would benefit outsiders."

Chen Xingtai, the Marquis of Zhuma, is much more educated, but at the same time he is less optimistic about Chen Qiuze.

On the contrary, Armand, a gentleman from Tiangang who has been completely assimilated into Chinese and speaks fluent Mandarin, can understand some of it, because there are many such crazy colonial aristocrats and civil governors in France, or in the whole of Europe.

"General Huang, it would be bad if we didn't take action. If Governor Chen succeeds, how will we face him?

Because although Chen Zhitai is eager to act, taking down Meng Yun will ultimately benefit all of us Chinese.

We will wait and see, and when the benefits are finally in hand, will the Chinese in Lower Burma think that Chen Zhitai is working for the country and for their good office, while we are stingy people who sit back and enjoy the benefits?

"Hiss!" Huang Teng took a breath. He had never thought about this aspect, but the more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

"Then what should we do? Although I am the governor of Hanchuan, the Hanchuan garrison troops cannot be dispatched without the emperor's order or the order from the Ministry of War. This is an iron rule."

Chen Xingtai thought for a moment and said, "Then we can only mobilize the vassal army. The dukes, barons, and garrison commanders should think of a way to gather 3,000 men. Whether we can capture Meng Yun or not is not certain, but Chen Zhitai must not be harmed."

"Yes, yes, it was Chen Zhitai who instigated the incident, but if he makes any mistakes, we will be charged with the crime of watching an important official of the court fall, which will be enough to make us suffer."

"That's still considered good. If Chen Zhitai is killed by the Burmese, the prestige that we Tang people have built up in Lower Burma over the past decade will be destroyed in an instant, and the Burmese resistance below will be even more intense."

"This isn't the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying thing is if the Burmese really rush down from the Ilo River and kill hundreds or thousands of people. Even if we aren't held accountable by the imperial court, we won't be able to live with it!"

After talking and thinking open up, a group of vassals suddenly found that Chen Qiuze's trick really hit their sore spot. They had to follow it whether they wanted to or not.

"Damn it, it's really like a disaster for the family, damn it!" Huang Teng cursed unwillingly.

"Then let's mobilize. Earl of Tongzhou, please take the trouble to make the trip and inform them that our Hanchuan vassal states will send 5,000 men to prevent Chen Zhitai from going alone to die.

At the same time, although the Hanchuan garrison cannot be used directly, I will transfer 10,000 garrison troops from Pegu and Deying to the key fortresses for defense."

After saying that, Huang Teng looked at Wu Zuoqi, the male of Jindao Jun, and said, "Brother Wu, you come from a high family of Chinese studies in Jiading, and you are the best writer. Please write a memorial about this situation, and we will all sign it and submit it to His Majesty. We must report our difficulties clearly."

Wu Zuoqi was born into the Wu family in Bianhe, Jiading, a prominent family among the Jing people that specialized in studying Confucian classics. His uncle, Wu Shizun, was once the greatest scholar in Guangnan, and he joined the emperor when he entered Jiading.

The Wu family also prospered because of this. Wu Zuoqi, a member of the side branch, also became a baron here, owned an island, and had more than 7,000 subjects.

. . . .

Soon, Chen Qiuze, who was preparing to take the next step in the White Temple, received the news. He was in high spirits and felt that God was blessing him.

He originally had to take out a loan to recruit mercenaries, but now he had 7,000 Chinese volunteers, 4,500 governor's standard-bearers, and 400 elite Xiongnu cavalry. If he added the 5,000 vassal soldiers from Hanchuan, there would be almost 17,000 people in his hands.

These 17,000 people are all combat soldiers. If we recruit some farmers to accompany the army for transportation and some Chinese volunteers who have settled along the Yiluo River, there will be no problem in getting 40,000 people.

In this way, he could claim to have 100,000 people, which would scare Meng Yun to death.

(End of this chapter)