Southern Ming Rebel Army

As Abdu's head fell to the ground and his blood sprayed on the land of Shache City, the Yarkand Khanate, which once dominated the Western Regions, came to an end.

Lin Shiqi stood on the city wall of Shache City, looking at the ruins in the city, feeling deeply moved. With the destruction of the Yarkand Khanate, this vast land has since been incorporated into the territory of the Qian Dynasty. The prosperity of the Qian Dynasty's territory has reached its peak among all dynasties.

Afterwards, Lin Shiqi stationed more than 3,000 troops in Shache, and the remaining cities had garrisons of either 500 or more than 1,000 troops. Half a month later, when all handover matters were completed, Lin Shiqi issued an order to return to the capital.

This battle lasted for more than half a year from the time the troops were dispatched to the time they ended the war. No matter whether they were from the Mongolian tribes or the soldiers of the Qian army, everyone missed home. Therefore, when the news of the return of the army reached the army, everyone cheered, not only because they could go home to visit their families, but more importantly, they were preparing to go back to receive rewards.

Not long after the Qian army returned, some former members of the Yarkand Khanate were dissatisfied with the destruction of the Khanate. They took advantage of the Qian army's departure to gather troops and rebel. The largest group among them was the rebel army led by Abaito.

Lin Shiqi, who had just marched to Jiayuguan, was furious when he heard the news. He then ordered his subordinate Gulbuha to lead more than 10,000 cavalrymen to return and quell the rebellion.

Gulbuha was a little depressed, but the military order was as firm as a mountain and he could not question it. Later, Lin Shiqi summoned Gulbuha privately and said, "There is no need for leniency when we go to quell the rebellion. Anyone who participates in the rebellion, regardless of gender, age or status, will be killed without mercy!"

Then, Lin Shiqi stared at Gulbuha and said word by word: "I will let the blood of the rebels stain every inch of Yarkand's land red, so that they will be terrified and never dare to rebel again!"

In the tenth year of Zhaowu, at the end of November, Gulbuha defeated the Abedo rebels in a field battle, beheaded more than a thousand people and captured more than six thousand.

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, in the middle of winter of the tenth year of Zhaowu, Gulbuha defeated the Abedo rebels in a field battle, beheaded more than a thousand of them, captured six thousand, and then killed all the surrendered soldiers.

Afterwards, Gulbuha raided various cities in the Western Regions for more than half a year. After severe killing, all the rebels were wiped out and the Western Regions were pacified.

In the 12th year of Zhaowu, the Oirat tribe in Mobei, which opposed the Qian Dynasty, moved westward under the drive of the Qian army, which joined forces with the southern and northern tribes. However, their tribe was scattered under the pursuit of the Qian army, and the northern tribes all surrendered. Meng Jun followed the example of the southern part of Mobei and controlled the Mobei grassland by dividing the pastures and the league and flag system.

In the 14th year of Zhaowu, after a brutal political struggle in U-Tsang, Sengge's brother Galdan was killed in U-Tsang, and a civil war broke out in the Khoshut Khanate that controlled U-Tsang. Shortly thereafter, the Qian army entered U-Tsang.

In the 15th year of Zhaowu, the decades-long dispute between the Qian Dynasty and Luosha on the border ended. Luosha forces withdrew from Siberia and the two sides temporarily stopped fighting.

In the 16th year of Zhaowu, a case of cheating in the imperial examination broke out in Jiangnan. More than a thousand officials were implicated in the case. Nearly 10,000 people were killed, demoted, or exiled because of this case. Not long after this case, Meng Jun issued an edict to split up Nanzhili and divide several provinces.

In the 17th year of Zhaowu, the prince got married.

In the eighteenth year of Zhaowu, the princes were granted the title of king, but this title did not mean they could rule over the people or be granted land. They only had a salary and an honorable title. Soon after, Meng Jun felt that in the previous Ming Dynasty, the princes were feared by the emperor and had to be imprisoned. So at the end of the year, Meng Jun established the ancestral system, allowing princes to take the imperial examinations and become officials, but they were not allowed to do business or buy land.

In the 19th year of Zhaowu, U-Tsang surrendered. The Qian Dynasty established the positions of Minister Resident in Tibet and General Resident in Tibet in U-Tsang. The Qian Dynasty's control over U-Tsang increased day by day.

In the 20th year of Zhaowu, the empress dowager passed away and Meng Jun held a national mourning. In the same year, Han Xiong died of illness and his title was inherited by his son Han Anning.

In the 23rd year of Zhaowu, rubber was discovered in Qiongjin (formerly Batavia).

In the 25th year of Zhaowu, the steam engine appeared. Meng Jun was overjoyed and left the capital again to tour the south to check the steam engine in person.

In the 26th year of Zhaowu, the first small railway appeared between the capital and Tianjin, and the onlookers were amazed.

In the 27th year of Zhaowu, the empress died and the emperor was deeply saddened.

In the 28th year of Zhaowu, Meng Jun, who was over 50 years old, felt increasingly overwhelmed by the increasingly heavy government affairs, so he entrusted some of the government affairs to the crown prince.

In the autumn of the 31st year of Zhaowu, Meng Jun led his team on a northern tour to the south of the desert and selected a site to build a temporary palace. Afterwards, Meng Jun met with the leaders of the tribes in the south of the desert at the site. Meng Jun gave them rewards and held a heavenly sacrifice meeting, whereupon the tribes swore to be loyal to Tengri Khan.

Looking at the vast grassland, Meng Jun said with emotion: "I have realized the dream of expelling the Jian slaves and restoring the country. I have also realized the unbroken Golden Bowl and the expansion of the territory. I have also seen the steam engine and the railway in my lifetime. I have achieved this. No matter what my descendants will think of me in the future, I have a clear conscience!"

Over the years, some of those who had joined him in the rebellion died long ago, and some also died one after another. Many of those who are still alive have become rich and famous, and their names have been recorded in history. Some have also been imprisoned for violating the law.

But at least, in Meng Jun's later years, there were no stories of massacring his old brothers, which comforted Meng Jun a little. However, people will eventually grow old, and it is time to say goodbye to the romantic stories of Meng Jun's generation.

Meng Jun fell ill after returning to the capital. Although he recovered after the full treatment of the imperial physician, he could already feel his vitality slipping away.

At this point, Meng Jun has lost interest in everything. The court affairs have been completely entrusted to the hands of the crown prince. Except for the fact that he does not have the title of emperor, the crown prince Meng Chengzhao's power is almost the same as that of the emperor.

Meng Jun didn't want to care about any more things. As the saying goes, human power is limited. What happens in the next hundred or two hundred years, Meng Jun can no longer control it, nor does he want to control it. He just wants to enjoy the last moments of his life.

At this last moment, as an emperor, Meng Jun only hoped that the last journey of his life would be a painless departure.

In the spring of the 32nd year of Zhaowu, Meng Jun spent more and more time in bed. On the night of February 6th of the 32nd year of Zhaowu, Meng Jun suddenly had a dream. This dream was so real. Perhaps, it could not be considered a dream, but just a real experience of his life journey.

This dream started from the day he started his army, to the defeat of Bolo, and then to the decisive battle in Huguang. Suddenly, he dreamed that he became king, emperor, and founded a country and offered sacrifices to heaven.

Suddenly looking back, Meng Jun woke up, and his concubines were kneeling around him, and his son, the crown prince, was kneeling on the ground, holding Meng Jun's hand, and weeping, "Father!"

Meng Jun raised his hand and pointed at Meng Chengzhao, saying softly, "Everyone is mortal in this world. Long live me is just an illusion. After my death, there is no need to make a big fuss. Keep everything simple and do not disturb the people. Prince, be very respectful in front of the coffin!"

"Father!"

Meng Jun's eyes gradually dimmed, and his last words before his death were: "I have not let this era down..."

On February 7th, the 32nd year of Zhaowu, the emperor passed away!

Zhaowu Chronicle.

In the last years of Chongzhen, the country was in turmoil, bandits rose up, and the barbarians were rampant, causing great suffering to the people. Taizu felt pity for the people and witnessed the cruelty of the barbarians, so he raised an uprising in Suzhou. Heroes from all over the country rushed to the uprising, and the righteous army was launched with great momentum, like a prairie fire.

Taizu led his troops to fight throughout the country, without harming anyone and winning great popularity among the people. He repeatedly defeated the elite armies of the Hu people in the Central Plains and drove them beyond the Great Wall, recovering the mountains and rivers of the Han Dynasty and causing great shock throughout the country.

After he ascended the throne, he established the reign title Zhaowu. He was well aware that people's livelihood was the foundation of the country, so he tried to reduce taxes and levies so that the country could recuperate. He also devoted his efforts to water conservancy, taming the Yellow River, dredging rivers and canals, and building dikes for defense.

The emperor pacified the Liao Dynasty and comforted the various tribes in the desert. The tribes were frightened and all submitted to Zhaowu, who gave him the title of Heavenly Khan. The emperor led troops outside the territory and was victorious every time. Annan, Burma, and Siam all surrendered. The southern border expanded by thousands of miles, with a territory unprecedented in the world.

The emperor wanted to open up the Western Regions, so he sent General Lin Shiqi to lead a large army westward. Wherever the royal army went, they captured cities and conquered territories with unstoppable force. The prosperity of Zhaowu's territory stretched from the sea in the east to the Pamir Mountains in the west, from the Ming Sea in the south to the desert in the north, surpassing the ancient times.

During the reign of Emperor Zhaowu, the country was peaceful and the people were content to work. The granaries were full, commerce and travel were smooth, and guests from all directions were submissive. They all praised the prosperity of Emperor Zhaowu and called it the greatest prosperity ever recorded in history.

The emperor reigned for decades, and his merits and virtues were brilliant, which was known as the "Zhaowu Prosperous Era".

(This is the finale of the book, and there is an epilogue!)