Faced with a forty-nine-year drought under the Qianlong Emperor, Zhu Xiaosong chose the most direct yet most difficult solution: to shoulder the vast majority of the burden from his people.
Some might think digging a well is merely digging a deep pit in the ground, and as long as it's deep enough, water will emerge. However, the actual operation is far from as simple as imagined.
First, one must find someone to scout for water sources, as not all places have underground water, and digging a pit anywhere won't necessarily result in a well.
Second, there's the risk of well collapse and poisonous gas. With relatively primitive and backward technology in ancient times, well digging could lead to collapse at any moment, and poisonous gas could emanate from the bottom. Otherwise, the saying "When drinking water, remember the one who dug the well" wouldn't exist.
It was fortunate that Ming Xing and Agui, the two transport captains, successively sent a large number of Eight Banners laborers to Menglianggu.
Thinking of Ming Xing and Agui, Zhu Xiaosong tapped his fingers on the table again and said, "The matter of digging wells is settled. Second brother and Geng Rui, prepare yourselves. We'll start by taking the area south of Linqu in Qingzhou Prefecture."
"Once we take Linqu and the areas south of it, we'll go all out and directly capture Laizhou and Dengzhou. Once we establish a firm foothold in Laizhou and Dengzhou, we'll truly be invincible."
When it came to fighting, the military leaders like Zhu Laoer and Geng Rui were all cheerful. Zhu Laoer even patted his chest and guaranteed, "At the shortest, half a month, and at the longest, a month. Geng Rui and I will definitely take the area south of Linqu."
However, leaders responsible for logistics, like Liu Huaiwen, were not happy at all.
Liu Huaiwen, puffing on his dry pipe, looked at Zhu Laoer with murderous intent in his eyes. "Second in command, next time we encounter a situation where one grenade can kill people, can we please not throw two?"
"If you feel that throwing fewer isn't exhilarating enough, then please do me a favor and get me more laborers and sulfur and saltpeter?"
"You say fighting is fighting, flintlock guns can kill people, and grenades can also kill people. Why do you like throwing grenades so much? You have no sense of thrift. Where did you learn such bad habits!"
Zhu Erdan suddenly had a thought and blurted out, "I learned it from my brother!"
Zhu Xiaosong's face immediately darkened. After glaring at Zhu Laoer, he ordered, "Meeting adjourned!"
...
Zhu Erdan saying it would take at most half a month to take the area south of Linqu was actually a conservative estimate.
If one were to normally raise an army and rebel, taking down one county after another, half a month would not be enough time.
However, Zhu Xiaosong's approach to rebellion was somewhat different from other transmigration travelers.
Other transmigration travelers would practice their troops while advancing their technological tree. Zhu Xiaosong, however, was extensively organizing farmers' associations while practicing troops and advancing the technological tree. As a result, Zhu Laoer encountered no resistance along the way. Instead, he only encountered able-bodied men from village after village, who, under the organization of the farmers' association, helped transport grain and artillery.
Mr. Lu Xun once said that common people are the easiest to deceive, and also the most difficult to deceive. Their thousands of years of experience in farming allowed them to discern who truly cared for them.
Like Agui and Ming Xing, they also wanted these common people to help them transport grain and artillery. But the common people were unwilling. As soon as they saw the shadow of government soldiers, they would quickly close their doors. Even if they were forced to transport grain and artillery under threat of weapons, they would drag their feet as much as possible, doing work slowly. In short, they put in the effort but not the will.
Now, with Zhu Laoer leading troops to attack Linqu, the common people, organized by the farmers' association, had long been prepared to transport grain and artillery. The young men from adjacent villages took turns, making it impossible for Zhu Laoer's army to march slowly, even if they wanted to.
If it were just these things, it would be acceptable and within Zhu Laoer's understanding. The problem was that these able-bodied men who helped transport grain and artillery not only brought their own dry rations but also prepared some food for Zhu Laoer's troops, which gave Zhu Laoer a headache.
If they ate it, it would violate Menglianggu's discipline. If they wanted to pay, the common people refused to accept money. If they didn't eat it, it was genuine food offered by the common people. They wouldn't say anything pleasant or make any grand speeches. In short, they had prepared all the food. If you dared not to eat it, they would continue to hold it out.
Don't talk to them about discipline. They understood the word "discipline," and the farmers' association had repeatedly told the people that the army from Menglianggu did not take a single needle or a piece of thread from the common people, nor did they eat prepared food from the common people for free. The key was that it was useless, even if it was said. The common people were stubborn. No matter how much you argued, it was of no use.
In later generations, there were often jokes about soldiers in camouflage green being bombarded with food. Whether it was flood control, earthquakes, or COVID-19, when the camouflage green soldiers withdrew, there were often jokes about being force-fed by their own people and being hit in the head by food thrown at them. Fortunately, no durians were thrown.
For the common people, nothing could express their sincere feelings better than offering food.
Helpless, Zhu Laoer could only shed tears while eating the dry rations prepared by the common people, and crookedly write IOUs: On [date] of the 49th year of the pseudo-Manchu Qianlong reign, Zhu Erdan led troops passing through [village name], consuming food prepared by the people, amounting to [amount] of money. As the people refused to accept payment, this is to be settled later, personally written by Zhu Erdan.
Thus, when Zhu Erdan and Geng Rui led their troops to the city of Linqu, Zhu Erdan and his "rebel soldiers" had not lost weight due to marching. On the contrary, they had all become a little fatter.
Zhu Erdan felt even more pained.
Marching and fighting without losing weight, but gaining weight? If this were to be told, who would believe it?
If others on Menglianggu found out, wouldn't they laugh him to death?
Even if others didn't laugh at him, could his own elder brother let him off easily?
The more Zhu Erdan thought about it, the more annoyed he became. By the time they reached the city of Linqu, Zhu Erdan directly ordered his men to set up formations and prepare to vent their anger on the officials of Linqu City.
Faced with the fierce Menglianggu rebels, Feng Zhemeng, the Prefect of Qingzhou, could only express his desire to cry without tears.
Prefect Feng was a truly good official. He desired both the benefits of being a prefect for three years and accumulating ten thousand taels of silver, and he also wished to be loyal to the Tartar Qing and shed his blood for the Tartar Qing.
Therefore, when Baishaji fell into Zhu Erdan's hands, Prefect Feng had already reported the news to Agui and Ming Xing. When Shifotang fell into Zhu Erdan's hands, Prefect Feng repeatedly sent people to urge Agui and Ming Xing to send troops to quell the rebellion.
The crucial point was that no matter how Prefect Feng reported, the Imperial Commissioner Agui and the Governor of Shandong Ming Xing chose to remain stationary, only replying with letters asking Prefect Feng to strictly guard Qingzhou, showing no intention of sending troops to quell the rebellion.
Helpless, Prefect Feng could only write a memorial impeaching Agui and Ming Xing to the old dog Qianlong, and then led the troops he could mobilize to Linqu.
Since he could not rely on his superiors, Prefect Feng decided to rely on himself.
Prefect Feng planned to ask the rebels who dared to rebel: "You common folk, your current peaceful life can be considered as receiving national grace for generations. Why do you not wish to serve the court and instead rebel? Do you not understand the meaning of loyalty to the monarch and love for the country?"
However, when Zhu Erdan led the Menglianggu rebels to the city of Linqu, and Prefect Feng, mustering his courage, ascended the city wall of Linqu County, he discovered with despair that there were no cannons for defense on the city wall of Linqu, but the rebel army below the city had several Hongyi cannons.
What made Prefect Feng even more desperate was that the rebels below the city directly set up their formations, with the Hongyi cannons all pointing at the city gate of Linqu. The Linqu Magistrate standing next to Prefect Feng was trembling, and a faint smell of urine emanated from him.
This is not what it said in the books?
After a long period of painful contemplation, Prefect Feng looked at the soldiers he had brought and said, "Who dares to lead the charge? As long as the rebel army below the city can be repelled, I will reward you with a thousand taels of silver!"
The Linqu Magistrate also shouted, "That's right! I will add an extra five hundred taels!"
However, the soldiers brought by Prefect Feng looked at each other, and no one was willing to lead the charge.
No matter how good money was, one had to be alive to spend it.
Money that could be spent while alive was good, but money that could not be spent while alive was worthless.
Besides, the way the Menglianggu rebels treated government soldiers had already been spread by the Green Standard Army soldiers under Ming Xing. Everyone knew that as long as they obediently handed over their weapons and surrendered on their knees, they would be safe. Those who resisted to the end would only be sent to work in the mines.
The soldiers on the city wall had already colluded in secret. As soon as the rebel army below the city came to persuade them to surrender, they would tie up Prefect Feng and open the city gates to surrender. Then they would hand over their weapons and the like, and later get a Green Standard Army identity in Jinan.
Prefect Feng looked at these soldiers, who had different expressions but were constantly exchanging glances, and his despair grew. His previous intention to ask the rebels below the city why they disregarded imperial grace had flown out of his mind.
With a sigh, Prefect Feng simply ordered the soldiers on the city wall, "Later, if you are willing to open the city gates and surrender, then surrender. I will return to the yamen first."
The Linqu Magistrate, who had already been scared to the point of urinating, grabbed Prefect Feng and asked, "Your Excellency, this humble official... this humble official..."
Feng Zhemeng slowly pried open the Linqu Magistrate's fingers one by one and said, "I am returning to the yamen to die for the emperor's grace. If you have the same intention, then follow me back to the yamen. If not, I will not stop you."
The Linqu Magistrate was stunned.
You, Prefect Feng, came to Linqu County with your troops, and as soon as you arrived, you started bossing me around. I thought you had absolute confidence, so I endured your condescension with the intention of abandoning my post and leaving. But now, when the moment of truth has come, you tell me you intend to die for the emperor's grace?
Damn it! You whore mother, you're enjoying it thoroughly!
Completely driven mad, the Linqu Magistrate no longer cared whether he was a prefect or not. While stripping off his official robes, he shouted to the yamen runners around him, "Guards! This magistrate intends to abandon the dark and embrace the light. Seize this Tartar Qing dog official for me!"
The yamen runners were overjoyed and were about to follow their master's orders to arrest Prefect Feng, when they saw that the soldiers brought by Prefect Feng had already taken the lead and tied Prefect Feng up securely. Several people who looked like officers had already stripped off their clothes, thrown them over the city wall, and then forced the other soldiers to strip off their clothes as well.
One of them shouted, "Be smart about it later! I've always treated you well. Now I'm giving you a chance to live. Don't betray me!"
"Think about it carefully. If I'm dragged away to do hard labor in the mines, one of you will have to take my place, and then the next one to do hard labor will be you!"
The other soldiers replied while laughing and stripping off their official uniforms, "Don't worry, don't worry. As long as they don't ask, we won't say anything. We'll still follow you, brothers."
"Exactly. If there were benefits to betraying you, it would be one thing. But if we betray you, wouldn't we become the next? So don't worry, brothers, we definitely won't betray you!"
"Enough nonsense. Hurry up. Who has white clothes? Take them out quickly and raise the white flag first!"
"That's right, that's right. Hurry up and surrender!"