nycdaug Chapter 24 Dependence
Chapter 24 Dependence
Zhu Jiheng took in their reactions and was quite satisfied with the effect. This was exactly the kind of straightforward and unpretentious display of strength he wanted.
He walked slowly to the front of the line, turned to face the envoys, and calmly said, "This is the firepower of the Ming Dynasty's royal army."
The interpreter quickly relayed his words in Ilocos: "The matchlock muskets commonly used by the Spanish are outdated compared to our army. Our army is far superior to the Western barbarians in terms of equipment, morale, and discipline. How can we not achieve victory?"
"The tyranny of the Spanish has caused great suffering to you and my fellow Chinese. They may have a large number of soldiers, but their military discipline is lax, they mistreat their soldiers, and they treat your compatriots like cattle. Such an army, even if it has 100,000 soldiers, is already demoralized. What is there to fear?"
He paused briefly, allowing the interpreter to finish the translation, and only continued after seeing the flame of resonance ignite in the envoys' eyes:
"Our Great Ming army is united as one, with strict discipline, and possesses the advantage of artillery and the sharpness of cavalry. What you just witnessed was merely a routine drill. When we face the Western barbarians in battle, you will see what true thunderous power and utterly devastating force are!"
Just then, the adjutant stepped forward again and asked, "Your Highness, should the cavalry and artillery continue their demonstration as planned?"
Seeing that everyone was already shocked, Zhu Jiheng pondered for a moment and waved his hand, saying, "The cavalry and artillery need not be demonstrated today. The volley fire just now is enough for our allies to understand our army's tactics and powerful firepower."
Although he hadn't seen the demonstration of the cavalry and artillery, Ma Kandong had already made up his mind after listening to Zhu Jiheng's words and imagining the terrifying destructive power of such a volley on the battlefield.
He could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, pounded his chest with his fist, and cried out in a muffled voice, "Your Highness! From this day forward, the warriors of Kabugao will only recognize the banner of the Ming Dynasty! Ma Kandong is willing to go back and persuade his father to send even more warriors to fight for you!"
Other tribal envoys also eagerly volunteered, their previous hesitation and reservations completely gone.
The shock of the live-fire exercise, coupled with Zhu Jiheng's words that both demonstrated strength and hit the nail on the head, ignited their long-suppressed anger and rebellion.
Seeing this, Zhu Jiheng was satisfied. He raised his hand to suppress the excited clamor of the crowd and smiled, saying, "How could I not know your sincerity? However, speed is of the essence in war, and so is knowing yourself and your enemy."
He turned to Ma Kandong, his tone carrying an unquestionable resolve: "Ma Kandong, you can send a trusted confidant to report back on the matter of persuading the tribe to send reinforcements, but you yourself must immediately become the eyes and ears of our Great Ming."
After the interpreter relayed the message, Macandong puffed out his chest and shouted, "Your Highness, please give the order!"
"I want you to personally lead your most elite Cappuccino hunters south immediately to scout out the enemy's situation," Zhu Jiheng said in a deep voice. "If the Spanish come, I need you to find out how many routes they have, their marching formations, their baggage, and the composition of their army."
"If you discover enemy troops, there's no need to engage in battle. Simply report everything you see and hear, in great detail, and do it immediately. Can you do that?"
A glint of light flashed in Ma Kandong's eyes. He knelt on one knee, pressed his right hand heavily against his left chest where his heart was, and said loudly, "The mountains and forests are our home. The wind will tell us the whispers of our enemies, and the leaves will bear the clumsy marks of theirs."
"Your Highness, I will immediately lead the tribe's best warriors and disappear into the southern mountains like shadows. Whenever the Spanish dare to approach, their every move will be recorded and presented to you!"
"Good!" Zhu Jiheng personally helped him up. "The necessary dry rations and salt will be drawn from the treasury immediately. Remember, your lives are more precious than any intelligence. I want you to bring back news alive, and more importantly, to live to see the day the Spanish are defeated!"
Ma Kandong bowed deeply, said no more, turned and strode away to select men and prepare his luggage.
Seeing this, the other tribal envoys had no reason to stay any longer, and they all expressed that they would return immediately to report, quickly gather warriors and deliver provisions, and were willing to provide guides familiar with the terrain.
After they left, Zhu Jiheng belatedly realized that the feast he had ordered to be prepared by slaughtering pigs and chickens was likely not enjoyed by them.
He shook his head somewhat helplessly. He could understand the positive attitude of these indigenous people. After he showed off his strong muscles, their mentality changed. They went from observing and testing at the beginning to grasping at straws and betting on the future with fervor.
"Now that the objective has been achieved, let's disband here," Zhu Jiheng instructed his adjutant.
The adjutant acknowledged and immediately issued the order to dismiss. Zhu Jiheng went straight back to the government office. When he returned, the dishes were already prepared, with plates of fragrant food neatly arranged, so delicious that he could smell it even before he entered.
When Madam Zheng saw Zhu Jiheng return alone, unaware of the situation at the drill ground, her heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward and asked, "My lord, did those natives go back on their word?"
Seeing the worry on her face, Zhu Jiheng smiled and reached out to rub her forehead, saying, "How could this be? The local people have all been awestruck by the morale of our army and have sincerely submitted."
Hearing Zhu Jiheng say this, the worry on Zheng's face disappeared, and she playfully slapped the hand off her forehead.
Zhu Jiheng laughed and said, "Madam, since the guests are too busy to enjoy the dishes on the table, let's distribute them to the soldiers who performed well in today's drills, as well as to the artisans who worked day and night in the city. This will also boost morale."
"In addition, supplies, guides, and reinforcements from various tribes will arrive one after another. The reception, resettlement, and coordination will be quite complicated. We also need to ensure that the order and defense of the city are not affected. I'm afraid you will need to put in a lot of effort."
Madam Zheng smiled slightly and bowed, saying, "Your Highness's considerations are thorough, and the time is right to reward the soldiers and craftsmen. As for receiving foreign aid, Your Highness need not worry about it. I will personally handle the envoys and supplies, clarify the accounts, and allocate resources as needed, ensuring that no chaos arises."
"That's wonderful, thank you for your trouble, Madam."