PNB Chapter 291 Grassland Strategy
Chapter 291 Grassland Strategy
"Whoa!" Shen Zimeng shouted joyfully. "I'm here! I'll seal the wolf's lair and drink from the vast sea!"
Zhang Da Kui set off from Qiqihar, advancing directly from east to west towards Chechen Khanate. Meanwhile, Shen Zi Meng and his men, starting from Changchun, would traverse the Khorchin region and also head west into Inner Mongolia.
The three armies were scheduled to rendezvous at Kulun, and then march north together towards Tannu Uriankhai. After the rebellion was quelled, if necessary, additional troops would be sent to southern Xinjiang to assist in the suppression.
This journey covers thousands of miles, traversing grasslands, deserts, snow-capped mountains, swamps, and Gobi. It truly is a journey across countless mountains and rivers.
There was nothing they could do; they were the only cavalry unit at the moment! Shen Lian could only leave them to their own devices.
At the Xishan camp, Shen Lian was inspecting the area with his guards, while Jiang Shan followed behind with a group of officers.
"How are the preparations going? Is anything still missing? Da Kui and the others have already set off."
"Your Majesty, the first batch of 20,000 rifles, 100 machine guns, and 50 cannons, along with 500 tons of ammunition and shells, are all ready!" Gao Shulin replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute. As the Minister of Logistics, all of this was under his jurisdiction.
"What about the grain and supplies?" Shen Lian nodded.
"Your Majesty, 200,000 dan of military rations have been collected. In addition, the salt, sugar, tobacco and alcohol needed by the troops have also been prepared."
"We've also purchased a good amount of newly produced canned fruit, but we haven't prepared any meat. I assume they don't need any!"
"Yes! Very good! The soldiers have worked hard on the long march, we must ensure their logistical support."
"Jiangshan, you must protect the logistical supplies. And those merchants transporting the grain!"
"Yes!" Gao Shulin and Jiang Shan stood at attention together.
Shen Lian hoped to resolve the grassland issue once and for all, with the army advancing in front and political cadres following behind.
Strike down the rich and distribute the land! Let's try our luck with the grasslands.
If those princes and nobles know what's good for them, Shen Lian wouldn't mind giving them a life of wealth and honor. If they dare to resist, he'll wipe them all out.
While the international situation is still relatively stable, let's take this opportunity to properly repair the border. This will prevent them from causing trouble again in the future.
Outside Zhangjiakou, a hundred or two four-wheeled carriages were slowly leaving the city gate. Zhou Shunda took one last look back at the receding city gate before boarding a carriage.
"Keep your spirits up, we've truly entered the grasslands!" Zhou Shunda roared.
"Rest assured, Your Excellency!" the men riding tall horses beside him, carrying muskets, replied in unison.
For his own safety and that of his goods, Zhou Shunda recruited fifty guards and equipped them with rifles issued by the imperial court.
Leaving Zhangjiakou meant truly entering the grasslands and escaping the control of the imperial court. Zhou Shunda had no choice but to brace himself.
Shen Lian's Chinese Empire did not ban weapons; on the contrary, it publicly sold out old-fashioned rifles that the army had discarded.
Of course, only people with impeccable morals could buy them, and businessmen like Zhou Shunda were among the first to obtain the right to purchase.
Zhou Shunda's carriage was custom-made, with not only a bed but also a fixed stove inside. As soon as you lifted the curtain and stepped inside, a wave of heat hits you.
His Majesty is truly wise! Several years ago, he began to vigorously imitate this four-wheeled carriage that came from the West. This four-wheeled carriage is not only stable to drive, but it can also carry much more goods.
"My lord, come and sit down to warm up!" An old man sitting by the stove hurriedly greeted Zhou Shunda as he entered.
This old man is named Liang Shengcai. He used to be the manager of the Wang family in Zhangjiakou. He was a regular at traveling to the grasslands and had been to Kulun several times.
All eight imperial merchants were purged by the current emperor, and their managers and employees lost their livelihoods.
Just as they were about to embark on an expedition to the grasslands, Zhou Shunda and his men began recruiting. This Mr. Liang was one of the men Zhou Shunda hired at a high price.
"Mr. Liang, how much longer until we reach Kulun?" Zhou Shunda took a sip of hot tea, took out a cigarette, and offered one to Liang Shengcai.
"My lord, it's still early! Even if everything goes smoothly, it will take us at least a month and a half to get here," Liang Shengcai said with a smile.
"My lord, you are so delicate and precious, why bother to suffer like this? You can leave these things to us servants!"
Liang Shengcai couldn't understand why Zhou Shunda would personally go to Kulun; his previous employers would never have gone this far.
"Why? Just for this title! His Majesty has shown me such great favor, how could I not serve him with my life!" Zhou Shunda said solemnly.
Zhou Shunda spoke in a grand and righteous manner. He genuinely wanted to serve the imperial court, but he also had his own plans.
He overheard the emperor say that the best and largest mines were on the grasslands. This gave him an idea.
Currently, the most profitable businesses in China are mining and factory operation. Setting up a factory is complicated because you don't know what to produce, while mining is much simpler.
Unfortunately, the competition in China was too fierce. He originally thought he had accumulated some wealth. But there were too many nouveau riche in the country, and he couldn't win the bids for several mines.
Now that he'd heard there was an opportunity on the grasslands, he naturally wanted to go and see for himself. Surely those people wouldn't travel so far to compete with him!
Although the grasslands are a bit far, the imperial court's policies mean that whether you're doing business or mining here, the taxes are much more favorable than in the interior. It's still profitable.
As for whether the imperial court could completely control the grasslands, Zhou Shunda wasn't worried at all. Frankly speaking, his own guards weren't afraid of those herdsmen who still carried broadswords and bows and arrows.
Zhou Shunda's information was absolutely correct; it was deliberately leaked by Shen Lian. The grasslands are vast and sparsely populated, and to gain complete control, what is most needed is manpower.
Shen Lian didn't want to forcibly relocate the population; letting these merchants pave the way was the best option. He had already identified some mines, and the prospecting teams would move in along with the political workers.
Outer Mongolia is a place with very rich mineral resources. Let's find some coal mines, copper mines, gold mines, and silver mines first. Then we won't have to worry about these businessmen not taking the bait.
Once they make money, they'll naturally attract a large number of people. Then, relying on these mines, towns will spring up one after another!
With these towns, it will be much easier to build railways in the future. Only with a large influx of Han Chinese can these remote areas achieve true long-term stability.
In the Summer Palace, Shen Lian convened a meeting with a group of senior executives from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). ICBC has since been renamed the Royal Industrial and Commercial Bank.
The shareholders not only didn't object to the name change, but fully supported it. Not to mention that the Royal family already held the majority of the shares, adding the word "Royal" immediately elevated the brand's prestige.
Moreover, with the Royal Warrant, the shareholders felt more secure.
With banks holding ever-growing amounts of gold and silver, it's time to issue paper money!