xymnovel Chapter 21 Bai Wenxuan's Test
Chapter 21 Bai Wenxuan's Test
In April of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1642), Bai Wenxuan's envoy arrived at Majiazhai.
The visitor, surnamed Xu, was a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar. He introduced himself as a "Painting Master" under Bai Wenxuan's command.
He brought thirty guards, all of them highly skilled and vigilant.
Unlike the previous envoys sent by Zhang Xianzhong, Xu Zanhua spoke politely, but every word he uttered carried a sharp edge.
"Chief Ma is a young prodigy, and General Bai has long admired your name." Xu Zanhua took his seat in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, slowly sipping his tea. "General, you are here on the orders of the Great Western King to reorganize the defenses of Jiangbei. Ma Family Village is located in a strategic position and should serve as a bulwark for the Great Western King."
Ma Changsheng sat in the main seat, with Huang Zongxi, Instructor Sun, and Tiezhu sitting on either side.
He smiled slightly: "Mr. Xu, you flatter me. I am merely protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people; I dare not accept the title of 'protector'."
"Chief Ma is too modest." Xu Zanhua put down his teacup. "Last year, General Sun Kewang led 5,000 troops but failed to capture Ma Family Village, suffering heavy losses instead. This matter has spread throughout Jiangbei, and Ma Family Village's reputation has spread far and wide. General Bai said that such a fierce and powerful army should be used by the Great Western Army."
This is a case of first praising and then criticizing.
Ma Changsheng remained vigilant, but his face remained impassive: "The matter concerning General Sun is truly a misunderstanding. I have already submitted to the Great Western Kingdom and have been paying tribute monthly without fail. For some unknown reason, General Sun insisted on launching a forceful attack, leaving me no choice but to defend myself."
"A misunderstanding? I'm afraid not." Xu Zanhua smiled enigmatically. "As far as General Bai knows, although Chief Ma was officially recognized by the Great Western Kingdom, he has never flown the Great Western banner, nor has he sent troops or paid tribute as required. This 'submission' is probably just a pretense?"
The matter has been made clear.
Ma Changsheng knew that Bai Wenxuan was much smarter than Sun Kewang and not easily fooled.
He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Since Mr. Xu knows the truth, I will not hide it from you. Majiazhai did not follow the regulations of the Great Western Regions entirely, for three reasons."
"I would like to hear the details."
"Firstly, the village is mostly inhabited by people of the Ming Dynasty. If the flag is suddenly changed, the people will not accept it. Secondly, last year's great plague left the village with insufficient food and it is unable to pay the required amount of grain. Thirdly, General Sun has repeatedly pressured the villagers, and the men in the village are resentful. If the reorganization is forced, there may be unforeseen changes."
These three reasons are partly true and partly false.
Xu Zanhua listened and remained silent in thought.
Ma Changsheng pressed his advantage: "However, my loyalty to the Great Western King is beyond question. Now that General Bai is in charge of Jiangbei, I am willing to cooperate fully. As long as General Bai agrees to these three conditions, Ma Family Village will surely become the shield of Jiangbei, without any disloyalty."
"What three things?"
"Majiazhai is nominally under the jurisdiction of Daxi, but it maintains autonomy and manages its internal affairs independently."
"Pay tribute according to ability, without setting a quota; pay more in good years and less in poor years."
"The local militia will not be reorganized; they will remain under the command of the students and will obey General Bai's orders."
This is bargaining.
After listening, Xu Zanhua smiled and said, "Chief Ma is quite frank. I can convey these three requests. But whether General Bai will agree is another matter."
"Then the student will await good news." Ma Changsheng cupped his hands in greeting.
After seeing Xu Zanhua off, Huang Zongxi worried, "Chang Sheng, Bai Wenxuan probably won't agree easily."
"I know," Ma Changsheng said, "but we need time. Even if it takes a month, it's still good."
He immediately ordered the entire village to go on high alert, but outwardly remained calm and showed no emotion.
Five days later, Bai Wenxuan came in person.
Instead of a large army pressing in, he only brought a thousand personal guards and set up camp ten miles outside the stronghold. Then he sent someone to invite Ma Changsheng to the camp to "discuss important matters."
This is a trap.
Inside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, the crowd was engaged in a heated debate.
"We can't go!" Tie Zhu was the first to object. "What if they detain you?"
"It's too dangerous to go," Instructor Sun said. "Bai Wenxuan is not like Sun Kewang; he's treacherous."
Huang Zongxi pondered: "If I don't go, it will seem like I have a guilty conscience; if I go, it will indeed be dangerous. It's a dilemma."
Ma Changsheng, however, had a different opinion: "We should go. But not alone."
His plan was to bring 100 elite soldiers to wait outside the camp; he would only bring Tiezhu and two guards into the camp; at the same time, he would have Instructor Sun lead 500 men to meet him outside the camp, ready to provide immediate support should anything change.
"There's one more thing to do," Ma Changsheng said. "Write a letter to Zhang Xianzhong."
"For Zhang Xianzhong?"
"Yes, as a 'subordinate,' we reported on the meeting with General Bai, expressed our loyalty, and asked the Great Western King for his instructions," Ma Changsheng explained. "This is a check and balance. Bai Wenxuan is Zhang Xianzhong's subordinate and dares not openly disobey Zhang Xianzhong. If we report this to Zhang Xianzhong, Bai Wenxuan will have some reservations."
This is political maneuvering.
Huang Zongxi praised, "This plan for achieving immortality is brilliant."
The letter was immediately sent out.
The next day, Ma Changsheng went to the appointment as planned.
Bai Wenxuan's military camp was orderly and solemn, a stark contrast to Sun Kewang's chaotic state.
At the gate, soldiers' armor gleamed and flags fluttered.
Ma Changsheng dismounted and entered the camp with only Tiezhu and two guards.
He wore the robes of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations today, which made him appear frail, but the long sword at his waist added a touch of heroic spirit.
In the central command tent, Bai Wenxuan sat in the main seat.
This man was in his forties, with a lean face and three long wisps of beard, looking more like a scholar than a military general. But his eyes were sharp and filled with murderous intent.
"Chief Ma, you are indeed a young hero, living up to your reputation." Bai Wenxuan raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, "Please sit down."
Ma Changsheng bowed and sat down, neither humble nor arrogant: "General Bai's prestige is renowned throughout Jiangbei, and I have long admired him."
After a few pleasantries, we got down to business.
"I have carefully considered the three matters raised by Chief Ma the other day," Bai Wenxuan said slowly. "Maintaining autonomy is acceptable; paying tribute according to ability is also negotiable; but not reorganizing the local militia... that is against the rules."
"General, you are wise," Ma Changsheng explained. "The local militia are mostly farmers who are only here to protect their homes. If we forcibly reorganize them and force them to leave their homes, it may cause unrest. It would be better if I continued to lead them. I will obey your orders whenever you command me."
"What if I were to order them to attack Zuo Liangyu?"
"Students will personally lead the team, without any objection."
"What if I, the general, order them to fight against the imperial troops?"
Ma Changsheng paused for a moment: "General, I am a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty. If we attack Zuo Liangyu, it will be for the sake of the Great Western Dynasty; if we attack the imperial court... please forgive me for being unable to comply."
That was a bold statement. The air in the tent froze. The personal guard behind Bai Wenxuan gripped the hilt of his sword.
But Bai Wenxuan laughed instead: "Chief Ma is quite frank. Alright, I promise you: I won't let you attack the imperial court. But you must help me pacify the other villages in Jiangbei that refuse to submit."
This is using someone else to do the dirty work.
Ma Changsheng sneered inwardly, but remained respectful on the surface: "If they are harming the local area, I will naturally rid the people of this scourge."
"Good!" Bai Wenxuan slammed his hand on the table. "Then it's settled. Ma Family Village will nominally belong to the Great Western Region, but will be self-governing in practice; it will pay tribute of 1,000 shi of grain and 500 taels of silver annually; the local militia will still be under your command, but they must obey my orders."
One thousand shi of grain and five hundred taels of silver, double the amount before.
But Ma Changsheng knew that this was the bottom line.
"Yes, sir."
"There's one more thing," Bai Wenxuan changed the subject, "I've heard that Ma Family Village possesses excellent firearms and can manufacture cannons. Could you... perhaps teach me a thing or two?"
That's the real purpose.
Ma Changsheng's heart tightened, but he smiled and said, "General, you flatter me. There are indeed a few craftsmen in the village who have some basic skills. If the General needs them, I can have them serve you."
"No, what this general wants is technology." Bai Wenxuan stared at him. "Chief Ma is a smart man. He should know what is most precious in chaotic times. The art of firearms manufacturing is more valuable than gold and silver."
Ma Changsheng was silent for a moment: "General, this technique is not my private property, but has been passed down through generations of craftsmen in the village. If it is passed on to outsiders, I'm afraid the craftsmen will not accept it. How about this: if you need firearms, I can make them for you, charging only the cost price."
Bai Wenxuan's eyes turned cold: "Chief Ma, are you unwilling?"
"It's not that I'm unwilling, it's that I can't," Ma Changsheng said frankly. "General, imagine if I were to offer up my cannon-making skills, you could build cannons yourself. What use would Ma Family Village be then? Once the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; once the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked. Although I am young, I understand this principle."
That's a blunt statement, but it's the truth.
Bai Wenxuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Ma Changsheng, you are indeed extraordinary. This general promises you: I will not force you to demonstrate your skills. But you must manufacture one hundred muskets and five cannons for the various armies in Jiangbei every year. I will provide the materials and pay the wages as usual."
"The student obeys."
Negotiation is over.
Ma Changsheng walked out of the tent, his back soaked with sweat.
Tie Zhu said in a low voice, "Chang Sheng, I was really afraid he would turn on me just now."
"He won't," Ma Changsheng said. "If he turns against us now, he won't get the firearms and will suffer heavy losses. Bai Wenxuan is a smart man; he knows how to weigh the pros and cons."
Sure enough, the next day, Bai Wen's selection camp left, leaving behind the official appointment document of "Qishui Garrison Commander" and a command flag with the character "Bai" on it—with this flag, the Majiazhai militia could move freely north of the river.
The crisis has been temporarily averted.
But Ma Changsheng knew that this was just the beginning.
Bai Wen's choice of firearms as the subject indicates that he is already wary of the military power of Majiazhai.
If he feels that Majiazhai is too much of a threat in the future, he will still take action.
We must accelerate our growth.
After reaching an agreement with Bai Wenxuan, Majiazhai enjoyed a period of relative peace.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ma Changsheng began his covert expansion.
It was not a military conquest, but an "alliance".
He sent envoys to contact villages and local militias in Jiangbei who were unwilling to submit to Zhang Xianzhong, proposing the establishment of the "Jiangbei Self-Defense Alliance".
The conditions are: each village will remain independent, but will share intelligence, support each other, purchase goods at a preferential price, and the Ma family village will send instructors to provide unified training.
"In chaotic times, one tree cannot hold up the sky." Ma Changsheng wrote earnestly in his letter, "Zhang Xianzhong, Zuo Liangyu, and the imperial court are all untrustworthy. Only by protecting and saving ourselves can we survive."
This proposal resonated with many people.
By June, more than twenty villages had joined the alliance, controlling a population of about 50,000 and a total military force of 3,000.
Majiazhai became the core of the alliance.
Huang Zongxi was in charge of paperwork, Chen Jiru was in charge of material allocation, and Instructor Sun was in charge of military training.
The alliance held a monthly conference in Qishui to discuss important matters.
The formation of the alliance greatly enhanced the strength of Majiazhai.
Although Bai Wenxuan knew this, he did not interfere for the time being—these villages were nominally under the jurisdiction of Da Xi and paid tribute on time, so he had no reason to take action.
But Ma Changsheng knew that this was only a superficial balance.
Once the alliance becomes powerful enough to threaten Bai Wenxuan's rule, conflict will be inevitable.
He must plan ahead.
In June, Song craftsmen brought good news: the new type of cannon had been successfully trial-produced.
This cannon was much larger than the previous small cannons, with a barrel length of six feet, a caliber of three inches, and the ability to fire five hundred paces, powerful enough to penetrate ordinary stockade walls.
More importantly, it adopts a "cannon" design, which allows for a loading speed twice as fast as traditional artillery.
"Chief Ma, the cannon is finished!" Craftsman Song's beard trembled with excitement. "Old Song has been making cannons for forty years, and I've never made such a good one!"
Ma Changsheng personally went to the test site to observe.
With a loud bang, the shell flew out and blasted a large hole in the earthen wall five hundred paces away.
"Great!" he clapped his hands. "How many can we build each month?"
"If we have enough materials, we can make two," said Craftsman Song, "but we'll need skilled craftsmen. We don't have enough manpower right now."
"We're recruiting," Ma Changsheng said. "We'll recruit from all the villages in the alliance, with excellent compensation. But we'll have to conduct strict screenings to prevent technology leaks."
He named this new cannon "Mountain Guard Cannon," meaning to protect the homeland.
The plan was to build ten gates first and deploy them in Majiazhai and several important strongholds.
Meanwhile, improvements to firearms continued.
Based on Ma Changsheng's suggestion, Song Dynasty craftsmen experimented with making a "flintlock gun"—using flint to strike the fire instead of a match, making it resistant to wind and rain and with a faster rate of fire.
Despite the complex process and high costs, Ma Changsheng insisted on building it: "This is the future. If we can't build it now, we'll research it first and accumulate experience."
Besides weapons, other technologies are also advancing.
Under the guidance of Yu Zhenzi's disciples, the medical camp developed "Golden Wound Medicine" to treat external injuries, which had remarkable effects; the farmers' association promoted new plows, which improved farming efficiency; and they even began to try to make "cement" - although it was rough, it was stronger than traditional mortar.
The accumulation of technology gave Majiazhai more confidence in the midst of chaos.
As Majiazhai's reputation grew, more and more talented people flocked there.
In July, a young man named Xu Guangqi came to join him—not the famous Xu Guangqi, but another person with the same name, thirty years old, originally a student at the Nanjing Imperial Academy, who, dissatisfied with the corruption of the court, went south to seek a way out.
"I have read Chief Ma's 'Epidemic Prevention Manual' and 'New Compilation of Agricultural Administration' and I admire them greatly," Xu Guangqi said. "I am willing to serve in the village and spread practical knowledge."
Ma Changsheng was overjoyed.
Xu Guangqi was well-versed in astronomy, mathematics, and agricultural administration, making him exactly the kind of talent that was in high demand.
He appointed Xu Guangqi as "Deputy Education Commissioner" to assist Huang Zongxi.
In August, another special person arrived: the Western missionary Louis, an Italian in his forties, who had originally been preaching in Nanjing but had gone north due to the war.
Leith was not only fluent in Latin and Portuguese, but also knowledgeable in mathematics, astronomy, and even some simple mechanical principles.
He brought several Western books, a telescope, and a globe.
"Chief Ma, these might be useful to you," Li Leisi said in broken Chinese.
Ma Changsheng was overjoyed.
This kind of Western knowledge was rare in this era.
He allowed Li Leisi to teach at the night school, where he taught mathematics, geometry, and even basic physics.
"Learn from the barbarians' superior techniques to strengthen ourselves." Ma Changsheng said to Huang Zongxi, "Although the West is far away, its techniques do have merit."
Huang Zongxi initially disagreed, but after listening to Li Leisi's lectures, he changed his mind: "The investigation of things and the extension of knowledge are not divided into Chinese and Western. As long as it can enrich the people and strengthen the country, it is good learning."
The night school in Majiazhai became a rare melting pot of knowledge in this era: the Four Books and Five Classics coexisted with Western mathematics, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine were taught together with Western anatomy, and traditional agricultural techniques and modern farming methods were studied together.
This open atmosphere has attracted more readers.
By September, the village had more than fifty talented individuals, covering various fields such as literature, martial arts, industry, agriculture, and medicine.
Majiazhai is transforming from a simple armed mountain stronghold into a comprehensive autonomous government.
Bai Wenxuan came again at the end of September.
This wasn't a negotiation; it was an "inspection."
He led two thousand soldiers in a grand procession to the outside of Majiazhai and demanded to enter the village for "inspection".
This is a demonstration, and also a test—to see just how powerful your Majiazhai really is.
Ma Changsheng was well prepared.
He opened the village gates wide and personally went out to greet them.
"General Bai, your presence is an honor; I have failed to greet you properly."
Bai Wenxuan, mounted on his horse, looked at the neat stockade walls and the disciplined guards, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Half a year later, Majiazhai has changed again: the walls are higher, the soldiers are more elite, and even the sentries at the entrance of the village are well-trained.
"Chief Ma has governed the stronghold effectively; I admire him." He dismounted and entered the stronghold surrounded by the crowd.
Ma Changsheng led him on a tour: on the drill ground, five hundred local militiamen were training in perfect formation; in the craftsmen's camp, craftsmen were forging weapons with great enthusiasm; in the medical camp, the wounded were receiving proper treatment in an orderly manner; and in the night school, children were reading and learning to read, their voices ringing out.
Bai Wenxuan became increasingly alarmed as he read on.
This is no ordinary village; it's a small, independent kingdom.
They had soldiers, food, craftsmen, doctors, and schools... They were self-sufficient and almost entirely independent of the outside world.
What caught his attention even more were the new firearms: mountain cannons, flintlock muskets, and all sorts of other weapons he had never seen before.
"Chief Ma, are all these firearms... made in your village?" he asked.
"Yes," Ma Changsheng said frankly. "I recruited some craftsmen and just tinkered around with things. I hope the general will forgive my poor attempt."
"Nonsense?" Bai Wenxuan sneered. "Your 'nonsense' is even more outrageous than the Ministry of Works of the imperial court."
After the tour, a banquet was held in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.
During the meal, Bai Wenxuan casually asked, "Chief Ma, I heard you've formed a 'Jiangbei Self-Defense Alliance'?"
They've arrived. Ma Changsheng was wary inside, but remained calm on the surface: "Yes. There are many self-defense strongholds in various parts of Jiangbei, but they fight independently and are unlikely to amount to much. I propose that we unite and support each other, so as to share the burden for Da Xi."
"To share the burdens of the Great Western Kingdom?" Bai Wenxuan asked with a half-smile. "How come I've heard that when your alliance meets every month, all you discuss is how to protect yourselves, and you never mention serving the Great Western Kingdom?"
"General, you are wise," Ma Changsheng explained. "Self-preservation is the prerequisite. If we cannot even protect ourselves, how can we talk about serving the alliance? Since the alliance was established, the villages have never been late in paying their tribute, and they have all obeyed your orders. Isn't that serving the alliance?"
Bai Wenxuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "Ma Changsheng, you certainly know how to talk. Fine, this general won't delve into it. But you must remember: Jiangbei belongs to the Great Xi. Alliances can be formed, but if there are any treacherous intentions..."
"I understand," Ma Changsheng raised his cup. "This alliance is solely for self-preservation; we have no ulterior motives. I hereby swear: if Ma Family Village ever betrays the Great Western Kingdom, may Heaven and Earth condemn us to destruction!"
That's a strong statement.
Bai Wenxuan's expression softened slightly, and they raised their cups to drink together.
After the banquet, Bai Wenxuan left.
Before leaving, he casually said, "Chief Ma, in early October, the Great Western King will convene a conference of the garrison commanders of Jiangbei in Xiangyang. You should come too."
This is an order, not an invitation.
Ma Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine, but could only agree: "The student will definitely attend."
In early October, Ma Changsheng set off for Xiangyang.
He made thorough preparations this time: he brought two hundred elite soldiers, fifty of whom were musketeers; his entourage included Huang Zongxi, Tiezhu, and the newly arrived Xu Guangqi—who had served as an official in Nanjing and was familiar with official etiquette.
On the way, Huang Zongxi worried, "Chang Sheng, this journey is fraught with danger. Zhang Xianzhong is capricious; what if..."
"I know," Ma Changsheng said. "So we need to be prepared for both possibilities. If Zhang Xianzhong really wants to kill me, we'll rebel; if he's just testing us, we'll play along."
He had another consideration: Xiangyang was Zhang Xianzhong's stronghold, and going there would allow him to see firsthand the true nature of the Great Western regime and understand Zhang Xianzhong's character. This was crucial for future decision-making.
Five days later, we arrived in Xiangyang.
This ancient city, with a history of thousands of years, has now changed hands.
The "Great Western" flag fluttered atop the city wall, and the defending troops were mostly former subordinates of Zhang Xianzhong, their ranks a chaotic mix.
After entering the city, Ma Changsheng was placed in the post station.
Compared to the other garrison commanders who came to the meeting, his entourage was the largest and most elite, attracting attention.
That afternoon, Zhang Xianzhong met with the group.
In the main hall of the Great Western King's Palace, Zhang Xianzhong sat in the highest position.
This man was in his fifties, burly, with a full beard and fierce eyes.
He was wearing a python robe, but his posture was rude and lacked any kingly demeanor.
Each garrison commander stepped forward in turn to pay their respects.
When it was Ma Changsheng's turn, Zhang Xianzhong squinted: "You're Ma Changsheng? That little brat who passed the imperial examination at eleven and became a bandit leader at thirteen?"
"Student Ma Changsheng greets Your Majesty." Ma Changsheng bowed, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Get up." Zhang Xianzhong sized him up. "I heard you beat Sun Kewang so badly he was running for his life?"
"The students were only acting in self-defense. General Sun... it might be a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Zhang Xianzhong laughed loudly. "That brat Sun Kewang is so arrogant, he deserves a beating! You did a good job!"
This was unexpected.
Ma Changsheng was wary, unsure whether Zhang Xianzhong was being sincere or testing him.
The reception was followed by a banquet.
Zhang Xianzhong drank wine from large bowls, ate meat in large bites, and behaved in a vulgar manner.
During the meal, he suddenly asked Ma Changsheng, "Little Ma, do you think I can conquer the world?"
The room fell silent.
This is a very difficult question to answer: to say yes is flattery; to say no is suicidal.
Ma Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "In my humble opinion, whether or not one can gain the world does not depend on the size of one's army, but on the support of the people. If Your Majesty can treat the people well and reform the administration, then the people will be won over."
"Treat the people well?" Zhang Xianzhong sneered. "The people are nothing! I have swords and guns; anyone who dares to disobey will be killed!"
Ma Changsheng's heart sank.
Zhang Xianzhong was so tyrannical that he was definitely not a wise ruler.
But he said, "Your Majesty is mighty."
After the banquet, Bai Wenxuan privately approached Ma Changsheng: "Chief Ma, don't take the King's words seriously today. That's just the King's temperament."
"I understand," Ma Changsheng said. "General, rest assured, I have no disloyal intentions."
But he already knew in his heart that Zhang Xianzhong was incapable of achieving anything great. Following him would only lead to his death sooner or later.
We must make plans early.
The Xiangyang Conference lasted for three days.
Zhang Xianzhong announced that the Great Western Army would march south to conquer Jiangnan next spring, and that all towns north of the Yangtze River would need to provide provisions and soldiers.
Specifically for Majiazhai: 1,000 soldiers and 2,000 shi of grain were deployed.
This is an impossible task.
Ma Changsheng agreed in person, but knew he would have to find another way after returning home.
After the meeting, on the way back, Ma Changsheng discussed matters with Huang Zongxi and Xu Guangqi.
"Zhang Xianzhong was tyrannical and certainly not a wise ruler," Huang Zongxi stated bluntly. "Following him will inevitably lead to disaster."
"Then what do we do?" Tie Zhu asked. "Disobey orders? Zhang Xianzhong has hundreds of thousands of troops, can we withstand them?"
"We can't fight them head-on," Ma Changsheng said. "But we can't actually do what he says either. If we give him a thousand soldiers and two thousand rations, Ma Family Village will collapse."
He thought for a moment and said, "Here's what we'll do: send 500 soldiers and 1,000 shi of grain. But most of the soldiers will be old and weak; and the grain will be half coarse grain. Zhang Xianzhong is busy attacking Jiangnan and won't have time to investigate carefully."
"What if they find out?"
"So we need someone to speak up for us," Ma Changsheng said. "Bai Wenxuan. Send him a generous gift and ask him to 'go easy on' us. As long as he turns a blind eye, this matter will be over."
Upon returning to Majia Village, Ma Changsheng immediately made preparations: selecting five hundred "elite soldiers" and preparing one thousand shi of grain.
At the same time, he sent someone to deliver 1,000 taels of silver and ten new-style firearms to Bai Wenxuan.
Bai Wenxuan accepted the gift and indeed "made an exception." When reporting to Zhang Xianzhong, he only said that "Majiazhai has paid the required amount," without mentioning the quality.
The crisis has been temporarily averted.
But Ma Changsheng knew that this was not a long-term solution.
If Zhang Xianzhong wanted to conquer Jiangnan, he would inevitably have to exert all his strength.
If they win, their power will be greater, and their control over Majiazhai will be stricter; if they lose, they may take their anger out on the towns north of the river.
Either outcome is detrimental to Majiazhai.
"We must have our own path," Ma Changsheng said at the core meeting. "We can't keep oscillating between Zhang Xianzhong and Zuo Liangyu. We must be truly independent."
"How can we become independent?" Instructor Sun asked. "With our limited strength, sandwiched between several major powers, how can we possibly achieve independence?"
"Not now, but we can prepare." Ma Changsheng spread out a map. "Look, we're in Jiangbei, Zhang Xianzhong is in Xiangyang, Zuo Liangyu is in Jiujiang, and the imperial court... the imperial court is too busy to take care of itself in the north. This is a good opportunity for us to develop."
He pointed to the Dabie Mountains on the map: "This area is characterized by high mountains and dense forests, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. We can establish a base here, avoid getting involved in the conflicts between various parties, and focus on development."
"But would Zhang Xianzhong allow it?"
"So we need time," Ma Changsheng said. "Zhang Xianzhong is going to attack Jiangnan, and Zuo Liangyu is going to guard against Zhang Xianzhong. They can't both pay attention to us. We'll use this time to develop secretly and accumulate strength."
The plan was set: to establish a deep defense system with Majiazhai as the front line and the Dabie Mountains as the rear.
If things change, we can either advance or retreat.
Starting in October, Majiazhai began a new round of expansion and construction.
This time, the goal is farther and the plan is more in-depth.