Chapter 363: New and Old Contradictions
The Greater Northeast Development Plan has only been underway for two months when troubles continue to arise.

Because Hebei had experienced many wars, the population of the entire region was barely enough for agriculture, so the first batch of personnel for the Greater Northeast Development Plan was mobilized from Henan, and even from Jiangnan.

And the number of people in the first wave was quite large, numbering over one million.

But there are huge differences between the north and the south.

Dietary problems, acclimatization problems, ideological problems, etc.

The people of Hebei still hold onto their earlier ideas, believing that the people of Jiangnan are barbaric and backward, and they look down on them.

But the people in the south of the Yangtze River have always lived in poverty, mountains and bad waters, and their lives have only been slightly better in the past ten years or so. How can they be easy to get along with?

In just two months, many large-scale fights occurred, resulting in hundreds of casualties, comparable to a small-scale battle.

For this matter, Jin Mao specially recalled Pang Tong to question him. He sat in the study with a solemn expression. It was already dark outside the window. The flickering candlelight in the room illuminated his frown. There were several urgent secret letters on the table, all about the conflicts and turmoil caused by the recent mobilization of manpower in the north and the south. He knew very well that this large-scale manpower deployment was originally intended to cope with the upcoming major challenges, but he never expected that the cultural differences and prejudices between the north and the south would become an obstacle.

"Pang Tong, do you admit your guilt?" Jin Mao's voice was deep and powerful, penetrating the silence of the study.

Pang Tong walked into the study room with steady steps. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and had expected today's questioning. He bowed and saluted, his tone revealing a bit of self-blame and determination: "I know my crime, but please forgive me, my lord. The differences between the north and the south did not arise overnight. This kind of conflict was unexpected, but also reasonable. I have sent special personnel to various places to investigate the situation, appease the people, and strive to quell the disputes in the shortest possible time."

Jin Mao nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes, but he could not hide his worry: "You responded quickly, but the root of the problem has not been eliminated, and the hidden dangers still exist. This big move is not a simple conflict between the North and the South. There is a deeper meaning behind it. This is not a one-day job, and we need a long-term strategy."

Pang Tong pondered for a moment and continued, "I think the most urgent tasks are, first, to strengthen the exchanges and communication between the two places, and to enhance mutual understanding by holding cultural exchange activities; second, to set up a special agency to solve practical problems caused by regional differences, such as eating habits, medical assistance, etc.; third, to strengthen legal publicity, and severely punish those who stir up trouble and destroy unity, so as to serve as a warning to others."

After listening to this, Jin Mao nodded slowly, with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes: "You are right, and this matter will be handed over to you in full responsibility. Remember, we are fighting for a common goal, and any internal disagreements and conflicts will weaken our strength. We must put the overall situation first and ensure that the people of the north and south can think and work together."

Pang Tong said with embarrassment: "Your Highness, this matter cannot be resolved in a short time, can you give us some time?"

Jin Mao waved his hand and said, "This matter is not urgent, but how is the plan going?"

Pang Tong let out a long sigh, and immediately started talking about the Greater Northeast Development Plan.

"Your Majesty, the first batch of food and supplies has arrived at the Yellow River bank in Xihe County, Bingzhou. The first batch of people to arrive..."

After a lot of blah blah, Jin Mao nodded repeatedly. He was indeed a phoenix cub and had great abilities.

"Can it be difficult?" Jin Mao knew that going further north would lead him into the areas ruled by Qiang, Hu and Xianbei.

Zhao Yun, the leader of the Youzhou cavalry, has already taken action against the surrounding forces, but he is unable to do both. He has to guard the border market and expel the aliens. It is impossible to do it in a short time with only 30,000 cavalry.

"I was just about to ask your Highness for instructions." Pang Tong bowed and said, "Affected by the Xianbei, the Qiang and Hu have been restless recently and have frequently invaded the border."

Jin Mao frowned and said, "Didn't I ask Yu Zhongxiang to send a main force to escort them?"

Pang Tong bowed again and said, "It is thanks to General Yu's elite troops that I was able to defeat the Qiang and Hu tribes many times."

repeatedly?

Jin Mao frowned even more deeply: "I heard that there are many Qiang Hu in Liangzhou. Is this group of Qiang Hu related to that place?"

Pang Tong said: "It doesn't matter much. Liangzhou is mainly populated by Western Qiang, while this place is mainly populated by Eastern Qiang."

Eastern Qiang!

Jin Mao's eyes lit up and he asked, "But he was once a subordinate of Ma Chao and Ma Mengqi?"

The Xiliang Ma family is one of the representative families of the Eastern Qiang.

"That's right!" Pang Tong answered with certainty: "Although Ma Mengqi has surrendered to the imperial court, his former subordinates still have deep roots in the Eastern Qiang. Many of the Qiang and Hu tribes that are in rebellion this time are indeed influenced by his former prestige. However, their actions this time are not entirely instigated by Ma Chao's former subordinates. They are more due to years of drought, poor grass, and food shortages, as well as the ambitions of some tribal leaders who intend to take advantage of the chaos to expand their territory."

Jin Mao's face was solemn when he heard this: "In that case, this unrest not only concerns the peace of the border, but also involves the suffering of the people. If it is not properly resolved, it will probably get worse and worse and become a major problem."

Pang Tong nodded in agreement: "General, what you said is very true. Therefore, I think the most urgent tasks are, first, to strengthen border defense to ensure that the main force of our army can respond quickly and suppress the riots; second, to send envoys to the various Qiang and Hu tribes to understand their real demands, and at the same time publicize the grace and power of the court to strive for a peaceful solution; third, to start relief, allocate food and supplies, alleviate their survival crisis, and fundamentally eliminate the root cause of the unrest."

Jin Mao pondered for a moment, then stood up and said, "Okay! Let's follow the military advisor's plan. I will dispatch another elite force to Yu Zhongxiang to ensure the stability of the defense line. As for the relief and peace talks, Shi Yuan will be fully responsible for it. He must ensure that the majesty of the court is demonstrated while maintaining a righteous heart."

Pang Tong bowed and accepted the order: "I will definitely live up to the general's trust and do my best to quell this rebellion and ensure the peace of our border, but I need to borrow a general from you, lord."

Jin Mao naturally knew who Pang Tong was talking about. He hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll give you two generals!"

Ma Chao seems to be very well behaved in recent years, but who can say for sure whether it is a disguise or not.

Pang Tong also knew this very well, so he thanked him and left.

"Someone come!" Jin Mao called, "Ask Pang De and Pang Lingming to come see me."

Pang De is a very interesting person. He will not betray his master and has had many verbal conflicts with Ma Chao.

Although he didn't know what the two were arguing about, Jin Mao could probably guess what it was about.

Soon, a muscular general walked into the study. When he saw Jin Mao, he bowed respectfully and said, "Lieutenant Pang De of the Imperial Guard greets the lord."

In recent years, Jin Mao appreciated Pang De's loyalty and transferred him to the Royal Guards to train him carefully and showed him more favor.

"Lingming, you don't have to be so polite." Jin Mao stood up and put his hands together, smiling and asked, "I heard that you have recently completed your studies and can become a military academy instructor. Is this true?"

Pang De did not use the euphemism of the people from the south of the Yangtze River. He said directly, "Yes!" "Haha." Jin Mao laughed and said, "You are not modest at all."

"How is it? What are your plans for the future?"

Pang De seemed much smarter this time. He pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing with determination and deep thought, and replied: "My lord, I am grateful for your cultivation since I joined the Royal Guards. Although I have made some progress in my studies, I still lack practical experience and strategic planning. I want to ask for an order to go to the border, or go on an expedition with the army to temper myself in actual combat. Not only can I be loyal to the territory, but I also hope to understand the true meaning of military tactics in actual combat, so that I can help you solve problems in the future and become a real pillar of your army."

Hearing this, Jin Mao's face became even warmer, his eyes full of praise. He slowly walked to the window, looked at the lush scenery outside, and said in a deep voice: "It is my fortune and the country's blessing that Ling Ming has such an ambition. There are frequent wars on the border, and it is the time for men like us to make achievements. However, before going to the battle, I need you to complete an important task."

Pang De was puzzled when he heard this, but he immediately bowed and said, "My Lord, please tell me. Pang De will not refuse even if he dies."

Jin Mao turned around, his eyes were like torches, and his tone was full of unquestionable majesty: "I want you to personally select and train an elite team, called 'Iron Wall'. They must not only be proficient in martial arts, but also be good at teamwork and intelligence gathering. Before the war breaks out, they will be our eyes and ears, and the sharpest swords on the battlefield in the future. This matter is of great importance. Do you have the confidence to complete it?"

Pang De's blood boiled when he heard this. He raised his head suddenly, his eyes met Jin Mao's, and he answered in a resounding voice: "Pang De will live up to the lord's high expectations and will build the 'Iron Wall' into an indestructible force to expand the territory for the lord and escort him!"

Jin Mao nodded with satisfaction, a pleased smile on his face, "Do you know where you will be sent this time?"

Pang De had a good learning ability and was naturally not a stupid person. He hesitated and asked, "Outside the Great Wall?"

Even some ordinary people knew the news that Pang Tong was going to build a city outside the Great Wall, let alone middle-level generals like Pang Tong.

Jin Mao nodded again and said, "This time, I want you to keep an eye on one person! See if he has any bad intentions."

Now that he knew where to go, Pang De had learned a lot in the past few years, so he immediately knew who to watch. But this time he became smart again and bowed, "Please let me know, sir!"

"I want you to keep a close eye on Ma Chao!"

As expected, Pang De breathed a sigh of relief but also felt regretful. He had repeatedly advised Ma Chao to let go of his obsession and serve Jinmao wholeheartedly, but Ma Chao just wouldn't listen.

Now that's a problem. The lord would definitely give Ma Chao a great credit. If Ma Chao does something weird, his life and property would probably be in danger. The lord is not a pushover.

"Yes!" Pang De's thoughts flashed through his mind in a flash, and he agreed without hesitation. It seemed that the elite troops this time had to be carefully selected, and he dared not underestimate Ma Chao.

After Pang De left, Jin Mao summoned Ma Chao.

"Mengqi, how have you been these days? Are you having any difficulties?"

Facing Jin Mao's question, Ma Chao no longer had the high spirits he once had. He lowered his eyebrows and said docilely, "Thank you for your relationship, Your Highness. I passed it very well."

Jin Mao nodded slightly, with a subtle complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew Ma Chao's talent and unwillingness, and he also knew that if this pride was not properly guided, it would be a potential crisis. "Mengqi, although you and I are the master and the minister, I always regard you as a brother. If you have anything to say, you may as well speak frankly. I heard that you seem to be worried recently. Is it related to the upcoming mission?"

Ma Chao heard this, and his eyes flickered with a trace of fluctuation. He looked up at Jin Mao, his eyes showing both gratitude and struggle. "Your Highness is wise, but I do have something to hide. I know that I have a heavy responsibility for this mission, but I have a little doubt in my heart, fearing that I might act impulsively and ruin the overall situation."

Upon hearing this, Jin Mao gently patted the table beside him, and said calmly but firmly: "Meng Qi, I have always known your bravery. But a true warrior is not only about charging into battle on the battlefield, but also about being calm and wise when facing difficulties. In this mission, I value not only your martial arts skills, but also whether you can put the overall situation first at the critical moment and show the calmness and decisiveness that a general should have."

He paused for a moment and looked at Ma Chao deeply. "Remember, true victory often comes from self-transcendence rather than a simple showdown of force. If you can take this mission as an opportunity to learn to control your emotions and use wisdom instead of just bravery, you and I will witness a more mature Ma Chao together."

Ma Chao was shocked when he heard this. He seemed to see the direction of his future, a glorious vision of surpassing himself and fighting side by side with his lord. He took a deep breath, knelt solemnly, and said in a firm voice: "Your Highness's teachings, Chao will remember them in my heart. In this mission, Chao will go all out, live up to your expectations, and prove his growth and transformation with practical actions."

Jin Mao nodded with satisfaction and helped Ma Chao up.

If Ma Chao is really as he said, Jin Mao doesn't mind giving Ma Chao wealth and glory. But if Ma Chao still has rebellious intentions, then I'm sorry, the three clans must be exterminated, not a single one less.

...

After Ma Chao reunited with his old subordinates, he found that they were now strong and powerful, and he wanted to make another breakthrough.

However, Pang De led a thousand "Iron Arm" soldiers and watched covetously from the sidelines, and there was also an army of 20,000 led by Zhang Liao and other generals.

Ma Chao knew that he was no match for his opponent in a head-on confrontation, so he gave up his ambitions and decided to just gain some military merit.

But Ma Chao's not rebelling does not mean that his former subordinates will not rebel.

In recent years, Ma Chao's subordinates have become accustomed to freedom and wanted to return to the Central Plains under Ma Chao's name, but they never expected that their former lord was now so cowardly.

Ma Chao's former subordinates wanted to drag Ma Chao into a rebellion.

However, who is Ma Chao?

The mighty general!
This is a reputation that was earned through hard work!

Just tens of thousands of people dare to capture Ma Chao?
That night, Ma Chao broke out of the encirclement single-handedly and ran back to the Han camp to report the news.

Pang De, Zhang Liao and other generals were worried about where they had no place to earn military merit, but now someone brought them a pillow just as they were falling asleep.

There's nothing much to say, just fight!

The Han army quickly assembled and, under the cover of night, quietly approached the camp of Ma Chao's former subordinates. Pang De led the way, holding a long sword, like a tiger in the dark night, rushing into the enemy camp unstoppably, and the enemies fled wherever he went. Zhang Liao led the elite cavalry to outflank the enemy from the flank, using the speed and flexibility of the horses to cut the enemy into several sections and annihilate them one by one.

Ma Chao stood on the high slope of the Han camp, looking at this scene, feeling mixed emotions.

The battle lasted all night. When the first rays of morning light penetrated the clouds and shone on the blood-stained land, Ma Chao's former troops had been almost wiped out. Although the Han soldiers were exhausted, their eyes were shining with joy and pride of victory. They knew that this battle not only protected the peace of the border, but also proved their loyalty and bravery as soldiers.

After the Qiang and Hu were pacified, Budugen of the central Xianbei seemed to sense danger and led his troops to flee westward.

(End of this chapter)