Chapter Seventeen: The Great Purge

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  Any outdated and decadent food and system have inertia, which is contradictory to the continuously advancing productive forces. Waiting for old things to die out naturally through gradual progress is a slow process, and in this process, these corrupt things will severely restrict the development of productive forces, and social progress will stagnate over time. In such cases, only by cutting through the tangled mess with a sharp knife, using the powerful force of war to violently eliminate the old, can this way be considered immoral from a short-term perspective, but from the perspective of historical trends, it is completely in line with the development of productive forces.

  The economic purpose of war is to gain certain economic benefits. Since ancient times, wars have had a certain economic purpose. Primitive warfare was triggered by the struggle for natural resources and living conditions. The result of each war is a redistribution of interests. The defeated party leaves its rich base and is forced to move to areas with relatively low levels of development, which will lead to further development of the local economy and accelerate integration between ethnic regions, which is beneficial from the perspective of human development as a whole. However, this event itself is filled with blood and tears.

  Pillage and colonization were not the only causes of the growth in power of the great powers, but they were important and inseparable factors in the rise or strengthening of those nations.

  Luoke hopes to establish absolute prestige through war, Luoke hopes to concentrate power in his own hands through war, and Luoke hopes that his voice can be heard farther away through war.

  Shuffle, yes, Luo Kai wants exactly this. In the strong power, the existing pattern will be shattered and a more efficient model will be born in the iron blood. Machine production will gradually replace manual labor, and large-scale factory production will replace individual workshop manual production.

  Luojie hopes that after the war, the old and rotten things will be eliminated, productivity can be further liberated, and the integration between national regions will accelerate.

  Lu Kai hopes that the war will quickly complete the accumulation of modern industrial capital in South Taiwan. Hundreds and thousands of factories will be built, and millions of jobs are waiting for those idle labor forces.

  Settle internal affairs before dealing with external ones; never let the backyard catch fire.

  When Luo Kai made up his mind, the violent machine in the South China Sea began to operate at high speed...

  In July 1881, a sudden event disrupted Rokeach's plans, or rather forced him to advance his plans by several months.

  In early July, Bozhou and several other northern cities suddenly declared their opposition to the Luo clan's dictatorship and, together with the garrison troops nearby, blocked all major roads leading south.

  This event brought about a shock of magnitude 9 earthquake, but this was not the peak of a series of unfortunate events. Following suit, two more counties in the north of Pengzhou declared their opposition to the Luo family's autocracy and severed ties with the south. Then, three county towns formed an alliance, openly recruiting soldiers and horses, and several times defeated the two northern troops loyal to the Luo family, causing them to be utterly routed.

  At this time, the rebellious forces led by the Xiao family, the third largest family in Taiwan, had already revealed their intention to overthrow the Luo family's rule.

  It was at this critical juncture that Luo Kai led his 500 Imperial Guards to the Hei Tie army stationed in the northwest of Tainan County.

  However, unlike the Black Iron Guard that guarded the city of Taihai, Luo Ke saw not a disciplined troop but a team in disarray.

  The Black Iron Army has always been led by General Luo Jianguo of the Southern Taiwan Strait. Later, due to serious illness and injury, command was taken over by his deputy officer Zhang Biao. However, Zhang Biao used to be a butcher before throwing down his butcher knife to join the army. Although he is a brave general on the battlefield who has saved General Luo's life, his commanding ability is extremely limited. He doesn't even know the range of the Black Iron Army's limited hundred or so rifles and ten or more cannons.

  Thus naturally, Luo Ke, this slender, red-lipped and white-toothed, young person, took over the command of the entire 8,000-strong Black Iron Army.

  It was a great comfort to Luo Ke that as the main force of the battlefield for many years, the combat effectiveness of the Black Iron Army was extremely strong, which greatly boosted his confidence.

  In the following half month, Luo Kai's role was not just a commander who directed from behind the scenes. He always shared weal and woe with his subordinates, infecting the officers and men below him with his own work enthusiasm.

  It was precisely because of his passionate enthusiasm, strategic talent, fearless courage, unique identity and the personal charm that only a military genius could possess, that this young general, mature beyond his years and with an aura of limitless authority, quickly won over the hearts of his soldiers.

  In mid-July, the struggle for control of South Taiwan entered a white-hot stage, and Luo Kai's Iron Army fought a bloody battle in Bogu County.

  At 8 o'clock this afternoon, at least 5,000 troops from both sides were deployed in the county town. Rows of black iron soldiers holding long spears and big knives charged towards the thick earth wall of the county town, fearlessly using short ladders and sandbags to gradually erase the enemy's geographical advantage.

  The rebel army refused to show weakness, and arrows and stones were poured down on the Black Iron Army like hail. After paying the price of more than 600 people, they finally drove back the fearless Black Iron Army.

  Seeing the loss was too great, Luo Kai had to change his strategy, concentrating the few large cannons in his hand to blast a corner of the earth wall, and finally blasted an opening at around 2 pm. Then he decisively reassembled the troops to insert this opening and drove the rebels away from this most difficult defensive line.

  A breach was opened on the solid city wall, and this breach really had a momentum like breaking bamboo. The rebel army dropped about 1,300 prisoners in Bogu County and fled hastily. The Black Iron Army advanced with high morale and pushed forward continuously, turning the situation around. As a result, the rebel army began to lose heart.

  In late July, a decisive battle broke out in the suburbs of Pochih Township, the main base of the rebels.

  This time Luo Kai organized a charge of 2,000 troops, and the Black Iron Army did not disappoint. The brave warriors broke through the first line of defense of the rebels, destroyed the barricades that blocked their advance, and occupied two bastions. However, they fell in rows before the enemy's second line of defense, where the rebel musketeers began to take effect.

  However, when Luo Kai set up his ten large cannons on the high ground only 500 meters away from the rebel camp, and when he put all his musketeers into battle, the rebels began to die in large numbers.

  Concentrating the last reserve, under the leadership of young and fearless Luo Zhenhuan, this unit quickly advanced with a momentum that swept away thousands of troops like a broom, overwhelming the rebel army, wiping out their musket teams and cutting down to the end. With this, the overall situation was basically settled.

  "Expansion is the first step for Luoke to spread his wings and soar in the sky, and it's also the most necessary step. On that day, he obtained what he needed to make a big move in the future, and his ambition was ignited at that moment."

  After pacifying the rebellion, Luo Kai's troops returned to Taihai City, and after eliminating the rebels, a major purge of the leadership was inevitable.

  In the dead of night, the tranquility of Taixing City was shattered.

  Wang Lao Shi woke up from his sleep, unable to fall back asleep due to the commotion outside. He quietly made his way to the door and peeked through the crack, seeing a group of soldiers in deep green uniforms passing by his house. Yes, he could confirm that these were regular military personnel, as they had been the talk of the town for the past two weeks, with everyone discussing their new uniforms. Upon closer inspection, Wang Lao Shi noticed that each squad had one thing in common: a black-clad man leading the way, someone who made ordinary civilians like himself shudder with fear. Ah, the black-clad men! Wang Lao Shi suddenly became wide awake and quickly sealed his doors and windows again, checking them repeatedly. In the minds of these ordinary people, these so-called "Black Uncommons" intelligence personnel had been demonized. Wang Lao Shi clearly remembered the descriptions of the black-clad men that circulated among the neighbors. The Black Uncommons were said to be the messengers of Yan Wang, cold and emotionless, evil spirits wearing human skin. Those who were invited by them for a cup of tea never returned.

  Wang Lao's behavior is a reflection of the mentality of most ordinary people. In the still of night, people's inner fears and anxieties are infinitely magnified, at this moment no one dares to confront the violent machine representing the ruling class.

  Fully armed soldiers began to appear in the city of Taiwan. They were divided into small groups of ten and large groups of fifty, some holding rifles and others holding long spears, moving through the streets under the leadership of black-clad intelligence personnel. According to the identification by the black-clad men, they carried out the arrest orders as required. The occasional passing inspection teams made the soldiers' work proceed in an orderly, efficient, quiet, and swift manner.

  "The old doesn't go, the new doesn't come, a new life is another brilliant beginning. Our era has ended, your era is about to arrive. As a teacher, I am proud of you."

  Hu Yuanguang still wore a white shirt, this old man who had passed the age of sixty used to be Luo Kai's father's chief aide, used to be Luo Kai's mentor, used to be in his prime and powerful, now he was already showing his age.

  "This operation was able to proceed smoothly thanks to Mr.'s help, and after today, having cleared out these troublemakers, our South Taiwan Sea government will be reborn."

  Darkness cannot conceal the brilliance of Luo Kei's armor, this military uniform is so dazzling.

  "I didn't help you with anything, these people were originally your Lu family's men. From today on, the command of this intelligence unit will be handed over to you by me on behalf of your father. In this way, the power of the Lu family will be concentrated again, and the glory of the Lu family will be continued by you. I'm old, I can't move around anymore, let the young people like you take over from here." Hu Yuan Guang slowly but firmly disappeared into the night with trembling steps.

  At the same time, the head of the Luo family's intelligence organization also revealed a message to Luo Kai: The King of South Taiwan has become a thing of the past, and a young king has been born.

  "Dad, may you and mom be reunited in heaven."

  Although he had never seen the biological mother of this world, and although he had not exchanged a word with the biological father of this world, Luo Ke's body flowed with their blood. Silently blessing the two, Luo Ke cheered up and commanded the soldiers to advance.

  "General Luo, immediately lead people to surround the Luo Mansion, this is the time to thoroughly clean up the Luo Mansion."

  "Yes, sir."

  According to the newly established military rank system, Luo Zhenhuan, who was formally awarded the rank of lieutenant colonel, gave a standard salute. He turned around and led a group of people towards the Luo Mansion.

  At this time, the head of the South China Sea Government Intelligence Unit came over to Luo Kai's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

  After hearing these few words, even if Luo Kai had suspicions before, he couldn't help but burn with anger.

  "Brother Li, it's a family scandal, I'm ashamed to let you see this."

  Facing this sensitive topic, Lei Jingcang found it difficult to answer and could only pretend not to hear or be involved.

  Huo Family

  At this time, in the Ho family, which was separated from the Luo house by only one street, several of the most powerful men in the Ho family were exchanging words.

  "The young lion has already extended his sharp claws, the downfall of the Xiao family is only a night away." The eldest son of the Huo family, Huo Guocheng, slowly moved the paper in his hand to the candle flame, and the paper was reduced to ashes in the fierce fire.

  "A camel that has died of starvation is still larger than a horse, how could the wise King Nan not have left any hidden cards? Even our family, the Hos, do not dare to extend our hands at this sensitive moment. It's laughable that the Xiao family, such upstarts, would dare to snatch food from a lion's mouth. Truly, they are ignorant and deserve no sympathy for their death." The second son of the Ho family, Ho Jin Cheng, let out a scornful laugh, ridiculing the failed party's lack of self-awareness.

  "Bastard, what does this have to do with being a nouveau riche or not? The biggest mistake the Xiao family made was relying too heavily on that woman, hoping she could control the young master of the Luo family and indirectly control the entire Luo family's power. But they didn't realize that without equal strength, all their schemes are in vain. Second son, take this as a warning, greatly increase our Ho family's power, don't waste your mind on plotting and scheming, let our Ho family surpass the Xiao family, understand?"

  "There's also Guo Cheng, don't always think about how to seize the power of the Luo family. Is this power so easy to seize? It's on the wind and waves, and if you're not careful, it will bring down the entire Huo family and make it impossible for them to recover. The Huo family has stood for two hundred years without falling, relying on what? It's the Luo family. The Huo and Luo families have been supporting each other for hundreds of years, and we even have each other's blood flowing in our veins. Don't forget where your aunt is from." Huo Xian finished educating one person and began to educate another.

  It's also helpless to say that the three sons of the Huo family are too eager for power, the second son is a bad water that can't be brought to the stage, and the youngest son is not in the family and has been studying abroad in the Western world for many years without any news. This makes Huo Xian worried about the future of the family, wondering if the Huo family can maintain its current status as a noble family after he dies.

  "What kind of path should I leave behind?" Looking up at the dark night sky, Huo Xian thought with a heart full of worries.