Chapter Six, The Society of Heaven and Earth

Xiao Yungui forced a smile, thinking about the damned treasury. All his expenses as a prince were drawn from this treasury, which to him seemed like a communal pot of averageism, utterly unreasonable. However, having spoken, he could not go back on his word. He also did not want to disturb Zeng Shuiyuan just to reward a chef. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Take whatever you like from this room. If Qing Yao returns, just say that we took it."

Lin Fengxiang and others shook their heads in astonishment, while the plump cook bent down and smiled, saying: "Your Highness, I smoke a dry pipe, I will fetch it for you"

This time arriving in Hunan, the banner of Xiao Chaogui resounded as he marched northward. Many local Tiandihui members in Hunan heard the news and came to pledge their allegiance. However, due to Xiao Chaogui's fall from his horse and subsequent unconsciousness, this contingent of the Taiping Army only stayed in Chaling for one day, allowing the Tiandihui members from various places to finally arrive and join them.

Li Kaifang found Xiaochao Gui's actions today to be quite strange. He quietly caught up with Tang Erniu, who was walking behind, and asked, "Brother Erniu, do you think Xi Wang seems a bit odd today?"

Xiao Yungui smiled for a moment, but Li Zuoche beside him awkwardly said: "Your Highness, the West King, we have no money; all the funds are in the military treasury, managed by the guard Zeng."

Li Kaifang shook his head and said, "I am not referring to this; I am saying that Xi Wang actually started smoking a pipe."

Xiao Yungui was smoking a pipe, and amidst the swirling smoke, Lin Fengxiang spoke faster and faster: "Your Highness, the West King, while our brothers outside are eating brown rice, we are here feasting on lavish dishes. I feel uncomfortable eating like this!"

Xiao Yungui understood at a glance that most of them were local farmers, while some were individuals from various walks of life in the city. Moreover, a few were even dressed in the attire of local officials, indicating that the Tiandihui here, like elsewhere, often managed to infiltrate the government.

The fragrant and spicy Hunan cuisine served with rice made Xiao Yungui feel extremely hungry. He consecutively consumed six large bowls of rice before finally feeling full. This amount of food surprised even him; his body before the time travel did not have such a good appetite. However, looking at Xiao Chaogui's robust physique, he soon felt reassured, as a larger build naturally requires more food.

Lin Fengxiang was overjoyed; he could not have imagined that the usually hot-tempered and somewhat petty Xi Wang would actually listen to him. He immediately took the lead, guiding everyone towards the training ground in Chaling County.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yungui felt overwhelmed. Among the more than 1,000 members of the Tiandihui, there were actually over ten leaders and hall masters, all of whom were certainly independent of one another. Even if these individuals were incorporated into the ranks, they would lack combat effectiveness in the short term. Untrained farmers are not much different from the long-corrupted soldiers of the Green Camp. However, the official troops at least possess superior weapons and unified commands. If he were to lead these people into battle, he truly needed to carefully consider his own leadership capabilities.

Xiao Yungui secretly cursed under his breath, damn it, what do I need this spy for when I am trying to gather my trusted associates to discuss strategies? However, he maintained a calm demeanor and said, "Brother Zeng has matters to attend to, so he will not be coming."

Xiao Yungui asked Lin Fengxiang in a low voice: "Who is their leader?"

The Taiping Army was not lacking in members of the Heaven and Earth Society, such as Jiao Liang, who went by the alias Hong Daqian, the valiant Luo Dagang, and the heroic female general Su Sanniang, all of whom were part of the boat army of the Heaven and Earth Society in Guangxi. However, those who joined the Taiping Army faced numerous restrictions. Firstly, joining the Taiping Army meant abandoning their original beliefs and exclusively believing in God the Father. Secondly, the Heaven and Earth Society had long been steeped in gang culture, while the Taiping Army enforced strict military regulations, which resulted in a large number of members from the Heaven and Earth Society being kept at bay. Nevertheless, the remaining members of the Heaven and Earth Society eventually became the backbone of the Taiping Army.

Tang Erniu pouted and said: "Why not give it a try? Didn't you see how Xi Wang choked on the first sip and ended up with tears in his eyes?"

After everyone finished their prayers, Xiao Yungui smiled and encouraged everyone once more to start eating. Li Kaifang was the first to pick up his chopsticks and said softly, "Your Highness, the West King, why not invite Brother Zeng to join us for a meal?"

Lin Fengxiang seemed to have made up his mind, as he stepped forward, shaking off Li Kaifang, and continued: "Moreover, Your Highness the Western King, just now over a thousand members of the Tiandi Society from Chaling expressed their desire to join our army. However, the guards mentioned that you believe these individuals from the Tiandi Society do not share our intentions and may be difficult to tame, thus refusing to accept them. This could dishearten the people."

The Yamen of Chaling County is garrisoned by five hundred elite soldiers under the command of Xiao Chaogui, while the remaining troops are dispersed at the four city gates and in the military training grounds within the city. Today, after the Taiping Army arrived in Chaling, the county magistrate Guo Shijian had already fled. The Qing Dynasty's laws are strict, and those who lose territory are to be executed; it is likely that this magistrate will also be captured and executed in the future. Meanwhile, the few green camp soldiers, yamen runners, and officials in the city have shed their official uniforms and returned home to hide, allowing the Taiping Army to capture Chaling without shedding a drop of blood.

"Brother Lin, why are you not speaking?" Xiao Yungui noticed that while they were having their meal just now, Li Kaifang, Li Zuoche, and others were chatting and laughing, but Lin Fengxiang appeared gloomy and silent, so he began to inquire.

The stout cook bowed and replied: "I am called Zhou Zhaoyao, a native of Xiangtan, Hunan."

When Xiao Chaogui followed Lin Fengxiang to the training ground, he saw that the small training ground was filled with people. In the center, several large bonfires were lit, and the members of the Tiandihui were gathered around the fires, consisting of both young and old, strong and weak. Their clothing was varied and colorful, yet tattered and worn, with some even barely covering their bodies

In the afternoon, a large number of members of the Tiandihui came to seek refuge upon hearing the news, totaling over 1,000 people. Since its establishment in the early Qing dynasty, the Tiandihui has been an important anti-Qing secret society among the people, with activities in many provinces south of the Yangtze River, particularly in Fujian and the two Guang provinces. It is known as one of the three major secret societies of the Qing dynasty, alongside the Qingbang, which controlled the grain transport, and the Ge Lao Hui in Sichuan. Many later secret societies also derived from these three. Even the later revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen received significant support from the Sanhehui, a branch of the Tiandihui, in his anti-Qing efforts. Therefore, the process of the Qing dynasty's downfall cannot be fully understood without these secret societies.

Lin Fengxiang is truly a straightforward person, able to speak his mind directly, and even during meals, he still considers the soldiers under his command. Such a person can be entrusted with important responsibilities, and it is only from his mouth that Xiao Yungui can hear the truth

Lin Fengxiang stood up and cupped his fists, saying: "Your Highness, the Western King, this time our light troops are making a rapid advance towards Changsha. We have few men, and our army lacks red medicine (i.e., gunpowder), firearms, cannons, and all necessary siege equipment. When we reach the outskirts of Changsha, what shall we do? Are we to sacrifice the lives of our brothers? Back in the day, when we attacked Guilin, we had a large number of troops and ample military supplies, yet we were unable to capture it. I have heard that Changsha is much larger than Guilin."

After a moment, the pipe was brought over. Xiao Yungui took a puff; the tobacco was extremely harsh, and he couldn't help but cough a few times. He forced himself to continue smoking, as there were hardly any cigarettes in these times. He then said to the plump cook, "Hmm, this tobacco is quite good. By the way, what is your name?"

Lin Fengxiang replied: "There are more than a dozen leaders, and members of the Tiandihui from nearby towns have all come. Each of them has their own leader or hall master, with the larger groups having around 100 subordinates, while the smaller ones have about 40 to 50 subordinates"

Unfortunately, Zeng Shuiyuan was afraid that too many people would come to seek refuge, and he could not balance these individuals, so he did not accept them. Under the persuasion of Lin Fengxiang, considering that they were all anti-Qing individuals, he reluctantly agreed to allow them to stay in the school grounds for a hearty meal and to spend a night before leaving the next day

At this point, Li Kaifang hurriedly pulled Lin Fengxiang, while Xiao Yungui shook the tobacco from his pipe, took a sip of tea, and said: "Brother Lin, please continue. What else have I done wrong?"

Li Kaifang shook his head and remained silent, following behind the crowd with a look of deep concern.

After the meal, Xiao Chaogui ordered someone to bring hot tea. In the past, he had a great addiction to smoking and would always smoke a cigarette after meals. Although his body had changed now and he no longer had a physiological need, he still felt a psychological craving. He licked his lips and asked, "Who among you smokes?"

Xiao Yungui furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment before saying: "You should call them all over; I would like to meet them first"

Zhou Zhaoyao was quite surprised; he did not expect that Xiao Yungui not only spared him but also rewarded him with money. He immediately knelt down and began to bow his head in gratitude. Xiao Yungui was very much disgusted by this act of bowing and helped him up, saying: "This is considered your payment for cooking. We, the people of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, engage in fair trade, so you do not need to thank me"

Under the great joy of Zhou Zhaoyao, he took a few antique vases and left with countless thanks

Xiao Yungui widened his eyes and said, "Have I ever said that?" Only after the words left his mouth did he remember that it was indeed Xiao Chaogui who had said this earlier. However, it was in the context of a conversation with Zeng Shuiyuan, who had mentioned that if members of the Tiandi Society came to join them along the way, they could not be accepted. He stated that they were currently advancing as a lone force with limited troops, and if too many members of the Tiandi Society joined, this team might very well turn into the Tiandi Society's own.

Xiao Yungui beckoned everyone to start eating. After a while, everyone praised the chef for his excellent skills, and the chef, receiving the compliments, smiled even more with his eyes squinting.

Xiao Yungui took another puff, this time he was prepared and did not cough again. He let out a long sigh and said: "This meal is quite good, the smoke is also nice. I'll give you some money as a reward, you can go home now."

Zhou Zhaoyao scratched the back of his head and chuckled foolishly, saying: "That stingy county magistrate Guo Shijian has never given any rewards. Every time I cook for him, I always add extra ingredients. If he knew, he certainly wouldn't be as generous as the prince, so I must bow my head in gratitude."

Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang exchanged a glance, both displaying a look of confusion on their faces. It turned out that when the two had just entered the government office, they encountered Zeng Shuiyuan, who had just finished handling his official duties and mentioned that he was going back to the military camp for a meal. Why did the Western King say such a thing?

Tang Erniu shook his head and said: "I don't think so. We currently lack manpower, and having the help of the Tiandihui gang's outsiders (the Taiping Army refers to ordinary non-believers as outsiders) is a good thing."

During this campaign, the Taiping Army rushed to Changsha, merely intercepting money and grain in the counties they passed through. Although there are many antiques and ornaments in this house, they are not items that can be carried with them. They are advancing lightly and cannot bring too many belongings, so the items here were not included in the imperial treasury

What kind of nonsense suggestion is this? It’s already a rebellion, yet there’s still talk of being cautious about this and that. In the end, being overly cautious only turns potential friends into enemies. Xiao Yun Gui suddenly stood up and asked, "Where are the brothers of the Tiandi Society now? I want to meet them in person."