knife

Chapter 432 A Change of Dynasty Through a Single Step In and Out
Ma Liang left with a carefree air.

Many people think this kid doesn't care about selling his grandfather's land.

Ma Dacheng gave away the family business that he had painstakingly built up over decades in Yangguan to the Beiting Protectorate.

Everyone thought that Ma Liang could wait for a better price and sell himself for a higher price.

Because the location of Yangguang is extremely important.

But now, with the order from the Beiting Protectorate, Ma Liang handed over command of the area to Gu Xiaoman without a word, and led only five thousand cavalrymen out of the pass to fight.

Ma's confidants and generals were extremely puzzled.

The essence of the Yangguan troops is not cavalry!
They were heavy infantry, the same light infantry that excelled at defending cities.

These people are the result of decades of accumulation and inheritance from generation to generation.

Although Ma Liang's generation began to attach great importance to cavalry, it had only been five or six years since Ma Liang started training cavalry.

The cavalry and infantry of Yangguan were not even in the same league.

Now, all these infantrymen have been handed over to Gu Xiaoman.

"Gentlemen, no matter how good Yangguan is, the area it can govern is only a hundred or so miles in circumference. If we're talking about the effective area under its jurisdiction, it's even smaller!" At the farewell banquet, Ma Liang raised his wine bowl, stood up, and looked at his uncles, elders, and even grandfathers sitting around him.

“I know everyone has invested a lot in this land—land, estates, businesses, and connections. But we’re just small landowners in this tiny area of ​​a few dozen miles. I’ve been out there, I’ve seen the outside world. I’ve seen the people of the Northern Protectorate, dancing on a stage that’s much bigger and higher than ours. They’re creating a world of their own!”

“Some people think we can wait for the right price. But why not join earlier? It’s like doing business. Original shareholders naturally have greater profits and more decision-making power. If you only think of joining after seeing others make money in business, you might still get a share of the profits, but will you still have a position?”

An elderly man with white hair and beard stood up and said, "Xiao Liang, we are not against your decision, but we think it is too early. Moreover, the Northern Court is not necessarily going to win. Besides, soldiers are the foundation of our survival. You have handed over our most elite infantry. It is easy to hand them over, but it will be difficult to get them back!"

"Grandpa Tong, you've crossed more bridges than I've walked roads, and you've eaten more salt than I've eaten rice!" Ma Liang laughed. "But this time, I still ask for your support in my decision, just like three years ago when you supported me in taking command of Yangguan from my father. Before, I relied on Li Dachui to gain wealth, allowing everyone to make a fortune. In the future, I will continue to rely on him so that I can earn a title and a position of power for everyone."

“We don’t have such grand ambitions!” The old man surnamed Tong smiled, shook his head, and sat down.

“You’ve spent your whole life in Yangguan, and Uncle Tong has also spent his whole life here. But do you want Tong Zhen to spend his whole life in Yangguan as a small landlord or a minor officer? If we take this step, we will become loyal ministers and founding fathers, and the wealth and honor of several generations will be secure,” Ma Liang said with a smile.

"General, are you so sure Li Dachui will win?"

"Ying Zhuo might be a man, but he was all killed by Li Dachui. As for the Tiele, we'll all wait and see; they'll also be killed by Li Dachui. This time, they sent me out with troops not to be a pawn, but to give me credit." Ma Liang said with a smile, "This can be considered a reward for my merit in leading Yangguan to submit to them. With the merit of destroying the Yuan as a foundation, even if we don't achieve any more merit after entering the pass, it will still be enough for everyone to be rich and powerful."

Some people suddenly realized, while others were confused.

Ma Liang downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp, picked up the wine jar, poured another full bowl, and looked at everyone, saying, "You are all veterans, old generals. From now on, you are no longer the Ma family army, but the army of the Beiting Protectorate. I'm making this clear from the start: after you finish this bowl of wine, I, Ma Liang, will only be your colleagues. If you violate military discipline or break military law, I will not plead for you. You will have to be accountable. Please forgive me, my uncles and grandfathers!"

They raised their wine bowls above their heads and bowed in unison. Everyone in the hall stood up, their faces filled with sorrow.

"Damn it!" Ma Liang straightened up and roared.

He tilted his head back and drank the wine in the bowl until it was completely empty. He then turned around, placed the bowl on the table, and loudly proclaimed, "Please welcome General Gu!"

Outside the hall, Gu Xiaoman walked steadily in.

Ma Liang strode out.

The two men faced each other, and Ma Liang cupped his hands and said, "General Gu, although I no longer have any subordinate relationship with the generals present, our friendship remains. I entrust this to you, General Gu!"

Gu Xiaoman returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Your relatives are naturally my relatives as well, and they are relatives of the entire Beiting Protectorate. Gu Xiaoman swears to treat everyone equally. If I break this oath, may I die without a burial place!"

Ma Liang bowed deeply to the ground, then stood up and strode out, never looking back.

All the generals in the hall bowed in unison to see Ma Liang off. Turning around, they looked at Gu Xiaoman, who stood ramrod straight at the head of the table, and bowed again: "Greetings, General Gu!"

Before this entry and exit, Yangguan had completely undergone a change of dynasty.

From this moment on, Yangguan is truly in the hands of the Beiting Protectorate.

With Gu Xiaoman's arrival, Yangguan also began to tense up.

When Ma Liang was in power, even if someone made a mistake, he would consider the long-standing relationships between everyone and let it go. But now it's completely different.

The strict military discipline of the Beiting Protectorate is well-known.

Even those in Yangguan had heard of it.

Things like military personnel embezzling quotas, profiteering, exchanging new grain for old grain, and passing off bad money as good money are absolutely forbidden.

Fortunately, Gu Xiaoman was a reasonable person. On the night of the handover with Ma Liang, he made it clear to everyone in front of them that if there was anything shady going on, they would have ten days to deal with it. If it was resolved within ten days, it would be as if nothing had happened. If it wasn't resolved within ten days and something else went wrong later, then they would have to deal with it according to the law and regulations.

On this point, everyone agrees that Gu Xiaoman is reasonable.

Moreover, compared to before, Yangguan's strength has increased considerably.

At least the 10,000 infantry and cavalry that Gu Xiaoman brought, not to mention the infantry, the cavalry were genuine iron cavalry from beyond the Great Wall, built with Xiao Changche's personal guards and Li Dachui's Emperor's Camp cavalry as the backbone.

Now that everyone has made their choice, they naturally hope that their side is as strong as possible.

(End of this chapter)