knife

Chapter 665 Morale
Li Dachui lifted the lid of the steamer, and as the steam dissipated, the cooked black lumps were revealed before him.

He picked one up, broke it open to take a look, and then smelled it. His expression immediately turned sour.

There was very little noodle, but some kudzu root powder.

It was mostly mixed with rice husks and tree leaves.

At this time of year, even wild vegetables are hard to find.

He walked over to the big pot, picked up a large ladle and scooped it up a few times. There were a few scattered grains of rice and a few shiny, large bones. He didn't know how many times it had been cooked, because there was no oil on the surface of the water.

After taking a sip, it was reassuring to find that it was still salty enough.

“Protector, the entire army, including myself, eats the same food. It’s not that we don’t have enough food, but after enduring the winter, there’s still the spring famine to come. We also need to prepare some reserve food. Once a war breaks out, we need to make sure everyone is well-fed. It’s just a little tougher than usual!” Xiao Zhongren explained.

He picked up a large, chipped bowl from the side, filled it with soup, then pinched a black lump in his mouth and said to Xiao Zhongren, "Have all the officers above the rank of captain come over here!"

This is the main camp of Xiao Zhongren's troops, with about two thousand men stationed here. The remaining thousand or so are scattered and stationed at various strategic passes.

If life is so difficult in the main village, it must be even more difficult in the lower passes.

The spacious cave was Xiao Zhongren's central command. Military tents were pitched inside, and felled trees were hastily trimmed and nailed into tables, chairs, and benches.

Dozens of captains, colonels, and lieutenants, each carrying a bowl of soup and a black lump of food, sat down around several fire pits, all their eyes fixed on the young man standing in the middle.

Protector-General of the Beiting Protectorate
The posthumous son of Li Zemin, the deposed crown prince of the Qin Dynasty.

Li Dachui, a master of innate skill.

For someone like Xiao Zhongren, Li Dachui was a wise ruler to whom he could devote himself entirely.

But for ordinary soldiers, Li Dachui was a legend, a myth.

"Brothers!" Li Dachui looked at the pairs of bright eyes staring at him below and said loudly, "First of all, I want to thank you all for choosing to follow me, Li. Even under such difficult conditions, you still persevere, which makes me feel ashamed that I have let such loyal brothers suffer from hunger and cold!"

One of the lieutenants stood up and said loudly, "Protector, we are just rough men and don't understand any grand principles. We all just think that Protector Li is a man who can achieve great things. If we follow you, we will be rich and powerful in the future. If you want to be a person of high status, you have to endure hardship. We all understand that. What is this little bit of hardship right now? Although it is hard to eat, there is still food to eat!"

Laughter erupted from inside the cave!

There are no lofty pursuits or grand ideals. In this chaotic world, everyone needs something to rely on. At this time, making a choice is like being reborn—a real skill.

Choosing the right option will make things twice as easy.
If you make the wrong choice, the harder you work, the further you will get from your goal.

Actually, the people here are quite lucky because they at least have the right and opportunity to choose. In fact, most people in the world don't even have the right to choose. They can only go with the flow. When the tide of the times crashes down, these people will be crushed into dust before they can even scream.

A grain of sand in the era, when it falls on an individual, becomes a mountain.

It's easy to say, but when you put it into practice, it becomes a series of human tragedies, such as families being torn apart, wives and children being separated. "Well said!" Li Dachui laughed and took a sip of soup. "What are you risking your life for? Of course, it's for wealth and honor, for a peaceful and leisurely future, and for your descendants to have a stable life."

"Protector, I haven't thought much about wealth and glory. I just want to have a wife and children, a warm bed, and be able to buy wine whenever I want to drink or meat whenever I want to eat. If I have some spare money, I can sit with a few friends and play dominoes!"

"Liao Wu, you good-for-nothing!" someone nearby laughed and cursed.

"How is this considered lacking ambition?"

The cave had become quite lively.

The ideals of the captains and generals are more ambitious, but the ideals of the lowest-ranking captains are varied, though they sound more down-to-earth.

"Alright, shut up and listen to the Protector!" Xiao Zhongren stood up and shouted, and the cave immediately fell silent.

Li Dachui said with a smile, "I came here today, firstly to see everyone, and of course, I didn't come empty-handed."

He pulled out a thick wad of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to Xiao Zhongren beside him. "This is the salary for the past six months and the rewards that everyone deserves. You'll be able to use it soon!"

Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw the thick stack of silver notes.

Although they can't use it now because they're stuck on the mountain, it doesn't mean they won't be able to use it in the future. This is the first time in almost a year that they've seen money.

"Secondly, I have some good news to share!" Li Dachui continued, "I believe everyone is more interested in this good news than in the silver."

What interests me even more than getting rich is living a good life.

Everyone sensed something was amiss, and pairs of bright eyes stared at Li Dachui. To them, this was nothing new.

"We have achieved a major victory in Tongan County!" Li Dachui waved his hand and said, "We have annihilated tens of thousands of Chu troops, killed the Chu general Xiang Wu in battle, and forced the Tongan County governor Yan Cheng to surrender."

Cheers erupted from inside the cave.

The good news that came a while ago was that Na Wei had retreated. It was this news that gave all the officers and soldiers of Moshan the will to persevere. Now that Tongan County has won again, it means that Li Dachui can send more troops to the north.

They are no longer fighting alone at Moshan, and may even no longer be isolated behind enemy lines.

Victory is no longer an expectation, but a tangible fruit that can be reached out and plucked.

"Moreover, a civil war has broken out in the State of Chu!" Li Dachui continued, "Xiang Zhuang fled back to Yuezhou and raised an army to rebel against the court. According to rumors in the State of Chu, it was Na Wei who sent someone to kill Xiang Ying!"

The screams from inside the cave were even louder than before. People's names, tree shadows—Xiang Ying was once a god-like figure to them, and now, he was dead just like that.
"So, gentlemen, what I want to tell you in the end is that you made the right choice! You will get what you want! Gold and silver treasures, titles and honors for your wives and children, and you, a wife, children, and a warm bed—you will get everything! You can even marry several!" Li Dachui shouted, pointing at the soldier who had previously said he wanted a wife, children, and a warm bed.

The cheers inside the cave lasted for a long time.

(End of this chapter)