The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 128 Hexi Camp

The sky is clear and sapphire blue.

The scorching sun shone into the military camp on the west side of the river.

Wang Xin brought several personal soldiers, each riding a horse. People were coming and going on both sides of the road, and many foreign accents could be heard. Several people rode their horses to the base camp of the right wing of the Eastern Army.

The Eastern Army headquarters was stationed in Tongzhou, with the left and right routes supporting each other.

However, this left and right are different from what ordinary people think. Instead, it is sitting north and facing south, so the left road is in the east and the right road is in the west, instead of what people think, the left road is in the west and the right road is in the east.

The right road is between the capital and Tongzhou, and the left road is on the other side of Tongzhou.

The eastern base camp was located between Xiaoying in Hexi and Tongzhou.

Tongzhou was supposed to be a military city, but due to economic reasons and years of accumulated problems, it has become what it is today. Wang Xin has no further opinions on this.

If it were still the military city it once was, it would not be as prosperous as it is today and could not support such a large population.

So keeping a balance is the best state.

By the same token, Wang Xin didn't want to be in cahoots with the general, as he really looked down on him, but he also didn't want to cause trouble, so he went to the base camp to meet the general today to see if he could ease the situation.

It was originally a desolate suburb, but due to the development of the city over the past hundred years, a large number of shanty towns were built, which gradually became high-rise buildings, and the shanty towns continued to move outward.

Although the camp where the headquarters is located is still in the suburbs outside the city, it has been surrounded by urban areas. Although there are still a few sheds and toilets, most of them are brick and tile bungalows or two-story buildings.

After passing the fence built with bamboo mats that is taller than a person, the view suddenly opens up.

Wang Xin reined in his horse.

Although Shi Ping and others were surprised, they skillfully controlled their horses and stopped steadily behind their general, looking in the direction the general was looking.

A group of beggar-like people were lying in groups of three or four in various places basking in the sun.

He was covered in dirt and tattered clothes, which had turned into worn-out pieces of cloth and swayed in the breeze. It was more like he was wearing clothes that would break into more strips if torn.

With sunken eye sockets and dull eyes, someone saw Wang Xin and his group. Instead of showing any extra expression, he stared at them like a puppet.

Someone saw them and spat on the ground.

"Damn it! We old men are starving every day, while these damn officers are eating and drinking well, and they dress up like some idiot. What bastards!"

The sound was neither loud nor soft, but it was faintly audible.

A group of soldiers without rules.

Or a beggar.

Shi Ping and others didn't care. They had been going through the same thing since childhood, but their faces looked dazed, as if it happened in their previous life.

"Let's go."

Wang Xin suddenly turned his horse around.

"General, aren't you going to pay your respects to the commander-in-chief?" Shi Ping followed and asked curiously, "Are you going back to the camp?"

"Go back to camp."

Wang Xin gave an order.

My bottom line is actually very low. I can accept many things and many people because I have seen them so many times that I get used to them and no longer take them seriously.

Everyone says that Jia Zheng is a gentleman, but he also has several concubines.

I have also seen people who have hundreds of lovers.

So it’s best to keep a normal mind.

Just like when he met Zhang Jifu in Jinling, he had heard a little about Zhang Jifu's style before, but he didn't take it seriously. For example, Zhang Jifu ordered soldiers around and treated them as his servants.

This kind of thing is inevitable throughout history, both in China and abroad, and everyone has seen it.

Zhang Jifu treated these soldiers well, fed them well and dressed them well, which was much better than those who treated soldiers as slaves.

In fact, it has already reached Wang Xin’s heart line.

Just like the Japanese invasion in the southeast.

Wang Xin would accept someone bearing the label of a Japanese pirate in order to survive, as long as he didn't do anything harmful to the world, and he would even raise his spear three inches higher if he saw it.

But some facts are really unacceptable.

For example, real Japanese pirates.

For example, colluding with the Japanese pirates and harming the people together.

These people must be killed.

Then there are the generals.

How can you be dissatisfied with yourself when you lead your soldiers like this?

It is difficult for me to say good things to people like this.

So Wang Xin changed his mind.

I don't plan to see the general.

Because it concerns his sister's marriage, Xue Pan is still concerned about it. He did not go out early and come back late these days, but stayed at home to discuss it with his mother.

After all, Aunt Xue's family came from the south of the Yangtze River. Even though they had lived in the Jia Mansion for many years, they still retained the customs of their hometown.

When the family gathered together, Xue Baochai was very embarrassed. After all, only her mother and brother were there, so she stayed and sat on the kang, huddled in a corner. Aunt Xue sat at the edge of the kang, and Xue Pan sat on a round stool next to it.

Aunt Xue complained, "You are so careless with your words. You said it in front of your second uncle, which led to his next words."

"Mom didn't refuse at that time." Xue Pan smiled and said, "My son thinks it's a good thing. Everyone says that Wang Xin is a good person. Didn't my sister also praise him?" After saying that, he winked at his sister.

Unlike before, Xue Baochai glanced at her brother and ignored him.

Aunt Xue leaned forward, reached out her hand and patted Xue Pan, who was standing on the edge of the kang, and scolded with a smile, "You've messed with your sister again. I'll beat you up."

Xue Pan was beaten, but he didn't feel any pain and even had a playful smile on his face.

Aunt Xue couldn't do anything about her son. In fact, she loved him very much. Her daughter was also sensible. She felt relieved. Then she said seriously, "It's just that this matter was too sudden. Although your second uncle supports it, I still dare not speak up."

"Is mom afraid of making aunt angry?"

"Ugh."

Aunt Xue sighed, which was her answer.

Xue Pan was serious for a moment, then looked at Xue Baochai and asked, "Sister, you often see Jia Baoyu at home, but I don't see you taking him seriously. Otherwise, please tell me, would you choose Jia Baoyu or Wang Xin?"

Aunt Xue scolded, "Your sister has never met Wang Xin, so how can you let her make the choice?"

Xue Pan disagreed: "Sister, you have the best ideas. Although you haven't met Wang Xin, didn't you say that everyone who meets Wang Xin says he's good, so he must be good. Even Second Uncle praises him. Someone who can make Second Uncle treat him like that must be good."

This is true.

It was also because her brother-in-law was so powerful that she had to be on guard against him. She brought her family to her sister's house early on and used the name of the Jia family to suppress him so that he would not dare to set his sights on the eldest wife.

When Aunt Xue heard that her son had become smarter, she felt relieved.

Xue Baochai remained silent.

Just like an ordinary girl.

Aunt Xue knew her daughter's heart. Her daughter was much better than other daughters, not only in appearance but also in wisdom. Whether she was willing or not, she would have her own reasons, and no one who listened would find any reason to argue.

It’s normal that there is no speech now.

Judging from her daughter's usual remarks, she thought that Wang Xin was a good person, but she had never met him. How could she be at ease with someone she had never met?

As for Jia Baoyu.

Aunt Xue shook her head. She had been living in the Jia Mansion with her daughter for many years. The Jia Mansion had strict rules and she had not seen any young talents from outside in recent years. Although Baoyu had a gentle temper, he was too incompetent.

My daughter is smart and ambitious.

Aunt Xue actually had an idea. "I'll write a letter to ask your uncle, and you can ask someone to take it to the northwest. Be sure to do it as soon as possible and get your uncle to give you a definite answer. Then no one will be able to say anything."

Whether I get married or not, my sister and brother-in-law can't blame me.

"One, two, three, four." "March!"

Although the Hexi camp had not officially ended its vacation, the atmosphere in the camp was gradually improving.

At this time.

The steward from the general's mansion has arrived, and would like to see the general of the Hexi small camp.

"Congratulations, Secretary."

Wang Xin ordered someone to invite him in and greeted him at the door of the barracks. When he saw the person coming, he greeted him warmly.

Although Zhu Zhen was a minor official, he was in charge of military affairs, which was an important position, and he also had a good personality, so Wang Xin did not treat him poorly.

Zhu Zhen came forward with a bow from afar.

"Congratulations, General Wang."

"Congratulations on what?"

"I haven't had the chance to congratulate General Wang on his promotion, so I'll make it up to you today," Zhu Zhen said with a smile.

But I feel emotional inside.

Although I knew that the young man in front of me was talented, I didn't expect him to succeed so quickly.

From Dusi to Guerrilla General, although it was only a promotion of one level, the status was completely different.

The Assistant General is a general, and the Commander-in-Chief is also a general.

But these two are just miscellaneous names.

A guerrilla general is different. He is a real general. Moreover, Wang Xin leads a battalion alone, which makes him even more worthy of the title.

"Come in, have some tea."

Wang Xin invited him in with a smile.

After sitting down and ordering tea, Wang Xin began to wonder why this person came.

Zhu Zhen said, "It's not easy for the Right Route to produce such a talented person in recent years. We shouldn't have internal discord. I also know that I have wronged the General in many things, but since we are both on the Right Route, I hope the General will bear with us for a little while."

Wang Xin vaguely knew the man's intention.

But it's a bit hard to tell.

Is this a delaying tactic? Or is there some other conspiracy?

Wang Xin said calmly, "I was ordered by the court to take up the post of Guerrilla General of the Right Route, commanding a single battalion. I should do my duty and lead the troops well. I train them for a thousand days and deploy them for a moment. I can't say I've been wronged in any way."

Who cares what he's up to.

He is a guerrilla general, and even the admiral cannot avoid his rank. Although the general is his superior, he is not strong enough and he is not afraid of him.

Just like Li Chengliang of Liaodong in history.

Li Chengliang deliberately sent those generals who did not listen to him to the front battlefield to be betrayed and killed, on the premise that Li Chengliang was strong enough to maintain stability in Liaodong.

Wang Xin didn't care at all about the few people under his general's command.

This is why a blacksmith needs to be strong himself.

If you have a strong backbone, you can speak with confidence about many things.

Zhu Zhen sensed Wang Xin's youthful vigor and said with a smile, "With your abilities, no one can wrong you. The generals are aware of your abilities, but there are differences between the upper and lower ranks in the army. I beg you to bear with me for some things."

"What do you need me to take responsibility for?" Wang Xin asked?
"Some people are jealous of you, General. But if you are not envied, you are mediocre. You understand this. I will persuade the general when I return, and you should also take the initiative to submit to him. There is nothing that cannot be solved."

"I don't understand," Wang Xin asked. "I heard that Li Weidusi came to our camp a few days ago and left some confusing words. Could this be related to this matter?"

Zhu Zhen nodded and explained, "After Li Wei returned, he told the commander, 'The general said he was busy with official duties and had no time to see him.'"

"What a great way to cut off the beginning and the end." Wang Xin couldn't help laughing. "This man is clearly a military officer, but he acts like a civil servant."

Zhu Zhen understood immediately and said with a happy smile: "In that case, why don't you explain it clearly to the commander-in-chief to prevent him from misunderstanding you and causing more trouble?"

Wang Xin shook his head.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhen was very surprised.

"Those who wronged me know better than I do that I am wronged. So if explanations were useful, why would there still be so many injustices in the world? Let this matter be. I just need to do my duty."

Wang Xin didn't care.

If you want to lower your head, you have to look at others.

Zhu Zhen was speechless. His trip was in vain. He said helplessly, "Whether the General believes it or not, I came here without anyone's instructions. I really don't want to cause infighting on the right flank."

Wang Xin frowned.

It’s not that I doubt Zhu Zhen. Zhu Zhen is an old man on the right side for many years and must know a lot of things that I don’t know. He keeps talking about internal strife. Could it be that Cheng Hong is going to take action against me next?
Who gave him the confidence?

Could it be Prince Zhongshun?
Wang Xin was a little unsure.

But having said that, Wang Xin still had a good impression of Zhu Zhen, so he took the initiative to send Zhu Zhen out of the camp.

Zhu Zhen said a few words on the way, hoping to make the young general change his mind. However, he heard the call from the camp and his attention was gradually drawn over.

Rows and rows of sergeants.

They walk as if they were cut from the same mold.

There are thirty people in a team, and each team practices. Three teams form a sentry, and each sentry has a piece of land.

Zhu Zhen knew that Wang Xin was talented and a good leader.

They just looked carefully and seriously, seeing it so close and being in it, it was a unique experience. Some of them stopped, and Wang Xin did not urge them. He accompanied Zhu Zhen to watch and take the opportunity to see the level of the soldiers.

"Does the Hexi Camp train like this every day?"

Zhu Zhen asked blankly.

"Not really. We do it every other day." Wang Xin said with a smile, "And the drills every ten days are different. There are major subjects, and within those major subjects there are minor subjects. There are also overall drills, local drills, and so on."

"Can you practice it?" Zhu Zhen was incredulous.

"Because of the war last time, although actual combat is more effective than training, casualties are uncontrollable." Wang Xin said seriously, "So even if you can't practice enough, you must practice more. Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in battle."

"Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war." Zhu Zhen repeated silently.

I couldn't help but look towards the training ground.

The ground of the school ground is very flat and very clean.

The soldiers were training in tattered civilian clothes, but their morale was very high. The officers in charge of the training all had serious expressions, and even the tone of their slogans was consistent.

Zhu Zhen finally regained consciousness, his eyes changing slightly as he spoke in a complicated tone, "I now understand why the general's troops are so different."

"We are all ordinary people, how can we be different?"

Wang Xin shook his head.

People are still the same people, but different environments make a world of difference.

Whether it is a defeated army or an invincible army, it can be achieved in just one year.

I really can't do it, but I have my own unique advantages, so I can find another way and still create a different environment, such as one voice, one thought, and unity.

Zhu Zhen looked at the small camp in Hexi again and didn't want to see internal strife on the right flank even more.

Wang Xin didn't care.

First of all, if I get along with the general, Admiral Zhu Wei will be unhappy. Secondly, I also look down on the general, so I must not choose bad teammates.

At last.

Even if we want to cooperate, we should look for strong partners.

So I chose Zhu Wei.

Zhu Wei is now the biggest gunman. Why don’t I cooperate with him instead of cooperating with Cheng Hong?

(End of this chapter)