The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 238 Reaching Agreement

In Wang Xin's view, Zhang Can was better at attacking than Tang Ping.

Moreover, Zhang Can was born in Yulin and had inherited his family's cavalry skills. He had served in the Nine Border Garrisons for many years and was originally a cavalry commander. He had also been with Wang Xin for almost two years and had learned a lot of skills from him. Therefore, Wang Xin was not worried about entrusting the new city to Zhang Can.

"The best defense is offense. In order to stabilize the new city as soon as possible, Zhang Can stayed here."

After Wang Xin finished giving his instructions, he looked at Tang Ping.

Tang Ping was originally a miner, and his experience in leading troops was not as rich as Zhang Can's. He also did not understand cavalry as well as Zhang Can. Furthermore, he learned the Mandarin Duck Formation from me and was even able to lead artillery. He was the most suitable person to guard Weiyuan Pass.

"After we build dozens of new cannons, you will guard Weiyuan Pass, and no one will be able to break through it."

In his plan, Zhao Yong was in charge of Yanmen Pass, handling both internal and external affairs. Even if he was gone, there would be no trouble in western Datong.

Tang Ping couldn't help but ask, "What will happen to the general if we all leave?"

"The camp remains, but the soldiers come and go. If you people don't leave, how will the people below rise up?" Wang Xin said deliberately.

I can be considered as contributing talent to the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Making way for my brothers is no big deal, but I still want to follow the general." Tang Ping saw how tiring it was to be in charge on his own, and he didn't want to leave from the bottom of his heart, even though the general said he was going to find a way to promote him.

Hearing Tang Ping's words, Wang Xin felt gratified.

It wasn't Tang Ping's loyalty, but rather that he had finally led a unique and distinctive team. The group consisted of a few individuals, and everyone was a part of the team; the team belonged to everyone.

Who doesn't want a promotion? Who doesn't want to get rich?
However, in Tang Ping's view, the interests of the collective far outweigh the interests of an individual, because the collective belongs to him, and he also belongs to the collective. The greater the interests of the collective, the greater his interests are. Therefore, Tang Ping always considers the interests of the collective.

This is also a good example he set, and it shows his selfless dedication.

One cannot be entirely selfish and yet demand that one's subordinates be completely selfless. Such a person will only be betrayed in the end. I have always been reliable in my work, including in this construction of the new city, I have no worries because the benefits are not just for myself.

"General, Xue Yan, the head of the Xue family, has arrived."

A guard came in to report, adding, "He has arrived at the camp with his son and daughter."

Upon learning this, Wang Xin prepared to personally go out to greet them. He instructed Zhang Can and Tang Ping, "Think carefully about what you want to do in the future. Once you've thought it through, come and tell me, and I'll give you my advice."

Zhang Can and Tang Ping stood up and watched Wang Xin leave.

Wang Xin followed his guards and soon met Xue Yan's family who were waiting. When he first saw Xue Baoqin, he noticed that the little girl had grown a year older and had become thinner than when she was a baby.

"Boss Xue, you've worked hard."

Wang Xin warmly clasped his hands in greeting. Xue Yan had been a great help to him. With Xue Yan's intervention, he was saved a lot of energy and trouble. Buying Portuguese coffins and finding craftsmen in Macau on his own was not an easy task.

"You're too kind, we're all family here," Xue Yan said happily.

The phrase "one of our own" indicated a significant change in Xue Yan's attitude towards him. Wang Xin nodded, glanced at Xue Ke in return, and then smiled, "Xue Ke has grown taller again."

Xue Ke is already fifteen years old.

The ancient saying goes, "At fifteen, I set my heart on learning." In the eyes of the ancients, fifteen was the crucial age to begin learning a skill and taking on family responsibilities.

Xue Yan said earnestly, "Studying books alone can easily turn you into a bookworm; traveling thousands of miles is equally important."

Xue Ke is Xue Yan's only son and will inherit Xue Yan's business in the future. Compared with the imperial examination, Xue Yan values ​​Xue Ke's abilities more. This is also the position of the Xue family among the four major families: controlling the purse strings.

Wang Xin understood and suggested, "If Master Xue doesn't mind, why not let Xue Ke stay and help me with some things?"

We are severely lacking in talent.

Zheng Hao is quite capable, but one person is never enough to command; no one would complain about having too few people at their disposal. Xue Ke is handsome, exceptionally talented, of good character, and well-mannered; Wang Xin genuinely wants to recruit him to his side to help him.

Xue Yan's eyes lit up, and he said politely, "My son is unruly and I'm afraid he has failed to live up to General Wang's high expectations."

Upon returning to Jinling, Xue Yan had many things to do and did not immediately deal with Wang Xin's matter. It wasn't until he met Lin Ruhai in Jinling that Lin Ruhai told Xue Yan that Wang Xin should not be underestimated.

Xue Yan thought to himself, "I don't have any." He had always held himself in high regard.

However, since Lin Ruhai had spoken, Xue Yan had put in a lot of effort. Relying on the Xue family's business acumen and extensive connections, he actually managed to find it. He traveled all the way to Yanmen Pass and then to Weiyuan Pass. Xue Yan was increasingly shocked, especially by the new plan proposed by Wang Xin, which broadened his horizons and showed him the enormous potential profits.

Xue Baoqin listened to her father and older brother talking about other things without paying attention to her. Although she did not cause any trouble, she kept a straight face, pouted her little mouth, and looked angrily at her father and older brother.

When Xue Ke heard about his situation, he hesitated. Should he stay?
Fifteen-year-old Xue Ke didn't really want to follow his father's arrangements completely, but he didn't think there was anything wrong with them either. He also looked down on the unwise behavior of opposing for the sake of opposing.

But for some reason, I always wanted to object, and although I tried to suppress it, neither of the children was happy.

The campsite was quite large, and a wind was blowing across the grassland. Although the wind wasn't strong, it made the flags around the camp flutter loudly. Many people left the campsite and were pointing and talking around, discussing or planning something.

A troop of soldiers patrolled past in the distance, and several cavalrymen disappeared down the hillside.

On this peaceful and beautiful land, people are busy with their own things.

Xue Yan was a little nervous and couldn't help but glance around. Seeing the vibrant scene, how could he not see the potential profits? His family had been in business for generations, and he himself had been a businessman all his life.

Xue Yan understood a principle.

Even if you can't understand many things, you can simply observe their vitality.

A vibrant and lively scene indicates potential benefits; a lifeless and stagnant scene indicates potential losses.

No wonder Lin Ruhai values ​​this person so much. What good is a general who is good at fighting if he has no rivals in the Great Zhou? He would be useless if he had no chance to fight. The Great Zhou is vast and rich in resources, with a population of hundreds of millions, ten times or a hundred times that of the surrounding areas. Even if there is some trouble, it is just a minor problem.

This is the reason for using civil administration to control military affairs; the threat of internal strife far outweighs the threat of external threats.

Although Xue Yan valued Wang Xin, he only regarded him as a martial artist. No matter how skilled a martial artist was, he was still just a martial artist. Could he compare to a Hanlin scholar? Lu Zhongheng, the prized student whom Lin Ruhai had cultivated with all his might, was a Hanlin scholar.

Things are different now. Wang Xin's vision and the solutions he proposed are truly astonishing, forcing Xue Yan to re-evaluate him.

Wang Xin smiled and said, “Let’s go inside and have some tea first. There are many things that need to be discussed at length, and we can’t finish them in just a few words.” He invited Xue Yan because he needed the Xue family’s help at the moment.

Xue Yan had the same idea, and immediately followed Wang Xin inside with a smile.

Xue Ke also left. Xue Baoqin stomped her foot, but didn't throw a tantrum. She was just disappointed and felt that she was not valued, which was why she felt a little wronged. She had always trusted him as an older brother, but it turned out that he was just being polite and didn't really consider her a younger sister.

Wang Xin walked ahead, then suddenly turned around and saw Xue Baoqin looking aggrieved and about to cry. He chuckled and said, "Baoqin, you're usually so lively and adorable. It's been so long since I've seen you. Why have you become so sentimental? You've really changed a lot as you've grown up. You're not as mischievous as you were when you were little."

"You're the one who's changed! Big brother isn't good at all." Xue Baoqin was secretly pleased that he dared to talk about her, but her face was flushed with anger.

Wang Xin had a good impression of the siblings Xue Ke and Xue Baoqin. He didn't know why Xue Yan had died, but it seemed to have happened in the last two years. The Xue family was very important to him at the moment, so Wang Xin didn't think much about it and decided to wait and see.

He couldn't keep Xue Yan by his side all the time, and Xue Yan wouldn't agree to that anyway. If he happened to run into him, he would definitely reach out for him. But what if it was an accident? Then it would be hard to say.

Xue Yan also liked Wang Xin's personality; he was gentle and not overly formal.

Once inside the tent, Wang Xin and Xue Yan sat down in quiet surroundings.

“I don’t trust any of the other families in Datong; I need a share from the Xue family,” Wang Xin said directly.

The four major families are also a group with shared interests. However, their private interests outweigh their public interests, so each of them has its own ulterior motives. But they are still an alliance. Compared to the other families in Datong, which are completely unfamiliar to them, the Xue family's involvement allows them to speak on their behalf, which is equivalent to influencing the direction of development through shareholding.

Xue Yan, of course, wouldn't refuse and asked, "How can I become a shareholder?"

"The Xue family's investment is the Xue family's business. I only have one request: when I need it, the Xue family must speak up for me and support my opinions."

"It is the only right thing to do."

Xue Yan smiled.

This is something allies should do.

Just like when Prince Teng replaced the Jia family as the military governor, although it was for the benefit of the collective, the Jia family would inevitably be suppressed because of the past incident involving Prince Yizhong. However, Prince Teng's scheming was too intense. But for the benefit of the collective, the Jia family still chose to support him.

Similarly, although the Xue family are merchants, they are not purely merchants. Therefore, when needed, as long as one's status is sufficient, the Xue family can temporarily give up their commercial profits to support one for political gain.

In other words, without Wang Xin's request, the Xue family's participation was a normal shareholding and a typical business partnership.

Given that Wang Xinzhi's investment would yield both commercial and political returns, Xue Yan immediately agreed without hesitation.

I feel a little regretful because Wang Ziteng's matter caused my eldest daughter's engagement to Wang Xin to fall through. It seems I need to go back to the capital. Wang Xin is still worth betting on and shouldn't be given up on easily.

Even if you don't trust your own judgment, you can't trust Lin Ruhai's judgment.

Xue Yan is a smart man who knows his limits and is not greedy. He is indeed a very good partner. They easily reached an agreement, and Wang Xin felt relieved.
-
Shuoerhui had more than 400 slave cavalrymen under his command. Shuoerhui himself was born a slave and was promoted by the Chanyu to lead the tribe's slave cavalrymen. These people were all slaves and had no property of their own.

Now that they have a new master, the slaves don't care; following the strong is what's most beneficial for them.

As for the order to eliminate the surrounding tribes that did not submit, the slaves were very happy about it. Centered on Chiershan Mountain, this time it was no longer Zhang Can leading the team, but Shuoerhui, the local tyrant, who was leading the team.

More than 400 slave cavalry swept through the entire Tu Mao Chuan region. The large tribes had been wiped out, and the smaller tribes were no match for Shuo Er Hui.

"Swish swish."

The Hu slave cavalry charged into a small tribe.

The fact that there are fewer than 100 tents indicates that the tribe has only 300 to 400 people. Excluding the elderly, women and children, there are less than 100 able-bodied men. The slaves led by Shuoerhui are all veterans who have fought for many years.

"Whoosh."

A young man took out a bow and arrow from the tent and shot an arrow at the Hu cavalry fighting in the distance.

Caught off guard and without armor, the slave cavalryman was shot in the back and couldn't reach it. In desperation, he saw the young man pull out another arrow and draw his bow again. Terrified, the slave cavalryman screamed and fled towards his companions.

Two Hu slaves rushed over, and using their horsemanship to aim their scimitars, easily took the young man's head.

Blood splattered, staining the tent behind them. The gray tarpaulin was covered in blood, and the women and children who crawled out of the tent screamed.

"I am a Zhou person."

"I was kidnapped."

Several young men with shackles on their ankles and disheveled hair stood by the sheepfold, raising their hands and shouting.

News of Datong spread throughout Tu Mao Chuan, along with the deeds of Shuo Er Hui. Although they were Zhou people, these young men looked at Shuo Er Hui with admiration; in their eyes, Shuo Er Hui was their hero.

Just then, Shuo Erhui happened to be passing by and heard their shouts. He reined in his horse and led his men to approach them personally.

With most of the able-bodied men killed, it was time for the young men to enjoy themselves. At the same time, the tribe's slaves were released, and those who met their requirements were selected to make up for the manpower losses.

This massacre also resulted in the deaths of about ten people on their own.

"Are you Zhou people?"

Shuo Erhui was speaking the Datong dialect with increasing fluency.

"My hometown is Shuozhou."

"I'm also from Shuozhou."

"I am from Mayi."

Several people answered eagerly, and Shuo Erhui nodded. Over the years, every year there have been barbarians entering the pass. People live off the land and water, and sometimes the acquaintances would also secretly enter the pass to plunder under the guise of barbarians.

Besides looting supplies, they also kidnapped young men.

As for the women of the Zhou people, although they were beautiful, they were of little use.

The constant internal strife among the tribes, along with other reasons, resulted in a severe loss of young and able-bodied men. Women were the most abundant resource, and with the tribes being small in number, the young and able-bodied men of the Zhou people were their most valuable asset on the vast grasslands.

The young and strong men of the Zhou people could sow seeds, do manual labor, and be trained as slave soldiers when needed.

In the past, the Tiancheng Army was located in the east of Datong, and the Yongxing Army was located in Datong. However, the western region was not as strong. Therefore, most of the routes into the pass were concentrated in the west of Datong. Even the largest incident a few years ago, when they broke into Daizhou, Shanxi, also started from the west of Datong.

Shuo Erhui was well aware of these matters, but in his eyes, the Zhou slaves in front of him were not qualified. After confirming their identities, he planned to release them and then leave them alone.

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, Shuo Erhui changed his mind and suddenly said, "Would you like to join my team?"

"willing."

"master."

Having lost everything, the Zhou slaves readily agreed, even adopting the customs of the Hu people, and knelt down to acknowledge Shuo'erhui as their master.

Shuo Erhui nodded and instructed his companions, "Give them a few horses and take good care of them."

Shuo Erhui's companion looked at him with disdain. These Zhou people slaves were used as slaves by the tribe and were not planned to be soldiers, so they were confined to the sheep pen and smelled bad. They were not good sources of warriors.

However, Shuo Erhui's orders were not refused by his companions, who reluctantly accepted the group.

When night fell and safety was confirmed, the revelry began.

Several Zhou people who were slaves during the day were now eligible to join the revelry at night. About twenty other slaves like them were selected by Shuo'erhui, most of whom were Zhou slaves.

He ate meat and drank wine to his heart's content, and slept with all the women he wanted.

As the saying goes on the grasslands, this is the happiest thing.

The newly joined slaves quickly stopped worrying and began to have a renewed enthusiasm for their new life.

The next day, leaving behind a destroyed tribe, Shuoerhui led his men back towards Chiershan Mountain to tell General Wang about his achievements and accomplishments, and to show him his troops.

Shuo Erhui knew very well that such a strongman was extremely wise.

The first thing I need to do is to serve the other person wholeheartedly and gain their trust. Now is not the time to have my own thoughts.

(End of this chapter)