The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 320 Lessons
After spending three days at the Fengzhou camp and finalizing the follow-up plans, Wang Xin led his troops ahead to join Zhang Canyu's remaining forces in the Xiaohuanghe region, where they set up camp and paved the way for the main army.

Zhang Wenjin's 30,000 troops, along with Hu Liyong's 18,000 men, followed.

Wang Xin agreed to Zhang Wenjin's arrangement, but also made a request: Zhang Wenjin had to provide some of the grain and fodder.

No one has much food.

Juzhongchang was not without its grievances.

The agreement was that the investment would be recouped in three years, but in order to support the war, Juzhongchang had to continue to increase its expenses. Fortunately, the Tu Maochuan area had already produced some output in the past two years, so the merchants did not have to bear the entire burden.

Even so, even if they defeat Ou Yanhu, the time it will take Juzhongchang to recoup its investment will exceed five years, far beyond expectations.

However, having already invested so much, in order not to waste it all, we have no choice but to continue investing.

As for demanding provisions from Zhang Wenjin, firstly, Zhang Wenjin had an obligation to provide provisions, and secondly, Wang Xin always fought in this way, ensuring that provisions were always plentiful to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.

In short.

Getting things done is so difficult; no one is satisfied.

If doing practical things is easy and can be done well, who wouldn't seize such a good opportunity to make a name for themselves?

Wang Xin understood clearly that he had chosen this path and was well-prepared, so he felt no disappointment.

Early the next morning.

The entire army set off, heading towards the Little Yellow River.

In the past three days, the Fengzhou camp has seen quite a bit.

Many laborers and militiamen, including soldiers, had heard of the Datong Western Army and some discussions about it. However, hearing about it was one thing, and there were many conflicting opinions. It was better to see it for oneself.

In three days.

The army did not need to drill before setting out, but its discipline was strict. The camp of the Western Army in Datong was different from other places.

Furthermore, even when not engaged in combat, the soldiers of the Datong Western Army, including not only the battalion soldiers but also the militia and even the laborers, ate three meals a day.

There was smoke rising from the campsite in the morning.

There was smoke rising from the campsite at noon.

There were still some at dusk.

"The porridge I drank."

"Bullshit, I saw it with my own eyes. It was dry rice, and each person even had a spoonful of pickles."

Pickled vegetables are easy to carry and store, and they are often stored in jars. Many supply wagons are filled with jars and pots.

The group started arguing about what they were eating at the Hexi Camp.

An elderly man scolded the crowd, saying, "The soldiers and militia eat different things, what's there to argue about?"

Everyone suddenly realized.

"That's still better than what we eat."

Some people said enviously.

Not to mention the militia, even the battalion soldiers eat two meals a day.

Many people are still hungry.

The old man had nothing more to say and silently shrank back.

After the Datong Western Army left, Fengzhou returned to its original calm and tranquil atmosphere. However, after only a few days, Zhang Wenjin finally issued the military order for the army to set off, and the entire Fengzhou camp began to bustle with activity.

Like ants moving house, the scale is at most 100,000 people, which seems insignificant in the vast desert.

Wang Xin received the message from the scouts, confirming that the rear camp had set off, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Harmfulness is not allowed, and defensiveness is indispensable.

It's no problem for me to lead the Datong Western Army to reach the Xiaohuang River first, but Ou Yanhu has gone too far, and it won't be easy for him to return with 70,000 to 80,000 men.

They are much closer to the Lesser Yellow River, so the risk in the Lesser Yellow River area is not high now.

The army marched for nine days.

Zhang Can led a thousand cavalrymen back to the camp by the Yellow River. The more than three thousand troops left behind had cleared out the surrounding forests and had even traveled twenty or thirty miles to the farthest point.

However, the Western Army of Datong had a large number of vehicles and many barricades, so the camp was still fortified.

"very good."

Upon arrival, Wang Xin led his generals on an immediate inspection of the camp, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"We learned how to set up camp from the general. After all these years, even if we only learned the basics, it's enough."

Zhuo Zhi smiled.

Everyone followed suit.

Wang Xin just smiled and ignored Zhuo Zhi.

The group exchanged glances. Since leaving the pass, the general had been much more lenient with them.

That night.

Wang Xin left his generals behind, and Shi Ping and the others lit a bonfire and set up a roasting rack. Wang Xin personally roasted a whole lamb, and everyone gathered around it. Although they couldn't drink alcohol, they were all in high spirits.

"Having followed the general for so many years, this is the first time I've tasted his cooking."

Liu Tong couldn't help but say.

"How's the general's cooking?"

Hearing this, Zhang Can became even more worried, fearing that Wang Xin would waste that good sheep, and couldn't help but say, "Why don't I do it?"

Wang Xin rolled his eyes and ignored Zhang Can.

Everyone laughed and joked for a while.

Seeing that the meat was almost cooked, several guards went up to help divide it.

Each person had a plate. Wang Xin used a small knife to cut off a large piece of meat. As for how to cut it into smaller pieces, everyone present had a small knife and could cut it themselves.

Eating only meat can be greasy, and we can't drink alcohol, so Little Stone prepared tea.

“You’ve followed me for many years and usually call me General. I considered you brothers from the bottom of my heart, whether you believe it or not.”

Wang Xin was eating roasted mutton.

The taste wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly delicious either.

However, in those days, many people might not be able to eat meat even once a year, and even if they did, it was just a taste of its rawness.

It's not that I don't want to eat meat, it's that I can't afford it.

Many people are desperate to eat meat.

"I believe."

Liu Tong put down the knife in his hand. He was a monk who had returned to secular life, and because he was a martial monk, he did not abstain from meat.

"General, why bother? Whatever you're going to do, do you really need to worry about us?"

Zhang Can looked somewhat impatient.

The general can be very decisive at times, and at other times he can be indecisive.

Wang Xin scanned the expressions on everyone's faces, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Just eat and listen to what I have to say."

Without waiting for anyone's reaction.

Based on the information he had received and considering the various potential risks, Wang Xin did not intend to hide anything from his subordinates.

"Someone once asked me whether exchanging 60,000 soldiers for 100,000 civilians was a worthwhile deal."

Wang Xin recounted what Hu Liyong had said.

He knew that this idea wasn't just Hu Liyong's; many of his own subordinates shared the same view.

To put it bluntly.

What are ordinary people anyway?

They are merely cattle and horses in the hands of the wealthy; they dare not disobey orders to kill chickens but dare not kill sheep.

Why should high-ranking officials care about the feelings of such a lowly group?

The lowest-ranking person present was a military officer of the fifth or sixth rank.

Military officers' ranks were less valuable than those of civil officials, and the comparison was made with civil officials.

Therefore, Hu Liyong spoke out as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Wang Xin smiled and said, "Gentlemen, one must not forget one's roots."

The crowd's expressions were complicated; some couldn't understand what this had to do with forgetting one's roots.

Wang Xin stopped smiling and looked calmly at everyone.

"We are soldiers, and a soldier's duty is to fight. If we become fearful because of the difficulties ahead, no matter how many excuses we make, we will never become an iron army."

When Nurhaci rebelled, how much difference was there between him and the Ming Dynasty?
Although he saw through many of the bad habits of the Ming army in Liaodong and was aware of them, he still bore enormous pressure.

"A scheme is a scheme, and so is opportunism."

When faced with a powerful enemy, we can employ strategies, but we cannot resort to opportunism or trickery. The idea of ​​exchanging 60,000 soldiers for 100,000 civilians is simply cowardice.

Even if it's called retreating three steps to avoid the enemy's sharp edge, such a strategy is for winning battles, not for preserving strength. It's better to be a coward, turn a blind eye to problems, and hope to drag things out.

We've come this far by winning battles and exhausting every possible means.

Wang Xin wanted to change some of the opinions expressed in the army.

Expecting lofty ideals is unrealistic.

Ideas don't come from shouting slogans; they arise naturally when more people among the masses become aware of them.

How to awaken?

The painful lesson naturally served as a wake-up call.

“We understand what the general means, but many people are waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves. They’re unhappy that we’re fighting for them,” Zhang Can said, stepping forward to admit.

The others lowered their heads; some breathed a sigh of relief, while others looked grim.

Wang Xin remained silent, continuing to observe the crowd.

The atmosphere became tense.

Before long, another person stood up; it was Tang Ping.

Tang Ping was different from the others; he was the one who had followed the general the longest. It could be said that no one in the entire military camp had more seniority than him.

There used to be a He Kuan, but he stayed in Yangzhou, which changed Tang Ping's status. This was the source of Tang Ping's confidence to challenge Zhao Yong.

You're not convinced either?

Wang Xin sneered.

Tang Ping's expression changed, and he quickly exclaimed, "General, you know perfectly well that I don't think that way, so why do you still provoke me with your words?"

No one believed that Tang Ping would disobey the general.

"We're all sitting, and you're the only one standing. You're the tallest, so what else could it be but resentment?"

Wang Xin said expressionlessly.

"Pfft."

Zhao Yong almost spit out snot, but quickly held it in.

Tang Ping was teased and wanted to laugh but dared not, so he sat back down helplessly.

In this way, the oppressive atmosphere suddenly dissipated, people felt much lighter, and their eyes shone brightly as they looked at the general.

Wang Xin clapped his hands, his expression finally turning serious.

Everyone pricked up their ears.

"Tang Ping married the daughter of a wealthy family and is now a fourth-rank military officer in the imperial court. His youngest son is a sixth-rank official. With Tang Ping's age and qualifications, plus the support from his father-in-law's family, it won't be difficult for him to surpass me in the future."

Wang Xin waved his hand, stopping Tang Ping from speaking, and continued addressing the crowd.

"So Tang Ping has seen a lot, and so have you. You've never realized that the court has so many messy things going on. Not only are you disgusted, but I am too. Not only do you look down on it, but I do too."

Including Feng Yong, his background is no higher than yours. He also rose through the ranks based on his merits. After reaching a high position, did he see fewer people than you?

Emboldened by this, he disregarded the imperial court, began to scheme for his own gain, and started calculating the costs and benefits. He turned the Yongxing Army into his private army, dreaming of becoming a local tyrant.

In front of everyone, Wang Xin spoke without any hesitation.

Hearing from the general that he also looked down on the imperial court, everyone was shocked and still couldn't believe it.

"There are many things in the world that don't go smoothly, and it's impossible for everything to go as planned. But if you ask me to learn from Feng Yong, I simply can't do it." Wang Xin stopped complaining.

There was a time when...

He also frequently complained about the various injustices within the company.

However, during this period, instead of solving the problem, he became increasingly depressed. In the end, Wang Xin found a solution: to do practical things and do things that were meaningful to him.

"If we don't do what's happening outside the Great Wall, who will? We've come this far, are we just going to give up so easily? Giving up outside the Great Wall is easy, but where are you all going to get the money next?"
Without money and food, the soldiers cannot support their families, so where does their morale come from?

"You all have your current positions, including the fact that your father-in-law values ​​you, Tang Ping, is only because you are good at fighting. You've only enjoyed a few good days, and you've already forgotten your roots?"

Wang Xin pressed for more questions.

Everyone was speechless, and their expressions softened considerably.

Many people have come to understand.

This desperate fight is not only for the imperial court, but also for themselves.

Wang Xin sighed inwardly.

The state supports the army, and the army serves the country to the death.

The same is true.

Nowadays, the army is supported outside the Great Wall, and the army must fight desperately for the army outside the Great Wall; the two are interdependent.

In contrast, consider Feng Yong.

The imperial court supported Feng Yong, and Feng Yong supported bandits to enhance his own power.

The former is a positive cycle, while the latter is a vicious cycle.

A positive cycle can continue, but a negative cycle will soon run dry.

However, Wang Xin was somewhat worried.

Previously, the idea of ​​supporting the army through business outside the Great Wall was a stopgap measure. Now, this path has gone further and further, and Wang Xin is not sure where it will lead in the future.

Hopefully, it won't turn into something bad.
-
Three days passed.

Zhai Wen and Tao Sheng arrived outside the camp and were quickly welcomed into the camp by Wang Xin.

Several years passed, and Zhai Wen remained a fifth-rank observer, while Tao Sheng continued to serve as his interpreter. Neither of them had any worries, as they had their own channels and lived a very comfortable life.

"Eight thousand bushels of grain are still in the rear. This time, the Commander-in-Chief has high hopes for the General."

"Not much."

Wang Xin didn't care.

Zhai Wen smiled wryly: "The Director-General has it tough, you have to be understanding of him."

Wang Xin didn't say anything.

Taking less would be fine, but that's something I definitely can't say out loud. I don't usually give Zhang Wenjin any gifts, and although Zhang Wenjin hasn't helped me, he hasn't harmed me either.

They were still somewhat concerned about themselves, so the two of them managed to get along peacefully.

If it weren't for the important matter of pacifying the Hu, Zhang Wenjin would never want to see him. Even Hu Liyong had a much better impression on him than he did.

Despite his seemingly rough and uncouth demeanor, Hu Liyong never failed to give Zhang Wenjin the proper gifts he was entitled to.

Including Zhai Wen and Tao Sheng, who are right in front of us.

Tao Sheng, a mere interpreter, became a typical example of a petty official with enormous greed, relying on this position.

However, Wang Xin had no way to resolve the issue.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were a few officials who were not corrupt. I had to come into contact with some of them, and I could only pick out those who were corrupt but still did their jobs and had some principles.

"Not everyone has the same deep confidence as the general."

Zhai Wen spoke less politely than Tao Sheng, and said unhappily.

It's incredibly difficult for the average person to get promoted.

Wang Xin rose from a junior officer to a lieutenant general in just a few years. Who else could get promoted every year like him, as if it were child's play?

It couldn't be because he's from a noble family.

If we're talking about talent, there are plenty of talented ordinary people in the world, so why is it that only Wang Xin can stand out?

(End of this chapter)