The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 48 Acquaintance
There were already more than a dozen candidates on the list. After making all the preparations, Wang Xin began to pack up and planned to return to the Jia Mansion.

Make the big promises in advance.

It's just to cut off your own retreat.

To be a good officer and train good soldiers, you don’t have to pass the pressure on to the soldiers first and only make demands on them. Instead, you have to share the pressure yourself first and help those below you to carry it together.

If you can't do this, you are not a good talent.

Wang Xin had his own way of doing things, which was much more efficient than the feudal slave-like practices of the Zhou Dynasty.

at this time.

A scholar came outside the right garrison of the Eastern Army.

"Excuse me, is Wang Dusi here?"

"The new Wang Xindusi?"

A strange new commander came to the barracks. He hung around the soldiers all day and asked some strange questions, such as how many people were in their family, what they relied on for living, what they were dissatisfied with, and what they wanted.

Is this an acceptable question to ask?

The soldiers took cover.

However, the name of the new commander soon spread throughout the camp, and everyone treated it as a joke.

Just think of him as some ignorant son of a noble family.

The scholar said, "It should be him. My name is Lu Zhongheng. Please tell him that I am a student of Mr. Lin Ruhai and I came to visit him specially."

Although the soldiers mocked the new commander, they had no ill will towards him.

After all, this person cares about them, so they should accept his kindness.

So the sentry in charge of guarding the door was also very enthusiastic. He left the scholar where he was and arranged for someone to convey the message.

Not a moment.

The soldier ran back and confirmed the news, and the sentry personally took the scholar in.

Lawrence Lu was dressed in white and was very conspicuous in the barracks.

However, there were few people in the camp.

Curiously, he asked, "What day is today? Why is there no one here?"

The sentry officer leading the way explained, "We in the Right Town are training our troops. The ones in charge are Wang Dusi and Zhang Qianzong. Zhang Qianzong has selected over 400 people and is taking them to the east of the lake for separate training."

Lawrence Lu asked sharply, “Didn’t Wang Dusi train his troops?”

"Commander Wang is either wandering around the barracks or strolling through the city, calling it 'investigation,' but we don't understand." The sentry officer laughed and said, "Other times he's been shut up in the barracks reading. I don't know what Commander Wang is trying to hide."

"You seem very worried about Wang Dusi."

Lawrence Lu was not dressed like an ordinary person, and the sentry officer was very polite.

Hearing what the other party said, he smiled and said, "Wang Dusi is a good man."

Lawrence Lu nodded.

No matter where Wang Xin is, his subordinates think he is a good person. This is also a kind of personal charm.

However, what impressed Lawrence Lu even more was that he could disregard his identity and truly integrate with the lower classes. Such ability, even if it was pretended, was admirable.

Lin Ruhai did have a student named Lu Zhongheng.

Wang Xin had heard of the name but had never seen him. He did not expect to meet him in the capital, so he quickly sent someone to invite him and then went to the door to greet him in person.

He was wearing a cotton-padded jacket, like an ordinary officer, but a little paler.

Lawrence Lu took a look from a distance, and when he got closer, he hurriedly bowed, “But is it Wang Dusi?”

"Brother Lu."

Wang Xin knew this man's arrogance, but he didn't expect him to be so polite to him. He smiled with satisfaction and said, "I'm one of us. Brother Lu is a few years older than me. If you don't mind, you can call me your younger brother."

"Then you're welcome, foolish brother."

Lawrence Lu was still arrogant and did not show courtesy because of the difference in status.

Wang Xin was a fourth-rank military officer, and Lu Zhongheng was a juren.

The main reason is that Wang Xin is young, only in his early twenties, so it makes sense.

The sentry officer leading the way also saluted. Wang Xin knew this man, named Li Wu, who had a good reputation, so after chatting with him for a few words, Wang Xin gave him a smile, and the sentry officer said goodbye and left.

Wang Xin took Lawrence Lu back to the house.

There were no servants or soldiers serving, and everyone had to pour the tea themselves.

Lawrence Lu sat in a chair and watched quietly.

The two of them chatted from time to time.

Wang Xin also understood that Lu Zhongheng had come to Beijing to prepare for the imperial examination in February of the following year.

"Then I wish Brother Lu success in the spring exam and may he ascend the ladder to the throne as soon as possible."

Lawrence Lu shook his head and asked directly, “How are you going to train your troops?”

"Brother Lu also knows?"

"I just found out a couple of days ago that the Beijing Camp's military training is getting louder and louder, and more and more people are paying attention to it, so I came to take a look. After all, you and I have a deep connection, so there's no need to hide it."

"I just heard the sentry say that everyone else is training, but you're not in a hurry, so I'm curious." "The famous General Wang."

"Haha."

"I'm not that famous." Wang Xin said with a smile.

"That's because they don't know the value of things."

"There's no need for polite conversation between us."

Wang Xin didn't feel that he was much different.

It’s better to keep a low profile.

Lawrence Lu insisted, “I always tell the truth.”

This person is indeed very arrogant.

But it's also very sincere.

What I fear most is the other person's sincerity, because people who can treat others sincerely are generally strong inside.

Wang Xin looked at Lu Zhongheng with a higher opinion. He was indeed Lin Ruhai's favorite student. He was indeed interesting. Wang Xin thought about it and thought that more friends meant more paths. Since they were from the same faction, there was nothing to hide. He planned to start with the soldiers.

"The soldiers of the Beijing camp receive one ounce of silver, one piece of cotton cloth, and four dou of rice per month. This is the military pay set at the founding of the country. Brother Lu, do you know how much the soldiers of the Beijing camp receive now?"

“I heard it’s become much less.”

Lawrence Lu replied.

Wang Xin sighed, "It's more than just a pauper. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, the court was short of silver. Cotton cloth, monthly silver, and even military rations were all converted into three strings of silver notes. By the time of the Retired Emperor, silver notes were being used prolifically, becoming increasingly worthless. Now, they can only be exchanged for one dan of rice. Soldiers can't even feed themselves, let alone their families. Such outrageous treatment is not only not paid, but they're also often in arrears. The soldiers of the Right Garrison of the Eastern Army have been owed wages for as long as six months."

Lu Zhongheng was speechless for a long time.

It's a bit miserable indeed.

"So what do you want to do?"

"Business."

Lawrence Lu was confused.

Wang Xin laughed and said, "Common sense suggests that it's a bad idea for the army to engage in business. However, as long as we have enough food to eat, at least we are an army, not slaves who are worse than beggars."

"that's it?"

"Of course it's not enough."

Wang Xin sighed.

"The soldiers from the Beijing camp were treated as favors by the officers and sent to various households to work. Not only did they not ask for money, but the households did not treat the soldiers from the Beijing camp as human beings and worked them to death. That's why I say they are worse than beggars."

"There are over a hundred thousand Beijing troops in the account books, but I'm afraid no one knows the actual number."

Lawrence Lu was horrified at this.

Surprised, "How dare you do that?"

Wang Xin was not surprised.

The most feared thing is half a jar.

After Lawrence Lu asked Wang Xin about his idea of ​​doing business with the army, he vaguely understood Wang Xin's idea and pointed out the problem directly, "You want to use the connections of the four great families to find a business for the soldiers?"

Somewhat capable.

Wang Xin admitted it.

Adapt to local conditions and make use of your advantages.

I have many advantages.

Own advantages, internal advantages, external advantages.

Then what are the shortcomings?

List them one by one, play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, make use of your advantages and make up for your disadvantages. It's a very simple logic.

"Business is a way to make money, but people's hearts will eventually fall apart, and all your efforts will be in vain."

"People's hearts are unpredictable. You have to think about your own future. Thieves are villains, but they are smarter than gentlemen. If you want to be a gentleman, you must first do things that are no worse than villains. Only then will you be qualified to be a gentleman."

Lu Zhongheng thought this plan was not feasible.

Wang Xin smiled.

Who says human hearts are unpredictable?

Only when you have enough food can you talk about ideas. If you can't even get enough food, then there will be cruel internal competition and even more severe exploitation of ordinary soldiers. The resources exploited will be distributed to the elite servants.

This is indeed a path.

But Wang Xin was unwilling to leave.

I only know how to walk the golden road.

Lawrence Lu didn’t quite agree, but since Wang Xin was so confident, Lawrence Lu couldn’t continue to question it, so he chose to help and said, “I live in the Yangzhou Guild Hall and have some connections. If there is anything I can help with, just ask.”

Wang Xin's eyes lit up.

There are only a few things that the military camp can do to buy a house. There are many people doing business in the Yangzhou Guild Hall. It would be better if Lawrence Lu is willing to help.

(End of this chapter)