The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 5: Tumbler
After making sure that there were no Japanese pirates in the city, Wang Xin immediately ordered to set up camp outside the city. At the same time, he sent soldiers to purchase pigs and sheep, rewarded the entire army in the evening, and set off for home the next day.

Can't drink.

Only meat can be eaten.

Wang Xin set an example himself.

"General, we offer you water instead of wine."

Several officers looked excited and bravely ran over to toast.

"it is good."

Wang Xin agreed immediately and took the empty bowl. Soon someone picked up the kettle and poured water into the bowl. Wang Xin took the initiative to clink glasses with the officers. The officers looked at him in admiration and drank it all in one gulp. Those who didn't know would have thought they were drinking wine.

It’s not wine after all, which is a pity.

"When we get back to Yangzhou, I'll treat everyone to a drink."

Wang Xin said with a smile.

Hearing that the general was going to treat them to a meal, the officers became even happier. Seeing people around them "toasting" the general, they followed suit. Waves of officers took turns "toasting" the general, and they drank so much water that they were full all night long.

Day two.

The soldiers on the training ground lined up neatly and left the camp one by one.

Outside the camp.

Crowds of people.

Before daybreak, people from all over the place came to see Wang Jiajun off, and many people knelt on the roadside in mourning clothes, holding baskets high above their heads.

There are steamed buns, vegetables, rice, fried noodles, fruits, and sweet soup in the basket.
Several officers were sweating profusely as they ran out from the roadside with their men, helping the people kneeling on the roadside, especially the elderly, and maintaining the road.

Many people were unwilling to stand up.

They felt that Wang Jiajun would not accept any rewards, especially gifts from the common people. Wang Jiajun would not accept any of them. The only way they could express their gratitude was by kneeling.

Wang Xin was wearing cloth-covered iron armor, which made a clattering sound as he rode on horseback. He had a leather belt around his waist, a red lacquered helmet on his head, and a sword at his waist.

"Take care, General."

"Bon voyage, General."

"General."

He rejected the kindness of the gentry, but he could not refuse the people who came spontaneously.

Wang Xin did not stop.

The entire battalion marched as usual.

On the top floor of Nantong County, several figures were looking out.

"I never thought he was so beloved by the people. His reputation is truly well-deserved. The man riding out of the camp must be General Wang. He is truly a heroic and outstanding young man. I heard he is only in his early twenties."

Someone praised.

"Humph."

"Zhao Yong, judging from your tone, you seem to disagree?"

Zhao Yong, a stocky man dressed in black uniform, exuded a military air. He said disdainfully, "What a Wang Family Army! Are they the imperial army, or are they Wang's army?"

"Hahaha."

Some people disagreed and mocked, "It's just the people shouting among themselves, who would take it seriously?"

Zhao Yong sneered, "Defeating the Japanese pirates is nothing. Our general has already defeated them. Now that he's back, how can he compare to that Wang? He's only leading a militia."

There were no soldiers on the salt road originally, but because of the Japanese invasion, each salt field began to recruit salt workers, and thus private armies came into being.

In the eyes of the people, they are officers and soldiers, but in fact they are not real officers and soldiers.

Everyone knew Zhao Yong's temper and didn't bother with him.

Someone reminded him, "Zhao Yong, the commander-in-chief ordered us to bring you out so that you can take a look at the Wang family army and see how good they are and whether they can be used by the commander-in-chief. It's not for you to fight for your own pride."

Zhao Yong was not convinced by the others, but when he heard the other party bring out his own general, he actually calmed down and said honestly: "The military discipline is good, and it is a strong army, but I can defeat them."

Although he answered the question, he still couldn't forget the quarrel of arguing. The others disagreed. Since Zhao Yong also said it was good, he could go back and report. That's how officialdom is.

Standing on the side is the most important thing.

No matter how well you do, if you stand on the wrong side, you will only benefit others in the end.

The general has escaped from prison and resumed his post. He needs a great achievement to gain a firm foothold and is in urgent need of expanding his troops. Currently, this militia has good combat effectiveness and can be transferred to the general.

As for General Wang, it's a pity that he was born in the Wang family and can't be used at all, so he has to suffer.

Our own general has been in prison for several years.

From ancient times to the present, even if you treat the people a little bit better, they will enthusiastically support you. The people do the most and live the hardest, but all they ask for in return is so little.

Why should we resist the Japanese invaders?

Wang Xin didn't think this was a problem.

He had the confidence and ability to resolutely eliminate the Japanese pirates, so he ignored Lin Ruhai's implicit warning to him a few months ago. Now, after another great victory, Wang Xin could not smile.

The position of general was Lin Ruhai's way of repaying him for saving his life.

For an ordinary person, becoming a captain is enough to live a small life behind closed doors, let alone an officer on the salt road. As long as he does not do anything out of line, his life is extremely good.

The promotion from captain to assistant commander was due to his own military achievements and Lin Ruhai's care.

Lin Ruhai reminded himself of many things. Suppressing the Japanese pirates was not a simple military matter, but involved a struggle for interests between the local government and the imperial court, a struggle between the Feng Party and the Qingliu Party in power, and a struggle between the emperor and the emperor.
Therefore, this great victory in Nantong is no longer a good thing for me as a supporting attacker.

This is why no one can defeat Japan.

Since you have chosen to defeat the Japanese, you must bear the consequences.

"it's time."

Wang Xin made up his mind.

"Ah? What did the General say?"

Tang Ping, who was standing beside him, didn't hear clearly and thought the general had some instructions, so he asked loudly.

Wang Xin found Tang Ping's expression amusing and asked with a smile, "Tang Ping, do you want to stand on your own?"

Tang Ping didn't understand.

Wang Xin explained: "Lead the army yourself."

Tang Ping almost fell off his horse. The honest miner asked aggrievedly, "General, do you not want your subordinates anymore?"

Wang Xin shook his head and said soothingly, "Suppressing the Japanese pirates is a major matter. No matter what monsters and demons there are in the court, they cannot delay us from suppressing the Japanese pirates. It's just that my identity is different and it's easy to cause trouble. So, not only you, but also He Kuan, I plan to let you lead the troops alone."

Since he didn't want me anymore, Tang Ping sniffed and complained, "Why does the general ask me? I only listen to the general. I do whatever the general asks me to do."

Wang Xin was speechless.

Tang Ping is good at fighting. He can fight himself and the soldiers he leads can also fight. His strengths and weaknesses are obvious. If no one in the officialdom takes care of him, it would be difficult for him to achieve good results.

The key is loyalty.

You can judge a person by his appearance but not by his heart. With Lin Ruhai's vision and Wang Ziteng's ability, didn't he misjudge Jia Yucun?

In addition to the morale of the army, his greatest reliance is the ability to tell who is truly loyal to him and who is pretending to be loyal.

It is difficult for people who only care about their own interests to be truly loyal to others.

Therefore, a person’s loyalty or not is mainly determined by his or her own character.

Just like Jia Yucun, who relied on the help of the four major families to go from a dismissed teacher to the Grand Marshal of the current dynasty, that is, the Minister of War, and officially assisted the military affairs and advised the court.

It is equivalent to entering the cabinet in the Ming Dynasty and entering the Military Affairs Council in the Qing Dynasty.

That's a big favor, isn't it?

As a result, Jia Yucun chose to sell out the Jia family and dig up the roots of the Jia family for his own benefit.

Kindness alone is not enough, the other person also needs to be a loyal person.

If the people you promote are all loyal and righteous, then you will be invincible. You can easily accomplish things that others cannot do, and no one can bring you down.

(End of this chapter)