Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 137 Violence can't solve problems, but it can solve the problem of people!

Five days later.

Fourteen well-equipped cavalry units, each consisting of a hundred men, once again set foot on the Bingbei Grassland.

This time, however, they brought with them naturalization orders that the grassland people could understand, and the team was also equipped with guides who were fluent in the Hu language.

After four days of discussion, Zhang Xian and Xi Zhong finalized the details of the grazing plan, and then spent another day writing documents in both Hu and Han languages.

Today, the naturalization order was officially implemented in the vicinity of Qiangyin.

With the strong Yin as the main camp, the deterrent range of the Lüqi cavalry camp can cover a radius of two hundred miles, and its economic influence can be even greater.

As for whether the magistrate of Qiangyin County is willing to allow the Duliao Camp and the cavalry camp to be stationed there.

That's beyond his control.

The appointment of Zhang Xian as the General of the Xiongnu and Protector of the Xiongnu Commandery allowed Zhang Xian to legitimately station troops in Qiangyin.

The military strength of the stationed troops would naturally make the magistrate of Qiangyin County obedient.

Are you kidding me? You're risking your life for a salary of a few hundred bushels of grain a year.

Isn't the 50,000 yuan a year that I, Zhang Xian, offered you for risking your life appealing?
Or is it that the power of my Protectorate of the Xiongnu is not enough to give you a sense of security?

Enjoy life to the fullest; let us handle the burdens.

In short, after Zhang Xian's heartfelt and moving lecture, the magistrate of Qiangyin County, who had ended up in this place because he had no powerful backers, naturally had few objections.

Qiangyin was originally a border town with few Han Chinese; it was mostly inhabited by non-Han people. Now that it had found a powerful backer, the magistrate of Qiangyin County naturally understood the situation.

A line of carriages and horses slowly made their way to Mayi.

The two magnificent warhorses, one black and one white, were quite eye-catching, and in the sky, a faint golden wing streaked across the heavens.

Zhang Xian embarked on his journey home, accompanied by Zhao Yun and the seriously wounded cavalrymen.

This journey home is destined to be slow.

The cavalrymen of the Lüqi Cavalry Battalion mostly came from Yanmen and Dingxiang counties, and the route they took was the road connecting the two counties.

At each stop, Zhang Xian would take out the recruitment documents and examine them carefully.

Beside the official road, a small village called "Willow Tree Village" looked particularly desolate in the wind.

The mud-brick houses are low, and the old locust tree at the village entrance is bare with only bare branches. A few birds chirp on it, adding to the desolation.

The convoy stopped a hundred meters from the village entrance. Zhang Xian sat on his horse, his gaze calmly fixed on the road ahead.

The caravan behind him also stopped, and several cavalrymen with bandages led a few strong cattle and sheep out of the caravan.

Zhao Yun also jumped off his horse.

He had removed his armor and was only wearing a faded blue outfit with a hemp rope tied around his waist.

Reaching the back of the caravan, he found a long, narrow object tightly wrapped in hemp cloth among rows of wooden tablets. It was the body of a cavalryman who had died in the White River Valley.

Dark red bloodstains were faintly visible on the cloth, like a wound in his heart that could never heal.

The young general, whose spine used to be ramrod straight, now bent deeply as he carried the bodies of his comrades on his back. The weight of a mere hundred pounds now felt like an insurmountable burden.

That was a heavy burden of guilt. His face was paler than the rags he wore, his lips were pressed into a resolute line, and his eyes had lost their former sharpness and arrogance, leaving only a bottomless sorrow.

He walked very slowly and steadily, step by step.

Every step I took felt like stepping on my own heart.

His gaze was fixed on a low, dilapidated mud house in the village, the home of Liu Er, a fallen soldier.

Finally, he arrived at the tightly closed wooden door, marked by the passage of time.

He didn't knock on the door immediately, but stood quietly for a while, took a deep breath, and felt the cold air scrape his throat like a knife.

Then, slowly and solemnly, he bent his knees.

Boom!
A dull thud followed as my knee slammed heavily onto the cold, hard ground.

He put down the bundle of ge cloth he was carrying and carefully placed it across the doorway, as if holding a fragile treasure.

Then, he braced himself with his hands on the ground, burying his forehead deep into the cold earth.

"Zhao Yun, cavalry commander of the armored infantry... has come to plead guilty!"

His voice was hoarse, trembling uncontrollably, yet it clearly pierced through the cold wind, entering the house and reaching the ears of the villagers who had quietly gathered around.

"Brother Liu...followed me into battle...and died on the battlefield...all because of my recklessness, underestimation of the enemy, and poor command..."

His forehead was pressed tightly against the cold ground, his voice was choked, and his shoulders trembled slightly.

"Zhao Yun...I have failed Brother Liu! I have failed...all my uncles and aunts!"

The room was initially deathly silent, then erupted in heart-wrenching wails!

An old woman with gray hair and a hunched back suddenly pushed open the door. When she saw the figure wrapped in coarse cloth at the door and the young general kneeling on the ground with his forehead covered in mud, her vision went black and she almost fainted.

A young woman standing nearby, also with a sorrowful expression and holding a bewildered toddler, quickly helped her up and burst into tears herself.

"My son... my son..." The old woman collapsed to the ground, pounding the ground and crying her heart out.

"Husband... how could you leave like this..." The young woman held the child, sobbing uncontrollably. The toddler was frightened and started crying loudly as well.

The mournful cries echoed in the cold wind, tearing at Zhao Yun's heart like knives.

He did not get up, but remained in the position of bowing. He felt that the invisible guilt on his back was so heavy that it almost crushed him.

Zhang Xian watched silently without stepping forward; this was something Zhao Yun had to bear alone.

The saying "A kind heart should not be in command of troops, and a righteous heart should not be in charge of finances" is a common saying, but is it really the right way to do it?
Zhang Xian didn't know that all those who joined the army were risking their lives; it was a dangerous job. They should have guessed that they might end up like this when they joined the army.

Whether it's conquering cities and capturing strongholds, breaking through enemy lines and killing enemies, none of these tasks are without casualties.

He knew all of this.

But at least, after enjoying the fruits of victory earned by the soldiers' lives, his family should also share some of the pain.

This might be troublesome and a burden, but!
It will be worth it! People will not forget these warriors who fought with their lives!

Zhang Xian will never forget them!
Therefore, he hoped that Zhao Yun would not forget this either!

After a long while, the crying subsided, leaving only suppressed sobs.

Zhao Yun spoke again, his voice still hoarse, but carrying an undeniable promise:

"The two brothers Liu died protecting our Lüqi army and our Bingzhou. They are heroes! The Protectorate of the Xiongnu Commandery, in recognition of their loyalty and bravery, hereby issues this special pension!"

He tilted his head slightly, gesturing to the area behind him.

A cavalryman, his body wrapped in bandages, led forward a strong ox and three plump sheep.

"This is the compensation for the two Liu brothers: one cow and three sheep. In addition, the Protectorate of the Xiongnu will allocate money, grain and cloth monthly until the two Liu brothers' son comes of age, ensuring that the mother and son have no worries about food and clothing!"

Zhao Yun raised his head, his forehead covered in dirt and bits of grass, but his eyes were filled with unwavering determination as he looked at his grief-stricken family.

"From this day forward, you will be Zhao Yun's elder, and the wife and children of Brother Liu will be Zhao Yun's family! As long as the military government is here, we will protect your family! If anything goes wrong, Zhao Yun... will be held accountable even if he dies ten thousand times!"

The old woman looked at the young general kneeling before her with tears in her eyes, noticing the bloodshot in his eyes and the heavy weight of guilt and promise he made.

Looking again at the cattle and sheep that represented hope for survival, the overwhelming resentment and grief in his heart seemed to be torn open.

She reached out her trembling hand, not to help Zhao Yun up, but to gently stroke the cold, coarse cloth bundle on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"My son..." she sobbed, finally letting out a long, sorrowful sigh. The young woman held her child, looking at Zhao Yun with a complex expression—grief, resentment, but also a hint of... bewildered gratitude.

Zhao Yun kowtowed deeply once more, his forehead touching the cold ground again: "Yun... on behalf of Brother Liu... thanks our parents for their kindness in raising us! Thanks to my sister-in-law... for her hard work in managing the household!"

He lay prostrate on the ground, not getting up for a long time.

A gust of wind blew by, ruffling a few stray strands of hair at his temples.

Zhang Xian then slowly dismounted, walked closer, and addressed Liu Er's family and the surrounding villagers in a deep voice,

"I am Zhang Xian, the General of the Xiongnu and the leader of the Jiazi Army. My Jiazi Army is dedicated to protecting our borders and ensuring the safety of our people. All sons and daughters of my Jiazi Army who are wounded or killed in battle or on the job will receive full compensation, without the slightest deficiency! All orphans will be properly cared for! This oath is witnessed by Heaven and Earth!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a calming power.

As the villagers watched this renowned general who had personally led his troops to apologize and distribute generous compensation, the fear and alienation in their eyes gradually gave way to a complex emotion.

Zhang Xian squatted down and helped the weeping old woman.

“Aunt, come with me to Luqi. It’s a bit inconvenient now that there are no men in the family. I can take care of things better if you go to Luqi.”

As he spoke, he looked at the little child who still looked completely bewildered.

"Erlang's child is growing up. If he goes to Luqi, there will be a special school to teach him to read, and he will have a good future."

"General."

The old woman's face was streaked with tears, and she tremblingly stretched out a calloused hand to tell of the hardships of her life.

Zhang Xian grabbed him and helped him up from the ground.

"General, thank you."

"well,"

A sigh dissipated in the wind.

But along with that sigh arose a burning reverence and eagerness among the many young people in the village.

On the way back to Lüchi, the convoy had a few more people.

They continued on their journey, stopping frequently. The number of cattle and sheep in the convoy remained the same, but the number of people gradually increased.

Twenty days later, Zhang Xian and his group returned to Lüchi.

He had already sent a fast horse back and instructed Han Ji to repair a new residential area to house the orphans of the fallen soldiers.

The houses in the residential area are all five-room units with a small yard. The yard is not big, but it is enough to raise a bull and some other livestock.

The residential area is located between the county town and Jiaqiying, so that help can be quickly provided from both sides whether one is going to town or encountering difficulties.

By the time they return to Lüchi, the houses outside the city will be completed.

He personally settled the families of the 211 war dead.

Some families have orphans and widows, while others have only elderly parents left.

Just as he had promised, the children of those who died in battle would receive free education, and he would support their wives and children.

Those without children shall choose one of their brothers to raise as their heir. If they have no children or brothers, their parents shall become the parents of the Gadki army, and the Gadki army shall be responsible for their care and funeral arrangements.

The remains of the fallen soldiers were placed in the cemetery and offered incense and sacrifices by the entire Jiaqi Army.

As long as there is even one member of the Jiaqi Army still alive, this incense offering will never be extinguished!

It took half a day to settle the orphans, and by the time Zhang Xian returned to the Luqi County government office, the moon was already high in the sky.

Inside the county government office, Han Ji was still diligently busy with his official duties, and Gu Yu was doing the same.

"Lord!"

"Lord!"

The two looked up when they saw someone come in.

When they realized who it was, they all stood up and bowed.

Zhang Xian waved his hand, his face exuding authority without anger.

He walked to the head seat and sat down, then got straight to the point.

"The cavalry suffered heavy losses this time. Although no less than three thousand were beheaded in two months, and more than three thousand were beheaded in the battle of Baihe Valley, our cavalry also lost more than two hundred brothers!"

"And all of them were lost in the Battle of White River Valley!"

Zhang Xian's words carried a hint of coldness.

Han Ji was no fool; he immediately understood the underlying meaning in those words.

"Someone stabbed me in the back?!"

Zhang Xian looked at him, his face cold.

"Wang Ze of Taiyuan! I've already let him go once! This time! I want him dead!"

Gu Yu shivered, and old memories resurfaced in her mind.

However, the thought that his entire clan had already pledged allegiance to him gave him some strength, but he still said in a slightly trembling voice, "My lord, if we were to take action against Wang Ze, we would be provoking the entire Wang clan."

"The Wang family of Bingzhou has been cultivating Bingzhou for a long time, and now their brother is an official in the imperial court, backed by the Ten Attendants. We..."

Zhang Xian waved his hand to stop Gu Yu from speaking further. He looked at Han Ji and asked, "Gongzhi, are there any forces in Taiyuan Prefecture that are at odds with the Wang family and could be used by me?"

Han Ji pondered for a moment, then a glint of light flashed in his eyes as he tentatively asked, "Perhaps it's possible?"

Zhang Xian smiled.

Han Ji, who had followed him since Taoyuan, understood his thoughts.

Zhang Xian didn't have the ability or the political capital to fight against powerful clans.

but!
As is well known, especially among people from Changsha.

A person who is killed will die! This is an ironclad rule!
If we say...
Of course, I mean if.

If a group of bandits appeared in or around Taiyuan, and by sheer coincidence learned of the movements of Wang Ze, the head of the Wang family in Taiyuan, and then, driven by greed, ambushed and robbed him, accidentally killing him in the process, do you think that makes sense?
what?
You asked if killing Wang Ze would enrage the Wang family and cause them to take their anger out on Zhang Xian.
That brings us to another well-known matter.

It is well known that some people can become extremely angry.

This doesn't affect anyone else, so it's nothing serious.

If you insist on causing something big!

Come on! Look at my army of nearly 10,000 and tell me, what do you want to do?

What? You have connections in the imperial court? And you even have the Ten Attendants, the most powerful eunuchs in the court, backing you up?

No, did I give that 200-year-old ginseng because I had too much money at home and nowhere to put it?

Do you have ten attendants?
I'm done with it?
Um! ?

Violence is never the best way to solve problems.

But it's used to solve problems for people.

That would be perfect!

(End of this chapter)