Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3809: Suppressing the Invaders
The tent was completely silent.

Luan Di Amo laughed and laughed, then looked at Pang Tong and the other two, and the smile slowly froze on his face.

A murderous aura permeated the tent.

Zhang Liao crossed his arms and coldly stared at the Hu leader, as if he were looking at a piece of meat.

Zhao Yun suppressed his anger, but his gaze fell on Pang Tong. He believed that Pang Tong was not the kind of person who would resort to such a ruthless scheme.

Various types of gloves did not appear in later generations.

History has clearly shown that, in some aspects, the gap between ancient feudal dynasties and the modern government of the United States was not as large as imagined.

In both ancient feudal ruling groups and the modern US government hierarchy, in order to evade certain responsibilities, responsibility was often shifted by establishing "intermediate layers." For example, the "market guilds" mentioned by the Hu people, or other similar organizations, and even the Three Dukes of the Han Dynasty, were all institutional buffer systems designed to be used as scapegoats at any time.

This framework can maintain a distance between decision-makers and those being managed in form, but in substance it establishes a responsibility transmission mechanism that can be severed at any time, in order to maintain the appearance of certain procedural justice at the top level.

In ancient times, controlling relatives was used as a means of coercion. In modern times, implicit constraints are formed through the rights and interests of parents and children. Both of these methods package institutional oppression as "not coercion" and "voluntary principle," and both use the illusion of voluntariness to transfer core responsibility, using an informal intermediary structure as a "breakdown valve."

The more a scenario emphasizes voluntariness, the deeper the underlying institutional coercion often lies.

Throughout history, rulers have found that establishing intermediary organizations to implement "mandatory apportionments that can be denied at any time" is often more sustainable than direct commands.

It was all voluntary, everything was voluntary.

Voluntary overtime, voluntary payment, voluntary waiver...

This mechanism maintains the efficiency of governance while providing room for exemption from responsibility, becoming a governance technique that transcends time. Therefore, even though many people understand, or even clearly see, that many problems have arisen in the process of "voluntary" implementation, it will still continue in the "trial" or "provisional" stage for several years, a dozen years, or even decades.

Just like a certain game's closed beta, open beta, and public beta, it just keeps testing...

Isn't Luan Di Amo's suggestion a viable solution to "institutional coercion" in the current context?
Luan Di Amo claims it's "voluntary," but can it really be "voluntary"?
So, are officials who believe in this "voluntary" principle and keep emphasizing it stupid or evil?
Pang Tong's face remained expressionless until Luandi Amo stopped laughing and shrank back with a look of fear. Only then did Pang Tong slowly speak, "This strategy... it does sound quite 'ingenious'..."

Pang Tong paused, and just as a hint of joy reappeared on Luandi Amo's face, his tone abruptly changed, his gaze sharpening. "However, Chief Luandi, there is something I do not understand, and I would appreciate your clarification."

"My lord, my lord, please speak." Luan Di Amo bowed hurriedly.

"If we follow your plan," Pang Tong asked slowly and deliberately, "whose banner are these 'voluntarily' attacking the northern city under? Whose land is being stained with blood? If they are defeated, whose morale will be shaken? If they are lucky enough to succeed, whose city will they occupy? And ultimately... how will the people of Hebei, and the hearts of the people of the world, view my General of the Cavalry, and how will they view my lord, General of the Cavalry?"

Luan Di Amo's expression shifted, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He involuntarily wiped it away, 'This, ah, this... I meant well...'

"Driving the people into a chasm may bring temporary gains, but it will destroy the very foundation of our nation and the very essence of our dynasty!" Pang Tong's gaze swept across the crowd in the tent, finally settling on Luandi Amo, whose face was pale and who was drenched in cold sweat. "Our lord, General Huo Qubing, is here to comfort the people and punish the guilty. He wields a righteous army and the promise to rebuild order! If he were to resort to such underhanded tricks, how would he be any different from the likes of Dong Zhuo and Li Zicheng? Wouldn't that be severing himself from the Han Dynasty and making the people of the world shudder?"

Pang Tong leaned forward slightly, staring at Luandi Amo. "Luandi Chieftain, your tribe submitted to us because you admired our lord's benevolence and trusted in the laws of our cavalry. Yet today's actions are undermining our lord's benevolence and destroying the laws of our cavalry!"

Luan Di Amo immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, but deep in his eyes, there was still a trace of incomprehension and grievance that his brilliant plan had not been adopted.

Pang Tong's gaze slowly swept over the generals and subordinates in the tent, and finally, like a cold iron clamp, locked onto the Hu leader on the ground.

Pang Tong's voice echoed in the silent tent, "You claim it was voluntary? Using relatives as hostages, luring people with greed, forcing them to their deaths—what cruel official or tyrant throughout history wouldn't do such a thing? This isn't your invention… Hah, don't even mention picking up scraps; you're picking up filth from someone else's work, it's utterly repulsive!"

Pang Tong looked at the Hu general and slowly shook his head. "Why did the six states call the laws of the Former Qin tyrannical? The Qin laws were crude. Although Qin clearly stipulated three ranks of labor service, the six states still imposed additional corvée labor and property tax, which was still insufficient. They added the system of voluntary labor to offset fines, ransoms, and debts… Haha, voluntary… a brilliant plan! Who benefited from this voluntary service? Did Guanzhong gain the advantage, or did the Qin king obtain the money and provisions? Where did the people's voluntary contributions go?! The six states all claimed to have orders from above and the tyranny of Qin, yet why didn't they rebel? When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, both commoners, were forced into garrison duty according to Qin law, they should have volunteered, yet they were still forcibly conscripted. Only then did kings, nobles, generals, and ministers roar across the marshes!"

"Needless to say," Pang Tong said firmly, "Wang Mang, who usurped the Han throne, also habitually used such tricks. He falsely claimed to uphold ancient systems, soliciting voluntary land donations, while in reality he levied taxes and conscripted labor. He called himself the people, but in reality he harmed them! What was his end? He died, his state perished, and he became a laughingstock to the world!"

During the reign of Emperor Ping of Han, Wang Mang took the lead in donating one million coins and thirty hectares of land to the Ministry of Agriculture to help the poor. This was certainly a good thing. However, later, under Wang Mang's influence, more than 230 ministers and officials donated land and houses. This may not have been entirely "voluntary".

And Wang Mang's actions after he ascended to high office, whether to deal with disasters and financial difficulties or to promote idealistic reforms, inevitably became tools for political struggles and power selection among the middle and upper levels.

Pang Tong slammed his fist on the table, angrily declaring, "All of this is using the guise of voluntariness to carry out coercion! It's using justice as a cover to conceal selfish power struggles! This is a sign of national ruin and a path to disaster! Our lord, General of the Cavalry, rose from humble beginnings and deeply understands the hardships of the people. For years he has promoted education, encouraged agriculture, and established systems—all to eradicate the accumulated abuses of the previous dynasty and create a new, enlightened world! How can he emulate such demonic and treacherous actions, destroying his own foundation?!"

Pang Tong stared coldly at Luandi Amo, "You offered this plan not out of foolishness, but out of wishful thinking and a desire for cunning! What do you consider my lord, General Huo Qubing, to be? And what do you consider the other generals to be?!"

Luan Di Amo knelt on the ground, his face ashen from Pang Tong's incisive questioning and historical recollection.

Pang Tong glanced at him with some disgust, and had the urge to order him to be taken out and beheaded. But the next moment he realized that if he simply took Luan Di Amo out and beheaded him, although he could establish his authority, he might not be able to truly win over the masses.

Especially with those Hu tribes who have recently submitted, unnecessary suspicions can easily arise...

Pang Tong pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice to those outside the tent: "Immediately summon all leaders of the Luandi tribe above the rank of centurion to assemble at the drill ground outside the camp gate! Also, notify the leaders of the other Hu tribes to observe!"

The order was passed on quickly.

Within a quarter of an hour, hundreds of people had gathered on the training ground outside the gate. In addition to dozens of middle and lower-level leaders of the Luan Di tribe, many other leaders of surrendered tribes had also been drawn over. The crowd looked at each other, wondering what had happened, and the air was filled with unease and speculation.

Surrounded by Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and a group of guards, Pang Tong ascended a wooden platform in the training ground.

Pang Tong ordered that Luan Di Amo, who was ashen-faced, be brought to the front of the stage as well.

The autumn wind blew Pang Tong's gray-blue robes, and his dark, plump face showed no trace of a smile, only a chilling expression.

The chatter of the crowd gradually faded, leaving only the fluttering of banners in the wind. "Gentlemen!" Pang Tong called out in a steady, powerful voice, "The leader of the Luan Di tribe just offered a plan, saying that our army is facing a food shortage and this could alleviate our immediate crisis. His strategy is to have the people of the southern city 'voluntarily' attack the northern city, using their relatives as hostages, and with the market associations acting as intermediaries, he could drive tens of thousands to their deaths without our army bearing any responsibility. Afterwards, if public resentment boils over, simply executing a few market association leaders will quell the unrest! He calls this 'voluntary' method 'a win-win situation'!"

Pang Tong emphasized the word "voluntary," his words dripping with sarcasm.

This was immediately understood by many of the Hu (non-Han) leaders in the audience who could understand Chinese, and their expressions changed drastically.

Those from the Luan Di tribe, in particular, looked at their leader with suspicion and uncertainty.

"Whether this plan is truly ingenious... it's not enough to just say it!" Pang Tong changed the subject, scanning the Luan Di tribe below the platform. "Whether this method is good or bad needs someone to demonstrate it first to verify its effectiveness! Since this plan was proposed by the Luan Di leader, his men must also be well-versed in it, and their loyalty is commendable!"

Pang Tong looked at the limp Luan Di Amo and roared, "Since that's the case! Luan Di Amo! I, the strategist, will give you this opportunity! You are hereby ordered to immediately lead all your troops as the first 'voluntary' force to attack the southeast corner of the north city! If you win, there will naturally be a great reward! If you lose... consider it your voluntary sacrifice for your brilliant strategy!"

These words caused an uproar on the training ground!
I was a little confused before, but now I understand everything...

What volunteerism, what generous reward? To launch a direct assault on the strategic points of the northern city is clearly suicide!

Pang Tong completely ignored the ashen-faced Luan Di Amo, his gaze fixed directly on the pale-faced Luan Di tribe leaders below the stage. "Or… if any of you Luan Di tribe members feel there's anything wrong with Luan Di Amo's strategy, you can 'voluntarily' discuss with him other foolproof methods to conquer the northern city and obtain supplies! You have half an incense stick's time! If you can't come up with anything, then proceed according to the Luan Di leader's plan!"

The pressure instantly shifted to all the members of the Luan Di tribe.

Send them to their deaths?

Who volunteered?!
How could they come up with a solution for supplying provisions that even Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao would find difficult in a short period of time?
How is this possible?

After a brief silence, a centurion with a scarred face shoved aside the person in front of him and stepped forward. His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at Luandi Amo on the platform and roared in a mixture of barbarian and broken Chinese: "Madman! Fool! What kind of devilish idea is this! Sending us to our deaths, and you call it 'voluntary'?! You want to curry favor with your superiors, but why use the lives of our entire tribe to pay the price?! You can go yourself with this kind of 'voluntary'!"

Before the roar had even faded, the centurion, to everyone's astonishment, suddenly drew his sword from his waist and, like a furious lion, pounced on Luan Di Amo on the platform!

The incident happened so suddenly that the guards below the stage were about to stop him from going forward, but Pang Tong stopped them with a look.

The centurion of the Luandi tribe rushed up the wooden platform and dragged Luandi Amo to the edge of the platform. Then, a flash of light appeared!
*Pfft!*

Blood splattered!
The centurion's sword plunged fiercely into Luan Di Amo's chest!
Luan Di Amo stared in disbelief at his crazed subordinate, seemingly wanting to say something, as he gripped the centurion's collar tightly. But then he coughed up blood, collapsed limply to the ground, and died.

The centurion didn't even draw his sword. He simply threw Luan Di'amo off the wooden platform and turned to roar at the stunned Hu people below: "Did you all see that?! This is what he calls 'voluntary'! Who wants such 'voluntary'?! We joined the General of the Flying Cavalry seeking survival and glory, not to be driven to our deaths like cattle by this fool! The General of the Flying Cavalry is benevolent, and Military Advisor Pang is just; they would never do such a vicious thing! This damned fool shouldn't use the damned pretext of 'voluntary' to harm us, to harm everyone! This guy deserves to die! Tell me! Doesn't he deserve to die?!"

The drill ground was deathly silent, then erupted into a buzz of discussion in various languages.

A moment later, someone echoed, "He deserves to die!"

"We don't want this kind of 'voluntary' offer!"

All the Hu people, regardless of which tribe they came from, clearly saw what had just happened.

Anyone who isn't too stupid will understand the vicious scheme Luan Di Amo devised, and why Pang Tong chose to deal with it in this way.

Pang Tong surveyed the various expressions on the faces of the Hu tribesmen and the cavalrymen below the platform. He knew he needed to further clarify the boundaries to completely eradicate this idea of ​​"voluntary" action. He said in a deep voice, "Some may have doubts about today's events! In the army, obedience is paramount. Under orders, even facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, we must advance. What difference is there between this and what Luandi Amo called 'compulsion' or 'voluntary'?"

Pang Tong paused briefly, allowing the question to settle in everyone's minds, before explaining clearly and firmly, "Firstly, the fundamental issue lies in 'reality matching name and reality'! Military orders are explicit! Why we fight, how we fight, the rewards and punishments, the risks—all are clearly stated to the troops, without deception or concealment! Soldiers, upon enlisting, know they have the responsibility to defend the land and its people, and the danger of charging into battle! This is a clearly defined responsibility, a commitment and commitment built on informed consent! As for Luan Di Amo's strategy, it claims to be 'voluntary,' but in reality, it is deception and coercion! Enticing with false benefits, threatening with hidden harms, even taking relatives hostage—this is deception, this is coercion, this is a trampling of intelligence and dignity!"

"Secondly, it lies in 'shared responsibility'!" Pang Tong's gaze swept over the Hu people below the stage, and also over the officers and cadets of various ranks around him. "In our army, under military orders, responsibility is shared by the commander and the soldiers! If soldiers fight bravely and win, it is due to the effective command of the officers and cadets, and also to the soldiers' accumulated merits and achievements! If any soldier is cowardly and flees in battle, it is the soldier's responsibility! Similarly, if soldiers fight bravely but suffer losses due to poor strategy, it is the fault of the officers and cadets for inadequate planning! In a battle, the responsibility lies with every soldier, and also with every general and cadet!"

"And Luan Di Amo's strategy, which forces the 'market associations' to do the work, ensures that the common people receive no benefit whatsoever! All the losses and responsibilities fall on the market associations and the people! This is the act of a cowardly and timid person, utterly unacceptable for taking responsibility! No one, past or present, has ever succeeded in seeking only benefits while shirking responsibility!"

Pang Tong's voice gradually rose, carrying with it a powerful conviction: "Our army fights to quell chaos, restore peace, and protect the common people! This is what a righteous army should do! To drive innocent civilians to fill trenches, sacrificing their lives for personal glory or to escape hardship—how ​​is such behavior any different from that of bandits?! Luan Di Amo's strategy is wicked! His methods are despicable! If today we drive innocent civilians to their deaths, will we drive equally innocent people like you to your deaths tomorrow? If this continues, how can we establish an army? How can we establish a nation?"

Pang Tong looked again at the Hu tribesmen, his tone softening slightly, "You who have submitted are now members of my General of the Cavalry. Know that the strength of our army lies in its strict laws, its commitment to rewarding and punishing, and above all, in its benevolence and righteousness, and its upright conduct! We are not here to coerce or deceive others!"

"Did you all understand?" Pang Tong finally said in a deep voice, "Military orders must be obeyed; there's no such thing as voluntary or involuntary! What Luandi Amo calls 'voluntary' is a pretense of choice, when in fact there is no choice! It's deception, it's coercion! Our lord, with his benevolence that extends to all corners of the land, will absolutely not allow anyone, in any form, to play this 'passive voluntary' trick and commit such an unjust and immoral act! Anyone who dares to overstep this line will suffer the same fate as Luandi Amo!"

The confusion and suspicion in the eyes of many Hu leaders gradually dissipated, replaced by understanding and awe.

Most of the Hu people understood that in the Flying Cavalry, obedience was not the same as blind obedience, and bravery was not the same as cruelty. True strength came from strict discipline and unwavering morality, not from cunning schemes.

Of course, there are still some non-Han people who are simple-minded. Even though Pang Tong specifically explained it, they still can't distinguish between military orders and being willing to do something...

Pang Tong, of course, didn't need everyone to understand. His gaze swept over the crowd below, and seeing that most already understood, he said, "The Luan Di division will be temporarily under the command of the centurions! All divisions, disperse and remain at your posts, fulfilling your duties!"

No one cared about Luan Di Amo's death; some even felt it was a relief.

Pang Tong didn't want to delve deeper, nor did he want to get involved before the great battle, but that didn't mean he wouldn't continue the investigation.

Pang Tong's on-site instruction instilled in all the Hu tribesmen and even the entire army a profound truth: within the Flying Cavalry, there are certain bottom lines that cannot be crossed, and certain shortcuts that lead only to destruction.

Because if such things aren't strictly controlled from the very beginning, then there will be more and more "voluntary" acts under various pretexts...

Benevolence and righteousness may come at a price, but evil must never be allowed to use their name!