Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3827 Neither Sowing nor Harvesting
The great river rushes on, as if it has been flowing for thousands of years, and as if it will continue to flow for thousands of years to come.

Zhu Ling's traces of going ashore were simply covered up.

Unless you get close and do a thorough reconnaissance, you generally can't see it. Would Cao Cao's army really go to the riverbank to do a thorough patrol?

Obviously not.

If that were the case, Zhu Ling wouldn't have led his troops ashore at this ferry crossing.

The darkness of night provides the best cover, but it also brings a biting chill.

The night raid on Beiman Mountain was only the first step.

"Awake? If you're awake, drag her over here..."

Zhu Ling said.

Two cavalrymen responded and half-carried, half-dragged, a Cao army sergeant whose hands were tied behind his back, and pressed him down in front of Zhu Ling.

"Your name is Li Qi, right?" Zhu Ling sat on a rock, using the firelight to examine the prisoner. "This is your command flag... and these... right?"

Zhu Ling fiddled with the items she had taken from Li Qi.

Li Qi had a rugged face. Although he was in a sorry state, he stared with a stubborn look in his eyes. He ignored Zhu Ling and turned his head left and right to check something.

"Stop looking..." Zhu Ling wiped her battle sword. "Everyone else is dead... As for you, do you want to live or die?"

"Speak! Tell us everything you know!" A cavalryman kicked Li Qi. "If you utter a single lie, I'll chop off your head!"

Li Qi turned his head, spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and said in a muffled voice, "Kill me if you want! I know nothing!"

The cavalryman was furious and raised his sword sheath to strike Li Qi.

Zhu Ling raised her hand to stop him.

Zhu Ling stood up, walked to Li Qi, squatted down, and looked at him calmly: "You're a real man. In war, each side fights for its own lord. Even if you hadn't said it, I would have admired you."

Zhu Ling's tone was unexpectedly calm, which surprised Li Qi.

Zhu Ling didn't rush to ask any more questions, but instead took out a silver coin from the cavalry rank and presented it to Li Qi.

"This is yours...this is genuine..." Zhu Ling then took out several more coins, dull in color, thin and rough, with blurry characters—these were the inferior copper coins that were rampant in illegal minting throughout Shandong—and threw them on the ground. "These are the bad coins...they give you this kind of money as your military pay?"

All the money was taken from Li Qi.

Zhu Ling handed the exquisite silver coin of the General of the Cavalry to Li Qi and asked, "Let me ask you, since Cao Cao raised his army and fought for many years, traversing Qing and Xu, and pacifying Nanyang and Hebei, what promises did you make to your soldiers, or to the people of Ji, Yan, and Yu provinces?"

"Huh?" Li Qi was stunned.

Zhu Ling flicked the silver coin, then caught it again, and said slowly, "For example... something like reducing taxes, equalizing land distribution, increasing soldiers' pay, or... ensuring the people live in peace and prosperity, and that everyone is happy..."

Zhu Ling suddenly laughed, then pointed to the few cheap copper coins he had thrown on the ground, "And so all these years have passed... and you're still being given this kind of worthless money?"

Li Qi's lips moved, as if he wanted to refute, but his mind went blank.

Tax cuts?
It seems that it was mentioned, but in the end, what fell on the shoulders of these lower-level military households and ordinary people was only increasingly heavy levies and forced labor.

Equal distribution of land area?
That was something only powerful and aristocratic families could enjoy.

Military pay?

He recalled that every time salaries were paid, his superiors would always find various reasons to withhold or delay payment.

Even when the money is actually received, it often contains inferior currency that is not accepted in the market, and the amount is often insufficient...

Seeing Li Qi fall silent, his face showing struggle and recollection, Zhu Ling smiled.

Zhu Ling gestured for his men to untie Li Qi, and then slapped the silver coin of the cavalry rank into Li Qi's hand.

"Do you know, this money was supervised by the General of the Cavalry. The General promised to improve the lives of people in Guanzhong and Bingliang, to make the markets prosperous and merchants travel freely, and this money is proof of that! It's of uniform quality, of full weight, and fair to all, young and old! Now look at those…" Zhu Ling pointed to the inferior coins on the ground, "What kind of garbage is this? Nobody in Guanzhong would accept it! But… do you know why this kind of bad money is still rampant in Shandong and the Central Plains?"

Li Qi subconsciously shook his head, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "I... I heard... it was Dong Zhuo back then, Dong Zhuo minted a lot of counterfeit money..."

"Haha!" Zhu Ling sneered, his tone dripping with undisguised sarcasm. "It's not just Dong Zhuo's fault! While the inferior coins Dong Zhuo minted are indeed bad, their quantity is ultimately limited! What truly allows these inferior coins to flood the markets and bleed you dry is the Shandong gentry and local powerful families who occupy high positions in the court, spouting righteousness and morality! It is they who secretly open forges and mint these inferior coins! Dong Zhuo has been dead for many years, yet the inferior coins in Shandong and the Central Plains continue to be minted! New ones are constantly being minted! They drive you to fight for them, exchanging your blood and flesh for their fame and fortune, and then turn around to treat you with these inferior coins that even livestock wouldn't stoop to! You fight on the front lines, while they enjoy themselves in the rear, using the most despicable means to squeeze every last drop of profit from you!"

Seeing Li Qi's somewhat bewildered expression, Zhu Ling shook her head. "You don't understand, do you? I didn't understand before either… This is their method… Let me put it this way, the wealth of the world is like deer and rabbits in the mountains. Before, the rules were strict, and everyone hunted according to the rules. Although the high-ranking officials and nobles hunted more, ordinary people could still get a share…"

"The world is in chaos now, and rules have vanished. Dong Zhuo was the first to storm into the royal gardens, set fire to the mountains, and openly loot. His actions were so blatant that everyone saw him plundering."

Zhu Ling looked at Li Qi and said, "But do you think he was the only one looting? No. Those governors and prefects who kept shouting about opposing Dong Zhuo, those local noble families, when they saw Dong Zhuo looting, not only did they not stop him, but they immediately fenced off all the mountains and forests in their territories, declared the mountains their property, and then began to hunt and kill indiscriminately within them. The bows and arrows they used were these illegally minted, bad coins."

"So you understand now?" Zhu Ling said, "Dong Zhuo is like that notorious bandit who smashed open the warehouse door, attracting the attention of all the guards. And the local warlords and powerful families are like thousands upon thousands of thieves who, taking advantage of the chaos, pry open your locks and steal everything from your possessions!"

"What they stole was the grain in your granary, the pigs in your pen, your strength, and the future livelihood of your children and grandchildren. When you are driven to desperation by this worthless, corrupt money, and forced to sell your land and even your children, you will find that those who come to buy your land and take your children as slaves are none other than the Li and Zhang families who minted this corrupt money in the first place!"

"So, don't just focus on Chang'an and curse Dong Zhuo! You must also see clearly who is in your hometown, using the exact same methods, reaping your lives day and night!" Zhu Ling's voice suddenly rose, filled with indignation and accusation. "Li Qi! Examine your conscience! Think of the elders of your hometown! What have the Cao family and those powerful clans who depend on them truly given you? Besides endless wars, heavy taxes, and meager wages that barely cover your basic needs, what promises have they fulfilled? Do you still think it's worth it to protect them? What are you gaining by risking your life for them, even unto death?!"

This series of questions struck Li Qi's heart like a heavy hammer.

He looked down at the finely crafted silver coin of the General of the Cavalry in his hand, then at the worthless, privately minted coins on the ground. Images of his dilapidated hometown, his emaciated relatives, the greedy face of his superiors, and those high-ranking aristocratic lords flashed through his mind…

The methods by which the ruling class plunders the wealth of the people may evolve, but they will not be any different in essence.

This has been the case for thousands of years.

If you don't talk about or think about some things, you can still get by in a state of confusion.

But when the veil of secrecy was lifted and the accounts were compared...

A complex mix of resentment, anger, and realization surged into Li Qi's heart. His previous stubbornness and apathy based on his professional identity began to crumble at this moment, under the scrutiny of Zhu Ling's incisive questioning and the weight of the cavalry coins in his hand.

Li Qi opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. He simply gripped the cavalry coin tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his heavy breathing particularly clear in the silent night. Once the bulwark of loyalty develops cracks, its collapse is only a matter of time.

Zhu Ling did not press him further, but instead whispered a few instructions to the soldiers beside her.

A short while later, the soldier brought back a small cloth bag and a neatly folded battle robe.

Zhu Ling opened the cloth bag; inside were several steamed buns exuding the aroma of wheat, and a small piece of dried meat, preserved with salt and looking normal in color. "Whether it's good or bad, you can see for yourself."

Zhu Ling pushed the food and battle robe in front of Li Qi, her voice still calm, "These are the rations and battle robes issued to ordinary soldiers in my army. Take a look, touch them."

Li Qi subconsciously took the steamed bun. It felt solid to the touch, far superior to the black buns he usually ate, which were mixed with a lot of bran and even sand...

And this dried meat...

Although it wasn't much, it was real meat.

Li Qi touched the battle robe again; its thickness and quality were many times better than the tattered, worn-out shirt he was wearing, which was no longer warm enough.

He was a veteran, so he naturally knew what these things meant to an ordinary soldier...

It's about survival, it's about security!
"Among Cao Cao's troops," Zhu Ling said slowly, her gaze piercing, as if she could see through all of Li Qi's past hardships, "do you ordinary soldiers receive your rations on time and in full? Are the robes you're issued truly sufficient to protect you from the autumn and winter winds? It seems that delays and deductions are commonplace, and the distributed supplies are mostly of poor quality."

Li Qi's throat bobbed, unable to refute. He thought of his brothers, who often went hungry, and in winter they could only huddle together for warmth, with many freezing to death.

Shangguan's promise was like the sound of the great river—you could hear it, but you couldn't grasp it.

Seeing Li Qi's increasingly gloomy expression, Zhu Ling knew the time was right. He looked around, then beckoned to a soldier, "Niu Dalang! Come here for a moment!"

A cavalryman standing a little distance away walked over. He had a simple face and carried a familiar scent to Li Qi, that of a low-ranking soldier.

"Look!" Zhu Ling pointed to the soldier and introduced him, "His name is Niu Dalang. He was originally a refugee. You might as well ask him what his position is in our army now, how much he's paid, and what his family's situation is like."

Niu Dalang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhu Ling, then looked at Li Qi with a candid gaze. "My father was originally from Shandong. He fled to Guanzhong and was allocated land, but was later unjustly beaten to death by corrupt local officials. It was the General's men who dealt with the officials and saved my sister and my lives. Later, I joined the army, and now, having accumulated military merits, I've been promoted to squad leader. My pay is paid monthly, always the full rank of a cavalryman, never delayed. Last year, I had the money I saved sent home through the army. My sister wrote to say she bought some millet seeds, repaired the roof, and raised a cow and three sheep… things I never dared to dream of before."

Niu Dalang's words were simple and unadorned, without any exaggeration, yet they were more impactful than any impassioned declaration.

Li Qi stared blankly at Niu Dalang, as if he saw another possible life trajectory.

Why are the circumstances so different for two men who are both low-ranking soldiers?
Zhu Ling spoke up at the opportune moment: "Li Qi, don't you understand? The Cao family and their gentry treat you like dirt, like dogs and horses, using you when they need you and discarding you when they don't! Have they ever truly cared whether you live or die? Have they ever cared whether your parents, wife, and children are hungry or cold? Are such people still worthy of your loyalty?"

Zhu Ling stepped forward, her gaze fixed intently on Li Qi. "Under the General's command, merit is earned through swordsmanship, and rank and reward are bestowed upon those who achieve victory! The General is a man of his word, improving the people's livelihood, strengthening the army, and enriching the people—this is no empty talk! This money, this clothing and food, and Da Lang's words are all proof! By keeping secrets and remaining loyal to those who exploit you and treat you like pigs and dogs, you've lost not only your own life, but also a new path—a path where you and your family and friends could have lived more like human beings! I ask you, is it worth it?!"

"Now," Zhu Ling's voice softened, "tell me everything you know: the details of the defenses here, the contact methods and codes of Cao Cao's scouts! This isn't betrayal; this is abandoning darkness for light! It's for yourself, and for countless brothers like you, to find a true path to survival!"

Li Qi's body trembled violently. He lowered his head, looking at the coin in his hand that seemed to carry warmth, then looked up at Niu Dalang with his sincere face, and finally his gaze swept over the silent but bright-eyed cavalrymen.

The hardships of the past, the harshness of superiors, the sorrowful faces of relatives back home...

Ultimately, it broke down the last dam in his heart.

Li Qi raised his head, a look of relief in his eyes. "I said... there are three sentry posts on this mountain... during the day they use flags as signals, and at night they use the flickering of firelight as a warning..."

……

……

The next day, as dawn broke, the early autumn mist, like a thin veil, enveloped the mountains and camps on both sides of the Yellow River.

At the foot of Mount Beiman, a group of about twenty Cao soldiers, led by a military officer with a weary face, a crooked helmet, and somewhat loose armor, slowly made their way along the path.

Their task is routine patrols.

This group of Cao's soldiers had no warhorses. When they arrived at the foot of Beiman Mountain, they looked up at the hillside in front of them, which was not steep but still required some effort to climb. They then touched their rumbling stomachs and showed obvious impatience on their faces.

Recent news from the camp says that there has been another problem with the transport of supplies, and even the rations of these elite troops of the Central Guard Army have been reduced...

Cao Jun, a military academy student, didn't want to climb mountains.

I was out on patrol early in the morning, my stomach was empty, and the cold air was seeping into my body, so I really couldn't muster any energy.

"Wang Er! Li Qi! Zhao Mazi! If you're still alive, give me a shout!"

Military cadet Cao Jun cupped his hands around his mouth, strained his voice, and shouted wildly towards the misty mountaintop.

The sound carried far in the quiet morning, startling several crows in the woods.

He did not personally lead people up the mountain to inspect as per procedure; instead, he craned his neck and squinted at the outline of the sentry post that was faintly visible on the mountaintop.

After a moment, a figure was seen moving in the direction of the mountaintop, and then a small green flag was raised and waved three times to the left and three times to the right.

"Ah..." Military cadet Cao looked around, then turned in another direction. "Zhao Mazi's alright... Ah, Wang Er and Li Qi's alright too... Okay, let's go back!"

Cao Jun, the military academy officer, immediately waved his hand, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "I heard it all, I saw it all, everything's fine!"

One of the soldiers nearby asked, "Shall we return to camp now?"

"Back to camp my ass!" Cao Jun's military officer cursed. "Back to camp so early? You think you haven't done enough work, huh?! Let's find a place and see if we can hunt some rabbits and pheasants... We can't survive like this without some meat!"

The custom in Shandong and Central China is not to judge whether subordinates have completed their tasks, but rather whether they are "idle" or not...

Some managers believe that subordinates' "busyness" is itself a sign of obedience and recognition of their authority. If subordinates leave work on time, or seem "idle," then in the eyes of managers at Shandong Zhongyuan, this is seen as "not working at full capacity," "lacking respect for superiors," "not working diligently," or "not treating the company like home"...

Oh, it's 'not treating the campsite like home'.

Logically speaking, once someone has completed their task, they can rest unless there is an emergency. However, it is clear that these officials in Shandong and Zhongyuan always feel that it is unacceptable for their subordinates to be too idle. They must keep their subordinates "busy" in order to be considered as having "effective management".

So while it's true that Cao Jun's military academy was lazy and didn't climb the mountain, thus saving a lot of time, if they had just returned to camp, they would definitely have been assigned to do something else.

The soldiers understood immediately and their faces lit up with joy. They cheered in hushed tones, some with gleaming eyes, others licking their lips, and their spirits instantly lifted.

While the officers might be able to get some extra food, the lower-ranking officers and ordinary soldiers were already starving.

Although the patrol job was arduous, it was also a rare opportunity to escape the sight of the main camp and find food in secret.

Cao Jun, the military academy officer, waved his hand dismissively. "Brothers, you've been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk on patrols. How can you go back empty-handed? Let's go check out that woods over there, hunt some game, and have a treat for the brothers! Be careful, don't make too much noise!"

The group changed direction, ignoring the sentries on the hilltop, and excitedly headed towards the woodland where prey was said to be found. Military discipline and regulations, sentry duties—all seemed powerless in the face of hunger.

Filling our stomachs is the most important thing right now.

(End of this chapter)