The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 323 Crisis
If there were any other way, who would want to be a disaster victim?

If given even the slightest choice, who would take such a huge risk and bring their entire family to the desert to make a living?

In any case, staying inside the pass as a disaster victim would most likely mean starving to death, since the disaster had lasted for many years with no sign of abating, and many people had already given up hope.

That being the case.

Wouldn't it be a waste to waste it?

If you don't treat ordinary people as human beings, but rather as expendable resources, then exchanging ten herders for one Hu person would be worthwhile. This makes it easier to understand Hu Liyong's thinking and Zhang Wenjin's hesitation.

Thousands of years.

This has always been how we treat ordinary people.

They have never treated ordinary people as equals.

Although the Song Dynasty had advanced ideas such as the principle of regulated collection of taxes from the people and the principle of timely use of resources, when officials faced thorny issues and had to make choices, they often still chose to make the people suffer.

Inside the big tent.

Governor-General of Datong Zhang Wenjin, General of Tiancheng Army Hu Liyong, General of Yongxing Army Left Route Feng Meng, Guerrilla General Wei Yi, Assistant General of Yongxing Army Right Route Jiang Wanhua, and Assistant General Li Qi.
Zhang Wenjin sat at the head of the table.

The generals of the Tiancheng Army and the Western Army, led by Hu Liyong and Wang Xin, lined up in order on the right.

The general closest to Zhang Wenjin on the left is the commander of the left flank, followed by the commander of the right flank, and then the other generals are arranged in order.

There were no fewer than twenty generals inside the main tent.

Outside the tent.

There were no fewer than a hundred officers and soldiers.

The surrounding area was heavily guarded by soldiers.

Also present were the clerks and scribes beside Zhang Wenjin, as well as several civil officials, such as the Inspector Zhai Wen. Old acquaintances Tao Sheng and former registrar Zhao Tao were also present, but they were not currently qualified to be in the tent.

Wang Xin has been in Datong for several years, and today is the most complete gathering of the generals of Datong's military garrison.

Having people together doesn't mean having a unified mind.

Wang Xin knew that many people misunderstood him.

Hu Liyong's attitude stems from his belief that protecting the herders is for his own benefit.

They viewed the herders outside the Great Wall as their own personal matter.

Wang Xin met Hu Liyong's gaze without flinching, which surprised Hu Liyong.

The expressions on everyone's faces were subtle.

Some watched the show, some were worried, some were eager to try, and some remained calm.

Zhang Wenjin hesitated.

Wang Xin is a skilled warrior, and we will continue to rely on him. However, Hu Liyong is also right. What if we use our precious elite troops to protect the herdsmen and give the Hu people an opportunity to take advantage of us?

Zhang Wenjin was more inclined to believe Hu Liyong's version of events, and seeing Wang Xin's attitude, she didn't dare to speak up directly.

All the military officers were wearing armor.

Wang Xin stepped out and entered the crowd. He first bowed to Zhang Wenjin, then looked at his colleagues present.

Zhai Wen, one of the civil officials, looked somewhat worried. If Wang Xin were to force his way out, it would not be a good thing.

Feng Meng spoke out against Hu Liyong just now not because he supported Wang Xin, but because the two sides were at odds. Based on my understanding of Feng Meng, he would never agree with Wang Xin's words.

Therefore, if Wang Xin takes a hard line, he will ultimately be left out in defeat.

"I was originally a commoner. I was initially valued by Lord Lin, the Salt Commissioner, who appointed me to the task of resisting Japanese pirates in Yangzhou. I originally just wanted to obtain an official position so that I would have no worries about food and drink all year round."

"hehe."

"Haha."

Wang Xin spoke sincerely, and many people thought the same way, but no one would say it out loud.

Li Qi and Jiang Wanhua were both military officers. Amidst the laughter around them, the two secretly exchanged a glance, thinking that this Military Officer Wang was indeed good at handling things. As fellow military officers, they were bound to feel a little jealous.

Zhang Wenjin frowned, displeased with Wang Xin's words.

Hu Liyong sneered. He was still too young and said whatever he wanted. If these words were to reach the imperial court, even if Wang Xin didn't mean it that way, the impact would not be good.

Wang Xin didn't care about what others thought.

They never hide their thoughts.

Only by sharing your thoughts with others and showing them how you act can you attract people who appreciate you to your side.

Protect our homeland and defend our country.

We must not bully the people.

Only those who agree with a concept can truly put it into practice.

Wang Xin believed that there must be someone who agreed with him.

He scanned the crowd one by one, as if confirming something, and the laughter gradually subsided. Everyone looked at Wang Xin with strange expressions.

Wang Xin's face was resolute.

"later."

"I led my troops to fight against the Japanese pirates everywhere, and what I saw was horrific and inhumane. As a soldier, how could I remain unmoved by the cries of the people? So I tried every means to destroy the Japanese pirates."

The purpose of resisting the Japanese pirates was to protect the people.

The same is true.

What was the purpose of eliminating the Hu people?
In my view, eliminating the Hu people was also for the sake of protecting the people.

We must use every means to eliminate the Hu people in order to protect the people. However, according to General Hu's wishes, we should first let the Hu people kill the civilians and expect the unarmed civilians to deal with the Hu people, while we soldiers stand by and watch.

Such cold-blooded thinking, which disregards the common people as one's own compatriots, is something I cannot condone.

Wang Xin finished speaking without any politeness.

"presumptuous!"

Hearing Wang Xin publicly criticize him, Hu Liyong's face turned bright red, and he immediately shouted at him.

The scene became chaotic.

The officers outside heard the commotion inside and all looked over.

The central command tent was very large, with curtains drawn on both sides. Although one could see inside, it wasn't very clear; one could only hear the sounds.

"It seems to be General Hu?"

"Who was General Hu angry with?"

Whispers.

"quiet!"

A clerk came out and spoke to the outside, and the officers and soldiers quieted down.

"Shut up, everyone."

Zhang Wenjin slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted.

Wang Xin and Hu Liyong stopped arguing, neither of them wanting to offend Zhang Wenjin.

Zhang Wenjin's headache grew worse.

Before the battle even began, two of his generals were already at odds, and both of them were important generals under his command.

“Discussing war is an official matter. Public matters are public matters, and private matters are private matters. How can they be mixed up?” Zhang Wenjin earnestly advised, then added sternly, “With a major battle imminent, we should be united as one. If there is any further conflict, our department will punish those responsible severely!”

"Here."

"Here."

Everyone readily agreed.

Zhang Wenjin has been in Datong for some years and has occupied the city for quite some time. Although he is not as powerful as Feng Yong, he has his own advantages: he has deep connections with the imperial court and therefore enjoys considerable prestige.

Wang Xin still needed Zhang Wenjin to take up the banner of destroying the Hu people, and he had to rely on this person for many things, so he certainly dared not offend him.

Hu Liyong also had his reasons.

Hu Liyong voluntarily retreated, but Wang Xin did not, remaining where he was.

Zhang Wenjin looked at Wang Xin with dissatisfaction.

Wang Xin's expression remained calm, showing no intention of making a scene. Zhang Wenjin's expression changed slightly, but it was no longer as unpleasant as before.

However, if Wang Xin continues to target him based on past events, Zhang Wenjin will definitely suppress him.

In fact, Wang Xin was not surprised by everyone's attitude.

Before coming here, we had already considered that, given the current situation, only the Western Army could take the initiative to assume responsibility.

Now, an army of fifty to sixty thousand has gathered here, and most of Ou Yanhu's troops have not yet returned. Wang Xin plans to send out most of his elite troops.

Wang Xin shared his thoughts. Zhang Wenjin was incredulous.

Hu Liyong looked at Wang Xin as if he were an idiot, wondering if the man was truly stupid or just pretending.

Elite troops are so precious that they should be kept hidden away, yet he is wasting them like this. Feng Meng, Li Qi, Jiang Wanhua and others cannot understand Wang Xin's thoughts and find his actions unbelievable.

Zhang Wenjin pressed further, "Is General Wang sure?"

Wang Xin nodded.

Zhang Wenjin shook his head, disagreeing with Wang Xin's approach.

Wang Xin sighed and honestly explained his thoughts.

"As the ancients said: 'War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a road to survival or ruin. It is imperative to examine it carefully.' This shows that the importance of military affairs surpasses many other important matters. When I lead troops, I not only train people, but also their minds."

"Cultivating the mind?"

Even Hu Liyong would not easily deny Wang Xin's ability to lead troops into battle.

Seeing this man discussing his experience in leading troops, no one dared to be negligent, even though they didn't understand his meaning. They all planned to take notes carefully, regardless of whether what he said was true or false.

Wang Xin nodded.

"Everyone is afraid of death, and no one is unafraid of death. Moreover, the battlefield is extremely brutal, and anyone would be terrified. Relying solely on daily drills and intimidation can encourage soldiers to maintain military discipline, but if the battle situation is unfavorable, it can easily lead to a collapse."

That's why I like to train soldiers' minds, to let them know why they have to fight, and to make them understand their duties and responsibilities. Only when they are fully prepared can they make the right choices even on the battlefield, even if they are afraid.

Only an army like this can win every battle.

To achieve this, the general must be fair, just, and transparent. Otherwise, if the general is selfish and self-serving, why should the soldiers trust him, and why would they be willing to make sacrifices?

I treat soldiers kindly on a daily basis, while strictly forbidding them from bullying civilians. They are required to protect the people, defend the country, and be filial and kind. In such an environment, no matter what kind of people the soldiers were originally, they will be influenced to some extent.

So, between such soldiers and ordinary soldiers, which type of soldier do you think is more likely to stand firm on the battlefield?

Silence fell inside the large tent.

Everyone was trying to figure out Wang Xin's methods of leading troops.

The more I think about it, the more people can't understand it, because this method sounds easy, but it's actually extremely difficult to do.

Money and grain are both indispensable.

At the very least, soldiers need to be fed enough to support their families and have their worries addressed. These are the most basic requirements, but there are many more needs to be met, and human nature is unpredictable.

To create the environment Wang Xin described, it is extremely difficult for even the officers to be of one mind. If the officers cannot set an example, how can they persuade the soldiers below?

difficult.

too difficult.

Totally impossible.

Many people shook their heads, but it was a fact that the army led by Wang Xin was indeed different from others. So more people wondered if Wang Xin was hiding something from them.

But it's normal.

Who would easily teach their best skills to someone else?

Wei Yi's eyes were bright. He didn't know how it was done, but General Wang had indeed done it. Leading such an army was such a gratifying thing. Unfortunately, he was not the Western Army.

“It is true that fighting against the Hu people to protect the herdsmen will cause casualties to the army.” Wang Xin did not deny it, but looked at Zhang Wenjin firmly, “The Datong Western Army itself was forged in such wars.”

Wang Xin glanced at everyone again.

Chaotic times are never pleasant.

Wang Xin preferred to live in a peaceful and prosperous era.

If these generals could love their soldiers like their own children and treat the people kindly, how could the world not be at peace?

Wang Xin generously shared his insights on leading troops, stating, "The more you fight, the stronger you become, not stingy soldiers who end up as uneducated bastards."

The last two armies clearly refer to Hu Liyong.

Hu Liyong's temper flared up instantly, but before he could lash out, Wang Xin continued, "The soldiers' authority rests on the general's, and the general's courage rests on the soldiers'. If a general is selfish and self-serving, how can the soldiers have courage? If the soldiers are cowardly, where does the general get his authority?"
I, Wang Xin, rose from a commoner to my current rank of lieutenant general, relying solely on the prestige my soldiers earned for me, not on personal relationships or gains and losses, but on my own intrinsic value.

Zhang Wenjin saw a different side of Wang Xin.

Many things that were unclear suddenly became clear: why Zhang Jifu valued Wang Xin, why Wang Xin was unconventional, and why he could do things his own way.

Because he has value.

He's worth it.

Isn't this also a way of being an official?

Unfortunately, I realized this far too late; otherwise, I could have learned from it.

Zhang Wenjin smiled.

Since that was the case, Wang Xin insisted that, according to him, it would not affect the fighting capacity of the Western Army. Zhang Wenjin did not want to be the bad guy, so he agreed to Wang Xin's suggestion.

No one objected, since it was the Datong Western Army that was sent out.

"Of course he'd send troops out for his own benefit." Hu Liyong still didn't believe Wang Xin, thinking he was just too hypocritical.

“Juzhongchang was created by him. He owns more shares than anyone else. And all the workshops around Niuxinshan are his backers. If you really believe his nonsense, you’ve wasted your life.”

Hu Liyong said with disdain.

at this time.

Half a month has passed.

As the clashes between the Western Army of Datong and the Hu people intensified and occurred more frequently, many people stopped believing in Hu Liyong, and their views did indeed change.

Some even led their own troops to take the initiative to help the Western Army.

For example, Wei Yi.

He led his thousand soldiers to help the Western Army twice.

"I never expected Zhou Jun to be so capable."

Sukh, with his retreating 2,000 men, was almost forced into the Kubuqi Desert.

at this time.

"We've lost contact with José and Rio Fernández. Should we continue waiting for them?"

someone asked.

It's a small oasis, surrounded by sand dunes.

If they went any deeper, they would likely get lost. They dared not go any further and instead hid on the edge of the desert to avoid being captured by Zhou's army.

"Wait one more day."

Sukh said.

Their total strength was nearly 10,000 cavalry.

It was divided into various departments.

He personally led two thousand cavalry, with the rest leading teams of a thousand households. At first, they swept across the grasslands, not only obtaining supplies but also killing many herders. Unexpectedly, Zhou's army soon attacked.

This group of Zhou's troops was small, numbering only about two thousand.

However, their numbers were twice that of the thousand-strong team he had sent out, and they were extremely powerful, having already crushed two of his own teams.

"Find a way to gather everyone together."

Sukh narrowed his eyes and gave a cold smile.

Zhou Jun did have a large number of men, but he could see that Zhou Jun was also not united.

Taking down this group of Zhou's troops will save us a lot of trouble.

With the Zhou army's elite troops and recalling the Khan's description of their situation, Sukhe was quite certain that he could severely damage the Zhou army.

Sukh has already seen the fertile land of Dabansheng.

If the Khan can reclaim this land, he can indeed fulfill his promise and reunify the desert in three years.

Ertdon revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth.

The chieftain has never failed once he has a plan, unless there is a large difference in numbers, such as when the Khan defeated the chieftain. At that time, the Khan had tens of thousands of troops, ten times the number of the chieftain's men.

The chieftain, with his keen sense of smell, chose to submit.

Not only did he not suffer any losses, but he also gained the Khan's trust, which led to his current status.

Now the Great Leader has nearly 10,000 troops under his command. Even if those Zhou soldiers were made of iron, they would still die.

Thinking of the women of the Zhou people, Erte Dun felt a surge of heat throughout his body.

This is what a woman should be like.

(End of this chapter)