Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 102 Tiger Guards
After staying in the city for two days, Liu Daogui rushed to Qingguang Village.

To be precise, it should be called Qingguang Fort. During the two months that he was away, Liu Guangzhi carried out comprehensive reinforcement, raising the wall by two feet and storing a large amount of stones and wood.

Two beacon towers were added on the northern ridge, and a watchtower was set up on Yanmu Mountain in the east.

Once the enemy approaches, the smoke will rise and they will be clearly visible.

No wonder the bandits on Mount Meng in the north turned to plunder Langya County, as Qingguang Village was impregnable.

"Everywhere in the Eight Clan needs money, so robbing Yandu is a good strategy. To be honest, I had this in mind when I robbed and killed Huan Chengzhi. Why should the Sima family enjoy the best food and drink while we have to starve and freeze?"

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Nowadays, everyone at the bottom of society is full of resentment towards the noble families.

With Liu Guangzhi's ability and courage, it would be no problem for him to become a military commander or a colonel.

But the reality is that without family background, one can only wander around at the bottom.

"It's better to have these people's money in our hands than to let Sima Daozi squander it. You take your men and sneak in, and then we can cooperate inside and outside to take over Yandu! Let the people of Jiangzuo feel vengeful!" Liu Daogui tried to sound as righteous as possible.

"Haha, I couldn't ask for more! I'm the right person to come to for such good deeds as murder and arson!" Liu Guangzhi suddenly became excited.

With his support, Liu Daogui ordered eight groups of people to rush to Qingguang Village.

In less than four days, eight groups of people arrived one after another.

There were eight flags, yellow, black, white, red, brown, gray, purple and green. There were eight hundred and twenty-one people. After eating full meals for a few months, their momentum was obviously different. They were very heroic and full of high spirits. Half of them wore bamboo armor and had ring-handled swords on their waists. There were more than one hundred cavalrymen following on the left and right wings.

Compared to two months ago, they look more like an elite force.

Although Liu Daogui was not in Lanling, their training never stopped.

He was experienced in hunting in the mountains, fishing in the water, and going south to resist the Jin army and powerful troops who came to plunder.

"Meet the soldiers!"

In the cold wind, shouts rose and fell, gradually becoming more uniform.

"No need for formalities!" Liu Daogui felt his heart beating fast as he looked at the people he had built.

The owners of each building nominated their own people one after another.

We don’t want those without families, those with poor skills, or those who are not smart. The most important thing is loyalty.

After a round of selection, one hundred and thirty-two people were qualified.

They all fled from the chaos in various parts of the north. They had clean family backgrounds and had no connection with the Tianshi Dao. They did not believe in these supernatural things.

There happened to be a heavy snowfall, covering the mountains.

Lanling is located north of the Huai River, more than 400 miles away from Guangling, but in winter it is several times colder than Guangling.

Liu Daogui divided the soldiers into five groups and went up the mountain to hunt.

"The wind and snow are too strong. If you encounter danger, don't be brave. Protect yourself and return safely."

However, among these 132 people, there are many people from You and Ji who are accustomed to the bitter cold. In addition to testing their obedience, Liu Daogui also tests their resilience.

Only those with strong minds can resist the seduction of the Tianshi Dao.

"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted in unison, their morale high.

They put on sheepskin coats, wrapped themselves tightly, and went up the mountain in groups.

To be on the safe side, Liu Daogui sent scouts to follow behind and provide rescue at any time.

The mountains in the snow are the most dangerous and the most challenging. The roads are covered with heavy snow and you may get lost or encounter hungry wild animals at any time.

In less than one morning, thirteen people were sent back, all of whom had given up voluntarily.

Liu Daogui comforted them and asked Liu Zun to take people to make a meat soup to drive away the cold for them.

It was okay during the day and many people could endure it. The real test was at night, when more people were sent back, and without exception, they were all frostbitten.

"Your method is too cruel..." Liu Zun couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

"A merciful army is not for the command of soldiers. We are in a business where lives are lost, so we must be ruthless." Liu Daogui was not influenced by him. Who among those alive these days is not ruthless?
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

By the next morning, two frozen bodies and more than twenty injured people were sent back.

Liu Daogui and his troops dug two graves in the frozen soil, buried the bodies, and erected a stone tablet with their names and hometowns engraved on it.

Jia Yue was from Fuyang, Bohai, and Wang Heizu was from Dangli, Donglai.

I poured two cups of muddy wine and burned two piles of straw to see them off...

By the third day, more than 30 people retreated, and less than one-fifth of them remained on the mountain.

However, starting from the fourth day, these people gradually adapted, and no one was sent back. They walked farther and farther, and hunted more than 20 wolves, five leopards, and one tiger.

Only after the wind and snow stopped did they return one after another, after nine full days.

Twenty-seven people stood there like wild beasts, covered in animal skins, with blood stains at the corners of their mouths. Their eyes were like knives, and their ferocity could hardly be concealed.

To survive in such a harsh environment, in addition to courage, intelligence is also essential.

"From today on, you will all be Tiger Guards. You will have meat for every meal, and you will be full every time. Each of you will be given 100 acres of land, and you will be given wine!"

Bowls of hot wine were placed in front of everyone. Liu Daogui picked up a bowl and toasted to everyone.

"Thank you, General!" The twenty-seven people drank it all in one gulp.

Eight hundred soldiers were selected from more than five thousand villagers, one hundred and thirty-two brave warriors were selected from the eight hundred soldiers, and twenty-seven tiger guards were selected from the one hundred and thirty-two brave warriors.

Sun Tzu's Art of War says: If a general fails to estimate the enemy, unites the many with the few, and attacks the strong with the weak, and has no elite troops, he will be defeated.

Selecting the best from the military has always been a tradition.

The troops dispersed, and twenty-seven people stayed behind. Liu Daogui directly stated his purpose.

"Our lives were given to us by the army. We are willing to go through fire and water. We only hope that one day, the army can lead us back to our homeland and avenge our grievances!"

They have never forgotten their hometown, nor have they forgotten the humiliation and hatred they bear.

"The reason I want to plunder Yandu is to accumulate strength! You all remember your homeland, how dare I, Liu Daogui, forget it!"

Those who know why they are fighting will not get lost.

Liu Daogui changed their names. Liu Guangzhi changed his name to Wu Caozhi. Wang Xizhi's sixth son was also called Caozhi. He was good at cursive and official scripts. He participated in the Lanting Meeting and served as the Shizhong, Shangshu, and Yuzhang Taishou.

The surnames of the others remained unchanged, but their given names were changed to Ganzhi, Kanzhi, Duozhi, Daoshen, Daoheng, Daoming...

They were divided into five groups and sneaked into Yandu one after another.

"Remember, our great cause is to recover our country. You will use these four words as a secret code from now on." Liu Daogui tried his best to make their ideal more noble.

In fact, I have no idea how far I can go.

But it does not prevent us from moving towards this goal.

The general of an army can be replaced, but his will cannot be taken away from a common man. A common man can also have great ambitions!

"Recover our mountains and rivers!" Immediately, several people's eyes were filled with tears, and they almost roared.

Liu Daogui's family had lived in Jingkou for three generations, and the hardships and humiliations they had just experienced were more unforgettable than Liu Daogui's.

The room suddenly became extremely quiet, but everyone's eyes gradually became hot.

At this moment, Liu Zun reported from outside, "General, Langya has sent more people over."

Liu Daogui frowned. The ghosts from Langya were still lingering. Even the General Jianwei's Mansion couldn't deal with a few thieves.

Fortunately, Pilu in Qingzhou in the north was a fence-sitter and attached himself to the Jin Dynasty, otherwise Langya County would have been exposed by others long ago.

"Since we're here, let's meet now that the snow is so heavy."

We still have to give face. After all, we are all in Huaibei. We will meet each other sooner or later.

(End of this chapter)