Chapter 168
Huo Bing and the others were right. In areas close to Yichun, there wasn't much resistance to the Yichun army. Because the people around Yichun knew what life was like for the Yichun people, they were all eager to pack up and send themselves over. Take Hui'an Town, for example.
After Shi Guangzhu and his companions returned to Hui'an Town, people came to inquire about the results one after another, including several respected elders in the town who came down on crutches, supported by their juniors.
Shi Guangzhu and the others were the first to bring up Yao Chunnuan's proposal. The oldest of them said, "This is a good idea. It will prevent any future trouble. This is the best solution."
"Don't tell anyone what Lord Yao said. Just say to others that you spent money to learn the skill of building a kang." The old man warned.
It was the only way. They couldn't not build the kang, could they? It was so cold out there. They didn't want to wake up one day and hear that someone had died the previous night.
"Tonight we will select two young men and send them to Yichun."
Everyone had no objection to this.
Later, Shi Guangzhu talked about their journey and what they saw and heard, especially mentioning the richness of Yichun.
Everyone present wanted to sigh after hearing this. They could have lived such a life, but their luck was just a little off.
A young and energetic person present complained, "Why didn't Yichun include our Hui'an Town when the territory was divided?" Instead, they were included in Suihua. The lives of the people separated by this line are completely different. How many people regret not being born in Yichun.
Even more infuriating was their proximity to Yichun. If Yichun were to expand, they would undoubtedly be among the first to be annexed, along with Huining and Songhua Prefecture. Many Suihua residents secretly yearned for their annexation. Just as they were about to be annexed by Yichun, Gan Huacheng arrived with the rebel suppression forces. This was also the reason why the people of Suihua were not enthusiastic about supporting the rebels.
Yichun
Shi Ping'an was originally a soldier in the Yichun camp. After the two armies merged, he was transferred with the main force back to the Yichun military settlement for a rotation and rest. Today, his winter allowance was distributed. After finishing his shift and handing over his belongings, he returned to his home in the settlement, taking his sweater and other belongings.
When he took out the sweater, his wife's face was full of joy. She wiped her hands on her apron before reaching out to touch the sweater, "This sweater is really nice."
Shi Pingan smiled and nodded, "This sweater is really good. I just tried it on and after putting it on, I never felt cold again. I even felt a little warm after walking around."
His wife rolled her eyes at him and said, "This is a good thing to keep warm. I heard that this sweater sells for several taels of silver outside."
Shi Ping'an was not as well-informed as his wife. When he heard the price, he quickly calculated in his mind that if each of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers received one, the sweaters alone would cost more than 100,000 taels.
"They're giving these fine sweaters to you directly instead of selling them. The people in the City Lord's Mansion are so kind to you." Shi Ping'an's wife knew that the generals in the barracks didn't care about anything except fighting and training. The supplies for the army were all taken care of by the people in the City Lord's Mansion.
"Yes, the higher-ups have nothing to say about us. You don't know that the Huo family army that sent the city lord's wife to marry, the more than 3,000 people, have been arranged to live in the military settlement during this period. They are so envious of us."
Seeing the man's smug look, his wife rolled her eyes. The Yichun Legion's treatment was now well-known in Daliang. As for the other factions, were they not caring about their soldiers? No, it was just that they didn't have the conditions to treat their soldiers well, and they didn't have enough supplies.
While Shi Ping'an was talking, his eldest son secretly touched the sweater twice. His father felt distressed and discussed with his wife, "Why don't we keep this sweater at home for Dabao?" The child had never worn such good winter clothes. He was strong and healthy anyway, so he was not afraid of the cold.
The child's mother slapped the child's hand away and said without giving him any reason, "Why keep it? You have a kang at home so you won't freeze to death. You don't have a kang in the barracks, so I'll give you this sweater!"
Shi Ping'an's wife was very satisfied with her life. If her husband left Yichun, he would be drafted into the army. Since they couldn't escape the fate of being a soldier, they might as well serve in Yichun. At least it was worth it in Yichun, where the higher-ups valued the lives of soldiers. Even if they died, the higher-ups would provide a pension and provide appropriate care for the orphans and widows at home. That was enough. It was enough for these soldiers to risk their lives for their lords.
Speaking of Yichun's care for military families, let's take their neighbor Chen Da for example. He lost his left arm in a battle with the Northern Di. However, because he fought bravely and refused to desert, he received excellent medical treatment after the battle. Although his arm could not be repaired, he was able to survive.
When Chen Da's wife and parents first saw him disabled, they were devastated and cried day and night. There was nothing they could do. Chen Da was the family's breadwinner, and his eldest son, only twelve, was still years away from establishing his own household. His parents were elderly, and the family had previously struggled to make a living, having previously rented a few acres of land in a military settlement and earned work points. With Chen Da's left hand gone, the Chen family's future was foreseeably difficult.
Just then, someone from the City Lord's Mansion arrived and assigned Chen Da to guard the winery. The work wasn't strenuous, and he received a regular monthly wage. He also received a share of the winery's annual holiday benefits. Now, his family was living a decent life, and the worries on his parents, wife, and children's faces were no longer there.
It was because of seeing these that Shi Ping'an's wife has always been fully supportive of her husband's military service in Yichun.
Shi Ping'an said that the Huo family army envied them, but wasn't that true? As the saying goes, there's no harm without comparison. In the past, the Huo family army and the Xing family army were mixed together, and everyone lived the same life, poor as always. Eating meat once a month was enough to make them happy for half a day. In short, they were all brothers in distress, eating coarse food, wearing tattered clothes, and the eldest brother didn't laugh at the second brother.
After a year apart, we met again. The Huo family soldiers were saying, "You, the Xing family soldiers, have secretly become wealthy!" Not only do you get to eat meat every day, even if it's just oily or minced meat, but it's still meat! You also have warm winter clothes. I heard that your monthly pay is paid on time, and there are also subsidies for various daily necessities, such as soap, uniforms and shoes for all seasons, etc. After each battle and victory, there are also rewards. In short, everyone has become rich!
Faced with the accusations of these former brothers of the Huo family army, the soldiers of the Xing family army could do nothing but smile and invite these former brothers to have a good meal.
Huo Bing spent several days at the Yichun military garrison and discovered that the soldiers of the Yichun Legion were truly different, their spirit and energy completely different. While both the Huo and Xing family armies had been considered elite troops before, and the Huo family army still held that title, the Yichun Legion felt transformed, as if imbued with a conviction: a commitment to defending their homeland. Their "country" wasn't Daliang, but Yichun, their homeland. Behind them lay their families, their homes, everything they had fought so hard for. They couldn't retreat, and reality wouldn't allow them to.
On the battlefield, they are as sharp as bloody swords. They advance bravely and unyieldingly, and have begun to take shape as a battle-hardened royal army.
He was very surprised when he realized this. He pondered for a long time before he vaguely realized that the factors that transformed the entire legion, gave them firm beliefs, and awakened their military spirit ultimately came from one person.
His father was right. It is easy to find generals who can win battles, but it is difficult to find capable ministers or talented people who are good at governing the local area.
There are many factors that determine victory, including the command of the general, the deployment of troops, the quality of the soldiers, the quality of the weapons, and the logistics supply.
The two generals of equal level will compete in the last three items.
The last three factors are related to the strength of the region where the army is based. For example, the Yichun Army is based in Yichun. Yichun's strength and abundance can provide the army with meat, which strengthens the soldiers' physiques and improves their quality through proper training. Yichun's strength can provide the Yichun Army with sophisticated weapons. Yichun's strength can also provide the army with sufficient and stable logistical support.
After all, the success or failure of a battle depends on the strength of the rear, which is really weird. Doesn't this just prove his father's words from the opposite side: "Generals who can win battles are easy to find, but capable ministers or great talents who are good at governing the local area are hard to find"?
In short, in one sentence, if you want a strong army, logistical support is very important.
Realizing the importance of Yao Chunnuan, Huo Bing secretly told himself that he had to remind his sister not to make enemies with her.
Lord City Lord Xing Changfeng, as the supreme ruler of the Yichun forces, was marrying General Huo's youngest daughter. Both the King of Ruyin and the King of Annan sent people to deliver generous gifts. Naturally, the Gaoshan people, who had always been on good terms with the Yichun forces, also came.
Because they were newlyweds, Xing Changfeng put aside all his official duties and stayed with Huo Wei for three full days. Three days later, he accompanied her to meet Huo Bing and other members of her family before resuming his normal work and routine.
As soon as Xing Changfeng stepped out of the door, Huo Wei's cousin Fang Yunzhi came in. "Cousin, I've found out everything. My brother-in-law's two concubines were persuaded by Yao Chunnuan and his people."
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