Chapter 161 To Stay or to Leave
The group of wealthy gentlemen, who were still unsure of Lin Changning's background, looked around and then chose to bow to Lin Changning first.
After all, Lin Changning was an official, while most of them were businessmen. Even if someone in their family held an official position, they themselves did not hold any official post.
"Greetings, Your Excellency."
Lin Changning, seated in the main seat, casually waved his hand: "No need for formalities, everyone. I've called you all here today to discuss something. Lu Shan, please have a seat."
After Lu Shan and his men arranged the chairs and invited everyone to sit down, Lin Changning picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a glass of water. He had just eaten a lot and was a little thirsty, so he drank a few sips to moisten his mouth.
"Before we get to the point, let me introduce myself. My surname is Lin, and my given name is Changning. I am currently a commander of a thousand men on the right side of the King of Chu. I'm sure you all have your own guesses as to why I've called you all here today."
"I come from the Chu Prince's Mansion and guarded the border. I was lucky enough to catch the prince's eye and was transferred here. Enough with the nonsense. I know you are resentful, but let me tell you, now that I have come to the Chu Prince's Right Guard, you can no longer live your lazy days as before. I am strict in leading troops and I will not keep any cowards under my command."
Lin Changning paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening: "Every one of your nephews and nieces received 80 lashes today. I've called you here to give you two choices."
"The first option is to take them away and never allow them to enter the Right Guard of the King of Chu again. The second option is to stay here, obey my orders, and become a true warrior. You can choose the two paths you want."
The group of people below were intimidated by Lin Changning's imposing aura, and for a moment no one spoke.
Although this person is young, his aura is astonishing. He has clearly fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, and is obviously someone with real skills.
However, the sons in the family had been pampered at home since childhood. This man, upon arriving, beat them half to death, showing them no respect whatsoever.
However, this person came from the Chu Prince's Mansion. In this matter, they were in the wrong first. But didn't they give money to the Prince's Mansion to find a way out for their own children? The Prince's Mansion wanted their children to train in the army, but how could their sons and nephews, who were already spoiled, stay there?
Later, he worked sporadically, receiving his salary under a nominal title, and because he was from a prominent local family, the officers who came and went never made things difficult for him.
Unexpectedly, this time we've run into a tough nut to crack.
For a moment, they were all undecided. The one at the front was Wang's elder. After looking Lin Changning up and down, he squinted and seemed to be thinking about something.
The influence of the Wang clan of Taiyuan in the imperial court is waning. Currently, only one member of the clan holds an official position, but he is only a third-rank official. None of the other members have entered officialdom. The Wang clan usually produces many scholars who enter officialdom, but in recent years the Wang clan has been declining, leaving them with no choice but to seek other paths.
He donated money to the Prince's Mansion in exchange for several spots as a guard in the Prince's Mansion, intending to try his hand at martial arts.
Unfortunately, the children in his family were not up to par, so the matter was put aside. This time, a person with real skills came, and he was actually somewhat tempted. Back then, when he sent the children from the collateral branches to the Right Guard of the Prince's Mansion, wasn't the intention to teach them skills and slowly climb the ranks?
They also intended to get closer to the King of Chu, knowing that the King of Chu came from the military and had served on the frontier for many years in his youth, achieving countless military exploits. If they could catch the King of Chu's eye, perhaps the Taiyuan royal family could be restored to prosperity and strength.
This might be an opportunity.
Lin Changning observed the whispering crowd below, but no one answered her for a long time, and her patience was slowly wearing thin.
He stared at the people below and said again, "You may all consider why you sent your sons and nephews to the Right Guard of the King of Chu. None of you are short of money."
Even if the children in the family did nothing, they would certainly not starve; they could live a life of ease, eating and drinking without any problems. Why send them to the army to be tempered and suffer?
Lin Changning's clear gaze swept over the crowd below: "Sending people to the Right Guard of the Prince of Chu is nothing more than an attempt to curry favor with the Prince of Chu. Everyone knows that the Prince of Chu comes from the military and has made countless military achievements. Following the Prince of Chu will ensure a bright future."
But I urge you all to take a good look at the character of your own children and nephews. To put it bluntly, I wouldn't want any of these spineless wretches in your families, not even if they were given to me as a gift.
After dozens of lashes, his legs trembled and he cried incessantly; he was hardly the image of a tough man, much less capable of fighting on the battlefield.
"Sending people in here is all about securing their future. Today I dare tell you all, every soldier sent out by Lin Changning is a tough guy, not a single coward among them."
If you're looking for a future, then feel free to entrust your men to me for training. Military merit is the best teacher. If you find me demanding or are worried about your own nephews or nieces, then take them away today.
I don't know about other places, but the Right Guard of the King of Chu will never be able to enter again.
Before the words were finished, Wang's elder spoke first: "As you command, my nephews and nieces are now in your care. I, Wang, will never go against you. If you need anything, please let me know and I will do my best."
Once the first person was sensible enough, a second followed, and eventually half of them decided to keep their children and nephews in the army.
He also assured his family that they would not provide any assistance and that he would stay in the military to train properly.
There were also seven or eight other families who, perhaps genuinely feeling sorry for their nephews and nieces, hesitated for a moment before bowing in greeting.
“Sir, it’s not that I don’t want to leave the child here to train him, but the child is weak and his mother would be worried. So I’m taking the child back today. Please grant my request.”
Lin Changning nodded: "Okay, now that you've decided, come with me to the military doctor's tent. Those who need to be taken away can be taken away, and those who need to stay can say goodbye properly at home."
A group of people responded, and Lin Changning called Lu Shan over and led a group of people to the military doctor's tent.
As soon as they arrived outside the military doctor's tent, they heard a cacophony of cries and wails, as loud as pigs being slaughtered. A group of spoiled young men in their twenties were screaming and crying because of the pain from the application of medicine, making the elders outside the door extremely embarrassed.
No wonder this commander said his child was a spineless coward; listen to that wailing, it's utterly shameful.
Lin Changning led Lu Shan in first. Lifting the curtain, the first person to see was a handsome young man, who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. He trembled in fright when he saw Lin Changning.
He burst into tears and screamed, "Help! Dad! The devil has killed his son!!!"
Lin Changning, annoyed by the shout, glared at the person and snapped, "What are you yelling about in broad daylight? Shut up!!"
The young man was startled and immediately shut up, choking back a sob.
The young man from the Wang family seemed to have been beaten and was about to run away as he saw Lin Changning bracing himself on his arms: "Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer! We've already been whipped, what more do you want?"
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