The news of the trade agreement caused a huge stir, plunging the entire Lizhou into an uproar.
The soldiers of the Ming family army were the first to raise strong objections.
These generals, who usually held Minglang in high esteem, now disregarded their fear and surrounded Minglang's tent, shouting in unison that he should give them an explanation.
In the distance, Wang Xiuxiu watched this scene quietly.
A moment later, Minglang strode out of the tent with a powerful and majestic air.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his face calm and serene, and his eyes revealed an invisible majesty.
Upon seeing Minglang appear, the soldiers, who had been making a ruckus just moments before, seemed to be frozen in place, and all took a step back in unison.
"Don't you have something to ask me? Why are you all silent?"
A few soldiers, encouraged by their comrades, gritted their teeth and stepped forward.
"General, why did you agree to trade with the people of the North?"
Before he could finish speaking, someone else chimed in, "Yes, General! How many of our brothers have the Northerners killed? Are we just going to let this blood debt go?"
Immediately afterward, another soldier, his face filled with grief and indignation, shouted, "General, have you already forgotten the blood feud with the people of the North?"
Immediately, the crowd was indignant, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Minglang, waiting for his response.
The crowd bombarded the questions with their own voices, creating a chaotic and noisy scene.
However, Minglang did not stop him; he simply stood there quietly, his face as calm as still water, his gaze firm and profound.
After everyone had finally vented their grievances, Minglang slowly spoke up: "Gentlemen, we are enemies with the Northern Border. They have cruelly murdered many of our brothers. However, please do not forget that in this war, we have also killed countless of their soldiers and burned down their camps and armies."
At this point, Minglang paused slightly, "As for hatred, I am not only your general, but also a member of the Ming family! As a member of the Ming family, I have never dared to forget the blood feud with the Northern Border for even a moment!"
"Why did we decide to open trade? Because our Lizhou is poor and backward, we accept handouts and are despised by people from other places! But is that really the case? We are not unambitious beggars, we are brave and fearless heroes who defend our homeland!"
At this moment, the soldiers below were completely moved by Minglang's words. They were so excited that they raised their hands and shouted in unison, "Hero! Hero!"
In an instant, the sound surged like a tidal wave, resounding through the sky.
Seeing this, Minglang reached out and gently pressed down, signaling everyone to quiet down.
After the scene calmed down, he continued, "That's true, but think about it. The imperial court allocates a lot of money to Lizhou every year, but can we, the people of Lizhou, really accept the supplies from other states without feeling guilty?"
Everyone looked puzzled.
"For so many years, we have steadfastly remained in the most desolate, remote, and barren frontier, day after day, year after year. Do we really think that all of this is what we deserve?"
"This great undertaking is not just a great undertaking for the people of Lizhou, but a great undertaking for all the people of Dagan. What we are protecting is not only the border of Dagan, but also our own homeland. In addition to the people of Lizhou suffering from the ravages of war, the people of other states have not always had a smooth life either. They have also been afflicted by plagues and floods. We cannot always expect others to lend a helping hand and provide relief. Only when we stand up straight can we truly become the backbone of the entire Dagan Dynasty!"
Upon hearing these words, the crowd below fell into deep thought.
"Lizhou is restricted in many ways and cannot cultivate land for production, so trade is the best way out."
“The northern border is even poorer than Lizhou, with scarce resources and a life that is hard to sustain. As a result, they frequently invade every winter. If we cannot give the northern border some benefits, they will keep harassing us, and we will not be able to live in peace for a moment. Therefore, trade has become the best solution.”
"Are we really going to sacrifice everything just to make life difficult for the enemy? This is certainly not what our forefathers, who were willing to sacrifice everything for us, would have wanted!"
It must be said that General Minglang was indeed an extremely outstanding military commander.
Once he fully understood the key points, he was able to do far more than Wang Xiuxiu had imagined.
He was particularly adept at persuading and greatly boosting the morale of the troops.
He made arrangements methodically, assigning the soldiers to take leave in order so they could persuade their families.
During that period, the streets and alleys of Lizhou were often filled with the sounds of chickens running wild and dogs fighting and cursing...
I don't know when, but the noise gradually stopped.
The matter of persuading the people of Lizhou to agree to trade has come to an end.
Wang Xiuxiu's next task was to venture deep into the northern border and completely secure trade.
Minglang originally planned to send a team of elite soldiers to protect Wang Xiuxiu and her party, but Wang Xiuxiu stopped him.
“I appreciate your kindness, but the Ming family army has been hostile to the northern border for many years. With the Ming family army around, it will be difficult to accomplish anything.”
"In that case, I will arrange for people to be on standby near the border. Be careful on your journey. If you encounter any problems, send someone to inform me and I will immediately send troops to your aid."
"Okay, definitely!"
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