Chapter 115 He was determined to get the first million; he was determined to get it. ...
Bai Qi stood with his hands behind his back, coldly observing the rebel army before him. Although they had all seen blood and their eyes held a ruthless glint, they were still sheep, not wolves. He slowly raised his hand and shouted sharply:
"The elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, step forward!"
A brief commotion arose in the crowd. Those young, wounded faces instinctively took a half-step back, yet stubbornly straightened their backs. They exchanged glances, but none of them took that step—death was no longer a threat to them.
"What?" Bai Qi sneered, his right hand slowly pressing on the hilt of his sword. "Did you think I would soften my heart?" He took a step forward, the sound of his iron boots hitting the stone slabs particularly jarring.
"War is a matter of life and death; how can it be a burden?"
As he approached, an invisible pressure forced a path through the crowd. Finally, several small figures were pushed to the front—they were all teenagers, the oldest no more than fifteen or sixteen, the youngest not even fully grown yet. Their faces still bore the innocence of childhood, but their eyes already held a ruthlessness that shouldn't belong to their age.
"That's all?" Bai Qi narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces like a knife. He suddenly reached out and grabbed a boy hiding in the crowd. The boy's right arm hung limply, clearly indicating a previous injury. "Who else?" Bai Qi's voice grew even colder. "Do I have to choose for myself?"
As he finished speaking, a dozen or so figures reluctantly stepped forward. Most of them were thin, some with unhealed wounds on their faces, and some walked with a limp. But each of them stared defiantly, as if trying to burn a hole through Bai Qi with their gaze.
However, a series of hurried footsteps were heard.
"Wait a minute!"
With a clear shout, Huo Qubing spurred his horse forward, followed by a troop of elite cavalry. He reined in his horse, his gaze fixed intently on the defeated rebels, a confident smile playing on his lips.
"I want the person you don't want!"
Bai Qi frowned: "General Huo, these people can't even hold a knife properly, what use are they to you?"
Huo Qubing laughed: "Military campaigns don't necessarily rely entirely on brute force! They are familiar with the terrain and can identify water sources. With a little training, they are the best scouts!"
"Hahaha! Champion Marquis is right!"
Another burst of hearty laughter followed, and Qin Shubao strode over, his tiger-like eyes gleaming brightly:
"These weapons, though unsuitable for charging into battle, can be used for defending the city, transporting supplies, and repairing weapons! If General Bai doesn't want them, I can take them back and practice with them!"
"Generals, please don't be hasty."
A gentle, refined voice rang out, and Zhou Yu, dressed in white, approached slowly, lightly waving a feather fan. His gaze was deep, and he smiled slightly:
"Among these disaster victims, there may be skilled craftsmen and strategists. If they are trained, they may become a formidable force."
Bai Qi snorted coldly and turned away, saying, "Womanly compassion!"
Behind him, Huo Qubing, Qin Shubao, and Zhou Yu exchanged smiles and began selecting the talents they needed.
——
Huo Qubing, his hand on his sword, slowly walked through the ranks, his gaze sweeping over the young faces. The oldest of these boys was no more than sixteen, and the youngest was only thirteen or fourteen. They were thin and bony, yet each of them stood upright, their eyes filled with stubbornness and ruthlessness.
"Are you afraid?" Huo Qubing suddenly asked.
No one answered.
He sneered, then suddenly drew his longsword. A flash of cold light, and the tip of the sword was pressed against the throat of a boy standing in the front row. The boy was only about fourteen years old, his Adam's apple hadn't even hardened yet, but he remained completely still, not even blinking.
"I ask you, are you afraid?" Huo Qubing's voice suddenly rose.
"Don't be afraid!" the boys shouted in unison, their voices still hoarse from puberty.
Huo Qubing sheathed his sword, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"good."
He turned and walked to the center of the drill ground. With a wave of his hand, the yamen runners immediately pushed up more than a dozen carts, which were piled with wooden knives, wooden guns, and rough leather armor.
"From this day forward, you are no longer refugees, no longer orphans, and no longer anyone's burden." Huo Qubing's voice was not loud, but every word was as firm as iron. "You are my soldiers."
The boys' eyes lit up.
"Take your weapons," Huo Qubing ordered. "Practice swordsmanship today, archery tomorrow, and horsemanship the day after. A month from now, I will lead you into battle."
A thin, small boy timidly raised his hand: "General, can we... really go into battle?"
Huo Qubing stared at him, then suddenly smiled.
Do you think the enemy will show you mercy just because you are young?
The boy fell silent.
"Take the knife!" Huo Qubing shouted fiercely.
The boys swarmed forward, jostling for the wooden swords and spears, quickly forming a crooked, uneven line. Huo Qubing stood on the high platform, watching these teenagers clumsily wield their weapons, his eyes cold and stern.
The constable whispered, "Lord Huo, these children can't even hold a knife properly. Are you really going to take them to the battlefield?"
Huo Qubing said calmly, "What Bai Qi doesn't want, I want."
He jumped off the platform, walked into the queue, and personally corrected a boy's knife-holding posture.
"Grip tight. This knife isn't just for show; it's your life."
The boy gritted his teeth and nodded, his face tense.
Huo Qubing patted him on the shoulder and turned to walk to the next one.
Sunlight streamed onto the drill ground, illuminating the group of young soldiers. Their shadows were still thin, but their hands gripping the knives were gradually becoming steady.
While everyone is supposed to have their own duties, there is no shortage of open and covert struggles.
Even in such a small place as Songyang County, the land has been divided up into separate plots, each without interfering with the others.
Wei Zhongxian's methods were completely different. He squinted his narrow eyes and gently stroked the rim of the teacup.
"Go find a few clever thugs," he instructed his trusted aide beside him, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing the rising steam from his teacup. "They should be the kind who are well-connected on the streets, preferably related to the locals of Lintong Pass."
The floating tea leaves on the surface swirled around, and Wei Zhongxian gently flicked them away with the cup lid.
He understood the ways of the world well—some things are better left unsaid, rather than dealt with openly. The general guarding Lintong Pass was a tough nut to crack, but even the toughest nut can be slowly eroded from within.
“Remember,” he said, taking a sip of tea and giving the thugs kneeling before him a friendly smile.
"Don't rush into action. First, let the garrison fall into chaos, sow discord, and spread rumors—once they start fighting amongst themselves, our people can take advantage of the confusion to take over the city's defenses."
He put down his teacup, his eyes as cold as a venomous snake.
"Within a month, I want the military power of Lintong Pass, to fall into my hands quietly..." He slowly closed his five fingers, as if he had grasped the entire city.
The teacup landed on the table with a crisp sound. "After the matter is settled, each person will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver."
Wei Zhongxian tapped the edge of the teacup lightly with his fingertips.
He was determined to get the first million.
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Author's note: I worked overtime until 2 AM [melted][melted][melted] I just couldn't keep going anymore.
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