Kang Huojian was horrified when the Imperial Guards and the Iron Wolf Army started fighting. Zhu Qing, that young man, actually dared to kill his own men. Even if this matter was reported to the emperor, even he couldn't protect him.
Even though it was his own subordinates who made the mistake first, this is a war, and which army can do nothing to the enemy?
What were the soldiers risking their lives for? Was it really to repay the emperor's kindness and serve the country and the people?
Serving the imperial court is for outsiders to see. It is not ruled out that when you are passionate, you really want to stand up for the country and the people.
But we are just ordinary people, without such heroic spirit. Most of the time, we are just fighting for ourselves. What can we do with the little military pay we get from fighting? The only way is to rob. Rob money, rob food, rob women, so that the troops can fight effectively.
Why did the Mongolian army plunder every city they captured? It was to boost morale and let the soldiers know that they could plunder after winning a great victory.
And you, Zhu Qing, not only stopped the soldiers from looting Mongolian civilians, but now you are killing my people.
Zhao Huan did issue similar orders, but he did not obey orders from the outside. If I, Kang Huojian, don't indulge them a little, how can these subordinates have the morale to fight the Mongols?
"Zhu Qing! You have the guts to kill my men!" Kang Huojian pointed at him angrily.
Zhu Qing said coldly: "Kill someone and pay with your life, owe a debt and pay it back! Your people are cheapening women and killing innocent people. If you don't care, I will take care of it for you!"
Kang Huojian interrupted him: "You, you killed those three soldiers, that's all. This man just stole a few cattle and sheep. How do you know that the dead old man is not a Mongolian spy? He should be killed if he dares to resist."
Zhu Qing simply ignored him: "General Kang, if you want to fight, my Iron Wolf Army will fight you to the end. If you want to file a complaint, that's up to you. Even if you don't sue me, I will sue you. You allowed your troops to oppress the Mongolian people. Have you forgotten what happened in Xijing?"
Kang Huojian's heart skipped a beat when Xijing was mentioned. When the emperor personally led the expedition against the Jurchens, he killed many imperial guards in Xijing because they bullied the local people.
Kang Huojian's forehead broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. How could he only remember the food and not the beating? If this matter were to get to the ears of His Majesty, he and Zhu Qing would probably not benefit.
Thinking of this, Kang Huojian could only smile: "General Zhu, this matter ends here. However, the freedom of my imperial guards will be restricted in the future, so there will be no need for General Zhu to do it himself in the future." He clasped his fists.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Qing refused to give him the slightest bit of face: "Of course, I have no control over the affairs of the Imperial Guards, but if anyone dares to bully the people in the future, my Iron Wolf Army will never let him go! What's the difference between what you did and the Mongolian army? The Mongolian soldiers occupied the land of the Song Dynasty and burned, killed and looted at will. Now that you have entered the grasslands, you are killing and burning like them. In the end, it is the people who suffer. What is the purpose of His Majesty allowing you to go to the war? It is to let you defeat all those who are eyeing China. What crimes have these people committed? You also have families. Do you think this is right? You should go find Hehebula and kill the Mongolian cavalry, not bully these innocent people."
Everyone lowered their heads in shame after hearing this. After all, he was the emperor's brother-in-law, and Kang Huojian couldn't afford to lose face, so he forced a smile: "Okay, General Zhu is right. Generals, listen to my order! Anyone in our army who dares to harass or oppress the people again will be severely punished!"
The two armies nearly came to blows with their own people. This was unprecedented in the history of the Song Dynasty, and Kang Huojian was already giving them face. Although it was a battle between two armies, it was similar to the martial arts world, and no one wanted to make a big fuss.
It's unlikely that the Imperial Guards and the Iron Wolf Army would fight each other, so as long as we give them face and don't embarrass them, the matter will be over.
After all, both sides were at fault, and if the news got to the emperor, no one would benefit.
The imperial guards had the example of the former Jin Dynasty's Xijing. The imperial guards who were sent to conquer the Jin Dynasty had burned, killed and looted in Xijing, and as a result, several of them were killed by the emperor's order.
Kang Huojian's past was repeated. If this matter were reported to the emperor, the consequences would be unimaginable. Zhu Qing's Iron Wolf Army was even more so. You overstepped your rank and killed soldiers. Although these soldiers deserved death, your actions were no different from treason.
Even if you are the emperor's brother-in-law, if things get out of hand and the court seriously blames you, the emperor will not be able to protect you.
If you're given the chance, get off quickly. Zhu Qing clasped his fists in return and said, "Since General Kang is so kind, that's all that matters. Goodbye!"
The two sides, who were originally on the verge of a tense situation, finally laid down their weapons and retreated.
Kang Huojian watched the other man's retreating figure, a trace of anger flashing through his heart. A subordinate nearby came over and asked, "General, are we just going to let this go?"
Kang Huojian was fuming with rage, and when this tactless subordinate came up to him, he flew into a rage: "What do you want? Are you going to report me to the emperor? I've told you so many times to tone it down. What have you done? Pass down the order: anyone who bullies the people from now on will be punished by military law!"
Zhu Qing was a little unhappy, as this was not what he had originally intended. His dream was to gallop across the grasslands and lead the Song Dynasty cavalry to crush all injustices.
What was the difference between what the Song Dynasty was doing and the brutal Kublai Khan? The Mongol army was like this, and so was the Song army. He began to doubt whether his original intention of joining the army was correct. A general's success is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. Now that they had finally achieved their goal and entered the grasslands, Kublai Khan's army was also beginning to retreat. Was it all worth it?
Zhu Qing thought of the Great Jin, which had now become part of the Great Song. It seemed they were doing quite well. Memorials praising the emperor streamed into Bianjing, and even many Jurchen nobles wrote letters to the court praising the policies of the Great Song.
Then it was right for him to join the army. Eventually, the iron cavalry of the Song Dynasty would crush Kublai Khan's kingship and turn the Mongol Empire into another Jin Dynasty occupied by the Song Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qing smiled. After returning to the Iron Wolf Army camp, he sent a memorial.
Zhao Huan practically flipped the table after receiving the memorial from the Iron Wolf Camp: "What are the Imperial Guards and the Iron Wolf Army trying to do! Zhu Qing is so bold, he actually killed someone! And what is Wang Zongchu doing, allowing his soldiers to commit violence and evil? Do these two want to take me seriously? Do they really think I am the boss?"
Zhao Huan, who was on his way to Goryeo, quickly sent a letter back to Kang Huojian and Zhu Qing's troops. In the letter, he cursed Kang Huojian and Zhu Qing harshly. He also issued a strict order to Kang Huojian's troops: anyone who dared to harass the people would be killed without mercy!
The letter's harsh words made Kang Huojian break out in a cold sweat. However, the letter didn't alert the imperial court in Bianjing; it was sent privately by Zhao Huan. Bianjing was unaware of the incident; if the imperial court had known about it, it would have undoubtedly caused a stir. It seemed the emperor had suppressed the matter.
Zhao Huan's troops marched northward for several months and finally arrived at Liuhe Town on the border of Goryeo.
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