Chapter 261 [Mobilization]
On the way to Lord Hu's barracks, Lord Hu introduced the situation of his men to Jiang Lili: "I've mentioned this to you before. They're all veterans around fifty years old, many with old injuries. They don't have any power or background, and they were sent to the South Bank. They all have complaints in their hearts."
"Besides, there's nowhere to go on the South Coast, not even a decent market. Everyone is stuck on this deserted island, feeling depressed and their abilities are rapidly deteriorating."
The station is where a group of lonely elderly people gather together. They have no children or grandchildren to accompany them in the mountains. They are in a depressed mood and have no energy at all.
After walking about four or five miles, Jiang Lili saw the entrance to the garrison. The entrance was located in the narrow part of the valley, and the steep cliffs on both sides formed a natural barrier.
A group of middle-aged men stood at the checkpoint at the entrance. Lord Hu introduced them to Jiang Lili with a wry smile: "The members of this patrol team are the youngest guys in our barracks."
Lord Hu introduced Jiang Lili to the patrol soldiers and said, "Old Wu, this is our highly respected Military Advisor Jiang. Please recognize his face."
"Military Advisor Jiang! I've long heard of your great name!"
The people in the patrol team had heard long ago that a girl named Jiang had turned the south coast of Haizhou Island upside down, and even the prince who was the god of war obeyed the military advisor's words.
The leader, known as Old Wu, looked at Sheng Zhixing, who was brought over by Lord Hu, and asked, "Another new recruit?"
Just as Lord Hu was about to deny it, Sheng Zhixing nodded: "Yes, I'm new here, Big Brother Wu, oh no, Little Brother Wu, that's not right..."
Sheng Zhixing didn't know what to call him. He wanted to show a bright and cheerful smile: "Hello, Old Wu, I'm Old Sheng."
Old Wu looked at Sheng Zhixing and saw that he had the youthful vigor and vitality. He shook his head regretfully. It was a pity that he was still so energetic at this age, but he had to waste his time in this mountain village until he was old enough to retire. Perhaps after staying here for a month or two, this new soldier would become the same as everyone else.
Jiang Lili and her three companions entered the valley, and the surrounding environment suddenly became clear. A river rushed down from the mountain and merged into the lake next to the camp.
There are tents of all sizes in the valley. Many soldiers with white hair are busy with their own tasks, picking mulberry leaves, feeding silkworms, weaving and farming... as if they have already lived a retired life.
Jiang Lili looked at the valley and was amazed: "This place is simply a paradise, with mountains, water, and it's very quiet."
Lord Hu sighed repeatedly. He had actually been somewhat reluctant to come to this place. Every time he saw these elderly veterans and felt helpless, he would feel upset for a long time. "According to their physical conditions, there are only less than 300 people who can participate in normal training. So I simply let them be self-sufficient, raising silkworms and weaving cloth, raising chickens and farming..."
The group of veterans closest to the three were tending to the flowers and plants. One of them held a wild chrysanthemum and said to the others, "My wife likes gardenias. Smell how fragrant they are!"
Another soldier in coarse linen clothes said, "It's been more than 30 years. You still remember what your wife likes. I can't even remember what my wife Cui Niang looks like."
"I spent all my money to buy Cui Niang from her blood-sucking parents. I only remember that our family was so poor that we could barely afford to eat. I stuffed the hundred-dollar bill I received for enlisting into the army into her hands. She chased me out crying, and I didn't even dare to look back."
He rambled on, "I wonder if Cui Niang is still alive, and if her parents have come to steal the military pay I brought back."
The old soldier who had been tending to the flowers and plants just now shook his head, his face full of vicissitudes of life: "Thirty years have passed, and we, a bunch of old guys who enlisted in the army, are still alive, languishing on a deserted island thousands of miles away from home."
The people who were still chatting gradually fell silent, and a sad and tragic atmosphere spread around them.
At this time, Sheng Zhixing walked over.
He walked over to the group of veterans and sat down, saying cheerfully, "Since you want to go back, let's fight back!"
Everyone was stunned by his words.
"How can it be so simple? We are all a bunch of old guys!"
"Hey man, are you saying you want to start a rebellion? Are you kidding me? Don't you see how old I am?"
Although everyone was complaining about Sheng Zhixing's wild ideas, they had actually had this idea in their minds.
Those superiors who treated them like grass and sent them to this deserted island were stabbed into pieces hundreds of times in their hearts.
Those who returned home safely after the battle or were able to go home to visit their families were either generals with outstanding military achievements who could not be touched, or they were good at bragging and flattering, and could bribe people with money. They had to use their connections to be transferred back to a base close to home, which would cost them five years of military pay.
Many of them are too upright and offend others, causing difficulties for them.
They have not seen their parents, wives and children for decades, and they are heartbroken.
But the gap in reality is so huge that the idea of rushing back directly is just a thought in my mind.
Sheng Zhixing saw the complex emotions in these people's eyes, "You all know now that the Zhaoping Marquisate controls the southern shore of Haizhou Island, with 500 naval forces and 300 elite soldiers. Although this number is a drop in the bucket compared to the Great Saint Dynasty's military strength, we have the firewood pole in our hands!"
Sheng Zhixing's face was filled with determination. He used his words to guide these ambitious veterans to rediscover their own value: "You come from military camps in various parts of the Dasheng Dynasty. You are familiar with the distribution of Dasheng forces, as well as the offensive and defensive characteristics of each city. The location of the barracks does not require you to charge into the front and kill the enemy. You can still play the role of one against ten here!"
Sheng Zhixing's words awakened everyone. They all came from all corners of the world, and the information they had pieced together might be closer to the true appearance of Dasheng than those high-ranking officials in the imperial court in the capital.
More and more people came over to listen to Sheng Zhixing's words, and many of them began to think seriously.
"You've all heard of the title of Crown Prince God of War. Some of you may have even witnessed it before."
Sheng Zhixing's words were sonorous and powerful, and very contagious, especially since he was now a "peer" of the stationed soldiers, and his words were more relatable than those spoken by younger generals.
"And now, we not only have the War God Prince, we also have a military advisor who can master the celestial phenomena and a navy who can ride the wind and waves... Our team is growing rapidly. A single spark can start a prairie fire!"
Sheng Zhixingyue said that the morale of the soldiers stationed there was very high. They had not been so excited for a long time, and now, someone had given them hope!
"By then, the Zhaoping Marquis's Mansion will be prepared for every step, and you can reunite with your family soon."
Jiang Lili couldn't help but kneel down to Sheng Zhixing when she saw him speak so impromptu without a script!
As expected of their class league secretary, he is here to hold a mobilization meeting.
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