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The news that Lin Mo was appointed captain spread quickly, and the first person to come to him was naturally his brother Lin Meng.
"Boss, A'mo is just a little girl, how can she be the captain?" As if he was really anxious, Lin Meng ignored etiquette and blocked Cheng Xi directly.
"Do you think she can't be the captain because she is too young and lacks the skills, or because she is a woman?" Cheng Xi asked back.
Of course it's all three! However, no matter how impatient he was, Lin Meng wouldn't be stupid enough to say it out loud. He just said, "She's too young. Even if she learns some martial arts, she can't bear the lives of everyone on the ship. I accept being a substitute or a personal soldier, but as the captain and gang leader, you can't let personal interests interfere with public affairs!"
He could even say "overthrowing public office for personal gain." He must have read a lot and gained a lot of skills. Fu asked calmly, "If you had a younger brother who had practiced martial arts with me for over a year, had carried out missions repeatedly, and had even provided advice and strategies to defeat the enemy army, would you be anxious about his promotion?"
Lin Meng paused, but the next moment, he couldn't care less. "The leader knows that an elder brother is like a father. It's fine for me to fight alone, but how can I let my sister go to the battlefield? If she gets injured, or even dies, how will I explain it to my mother and my late father?"
"Do you want to protect her and let her live a happy and worry-free life?" Cheng Xi continued to ask.
This sentence really touched Lin Meng's heart, making him nod heavily: "I have no other wishes, I just hope that she can live a peaceful and stable life!"
Wasn't it for the sake of his family's safety and prosperity that he fought so hard in the front lines? If he couldn't even protect his sister, what was the point of being a soldier and killing enemies?
Looking at that earnest face, Cheng Xi sighed softly, "My father feels the same way. He thinks I can learn martial arts, be interested in military tactics, and even study them carefully, but I shouldn't be like those men, risking my life in battle."
She spoke softly, but every word she uttered made Lin Meng's heart clench. Was this General Qiu's true intention? He could actually understand, and completely comprehend General Qiu's thoughts.
Before he could speak, Cheng Xi continued, "But if I obey my father's orders, will you still be alive? Can your mother and sister still live in peace? Can the millions of people in the South China Sea still be as they are now?"
These three questions made Lin Meng's breath catch. Yes, if the gang leader hadn't appeared, he would have died on that pirate ship long ago. His mother would have lost her support, his sister would have been forced to marry, and as for the South China Sea, it was just a war of war, with warlords everywhere and the people living in poverty, just like in the past.
But how can one compare to another? Lin Meng couldn't help but say, "The gang leader is avenging his father and General Qiu..."
Before he could finish, Cheng Xi shook his head: "I joined the army not only for my father, but also for my own ambitions. As a human being, I can also have ambitions."
She wasn't Qiu Yuehua. Born in peacetime, she became a soldier. She never followed her father's orders, and all her achievements were her own desire, and she actually achieved them. This was certainly too advanced for a man of Lin Meng's generation, but she understood what Lin Mo wanted.
"She has already won the honor." Lin Meng understood the meaning of the gang leader's words, but still refused to nod. A'mo has been on stage and received awards, so what is there to be dissatisfied with?
"Just because you've been a ship captain, do you not want to be a fleet captain?" Cheng Xi asked back.
Lin Meng's eyes were red. "If I resign as fleet captain, will the leader take back the order?"
"Ridiculous!" Cheng Xi scolded, "Why do you lead the troops? Just for your family? If that's all you care about, then you really shouldn't be the captain anymore. Your sister would be better."
This was like a slap in the face. Lin Meng took a deep breath and said, "I was wrong. I simply cannot agree to let A'mo be the captain and be under Li Niu's command."
The five fleets are still divided. Aside from the fleet led by Yan Yuan, which reports directly to the gang leader, the others each have their own responsibilities. Li Niu's Second Fleet is primarily responsible for suppressing bandits, and has recently been preparing to advance into the river to expand the Red Flag Gang's territory. This is a real fight; even if it meant joining Sun Erlang's fleet to defend Panyu and Luoling Island, he wouldn't be so reluctant.
"I don't raise troops just to waste money and food. No matter which fleet it is, it will eventually go into battle. What difference does it make if it's under Sun Erlang or Zhong Ping? I let Lin Mo lead the troops because I want her to lead a strong army that can fight, not just be a decoration." Cheng Xi looked at the anxious young man and sighed softly, "You are just her brother. You can't live her life for her."
He could do it. He should have been able to do it. He could choose a good family for his sister and take good care of her husband. If that boy dared to hit his sister, he would definitely make him pay. The Lin family was now one of the most powerful forces in the Red Flag Gang. Was there any worry about not being able to find an outstanding man?
As long as she had a son or daughter, her sister could stay home and raise children peacefully and live out her life. As the eldest brother, he could definitely make the decision!
However, these words were completely useless in the eyes of the woman before him. She was his lord, and a lord's orders were more important than those of his father and brother. He couldn't forcefully refuse, but pleading was useless. Of course, she hoped for a female captain, just like the Stone Lady who had become the steward.
Just by looking at Lin Mo's expression, Cheng Xi knew what he was thinking. She was violating the very foundation of patriarchal society, shaking the principle that one's father's orders must be obeyed. Lin Meng certainly couldn't accept this easily. Not only him, but even his own father couldn't accept it. They only believed that the path they set was the right one, and they didn't care about their children's individual will. Even the rules of society were on their side, which was something more solid than the husband's power.
But Cheng Xi didn't care, not in her previous life, not in this life either. Shaking her head, Cheng Xi said, "You know why I wanted Lin Mo to be the captain, but have you ever asked her why she accepted the appointment?"
"That girl overestimates her own abilities and thinks she can learn from the gang leader!" Lin Meng shouted almost without hesitation.
Cheng Xi shook her head. "She learned martial arts because she saw a weak woman who was bullied by bandits commit suicide. She joined the army because she experienced the desperate battle between the Red Flag Gang and the bandits. She wanted to be a captain because she saw the faces of those aristocratic families in Yuhang and knew what she would face in the future. Lin Meng, that girl actually looks like you. When your own ship was hijacked by bandits, your hands were tied, and your face was covered in blood, what you thought was what your sister thought. She was unwilling to wait in the rear, nor did she want to be in a situation where she was unable to save herself. She is not an ignorant little girl. She has experienced the battlefield, and her father and brother are captains. How could she not know what it means to be a captain?"
These words actually froze Lin Meng's anger. His head was buzzing, but he couldn't utter a single word. He had been running around and fighting on the battlefield for years. When did his sister become like this?
However, Cheng Xi didn't intend to continue, and just waved his hand: "Go ask your sister and see how she responds. If you can convince her, this order can be rescinded. If not, just like the brothers in the gang who are fighting together, take good care of her future."
If it was just a moment ago, this sentence would have been enough to give Lin Meng hope, and he would have been eager to persuade his sister and dispel her unrealistic delusion. But now, he suddenly lost his confidence. How could he accomplish what General Qiu hadn't accomplished?
However, after gritting his teeth, Lin Meng turned and left.
That day, the Lin residence on the island was filled with arguments, shouting, and the sound of a woman crying. But the next day, Lin Mo still stood in front of Cheng Xi.
"Have you solved your worries?" Cheng Xi looked at her with a smile, as if he had guessed the result long ago.
Lin Mo nodded: "I want to be a captain."
Even if her mother was sad, even if her brother was angry, she wanted to be a captain, a general who could lead people to fight in the front, like a gang leader.
Looking at the little girl with her lips tightly pursed, Cheng Xi smiled, as if she saw herself back then. Yes, is there anything in the world that can hinder ambition? Giving up easily is simply not being eager enough, not wanting it that much.
Patting her on the shoulder, Cheng Xi said, "Follow Chief Li and learn well. Don't be careless or cowardly. You are not only carrying your own life on your shoulders, but also the lives of others on the boat. The burden will only increase, so you can't relax even for a day."
The hand that patted his shoulder was extremely strong and warm. Lin Mo smiled and nodded vigorously.
…
"Ayue, Captain Lin's ship has been finalized. All of us female soldiers can board!" Shi Hao excitedly ran back to the house and immediately informed his friends of the news. This is a ship for female soldiers. As long as she can board, she will have the opportunity to be promoted in the future. Maybe she can even have her own ship!
Unexpectedly, Huang Yue was not moved by this good news. She just shook her head and said, "I have already told the gang leader that I want to stay by her side and be a personal soldier."
Shi Hao's eyes widened. "Wait, that's not what you said before! And the gang leader said that personal soldiers aren't the most powerful. Fighting on board a ship, being a captain, or being a general is the most powerful!"
Huang Yue looked at her bewildered friend and shook her head gently. "I know. I've thought about this. I'm not as formidable as you. I might be lost in battle, just like I was on Luoling Island that day. Instead of going into battle, I should stay by the leader's side. Captain Lin has taken control of the ship, so who will be her replacement? I'm better at this than killing the enemy, and I can also serve as a shield for the leader."
This was the essence of a personal soldier: to defend the leader from assassins, to be his shadow, and to sacrifice her life in times of crisis. She might not be as brave as Captain Lin or Ah Hao, but she had learned martial arts, studied medicine, and even served as a competent servant. She could be a good personal soldier, which was far more important than being on board a ship or killing the enemy.
Looking at Huang Yue's equally determined gaze, Shi Hao was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Alright! I feel more at ease with you guarding the gang leader. It's much safer than those rough guys!"
Huang Yue couldn't help but laugh at these frank, unconcerned words, and nodded vigorously. Although they couldn't continue to live together or go out together, they were still in the gang, working hard to fulfill their wishes, and that was enough.
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