51
Lying on the door panel, the little girl pursed her lips, closed her eyes, and looked clean, as if she was asleep.
He Ling couldn't help but cover her mouth and cried softly.
A hand covered in mud rubbed the top of her head. Cheng Xi bent down and lifted the door panel. Several people cooperated and put it into the tomb carefully.
A white cloth was torn open and covered on top.
He personally pressed the four corners of the white cloth under the door panel and smoothed out the wrinkles.
Cheng Xi then stood up and crawled out of the tomb.
The pit was very deep and spacious, and with a door panel placed on it, it looked a bit empty.
She hesitated for a moment, walked aside, picked a few small flowers, and scattered them on the white sheet.
There are yellow, pink and blue flowers, the flowers are beautiful, just like the shy smile in the dream.
He Ling stared blankly at it. The man's voice came from beside her. It was calm, clear, and filled with endless tenderness: "The person buried here lived a clean life. Their soul will find peace where it rests. They will be free from pain, untouched by injury, and their dust will return to dust."
The dirt fell, covering the flowers and the white cloth. The sky brightened.
On the way back, no one spoke, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed. There was no longer that dead silence and oppression. Even people like Ah Hong just walked silently with her head down, without saying a word.
When they arrived at the women's camp, Cheng Xi called He Ling and Lin Mo: "Come back to the main courtyard with me first."
Even if the girl was buried, the psychological trauma she suffered would not be easily resolved.
These two little girls are the most affected. If timely intervention is not made, there may be consequences. How can Cheng Xi just leave them alone?
Naturally, the two would not disobey Cheng Xi's orders and followed him back to the main courtyard.
As soon as he got home, Cheng Xi immediately asked someone to boil some hot water and let the two little girls take a bath and wash up.
Hot water has a soothing effect and can relieve fatigue, which is exactly what they need right now.
Yan Yuan rushed over just after he had arranged for the two of them. Seeing Cheng Xi, he hurriedly asked, "Boss, did the women's camp have any arrangements in advance?"
"No, it happened suddenly and I didn't expect it." Cheng Xi said.
Hearing this, Yan Yuan, far from being relieved, became even more nervous. "How can we not establish rules in the camp? Howling in the middle of the night can really shake the morale of the troops! We're lucky there wasn't any chaos today. If something goes wrong and the camp starts to roar, it would be impossible to clean up!"
Cheng Xi shook his head: "I will rearrange the affairs of the women's camp, but it is not a military camp, so we cannot use the methods of commanding troops. We should still prioritize comforting the people."
Yan Yuan was stunned. As a woman, the young lady certainly didn't want to let women suffer, but in military tactics, this is a taboo! After hesitating for a long time, Yan Yuan finally spoke with difficulty: "If you really want to do this, why not cancel the women's camp, let the families live with their husbands, and send the women in the camp back to the main camp on land first. Luoling Island is an isolated island in the sea after all. How can the army be at peace with a group of women around?"
Since ancient times, the only women allowed in the army were camp prostitutes, who could boost morale and calm people's hearts.
But if we just let them look at it and not eat it, it will be a big trouble. It might even make the soldiers resentful!
Cheng Xi glanced at him and asked, "Have you touched any women in the camp in the past few months?"
Yan Yuan never expected the other party to ask so directly. After a moment of awkwardness, he shook his head.
He was thinking about the young lady, so how could he attack those poor people?
"Have the servants on the island and the sailors on the ship ever enjoyed those women?" Cheng Xi asked again.
Yan Yuan still shook his head. There were only the kidnapped women in the camp, so how could there be enough to share? It was also Jiang Da who ordered the establishment of a special camp, allowing the leaders and their confidants to enter the camp for entertainment, and regarded this as a means of reward.
Even in the army back then, not everyone could get a camp prostitute. It depended on your position, and you even had to spend some money.
Cheng Xi sneered, "Aren't you men? Don't you need to be relieved? There are so many poor men in the world who can't afford to marry. If they rebelled because they didn't have women, the world would have been in chaos long ago! Setting up a female camp is nothing more than indulging the soldiers' animal desires, hoping to make them obey and fight for their lives."
This was too straightforward. Yan Yuan was speechless for a moment, and after a long while he said, "That's true, but the morale of the army..."
"The art of war emphasizes morale because most soldiers are conscripted. They don't know why they're fighting, yet they're placed at the head of a large army, constantly facing death. Over time, this will naturally cause them to develop mental blocks and become difficult to control." Cheng Xi changed the subject, "But what if they knew? If they understood why they were fighting and were willing to fight to the death, would these so-called rules still matter?"
If this were truly possible, why would there be any concern for military morale? But how could such soldiers be acquired? Yan Yuan was practically overwhelmed: "These are pirates who have left their homes. They're not even soldiers. How can we teach them righteousness?"
"There's no need for righteousness. Guard dogs are the most vicious. Just let them know that this is their home, and the women in the women's camp may become their relatives, then their evil thoughts will naturally be controlled. If they can't be controlled, I don't mind using whips, knives, and ropes to make them understand these principles. Ayuan, you have to remember that I don't want wolves, and I don't want them to feed on the flesh and blood of others. That's why there are gang rules and those iron laws of killing without mercy!" Cheng Xi answered word by word without mercy.
In history, there were two armies with strong faith that would rather freeze to death than demolish houses, starve to death than plunder, and even eat grass roots and tree bark than take a single needle or thread from the people.
They all fought for the greater good of their country and family, but without a home, how could there be a country? This group of pirates might not be able to have higher ideals for a while, but they could first have a home, the island as their home, the gang as their home.
If they have a home, dignity, and something worth protecting, the power that this group of people can unleash should not be underestimated.
This will also sever the chain of mutual harm. Being bullied by the government and the wealthy, fleeing to sea, and then persecuting and killing those weaker than oneself, this will lead to endless peace.
In her hands, the female battalion can be logistics, or they can be village women who can weave, but they can never be rewards, and they can never be turned into flesh and blood to feed the evil wolves!
"Is the boss planning to station soldiers?" Yan Yuan finally understood, looking at the man in front of him in disbelief. Isn't this the system of soldiers, where farmers are hired in peacetime and soldiers are hired in wartime? But that system has long been extinct. How can they "station" soldiers on an island?
Cheng Xi also knew about the military system. When he thought about it carefully, they were quite similar.
She explained, "We still need a standing army, but fishing when busy and plundering when not is the custom on the coast. We can just make some adjustments."
This really left Yan Yuan speechless. After pondering for a long time, he finally nodded and said, "This method is not bad, but the women's camp cannot be in chaos anymore. The surrendered soldiers are already unstable. If they are influenced by those women, I am really afraid that I will not be able to control them."
"Don't worry about this. There won't be any more chaos." Cheng Xi sighed. This morning, more than one person was buried. Just as the shipwreck buried the past of the surrendered soldiers, the tomb also buried the past of those women.
As long as you have the will to live and a more tolerant environment, things will eventually get better.
Seeing her like this, Yan Yuan stopped talking and said, "The people have been chosen. We can set sail for Erwang Village today."
Cheng Xi nodded and said, "After we've dealt with this, we'll go back to the main camp and talk to Li Niu about this matter. Let him spread the word in Dongning County."
Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, how can we not let the monkeys know? Yan Yuan nodded in understanding.
After glancing at the other person, Cheng Xi suddenly asked, "Did you hear the crying this morning?"
Yan Yuan's heart trembled. "Of course I heard it. Don't worry, Boss. I will be careful when I take action."
Was this a warning, a warning he'd given because he was worried he'd killed someone in Erwang Village? Yan Yuan thought to himself, "He's a capable general under the military commander, so how could he not know his limits?"
Unexpectedly, Cheng Xi shook his head: "No, I'm telling you that villains can cry too, and they can cry sincerely. You represent the Red Flag Gang, so you must think clearly about how to maximize the benefits for the Red Flag Gang. You can exploit public anger, but you can't act on emotion."
These cold words sent a chill down Yan Yuan's spine.
He found that he really couldn't understand this woman. Most of the time, she was kind-hearted, even had a compassionate heart like a bodhisattva, but when she picked up the knife, she was ruthless and decisive, like a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time.
Was it just a combination of kindness and severity? Or was there something else at work that made a kind-hearted person so hardened and cruel?
Without saying anything else, Yan Yuan bowed and left.
After dealing with Yan Yuan, Cheng Xi still had to go around the camp. The impact of the howling must be closely observed and the hidden dangers must be eliminated as soon as possible.
However, before getting down to business, she still had to go see the two little girls.
When they arrived at the backyard, Cheng Xi found that the two had already taken a shower and changed into new clothes, but they did not go to bed. Instead, they sat together blankly.
Cheng Xi came to the two of them and said softly, "You didn't sleep well last night. Eat something and go to sleep first."
He Ling seemed not to hear this and grabbed Cheng Xi's sleeve: "Master, if I had sent her here yesterday, would she have survived?"
This is the biggest obstacle in her heart that she cannot let go of. With the young master comforting her, will the girl not die after waking up, but will cry loudly like other people and be reborn?
Cheng Xi was silent for a moment and shook his head: "I'm afraid not. No one can predict it, and no one can stop someone who wants to die."
He Ling was stunned and asked foolishly, "Didn't she survive such a difficult time? How can someone who wants to live want to die?"
She heard Ah Hong's words and kept them in mind.
If I didn't have the will to live, how could I have survived until now? But if I did, why did I choose to die?
"Survival is a human instinct, it's irrational and unreasonable. But if your heart is lost, you can't be considered truly 'alive'..." Cheng Xi squatted down and held He Ling's hand. "A Ling, that girl didn't die because of you. She had been tortured to the point of losing her heart, but you found it back."
He Ling's tears welled up again: "But she still died. Didn't you say that life is the most precious..."
Cheng Xi sighed softly: "People are different. On the battlefield, some people can survive with broken limbs, while others will die in agony. It's not because the one dying is weak, but because they are born unable to endure such pain. The same goes for those women. After so much torture, people's hearts will be hurt. Some people can hold on, while others cannot. That's why we should look at the living, not the dead. If they want to live, we should lend them a helping hand, clear the obstacles for them, and let them find the reason and meaning to continue living."
Cheng Xi knows better than most people that some psychological trauma will affect the brain. When the disease reaches a certain level, only medication can treat and alleviate it.
The women in the women's camp experienced inhumane experiences. She could only intervene but not necessarily heal them.
In this era, there are too many things that can drive people to death, but if someone wants to survive, at least she can reach out a hand and hold those people back, just like she held He Ling back.
He Ling clenched her teeth, hatred surging in her heart: "Tell them, it's not them who are wrong, but the evil villain who harmed them!"
"Yes, there are also those nonsense about chastity and innocence. She has not hurt anyone and has not done any evil, so she should be innocent and no one can blame her." Cheng Xi said firmly.
She had heard the young master say this more than once before, but the feeling she had today was different from every time before. He Ling wiped her face fiercely and said, "I want to go back to the camp!"
Cheng Xi frowned slightly: "Let's wait for two more days..."
He Ling shook her head vigorously: "I can't calm down. I want to go back now and do something!"
Seeing the worry on Cheng Xi's face, He Ling held his hand tightly. "Sir, don't worry about me. I've seen a lot of deaths. Some were beaten to death by male prostitutes, some committed suicide by jumping off buildings, some died of serious illness. Many people have died in Pinfang Pavilion. At that time, I was just afraid. But now, I'm not afraid anymore. I just want to do something to keep them alive!"
There was a determination in her voice that was willing to risk everything.
This is the voice that only people who have found their goals and determined their ideals can have.
Cheng Xi shut up. This kind of thing couldn't be dissuaded. Killing people, seeing her comrades killed, and those failed missions, watching those she'd fought so hard to protect die, wouldn't that hurt her, leave a scar on her? She'd certainly been hurt, had seen hell, but none of that had deterred her, because she knew the weight of her burden, and she wasn't afraid.
Without trying to persuade He Ling anymore, Cheng Xi turned around and looked at Lin Mo who was silent.
This girl is Lin Meng's sister and one of the first people she met after coming to this world.
However, she has always been silent, has no presence, and seems to have no weight.
But Cheng Xi knew her stubbornness. When her family was in trouble, she would think about getting married early to reduce the burden on her family. She would also stay in the camp quietly and do everything she could.
It was also she who, after realizing that something was wrong, stumbled over to find him, thus preventing greater turmoil in the women's camp.
Could such a person, after such a great shock, remain unscathed? Perhaps she simply suppressed her emotions as usual, just as she had when she heard the news of her father's death.
Therefore, if you need to ask something, you must ask it clearly. Cheng Xi whispered, "Amo, how about you? How about staying for a few days and keeping me company?"
Unexpectedly, the little girl suddenly asked, "My benefactor, have you never been afraid? Why did you go out to sea with my brothers and others, fighting and killing, and rushing to the front of the battle?"
No one understands the women of the world better than her, and no one is more compassionate and kind than her.
Why would such a person draw a knife and charge forward? Wasn't she afraid of death? Wasn't she afraid of taking someone's life?
Cheng Xi didn't expect her to ask this, but he answered solemnly: "Because in my heart, there are things more important than life and death."
"What is it?" The little girl refused to give up and asked.
"I will do my best to ensure that everyone around me lives a good and peaceful life." Cheng Xi smiled and hummed the poem, "I don't want to be a marquis, but I hope the sea waves will be calm."
Lin Mo had never read a book, nor had she heard of poetry, but this sentence somehow made her eyes slightly moist. She placed her hands on the ground, knelt down, and bowed deeply: "I want to learn martial arts from you, my benefactor. Please teach me martial arts!"
Cheng Xi's expression also grew serious. After a long pause, he said, "This road is difficult and dangerous. If you fail, you may suffer unimaginable torture. Even if you win, the pain will not go away. It may even make you infertile and make it difficult for you to have children. Have you thought it through?"
Lin Mo raised his head, his eyes showing no sign of retreat. "Since my benefactor can do it, so can I! I want to learn martial arts. I want to be strong enough to kill thieves and protect those I want to protect!"
This was the first time this girl expressed her ideal, and also the first time someone knelt in front of her so persistently.
Cheng Xi reached out and pulled her up from the ground: "Okay, I will teach you slowly in the future, including some small self-defense methods. If you learn them in the future, you can also teach others."
Lin Mo's eyes lit up immediately, and He Ling beside him asked anxiously: "What about me? Can I learn it?"
"You don't need to learn that. You need to learn how to read and write, and how to manage and coordinate. You can even learn how to bandage wounds. In the future, the women's battalion will also need someone to study medicine, so they know how to treat wounds left on the battlefield."
This is what He Ling wants, how could she refuse?
Looking at the two excited little guys, Cheng Xi sighed in his heart.
Could those shocks, those traumas, really be healed so easily? Perhaps they both still harbored pain in their hearts, but they were just hiding it, unwilling to show it again, and not wanting to make her worry anymore.
But now, she really couldn't find a better way.
This island is still full of dangers. One wrong step could lead to eternal damnation. Those difficulties must be solved one by one. I just hope Sun Erlang and his companions can arrive soon.
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