"I've been thinking about the food in the valley for a few days. I have an idea that I'd like to discuss with Mister Ning in private."
It was almost noon, and the smell of cooking was already wafting out from the small courtyard on the mountainside. In the study, Luo Ye, who was dressed in his military uniform, stood up after Ning Yi's question and spoke. Ning Yi tilted his head slightly and thought about it, then waved his hand. "Sit." Only then did he sit down again.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Ever since Ning Yi and the others gradually settled down in Little Cang River, other than the youths of the Euphoria Youth League and the Vital Energy Society, small associations gradually appeared in the army. The Huayan Society was the most honorable one among them. The group's name appeared after Ning Yi mentioned the word Hua Xia.
The members of this group were mostly young generals from the lower ranks of the Wu Rui Battalion. As the initiator, Luo Ye himself was an outstanding soldier. Although he was originally a commander of a small school with a dozen people, he was born into a wealthy family. He was educated and had extraordinary knowledge. Ning Yi had been paying attention to him for a long time.
"If I remember correctly, Brother Luo had a good family background in the capital." He paused for a moment, then raised his head and said.
Luo Ye sat upright opposite him and did not avoid the topic. "The Luo Family originally had many businesses in the capital. Both the legal and the underworld had their hands in them. Now … the Jurchens have surrounded the city. I think they've all become the Jurchens'. "
"But when the Wu Rui Battalion mobilized their troops, you were the first to follow them."
"As I said, the Luo Family in the capital has a background in both the legal and the underworld. Among the brothers in the family, I'm the most useless. I couldn't study well since I was young, but I'm brave and ruthless. I like to fight for justice and often get into trouble. After I came of age, my father wanted to use his connections to send me into the army. I only needed to be promoted in a few years and I could contribute to the family's business in the army. At first, I was placed in the Victorious Martial Army so that I wouldn't be under the care of my superiors who had connections with me. After I was promoted two ranks, I happened to encounter the Jurchens heading south. "
The young man named Luo Ye spoke resolutely and without hesitation, "After that, I followed the Wu Sheng Army all the way to the outskirts of Bianliang City. That night, we launched a sneak attack and encountered the Jurchen cavalry. The army was completely routed, so I brought my brothers to seek shelter in Xia Village. Later on, I was assigned to the Wu Rui Battalion … My temperament has been unruly since I was young, and there are many things in my family that make me feel bored. However, where I was born is determined by my fate, so I had no choice. However, during my time in Xia Village, I finally understood why this world is rotten. I also understood why we have been defeated along the way. "
"… At that time, the battle was like that. Later on, the Qin family lost their power. The Right Minister and General Qin were wronged. Others may be ignorant, but I understand the logic behind it. He also knew that if the Jurchens attacked south again, Bianliang City would be doomed. I can't persuade my family, but in this world, I already know what I should do. "
He said this in one breath and paused again, "Moreover, at that time, to my father, if Bianliang City really fell and the Jurchens massacred the city, I could be considered to have left a bloodline for the Luo family. In the long run, if my choice is proven to be right in the future, perhaps … I can also save the Luo family. It's just that right now it seems … "
He may have thought about these words repeatedly in his heart before. When he said the last few words, his words became slightly difficult. Since ancient times, blood is thicker than water. He could not bear to see his family's behavior, so he followed the Wu Rui Battalion and rebelled without hesitation. However, in his heart, he may not really want anything to happen to his family.
However, the fall of Bianliang City was already half a year ago. After that, the Jurchens plundered and plundered, killing people like flies. They also took a large number of women and craftsmen north. Luo Ye's family may not be among them. As long as this was considered, no one's mood would be good.
He didn't finish his last sentence. Ning Yi nodded and pushed the tea towards him, "The matter of Bianliang City, if your family can survive, there may be a turn for the better in the future. You can relax."
Luo Ye sat there and shook his head, "Like Mister Ning said, the Wu dynasty has weakened to this point. Everyone is responsible. This karma, the Luo family also has to bear. Since I have already come out, I will put this life on the line. I only hope to struggle out a path. As for the matters of my family, I no longer worry about it. "
Ning Yi looked at him with a smile. After a moment, he slowly nodded and said no more, "I understand. Brother Luo previously said that there is a way to deal with the matter of food, I don't know …"
Luo Ye straightened his posture, "As I said earlier, the Luo family had some relations with both the black and white forces. When I was young, I accompanied my father to visit a few big families. Now that I think about it, although the Jurchens killed their way to Bianliang City, there are still many places north of the Yellow River that have not been affected by the flames of war. The big families in those places still have a few years' worth of food. Now that I think about it, there is a big family near Huo Yi of Tranquil Sun Prefecture. The owner is Huo Ting, Squire Huo. This person is entrenched in the area and has tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. He has eyes and ears in both the black and white forces. Although the Jurchens have not really attacked, the situation north of the Yellow River is changing. He must be looking for a way out. "
"I followed my father to see Huo Ting. Huo Ting came to the capital a few times and stayed with the Luo family for a short period of time. We can be considered friends. I think if I go and persuade this Squire Huo, I might be able to persuade him to seek shelter in Little Canghe. If he agrees, the food shortage in the valley can be solved. "
The food problem of the Small Cang River was not concealed within the valley. Everyone in the valley was worried, and as long as they could think, most of them would have thought about it a few times. There were also many who sought out Ning Yi to come up with a plan. After Luo Ye finished speaking, the room became quiet. Ning Yi's eyes were solemn. He crossed his fingers and thought for a while. Then he took out a pen and paper. "Tranquil Sun Prefecture, Huo Yi, Squire Huo Ting …"
He wrote the words on the paper and stood up. He turned to the bookshelf and wooden box at the back of the study. After searching for a while, he took out a thin file and walked back. "Squire Huo Ting, Squire Huo. Indeed, his name was there during the food shortage in the north in the eleventh year of Jinghan's reign. In the vicinity of Huo Yi, he is indeed very wealthy and is one of the biggest grain merchants. With his support, it would not be a problem to feed ten or twenty thousand people. "
Luo Ye said, "Although this person's behavior is improper, it is not impossible to cooperate with him in the current situation. What's more, if Mister Ning has any ideas, I can act as a spy and find out the truth of the Huo family. We, Little Canghe, can send troops to destroy the Huo family and the food problem will be solved. "
He was born in a corrupt family. Although he was brave and upright when he joined the Wu Ruiying Camp, he did not shy away from using sinister methods. After he finished, he added, "I know this is not a good idea, but since we have already broken off our relationship with the Wu dynasty, I feel that there is no need to worry too much about some things. If there is a hurdle, we will have to pass it. Of course, whether or not these things will be done will be decided by Mister Ning and the generals in charge of the overall situation. I just feel that it is necessary to let Mister Ning know so that you can use it as a reference. "
"You are doing this for the good of everyone." Ning Yi nodded with a smile and said, "This matter is very valuable. I will hand it over to the General Staff for discussion. If things really come to a head, I am not a good person. Brother Luo, you can rest assured."
Luo Ye's serious face finally smiled. He pressed his hands on his thighs and raised his head slightly. "I have finished what I wanted to report. I will not disturb Mister anymore. I will take my leave now." After he finished, he was about to stand up. Ning Yi waved his hand. "Hey, wait."
Luo Ye sat down again. Ning Yi said, "I have something to discuss with Brother Luo."
Seeing Luo Ye sit up straight again, Ning Yi smiled. He approached the tea table and was silent for a moment. "Brother Luo, regarding Takeshi's … let's call them comrades, do you have confidence?"
Luo Ye frowned. "I am not …"
"No, I am not talking about this." Ning Yi waved his hand and said seriously, "I absolutely believe in Brother Luo's sincerity and passion for the military. Brother Luo, please believe that I am asking this because I want to understand some of the general thoughts in the military. I hope you can talk to me about this matter objectively. It is also very important for our future actions."
Luo Ye hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Regarding … Takeshi's seniors, I naturally have confidence."
"However, I still have some reservations about them being able to solve the food problem."
"... The matter has not been decided, after all, it is hard to say. This subordinate also knows that the elder of the Bamboo Record is very respectable, but... this subordinate also thinks, if there is more information, the path to choose will be wider."
"… I do not have much confidence in them being able to solve this matter. In fact, I do not have much confidence in myself being able to solve this matter. " Ning Yi looked at him and smiled. After a moment, his eyes became serious. He slowly stood up and looked out of the window. "Takeshi's previous shopkeepers, including talents with potential in business, eloquence, and strategy, had a total of 225 people. After being divided into groups, including their bodyguards, there are now more than 1200 people outside. Each of them has their own responsibilities. But as for whether or not they can open up a trade route to connect all sides, or whether or not they can sort out the complicated relationships around here, I do not have confidence. At least, until now, I still cannot see a clear outline. "
"But I believe that hard work will pay off." Ning Yi said slowly, almost enunciating each word, "I have experienced many things before. At first glance, they all seem to be dead ends. Many times, I cannot see the path at the beginning, but retreating is not a solution. I can only slowly do what I can and push things to change. Often, when we have more and more bargaining chips, an unexpected path will appear in front of us … Of course, that is to say, I hope that a bright path will suddenly appear in front of us, but at the same time … I can only hope that they are not the only ones. "
Luo Ye sat upright and still. His eyes were slightly confused, but it was obvious that he was trying hard to understand Ning Yi's words. Ning Yi turned around and said, "We have more than ten thousand people in total. Including the Green Wood Village, there are more than ten thousand people, not 1200 people."
"Brother Luo, I used to tell everyone why the army of the Wu Dynasty could not defeat others. I boldly analyzed that it was because they all knew what kind of people around them were like. They could not trust the people around them at all. But now, we have more than ten thousand people in Little Canghe. In the face of such a huge crisis, even when everyone knows that there is such a crisis, why haven't we dispersed immediately? Because how many of you are willing to believe in the 1200 people who are working hard outside? But what about these 1200 people? They are also willing to believe that even if they cannot solve the problem themselves, with so many trustworthy people working together, they will most likely be able to find a way out. This is actually the biggest difference between us and the army of the Wu Dynasty, and it is also the most valuable thing among us. "
Luo Ye's eyes flickered and he nodded slightly. Ning Yi paused and looked at him. "Then, Brother Luo, what I want to say is, if one day, our food reserves run out and all 1200 of our brothers outside fail … Will we walk into a dead end? "
Luo Ye raised his head and his eyes became resolute. "Of course not."
"Of course not!" Ning Yi suddenly waved his hand. "We still have 9000 soldiers! That is you guys! Brother Luo, the 1200 people outside the mountain are working very hard to complete their mission. The reason why they are motivated is not only themselves, but also because of the 9000 brothers inside the mountain. Because of your training, you guys are very strong. "
"If one day, even if they fail, you guys will definitely solve this problem!" Of course you will solve this problem! "
"Yes!" Luo Ye straightened his shoulders slightly.
"In a system, everyone has their own duties. Only when everyone does their job well will the system be the strongest. Recently, many people have been worried about the food issue. As a soldier, having worries is both good and bad. Pressure is a good thing, but despair is a bad thing. Brother Luo, I know that you are a soldier not because of despair, but because of pressure. But in a situation where you feel pressure, I believe that many people are not confident. "
Luo Ye lowered his head in thought. Ning Yi waited for a moment. "There is a premise for a soldier to worry. No matter what he faces, he knows that he can draw his sword and kill his way through! With this premise, we can find various ways to reduce our losses and solve the problem. "
"Mister Ning, I …" Luo Ye lowered his head and stood up. Ning Yi shook his head and patted his shoulder with a serious look. "Brother Luo, I am speaking very sincerely about this matter. Please believe me, what you have said today is very valuable. Under any circumstances, I will not refuse such information. I do not want you to have such thoughts in the future and not say it. The reason why I am analyzing this with you is because you are the head of the Huayan Society. I want to grab you as a strong man. "
Ning Yi said, "Of course, you will not have any benefits as a head, and I will not give you any more power. But there are many people around you who are willing to communicate with you. And the core spirit of the army must be 'draw your sword and kill everything'! No matter what we encounter, we must first be able to fight. If the 1,200 people can't solve it, the 9,000 of you can. Even if it's strenuous for you to solve it, the 1,200 people can help. In this way, no matter what problems we face, we will have two or three layers of insurance. Do you understand what I'm saying? "
"I … understand."
"So, I really like that everyone has the ability to think independently like you, but I am afraid of the side effects." Ning Yi tilted his head and smiled.
Luo Ye stood up. "When I go back, I will train hard and do what I have to do!"
The breeze outside the window rustled the leaves and sunlight shone through the gaps between the trees. It was noon and the aroma of food wafted over. Ning Yi nodded in the room.
"Stay for lunch."
*****
At the same time, on a barren mountain a few miles away from the Little Cang River, a group of a dozen people braved the sun and passed through the mountains.
Their pace was quite fast. They turned around the hill and walked in the direction of the mountain stream. This place was overgrown with strange trees and piles of rubble. It was desolate and dangerous. Halfway through the group, the guide in front suddenly stopped and said a few words. From the shadows came another person's voice. After the words were exchanged, people came out from behind the rocks and looked at them with vigilance.
Most of these people were dressed like mountain people and hunters, but they had extraordinary skills. Some of them had the distinct aura of an official. They walked a little further and descended into a dark mountain stream. The former Chief Constable of the Ministry of Justice, Tie Tianying, came out of a cave with his subordinates and met the other party.
The leader was wearing a cloak. After handing over a document for Tie Tianying to check, he slowly put down the hood of his cloak. Tie Tianying looked at him and frowned.
"What happened to the imperial court? Why did they send you here? "
"You are under my control now. Don't be rude."
The light shone through the gaps in the mountain and illuminated the pale and thin face of the person. He looked at Tie Tianying with a calm and melancholy gaze. "The imperial court has decided to move to the south. Lord Tan sent me here to continue to eliminate the rebels with you. Of course, if Lord Tie is not satisfied, you can go back and verify this. "
Tie Tianying looked at him, and after a moment, he coldly snorted: "You are in charge of this matter, hmph, you are all Qin Siyuan's students, if not for a teacher like him, how could there be such a traitor today! What are the people in the capital thinking? "
His words were dissatisfied, but he did not question the authenticity of the document. The thin man on the other side recalled the past. His eyes showed slight pain and he coughed twice. "Lord Tie, you can be said to have foresight about the rebels' thoughts. But you are wrong about one thing. That Ning Yi is not a disciple of Prime Minister Qin. They are of the same generation. Although I was promoted by Prime Minister Elder Qin, our relationship is not that of a disciple. "
Tie Tianying's expression froze. The other raised his hand to his mouth and coughed a few times. He had previously suffered from illness in the war. In the following year, he experienced many things, and the root of the illness was left behind. He had not been able to recover. After coughing, he said, "I also have something to ask Lord Tie. Lord Tie has been up north for half a year. Why have you only lingered around here and not taken any action?"
Tie Tianying frowned slightly, and then his eyes became sinister. "Lord Li has such a great official authority. Could it be that you are here to denounce me?"
"I am not denouncing you. It is just that although I have not known him for long, I have some understanding of his style of doing things. Also, on this trip up north, a friend called Cheng Zhouhai also warned me. Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, although he usually did things with a lot of ingenious schemes, it was actually because he was lazy and helpless. What this person was truly good at was planning and planning. What he respected was that those who were good at fighting had no illustrious achievements. When his arrangements aren't stable, you might be able to find a chance to fight him. As time passes, his foundation will only become more and more stable. If you give him enough time, when the day comes that he counterattacks with great power, cough … I'm afraid … cough, cough, cough … the world will be shattered, and there won't be many people who can hold on … "
The sunlight shone down from his face. Li Pin Li Dexin coughed violently again. After a while, he slightly straightened his back.
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