Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 224 Envy of each other's shortcomings

Wang Shijie, who just turned nineteen this year, stood on the arrow tower of the mountain stronghold, looking at Shi Qilang who was chasing the Jin army down the mountain. He couldn't help but curl his lips and said, "Fifth brother, what a pity! You wasted so much time and effort on the arrangements, and let Shi Laoqi get the first prize."

Wang Shilong stared intently at the battlefield, unaware that the large red flower pinned to his ear had fallen. Without even turning his head, he said calmly, "So you're asking me to lead the soldiers armed with axes and spears to pursue the Jin bandits on this mountain road?"

Wang Shilong seemed to find it somewhat amusing. He sneered and said, "If you really have such an idea, I will immediately make you wear a full set of infantry armor and run around the village. I will let you understand the hardship of a soldier."

Wang Shijie moved his lips twice, but ultimately did not argue.

Because he knew his brother's temper, if he was asked to put on armor and run on the mountain road, he would definitely let him go.

Wang Shijie changed his words: "I'm saying, big brother, why don't you let your own family take credit for this achievement?"

Wang Shilong finally turned around and glanced at Wang Shijie: "You want to ask why I didn't let you take the credit?"

Wang Shijie's heart trembled a little, but he still gritted his teeth and nodded: "...Yes."

Wang Shilong sighed, "Although your father died early, I, your cousin, raised you and brought you up. I consider myself an elder brother like a father, but now it seems that you still don't obey me."

Wang Shijie immediately knelt down on the arrow tower.

Wang Shilong waved his hand to send all the guards away, then turned and said, "Hold out your hand. Your left hand."

After slapping Wang Shijie's palm three times with his scabbard, Wang Shilong finally explained, "Don't mention that Shi Qilang and I are both commanders. Even if I could convince the Commander-in-Chief, or even the Duke of Wei, to give you all those elite infantrymen, would you really be able to command them? Why would they trust a delicate and fragile person like you?"

Wang Shijie stroked his aching palm and said unwillingly, "Our farmers..."

"Those aren't farmers from Wangjiazhuang anymore; they're soldiers of the Loyal Army," Wang Shilong said sternly. "If you want to command them, you have to fight alongside them, earn merit and be promoted. Only then can you command them to fight alongside you in times of trouble! How many major battles do you think you can survive?"

Seeing that Wang Shijie was still unconvinced, Wang Shilong sighed again and said, "You've never had the physique to practice martial arts since you were a child, so we made you learn literature. Now that you've finally made it as a writer, why do you still want to be a martial artist like me?"

Wang Shijie said, "Fifth brother, didn't you say that this is a chaotic world? In a chaotic world, who would complain about having too many soldiers and horses?"

Wang Shilong said with some dismay, "I told you to listen to what the Commander-in-Chief has to say more often, but you ignored it all."

"You just say it's a chaotic world, so let me ask you, are we going to create a chaotic world or put an end to it?
If times of chaos arise, then fine, all two hundred of our Wang family can enlist. If we can't serve in the regular army, then surely we can serve as refugees or beggars? If there's no food to eat, can't we eat human flesh and horses? Look at the great famines and cannibalism in history books—aren't they just the result of these times of chaos? What's the point of being a human in such a chaotic world? It's better to be a dog in peacetime!

If we want to quell a chaotic world, how can we rely solely on military forces? Don't we need to cultivate the land? Don't we need to dredge the rivers? Don't we need to maintain public order? Don't we need to mine salt and dry it? These civil administrations are where your skills are needed!"

Wang Shilong paused, then looked out of the arrow tower again. Seeing that Shi Qilang seemed to have captured an officer prisoner and turned back to the camp, he couldn't help but speak faster: "We have enough people from the Wang family fighting, and there are enough capable generals in the Loyal Army. There is no need for a weak scholar like you to take up a sword or a gun.

But the conquered territory needs to be governed, and you'll be the one to coordinate it. Honestly, the Loyal Army only controls two provinces right now, and the number of scholars who have joined the Duke of Wei isn't very high. Once Wanyan Liang marches south to attack the Song, once he defeats the rebel army, the two routes to Shandong will be completely swept away. By then, whether the Song sends civil officials or the numerous northern scholars who defect, how will you be able to make a difference?

Instead of accumulating some experience in governing the people, you want to go into battle and fight. This is really nonsense and makes me so angry!

"An elder brother is like a father. Since you still recognize me as your elder brother, you must not disobey me! I have already planned the route for you. Now hurry to the rear camp, comfort those soldiers and civilians, prepare hot water and medicine for their wounds, and count the baggage and food! Get out!" Wang Shilong was almost furious when he finished speaking.

Wang Shijie didn't dare to argue and ran away in panic.

After escaping from the arrow tower in a panic, Wang Shijie had not yet caught his breath when he turned around and saw that the personal guard from Wangjiazhuang had a strange expression on his face. He could not help but glare back at him fiercely.

Most of these skilled archers and horsemen were in their thirties or forties. They were family generals of some status, and many of them had watched Wang Shijie grow up. When they saw Fifteenth Young Master glaring at them, they could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.

Wang Shijie was unable to intimidate his guards and became even angrier.

However, at this moment, a burst of cheers and applause came from the gate of the stronghold. Wang Shijie stretched his neck to look, but saw Shi Qilang leading his troops back to the camp. The swordsmen and shieldmen were proudly lined up in two rows, with a series of prisoners among them, carrying many heads, more than a dozen sets of armor, and holding two flags. They looked like heroes.

Wang Shijie was so excited that he wished he could become one of them right now. However, he lowered his head and touched his thin arms under the wide sleeves, then sighed softly.

Pity.

Why didn’t you persist in practicing martial arts when you were young?
Just when Wang Shijie was bored and depressed and wanted to go back to the rear camp to prepare for literary affairs, he heard someone calling behind him.

"Don't worry, wait a minute."

Hearing this address, Wang Shijie quickly turned around and bowed: "Commander Shi, what are your instructions? Do you want to be rewarded?"

Shi Qilang wanted to step forward and pat Wang Shijie on the shoulder, but when he saw that his hand was covered in blood, he retracted his hand and said, "Young Master, I happened to meet you. I won't record your merits for now. The law enforcement officers in my army have all recorded it.

These prisoners must be brought to the rear camp and placed under strict guard. I hope the young steward can interrogate them first and get them to make some confessions so I can explain to the commander-in-chief."

"Okay, okay." Wang Shijie pulled out a folded wooden board from his pocket, then took out a charcoal pencil from his sleeve and drew a few strokes on it. Then he asked, "Commander Shi, do you have any other instructions?"

Shi Qilang looked at Wang Shijie writing on the wooden board with some envy.

He was not very literate, and although he had participated in a military literacy class, he was old and his mind was confused, so he learned to read very slowly. When he saw Wang Shijie's scholarly demeanor, how could he not envy him?

Alas, if his parents had died later when he was a child, he would not have to wander the countryside so early, and maybe he could have learned a few words from the village doctor.

"Oh right..." Shi Qilang patted his forehead. "This guy claims to be a military marshal and says he's sincerely committed to our army. I can't tell if it's true or not, but since he said that, I can't break his legs. I hope the young steward can keep a close eye on him and don't let him get away!"

"Okay, okay." Wang Shijie saluted Shi Qilang again. After he left, he said to the guards behind him, "Bring the dog chain over here!"

Liang Yuaner, who was already tied up, broke out in sweat when he heard this.

The rules of this Loyal Army are too strict.

Is surrendering so difficult?
(End of this chapter)