PDLP Chapter 321 Rumors about the Xie family, criminals exiled to the army
Chapter 321 Rumors about the Xie family, criminals exiled to the army
A familiar voice rang in his ears, and Wang Datie paused. The next moment, he turned around and asked in his usual cheerful voice, "Brother Wen! What brings you out of the mountains today?"
It has been half a month since the ore was delivered last month. Recently, the Wen family members have only come out of the mountains three or four days before the due date, so it is puzzling to see them here today.
Therefore, Wang Datie asked this question.
Wen Qilin replied with a smile, "I come out whenever I have free time."
Everyone has always been outspoken, and the surrounding villagers casually asked the group a few questions.
"Brother Wen, did you also come out of seclusion after hearing the news?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Brother Wen's family lives deep in the mountains. How could they have such good information? Don't spout nonsense."
"Go away, stand aside, and stop talking nonsense..."
"..."
What everyone was saying was puzzling, so Wen Qilin had to ask, "Brother Wang, what's going on?"
Wang Datie hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. It was not good to spread baseless rumors and unverified statements to scare people. This made the grown man feel uneasy. Thinking of the Wen family's help to everyone, and the many elderly, young, women and children in his own family, he opened his mouth several times, but couldn't say a word.
The surrounding villagers, unable to bear his hesitation, crowded around Wen Qilin, and everyone had their own opinions.
“Master Wen, let me tell you, yesterday my youngest son went to town and heard a rumor at Xie’s shop.”
"It is said that the imperial court has issued an edict to send criminals from the northern deserts to the front lines to serve as soldiers."
"Brother Wen, what are we supposed to do about this? Why is our life so miserable? We've mined for most of our lives, and now we're being sent to the front lines to die..."
"You think someone like us would be shot dead by an arrow before we even lift a shovel at the front lines?"
"That's exactly right. We don't know kung fu, we don't know how to strategize, and there's no one to lead the training. We'd definitely be wiped out as soon as we go..."
"..."
The people in the square were all talking at once, and in an instant, the place turned into a bustling, noisy, and chaotic marketplace.
Wang Datie had no choice but to stand on a large rock and shout, "Quiet down! Stop shouting! We're discussing this, aren't we? Everyone, please be quiet, please be quiet..."
While Wang Datie was maintaining order, Wen Qilin and Wen Qiyuan exchanged a glance. They also had doubts in their eyes. When Zhou Taifu left last night, he did not mention this matter. Could this be the Crown Prince's decree? Or is this a smokescreen to give them a legitimate reason to train?
Yes, Wen Qilin guessed correctly.
This was a proposal made after discussions among Grand Tutor Zhou, Zhou Yanzhi, and the Crown Prince.
They proposed that criminals from the northern deserts be sent to the army and allowed to atone for their crimes through meritorious service. If they could kill the enemy on the battlefield and survive, not only would their crimes be wiped clean, but they would also accumulate military merits, and those with great merits could be promoted to higher ranks.
In this way, criminals in the northern desert could begin training immediately with a legitimate excuse, so-called "working and earning money at the same time".
The proposal was put forward by the Crown Prince in court a few days ago, and after discussion among many ministers, it has been approved by the Emperor.
The official imperial decree is on its way to the northern desert, and it should be delivered in the next day or two.
However, the news spread from Xie's shop yesterday, exposing another communication line of the Luo family's faction.
In any case, his most important task now is to quickly train a team that can go to the battlefield; the rest is not the Wen family's concern.
Wen Qilin shook off the thoughts in his head and looked at the villagers in the square.
At this moment, the villagers' faces showed fear and apprehension, but even more so, a deep sense of helplessness. Many of them had been miners their whole lives, wielding hammers and shovels to dig for ore every day. They had never witnessed the cruelty of the front lines. When they thought of the bloodshed on the front lines, many of them burst into tears. Although there was no loud crying or wailing, the square was instantly filled with a sorrowful atmosphere.
Wang Datie was also filled with resentment. If all the able-bodied men here were captured and sent to the front lines, wouldn't the elderly, women, and children left at home starve to death? This was a death sentence from heaven.
Many people share this idea, but there are also many people in the crowd who have different opinions.
A young man suddenly shouted, "General Wen, can you teach me a few moves? I don't want to die on the battlefield without knowing why. I'm still young. If I'm lucky enough to survive, my family will still have hope. I beg you, please teach me a few moves."
These words were like a thunderclap, striking everyone directly on the head.
Yes, the man in front of us is a general. Even if he is a criminal now, he was a general in the past.
This is a general who has actually been on the battlefield. He is far more familiar with the battlefield situation than these old miners. Why are they here, blindly grieving, ignoring a great figure and losing their composure? They are truly blind.
The villagers, awakened by the sound, shouted in unison.
"General Wen, please teach us! We don't want to die on the battlefield, we..."
"General Wen, I have elderly parents and young children to support, so please..."
"General Wen, we can endure hardship, we can take a beating, we can..."
"..."
Pleading voices rose and fell, and the scene was even more chaotic than before.
Wen Qilin had to quickly stop everyone.
First of all, the way you address me is wrong. Right now, it's better to avoid trouble. My spiritual energy surged to my chest, and my words were firm and resounding. "Everyone, quiet down and listen to me."
“Right now, we’re all in the same boat. There are no generals or soldiers here. We’re all criminals, criminals trying to survive. But we can fight for our future. Maybe in the near future, if we make a contribution on the battlefield, we can clear our names and become good citizens.”
"The news of this criminal being exiled to the army has not yet been confirmed. Wouldn't it be a loss if we panicked before we could? However, the idea of teaching you a few tricks is indeed a good one."
Upon hearing this, the young man jumped up excitedly and said, "Master Wen... Master Wen, are you really willing to teach us a few moves?"
Wen Qilin couldn't help but laugh and asked in return, "You only want to learn a few moves? Don't you want to learn more? Learning more moves will keep you healthy even if you don't go to the battlefield, right everyone?"
"Yes, Master Wen, you're right!"
"Master Wen is right!"
Wang Datie's eyes reddened, and he gave Wen Qilin a thumbs up, laughing, "Brother Wen, you're so righteous!"
Everything was understood without words, and everyone stopped crying and started laughing. Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, instantly dispelling the sad atmosphere in the square and replacing it with a growing force that reached upwards and towards the sun.
Wild grass is quietly growing on the grass at the edge of the square, and new buds are sprouting from the surrounding trees. Everything is striving to grow.
At this moment, on the official road leading to the northern desert, a man and a horse galloped at full speed.