According to military discipline, the non-commissioned officers were seriously injured in a brawl, and those who injured others were killed, and they all sat together, not to mention that Huang beat his Shangguan Liang at the moment, so Huang was depressed, obviously knowing that he would not escape death. All the soldiers involved who knelt with him were also saddened, for the least of them was punished with at least twenty rods.

However, Yang Shaoting's hesitation lies in the fact that Huang's anger comes from his indignation at Liang stepping on the red book. In other words, if Huang was executed in disregard of this plot, it might have an impact on the authority of other soldiers over the Red Book and Zhao Dangshi.

"Huang Mou is so bent on defending "The Words of the World" that he is so dizzy that he did not intentionally kill someone, can he be pardoned to death as appropriate?" Yang Shaoting's question about how to choose between military discipline and the Red Book caused the atmosphere to condense for a while, and no one responded for a long time. After a while, Lang Qigui, an officer in the battalion, whispered tentatively. How can Huang say that he is a soldier in his battalion, ordinary conflicts, the battalion can be calmed down by himself, but if he is convicted of a capital crime, the nature will be serious. The follow-up must be formally submitted to the unified power inspection institute for the record, and when the matter spread, the whole camp was also disgraced.

"Military law is like a mountain, and there is absolutely no reason for accommodation." Liu Xiaohong said neatly, "Today's connivance, tomorrow's connivance, the decree is not authoritative, so it is useless." ”

"But the red book ......" Lang Qigui still wanted to struggle, but he wanted to stop talking.

Liu Xiaohong said: "The dispute is for the Red Book, but the result has nothing to do with the Red Book, so don't put the cart before the horse." He added, "If it is due to the Red Book, then I want to ask Lang Zhongjun, how should this discretionary degree be determined?" ”

"It's better to ...... Why don't you pardon Huang's capital crime? ”

Liu Xiaohong said with a smile: "If you and I only rely on a few words of conversation, Huang's life and death are decided, so hasty, this is not to attach importance to Huang's life, but to greatly ignore his life." Then he said, "Let me ask Lang Zhongjun again, if it is not a certain general Liang who was beaten and killed today, but the sentry officer in the battalion even, hehe, even injured your officer and Min Commander, how can you deal with it as appropriate?" ”

"This ......"

Liu Xiaohong waited for Lang Qigui to answer, and saw that Lang Qigui blushed but had nothing to say, so he said: "It's good that Lang Zhongjun has scruples, precisely because he thought of the unavoidable key to this matter. ”

Hou Dagui asked, "What's the trick?" Then he guessed, "Is it because military law is all written in black and white, but it is all based on everyone's mind to guess, and there is no standard for weighing?" After saying that, I secretly rejoiced, but I thought that I would be able to achieve results in the past half a year of studying at the Unified Inspection Institute, and one day I would finally be able to occupy a place in this kind of topic.

Liu Xiaohong's face was solemn and said: "Half of it is right, not all of it." It is important that the law and discipline are clearly written, but in the final analysis, it is just a written word. The reason why it can restrain people is not only because it has clear regulations and everything is based on evidence, but also because it has the backing to support and guarantee. For example, if there are lawless people who flout the "Da Ming Law", they will be arrested and punished by the government. In my Zhao Ying, if anyone violates the military law and disobeys discipline, the last thing to rely on is our impartial law enforcement. Only when we enforce the law and abide by military law can soldiers be constrained to abide by military law. Otherwise, what is the difference between us and those princes and nobles who take the "Da Ming Law" as a dead letter? You've all suffered from those selfish people, and you don't want to end up being one of them, right? ”

Hou Dagui realized something, nodded and said: "'Lead by example', that's what you mean, right?" Those of us who are responsible for punishment are still bending the law for personal gain, and in the future, how can we have the confidence to demand that the soldiers and the people abide by the law? Then he glanced at Lang Qigui, who was silent, "Did you hear, if you don't convict Huang and them at your discretion, you have to convict yourself first!" ”

Liu Xiaohong said lightly: "This is a point, I just mentioned that there is the imperial court behind the "Da Ming Law" and Zhao Ying behind the military law of our army, so according to the Red Book, what is the support behind it?" The Red Book? Commander-in-Chief? Unified Authority? Still is...... Or is it the lord? ”

Hou Dagui said with a smile: "I have read the red book more than 100 times, but I can't see a word in it that the person who hurts people can use the red book as a shield to exonerate himself." What's more, "Even if you find the old man who compiles the book and the protagonist of the book, I don't think they will agree to excuse the sinner by using their own name." ”

Lang Qigui's face turned red, and he hurriedly bowed down and said: "Lang is a shallow learner, and the kung fu of learning the red book is far from home, so he needs to be more attentive in the future." ”

"You're still too tender, it's better to learn from me, make up your mind to go to the Unified Power Inspection Institute to live for a year and a half, and when you come out, you will be sure to be familiar with the truth in the red book." Hou Dagui patted Lang Qigui's shoulder, and the strength in his hand was so great that everyone else coughed.

Yang Shaoting said at this time: "Then according to military law, Huang will be executed, and the rest will be punished, the demote who should be demoted, and the rod who should be blamed?" ”

Liu Xiaohong thought for a moment and replied: "I thought about it, after all, the red book is a bit special, of course the military law cannot be abolished, but the aftermath can be done more beautifully." ”

"Please check it out."

"Shicai briefly interrogated, Huang just got married two years ago, and at the end of last year, he added a son, and now his wife and children are settled in Fanhecheng. His wife is disabled and unable to do heavy work, so he can only rely on needlework to supplement his family's needs, and his family's internal and external expenses rely on Huang's work in the army. Huang died, and his wife and infant son would be unsustainable. It is natural for the murderer to pay for his life, but Huang's motives are simple, and his crime is not as good as his family. In the public, the law is not merciful, but in private, we can help his family in my own name. In doing so, it not only ensures the law, but also earns fame for Zhao Ying and the lord. Liu Xiaohong said slowly.

Yang Shaoting clapped his hands and said: "Yes, we take care of his family in private, and we have nothing to do with the public law, and we act in the name of the lord, citing the contents of the red book to explain, and everything is going smoothly." ”

Hou Dagui nodded secretly and said, "Mr. Liu does this, the best of both worlds." He didn't expect that under Liu Xiaohong's stereotypical expression, there would be such a mellow and exquisite mind.

Liu Xiaohong said quietly: "As long as Zhao Ying is in order, everything is easy to say." The conversation turned to Hou Dagui and said, "Manager Hou, you can handle this matter, you go and talk to Huang about it, and he will be willing to die." ”

Hou Dagui was stunned for a moment, and cocked his thumb to his chest and said, "I'll go?" ”

Liu Xiaohong nodded and said, "Well, you go." With that, he bowed slightly to everyone present and walked away.

Yang Shaoting stretched out his hand and said, "Manager Hou, please." ”

Hou Dagui promised to follow him to the target battlement, and while thinking about what Liu Xiaohong had just said, he saw that he also raised his face to look at the general Huang and the criminal soldiers, and secretly thought: "Having said that, with such soldiers, why worry about foreign enemies?" ”

After dealing with the fight in the Yichong camp, he returned to Xiangyang City, and the matters that Hou Dagui wanted to take over came one after another.

One of the most important matters to be submitted was to cooperate with the Huguang Commander's Yamen to recruit soldiers in the Huguang area. According to Bai Wang's report, the current Sichuan Commander Yamen has begun to carry out this work with the assistance of Wang Laixingjun, and the Huguang Commander Yamen also needs the cooperation of Hou Daguijun.

"Looks like there's going to be a big fight." After listening to what Bai Wang said, Hou Dagui said, "The lord will share it with him, Sichuan will recruit 20,000 regiments to practice, and Huguang will recruit 30,000 as a backup." On weekdays, the soldiers are raised in the township for training, and when needed, they replenish the front line. 30,000 people have to be recruited in two months, which is a lot of pressure. ”

"Exactly, there will be follow-up formations, rationing weapons, drills and teachings, etc., if there is no help from our army, it will be difficult to move an inch only by relying on Huguang to lead the yamen." Bai Wang replied. Unlike the Sichuan Commandery Yamen, which has been growing up in military operations, the Huguang Commandery Yamen was set up because it relied on a powerful field army, and the focus of its work in the past was basically tilted towards local government affairs.

"Huguang is the only one who is in the army and Li Wanqing, and he is the only one who is the only one who can hold up the situation, right?"

Bai Wang said: "After the previous consultation, this point was decided by the lord, with Dou Mingming, Gao Wengui, Li Chengdong, Hu Maozhen, Li Benshen, Du Yonghe and six people as sentinels, subordinate to Li Wanqing. Among these four people, the first two are Zhang Xianzhong's old department, and the last four are Gao Jie's old department, all of whom have considerable military experience.

"It doesn't hurt to let these six people manage the training of the regiment. Dare to play any tricks, Lao Tzu has his own way to cook. Hou Dagui thought about it for a moment and grinned, "By the way, I see that there are few counselors and overseers in the army who are not allowed to publicize the red book, and the number of regimental training soldiers is huge, can it be configured?" ”

Bai Wang said: "Yes, Sichuan sent Hou Fangxia to the Yamen, let's Huguang to lead the Yamen here, and Mr. Zhengchang recommended Hou Fangyu, who is Hou Fangxia's younger brother." ”

"What kind of stinky kid, I haven't heard of it, is it reliable?" Hou Dagui deeply felt that the Red Book was very inspiring, and he attached great importance to the candidates in charge of this aspect.

"Mr. Liu also recommended Hou Fangyu first, I heard that although this person is young, he is quick to think and can speak. After coming to Huguang, he studied the red book intensively and became a master. ”

"Hey, the tone is quite big, Lao Tzu is looking for a chance to take a good test to test the Hou family boy, if the embroidered pillow has no real material, Lao Tzu kicked him in a blink of an eye."

After the conscription regiment training came to an end, Hou Dagui asked again: "How is the army's equipment?" ”

Bai Wang said: "After the road in Sichuan is opened, the transfer will be smooth, and there will be no shortage of materials for the preparation of firearms. Xiangyang, Chengtian, De'an and other places opened and expanded a lot of firearms workshops, day and night rush to cast, non-stop. In addition, the Zheng family in the southeast also continued to trade with my Zhao Ying. A few days ago, his subordinates heard from Mr. He, the internal affairs envoy, that Zhao Hudao, Li Pichao, and Pang Xingong from the City Shipping Division had more or less gone through the road in Haojing Ao, the red-haired people from Taiwan, and the Japanese people from the Japanese country, and opened up the trading channels of our camp. Now just looking at the armament, it is completely sufficient. ”

"I still said that the lonely souls and wild ghosts of the City Bo Division had died a long time ago, but I didn't expect that they could still come in handy more or less." Hou Dagui smiled, "What about the grain, grass and money?" Got stuck? ”

Bai Wang shook his head and said: "Huguang has had a very considerable harvest in the past few years, and it has made a lot of profits just by selling the surplus grain harvested to Nangi, Henan, Fengyang and other places. The soldiers' true colors and winter jackets and summer clothes are guaranteed to be free of any problems, and the internal affairs envoy and the external propaganda and internal propaganda envoys have previously cooperated to publicize that the treatment of the soldiers of our army is all converted into silver money, which is more than double the average number of the Ming army in other departments, even if it is a little big, but the overall will not deviate too much, just ......"

"Just what? If there is a fart, let it go. ”

"Yes, it's just that the army's usual drills are a little unsatisfactory." Bai Wang sighed and said, "My army is equipped with more firearms, and my training cannot be compared with the long swords and big axes of the past. Bird gunners practice shooting targets, gunner operates artillery bombardment, and each training consumes a huge amount of military resources such as gunpowder and projectiles. Later, the internal affairs envoy felt that the expenses were too great, so he cut off the supplies, and our army had no choice but to do so, except for some front-line troops who still maintained the old training frequency, and the quality of training of the follow-up troops was greatly reduced. If the internal affairs envoy uses an excuse to cut another sword, then in the future, the soldiers can only pretend to hold an empty pole and pretend, where do they know whether they can shoot accurately or not? ”

"How can it be!" When Hou Dagui heard this, he took the case, "I'm not here, you just let the dreaded pickled goods ride on your head?" The Ministry of Internal Affairs has a huge amount of money every year, and his surname He has the money to give the lord a lot of construction and invite merit and favor, so he doesn't have the money to supply more gunpowder to my soldiers? delayed the training, and in the end the battle was unfavorable, and it was Lao Tzu who suffered, so Lao Tzu would look for him! Give him a penny less and punch him, and see how many punches he can take from Lao Tzu before he dies! ”

"Calm down, Steward!"

Bai Wang, Wu Mingfeng, Chang Guoan and other officers saw that the situation was not good, and they rushed to grab Hou Dagui. But Hou Dagui is angry, as powerful as an ox, how can he stop it.

Fortunately, Wu Mingfeng was clever and hurriedly shouted: "It's useless for you to go, Mr. He went to Jiujiang Mansion two days earlier to meet with the people from the Zheng family!" ”

When Hou Dagui heard this, he glared and said, "Is this true?" ”

"The subordinates have only one life, how dare they deceive the manager!" Wu Mingfeng responded.

"Dare to lie to Lao Tzu and smash your mouth!" Hou Dagui scolded and scolded, and just then gave up, sat back in the chair, and sulked for a long time.

"If you want to be safe, you need to be hungry and cold. It's better to wait for Mr. He to come back, and I will talk with the chief manager, so that he doesn't have to serve the soldiers to become an uncle, and it is good to reduce the treatment a little and stick it on the training expenses. Wu Mingfeng immediately put forward his own opinion.

Hou Dagui went in a breath, his mood calmed down a lot, and his cultivation in the Unified Inspection Institute also enhanced his ability to regulate his own emotions by more than a star and a half, after listening to Wu Mingfeng's solution, he was not so angry, although his face was still stinky, but his mouth said: "It's okay, just do what you say, let's salute first and then soldiers, the surname He is shameless, and then follow my method!" ”

Everyone said yes, and then they discussed some military chores. In the end, when Wu Mingfeng and other officers received orders to leave one after another, Bai Wang said a few words to Hou Dagui. Hou Dagui's brows were first tightened, and then slowly stretched, sneering a few times.