Wei Zeng took the people back to Shifeng City, and before entering the city, he saw that Qi Weilun was only with a few people who looked like civil officials, and he was directing some people to carry things in the direction of Yushan, so he stepped forward to ask.

"What is the eldest brother doing, what are these people doing in Yushan with these things?"

"Brother Xian has returned, I have already heard the report of the horse, and I know that Brother Xian has captured and killed the commander of the Jingnan army, and the Jingnan army has been completely annihilated. That's a great way to congratulate you. But we are not at peace now, and the four fields of Yanbei are plains, and there is no danger to defend at all. The Guanbei Army and the Iron Blood Army will come at any time.

I plan to build a pass in Yushan to stop the Guanbei Army, and the Iron and Blood Army can rely on the natural danger of the Guanluo River in the west to defend. The Guanluo River is in the section from Anyun to Yanbei, the terrain is steep, the river speed is extremely fast, I have asked the Gu brothers to take 5,000 people to find a dangerous place to station and defend, if the iron-blooded army fights, our army can also deal with the situation of the corner. Qi Weilun explained with a beard.

"It's still the eldest brother's thoughtfulness, if other officials and soldiers come over, it will indeed be difficult to resist Shifeng City alone. But do we have so many men and horses to spread out the defense? Wei Zeng said suspiciously.

"The newly defeated Jingyan army, Yanbei people's hearts are available, plus I have promised half of the tax exemption for three years in the name of my virtuous brother, and now Yanbei people support us very much. Now what we lack is not people, but weapons and equipment. I've had people gather nearby craftsmen to craft weapons day after day, and it shouldn't be difficult to assemble an army of 30,000 men. Qi Weiren said.

"The eldest brother is thoughtful, and I have saved a lot of trouble with my eldest brother to help me deal with these things. I also have some experience in organizing people, so I will leave the formation of these 30,000 troops to me. Now we have no way out, and only by desperately confronting the official army can we have a glimmer of life. Wei Zeng said.

"You take the migrant workers to build Yushan Pass, and I still have important matters to discuss with my virtuous brother." Some of Qi Weilun's other civil officials commanded, then turned to Wei Zeng and said, "Brother Xian, there are some things that I can't decide alone, and it depends on what Brother Xian thinks. ”

"What's the matter, big brother, just say it. My eldest brother's talent is much higher than mine, what else can't my eldest brother do? Wei Zeng said.

"Brother Xian, after all, I am the leader of the rebel army, and this important matter naturally has to be decided by you. Originally, things like repairing the city and collecting taxes also had to ask for the opinions of the virtuous brothers, but the matter was urgent, and the brothers had to do the more to do it. Don't blame the virtuous brother. Qi Weiren said.

"The eldest brother is also the leader of my rebel army, and if it weren't for the eldest brother, this uprising might have failed. Big brother does everything for the good of everyone, and I naturally support big brother. Wei Zeng responded.

"There must be a rule for everything, and as the saying goes, 'If the name is not right, the word is not good'. This is not a place for discussions, let's go back to the City Lord's Mansion and talk about it. Qi Weilun said with a wave of his hand.

Wei Zeng knew that Confucian scholars like Qi Weilun attached great importance to the issue of reputation, and the reason seemed to be that Confucius was worried that if the rules were messed up, everyone would be chaotic. But Wei Zeng didn't understand these things, can't we discuss things together? Why should we draw a line of dignity and humility? But because of Qi Weilun's feelings, Wei Zeng didn't say anything.

Wei Zeng entered the city with Qi Weilun, and there was the sound of striking iron all the way, and he could often see some rebels with weapons, with some soldiers who had just been recruited, heading towards the military camp in the city. Many people on the street were talking about the battle in which the rebels defeated the Jingnan army, and the benevolent policies announced by Qi Weilun.

"What is the virtuous brother going to do with the gentry in the city? Now they're all waiting to see you. Qi Weilun said with a serious face when he arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.

It turned out that some of the gentry immediately fled from Shifeng City as if they asked, but there were also some people who saw that the rebels had no intention of killing them, and because they were reluctant to leave their family wealth, they planned to take the opportunity to seize their family property after the Jingnan army conquered the city. But now that the Jingnan army has been defeated, these people regret that they didn't run away in the first place, for fear that Wei Zeng's words will make their heads fall to the ground.

Wei Zeng was in some trouble now, and if he wanted to kill them, he would have killed them in the first place, because he spared their lives because he took into account Qi Weilun's feelings. What should I do with them now? It was impossible to reuse them, and Wei Zeng didn't have a good impression of these timid and short-sighted people.

"In my opinion, as long as they don't make trouble and are willing to live quietly, I will ignore them. Those people did not show compassion for the victims, and they deserve to be in this situation. Wei Zeng said.

"It's good that Brother Xian thinks so, killing them will not do our army any good, and it will add a brutal notoriety out of thin air. But for them, they have to be guarded against, these people have a certain amount of influence in the local area, and some people also have a lot of influence in Beijing. Now they are forced to give in because of the victory of our army, and if they are allowed to do so, they will inevitably cause trouble in the future. Qi Weiren said.

"The eldest brother is right, we can't let them go, we have already taken their family property, and it is impossible to return it to them. They also have a certain influence in Stone Wind City, and if they don't take precautions, they will really cause trouble. What is the opinion of the eldest brother? Wei Zeng asked.

"In my opinion, first win them over with Xiao En, and don't force them to a dead end; Then we took the opportunity to support some of the poor people who were loyal to us and arranged them in various critical positions. In this way, their influence will naturally decline after a long time, and those poor children who are supported by us will naturally do things for us loyally. If they really make too much trouble, you can also make an example to deter them. Qi Weilun muttered.

"The eldest brother is right, and these things will be left to the eldest brother to do. I didn't think that the eldest brother not only has a love for the people, but also has a strategy in his chest. Wei Zeng said.

"It's just an expedient measure, and you can only use some tricks to deal with these unrighteous people, but it is difficult to reach the hall of elegance. In the future, if there are conditions, we must preach the road of benevolence and righteousness to the people, and one day these so-called strategies will disappear, and one day the world will be clear. Qi Weilun shook his head.

"But I think what the eldest brother said is very good, you can use some tricks to make one party stable, and it can't be cheaper." Wei Zeng was puzzled.

"It's not like this, the trick must be used secretly, and no one can know about it, otherwise everyone will follow suit, and there will be peaceful days in the world. Although he has a great advantage as a superior, after all, he is only one person, can he fight with thousands of people? If you don't believe in Ren, you won't be able to do anything at that time, you can only bring about your own destruction. Therefore, intrigue and intrigue are only expedient, and the virtuous brother cannot be convinced of this. Only by relying on benevolent government and only by relying on morality can we bring the world to its heart. Qi Weilun said solemnly.

Wei Zeng was a little surprised when he heard this, 'The world returns to the heart', is it not possible for the eldest brother to regard himself as a saint.

"Big brother's words, I have been taught. Is there anything else Big Brother would like to say? Wei Zeng calmed down and asked.

"And then there's the matter of the Yushan bandits."

"Yushan bandits?"

"That's right, a few days ago, some robbers heard that Brother Xian had defeated the Jing Yan army, so they came to Shifeng City to ask for submission. Most of these people were people who fled from Yanbei, and they had no choice but to become robbers in Yushan. Doesn't the virtuous brother have the title of 'Living Hades'? Now that we are preaching the benevolence and righteousness of the righteous army, it is not difficult to envy and ambush the Yu mountain bandits. Yushan is close at hand, and the integration of Yushan bandits is also very important to enhance the strength of our army. Qi Weilun took a sip of tea and said.

"These robbers usually do all kinds of evil against one party, but now we have to rely on robbers to fight? My mother has a last word telling me not to be a thief, if I accept this robber, will I not become a bandit? Hearing this, Wei Zeng immediately stood up from his seat and said with some excitement.

"Don't get excited. I know that my brother is jealous and hateful, and he also hates the murder and excess. However, no one is born evil, and some people are forced to do evil. If we can subdue them and then restrain them, there will be no more bandits in Yushan from now on, and there will be many, many more good people in Yanbei, wouldn't it be great. Qi Weiren said

"Do you really want to co-opt them? I think that with the people who support us in Yanbei, we can also deal with the enemy who comes to attack. Wei Zeng held back his anger and said.

Wei Zeng protected caravans for a living when he was young, and he hated robbers very much; At the beginning of its establishment, Yishan Flying Eagle Village was also attacked by horse thieves, and Wei Zeng killed countless robbers.

"I heard that after the virtuous brother defeated the horse thieves in Yishan, he would also take in some horse thieves who were willing to join, why is this?" Qi Weilun saw that Wei Zeng was a little reluctant, so he lowered his head and took a sip of tea and asked.

"Those robbers have been broken by me, and the rest naturally can't be considered robbers." Wei Qiang's words.

"What is the difference between a thief with righteousness and a sword? Since the defeated robbers are not considered robbers, then the virtuous brother took this opportunity to defeat all the robbers in Yushan. Qi Weilun put down the teacup and said.

"Okay, I'll listen to my eldest brother and go to Yushan once. But if the robbers don't want to submit, they won't be able to complain to me. Wei Zeng said.

"Now it will take at least a month to defeat the Jingnan Army, the Iron Blood Army and the Guanbei Army to kill here. We took advantage of this to ambush some of the robbers at the southern foot of Yushan, and it will naturally be a big help at that time. Brother Xian comes with me, and I will take you to meet those who have come to Shun, and get some news of the robbers of Yushan. Qi Weilun immediately got up and took Wei Zeng to a house around the City Lord's Mansion.

This house was inhabited by dozens of Yushan robbers who had defected, and when they saw Qi Weilun bringing Wei Zeng over, they immediately came over to pay their respects. When they heard that Qi Weilun was next to Wei Zeng, the commander of the righteous army of Stone Wind City, all the robbers reacted differently.

Some people had already heard the news that Wei Zeng had defeated more than 100 people by himself, but now when they saw Wei Zeng's face gloomy and he didn't say a word, they were immediately so frightened that they couldn't speak.

Some cried to Wei Zeng about their misery, hoping that Wei Zeng would take them in or let them go home to farm.

There was another person who didn't say a word after seeing Wei Zeng, just walked in front of Wei Zeng and knelt down on one knee and said: "Huang Yufei is willing to follow the general before and after the saddle, although he has no complaints." ”

"Why do you want to follow me?" Wei Zeng said expressionlessly.

"The general alone defeated more than a hundred high-rollers in Guanbei, and he was a well-deserved warrior; Now that he has defeated the Jingnan army, which is known for its ferocity, he is a righteous man. I, Huang Yufei, admire heroes and am willing to die for heroes. Huang Yufei said emotionally.

"Death is just talking, survival is the real goal." Wei Zeng laughed.

"Of course, it's not about talking." Huang Yufei was a little overwhelmed when he saw Wei Zeng behaving like this.

"There's a pillar over there, I'll let you die headbutt, will you really die?" Wei Zeng still chuckled.

"The general has a word, and Huang doesn't dare to disobey." Huang Yufei really got up as he spoke, and slammed into the pillar.

Qi Weilun knew that Wei Zeng was a little unhappy because of the ambush of the robbers, but he didn't expect that this would immediately force a person to die, if this person was really dead, then the plan to use these obedient people to conquer the robbers in Yushan would be in vain. Qi Weilun was shocked for a moment.

But when he saw that Huang Yufei was about to die, Wei Zeng grabbed him, dragged him back, and then said to Huang Yufei: "Since you are really willing to follow me, there is nothing wrong with that." But first show your sincerity, tell me everything you know, and then help me defeat the bandits. Then I will not do you any wrong. ”

"Everything is up to the general." Huang Yufei escaped death and immediately agreed.

Seeing this, the other robbers also expressed their sincerity.