Liu Feng did not say his hidden worries on the spot, after all, Ma Jian had already shown his talent in military training, and the loopholes he could think of might not be thought of with Ma Yan's ability.

The order is like a mountain, since Liu Feng promised to give the soldiers a tooth sacrifice on the spot, naturally he can't talk and don't count. So in the next day, Liu Feng ordered the gang to slaughter a few fat sheep, each of them distributed a few catties of mutton, and by the way, more than a dozen pots of broth were stewed.

In this era when materials are not abundant, it is not easy to be a soldier to eat and be full. Just like Cao Ying, who has been engaged in tuntian in the north for more than ten years, it seems that he has solved the problem of grain and grass, but the elite soldiers under his hands usually use only some coarse grains that are not very refreshing, and they may be able to eat a meal of refined grain every few days. As for "luxuries" such as wine and meat, you have to wait for the victory to be rewarded, or to sew the New Year's festival and so on.

Being able to eat a meat meal was indeed a great gift to the soldiers.

As Liu Feng expected, Ma Tan's method of buying the hearts of the soldiers had just begun, and for three days, he held an emergency assembly every night, and for the soldiers who completed the assembly in the three-way drum, he would be rewarded with a meal of meat as usual the next day.

The effect of this is naturally obvious, Liu Feng in the eyes of the soldiers, in addition to the majestic image, gradually established the image of loving soldiers, and the soldiers began to gradually attach themselves to him.

In addition to this, the soldiers naturally redoubled their efforts in order to obtain rewards, and for three days, in the daily emergency gatherings, the number of unqualified people was gradually decreasing, and by the fourth day, the number had been reduced from the initial seventy or eighty to one or twenty.

The effect is naturally gratifying, but Liu Feng's previous worries have surfaced.

According to Ma Tan's approach, the hearts of the soldiers are bought, but the consumption is huge, although Liu Qi is behind him, but this time to slaughter sheep and chickens, it won't be long before Liu Feng will be embarrassed to open his mouth to his brother again.

Even Cao Ying, who owns half of the world, is afraid that he can't afford to give their guards a meal of meat, let alone Liu Feng.

On the evening of the fourth day, when the emergency assembly ended, looking at the faces in the audience who were eager for rewards, Liu Feng was very entangled in his heart, not that he didn't want to give meat to the soldiers, but he really couldn't afford it.

"Ma Junsi, is it the same as the previous days, and then reward the meat?"

Liu Feng seemed to be casually asking Ma Yan, but he was secretly glaring at him, hoping that he could understand his distress, but he couldn't show his reluctance in front of the soldiers.

Ma Yan's expression was flat, and he couldn't see if he would care, but he bowed his hand to Liu Fengyi: "Eldest prince, can today's reward be announced by his subordinates." ”

In the past, although the idea was come up with by Ma Tan, he was all to establish the trust of Liu Feng as the main general, so he asked Liu Feng to do it in person when he rewarded him in public.

But today, he suddenly wanted to come by himself, Liu Feng knew that Ma Yan's move must have another purpose, so he said: "It's okay, then you can come." ”

Ma Jian nodded, walked to the side of the soldier platform, looked around at the soldiers in the audience, cleared his throat, and said in a loud voice: "The eldest prince announced that from today onwards, the staple food of the three meals will be changed to fine grains, and the meat meal will be changed to one meal every three days. ”

The troops in the audience were looking forward to having meat to eat tomorrow, but they waited for the announcement to cheer and cheer, but they were all a little surprised when they heard Ma Yan's words.

However, although there were no surprises, the soldiers were also satisfied. You must know that the staple food they usually eat is basically coarse grains, and they can only eat a meal of fine grains every few days, but now they eat fine grains for three meals a day, and add one meal of meat every three days. In this way, the eldest son Liu Feng is much better to them than the son Liu Qi, and it is too late for them to be happy, so how can they not be satisfied.

"Thank you, eldest son."

"The eldest prince treats us too well."

"The little ones are willing to die for the eldest son."

……

The soldiers in the audience were either generous or excited, all expressing their gratitude and support for Liu Feng.

Ma Yan glanced back at Liu Feng, and that look was of course to ask if Liu Feng was satisfied with the reward he announced.

Of course Liu Feng is satisfied, the soldiers and horses under his command are only two hundred, he can't afford to eat meat every day, and it's no problem to eat meat for three days. As for the staple grain, it was far more cost-effective than expensive meat, and he had already planned to do so, and of course he would not object to it.

Liu Feng nodded slightly, but just as Ma Jian turned around, Liu Feng saw a trace of weirdness in his eyes, and he immediately realized that Ma Yan's methods were by no means so simple, and there must be a good show to watch next.

Ma Yan, who turned around, suddenly had a calm expression, his eyes burst with solemn color, and he said sharply: "The eldest prince has always had clear rewards and punishments when governing the army. Given you three days, there are still people who dare to disobey military orders, which is really intolerable. Come on, drag down the few guys who didn't make it to the gathering, and each of them will be beaten with twenty military sticks! ”

And so it was.

At this moment, what echoes in Liu Feng's mind is still the sentence Sun Tzu's Art of War: If you punish him without kissing, you will not accept it, and if you don't accept it, it will be difficult to use; If the pawn has been attached to the family and the punishment is not good, it is not available.

Previously, because these two hundred people were all newly recruited under their command, if they were not personally attached, if they were tortured, not only could not achieve the effect of purging military discipline, but would make the soldiers dissatisfied. But now, by means of reward, the soldiers have gradually become attached to them, and if they are still blindly indulged, knowing only rewards and not punishments, then the soldiers, although they are generous, will not obey if they really want to use them.

Therefore, Ma Tan chose to punish those who violated the order at this time.

The so-called combination of grace and power, with clear rewards and punishments, is not just a simple giving and punishment, but if there is no clever means, it will be appropriate. Well, Ma Tan, this kid, I really didn't misunderstand him. ’

When Liu Feng secretly admired himself, the ten or twenty people below had already been pressed to the ground, took off their pants and played with military sticks.

Among these people, many of them were tired of eating meat a few days ago, and they thought that they would not be punished if they reacted late, and they just ate a meal of meat, just changing to a light taste.

For a while, the crisp sound of the board hitting the flesh, and a wail echoed over the barracks, and the soldiers who were silently watching were all frightened and fearful.

Looking at the frightened soldiers in the audience, Liu Feng was extremely happy in his heart, it seemed that with the help of Ma Yan, it wouldn't be long before he would have a loyal and iron-blooded elite soldier.

Liu Feng's optimism was a bit premature, and the next time, the sudden arrival of an uninvited guest disrupted Liu Feng's plan.

Arriving in Lushan was his brother-in-law Mi Fang, as well as the seven hundred soldiers and horses under his command, in addition, he also brought a warrant from Guan Yu, ordering Mi Fang to take over the Lushan camp, but ordered Liu Feng to listen to his moderation.