Liang Huada understood that what Shi Dashou said did not mean that he did not mean the military training of the bandit army, but that he had not heard such a concept in the new army: the first thing in the army is not to be loyal to the king, but to defend the country and the people.

Isn't the imperial court the state? Shi Dashou discussed with Liang Huada in private, and Liang Huada of course thought that the imperial court was the country, but Shi Dashou questioned this issue that did not seem to need to be discussed: I think what Commander Long said was right, the imperial court is the imperial court, and the country is the country. We have the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty, the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and the country remains the same. Shandong or Shandong, Zhili or Zhili, should soldiers be loyal to the court or to the country? Just like Commander Long said that Taiwan was ceded to Japan, and the residents of the whole island cried and did not obey, so they rose up to resist, do you say that if we are in Taiwan, will we obey the orders of the imperial court and surrender Taiwan to Japan, or will we rise up to defend the country's territory? Defending innocent people abandoned by the imperial court?

Shi Dashou is an officer second only to Liang Huada among the prisoners of war in the New Army, and the two of them have the same illness and sympathy, and they are fellow villagers in Jinmen, so naturally they discuss everything together. Regarding Shi Dashou's thoughts, Liang Huada knew that he had completely listened to Long Qian's incitement. If the soldiers don't obey the emperor's orders, then what's the deal? Hasn't it become a feudal town? However, Liang Huada admitted that the various tragedies after Taiwan was ceded to Japan mentioned by Long Qian are indeed true. As a soldier, I am of course very sad to think that millions of soldiers and civilians in Taiwan have been abandoned by the imperial court. But Liang Huada still couldn't agree with Long Qian's point of view—of course it was a traitor's point of view, "Da Shou, don't listen to Long Qian's nonsense, you are also a person who has studied, loyal to the monarch and then patriotic." Long Qian's guy has different ambitions and ill intentions, so he must not be fooled. ”

Shi Dashou disagreed, "Brother Zicheng, if it weren't for Maoyang Town's mistake, where would I have heard these eye-opening talks?" What people say is right, the more they argue, the clearer it becomes, I think they are right! ”

Liang Huada knew that Dao Shi Dashou had always been temperamental, and even some two hundred and five, "Dashou, even if what Long Qian said is reasonable, we can't compare with those uninformed soldiers, defeated and captured, in fact, we can't be blamed all, right?" But surrendering to the enemy is another matter__"

Shi Dashou interrupted Liang Huada, "Old Liang, although these people are bandits, most of them are honest peasant children, and I know all the heart-to-heart talks they have, but in fact, people don't hide it from us, it's ugly, it's also forced by the imperial court!" The reason why several of my brothers made up their minds to join Long Qian was that they were moved after listening to other people's heart-to-heart talks. Surrender? I still think that people are right, bandits are also Chinese, but also the people of the imperial court, if the imperial court cherishes its own people, naturally there is no such large and small group of bandits. If you surrender your own people, you can't lose the face of your ancestors, as long as you don't surrender to foreign devils, you can still enter the ancestral grave. As for their attitude towards foreign devils, you know the truth, anyway, I think what people talk about is more clever and thorough than what I learned in the camp school! Which foreigner really helps us in China? The dignified new army is actually inferior to a bunch of ringing horses in terms of knowledge! ”

"Da Shou, you still have to be cautious, this is a matter related to your future. I heard Du Sanli say that they are preparing to release us recently, and I don't think it's a lie to me. ”

"Lao Liang, I'm not ignorant, of course I'll be cautious."

Shi Dashou was fascinated by Ryuqian's lectures, and the recent theme was the achievements of Japan's Meiji Restoration and the trend of foreign expansion, which was naturally linked to the collision with Russia in the northeast. To tell the truth, although Liang Huada was a new army officer, he could not figure out that the Northeast was involved in the confrontation between Russia and Japan, and this lecture in phases also fascinated Liang Huada, and for this reason, he also argued with Shi Dashou several times about Long Qian's assertion that Japan and Russia would definitely have a war in the Northeast. They are arguing not only about whether there will be a fight, but also about who will win if Japan and Russia go to war, and who will win in China's interests. The last issue of controversy was left by Long Qian to the people who listened to the lecture to ponder. Shi Daishou concluded that it would be more beneficial for China for Japan to win. Liang Huada's conclusion is that no matter who wins, the loser is always China.

After Shi Dashou and Liang Huada became regular visitors to the evening study, under their influence, more captives joined the ranks of the lecturers. In addition to listening to current events, the captives also participated in literacy classes, especially those who were illiterate, and showed a high level of enthusiasm for literacy.

A few days later, Shi Dashou said to Liang Huada, I won't go back! I've decided to join the Mengshan Army.

Liang Huada was taken aback, "Da Shou, this is not a trivial matter, don't be hasty." ”

Shi Dashou smiled, "Good birds choose trees to perch, but it's ridiculous that they treat others as bandits." Following Commander Long is much more interesting than following Master Cao. Now that I've been captured, there's no future for me to go back. I believe that a team like Mengshan Army will not live on this poor mountain for a long time. Many of my brothers are ready to sign up to join them. ”

Liang Huada is a little more aware of the recent changes in the thinking of the captives, and at least seven or eight of the original engineer corps have applied to stay - in the later period, that is, more than two months after being captured, the practices of the Mengshan bandits have impressed the once proud officers and soldiers. Many captives have organized a team to participate in the so-called football match in front of the Guangming Temple, and the lower-level soldiers have slowly integrated into the vigorous Mengshan army.

But what puzzled Liang Huada was that Shi Dashou was a serious officer, and he was regarded by Lord Yuan as a new army of seed troops, and the platoon commander could not say that he had no future, and the military salary alone was enviable.

Liang Huada couldn't help it, "You don't want your own future?" Follow them, and there is no military pay__"

"Brother Zicheng (Liang Huada's character), I firmly believe that Commander Long's Mengshan Army has a better future. Compared to Long Huisi, Cao Zhongshan, the chief I once thought was worth following with all my heart, is not worth mentioning. Although the Mengshan Army is still very small, as Captain Long said, it is a radiant sun, and no one, no amount of power can stop it from rising. In fact, I have already decided - since listening to Commander Long's lecture, a window has really opened in front of my eyes, and I understand what to be a soldier for, what is the difference between a soldier and a bandit, and what does the country and the nation mean__In a word, I know what to do to come to the world. Everyone has their own aspirations, and I don't worry about scolding me for being a bandit in the past, and I don't worry about embarrassing my ancestors - they are not bandits, have you ever seen such bandits? ”

Liang Huada still couldn't make up his mind. Indeed, Meng Shanjun's whole set of practices opened his eyes, and Long Qian personally has a deep personality charm. But if he wants to say what kind of future this ringing horse has, he doesn't believe it in his heart. At most, he was recruited, how can he compare with Lord Yuan's new army? What's more, I still have a wife who has been married for three years and a daughter who is less than a year old, and I really can't give up in my heart, "I can't compare with you." ”

"I know it." Shi Dashou nodded, "I'm alone, and I have nothing to worry about." It's not like you. ”

Finally, just after the Dragon Boat Festival, under the leadership of Shi Dashou, fifty-five captives volunteered to join the Mengshan Army. Among them, there are thirty members of Liang Huada's original baggage team, and the rest are the soldiers of Li Fubu's team who had fought with Long Qian in Zhangjiazhai.

For this reason, Long Qian specially asked the big room to hold a relatively sumptuous dinner for these newcomers who "abandoned the darkness and turned to the light" to express his welcome to everyone. Long Qian, who had never drunk alcohol, made an exception and drank a large bowl of wine that night. Wine is a precious thing in the cottage, and a few points are strictly controlled by Song Jinguo, who wants to get Long Qian's approval, which has become one of Long Qian's magic weapons to reward officers and soldiers.

Long Qian said to the former Xinjun brothers who volunteered, "I have been waiting for this day. Originally, we were on different sides, and there was no way to meet each other. The past has passed, we will be a family in the future, please rest assured, I promise to do the same, there will be merit and punishment. However, you must abide by the military regulations of the Mengshan Army, and this point cannot be ambiguous. For the training of the Mengshan Army, you also have to make up for it. Of course, I believe that you will complete the training subjects relatively smoothly, after all, everyone has a good foundation. Finally, please tell the former robes who do not want to participate in the Mengshan Army, and after a while, we will let everyone go back. ”

The officers above the platoon commander level of the Mengshan Army all attended the welcome banquet, and those who did not understand Long Qian's policy of treating prisoners well before had basically turned this corner, and those who led the troops, did not suspect that there were few soldiers under their command, and these 50-odd people were all strong and strong with military training, and as long as they were given guns, they could go into battle.

"Deputy Commander Zhou, do you understand now? In the future, our Mengshan Army will expand its army, and the best soldiers will be on the opponent's side, so we will expand the team once in a battle. Ha Luha, with more than fifty brothers appearing to say, it won't be so difficult in the future. Long Qian smiled and toasted to Zhou Yi, before, Zhou Yi was more disgusted with Long Qian's kindness to the captives.

"It's still the commander who sees far away." Zhou Yi smiled wryly.

"You and Shi Jun and they discussed adding a military rule about prisoners. We are different from inside and outside, and we will treat all our captives, including Manchus, as long as they do not have the blood of innocent people on their hands. Those who are willing to join are welcome. If you don't want to, let it go. For foreign captives, it's a different matter. ”

In the end, Liang Huada still didn't stay. After Long Qian decided to release the rest of the captives, Liang Huada left Mengshan after receiving two taels of silver.

Those who stay and those who leave are exactly half. Of the 113 prisoners of war who were taken prisoner up the mountain, 3 were killed for escaping, 55 volunteered to join the Mengshan Army, and 55 were unwilling to stay. Long Qian invited the departing captives to have a meal, and each of them was given two taels of silver to wrap around. The captives, who seemed happy, said, "I hope we will be friends rather than enemies in the future." Of course, there is a good chance that we will meet again on the field. Please return to the brothers of the New Army to tell the commander of the New Army that the Mengshan Army is idealized to fight for the country, and is really unwilling to meet with the Chinese sword soldiers. ”

Liang Huada thanked Long Qian on behalf of the released captives. Explaining the reason why he had to go back, Long Qian expressed his understanding and said with a smile, "I hope that the officers of the Liang team will cherish themselves, and I hope that in the future, we will go to the battlefield of the national war together as comrades-in-arms, instead of shedding the blood of our compatriots in the civil war!" ”

Liang Huada was speechless.