Outside the city of Yingzhou.

Qin Huaidao stopped and stood, waiting for the last section of the passage, this battle was a great victory, and countless captures were captured, but it also brought a huge problem, how to settle tens of thousands of Xi prisoners? Young and strong are simple and can be used in the army, but what about women, children, old and young? You can't leave it alone.

The problem of eating is not big, there are trophies, there are yurts left by the Khitan army, the weather is cold, the biggest problem is heating, it is really not in its place, I don't know its worries.

His eyes gradually fell on the woods not far away, and he had an idea, and told Luo Zhang: "Order, let the Xi captives who are on leave come over, dig a passage into the forest from here, cut down trees for warmth, the number should be large, and go back to build another ice city, I'm afraid I won't be able to live." ”

"Obey!" Luo Zhang hurriedly went.

Qin Huaidao began to think about the next battle again, as the main general, he really didn't dare to relax for a moment, there were more than 100,000 troops in Goguryeo in the south, and he was only a few thousand people, it was not easy to fight, once the troops surrounded Yingzhou, they would not attack, what should they do when the spring flowers bloom?

Or, what about burning the ice city with fire?

One question after another......

Half an hour later, the passage was completely opened, and the Xi prisoners who were responsible for clearing the snow in front were introduced into the ice city, Xue Wanshu led people to organize, and the army stretched out their bows and arrows, staring at them to death, no one dared to mess around, and gathered in an open area under the guidance of the officials, waiting for the arrangement of fate.

When the Xi people saw a large number of Khitan captives, they shouted with joy and were emotional, but no one dared to move.

Not long after, Qin Huaidao came in with Yu Linwei, Xue Wanshu shouted with a little excitement, a little excitement, and more admiration: "General Qin, congratulations on returning from another big victory!" ”

"With the help of the Lautuge." Qin Huaidao said politely, and said to An Guogong and the others who followed behind him: "Distribute the tents and yurts, settle the Xi people, and separate the two clans and occupy one side." ”

"Obey!" The crowd hastened to receive the order.

Qin Huaidao looked at the Khan, as well as several other Khitan high-level officials, thought for a while, and said, "Send them to the Khitan side and treat them equally." ”

"Obey!" Fang Yiai agreed and escorted everyone over.

The khan was eager to meet his clansmen, and was overjoyed, so he hurried over, and saw the familiar clansmen, as well as his own Kedun, his eyes were red, and he hurried up to meet him.

Qin Huaidao looked at this scene and saw that there was nothing abnormal, so he smiled at Du Du and said, "Du Du, enter the account!" ”

"This is a khan, right? There are also Khitan great wizards, a few clan elders, amazing. Governor Xue Wanshu sighed with emotion, followed Qin Huaidao forward, thought about it, and reminded: "Put them back, you won't be afraid of accidents?" ”

"Don't worry, there are still tens of thousands of Xi people, and the Khitans don't dare." Qin Huaidao smiled nonchalantly.

"That's right, the Xi people can't wait for them to make trouble, so that they can take the opportunity to kill a group of people to relieve their hatred, these Khitans are ruthless enough to kill half of the Xi people, and this feud is over." Xue Wanshu said with emotion.

The two chatted and came to the big tent, Li Yixie signaled Yu Linwei to protect the surroundings, and stood guard at the door, staring vigilantly around, tens of thousands of Khitans, tens of thousands of Xi people, how could they not be worried?

In the big tent, Qin Huaidao spread out a piece of paper, quickly drew a simple topographic map of Yingzhou with charcoal, looked at the drawings and pondered for a moment, and said: "Dudu, there are two rivers in the southeast and southwest of Yingzhou, but unfortunately there is no intersection, there is a gap, that is, due south, if Goguryeo withdraws its troops, it must pass through." ”

"General Qin, what do you mean?" Xue Wanshu asked curiously.

"I intend to build two walls from the ice city, connect the rivers on both sides, block all the way, use wood as bones, and water it into ice, although it may not be useful, but tens of thousands of captives do not find something for them to do, for fear that there will be chaos." Qin Huaidao said and drew two lines on the map, like two outstretched arms hugging the front.

When the snow melts, the ice wall will melt as well, and the probability of being useful is very low, but what if? The main thing is that there are too many captives, and it is easy to get into trouble when they gather together.

Xue Wanshu's eyes lit up when she saw the outstretched city wall, and said: "In this way, whether Goguryeo returns from the southward army, or Goguryeo itself sends troops to support, it will be blocked, the question is that we can hold it?" ”

The total number of people on both sides is only more than 10,000 people, and it is not easy to stop the soldiers and horses of a country, Qin Huaidao has already planned in his heart, and explained: "I will mention three points, and I will supervise them to see if they are appropriate; First, a large number of trees were cut down, which could not only build city walls and heating, but also avoid cutting down siege equipment after the enemy came, and second, choose hardwood to build crossbows, this attack on the Khitan army captured a lot of fine iron and sword soldiers, all melted down, and made crossbow arrows; Third, recruit troops from the Xi people to expand their strength. ”

"The first two are fine, this conscription may be a little inappropriate, for fear of causing criticism." Xue Wanshu reminded.

"It's okay, the Holy Divine has given me the right to act cheaply."

"That's fine." Xue Wanshu said with some emotion: "General Qin, this is Jian in the emperor's heart, which is enviable, if you can, the two families will move around more in the future." ”

Qin Huaidao understood the meaning behind these words, and said with a smile: "It's exactly what I want!" ”

The two nodded in tacit understanding, a little more close.

Xue Wanshu took the initiative to ask: "General Qin, how about handing over the matter of repairing the city wall to the old man?" If there are any requirements, please make it clear to the general and ensure that they are completed. ”

"It's okay, then there is Lao Dudu, the ice layer of the rivers on both sides should be burned, the area should be large, it is convenient to take water to build the city wall, and when the city wall is repaired, there is a city wall on the ground, the ice of the waterway melts, and the enemy's way is completely blocked, the city wall and the ice city are generally high, and ten meters wide are convenient for the deployment of troops."

"No problem, we have experience, we work day and night, or a few days." Xue Wanshu said.

"Five days at most." Qin Huaidao reminded.

Xue Wanshu thought for a while and said, "Enough." ”

At this time, Luo Zhang hurriedly came over, Xue Wanshu got up to say goodbye and left, Qin Huaidao asked, "Something?" ”

"A lot of trees have been cut down, where are they placed?"

"The big ones are put outside, go back to build the city, and the small ones are distributed to the two clans, and keep a part of them, you give this matter to the three brothers of Cheng Chumo, and tell the bath brothers, the forbidden army should be on guard in the city to prevent accidents, and then you go to the Xi tribe to recruit soldiers, the principle of voluntariness, not forced."

"In what name, in case the imperial court does not recognize this army in the future and disbands it on the spot after the war, it is difficult for us to explain it to you." Luo Zhang reminded.

"Mercenaries!"

"What do you mean?" Luo Zhang was a little confused.

Qin Huaidao explained: "It is to spend money to hire them to fight as soldiers, we provide equipment, training, and food to support them, they must obey the command, participate in the war unconditionally, win or lose, the head is too troublesome, use the enemy's ears for payment, one enemy army is around, always silver, unlike other regular armies to pay military salaries." ”

"Will this work?" Luo Zhang said with some concern: "No military salary, no establishment, it means that everyone is not recognized as a regular army, and it will be distinguished from the beginning, and it will not be a big problem to disband in the future, and there is no need to worry about the court making a difference in this matter in the future, I am afraid that no one will participate." ”

"Try it first." Qin Huaidao said.

"It's okay, I've always rewarded a lot of silver, killing ten people is ten, many people may not be able to earn it in their lifetime, so I'm going to try recruiting here, is there anything else to explain?" Luo Zhang asked, I haven't done this kind of thing, I don't know the bottom.

Qin Huaidao saw Luo Zhang's worries, thought about it, and said: "In this way, I will help you prepare well, you go back and lead the army well, be kind to everyone, and cultivate according to the private army, but it can't be too obvious and expose your intentions." ”

"Got it." Luo Zhang's eyes lit up, and he realized something.

Qin Huaidao finished his words, led Luo Zhang out of the big tent, and came to the Xi gathering area, the Xi people saw many people coming, they all paid attention, nervous, some young people blocked their families behind them, stared at Qin Huaidao and others, and several older people even stepped forward.

The atmosphere is weird!

Qin Huaidao understood everyone's nervousness, and asked Yu Linwei behind him to stop at a distance, so as not to misunderstand, took Luo Zhang a few steps forward, and shouted: "Don't misunderstand, you want to recruit soldiers in the future." ”

As soon as everyone heard about the conscription, they became even more nervous, the big war is to kill people, fight for their own people and homeland, die well, and now that their home is gone, they have become prisoners, and they have no motivation and goals to fight, why are they still soldiers?

Someone shouted: "General, please spare us, you can do anything, this soldier is still ......"

Qin Huaidao interrupted: "Please listen to me, this soldier is not something you can participate in if you want to, you need to choose, and only if you are qualified can you be qualified." ”

Everyone is relieved to hear it, is it not simple to be unqualified?

"Lift it up!" Qin Huaidao shouted.

Soon, several Yu Linwei carried up several large bags of silver, the mouth of the bag opened, exuding an attractive luster, which instantly attracted the attention of many people, Qin Huaidao took in everyone's expressions, and continued to say: "Everyone, your homeland is gone, you have become a captive, have you ever thought about the future?" ”

A speech aroused the grief and anger in everyone's hearts, helplessness, and fear for the future, the home is gone, and one by one has become rootless, where can I go? How to survive?

I'd rather be a peace dog than a troubled world!

Qin Huaidao saw that the fire was almost over, and continued: "Everyone, you are now the prisoners of the general, it is said that the general can be forcibly recruited, and he will not discuss with everyone at all, but the soldiers recruited by the general this time are a little different, and it can be regarded as a chance to change everyone's fate, the principle of voluntariness, whether you come at will or not." ”

Taking retreat as advance and wanting to capture and indulge in the past often stimulates everyone's curiosity.

Someone asked: "This general, what's the difference, if you can kill the Khitan dog, the little life will be handed over to you, and you don't want anything." ”

"Yes, as long as we kill the Khitan dog, we will agree." Many people chimed in.

Qin Huaidao didn't want to create a conflict at this time, and the other half still had tens of thousands of Khitan captives watching, so he quickly interrupted: "Everyone, the Khitan is gone, have you thought about it in the future?" Have you ever thought about your family? ”

The young men looked at the family members around them and fell silent.

There is no place to stand, no wall to shelter the wind, no tile to block the rain, and no food for life, whether you can see the sun tomorrow I don't know, what is the future? Where is there hope?

The sad atmosphere became stronger and stronger, and many people sobbed.

Qin Huaidao glanced at the audience and continued: "Don't worry, as long as you are obedient and help with the work, you will have a bite to eat. ”

In the ice and snow, who dares to go out? And where can you go?

Someone shouted, "What should we do, general?" Even so. ”

"That's right, we have the strength to work, as long as we stutter."

Qin Huaidao was afraid that there would be too many people to talk about, so he interrupted loudly: "Listen to me, if you work, you will have food, and if you don't work, there will be no food, this is the rule, of course, even if the old people and children who can't do the work, the general will be merciful and will give a bite to eat, but what will you do in the future?" This conscription is to give you a chance to change your future. ”

"What are the conditions?"

"How?"

Some unwilling people shouted.

"Listen to me." Qin Huaidao shouted loudly, and after the scene quieted down, he explained: "Men over the age of sixteen can try it, and lightly injured men who have been soldiers can also consider it, and Ben will be responsible for healing, but you remember, it is to hire you to fight, not the regular army of the imperial court, that is to say, I will give you food, equipment, and training, no military salary, exchange it for the enemy, an enemy has always silver, if you have the ability to kill a hundred people, a thousand people, Ben will give you a hundred, a thousand, cash after the battle, if you die in battle, The reward will be given to your designated family members, and the reward will never be in arrears. ”

"An enemy is always silver?"

Many people were tempted, serving as a soldier in the Xi tribe for a month was less than the usual salary, most of them were obligations, and some people shouted: "General, why should we believe you?" ”

"yes, why should I believe you?"

"Could it be that I'm waiting?"

Many people agreed, and the scene was a little chaotic.

Qin Huaidao hurriedly suppressed his voice and asked rhetorically: "With this book, I will take in tens of thousands of you, who has this benevolence and righteousness?" Who will feed you in vain? ”

As soon as he spoke, the audience fell silent.

Not to mention an outsider, even within the clan, there are often abandonments, who will help an unknown outsider for no reason, not to mention that everyone is still a captive, and they are not qualified to talk about conditions and make demands.

Qin Huaidao continued: "Kill the enemy and get a reward for silver, it is justified, the more you kill, the more you take, when you have saved enough, you may be able to go to Chang'an to live, even if you continue to stay in this grassland, you can buy a few acres of land, raise some cattle and sheep, and become a wealthy family, there is no shortage of people in Yingzhou, there is still a Khitan waiting over there, why is such a good thing given to you?" Isn't it to see that you have no way to live, and give you a chance? Those who are willing to go out of the queue and gather to the side. ”

That's all it takes, it's useless to say more!

Mercenaries are irregulars, what they need is ambitious, unwilling, and people who dare to fight and dare to fight, and they don't even dare to play with their lives, so what's the use of coming?

The audience was silent, and many people secretly exchanged glances.

In this troubled era, if you have a weapon in your hand, you can live longer, and it is better to fight than to die.

One person came out, two people came out.

Soon, more people came out, and everyone came to an open area under Luo Zhang's guidance, with a certain nervousness, a certain confusion, and more unwilling ambition on their faces.

Mercenaries need this kind of person.

Qin Huaidao smiled with satisfaction, and waited patiently, in this era when you can't live, if you have something to eat, you can go with someone, not to mention that there is always a reward for killing people, it doesn't matter if you die, if you earn it, wouldn't your family have hope?

More people came out.

When the Khitan captured the Xi people, they deliberately left a lot of young people unkilled, originally wanted to bring them back to the grassland as slave soldiers and expand their strength, but now they are cheaper Qin Huaidao, and soon, two or three thousand people stood up.

Qin Huaidao waited for a while, but no one came out, so he said: "Very good, choose to start choosing, everyone go up to the city wall, run around the city wall, can't insist on the elimination of ten laps, and those who persist to the end will be appointed according to the ranking, and the top 100 will be rewarded on the spot." ”

The audience was shocked.

Ten rounds of elimination can be understood, even ten circles can't hold on, followed by just a drag, it should indeed be eliminated, the battlefield is not a child's play, actually according to the rank of the appointment of the military officer, although it is just a hire, not recognized by the imperial court, but it is also a real soldier, isn't it?

Who doesn't want to be an official?

There are also the top 100 on-the-spot rewards that make everyone feel excited, penniless, if you get the consistent silver and leave it to your family, you will not go to the army and leave the peace of mind?

At this moment, everyone's hearts were restless.

Qin Huaidao saw that it was almost over, and said: "Remember, keep an arm's length from each other, that is, spread your hands, the front and back are the same, if anyone deliberately crowds, or pushes people down, they will be killed on the spot and go up to the city wall." ”

Everyone went to the city wall one after another, with Qin Huaidao's warning, no one dared to rush up, anyway, the competition was to persist to the end, not the fastest, no need to rush.

Qin Huaidao told Luo Zhang: "Let Li Yixie help bring a team of Yulin guards up, supervise the distance, register the ranking, and distribute the reward on the spot after the end, it must be issued on the spot, do not delay, and stabilize the hearts of the people." ”

"Is it really feasible to appoint officials based on their rank without testing force?" Luo Zhang whispered his worries.

Qin Huaidao said with a smile: "Don't worry, force can be trained, with a crossbow in hand, personal martial arts is actually not too important, persevering to the end shows that his endurance, physical strength, willpower and endurance, as well as the desire for victory are higher than others, this kind of person is worth cultivating." ”

"I see, Uncle Xie instructed, let's go." Luo Zhang reacted and hurried away.

Qin Huaidao started to be the shopkeeper again, and when he returned to the big tent, he saw Fang Yiai coming over in a hurry, and when he entered the door, he said, "General, that khan said he wanted to see you." ”

"Do you know what's going on?"

Fang Yiai hurriedly explained: "It should be a matter of conscription, and they also want to participate." ”

"Let them wait, I'll think about it." Qin Huaidao admonished, and after seeing Fang Yiai leave, he thought about it, it is not impossible to recruit Khitan people as mercenaries, and he really needs soldiers and horses, but who will he bring?

Luo Zhang's own people, rest assured, who can trust others?

The three brothers of the Cheng family and the two brothers of Wei Chi can be trusted, but they take different paths, they will be officials and generals in the future, and the love of Fang Yi is too reckless, so there is no need to think about it, Li Yixie and Li Dejian are both undertaking family missions, and it is impossible to come out, if only Xue Rengui was here.

A bonfire, a pot of milk tea.

Qin Huaidao looked at the map and quietly thought about the battle ahead.

An hour later.

Luo Zhang came in excitedly and said: "Uncle, more than 100 people have been eliminated, more than 2,000 people have been selected, and in addition, the reward has been issued, I will ask them to assemble and stand by, what should I do next?" Isn't it training? ”

"Queue, the set I taught you in Qinjiazhuang, remember, only the queue, nothing else, I need a disciplined team within five days, and after five days, the newly made repeater over there should be able to do a good job, directly equip the kind of ten-shot repeater, and continue to train the repeater attack formation."

"Remembered." Luo Zhang became a little excited.

"Don't be happy too early, it's not easy to bring two or three thousand people, tell everyone, those who don't meet the training standards will be eliminated, in addition, now the positions of all officers are only temporary, let's re-elect according to the ranking of training results, and in the future, the military merit system will be adopted for the official positions in the army, who has the greatest merit, who has killed the most enemies, and who is on the list, these words must be told to everyone."

Luo Zhang nodded solemnly and secretly wrote down that this was the experience of leading soldiers.

Qin Huaidao continued to advise uneasily: "Also, they are the Xi clan, but you can't be prejudiced, you have to be one with everyone and become brothers, of course, you must be strong when you treat those who do not obey, use your force to subdue, and pay equal attention to grace and power, the Xi clan believes in respecting the strong." ”

"Remembered." Luo Zhang solemnly wrote it down.

Qin Huaidao didn't want to put too much pressure on Luo Zhang, so he pretended to smile lightly: "Don't be too nervous, there is time for you to slowly familiarize yourself with and explore, and if you don't understand, you can ask at any time, and the Khitan side also thinks that after five days, if you can master the army of the Xi people, you can consider recruiting another one, and the Khitans can't be idle." ”

"We must master this Xi army within five days." Luo Zhang said solemnly.

"Okay, let's go!"

Luo Zhang clasped his fists gratefully and hurried away.

Qin Huaidao came to the door of the big tent and shouted to Fang Yiai: "Call An Guogong, the three brothers of the Cheng family and the two brothers of Wei Chi, this general has something to do." ”

"Obey!" Fang Yiai hurriedly went.

It didn't take long for everyone to come together, talking and laughing all the way, looking very happy, and entering the big tent, An Guogong preemptively said: "General, you must have something good to find us, who will you fight this time, and recover the Khitan in one fell swoop?" ”

Everyone sat down around the bonfire, excited, winning battles in a row, full of confidence one by one, Qin Huaidao saw everyone's proud thoughts, and hurriedly reminded: "Everyone, we have won a few battles, and it doesn't prove how strong we are, but it's tricky, there is no crossbow but no attack constantly, no sled board to walk on the snow, can we win the battle?" ”

The words were like thunder, instantly waking everyone up.

Qin Huaidao continued: "Everyone, it's January, wait another month for the ice and snow to melt, once the enemy regains freedom of action, the grassland is the world of the Khitan, it will be difficult for us to chase, and once the hundreds of thousands of Goguryeo troops launch a madness, they can't be stopped at all, don't forget that Goguryeo will not sit idly by, once the army is increased, we are afraid that there will be no place to die, and the proud army will be defeated, so we must remind everyone." ”

"Obey!" Everyone was moved and solemnly agreed, losing the joy just now.

"However, everyone is also worried that the soldiers will come to block it." Qin Huaidao said safely, he couldn't let everyone have the idea of pride, but he couldn't hit everyone's morale, he spread out the map and said: "The city wall has the help of the governor to organize people to build, in the city, the Khitan and the Xi people are mortal enemies, and they will not join forces to rebel, and now the Xi people are young and strong and have been recruited as soldiers, the Xi people will not be chaotic, and the Khitan will not be chaotic if they want to, for the time being, I will send troops!" ”

"Hit whom?" Cheng Chumo said excitedly: "If we fight the Khitan, with our equipment, it is best to send troops while the heavy snow has not melted, plus the Khan is captured, and the snakes are leaderless, we can definitely take the entire Khitan in one fell swoop." ”

"That's right, if we take the Khitan, we will be the heroes of the expansion of the territory, and we will go down in history." Cheng Chuliang said with a smile.

Qin Huaidao raised his hand to signal everyone to silence, pointed to the south and said: "The Khitan is not to worry, let them eat dogs, and it is not too late to clean up when the time comes, how about swallowing the main army of Goguryeo in the south first?" ”

"Shhhh

Everyone took a breath of cool air, it's not that everyone is timid and doesn't dare, but what Qin Huaidao said is "swallow", not defeating, defeating, swallowing means eating them all, that's an army of 100,000, and 100,000 pigs are not easy to catch, can it?

"Why, don't you dare?" Qin Huaidao smiled.

Everyone was anxious when they heard it, and Fang Yiai hurriedly said: "What don't you dare? A certain willingness to take the lead. ”

"It's not your turn to be the first one!" Cheng Chu glanced at the other party silently.

"Then it's your turn, this time it's time for us to go first, right?" Wei Chi Baolin looked at Qin Huaidao and explained: "Every time, An Guogong's troops take the lead, and the brothers are the spectators, and they all have opinions. ”

An Guogong was unhappy: "That's the general's trust in our department, besides, when did our department not fight well?" We're here, so you're still in the back line. ”

Qin Huaidao didn't mind everyone scrambling, healthy competition was conducive to unifying the army, watching everyone laugh and not say anything, but deducing his own tactical arrangements in his heart.

As soon as the order came out, there were countless casualties, and there was no room for nonsense.