The whole city suddenly fell silent, and everyone was pondering Liu Xun's question in their hearts. Liu Xun looked around the audience and continued: "You don't need to say those beautiful words such as 'serving the imperial court' and 'defending the lord'. I, Liu Xun, am not your relative, why do you want to die for me? If it doesn't do you any good, why do you want to work for me? ”

As soon as these words came out, the audience was shocked. In fact, Liu Xun's two rhetorical questions are also problems that plague many people's hearts, but such questions are really a bit "rebellious", and no one usually dares to say it. But Liu Xun actually said it in public, especially since he himself was the object of their allegiance, and he didn't say it to himself, but asked from the perspective of an ordinary soldier, which made people feel even more shocked and at the same time, it also added a sense of identity.

"A lot of people join the army just to make ends meet." Liu Xun saw that the audience was listening carefully, so he continued to speak along his own lines, "This is not wrong, as the so-called 'erect the recruitment flag, you have your own food people', and being a soldier does have food and salary. But there are so many thieves and bandits in the country, to put it bluntly, they all rely on their lives to earn food, why don't you choose them, but choose to join the Lujiang soldiers? What is the difference between Lujiang soldiers and them? ”

Seeing that the army was contemplating and pondering, Liu Xun paused for a moment before continuing: "Because your military salaries and food are produced by ordinary people. ”

"It's also to protect your family and protect your parents and fellow villagers from being harmed by bandits!" One of the soldiers shouted.

"That's right! This sentence goes to the root. Liu Xun said loudly, "Each of us wants to protect our families, but one person's strength is too weak, so we have to join the army." With an army, the country can be defended; When the country is peaceful, every family can be at peace, this is a very simple truth. Our Lujiang soldiers come from the common people, and we usually rely on the people to provide for them, and our only purpose can only be to protect the people from the slaughter of gangsters and aliens, so we should be in the same boat. But if someone completely violates the purpose of Lujiang Bing, eats the people's, drinks the people's, and in turn harms the people, do you think such people are considered to eat inside and out, are they ungrateful, do they count the classics and forget their ancestors, and do they count their conscience to let the dog eat them? ”

"Ye Chen has lost his conscience, he should be killed!" At this time, most of the soldiers figured it out and raised their arms violently and shouted.

"Of course, Ye Chen has made a lot of achievements, and no one can deny this." Liu Xun said sadly, "But merit is merit, sin is sin, and the two cannot be offset." If you could, could you say that if you saved someone's life yesterday, you can kill someone today? ”

This vivid and accurate metaphor made many people laugh heartily: "Of course not!" ”

"That's right!" Liu Xun continued, "Everyone sees Ye Chen's merits, so he became a hundred generals and got a share of the land. But he didn't cherish the hard-won things, thinking that he could do whatever he wanted if he had military exploits, so he relaxed his requirements for himself, and finally committed an unforgivable sin! Everyone should ask themselves, do you have such wrong and dangerous thoughts? If there is, repent and reform quickly, and it is not too late to make amends; If you let it go, Ye Chen's lessons are here, who wants to learn from him, just go and learn! In the end, it will only be you who will be harmed. ”

Many people were deeply touched when they heard this, and lowered their heads in shame, they naturally had big and small problems, and even violated military regulations, but they were not as serious as Ye Chen.

"Killing Ye Chen, Ben Taishou is also very sad." Liu Xun said slowly, "He also has a wife and children, and now he has become an orphan and a widow, isn't it pitiful!" But who can blame for this? He can only blame himself! Ben Taishou killed him today by strictly enforcing the law, also in order to punish the former and the future, and to cure the disease and save people. If everyone learns Ye Chen's lesson and strictly abides by military discipline from now on, such a tragedy can naturally be avoided. Think about your own family, and then think about the people who want you to protect, what to do, decide for yourself! ”

"Lord!" As soon as the words fell, Chen Qiang knelt down with a plop, and said with tears in his eyes, "Ye Chen has already subdued the law, but the last general is not strict in governing the army, and it is difficult to escape the responsibility, and I beg the lord to punish him heavily!" ”

"As Ye Chen's superior, of course you have responsibilities." Liu Xun sighed and said, "But Ben Taishou is more responsible!" It is because I attach too much importance to military affairs and neglect the ideological education of officers and men that has brought about today's bitter fruits. If you want to be punished, start from Ben Taishou! ”

As soon as he said that, he turned around and bowed to Li Kui, who was in a trance and full of tears, and said with tears in his eyes: "No matter what you do now, you can't make up for the damage to Li Kui, I'm really ashamed!" I have made amends for you! ”

Liu Xun's move immediately frightened Li Qiu and Li Kui to kneel on the ground, kowtowing again and again and crying: "Lord Taishou has killed the grass people!" It all depends on the Lord Taishou, the grievances of the grass people can get snow, and the Lord is too wise! ”

The officers and men of the whole army fell to their knees together and shouted like a tsunami: "The lord is wise! ”

Because of Liu Xun's reasonable speech and the heavy-handed handling of Ye Chen's case, he immediately won the resolute support of the vast number of officers and soldiers and the people.

After that, Liu Xun stayed in the barracks for two more days.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of investigating and dealing with this case, the army quickly launched an operation from top to bottom to investigate and deal with violations of military discipline. Many officers and non-commissioned officers who violated discipline were shocked by this case and took the initiative to admit their violations of discipline: Some went to restaurants and did not give money, some bullied recruits, and some suspected that they had trained hard and deliberately pretended to be sick.

After Ye Chen's big case, the original slightly loose atmosphere of the Lujiang Army was gone, and it was replaced by a more loyal to Taishou Liu Xun.

Lingcao Mansion of Huiji County

Although Ling Cao was defeated and arrested, Liu Xun did not seal his mansion. The backyard of Ling Cao's mansion is very large, and there is a martial arts training ground, and there is a young man in the field at this moment, it is Ling Cao's son Ling Tong, who is venting his anger.

Since my father lost the battle with Lu Meng, he still doesn't know whether he is alive or dead. Now that Liu Xun has captured Huiji, Ling Tong has wanted to go to Liu Xun several times to ask for clarification. There is always a conclusion whether his father is alive or dead, but every time he is stopped by his mother. It stands to reason that his mother's body can't stop him no matter what, but every time the old mother sees him make a move, she forces him to death, making Ling Tong two years old. can only be exercised in the martial arts training ground, but it is pitiful that the wooden stakes have been changed several times at the moment.

At this time, a servant named Lin San walked in, he glanced at the young man, and then arched his hand and said, "Meet the young master." ”

"Uncle Lin, my house is good, but I can't stand it at home every day, and now my father doesn't know if he lives or dies, no matter what, I have to go to Liu Xun to ask for an understanding. Otherwise, how can it be right for the father's nurturing grace. As he spoke, Ling Tong's eyes began to reddened slightly.

Lin San sighed and said, "Young Master, Madam said that you can't go to Liu Xun no matter what, and I don't know how to help you." I am also very saddened by the loss of the master's voice, but this is a war, and since the army has been defeated, it is unlikely that he will live. ”

Ling Tong looked at Lin San and pleaded, "Uncle Lin, tomorrow my mother will go to my uncle's house, I want to take this time to go to Liu Xun to ask for an understanding." Whether it is life or death, there must always be a result. Please, old man, help me arrange it, I will listen to you and never act rashly. ”

"Young Master 。。。。。。" Lin San was very helpless, in fact, he didn't support Ling Tong to find Liu Xun. But if you keep ignoring it like this, it is estimated that the young master will go crazy sooner or later.

Looking at Ling Tong's dejected eyes, Lin San couldn't help but feel distressed, and then said in a low voice. "Young master, then I'll go and take care of it tomorrow, you wait here for my news first."

Ling Tong was overjoyed when he heard this, and said excitedly. "Then I'll wait for Uncle Lin's good news."

"Young master, you can rest assured to wait here, I, Lin San, promise that I will not be able to let the young master see Liu Taishou tomorrow." Lin San said to Ling Tong with a little confidence. "Uncle Lin's resourcefulness, I am very confident, then I will wait for your good news."

In the evening, Lin San went to buy gifts, since he was going to ask for someone, he naturally couldn't go without bringing things, otherwise he was afraid that he wouldn't even be able to enter Liu Xun's house.

As soon as Lin San's carriage stopped at the gate of a mansion, a doorman stepped forward to drive him. "What kind of person, don't you know that this is the Lin Mansion? Why park here. ”

This is the temporary mansion of Liu Xun's thousand-captain Lin Jian, Lin San and Lin Jian are actually distant relatives, but they haven't moved much, after all, Lin Jian used to be a small soldier, and no one has ever taken care of him at all. Of course, it's different now, Lin Jian is already a general in Jiangdong at this moment.

"Wait, this little brother, I'm here to ask to see your lord." Lin San got off the station and hurriedly waved his hand to block the road. There seemed to be something in his right hand that was stuffed into the hand of this little official, and the little official, who was about to drive away, weighed the amount of silver in his hand a little, and his eyes rolled and secretly seemed to be a sensible person. Hurriedly said with a smile:

"Since this gentleman has something to ask my family, well, please wait here for me to report it." The little official turned around and was about to report the sudden turn of the year and said, "By the way, I haven't asked the name of the gentleman yet, if I ask from above, I won't be able to answer." ”

"Oh, under the surname Lin Mingsan, please ask the little brother to say a few good words." Lin San replied. Money can make ghosts grind, this saying is very useful everywhere.

Lin Jian Mansion

"Let Mr. wait for a long time, the adults are waiting for Mr. in the hall, and please come with Mr." The little official who had just gone in to report came out respectfully and said to Lin San.

"That tired little brother is leading the way in front," Lin San said with a smile.

"Please, the adults are waiting for you inside, and the little ones will go down." Immediately, the little official said with some unease: "Please forgive me for the offense just now." ”