Chapter 177 Spring Breeze

Chapter 177 Spring Breeze

Chapter 177 Spring Breeze
Lu Yunyi sat on the bench, feeling the slightly cool night breeze and looking at the bonfire burning in front of him, his expression becoming more and more dazed.

He knew a thing or two about the soldiers' drinking.
According to the Ming military law, after the war,

All soldiers must return to their respective garrisons, or return to their original teams.

The Ming Dynasty now has a million standing troops, but only 30% are stationed in the city, and 70% are working in the fields.

Now, the military scouts, except for the more than 1,000 trusted soldiers, are all from Gyeongju.

The rest were drawn from various tribes, and should have been disbanded and separated after the Northern Expedition was over.

But because of the war in Northeast China, they were forced to gather together for another three months.

This is the brilliance of the system of the Daming Guards.

It can effectively prevent generals from becoming too powerful and using soldiers for personal gain, and prevent the old situation where soldiers only recognize their superiors and not the court.

The Yuan Dynasty conquered the whole world, but suddenly fell apart. It ignored the rebellions in various places.
To a large extent, this was the result of soldiers from various places not obeying the imperial court's orders and fighting on their own, which was why they were defeated one by one.

When the Ming Dynasty was newly established, the imperial court established the Wei Suo system based on the experience of the previous dynasty.
Although there are disadvantages, in today's Hongwu Dynasty, it is full of advantages.

Many soldiers who went to the north came from all over the world. When they were dispersed, they would be separated from each other.
Brothers fighting for life and death may never see each other again in this life. Although it is cruel, it is effective.

Lu Yunyi is now a garrison officer, under the overall coordination of the Five Military Commandery, which has the power to command troops.

After the Hu Weiyong case, the Ministry of War was directly under the emperor and had the power to mobilize troops.
According to the emperor's will, the troop mobilization order was issued using the "Emperor's Letter".
The soldiers used by the Northern Expedition Army were coordinated and deployed by the Ministry of War, and military generals would be used to command the troops in actual battles.

In this way, the civil and military officials each took their own sides and hindered each other.

As a result, there was no chaos during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, when the Ming army was at its strongest.

If the old Yuan military system is used, if the emperor kills someone,
Hu Weiyong gathered his troops to rebel the next day without having to borrow troops from the Japanese pirates in Korea.

Lu Yunyi was originally a soldier, and he really liked the separation of civil and military affairs.
You don't have to follow a general to death, nor do you have to be implicated.

Now he is the superior officer, the general leading the troops.

However, he hated this system very much, which made it impossible for many of his confidants to continue to stay in the army.

At this moment, Lu Yunyi’s desire to be granted a title reached its peak!
If he were a lord now, he could intervene in the allocation of guards in the Five Military Commandery, and transfer all his confidants to one place, so as to at least preserve the whole.

Several generals in the imperial court had their own trusted soldiers and horses.
On weekdays, they are placed in local garrisons and border towns.

Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Lan Yu were all like this.
Whenever there was a war, the imperial court would order the Ministry of War to recruit his trusted soldiers and horses, allowing him to regain control of the army.

Among the northern expeditionary army led by Lan Yu, more than 10,000 were his trusted soldiers, who had been with him for more than ten years.
The rest of the elite troops were mostly enemy attack troops from their respective armies, and were also transferred from various garrisons and border towns.

The troops of Geng Bingwen, Marquis of Changxing, and Guo Ying, Marquis of Wuding, were transferred from Shaanxi, so the two were particularly close.

Of course, the army also needed some miscellaneous soldiers, all of whom were drawn from the garrisons along the way.

Most of these soldiers had no chance to fight in battle and could only take care of logistics and perform defense.

Because it cannot be integrated into the command system of various departments,
If the imperial court were to transfer a garrison army to Lu Yunyi's command,
Although the number of people in the front scout unit increased, their combat effectiveness dropped sharply.

The previously smooth military orders would be blocked, leading to a battlefield rout.
Wars rely on elite troops, and now most of the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty are controlled by many military commanders.
Therefore, whenever there is a war, they are required to lead the troops personally.

Lu Yunyi looked at the soldiers in front of him, a smile appeared on his face, and he sighed silently.

Whether these soldiers will disperse or stay is entirely up to the general.
If we can bring all these 5,000 soldiers to Daning,

Then Lu Yunyi could assure him that the surveying of land and drawing of the fish scale yellow book would be foolproof and no one could interfere.

If half of them were dismissed, Lu Yunyi would also be able to complete the land survey and measurement, but it would take more effort.

But if we dismiss all of them and only keep the Qingzhou troops,

Then even if he went to Daning, it would be of no use, as he would be worshipped as a clay Buddha sooner or later.

Lu Yunyi secretly decided to return to the army as soon as possible and make preparations early no matter what the follow-up arrangements were.

At this time, Liu Heiying came over staggeringly with a few people.
Each of them was holding a jar of wine in their hands, and Lu Yunyi could hear their laughter even from a distance.

Soon, they came to Lu Yunyi.
At first glance, it was Dai Chunfeng, the city guarding general seen at the city gate today.

Now that he was close, Lu Yunyi could see it clearly.

Dai Chunfeng should be about 27 or 28 years old, with a dark complexion and rough features. His hands holding the wine bowl were covered with calluses, and it was obvious that he had suffered a lot.

"I, Chunfeng, am here to meet you, General!"

Dai Chunfeng's expression became solemn, and he spoke loudly,
The same was true for the people around him, their bodies standing straight with sharp eyes.

"Sit down, today is a day off, no need to be polite." Lu Yunyi waved his hand.
They then sat down. Liu Heiying slammed the wine jar on the table and looked at Dai Chunfeng:

“Bring a bowl. We are both from Gyeongju. Let’s have a few bowls first!”

"it is good!"

Dai Chunfeng showed no sign of weakness, he shouted loudly and also brought up the wine jar on the side.

The two of them drank three bowls of wine, and the strong smell of alcohol began to spread.
Lu Yunyi watched with a smile, this scene was particularly heartwarming.

Until the two of them stood there, eyes wide open, mouths tightly shut, complex expressions, as if they were negotiating with their stomachs,
Lu Yunyi waved his hand and said, "That's enough. Drink less."

Then the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Dai Chunfeng smiled bitterly, feeling that the wine had already reached his throat and would bubble up if he drank any more.

"Master Black Hawk, you have a great alcohol tolerance!"

"Same here. Hiccup—"

Liu Heiying burped as he spoke.
Lu Yunyi, who was sitting on one side, frowned and looked disgusted.

"Stay away, stay away."

Everyone at the table laughed, and after a while,
Lu Yunyi looked at Dai Chunfeng with a burning gaze:
"Liu Heiying said we were classmates?"

At this point, Dai Chunfeng looked reserved, a complex expression flashed across his face, and he slowly said:

"I dare not lie to General Lu. My father was a member of the Daning Army and was relocated here after the establishment of Qingzhou Guard.
But the journey was long and my father died on the way.
At that time, I was young and underage, so I couldn't enter the guard post.

He just hung out in Gyeongju all day long, and no one cared about him.

It was by eavesdropping outside the teacher's classroom that I got the opportunity to learn to read.
Otherwise, I won’t be able to become a centurion, and I may have to be an ordinary soldier for the rest of my life.”

Lu Yunyi had a look of confusion on his face, and felt that Qingzhou was too small.
There weren't many people in Gyeongju who could read.

Most people who could write letters and read text worked in government offices and the military, and a small number worked in business firms in the city.
Now that I encounter it, it makes some sense.

"So...we are classmates, it's fate."

Lu Yunyi smiled and picked up the wine bowl. Seeing Dai Chunfeng also picked it up, he quickly said:
"Don't drink yet, don't waste this table of food."

Dai Chunfeng was stunned for a moment, then he understood.
He put the wine bowl down with a chuckle, straightened his back, and gently stroked his chest, trying to push back the wine that was about to reach his throat.

Lu Yunyi drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp, which drew praises from everyone.
He looked at Dai Chunfeng and asked:
"Ding Xianzhi was arrested. Has the court sent a new commander?"

Dai Chunfeng shook his head and smiled bitterly:

"Of course not. The prefect Liu said that when the army returns to Beijing,
The Five Military Governors' Office will then send a commander, and the round trip may take until the end of the year, or even until next year.

Furthermore, the Gyeongju Central Guard is now completely vacant, and all previous military duties are handled by the Gyeongju Vanguard.
Fortunately, the Northern Yuan Dynasty was destroyed, and the defense of the north did not need to be so tight.

Otherwise, we wouldn't even have time to sit here and drink."

Lu Yunyi nodded in realization.

The Qingzhou Zhongwei was Ding Xianzhi's direct army, and was involved in the exchange of old grain for new grain.
They were assigned to the vanguard army, and after conquering the Northern Yuan Dynasty and Kharazhan, their entire army was wiped out, which was considered a decent outcome.

Whether his troops should be replenished still needs to be decided by the new commander and the Five Military Governor's Office, and the vacancy is still vacant.

Lu Yunyi smiled, reached out and patted Dai Chunfeng on the shoulder:

"The capable ones in the army should do more work. Now that we don't have to guard against the Northern Yuan Dynasty, it's a lot easier."

Dai Chunfeng smiled and nodded: "That's true, but..."

Dai Chunfeng showed some hesitation on his face. He looked at the brothers beside him, then at Liu Heiying and Lu Yunyi, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes:
"I came to see you today to ask for a favor. I wonder if the general can be flexible."

Lu Yunyi's expression remained unchanged, but a gleam of light flashed in his eyes:

"You got into trouble too?"

This remark suddenly made the atmosphere at the scene become a little solemn.
Dai Chunfeng was startled at first, then a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, and he waved his hands quickly:

"No, no, my Lord, you have misunderstood. We brothers have always been diligent and conscientious. How dare we do something that could lead to our death?"

"Oh? What do you want?"

Lu Yunyi pressed his hand down, put his finger to the tip of his mouth and made a virtual gesture, signaling them to keep their voices down.

Dai Chunfeng was flustered, and quickly lowered his voice, with some embarrassment on his face, and he stammered:
"Sir, we brothers would like to follow the general to fight in the war. Please take us in!"

"You didn't go on the Northern Expedition?" Lu Yunyi asked knowingly.

Dai Chunfeng immediately smiled bitterly, his expression gloomy, and sighed heavily:
"Your Excellency may not know that the Qingzhou vanguard was originally scheduled to follow the main army to the north.
But for some reason, he later became the central defender of Gyeongju.
My ambition to achieve success has been in vain, and I have nowhere to turn for help.
Now that the general has returned victorious, don't say that I am a humble official.

The entire Qingzhou vanguard brothers secretly sighed that they had missed the opportunity to kill the enemy and gain merit. "

Lu Yunyi had already guessed what Dai Chunfeng was thinking.
The Ming Dynasty was newly established, and fighting the enemy was the best opportunity to turn the tide.

You don't need a lot, just one or two gains.

Then you will have no worries in this life and bring blessings to future generations.

I don't know how many people want to fight to the front line.
But not everyone has the opportunity to fight hard in battle.

Just like Zhang Yu, his own battle command is superb,
But he was only transporting food and supplies for the army and had no chance to go to the battlefield.

Today, the Ming Dynasty has a large territory and a small population, and the people are precious. Many soldiers have to line up just to die for a compensation.

It is only natural that the current generation of Chunfeng has such demands.

Lu Yunyi pondered for a moment and said softly:

"You are a captain of the Qingzhou vanguard, and you receive a lot of silver every year, which should be enough for your food and drink. Why do you want to go to the battlefield?

Fighting is far from being as easy as being in a garrison."

Dai Chunfeng let out a long breath, his expression serious, his eyes sparkling:
"General, a real man should make great achievements while alive, and take the lead.

If you don’t take it now, and someone else takes it, it will be too late to regret.

I am a centurion, and I can get by.
But my son is a soldier, cultivating the land all day long, facing the loess and back to the sky, just like a farmer.

I want my children to live a good life, so I have to fight the enemy.
Or earn some money and buy land to support the family.

Otherwise, I will work hard to seek a hereditary centurion, so that my children can live a less embarrassing life."

As he spoke, Dai Chunfeng suddenly stood up, his expression solemn, and he bowed vigorously:
"I hope you can help me!"

The people around him did the same, and they shouted in unison:

"I hope you can help me!"

Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying looked at each other with questioning expressions.

Liu Heiying thought about it, came over, and said in a low voice:

"Brother Yun'er, let's investigate tomorrow."

At this point, Lu Yunyi nodded gently, then looked at Dai Chunfeng and pressed his hand down:

"Since you are willing to fight in battle, you should be transferred to the rear guard of Gyeongju tomorrow.
As for whether you can fight the enemy, you have to wait for the opportunity.
After the border war is over, I have no idea how the court will arrange for me. "

As soon as these words came out, Dai Chunfeng and the others burst into tears of joy, bowed repeatedly, and their emotions were so complicated that they could not express them in words.
"Thank you, General. I will not let you down!"

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded, then continued drinking and eating.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the military camp became more and more heated. Many soldiers were already lying on the ground.

But most of the soldiers were still fighting hard, unwilling to put down the wine jars in their arms.
Lu Yunyi did not say anything to stop them and let the soldiers eat and drink to their heart's content.

He and Liu Heiying walked around the tables and then returned to the military tent.

After entering, Lu Yunyi patted his round belly and found it difficult to move.

Liu Heiying did the same. He moved slowly, bit by bit, and sat down on the chair. He took a long breath and said dizzily:
"Brother Yun'er, this job is too difficult. My stomach is going to explode."

Lu Yunyi also had some feelings:

"On the march or in battle, you either don't drink a drop of alcohol, or drink a lot without getting drunk. You can't get stuck in the middle.

We are the best drinkers in Qingzhou, but there are too many opponents and we are overwhelmed. "

"Brother Yun'er, when you're drunk you talk nonsense, in a flowery way, just like a gentleman."

Liu Heiying curled his lips and narrowed his eyes.

He suddenly thought of something, moved his body little by little, and finally stood up.
He took out a wooden box from a cabinet on the side and smiled:
"Brother Yun'er, come and see what treasures are in here."

"It's just a tooth plate and a pass. What's so good about it? Hurry up and arrange for someone to deliver it." Lu Yunyi curled his lips, his belly bulging and he didn't move.

"Hey~ I have to find a good name for Yarong, and also one for my son."

Liu Heiying took the box, took out the clearance documents, and checked them one by one.

"Your son?" Lu Yunyi understood instantly, his face darkened. His son was Ertai.

He reminded: "Be careful, it will be bad if they find out."

Liu Heiying's expression changed back and forth, some gloomy, some hesitant and relieved, and finally he let out a long sigh:

"Brother Yun'er, I've figured it out. Hiding your identity isn't a long-term solution.
No matter how well they hide, they will eventually be exposed. Sooner or later, I have to confront them and tell them the truth, so that they will be willing to serve me."

Lu Yunyi narrowed his eyes, a fierce light flashing in his eyes:

"With my son in hand, I own the world.

Yarong is a woman, and her two sons are in your hands, so you can do whatever you want.
If you had a child earlier, and let Yarong and her family see the beautiful scenery of the Ming Dynasty, they would naturally forget about the Northern Yuan Dynasty bit by bit.

If they persist in their wrongdoings, don’t be lenient.”

"Don't worry, Brother Yun'er. We are people who are doing great things and cannot be trapped by women. I will arrange for someone to deliver this identity card tomorrow.

By the way, Brother Yun'er, is there a rule on where to place those people?"

Hearing Liu Heiying's words, Lu Yunyi looked worried and patted his forehead with his hand:

"We just got back today, so we don't have time to set up."

"Will you give me this ivory plate as a gift tomorrow?" Liu Heiying widened his eyes.

"Send it, of course!" Lu Yunyi gritted his teeth:
"I'm not going home today. I'll finish the arrangements here overnight. You can come and get them tomorrow morning!"

"That's great. It won't waste any time."

Liu Heiying put the box back and laughed:
"Then I'll be leaving first, Brother Yun'er. I still have a lot to do."

"Damn it, I'll die in a woman's belly sooner or later."

Lu Yunyi stood up and cursed.

"Even if I die under the peony flowers, I will still be romantic even if I become a ghost——"

Liu Heiying walked away, and the sound spread from near to far.

(End of this chapter)