Chapter 1645

"Big Brother, Big Brother, the people in our village have all come to join us, hahaha..."

Early this morning, Zhao Erhu ran to find Wang Yan, feeling like he had finally made something of himself.

In the past, I wanted to pull you along to get rich, but you looked down on me. Today, aren't you still coming to join me, Zhao Erhu?

With the Taiping Army's rule over Jiang Nan and their tentative attacks on Jiangbei, more commoners became refugees, fleeing north, fleeing to places with food.

As a place outside the mountains, not far from Lu'an and Shucheng, they would encounter refugees of various sizes fleeing every now and then.

Refugees sound like a group of helpless, homeless, starving, and cold-stricken poor people. In fact, they are indeed pitiful; if they could, no one would want to be like this; they are all struggling to survive.

However, while refugees are pitiful, they are definitely not kind. They are hungry! They have no support! They are numerous and powerful!

Fleeing all the way, the timid will steal, the bold will rob, the even bolder will kill, and those even bolder will simply unify a force, becoming wandering bandits, burning, killing, looting, and harming people everywhere.

From this, one can imagine how much pressure Zhao Erhu's fellow villagers were under every day.

The gazes of every group of refugees passing by made them feel like they were on pins and needles, like a thorn in their throat, like sitting on a bed of nails; they were all numbed by being stared at.

Finally, with the movements of the past few days, the common people also noticed the unusual mobilization in Huoshan, knowing that a war was likely coming, so this became the last straw that broke the camel's back, and the whole village hurried over to join them.

In fact, in the past period of time, Erhu's fellow villagers had already come, but there were still some stubborn ones. Erhu's words were indeed harsh, and some people would stubbornly hold on for the sake of face. If they had a good relationship with Erhu, Erhu might say a few soft words to get them to come and hang out with him; if they had a bad relationship with Erhu, he really wouldn't care.

Zhao Erhu didn't understand so much; he just cared about his brothers, just cared about his own people. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been played so miserably by Pang Qingyun, and even when dying, he was still worried about his good big brother, never thinking that his good big brother was the one who wanted his life.

Pang Qingyun had already explained the method of success vividly: no loyalty, sleeping with a brother's wife, betraying brothers; in a word, there is nothing that cannot be abandoned. Abandon what can be abandoned, and you are the next Viceroy of Liangjiang...

"Arrange it as you see fit. They all came to join you. Just say a few words to squeeze them, but don't make things difficult for them."

"I know, Big Brother. Do I look like someone so narrow-minded to you?"

Wang Yan glanced at him sideways, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, and the arrow flew out, spinning as it left the string.

More than a hundred meters away, one could see a cross standing there, with a man tied to it, his mouth gagged, making muffled sounds. The arrow flew with a 'whoosh' and landed on the man's head. And at this very moment, this man had already been outlined by a whole pile of arrows...

"Old Second, your problem isn't being narrow-minded, it's having too big a heart. Your shielding of your own people is too severe. Take that nephew of yours who goes around three times; what can he do? You let him be a manager? Can he manage anything clearly? He's unwilling to learn, and he wants to use your name as the Second Master to bully other brothers, acting like a tyrant, and his hands aren't clean either.

I don't want to manage your family affairs, and I can't wipe out your face or destroy your prestige by letting you go out and manage everything. You need to have a count of these things. I know you want everyone to be well, but you can't raise people to be greedy and ignorant. As your big brother, I didn't say you, this good brother, should be an official right away, did I? Didn't I teach you from the beginning?

Do you know what you were like when you first started? Don't let your kindness ruin our big plans. Your brothers are brothers, but aren't other people's brothers brothers too? I feel that this time we might really be going to war. Send all those people you arranged who say they want to die for us to be the vanguard, let them lead the charge, and see if they can really do what they say."

Zhao Erhu stopped talking. Rationally, he knew Big Brother was right, and emotionally, he also felt Big Brother was right, but he couldn't bring himself to arrange for his fellow villagers to be the vanguard and go to their deaths.

Zhao Erhu had no psychological barriers to killing unrelated people, but when it came to killing his own relatives and friends, he felt miserable; that was just the kind of person he was.

"Big Brother, can you give them another chance!" After a long silence, what he said was still pleading.

"A child who always hides in swaddling clothes will never grow up. Now they haven't committed any major mistakes, so they can still have a chance. If they harm other brothers' lives because of them, then I will skin them alive, and what will you say then? Better a short pain than a long one. When you gave them preferential treatment at the beginning, this kind of thing was already destined."

Wang Yan's cold words made the fluke in Zhao Erhu's heart vanish. He sighed and turned back to find a young man not far away.

"Big Brother, I don't know if you still have an impression, but this is Shi Jinbiao, whom you met in our village before. He is the best fighter in our village now, and he also has a brain. He finally figured it out and came to join us."

Erhu forced a smile, his eyes full of longing as he looked at his good big brother.

This was indeed not a good time; he had just been scolded by Big Brother for seeking benefits for his fellow villagers, and he had to arrange for those people he had inserted to be the vanguard and go to their deaths. And now he had brought another person for Big Brother to arrange work for.

For ordinary positions, he could make the decision himself without reporting to Big Brother at all. He wanted Shi Jinbiao to go higher, play a greater role, and have a better future; it was definitely best to have Big Brother arrange it from the beginning.

It was just that the timing wasn't right...

Watching Erhu like a puppy that had been kicked and was whimpering, Wang Yan shook his head with amusement: "You are not a person with so many thoughts, so don't think about useless things. One thing is one thing, one person is one person. Am I some kind of muddle-headed, lawless person?"

"That's definitely not it, Big Brother." Zhao Erhu laughed out loud, then vigorously patted Shi Jinbiao on the back, "He's a year younger than me, has great strength, and as long as he learns our martial arts and drinks some medicine to nourish himself, he'll definitely be able to fight better than me."

"Then let him practice here in the drill ground first, lay a foundation, and we'll see how he performs later."

Although it looked like there was no preferential treatment, and the training was the same as other common soldiers, it was obviously different to have Wang Yan recognize him before going to practice.

This was the basic training for Wang Yan's forces, and all personnel in combat units had to undergo training. Then, based on their scores in different subjects, their future destinations would be decided.

For example, those with high combat power would go to the security firm to be head guards, or go to other bandit dens already occupied by the security firm to be bandits. Those with clear minds and who learned things quickly would learn some military affairs knowledge and do logistics work in places like the security firm, which could also serve as supplementary forces. There were also others like surveying, research, secretarial work, etc.

Many positions under Wang Yan required a training camp background and a certain level of combat power. Figuratively speaking, this training camp in Huoshan County was basically his, Wang Mou's, Whampoa Military Academy.

Developing to this day, with his continuous improvement, the subjects taught were already no different from a military academy. It was just that there was no threshold for admission; anyone who wanted to risk their lives for a future could come in and learn.

But learning didn't mean one was definitely powerful. After all, there were various assessments and competitions in the same period, and only those with good scores could have good positions and a good future.

Those who weren't good didn't mean they were finished; after all, he was currently in a state of expansion, and everyone had a chance. An individual's temporary success or failure really didn't count for much in such a great era, because there were countless opportunities, and just catching one was enough. It could be killing one more enemy and recording a merit, or finally learning various military regulations and having solid quality, transferring to the supervisory system...

And when promoted, or after performing meritorious service, people would also return to Huoshan to continue studying, which was a bit like a Party school. The purpose was to unify ideological understanding more deeply, and at the same time, to further enable these people to master some professional knowledge and obtain the ability matching their positions.

Falling on Shi Jinbiao, who was brought by Zhao Erhu, he didn't have to be outstanding, but as long as he could get a medium score, he could have a better future than others.

Shi Jinbiao cupped his hands: "Thank you, Old Master!"

"Whether you are a dragon or a worm, in the end, you have to fight for it yourself. A worm cannot become a dragon; if you don't have the ability, even if Old Second and I want you to do big things, you won't be able to handle it. Go report over there and practice your skills well. We'll be fighting soon, and there will be a time for you to perform."

"Yes!" Shi Jinbiao responded heavily, then nodded to Zhao Erhu and ran off decisively to join the team that was training over there...

Zhao Erhu didn't stay here to be an eyesore either, leaving to study the arrangements for his fellow villagers.

Wang Yan drew his bow and nocked an arrow, the bowstring slipped off the white jade thumb ring on his right hand, and the huge kinetic energy drove the arrow to fly out, once again sticking into the human-shaped target in the distance.

This was an assassin from the White Lotus Sect who had been caught; he had mixed into his kitchen and wanted to poison his food...

That was why Wang Yan said this time might really be the start of a fight, because the Heavenly Kingdom had shown some intolerance for his existence.

It couldn't be blamed on the Heavenly Kingdom; he himself was entrenched in this position, and he was such a large force, and in the past, he had also had many records of gathering troops to attack large-scale bandits.

From the current point of view, this force of Wang Yan's was the strongest in the vicinity of Jiangbei, and its influence was truly significant. Fighting a war is not child's play; it's not that he says he has no malice and won't make a move, so he won't make a move. Of course, although he said he wouldn't make a move, he indeed wouldn't, but no one dared to believe it.

Thus, this war that was destined to come finally broke out.

In May, scouts observed large groups of the Taiping Army passing through Shucheng and marching north. This unit swept up commoners along the way, as if entering an unpopulated land, winning every battle, and marching straight toward the Imperial City.

In June, scouts observed another large group of troops coming from Anqing, beginning to purposefully clear the Dabie Mountains and starting to move toward Huoshan County from all directions.

This was the beginning of the war.

"Old Master, they are relying on their large numbers to bully us because we have few people."

Huoshan County Magistrate Lü Mocheng looked at the map and spoke actively, "This subordinate feels that it is not appropriate to divide the troops at this time; it is better to hold firm and respond to all changes with no change."

"You know a fart!" Zhao Erhu cursed, "We already have few people; if we don't hurt them early, when tens of thousands of people block our front, what changes will we respond to? They could drown us with one mouthful of spit each! Big Brother, if you ask me, we have to fight!"

"I think Second Brother makes sense. Big Brother, let me go." Jiang Wuyang, in the farthest corner, was eager to try.

This was a makeshift team. Because they hadn't fought any big battles, there weren't enough competent staff officers in the current team. Those who had fought bandits before, although they had commanded thousands of people, still didn't have the ability to deal with the current situation. Especially since they were the weaker side now, fighting strong with weak wasn't easy to deal with; it wouldn't be easy to defend.

Unfortunately, Wang Yan never liked to play defense.

"Erhu, I'll give you a task. If you succeed, we'll have a great victory; if you fail, many brothers will die in vain, you..."

"Big Brother, just say it, I will definitely be able to do it!"

"Good!" Wang Yan praised, "I'll give you a firearm team and arrange another eight hundred infantry, totaling a thousand people. Go through the Dabie Mountains, take the small paths, and strike directly at Anqing. After firing a few shots there, walk along the foot of the mountains toward Shucheng, fight all the way back, and cut off their supply line. If you are not a match, then drill into the mountains and wait for an opportunity to go out and continue fighting."

"Yes! Big Brother, don't worry, even if I die..."

"I just don't want the brothers to die so much. If it weren't for the fact that no one else can handle things and I must stay here to preside over the big picture, I would have gone myself. Don't just hold on; you know our firearms are much better than theirs, and much faster. You have to fight while moving; don't be stupid and engage in close combat with them. As long as the green hills remain, don't worry about no firewood."

Wang Yan waved his hand, "Alright, go and pick your people. Be careful not to lose contact; send someone to pass a message every day. Only then can I make a decision based on the situation on your side."

"Then I'm leaving, Big Brother!"

"Take care!"

"Others, go about your own business. Mainly, scouts should scout well. Our fortifications are all built, and defense is no problem. When to hit them hard, we'll know when the fighting starts."

Wang Yan waved his hand to dismiss everyone, not letting them gather together to create anxiety.

Jiang Wuyang said: "Big Brother, I can truly do things now."

"In the future, even if you don't want to, you'll have to. What's the hurry? After the fighting starts, firing a few shots will be enough. Go practice your skills; just shouting is useless."

Although the Heavenly Kingdom was a peasant army, after fighting for three years, they also had considerable experience. On the other hand, the Heavenly King's identity as the second son of God and the younger brother of Jesus wasn't for nothing; maybe at this time, there were church people debating scriptures with the Heavenly King in Tianjing.

Plus, at this time, foreign powers were dissatisfied with the Qing court, so there were foreign devils supporting the Heavenly Kingdom's rebellion. This is part of the background of the Second Opium War; the Anglo-French Allied Forces burning the Old Summer Palace is here, and Vanguard Commander dying in the Summer Resort is also here...

So now the Heavenly Kingdom's weapons and equipment were quite good, and it could even be said that they were more advanced than the Qing court's firearms, which were all factors affecting the progress of the war.

Coincidentally, Wang Yan's weapons were a bit more advanced than theirs, which was also a factor affecting the progress of the war.

Not leading by much, just forty years...

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