Chapter 168: A Nighttime Talk Between Brothers

After everyone had dispersed, only Luo Feng remained until the very end. Jiang Jinshi could tell he had something he wanted to say.

"Big Brother, I think there might be a better way!" Luo Feng wore a look of confusion. With everyone else present earlier, he couldn't voice his thoughts and had to seek confirmation from Jiang Jinshi in private.

Jiang Jinshi smiled with satisfaction: "Luo Feng, you were the first to follow me, and you understand me best. Some things truly cannot be hidden from you."

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng's eyes welled up with hot tears. His vision blurred; his long-held persistence had finally been recognized by the Chief.

Jiang Jinshi stood up to brew a pot of tea, then unhurriedly took out the teacups. "Since that is the case, tell me your thoughts first."

Luo Feng sat up straight: "Big Brother, then I will speak. I believe it would be better to use the method from the previous two times; it would reduce casualties among the brothers."

"Hmm! Continue," Jiang Jinshi said, continuing to brew the tea with a leisurely expression.

"Furthermore, attacking at noon is not the best timing. The visibility around Qingcheng is quite good. With our large numbers, we would be discovered before we even got close, giving the garrison time to prepare in advance."

Jiang Jinshi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Luo Feng: "Take a sip."

"Thank you, Big Brother," Luo Feng said, respectfully taking the teacup.

"I had already thought of everything you mentioned, but I cannot do it that way," Jiang Jinshi said, pouring a cup for himself.

Luo Feng took a sip of the tea and asked, puzzled: "Big Brother, why is that?"

Jiang Jinshi put away his smile and said with a serious face: "Because Yangguangzhai has been too smooth-sailing. That is not a good thing."

Luo Feng froze in place, his hand holding the teacup hovering in the air. This was a direction he had never considered.

Jiang Jinshi continued: "Up until now, Yangguangzhai has not fought a single losing battle. Whether it was back at Lianhuan Shan or the subsequent sieges, we have always exchanged the fewest casualties for the greatest victories."

"Is that not a good thing?" Luo Feng asked humbly, even though he had already vaguely guessed Jiang Jinshi's intent.

"It is good! But in the long run, it is not," Jiang Jinshi raised his teacup but did not drink. "The other day, I was strolling around and found Ye Chang training the new recruits. During our chat, he inadvertently said something to me."

"What was it?"

"He said this current batch of people is not as hardworking as the original group at Lianhuan Shan!" Jiang Jinshi's gaze deepened. "Afterward, I wondered, why is that?"

Luo Feng remained silent, listening intently to Jiang Jinshi.

"Later, I realized it was because there is no pressure!

Back then, everyone struggled just to eat; only through hard work could one live better. No one knew what would happen tomorrow!

So everyone gave it their all, fearing they might die in a mountain stronghold skirmish one day.

But now, that drive is gone. Everyone is living too comfortably; one could even say they have become somewhat arrogant!"

Jiang Jinshi said a lot in one breath. After taking a large gulp of tea, he asked Luo Feng: "You are a Middle Squad Leader. Let me ask you, among the first few Small Squad Leaders, how many still lead their brothers in training every day?"

This question caught Luo Feng off guard. Although he was a Middle Squad Leader, he usually just delegated tasks and rarely intervened in the brothers' day-to-day affairs.

Without waiting for Luo Feng to answer, Jiang Jinshi continued: "You are right to want to give the brothers below more freedom and authority, but that does not mean you should not manage them at all."

Luo Feng took a deep breath and bowed his head toward Jiang Jinshi: "I'm sorry, Big Brother, I..."

"This is not your fault! Ever since Wang Sixi went to Shixian Shan, he hasn't trained anyone. He is far away, and you can't check on him every day. So, in the end, it is their own slackness," Jiang Jinshi sighed.

"But as a Middle Squad Leader, this is my responsibility!" Luo Feng gritted his teeth, his expression complex.

Jiang Jinshi looked away, gazing at the bright moon outside the window: "That is why I made this decision! Actually, I could have said it to their faces and told them to change, but how long would that last?"

Luo Feng remained silent, full of guilt, feeling he had failed Jiang Jinshi's expectations.

"The true driving force is when the soul finds the mission it must complete." As Jiang Jinshi finished speaking, the tea in his cup was drained in one go.

"Big Brother, I understand." Luo Feng's eyes shifted from guilt to determination.

At the same time, he blamed himself. Not only had he failed to notice these problems, but he also hadn't understood Big Brother's methods. With such behavior, when would he ever become a qualified right-hand man?

Jiang Jinshi did not mean to blame Luo Feng; instead, he said patiently: "Look further ahead. Don't just look at Qingcheng or any single city!

Look at Guangwu Jun, think about how the Prefect will deal with us, and then look at the border, where the Xiongnu are eyeing us like tigers. If the Zhenbei Army falls, how will my Yangguangzhai survive in such a torrent?!

Only then will you discover your own shortcomings, rather than being satisfied with the status quo!"

This was the first time Jiang Jinshi had revealed his inner thoughts to his brothers. He never put pressure on them; these problems and the overall direction of development were all decided by him, the 'helmsman.'

But Luo Feng had great potential, and he hoped Luo Feng could go much further.

Luo Feng asked humbly: "Does Big Brother not have confidence in the border war?"

Jiang Jinshi shook his head: "I would like them to be able to defeat the Xiongnu, but when the harvest was good and the troops were strong, they couldn't wipe them out. Now that the fields are filled with the starving, to say there is hope—isn't that just deceiving oneself?"

Jiang Jinshi had one more thing he didn't say: if the border generals were replaced, perhaps there might be a chance. This was not to deny the achievements of the Prince of Zhenbei, but it had been over ten years; if they could have won, they would have done so long ago, without waiting until now.

"So, repairing the city walls and making armor are all to defend against the Xiongnu?!"

Luo Feng suddenly felt immense pressure. He hadn't realized the burden Big Brother carried was so heavy.

Jiang Jinshi stopped being stern and grinned:

"We are just a small mountain stronghold. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. But when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Taking some precautions doesn't hurt!"

He didn't think his Yangguangzhai should be the one to bear this burden. Taking these precautions was just to avoid being caught in the crossfire. There were plenty of tall people; let them have the headache!

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng said no more. After drinking the tea, he cupped his hands toward Jiang Jinshi: "Big Brother! Since that is the case, I will go down and prepare!"

"Hmm! Go," Jiang Jinshi said, not holding him back.

After Luo Feng left, Jiang Jinshi sat alone at the table drinking tea. He knew his decision would cost some lives, but he still had to do it.

A group of new recruits who had never been on a battlefield—even with a numerical advantage, once they climbed the scaling ladders, they would likely be too afraid to keep going up.

But such an opportunity for tempering was rare. No matter what, Jiang Jinshi had to harden his heart. Training them now would only cost a few lives, which was better than having the entire Yangguangzhai wiped out later.

A figure slowly walked up behind Jiang Jinshi and spoke softly!

"Mercy does not manage wealth, and righteousness does not manage troops! Don't put so much pressure on yourself!"

Jiang Jinshi didn't turn around, only responding jokingly: "That's why I let you manage the money! I am too benevolent; I can only manage the people!" ===== CHAPTER 169 =====