Chapter 81

The people of Wulizhai were accustomed to calling the barren land twenty miles to their west "Waiwan." This was a hilly area, and due to the lack of water, it was very inconvenient to grow plants here. As a result, there had been no one living to the west of this area for a long time, and it had always been a paradise for wild animals and low-growing plants.

But in recent days, the originally peaceful life here had been disrupted. A group of ragged people came here, carrying farming tools and bringing their elderly and children to this barren land. The men began to build wooden houses and cultivate the land, the women took care of the household, and the children helped the adults with whatever they could. In short, the entire barren land was bustling with activity. These people were the military households from Qianhu of Yingzhou, and more than five hundred of them had been settled here by Yueyang.

"Sir, I am truly grateful to you. If it weren't for the seeds, food, and farming tools you provided, we, these poor military households, wouldn't know what to do!" Feng Xiaoming, the former deputy Qianhu, knelt before Yueyang, almost in tears.

"Alright, I understand your gratitude. I agreed to settle them here not because of you, but you should understand this point."

Yueyang looked at Feng Xiaoming and said calmly. Yueyang was not moved by Feng Xiaoming's display of emotion, as everything he had seen in Yingzhou Qianhu, including Feng Xiaoming's and the other officers' behavior and their flushed faces, clearly indicated that the man before him was not someone who could strictly adhere to the law and be incorruptible.

After a moment of silence, Yueyang said softly, "Deputy Qianhu Feng, I have brought you all here and provided you with seeds and farming tools. I have fulfilled my promise. What are your plans? Do you intend to cultivate the land here or join the army? If you choose to cultivate the land, I can appoint you as the head of the settlement, still managing all the military households. If you want to join the army, that's also fine, but I must tell you, in these turbulent times, serving under me means you must be prepared to risk your life in battle."

Yueyang thought that someone like Feng Xiaoming, a seasoned old hand, would definitely choose to cultivate the land, as this life was stable and secure, and anyone would know how to choose. However, Feng Xiaoming's next words surprised him.

"Sir, if you allow it, I would like to join your army and serve you!" Feng Xiaoming said.

"What? You still want to join the army?" Yueyang was taken aback.

Feng Xiaoming lowered his head and said, "Yes, I want to serve you, Sir. Please allow me!"

Yueyang looked at Feng Xiaoming's face again and saw a determined expression. He said slowly, "Weapons are blind, are you not afraid of losing your life on the battlefield?"

"I am afraid!" Feng Xiaoming smiled bitterly, his face filled with bitterness. "But I am more afraid of becoming a mediocre person. I am even more afraid that after I die, my children will become mere farmers."

"Perhaps that is what you truly feel," Yueyang sighed inwardly. Feng Xiaoming was not foolish; on the contrary, he was very shrewd. Although he was still a deputy Qianhu appointed by the court, if he really chose to cultivate the land here, it would not be long before he became just another ordinary person.

"Are you really not afraid of death?" Yueyang repeated.

"Of course, I am afraid, but I would rather follow you and fight for a future." Feng Xiaoming, who usually had a slick and smooth appearance, now showed a resolute look. "I have lived a muddled life for over thirty years, always thinking about how to make more money and occupy more military land. It was only after seeing you that I realized the truth. Now, with bandits rising and the Jurchens ravaging the border, it is the time for brave men to achieve great deeds. I am willing to follow you and fight for a bright future with my sword and spear!"

Seeing Feng Xiaoming's passionate and determined expression, Yueyang's eyes sparkled. Having seen the bizarre and cruel aspects of modern society, Yueyang was not naive enough to believe that he had a protagonist's aura, and that heroes would kneel and swear allegiance to him. Such scenarios only existed in third-rate novels, and even then, only in novels from many years ago. Our ancestors had a saying that perfectly explained Feng Xiaoming's motives: "All under heaven are busy for profit, all under heaven are bustling for gain."

Yueyang was not offended or surprised by Feng Xiaoming's actions. After all, humans are creatures that seek benefits and avoid harm, and profit is the driving force of human progress. Feng Xiaoming clearly saw the value in investing in him, hoping to win a future that could benefit his family. Of course, there were risks, but in these times, what did not come with risks? To achieve a future that could benefit his family, one had to be prepared to risk their life.

After a long moment of contemplation, Yueyang said, "Deputy Qianhu Feng, since you have this resolve, I will speak frankly. Previously, I saw that most of your men in the garrison were mediocre and unambitious, so I planned to have you cultivate the land here and spend the rest of your life. But since you have come and spoken, I will not be stingy and will give you a chance. If you insist on following me, I will appoint you as a hundred-man commander in my army. If you perform well, you will be promoted. What do you think?" Yueyang then fixed his gaze on Feng Xiaoming.

Here, it is necessary to explain the differences in the military ranks of the Ming Dynasty. Originally, Feng Xiaoming's position as deputy Qianhu was hereditary, meaning that if he died, his position could be passed down to his son, grandson, and so on. This type of position was generally held by local garrison forces. However, the position of a hundred-man commander, which Yueyang offered, was not hereditary. This position was constantly changing and was typically found in field armies, with ranks such as squad leader, platoon leader, hundred-man commander, thousand-man commander, brigade commander, division commander, deputy general, and general, each level leading to the next.

Feng Xiaoming's original position as deputy Qianhu was equivalent to a deputy thousand-man commander, so being appointed as a hundred-man commander by Yueyang was a demotion. However, Feng Xiaoming showed no dissatisfaction and instead bowed deeply, saying loudly, "I thank you, Sir!"

Seeing how quickly Feng Xiaoming was willing to climb the ladder, Yueyang smiled slightly and said, "Don't be so quick to call yourself a subordinate. Being a hundred-man commander under me is not easy. Tomorrow, go to Shunbao and let him test you. If you pass, you can become a hundred-man commander. If you can't even defeat a common soldier, you'd better go back to farming. I don't keep idle people here. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand!" Feng Xiaoming bowed again...

On May 23, 1633, after preparing everything, Yueyang led a thousand cavalry, a thousand infantry, and more than five hundred carts loaded with food, salt, clothing, and daily necessities, and set off for the科尔沁部落 in a grand procession.

At first, Yueyang was worried that such a large force would attract the attention of the border guards as they passed through various checkpoints. After all, he was now a sixth-rank military official, and such a large-scale movement would cause a stir at the border. However, the final outcome made Yueyang both happy, frustrated, and angry.

Yueyang was happy that so many people could pass through the border without any issues. The border guards and commanders, who had taken bribes from him, indeed turned a blind eye to the well-equipped force, which relieved Yueyang, who had prepared for several days of trouble. However, Yueyang also felt frustrated and angry. No wonder the Later Jin's iron cavalry could raid the south like entering a no-man's land, with border checkpoints being mere formalities, allowing the Jurchens to burn, kill, and plunder at will, while the Ming armies could only flee.

Thus, after more than four months, Yueyang, with two thousand soldiers and hundreds of carts of goods, arrived at the科尔沁草原 after a journey of over half a month...

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