The Qingshan Army was recommended by the Duke of Chengguo to form the military, so it absolutely should be considered as the Duke's direct line.
"This Qingshan Army is indeed formidable," Uncle Qinghe remarked with a smile, deep in thought. "A group of bandits has finally become government soldiers as they wished."
Uncle Qinghe had already told them that over twenty years ago, the Qingshan Army was a rebel army in the northern lands, originally a motley crew of bandits. Back then, they were used out of necessity and not taken seriously, but unexpectedly, they have risen to prominence after so many years.
"Did Lord Bo previously have any dealings with them, and is there anyone you still recognize?" a general asked eagerly, thinking that perhaps if there were old acquaintances, they might be recruited to their side…
Uncle Qinghe sneered.
"I have never dealt with them; it was all managed by that old rascal Jiang Ze," he said. "Afraid others would steal his credit, and in the end, when he died, wasn't the credit left to us who are still alive?"
The Northern lands' government soldiers had a complex factional struggle at that time, no less exhausting than fighting against the Jurchen people, a past better left unmentioned, the generals nodded with forced smiles.
"Of course, Lord Bo doesn't need to recruit anyone," they said. "A wise person is a true hero, and talent must be utilized."
"Regardless of whether they were truly formidable or not in the past, this Qingshan Army now can truly fight ten men with one," another general interjected, changing the subject. "I have personally seen them fight the Jurchen people; they are indeed fierce and formidable."
"Not necessarily, perhaps it's not the people who are fierce, but their weaponry," Uncle Qinghe said, stroking his beard.
The Qingshan Army has arrived here, and these generals, having long heard of their renown, have personally witnessed including those strange artillery carriages with stone bullets. The Qingshan Army did not hide anything and even demonstrated them for Uncle Qinghe upon command.
Although the scene at the time could not match the real battlefield effects, it was enough to shock everyone.
"They said they don't know how these weapons are made, only that Miss Jun knows," one general frowned. "They only know how to use them."
Uncle Qinghe was unconcerned.
"As long as it's a device, saying only one person knows how is absurd—especially weapons, which need to be used in large quantities. If only one person knew, how can it be considered a weapon?" he said. "Let the military craftsmen dismantle and study it for a year or so. I refuse to believe we can't produce them."
That's true, the generals nodded.
"We should also have them teach more government soldiers how to use these weapons," one general added, already imagining the scene where his soldiers are equipped with such weapons, making them unstoppable and earning great victories. His expression could not hide his excitement.
"So, does this mean for now the Qingshan Army cannot be moved?" Uncle Qinghe mused.
"Yes, Lord Bo, that's exactly why I thought it complicated and difficult, so I came to consult," the general who raised the question initially said. "They are part of the Duke of Chengguo's forces but also too powerful..."
In theory, the more powerful they are, the less one should hesitate to eliminate them immediately. Yet, they are too formidable to discard or retain, which is truly perplexing.
"What's the difficulty? Just keep them for now," Uncle Qinghe said, smiling slightly. "Assign them to an important place."
An important place? The generals exchanged glances.
"And to wherever there's the most garrisoned troops," Uncle Qinghe continued.
The generals were even more puzzled, wouldn't that mean favoring and elevating them?
"Of course, we're favoring them; they are so formidable, naturally, they should be given importance. They also need to uplift their comrades; warfare is never about lone heroes. Making everyone formidable is the only way to properly guard the borders," Uncle Qinghe said.
The generals suddenly realized, it's about having them teach other government soldiers and placing them in significant positions so that asking them to share weapon knowledge becomes reasonable. For their own safety, they naturally hope other government soldiers become more formidable as well. It is a mutually beneficial matter, and nobody can find fault in it.
As to how to deal with the master after teaching the apprentices, that's much simpler.
"If anything happens, they can bear the brunt first," Uncle Qinghe said, unbuckling his sword and tossing it aside with an easy expression. "Utilizing resources to their fullest prevents waste."
"Lord Bo, your considerations are thorough and wise," the generals said with smiles, standing up one after another.
.....
......
The military camp remains lively at night.
"Did you hear?"
A forty-something soldier ran to a bonfire and whispered.
"The Guerrilla General Wei Shunqing has been taken down too."
A low murmur of shock erupted among the soldiers seated around the bonfire.
"Another one.."
"This really never ends..."
"Indeed, once the Duke of Chengguo's troops are cleaned, everything will be fine..."
"They just take people without reason?"
"A Guerrilla General doesn't need a reason; the Duke of Chengguo takes whoever he likes."
"Shh, best not talk about this."
After a soft hushing, the discussion subsided, but everyone's expressions were still complicated.
The Duke of Chengguo, once a source of pride in conversation, has now become a name they dare not even mention.
Why!
A soldier, face flushed red, clenched his fist and struck the ground, leaving a small pit.
"Enough, watch out, don't let anyone see," an older soldier urged, looking around cautiously.
"What are you afraid of! Even if we say nothing," another soldier said, face flushed and neck stiff, "everyone still treats us as members of the Duke of Chengguo."
Indeed, they are part of the new army organized by the Duke of Chengguo, leaving the soldiers feeling despondent while Li Guorui stood not far away, somewhat bewildered.
Fate truly is unpredictable.
Who would have thought things would turn out this way, one moment full of glory and promise, the next stepping into complete chaos, truly a case of fortune amidst misfortune.
"It seems we are also unlikely to escape," he said, turning to his side, "I don't know where they will send us."
Two men stood beside him, not hearing his words, nor paying attention to the soldiers' anxious discussions.
Yang Jing and Xia Yong were whispering to each other, even laughing at some point.
Li Guorui felt a bit helpless, coming from a bandit background always had this disadvantage—only knowing fighting and little awareness of the changing military situation.
"I said, what to do next?" he had to remind again.
Only then did Yang Jing look at him.
"Do what should be done," he said.
"If they assign us to some dispensable location..." Li Guorui frowned.
"Then we go; as soldiers, we must obey deployment," Yang Jing said solemnly.
Li Guorui blinked.
"I mean, they might oppress and humiliate us, treating us as the Duke of Chengguo's people…" he lowered his voice.
"We are not the Duke of Chengguo's people," Yang Jing frowned, "We are government soldiers of the great Zhou, not belonging to anyone."
Li Guorui rolled his eyes, about to say something, then stopped, face changing as he looked in a certain direction.
"It's here," he said, "It's really fast this time, who knows where they'll send us now."
But when the newcomers announced their destination, Li Guorui was startled.
"Suning Village," he said, "Lord Wu, I didn't hear wrong, right?"
The newcomer was a bearded general surnamed Wu, who widened his eyes when he heard this.
"What? Are you unwilling?" he said displeased, adding with a bit of earnestness, "As soldiers, we shouldn't care whose people we are; we must go wherever we are needed."
Li Guorui quickly shook his head.
Of course, go to Suning Village. It is an important fortress, historically a coveted military stronghold, with vast city walls and numerous garrisons.
Wang Li never had the chance to go here when with the Shun'an Army. Unexpectedly, Uncle Qinghe is sending them there now, a place usually reserved for only trusted aides.
What is Uncle Qinghe thinking?
But his willingness was not what mattered, Li Guorui looked at Yang Jing and Xia Yong.
Yang Jing and Xia Yong turned to a tent and called Hanqing's name.
General Wu's eyebrows twitched when he saw a young girl walk out.
Having a woman appear in the military camp was indeed rare, but the Qingshan Army was an exception, with not only a women's battalion of over ten women but also a woman as a decision-maker.
But there's no choice, those powerful artillery carriages are controlled by these women, and this Zhao Hanqing is also extraordinarily skilled in riding and archery.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Hanqing asked.
Before Lord Wu could speak, Xia Yong explained the situation to her.
"Miss Zhao, this is a matter of military defense, not to be taken lightly, you…" Lord Wu, suppressing his temper, patiently added, knowing these women can be quite willful.
Before he could finish, Zhao Hanqing interrupted him.
"Whose order?" she asked.
See, here it comes, Lord Wu sneered inwardly, the Qingshan Army is indeed crafty, using this girl to stir trouble and disobey orders. Who could do anything then?
"It's Uncle Qinghe," he gritted his teeth and said, "Miss Zhao, I know you were all promoted by the Duke of Chengguo, but as..."
Before he could finish, Zhao Hanqing nodded.
"Okay," she said.
Okay? Lord Wu was caught off guard, did he hear correctly?