Li Junxian was very puzzled. Didn't the Marquis fall in love with this group of people and want to recruit them? Why are you so indifferent now? Since I'm sincerely asking for advice, Lord Marquis, you can show off your skills to convince these water thieves. Isn't it just a matter of controlling them?
So he helped persuade and said: "Young Master, the last general once saw the book on water warfare in the library at home, saying that you don't know how to fight by water. Not to mention the two village leaders, even the last general doesn't believe it."
Um? ?
The Lai brothers were a little puzzled. Isn't Li Junxian a member of the Champion Marquis? How can you speak for us?
Xiao Rui also kept rubbing his teeth, thinking to himself, Fifth Brother, are you okay? Was it bribed by someone? Revealing my true identity in front of outsiders?
Shaking his head, Xiao Rui insisted: "Those are the military books sent to me by Duke Wei. After fighting Jieli, I have no interest in the battlefield anymore. In the future, if it is not a national crisis, I will not go to the battlefield. So those military books have been kept I put him on the shelf and never learned anything."
Lai Heng said in surprise: "Duke Wei? Could it be Li Jing, the Duke of Wei who is known as the ever-victorious and contemporary military god?"
Xiao Rui nodded: "Yes, everyone knows that I married the granddaughter of Duke Wei, and those military books came with the dowry."
Lai Heng sighed and said: "As far as I know, Duke Li Jing of Wei State learned from his uncle Han Qinhu and learned the true story of Han Qinhu from the former Shangzhu of the Sui Dynasty. His strategic attainments are outstanding. His military skills must be extremely rare, but it is a pity that I have no chance to see them."
Xiao Rui said politely: "It's nothing. If you have some free time in the future, go to Xiaojiazhuang to stay for a few days. My library is open to you."
Lai Heng's eyes lit up and he said in surprise: "Really? This...isn't this appropriate? The battle formation is a matter of chance, how can it be passed on lightly? It's inappropriate."
Xiao Rui said casually: "It doesn't matter, the text is to convey the truth. It is written to preach and to be read by others. If some people like to read it, that is the value of the book. I am not a self-conscious person. Let's brainstorm and communicate more. That’s it.”
"It's just that, in my opinion, no matter how well the naval warships are trained by the two brothers, and how wonderful the naval art of war is, it seems to be of little use."
Um? ? ?
What's the point?
Everyone was very puzzled. After spending a few days together, the Marquis was very easy-going. He was not an arrogant or rude person, and he had no class concept. He treated everyone with respect. How could he say that?
Lai Heng held down his agitated younger brother and calmly asked for advice: "Master Marquis is not a random person. Please give me some advice."
Xiao Rui smiled and waved his hand, "Don't be so nervous. We are just communicating and analyzing, just chatting."
"Brother Lai, I would like to ask you, what is the purpose of recruiting Dongting navy masters to be so elite? You can't just beat the children on a rainy day, just to kill the time when you are idle, right?"
Forehead……
Lai Henglao blushed. It seemed that this question was difficult to answer.
Lai Ji said cheerfully: "I don't dare to hide it in front of the Marquis. Brothers are practicing like this just to protect themselves. After all, our identities are shady. It is not easy to make a stable living. I don't know when the Imperial Navy will Just called."
Li Junxian next to him was puzzled and said: "The imperial navy? As far as I know, all the energy of the imperial court in recent years has been invested in resisting the northern grasslands. There has been no construction of the navy, and there is no plan to vigorously develop the navy. The intention is to become a teacher, or to suppress bandits."
The leader of the village, Lai Ji, curled his lips and said: "That was before. Now that the threat from the northern grasslands has gone, the Tang Dynasty is overwhelming, and there is no external threat. It won't be long before the court has the time and energy to clean up the interior."
"Ahem..." Military Advisor Lai Heng reminded with a cough, "It's hard to say what the future will be like. But even in previous years, there was no peace along the Yangtze River, even in Dongting Lake and Yunmengze."
"Not to mention the distance, the Jingxiang Navy comes to suppress bandits every year."
"Although there are rumors in the outside world that we Dongting water bandits are so powerful that the court can't do anything about it, but my family knows their own affairs, and we..."
Xiao Rui said in confusion: "That's not right. Although I don't understand water warfare, I can tell a few things after watching you train for a few days. With such a powerful navy team, the Jingxiang Navy in the imperial court is probably no match for you." ?”
Lai Ji smiled bitterly and said: "That's true, but no matter how strong we are, so what? After all, our strength is limited. It is the duty of the imperial navy to suppress bandits every year, but they all receive military pay from the imperial court, so we have to be self-sufficient."
"If one of them is killed in battle, the court will give him a pension and a family allowance. Where are our brothers? Each one who dies will lose one..."
"Sigh... and there is that name. It is rumored that the Jingxiang Navy was defeated by the Dongting Bandits, which made them feel humiliated and humiliated, and they would come looking for trouble from time to time. We actually don't want to start a war, because whenever there is a war, there will be casualties... But, since ancient times, soldiers and bandits have been at odds with each other, and whether we fight or not is not up to us."
It can be seen that as the leader of the Dongting Water Bandits, no matter how miraculous the rumors are, the real situation is that they are worried and under great pressure.
Li Junxian said: "I've been saying this for a long time, but it actually means the same thing. Are you training so hard just to fight against the imperial navy? Or is it to protect yourself?"
The Lai brothers nodded, acquiescing.
Li Junxian said in confusion: "In that case, why don't you surrender to the imperial court? It's been almost twenty years since the former Sui Dynasty. Could it be that you still can't let go of your old master?"
this……
The two wanted to defend themselves, but they raised their heads and glanced at Li Junxian, swallowing the words as they reached their lips, as if they couldn't finish the words and didn't know where to start.
The atmosphere was awkward for a while.
Xiao Rui laughed loudly and said, "Why is this necessary? I just said that it is completely unnecessary for you to be walking on thin ice."
"If the imperial court wants to encircle and clean up you, it will not just make a symbolic trip every year to the Jingxiang Navy. The Yellow River Navy and the Southern Navy are not without troops and capabilities. The reason why you can survive safely is only one."
What? ? ?
Didn’t the court remember it? The Lai brothers guessed.
Xiao Rui sneered: "Because you are also citizens of the Tang Dynasty!"
ah? ? ?
"Master Marquis, don't be joking. Once you are a bandit, you will be stained for life. Who are we, the people of the Tang Dynasty?" Lai Ji said with a bitter smile.
Xiao Rui laughed loudly and said: "Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty in the first year of Wude, how many pieces of Nuo Da's territory have not been surrendered? About half of the civil and military dynasties are generals, right? The Tang Dynasty is inclusive of the world, and His Majesty's mind is as big as the sea. How can it not tolerate your Dongting Water Village?"
Forehead……
Xiao Rui continued: "These days, all the way from Xiangyang, you have let me see your strength without reservation. Dongting Water Village has a lot of heritage, let alone tens of thousands of people? If you include family members, the total More than one hundred thousand."
"You think you are Dongting water bandits, but in the eyes of the imperial court, these are the common people of the Tang Dynasty. We are fighting on the northern grasslands to resist the barbarians from going south. Why? Isn't it just to protect our country? The hundreds of thousands of people in Dongting Lake The surname is also within the scope of our protection."
His words made many people around him red-eyed, and the Lai brothers were even more deeply touched.
When the conversation changed, Xiao Rui joked: "Brothers, if the imperial court is really serious about suppressing bandits, just imagine that I personally lead the team to destroy your Dongting Water Village. What will happen in the end?"
"We're not going to kill all the 100,000 old and young like you, right?"
"There are rumors from the outside world that I am the God of Killing who came to the world to slaughter people in this generation. But that is for the outside world. How has I ever raised a butcher's knife against the people of the Tang Dynasty?"
"Of course, those damn corrupt officials don't count."
The Lai brothers nodded in agreement, "We know the Marquis's character and style, otherwise we wouldn't dare to meet you."
"If the imperial court really suppresses bandits, it will only kill you two chief culprits in the end, and everyone else will be persuaded to return to good behavior. Therefore, it is unnecessary for you to train troops in such a big way. Why are you fussing about it? If I were you, I would probably do it sooner. Just disband the team and let the brothers return to their hometowns to naturalize, so that they can live peacefully and peacefully as ordinary people. Isn’t it safe?”
"I have to gather in the mountains and forests to be frightened and get a bad reputation? Are I going to be in constant fear all day long?"
"Or do you two have ambitions to dominate? The purpose of training so hard is to dominate the world and take control of the Central Plains?" Xiao Rui's voice suddenly became stern, and everyone's heart skipped a beat.
The Lai brothers felt nervous and quickly bowed and explained, "This is absolutely not the intention!"
