After Liu Mingzhi told Song Qing that I lost three words, he finished smoking a pot of dry tobacco with a silent expression, and then gently knocked out the gray embers in the pot.
"Brother, you know in your heart the kind of friendship between us brothers.
I won't say much else. Now let's open the skylight and speak frankly. Tell your brothers honestly, is there any truth in the fact that this boy from Dingbang won the seal of command? "
Song Qing looked stunned, and when he realized what he was doing, his head shook almost like a rattle.
"Third brother, what are you thinking about? Don't you still know who I am, brother?
How dare you treat the safety of a hundred thousand men as child's play?
And as Brother Wei just said, I just found out the true identity of this guy Dingbang. Once I find out his identity, Brother Wei will come and report to you right away.
If I had known that Duan Dingbang was the second son of Brother Unbearable, I would have come to report to you early in the morning.
Third brother, this is a major matter involving 100,000 new soldiers. As a brother, I don’t dare to mess around with such matters even if I have the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard! "
Liu Mingzhi gently blew the ashes in the smoke pot and waved his hand indifferently.
"Brother, don't think too much. Of course I know what kind of person you are, brother. I will never doubt anything about you, brother.
Brother, I am talking about the generals who train new soldiers. Among them are many veterans of the Sixth Guards of the New Army. Does anyone among them know that this kid from Dingbang is the son of Inexorable? "
Song Qing shook his head resolutely: "Brother, I can guarantee that no one will know his identity.
After the military registration is registered, no one except me can investigate the specific identity of the soldiers without authorization.
Not to mention the generals who train new recruits, even if the officials directly under the Ministry of War want to read the military register, they have to get my brother's consent.
After the military register was handed over to me, I kept it untouched in a secret room in the study. Not even your sister-in-law or the others can access it, let alone others.
Even when I found out about Dingbang's identity, I sent someone to investigate after he took over the job on his own initiative. I didn't know who was going to take the job before, so why did I investigate his identity? "
"That's good. Brother, I'll be relieved if there's no problem with winning the title of commander on your own."
"Well, if you can rest assured, third brother, then you will feel at ease as a brother.
To be honest, what you just said scared me to the point of sweating down my spine. "
"Brother, don't take it to heart. I really don't mean anything against you.
When my brother and I were raising our troops, you, my eldest brother, followed me and led my troops to Beijing without saying a word. For this reason alone, I, Liu Mingzhi, will never doubt you in the slightest, my eldest brother.
Our brothers have been friends for decades. How do you treat me, Liu Mingzhi? Brother, I know very well!
Let’s not talk about this anymore, let’s not talk about this anymore, as long as we brothers understand each other in our hearts. "
After rolling up the dry tobacco bag and placing it on the table, Young Master Liu reached into his arms and took out two banknotes, handing them to Song Qing without hesitation.
"Brother, brother, I am willing to admit defeat. Just keep the money."
Song Qing lowered his eyes and glanced at the two banknotes held between his third brother's fingers, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes.
"Why...why is it five thousand five hundred taels? This is too much. Brother, if you dare to give it to me, I dare not accept it."
Liu Mingzhi stood up silently and stuffed the two banknotes into Song Qing's hand.
"Five hundred taels of it are my brother's compensation for your gambling money. As for the remaining five thousand taels, they are not for you, but have other arrangements. You can put them away first."
Song Qing hesitated for a moment, then stuffed the banknote into his sleeve with a strange expression.
"As my brother, I won't let you know the five hundred taels of gambling money. Can you tell me how to use the remaining five thousand taels?"
"Brother, after you go back, take the brothers of the Imperial Guard to the East Market. Use these five thousand taels of silver notes to buy some pigs and sheep and send them to the recruit camp to reward the recruits.
By the way, I'll buy some drinks and send them over too. They're going on a long journey soon, so I'll make an exception and let them have a good drink. "
After listening to Young Master Liu's words, Song Qing finally understood what the extra five thousand taels of silver was used for.
Song Qing nodded in agreement with a tangled look, then took out the banknotes from his sleeves and shook them at Young Master Liu.
"Third brother, I understand what you mean. The key is to reward 100,000 new soldiers. How can you do this with only 5,000 taels of silver notes?
That's 100,000 recruits, not 10,000 recruits.
Even if all the five thousand taels of silver were used to buy pigs and sheep to be slaughtered, at best it would only be enough for each of them to drink a bowl of thick broth, let alone buy more drinks.
With just this little money, aren't you trying to embarrass my brother and me? "
Liu Mingzhi rolled his eyes angrily: "Who told you to reward all the new soldiers at once? Have you forgotten how I trained the six guards of the new army before?"
Song Qing thought for a moment and then looked at Young Master Liu with a sudden realization: "Third brother, are you saying that you will also let the new soldiers compete in a sheep-catching competition?"
"Yes, the military has been based on the strong since ancient times. In the end, who can eat meat and drink wine depends entirely on their own ability.
Such a move can not only train the cooperation ability among the recruits of each battalion, but also improve their enthusiasm.
Big brother, you and I are both military leaders. We should understand how important the coordination between soldiers is on the battlefield.
Since there is currently no opportunity for them to train, let them train among themselves.
If brother, I just want to give a simple reward to the soldiers of the three armies, I can just send an order directly to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War. Why should I let you go through all the hard work in vain?
The soldiers and horses that this young master needs are a group of elite soldiers who howl after going to the battlefield, a tiger and wolf division as fierce as tigers and wolves.
They are all young men in their prime. It is nothing to let them get injured and bleed now. It is better than losing their lives after going to the battlefield.
In a word, I asked them to go on an expedition thousands of miles away because I wanted them to expand their territory and make achievements, instead of letting them die. "
Song Qing put away the banknote again and patted his forehead with a wry smile.
"I understand, brother, I understand. Just leave this matter to me."
"I can rest assured that I will leave this matter to my eldest brother and your brother. As long as no one is killed, you can do whatever you want.
Big brother, you, the current King Wuyi who was crowned king for your military exploits, don’t lose your prestige in front of these brats who are younger generations! "
Song Qing grinned when he heard this, raised his hand and patted his chest heavily.
"Hahaha, with your words here, Third Brother, I will feel more confident as a brother.
Just look at it, if you don't call these little brats mothers, my name, Song Qing, will be written upside down from now on. "
Liu Mingzhi chuckled a few times, turned around, walked to his desk and sat down, looking seriously at Song Qing, who was chuckling.
"Brother, today is the ninth day of the Lunar New Year. I plan to send 100,000 new soldiers to Tianzhu at the end of the month. The two countries will join Zhang Shuai and Nangong Shuai.
The remaining days during this period are not too much, not too little. You seniors in the army should try your best to teach them some skills to save their lives on the battlefield.
If I can lose one less soldier, my brother will feel less guilty in my heart. I leave this matter to you. "
Seeing Young Master Liu's solemn expression, Song Qing let out a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, my brother will definitely teach them everything he can."
Liu Mingzhi nodded, took two pieces of rice paper and placed them on the table. He dipped his pen in ink and started writing on the rice paper.
After a while, Liu Mingzhi put the letter he had written into an envelope and handed it to Song Qing.
"After you get back, brother, please send someone to deliver this letter to my wife and Duan Rui as soon as possible."
Song Qing reached out and took the letter from Young Master Liu, with some confusion in his eyes: "Third brother, what are you doing?"
"Whether Madam-in-law, Duan Rui, mother and son know about Dingbang's enlistment in the army, brother, I have to let them go to Beijing.
If Mrs. Sister-in-law agrees with Dingbang to lead the expedition, everyone will naturally be happy. If she doesn't agree, let's discuss it after meeting.
No matter what, brother, I have to give my sister-in-law an explanation. "
Song Qing immediately understood what Liu Mingzhi meant. He put the letter paper into his sleeves and said in a deep voice, "Brother, I understand. Do you have anything else to explain?"
"On the twentieth day, please arrange for this boy Dingbang to come and sit in my house, brother.
Firstly, I haven't seen him for many years, brother, I want to see what this kid has become, and secondly, I plan to personally test this kid's abilities.
After all, it is about the wealth and life of a hundred thousand men. Brother, as the king of a country, I cannot tolerate carelessness on my part! "
"Yes, Brother Wei understands, I will arrange this as soon as possible."
"Okay, I don't have anything else to do here for the time being. Brother, please go back first."
"No problem, I'll say goodbye first for my brother."
"Walk slowly without seeing you off."
"Farewell."
After Song Qing left, Liu Mingzhi picked up the pot and poured a cup of warm tea, and looked at the huge map in front of him calmly.
