After arriving at Zuo's house, after traveling around, he realized that he was the only outsider.
"Where's Brother Taichong?"
Speaking of Huang Zongxi, Zuo Mengeng couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"He said that he was a lonely ghost. Now he has finally joined in the fun. He is not as happy as everyone else."
There were tens of thousands of people in the military camp and Zuozhuang, and they all took action together during the Chinese New Year. Huang Zongxi was extremely happy when he saw that scene, and he didn't want to come to Zuo's house anyway.
"Brother Tai Chong is still free and easy."
Zuo Mengeng said with a smile: "Then let's go find him after we finish eating."
Traveling around was quite unexpected.
"You're going to the military camp for the Chinese New Year?"
Zuo Mengeng asked rhetorically.
"Can I, the chief officer, not go?"
Zhou You knows much more than others.
"How dare you not die in service if the three armies are so dedicated?"
He knew very well that Zuo Menggeng had to go to the military camp during the Chinese New Year, and he had only one purpose.
That is to control the morale of the military.
Throughout the ages, there have been so many famous generals, but probably no one has reached the level of Zuo Mengeng.
How could those soldiers not be moved?
After a sumptuous banquet was arranged, Zhou You noticed that Zuo Hua and the other seven people were actually sitting on the chair, and he couldn't help but look at them and ask.
"Now that seven of them are officers, I will abolish their slave status."
Compared with Zuo Mengeng's move to go to the military camp on New Year's Eve, Zhou You was more shocked this time.
"I really don't know how big your mind is? I am now convinced that you are the best in the world."
This praise was too high. Zuo Menggeng laughed and was extremely humble.
Zuo Xianmei was also at the table, looking at Zhou You more.
"Can't you find the old man from Zhou Mansion?"
Zhou You shook his head and sighed.
"I don't know where they dispersed. Besides, even if I find them back, I can't control them."
Huang was worried.
"How can such a big portal survive without helpers?"
Zhou You smiled bitterly.
"My nephew has been alone and homeless these years, but he is used to it. If he really wants to raise a big family, he is at a loss what to do. I thought that the Zhou family's house is too big and it is not possible, so I will rent out some of it. I just need to keep a place for myself."
This is his family matter, and it's not easy for others to interfere.
Zuo Mengeng just said: "If you need any help, just ask."
Zhou You agreed and didn't take the matter to heart.
Although Zuo Liangyu was not at home, the reunion of such a big family was still lively. There was a lot of drinking and delicious food, and the New Year was quite fulfilling.
After dinner, it was already dark.
Zuo Mengeng and others took their horses and headed straight out of the city.
Linqing City was bustling with activity, but the city gates were still closed.
When they arrived at the city gate, the soldiers guarding the city came up to them. Just when they were about to scold them, they lost their courage when they saw that they were all tall and powerful.
Xiaoqi was still the one who knew Zuo Mengeng, and said with a smile: "Master Zuo, are you leaving the city?"
Zuo Hua took a step forward and shouted: "Master Zuo, this is your Mr. Qian."
Xiaoqi slapped her hands and apologized again and again.
"A small oversight, a small oversight, I forgot about it."
Zuo Mengeng looked at these poor soldiers with no arrogance at all.
"During the Chinese New Year, others are gathering at home, but you are here to guard the city. The safety of thousands of people in this city depends entirely on you."
It's Chinese New Year and it's freezing cold. Who wants to defend the city in this deserted and difficult place?
But the military order was such that these soldiers had no other choice but to curse.
At this time, when I heard Zuo Mengeng express his thanks, my feelings in my heart were slightly different.
Zuo Mengeng asked Zuo Hua to give the little flag ten taels of silver.
"Everyone has worked so hard and I can't thank you enough. Just a little thought. I'll treat you to a glass of water and wine to warm up after you leave work tomorrow morning."
The soldiers were so moved that they returned the favor one after another.
"Mr. Qian is very righteous."
"Thank you, Mr. Zuo Qian, for the reward!"
Zuo Mengeng nodded, signaled the little flag to open the city gate, and led everyone into the dark night.
The soldiers were talking among themselves as they closed the city gate again.
"We guard the city gate here every New Year, and we have nothing but the northwest wind and a stomach full of wine. Mr. Zuo Qian said, let alone giving money, just say thank you, and our hearts will feel warm. "
"Hey, it's a pity that we can't go to the rear camp. Only with a boss like Mr. Zuo Qian can you have hope as a soldier."
On the way to Zuozhuang, Zhou You kept thinking about what Zuo Mengeng had just done.
"Are you trying to buy people's hearts?"
Zuo Mengeng laughed.
"They are not my soldiers, so why should I win over them?"
"Then you give them money..."
"I just want to thank them for their hard work."
Seeing Zhou You very puzzled, Zuo Mengeng stopped his mount, turned back and pointed at the city filled with fireworks, and said: "Look, at this moment, not only Linqing City, but the whole world is celebrating the New Year. Thousands of households What a joy it is to be reunited.”
"But what about these soldiers? No matter how abominable they are in normal times, they can only stand on the city wall and look at the dark wilderness. With this place like this, what about the nine sides of the Ming Dynasty? In order to protect the peace of thousands of households , and how many soldiers are doing the same thing?"
"It's a pity that those in power regard soldiers as slaves and beat, scold and punish them at every turn. But they never think about who is guarding this country and the world?"
"A dynasty that cannot treat its soldiers well will definitely have a very tragic ending."
"Do you believe it?"
Zhou You was speechless for a long time, but the waves in his heart kept washing over his cognition.
The education he received from childhood to adulthood taught him that warriors are domineering. If it is not suppressed, the disaster of feudal separatism will surely happen again.
He has seen a lot of soldiers, and indeed they are all very vulgar. Among them, the vicious ones will not be punished for their crimes.
Even though he witnessed many soldiers risking their lives and fighting bloody battles with the Eastern captives on the battlefield in Liaodong, he still disliked soldiers.
Now following Zuo Mengeng into the back camp, all he wanted was to find a job for himself and realize some of his ambitions.
But Zuo Mengeng allowed him to see the greatness of soldiers from a different perspective.
Yes, China’s billions are celebrating together. Who else thought of those soldiers who faced the north and braved the wind and snow?
Behind them is their family, but they can't look back.
For the safety of their homes and loved ones, they must guard the city wall as firmly as nails to prevent enemies like jackals from running in.
But what have they gained over the years?
If it weren't for their loved ones and their home, would they still be willing to stand there and protect this Ming Dynasty?
On the way to the military camp, Zhou You thought about this problem. As for the answer. Obviously he won't be able to get it in a short time.
Far away, you can see various fireworks blooming from time to time over Zuozhuang.
Tens of thousands of people live together like this, and it's as lively as a town.
As they approached, they were stopped by guards.
"Qianza, why are you here?"
The guard recognized the person and was so excited that he was speechless.
"Wang Xiangdong, are you on guard now?"
Now there is only one and a half brigade in the rear camp, which is not many people, so Zuo Mengeng knows everyone.
The young man was so happy when Qianza called out his name.
"I'm on duty, there's still an hour to replace me."
Zuo Mengeng asked with a smile: "Do you want to go home?"
Wang Xiangdong scratched his head in embarrassment.
"The family shared the pork, and my mother made meat-filled dumplings, and asked me to go back as soon as I got off duty."
This is human nature. Zuo Mengeng would not say anything more, but just said: "The more you do at this time, the more serious you must be. The safety of the entire camp and the entire village is in your hands."
Wang Xiangdong straightened his chest.
"Qianza, I didn't even blink."
He was a good soldier and satisfied several officers.
Zuo Mengeng looked around and asked, "Where is the secret whistle?"
From the day the military camp was established, Zuo Menggeng paid great attention to warning him. The soldiers' basic training has not yet begun, but the skills of standing guard and posting sentries have already been taught.
When the military camp is on duty at night, there must be both open and hidden sentries.
In this way, even if the open whistle is stolen, the hidden whistle can send out an alarm in time.
A head emerged from a pile of firewood in the distance.
"Qianzao, I'm here."
Zuo Mengeng called the secret whistle over and pointed out: "There is nothing around here, except for the pile of firewood. If you hide inside, the enemy can guess it at a glance. Is your secret whistle still useful?"
The soldiers on the secret sentry could not raise their heads in shame.
"I was just thinking that it would be warmer in the firewood pile because I am not afraid of the wind. I didn't think of anything else. I immediately changed it."
Zuo Mengeng pointed him to an open space on the left and said: "It looks inconspicuous and flat over there, so the enemy will not be defensive. Dig a small hole over there and hide in it. Except for your head, Covering the body with a thin layer of soil will have a better effect.”
The soldier learned something and went away happily.
Zuo Menggeng saluted Wang Xiangdong with a military salute.
"I'll leave this to you."
Wang Xiangdong stood up straight and returned the greeting.
"Please rest assured Qianza, we will never let anyone pass."
Zuo Mengeng patted him on the shoulder and walked into Zhuangzi first.
When other officers passed by Wang Xiangdong, they all praised him quietly. The soldier was so excited that he felt like he had won the first prize.
