In the south of Chengdu, the dock where Liu Chan returned from suppressing bandits.
Ships of all sizes on the Minjiang River were stopping along the river at this time.
On the pier, people are constantly coming and going, loading the last goods onto the ship.
The soldiers brought by Liu Chan also carried the packaged ordnance baggage, armor and weapons onto the ship in batches, and even the horses were also driven onto the ship.
The number of soldiers he brought this time, not counting the Baimo personal guards, numbered as many as 700. However, the composition of these 700 soldiers was different from last time. They were a mixture of regular troops and reserves.
Excluding Hu Li and other recruits, the members of the reserve team include more than 200 people from the original reserve team, totaling 400 reserve teams and 300 regular troops.
Seven villages were organized with veterans leading new recruits, and each village had veterans.
The rest of the troops stayed in Chengdu to continue their training. The disgraced commander Qian Duo was ordered to stay behind and was temporarily responsible for the daily training of the left-behind personnel.
Because of his outstanding performance, Hu Li was temporarily promoted to acting camp chief by Liu Chan, replacing the left-behind Qian Duo. In addition, two veterans were promoted as temporary camp chiefs.
Liu Chan was at the dock at this time, checking with Manager Zhao one last time about the goods he was carrying on this trip.
"Young Master, this is the last batch of aged wine. As for the various Shu specialties purchased by my subordinates, they have all been loaded on the ship." Manager Zhao bowed and said, "I will wait until the Young Master boards the ship and gives the order." Set off immediately.”
Liu Chan nodded and was about to board the ship when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves behind him and someone calling loudly.
"Master, walk slowly——"
Looking back, it was Military Advisor Zhuge arriving in a carriage accompanied by guards.
Liu Chan's heart immediately skipped a beat.
Uncle Zhuge wouldn't have noticed anything, he couldn't, he was already careful enough.
Although he was uneasy, Liu Chan still looked as usual, smiled, stepped forward and stretched out his hand: "Uncle Zhuge, why are you here?"
Zhuge Liang took Liu Chan's hand and got out of the car, and then held it tightly: "Young Master is going to Jingzhou and Dongwu. It's a long way. Liang felt a little uneasy, so he came to see me off."
Seeing that he didn't notice his plan, Liu Chan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly comforted him: "Uncle Zhuge, please relax. Under the rule of Second Uncle Guan, Jingzhou has heard that the state has rich people and strong soldiers and horses. It will be safe for me to go there."
"As for Soochow, Sun and Liu have been in alliance for many years. And I'm just pretending to be a businessman and dealing with some liquor sales. Why should the people of Soochow make things difficult for me? Uncle Zhuge is too worried."
Zhuge Liang, who was 38 years old at the time and had a few gray hairs on his temples, still looked slightly worried: "Young Master, what you said is wrong. Since our army and Sun Wu delimited the border on the Xiang River, the alliance has existed in name only. Now there is an undercurrent on the border, Young Master." Just need to be more careful.”
Liu Chan smiled confidently: "Chan naturally knows that he will bring more soldiers here for this reason. Uncle Zhuge need not worry."
Zhuge Liang looked at the soldiers lined up neatly on the boat, his worry a little lessened, and he added: "Remember to restrain your subordinates and not cause trouble."
"knew."
Liu Chan secretly rejoiced: "If Uncle Zhuge had come earlier and seen the ordnance baggage I loaded on the ship, he probably wouldn't have believed a word of mine."
After that, Liu Chan boarded the ship.
Zhuge Liang cupped his hands on the bank and said, "Young master, be careful all the way here. Return early when you are done, so as not to miss Mrs. Wu."
Liu Chan bowed his hands in return and said loudly: "The wind is strong on the shore, Uncle Zhuge, please go back! Take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself!"
When Manager Zhao saw Liu Chan boarding the ship, he ordered us to set off.
"Woo——"
The low horn sound sounded, and the men on each boat pulled up their anchors and rocked their oars.
The waves are sparkling under the sun, and ships of various sizes sail out from the pier one after another, with flags fluttering continuously, like a dragon swimming out along the river, wanting to return eastward to the sea...
…
As the saying goes, "One ship can carry as much as dozens of cars in China." In this era, water transportation is faster and more convenient than land transportation, and it also saves manpower and animal power.
Going to Soochow in Jingzhou, Liu Chan naturally chose to take the water route.
The fleet went south first, and after one day it arrived in Nan'an County for a short supply of supplies, and then prepared to head east along the Yangtze River.
When arriving in Nan'an County, everyone was filled with emotion.
"When I came here last time, my subordinates saw that the Major General did not bring enough food and grass, and they were really afraid that they would be used as human meat." Hu Li said with a smile.
This time he looked much better on the boat than last time. Although he still felt a little dizzy, at least he didn't vomit again.
Everyone laughed and joked after hearing this.
"If my father-in-law wants to make you into dry food, he will hold a banquet directly in Mount Emei and take you out to do something."
"Then I should order Li Er to send people to collect some mountain delicacies on the spot, put them into the pot and cook them together."
"Be sure to leave Hu Datun's long legs to me."
"Go, go, go, when you were captured by the Major General, you might not be as good as me!"
It was a break during the boat ride. Liu Chan sat with them and laughed while looking at the scenery along the river.
Looking at the sun, Liu Chan suddenly said: "Okay, village chiefs and above, it's time to learn Chinese writing and calligraphy again. Hu Li, you will also participate this time."
"...Huh?" Hu Li, who was smiling playfully, was stunned at that time, pointing his finger at himself, "But my subordinates haven't learned everything before..."
"It doesn't matter if you learn the Three-Character Sutra from the middle. Others will give you tutoring in the front."
Not only Hu Li, but also all the generals, including Jun Hou Li Er, immediately had a bitter look on their faces.
Liu Chan personally took time to teach them how to read and write almost every day. After that, they would teach the captains and commanders, and then the commanders would teach ordinary soldiers.
Even when marching or boating, this is no exception.
Although there was no sand or soil on the ship to write on, Liu Chan had already prepared wooden tablets.
Seeing everyone's expressions at this time, I feel that forcing them like this is not the way to go.
Liu Chan, who was deeply influenced by Zhuge Liang, decided to inspire their learning motivation.
For the first time, he temporarily put away the wooden tablet: "Sit down first, let me ask you a question."
Seeing that there was no need to practice writing for the time being, everyone became excited.
"As long as you don't know how to read and write, you can solve any number of problems." The person who spoke was a village chief with a beard named Shen Zhong.
In addition to having a lot of money, this activity is the biggest headache for him.
Liu Chan smiled and said nothing, and asked: "Why do you fight as soldiers?"
Several people were stunned when they heard this and looked at each other, all they saw on each other's faces was confusion.
"Of course I'm fighting for the Major General." Hu Li rolled his eyes and replied decisively.
Liu Chan nodded: "Then why do you want to fight for me?"
Hu Li was also dumbfounded now. You are our lord... Isn't it natural to fight for you?
"...Because, sir, you are here to help the Han Dynasty." Li Er was obviously not confident when he said this.
Sure enough, Liu Chan smiled and said: "What does supporting the Han Dynasty have to do with you?"
As soon as these words came out, the several generals who were confused by the question were greatly shocked.
It seemed that Liu Chan said something very outrageous and rebellious, but it also seemed... that there was nothing wrong with him.
The low-level soldiers listen to Kuang Fu Han Room and Kuang Fu Han Room every day. How many of them know what Kuang Fu Han Room is?
In order to help the Han Dynasty, thousands of them turned into withered bones. After the help was completed, would there be any change in the lives of their descendants and their families?
"Because, sir, you can give us enough to eat and let our family live a good life." Shen Zhong plucked up the courage to tell the truth.
Liu Chan nodded: "Exactly."
Seeing Liu Chan nodding, even Shen Zhong himself was dumbfounded.
If he hadn't been with Liu Chan for many years, he wouldn't have dared to say that even if he was beaten to death.
They had never heard anyone say such a thing.
Soldiers should be loyal, and soldiers should die for their lord...but few people have mentioned why.
Because behind this high-sounding rhetoric, there is a very cruel truth - in this era, if you are not loyal and die, your lord will kill you.
"I can make you live a good life, and I can make your family and children and grandchildren live a good life.
“If I win, you and your family and future generations can continue to live a good life.
"If I can help the Han Dynasty, I will try my best to make everyone in the world live a better life.
“I am the only one in the world who would do this.
"That's why you fight for me...because that's why you fight for yourself."
Several generals were stunned, and so was Hu Li.
But then, their eyes gradually brightened.
Hu Li thought of what Liu Chan said when he met Liu Chan for the first time on the mountain:
"Follow me, as long as you can achieve the word 'loyalty' in this class, I will let you live like a human being from now on, how about that?"
Others thought of similar conversations.
If someone else said this to them today, they would just sneer at it and not believe a word of it.
But Liu Chan is different. The lives of these people have indeed changed because of Liu Chan.
Everyone's thoughts seemed to be clear at once, and they felt suddenly enlightened.
[Hu Li’s favorability +10, +8]
[Hu Li's favorability is 90,...,...]
[Hu Li's favorability is 100, his physical fitness increases by 2, his mountain aptitude increases by 3, his management talent increases by 1×2, and he obtains "Iron Wall Guard"]
[Iron Wall Guard]: When you want to defend someone with all your heart, your physical fitness will increase by one level.
"Swear allegiance to the Major General to the death!"
Several people suddenly knelt down on one knee and roared in unison.
They had shouted this before, but they always felt that something was different today.
The momentum was so shocking that the oars rowing outside the cabin were startled and almost lost their grip on the oars.
Looking at the firm expressions of everyone, Liu Chan was very satisfied.
He smiled at Shen Zhong and said, "Do you understand now?"
"Understood!"
"What if it were you two years ago?"
Shen Zhong was stunned again.
Awareness also requires learning.
"This is 'people who don't learn, don't know the meaning'." Liu Chan said with a smile, "Sit down quickly and start practicing and reading."
Everyone who had forgotten about this a long time ago: "..."
Why do you still remember? !
