It was already bright, but there were many clouds in the sky and the sunlight could not penetrate the clouds. It was a cloudy day.
Logically speaking, this is a good weather, not in the sun. This is especially true for prisoners of war.
From last night to now, they have been concentrated on the flat land near the Yellow River. If the sun is there, you will definitely get a lot of sunburn.
However, each of these bandit captives had sad faces, and they were not happy because of God's little gift.
Most of the bandit prisoners were either sitting on the ground or simply lying down. But one thing they have in common is that they are all looking in the same direction, and the sound of "Gulu" is heard one after another.
In the direction they looked, there was the cook camp of the imperial army. The smell of cooked rice and horse meat floating in the air is so attractive.
As for these bandit captives, they have not eaten since they received military orders yesterday to begin the urgent march. After becoming prisoners, let alone not being able to take care of them, even if they had spare strength, the imperial officers and soldiers would not feed them, so they would be left hungry and weak, and the custody would be much easier.
When they saw the Huotou Army rushing to various camps carrying cauldrons, and the imperial officers and soldiers surrounding them eating and drinking, many people swallowed their saliva. The sound of swallowing "gu dong gu dong" sounded from time to time.
It was too tempting and there was nothing to do, so some people started talking in low voices.
"Didn't you say that among the imperial officers and soldiers, only the servants' food is good? No matter how I look at it, it seems that they are all the same, rice and meat, tsk tsk!"
"Yes, when I was an officer in the imperial court, I always drank very little. I could only eat a solid meal before going into battle!"
"It's not like they won a big victory, so those high-ranking officials rewarded them, right?"
"..."
When the soldiers of the imperial army who were guarding them nearby heard this, they sneered and said: "You are ignorant, you don't even know who our coach is? Let me tell you, not only do all of us have daily meals, but we also receive military pay. We are all real people." Oh, no skimping!"
"What, everyone is eating dry food all the time, how is this possible?"
"That's right, you're a liar! How can everyone just eat dry food!"
"Haha, military pay is real. The sun is rising from the west. How can the court be so kind? Even the generals would not agree!"
"..."
After hearing this, some of the bandit prisoners subconsciously retorted, not believing it at all. Because most of these prisoners were from military families in the past and had come from the army.
Some of the bandit prisoners came to their senses after being dumbfounded, and immediately began to inquire curiously.
"Yes, who is your coach? His surname is Zhang, who is he?"
"Regardless of that sir, I have never heard of anyone not deducting military pay!"
"..."
After hearing this, the officers and soldiers of the imperial court who were guarding them were very proud, and immediately answered them: "Tell you, do you know that our commander-in-chief is the Duke of the country? How can he compare with ordinary officials?"
"That is, since the Duke became the commander of the Royal Guards, he has strictly investigated corrupt officials and arrested countless people! As far as I know, all the military pay owed by the imperial court has been repaid. And in the future, full military pay will be paid on time. If only If you find that you are in arrears with pay, or have your military pay deducted, you can still file a complaint with the Jinyiwei Yamen!"
"..."
Listening to their words, the bandit prisoners were dumbfounded.
Although it sounds a bit weird, it sounds like it is true, which is almost unbelievable!
When they came to their senses, they became curious.
"Who is this prince? He is so powerful?"
"Yeah, where did the money come from? When did the imperial court have so much money?"
"Yeah, if I had such a good official at that time, I would have rebelled!"
"..."
The imperial officers and soldiers who were guarding them were bored anyway. After hearing their questions, they told them about Duke Xingguo.
Not to mention, after hearing someone's story, everyone pricked up their ears and listened.
Perhaps the rise of Duke Xingguo was a treasure to the people of the capital. However, the communication and transportation in this era are very backward. At most, people in the capital will know it better. No matter how far away, only some dignitaries can understand it. Not to mention, they are from the bandit side.
Therefore, when they heard the deeds of Duke Xingguo, they were all stunned as if they were listening to a legendary story.
In order to save the refugees in the capital, he not only donated all his wealth, but also issued a notice daring to challenge the powerful people in the capital, threatening them to return their people, so that the refugees could be reunited.
He took over the Jinyiwei Yamen and wiped out all the lawless elements in the Jinyiwei. The intensity is unheard of.
There were also the eunuchs who were the former Chief of Ceremony, the eunuch who was the Royal Horse Supervisor, the Chief Assistant, Cheng Guogong, etc., all of them were dismissed one after another because of Xing Guogong.
Not to mention this, the Duke also uncovered eight Shanxi businessmen and even captured Jianlu on the spot. They were the ones who ruined the Ming Dynasty by eating inside and outside.
Also, the Duke was very knowledgeable and studied things to gain knowledge. He obtained the same secret recipe as the two treasure trays, but in the end he donated it to the court. One of them, called Cement, was made public to the world.
Having said this, the imperial officer who spoke proudly asked, "Do you know why the National Congress announced this secret recipe for cement?"
"Why?" Upon hearing this, the bandit prisoners asked curiously.
"Let me tell you, because this cement is a powerful tool for building water conservancy projects, the government donated this secret recipe just to save the people of the world from drought and floods. Do you understand?"
After hearing this, the bandit prisoners showed respect on their faces.
In this world, honest officials are rare, and good officials are even rarer. No matter who they are, they respect honest officials and are good officials.
The same is true. It can be seen from some records that in some places, after the bandits were defeated, they either invited local officials to join them in every possible way, or they persuaded them nicely, and some of them were even let go.
The bandit prisoners still wanted to inquire about Duke Xingguo, but at this time, the officers and soldiers who were guarding them changed their defense.
Enduring hunger, or to distract himself, of course, the more likely possibility is that Duke Xingguo's gossip is too big. Therefore, the bandit prisoners began to discuss in low voices.
Just like this, it was passed down to ten, and it didn't take long for the nearly 40,000 bandit captives to more or less know the legendary story of the current commander-in-chief of the army, Duke Xingguo.
In this regard, they were all envious.
"If I had had such a moment as Duke Xingguo, I would definitely not have rebelled."
"Yes, they were so hungry that they couldn't survive. Look at them. Now they not only have food to eat, but they also receive military pay. It's really incredible."
"..."
Listening to their envious discussion, some of the bandit prisoners poured cold water on them.
"Wake up, stop daydreaming! We are rebels, not an army!"
"If we still have a good meal, maybe we will have a meal without a head. No, maybe we won't even have a meal with a head, and we will starve to death!"
"That's right, we still don't know what the imperial court will do with us. Maybe we'll all rush into the Yellow River and be done with it. Or maybe they'll bury us alive!"
"..."
When they said this, the bandit captives came back to their senses and realized their identities and current situation. Suddenly, they all fell silent and their faces were very ugly.
The officers and soldiers of the imperial court who had already changed their defenses, one of them didn't know if he couldn't bear it when he saw them like this, so he said to them: "Don't talk nonsense, the Duke is a good person, and he will never kill people casually."
"How do you know? It's not like the imperial court has never killed prisoners before!"
"Yes, I heard that many of them pretended to be able to recruit people, and then after the recruitment was over, they were killed in batches!"
"No, I often hear this statement."
"..."
Hearing the pessimistic words of these bandit captives, the imperial soldier who spoke could not help but sneer again and again. After letting them say enough, he said to them: "King Chuang is determined to rebel and become emperor, so he will Let me tell you this so that you will give up all thoughts of recruiting him and work for him wholeheartedly!"
"Nonsense, don't slander the general!"
"That's right, you are an official of the imperial court, so of course you are speaking for the imperial court."
"..."
When the imperial soldier heard this, he sneered a few more times, then pointed to his comrades beside him, and then said to these bandit prisoners: "We people used to be from Xiaoyuan Camp. Now we just have to eat every day. , you can receive your military pay on time, will I lie to you?"
Upon hearing this, the bandit prisoners were immediately dumbfounded: These imperial officers and soldiers in military uniforms in front of them were from Xiaoyuan Camp in the past?
You know, before, Xiao Yuanying was still a member of the bandit team. He went south due to disagreement with King Chuang, and then went north again. After that, they didn't know.
At this time, these imperial officers and soldiers revealed their identities and said they were from Xiao Yuanying. This really surprised them!
At first, after being surprised, all the bandit prisoners couldn't believe it and thought it was impossible!
However, one of the captives suddenly recognized an officer from the imperial court and said, "You are Lao Ma, right? You are so beautifully dressed, I didn't even recognize him!"
When the imperial officers and soldiers heard this, they turned around to look, but they recognized it immediately and said immediately: "Ma Zhugan, it turns out to be you!"
Na Ma Zhugan nodded quickly, and then excitedly introduced to his companions loudly: "Yes, they are from Xiao Yuanying, I know them, fellow villagers, fellow villagers!"
After finishing speaking, he quickly said to the imperial officers and soldiers with a look of expectation: "Old Ma, please, please take care of my brothers? I also want to be recruited!"
When they heard that it was really Xiao Yuanying, everyone else was overjoyed and followed suit, hoping to see if they could be recruited based on the opportunity of having an acquaintance.
No matter what, after being recruited, it is better than being a prisoner who does not know whether he will live or die, right?
After hearing this, the imperial officers and soldiers shook their heads and said: "You are prisoners. Our eldest brother took us to be recruited. This is different!"
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