Chapter 3873: Loving the People Like Sons
The man in black did not leave from the secret passage. He just lifted up the green bricks to reveal the iron plate inside. He lifted up the iron plate and put it back into the distance, making an illusion that he had left. Then he tiptoed to the back. Gable, flexed his muscles, and the bones on his body made a soft "crackling" sound, and then the whole person got out like a noodle through a transom on the wall that could only be accessed by civet cats...
The wind was blowing violently, and the man in black fluttered lightly outside the air window. His body bones had returned to their original positions, and he was bent over and running along the wall. His body blended into the darkness, making it almost difficult to detect unless you looked closely.
After a long time, he walked around several houses along the wall and came to the opposite side of a hut, squatting in the darkness, motionless.
After a long time, a soldier swayed over in a raincoat, stood outside the latrine, untied his trousers and let the water go...
A slight voice came from behind.
"Did Zhang Shigui have any contact with the prince or officials from the East Palace during these days?"
The soldier's posture did not change when he released the water, and he whispered: "No, but he went out of the city privately to meet with Fang Jun at the city gate. There were all his soldiers nearby, so no one knows what they were talking about."
"Continue to pay attention to Zhang Shigui's actions. If there is any abnormality, report it immediately!"
"Here!"
After that, there was no more words.
The soldier finished draining the water, fastened his trousers, turned around and glanced at the dark wall opposite the latrine. There was nothing there...
The soldier raised his head and looked around again. In order to find anything unusual and no one was approaching, he tightened his raincoat and walked away quickly despite the wind and rain.
*****
Youtunwei camp.
It was already midnight, but the sky was only bright and windy and rainy.
Inside the tent where he lived, Fang Jun looked out the window at the violent wind and rain, frowning, and took a sip of tea. The tea he loved in the past now felt bland and tasteless...
We had just had breakfast. Princess Gaoyang and Princess Danyang were present, while Wu Meiniang, Princess Changle, Jin Shengman and others returned to their respective camps. Princess Danyang originally planned to leave. Although Fang Jun had not harassed her particularly in the past few days, she was always worried about Fang Jun's reputation in her heart, and she couldn't help but feel frightened every time they met.
But you can’t always avoid Fang Jun, right?
After all, Fang Jun is now living under someone else's roof, and he is the prince-in-law of the dynasty. His niece and son-in-law are considered a family member, so he cannot be too rude...
Princess Gaoyang raised her bare hand, held the pot and poured half a cup of tea into Fang Jun's cup. Looking at Fang Jun's frown, she said curiously: "This heavy rain has suspended the fighting in the Taiji Palace. The six rates in the East Palace are rare." It’s a good thing to get a chance to breathe, so why is Mr. Lang so unhappy?”
Fang Jun pointed at his face: "Your Highness, do you call this depressed?"
Princess Gaoyang's beautiful eyes widened slightly, with a puzzled look on her face. Princess Danyang on the side also looked over curiously, thinking to herself, isn't this just a matter of being unhappy?
Fang Jun sighed and said: "It's more serious than being depressed. This is simply a sad face and a sad face!"
"Poof!"
Princess Gaoyang burst out laughing, and even Princess Danyang couldn't help laughing. She immediately felt something was wrong, and quickly raised her hands, covering her face with her sleeves, suppressing her pretty face until she turned red.
The first two idioms are just that, but how can a grown man use "scowling" to describe himself? Perhaps those handsome men wearing pink and flowers nowadays can be described to some extent, but Fang Jun's handsome appearance, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes are completely different from those "beautiful" men.
Princess Gao Yang smiled and asked: "What is it that makes Mr. Lang so depressed?"
Fang Jun did not hide anything, saying: "Although this rain has given the Sixth Army of the East Palace a rare chance to breathe, the 20,000 prisoners we have just captured are probably about to suffer a catastrophe."
This battle wiped out the entire private army of the powerful clans. Excluding those who died in battle and escaped, more than 10,000 people were captured. In addition to the nearly 10,000 captured by the Guanlong army, there are now more than 20,000 prisoners in Youtun Guard.
These prisoners not only need to be guarded by troops, but also provided with food and housing, which is an extremely heavy burden for the Youtun guards. It's raining heavily right now. How can you find so many houses in Youtunwei to accommodate them?
I'm afraid that after the heavy rain, countless captives will get sick or die due to various reasons.
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining after the rain, and the temperature is rising. Maybe a disease will spread among the Youtun guards and the prisoners. At present, there is a serious lack of drugs and conditions for epidemic prevention. Once the epidemic breaks out, it will be a disaster...
Princess Gaoyang blinked and said, "Why not send troops to escort him to the counties in Hexi and imprison him temporarily?"
Fang Jun shook his head: "Absolutely not."
From Guanzhong to Hexi, more than a thousand miles away, how could these captives, who lacked medical treatment and medicine, hold on? As long as they don't wait until Hexi, more than half of them will die. Princess Gao Yang meant the same thing. Since it couldn't be properly arranged, why should it delay the retreat of the Youtun Guards? It is definitely not possible to kill prisoners openly and honestly. It is better to leave them to fend for themselves in the name of being sent to Hexi for resettlement...
But Fang Jun will never allow this to happen.
These are all people of the Tang Dynasty, descendants of China. On the battlefield, when two armies are facing each other, no matter how heavy the casualties are, they cannot avoid it. You can't be kind to a woman, right? But since they have been captured, they must not be cruelly left to die and massacre the two captives in another way.
Princess Danyang on the side couldn't help but be curious, and took the initiative to say: "They are just prisoners, and they are all private soldiers of those powerful families outside the pass. Whether they live or die, why does the Duke of Yue need to care?"
It is naturally best to treat the captives properly when conditions permit, and to order them to farm after the war or distribute them to meritorious people to serve as slaves; but when the conditions are difficult and there is no way to care about them, what's wrong with leaving them to fend for themselves?
This has been done throughout the ages.
Fang Jun straightened up and said seriously: "Your Majesty, what you said is ridiculous! It is said that 'all the people in the world are the king's land; and those who are on the shore of the land are the king's ministers'. Since they are all your majesty's ministers and subjects of the empire, how can it be true? How could he not only remain indifferent but actually add fuel to the flames even though he knew he was going to die? An city was destroyed, and it only took ten years to rebuild; Guanzhong was destroyed, and it only took thirty years to revive; but if the 20,000 captives were allowed to massacre in the name of fending for themselves, the Tang Dynasty would lose the support of the people, and it would last for a hundred years. It’s also difficult to win the trust of the people!”
Throughout the ages, what is most important to a country or a nation?
population!
As long as there are people, no matter how difficult the situation is, the sun can be seen, and no matter how backward the country is, it can be revitalized and prosperous!
No one, even if they are prosperous for a while, will decline and collapse sooner or later.
The people of the Tang Dynasty had billions of people, but Fang Jun never thought any of them was redundant...
Princess Gaoyang's beautiful eyes sparkled and she pursed her lips. Her eyes were full of love that could not be concealed: "My husband is a true hero! He loves the people like a son, has a kind heart, and regards the world as one family. He has never abused any of the people of the Tang Dynasty, even though Even the traffickers and pawns, the criminals and the bandits are shown enough kindness, and they should be regarded as famous ministers in the world. ”
In this era, the so-called concepts of "democracy" and "freedom" do not exist at all. What everyone believes in is class, nobility, and the class that monopolizes cultural inheritance preaches that "the world is unkind and treats all things as rotten dogs." Of course, they themselves He is superior to others and is not among the "little dogs"...
The common people are still good, but the status of those slaves is no different from that of livestock. They are the private property of the nobles. Even if the "Zhenguan Law" was re-edited and implemented nationwide, the status of slaves and prisoners was slightly improved, but it was only a fine if the master killed them at will.
People are born into three, six or nine classes. Those at the bottom of the class have their life and death decided by the nobles.
People like Fang Jun who uphold the creed of "all living beings are equal" are rare and unique. This kind of fraternity and kindness from the heart is unattainable to some people, but to others it is like Like sparks in the dark night, it feels bright and warm.
A person who is "unconventional" and "out of tune with the times" will always be like this. Either he will be hated to death, or he will be loved to death...
These words made Fang Jun feel a little embarrassed. He laughed and said: "His Highness is so complimentary. Xiaosheng really deserves it...and His Highness is wrong in one thing. The minister is only for the people of the Tang Dynasty. The descendants of Yan and Huang treat everyone equally, but they regard those barbarians who only know how to kill and destroy as wild beasts. Anyone who falls into their hands must be killed urgently."
Those who are not of my race must have different minds.
The bad nature in the bones of barbarians cannot be changed. They do not follow morality or etiquette. They put profit first. If you have breasts, you are a mother. Even if they were smiling at you and trying to win over you in every possible way, once you go against their interests, they can insert a steel knife into your chest and abdomen in the blink of an eye and take away everything from you. (End of chapter)