Chapter 413: Relaxed Attitude
Ruan Jinggui has known Wu Sen for many years. Although he does not have a life-long relationship with Wu Sen like his younger brother, he still knows the man's temperament very well after long-term contact. It is true that Wu Sen is a bit stubborn and likes to get into trouble, but in fact he is not stupid. On the contrary, he is one of the few smart people in the army. The year before last, the South Vietnamese army was able to push the front north across the Zhengjiang and Hengshan lines. It was thanks to the sudden advance of the South Vietnamese navy, which moved north from Donghai along the coastline into Zhengjiang, quietly occupied the waterway, and crossed the large army. This is a natural chasm, and the person who proposed this combat plan to the Ministry of War at that time was Wu Sen.
The battlefield advantage gained by the South Vietnamese Army at that time was already very obvious. If the troubled Haihan people had not intervened in the Annan Civil War, it is very likely that the South Vietnamese Army would have been able to turn the advantage into an overwhelming victory, and even advance all the way north. It is not impossible to attack Shenglong Mansion.
It's a pity that Wu Sen's personal skills have no effect in the face of the powerful strength of the Haihan Militia. In the next few duels, the South Vietnamese Navy failed to win a single victory. The few warships in the first place were abruptly defeated by the Haihan Militia. He chewed them up one bite at a time, so that when Wu Sen finally chose to fight the Haihan Militia, he could only rely on dozens of small boats filled with tinder to launch the charge. As a result, he was killed by the army of the Haihan Militia from the river bank halfway. Get rid of it. The majestic navy actually ended up being destroyed by the army. It is ridiculous but also somewhat sad.
In Ruan Jinggui's view, it is hard to say how much of Wu Sen's tough attitude after being captured was due to his loyalty to the court, but a considerable part of it must have come from his unwillingness to admit defeat. Ruan Jinggui believes that as long as Wu Sen's unwillingness to admit defeat is resolved, there is a high possibility of persuading him to change his mind and join the Haihan people.
Ruan Jinggui saw that Wu Sen did not immediately refute him, so he quickly continued to persuade: "Brother Wu, although the Haihan people were once opponents, they did not massacre the city after they broke through Hue. All the soldiers in the city who surrendered voluntarily, They were all released safely after the war. Even those who refused to surrender were not massacred. Think about it, what happened to the captured officers when we fought against them?
Wu Sen just snorted and didn't answer. Of course, he was very aware of his own way of treating prisoners. If this classy enemy officer prisoner was unwilling to surrender at the first time, he would only be beheaded. It was a great achievement to present the head of this senior officer. pieces.
Ruan Jinggui continued: "That day when the city of Hue was breached, my brother chose to surrender voluntarily in order to save the lives of the soldiers and innocent people in the city. At that time, my brother was also unwilling to accept it. He thought that under the rule of the Hue Dynasty, thousands of miles of country and hundreds of people would be saved. How could I be convinced that Wan was actually defeated by an army coming from across the sea? But after I came to Sanya, I slowly got to know the local customs and understood the real situation of Haihan, and I realized that what I had seen before was How short-sighted! ”
Ruan Jinggui raised his hand and pointed to the mining tunnel not far outside the tent: "Take this mine as an example. The muskets and heavy artillery made by the Haihan people are all made of fine iron produced here. Brother Wu, you have also worked here for several days. , have you ever felt the difference between the iron mines here and those in Annan? ”
Wu Sen was silent for a while before saying: "In terms of mining speed alone, this iron mine far exceeds Annan. The hammers, chisels, hoes, shovels and other tools provided by the Haihan people are all made of fine iron, not only the rope-pulled bicycle mine cart The transportation of the ore mined from the bottom of the pit, even the crushing and mineral processing, does not require manpower. The mines in Annan are incomparable. ”
Ruan Jinggui said: "What you see is only the part around you. On the way here, Officer Fu also told me about the general situation of local steel production... Officer Fu, can I relay what you just said? If so?”
Fu Li nodded in agreement. Ruan Jinggui continued: "This iron mine produces more than 200,000 kilograms of iron ore every day. After rough processing in the mine, it is sent to the smelting workshop under the hillside to be smelted into refined iron, which is used to make Haihan Min. The guns and cannons used by the regiment are only one-tenth of the refined iron production here!”
There is no need for Ruan Jinggui to explain what steel output means to a country's armed forces. Wu Sen will naturally understand the meaning. The figures mentioned by Ruan Jinggui at least show one thing. Haihan did not increase the combat effectiveness of the militia through militarism. On the contrary, they still have great war potential that has not been used in the military field. If all these resources were invested in the war, the South Vietnamese army would be defeated even faster.
As for whether what Ruan Jinggui said is the Haihan people bragging, Wu Sen is not sure, but he is very clear about one thing. The daily output of ore here does exceed 200,000 kilograms, because hard laborers like him are forced to It is stipulated that at least five hundred kilograms of ore must be mined every day, otherwise the food available that day will be halved. According to his observation, there should be no less than five hundred people working in the mine every day. Ruan Jinggui The production figures I heard from the Haihan people were only about the same.
The iron ore production capacity in the areas under South Vietnam is actually not much lower than here, but it is scattered everywhere, and neither smelting nor transportation is as well planned as the Haihan people. Of course, the most important thing is that South Vietnam does not have the ability to develop and produce advanced weapons like Hai Han on its own. The steel resources obtained by the Ministry of War can only be used to build armor and cold weapons. The combat effectiveness of the Hai Han militia is naturally used to use firearms. The gap widened. Even if South Vietnam can continue to sustain this war, in the long run, its war potential in terms of steel resources alone is far less than that of Haihan. It can be said that defeat is already doomed.
Fu Li watched Wu Sen remain silent and decided to give him another blow: "In fact, the Executive Committee has already had a larger iron ore development plan. The Ministry of Industry has found a large iron ore mine on Qiongzhou Island. After the mine is developed, the production capacity will be dozens or hundreds of times that of this place!”
Before Wu Sen responded, Ruan Jinggui was shocked by the news: "Such a large iron mine? How much iron will be produced!"
Fu Li proudly boasted: "The train we took when we came will lead to everywhere in the future. As long as it is under the rule of the Executive Committee, there will be train tracks!"
"If it can really be realized, traveling a thousand miles per day will no longer be a myth!" Although Ruan Jinggui is not sure whether what Fu Li said is true or false, he has personally experienced the convenience of the train. This thing is comparable to an ox-cart and a horse-drawn carriage. This kind of transportation is much faster. The only shortcoming is probably that it needs to build special roads and lay iron tracks, which must be very expensive. However, this does not seem to be a big deal to the Haihan people who are extremely wealthy and have too much iron to use up.
"If there is such a thing, it will be convenient to mobilize troops within the territory." Although Wu Sen has never taken a train, there are also small trains that pull ore from the mine to the smelting workshop, and the hard laborers can use it when commuting every day. He could see it, so he could roughly understand the scene Fu Li was bragging about.
"I think if there was such a thing in Annan, the thousand-mile land journey from Thang Long Province to Hue Province could be reached in two or three days at most. How could the north and the south be divided and the situation of confrontation for many years appear!" Wu Sen couldn't help but sigh. , I actually felt a sense of sadness that I was born at the wrong time.
"Brother Wu, if you still have the idea of doing something for the people of Annan, you shouldn't give up on yourself here!" Ruan Jinggui heard some clues and quickly seized the opportunity to persuade: "The Haihan Executive Committee is now in full swing. Looking for talents, with your ability, it is not difficult to get a position in the Haihan Navy..."
"It's the navy, not the navy!" Fu Li corrected coldly from the side.
"Yes, yes, it's the navy, the navy!" Ruan Jingui responded quickly: "I have talked with several heads of the executive committee, and they have circled four areas in the coastal area south of Hue as exclusive Hai Han areas in the future. The port will definitely be stationed there in the future. Brother Wu is familiar with the local people and sea conditions. If he is willing to serve in the executive committee, he will have the opportunity to return to his homeland in the future.”
Wu Sen's eyes lit up, but he quickly shook his head and said: "How can a defeated general be reused? Even if Wu is allowed to return to Annan, he will probably just be an ordinary sailor, with no future at all! ”
Hearing Wu Sen's tone, he obviously relaxed. If Ruan Jinggui didn't know how to persuade him anymore, he would no longer have to play the role of lobbyist: "If the executive committee is willing to give Brother Wu an officer position in the navy, then Brother Wu Are you willing to change your affiliation and be loyal to the Executive Committee? ”
Wu Sen hesitated: "My personal reputation is small, but if the Wu family's reputation is affected by me and my family is implicated, then it will be irredeemable!"
"You don't have to worry about this!" Ruan Jinggui was so smart that he couldn't understand the oblique meaning of Wu Sen's words, and said quickly: "When the city of Hue was destroyed, I already stepped in to protect your family of thirteen. Although you All your family members are still in Hue City, but they are safe. As long as you say a word, I will apply to the chief to have all your family members move to Sanya, so you will have no worries!”
"This..." Wu Sen probably didn't expect that Ruan Jinggui had prepared everything so comprehensively, but he couldn't help but immediately agreed to Ruan Jinggui's invitation - if he agreed so quickly, then what loyalty did he say before? , any persistence, isn’t it just a slap in the face?
Ruan Jinggui is a veteran in the business world and is very good at understanding people's hearts. When he saw Wu Sen's hesitant expression and his reluctance to give a clear answer, he already guessed what he was thinking and immediately said: "Brother Wu, you might as well think about it carefully." Think about it! Officer Fu, can you take a moment to speak?”
Fu Li nodded and walked out of the tent first, followed by Ruan Jinggui. After the two of them walked a certain distance, Ruan Jinggui bowed and said: "Officer Fu, I have something to ask of you!" "If you want me to let Wu Sen go privately, don't say anything. Even if you let him escape, he can't escape from this." The nearby mountains and forests." Fu Li raised his finger and pointed at the rolling mountains in the distance and said, "I dare not say that this place is too far away. All Li Dong and Miao villages within thirty to fifty miles are subject to the transfer of the executive committee. If a stranger is found operating in these places, he will be arrested and sent to the mine in Tiandu. Even if he can get out of this place, he will not be able to leave the Ming government in several nearby counties. But they all maintain close contact with us.”
"How dare I have such unreasonable thoughts!" Ruan Jinggui hurriedly denied: "Wu Sen is a key criminal in the custody of the Ministry of Justice. Although I have some personal relations with him, I have no intention of helping him escape from prison. Officer Fu should not blame me wrongly. Here you go! ”
Fu Li looked at Ruan Jinggui and saw that his attitude didn't look like he was pretending, so he asked: "Then what do you need my help with?"
"I would like to ask Officer Fu to make it easier for me. Say hello to my colleagues in the mine and transfer Wu Sen to a lighter job first. After I go back and report to Mr. Yan next time, I will ask the Ministry of War... No, I will ask the Military Commission. I will exchange the documents for Wu Sen's freedom." Ruan Jinggui quickly expressed his thoughts one by one.
"Are you afraid that Wu Sen will die of exhaustion in the mine before the Military Commission's release order comes out?" Fu Li listened to his explanation and roughly understood what he was thinking.
"I don't dare to talk nonsense." Of course Ruan Jinggui will not directly admit Fu Li's statement. The prisoners in this mine are under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice. Wouldn't that offend the Ministry of Justice in disguise?
"I just watched the conversation between the two of you, and I feel that his mind should have been somewhat active, but are you really sure that he will change his mind and be loyal to the Executive Committee?" Fu Li asked Ruan Jinggui again.
"I can't say with 100% certainty, but it should be 70% to 80% certain." Seeing that there was hope for this matter, Ruan Jinggui immediately put behind his previous thoughts of not making guarantees and planned to help Wu Sen first. Strive for a more relaxed treatment before saying: "This Wu Sen is interested. If I can give you a few more days to slowly persuade him, I will definitely convince him to join the executive committee!"
"Okay, then I'll trust you first." Fu Li nodded and said, "I'll go find someone. You wait for me in the tent."
"Thank you so much, Officer Fu!" Ruan Jinggui quickly thanked him.
Fu Li didn't dare to make the decision on his own, so he first ran to the mine's duty room, used the phone here to contact Ren Liang, and then informed him of the situation here. Ren Liang was always willing to give prisoners of war a chance to serve. Luo Shengdong and Gao Qiaonan were excellent examples. Hearing that Ruan Jinggui had persuaded Wu Sen, but it seemed that he was still not ready, he asked Fu Li to talk to the mine supervisor. Say hello and put Wu Sen in a more relaxed position first.
When Fu Li was looking for Ren Liang to make up his mind, Ruan Jinggui was not idle. He quickly returned to the tent and said to Wu Sen: "Brother Wu, it's just you and me at this time. I'll tell you the truth! I I also know that you look down on me in your heart and think that I have betrayed my country and surrendered to the enemy, but the choice I made was really just to save my family, the lives of the people in Hue city and the army officers! Hai Han is so powerful that it is only a matter of time before the Hue court will fall. , if I can save a few more people’s lives, it doesn’t matter if I’m scolded as a ****.”
Wu Sen shook his head and said: "I don't blame you for surrendering Haihan. What choice you make is your business. If I don't want to surrender, it is just my own decision."
"It's okay. If you don't want to today, I'll come back tomorrow." Ruan Jinggui could clearly feel the loosening and change of Wu Sen's attitude, so naturally he was no longer anxious for this moment. At that moment, he stopped talking about the matter and instead talked about it. The topic shifted to my living conditions and what I saw and heard after coming to Sanya.
Wu Sen has been detained since he got off the ship. The scope of his daily activities is only the mine pit and the collective prison cell. Hearing Ruan Jinggui talk about the various scenes in Victory Port and Sanya Port, he naturally had thoughts. Interested, I listened quietly to what he said.
Fu Li came back from the phone call and stood outside the tent to listen for a few words. Then he did not rush in. Instead, he stood outside silently for more than ten minutes. It was not until Ruan Jinggui's story came to an end that he appeared in front of the two of them again. : "Today's visiting time has come, Ruan Jinggui, please follow me and leave now."
Ruan Jinggui stood up and said: "Brother Wu, take care of yourself and have a good rest. I'll come visit you again tomorrow!"
At this time, Wu Sen no longer had the obvious hostility that he had at the beginning. Although he did not say goodbye to Ruan Jinggui, he still nodded silently and did not reject the other party's kindness.
After Fu Li took Ruan Jinggui out of the mine, he said to him: "I have arranged Wu Sen's work issues for him. From today on, his work tasks will become easier. As for the visit time tomorrow , it’s still the same as today, just go to the train station and meet me.”
"Thank you, Officer Fu! I'm very grateful!" Ruan Jinggui quickly bent down and bowed, thanking Fu Li for his help.
Fu Li waved his hand and said: "No need to thank me, everything is for the Executive Committee!"
"Yes, yes, serve the Executive Committee!" Ruan Jinggui did not forget the slogan he learned during the isolation camp, and immediately agreed.
"Do you know how to count?" The mine supervisor asked Wu Sen suddenly and confusedly when he brought Wu Sen back to the mine.
"I'm here to learn the numbers." Although he didn't know the purpose of the other person's question, Wu Sen didn't take it too seriously.
"Okay, from now on, you don't have to go mining, just stand here and count points!" When he walked to the side of the mine car, the supervisor suddenly stopped and turned to him and said: "The points will be counted, right? These Every time a hard worker brings in a basket of ore, you give him a bamboo stick. If the basket is not full or there are too many gaps, you cannot give it to him. Do you understand the rules? "
"I understand!" Wu Sen naturally understands this rule, because he has been collecting bamboo chips here for a few days.
The hard laborers in the mine have a production quota of at least 500 kilograms of ore per day. Each bamboo basket containing ore can hold about 50 or 60 kilograms of ore. Every time the hard laborers carry a basket of ore and pour it into the mine car, they can take charge from the side. The person who counts will get a bamboo chip in his hand. If at the end of the day, ten bamboo chips cannot be handed over to the supervisor at the end of the day, it means that the workload of the day has not been completed, and the food available for the next day will be reduced. was cut in half. Apart from the official supervisors, issuing bamboo chips here is almost the easiest job in the mine.
(End of chapter)