Ji Changze and the Military Advisor had been discussing things, but General Hou hadn’t finished thinking. Fortunately, they knew this would happen long ago, and it wasn’t unexpected.
Anyway, General Hou could fight.
They don’t need him to think.
They discussed for as long as it took for an incense to burn, then discuss what to do next.
General Hou, who was really good at fighting, had a good brain when it came to marching in battle, but his brain crashes when he meets other things other than fighting.
He wasn’t necessarily stupid.
Maybe his personal talent only pointed to battles, and everything else was forgotten.
If the world was peaceful, it would be a good thing for him to look like this. After all, if the people holding military power underneath were stupid, it was very good for the Emperor.
But who made it wartime right now?
The Princes were eyeing each other, and they were fighting against each other. They didn’t dare to attack the Emperor, so they could only focus on the six departments in the court, the civil and military officials, and try their best to win people over.
At this time, the death rate of the officials in court was very high.
After all, if they picked a side, the other side may want to kill them.
If they didn’t pick a side, everyone would want to kill them.
Picking both sides wasn’t even possible, they would instantly be killed.
Like General Hou, there are a few people who were hated because they didn’t accept the Second Prince’s solicitation.
You won’t accept my solicitation? Fine! You look down on me!
You won’t accept my solicitation? Fine! Are you siding with my opponent behind my back?
You won’t accept my solicitation? Fine! If you don’t work for me, go to hell and I’ll replace you with one of my men!
In short, smart people live a long life no matter what they do. Those without brains, such as General Hou, whatever they do, would cause a death sentence.
Even doing nothing, sitting in his position, holding military power, naturally, someone wanted to replace him.
Without this military power? That’s even more irritating. What was a useless person staying in this world for?
Either way, it was death, that’s all.
The Military Advisor wanted to save his life, but the problem was that General Hou’s IQ couldn’t be improved. He could only survive with the help of external forces.
Such as Military Advisor, and Ji Changze.
“First improve the loyalty of the men to the General.”
After Ji Changze finished talking, he thought for a while and made a decision, “Let’s start with this military rule about drinking.”
The Military Advisor twisted his eyebrows and nodded, “Yes.”
They sat facing each other on their knees, and General Hou sat on the other side. Seeing that the two seemed to have reached a consensus, he asked curiously, “What do we have to do? Will it be tiring for you?”
Ji Changze smiled at him and said, “No, I just need to trouble the General a little.”
It was a cold winter. The soldiers in the barracks couldn’t sleep, and they had to get up and practice one by one.
They were practicing when their superior told them not to practice. The General had something to say.
So, everyone in the group went to line up with sweaty foreheads.
There was a high platform in the military camp, that was for when Hou Jiangjun needed to make necessary speeches, so he could speak clearly.
In the tent, someone from the camp came in, “General, everyone is here.”
“Hmm, I’ll be right there.”
Hou Jiangjun had Ji Changze write it down for him, and the Military Advisor touched up the scrip. He repeatedly read it several times and rubbed his face before he strode out.
After standing at the top, he waved his hand, and his strong voice drew up.
“Yesterday, I caught two soldiers bringing wine back to the camp.”
Wang Da and Wang Er shrank their necks underneath but didn’t dare to make any sounds.
Other soldiers thought that General Hou was going to punish the soldiers who secretly drank alcohol. As a result, General Hou waved his hand and said, “Since I made the prohibition of alcohol rule, many people have repeatedly broken the rule, and they have no remorse. Beaten and scolded, but they have always been repeating it.”
Although looked stupid in front of the Military Advisor, but he actually looked a bit fierce. At the moment, his serious face looked a bit scary.
At least the many people standing underneath were afraid to say anything.
So many people were there, but it was utter silence.
General Hou’s words became clearer and clearer, “I know that you all secretly feel that the ban on alcohol is useless. Then, today I will show you whether it’s useful or not.”
“The captain of team C-4, and the captain of team B-3, step forward.”
Two soldiers stood out with a dumbfounded look, still looking a little fearful.
They didn’t do anything wrong.
General Hou pointed at them and exclaimed, “These two are good drinkers, as most people know.”
With that, he turned and shouted at to the other people below him, “Lift it up!!”
Immediately, a small soldier carried a large jar up and placed it steadily on the platform with a dull thud.
General Hou went up and opened it. The smell of wine immediately wafted out.
He raised his voice and said, “Here is a jar of fine wine. I asked someone to buy it in town early in the morning, you two come forward, start drinking, and stop when you feel that you are done.”
The two men hesitantly stepped forward, neither daring to move.
General Hou glared and fiercely said, “What are you looking at me for? Drink!!”
The superior ordered it, and even if they didn’t know why he ordered them to do this, the two could only gulp it down.
Not to mention, it was really good wine. If not for the occasion, they could have enjoyed it and laughed out loud.
No one at the bottom dared to speak, just watching the two of them drink.
Until both of them put down the scoop in their hands, “General, we are done drinking.”
General Hou looked at the two. Indeed, their faces were all flushed and their eyes were a little blurry.
He casually pointed to a thin soldier and said, “Come up, beat them both. Fight them both at the same time.”
The young soldier was confused. He was born thin and weak, these two people are captains, and they were both more experienced than he was. How can he beat them?
He came forward with trepidation. He was afraid to move.
General Hou twisted his eyebrows and shouted, “Fight!”
The Military Advisor at the bottom saw this. He shook his head, went up, and spoke in a warm voice; “The three of you will fight against each other, two against one. The winner will be rewarded with 5 taels of silver.”
When these words came out, the eyes of the two captains, who had already drunk their brains out, and the junior soldier, all lit up.
They instantly fought without hesitation.
The young soldier was thin, and the two captains were both dizzy, unable to stand. For a time, a draw was sustained.
The Military Advisor stood watching, and General Hou quietly went to his side, “Cousin, those 5 taels of silver …”
“Out of the General account.”
General Hou’s heart felt bitter, but he still had to maintain an image in front of his subordinates. He could only feel bitter while scolding the three people with a stern face.
“Is this how you fight against the enemy?! The lower stands are unstable. How did I regularly train you guys?!!”
The three fought with great enthusiasm.
Ji Changze also found it interesting to watch it from below.
Such good chickens pecking at each other ah…
(TNote: Chicken pecking at each other = gaming term; two novices/ clumsy players hitting each other.)
Because General Hou wasn’t talking right now, the soldiers around them were whispering.
“Which one do you think would win?”
“It’s the two captains, isn’t it? Look how strong they are.”
“I don’t think so. They drank the wine, and couldn’t even stand steadily. Otherwise, how could they fight a skinny boy for so long? “
“That’s right, I really envy this kid. I wish I was the one that was called up. That’s 5 taels of silver ah.”
Ji Changze listened to them, took out some peanuts from his sleeve, and began to eat.
While eating, he watched the battle on stage.
Sure enough, it was soon over.
Although the two captains had more experience, height, and stature than the younger man, after drinking the wine, they are dizzy and felt sleepy after being blown by the wind. It was good enough that they didn’t pass out on the stage.
Under the sight of General Hou’s concealed heartache, the Military Advisor personally gave 5 taels of silver to the scrawny little soldier.
The other two hung their heads and staggered down. The little soldier ran off the stage with a face full of excitement.
These 5 taels of silver were enough to cover his family’s expenses for 3 years.
On the stage, General Hou’s eyes followed the silver. In others’ eyes, he appreciated the boy who could knock down two captains and immediately became more envious.
When the silver… no, the soldier went into the queue and out of sight, General Hou reluctantly retracted his eyes.
“See! These two people, that are known to be able to drink, to fight, to have experience in killing the enemy, then what? They were still at the mercy of others when they drink, they can’t even beat a small soldier.”
“If you’re at home, outside, as long as you aren’t in my military camp, you can drink how you like. But if you are drunk in the military camp, and it coincides with an enemy’s attack. Drunk people can’t even distinguish between southeast and northwest. How can you meet the enemy?!!”
“Do you want to burp at them with your wine breath?!!”
Seeing his furious face, and cold and frightening tone, the people below didn’t dare to make a sound and watched carefully as General Hou spoke.
“For the sake of your own lives, you weren’t allowed to drink. As a result, all of you think you are so ‘smart’. I won’t allow you to drink, and you drink secretly! Why? You don’t feel any pain from the beating, do you?”
No matter how many people who love to drink before had complaints at the bottom of their hearts against General Hou.
Now that they have seen with their own eyes, the two captains, who had drunk, were beaten by a skinny little soldier. Their hearts were a little scared in the end.
They were all people who went to the battlefield. Of course, they knew how dangerous this situation would be if they really ran into an enemy attack.
One’s life was still very important.