Chapter 785: Incorporating the Army
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Shut up, all of you!”
The scar-faced man stopped everyone and said impatiently to Jing Yi, “Hurry up and do it. I can only cut one off myself.”
“Do you want to cut it off?” Jing Yi asked Su Xiaoxiao.
A short man rushed out and knelt in front of Su Xiaoxiao’s carriage. “Miss,
Aunt! Please, let our boss go! We won’t s.n.a.t.c.h your things anymore!”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “If you don’t s.n.a.t.c.h ours, you’ll s.n.a.t.c.h others later. You’ve also s.n.a.t.c.hed a lot previously, right?”
The short man choked and said, “Miss, we had no choice. The people at the border were struggling to survive, and the Imperial Court had reduced their troops. They didn’t even give us a salary or silver. We were chased out of the military camp just like that. Our brothers were just trying to make a living. The old and young in the family are about to starve to death… We only robbed those rich businessmen… We didn’t touch a single strand of hair of ordinary people…”
Su Xiaoxiao asked, “Are you soldiers fromthe border?”
No wonder this group of people was well-trained and knew how to arrange troops and attack from both sides.
The short man said, “Some are, and some are poor commoners who can’t live anymore. They came up the mountain to join us. Miss, I swear on the lives of my entire family that if I say anything false, I’ll be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!”
Su Xiaoxiao frowned and said, “The situation at the border is tense. We should have increased our troops. Why did they cut the troops?”
The short man said angrily, “If the salary isn’t enough, they’ll protect the regular army first. The so-called regular army are actually the direct descendants of the Leng family. Those of us who went later, who were unwilling to pledge loyalty to the Leng family, and those who were unwilling to submit to the Imperial Court, were all chased out of the military camp by the Leng family. ”
Cutting the troops required a large sum of money, and if one violated military law and was expelled from the military camp, they did not need to pay any money.
Su Xiaoxiao looked at everyone. “Are there members of the Wei family army among you?”
There was silence for a long time.
Suddenly, a sallow young man walked out.
A moment later, a man with a limp on his left foot walked out.
One after another, there were more than a hundred people.
These were all soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the Great Zhou. Who would have thought that they would become bandits?
“Whose subordinate are you?” Su Xiaoxiao asked the first young man to walk out.
“General Wei Xu’s subordinate.”
“And you?”
“Lord Wu An’s subordinate.”
“General Wei Xu’s subordinate.”
“General Wei Xu’s subordinate.”
Su Xiaoxiao looked at the scar-faced man. “Are you a soldier of the Imperial
Court?”
“I’m not,” the scar-faced man said coldly. “I won’t work for the Imperial Court for the rest of my life!”
It seemed that there was a story… Su Xiaoxiao continued, “Then are you willing to work for your brothers?”
The scar-faced man asked warily, “What do you mean?”
Su Xiaoxiao said seriously, “No matter what difficulties you have, a thief is a thief. If the army of the Imperial Court comes, they still have to eliminate you. If you want to save these people’s lives, there’s only one way—submit.”
“We will never submit to the Imperial Court!”
“That’s right!”
Everyone’s dissatisfaction with the Imperial Court had long reached its peak.
Su Xiaoxiao raised her voice. “Not to the Imperial Court, but to me.” The scar-faced man asked strangely, “Who are you?”
Su Xiaoxiao took out two tokens. “Qin Su of the Protector Duke’s Estate. Qin
Canglan is my grandfather, and Wei Ting is my husband.”
The short man was stunned. “You… you’re from the Duke’s Protectorate and the Wei Manor? Wait, why are these two families married? Aren’t they sworn enemies?”
Su Xiaoxiao alighted from the carriage and looked at the remaining bandits and soldiers around her. She said solemnly, “What happened back then was a misunderstanding. The two families were schemed against and provoked by traitors. Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, the two families have already formed a good relationship. If you trust me, follow me. I’ll give you the salary that the Imperial Court didn’t give you! If the Imperial Court doesn’t treat your injuries, I’ll treat them! I only have one condition. Once the war starts, you have to fight alongside me!”
It was not that she wanted them to protect her, nor was it that they were at the front. Instead, they were fighting alongside her.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned. Their hearts seemed to have been hit by something.
The scar-faced man looked at all his brothers and knew that they were already tempted. However, they had been hurt once, so they had to be more careful. He asked suspiciously, “Are you really not with the Leng family?”
Su Xiaoxiao said seriously, “I killed Leng Rui and crippled Leng Tiannan’s legs. What do you think?”
Everyone gasped.
Heavens, what kind of ferocious girl was this!
The scar-faced man frowned and said, “I have to go back to the village first. If my brothers are willing, I’ll bring them over. If not… I’ll come back and give you my arms.”
Su Xiaoxiao agreed generously. “Okay.”
After the group left, Fu Su asked, “Young Madam, aren’t you afraid that they will run away?”
Su Xiaoxiao shook her head. “They’re starving. If they really intended to run, they would have s.n.a.t.c.hed the food first.”
About an hour later, the scar-faced man came over with a group of people.
Fu Su looked at the endless bandit stream and was so shocked that his hand trembled.
Heavens, how many bandits were there?
The scar-faced man cleared his throat and said worriedly, “There are 2,000 people. Other than women, children, and old people who can’t move, everyone is here! Do you think we can take them in?”
There were some disabled soldiers here. Ordinary people would only want
strong troops.
Su Xiaoxiao said without hesitation, “Yes! Let’s eat first!”
The scar-faced man swallowed. “If we don’t eat this meal, can we send it to the family in the village?”
Su Xiaoxiao refused. “No.”
Everyone was stunned. They had just thought that she was a good person, but now they were not allowed to help their families? They were saving their rations, not asking her to fork out more money..
Su Xiaoxiao said calmly, “They will eat, but you have to eat too.”
Su Xiaoxiao experienced the joy of the White Lotus Society. It was good to have gold to raise an army.
Everyone started cooking on the spot. This was the only full meal they had in more than ten days.
They thought that it was already very good to be able to eat white steamed buns, but they did not expect there to be meat soup! Not only that, but everyone’s bowls also had a piece of meat!
At first, they were extremely excited, but as they ate, they cried.
Su Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to treat the injured soldiers while everyone was eating.
Actually, these injuries were not too serious at first. If they were serious, they would not have lasted until today. However, because they were not treated in time, their injuries worsened.
“Don’t look. ”
A soldier refused Su Xiaoxiao’s treatment.
Su Xiaoxiao asked, “How can I treat you if I don’t look.”
This soldier was about the same age as Jing Yi. He carried the innocence and shyness of a young man. His leg was rotten and emitted a nauseating stench. He didn’t even dare to look at them himself, let alone let a girl see them. Su Xiaoxiao forcefully pulled his foot over and used the scissors to cut open his pants and the cloth that had long been stuck to his wound.
An unpleasant stench a.s.saulted her nose. The young man panicked, but Su
Xiaoxiao’s expression did not change.
“Bear with it. I’m going to sc.r.a.pe off the rotten flesh on it.”
This place was a little far from where everyone was eating. Everyone could not smell it, but they all knew how serious the young man’s injury was. They saw the rich young lady kneeling on the dirty ground, holding a rotten leg. She did not show any disdain or avoidance and treated the injury seriously and attentively.
This scene made everyone’s throat hurt again..