PFC Chapter 637 In any case, they couldn't be worse than the imperial court.
Chapter 637 In any case, they couldn't be worse than the imperial court.
When you're starving, who can still remember their principles?
No, at that time, all they could think about was swallowing everything they could see.
Whether it's grass roots, tree bark, or...
The people!
Anything that could fill their stomachs trembled under their bloodshot eyes.
That was the most accurate portrayal of the Ming army for a long period of time.
This is something the old shopkeeper and Zhang the tailor once did.
Since they chose to join the army, their true initial intention was to protect their country and, at the same time, to fill their stomachs with the government's military pay.
But if the imperial court fails to pay the military salaries, and these men in armor and wielding swords are about to starve to death, what choice do they have?
At that moment, the old shopkeeper truly witnessed what the evil of human nature was.
If there's nothing to eat, then we'll have to rob.
Starving and emaciated, they were no match for the Qing army and rebels outside the Great Wall and were on the verge of collapse.
At times like these, if you want to earn rewards and provisions through military merit, the only option is to kill innocent people and claim credit for them!
In the beginning, most people just wanted something to eat so they wouldn't starve.
But once this kind of thing is set on the table, it will only become more and more unscrupulous.
When they discovered that the common people were also poor, unable to rob anything or even feed themselves.
Thus, the first case arose where innocent people were killed and falsely credited, and the emperor received rewards from the court.
As more and more people learned that the imperial court would grit its teeth and reward those who had rendered meritorious service, countless Ming soldiers began to fall into depravity.
"So you were involved too?"
By the end, Liu Bang was already feeling reluctant to let it go.
The old shopkeeper was already in tears as he spoke.
"Those who didn't participate all starved to death."
"Which of us who survived doesn't have blood on our hands?"
If given the chance to be a good person, who would be willing to slaughter innocent civilians?
“Over the years, I have been awakened by nightmares every night, and I can see countless people coming to take my life.”
"But I joined the army to defend the border!"
silence.
Liu Bang could only remain silent at this moment.
Can we say that the old shopkeeper was wrong?
Compared to the gentry and powerful families, he was just an ordinary person.
However, he had an extra passion for serving his country, which led him to take on the identity of a Ming soldier.
Is it wrong for him to want to live?
That's right.
People also want to live and want to save some food for their families to get through this chaotic and famine-stricken time. Is that wrong?
That’s right.
If they weren't at fault, then who was?
"Old Zhu, your descendants have really committed a terrible sin."
After a long while, Liu Bang let out a deep breath.
The emperor was incompetent, and the officials were all idle and only cared about their own power and wealth. Those in high positions who controlled the military only had their own petty schemes.
No wonder Li Zicheng could lose countless times, while Sun Chuanting couldn't even afford to lose once.
In this kind of world, the court has long lost the hearts of the people. Let alone losing, even if it could keep winning, it would perish sooner or later.
"Xiao Er, we found him during one of our robberies. At that time, his village was deserted. If we had left him there, he would have been doomed. Since we were already considering leaving, we simply came to this border region and started running a shop that others had abandoned, just to make a living."
"But now it seems that the dangers at this border are no better than they were back then."
"The difference is that back then we were worried about starving to death, but now, the biggest threat is the Manchus outside the Great Wall."
“Once the border is breached by the Tartars, an old man like me will probably be boiled alive.”
In the end, the old shopkeeper wiped away his tears and gave a self-deprecating, bitter smile.
He was well aware of his sins, and knew that these sins could not be offset by simply supporting a waiter.
But that's all he can do.
In such a chaotic world, what more can we ask for?
"The ridiculous thing is that the common people think they support us, but in reality, they only support the gentry and high-ranking officials who never treat them as human beings."
"I've seen through it all, but I'm also utterly disappointed. Tell me, sir, when will this world ever end?"
When will this end?
Liu Bang could not answer this question.
He knew perfectly well that this world probably had no end in sight.
The people suffer when a dynasty prospers, and the people suffer when a dynasty falls. No matter how a dynasty rises or falls, only those who ride the crest of the wave are glorious; most people are silently swept away by the tide.
"I cannot answer that question, but I can promise you that, at least in the near future, the lives of ordinary people will be a little better."
"As for the safety of Xiao Er and Zhang the tailor, you don't need to worry."
"I promised them I would save their lives, and a promise is a promise!"
"All I need is for you, old shopkeeper, to deliver a message for me."
“Find a recently risen rebel army called the Great Chu. Their leader might be called the Overlord or the God of War. Find either of them and tell them that the border can be taken. They will naturally know what to do.”
"If they ask me, I will say that it was Liu Ji who said it."
Attacking from outside the pass inwards is naturally as difficult as ascending to heaven.
However, if troops are dispatched from within the pass, there is a chance to easily take them down if the methods are appropriate.
"Great Chu? Rebels?"
"Are you a member of the rebels?"
Hearing those two words seemed to have touched a nerve with the old shopkeeper, and in an instant, murderous intent surged in his eyes.
Indeed, he committed unforgivable crimes, but deep down, he still identified himself as a member of the Ming Dynasty.
Even though he has now secretly deserted from the military and is living under an assumed name, he still finds it difficult to tolerate the rebels.
"Does it even matter whether they are rebels or not?"
"The most critical issues at present are to resolve the problem of gentry colluding with the people to exploit them, to resolve the problem of the Ming imperial family acting recklessly in the local areas, and to resolve the threat of the Manchu Tartars outside the Great Wall."
"Does it matter whether there are rebels or not, as long as these problems can be solved?"
"If Li Zicheng can solve all these problems, barely make the people a little richer, resolve the collusion between the gentry and the people, and hold off the enemy troops outside the pass."
"Why couldn't he take control of the Central Plains?"
“But he clearly doesn’t have that ability, so I came.”
"I will solve all these problems."
Liu Bang's voice seemed to possess some kind of magic, or perhaps the old manager's trust in the court had already vanished.
After a brief standoff, the old shopkeeper nodded helplessly.
"I never imagined that one day, someone like me would be willing to serve the rebels."
“But I will not listen to your side of the story. I will decide whether to help you after I have seen with my own eyes how your rebels treat the people.”
Liu Bang: “…”
How should we treat the people?
Putting Xiang Yu aside for now, since the skill of rapidly building up an army was already ingrained in Han Xin's bones, he must have treated the people well... right?
In this matter, it seems he trusts no one but himself.
"what happened?"
The old shopkeeper noticed the momentary stiffness on Liu Bang's face.
"It's alright. On this point, although I don't trust those two, they are by no means any worse than the imperial court."