Chapter 324

Chapter 324: Thirty Thousand Went, Thirty Thousand Souls Returned

Regarding the private soldiers, Wei Yu directly told Du Xing that he needed two hundred men.

He only said two hundred men were needed, but did not say what these two hundred men were for, and Du Xing neither asked nor pressed him.

Anyway, such matters only required His Majesty to know; since the lord did not ask, as a minister, he truly did not need to know too much.

And about the two hundred men, since Wei Yu said he wanted to select them himself, Du Xing led him to places with many people, one of which was the training ground.

When the group arrived at the training ground, they happened to hear cheers again celebrating Ah Shan’s victory.

Wei Yu only glanced at it from afar, before he could even say anything, Du Xing nervously came over.

“Your Highness, these are the men you personally sent to the Tiger Vanguard Army before, do you still remember? You won’t change your mind and take them back, right?”

That kind of urgent worry that Wei Yu would order the men to be taken away made Wei Yu silently pause.

He turned his head, “I haven’t said anything yet.”

Just because I don’t say it now doesn’t mean I won’t say it later!

Du Xing rubbed his hands awkwardly and said with a forced smile, “Ah, Your Highness, to be honest, it has been a long time since I have seen such talented people, really! Bai Shan is naturally strong, learns every technique easily, a born commander! I was already planning to send him to the border early next year!”

Ah Shan had no surname. Before he was sent to the camp, he had taken Bai Feiyu’s surname and renamed himself Bai Shan.

Upon hearing Du Xing’s words, Wei Yu glanced at him sideways and said irritatedly, “Lord Du, rest assured, since I sent Bai Shan to the camp, I naturally won’t take him back!”

What kind of person is this? Guarding him as if against a thief?

Why is this military talent not worthy to be with me?!

Lord Du put his heart back in his stomach, sighed deeply, and comforted himself openly without hiding anything.

Wei Yu: …

Bai Feiyu behind couldn’t help but laugh as well.

Wei Yu never intended to move Ah Shan; seeing Du Xing’s deliberate attitude, he just swept his sleeves and left.

Seeing His Highness leave, Du Xing quickly chased after him, shamelessly smiling, “Your Highness, don’t go! Although I don’t know the entire army in detail, if you want to find men, I can help you! Bai Shan isn’t suitable, but for others, just say the word! I guarantee I can find them for you!”

Wei Yu didn’t even listen to this and casually said, “Looking for men? Alright, I want two hundred who are both handsome and learned, bring them here.”

Handsome and learned?

Ah, well.

Du Xing was stunned and remained silent for a long while.

Wei Yu glanced at him, seeing the other drooping his eyelids as if overwhelmed, and thought maybe this was troubling the Lord Grand Commandant.

“Lord Du, you…”

“Got it!”

Du Xing clapped, interrupting Wei Yu’s words, eyes sparkling with interest, “Your Highness, I know where to find the people you want! The Tiger Vanguard Army won’t do; let’s go to the Southern Army!”

Huh?

Wei Yu looked at him blankly.

Go to the Southern Army?!

—

Before arriving at the Southern Army camp, Wei Yu only knew that it was full of the children of military commanders, and that there were all kinds of ruffians.

However, after arriving, Wei Yu finally realized that this was no gang of ruffians at all—it was clearly a gathering of playboys!

Standing outside the Southern Army camp, Wei Yu glanced at the solemn and formal camp on the right, then looked at a row of self-built wooden huts on the left, and remained expressionless and silent for a while.

The camp was stern and only the sounds of passionate soldiers could be heard inside. The wooden huts were loud, with some families playing cards or cricket fighting, others drinking and bragging wildly… The two sides were not far apart, only about a hundred meters or so, separated by a century-old big tree.

Wei Yu saw it all, feeling the scene was extremely divided.

Du Xing stood behind him, constantly watching his expression. Seeing Wei Yu remained silent, he kindly explained.

“Your Highness, the people in the Southern Army are all hereditary noble descendants. Don’t mind the mess here; actually… at home, they’re even more unruly.”

Wei Yu: …

He glanced over, “How unruly?”

Du Xing blinked and asked in return, “Have you seen rich playboys? They are even more spoiled than those. Joining the Southern Army has already reined them in!”

Wei Yu silently looked at him, “Does the Emperor know?”

“Well, I guess so,” Du Xing replied, half certain, half doubtful.

Wei Yu gave him a look that was hard to explain.

As the Grand Commandant, how could Lord Du not know about this chaos in the Southern Army camp? Even if the Emperor didn’t know, shouldn’t you have taken steps to improve it?

Though Wei Yu didn’t speak, his eyes said it all.

Seeing that look, Lord Du’s gaze darkened. He looked towards the camp and sighed deeply, “It seems Your Highness is unaware; actually, over forty years ago, the Southern Army was not like this.”

Wei Yu frowned slightly, “Over forty years ago? But what happened?”

This kind of prelude to a story made Bai Feiyu also turn his gaze in that direction.

“There was something.”

Du Xing fell silent for a moment, then said, “More than forty years ago, Qingzhou experienced a rebellion.”

Qingzhou!

Wei Yu instinctively turned to Bai Feiyu beside him.

He hadn’t forgotten that this guy came from Qingzhou.

Hearing about a rebellion in Qingzhou over forty years ago, Bai Feiyu’s face also showed some nostalgic realization.

Seeing him deep in thought, Wei Yu directly asked, “Have you heard of this?”

Upon hearing the question, Du Xing looked over in surprise.

Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Bai Feiyu lowered his gaze, thinking as if oblivious to others, then slowly nodded, “When I was young, I saw this in the family library records…

The books recorded that forty-six years ago, Qingzhou suffered an epidemic. The epidemic was huge; cities and villages all over Qingzhou were sealed off, but after half a year, there was no improvement. The government was powerless. Later, Qingzhou also suffered a famine. In less than three months, corpses were everywhere… The rebellion started then.”

Bai Feiyu raised his eyes and looked at Du Xing, respectfully bowing and asking, “Lord Du, I have not experienced the Qingzhou rebellion personally. Is it true? Please confirm, Lord Du.”

“Ah.”

Du Xing sighed, “What you said is correct. It was indeed that rebellion. Danzhou and Qingzhou are adjacent. At that time, the Qingzhou garrison was overwhelmed and had to seek help from the Imperial Court, which sent out the Southern Army.”

Du Xing looked at the rows of wooden huts beside the camp and at the soldiers playing and shouting nearby. His gaze became long and deep.

“An epidemic and famine, everyone knew that the Southern Army’s expedition to Qingzhou was likely a one-way trip, but the soldiers defended the nation and the people in peril. How could they feign deafness and blindness and continue to enjoy their wealth?”

“Before the expedition, no one in the Southern Army was cowardly. Thirty thousand went, thirty thousand souls returned.”