Chapter 115: The Reputation of Benevolence and Righteousness

Following this, Li Yi summoned the minor official in charge of the conscripted laborers.

This official, who hailed from the household registration department of Mizhi County, was naturally well aware of Li Yi’s reputation. However, unlike the benevolent image perceived by the common folk, the rumors he had heard painted Li Yi as a man who would kill without batting an eye.

"How many meals do the laborers receive now, and what are they eating?"

The official replied tremulously, "Reporting to Battalion Commander Li, the laborers eat the grain they brought themselves. They are only permitted to kindle fires and cook when the main army makes camp."

This was a classic maneuver of the feudal dynasty: compelling commoners to labor for nothing while forcing them to provide their own food and, at times, construct their own makeshift shelters.

"From now on, the laborers will receive two meals a day. Thick porridge in the morning, with an extra serving of pickled vegetables in the evening."

Hearing this, the official looked troubled. "The military rations are reserved solely for the troops. If I were to distribute any to the laborers, I would not have the authority to do so."

Li Yi understood that as a mere minor official, he truly dared not act on his own initiative.

"You are only to do as I command. I shall go to pay my respects to Administration Commissioner Hong shortly to discuss this matter. Once you receive the written order, see that you do not neglect them."

Managing military provisions was the most lucrative of positions. The official had heard many tricks of the trade at the county office and was now somewhat tempted, wondering if he might be able to make a fortune. But in the next second, Li Yi’s words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and he immediately cast aside such petty thoughts.

"I will occasionally come to inspect. If I discover any embezzlement of grain or the substitution of inferior goods, I shall execute the offender without mercy."

Amidst the cheers and profuse thanks of the laborers, Li Yi left the camp.

Liu Zongmin, failing to understand, whispered, "Commander, why treat these laborers so well?"

Li Yi replied with a calm expression, "Is it not right to treat them well?"

Liu Zongmin hesitated. "You are righteous, Commander, and cannot bear to see the people suffer; that much I know. But, but..."

"But you think it is somewhat womanish, is that it?" Li Yi spoke the words Liu Zongmin had left unsaid.

Liu Zongmin nodded, feeling a bit awkward.

"These laborers are all from Mizhi. He Renlong is a border general, and Hong Chengchou is a high-ranking official; they may not care whether these laborers live or die. But I am a man of Mizhi, and I cannot do the same. Zongmin, you must remember that in this world, the authorities cannot be trusted. If we wish to secure our footing and grow our strength, we must root ourselves in the lower classes and unite all the power that can be organized. Helping these laborers is a trivial matter for you and me, but for them, it is a life-saving grace. If this can strengthen the Farmers' Association and make more people from Mizhi trust and respect our Sui Jin Army, then we must do it with all our might."

Li Yi’s words were direct, effectively conveying his personal code of conduct: whether it be the Farmers' Association or the Sui Jin Army, they must actively unite the common people to serve as the foundation for their own growth. Yet, there was a deeper reason he did not explicitly state—the influence of his modern perspective. He simply could not accept the phenomenon of treating human lives as if they were mere blades of grass; he wanted these laborers to live like human beings.

Regardless, the plight of the laborers improved significantly under Li Yi’s intervention. That same day, Hong Chengchou received Li Yi’s proposal to provide rations for the laborers. Considering the welfare of a hundred-odd men a trifle, and acknowledging that he still had need of Li Yi with the great battle looming, he granted the request.

Gossip always spreads with remarkable speed. Soon, the news that Li Yi was providing shoes and clothing to the laborers, and had petitioned for them to be fed, rippled through the entire army. When He Renlong heard this, he curled his lip, dismissing Li Yi’s actions as womanish and claiming he would never achieve anything great. Thousand-man Commander Yang also felt that Li Yi was wasting effort on a thankless task. Only the low-ranking soldiers, who lived difficult lives themselves, discussed the matter, secretly hoping they might one day serve under such an officer.

Li Yi’s actions not only helped the laborers but also established his image of righteousness, invisibly winning over many hearts. As the saying goes, "The benevolent are invincible," and this was precisely why.

At dawn the next day, the trumpeter blew the first signal. This was the command for the troops to pack their bags and prepare their meals. Once the food was ready, the second signal sounded, reminding the soldiers to finish eating, gather their belongings, and assemble on the parade ground. Following the assembly, the third signal would sound, acting as the order to march. It was somewhat reminiscent of the reveille, mess calls, and marching orders of the future. The only difference was that while modern soldiers might be confined to barracks for tardiness, here they would be beheaded and their heads hung from flagpoles. Yet, Li Yi had to admit that in many respects, the Great Ming bore similarities to the future.

The army set out, marching at a swift pace. Unlike the common perception of the army marching thirty li a day, the Ming military regulations specified that if the situation was urgent, cavalry were to cover one hundred and twenty li, and infantry one hundred li, day and night. Their force, being an integrated unit, maintained a pace of over sixty li. According to the itinerary, it would take eight or nine days to reach Hancheng.

Leaving the territory of Suide, the army entered Qingjian County. Over the following days, they passed through Yanchuan and Yanchang, eventually entering Yichuan County. Compared to the barren and desolate north of Yan'an, the south was significantly better, as it was home to many merchants and wealthy families, resulting in more prosperous villages and grand estates. However, it was precisely because of this that a tragedy occurred during the monotonous march.

Li Yi, on horseback with Buyan and others, stood upon a loess ridge. By the riverbank, several headless corpses lay buried in a shallow pit. Perhaps due to the haste of the burial, the wind had exposed them. A terrified villager stood to the side, stammering out the sequence of events. It turned out that when the vanguard passed by the day before, they had encountered a few herdsmen watering their goats. The troops under He Renlong, already prone to looting and disregarding military discipline, had sought to seize the goats to improve their rations. Because these goats were the herdsmen’s entire livelihood, a conflict ensued. The brutal border troops drew their blades, slaughtered the herdsmen, and decapitated them to claim credit for killing "rebels."

Li Yi frowned. This was the practice of killing innocents to claim military merit. Despite Hong Chengchou’s repeated warnings, He Renlong had dared to do this. That evening, Li Yi brought the villager to the main camp to report the matter to Hong Chengchou. To his surprise, Hong Chengchou did not even look up; he merely asked the villager a few questions before stating that he would investigate. That same night, He Renlong appeared before the commander to defend himself, offering excuses and pledging his loyalty. With the battle against Wang Zuogua imminent, Hong Chengchou had no intention of punishing He Renlong. Instead of reprimanding him, he offered words of encouragement, leading He Renlong to kneel and swear on his life that he would fight valiantly against the rebels.

The next day, Li Yi saw the heads of the villagers hanging from a flagpole. Their eyes had long since been pecked away by crows, leaving hollow, blackened sockets, swaying in the wind. Hong Chengchou issued an order: with the great battle approaching, the entire army was to maintain strict discipline and prepare for combat without slack. As for the villagers who had "disturbed the morale of the army," they were naturally executed as rebel spies.