If I let you stay in Lingnan, how could you become the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty?

Chapter 12 Back then, when my team was just starting out, there were only a few thousand people and dozens of guns.

Officers and soldiers should be treated like the children of the people, and should not take even a needle or thread from the people...

The people and the officers and soldiers should be like fish in water...

This was the first time he heard such a statement.

However, this statement made him feel very comfortable, and he even couldn't help but nod in admiration.

"It seems that you admire the prince very much?"

The big man nodded immediately:

"That's right! Your Majesty is truly the lucky star of our Lingnan. It is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty and the people that such a noble and talented person can be enfeoffed in Lingnan by the Emperor!"

"My admiration and respect for him is like the endless flow of the river, or like the flood of the Yellow River, which is unstoppable..."

At this time, Li An was in the palace hall, holding a wine glass in one hand, staggering to a drunken general, and kicked him:
"Sleep like hell, wake up and have fun for me!"

The general was not a heavy drinker and was already drowsy. After being kicked, he just grunted but continued to snore on the table.

The generals nearby saw this but didn't take it seriously. They raised their wine glasses and laughed.

The loud shouting and yelling seemed to be about to rip the roof of the hall off.

Li An didn't care and returned to his seat.
Looking at the brave generals gathered in the hall, his face was full of joy.

When he first arrived in Lingnan, there was a shortage of soldiers and generals. In name, there were 5,000 soldiers, but in reality, one third were old, weak, sick and disabled, and one third were generals who were paid without any salary.
Only one third, or more than a thousand men, were available.

With only a thousand soldiers, he had to face the surrounding barbarians who were eyeing him covetously.
And the countless mountain bandits who were forced to become bandits due to the difficult life!
Lingnan is a vast land, full of dangers.

It's like a house full of holes. Once it encounters a storm, it will collapse immediately!

Therefore, Li An first dismissed the Wu soldiers and ordered the old, weak, sick and disabled to open up wasteland and cultivate land, or build bridges and roads.

Then all those generals who were occupying the toilet but doing nothing and only knew how to draw salaries without doing anything were thrown into jail.

Then they recruited soldiers and brought many hungry people into the barracks to fill the vacancies for soldiers with empty salaries.

Finally, he took 5,000 combat-capable soldiers and, half by coercion and half by inducement, recruited the bandits in the mountains of Lingnan.

While quelling various crises within Lingnan, he did not let these soldiers sit idle.

A small drill every day, a forced march every three days, and a large-scale drill every five days.

While the training was extremely painful for these soldiers, it also allowed them to quickly become united as a team and develop fighting power.

Then, he began to use military forces everywhere to severely punish the Baiyue barbarians who often came out to plunder Lingnan and harm the people.

In a great battle, the coalition forces of more than a dozen chieftains were defeated, and the barbarians were forced to flee in panic without any weapons or armor.

In order to make an example of someone else, they threw the most powerful and unruly chieftain Meng Chun directly into the pot and stewed him!

While holding a big stick in one hand, he has prepared a sweet carrot in the other.

It is clear that all under heaven belongs to the king, and all within the four seas are the king's subjects.

No matter whether they are from the Baiyue or Miao tribe, as long as they are loyal to the imperial court, they are the subjects of the Tang Dynasty!
He treats everyone equally!
Therefore, the Baiyue barbarians were quickly divided and then defeated one by one.

From then on, the barbarians from all directions had to submit and never dared to covet Lingnan again!
Today, Lingnan has a large number of soldiers and generals, with a strong army of 40,000.

Such a force is enough to intimidate the surrounding villains and bring peace to Lingnan!

Thinking of this, he felt even more satisfied, raised the wine glass in his hand, and laughed:
"Back then, when my team first started, there were only a few thousand people and dozens of guns!"

"It's only been three years, and we already have 40,000 strong soldiers and many brave generals. Great, hahaha..." All the generals cheered loudly:
"It's all thanks to the prince's planning that we were able to win the battle thousands of miles away!"

"Your Highness's bravery is comparable to that of the Overlord of Western Chu. When the barbarians heard that Your Highness was coming, they all fled like mice seeing a cat!"

"When it comes to fighting, I, Old Zhou, will not submit to anyone but the prince!"

"That's right, I'll hit you wherever the prince tells me to hit you, without even frowning!"

"good!"

Li An heard the generals flattering him and vying to show their loyalty, and he slapped the table with joy and said with a smile:

"In the past three years, we have already had a strong army of 40,000 in Lingnan, with countless food and fodder. I would like to take advantage of the current strong military force and lead you all the way to the southernmost part. What do you think?"

"Haha, I haven't fought for a long time. My gun has been lonely for a long time. I can only use it on my wife at home every day! I'm just waiting for your words, Your Highness!"

"We should have attacked the south long ago!"

"Your Highness, let's go after we finish this drink!"

"We have many soldiers and generals. Fighting those barbarians in the south is no big deal. We'll go after dinner!"

A bunch of rough guys were there, shouting and echoing.

The huge palace hall was made as lively as a market by them.

But Li An didn't care at all.

He felt like a fish in water when sitting among these generals with rough personalities and even rougher words. Not only did he not put on airs like a prince, he also got along well with them.

Hearing the generals' loud agreement, he was even happier:

"Three years ago, when I first arrived in Lingnan, the entire army had less than a thousand spears, and even fewer heavy crossbows and hard bows. The Ming helmets were all worn out! Even so, there was not even a set of armor for every ten soldiers!"

"I wrote to the court to ask for it. What did your father-in-law say? He said, 'I don't have any money, but I have my life! Look at how much my flesh is worth. Cut it off and buy armor!'"

"How can I make it difficult for my father! You don't have to give me money, but I can find a way myself! You can't not give me money and ask me to be a good child! My father said, go away, go find a way yourself, don't bother me with these trivial matters!"

"Just like that, within a year, we have spears, bows, heavy crossbows, and each of us has a set of armor! Without these equipments, dare we fight those Baiyue barbarians? Dream on!"

As he spoke, he picked up two chopsticks, tapped the dishes on the table, and began to sing:
“We are all archers, and each arrow kills one enemy!
We are all flying soldiers, even if he is in a high mountain and deep water... "

When many generals heard this, they all held up their wine bowls, clapped their hands on the table, and sang along with Li An:
"If you have nothing to eat or wear, the barbarians will provide it for you.
We have no guns, no cannons, the enemy will make them for us!
We grew up here.
Every inch of land belongs to us!

Whoever wants to seize it,
Let’s fight him to the end…”

Amid the singing, many bandits who had been recruited to the army were now hugging and singing and dancing with the generals who had been soldiers.
Although the whole hall was noisy, it seemed to be filled with comradeship and love among comrades-in-arms!

Even Feng Lang, who was always serious and full of justice, was smiling and humming along with everyone.

After the song was over, everyone burst into laughter.

"Okay!"

"This Lingnan military song written by the prince is so cool to sing!"

"As a general of Lingnan Army, you should be just like what is sung in this song!"

"Your Majesty, if the present emperor is the Son of Heaven, then you are my sun!"

"That's right, my Lord! Your brilliance is as brilliant as the sun, and your kindness nourishes the earth like rain and dew..."

(End of this chapter)