The Red Mansions Across the Four Seas

Chapter 234
Not to mention the garrison in a place like Bukui, just escorting prisoners is not a good job.

In addition to the high mountains and long roads, and the cold weather on the road, the prisoners had to be arranged to eat, drink, and sleep along the way, not to mention that the prisoners might escape at any time.

It takes nearly four months to travel from the imperial capital to Bukui. Thinking about the distance and time is a headache.

The prisoners were old and young, male and female.Some are accompanied by family members.

In the family, the composition is also more complicated.Some are relatives who were convicted of crimes, and some are slaves.There are still some who have not committed any crimes, but they still have to go with them.

The safety of these people on the road is also a problem.If it is cold, it may be frozen, and if it is hot, it may be heat stroke.When encountering the wilderness, mountains and dense forests, you may encounter wild animals.Crossed the river, probably washed away by the flood....

Although criminals over the age of 60 are generally no longer exiled, all prisoners have been held in large prisons for a relatively long period of time. Almost everyone is malnourished, in poor health, and some suffer from diseases.

It's okay if it's a common disease, but if you have an infectious disease, it's still a threat to others.

With 300 prisoners, plus more than 800 soldiers of his own, and a team of more than [-] people, no matter where he went, just eating and lodging was a huge problem.

If only the members of the Fubingtuan were young people after training, they would be able to deal with emergencies effectively on the road.With these prisoners, the situation will be much more complicated when something happens.

In short, this long journey is not only a torment for the prisoners, but also a torment for the escorted soldiers.

"My lords, my soldiers are all recruits. They have not undergone much training, and they have never escorted prisoners before. Therefore, I cannot do this job. You should hire someone else."

"It's just leading a group of people to walk together, so why is there any difficulty? I heard that Huaiyuan was training soldiers in the wilderness, and he specially practiced walking. Doesn't this just come in handy?"

God, my military training is called walking?Where is this going? Can you make it up?Practice a queue, how come even the people in your criminal department know about it?

"Escorting prisoners is really a hard job, you see..."

Therefore, Jia Min listed all the difficulties that he might encounter on the road that he had thought before, and even mentioned such things as the possibility of infectious patients among the prisoners.

The purpose is to emphasize the difficulty and explain that you are not suitable.

"Li Shangshu, do you think I've read the right person? Huaiyuan is Huaiyuan after all. He is not only a genius in poetry, business, and military, but he is also a genius in escorting prisoners."

How did I become a genius again?

"I have been in charge of the deportation of exiles for more than ten years. Huaiyuan is the most professional escort officer I have ever met. Just now I can list those things, which shows that he has a plan for escort."

"In the past, when those people received an escort job, they always slapped their chests and said, 'Leave it to me. Even if they were beaten to death or injured, or died of illness, less than half of them could be sent to other places. This time I handed it over to Huaiyuan, so I feel relieved."

Talking about difficulties, how come it becomes a well-thought-out plan?How can I say that I can't turn down this errand?

What Jiang Shilang said about the death of prisoners on the road is not alarmist.In the previous escorts, such things did happen frequently.

Except for the escort task of hundreds of people like this time, which is carried out by the army, most of the escorts are actually small-scale.They were escorted by government servants from various places.

The quality of the yamen servants is uneven, and some of them have no professional knowledge and skills in this area at all.In addition, escorting is a hard job, so there are endless incidents of beating, scolding and insulting prisoners on the road.

The prisoner's food and lodging expenses on the way are borne by the government.When you meet a black-hearted yamen servant, you will inevitably be deducted.Not giving prisoners enough to eat, not giving medical treatment to those who are sick, such things often happen.

What's more, there are some colluding with the prisoners' enemies to murder the prisoners on the way.Some were beaten to death, died of illness, or died violently.There are also those who sell prisoners to be slaves and coolies on the road, and so on, and so on.

It is said that they were exiled, but in fact, many people died on the way before reaching the place of exile.

Over the years, such tragedies have been staged again and again, and people have become accustomed to it.

"We'll discuss this matter later. Let's go. I'll treat you two to a drink."

After speaking, Li Yuan got up and walked out.

With wine and the possibility of handling tricky errands, Jiang Shilang is naturally willing to go.

Although Jia Min knew that this was not good wine, Li Yuan was both a boss and a teacher, so it was not easy to go.

What's more, if you follow him, you might be able to turn down the job.If he was not there, Jiang Shilang bewitched Li Yuan and forced this errand on his own head, and he could only bear it.

After drinking for three rounds, Li Yuan began to support Jia Min.

"Huaiyuan, toast Mr. Jiang and thank him for supporting you."

I thank him?He supports me?He pushed me into the fire pit, and I still have to respect him?Is there any reason?

"Master Jiang, I offer you a toast, thank you for your cooperation."

With a thousand dissatisfaction in his heart, Jia Min toasted Jiang Shilang anyway.

Li Yuan has spoken, he always has to give this face.

"Huaiyuan, you don't have to be polite, this is what I should do."

Or should it be done?You should cheat me?
"I'll have a drink with Huaiyuan, and congratulate Huaiyuan first."

Li Yuan raised his glass, touched Jia Min, and drank it.

"Men, where does my joy come from?"

"Naturally, it's Mr. Jiang's escort. As soon as Huaiyuan left the teacher, he made a great achievement before he arrived at the place. Isn't it a happy event? As soon as the door opens next year, there will be a big event. If it is done well, next year's assessment, Huaiyuan will definitely have a good result."

It's over, it's over, it's still not running away.Why am I so unlucky this year?It's almost the Chinese New Year, and there is such a mess.

"Huiyuan is really lucky this year, and there are so many happy events. Escorting a prisoner is a happy event, and the next one will be even more happy."

What, what, and a happy event?If there is any happy event, you can keep it for yourself, I don't want it.

"This happy event is to congratulate Huaiyuan on his promotion."

"Teacher, the promotion has already been celebrated at the trial banquet. There is no need to congratulate."

"That time was that time, and this time is this time. Last time, it was the official given by the emperor, and it was the fourth-rank guard. This time it is the official I gave you, from the third-rank captain."

"Well, teacher, did you..."

You didn't drink much, did you?It's only been a few days of work, and I haven't done anything yet, just get promoted?This is too fast.

"The teacher is joking."

What I'm drinking now is high-grade wine from Hu's Winery, no wonder the teacher has drunk so quickly.Huh?its not right?its not right!It's over, it's over, Bu Kui is such a big pit.

This damned Li Yuan must have told me to jump into Bu Kui's pit.I sent the prisoner away, and told me to stay there and not leave.

Otherwise, how could he be so kind and give me a promotion for no reason.

"I'm not joking. Mr. Jiang is right. I will send you to Bukui to clean up the situation there."

I'm going to clean up the situation?How many people can't clean up, what can I do?It's not about doing business, it's about managing prisoners.

It's just that it's okay to take care of the prisoners, and there is still a war, so how can I fight with these rookies under my command?Isn't it just waiting to die?

Veterans and veterans don't go, so ask me to lead a group of rookies as a child, are you embarrassed?

"Teacher, the students have never led the army to fight. They are not talented and learned, and they are all recruits. Such a heavy responsibility, I really can't afford it, and I ask the teacher to take it back."

"Jia Min, military and state affairs, do you think I'm joking with you? Do you want me to report to the emperor and ask the emperor to give you an order in person? Could it be that my military department can't command you?"

Li Yuan put down his wine glass with a bang, his face changed.

"Huaiyuan, why don't you hurry up and apologize to Lord Li. It's your blessing that Lord Li supports you so much. No one else wants this opportunity. You got promoted without doing anything. Lord Li thinks so much of you, Hurry up and thank Master Li."

Jiang Shilang added oil and vinegar to the side.

To be promoted to a fart officer, I will ask you to be the minister of the Ministry of punishment tomorrow, and I will tell you to die the day after tomorrow. This is also supporting you, what are you doing?You bastard, it's all your bad idea.

"Oh, there is no need to apologize. Huaiyuan, I also know that this matter is a bit embarrassing for you. However, if the matter of Bu Kui is not resolved, the stability of northern Xinjiang will be difficult."

Li Yuan sighed, his tone softened obviously.

"I'm sure you know something about Bu Kui's situation. How many defenses there have been changed, but they all failed in the end. I was inspired by your thesis in the palace examination on reforming the land and returning to the brigade. Maybe you go to Yes, it will really make a career out of it.”

"I don't ask you too much, as long as you can save the lives of the local people, that's fine. Even if they are criminals, since they are not sentenced to beheaded, they have the right to live on. If they commit a new crime, they will naturally They deserve to die. If no new crimes have been committed, it is also the duty of the officials to preserve their lives."

"There are multiple reasons why the situation in Bukui is difficult to reverse. There are too few soldiers and too far away from Ninggu Pagoda."

"So, I promise you five things. The first thing is that when you arrive in Bukui, you will take care of local military and political affairs at your own expense, and will no longer be under the control of General Ningguta."

"Second thing, I will give you a thousand posts, you can recruit soldiers yourself, and the military expenses will be borne by the Ministry of War."

"The third thing, if the [-] manpower is not enough, you can recruit government soldiers yourself, but you have to bear the military expenses yourself."

"The fourth thing, the silver taels handed over to Ninggu Pagoda in the past will be exempted from handing over. However, Ning Guta will no longer allocate silver taels to you."

"Fifth thing, all the officers under your command have been promoted."

"I will report the above matters to the emperor in the near future. I think the emperor will grant permission."

(End of this chapter)