Volume 1: Zhu Xian Town Crisis Chapter 7: Wanting People Not Money

  The two of them are now in a better mood, and Yue Yun discovers that she has finally changed history, and her face can't help but show joy.

  In history, Yue Fei met with local residents who blocked his way when he was withdrawing his troops and asked him to stay for five more days before returning south.

  According to Yue Yun's observation, the reason for the five-day delay at that time was probably due to the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict not being bribed.

  After delivering the money himself, the situation indeed changed, and he managed to get a one-month extension for withdrawal. In this one-month buffer period, he could plan carefully on how to save his own life and Yue Fei's.

  But Wang Tong was even more delighted, a month's time was completely enough for the people of Zhu Xian Town to pack their luggage and valuables at home, and even enough for some wealthy merchants to sell their property. Moreover, the 50,000 taels of copper coins he had raised himself only used 20,000 taels, leaving 30,000 taels, which was also an unexpected surprise.

  Wang Tong thought of this and bowed to Yue Yun, saying sincerely: "Young Master Yue, thanks to your help this time, the people of Zhuxian Town have the opportunity to return to the Southern Song Dynasty and resettle. These 30,000 taels of copper coins will be donated by the people of Zhuxian Town as military funds for the Yue family army!"

  Yue Yun heard this and thought for a moment, then hastily declined: "Mr. Wang, please don't do this. I, Yue, am only speaking up for the people of Zhu Xian Town to clear my conscience, not seeking wealth or reward. Moreover, protecting the people is originally part of the duties of the Yue family's military post, so I dare not accept this gift!"

  Yue Yun's behavior was not pretentious, he was not a pedantic gentleman. This sum of money was a considerable fortune for him at present. He knew that in the future, if he wanted to get along well with the high-ranking officials in the court and have them speak well of Yue Fei in front of Zhao Gou, the cost of bribing them would be far more than 30,000 guan.

  These 30,000 taels of silver are really burning a hole in his pocket. Not only is he worried that Yue Fei will discover them, but also that Wang Tong will think him to be a greedy person.

  Even if I force myself to accept it and take it to General Yue Fei, he might not necessarily accept it, and might even ask me to return it to its owner. Rather than letting General Yue Fei be the good guy, I'd better do it myself.

  Moreover, even if Yue Fei really accepted it, it would be used as military funds to purchase grain, weapons, and war horses for future northern expeditions.

  What's the point of doing so? The current constraint on the Northern Expedition is that the imperial court does not have the determination to recover the lost land. Not only do they not support it, but they also drag their feet. Nowadays, the Yue Family Army has a combat power that can be said to be second in the world, and I estimate that no one dares to claim to be the first in the world. However, they still cannot restore the country, and the reason lies in the fact that the imperial court simply does not want to restore the country.

  At this time, Wang Tong saw that Yue Yun could stand up for the people and not be tempted by benefits, and he admired him even more.

  He carefully sized up Yue Yun, but saw that he had red lips and white teeth, a handsome appearance, with a hint of elegance in his eyebrows and eyes, young in years, but with a calm and mature demeanor, with a sharp glint in his eye, definitely not just a reckless warrior.

  Wang Tong's heart moved, and he persuaded again: "Young Master Yue, I know that the Yue family army has always loved the people like their children, and there is no looting or plundering of the common people. But this also makes the military's financial resources very scarce. Now, if the common people are to be relocated to the south, the cost of resettling them in a new place will not be small. Let these 30,000 taels of silver be used for the future resettlement of the common people!"

  Yue Yun smiled slightly and shook his head, saying: "Mr. Wang's kindness is appreciated, but not taking a single coin or thread from the common people is a rule set by my family's military code, which I dare not violate. The matter of resettling the common people will be reported to the imperial court by my father, and the funds will be allocated by the imperial court. I know that the common people are also struggling, so it's better to return the money to them!"

  Wang Tong tried to persuade him several times, but seeing Yue Yun's firm attitude, he had no choice but to give up.

  However, he said with a look of excitement: "Young Master Yue, I am currently living in the private school in Zhuxian Town. Although I have no other skills, I can still write a few words and am familiar with the situation in the town. If you don't mind, just call me Wenqing directly. If there's anything I can do for you, just give me orders!"

  His words already have much in common with mine.

  Wang Tong's statement surprised Yue Yun, who didn't expect Wang Tong to show his willingness to help before he even asked. Although Wang Tong can only be considered a scholar based on this performance and is far from meeting the standards of a military strategist, he should still be able to handle tasks such as writing articles and orders for him.

  Moreover, Wang Tong is a clean and honest person, and it's reassuring to use him. From the situation with Lord Cao, he doesn't seem arrogant or servile, his words are proper, especially when recounting the atrocities of the Golden Army, he was overcome with emotion, moving both Lord Cao and the three young eunuchs. His performance is passable, after some training, he might just become a trusted aide.

  Thinking of this, Yue Yun felt that the opportunity was not to be missed, so he pulled Wang Tong's hand and said: "Good! Wen Qing, you are now a free body, do you have any intention of coming to our Yue family army to do a job? Although I am called 'book writing machine' in the military, but to tell the truth, my handwriting is really not good. Why don't you come to my Beiweng Army as an aide? Let's discuss together how to make the court agree to the northern expedition against the Jin thieves and recover the rivers and mountains!

  Wang Tong was deeply moved after hearing this. The military achievements and discipline of the Yue Family Army were highly appreciated by him, and Yue Yun also made him extremely admire.

  He barely considered it for a moment, then nodded and said: "Since Young Master Yue thinks so highly of me, I will naturally do my best to serve! However, before formally taking office, I still need to handle some matters in the town... If Young Master has any tasks to assign, you can send someone to find me at the Zhu Xian Town Private School!"

  Yue Yun felt a weight lift off his shoulders after hearing this, he had finally found an advisor. Although this advisor didn't seem too impressive at the moment, having one was better than none. Immediately afterwards, Yue Yun gave Wang Tong a pass that allowed him to enter the main camp of the Yue Family Army and find him directly.

  After talking for a while longer, Wang Tong finally bid farewell and left.

  Yue Yun glanced at the sky and found that it was already deep in the night without realizing it. The second day after crossing over had passed just like that.

  Yue Yun sighed, his own path to survival was still long and arduous. This month he had to rack his brains to think of a way out, otherwise, he and his father Yue Fei might have to go to Fengbo Pavilion to report for duty.

  In the following days, Yue Yun was not relaxed at all. After his illness, he immediately pulled Yue Lei, Guan Ling, Niu Tong and several other young generals to practice their marksmanship with him.

  He knew that Yue Fei often had to send Yue Yun to charge into the battlefield, and in his previous life, Yue Yun was known as the first brave general of the Yue family army. However, this life's Yue Yun was a weak and timid office worker who couldn't even kill a chicken, let alone fight on the battlefield. Losing face was one thing, but losing his life was another matter altogether!

  Fortunately, after his soul merged with Yue Yun's body, he still absorbed some of Yue Yun's original memories. The set of Yue family gun techniques, under Yue Lei's reminder and practice, also gradually came back to him, especially the great strength of this body, which was completely beyond his imagination. He could easily lift a 500-jin heavy boulder.

  Although he can't beat Yue Lei, Guan Ling and Niu Tong now, it's not a big problem to defeat some ordinary commanders of the Bei Wei army. Others still think that after being injured, his body is weak, plus Yue Lei also said that he has a little memory loss, dizzy head, so the military people are greatly reduced in his martial arts, as well as the change in personality and behavior, but no one suspects anything.

  The scorching sun was shining on the earth. In the camp of the Yue Family Army, Yue Yun was holding that bright silver spear and practicing his stabbing technique.

  It's already been seven days since I crossed over. Although he has basically merged the memories and consciousness of this body before, it's still too fragmented. Riding skills are barely passable, but archery is not possible. Moreover, according to Yue Lei, his archery skills were not good in the past either, belonging to the kind that could barely hit the target within a hundred steps, far from hitting the red heart.

  Yue Yun thought to himself, his archery skills were mediocre, but that was nothing new. However, Yue Yun's close combat martial arts skills used to be the best among the three armies. But now, his martial arts skills had not reached their original level. If he went into battle in this state, it would be extremely dangerous. If he encountered another formidable Jin general like Wanyan Zongbi, there might not be a second Cow Guy to save him again.

  Not to mention wanting to save himself and Yue Fei's lives, it's not just about being good at martial arts or fighting fiercely. In the future, I estimate that they will also have to openly and secretly contend with Zhao Gou and Qin Hui, which is a more ruthless and bloodless battle than following Yue Fei into war.

  Although I am a traverser, I have no political experience at all. Can I fight against the treacherous minister Qin Hui? After all, it is clearly written in history books that from 1141 to 1155, Qin Hui controlled the military and political power of Southern Song Dynasty, dominating the court and having his followers everywhere, even Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou was afraid of him when he went to court.

  Alas, if there's really no other way, I'll just take my wife's family and hide in a remote place, living a life of obscurity. After all, the Song Dynasty still has over 130 years before it collapses, as long as we hide in a secluded spot south of the Yangtze River, we can live out this lifetime in comfort.

  Yue Yun was calculating, but heard a familiar voice calling himself: "Big brother, take a rest, you've been practicing for an entire morning, your injury has just healed, it's better not to engage in too intense activities!"

  Upon hearing this, Yue Yun turned his head to take a look and saw that it was indeed Yue Lei. Yue Yun had been practicing martial arts for the past few days and Yue Yun liked to have him accompany him in practice. His physical strength was not inferior to Yue Yun's at all, and he was also drenched in sweat now.

  "Alright! Let's sit down for a while!" Yue Yun said as he put down his gun, he was actually exhausted too.

  During this period, he got along well with Yue Le, Niu Tong, Guan Ling and other young generals, and also understood the desire of the soldiers to recover the Central Plains and revive the country. The news that the Yue family army was about to withdraw south had already spread throughout the army and around Zhu Xian Town, and everyone was very puzzled by this.

  These soldiers of the Yue family army were really too simple-minded, thinking that the courtiers didn't understand military affairs and were giving blind orders. But they never thought that the court's precautions against internal threats were even more severe than those against external ones. This powerful and victorious Yue family army had long since become a thorn in the side of the Song emperor and his courtiers, who wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.

  Yue Yun was deeply moved after learning about the thoughts of the soldiers in the army. As he recalled his memories bit by bit, he gradually integrated himself into the collective of Yue's family army, and began to have feelings for the generals and soldiers of Yue's family army. As his emotions deepened, he increasingly wanted to preserve Yue's family army intact, avoiding a tragic fate in the future.

  Just as Yue Yun and Yue Lei had just sat down on a rock, the sound of horseshoes "got, got, got" came from afar, and a knight riding a black horse galloped to the front of the two.