In the end, the dozens of people who were arrested on the riverbank with Tan Hong had already been tied up solidly, and when they heard Zhou Kaihuang's order, the soldiers pulled these people out. For the captives who dug a pit in despair just now, this group of people is not only familiar to them, but also the idols and goals they envied in the past.

"After a while, you fill them with earth, which can be regarded as the last journey for your old officer." After these people were pulled to the side of the pit, Li Xinghan stepped forward to give a lecture to the captives.

"It wasn't meant to trick us." Listening to Li Xinghan's words, the prisoners who dug the pit immediately reacted, and many ordinary Qing soldiers who thought that their lives were in danger, and some people said some words of gratitude to Li Xinghan, who issued the order. Among the captives, they noticed Li Xinghan and Zhou Kaihuang's respectful demeanor towards Deng Ming, and secretly guessed Deng Ming's identity in their hearts.

Li Xinghan's face showed some pride, he had studied with Fu Hou for all these years, and today he also showed his hand in front of everyone. Zhou Kaihuang secretly admired and kept Li Xinghan's good way to regain the hearts of the army in his heart.

Unlike them, Deng Ming only felt ridiculous when he heard these praises. Those scarred faces, eyes full of fear and painful eyes, but they shouted some words of gratitude loudly, Deng Ming sighed in his heart: "I remember that there is a word called Stockholm syndrome, which means that there are some hostages who have been held hostage, and after surviving under extreme fear for a period of time, they will regard the bandits who hold them hostage as the leader, sincerely give advice to the robbers, and even regard the robbers as benefactors, putting the interests of the robbers above their own interests. It is said that the emergence of this strange phenomenon is still very reasonable, stemming from a biological instinct, because people cannot live under fear and pressure forever, otherwise they will collapse, so when the status quo cannot be changed, the hostages will compensate and prefer to believe that the robbers are good people and their saviors, and sincerely appreciate some non-evil deeds in addition to their cruelty, so as to maintain their own divine balance. ”

The people on the other side were all treasonous enemies -- Deng Ming felt that no matter what, the soldiers on the other side could not escape a single treason charge. However, whether it was these ordinary soldiers or Tan Hong's personal guards, Deng Ming was unwilling to kill them after they laid down their weapons, and was determined to keep his promise to hand them over to Wen Anzhi.

The dozens of Tan Hong's guards who were tied to the edge of the pit were much braver than the previous captives, and Deng Ming noticed that although their faces were pale, none of them made a cry of grief or begged for their lives. When a few people's eyes first came into contact with Deng Ming, the meaning flashed complicatedly, but they still took the initiative to avoid it, unwilling to let Deng Ming misunderstand that they were begging for a way to survive - Deng Ming felt that there was indeed this meaning in it at first.

However, their commander Tan Hong let out a cry of grief - he was pulled by the Ming army to watch, and when he saw that the Ming army was going to execute all his henchmen, Tan Hong, who was a marquis, actually howled: "It's me who can't stand you!" ”

By the light of the fire, Deng Ming saw that the faces of the Ming soldiers around him were full of happy revenge. On the walls of Tan Hong's camp hung the heads of many of the Ming army's routs in the Battle of Chóngqìng, and the Ming army took them down after entering the camp, preparing for them to see the Ming army slaughter these traitors before burying them. The soldiers of the Ming army knew very well that if it were not for the victory of the whole army today, their own heads would also be hung in a line on this camp wall.

These hateful glances at the captives, as well as their happy smiles after seeing Tan Hong's gaffe, made Deng Ming, who was originally going to speak and persuade him, hesitate for a moment, but after thinking about it again, he finally spoke up and said to the officers around him: "Didn't we promise that those who surrender would not die?" ”

"Your Highness...... Mr. Deng plans to let these thieves live? This sentence made Li Xinghan a little surprised, and he looked at Deng Ming in a daze.

"Defecting to the enemy, the death penalty is inevitable, even Inspector Wen will not let them go," Deng Ming explained, "We will hand them over to Inspector Wen." ”

"Since it is a capital crime, then we will do this for Inspector Wen, won't we?" Li Xinghan still believed that Deng Ming was a clan that was unwilling to reveal his identity, and he would obey ordinary orders, but Deng Ming's current request was too unexpected for Li Xinghan, and he couldn't help but say his reasons: "You can also save some food." ”

"First of all, there are only fifty people, and there is not much way to Fengjie, so there is not much food to save; Second, they laid down their arms and saved us from death and injury, and the lives of our brethren were not worth the little food and their lives for a few days? It's also fair trade. Seeing that the people around him opened their mouths to make an argument, Deng Ming said in an accentuated tone: "The most important thing is that we promised them, didn't we?" We promised. ”

"Mr. Deng, we are not businessmen, what are we doing with our promises? Soldiers are not tired of deceit, how can we soldiers keep our promises? "This time it was Zhou Kaihuang who spoke out.

Yes, businessmen and civilians need to keep their promises, but officers are also officials, so where do officials still need to keep their promises? Zhou Kaihuang opposed Deng Ming's approach, he felt that Deng Ming's reasons were ridiculous, and the people who were officials, especially officers, still kept their promises, so they didn't do their jobs, and what they needed was obviously strategy.

"But we promised them that if we wanted to save food, we would let them go."

Deng Ming insisted on his point of view that he wanted to take these prisoners to Wen Anzhi's camp for further disposal. If the officers refuse to be dragged down, then release them on the spot. He persuaded: "It's freezing this day, even if you let them go, you may not be able to live, at least we didn't kill the prisoners." If they can survive, it will also be good for us, they will definitely spread the word that we are true to our word, let those who surrender have a way out, and in the future when the enemy army is at a disadvantage, they will also surrender and not fight with us to the end. Do you have to force the enemy to jump over the wall? ”

In the eyes of the officers of the Ming army, the release of the prisoners was undoubtedly an unbelievable idea. Other people can say, how can Tan Hong's henchmen be released?

Zhou Kaihuang misunderstood, thinking that Deng Ming thought that Tan Hong's guards were good, and he wanted to recruit a few. Zhou Kaihuang felt that this thing would not succeed, but if he didn't try, it was estimated that Deng Ming would not give up. So Zhou Kaihuang turned around and beckoned the guys who were about to be buried, and persuaded them to abandon the darkness and turn to the light and serve Deng Ming.

As Zhou Kaihuang expected, no one agreed, and some people even suspected that this was a game of cat and mouse. Tan Hong's guards have all received Tan Hong's kindness and have been treated favorably, and they are Tan Hong's sworn friends who have tried his best to entrap him, and no one will dare to use these people even if they surrender. I don't dare to say that the treatment can be as good as what Tan Hong gave them - even if they can give it, where will they put their original henchmen?

Some people first coaxed the captives to tease him and beg for mercy, and then ridiculed him before being executed, this kind of thing has not been seen before. If Tan Hong is not pardoned, these guards will not have a way to live, knowing this, so they will not surrender.

A few people reacted violently to Zhou Kaihuang's words. For example, the two guards who were by Tan Hong's side from beginning to end today did not agree with Tan Hong's surrender, and surrendered together out of obedience, and also wanted to increase Tan Hong's chance of survival - if Tan Hong's strength is completely destroyed, then according to the convention, he will not be pardoned, but if there are still a considerable number of people loyal to Tan Hong who survive, and the imperial court wants to use this force, they may consider pardoning Tan Hong - although the chance is small, it is a glimmer of life after all.

These people were mentally prepared for being executed, and when they heard the persuasion to surrender, they all let out disdainful sneers. One of them shouted loudly: "My life was given by Hou Ye, and I also sold it to Hou Ye." As he spoke, the man leaped out of the ranks, jumped into a pit, lay down in the pit, and shouted, "Fill in the earth." ”

With this person taking the lead, a few guys who were desperate for Tan Hong jumped into the pit together, lying at the bottom of the pit, and shouted in unison: "Master Hou, we will follow you in the next life!" ”

As an army also stationed in Wanxian, Tan Wen's subordinates knew a lot about the situation of Tan Hong's troops, and immediately someone told Deng Ming and Zhou Kaihuang that the person who led the jump into the pit was an orphan whose parents died in the troubled times, and was raised by Tan Hong, fought with Tan Hong, worked beside Tan Hong, and held a position, and it was Tan Hong who helped him find a daughter-in-law and start a family. This kind of adopted son has rarely heard of a mutiny, and he is loyal to his adoptive father and generals.

Zhou Kaihuang and Li Xinghan are in a similar situation, although the two of them know their parents' background, they have been taken care of by their respective bosses since they were young, and they are also the most trusted henchmen. After listening to the introduction, Zhou Kaihuang gave a thumbs up and praised loudly: "Strong man! Bring the wine, and I will invite these strong men who have jumped into the pit to drink a full bowl. ”

Li Xinghan also very much agreed with Zhou Kaihuang's mention of yì, although he was an enemy, such a loyal person still had to be commended. After a few words of praise, Li Xinghan looked back at Deng Ming. Li Xinghan was taught to cultivate this kind of jīng god who is loyal to the Lord since he was a child, and in his opinion, Deng Ming would also praise this act of loyalty - after all, no one likes a traitor, does he?

But Deng Ming's face did not have the slightest praise. After understanding the cause and effect, Deng Ming had an indescribable sense of disgust for this kind of behavior.

The first thing he thought of was Zhou Fohai, a big man. Zhou Fohai is far from being as close to Rì Ben as Wang Jīngwei, but he boasts that he has received a great favor from Wang Jīngwei, so no matter what Wang Jīngwei asks him to do, he will be loyal. For the sake of the personal relationship between the two people, Zhou Fohai can betray the country and add up to his compatriots without guilt, which can only have one evaluation in the eyes of modern people, that is: scum scum!

"Pull them out of the pit." Deng Ming's tone became cold when he spoke again: "Don't toast these people, let alone give them food, but still don't kill them." Since I promised to spare their lives, I will spare them. ”

Deng Ming explained to the stunned Zhou Kaihuang that keeping his promise was to facilitate persuasion in future wars, not to show kindness to these prisoners of war - Deng Ming actually had them before, but now they have dispersed a lot. He was able to understand the way people of this day and age thinking, but he could hardly agree with it.

"Since you all say that I am a clan, then I will ask xìng to pretend to the end!" Deng Ming thought so in his heart, and after explaining the reason clearly, he directly ordered without saying anything: "Pull them all back and look at it, fill in these pits, and don't kill people without my order!" ”

After issuing the order, Deng Ming planned to leave, but seeing that Li Xinghan still had a dissatisfaction on his face, he suddenly had a thought in his heart and asked: "If Marquis Fu decides to betray the court like Marquis Xinjin, will President Li Qian rebel?" ”

This question made Li Xinghan stunned for a moment, and he couldn't answer it.

Tan Wen is Li Xinghan's benefactor and prefect, and is the object of Li Xinghan's allegiance; And the imperial court is a very vague image for Li Xinghan, as a soldier, it is obviously impossible for him to resist and doubt the commander who attaches equal importance to grace and power for the sake of a vague image. For Li Xinghan, everything Tan Wen said was right, and he understood Tan Wen's orders to obey, and he had to obey them if he didn't understand them. In other words, only obey first, and then understand the command.

"Feudal monarchy." Deng Ming sighed in his heart.

He suddenly realized that maybe it was the same with Chuang Ying and Xiying, each of them had an object of their own allegiance, and then they worked their way up the ladder, and finally focused on the emperor. Morality and civil society under the feudal system are completely different.

Deng Ming remembered that the heroic Yue Fei's loyalty to the monarch was praised by all dynasties, and King Yue had to obey unconditionally even if he knew that the emperor was wrong. In order to ensure that the emperor's will can be fully implemented, when King Yue was arrested, he also took his son and henchmen in the army away to prevent them from having a chance to resist, reduce scruples and obstacles for the emperor, and let the emperor clean up and sabotage the Northern Expedition. As a result, Yue Fei was killed along with his son. This kind of loyalty, which was admired by the ancients, has only one evaluation in civil society: foolish loyalty - a hero's weakness rather than a strength.

Deng Ming's previous good mood dissipated most of it, and on the way back to his tent, he thought silently: "I didn't think that before, when I came to this world, I realized how the May Fourth Movement profoundly changed our nation and country. When Shi Yousan was executed, no one thought that his subordinates were ungrateful, right? When the big man Jiān Zhou Fohai was shot, there would be no Zhuangxing bar? ”

After Deng Ming left, Zhou Kaihuang reluctantly ordered the prisoners to be locked up again. Although he did not agree with Deng Ming's order, but now that Deng Ming's prestige is so high and his status is above himself, Zhou Kaihuang will not go against his will for the sake of such a few captives.

"You have no jokes!" After a while, Zhou Kaihuang, who decided that Deng Ming was the third prince, shouted again, thinking that he had finally figured out Deng Ming's psychology.

That's right, Deng Ming is not an ordinary character, but a child of the clan, although he is not necessarily an orphan of Chongzhen, but he also seems to be a pro-vassal king, so he obviously has to follow some different behavioral norms. Zhou Kaihuang had heard the term "Jun Wu joke" many times from stories and dramas, and he linked it to Deng Ming's insistence on promises.

"Ahh Not bad! Li Xinghan also suddenly realized.

Although Deng Ming did not admit that he was the third prince, Zhou Kaihuang thought that he was, and sooner or later the truth would be revealed. If he ruined his name today, he would naturally bring shame on himself. After figuring this out, Zhou Kaihuang no longer bothered with Deng Ming's orders - this was new evidence that his old Zhou was not a mouthful of words at the dinner.

On the way to escape, Li Xinghan only thought about how to lead his brothers back to Wanxian in every possible way, and had no time to think about the future future. Deng Ming's question just now touched Li Xinghan's heartstrings - he had been unconditionally obedient to Tan Wen before, and like all people in this era, he chose an object of allegiance, which needed to be close enough for him to accept orders and make reports; needs to be higher than him, so that he can be convinced.

In the feudal imperial system, as long as he is a person who does not want to seek a dynasty and usurp the throne, he needs such an object of allegiance, Li Xinghan has now lost the object of allegiance, and when he was asked by Deng Ming, Li Xinghan's heart immediately became empty and lost. This chain of allegiance is like a string tied to a kite, transmitted from the supreme heaven to the hands of the Son of Heaven and the imperial court, and then passed down from level to level, when people are in this chain, it seems to have found their place in the whole society, and after losing it, Li Xinghan feels like duckweed in the water, abandoned by society.

This feeling is similar to unemployment in civil society, unemployment is that society does not need a person's labor, so he feels marginalized and worthless; In this feudal era, if no one needs Li Xinghan's allegiance, then he will feel marginalized, and he will indeed become a member of the marginalized group.

Not only do he need to find his position again, Li Xinghan's subordinates are not willing to be a leaf of duckweed, Li Xinghan must quickly find a loyal object for himself again, and lock himself firmly on the chain of allegiance, so that he and his subordinates can be steadfast in their hearts and feel their value in this world and this world again.

Different from the busy chattering Zhou Kaihuang, or the dazed and helpless Li Xinghan, Zhao Tianba became more worried after hearing this word, just now when he came out of the camp to see the excitement, Deng Ming had already left, just in time for Li Xinghan to spit out the word "Jun Wu joke".

"If His Royal Highness the King of Jin does not have the merit of supporting the throne, then the King of Jin will not stand so firmly in the court in the future as he is today, and the King of Jin will not be remembered for his achievements in protecting the sky several times." Zhao Tianba was firmly locked in the chain of allegiance of the King of Jin-Yongli Tianzi, and those who broke into the camp were not, if they could support a son of heaven themselves, Zhao Tianba felt that they would probably be optimistic.

Fortunately, Wen Anzhi of Fengjie is also a member of the Yongli Imperial Court: "When it comes to Fengjie, I must report this matter carefully to the superintendent, the third prince's covetousness for the throne is already undisguised." ”