Throughout the five thousand years of Chinese history, there are only a few people who are as strong as Wen Tianxiang, but there are countless traitorous officials like Zhang Bangchang, Wu Sangui, and Shi Jingtang.

This truth is actually very simple. People are selfish. In the peaceful and prosperous times, of course they were willing to be loyal to the emperor because the emperor could give them power and wealth. But now, if you are loyal to the emperor, you will face the loss of both human and financial resources.

situation, but Li Qi was able to keep their wealth and status. I dare not say all of them, but there will definitely be many people leaning towards Li Qi.

No one is afraid of death.

This is human nature and nothing else!

Any struggle arises from human nature.

In other words, Wen Tianxiang wrote the eternal quatrain "No one has died since ancient times, and his loyalty will shine through history."

But is Wen Tianxiang’s literary talent really unparalleled in history?

Obviously not, all because of the great righteousness in his heart.

"well."

At this point, Li Qi suddenly sighed, stood up, walked to the middle, and said, "Niugao, how many people did we kill during this expedition?"

"ah?"

Niu Gao was stunned, thought for a long time, and said: "If it's not a hundred thousand, it's probably fifty or sixty thousand."

"Fifty to sixty thousand, plus my brothers from the Song Dynasty who died in this war, the difference is only 80,000."

Li Qi said with great distress: "What can 80,000 people do? They can build a grand road directly to Hangzhou, they can build a palace, they can support hundreds of workshops, they can make tens of millions of arrows."

When Liang Hongyu heard this, she finally understood why Li Qi was silent just now, and couldn't help but said: "The Privy Councilor is truly unparalleled in his benevolence and righteousness."

"No."

Li Qi immediately shook his head and said: "I started this war. The word benevolence and righteousness are used on me. It is tarnishing this sacred word. You can say that I am handsome. But the word benevolence and righteousness is really unworthy.

"

Zhao Jingyan rolled her eyes when she heard this. This person was really hopeless.

The soldiers on the side almost laughed at this serious topic.

Liang Hongyu was stunned for a moment, with a strange look on her face, thinking that this Privy Councilor was really strange, so she didn't dare to answer any more questions.

Li Qi added: "Leave aside those big principles, it would hurt morale too much. In fact, I just feel pity, that's all. If we came here for revenge, how many people would we kill? I also

I can't say a word, otherwise I wouldn't fight this battle, but please don't forget that our expedition is to regain Cochin. In other words, the people who live in this land in the future

They are all the people of the Song Dynasty, a huge piece of land, but no one takes care of it. This is the most sad thing. We in the Song Dynasty urgently need manpower to promote economic development, so the people of Jiaozhi are also one of our strategic goals

, if we can avoid raising this butcher knife, then we should try our best to avoid killing. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I'll understand later."

Yue Fei and other soldiers responded with clasped fists.

They have all become accustomed to Li Qi's way of thinking. That is, everything is based on interests. This is the fairest statement.

But chiefs like Han Shizhong, Liang Hongyu, and Wei Ping had just joined the Forbidden Army and didn't know Li Qi very well. Usually at this time, the officials of the Song Dynasty were generally compassionate. Why is God so good at life?

The drowsy truth, citing scriptures to justify his killings, or to show off his knowledge.

However, Li Qi did not pay attention to these. Instead, he advocated the essence of the matter and explained everything in a more practical way. He did not excuse himself. I killed this person, so what?

This made Han Shizhong, Liang Hongyu and others feel a little uncomfortable, but no one could deny what Li Qi said.

Yue Fei suddenly remembered a question and asked hurriedly: "Privy Councilor, what should we do with those prisoners?"

Li Qi pondered. There were tens of thousands of prisoners anyway. It would be a pity if they were killed. But if they were not killed, many people would have to be sent to supervise them. From a certain point of view, these prisoners

Maybe it could become a living sign to lure Shenglong Mansion to surrender, but he couldn't do anything recklessly. He thought about it for a long time, and it seemed that there was only one way, which was to surrender.

As he was thinking about it, a name suddenly popped up in Li Qi's mind. It was none other than Timely Rain Song Jiang. He secretly smiled in his heart. This Song Jiang is the most outstanding character in Water Margin. He is also a person with great political sense. I will learn from him.

What's the harm? Thinking of this, he suddenly said: "Didn't we also capture two of the opponent's generals?"

Yue Fei replied: "Yes, these two are the generals under Li Quansheng. One is named Kuang Lei and the other is named Wang Jun."

"Bring them up, no no, please come up."

Yue Fei sang, and immediately ordered Kuang Lei and Wang Jun to be brought up.

After a while, the soldiers escorted Kuang Lei, and the royal army came to the big tent.

Today, Kuang and Wang don't have the majesty of the past. Their hair is disheveled, their bodies are dirty, and they are tied up with five flowers, and they are completely prisoners.

But the two of them stood in the tent, with their heads held high and their chests held high, looking arrogant.

Li Qi smiled and said: "Hurry and untie the second general."

"As commanded."

Soldiers on both sides immediately came up to help Kuang Lei and Wang Jun untie them.

After the rope was loosened, the two subconsciously moved their bodies, but there was a trace of doubt in their eyes.

Kuang Lei said straightforwardly: "If you want to recruit us, I advise you not to think so."

After Yue Fei and others heard this, they all looked angry and thought to themselves, this person is really ungrateful.

Li Qi exclaimed: "General, you are so powerful. You can tell at a glance that I want to recruit you. Whether or not I want to surrender, I don't care for the moment. The two generals should be hungry at this time. Let's eat and talk. Please give me a seat."

The soldiers carried two low tables and placed them in the middle, and prepared fine wine and food.

Kuang and Wang looked at the low table, looking a little hesitant.

Li Qidao: "What? Are you afraid that I will poison the food and wine? I think there is no need for me to do this. If I were you, I should forget about life and death at this time, eat what I have to eat, and drink what I have to drink. It will happen tomorrow

What. Don’t think about it.”

When Kuang and Wang heard this, they felt that this was very reasonable. Besides, they were almost fainting from hunger, so they took a step forward and sat down. They grabbed pieces of meat and stuffed it into their mouths, and started to eat hungrily.

Li Qi was not in a hurry, quietly sipping tea and waiting patiently.

In a short time, Kuang and Wang swept away all the wine and food on the table.

Li Qi smiled and said: "Is it enough? If it's not enough, call again."

As soon as he said these words, he felt that something was wrong. This was a military camp, and it looked like a hotel. I am indeed a giant in the catering industry.

"enough."

Kuang Lei said: "Kill or behead him as you wish."

Li Qi shook his head and said: "If I want to kill you, I won't invite you here. Although these meals are not fine wine and delicacies, but I have tens of thousands of troops here, and every grain of rice is very precious, and I won't

This meal will be wasted on two dying men."

Kuang Lei added: "I have already said that it is absolutely impossible for us to surrender to you, so don't waste your efforts."

Niu Gao said angrily: "You guys are so ignorant. The Privy Council entertains you with good wine and delicious food. You treat each other with courtesy, but you keep making rude remarks. Believe it or not, I will kill you with one knife."

Li Qi glanced coldly and said: "Niugao. Sit down."

"Privy Envoy---."

"sit down."

Niu Gao was full of dissatisfaction, but he still put his head together and sat down.

Li Qi smiled at Kuang Lei again and said: "You are right, I do want to recruit you. Although I also know that it is a waste of effort, I am still willing to work hard to try. Not for anything else, just that I respect you

Both of you are heroes. If you are unbearable, it is very easy to kill someone, but it is very difficult to save someone, so please don't blame me for doing this to humiliate you two."

Kuang and Wang looked at each other with surprise on their faces.

Li Qi added: "Don't worry, I said I won't kill you, so I won't touch you. If you are willing to surrender to me, the Song Dynasty, I will welcome you very much. But if you don't want to, I won't force you. I won't force you later."

I will let you go back."

Yue Fei and others all looked at Li Qi in astonishment. Are you kidding? We finally caught them, and you let them go again?

Wang Jun was surprised and said: "You---you will really let us go."

"certainly."

Li Qi nodded and said, "But I have a condition."

Kuang Lei snorted: "I knew you weren't so kind."

Li Qi was not annoyed at all, he just smiled and said: "I hope I can exchange you two for your family."

Wang Jun asked in surprise: "What do you mean?"

Li Qidao: "It's very simple. I don't want to harm your family. Think about it, so many of you were captured by our army, but only the two of you returned to Shenglong Mansion safe and sound. I think those ministers must have

You won’t believe that it’s just because I respect both of you as rare talents that I let you go. I’m afraid you won’t believe it yourself.

They will definitely be suspicious of you. If you are right, you would rather kill the wrong person than let him go. Maybe I am judging a gentleman with a villain's heart, but I have to be careful about this. If there is something wrong with the two generals, they can both

It was me who caused it, so I want to save your family first to make up for the guilt in my heart. When our army breaks through Shenglong Mansion in the future, it will be the day when your families will be reunited."

Kuang Lei said: "If you do this, wouldn't they be even more suspicious of us?"

Li Qidao: "I just have good intentions. If you two are really unwilling, I will not force it. But I am not the one who scares you. I am also a minister. I understand very well what those civil servants are thinking, so I hope that you two will
To be continued...