Chapter 87: Wagangzhai Changes Leader
Li Ji asked with concern: "Butler, is your injury better?"
"Your Excellency, I'm much better." Li Ai replied.
Li Ji took the medicine box from Yu Cheng.
He opened the medicine box, took out a small porcelain bottle, poured out a pill and put it in Li Ai's mouth.
He took a cup of warm water from Yucheng, fed Li Ai the pills.
Li Ai was really touched when he saw that Li Ji treated him like a brother.
With tears in his eyes, he said:
"Sir, I am sorry to trouble you with my injury."
"Who wants us to be brothers in life and death? When I hit you, my heart aches unbearably."
"The responsibility for the scattered rice incident is entirely mine. My Lord, please do not blame Lord Zhai."
Li Ji smiled and said, "Of course, although Zhai Gong was present, he is not responsible. I will not confuse innocence."
When Zhai Rang heard this, he immediately felt warm in his heart.
It is really touching that General Li took all the responsibility and did not shirk responsibility or make excuses.
He bowed hurriedly, smiling apologetically, and said:
"Thank you, General Li, for absolving me of the blame. Actually, I am also to blame."
"Mr. Zhai, don't blame yourself like that. The command has been handed over to me, so I should take full responsibility."
The more Li Ai said this, the more guilty Zhai Rang felt.
He was really sad that he was unable to share General Li's worries at the critical moment, which led to General Li almost being beheaded.
Zhai Rang looked at Li Ji, and then said loudly: "Master Li, I, Zhai Rang, have an idea."
Li Ji smiled and said, "Mr. Zhai, there is no one else here. You, me, and the housekeeper are all friends for life and death. If you have anything to say, just say it."
Zhai Rang made up his mind secretly. He said loudly:
"Sir, I would like to nominate General Li as the leader of Wagangzhai. What do you think?"
Li Ji was stunned, thinking, what else can I think? Your idea is exactly what I, Li Ji, want.
Li Ji restrained his smile and asked:
"Mr. Zhai, you founded the Wagang Camp. Is it appropriate to hand over the leadership position to someone else?"
Zhai Rang quickly responded, "Suitable, suitable. I have considered it again and again. General Li Ai is the most suitable and more capable than me."
Li Ai was sitting on the soft seat. When she heard what Zhai Rang said, she also hurriedly declined:
"Mr. Zhai, you should be the leader yourself."
"No, no, I have thought it over carefully, and I have decided to give way."
At this time, Li Ji's expression changed and his voice became majestic.
"Okay, don't be so modest. Lord Zhai is open-minded. He puts the overall interests of Wagangzhai first and takes the initiative to give up his position. It is really admirable."
He looked at Li Ai sitting on the soft seat and sighed meaningfully:
"Butler, don't refuse too much. The fact that we captured Luokou Warehouse in one fell swoop shows that you were in command. As for the chaos that followed, that was something you didn't expect."
"Yes, in this battle, our casualties were very small, and the morale of the leaders was greatly boosted." Zhai Rang said.
Li Ji tried to persuade him again.
When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a man, it will first test his mind and will, make his muscles and bones weary, starve his body, deprive him of all poverty, and make his plans frustrated.
Therefore, moving one's heart and enduring one's nature can increase one's ability to do what one could not do before.
I think you should accept this leader of Wagangzhai.
Having said that, Li Ai saw that the matter was settled and could only say:
"Thank you, thank you for your support! Thank you, Lord Zhai, for thinking highly of me."
Zhai Rang bowed hurriedly and said in a low voice:
"General Li, from now on you are the Duke of Wei of Wagangzhai, our leader. Please accept my greetings."
Li Ai hurriedly returned the greeting on the soft seat.
When Li Ji saw that the leader of Wagang Village had changed, he knew that his mission was accomplished, so he immediately ordered Yu Cheng to prepare the ingredients. He would personally cook and reward the leaders of Wagang Village.
The next day.
After Li Ai took Li Ji's pills, the whip wounds on her body scabbed over and healed overnight.
At dawn, he climbed up from the soft mat, feeling refreshed.
He thought to himself, Lord Li has really put a lot of effort into helping me take the position of leader of Wagang Village.
For the sake of the greater good, the fifty lashes of punishment are worth it.
A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he led his personal guards to Xingyang County to pay a visit to Li Ji.
In the lobby of Xingyang County, Li Ai knelt on both knees and said, "Thank you again, Lord Li, for your support."
Li Ji smiled and said, "Duke Wei, please get up and sit down on the side."
Li Ai sat down on a chair at the side.
"Duke Wei, you are no longer the steward you once were. You are the leader of the rebel army that all the leaders worship."
Li Ai was happy in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.
"Sir, I will follow your lead. In front of you, I am still the steward of the mountain temple."
Li Ji was very pleased that his plan had finally been accomplished. He would definitely become the leader of the Wagang Allied Forces, which was of great significance.
"Now I feel relieved. I will temporarily keep the 2,000 volunteers in Tanjia Bay."
Li Ai hurriedly said, "Sir, don't think too much. This Wagang Village will be yours from now on, and everything will be at your service."
"Being a leader is a huge responsibility. It not only affects the lives of the soldiers, but also the future of Wagangzhai."
Li Ai hurriedly stood up and said, "I will remember your words, sir. I will immediately execute the plan to attack Dongdu."
"Sit down and talk. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. Beforehand, you should plan more, study more, and observe more, and don't act rashly."
"Yes, my lord, I will proceed steadily according to your will."
Li Ji continued, "I will go to the Xingyang camp to reward the Iron Army in the evening. During this period, we must train the troops and continuously improve the combat effectiveness of the team."
Li Ai responded loudly: "Yes, sir!"
Li Ji said: "You need to continue to work hard on the construction of the Tanjia Bay Hawkdog Squadron base."
Li Ai replied, "I have ordered Zhang Shan to supervise day and night, and the construction team will take turns to rest 24 hours a day to ensure that the project is completed within a month."
"Now that the Wagang Allied Forces have surrendered, we must now start planning the new military system and optimize the team structure."
Li Ji then told Li Ai all about his plan to form an internal army.
According to Li Ji's idea, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin from Dong'a were appointed as Generals of Cavalry .
He selected 8,000 particularly brave and strong soldiers from the army and assigned them to four cavalry generals to serve as his own guards, called the "Inner Army."
Luo Shixin and Zhao Renji were appointed as general managers, and they were allowed to continue to lead their own troops.
Shan Xiongxin was appointed as the General of the Left Wuhou, and Chai Xiaohe, the county magistrate of Gong County, was appointed as the guard.
Li Ai knelt on one knee with a clatter: "Lord Li is truly a master at commanding troops. These generals will fight and die for the future of Wagang Village."
Li Ji smiled and said: "Talents are hard to come by. We must make full use of these brave warriors so that our team can respond to every call and be invincible."
Li Ai thanked him and went back.
late at night.
Xingyang Camp.
The central military headquarters of Wagangzhai.
Li Ji personally cooked several of his signature dishes, including plain braised chicken, spicy hot pot, and deadly pig's trotters, as rewards for the leaders of the rebel forces.
Just as the dishes were served, there was a loud shout from outside the camp gate:
"A distinguished guest has arrived!"
