txolops Chapter 21 Winning Hearts and Minds
Chapter 21 Winning Hearts and Minds
"Excellent!" Genghis Khan said, almost impatiently, "Then when do you plan to go to the Central Plains again?"
Guo Liqing hadn't expected Genghis Khan to react this way. After a moment's thought, he said, "After destroying Western Xia this time, I will go to the Central Plains again. The purpose of this trip is twofold: first, to ascertain the Jin's defenses; and second, to coordinate with the Han Chinese uprising in the north. In this way, we and the Song court can attack from both the north and south, and with the uprising in between, the Jin will surely be destroyed!"
Genghis Khan nodded and said, "Jing'er, you are very thoughtful. If your brothers were as sensible as you, I would have far fewer worries."
"You flatter me, Great Khan!" Guo Liqing and Genghis Khan chatted for a while, and suddenly realized that this was also an opportunity. So he said, "Great Khan, my eldest brother, second brother, and third brother are much older than me and Tolui. They have been by your side since the war to unify the grasslands. Their thoughts are still on 'whose fist is harder'."
This is not because they lack ambition, but because of the limitations of the times. However, to conquer the Central Plains, it requires more than just military might; it demands wisdom in governance.
"That makes sense," Genghis Khan nodded. "You and Tolui are young and more receptive to new ideas." He looked at Guo Liqing. "You've always had a good relationship with Tolui. He doesn't have your experience, so you should mentor him more often!"
"Of course. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, Great Khan, I would have liked to take Tolui and Huazheng with me next time I march south to the Central Plains!"
"Fine, fine, whatever you say!"
At this point, Genghis Khan added, "I heard that a group of people from the Central Plains have come looking for you."
"Yes."
A cold sweat broke out on Guo Liqing's back. It seemed that the entire area surrounding the Mongol royal court was under Genghis Khan's control.
No matter what the slightest movement, it would not escape his notice.
"Those people from the Central Plains helped a lot during the last attack on Samarkand! They were indeed a great asset. If you want to bring them into your service, you'll need to use some methods."
Guo Liqing asked in a low voice, "Can I accept it?"
"Why not?" Genghis Khan said, "Didn't you also take in the army from Samarkand? We, the people of the steppe, are not like the people of the Central Plains; we have so many prejudices. As long as someone is useful, we welcome them!"
Guo Liqing cupped his hands and said, "Understood!"
"You didn't keep any of the wealth I bestowed upon you last time. Now is the time to use it," Genghis Khan said with a smile. "I'll give you some more wealth; use it to win people's hearts! Remember, no matter who they are, as long as the price is right, there's no one you can't buy off."
"Thank you, Great Khan!"
Genghis Khan truly treated Guo Jing like his own son. After chatting, they even dined together before he let Guo Liqing leave.
Guo Liqing was led by his attendants to receive his reward. Genghis Khan's intention was for him to use the money to bribe the Beggars' Gang.
Money can be used to buy people's hearts; this is indeed a realistic and practical approach.
But beyond money, there is a higher belief that is worth striving for.
That night, Guo Liqing had Lu Youjiao summon all the members of the Beggars' Gang.
He didn't go to any secluded places, but instead found an open space not far from the yurt and lit a bonfire!
This group of Beggars' Sect disciples numbered over a thousand and gathered together, forming a large circle.
Guo Liqing stood in the center; if he didn't use his internal energy to enhance his voice, the disciples outside probably wouldn't be able to hear him.
Lu Youjiao first gave a brief account, saying that Guo Liqing wanted to talk to his brothers.
Guo Liqing picked up the conversation, saying, "Brothers of the Beggars' Clan, do you know why my name is Guo Jing?"
The members of the Beggars' Sect looked at each other in bewilderment; not everyone knew the origin of Guo Jing's name.
"My name was given to me by Qiu Chuji, a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen School, so that I would never forget the 'Humiliation of Jingkang'! Brothers, who among you still remembers the 'Humiliation of Jingkang'? Is there any brother willing to stand up and speak out?"
The crowd looked at each other, all knowing only the "Humiliation of Jingkang," but not everyone knew the details!
Lu Youjiao stepped forward; as an elder, he knew more.
"Back then, when the Jin army marched south, they burned, killed, and looted all the way. The border generals, fearing for their lives, either abandoned the city and fled or surrendered."
As the Jin army marched south, the vast northern lands of our Great Song Dynasty fell into the hands of the barbarians in an instant.
The Jin army advanced all the way to Bianliang.
Emperor Huizong was terrified and forced the throne to the crown prince, then quickly abdicated to avoid disaster.
After Emperor Qinzong ascended the throne, he changed the era name to "Jingkang".
As a result, both Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong were captured by the Jin army. If it weren't for Emperor Gaozong supporting the court in the south, our Great Song Dynasty would probably have perished!
This is the shame of Jingkang!
"Anything else?" Guo Liqing asked. "Do you know what happened to Emperors Huizong and Qinzong after they were captured?"
The common people at the time were unaware of what happened afterward, because Zhao Gou would not have publicized these events.
Guo Liqing said directly: "In order to humiliate the Song Dynasty, the Jurchens forced the two emperors to strip naked, wear sheepskins, and kowtow to the Jurchens. This is called the sheep-leading ceremony, which is the most humiliating punishment in the world."
The empress, concubines, and women of the imperial family who accompanied the emperor were subjected to wanton bullying by the Jurchens. Some of them could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide on the spot!
Brothers, tell me! Can we forget this national humiliation?
"Never forget!"
"Never forget!"
"Never forget!"
After hearing Lu Youjiao and Guo Liqing's accounts, the members of the Beggars' Gang were filled with excitement.
Guo Liqing shouted loudly, "I, Guo Jing, although I was born and raised in Mongolia, have never forgotten the humiliation of Jingkang!"
Today, I've gathered all of you brothers here, and I only have one question to ask!
Brothers, are you willing to join me in destroying the Jin dynasty? Let's slaughter all the treacherous dogs of the Wanyan family!
"willing!"
"willing!"
"We are willing to follow Brother Guo to kill Wanyan and destroy the Jin dynasty!"
"Today, we gather here for only one purpose! To destroy the Jin dynasty, a fight to the death!"
"Destroy the Jin!" "A fight to the death!"
Seeing the crowd's excited state of mind, Guo Liqing knew that his mission had been accomplished.
He gestured with his hands to signal everyone to quiet down.
"Brothers! Our Beggars' Sect is the largest sect in the world. Although we have been resisting the Jin for many years, the Jin people are still powerful! It's not that we are incapable, but that we haven't completed our militarized organization. If we want to kill the Jin dogs and destroy the Jin Kingdom, we must make changes!"
"Brother Guo, how should we change it?" asked Lu Youjiao, the leader.
"We must transform into an army—organized, disciplined, and with orders strictly obeyed—in order to win battles and destroy the Jin dynasty!"
"You mean, you want to incorporate us into the army?"
"That's how it is in name. Brothers! Whether we're an army or a gang doesn't matter. What matters is that we destroy the Jin Dynasty and avenge our humiliation! Don't you agree?"
At this point, although some people in the crowd may disagree, that's how groups are; once the majority agree, others will be swept up in it.
"Brother Guo is right. As long as we can wipe out the Jin dogs, what does it matter whether we're an army or a gang!"
"That's right!"
Naturally, some people in the crowd came out to support Guo Liqing.
"Very well! From today onwards, all brothers will be incorporated into the army and placed under military command, directly under my command! Furthermore, you will not be shortchanged on a single penny of your army stipends and monthly pay!"
Lu Youjiao quickly stepped forward and said, "Brother Guo, our resistance against the Jin is a righteous act, not for money."
Guo Liqing smiled and said, "This is what I want to tell everyone: military-style management, everything must be done according to the rules. If other units receive bonuses and you don't, what do you mean by that? As a general, I cannot show favoritism, otherwise I will be unable to command the army! So you must take this money!"
Lu Youjiao felt that Guo Liqing's words made sense, so he lowered his head and said, "Yes!"
These Beggars' Sect disciples can be divided into several categories. Some, like Lu Youjiao, are only concerned with righteousness, not with money.
Some people may act righteously, but if you give me money, why wouldn't I do it?
Everyone seemed very pleased when Guo Liqing said this.