This is a question that has always puzzled Li Kuo, and it was not until today that he finally understood it.
There are no thieves in the world. It is people who are forced into desperation and become thieves in Luocao.
Most of these thieves are from poor backgrounds and have very similar miserable experiences. Whether it is Jiang Chui'er, Scarface, Black-faced Yan Jun or Qi Laosan, they are all such people.
Thieves are all forced out.
If all the people in the world are rivers and lakes, and their doors are open at night, how can anyone risk losing their head to eat this food? As long as there is still a hope in this day, even if it is just a glimmer, they will not do this business!
The problem ultimately lies with the court itself!
In fact, since the reign of Empress Wu, this problem has begun to emerge. This is the land conflict.
When the dynasty was established in the past, the Sui Dynasty inherited most of the unclaimed wasteland, and the population in the early Tang Dynasty was only one-tenth of what it was at the height of the Sui Dynasty. Therefore, the land equalization system promulgated by Emperor Gaozu can be implemented well, so that every family can have their own land.
, every family has land to plant.
A hundred years later, after the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, the population of the Tang Dynasty increased dramatically, and the land gradually became insufficient. If it were just like this, it would be easier for the people to cope with it. After all, even if everyone is given less land, it would still be fair.
The only thing to blame is the greed of the human heart.
After a hundred years, the wealthy families, princes and princes were naturally no longer satisfied with the meager amount of land, which prompted them to purchase large amounts of land from the common people. Over time, the land in the hands of ordinary people became less and less, while the land in the hands of the noble families became less and less.
As more and more fields are produced, one day it will reach the point of imbalance. When people have no land to farm, how will they make a living? Isn’t it possible that they will just fall into the trap of falling weeds?
In normal times, this kind of harm is not obvious. After all, the Tang Dynasty is still in its prosperity, and it is impossible for grass bandits and horse thieves to commit brazen theft and robbery. But what if there is chaos?
An Lushan's rebellion and the rebels' march south will have an impact not only on itself. Countless bandits and horse thieves will feel that the time has come, and will occupy the mountain and become kings at this time. They will be like the people of Heiyun Village
The thieves generally plundered food and grass in the name of rebels and rapidly expanded their own power.
Human desires are endless. Maybe these thieves just want to live a life of drinking and eating meat when they fall off the grass. But if their strength increases to a certain level, they may have other ideas, right?
To be king and dominate may be every man's dream, but due to the situation, people are used to hiding it and suppressing it. Just hiding and suppressing it does not mean that it does not exist. It is like the flickering fire in the fire book, which can appear at any time.
May rekindle.
And once it reignites, it will ignite a wildfire and cause endless harm.
To take a step back, if those grassroots bandits have no idea of becoming kings and hegemons, can they guarantee that there will be no big boss, second boss or even third boss?
As long as a leader has such an idea in his mind, these grassroots bandits will flock to follow those leaders to conquer the country.
This may be the underlying reason why more and more bandits were suppressed in the late Sui Dynasty.
Today's Datang has the possibility of developing in this direction, but fortunately it has not yet reached the point of losing control as it did in the late Sui Dynasty. Li Kuo needs to catch this trend in time to prevent it from resurrecting!
"Is this true?" Qi Laosan stared at Li Kuo, as if he would regret it if he distracted his attention for a moment.
"Seriously!" Li Kuo smiled slightly, as bright as the bright sunshine.
"I will never stop brothers who want to return to Heiyun Village. Brothers who want to farm for a living again, I will allocate twenty acres of farmland to you in Tangzhou. As for brothers who join the army, as long as you can pass my selection, I will definitely
We are treated the same as ordinary soldiers."
Li Kuo's answer was resounding and left no room for doubt.
Qi Laosan stared at Li Kuo blankly, and for a long time he bit his finger to make sure he was not dreaming. After being captured by Li Kuo, he had thought about thousands of outcomes, but he never expected that it would be such an ending.
Even the confidants of the Tongwu Camp could not understand Li Kuo's actions. Everyone knew that his governor was kind-hearted, but he had never been kind to the rebels. Still, it was like this, but
It's really shocking.
Li Kuo looked at the horse thieves with a smile, waiting for them to make a choice.
No one wants to be a thief when he is born, and the hearts of some horse thieves are even purer than those of some children from two families.
Those who are close to vermilion are not necessarily red, and those who are close to ink are not necessarily black. This is Li Kuo's always-held view. As long as you stick to your original intention, you will have nirvana and rebirth one day.
"I, I want to stay." Scarface took a step forward coyly, hugged Li Kuo and said, "General, I want to find a job in the army, I don't know."
Li Kuo nodded and said: "Those who want to stay should register with Captain Xianyu. As long as they pass the general's examination, they can join the Jianghuai Army."
"Hey, hey! Thank you, thank you." Scarface, who was born with brute strength, was not worried about losing the election at all. He was overjoyed when he saw Li Kuo nodding in agreement. When he turned around and saw Qi Laosan's dull face
There was a thump in his heart, and he tugged on the third master's sleeve and persuaded: "Brother Qi, please stay too, so that the brothers can be together and take care of each other."
Qi Laosan was obviously very hesitant. After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't make up his mind.
"General, I want to farm"
"General, I also want to farm"
""
Once someone takes the most difficult first step, those who come after him will have a much easier time. More and more horse thieves choose to join the army, or plan to join the army, or return to farming.
In the end, less than 30% of the horse thieves chose to return to Heiyun Village, and among them was the black-faced Yan Jun.
Li Kuo followed the agreement and gave these horse thieves corresponding horses, and watched them escape into the red sunset.
"General, how did you know I would stay?"
After a fierce battle, the Jianghuai army returned to Tangzhou City. Qi Laosan held the reins with one hand and asked in a deep voice.
The city walls in the distance became increasingly blurry and dimmer. Li Kuo smiled slightly: "People have to look forward after all."
It was not easy for the horse thieves to integrate into the Jianghuai Army. First of all, because they were accustomed to making a living by robbing for many years, they were suddenly unable to adapt to various restrictions.
Secondly, after all, these horse thieves were enemies of the Jianghuai Army soldiers just a moment ago, and their bodies were even stained with the blood of their former robes. Despite Li Kuo's order, he ordered his soldiers not to be prejudiced against these new brothers, who numbered more than a thousand people.
, but the soldiers of the Jianghuai Army will inevitably have a repulsive mentality towards the horse thieves.
This is human nature and is not difficult to understand.
Li Kuo once gathered Wang Xiaochun and other soldiers in Hekou, and he was very clear about their thoughts.
For these horse thieves, the most difficult thing is to cross the hurdle in their own hearts. Only when they regard themselves as part of the Jianghuai Army can they truly integrate into it. Then what they have to do is to prove themselves with their military exploits
They have to rely on their own strength to win the trust of Pao Ze. No one can help them.
The campsite was set up on a leeward hillside, and nearly a thousand tents were set up in a row, which was quite spectacular.
The night breeze, starry sky, moonlight, and fine wine are all there. What is missing is the mood.
When Li Kuo is not in the mood, he is used to drinking alone and in a daze, and tonight is no exception.
"Qi Lang, have you ever thought about what to do next?" Zhou Wuwei found Li Kuo, sat down on the grass next to him, pulled out a straw and made grasshoppers.
"Not yet." Li Kuo lay quietly on the grass, enjoying this rare quiet time.
Since Yanji left, his life has become quiet. Sometimes silence is a good thing, sometimes it is not.
Excessive silence will make people's mood become gloomy. At this time, it is obvious that a confidant is needed to talk to.
However, Li Kuo did not expect that it would be Zhou Wuxin who took the initiative to speak.
"Perhaps, there is no choice anymore." Li Kuo sighed sadly, looking at the stars in the sky, his voice seemed a little hoarse and helpless.
"Perhaps there was no way out when I refused to lead the army to Lingwu. But now is the time of chaos, so he can't do anything to me. If the rebellion is suppressed, then"
Li Kuo suddenly stopped talking and shook his head with a wry smile.
Isn’t it the king’s land in the world? I’m afraid it will be the time of reckoning after the fall of He Qing and Hai Yan. Today’s Emperor of the Tang Dynasty does not have the magnanimity and mind of an emperor at all, so he will be punished for his own defiance.
A crime of deceiving the emperor.
"You know that the final result will be like this, but you still want to go down a dead end. In this way, you are very similar to Zhang Yanji. You are a mere mortal."
Zhou Wuwei had already knitted the grasshoppers and handed them to Li Kuo: "Perhaps you have other choices."
"Other choice?" Li Kuo was distracted for a moment and said dumbly: "What choice?"
Zhou Wuwei rubbed his palms to calm himself down. After a long time, he said word by word: "Support the troops and stand on your own feet!"
ps: Qilang seems to have no choice. If he continues to follow Li Heng, he may not end well. It seems that this is the only way.