Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

In Liujia Village, Sanjiang County, Liu Ershun, who was serving in the security corps, walked into the village arrogantly wearing a security corps soldier uniform.

When the villagers saw Liu Ershun, they greeted him warmly.

"Hey, Shunwazi is back. That's the security team uniform you're wearing, right? It looks really nice."

"Brother Ershun, you haven't been back to the village for half a month. What are you busy with in the security team?"

Liu Ershun responded to the enthusiastic villagers one by one and quickly walked back to his home.

"Er Shun, didn't you say you were going to stay at the base for training? Why are you back?"

Liu Ershun's father was an honest farmer who spent his whole life working with the land.

Before, when Liu Ershun said he wanted to join the security team’s training, his father was very dissatisfied for a while, until Liu Ershun put two dollars in front of him, then he agreed.

"Dad, our leader said that we will be given three days off. I am back with a mission this time."

Liu Min tapped the pipe in his hand and asked curiously, "What mission? It's not a dangerous thing, right? I tell you, if you encounter something life-threatening, you have to hide away and don't lose your life again."

"Er Shun, come and have dinner with your father. The food is on the table."

Liu Ershun's mother shouted loudly, interrupting their conversation.

At this time, Liu Ershun's eldest brother also walked into the yard carrying a hoe, sweating profusely.

The family ate around the octagonal table in the main room, with a plate of stir-fried wild vegetables, a bowl of cornmeal porridge, and a few steamed buns the size of half a fist.

Liu Ershun ate his meal in big mouthfuls while saying, "Dad, our regiment leader said that as long as I can recruit people from the village to join the security regiment, I will reward one dollar per head, and those who join the army can also directly receive two dollars."

Liu Min showed a hint of surprise, and then said with some suspicion: "Is your regiment commander talking nonsense? How much money does it cost to pay these soldiers?"

"Dad, what are you talking about? Our leader is a very good man."

Liu Ershun put down his chopsticks and said, "Although we have to endure hardships in training every day, we have meat to eat every day, white flour buns, and rice to make as much as we want. Our regiment commander put a big box of silver dollars in front of us. If we train well, there will be rewards."

Liu Min was silent for a moment, then his mind became active: "Can I really get two dollars if I go? Can I get one dollar as a reward if I bring someone else?"

Liu Ershun responded in a positive tone: "As long as people go there, they can get the money right away."

"Dashun, when Ershun returns to the team tomorrow, you should go with him. I can take care of this little piece of land at home by myself. You will get two dollars a month, and Ershun can get one more dollar."

Liu Ershun's mother was not happy and immediately retorted: "Ershun's father, how can you rush to send your son to the army? We only have two sons. If they go to the battlefield in the future and something happens, how will we live? Besides, you are old, how can you take care of so many things?"

Liu Min knocked the bowl heavily on the table: "Dashun is already an old man, but he can't even marry a wife. With this little piece of land, how can his family live a good life? A good man should join the army and broaden his horizons!"

The honest and simple Liu Dashun nodded and said, "I will listen to my father."

Liu Min immediately made the decision and said, "It's settled. Ershun, after dinner, I'll go with you to visit the families of the young and strong in the village. You can explain the situation of the security team to them. There must be many guys who want to report to the security team with you."

After dinner, Liu Min brought Liu Ershun to the Li family next door. After a chat, the old man of the Li family said with his eyes wide open: "Is it really such a good thing? I can get two dollars in cash if I go there?"

Liu Ershun patted his chest loudly and said, "Uncle Li, don't worry. Not only will you get a lot of money when you go there, you can also eat meat and make as many white flour buns as you want every day. Look at me, I've been there for half a month and I've grown twice as big."

Li Erfu looked at Liu Ershun and said, "He is stronger now than before. Ershun, I will let Ergouzi go to the army with you. You have to take good care of him."

"Don't worry, Uncle Li. My eldest brother will come with me to report to the security team."

The same scene was played out in every corner of villages and towns in Sanjiang County. In the blink of an eye, the three-day holiday was over.

That morning, before daybreak, countless young and middle-aged people said goodbye to their parents, packed their luggage, and followed the soldiers of the security corps, heading in groups to the new base outside the county.

At the gate of the garrison, Liu Gangding said to Su Zhengyang who was standing beside him: "Captain, do you think they can bring people back? The people of Sanjiang County don't have a good impression of the security team."

"Don't worry, with two dollars in front of them, the people are having a hard time, and some will be tempted. Plus, these guys will try their best to trick people for the reward of one dollar."

Su Zhengyang laughed inwardly, thinking he was joking. This was a replica of the pyramid scheme model used in later generations. It would be strange if these simple men who had never seen the world and couldn't even walk when they saw white steamed buns didn't fall for it.

Twenty minutes later, Liu Ershun, his elder brother Liu Dashun, and more than sixty young and strong men from the same village came over in a mighty procession.

"Report to the captain! Liu Ershun has returned to the team on time! These are the guys I brought from the village who want to join the security team. There are sixty-five of them in total. Please give us your instructions, captain!"

Su Zhengyang glanced at the faces of these young men who looked uneasy, walked up to him, patted Liu Ershun on the shoulder and said, "Ershun, well done. Take these people you brought with you and go to the side to line up and receive the money."

Liu Ershun immediately organized the sixty-odd people behind him into a long line. Liu Kangding kept taking out cash from the box and happily handed it to the recruits.

Not until they put the money in their arms did these men wake up from their dreams and start chatting happily.

"Brother Ershun didn't lie to us. We really found the ocean as soon as we got here!"

"Ershun, we will listen to you from now on. We will do whatever you tell us to do."

Liu Ershun showed a look of satisfaction. The compliments from these men from the same village satisfied his vanity very well.

"From now on, we must obey the command of the regiment commander. If the regiment commander tells us to go east, we cannot go west. If the commander tells us to chase a dog, we cannot chase a chicken..."

As time went by, more and more security guards returned to the team. Some brought 20 to 30 people, while others tricked their cousins ​​into joining the security team, totaling 7 to 8 people.

Second squad leader Wang Hua was happily recording the names of the new recruits joining the security corps on a roster.

Half a day later, Wang Hua came to Su Zhengyang and said, "Report to the commander! All the soldiers of the security regiment have returned to the team. A total of 2,027 new recruits have signed up to join the army!"