Chapter 1021: The Freedom to Choose One's Own Life
Lao Huihui was a little curious. "What does 'labor reform camp' mean?" he asked.
Old Luo explained, "It's a place where people cleanse their past transgressions through labor. We've got the bandits captured during the Shangnan battle held here, and they're undergoing labor reform every single day."
Lao Huihui raised an eyebrow, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes.
Old Luo continued, "However, General, you and your soldiers won't be sent here. Since your uprising, your discipline has been impeccable. You haven't engaged in burning, killing, and looting like other rebels. You only attacked imperial cities and seized imperial grain. The Heavenly Lord has declared that your actions fall under 'demanding due wages by force,' not 'committing evil through violence.' Their nature is different, so no labor reform is required for you."
Lao Huihui listened to the string of unfamiliar terms—'labor reform,' 'wage collection,' and the like—feeling a bit bewildered. Yet, he generally grasped the meaning, dismissing them as local dialect without delving deeper. All that truly mattered was that the 'Heavenly Lord' Old Luo spoke of didn't seem to regard them as villains.
That was a deeply comforting feeling.
Old Luo didn't usher them through the main gates of the Tianzhu Mountain Labor Reform Camp. Instead, he led them down a different path nearby. They ascended the mountain, eventually reaching an area distinctly separated from the camp itself.
A large number of newly constructed houses stood there.
Old Luo smiled. "General, you and your men can reside in these dwellings for now," he said. "All your daily necessities and provisions will be delivered by the Heavenly Lord's envoys very soon."
Old Luo said no more. He chuckled as he descended the mountain, returning to his own village.
Lao Huihui then proceeded to arrange for his subordinates to choose their houses and settle in.
Once his three thousand men had settled into their lodgings, they witnessed the arrival of massive, strange iron vehicles, laden with vast quantities of grain. They snaked their way up the winding, S-shaped mountain road, piling the abundant provisions before them.
It was Lao Huihui's first time seeing these massive iron vehicles up close. He hadn't known what to expect, but a single glance made him gasp in cold realization: if these things were deployed against his cavalry, his horsemen would face certain doom.
While he pondered military matters, his subordinates were captivated by the sight of the grain. A crowd gathered around the wagons, circling them. "All this grain," one asked incredulously, "is it truly free for us?"
"Yes! For now, it's provided free of charge," the transport team captain said with a smile. "Everyone receives a standard ration. Muslim soldiers will be given beef, while soldiers of other ethnicities will receive pork. So, please tally how many Hui people and how many of other ethnicities are among you. This will help us proportion the beef and pork more efficiently for our next supply delivery."
Lao Huihui's subordinates paused in slight surprise, then erupted in joyous shouts. This feeling of having their dietary customs respected was truly wonderful.
Respect stemmed from understanding!
And those who understand each other are the ones who can become friends.
However, Lao Huihui caught a key word in the transport captain's statement: 'for now.' 'For now' it's free. Did that imply that at some point in the future, it wouldn't be free anymore?
Lao Huihui walked up to the captain and clasped his fists in greeting. "Brother," he began, "as the saying goes, 'one receives no reward without merit.' We're a band of grown men here; it's impossible for us to keep accepting charity without contributing. I'd like to ask, in the future, what can we do to be worthy of your assistance?"
That was a beautifully phrased question!
Rather than asking, "When will you stop feeding us for free?", it was far better to proactively state, "I can work." Only then could they truly eat this meal with dignity.
The new generation of Gao Family Village transport team captains were all men of some education, having at least completed several grades of primary school. Thus, they could all read, write, calculate, and articulate themselves well. The captain smiled faintly. "Those blessed by the Heavenly Lord do not have their lives dictated by others," he declared. "They decide their own path."
Lao Huihui raised an eyebrow, perplexed.
The captain continued, "If you wish to continue fighting, you can join us as soldiers. If you do not wish to fight, you can join us as laborers. And, of course, if you choose not to join us at all, you are free to depart at your leisure; we will not restrict you. There's no need to rush your decision; observe for a while, then decide."
With that, the captain clasped his fists once more and led his transport team away.
Lao Huihui sat on the edge of the cliff, watching them depart in the distance. His heart was filled with questions.
Very well, he thought. Since he suggested we observe for a while, then we shall heed his advice.
Early the next morning, Lao Huihui began his "observation."
He emerged from his camp and immediately observed a group of labor reform prisoners. They streamed out of the adjacent labor reform camp, carrying various tools. Some headed into the fields, responsible for plowing and fertilizing; others went into the textile factory, where, 'clickety-clack, clickety-clack,' the prisoners diligently wove at the looms. Still others entered the communal mess hall, tasked with preparing meals for their fellow reformees...
Tianzhu Mountain suddenly burst with vitality. From its peak to its base, people were at work everywhere.
These were the "laborers" the captain had spoken of.
Lao Huihui's gaze swept over the group of labor reform prisoners. He knew these were the subordinates of Guo Tianxing, Yi Dou Gu, and Wa Guanzi, captured during the battle of Shangnan County. Like himself, they had once been bandits under the Chuǎng Wang.
They had once been fierce and formidable rebel soldiers!
But now, each of them wielded their hoes with spirited vigor.
By all rights, with such a stark drop in status, they should have been utterly embarrassed and miserable. Yet, in reality, this was far from the truth.
These individuals looked considerably better than they had during their time as bandits.
Not only were their clothes neat and tidy, but their physiques appeared much stronger. It was obvious they were eating their fill every day, no longer the bandits who ate one meal and starved the next, whose first thought upon waking was how to scavenge for food.
Most importantly, smiles graced the faces of these men. It was clear they were living happily now, not in suffering.
He gazed at the labor reform prisoners, and they, in turn, gazed back at him.
One prisoner waved excitedly and shouted, "Ah? Brother Lao Huihui! Have you been caught and sent to the labor reform camp too?"
Lao Huihui didn't want to dampen his spirits, so he didn't mention that he had come voluntarily and wasn't actually in the labor reform camp. He kindly concealed the truth, implicitly agreeing with what the man said.
The prisoner's face was alight with excitement. "It's good that Brother Lao Huihui has come!" he exclaimed. "You're a good man; you shouldn't be wandering around outside anymore. It's really good here. After we arrived, we truly regretted not coming sooner."
Lao Huihui asked curiously, "What's so good about labor reform? Isn't it just being captured and forced to work?"
The prisoner scoffed. "Hey! Don't think of it that way. Try to see it differently. When we were bandits, weren't we also forced into it? Not only were we forced, but we were also hunted by government troops. We were constantly on the move, with no home, never knowing where our next meal would come from. Since coming here, we don't have to worry about food or drink every day. We have a fixed residence, and our lives are no longer in danger."
Lao Huihui hadn't considered it that way, but now, upon comparison, it was undeniably true!
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