Chapter Eight Little Flag

  This old man from his own family isn't stupid, although he looks rough, but he also has a mind of his own. This is the conclusion that Song Qing came to after several encounters with him, especially when Song Hu told him to go to the Wang's house and let Wang Baihu know that the father and son of the Song family were all following him wholeheartedly, then he knew that this old man Song wasn't simple.

  If Song Hu was just an ordinary roughneck, he wouldn't have thought of this, especially since it's something that would make him look bad if he said it himself. But as the good fellow of Xuzhou Wei, Song Lao Hu couldn't be too servile, and being a younger generation, he had to lower his posture a bit. This way, no one would say anything, and he wouldn't lose face while also making Wang Baihu feel at ease with him and his father. Later on, taking advantage of this opportunity to move around a few times, it's likely that he'll become one of the hundred households' own people, and naturally, good things will come his way.

  As for Xue Ping, the head of the Xue family, he had a son named Xue Ming, who was a spoiled and dissolute young master, indulging in food, drink, whoring, and gambling. Although not comparable to those aristocratic young masters, he would often lead a group of ruffians from the Xu State Guards to roam around the state city, making people look down on him as if he were a stray dog.

  Song Qing this time got a small flag, originally was Xue Ping for Xue Ming prepared, Xue Ming this year nineteen years old, early want to in Wei Suo get an identity, only before no opportunity, can only endure, this time finally had a position vacancy, who knows halfway being robbed by Hu, also do not know what kind of feeling.

  If it were in the past, Song Qing and Xue Ming would be hard to say who is higher or lower. After all, neither Wocun Fei nor Poren are exemplary characters. However, now that Wocun Fei has undergone a huge transformation, Poren's side immediately shows its inadequacy. Otherwise, Song Qing wouldn't have gotten this position this time.

  After all, for Wang Baiguan, this position is fine with anyone, both sides will definitely have filial piety, and they are all sons of the general flag under his command, the conditions are basically the same, if you want to make a choice, you can only look at the individual, and in this regard, Song Qing is undoubtedly much stronger than Xue Ming.

  On the second day in the morning, Wang Chang's military households began to gather. Although Xuzhou Wei did not have a separate thousand-household institution due to its defense of Xuzhou, everyone lived together, but after all, there were many people and distinctions between them. Wang Chang's side was all living in the southwest of Xuzhou City, with each household's house tightly adjacent to each other, making it convenient for communication. This time, having just finished fighting, they knew that there were many things to be explained, and upon hearing that the hundred-household leader had summoned them, each household rushed over, and soon everyone was present.

  Wang Chang walked up to the middle of the earthen platform in the courtyard, his stern gaze sweeping over the crowd below until he had suppressed all their whispers. He cleared his throat and said: "This time we went out to suppress the bandits, we didn't lose face for Xu Zhou Wei. Each family has suffered losses, I've already obtained silver from the Thousand Households' leader. Today, we'll distribute compensation and rewards for meritorious service. As the saying goes, 'the dead are more important', let's start with the families of those who died in battle first. Those whose names are read out later will come forward to receive their compensation!"

  The heaven is big, the earth is big, but eating and sleeping are the biggest. In order to make oneself eat better and sleep more soundly in the future, and for the old people, women and children at home, even if the men in the family die in battle, the pain cannot stop the enthusiasm of the military households from receiving consolation money. What's more, human life is worthless these days, and one can die from an illness at any time. In comparison, dying in battle will at least bring some consolation money. Although the military households have not yet recovered from the pain of losing their men, taking the money is quite a relief.

  Wang Chang naturally couldn't stand under the sun himself, so he found a personal attendant to run up and shout his name. He then retreated to a shaded area to cool off. Seeing Song Qing standing among the crowd, he lightly nodded at him and smiled, indicating that his own small flag was no longer an issue.

  As expected, after the consolation was over, Wang Baihu walked up to the platform again with a puffed-up belly. Looking at the crowd, it seemed that they were all somewhat unsatisfied, but there was no resentment on their faces, and they had put down their hearts. Xu Zhou Wei had always been peaceful, but this time people had died, and more than a dozen people had died. As the hundred households, he was under great pressure. Seeing that no one was making trouble, he felt relieved and cleared his throat again to say to the crowd: "As I said earlier, those who died or were injured will be consoled, and those who have made achievements will naturally receive promotions and rewards. Song Qing!"

  "Here comes a little man!" Song Qing immediately stood out from the crowd, first glanced at Song Hu who was standing beside Wang Chang, and then walked to the front of the stage with big strides.

  Wang Chang nodded slightly, his eyes glanced at another general Xue Ping, and slowly opened his mouth to say: "General Xue, one of your deputy generals is missing, isn't that right?"

  Xue Ping suddenly felt something was off and stuttered: "R-returning to what the official said, there is a small flag that's missing, but..."

  "It's settled then. Song Qing has achieved great merit this time, and we officials can't not reward him. That small flag position will be his, no problem with that?"

  Although Wang Chang was always smiling, the tone of his voice revealed absolute certainty. After all, he was one of the oldest qualified people in Xuzhou Wei, and there were rumors that he would soon become a thousand-household official. Xue Ping, although unwilling in her heart, ultimately did not dare to speak out. With a resentful gaze at Song Qing, she looked at Song Hu with a complacent expression, but ultimately could only admit defeat, cupping her hands and saying: "No problem, everything will be done according to your instructions, sir!"

  "Good!" Wang Chang was visibly delighted. He didn't have much of a relationship with Xue Ping, but Xue Ping had gone out of his way to find him several times for the sake of getting a small flag for his son. Originally, he didn't know how to refuse, but now that there was Song Qing, it was just right to shut Xue Ping's mouth. As for the conflict between the Song and Xue families, that wasn't something this hundred-man commander needed to worry about. The more tense things were between them, the better it would be for him to reap the benefits. Seeing Song Qing still standing below the stage, he smiled and said: "Song Qing, tomorrow morning, you'll go take up your post. Now that you've gotten an official position, you can't act as willfully as you did at home anymore. You must do everything for the sake of the imperial court, for the sake of our Xu Zhou Garrison. Do you understand?"

  "I understand, thank you for your support!"

  "Alright, that's all for now, let's disperse!" Wang Chang said, taking a few steps down from the platform and humming a tune as he left. However, the military households below didn't leave, instead they rushed over to congratulate Song's family, especially since Song Hu was already highly respected and his son had just received a small flag, instantly elevating their social status. Ordinary military households naturally wanted to come over and build a good relationship with them, even those with some status, who would still have many days of interaction ahead, came over in advance to pay their respects and offer congratulations, all willing to join in the celebration.

  The only one who was not happy, probably Xue Ping, was almost furious, but he didn't have a good relationship with the soldiers and wasn't as useful or well-liked as Song Hu. He had a narrow-minded attitude and often bullied the soldiers, so when they saw him get punished, they were secretly pleased. Xue Ping himself probably knew this, so he coldly snorted and turned to leave.