"Sir, you said there were two things. The first thing was the performance evaluation. What was the second thing?"
After Zhu Ping'an announced the epoch-making disciplinary and performance evaluation, the Zhejiang Army became even more curious about the second thing.
"The second thing is that I want to add a new military law." Zhu Ping'an stood on the high platform, slowly glanced at everyone, and spoke with a serious face, revealing a mouthful of cold teeth.
"military law?"
"We need to add more military laws? What military laws? Your Excellency is so serious..." The Zhejiang soldiers looked at each other. Judging from the serious look on the adults' faces, this military law must be extraordinary.
"We set out from Taohuaji, heading south, charging straight at the Japanese pirates and lifting the siege of Yingtian. Late that night, we sent troops to the temporary station of the Japanese pirates and killed all 56 of them. This is the glory of our Zhejiang Army and even more so yours. However, behind the glory there is also dirt! When we charged straight at the Japanese pirates, some people were terrified, cowardly, retreated, and scattered, and our army formation was disrupted. If the Japanese pirates had not been in a hurry to retreat and fought head-on, the consequences would have been disastrous: when we fought to annihilate the Japanese pirates late at night, facing the desperate counterattack of nine Japanese pirates who were hit by the Peacock Tail, some people were afraid of death, fled in front of the battle, and even some people even lost their weapons and armor in order to escape faster... If we hadn't planned in advance and made the Japanese pirates hit by the Peacock Tail drug, and we were outnumbered, I'm afraid it would be our Zhejiang Army that failed in this battle!"
Zhu Ping'an stood on the stage with a serious face and pointed out the problems existing in the Yingtian anti-Japanese war one by one.
After Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, many people in the audience lowered their heads in shame, their faces reddening. They were exactly the people that Zhu Ping'an mentioned as examples of being afraid of death, fleeing before fighting, and throwing away their weapons and armor.
"Your Excellency is right. I am ashamed to be associated with these cowards who are greedy for life and afraid of death!"
"I get angry when I mention them. They hide in the back during battles, but rush forward when it comes to distributing rewards. Now that we have performance evaluations, it's good. If they don't go forward in battle and don't make any contributions, they will get less or no reward at all."
"This is not just a matter of money. The next time we fight the Japanese pirates, we will be trapped by these cowards! Once they flee, the army will be in chaos and morale will be lost. How can we fight against the Japanese pirates?"
Many people were filled with righteous indignation; they had endured it for a long time and had long been dissatisfied with some of the cowards in the camp.
Zhu Ping'an stretched out his hand, and the audience suddenly became quiet.
"Yue Wumu once said that if civil officials do not love money and military generals do not fear death, the world will be peaceful. Wearing this leather and receiving this salary, you must bear the responsibility of defending the country! Soldiers must fight! Soldiers are for fighting! From today on, you must remember this sentence: If you want to get promoted and make money, please go somewhere else; if you are afraid of death, don't join the Zhejiang Army!"
Zhu Ping'an looked around the room with a serious face, and spoke passionately to everyone word by word.
"If you want to get promoted and make money, please take another path; if you are afraid of death, don't join the Zhejiang Army!"
This sentence was very shocking and infectious. After hearing it, the Zhejiang troops below the stage were greatly encouraged and started shouting along.
Zhu Pingan noticed the people in the audience who were ashamed, paused for a moment, and said, "Of course, no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. It is a great virtue to correct mistakes. The past is over, and bygones are not to be blamed! From today on, all the officers and soldiers of the Zhejiang Army, from me to each of you, must fight bravely in every battle! You are not allowed to retreat or escape in the face of battle!"
"Yes!" The Zhejiang troops below the stage responded one after another.
"But sir, what should we do if some people just can't change their bad habits?"
"Yes, sir. As the saying goes, it is easy to change mountains and rivers, but it is difficult to change one's nature. Some people are just selfish. They are talking nicely now, but when the time comes, when they face the Japanese pirates again, they may still run away."
Soon, Zhejiang troops raised questions again.
"Very good, you all raised very good questions, which is why I am adding a new military law!"
Zhu Ping'an verbally praised the soldiers who raised the questions, and then naturally brought up the military law.
"In troubled times, severe punishments must be used! Now the Japanese invasion is becoming more and more serious. Time is running out. There is no time to slowly reform those who are cowardly and afraid of fighting. The only thing we can do is to grow quickly. Therefore, I have specially formulated this military law. This military law is called: the law of collective responsibility!" Zhu Ping'an said with a serious face.
"Collective responsibility?"
"How can we sit together?"
When the Zhejiang soldiers heard the name of the collective responsibility law, they couldn't help but open their mouths wide. They felt a chill just by hearing the name.
They have basically all heard of collective punishment. When a person makes a mistake, not only will he be punished, but his relatives and neighbors will also be punished. It depends on the extent of the collective punishment.
"From today on, the collective responsibility law promulgated mainly includes three contents. From officers to me, and down to every soldier, no one is exempt. The first item is that the superior officer guarantees the 'collective responsibility' of the subordinate officer. As the saying goes, a bad soldier will lead a bad general. Officers are the soul of the army and the role models of the soldiers. Superior officers are the role models of subordinate officers. In our Zhejiang Army, officers of every level must guarantee for their subordinates and write a letter of guarantee. I also have to guarantee for the battalion commanders of each battalion and write a letter of guarantee. The content of the letter of guarantee is roughly: I, XXX, guarantee for my subordinate XXX, that XXX is not a cowardly, greedy and afraid of death. If he deserts in the face of the enemy in the future, I am willing to share the same crime with him. I am the guarantor XXX! And sign and seal it." Zhu Ping'an said loudly standing on the high platform.
"Ah?! What?! Your superior vouches for your subordinate?! Your superior also has to vouch for the battalion commander?! In this case, if your subordinate is afraid of death and flees from the battlefield, your superior will also be guilty! This... ... In the past, collective punishment was imposed on the subordinates, but I didn't expect that your superior would be so cruel and start with himself, the officials...
"It's the officials who are punished first..."
As soon as Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, the Zhejiang soldiers below the stage couldn't help but exclaim in shock, shocked by Zhu Ping'an's courage.
"Haha, fellow battalion commanders, please take good care of me in the future. My life depends on you." Zhu Ping'an smiled slightly, bowed to the battalion commanders in front of him, and then showed his white teeth and said, "In order to save my life, I will train and manage you severely! If I find that any of you are greedy for life and afraid of death, and incompetent, don't blame me for ruthlessly dismissing you!"
Liu Mu and others quickly expressed their opinions, "Don't worry, sir. I will never be afraid of death. I will climb mountains of swords and plunge into seas of fire and will never retreat even a single step!"
Zhu Pingan smiled slightly, and said half seriously and half jokingly, "Let me remind you that your lives are also in the hands of your subordinate officers."
Liu Dadao and his men suddenly realized what was going on, and quickly threatened their subordinates behind them that they would discipline and manage them strictly in the future, and that they should not think that they could get away with bribery or begging for mercy. They would definitely remove anyone who was incompetent or afraid of death... …