While it's true that these low-ranking soldiers often had no choice, as they only knew to obey orders, many even met their deaths without ever knowing the reason for it.
However, rebels were rebels, and Han Mo could do nothing about that.
"Look up!"
Only after approaching these men did Han Mo speak.
Upon hearing Han Mo's command, the men silently raised their heads. At this moment, Han Mo could no longer see any spark in their eyes. They were like a group of walking dead, devoid of emotion and hope.
Rather than calling them people, they were more like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
After observing their state, Han Mo nodded with satisfaction. Yes, these were the people he wanted. He wanted their despair, their utter hopelessness.
After all, for the things he was about to do, once these people were involved, he had no intention of letting them out of his control for at least ten years.
Receiving Han Mo's command, the men, who were like corpses, slowly raised their heads again.
At this moment, their hearts were filled with fear, not just of Han Mo, but more so of the unknown.
After all, they had heard too many cruel tortures in prison before.
"Looking at you, you should all have been decent folk originally. Why did you end up becoming bandits?"
After scrutinizing them from front to back, Han Mo asked.
"Answering your excellency, we didn't want to. But if we refused, what would happen to our parents and our wives and children?"
"Yes, if only the authorities had given us a way to live, we wouldn't have resorted to rebelling with those rebels!"
…
In just a moment, more than ten prisoners had all knelt on the ground, weeping profusely. Even Han Mo felt a pang of sadness.
"Even if what you say is true, you all know in your hearts that according to the imperial law, your crimes, even the least serious, would at least result in exile. Now, I am giving you an opportunity, but whether you take it depends on yourselves!"
After a moment of hesitation, Han Mo spoke again.
"There's war everywhere now. If you're exiled, you'll likely end up on the battlefield in a few days!"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Shao Bowen immediately added.
"We are willing, please enlighten us, sir!"
As soon as Shao Bowen finished speaking, the prisoners began to kneel on the ground, begging incessantly.
"I am now giving you an opportunity. From today onwards, you will not have to go to the battlefield, nor will you return to prison to serve your sentence. You will work here daily, with two days off each month. However, whether on your days off or while working, you cannot leave this courtyard, nor can you communicate with others!"
"But I can guarantee that in 10 years, I will grant you your freedom. During these 10 years, I will also give you a monthly allowance. Regardless of what happens outside, your food and clothing here will not be lacking. If you are willing, you can stay here. If you are not willing, I can have you sent back to prison! Now, make your own decision!"
After listening to Han Mo's words, the prisoners present were all stunned into silence.
In these years, especially in the Jiangnan region, there were many people who had committed capital offenses and were taken by the court to work in the mines.
Although these people were spared from military service, their final days were worse than death!
"Don't worry, Lord Han isn't asking you to mine directly!"
Seeing their hesitant expressions, Shao Bowen quickly added.
"You can rest assured about this. As long as you follow the rules, I guarantee that the work you do will not be harder than your previous lives!"
Hearing Shao Bowen say this, Han Mo added again.
"As long as I can keep this life, and return to see my parents and wife and children after ten years, I am willing!"
Once someone took the lead in such a matter, the rest became simple. Soon, all the prisoners knelt before Han Mo.
"Very well, then get up for now. Take them to the adjacent room, heat some water, let them have a good bath, and change their clothes. The first rule here is that after completing the day's work, everyone must bathe!"
Han Mo said, establishing the first rule.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, soldiers immediately stepped forward, leading them all into the adjacent room.
"My lord, what exactly do you intend for them to do? Bathing daily, how much firewood will that waste?"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Shao Bowen rolled his eyes.
This was a bit too much, wasn't it!
Let alone the soldiers in the army camp, even he himself might not be able to enjoy such treatment.
"Who are the stewards you asked the gentleman to select?"
Han Mo smiled but did not explain further, instead looking at Shao Bowen again.
"It's these few!"
Shao Bowen frowned, but surprisingly, he did not refute and directly pointed to the three men beside him.
"Your subordinate, Li Qingping, greets you, my lord!"
"Your subordinate, Wang Yicheng, greets you, my lord!"
"Your subordinate, Lü Debang, greets you, my lord!"
"These three are all civilians who survived the Battle of Mingzhou. They have no ties, and their families..."
Shao Bowen stopped speaking here. Han Mo understood what he meant. After all, surviving was already difficult in this era; how could one ask for more.
"Good! You three as well. If you are willing to stay here, within 10 years, your weddings, funerals, and marriages can only take place here. However, as compensation, if you have children in the future, I can personally take them as my disciples to reward your ten years of hard work!"
"Thank you for your grace, my lord!"
Hearing Han Mo's words, the three men knelt before Han Mo without a moment's hesitation.
After all, although the three of them could recognize some characters, they were still very far from being scholars.
Even if they had sons in the future, with their conditions, they would not be able to afford to hire a famous teacher for their children. And Han Mo, standing before them?
He was the foremost talent in the Great Song!
If their future sons could become his disciples, bringing glory to their ancestors would be a simple matter!
"Very good. If that's the case, then come in with me!"