Another fleet of steamships left the dock of Jiuyuan City. The ships were full of triumphant officers and soldiers from the Beijing camp.
Yang Fan gave Yan Yingyuan temporary responsibility for Jiuyuan City, Guihua City and other Monan cities. Three battalions of regiment training were stationed in each city to maintain law and order.
The entire Beijing camp returned to Guihua City by boat and prepared to take the train back to Beijing.
At this time, Ma Xiaoping had been promoted to a hundred households, and Zhao Yongtang had also been promoted to a hundred households.
They met when Yang Fan took advantage of the long-distance running around the city to explore the Beijing camp. Ma Xiaoping took over his father's job and joined the Beijing camp as a soldier.
And Zhao Yongtang was hired to make up the money. He was originally a heavy baggage carrier on the dock.
However, Yang Fan didn't care about this. He became a soldier when he entered the barracks. Anyone who dared to escape would be killed. Zhao Yongtang had no choice but to become a soldier.
The battlefield is the most testing place. It is also the place where it is easiest to get ahead.
Here, only true ability is considered. In the cruel battles in the past, the losers have long been eliminated. And these people have also become officers.
"Brother Zhao, I didn't expect that the war would be over suddenly. We can go home. It feels like a dream." Ma Xiaoping said with emotion as he looked at the long yellow sand on the south bank of the Yellow River.
They followed Yang Fan in the Western Expedition and did not think about other things at all, because every battle had to be fought with all their strength. Countless comrades fell on the road to the Western Expedition.
They were fighting, and suddenly one day, the fighting stopped.
It said that the war is over and you can go home. They were all in a trance.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that we all made it off the battlefield alive. What are your plans when we go back?" Zhao Yongtang asked.
"This time I came out with Uncle Dingyuan. I was beheaded fifteen levels, promoted two levels, and received a reward of 650 taels of silver. Yesterday at the celebration meeting, the commander gave another 100 taels. I plan to use this after returning to Beijing.
I will use the money to marry a daughter-in-law so that my Ma family can continue the family lineage."
During this expedition, because he captured a huge number of livestock, Yang Fan held several auctions. The income was astonishing. Especially the horses, which were so valuable in the Ming Dynasty.
Not only were all the pay arrears of the Beijing camp and other participating armies paid over the years, but also, as long as they were beheaded, they would be promoted to one rank or given fifty taels of silver in accordance with the regulations of the Ming Dynasty.
Almost everyone got rich. Even the logistics staff, who had no chance to go to the battlefield, yesterday at the celebration meeting, Yang Fan decided to use the remaining silver to make a hundred taels each.
Originally, Yang Fan planned to give this money to the emperor when he returned to Beijing to see the emperor. After all, he was too short of money. But looking at it now, Yang Fan could not change anything regardless of whether he gave the money or not.
As Yang Fan's achievements became greater and greater, the emperor began to be deeply suspicious of him.
In this way, Yang Fan no longer wants to stick his hot face to his cold butt.
He discussed it with Zhang Shize. Anyway, they were the only ones who knew the account book. These six million taels of silver were simply given to the remaining 50,000 troops in the Beijing camp. Among them, the 10,000 disabled ones were directly given 200 taels.
This is not a small sum of money in this era. It is enough for them to spend the rest of their lives.
After the money was distributed, the disabled soldiers were so moved that they hugged each other and cried. I am afraid that the court's pension was not even thirty taels. The commander-in-chief still gave them T-shirts. It was not in vain to follow Uncle Dingyuan in a bloody battle.
Moreover, Yang Fan promised that after the disabled soldiers were retired by the court, jobs could be arranged for those with labor ability. Now, whether it is repairing railways or engaging in construction, even various communities need manpower.
Ma Xiaoping asked: "Brother Zhao, what are your plans."
Zhao Yongtang was silent for a while and said: "I plan to sell my position as a Baihu official after returning to Beijing. I want to leave the capital camp."
"What, Brother Zhao, you got this hundred households with a bloody battle. An official is an official, and there is a huge gap between him and the common people. In today's world, it is too difficult for the common people. Don't be confused.
"Ma Xiaoping persuaded anxiously.
Zhao Yongtang shook his head and said, "Brother, you don't understand."
"We are where we are today entirely because of the commander-in-chief. It is because the commander-in-chief enforces the rules. Now that the commander-in-chief has handed over the leadership of the capital, the rules of the capital will change. My temper and personality are not suitable for officialdom.
It’s better to come out early.”
Ma Xiaoping was silent, he was a military householder, and he knew very well what the Beijing camp was like in the past. Now that Uncle Dingyuan has handed over his errands, it goes without saying that the Beijing camp is still decided by the nobles. In the future, it may return to the old way.
However, he couldn't leave. He could only bite the bullet and continue working in Jingying.
Zhao Yongtang came in as a replacement. He used the same name. He was not a military householder.
Yang Fan didn't care about it at first, but now that the battle is over, it has become a confused account.
He went back and clearly marked the prices of the trial households and sold them to those who wanted to obtain official status for their children and grandchildren. It was feasible. After all, they also knew how aggressive the gentlemen in the Ministry of War were.
Ma Xiaoping thought to himself that many of the people who came in as replacements had this idea in mind.
They are not fools. If the capital camp is returned to the noble hands, will they be able to reap the benefits?
They don't have any background, and they don't know how to twist and turn, which stupid soldiers like him can't handle.
They made money on the battlefield again. The second-generation ancestor officers were waiting for them in the capital.
"Brother Zhao, what are your plans after leaving Beijing Camp?"
"I plan to move my family to Beitangkou, buy a four-wheeled carriage, and run long-distance transportation. The canned fish produced by the cannery in Beitangkou is very popular. I will open a trading company and sell canned fish to various places in the mainland.
If you go to the county town, you will definitely make money."
Ma Xiaoping said: "The world is not good now, many counties are not peaceful, and there are many rogues who bully the market. It is not easy to do business."
Zhao Yongtang said: "I contacted a few good brothers and planned to work together. We all have some skills after coming off the battlefield. I plan to buy some weapons and fire guns. Anyone who dares to bully us will be fucked.
. We Mongolians are not afraid, so why are we afraid of those rogues?"
Ma Xiaoping said with envy: "It's a pity that I am a serious military household. My family has been in Peiping for more than 200 years since the Hongwu period. They are all registered in the military and cannot leave. Otherwise, I would take off this mandarin duck war jacket and follow me."
You guys do it.”
Zhao Yongtang said: "I'm not optimistic about Jingying. Brother, if you can leave, think of a way. Now is an opportunity. It won't be easy after this period."
Now many of the former imposters, who were promoted because of their military exploits, have received letters from their families. The original owners, as well as the concubine sons of officials who want to find a way out, are all asking if they are willing to sell their identities to them.
Uncle Dingyuan was too fierce and protective, so they did not dare to use force. They drove away the person who replaced him, and took his official position themselves. They were willing to pay to buy it back. Many people were tempted. If the price was good, it would not be a problem.
Cannot be sold.
As a result, the army has not returned yet, and a craze has formed in the capital. Everyone is waiting for them to come back, conduct private transactions, change identities, and get themselves an official status.
