Nine hundred and seventieth chapter material officials do not die
By the summer of May, even ordinary people began to feel that the footsteps of war were getting closer and closer.
"The price of rice has gone up again today..." someone shook his head and sighed.
In just one month, the official price of rice in Chang'an has risen from about 55 qian per stone to 65 qian. Today, it broke through the red line of 65 qian and rose to 67 qian.
For a while, many citizens felt a little restrained in their lives.
Especially those young people stranded in Chang'an, waiting for the examination.
Li Ju looked at the last few dozen copper coins in his pocket, shook his head and sighed.
He is a tall man of seven feet and eight inches. He needs to eat at least three large bowls of corn every meal to satisfy his hunger.
But nowadays, corn is getting more and more expensive.
He could only settle for the next best thing and buy those flatbreads and steamed buns made from wheat flour to fill his stomach.
"There are still two months until the exam starts. During these two months, I have to find something else to do..." He looked up at a notice posted under the cloth and thought to himself: "Could it be that I Are you going to go back to your old ways?"
"But, it was hard to make up my mind..." He hesitated.
Li Ju was from Yunzhong, and his family had been famous for being talented officials for generations.
Officials and knights all belonged to the privileged class in the Han Dynasty.
You will know just by looking at the noun.
How can officials and scholars be called ordinary people?
In China, where names and objects cannot be faked, social status levels have strict boundaries.
Civilians who join the army can only start as pawns.
However, when a noble and powerful person joins the army, he starts as an officer.
Caiguan and knight are the names of reserve officers.
I think back in those days, when the Han army was dominated by large infantry, they had talented officers and strong crossbows, and they dominated the world.
When someone asks you about something when you go out, you can hold your head high and tell them: I am the official so-and-so.
but now……
Others would probably say "Oh", and then turn around and rush towards the man with the title of "Knight of the North" to flatter him.
Especially after the Battle of Mayi.
There is a folk song among the people: The husband joins the army, rides and shoots to show off his heroism, and drives thousands of miles...
There is nothing like the powerful officials and crossbowmen of the past.
This is also a fact. Throughout the Mayi War, the officials and Qiannu were just trying to make a fool of themselves.
At most, it's just to help clean up the battlefield and cut off the heads.
Many traditional military and general families that relied on talented officials and powerful crossbows to gain prominence have declined one after another.
In their place are the emerging knights and their families.
Many people were forced to change careers and learn riding and shooting.
But it was a little late for Li Ju to change careers.
He is too old and is already twenty-seven years old this year. In the first twenty-seven years of his life, the education he received was all about heavy infantry tactics.
Holding a giant shield and wearing heavy armor, they provided cover for the Chinese army.
All of a sudden, we have to switch from formation of defense to cavalry.
Li Ju was at a loss.
This is also the problem faced by most of the grassroots military general families in the Han family who are based on talent officials.
In the new era of war, the cavalry plays the leading role.
In the past, the strategy of forming a formation of tens of thousands of people to face the enemy and advancing layer by layer completely lost its effect in the face of cavalry.
A large number of officials and their families could not adapt to such a situation, so they had no choice but to come to Chang'an to take part in the examinations and try their luck like Li Ju.
However, more than 90% of people end up failing.
From childhood to adulthood, they have been trained on how to kill people.
Of course I can hold a pen, but how can I compare with those who have been studying since childhood?
This is like Tian Ji's horse racing. If you have to use your own shortcomings to compete with other people's strengths, you will naturally lose.
But the officials had no choice.
Unlike those strong crossbowmen, they are good at shooting crossbows. Even if the cavalry master is awesome, he has to take them with him.
What's more, most crossbows can either ride horses or have the skills to use big-kill weapons like Rhubarb Fury.
How does it look like Mr. Li?
Ever since elementary school, I have learned how to thrust a halberd into the enemy's dense formation, or how to deal with the rain of arrows fired by the enemy.
The professionalism is completely inappropriate!
Li Ju and his father both know now.
If the family cannot complete the transformation in their generation, then the Han family's title descending system will be followed.
In the next generation, Li will be expelled from the 'scholar' class and become a commoner.
When he was feeling depressed, one of Li Ju's friends came running from afar, shouting as he ran: "Li Dalang, Li Dalang, go to Shanglinyuan quickly!"
"What?" Li Juying stepped forward and asked, "But there is a noble person going to Shanglin Garden?"
For the scholars who are waiting for the examination in Chang'an, there are two things that most of them must do while waiting for the examination.
The first thing is to find a job that can make money to support yourself.
Whether they work as accountants in workshops or as diners or servants for nobles, in short, they have to find a meal ticket.
Second, you must work hard to find a noble person who can appreciate you.
Once you meet Bole, the so-called examination will be like playing house.
In particular, among the scholars in Chang'an, there was an incident where a talented person was spotted by a nobleman because of his talent. The nobleman used his family's privileges with a wave of his hand and directly recommended that scholar to the first place of the examination.
There is such a good story as three wheels, and then embarking on the road to success.
Therefore, the scholars in Chang'an, whether they are noble, reserved, or flamboyant, will all strive to find and seize any opportunity to contact the nobles and show their talents to the nobles.
Any submissions to books or posts are all from the old calendar.
Driven by scholars from all over the world, some of the current scholars in Chang'an even began to learn and try to hype themselves up, hiring some navy troops, and publicizing their own status.
Under such circumstances, every prince or minister in Chang'an City, once they appear in public or appear on certain occasions, will inevitably attract crowds of people to watch and clap their hands.
Li Ju refused to do this at first.
Because he still has the reserve of a talented official, a husband, and a gentleman.
But it is a pity, whether it is the pride of the official, the persistence of the husband, or the reserve of the gentleman.
It can't help but my stomach growling.
In the face of reality, after being hungry several times, Li Ju had no choice but to seize every opportunity to eat and brush his face like everyone else.
Persistence is victory!
"No..." The friend ran to Li Ju and said breathlessly: "It's the Yulin Guards who are recruiting troops in Shanglinyuan. They are recruiting talents from all over the world, with the emphasis on qualified officials!"
The man thrust a piece of white paper into Li Ju's hand: "Read it yourself!"
Li Ju took it and took a look, and was immediately overjoyed.
On the paper, it was written in bold font: I sincerely hope that all the officials and heroes in the world will participate in this grand event with us!
On the back of the paper is the unique symbol of the Habayashi Guards, a blood-drinking phoenix bird.
There is no doubt that this is a leaflet.
Speaking of flyers, this is a propaganda method that became popular in Chang'an only two years ago.
The original origin is unknown. It is said that they were some propaganda pictures drawn by a certain nobleman to encourage people to immigrate to Huaihua.
Later everyone discovered that this method is very good!
The first person to react was the businessman.
Anyway, white paper is not expensive nowadays.
Even if you print tens of thousands of copies, it only costs tens of thousands, and the greater the quantity, the cheaper the price.
As a result, various large merchants began to print leaflets with pictures and texts to promote their products and reputation.
Then, even the government followed suit.
The Shaofu, Internal History, Da Nong and Prime Minister's Office all fell in love with this simple, convenient, cheap and effective way of publicity.
Anyway, it doesn't cost much.
But it can have the effect of making laws and policies deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Finally, it developed to what it is now.
After Li Ju read the flyer, he quickly handed over his hands and thanked the man: "Thank you very much, brother, for letting me know. I am very grateful!"
"Dalang, you'd better go to Shanglinyuan quickly. It's said that only fifty talent officials will be selected this time. If you go late, the spot will be taken away by others!" said the friend.
"Yes!" Li Ju nodded and said goodbye.
…………………………………………
When Li Ju arrived at the Yulin Guards station in Shanglinyuan, the place was already besieged and impenetrable.
Thousands of people crowded together, and everyone craned their necks, hoping to be selected for the Habayashi Guards.
Entering the Habayashi Guards is almost like passing the exam!
Who doesn't know that now, Yu Lin and Hu Ben are the emperor's personal soldiers?
What's more, these two troops have participated in almost all military operations of the Han army since their establishment.
Whether it was the Eastern Expedition to Korea or the Northern Expedition to the Huns.
Yu Lin, a fierce athlete, is always at the forefront of the war.
Relying on their illustrious military exploits and immortal martial arts, they built themselves into the best army in the world.
Even Xiliu Camp is willing to be defeated.
For the people of Guanzhong and the heroes of the world.
Even if you can enter the Yulin, Huben, and be a pawn guarding the gate, it is still an honor!
Not to mention, these two troops are well paid and have high status.
Last time, after the Battle of Mayi, the dozens of soldiers who retired due to injuries were invited home by various princes and ministers at high prices before they even returned to Chang'an. They were treated as retainers or guests, and as their nephews who trained them.
instructor.
The annual salary is several hundred dan of corn, plus the same amount of money, and during holidays, there are also red envelopes.
That's it, we still can't find anyone!
Because other troops of the Han army are also eager for these people.
As long as you are willing to go, a post of Yuhou is waiting for you.
Some people even directly offered positions such as Sima as a temptation.
Although, those people are so popular because they are retired officers and soldiers of the cuirassiers.
However, if other soldiers of the Huben and Yulin Guards retire due to injury or age, they can at least serve as qiangmen in local counties, travel around, and even serve as county captains and county commanders.
So much so that some people joked that he might be dismissed from office after taking the exam.
But Yu Lin and Hu Ben are golden rice bowls.
As long as you choose it, you will have a worry-free life.
However, these two armies were also the two most difficult armies for the Han Dynasty to enter.
Even if he is a pawn, he is still one in a hundred.
It is said that when Huben and Yulin were first established, the emperor ordered Yi Zong and Ju Meng to select only one member from a hundred.
All the soldiers and officers of the Yulin Guard and the Huben Guard were selected from the elites of the main forces of the Han army from the prefectures and counties in the world.
Moreover, there are height and age restrictions.
Those over thirty years old and under seven feet five inches are not even qualified to touch the threshold of these two armies.
As for now, it is even more exaggerated.
Even today's Huben and Yulin Guards, after several expansions, have a total strength of close to five thousand.
However, it is still difficult to enter these two armies.
So much so that some people once joked: If Yu Lin and tigers and warriors move together, a thousand pieces of gold can be scattered, and a thousand stones of work can be suspended!
Although this is a bit exaggerated.
But in the hearts of many examination scholars, they can understand it.
Today, when it comes to talents, what matters most is the general and the general.
If you can't kill the enemy when you mount your horse, and you can't govern the people when you dismount, you are destined to be unable to achieve great things.
It is much faster to make meritorious deeds right away than to struggle through the ups and downs of officialdom.
A civil servant who is good at civil affairs will probably not be able to lead troops in war.
But a general who can command an army thousands of miles away and conquer a country with great command can certainly manage the place well.
If you don't believe it, please open the history books of the Han Dynasty and count the merits of those heroes who were once as brave as tigers and built this country for the emperor of the Han Dynasty after they became civil servants!
From the time of Cao Shen to the present, all the prime ministers of the Han Dynasty all started in the official ranks, worked hard on horseback, and governed with swords and guns instead of swords and pens!
Therefore, Li Ju even saw many young people wearing Confucian crowns in the crowd.
This is not surprising.
Among the current Northern Confucian scholars, Li Ju once encountered warriors who could compete with him in terms of strength.
Looking at this huge crowd of people, Li Ju sighed, feeling a little frustrated.
If you choose fifty people out of thousands of people, can you choose him?
But I heard, in the distance, an officer wearing armor, reading an order loudly: "Any officer, or those whose fathers and ancestors were officers, enter first!"
Li Ju immediately became energetic. He quickly took out the bamboo talisman that he had hidden on his chest, raised it high, and shouted: "Yunzhongcai officer Li Ju is here!"
Immediately, soldiers squeezed out of the crowd, looked at Li Ju's appearance, and then checked Li Ju's token to confirm that he was indeed a Cai Guan, then nodded and said: "Li Cai Guan, please come in!"
There was even a soldier who chuckled and said: "Li Caiguan, since you have been a talent officer for generations, why bother to come to Chang'an to take the exam? A man's meritorious deeds should be obtained on the battlefield, and he should be able to live in peace and contentment, bending his sword and pen?"
When Li Ju heard this, he lowered his head and sighed: "Isn't it like this in today's world, where officials are decadent and do nothing anymore?"
"Who said that officials are useless?" A man who seemed to be an army officer said coldly: "Guan Li, don't belittle yourself!"
"In today's world, only the breastplate can rule the roost!" The man said: "Soon, everyone in the world will know that in addition to the breastplate, my great man also has a talent officer! If the talent officer does not die, the talent officer will be victorious!"
The man seemed to have been feeling aggrieved for a long time and was extremely excited.
After hearing this, Li Ju disapproved in his heart.
In today's world, where is the way out for officials?
In the military, there is no place for him anymore.
The talented officers and warriors who dominated the world in the past originated from the glory of the Wei soldiers. In the era of cavalry, they seemed to be abandoned.
In the border areas, military officers have been reduced to digging ditches and setting up camps for the crossbow and cavalry troops. (To be continued.)
