Chapter 109 One, two or three things about conscription
Author: Fengze Fangfei
Everyone was pretentious. Those who were cooking dinner had no intention of cooking, and those who were eating had no intention of eating.
Feng Tu chewed the uncooked rice in his mouth, then slowly took a mouthful of beans and stuffed them into the corner of his mouth. The salt made him frown.
Then I picked up some green vegetables with chopsticks and forgot to add salt. The bland taste can dilute the salty taste in my mouth. However, I bit some sand after just two bites and the vegetables were not washed thoroughly.
Looking at his worried family, he didn't realize there was anything wrong with tonight's meal. He didn't dare to say anything and silently ate a bowl of rice into his stomach.
Today is the first day of recruiting soldiers. After breakfast, Li Chengmu took the officials from the yamen and prepared to set up a recruitment point at the yamen gate.
He thought that no one would pay attention to this recruitment point. After all, people in this era were very disgusted with conscription.
In the era of cold weapons, the death rate on the battlefield was very high. Who would want their son to die in vain on the battlefield?
But today might be his lucky day. As soon as the tables and chairs were set up, a tall young man was wandering in front of the recruitment point.
His servant Chang Lu asked tentatively: "Brother, this is the recruitment point for military conscription. Are you here to register?"
Feng Tu smiled unnaturally at Chang Lu, suppressed his nervousness, took a deep breath, and walked forward quickly as if he had made a decision, "Hello, sir, I am Feng Tu from Jixiang Lane.
I came here specifically to register today, may I ask if the area where we live is registered here?"
Li Chengmu's eyes lit up as he just sat down. Someone took the initiative to register. The recruitment point set up was not a surprise.
"Auspicious Lane?" Chang Lu was also surprised in his heart. He looked at the man in front of him and found that his age and physical appearance met the requirements for military recruitment.
"Are you from Fucheng?"
Feng Tu nodded heavily: "Well, I grew up in Fucheng, and my family has been from Fucheng for generations."
Next, Feng Tu told everyone about his family's situation.
Afraid that they wouldn't believe it, he handed Chang Lu the household registration he had stolen from his parents' room in the middle of the night last night.
Changlu checked it over and handed it to the clerk to check again. After making sure that there was no problem with his identity, he registered it for him.
Li Chengmu thought this was a good start. After registration, he did not ask Feng Tu to go back immediately, but asked him to help at the recruitment point.
"After all, we have just arrived in Lingnan, and we really can't understand the Lingnan dialect. There are many things that need to be explained in the recruitment process. See if you can stay and help?"
Feng Tu was a little hesitant. The most important thing was that he noticed the clerk next to him. With this clerk around, the people who came to register would not have to worry about being unable to communicate.
Chang Lu saw that he was hesitant and did not respond, so he smiled and introduced: "This is our fifth master. He and the Taiwei are responsible for the recruitment work together."
Feng Tu glanced at Li Chengmu in surprise, then quickly lowered his head, bowing and saying: "I have no eyesight, I hope the fifth master will forgive me for my stupidity. It is my blessing to win the favor of the fifth master today, and I can serve the fifth master."
It’s even more desirable. If the Fifth Master has anything to do, just give me your instructions.”
"Haha!" This was the first time Li Chengmu heard someone talk like this, and he guessed that he was probably too nervous.
However, he didn't care too much, waved his hand and said: "Since you have registered, you are a soldier in the military camp. From now on, you don't need to call me "little" or "little" in front of me. It sounds weird.
Just call yourself a subordinate."
"Yes, I obey!" Feng Tu was delighted. It seemed that this gentleman was an easy-going man.
"You seem to be adjusting well."
Li Chengmu joked, took a sip of tea and continued to wait, but then things got really quiet.
The people passing by just glanced briefly and ran away as if there were dogs chasing them behind them.
The sun above his head gradually rose, and Li Chengmu lost the patience to wait any longer.
He stood up and said to the clerk: "You stay here, Changlu, Feng Tu, and you two will go with me to the recruitment points in various streets to have a look."
The entire recruitment process is expected to be completed in about ten days. After busying in the city, we have to go to the countryside to recruit in the villages. Time is tight and the task is heavy.
Li Chengmu felt that since he had promised his mother and concubine to form a team of 5,000 people, he had to take practical actions.
Feng Tu was worried that his second brother would register when he heard Li Chengmu say: "Feng Tu, you are a native of Fucheng and you are more familiar with the streets and alleys in the city than we are. You will take us on a tour today."
"Okay, Fifth Master, in fact, the family discussed it yesterday and planned to let the second brother apply for the army. I am afraid that the second brother will also register. Can we go to Jixiang Lane where I live first?"
The first time he went out with his master to do something, he made a request. Feng Tu felt anxious, fearing that Li Chengmu would be angry.
"Then let's go to Jixiang Lane first." As for where to go first, Li Chengmu didn't care. He was curious about why Feng Tu secretly came out to register in advance when he was discussing at home that his second brother should apply.
"People in this world try to avoid conscription as much as possible. Why do you still sign up when your second brother agreed? Are you not afraid of going to the battlefield and being shrouded in horse leather at a young age?"
"An ant lives in vain, let alone a human being. The second brother in the family has a wife and children to take care of. Compared with the brothers, he has the least worries about his subordinates, so the application conditions are the most suitable."
Li Chengmu looked at Feng Tu with complicated eyes and patted his shoulder, "Brother, you are the second person that I admire after coming to Lingnan. Yes, a man who values love and righteousness stands upright. From now on, follow me and work hard!"
"
"I wonder who is the first person that Fifth Master admires?"
"Of course it's my mother-in-law! Haha!"
"Ah! Thank you for thinking so highly of your subordinates." Feng Tu didn't expect the answer to be like this. He was so excited that he pursed his lips and followed silently.
When a few people arrived at Jixiang Lane, as expected, many people were called by the mayor to sign up. Among the long queue was Feng Mu, the second eldest son of the Feng family.
Feng Mu had been paying attention to the movement in front of the team. He was suddenly tapped on the shoulder and was slightly startled. When he turned around, he realized that it was his fourth brother.
"Fourth brother, why are you here?"
"Second brother, don't wait in line here. I've already signed up. You can go back quickly."
"Where did you sign up? I never saw you in the front line just now."
Feng Tu stretched his neck and noticed that Li Chengmu had already led the way to the front of the team.
He eagerly put the household registration into Feng Mu's hand, "I have my own way to register. If you ask me to take back my family's household registration, the fifth master has gone far, and I am going to chase the fifth master."
After saying that, he rushed out without waiting for Feng Mu to respond.
"Fifth Master? What Fifth Master?"
Feng Mu scratched his head. When he lowered his head and noticed the household registration in his hand, he suddenly said: "No wonder my parents couldn't find the household registration. It turned out that this kid had stolen it."
My parents begged the village chief for a long time before he was willing to sponsor me even though I didn't have household registration.
Across the crowd, Feng Tu suddenly sneezed twice.
He rubbed his nose, who was talking about him?
Wu Yuli's eyelids have been twitching in recent days.
The left eyelid twitched and the right eyelid twitched. Even if I put red paper on my eyelids, it would not help. An ominous premonition came over me.
Until the maid came to report: "Madam, the old master invites you to go to the main courtyard."
When Wu Yuli heard that the old man was looking for her, her right eye twitched even more.
Feeling uneasy in her heart, she asked the maid: "Do you know what the old lady is talking about with this lady?"
The maid's mouth was closed tighter than a clam shell in the river. She shook her head without hesitation when she heard this: "I don't know."
"You go and answer the question, I will be there right away."
The servants were ordered to leave.
The personal lady said worriedly: "The old lady will not call you if there is nothing wrong. There must be something important to see you. If the old man is here, madam, what should we do?"
He almost mentioned the late master again in a hurry.
The mother-in-law glanced at her secretly, and when she saw that she didn't show any sadness, she breathed a sigh of relief.
How could Wu Yuli not understand what the mother-in-law meant? The mother-in-law just wanted to say that if the master was still here, who among the Mou family would dare to bully their mother and daughter.
It's just that times have changed, and now in Lingnan, things and people are different.
As for the old lady looking for her, we can only take one step at a time to see what the old lady is looking for today.
"Be clear about everything. After all, I am the daughter-in-law of the Mou family. The old lady will not eat me. Don't worry."
"The old master dislikes the fact that we have no male heirs in this house. I am afraid that someone will trick the old master into harming you and make some weird requests."
Wu Yuli raised her hand to stop her muttering, "It's better to say less of these words in the future. I'm afraid that if you usually speak smoothly and don't pay attention to the occasion, you will open your mouth and the old man will know about it, and even I won't be able to protect you."
The mother-in-law quickly knelt on the ground and admitted her mistake, "What the madam said is that the servant's head can't turn around and she can't think of anything. Such random thoughts cannot be tolerated. I will definitely change my mind in the future."
Wu Yuli raised her hand to let her get up, tidied her appearance a little, and then took the maid out.
In the main courtyard where the old lady lives, most of the most influential masters of Mou Mansion sit here.
Wu Yuli went in and said hello to the two elders at the main seat, then found an empty seat and sat down.
The old lady noticed that Wu Yuli was dressed in plain clothes and was very satisfied.
A widow must have the consciousness of a widow.
"Boss, how are you adapting these days? If there is anything missing in the yard, just tell your second sister-in-law and she will take care of everything for you."
Wu Yuli gently twitched the corner of her mouth, "Thank you, old lady, for your concern. We don't need anything, and we can adapt to living here. I think the second brother and sister have to take care of the whole family and don't have extra time to pay attention to the big house, so I won't cause any trouble to her."
"
Mentioning the second lady, she couldn't help but think of the fact that her power to run the family was taken away.
For someone who usurped power, Wu Yuli was gentle and generous by not beating her severely.
How could he beg her?
"Ahem!"
The old man coughed twice beside him. The old lady wanted to say something more, but after being reminded, the topic changed, "Boss, my wife, we have been able to settle down so smoothly in Lingnan, and Princess Qian deserves a lot of credit."
"Of course, we also remember your contribution. We just want to thank you and express our gratitude. However, we have never met the princess, so we can't come to visit you rashly."
"How about you represent the Mou family and send a greeting card to the palace?"
"My daughter-in-law didn't get a reply when I sent her posts the first two times. It must be that the princess has just arrived. She has so many things to do and there are so many things waiting for her to make decisions. She has no time to meet outsiders!"
The old lady didn't like others refuting her words, and frowned slightly, "How can you be considered an outsider? You have been her close friend since childhood. No matter how busy I am, I will always find time to see you."
Wu Yuli laughed at herself and didn't waste any more words.
The old man coughed slightly and said, "Boss, my wife, there are recruitment notices everywhere, and families like ours are also included in the recruitment list."
As he spoke, he pointed to the family members and said, "Look at these gentle young masters, which one can endure the hardships in the military camp, and which one can go to the battlefield? The sword has no eyes on the battlefield, and whoever is injured will be hurt by his family members.
Heartbroken."
"Can you go find the princess and ask her to do a favor? For the sake of our Mou family following them to Lingnan without any hesitation, can we see if we, the Mou family, can be exempted from military service?"
"conscription?"
Are you still recruiting soldiers from aristocratic families?
Wu Yuli hasn't been out for a few days, so of course she doesn't know what's going on outside.
The most popular one was the conscription event.
"Yes, sister-in-law, it's up to you whether our family can be exempted from military service this time. There are a lot of adult men in the family. If we count according to the requirements for military conscription, our direct branch will have six people. If we add in the side branches, we will have six people.
That number is even more incredible, it should be more than enough to form a squadron."
The second wife's wife was so anxious that her mouth was on fire. There were six adult men in their second wife.
If she didn't find a way, she would be reluctant to let any of her children serve in the military.
"Sister-in-law, I leave the military service to you."
"Sister-in-law, you must do your best and beg the princess more. We believe she is compassionate."
Several other rooms came out to ask for help, but Wu Yuli felt an invisible pressure coming towards her from the main courtyard.
It seemed that as long as she didn't take care of this matter, if her family served in the military or went to the battlefield or had an accident, she would be blamed.
"Boss's wife!"
The old lady urged.
Wu Yuli thought for a moment and gritted her teeth, "I will try my best to do this. As for whether the princess will agree to it, I can't guarantee it. But if it doesn't happen, I hope everyone won't blame me, because I'm a humble person and have tried my best."
Already."
"No, no, how could I blame you? You are now a great contributor to our Mou family!"
The worry on the second lady's face disappeared, she smiled and waved her hand, as if Wu Yuli agreed to go to the palace, and everything could be done.
Wu Yuli lowered her head and smiled bitterly, and did not emphasize anything further.
Xia Jing received the invitation from the Mou family and was sorting out the deeds of the wasteland sent back by the Tong, Lou, and Chen families.
The Tong, Lou, and Chen families were happy to return the deeds to the wasteland, but there was a delay in paying the back taxes. Each family seemed to have agreed upon it, and only paid 50,000 taels of silver.
Xia Jing had already expected this and was not surprised. She let the Yamen accept the silver and the deed to the wasteland without much difficulty.
But he also asked the three major aristocratic families to write an IOU, requiring them to repay part of the loan every year and the remainder in three years.
Receiving a greeting card from the Mou family seems to be both reasonable and unexpected.
"Thank you so expressly, I thought they would wait until the Mou family has settled down completely before they come to visit."
"Where is he now?"
Hongmei replied: "At the concierge, Princess, would you like to invite them in?"
"Invite people in."
Hongmei accepted the order and left to arrange for the cleaning maid to bring the people in.
Xia Jing patted a stack of land deeds on the table and asked Bai Mei, who was standing aside and fanning herself, "There are so many wastelands outside the four city gates. How do you think I should allocate them?"
Prince Qian has five sons. Counting her, the score is divided into six.
It would be great if there were four sons, one of whom would occupy one position.
At worst, she, the person who took over their ancestor's body, would go further away to open up wasteland.
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