Zhu Houzhao told Wang Yuan that he could kill even noble sons.
There are indeed noble sons and daughters in the Beijing camp, and they all serve as officers. These are the most difficult veterans to take care of.
But the selection of officers and soldiers was handled by Zhang Yong. With Eunuch Zhang's cleverness and tact, how could he possibly get the noble men?
The six thousand people thrown to Wang Yuan were all low-level soldiers!
In the school grounds.
Pan Gui yawned and basked in the sun. It was already winter, and there had been two snowfalls in the past few days. It was rare for it to be warmer.
A soldier with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks came over, nodded and bowed and asked: "Brother Pan, Huo San and the others have set up a game to make money. Do you want to play a few games?"
"No, I want to sleep!" Pan Gui said with his eyes closed.
Pan Gui is the Jingyouzi in Wang Yuan's imagination. His main job is as a soldier and his side job is as a gangster, deceiving and abducting outsiders.
But such people are only a minority, and most regiment soldiers live worse lives than ordinary people.
First of all, military pay has been deducted. It is a luxury to receive half pay, and it is normal to receive 20 to 30% pay.
Secondly, they were often assigned to build mausoleums, dredge rivers, and were burdened with various construction tasks. According to historical records, they "worked all year round and were not allowed to engage in military operations." The officers and soldiers essentially became engineering troops.
Thirdly, official corruption was serious. The military fields, private fields, and even school grounds of the soldiers in the Beijing camp were occupied, and they often did private work for free for civil and military officials or eunuchs.
If a soldier wants to survive, he must either become a hawker, a helper, a thief, or a ruffian.
Pan Gui was basking in the sun and yawning. More and more soldiers gathered around him. Everyone was waiting to receive their food and pay. If Wang Yuan had not announced that wages would be paid today, I am afraid that only sixty of the six thousand people would be able to go to war.
"Huang Mao, do you think this top scholar can really pay his salary adequately?" There was worry in a voice.
In the Ming Dynasty, the terms "Huang Mao" and "Evil Young Master" were used, and they were often used to describe gangsters. The gangster named Huang Mao laughed and said: "Since Wang Erlang asked us to come, we must give you some, otherwise he will lose face."
"
"They don't even give me military pay, and they still train like shit. I still have dozens of pairs of straw sandals at home that I haven't sold yet."
"Do you sell straw sandals in the winter? Do you sell them to people as firewood to keep them warm?"
"I hope that Wang Erlang will train every day. He will have to take care of a meal after training. The emperor is not short of hungry soldiers. Do you think this is the truth?"
"Wang Erlang is here!"
"..."
Pan Gui stood up abruptly, stood on tiptoes and looked towards the entrance of the school ground. He was a gangster on weekdays, but he also loved reading "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Water Margin". He had worshiped heroes since he was a child.
I have been admiring Wang Erlang, the flying general in white, for a long time.
I saw Wang Erlang riding a horse in military uniform, followed by more than a dozen imperial guards.
Pan Gui's eyes lit up when he saw it, and he just wanted to rush over and kneel down and call him "brother".
Wang Yuan glanced at the six thousand soldiers and suddenly felt a headache.
Of the more than 120,000 officers and soldiers, Zhang Yong only picked 6,000 young men. The current 6,000 soldiers were all selected from the remaining 110,000 people.
But what the hell are they?
More than 90% of them are weak and skinny. Even a strong peasant woman can knock them down, let alone fight a tough battle on the battlefield.
What did the officers and soldiers in the capital of Ming Dynasty look like? Wang Yuan felt like he had entered a refugee camp.
There was no way, all those who could fight were pulled out to suppress the rebellion, and the rest were all untrained and run-down military households. Moreover, Zhang Yong had chosen 6,000 "elite" in advance. They had neither enough food nor clothing, and they had to build buildings for free.
Tombs, rivers, or being called to work as coolies for officials. The rest of the time is busy making a living. It is considered very lucky not to starve to death.
There are only a few soldiers like Pan Gui, and most of them are Kuhaha who are struggling on the line of life and death.
The troop training plan formulated by Wang Yuan was based on Zhang Yong's 6,000 soldiers. Who would have thought that the gap between the two was so great that it cannot be carried out normally now.
Li Sanlang was dumbfounded at this moment. How could the Beijing army be so poor?
"Enter the book and pay!"
Wang Yuan shouted loudly, and someone immediately pushed out more than ten carts of aged corn from the school warehouse.
The six thousand soldiers from the capital instantly regained their energy and crowded into the grain truck in a chaotic manner, just like disaster victims waiting to be given porridge.
The more Wang Yuan watched, the angrier he became, and he shouted: "Come here and register!"
The soldiers laughed and crowded under the stage. At this moment, Wang Yuan was not a general in their hearts, but a great philanthropist who helped the poor.
"Those who can write will come out!" Wang Yuan said again.
The people were very active in collecting food and wages, and everyone was willing to cooperate. More than 20 people came out immediately, most of them were gangsters and hawkers.
Wang Yuan said to these literate people: "You will temporarily serve as military scribes and register everyone in the family. Everyone in the family must be written down clearly! After the registration is completed, everyone will receive food and salary based on their military badges."
"Record me again!"
"Brother Pan, record it for me!"
"Chen Erlang, we are neighbors, record it for me first."
"..."
The soldiers, who were familiar with the clerk, crowded forward crazily, fearing that they would run out of rations if they fell behind.
Wang Yuan greeted Li Ying, and Li Sanlang immediately led his men, picked up their military sticks, and rushed down, beating the soldiers who made the most noise.
After some service with sticks, the school grounds finally became quiet.
Wang Yuan stood on the stage and said: "No pushing or noisy. Those who are registered first must wait aside until the registration is completed before queuing up to receive their pay. If there is anyone who disobeys the order, all of this month's food and salary will be deducted. Now give it to me
Get in line!”
Stimulated by the food and salary, the line went very fast, but there were still many people buzzing and chatting.
Li Sanlang once again brought people to serve him with sticks, and the soldiers were beaten until they ran away with their heads in their hands. After a long time, they finally became completely quiet.
Wang Yuan took the opportunity to lecture and said: "Listen to me, anyone who talks or makes a noise will have his salary and wages gone. If you don't believe me, give it a try."
Facing this group of hard-working people, Wang Yuan's hard-working military rules didn't work for the time being, at least until he gained enough strength. Just hit him with a few military sticks, and use a little more force to avoid killing him on the spot.
The 6,000 people were divided into more than 20 teams and registered one by one. Their eyes were fixed on the direction of the grain truck, as if they were afraid that the food and wages would disappear in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, Wang Yuan shouted: "The ninth and tenth members of Team D, come out!"
No one came out and no one knew what was going on.
Li Sanlang immediately ran over and pulled out the two people named.
Wang Yuan sneered and said: "You two have been whispering to each other, what is so interesting, why don't you tell it to everyone?"
The ones named were two gangsters, a pair of soldiers and oilmen.
One person smiled apologetically and said: "Shangguan, we are talking about how much food and salary we will pay this time."
"Have you had enough chat?" Wang Yuan asked.
"Enough chatting," the man replied.
Wang Yuan put away his smile and said in a cold tone: "Since you want to know, then I will tell you. The others receive enough food and salary, one stone, but you two only have five buckets!"
As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was very harsh on officials, he took great care of ordinary soldiers. From the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the monthly salary of grassroots soldiers was one stone of rice.
Of course, after layers of exploitation by officials, it would be considered good if you could actually get three or four buckets.
The six thousand people in front of us are among the most exploited soldiers in the Beijing camp. On average, each person can receive at most three buckets of rice per month, and some can only receive two buckets of rice.
Wang Yuan actually said that he would give him one stone, and these soldiers went crazy with joy.
"quiet!"
Wang Yuan shouted loudly, and Li Ying immediately hit him with a stick.
After being deducted half a month's pay and rations, two soldiers immediately quit their job. One of them asked: "Why are you deducting my rations and pay?"
"I am an official and you are soldiers," Wang Yuan sneered, "Also, because of your words, there are only three dou of food and pay left this month. If you want to be deducted, continue to make trouble with me!"
The two soldiers' faces were red and angry, but they did not dare to speak anymore.
After finally completing the registration, Wang Yuan finally announced the pay, but stood in front of the grain truck and said: "Today I will only pay five buckets of rice. The remaining five buckets will be rewarded and punished according to the training performance. If you train well, I will not only give you one stone, but also
And reward him with more food; if he doesn’t practice well, I don’t know who to give the remaining five pecks of rice to!"
The six thousand soldiers looked at each other in shock, none of them expected such an operation.
But no one dared to question, and no one made a fuss. Because in the past, they could only receive two or three buckets of rice, but now Wang Yuan directly gave five buckets of rice, which was considered the most benevolent and righteous.
Wang Yuan continued: "Don't think that after receiving five buckets of food every month, you can stop doing exercises and go to work to make a living. I have obtained your majesty's permission to kill half of you. Anyone who dares to skip exercises will be beheaded in public.
All my family members have been relegated to lowly status. If you don’t believe it, you can come and try it. I, the second king, will not hesitate to kill thieves, and I will not hesitate to kill you!"
If you don't have enough education, you'll be beheaded, and your family members will be relegated to a lowly status?
Everyone was silent, but they couldn't help but believe that no one in the capital knew Wang Erlang's name!
Pan Gui, who regarded Wang Erlang as his idol, was so frightened that he swallowed his saliva at this moment. He hesitated several times and finally couldn't help raising his hand: "Ms. Wang!"
"Say!" Wang Yuan said.
Pan Gui asked: "If you are really inconvenient, or there are important things at home, and you lack exercise because of it... you will also be beheaded?"
Wang Yuan said: "If there is really a reason for this, I will let Brother Jinyiwei investigate. After the investigation, we will not hold anyone responsible."
Seeing that all six thousand soldiers were frightened, Wang Yuan finally announced that he would start distributing food and wages.
Moreover, when the sound was played, the grain officer couldn't help but shake his hands, and the five buckets of rice were shaken until only four and a half buckets of rice were left.
Wang Yuan smiled and explained: "The half a bushel of rice saved will be used to buy meat and salt for you. If you don't eat well, how can you train? Don't worry, I won't line my own pockets. Your few bushels of rice are nothing!"
Even if Wang Yuan did not explain, the soldiers did not dare to protest, because they were satisfied with only four and a half buckets per month.
Taking advantage of the interval between blasts, Wang Yuan added: "After receiving the rations, you can take them home, but you must return to the camp before dark. From now on, you must eat and live in the military camp on the first and fifteenth day of every month.
You can go home to visit relatives."
Pan Gui couldn't help but ask again: "Ms. Wang, you live and eat in the military camp every day. Whose food money does this belong to?"
Wang Yuan shouted: "You must raise your hand to ask questions, and you are not allowed to speak without permission!"
"Yes!" Pan Gui quickly lowered his head.
Wang Yuan saw that he had a good physique and was a candidate for corporal punishment, so he said, "Run around the school grounds immediately!"
Pan Gui didn't dare to say anything, so he started running away, for fear that he would be deducted if he ran too slowly.
Wang Yuan answered the question just now: "Your daily meals are obtained by me from His Majesty. It is the only special treatment for the Twelve Capital Camps. And it is not two meals a day, but three meals a day, and occasionally you can
See you!"
"The general is victorious!"
One of the soldiers shouted excitedly.
Wang Yuan immediately scolded him: "If you make a noise without receiving orders, you will be beaten with a stick from the Ten Army!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Amid the laughter of the crowd, the guy was dragged and spanked.