It was already afternoon when Guo Song returned to Qingxu Palace. He was really tired, but he had to work hard to call Li Ji and Liang Wu to his tent.
He told the two of them what he encountered at the Ministry of War today and the advice Guo Ziyi gave him.
Li Ji was a little worried and said: "The current seventy-five brothers can wait. It's not a big problem, but what about the pensions for the fallen soldiers? We plan to go to various families tomorrow to report funerals and return the ashes of some soldiers to their families. Then
How can we explain this to their families?"
"Why don't the soldiers who died in battle wait a moment?" Liang Wu said.
"No wait, let's go to the funeral as planned."
Guo Song said to the two of them: "I have already thought about the pension issue. I will personally spend 120,000 guan and give 500 guan to each fallen soldier's family as a pension."
Li Ji and Liang Wu were surprised at the same time. Guo Song could actually take out 120,000 coins. The two looked at each other and Li Ji quickly said: "You don't need so much for the pension. The imperial court has clearly stipulated that all soldiers who died in battle will be
The lieutenant will be given thirty pieces of silk, Guo Yi will be given twenty pieces, the captain will be given ten pieces, and a coffin will be given. The captain and above will be given two pieces of silk. The soldier will be given one piece of silk, a collar of funeral clothes, a coffin, and the body will be given.
Return home."
Guo Song shook his head, "I know the regulations of the imperial court, but two hundred and fifty-five soldiers followed me to Anxi and died in battle, but in the end they were sent away with a piece of cloth to their families. Do you think it is reasonable? I am worthy of those soldiers who died in battle.
With five hundred guan, I can raise their children and support their parents until they die. This is what I, Guo Song, must do, so that I won’t feel guilty and can face those fallen soldiers calmly after my death.
.”
Li Ji nodded, "I can understand Chang Shi's decision and I support it. In addition, I would like to make a suggestion. Please ask Chang Shi to write a few words of condolences to each fallen soldier and give them an evaluation. Chang Shi cannot
Go to every house, and it is best to ask the soldiers to help, so that this matter can be completed as soon as possible."
Guo Song thought for a while and then agreed, "You first compile a detailed list of the fallen soldiers and the conditions of their hometowns and families. I will be responsible for writing elements and giving them an evaluation."
The news that Guo Song used his own money to provide generous pensions to the families of the fallen soldiers soon spread throughout the military camp. The soldiers were extremely moved, and many could not help crying. At this moment, even if the soldiers died generously for Guo Song, they would not
willingly.
...........
On the morning of the next day, Guo Song selected sixty soldiers and divided them into ten groups. They rushed to Guanzhong, Guannei and Hedong to report their funerals. The fallen soldiers were mainly from the Guanzhong area, but there were also a small number from Yanzhou in the north of Guanzhong.
, Tongzhou, Yanzhou and other places, and there are more than a dozen from Hedong.
Guo Song took out 130,000 taels of silver from five counters in Chang'an, part of which was used for the soldiers' travel and living expenses, and the rest was given as a special pension to the families of each fallen soldier, with each family receiving 500 taels of silver.
Although Guo Song was also very uncomfortable, he finally used money to comfort the families of the fallen soldiers. This was disrespectful to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country in Anxi, but this is reality. Money can give their families dignity.
Life can prevent them from worrying about their families.
In the afternoon, Guo Song led two soldiers to Gaoling County. Gaoling County belongs to Jingzhao Prefecture. The county is quite large and densely populated. The three of them entered the city. Guo Song asked an old man setting up a stall, "Excuse me.
Dad, where is Donghuai Lane?"
The old man pointed to two big locust trees in the distance, "Have you seen those two big locust trees? They are located at the entrance of two alleys. The west one is called Xihuai Alley, and the east one is called Donghuai Alley as you asked."
"Thank you, husband!"
Guo Song led two soldiers towards the big locust tree. There were many pedestrians on the road. Guo Song and the other three led their horses to the entrance of the alley. They saw a large group of children playing at the entrance of the alley. Guo Song stepped forward and asked
Said: "Which of you knows where Tang Dalang's family lives?"
The children laughed and said to a kid with a hairbrush next to him: "Little Mantis, someone is looking for your father!"
Guo Song saw that the child was about six or seven years old, and he really looked like Tang Dalang in his eyebrows and eyes.
"Is your father Tang Dalang?"
The little boy nodded timidly, and Guo Song added: "I am your father's friend, and I came to see you."
"I know, my dad is just like you, he wears a military uniform and specializes in fighting bad guys."
The little boy jumped into the alley with Guo Song, "What's your name?" Guo Song asked with a smile.
"My name is Tang Xiaolang, and they all call me Little Mantis."
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"I also have an elder sister."
Tang Xiaolang took Guo and Song to the depths of the courtyard and walked into a small courtyard. The courtyard was very small, with only three rooms, one of which was probably the kitchen.
In the yard, a girl of eight or nine years old was feeding chaff to a group of chickens. Next to a well in the corner of the yard, a woman of about thirty years old was sitting, washing clothes with her sleeves rolled up.
She suddenly saw three people brought in by her son and was surprised: "Xiao Lang, who are they?"
"Mom, they are daddy's friends and they came to see us."
The woman quickly stood up, shook off the water drops, and said sheepishly: "The house is very messy, you can sit wherever you want, Niuniu, go get some stools."
"Are you...Sister-in-law Tang?" Guo Song asked.
"I am, how is Dalang doing now? I haven't heard from him for more than a year. He said he was transferred to Hexi."
Guo Song was silent for a moment and said: "I am his commander-in-chief, and I am here to tell you that Dalang... he died for the country."
Tang Dalang's wife suddenly covered her mouth and burst into tears. She suddenly turned around and ran into the room, bursting into tears. The two siblings also hugged each other at the door and cried.
Guo Song felt sad for a while and stood in the yard waiting patiently. Many neighbors came outside the yard and whispered at the door.
"Dalang was killed in battle, hey! Last year my parents-in-law died of illness, and this year my man died in battle again. This family is unfortunate!"
"How will mother and son live in the future? The rent has not been paid for half a year, and they will be kicked out by the landlord now."
After a long time, with the repeated consolation of several neighbors, Mrs. Tang stopped crying, walked to the yard with red eyes, 'Plop!' knelt down in front of Guo Song, and cried: "Where did my Tang Dynasty die in the battle?"
, how to deal with his funeral affairs?"
"Dalang was unfortunately killed while fighting the Shatuo people in Beiting. His body was buried at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, and thirteen comrades were buried with him."
Sister-in-law Tang cried sadly again, "Da Lang is dead, how can we, orphans and widows, survive!"
Guo Song turned around and winked at his two men, who carried a heavy box and put it into the house. There were too many people outside, and five hundred taels of silver was too eye-catching.
Guo Song said to Mrs. Tang: "In the box is Dalang's pension money, which will allow you to raise your children. You must keep them. In addition, Dalang also left a piece of beautiful jade for his son and daughter."
He took out a small cloth bag in his arms and said, "These are two pieces of beautiful jade. He got them in Anxi. They were specially left for his children as a souvenir. Before he died, he asked me to bring them back."
Sister-in-law Tang took the beautiful jade, held it tightly to her face, and burst into tears again. The two children hugged their mother, and the three of them cried together.
Two soldiers blocked the courtyard door. Guo Song knelt down and whispered: "In the box in the house is a pension of five hundred taels. You should put it away carefully and try not to let outsiders know. These two pieces of jade are both worth three hundred taels."
If it doesn't cost more than a hundred guan, you can go to Duobao Pavilion in the capital and sell it, but it's best to keep it as a souvenir."
Hearing that there was a pension of five hundred taels of silver and two pieces of very valuable jade, Sister-in-law Tang's fear eased a little. She wiped away her tears and said to her children, "Kowtow to this uncle quickly and thank him for burying your father.
"
The two children knelt down and kowtowed to Guo Song. Guo Song quickly supported them and said, "When you grow up, you must honor your mother. If you have any difficulties, you can come to me in the capital. I left my address in the letter. Do you understand?"
"We remember!"
Guo Song stood up and said: "Don't move for the time being. Later, the court may give you some pensions, and maybe give Dalang a title. Although Dalang is dead, we must live well, so that Dalang can be here."
Even under the Nine Springs, I can rest in peace."
"Thank you General for coming to visit us. When Xiao Lang grows up, he will definitely repay the General for his kindness to his father!"
Of course, Mrs. Tang also knew that the pension for fallen soldiers was only a few pieces of cloth. How could there be five hundred taels of silver? Needless to say, it must be related to the young general in front of her.
Guo Song ordered his soldiers to hang up a roll of elements and wrap a white flag around the door. Then he handed a letter to Mrs. Tang and said: "This letter has my address in the capital. If you have any difficulties, even if
Go to the capital and find me, let’s say goodbye first.”
Sister-in-law Tang sent Guo Song and his party out of the yard with a pair of children, and watched them go away with a lot of gratitude. They looked back at the white flags wrapped around the door, and couldn't help but feel sad.