Chapter 21 Wealth
Chapter 21 Wealth (Additional chapter for the leader Nanjian Wenrou)
Shao Xun has been busy writing letters home recently.
Although he had never learned traditional Chinese characters, he wrote as if inspired by God, and his handwriting was a little delicate, which made Mi Huang laugh.
What's more, he actually wrote in regular script, which makes people even more curious.
But that's not the point.
When he saw the soldiers expressing their gratitude profusely, he was speechless.
How does prestige come from? It comes from these little things.
His martial arts were outstanding and impressed the soldiers.
He is good at leading troops and makes people trust him.
It is touching to see your concern and care for others.
I also helped them solve some problems in life, such as writing letters home, and gained a lot of goodwill from them.
Mi Huang looked at the two teams of recruits that he had personally handed over to Shao Xun, and was quite moved by their respectful and obedient appearance.
In just a few months, the army has been given a brand new look, and at least on the surface, it has become as powerful as an arm. If we spend another year or two to conduct in-depth rectification, we can achieve true control from the inside out.
It was indeed the right decision to hand over the troops to him.
People like He Lun and Wang Bing are certainly capable, but compared with Shao Xun, they seem to be a little lacking.
In such troubled times, it is really lucky to find such a talented person.
"Mr. Shao, come here." Seeing Shao Xun finished writing the letter, Mi Huang waved his hand and said.
Shao Xun roughly knew what it meant, and he was excited and walked over quickly.
"I brought these two teams from the capital and handed them over to you." Mi Huang said, pointing to the hundreds of soldiers lined up not far away.
"How did he get here?" Shao Xun took a look and found that he was similar to the person who was sent here before, so he asked.
"It's quite mixed." Mi Huang explained, "Some are refugees who lost their land, mostly from Sizhou; some are defeated soldiers, including hereditary soldiers and imperial guards; some are escaped slaves from wealthy families, don't worry, no one will pursue them in this world; and some are relatively strong prisoners in the prison, who are allowed to reform and redeem themselves."
After saying this, he felt a little embarrassed, so he added: "I managed to snatch it from He Lun and Wang Bing with great difficulty."
During the great retreat of Pan Yuan, not everyone went to Luoyang.
According to the princess, the soldiers from the East China Sea who were recruited a year ago need to be dismissed, mainly the older veterans. There are four teams with nearly 160 people in total.
They will set off back to the East Sea Kingdom with more than 300 people, including some craftsmen, servants and even farmhands who volunteered to travel east in Pan Garden.
Just yesterday, there were even some households in Luoyang clamoring to go along, about three hundred households in total.
When Concubine Pei learned about this, she ordered that the grain harvested in the manor be given to them to take away and use for their consumption along the way.
When Shao Xun heard this, he knew that his previous suggestion to keep a retreat route had worked, which was good - the journey west for these veterans was a farce in the first place, and it would be good for them to be able to return home after serving for a year.
As for the three teams of children and teenagers, they were originally going to be dismissed together, but after Shao Xun met the princess, these people stayed.
They had been farming and studying for a year and had learned a lot of words. About twenty of them were learning arithmetic from Shao Xun and had made some progress.
Compared to the adult soldiers under his command, Shao Xun felt that these teenagers were his most valuable assets.
Soldiers can be replaced, and very easily, just like the hundred people newly sent by Mi Huang. After a year or two of good training, they will basically become obedient.
However, the training period for these young people is very long and they are not so easy to replace. If he governs the local area in the future, these young people will be his management team and the trump card that can be used to bargain with the aristocratic families.
"Huang Biao, Li Chong!" Shao Xun shouted.
"Here!" The two of them trotted over to listen to the order.
"Disband the newcomers and organize them into four teams with your men." Shao Xun ordered on the spot. After that, he turned to Mi Huang and said, "We have two Chinese people, Zhou Ying and Zhong Huaner, who are loyal, brave and mature. They can be the team leaders."
"It's settled. I'll take care of everything." Mi Huang nodded and said, "The soldiers are in your hands. You must train them well."
"Yes." Looking at Mi Huang's hopeful expression, Shao Xun responded in a deep voice.
******
On June 16, the first convoy left Panyuan and headed for Luoyang.
The leader of the fourth team, Wu Qian, did not leave. He was already fifty years old, but he stayed and helped to clean up the manor.
Shao Xun simply asked him to help look after the children and teenagers of Teams 1, 2 and 3, which was a bit like a "team leader", and he gladly accepted the task.
Teams 4, 5, 6 and 7 were composed entirely of elite recruits, and their leaders were Li Chong, Huang Biao, Zhou Ying and Zhong Huaner respectively. Although they were recruited soldiers, in fact the pay was very low. Apart from the food provided, the rewards they received during the holidays were not much, just a few pieces of cloth. However, this treatment was already very good.
"Mao Er! Jin San! Wang Que'er!" Shao Xun shouted as he looked at the young man who was about to travel far away.
"Duber!"
"Master Shao!" Three people immediately ran over and bowed.
Shao Xun pulled their hands and patted their shoulders, his heart surging with emotion.
The hope of breaking the chaos in these troubled times lies in these young people.
Mao Er is eleven years old this year and is from Ganyu.
Jin was 32 years old and Wang Que'er was 14 years old. Like Shao Xun, they were both from Qu County.
Mao Er was relatively smart. In addition to reading and writing, he also learned arithmetic.
Jin Sanze was a little stupid. After learning a few words, he focused most of his energy on practicing martial arts.
Wang Que'er was an average-looking man. In his spare time from farming and training, he read and learned to read, just like most people.
"You guys go ahead for a few days. When you arrive in Luoyang, follow the governor's orders and settle down first." Shao Xun instructed: "Although it's only a few days, you can't neglect your studies. I spent a lot of effort to compile the handwritten Thousand Character Classic. Whenever you have free time, you must review it more. Remember, remember."
"promise."
"I will follow Master Shao's orders."
The three of them responded one after another.
The convoy slowly went away and finally disappeared into the horizon.
Shao Xun looked back at Pan Garden, the place where he had lived for a year.
There are green trees and red flowers everywhere, which are colorful and beautiful in the summer. It is really a good place.
But such a paradise is about to be destroyed.
The two armies were fighting and killing each other. How could a place like Panyuan not be looted by the chaotic soldiers?
Just like the world today, paradises are destroyed one after another.
Wu, Shu, Guanxi, Hebei, Henan, all were in chaos. It's nonsense to say that the chaos started with the Five Barbarians. It started several years ago, didn't it?
The battlefield of the Eight Princes Rebellion was not just in Luoyang! It's just that this place is the most eye-catching.
After expressing his feelings, he straightened his robe and went inside to meet the princess.
On the way, he met Du Bo Yang Bao.
The three team leaders, Qin San, Zheng Gou'er, and Liu Tong, bowed to him. They were all subordinates of Yang Bao, but when they saw Shao Xun, they never dared to neglect him and were very polite.
Yang Bao was a little embarrassed.
After so many days, he became much more honest, because his uncle, Liu Qia, the left Sima of the shogunate, was unable to defeat the guy in front of him, which was very discouraging.
So he also bowed.
Shao Xun returned the greeting, nodded to the three people behind him, and then entered the main hall.
The princess was reading the Thousand Character Classic. When she saw Shao Xun coming in, she said, "You are not from a good family. Otherwise, I could ask a respected person in my family to comment on this book for you."
"Reviews" are more than just comments; they often mean an increase in fame and status, and the ability to step onto a higher stage.
The young men of the aristocratic families liked to ask respected people for comments. Once they received favorable comments, they would immediately become famous and qualified to be recruited by princes and high-ranking officials. This could be considered a shortcut to becoming an official.
Sun Xiu, a close confidant of Zhao Wang Sima Lun, once received comments from Wang Yan, which helped him rise to prominence. And because of this unintentional act - he had no intention of commenting on Sun Xiu - Wang Yan was treated with courtesy by Sun Xiu after Zhao Wang came to power.
Therefore, the power of these noble scholars is beyond your imagination. The current official selection system is tailor-made for them, and it is no exaggeration.
The status of the Wenxi Pei family was similar to that of the Langya Wang family. In later generations, there was a saying that there were "Eight Pei families and Eight Wangs". If one could get comments from the elders of the Pei family, it would indeed be a shortcut to becoming an official.
But Shao Xun was a military household, so it was difficult.
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Concubine Pei put down the book, looked at Shao Xun, and said, "After we go to Luoyang, I won't be able to control you anymore. You - take care of yourself."
"I have never forgotten the princess's support and protection." Shao Xun replied.
Concubine Pei waved her hands, sighed and said, "There are more than 200,000 soldiers in Yecheng, and 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers in Guanzhong. Given the situation in Luoyang, it is really a case of using a small force to defeat a large one. Don't try to be aggressive, just be safe and sound. If the sky falls, there are the Imperial Guards to stop it. Even if they can't stop it, Sima Ying and Sima Yong will not kill us all after they enter Luoyang. If you have the ability, you can surrender to the two kings of Chengdu and Hejian."
"Your Highness is wrong." Shao Xun said sternly, "I was born in a humble family and have been drifting in the troubled times. If it weren't for your care, I would have died a violent death in a foreign land and my body would have been exposed in the wilderness. How could I have the status I have today? I don't understand any great principles, nor do I have the qualifications to help the world. I only know that I must repay a favor. Your Highness has been so kind to me, I am willing to fight for you, even if I die, I will not regret it!"
There was some surprise and trance in Concubine Pei's beautiful eyes. After a long silence, she said softly: "After you go to Luoyang, be cautious. I will find a way to deal with the rest."
"Yes." Shao Xun responded in a deep voice.
Concubine Pei watched his back until he disappeared, then picked up the "Thousand Character Classic" on the table again.
(End of this chapter)