Chapter 739

Outside the East Gate of Changancheng.

Li Er and Fang Xuanling had returned to their old haunt, their hearts filled with emotion.

This place had once been their home.

But now, it had become the capital of another country.

Li Er pointed outside the gate, where there was a long line of people, and asked.

"Xuanling, look over there, what are they doing?"

Fang Xuanling was also puzzled.

Selling things? It didn't look like it.

Li Er did not understand why Li Ke had betrayed them.

The people in line were all young, strong men, and the line was far too long.

"Your Majesty, let's go over and take a look."

Upon getting closer, they discovered that this was actually military recruitment.

It was different from Great Tang.

In Great Qin, military recruitment involved young, able-bodied men of age voluntarily signing up.

Not only did they sign up voluntarily, but there was also a screening process; those who did not meet the criteria would be rejected by the army.

Seeing this scene, Li Er felt very surprised.

"Xuanling, why do the people of Great Qin actually like joining the army so much? This defies common sense!"

Fang Xuanling looked up and glanced around.

"Your Majesty, there is a recruitment notice over there."

The two curious men went over, read the Great Qin recruitment notice, and were so shocked they could not speak for a long time.

Li Er pointed at the recruitment notice.

"How is this possible? They give four thousand copper coins in monthly pay for joining the army? Great Qin is expanding its army by a million; how much money would that require?" Fang Xuanling added.

"And if one person joins the army, the whole family is exempted from taxes and corvée labor; if this continues, everyone will be fighting to join the army, so where will they get any tax revenue?" They could not understand it at all.

This kind of military recruitment system far exceeded their imagination.

Raising an army, just providing grain, weapons, and warhorses, was already a headache.

Great Qin was actually paying them, and the pay was not low!

Li Er was having a bit of a breakdown.

"Qin Mu has other good ideas, and I can at least see a clue. But this time, I truly cannot understand it." Fang Xuanling, worried that Li Er was too discouraged, comforted him.

"Old Li, it's not just you who can't understand; I can't either. Only by asking the Great Qin Emperor in person can we know the answer. Making the army a huge burden on the state—I really don't know what Qin Mu is thinking. This way, one can understand why so many people are lined up here to join the army."

With such good conditions, why wouldn't one join the army?

One person joins the army, the whole family benefits.

Li Er suddenly felt a bit cold.

"Xuanling, do you think that by paying the soldiers so much money, Great Qin intends for them to go out and plunder?"

The reason Li Er had this worry was that he had been burned by Great Qin too many times.

He always felt that this money could not possibly come from Great Qin's own treasury.

They must go out and plunder, supporting the war through war, to sustain it.

And as for the best target for plunder, besides Great Tang, who else could it be?

Fang Xuanling also felt this was possible.

"Old Li, when we meet the Great Qin Emperor, let's first probe his intentions, shall we?"

If Old Li did not restrain himself, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to return to Great Tang.

Great Ming Palace.

When Li Er first saw this magnificent palace, his eyes grew moist.

"It truly infuriates me! This Great Ming Palace, more than half of it was already built back then, and now it has been taken by Qin Mu—this is truly helpless."

"He picked up a bargain!"

Who told him to lose even Changancheng?

Fang Xuanling could only advise.

"Old Li, after we go back, let us work hard to govern, and strive to one day take this palace back!"

At the Taiji Hall.

Qin Mu was listening to the reports of the morning court.

An official from the Ministry of Rites came to report.

"Your Majesty, Great Tang has sent envoys again, requesting an audience."

At these words, all the civil and military officials in the hall were amused.

Great Tang had sent envoys in wave after wave; the previous ones hadn't even returned, and the next ones had already arrived.

Counting from Li Ke, this was already the fourth batch of envoys.

"Proclaim them!"

Fang Xuanling and Old Li entered the great hall.

"Your Majesty, we have come again. Congratulations to Your Majesty for governing the country well; Changancheng is in a state of peace and prosperity."

Seeing old acquaintances, Qin Mu smiled.

The two Imperial Princes of Great Tang had not returned since they were sent as envoys to Great Qin.

Perhaps the Emperor Li Er was also anxious, so he had sent these two familiar faces again this time.

"Since Chancellor Fang has come out, there must be an important matter? Tell me about it."

Every time Fang Xuanling came as an envoy with Old Li, he was the nominal chief envoy.

He bowed and replied.