Chapter 147

"The Grand Marshal is recruiting soldiers~"

"Installation fee: fifty taels of silver, ten dan of grain, one dan of salt~"

"Monthly pay: ten taels, provisions: one dan, cloth: one bolt, salt: one dou~"

Soldiers holding trumpets shouted loudly to recruit in front of various villages and stockades.

"Installation fee paid on the spot, monthly pay absolutely never in arrears!"

"Those wishing to enlist, come quickly to register and apply."

The able-bodied men in the villages and stockades gradually gathered.

Holding various tools and weapons, they looked around with wary expressions.

In this chaotic era, bandits and mountain brigands were already as numerous as cow hairs.

What's more, clan feuds here were extremely brutal; no one would easily trust outsiders.

The soldiers were not vague either; they brought large carts, unloaded crates of silver ingots, piles of grain, cloth, and salt stacked like mountains.

They just displayed them directly for everyone to see.

In the era of smallholder peasant economy, grain, cloth, and salt were the most important survival materials.

Add in silver, and the whole family's needs were met.

A village clan elder stepped forward to ask, "May I ask, which Great King is recruiting?"

"Our Grand Marshal's surname is Lin, title Soaring Grand Marshal."

"Hearing that Yiwu soldiers are the bravest under heaven, we were specially ordered to come recruit courageous warriors."

"Those willing to be soldiers, to serve our Grand Marshal, come now to register, enroll, and receive the installation fee."

"The Grand Marshal loves his soldiers like sons, and will absolutely not shortchange you."

Qi Jiguang's recruitment was already several decades ago.

But the stories from back then still circulate in the various villages and stockades.

What everyone knows is that the forebears all received full pay, and sent silver home year after year.

The mountain people's life is hard.

Scratching a living from the soil, even food and clothing are hard to come by.

Either enter the mountains to mine, or go out to trade, or enlist to fight.

Truly staying home guarding one mu and three fen of land could starve the whole family, young and old.

They are fierce by nature; village feuds are fought to the death, so they are not averse to enlisting to fight.

It's just a desperate fight; who wouldn't know how?

Of course the premise of a desperate fight is that the grain and salary are in place.

Here the gleaming silver, grain, salt, and cotton cloth were enough to make them sell their lives.

The clan elders deliberated and agreed that each family would keep the eldest son to guard the home.

The remaining sons could enlist.

Ever since Fan Zhong Yan vigorously promoted clan estates, clan power in local villages had begun to swell day by day.

The clan elders held extremely high authority and executive power in the various villages and stockades.

If they did not allow it, those wanting to enlist could only sneak away.

In these times everywhere is the same, bearing sons with desperate effort.

Households with several sons are everywhere.

The eldest son guards the home, inherits the family estate while caring for the parents.

The other sons, after exchanging for the installation fee, go out to gamble on a future.

Groups of strong young men, carrying thin bundles, after their parents finished counting and collecting the installation fee, were sent to the military camps group after group.

Similar scenes were not only in Yiwu, but also in Chu, Tai, Wen and other places.

These places are also mostly similar mountain people, fierce folk customs, all excellent recruiting grounds.

Lin Dao dispersed the new recruits from various places into mixed units, not giving them a chance to clique together.

After simple training, the rapidly swelling great army entered Yan Zhou Fu from the north, swept through Hui Zhou Fu (Huangshan), Ning Guo Fu, Chi Zhou Fu, Tai Ping Fu, and returned all the way to Jinling City.

Outside the city, military camps of massive scale and great number had long been built and completed.

The various forces took up residence separately.

Lin Dao strictly forbade soldiers from entering the city.

Even on leave, they could only engage in activities at the markets that spontaneously formed near the camps.

The dazzling world inside Jinling City must not let the soldiers be contaminated.

The erosion of morale is extremely terrifying.

To prevent soldiers from having excess energy with no outlet, thereby causing trouble.

Lin Dao provided footballs, basketballs, rugby balls and other equipment in the camps, letting soldiers kill time and burn energy.

"Grand Marshal~~~"

Returning to Jinling City, those who stayed locally all came out of the city to welcome him.

After brief greetings, the crowd surrounded Lin Dao and went to the Jinling City Imperial Palace.

Zhao Zhilong, eager to distinguish himself, reported first: "The Kang Xiang in all parts of Ying Tian Fu has already concluded."

"Total silver obtained: seventy-four million one hundred ninety-seven thousand two taels."

"Gold: twenty-three thousand three hundred taels."

"Estates and fields: thirteen million one hundred forty thousand mu."

"Manors and gardens: two thousand seven hundred eighteen."

All manner of antiques, paintings and calligraphy, spices and medicinal herbs, rare treasures, silks and brocades, copper coins and furniture—all in vast numbers.

All have been registered and entered into the warehouses of various places.

Lin Dao frowned. "Why is there so little gold and silver?"

The Jiangnan local gentry and meritorious nobles, after so many years of maritime trade smuggling, have imported silver amounting to no less than hundreds of millions of taels.

And Jinling City is where Jiangnan's wealth is most concentrated.

Under such strict Kang Xiang, only this much?

His doubtful gaze immediately turned to Zhao Zhilong.

"Great Commander~~~"

Zhao Zhilong's heart tightened, and he hurried to explain.

"These traitors, once they have silver, like to buy land."

"In Hu Guang, Jiangxi, and even Zhongyuan, Guanzhong, Beizhili, they have purchased manors everywhere."

"And they also like to buy rare treasures, lingering by the Qinhuai River, spending a thousand gold at a throw."

In the agricultural era, land is the most important means of production.

Apart from seizing by force and cunning, the local gentry and meritorious nobles also spend silver to buy land.

Plus their luxurious lifestyle, the expenses of hundreds or thousands of slaves in their mansions, and so on.

Much of the silver earned from smuggling has already been spent.

Also, a large sum was lent out by issuing silver money.

And Lin Dao had long ago directly declared all silver money void.

That silver naturally has no trace.

"Mm." Lin Dao nodded, accepting Zhao Zhilong's explanation. "You've worked hard."

Zhao Zhilong was delighted. "Serving the Great Commander is my duty."

This fellow still doesn't understand that once the Kang Xiang is finished, his value of use will disappear along with it.

Next, it's his turn to have bad luck.

"Since they've been squeezed dry, it's time to send them on their way."

Lin Dao smiled at Zhao Zhilong and instructed, "Marquis of Xincheng, this matter I'll trouble you to do."

"Yes." Zhao Zhilong gritted his teeth and accepted.

Since they've already boarded the ship, they can only go one way to the end.

The Great Commander has already swept through most of Jiangnan; I reckon there's a great chance of success.

At worst, we can muddle through and rule by dividing the river.

For myself to have a chance to go from a remnant of the former dynasty and muddle through to merit of following the dragon in the new dynasty is already a great fortune against heaven.

As for those former colleagues, let them have bad luck!

On this side, Ruan Dacheng stepped forward to report, "Great Commander."

"I've heard the Ming Court has transferred Supreme Commander of Canal Transport Shi Kefa to be Governor of Anlu, and he is assembling troops in Luzhou, seemingly with intent to covet Jinling City."

"Shi Kefa?"

Lin Dao was naturally familiar with this name.

Actually, many civil and military officials of the late Ming, like the Chongzhen Emperor, themselves had defects in ability and character.

But because they died for the nation, their past shortcomings and faults were directly covered up.

Shi Kefa is one of them.

Lin Dao's gaze inadvertently swept over Zhao Zhilong.

It's a good opportunity to send him to his death.

But we must wait until Zhao Zhilong finishes sending his former colleagues on their way first.

"I already know this matter."

"Let's talk about it after the Great Drill ends."

Lin Dao's gaze then turned to Qian Qianyi.

Qian Qianyi, looking somewhat dazed and obviously absent-minded, steeled himself to step forward and salute. "Great Commander, the land distribution in Ying Tian Fu is complete."

"Most of the mu have been assigned to the names of Jiang Jun in the army."

"Already registered and entered into the books, division complete."

"You've all worked hard." Lin Dao rose. "Today ends here."

He did not live in the Imperial Palace, but went straight back to his own residence.

Coming to the gate of the rear garden Flower Hall, he heard laughter and joy without cease from within.

Stepping inside, what met his eyes was a profusion of flowers.

Bian Sai, Bian Min, Chen Yuanyuan, Li Xiangjun, Dong Xiaowan, Kou Mei were all present.

Except Ma Xiang Lan who died early, Gu Heng Bo who went to the Capital, and Liu Rushi.

The remaining several of the Qinhuai Eight Beauties were all here.

Lin Dao looked at Kou Mei somewhat surprisedly. Why hadn't she left?

Not leaving was only natural.

With her status, where could she go?

The Grand Duke Baoguo was thrown into the great prison, suffering severe torture every day.

As for the Baoguo Gongfu, it was directly sealed up.

She couldn't possibly go back to the Qinhuai River, could she?

Under the persuasion of Dong Xiaowan and the others, Kou Mei, who had nowhere to go, stayed behind.

The women all stepped forward to salute.

Compared to the cookie-cutter beauties on the internet of later generations, they could be called a thousand charms and a hundred graces, each with their own characteristics.

Sitting down on the chair, Lin Dao casually asked, "What are you talking about, smiling so happily?"

The women were all holding back their laughter, with strange expressions.

Dong Xiaowan took the initiative to step forward and speak, "Master, we sisters were saying that among the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai selected by connoisseurs of old, Master here is only missing Hedong Jun and Lady Hengbo."

"We are betting on when Mr. Mu Zhai will send Hedong Jun over."

Lin Dao frowned, "Don't talk nonsense."

"How could I do such a thing!"

No wonder Qian Qianyi had been heavy-hearted before; it turned out to be a misunderstanding.

The women all laughed.

Whether it is so or not, when the time comes it will naturally be clear.

That Mr. Mu Zhai is famous for being opportunistic~~~

Lin Dao did not care about this; his mind was all on training the troops.

With a large amount of wealth and supplies, there were now soldiers, horses, and people.

Next was strict training, to form combat effectiveness as quickly as possible.

When the time came for the great army to set out, end this damn chaotic era as quickly as possible.

Shen Yang Cheng, a thousand li away.

Inside the city, almost every household hung white, and the sound of wailing shook the heavens.

The news that the great army led by Abatai had been destroyed had already been transmitted by the Mongol tribes that fled out of the pass.

At the beginning, no one believed it at all.

If the Ming Army had such combat power, they would have long since driven the Eight Banners back to the White Mountains and Black Waters to be wild people.

But the spies within the borders of Ming Nation sent news one after another, verifying the words of the Mongols.

Only when a small number of Eight Banners soldiers who had escaped through great hardship back to Guan Wai returned was this shocking news finally confirmed.

After the initial disbelief, shock, and anger, the whole city was weeping.

For this expedition, basically every company sent people, and basically every household had someone.

The vast majority could not return; this was truly hurting the sinews and bones. It was directly cutting flesh and gouging bone!

After confirming the news, Huang Taiji, who was already ill, immediately fainted.

Later Jin had so few people in total.

To write off more than ten thousand able-bodied men at once; this loss was too great.

After waking up, the first thing Huang Taiji did was to invite the Mongol tribal lords to a banquet.

For Later Jin, stabilizing the Mongol tribes and binding them firmly to their own war chariot was always the most important thing in diplomacy.

Next was to frantically inquire about news concerning Lin Dao.

When news from all aspects gradually gathered in hand.

Huang Taiji was speechless for a long time, sinking into contemplation.

After that, there was only one sentence.

"Is he sick?"

End of Chapter