Chapter 57

Yangzhou City.

Ever since the tasks were assigned, Li Mu's life became busy.

On one hand, training troops, on the other hand, reinforcing the city defense, and also having to spare energy to appease the gentry in the city.

Occasionally, he also had to punish the playboy children who didn't follow the rules.

So much so that his name in the city quickly polarized, and he was given the nickname "Iron-Faced Yama."

Heaven and earth conscience, what he did simply had nothing to do with Yama.

At most, he hung the criminals up and beat them, then threw them into the prison.

After a short period of depression, Li Mu quickly accepted reality.

Having a bad reputation also has benefits; even the playboy children from the capital hid far away when they saw him.

Especially when distributing military strength, these people strongly requested not to be under Li Mu, which made the other battalion commanders very depressed.

If they had known that beating this group of pit-like goods would get rid of these pig teammates, they absolutely wouldn't have been polite.

"Battalion Commander, you are truly a genius at training troops!

In less than half a month, these three hundred people have been trained into a prototype.

As long as they are baptized by the fire of war, they can become elites."

Lan Linjie praised.

He doesn't understand leading troops to fight, but he can sense whether the soldiers have combat effectiveness.

The team before him, not only is their physique much stronger, but there is also a murderous aura on them.

Under normal circumstances, this should only appear on veteran soldiers.

"Mr. Lan, you are wrong this time.

They are still far from being elites; they look imposing because they were carefully selected.

This team of three hundred people has two-thirds who are hunters from the mountains, and there are also some who are butchers.

Although killing livestock cannot be compared to killing people, they have seen blood after all.

Now they are just simply familiar with the discipline and formation; they look decent, but if they want to truly form combat effectiveness, there is still a long way to go."

Li Mu shook his head and said.

The smile at the corner of his mouth still exposed the joy in his heart. Obviously, the personal guard team before him was beyond expectations.

These people were selected from more than 21,000 people, which can be called one in a hundred, and they possess the qualities to become elites.

"Master, you are here!"

Hearing this address, Li Mu glared at the person who came and scolded unhappily:

"Wang Laoer, you remember this; in the military camp, you must call me by my position!"

Although military generals raising retainers is an open secret, on the surface, they are still the court's army.

If it spreads out that they call him "Master" in the military camp, the influence will be bad after all.

Unless this team is all his retainers. Then it doesn't matter how they address him.

Every general hopes that the more soldiers they have, the better, and Li Mu is no exception. But his status is only a battalion commander, and raising three hundred retainers is too eye-catching.

"Yes, Battalion Commander!"

Wang Laoer replied seriously.

Although he preferred to call him "Master" to show closeness, since Li Mu had made a request, he would still choose to comply.

Walking through the crowd, Li Mu said slowly:

"Being conscripted to defend the city, I know many of you are unwilling, but since you are here, you must face reality.

On the battlefield, soldiers who muddle through their days will always die the fastest.

If you want to survive on the battlefield, you must strengthen your training and make yourself the most excellent soldier.

When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins!

Either kill all the enemies, or be killed by the enemies.

Being selected into the personal guard team proves that you are the most excellent. Compared to others, you have the greatest opportunity to build merit and establish a career.

The Imperial Envoy has ordered that for every rebel soldier killed, you will be rewarded with two taels of silver.

This general guarantees that the reward will be issued in full, there will be no deductions in the middle, and we won't use treasure notes to fill the numbers.

If anyone can kill more than five enemy soldiers, you can choose to become this official's retainer.

You can inquire about the treatment of retainers yourself; it is absolutely better than you digging for food at home.

Walking out, you are a decent person.

The village head and yamen runners in the countryside will absolutely not dare to bully you.

When paying taxes at home in the future, no one will dare to use a large bucket for you.

When the government conscripts corvee labor, they will also give preferential treatment.

If you encounter grievances, this general will preside over justice for you.

……"

Thinking about it, it's also speechless; the pie drawn for the soldiers is actually becoming a retainer, not promising them promotion and wealth.

This is a byproduct of the deformed military system.

In the Great Dayu dynasty, when being a soldier, not only is the life of the bottom-level soldiers difficult, but the life of the grassroots military officers is also very bitter.

The military officers at the level of small flags and total flags in the garrison also need to farm the land themselves and worry about firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

The court does not issue military pay, and in years of great disaster, life will still be hard to live.

The life of recruited soldiers is slightly better; adding salary and various subsidies, the annual income is about 15 to 18 taels.

There are more recruited soldiers on the Liaodong front line, and on average, it is nearly 2 taels per month, with an annual income of about 24 taels.

Unfortunately, these are all theoretical numbers, and the Great Dayu soldiers have never received full pay; discounting is the norm.

Military pay is drawn from the Ministry of Revenue's account, and 30% will be embezzled. If the soldiers can actually receive 50% in their hands, that is the general being clean.

Only the Capital Battalion and the Border Army, which the court values most, can have soldiers receive more than 60% of their military pay.

Many troops also have to deduct meal fees and uniform money, and they often work for nothing all year round.

Counting on making contributions and getting promoted to change one's bitter fate is also illusory.

In peacetime, only the border areas have wars, and that is the world of the general families. No matter how excellent ordinary people perform, it is difficult to cross the threshold of a battalion commander.

Under this background, counting on people to volunteer to join the army is impossible.

Unless they have no way out, but as long as they have a choice, no one will join the army.

The situation of retainers is better because they are their own people, and silver pay can usually be guaranteed.

After entering the military camp, the status is generally the personal guard of the commander. Those who perform well can also serve in the army.

It's just that after the main general is transferred, the retainers will also follow and leave. The official career development is completely tied to the main general.

From the excited expressions of the crowd, it can be seen that many people are moved.

Even if they hadn't heard of the Five Cities Military Commission before, after entering the military camp, everyone knew that this was a good government office.

There is no other reason, purely because they are full for three meals a day, and occasionally they can eat meat, which is completely different from the army they knew in the past.

Don't look at them as hunters and butchers, dealing with meat every day, as if their small lives are not bad, but their actual life is also bitter.

The Great Dayu dynasty has developed until now, and there is nothing else, just a lot of people.

One or two butchers are enough for a market, and it is impossible for all children to inherit their father's business.

The situation of hunters is even more miserable; the mountains and forests have been occupied by noble families. If you want to go into the mountains to hunt, you must get their consent.

Even if there is a harvest, the bulk is taken by others, and they have to bear the court's taxes.

Even without exploitation, the population that mountains and forests can support is very limited.

According to the "Great Dayu Law," only children are not within the scope of recruitment.

Being able to be sent to serve, their status in the family is definitely not high, and inheriting the family business is definitely not going to happen.

(End of chapter)