Chapter 1207

First Volume_Chapter 1207 Enlistment Enthusiasm

Where do you want to serve? Is there such a thing in the world?

Little Mazi, surprised, immediately rubbed his chin and began thinking seriously, which made the older men behind him stamp their feet in anxiety.

You brat, what are you thinking about? Of course choose Beixi Light Cavalry!

Serving Beixi Light Cavalry is like stepping one foot into Beixi County; when you retire in the future, you'll become a common person of Beixi County—this is a chance to rise straight to the top.

Know this: even being a regular common person in Beixi County is more carefree than being a landlord in Nan Jing.

The Village Elder, fearing Little Mazi would miss this blessing earned over lifetimes, grew anxious and stepped forward, shoving Little Mazi aside, shouting urgently to Qin Feng: "Your Highness, let Little Mazi join Beixi Light Cavalry!"

"I've heard Beixi County treats people kindly; Little Mazi has no family left—he won't be bullied there."

"If he joins the Imperial Guard or goes to the Central Plains, with no family or savings, he'll be trampled and abused there."

The surrounding common people were even more anxious than Little Mazi.

They all chimed in: "That's right, let Little Mazi go to Beixi!"

"Little Mazi, what are you standing there for? You good-for-nothing, hurry up and kowtow to His Highness and ask him to transfer you to Beixi Light Cavalry!"

"Exactly! If you don't seize this chance, your grandfather and father would come back from the grave to beat you!"

These villagers, in their haste, said anything—Little Mazi's family had barely been buried, yet they cursed without hesitation.

But it was all out of good intent, so no one minded.

Little Mazi had felt his life was ruined, but now, in an instant, he was about to join Qin Feng.

Happiness came too suddenly; Little Mazi scratched his head and grinned foolishly: "I… I don't know where to go… anyway… wherever Your Highness goes, I go."

"I want to follow Your Highness."

Hiss…

All the villagers drew in a sharp breath, thinking: this brat really is a fool blessed by fate—his seemingly dumb answer was actually the best one.

Even Qin Feng burst out laughing; he patted Little Mazi's head and praised: "Well said. Since you want to follow me, start from the basics."

"I'm returning to the Front Line now; you'll come with me. Start in the logistics of Beixi Light Cavalry—it's all hard, dirty work, but good training."

Saying this, Qin Feng waved his hand, summoned a cavalryman, took his bow and arrow, and handed it to Little Mazi.

"This bow and arrow is yours. When you can draw it and hit a target at a hundred paces, you'll qualify to join my Personal Guard."

"As long as you work hard, your future has no limits—you can rise to the Logistics Corps, the Light Cavalry, the Expeditionary Brigade, even the Tianji Camp Guards."

To prove he wasn't just fooling a child, Qin Feng gestured to the Vice Commander beside him: "Introduce yourself."

The Vice Commander stood tall and proud, clearly delighted.

"I'm Sun Erhe. I was once a refugee fleeing famine; after arriving in Beixi County, His Highness took me in, saving me from starvation."

"I've fought in the Beixi County Defense Battle, the Border Army Support Battle, and campaigns inside Di territory—seven or eight battles in total."

"From a refugee, I've now become a Vice Commander of the Beixi Expeditionary Brigade, commanding over three hundred light cavalrymen."

"My monthly salary is three taels of silver."

"My wife also earns one tael of silver per month."

"Altogether, my family earns fifty taels of silver a year, with over thirty taels left over."

Hearing the Vice Commander's words, the villagers erupted in excitement.

They couldn't believe their ears; their gazes at the Vice Commander shifted again and again.

"What? Fifty taels a year? Are you joking? Even our local landlords don't earn that much in a year!"

"A landlord's entire fortune is just a few hundred taels—you're just a Vice Commander, a soldier, and you'll earn a landlord's fortune in a few years?"

"Good heavens, being a soldier in Beixi County is that rich?"

"Wait—you just said you earn fifty taels and save over thirty? That means your household spends over ten taels a year?!"

A common person spends one tael of silver per year.

Spending over ten taels a year? That's landlord-level living.

They knew Beixi County was wealthy, but never imagined it was this rich—even a regular Vice Commander lived like a landlord.

Everyone was stunned and envious—if Little Mazi could rise to even a minor rank in the army, he'd be set for life.

This was the precious opportunity the Old Ma Family had sacrificed their lives to secure for Little Mazi.

For Little Mazi, a few hundred copper coins was a fortune; the concept of dozens of taels of silver was still unclear to him.

But one thing was certain: by following Qin Feng, he'd already won at the starting line—if he worked hard, he'd surely bring glory to his ancestors.

The able-bodied men of Maguan Village stared with burning eyes; some rushed forward themselves, others were shoved forward by their wives.

In an instant, ten plus men surrounded Qin Feng, tense yet hopeful.

"Y…Your Highness, can we also serve in Beixi County?"

"If Beixi County's logistics still need hands, we've got plenty of strength—we've all served in the army before, no training needed."

Qin Feng might never return to Maguan Village in his life; no one wanted to miss this blessing earned over lifetimes.

If they could join the Beixi Army, it would be like one man attaining enlightenment and his whole family rising with him—his entire household's future would be secured.

Qin Feng raised his hand, signaling everyone to calm down.

"Beixi County, and the entire Northern Border, already have sufficient troops."

"The days when Beixi County accepted anyone are long past; now, recruitment standards are extremely strict—to maintain combat effectiveness, we only accept qualified, strong men, and once enlisted, you must serve until retirement."

"Beixi County wants professional soldiers, not Tuntian Soldiers."

"And Maguan Village has just suffered this great disaster—so many men dead. If you all leave, who will care for the women and children?"

"Not to mention bandits might raid—spring plowing is coming soon. Without laborers, do you expect the women and children to till the fields?"

Seeing their disappointed faces, Qin Feng paused, then decided to make a special exception.

After all, villages like Maguan, with a tradition of enlistment, deserved special consideration.

Qin Feng gathered up the suiyin and gave two taels of silver to each household in Maguan Village.

"Take these two taels of silver—it's to help with household expenses, so you won't starve when your mainstay is gone."

"If any of the village's able-bodied men still wish to enlist, wait until after the Spring Plowing, then go to Beixi County to sign up."

"When you go, say you're from Maguan Village—they'll make allowances for you."