"The Tatars turned out to be nothing more than that,"

"Vulnerable!"

After the war, Luqiao Town became lively again, and the people who had fled came back again, smelling the fragrance of the porridge shed.

The Ming army once again resumed providing rice porridge.

While drinking porridge, everyone commented on the Qing prisoners who were doing hard labor. Those unlucky guys were now forced to bury corpses, clean armors, butcher and cut up dead horses, etc.

Because many horses died, even the porridge for the victims had some horse oil and horse meat, which made today's porridge particularly fragrant.

"It's a pity that we are not an official army, otherwise we would have received a lot of silver rewards. For killing a Tatar, we actually got a reward of ten taels of silver. It was really given in full. This imperial camp of the Supervisor State is really well-paid.

Ah. Even the prisoners are rewarded with ten taels of silver, and the rewards for the captured war horses, armors and weapons are very generous."

Zhao Fu finished the porridge and was still licking his lips as he thought about it, while sighing, "We also captured a Tatar today, captured two more horses, and carried back a lot of armor and weapons. If we were to be rewarded like this by the Imperial Guards,

We all sent it."

Zhao Gui just drank the porridge slowly without thinking too much.

A man is contented, but yesterday he thought that his family would starve to death in the autumn wilderness, or freeze to death on that cold night of early frost, unable to sleep.

It was the Ming army's military food relief that kept him alive and his family alive.

So when the Ming army and the Qing army were fighting here, and Zhao Fu told him to run away, he did not run away, but stayed nearby. Even after the war, he took Zhao Fu with him to help capture prisoners and horses.

Help carry the wounded, etc.

While they were talking, an officer came over.

"Hello, military master." Zhao Fu quickly stood up and nodded. He recognized this officer as the grain station official whom they had sent captive horses to receive.

The officer nodded to them, "That's right. I was very grateful to you for helping capture prisoners and horses, and carry the wounded. We were busy before, but now we can finally slow down a bit. Superintendent Shen above us has given orders.

He said that he would reward you, the righteous people."

"But that Superintendent Shen who is next to Supervisor Guo?" Zhao Fu was interested in asking, and in a short time he also knew that although the Ming army in Luqiao Town now consists of several towns, each with its own general, etc., there is still Superintendent Shen.

Shen Wenzhong was originally a down-and-out scholar in Ningbo and even became a beggar. However, when he met the prisoner, he became a hero of Conglong.

Now he is the right deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the supervisor of the imperial camp, a truly great figure.

"But you are not soldiers of the imperial camp, so this reward cannot be the same as that of the imperial camp. You captured a prisoner, captured two horses, handed over some weapons, etc., and helped transport the wounded soldiers. The governor

I will personally set a reward and give each of you five taels of silver and two measures of rice. Are you willing?"

When Zhao Fu heard this reward, he nodded hastily, "We are willing, we are willing."

Zhao Gui was also surprised and stepped forward to thank him.

They acted voluntarily, and even if they were civilian men recruited by the imperial court, they would not be rewarded under such circumstances. Even if they were, they would be given three melons and two dates casually. But now each of them was given five taels of silver, and

Two buckets of rice.

Especially these two buckets of rice. At this time, the two buckets of rice are probably worth more than the five taels of silver. In a famine land, there is no place to get food even if there is money.

The grain station official then asked the two of them to go to the city to go through the formalities to receive the silver grain.

"I have something to ask you. We annihilated four thousand Tatars before, but there were also many casualties. We need to select more than a thousand from the auxiliary troops to add to the combat barracks. This leaves more than a thousand auxiliary troops vacant.

Originally, we could wait until we get back to replenish the auxiliary troops, but I think you are all pretty good. If you are willing to enter the auxiliary camp to eat food, I can help you speak, and it may be possible."

"The auxiliary soldiers are paid well. They are paid one penny a day, which is three taels a month. Currently, they are paid half the salary in normal times, and more will be paid during the New Year. Military uniforms and rations are all provided by the army. One person serves as a soldier, and the whole family eats.

,fine."

"If you leave eastern Zhejiang to fight in the province, you will receive an additional two cents of bank grain subsidy every day."

Zhao Fu's heart began to move.

"I'm very willing. I also learned boxing and kicking at home before, and even practiced bow and arrow, and also learned a few words of scholarship, but I don't know much. On the other hand, I am from the same village, and in terms of seniority, I am a younger brother of my clan.

But in the past, the person who was good at studying was a child who almost became a scholar. He could read and write. He used to do small business on his own and had business acumen."

After hearing this, the official of the grain station said, "Oh, I didn't expect that I have this ability. Then being an auxiliary soldier is a bit unfair, why not come to our grain station? What our grain station needs most is someone with a shrewd mind who can write and calculate. After all, we

In charge of the entire army's food, grass, pay, equipment, etc., the salary of the grain station is much better than that of the auxiliary soldiers. If they do well, they can even be promoted to officials, which is half an official.

If you do well in the future and get promoted to an official, it will be even worse.

Look at me, I was just a poor scholar before, but now I am from the ninth rank in Liangtai, earning ninety taels of silver a month, plus some silver for New Year's rewards, etc. All in all, I am much better than the former county magistrate.

.

If you can write and do math, you will be at least as good as a first-class soldier if you join the food station, earning at least four and a half taels of silver a month."

Zhao Gui was also very moved after hearing this.

Zhao Fu, on the other hand, pestered the head of the grain station and asked about marrying a wife in the imperial camp. He said that he had three daughters and was willing to marry the soldiers of the imperial camp who were in charge of the country.

"This is a good thing. As you have seen, our imperial soldiers are all young and strong men. They are well paid. A few taels of silver a month is equivalent to the income of a long-term worker for a year. There are usually rewards for fighting in wars and so on. Marrying

They will be happy from now on."

"You don't need to give a dowry yet. You don't even need to post the bride price after accepting it."

Zhao Fu said happily, "No, Shandong is in such chaos now. Even if we have a home, we can't go back. In the future, we want to live in the south, and we want to find more support."

When receiving the reward, Director Zhang from the Liangtai told them that since they were on the front line now, it was impossible for the army to bring too much silver, so for the silver reward, each person would be given one tael first, which is a piece of dragon silver, and the rest

Write it down in your account and give it to them when you get back. You can also get a Silver Dragon exchange coupon and redeem it immediately.

Two measures of grain will be given now.

Zhao Fu hopes to join Liangtai. He is not a child like Zhao Gui, and he is not as good at writing and arithmetic, but at least he is literate. Liangtai still needs such people. The treatment is slightly better than that of the auxiliary soldiers, which is quite good.

As a third-class soldier, one cent and three silver per day are paid, plus one minute of line food allowance.

Director Zhang considered Zhao Gui's calculation skills on the spot and found that he was indeed very good, so he made the decision to hire him on the spot. As for the position, etc., it had to be arranged by the superior of the grain station. Even if he was the worst, his salary would be equivalent to that of a first-class soldier.

.

Each person received a piece of dragon silver and carried two buckets of rice on his back, and went back happily. Chief Zhang also gave each of them a temporary waist card, with which he could bring his family to live in the town. This was safer and did not need to be used at night.

There's a cold wind blowing.

The two of them left the city and quickly called their little boy. Then they entered the town again, found a place to settle down, and immediately made a fire to cook.

"Put more water in and cook thicker porridge, don't cook dry rice." Zhao Gui told his wife.

I have just been hungry for a long time. Although I ate several meals of gruel, I still can't eat too dry food right away because my stomach can't stand it.

"It's good to store this little food."

Although he entered the city, Zhao Gui still did not dare to be careless in the disaster area. This food should not be exposed, otherwise it would be as dangerous as a child walking around in the market with gold bricks.

After the explanation, Zhao Gui and Zhao Fu went to find Director Zhang again. They planned to start work quickly. Firstly, they would serve the imperial court. Secondly, they might be able to make a living there first, which would also save money for the family.

some.

Manager Zhang welcomed the two of them back so quickly and quickly arranged their work.

After a long day of work, they were invited to have a meal. Horse meat was served with rice. Although there was not much meat, it was a rare delicacy for the two of them.

Zhao Gui only ate a little horse meat and a little rice. The rest was wrapped in dried lotus leaves and kept for his wife and children.

While he was resting after the meal, he hurried back to deliver the food. Seeing his wife and children each sharing a little bit and eating happily, Zhao Gui felt that life was still full of hope.

As long as this war is over, he believes that with his own ability, he can still make a good life for his family and then buy land.

Not daring to stay longer, I hurried back.

"There is a mission. We are dispatched urgently. We have to follow suit. We need to clean up and leave now."

"Where to go?"

"This is a military secret. Don't ask random questions. Just follow the action."

Zhao Gui was a little worried, "What about my wife and children?"

"Don't worry, it'll be fine if you stay in this town. There will be people staying here to keep watch. Our grain station must follow suit."

Although Zhao Gui was deeply reluctant to give up, he also knew that everything in the military camp was unavoidable, so he had no choice but to ask, "Can you let me go and explain it to my family?"

"Okay, but you can't delay too much, let alone run away foolishly. If you are a member of the Royal Camp Liangtai, you are also a soldier. You know what will happen if you become a deserter."

"Please rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I won't run away. I'm just explaining to them."

When Zhao Gui rushed back, Jinwu's cavalry had already taken the lead out of the city, but this time, the number of cavalry was particularly large, and many of them even changed into the uniforms and banners of the previous Qing troops.

Zhao Gui, who had read a lot of books, had something in mind.

Liangtai followed behind, and the whole army moved quickly, and finally arrived at the mouth of Si River twenty miles away overnight and stationed themselves in Shijiazhuang.

This is an empty village with no one in it. Everyone has fled. Zhao Gui and the others also passed through here before they fled and stayed there for a night.

"Get some rest. You should have nothing to do tonight, but you still need to be more energetic." Manager Zhang reminded him.

Zhao Gui was very nervous that night, half asleep and half awake, but nothing happened all night.

It was not until noon that a Qing army appeared in the distance. The atmosphere in Shijiazhuang immediately changed. The Qing army flags waved on the wall of the village, and a group of cavalry came out of the city to prepare for the attack.

The 4,000-man chariot camp and infantry camp that was still gratifying arrived. They saw the flags at Shijiazhuang across the Si River and knew they were their vanguard cavalry.
To be continued...