Chapter 507: Spring Plowing, Worries for the Future
Sufficient food and pay, and strong armor and strong troops are the two basic conditions for a strong army. Compared with the Dongjiang Army, it is difficult for other Ming armies to achieve all of them.
To say which department is the most intimidating in the Dongjiang Army, it is undoubtedly the Military Law Department directly under Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing.
Even these two rarely intervened in the work of the Military Law Department, and all were dealt with in accordance with military law, without any intercession or mercy.
Embezzling military funds and withholding pay are serious crimes, and they can be beheaded directly. No one is exempted. Moreover, when the military law was revised and strictly enforced a few years ago, some people were actually killed.
From then on, few people dared to take risks and put their lives on the line for a few taels of silver.
As the method of distributing food and wages continues to improve, there is less room for corruption and deduction, making it impossible for officers to find loopholes even if they want to.
For example, the current distribution to households and individuals is still carried out publicly and on time every month. It is basically clear at a glance who gets how much.
The benefits of military coupons are also reflected in the fact that the amount is standard and there is no disadvantage of being short of money or adulterated.
Of course, increasing the salary of officers is also one of the measures to eliminate corruption and deprivation. If there is enough money and there is no shortage of money, who would risk losing their heads and engage in corruption?
The Chen Xingshan family finally felt relieved and carefully put away the paper bills, looking forward to the sheep, chickens, and even cattle purchased by the government.
"Go directly to the town to collect your monthly salary." Chen Xingshan calculated the holiday and explained everything carefully. "I have already registered and will issue the documents soon. You can just take it and collect the money and food."
"Brother, don't you save some flowers?" The second brother said, "Although the army is in charge of food and housing, you still have to buy some daily necessities, right?"
The old mother nodded in agreement and said: "You have brought two months of military pay. Anyway, we have enough food at home. Let your brother go to town next month to collect the pay, so it won't miss the money at home."
"
Chen Xingshan thought for a while and nodded in agreement, but he only received one month's salary, which was one, two or four dollars.
In the army, you must go out for a drink or something with Pao Ze. If you eat with nothing but no money, you will be looked down upon.
"The thirty acres of land at home depends on your efforts!" Chen Xingshan asked his brother again and said, "And my mother, I also need you to take good care of me."
The second brother nodded repeatedly and said, "Brother, don't worry! You don't have to worry about things at home, I can do it properly."
It turns out that in Ningyuan, the family could barely make ends meet with the meager salary.
The key is that there are very few fields, and there is no incentive to farm for fear of the Jianlu invaders. And there are basically no other jobs in Ningyuan, which looks like an isolated city.
When they arrived in Liaodong, the most reassuring thing for the officers and soldiers was that fields were allocated to each family according to their circumstances, and they enjoyed the low tax treatment of military dependents.
For the common people at that time, a few dozen acres of land was a permanent job, and they could work for generations, so that their families would not have to worry about food and drink.
Letting officers and soldiers have no worries is a policy that Dongjiang Town has been implementing and improving over the past few years.
Why do we let people go into battle and still care about their families? Why do soldiers fight bloody battles, but their families still suffer from cold and hunger?
But it is such a simple truth, but the court cannot do it. Except for Dongjiang Town, the Ming army in other military towns is still at the bottom of society, and even more of them are like beggars.
"Try to buy a farm cow next year." Chen Xingshan looked forward to it, with a smile on his face, "It's just not close, but the government can still borrow money for that, right?"
"Loan." The second brother smiled and said the correct name. "There is no interest and it must be repaid in two years. But it can only be used to buy cattle, pigs, sheep, or other agricultural tools."
For loans, although no interest is charged, the government does not lose money. The main reason is that social productivity is improved, and the total amount of taxes paid will also increase.
Chen Xingshan looked at his brother, nodded with great satisfaction, and said: "It is still beneficial to study more, and you are not too old. Keep studying and don't waste it."
The mother looked at her little son and was very happy and said: "Yes, this village wants to take charge of things, you should also fight for it. You have to be literate."
How many people in the village are there who are hyphemerists?"
The second child chuckled, scratched his head, and said with some embarrassment: "I only know a few words, and I can even read and write, so don't make people laugh!"
"I heard that Murakami is sending teachers to open night classes, isn't he?" Chen Xingshan said, "Study hard. If you can't get selected this time, you still signed up. There will definitely be opportunities in the future."
The second child nodded repeatedly and said, "I will definitely not waste my time studying. Let's wait until I pass the primary school diploma and then see if the government recruits people!"
"I guess we will definitely need to recruit people." Chen Xingshan said: "Think about it, once Liaodong is conquered, how big the territory will be, and more people will be needed to manage it, right?"
The second child deeply agrees, and feels lucky and proud that he was able to attend private school for two years. Besides, working at home is also a stable way to run a household.
The old mother looked at her two sons and couldn't help turning her head secretly and wiping her eyes. Unfortunately, the old man passed away during the war and could no longer see the good times at home.
………………
Five or six miles away is Zhenjiang Fort. Although it is not tall and majestic, it gives people a sense of psychological security.
The village is very neat and clean, but few people move around. In the fields outside the village, men, women, old and young are busy sowing seeds.
Han Shantong was digging the hole, and Shuzhen was sowing the seeds. The two of them cooperated in a tacit understanding and moved forward along the furrow. What they sowed were the seeds of hope, and what they shed was the sweat of joy.
The special operations battalion has been determined to continue fighting in Liaodong until Pingliao. In order to comfort the thoughts of the soldiers, their family members can voluntarily apply to settle in Liaodong.
In the original Liaonan base area, due to the increase in population and cattle, the original land was no longer enough for cultivation, and a new round of land expansion was just in time.
The dozens of villages and towns surrounding Zhenjiang Fort were quickly filled with military family members a month ago. They also received special care from the army. The houses were better and the land was plowed, saving them most of their efforts.
The little girl laughed happily at the end of the field, taking a wooden stick and poking the vole hole. The silvery laughter also infected Shuzhen and Han Shantong, and they both had happy smiles on their faces.
"Is my father coming back soon?" Han Shantong straightened up, holding on to the shovel, taking a rest and wanting to hear the most exciting news.
Shuzhen laughed, wiped the sweat on her forehead with the cloth around her neck, looked at the warm sun in the sky, and said: "The family leave is divided into batches. The letter said that he would try to go home to visit relatives as early as possible.
"
Han Shantong nodded, calculated quickly, and said helplessly: "That's because I'm not sure!"
"Maybe ten days and a half." Shuzhen said comfortingly: "They are busy with the military camp now, so it probably won't take too long."
Han Shantong shrugged his shoulders and said as if complaining: "He didn't come back until all the work at home was done."
Shuzhen knew that these were angry words, but she was actually thinking deeply about it, so she laughed and said nothing.
Due to the battle in Liaodong and because they were too far away, Han Zhong had been homeless for more than half a year. During the Chinese New Year, Han Shantong felt very depressed and unhappy.
In a few years, Han Shantong has grown into a strong young man, able to shoulder most of the heavy work at home.
And his ideal seems to be getting closer and closer. In two years, he can join the army, kill enemies and perform meritorious service like his father, and even become a majestic general.
Han Shantong swung the shovel again and said while working: "Mom, do our family have enough money to buy a cow?"
Shuzhen's heart warmed up when she heard the child's name, and she quickly said: "That's enough. I just don't think it's needed yet. Raising cattle is quite troublesome."
"Then let's buy a horse?" Han Shantong grinned and said, "If we get a car, it will be convenient for us to sit wherever we go. Just like this time when we moved, some of us didn't bring anything with us."
Shuzhen hesitated and did not agree immediately. After a long while, she slowly said: "How about waiting for your father to come back before deciding?"
Han Shantong chuckled and said, "As long as you open your mouth and buy it, you will buy it. My father will not say anything!"
Shuzhen pursed her lips in confusion, pondered for a moment, nodded, and said, "Then let's see if there are any
If there is a suitable one, I heard that horses are very valuable and the army is in urgent need of them!"
Han Shantong wants to learn riding skills, but if his father comes back, he probably won't agree. He knows his father's thoughts very well, and he doesn't want him to serve as a soldier and fight desperately on the battlefield.
Of course, if you don’t have suitable horses, it would be good to buy an ox. If the family has an ox as a labor force, can he join the army?
"I'll beat you, I'll beat you to death." The little girl suddenly picked up the stick and chased a field mouse that came out of the hole. She was quite courageous.
Han Shantong got so playful that he chased after you with a shovel. I'll shoot you, I'll shoot you, you bad field mouse that's stealing crops.
Shuzhen straightened up and looked at the older boy with a smile on her face. The little girl was chasing the field mouse while shouting. Clear laughter came from time to time, and her heart was filled with happiness.
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The cattle moved forward, and the sharp plowshares dug straight furrows in the black soil, like waves, extending into the distance.
Han Zhong held the plowshare and walked steadily; the soldier pulling the oxen in front was also good at walking, and the route he walked was straighter than measured by a ruler.
"Sir, in two days at most, the land will be plowed." The soldier was in a good mood and said with a smile: "Sowing seeds is no longer our business. Can we also take family leave?"
Family leave can only be given to those soldiers whose families have moved to Liaodong. Liaonan is really far away, and it takes five, six or seven or eight days to travel there.
What's more, during the war, if you are ordered to mobilize or fight, you can urgently recall them in Liaodong, but don't waste time in southern Liaoning?
For this soldier to take the initiative, it is obvious that his family members must have moved here. This is the same as Han Zhong. He has not seen his son, wife and daughter for almost a year, and Han Zhong misses him very much.
"Do you miss me, or do you miss your wife?" Han Zhong joked, "Don't worry, sooner or later, you can take family leave before the autumn harvest."
The soldiers have all heard about the major counterattack that will be launched today. Although it has not been finalized yet, some of the army's regulations have revealed a lot of information.
The autumn harvest is a key point. There is abundant food and grass, the climate is suitable, and the time span is long. It can last until the next spring plowing. During this time period, the Jianlu should be able to be wiped out, or at least crippled, right?
The Dongjiang Army, which had experienced several great victories, had built up considerable confidence in the Jianlu, and was eager to pacify Liao and destroy the Qin as soon as possible so that they could enjoy peace.
The soldier chuckled and said, "Everyone in my family is thinking about it. I have moved to a new home. I also want to see how things are going so that I can feel at ease."
"You can't be wrong." Han Zhong said firmly: "We built the houses in those villages and towns, and even the roads were solidified."
"When you arrive in a new place, you always have to get used to it." The soldier stopped and looked east, as if he could see his family. He said in a deep voice, "It's only seventy or eighty miles away from here. If you ride a horse, it only takes two days."
arrive."
Han Zhong nodded and said sympathetically: "Don't worry, everything will be arranged. Marshal Mao, Marshal Guo, and Deputy Marshal Chen have never treated us badly."
"Yes, this is our luck." The soldier looked away, sighed, flicked his whip, and the cattle started slowly again.
Han Zhong held on to the plowshare again and said slowly: "Hurry up, maybe next year we will finish fighting the Jianlu, and we can enjoy a peaceful life."
"It's been more than ten years, and it's finally over. I wonder if Commander Mao and Commander Guo can still control us after Pingliao?" The soldier said quietly from the front, as if he was relieved, but also sighed with sadness.
The Liao people living in Liaodong have not been affected and harmed by the war, but the degree is different.
In history, not only the Liao people, but also tens of millions of Han people would also be caught in the chaos of war and struggle in misery.
But now, destroying the captives in Pingliao is no longer an unattainable hope, let alone a goal that is difficult to achieve.
Only by completely annihilating the ferocious Jianlu, or at least maiming them so that they will no longer cause harm, can the army and the people live a peaceful life.
Moreover, this time Liaodong came under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty again, which was different from before.
You must know that even when Li Chengliang was still there and the Jianlu rebels had not yet rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, Liaodong was not completely peaceful, and border troubles still existed.
More importantly, the soldiers and people of Liaodong did not live a good life. The war to aid Korea during the Wanli period and the Gaohuai rebellion brought heavy burdens and serious disasters to them.
Now, although the war is not over yet, the lives of the soldiers and civilians are not much worse than before the war. While they are grateful to Marshal Mao, Marshal Guo, and Deputy Marshal Chen, the soldiers and civilians also have their own worries.
The Liao people did not have much of a good impression of the imperial court. Jianlu could cause harm to Liaodong, and the imperial court bore the greatest responsibility, but did not receive much compensation.
After the Ping Liao Dynasty, will Liaodong be handed over to the imperial court again and managed by officials sent by the imperial court? Will the current policies change and taxes will increase?
This is the doubt that weighs on the minds of the military and civilians, and it is also something that worries them.
Han Zhong also had the same worries, but he didn't say it out loud. Compared with this soldier, he still believed in Guo Shuai. He believed that Guo Shuai would not become famous, so he no longer cared about the soldiers who accompanied him on the battlefield.