Chapter IV Naturalization
"Young man, what are you thinking about?"
The third master's hoarse voice sounded.
Zhang Luo was pulled back from his fantasy.
Hey, now that I'm in this situation, why should I think about it anymore?
Let's do it step by step.
Now I am still homeless.
Not to mention the imperial examination, it is already a great blessing to be alive.
Zhang Luo took a deep breath and calmed down.
He said to the third master:
"Third Master, are you not afraid that I am really a spy sent by the Japanese pirates?"
Third Master held his cane, stared at Zhang Luo and said:
"I have lived for so many years, I still have the ability to recognize people."
The third master stood up with a cane and walked slowly around Zhang Luo.
"Zhenhaiwei has begun to decline since the early years of Jiajing."
"No one is studying in the school in Weisuo anymore, and almost no one is praying to the statue of Mazu."
"I am already seventy-four years old. Zhenhaiwei cannot live without a temple ceremony to worship the gods."
As a native of Fujian, Zhang Luo knows that the temple ceremony for worshiping gods is a very important place.
People on the coast rely on going out to sea to make a living, and they need faith to sustain themselves.
Every time Zhenhaiwei people go to sea, there is always a crisis.
Mazu is their patron saint.
Be it praying or telling fortunes.
All of this is to give people who go to sea a belief not to give up.
This is the reason why Third Master has such a high status in Zhenhaiwei.
"You want me, a person of unknown origin, to serve as a temple blessing?"
The third master stopped and sighed:
"It would have been impossible a few decades ago."
"But in Zhenhaiwei these days, people are dying and getting injured, and there are not even many literate people left."
Third Master glanced at Zhang Luo and said:
"Your identity is unknown, but you are not an ordinary person."
"I have a new apprentice coming in the next few days. You just need to take charge of things for the time being, okay?"
Zhang Luo raised his head and looked at Mr. San.
After a few seconds, he nodded heavily:
"Okay, I promise you!"
Zhang Luo said it, and then asked worriedly:
"I said before that I was the messenger of God, and I caused such a big scandal."
"Now I come to pray to Mazu again, will those people agree?"
Third Master waved his hand and said:
"Tiangong is not an evil god, and the people of Zhenhaiwei do not reject him."
"Before going to sea, just pray to the gods for safety."
"Whether it's Mazu or Tiangong, people in Wei are not that particular."
The third master gestured twice with his crutch and untied the rope from Zhang Luo's body.
He said to Zhang Luo:
"There is a small statue of God in the north of Wei. If you want to worship him, you can."
Zhang Luo was immediately speechless.
Sure enough, faith is just faith after all.
I thought of those thin young people just now and the small temple in front of me.
You can clearly feel Zhenhaiwei's loneliness.
Let yourself be an outsider to preside over the sacrifices and prayers.
It means there is really no one available in Wei.
Third Master said:
"Weili has lost many people at sea over the years."
"There are a lot of vacant household registrations, but the military department above has not sent anyone to fill them in."
"If you take over any household, you will be considered as Zhenhaiwei."
Zhang Luo nodded, knowing what the third master meant.
The southeast coast has serious Japanese invasion and military shortages.
The superior military department does not have enough troops to quickly replenish military households.
This gave Zhang Luo the opportunity to register and have a clean identity.
In ancient times when the household registration system was very strict, it was not easy for the third master to do this.
Third Master continued:
"These days, the military strength in the guard station has suffered heavy losses, and we need to recruit more soldiers."
"After you become a naturalized citizen, you will most likely be drafted into the army. You must be unwilling to do so."
Zhang Luo nodded quickly.
The military status system established when the Ming Dynasty was founded.
All men with military status are soldiers and can be recruited to join the army.
Of course, this is mainly for the sake of the construction and integrity of the military.
If you become a soldier, you will not be able to take part in the imperial examination.
Once you join the army, you will be a soldier for life.
Zhang Luo naturally did not want to be a soldier in the Ming Dynasty for the rest of his life.
After the Tumubao Incident, the Ming Dynasty gradually began to emphasize culture over military affairs.
The status of warriors is almost the same as that of the two Song dynasties.
Zhang Luo has "The Destiny of Ten Thousand Lives", so it is definitely better to take the imperial examination route.
Third Master said:
"I am currently responsible for handing over the troops of Zhenhai Guard."
"If you join my family's household registration, I can guarantee that you will not be recruited. Are you willing?"
Zhang Luo felt happy in his heart. It seemed that the third master had made peace with him and had no intention of setting him up.
The Ming Dynasty had the same common problems as all other feudal dynasties.
The people in the guardhouse concealed the information from the military commander for their own benefit.
This is perfectly normal.
After Zhang Luo figured it out, he saluted the third master as a junior.
"Hello, Third Grandpa."
A slight smile appeared on the third master's vicissitudes of life.
He said to Zhang Luo:
"My surname is Zhang. If you accept my second nephew's household registration, you can call yourself my nephew in Wei from now on."
Zhang Luo nodded, and the third master said with satisfaction:
"I don't ask you to honor our Zhang family either."
"As long as you and your descendants offer some incense to me after I leave, you will be satisfied."
The Chinese people have always attached great importance to the sacrifices made by future generations to their ancestors.
Zhang Luo patted his chest and said:
"Third Master, don't worry. My surname is also Zhang. I will never forget your kindness."
Third Master said with a smile:
"Okay, this matter is settled. There is a small wing not far from the statue."
"No one lives there right now. I'll ask someone to clean it up later so you can move in."
"After you become a naturalized citizen, how about you study with me first?"
Zhang Luo nodded in agreement, and the third master said in agreement:
"I will talk to Baihu about your identity."
"When you get familiar with Weili, I will take you to meet Mr. Baihu."
Zhang Luo then settled down in Zhenhaiwei.
Although he really wanted to meet the little fool's cousin.
But there are still differences between Zhenhaiwei and his hometown Zhenhai Village hundreds of years later.
It would be better if you don't cause trouble as much as possible, lest you be regarded as a spy by the people in the guard.
It didn't take the third master a few days to get Zhang Luo's household registration.
The second nephew who replaced the third master who died in the battle.
Zhang Luo finally had an identity in the Ming Dynasty.
Three days later, the third master brought back a little girl.
This girl looks like she is only ten years old.
He is thin and has slightly dark skin.
If you don't look carefully, you can't tell it's a girl.
Zhang Luo looked at Fannuwa and asked the third master in a low voice:
"Third Master, is this your family member or a new apprentice?"
Zhang Luo belongs to the physical body and directly travels through it.
Although my family's financial situation is average in the 21st century, my nutrition is still up to date.
With a height of over 1.8 meters, he is considered a little giant among the guards.
When the girl saw Zhang Luo's figure, she was so frightened that she dared not enter the temple.
Third Master touched her head and said:
"Don't be afraid, he is my second nephew, and you are your senior brother."
The girl then walked into the temple and looked left and right at Zhang Luo.
Third Master said:
"Xiao Zhu, from now on, you can learn my skills from me, Third Master."
Xiaozhu, the name is quite unique.
Zhang Luo observed Xiaozhu for a while and found that except for her face, her skin was a little fair.
Other parts of the body showed some malnutrition.
After the third master finished the ritual, he sighed and said:
"This child has a hard life. He has lost his parents since he was a child. His housing is not good and his food is not good."
"Xiao Zhu, you can live with me from now on, and we will study together tomorrow."
Xiaozhu nodded obediently.
Zhang Luo looked at the poor girl in front of him.
I can't help but sigh that the common people in feudal society are really miserable.
This chapter has been completed!