Ma Yi actually didn't recognize Jin Yiwei's badge.
But seeing that Zhang Meng's momentum didn't look like a fake, Ma Yi naturally believed it, not to mention that the badge looked real.
The other party only wanted to stay for one night, which was not a big request, so Ma Yi readily agreed.
"The superior is carrying out an errand. How dare you neglect your humble position... Everyone, please!"
So Zhang Meng walked in front and entered the military camp with eight people behind him.
This is a camp with a thousand households. It covers a large area, but there are fewer people inside.
Seeing this situation, Zhao Yanxun couldn't help but ask: "If it is a place with thousands of households, why are there only more than a hundred people?"
Seeing that it was a young man asking questions, Ma Yi felt unhappy.
If the Shangguan is present, does the young man have the right to speak?
At this moment, Zhao Yanxun had lost all his sharpness and looked like an ordinary young man, only more handsome than ordinary people, so Ma Yi did not notice the difference in him.
Although he felt unhappy, Ma Yi still replied: "There are 539 soldiers in this thousand-household household. In the past two days, we have received the errand of collecting food, and more than 300 brothers have gone to the countryside!"
At present, there are many places where food is needed, such as relocating refugees and using troops in the northwest. The imperial court is very poor, so naturally it has to collect food from various places.
Of course, this grain levy is only for wealthy households, based on those with 200 acres of land, and households with less than 200 acres will not be levied.
Zhao Yanxun asked again: "Who is responsible for collecting food and how to collect it?"
Seeing Zhang Meng also cast a questioning look, Ma Yi had no choice but to reply: "The commander-in-chief has issued a military order, and we are only allowed to obey the orders of the chief envoy's Yamen!"
Regarding the matter of deploying troops and requisitioning grain, the Ministry of War had previously handed over a report, and Zhao Yanxun had an impression of it.
He was afraid that those civil servants would simply leave the matter of food collection to the army to save their disciples trouble.
Relatively speaking, the military's behavior is more rough and may lead to chaos.
When Zhao Yanxun had no more problems, Ma Yi turned his attention back to Zhang Meng.
Arriving outside a barracks, Ma Yi said apologetically: "I'm a bad guy. The place is rough, so don't be offended!"
"Send someone quickly to clean it up and put on brand new bedding!"
"yes!"
After receiving the order, one hundred households immediately left to look for people.
Glancing at Ma Yi who was still staying where he was, Zhang Meng said: "Ma Qianhu, go ahead, we still have things to discuss!"
This group of people made Ma Yi feel very strange.
Having less contact with these things doesn't seem to be a bad thing, but knowing things you shouldn't know is quite dangerous.
"Then I won't bother with my humble duty!"
Together with Zhang Meng, Zhao Yanxun wandered around the camp, mainly to see the protection situation here, as well as the soldiers' mental outlook and equipment.
After looking around, Zhao Yanxun was reluctantly satisfied.
Compared to the previous Guard Army, they have all changed a lot.
As night falls, it's time to eat.
"One, two, one..."
"One, two, one..."
In the barracks, Zhao Yanxun walked out of the room when he heard the sound of bugles outside.
Then they saw that on the school grounds, the remaining soldiers had been recruited and were heading to the canteen under the leadership of Baihu.
This was a situation that would never have happened in the previous Guards Army.
Not to mention the integration of officers and soldiers, it is extremely rare for the soldiers to have enough to eat.
"Settled...decided!"
The footsteps stopped suddenly, and the phalanx stopped outside the dining hall.
"Long live your Majesty the Emperor!"
As hundreds of households shouted loudly, the soldiers on the scene shouted in unison: "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
Judging from their neatness, Zhao Yanxun could tell that this ceremony had been going on for a long time and was not just for them, the "imperial envoys".
Nowadays, all the military offices in the capital are under the unified management of the Privy Council, and unified training rules are implemented throughout the country.
Next, the soldiers entered the dining hall one after another, and Qianhu Ma Yi also greeted Zhao Yanxun and others.
"Come on, gentlemen, the conditions tonight are simple. We only have rice, pickles, scrambled eggs and stewed pork. Don't dislike it!"
"Um!"
Zhang Meng responded and immediately followed everyone into the house.
There were more than a dozen large long tables set up inside, and the soldiers were already receiving their meals one after another, and then entered their seats one by one.
Zhao Yanxun and his party were assigned a separate table, and only they were given two extra dishes.
"Master Zhang, it's too crowded here. Find a seat next to your humble position!"
Zhang Meng was slightly stunned by Zhao Yanxun's words, and then he nodded.
Ma Yi didn't say much about this, except that this young man didn't fit in with others.
Everyone started eating, while Zhao Yanxun sat with the soldiers.
In front of him was placed white rice, topped with chopped pickles, as the other soldiers ate.
"Brother, do you, a thousand households, usually eat scrambled eggs and stewed meat?" Zhao Yanxun asked the person next to him.
"No, ever since the current emperor came into being, Qianhu and others have become just like us!"
"To entertain you today, I made these two dishes!"
Zhao Yanxun smiled and asked: "But we can add vegetables, will you be angry?"
Seeing that he is easier to get along with, the people around him have gradually let down their guard.
"This is much better than before. At least I can eat enough now!"
"Yes, everyone says that the current emperor is a good emperor, and he is much better than the previous one!"
Hearing these people praising him, Zhao Yanxun smiled even more. This was the lowest and most authentic voice.
Zhao Yanxun asked again: "Do you usually train troops?"
"Practice at least half a day every day and work the rest of the time!"
The local garrison army has its own dedicated fields and can provide most of its own military supplies.
In the past, these military rations had been embezzled, and the lower-level officers were left with empty pay and tried every means to ask for money from the court.
After the Jingyan, all the armies were rebuilt, the underlying interest groups were shattered, and the Guard Army was revitalized.
"What do you usually practice?"
Next, Zhao Yanxun kept asking questions and got a clearer understanding of the grassroots guard troops.
On the other side, Ma Yi tried every means to curry favor with Zhang Meng, but only received a cold face from him.
After the meal was finished, the soldiers left one after another, and Zhao Yanxun and his party also returned to the barracks.
Early the next morning, troops began to gather outside, and then the sound of "hum ha" training was heard.
Zhao Yanxun and his party immediately got up and when they went out, they saw soldiers practicing boxing on the school field while yelling.
"Not bad!" Zhao Yanxun praised.
Seeing them coming out, Qianhu Ma Yi immediately greeted them.
Just listen to Qianhu say: "Everyone, please come on board. Dinner won't be ready for another half an hour!"
After receiving Zhao Yanxun's advance instructions, Zhang Meng said: "We have some important things to do, so we won't have breakfast. Thank you for sleeping in the open air... take leave!"
"It's better to eat before leaving!"
"No need!"
"Leave now?"
"Exactly!"
"I'll send you my humble duty!"
Zhang Meng didn't say much, and the group walked towards the gate of the military camp.
After seeing Zhang Meng and his party out of the two military camps and watching them walking away along the official road, Ma Yi felt a stone fall from his heart.
"Sir, these people are not simple!"
After hearing the words of his subordinates, Ma Yi said: "Jin Yiwei, a close official of the emperor, is certainly not simple!"
Baihu then said: "Sir, I just reported secretly that there are at least eighty or ninety people who came with these people and are scattered around our military camp!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Yi was immediately shocked.
Baihu said again: "Last night, these Jin Yiwei people asked us about things in the camp. Do you think these people...are they coming for us?"
Ma Yi looked serious and said: "We have the appointment letter from the Privy Council and have nothing to do with the previous dynasty. Now we are sitting upright. Are we still afraid of their investigation?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, do they still dare to do this?"