Fenghou

A few years later, the New Yellow River stabilized, and Dezhuang became a yellow-flooded area, and the fleeing people returned to their hometowns one after another to rebuild their homes. Forced to make a living, the returning people left their hometowns again and left one after another.

At present, there are only a dozen or so families left in Dezhuang who are still suffering. Dezhuang is actually a microcosm of the Yellow River Flooding Area. Almost all villages are like them. Three years ago, millions of refugees came from Shangzhou and Shanzhou. More than half of the people who fled to Guanzhong in the first line were the people in the Yellow Flood Area.

There is a family in the east of the village in Dezhuang, a couple with two sons, the sons are still young, one is five years old and the other is seven years old. The male owner's surname is Ruan, and his name is Ruan De. , are all Ping, Shun, Fu, De, An, Xiaoer, Xiaosan, Xiaoyi, etc. Ruan De means the birth of Dezhuang.

Ruan De Nian is about 25 and 1.9 years old. He is [-] meters tall. He is extremely strong and powerful. His family was originally a wealthy family in the village, and his father also taught him good martial arts skills. He had to work as a blacksmith to make a living, and his wife, Wang, was three years younger than him.

This morning, officials from Chuqiu County came to Dezhuang to urge more than a dozen households to move out quickly.

Thirteen households came to the yard of Ruan De's house to discuss where to go. With his strong physique and generous character, Ruan De made him the leader of more than ten households in Dezhuang.

As soon as Ruan De waved his hand, the noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent. Ruan De said loudly: "Folks, I think no matter where we go, we'd better go together, settle down together, and form a group. Outsiders dare not bully us. Difficulties, let’s help together, what do you think of my opinion?”

Everyone applauded, this is what everyone thought.

An old man said: "We have lived together for generations, and we are all related, why don't we go together?"

More than a dozen young people shouted: "Brother De, we listen to you, you tell me! Where should we move?"

"In the past few days, I have been thinking that we have no land after we move out. It is too hard to be a tenant and we can't support our family. It is better to have a skill. My father is a blacksmith. My father-in-law can make wine and taught me how to make wine. I remember a lot Everyone knows how to make wine, right?"

Everyone said: "That's right! We used to produce persimmons and pears here, and we made persimmon wine and pear wine, which sold well in the city. Later, the fruit trees were cut down by the golden soldiers, so we stopped making wine."

Ruan De nodded, "Last year I met a wine merchant in Guide Mansion. He said that Yuchi County in Kaifeng Prefecture is famous for wine making. I thought about it over and over again. Why don't we go to Yuchi County, where we will definitely survive."

A respectable old man got up and said: "I went to Yuchi County during the Xuanhe period. It is indeed famous for wine making, which is very suitable for us. I support Ade's opinion. Let's go to Yuchi County."

The whole village reached an agreement to collectively go to Yuchi County to make a living.

Two days later, [-] families drove three ox carts and donkey carts. The elderly and children rode in the carts. The old furniture was discarded, and only the necessary daily necessities were left in tears.

……

Yuchi County is also one of the [-] officially announced counties to resettle immigrants. After the implementation of the Clearing Plan, nearly a thousand people from the Yellow River Flooding Area have brought their families to Yuchi County. Most of them have chosen to go to the countryside to settle down. , Continue to farm for a living, mainly renting official land, which is a decision made by the appeasement commissioner. Those who move inland can rent official land. The land rent is exempted for the first three years, and the rent is halved for the next two years.

This actually shows the true intention of inward migration, not only to deal with the harassment of the Jin soldiers, but more importantly, to move the population out of the barren yellow flooded area and let them come to the hinterland with more land and lack of labor. Promote social prosperity, but also improve the lives of the people in the Yellow River Flooding Area.

Without human interference, the ecology of the Yellow Flood Area will slowly recover. After decades, the land in the Yellow Flood Area will gradually become fertile.

The official in charge of immigration in Yuchi County is Yu Yushou, who has been in office for nearly half a year and has gradually adapted to the new environment. He sent someone to bring him a few baskets of oranges, making Yuchi County officials and gentry speculate about his background.

Ma Houwen, the county magistrate, was also quite polite to him, and did not interfere with his power. He handed over the power of public security in the county to him, and dozens of archers, principals and deputy officers were all entrusted to him to lead.

For the resettlement of immigrants, the Department of Peace and Envoy of Henan Road required the county magistrate to handle it in person. Ma Houwen was the chief resettlement officer, and Yu Shou was the deputy.

In fact, the county magistrate only intervenes, and it is the deputy who really does things.

Hundreds of large tents were set up next to the official road at Dongchengmen in Yuchi County. Immigrants were placed in the tents for two days. After registration, they were separated. Some abandoned houses in the countryside were also repaired. The roof tiles were replaced and doors and windows were installed. , built a courtyard wall, which looks very good, and is used to resettle immigrants.

A few rows of tables were set up in front of the largest tent, and five or six clerks led by Xu Pei, the security officer, were responsible for registering and resettling the immigrants. Feicha, he is the only one in the county who knows that Yu Shou is actually related to His Royal Highness Yong, including himself, who was also specially approved by His Royal Highness to be transferred to Yuchi County...

Xu Pei has a high emotional intelligence, hugging Yu Shou's thigh tightly, working hard, and studying hard in his spare time, planning to take the Mingjing examination in the next year. As long as he passes the Mingjing examination, his qualifications are enough. When Yu Shou is promoted to Zhizhou, he can recommend himself as a county lieutenant or master Bo, and he can also be promoted from an official to an official.

This is the rule of King Yong. Anyone who has served as a county clerk for more than ten years and served as a prefect for not less than five years, who has the qualifications of Ming Jingshi, is under 50 years old, and has both ability and political integrity can be recommended as a county magistrate.

There are four hard indicators here. First, ten years as a county government official; second, no less than five years as a prefect;

There are also two soft indicators, first, having both ability and political integrity; second, being recommended.

These six indicators are indispensable. Xu Pei already has two of the four hard indicators. It is only a matter of time before he serves as a prefect for five years. The thigh can be solved.

Besides, he is only in his early thirties now, so Xu Pei has the dream of becoming an official, and he works very hard.

This morning, Yu Shou came to the big tent on horseback, and asked with a smile, "Is there any business coming to you today?"

Everyone laughed, Xu Pei also laughed and said: "The county captain, there are ten people from two families, they came from Xuzhou, and the humble staff arranged two big tents. They have also eaten and are packing their things."

"Are you registered?"

"Registration in the afternoon, they want to go to the countryside to do farming."

Yu Shou nodded. Most of the immigrants this time were farmers, so more than [-]% of them asked to go to the countryside to farm.

Suddenly, an archer pointed to the distance and shouted: "Lieutenant Yu, it seems that the business is here again."

Yu Shou hastily put up the curtain and looked east, only to see a group of common people coming from the official road in the distance, mighty enough for more than a hundred people.

"Ouch! Why are there so many people here all of a sudden today?"

Xu Pei has experience, he laughed and said: "County captain, I guess they are from the same village!"

He quickly led his men to meet him...

Chapter 150 Recruitment

This team came from thirteen households in Dezhuang. Under the leadership of Ruan De, they traveled day and night and trekked for seven days, finally arriving in Yuchi County.

"Where are you from?" Xu Pei ran forward and asked.

Ruan De stepped forward to salute and said: "We are the people of Dezhuang, Chuqiu County, Guide Prefecture. The government informed us to move to the interior. We traveled three hundred miles to come to Yuchi County."

"Do you have a migration certificate from the government!"

"Yes! Yes!"

Ruan De took out a thick stack of migration certificates, and comforted Zhang Xiao thoughtfully. Each household had a migration certificate, including the number of members of the family, and the relationship between names and so on. Receive immigrants, register households and naturalize, and then use the migration certificate to receive food subsidies and resettlement financial subsidies from the Department of Appeasement.

Xu Pei looked at the certificate, then at the team of more than a hundred people, and said with a smile: "There are thirteen families in total, right?"

"Exactly!"

"Come on! You go to the big tent to rest and eat first, and you have to go to the toilet. Then you will be assigned a big tent. After two or three days of rest, you will be sent to your new home."

Everyone helped the children and the elderly out of the cart, and Xu Pei shouted again: "Just take the things you carry with you, and take the big items after dividing them into the big tent."

The crowd helped the old and the young to walk towards a large tent, where steamed buns seemed to be steaming, and someone was waving to them.

Yu Shou rode a horse and looked at them. At this moment, his eyes fell on Ruan De. Seeing that this man was so majestic and burly, he seemed to be the leader of this group of people. It would be a pity not to join the army with his body.

At this time, Yu Shou's eyes fell on the wooden stick in Ruan De's hand again. This wooden stick was a foot long and slightly thicker than his wrist. It turned out to be an iron rod, which weighed at least sixty to seventy catties.

Not only that, he is holding an iron rod in his left hand, holding his youngest son in his right hand, and carrying a pannier on his back, which is full of blacksmith's tools, weighing at least fifty or sixty catties, adding up to almost 150 catties, and it is so easy freely.

"That man, what's your name?" Yu Shou asked with a smile.

Ruan De looked back at Yu Shou, "Did the master call me?"

Yu Shou nodded, Ruan De said hastily: "The villain is called Ruan De, he is a blacksmith."

Yu Shou smiled slightly and said, "Go and stay first!"

Ruan De bowed slightly, and left with his wife and children...

After eating and resting for a while, the big tents will be distributed. According to each family, there will be one big tent. If there are too many people, such as two brothers who are married and have not yet separated, then they will be divided into two big tents. There will also be separation at this time.

In the afternoon, Ruan De was packing his blacksmith tools in the big tent, when he heard someone calling him outside, he walked out of the big tent quickly, but saw that it was the official from the morning.

Ruan De clasped his fists in salute and said, "The county lord has something to do with the villain?"

Yu Shou smiled slightly and asked, "Master Ruan seems to know martial arts?"

"Father has taught me a few punches and kicks, and I have a few pounds of clumsy strength, so I can't talk about martial arts!"

Yu Shou pointed to an ox cart nearby and said with a smile: "There is a millstone on the cart, can you try to take it off the ox cart for me?"

Ruan De stepped forward and was startled. He had never seen such a big millstone, which weighed four to five hundred catties, but he was only surprised by the size of the millstone, not because he couldn't hold it. With both arms, he lifted the millstone Get off the bullock cart.

"My lord, where are you taking it?"

"Take it to the kitchen, next to where you eat, it would be best if Ruan Zhuangshi can lift it above his head."

Ruan De yelled, lifted the 120-jin stone mill over his head, and walked to the kitchen [-] steps away, causing everyone to exclaim.

Yu Shou followed behind. Although he didn't know martial arts and didn't know what kind of strength this was, he was still very satisfied.

Yu Shou is a county lieutenant, and the recruits are also his soldiers. This time the Western Army recruited 2 soldiers, and Henan Road received 200 recruits, which were then divided into counties. The target for Yuchi County was [-] soldiers.

200 people is not too many, Yu Shou has already recruited, but he still lacks a Dutou to command the 200 people, this is the true army Dutou indicator, it can be regarded as a little benefit to the local area.

All the other counties give up the opportunity of the capital to their relatives and friends in the county, or give it to rich and wealthy families as favors, but Yu Shou is very serious and does not favor personal favors. He must find someone who is capable to be the capital head.

But there were only five days left before the start of the recruiting, and he still couldn't find a capital that met the standards of the Western Army. He was extremely anxious for the past two days, but he was lucky today.

Today, Yu Shou happened to see Ruan De, who could lift five hundred catties and walk 120 steps. Yu Shou immediately realized that this was the person he was looking for. .

Ruan De lightly put the stone mill on the millstone, Yu Shou smiled and said, "Master Ruan Zhuang, please, I will tell you something."

Yu Shou led Ruan De to the side, and said with a smile: "I'll give you a chance, you don't have to refuse immediately, you can go back and think about it."

Ruan De nodded, "County Lieutenant, please tell me!"

He already knew that the official in front of him was a county lieutenant, so he certainly didn't want to offend him casually.

"Western Army is recruiting troops. Our county has recruited [-] soldiers, but I lack a leader to lead them. I need someone with real skills. I think you are quite suitable, and I want you to be the leader."

Ruan De didn't say a word, his two sons were still young and didn't want to leave home.

Yu Shou continued: "The only disadvantage is that you may be killed in battle, but there are many benefits. Once the soldiers of the Western Army join the army, they will first be given ten guan as a settling allowance. If you add one mu of land to the army salary, you will have [-] mu of land for one year in the army.

But this is just an ordinary soldier, you are the head of the capital, the settlement fee is [-] guan, Yongye farmland is [-] mu, the monthly salary is [-] guan qian plus three mu of land, and the county can also provide your family with a family in the county. The yard is about an acre. If you want a house in the country, you can get two acres of land, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t go home if you go to the army. The Western Army stipulates that all soldiers have one month of family vacation a year. "

The conditions of the Western Army are indeed very good, Ruan De couldn't help but feel a little moved, Yu Shou smiled and said: "Think about it! The wages in Yuchi County are not high, the brewers can only earn fifty yuan a day, and you can earn five yuan a month." The military salary is enough to allow his wife and children to live well."

Ruan De nodded, "I want to go back and discuss it with my wife."

"Go! If you decide, come to the county government to find me tomorrow morning."

……

Ruan Du's wife, Wang Shi, heard that her husband wanted to join the army, but she didn't say anything for a while.

Ruan De held his wife in his arms and said in a low voice: "You know that my father was a bandit in Liangshanshuibo when he was young. He was full of martial arts but had no chance to serve the country. He was unknown all his life. This time is my chance. Relying on merit, not nepotism, let alone flattery, I just want to make a name for myself and earn a fortune for my son and descendants, which is also my father's last wish before he died."

Wang hugged her husband and burst into tears, "You are gone, what will we mother and son do?"

"Don't worry! I have a family allowance of [-] guan, and a military salary of [-] guan a month, all of which will be given to you directly. The county will also give me a yard, not for rent, but for me directly. The three of you, mother and child I have a place to settle down, and I still have a hundred acres of farmland. If you bring your parents to live with you, your father-in-law can still farm the land, and if you give the land to him to cultivate, the family will be taken care of."

"I'm not afraid of suffering a little bit, but I'm afraid that you will go to war. What if something goes wrong?"

Ruan De shook his head, "In this world, it doesn't mean that you will be safe if you don't go to the battlefield. When the golden soldiers are killed, one family will be destroyed. Have you forgotten how my uncle Wu's family died? When the flood came, the whole family had no corpses. I will go Joining the army is also to protect the safety of your mother and child, besides, I can still come back to visit relatives for a month every year, and it’s not like I’m gone forever.”

Wang wiped away her tears and said, "Husband, go! I will take good care of the two children."

"Let Da Lang go to study, understand? I have a family allowance of [-] guan, which is enough for him to enter the county school."

"I will let the children study. If the house is well-off, I want my elder brother's family to live together, so it will be more convenient to take care of."

"I see, you are more thoughtful than me."

Ruan De held his wife's face and said with a smile, "Let the two children go to bed early tonight."

Wang's pretty face flushed, and she nodded slightly.

The first thousand and 150 chapters of recruits

Early the next morning, Ruan De went to the county government to find Yu Shou, and Yu Shou recommended him to Ma Houwen, the county magistrate. Ma Houwen immediately ordered him to lift the tripod. With a bow, Ruan De hit ten out of ten shots a hundred steps away, and Ma Houwen was overjoyed. He immediately appointed him as the head of the recruits, and rushed to Bianliang after five days of training.

This is the officialdom culture that Yu Shou learned from his father. Although the appointment is his right, he handed over this power to Ma Houwen. This is not a power that you have every day. It only happens once every few years. But he showed respect for the chief.

In addition, if Ruan De performed well in the army, his recommenders would also be commended, and he gave this potential benefit to Ma Houwen, the county magistrate.

Ma Houwen was well aware of this, and he immediately agreed with Yu Shou's opinion and allocated a courtyard to Ruan De, located in Osmanthus Alley next to the county school and the county primary school. Houses, now there are many official houses and land in the hands of the counties. It is also because of the Jurchen invasion that a large number of rich people were massacred or fled.

After five days of training, Ruan De led two hundred soldiers to Bianliang.

Outside the southern city of Bianliang, a recruit camp covering an area of ​​over 42 mu was set up, where 200 recruits recruited from various counties along Henan Road will gather and train. This time, a total of [-] counties in eleven prefectures received recruits. There are more or less people, Bianliang County, Chenliu County, and Changshe County all recruit more than [-] people, while small counties like Yuchi County have only [-] people.

This day is November [-]th. From the [-]th to the [-]th is the day for new recruits from all over the country to report. Although three days were given, most of the new recruits actually came on the first day. God, secondly, I came late, and many good resources are gone, such as good armor and weapons, good barracks, etc., so it is definitely better to come early than late.

Starting early in the morning, the first army to enter the camp was a thousand new recruits from Bianliang. They were led by a deputy commander named Kong Qing, the commander of the township soldiers in Kaifeng Prefecture, and finally took advantage of this opportunity , Kong Qing finally became the official deputy commander of the Western Army.

Although the Western Army has given quotas for low-level generals below the command envoys in various places, it does not mean that entering the Western Army will definitely become a low-level general. They must meet the standards of the Western Army. For military ranks above that, five feet eight is almost 1.7 meters five, unless the martial arts are outstanding.

The second is to lift 150 catties over the head three times, which is considered the minimum standard for generals practicing martial arts.Fourth, riding and archery is not required, but you must be able to use the step bow, use the eight-dou bow within 150 steps, and shoot at least seven out of ten shots.

These standards have been sent to the counties, and I also hope that the counties can choose their generals carefully, and don't just consider favors, and it will be embarrassing to come to the barracks when the time comes.

Yang Zaixing rode a horse and waited at the gate of the recruit camp. Recruits from various counties continued to arrive, ranging from two hundred in small counties to three to five hundred in large counties.

An ordering officer called out loudly, "Changshe County recruits have arrived!"

A group of more than a thousand recruits came in line. The leader was about 30 years old. He was a burly man with a big knife in his hand. His name was Li Yaoqing. He was originally the commander of the puppet Qi army. At that time, he was dismissed from the army and returned to his hometown Changshe County, Yingchang Prefecture. After Chen Qing captured the Central Plains, he asked all states to form township soldiers, and Li Yaoqing served as the commander of the township soldiers in Yingchang Prefecture.

The thousand soldiers he brought this time were the township soldiers they formed a year ago. After training for a year, they certainly looked more imposing than other recruits.