A Millennium Aristocratic Family Starting from the Shang Dynasty

Chapter 496 Recruiting Soldiers and Peasants Soldiers Southwest Barbarians

It is difficult to mobilize peasants and soldiers from the Central Plains to go to the frontier. After all, they have been cultivating the Central Plains for generations and fought bravely in all the wars. Not to mention rewards, there is no such thing as turning around and sending people to the frontier.

The southern part of Bazhong is full of barbarians and has very few people. The land here is not fertile, the climate is hot, and there are many poisonous insects. Not many people were willing to migrate, so Wang Che prepared to select from the soldiers of this southern expedition.

There were a large number of soldiers recruiting soldiers during the Southern Expedition. Although recruiting soldiers cost a lot of money, if they could become peasant soldiers, it could be said to be their dream.

Daqian recruited soldiers for almost 20 guan a year, and they also received some grain, cloth, salt, meat, tea, etc. The income level in Daqian is already very high. It can support a family and live a good life.

It's just that it's much worse than the peasants and soldiers. The peasants and soldiers have at least 300 acres of farmland, plus the cattle and sheep they raise, mulberry gardens, etc., excluding basic expenses and taxes, their annual income is about 100 guan. If you join the army and join the war, you will receive additional rewards.

Peasants and soldiers raised cattle and sheep because they had a lot of land and needed heavier livestock and a lot of manure. Typically four to six cows are raised.

Because the sowing period is only about forty-five days, usually people have to sow all the land within forty days. One cow can cultivate about three acres a day, and then take a day off. Six cows can cultivate three hundred acres. More than enough.

The various straws produced by the three hundred acres of land are enough to feed livestock and can also raise hundreds of sheep. The royal caravan will be responsible for purchasing these sheep, which is also the welfare decree given to them by the royal family. Peasants and soldiers must prepare their own war horses, weapons and armor, so they usually need to raise horses.

Not all of the three hundred acres of land will be planted with food. In many cases, mulberry trees will be planted and then used to raise silkworms. Not only can the cocoons be used to pay taxes, but they can also be exchanged for money or woven into silk.

These peasants and soldiers and the previously enfeoffed princes are the real foundation of the royal family. As long as these princes, peasants and soldiers do not go bankrupt, Daqian will have sufficient force.

The imperial court now has an army of about 450,000, among which the Yulin Guards are sons of the royal family, and there are another 20,000 peasant soldiers who take turns guarding. The imperial court's annual military salary is almost 8 million yuan, accounting for one-third of the imperial court's total income.

In the southern part of Bazhong, a large number of noble and powerful officials were cleared away, leaving behind a large area of ​​farmland and manors that had been cultivated. Wang Che did not hand over these farmlands and manors to the imperial court. Wang Che was worried about those people. Naturally, these people would not do anything to the land or manor, but it was hard to say whether the land was something on the ground.

When the time comes, the strong oxen will be replaced by old oxen, and the fertile farmland will be replaced by wasteland. Other than that, there will be too many things you can do. If these things were handed over to those officials, they would deduct at least tens of thousands of dollars or even more from them.

It took a full three months for the imperial court to clean up all the counties in Bazhong. In addition to the 100,000 people who were exiled, these counties also lost about 100,000 people due to the previous barbarian rebellion in the southwest. A large number of people outside the city were The barbarians from the southwest plundered them and used them as slaves.

Most of the barbarians in the southwest live in the mountains of the southwest and are divided into many tribes. Because they climb mountains and ridges all the year round, they feel like walking on flat ground in the mountains and forests. In addition, the geographical environment here is complex, and poisonous miasma and poisonous insects are everywhere. In this mountain forest, it can be said that All the people are soldiers.

The soldiers of Daqian entered the mountains and forests, and they were not necessarily opponents of the southwestern barbarians.

Wang Che ordered Guanzhong, Jinyang, and Chengdu to each dispatch 10,000 troops to obey Ma Heng's orders. Together with Ma Heng's original army of more than 30,000 troops, the total was 60,000 troops.

Because of the defeat in the previous battle, Ma Heng became more cautious, and because the army was coming from afar, he needed to adapt here. When Daqian attacked Hehuang, the plateau environment left a deep impression on Daqian.

After arriving in the south of Bazhong, it was natural to make corrections to adapt the army to the soil and water here.

The 60,000-strong army rested and recuperated here, held military exercises every day, and was in no rush to attack. This behavior of the imperial court made the southwestern barbarians a little strange. At that time, the imperial army was pressing on the border, so the southwestern barbarians had to unite under pressure.

Then he joined forces with those powerful men and tricked Ma Heng. Not only did he plunder a large amount of money and people, but he also got tens of thousands of stones of salt. This much salt was enough for the southwestern barbarians to use for a year or two.

Having gained so many benefits, these southwestern barbarians were initially worried that the imperial court would come to settle accounts, so they still united together to take precautions. However, as these two forces approached, the imperial court remained stationary and did not even move south. This made the barbarians in the southwest feel uneasy.

These southwestern barbarians belong to various tribes. They were able to forcibly integrate them because Daqian was so powerful that they had no choice but to suppress them. Now that Daqian is no longer attacking, these barbarian tribes are naturally unwilling to unite again. Originally, the leader of the southwest barbarian coalition had a long-term vision. He was able to seize the opportunity to defeat Daqian's army and made a huge profit. It can be seen that the imperial court was recharging its strength for later effects. But most people can't see it. In addition, these people have received a lot of money and benefits, so they still have the energy to fight with others, and they all want to go back and enjoy their happiness.

In the southwest barbarian coalition, even the leader was pushed out by many cave masters, village masters, and leaders, but at this time he could not control the situation.

After all, these people were poor before, so they naturally want to enjoy their sudden wealth. In the past, they were barefoot and not afraid of wearing shoes. They were very poor. Now that they are all rich, how can they be willing to work hard?

"Big Chief, the gangsters are not coming at all now. The hundreds of thousands of us can't stay here forever. We still have to farm at home. Why don't we all go back to our caves first when hunting!"

"Yes, yes, we have been out for so long and there is not enough food to eat. Let's go back to the cave first. If the gang attacks, we will lead the troops out again!" Most of the leaders in the camp nodded repeatedly, obviously agreeing.

"No, Yamutou people, Langtou people, we can't disperse now!" A young man next to him hurriedly stepped out of the queue and said.

"Gezhen, if you don't go back, will you provide food and grass?"

"We can ask each family to deliver food and grass!"

"The men have gone out to fight. Do we still have food and grass at home? If we can't keep up with the farming, everyone will starve to death next year!"

"You guys clearly took advantage and want to go back and enjoy it!"

"you"

"Shut up!" The middle-aged man sitting at the front shouted in a deep voice, and everyone around him stopped immediately. It was obvious that this man had great power.

The middle-aged man glanced at everyone, and then said: "Everyone has been out for half a year, and there is no one at home. I understand that I am worried about my family. There is no attack now, so let's go home first."

"Thank you, big boss" everyone praised.

The big leader stretched out his hand, and everyone fell silent before continuing: "However, if someone attacks, you need to bring people over immediately!"

After speaking, he stared at everyone with twinkling eyes.

"Don't worry, big boss! As long as you give the order, I will definitely bring people here!"

"Don't worry, big boss, I will definitely come when the time comes! If anyone dares not to come, then let's attack him together!" Everyone vowed and swore.

Seeing these people agreeing, the big leader nodded and said: "In that case, let's disperse first!"

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)