After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 656 Transfer Order
Haijiao secretly discussed with his sister and made changes to his life plan.

He did not tell his grandparents about this matter. Anyway, when the court decided to reopen the military examination, he would directly sign up from the Wei School. He believed that by then, there would definitely be more than just one or two classmates who would go to take part in the provincial examination with him.

Not all the sons of military households in the Northwest Frontier Army can successfully enter the army with the quota of their family. If there are many brothers and nephews, and the quota has been taken by the elder brother, or the quota has already fallen to the head of the side branch, the descendants of that family often have to find their own way to find a job. Just like Zhou Xiaojian, as a son of a military household, his father and grandfather were officials during their lifetime, and he was willing to be a long-term attendant to Jin Jiashu. Isn't it just to use Jin Jiashu's connections to find another way to join the army? His uncle has no intention of returning the quota, and he has the confidence to ignore his request. If he doesn't want to be idle all his life, or to engage in a business other than a soldier, he has to find a way himself.

Many of Haijiao's classmates in the military academy were in a similar situation, except that their families were much better off than Zhou Xiaojian's and they could afford to go to the military academy. If they had no other options, they would definitely give it a try once the military examination was restored. Even if they only passed the military examination and did not go to Beijing to take the examination, it would be easier to get a military post than being a commoner. Moreover, with their achievements, they could be directly appointed as officials, even if it was just a small flag, it would be better than starting out as a soldier.

When the time comes, Haijiao will sign up for the martial arts exam with many of his classmates and alumni, which will not be conspicuous at all and will not easily arouse people's vigilance. As for the connections and backers he has, he will naturally use them to the best of his ability. There is no need to use them from the beginning, so as not to give people the misunderstanding that he is not capable of taking the martial arts exam on his own.

Haitang also helped keep Haijiao's plan a secret. There was no need to alert the grandparents now since the matter hadn't even started yet.

At present, Hai Xiya and the Ma couple were struggling with the issue of Hai Changan changing his surname. However, Hai Changan himself was calm. After careful consideration - and with the persuasion of his wife, nephews and nieces - and consulting his cousin Xie Wenzai, he finally decided not to change his surname.

He will continue to use his current name and use it as a military household of the Hai family to serve in the Northwest Frontier Army. However, his son Xiao Shitou, originally named Hai Yan by Hai Xiya, will be changed to Chang Baoyan in the future. Chang is his original surname, and "Bao" is the generation name of the descendants of the Chang family. Hai Chang'an himself abides by his father's will and continues to use the surname Hai, but will change his son's name back to Chang and name him according to the rules of the Chang family.

Even though Xiao Shitou had never been included in the Chang family's genealogy, when he returned to Beijing with his son and faced the Chang family again, he would not insist that they had no relationship with the Chang family. Only by bearing the title of descendants of the Chang family could they, father and son, truly break the family's suppression and restrictions on their branch and earn a new world for themselves.

Hai Chang'an's decision was supported by Hai Xiya and his wife. It was difficult for everyone to adapt to the sudden change of their son's name, which they had used for more than ten years. On the contrary, the grandson only had a nickname so far, and his real name was only on paper, and few people knew it. Even if he changed it, it would not be a big problem.

Only Xiao Shitou himself looked at the new name in the vocabulary book in front of him with a worried expression.

He had been practicing writing his name for a year and finally became proficient. Now he had to start all over again. Isn't this too much trouble? Besides, a three-character name has many more strokes than a two-character name...

Not to mention how conflicted and worried little Chang Baoyan was, after Hai Chang'an went to the Jin family and told Ma Shangyi of his decision, the old lady did not raise any objections. Instead, she smiled with satisfaction and praised him as a kind-hearted child who knew how to be grateful.

Not long after, the year-end exams of the Wei School behind Chang'an officially ended. The school held a graduation ceremony, saw off a group of graduates, gave other students a long vacation, and then began to make a summary of the year's work and prepare to give the school officers and teachers a vacation.

At this time, Hai Chang'an, the archery instructor, received a transfer order, ordering him to report to Shaanxi Dusi. The transfer order stated that Hai Chang'an, the archery instructor of Chang'an Rear Guard School, was recruited by Tu Rong, the commander of Shaanxi Dusi, as a personal soldier, and would take office after the new year.

Hai Changan was a little confused, but all his superiors and colleagues were happy for him and came to congratulate him on his better future. He had to suppress his doubts and deal with everyone's congratulations first. After finishing his work at the Wei School, he returned home and immediately showed the transfer order to his father Hai Xiya.

Hai Xiya was also surprised: "Did Ma Shangyi use Tu Tongzhi's relationship to transfer you to the Dusi Yamen? But I'm still in office! Although I have already accepted Lord Tao's invitation and transferred to the Ministry of Revenue as the head, this matter will have to wait until the beginning of spring, around March, before the official transfer order will come down. At present, I am still a member of the Northwest Frontier Army, and there is no other quota in my family... Could it be that you don't need to consider the quota for this new assignment, and Lord Tu specially recruited you?"

As the deputy commander of the Shaanxi Military Command, Tu Rong naturally had this authority. He could recruit any of the military families under his jurisdiction, without being restricted by the restriction that only one person could be sent to serve. His personal soldiers were not under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Frontier Army. If he wanted to leave in the future, he could take them with him. How to arrange them after arriving in the capital was entirely up to him, saving a lot of trouble.

After Hai Xiya figured this out, he couldn't help but show a look of joy: "That's good. Tu Tongzhi is an important official in front of the emperor, and he is incomparable to the ordinary family. If he is willing to help you, others will no longer be able to interfere with your future. If the Chang family dares to embarrass you, it will be a slap in Tu Tongzhi's face. With him as your backer, you can live in peace even if you return to the capital. Your mother and I don't have to worry about you being bullied."

Hai Changan was puzzled: "But why did Tu Tongzhi help me? Was it just because Ma Shangyi asked?"

Hai Xiya pondered, "They are all people from the imperial court. We cannot inquire about their private agreements without authorization. Since Ma Shangyi can use you and Tu Tongzhi has no objection, you just need to follow his orders. But when you are with Tu Tongzhi, you should be loyal to your duties and act prudently. You must not take the mission lightly or cause trouble. Tu Tongzhi is willing to help you, so you must not let people laugh at him for being blind."

Hai Changan quickly straightened his expression and said solemnly: "Don't worry, father. I will never let you down!"

Hai Xiya nodded, and couldn't help guessing: "Tongzhi Tu has a lot of personal soldiers around him, but there is really no one who is better than you in archery and horsemanship. He will go to patrol the border next spring. He doesn't plan to take you with him, so that he can have an archer on the road, just in case... If so, then your mother and I will have to start packing your bag. After patrolling the border, you may have to walk thousands of miles, and you can't do without all the things..."

Hai Xiya began to mutter, while Hai Changan returned his gaze to the transfer order, looked at the three words "Hai Changan" on it, and pursed his lips.

He felt that this was definitely not a case of Tu Rong's men simply making a mistake in writing a word. Could it be that Tu Rong and Ma Shangyi had other ideas?

(End of this chapter)