A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 691 Where is it?
As the weather gradually turned cooler, the people in Xuanfu Town all changed into autumn and winter clothes one after another.

On the official road from Xuanfu Town to Wanquan Youwei Xinkaibao Fort, more than 200 wheelbarrows and carts of various types are walking at this time. The carts are all people's husbands of various ages. A small official cooperates with two logistics The officers and soldiers of the division escorted them.

The road surface was newly repaired and leveled. Although the vehicles were loaded with all kinds of heavy supplies, the folks pushed the carts and walked without any difficulty. In the evening, the convoy arrived at the destination, a warm shop near Xinkaibao.

Because it is located in the transportation front line, this place has become extremely lively. Around Nuanpu, there are also many mule and horse convoys gathered. Going north from Xinkaibao, it is necessary to cross the cross-country Fox Ridge. Manpower is difficult, and only mule and horse vehicles can be used. .

The name of the escort was Liu Kedi, who was originally a member of Wubao in Baoan Prefecture. After Wang Dou was appointed as the general of the East Road, there was a trend of defecting to the shogunate in the road, and Liu Kedi and several small officials in the castle followed Daliu, because he was good at arithmetic, was transferred to the logistics department soon after, and has been working since then.

Although the chances of corruption are greatly reduced compared to before, but monthly rations are not deducted, bonuses are given for good work, and there are many benefits. For Liu Kedi, who is not demanding, he is still satisfied with his current life.

Moreover, Wang Dou did not prohibit the shogunate officials from conducting business with their family members, eating a stable public meal, everyone looked at them highly, and at the same time, there were various types of income. He also opened an iron nail factory, which made a lot of money and became well-known in the circle of officials.

Although Liu Kedi is far inferior to Zhou Houren, he also invested in several factories and paid dividends, and entered the ranks of a wealthy life, so he cherishes the life in front of him even more.

The batch of luggage was delivered under escort, and he dared not neglect it, and immediately delivered it to the warehouse. After the war broke out, some warm shops along the way expanded their warehouses one after another, and the logistics department uniformly dispatched them, and additional officials were sent to each station.

At this time, the person in charge of the Nuanpu warehouse was a secretary named Lin Guangguan, who, like Liu Kedi, also came from Wubao.

Seeing Liu Kedi, he showed a smile on his face, and stood up with his arms folded: "Your brother is here, and you have worked hard all the way, please wait a moment, after you and I have handed over this batch of military supplies, I will clean up the dust for my brother, and have a good time with wine and talk." .”

"it is good."

Liu Kedi returned the gift with a smile, the delivery of military assets was no small matter, the shogunate always had clear responsibilities to people, and if something happened, it was him who was unlucky. Caution is inevitable.

The two checked and handed over the goods carefully against the goods list, and together with some warehouse staff, they were busy for a while. Finally, Lin Guangguan confirmed that it was correct and signed the receipt, and the two breathed a sigh of relief.

And those civilian husbands standing aside became excited and wanted to distribute money and food.

Because the baggage battalion mainly supported the war on the western front outside the Great Wall, Wang Dou decided to mobilize the people to transport the baggage to the rear of the town.

According to the regulations of Xuanfu Town to participate in the war and support missions, all people in Xuanfu Town, aged 16 to 55, without disabilities, can participate in business trips, and their treatment and supplies include board and lodging. There are one liter of rice, one copper round, or one combination of food stamps.

As for the supply of livestock carried by civilian husbands, it is stipulated that donkeys have eight catties of grass per day, four liang of rice per catty, fifteen catties of grass per head of cattle and two catties of rice per day, and fifteen catties of grass per head for mules and horses per day. , two catties of rice, daily labor calculation, can be paid immediately after completing the task.

It is also possible to repeatedly calculate the payment, how much work is paid, how many work tickets are issued, and the vouchers are used to settle accounts regularly, depending on the needs of the poor husband. If the payment is poor for two consecutive months, a pair of shoes will also be rewarded.

This regulation has greatly encouraged the enthusiasm of the people, and there is an endless stream of people participating in the mission. Wang Dou also particularly emphasized that for gentlemen, it is a metaphor for righteousness, and for ordinary people, it should be a metaphor for profit, and money should be given happily. At that time, all the officials of the town and Fusi sat in the town.

"Money and food have been distributed!"

They were talking happily, each holding a kind of bamboo stick in their hands, which is the proof of their task completion, and they will be given after acceptance, and some bamboo sticks are different.

There are clear regulations on the supply of treatment per person. Of course, it is based on the fact that each person's cargo volume reaches a certain level. Otherwise, you have to pay for an empty car trip?

However, there are people who are desperate, and the same wheelbarrow can carry more goods than the quota, so they can get half or double the wages and rations.

They lined up to receive the food and paid for the food. There were special officials in charge of the warehouse. The cash box was full of shiny copper and silver coins, and there were also colorful food stamps. , not the kind of manipulation.

On one side was an official of the Zhenfu Department who sat drinking tea indifferently. Although he just watched and didn't speak, he also put a lot of pressure on the officials and dared not make any tricks.

All the husbands were happy to receive their wages. At first they were worried that what the government said was good, but in the end they would not be able to keep it. But after the first payment, all doubts disappeared, and many people went back and forth.

Of course, although there are repeated payment methods, for many civilians, it feels unreliable, and it is better to withdraw daily and put it in the pocket.

Most people also choose rice and copper coins, and few people take food stamps, which is why most of these people are foreigners and non-Chinese.

The Han nationality in Xuanfu Town is also widely mobilized. Obviously, they don't like this kind of manual transportation and earn some coolie money through small troubles. It's called a big one.

Finally, after the work was done, special staff took these peasants down for board, lodging and rest. Although there were all kinds of restaurants and inns beside the warm shop, how could they be willing to spend money?Only those Chinese nationals live in inns and do not sleep in Datong bunks.

Liu Kedi, Lin Guangguan and others also relaxed. Today's business is over, and another day later, they all sit and chat leisurely. They are old and don't expect to be promoted. They can maintain their current life and are satisfied.

The fourth class of officials in the Ming Dynasty is Zandian, Sili, Dianli, and Lingli. Even if they reach Lingli, they are still low-level officials, and promotion is extremely difficult. Even within the shogunate system, because of fierce competition, promotion is the same. It's not easy, and they don't even want to fight, just live in peace and stability.

They represent a conservative group in the Jingbian military system who do not want to make progress, but even these people are extremely rare in the eyes of outsiders. A scholar who traveled once said with emotion: "I came to Xuanzhen, but I saw the servants Strict and solemn, everyone is respectful, thrifty and respectful, faithful and dedicated, just like the good officials of ancient times."

……

The small town of Xuanfu can support a huge campaign beyond the Great Wall, which makes the world wonder.

It is a common problem at this time that the country is large and empty, and it is difficult to mobilize people's and material resources. However, the entire Xuanfu Town seems to move accordingly. This kind of effective system power is difficult for outsiders to understand.

The huge amount of military supplies involved the use of complex mathematics, but the Qinsi managed it in an orderly manner, and the Xuanfu produced good officials, which became the consensus of many people.

It is also because of the mobilization of the people, the army going out of the frontier, and the army going west that the food and supplies can be continuously supplied. After all, if the army of tens of thousands of people supplies food normally, they will eat and drink a lot every day, let alone other kinds. luggage.

I don’t know how many troops failed due to the problem of food and fodder when they were on the expedition. For food and fodder, all kinds of accompanying personnel and transportation personnel, sometimes their number even exceeded the total number of combat troops.

Just like when the Spanish army besieged Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands, a Calvinist priest in the besieged town said: "I have never seen such a small body with such a long tail... ...so small an army with so many wagons, pack horses, hordes, peddlers, servants, women, children, and a rabble that far outnumbered the army itself."

Of course, this war is also an opportunity for many rich merchants to make war fortunes.

Every day on the road leading to the outside of the Great Wall, a car and horse loaded with supplies, just gathered at Xinghe Station and other places. The team continued day and night. The army and merchants gathered outside the Great Wall were like a giant, constantly devouring what they needed. Honeycomb coal is one of them.

Wang Dou has long advocated cutting down trees and using more coal. Needless to say, the entire Xuan Town itself is in great demand, that is, the troops and caravans that go out of the fortress. The daily need for briquettes is huge. Many smart people see opportunities...

In the early morning, a carriage walked along the country road and stopped before reaching a briquette factory on the side of the mountain.

"Ma'am, here we are."

Butler Yang, who was wearing a silk shirt, opened the curtain and said to the people in the car.

"Ah."

After the melodious voice, the young lady Chu Wanyun and Nana got out of the car, wearing a deep red gown, still wearing a goose gall heart bun, and a step rock in her hair, two maids hurried forward to help.

After she stood still, she seemed to look around casually, but she couldn't hide her sharp eyes, which were quite different from those in front of Wang Dou and Ji Junjiao, but her expression was a little tired.

There is a rather large factory in front of me, surrounded by a long wall. There is a flat field in front of the gate, and many cars and horses are parked, waiting to leave with the shipment of briquettes. Next to the factory, along the mountain, there are also various factories gathered. , I heard the sound of Ding Ding Dang, it seems that there is a nail factory not far away.

Many factories in Baoan Prefecture are concentrated here. The business here is prosperous, and there are many people who build workshops and factories. However, because the Secretary of Civil Affairs is strict with the use of cultivated land, even if it is their own land, they cannot build factories casually, so many people set up factories. set up here.

After all, this area is all mountainous, Zhuolu Mountain and Moji Mountain are in a row, and there is no shortage of water sources, so it is a good place.

The steward greeted him in a hurry, and the young lady walked to the factory with him, asking casually.

"...More and more people are buying coal recently, and the small ones have made the workers work overtime. Of course, my wife is considerate. They work and eat, and the factory will definitely not short them."

"The hearts of the people are hard to satisfy, they give less, they complain, give more, and raise lazy people, so let's draw up a basic salary in Xuanzhen, let them work harder and get more."

"I heard that the clan is going to expand the factory and recruit more workers? The small ones are always worried. If the war is over and the coal produced cannot be sold, what will happen? Right now..."

"I have my own plans for this matter. You don't need to say too much, Chen Guanshi, just remember your duty."

"Yes Yes……"

Chen Guanshi is sweating all over his head. Although he is a member of the Li family, his status in the clan is far inferior to the young lady. Especially after Wang Dou bloody suppressed the Jin merchants, the Li family returned to Qingyuan, and the old patriarch treated the young lady even more. He attaches great importance to it.

In addition, she is capable and shrewd, with keen eyesight, and decisively went to Xuanfu Town to develop surrounding industries, and gained more and more profits. Her status in the clan is second only to the old clansmen.

The things I said before, in other families, would require the clansmen to hold a meeting, discuss and discuss again, but to her, it was just a matter of few words.

Entering the factory, you will see a large flat field, where briquettes formed one after another are placed. Workers are busy with coal, coal processing, coal drying, all of them are very busy.

Especially those who make coal, use a mold-like thing, step on the coal pile, push the rod, and a briquette will come out.

I heard that this thing was designed by Yongninghou himself, and then he made a selfless contribution, so that the merchants and people in the town can use it, and don't compete with the people for their benefits, but let the people benefit from it. In this point, the young lady has to admire it.

However, the darkness in front of her eyes made her frown slightly. For a person like her who is naturally clean, this kind of dirty environment is really unbearable.

But she didn't say anything. After the manager recruited all the staff, she was very friendly and greeted these people who looked like black Africans.

Originally, when all the employees saw this elegant and noble young woman, they all felt rushed and uneasy. Especially when they saw the usually arrogant Chen Guanshi, who was humiliating beside her and didn't dare to show his air, they were even more in awe.

At this time, they couldn't help feeling close, and finally each of them got a small red envelope, which made them extremely happy.

Only Chen Guanshi was upset, this woman was too scheming, the bad guys would do it themselves, and the good guys would be her.

Soon, under Chen Guanshi's complicated gaze, the young lady left the honeycomb coal factory. The Li family has many industries, and she was quite tired from running around Shanxi Town, Datong Town, and Xuanfu Town. to the next place.

On the carriage, the young lady said thoughtfully, "Uncle Yang, I am optimistic about the prospect of honeycomb coal. Even if there is no war at that time, the people will always need this kind of people's livelihood... It's not just from Xuanfu Town. In the future, there will be demand in Datong Town, Shanxi Town, and even everywhere in Daming, and they can even be sold overseas, as well as iron nails... Therefore, it is better for the family to control some mines."

Butler Yang sighed: "Yes, although the supply of briquettes is in short supply at the moment, the price of coal and iron has also risen a lot. With a few mines in hand, I don't need to panic..."

He pondered and said: "How about this, during the time when the Marquis of Yongning was fighting beyond the Great Wall, our briquette factory provided free briquettes to the logistics department? I think it will definitely greatly enhance the Marquis' favor towards us."

The young lady shook her head: "No, we are free, so what about others? Blocking other people's money will definitely attract resentment. It is not taboo to do charity in Xuanfu Town. We can donate a sum of money to shelters and orphan camps." Wait, get the title of good person and gain influence. Then try to collect some food and grass and donate it to the army, then you can get the title of model supporter of the army. As a concubine, I have to think about one or two things about my friendship with Mrs. Hou and sister Ji. For some mines, we are more confident.”

Butler Yang said: "Madam is still thoughtful."

In Xuanfu Town, only those with Chinese nationality, various titles, and various industries that are in short supply and making money can be given priority to participate.

So over time, it seems to be a matter of course for people from all walks of life to donate money and materials to the society, and many penny-pinching people have gradually changed their minds.

In the end, the young lady said: "In a few days, the Sanjin Commercial Bank will hold a labor event to go outside the Great Wall to comfort the army, and I plan to go there too."

Having said that, she pursed her lips and smiled, not knowing what she was thinking.

……

On the evening of August 15, 28th year of Chongzhen, Sandcastle.

Standing quietly on the city wall, Wang Dou looked at the night sky. The stars were shining and magnificent, echoing the vast sea of ​​lights below. Seeing the stars shining, the nature was magically crafted. Or the power of technology?
Of course, he didn't have time to think about these things at this time, he just frowned and thought about it with a piece of information. The Han Dynasty had captured Guihua City a few days ago, but what they got was an empty city. Without knowing where to go, the thing I hate the most happened.

Where did the main force of the Mongolian army go?Where to hide?

Also, Zhong Xiancai, who is full of sets, also sent urgent information that Jierhalang and Du Du moved, but their behavior was strange. Jierhalang personally led thousands of Manchurian cavalry, although they came to the west, they did not leave Kaiping defended this line, but went further north and ran to the desert, I don't know what the plan is.

They galloped on light horses, and the feather cavalry of the White Tiger Army couldn't catch up.

As for Du Du, he led the rest of the main force of Manchuria and Mongolia, and suddenly went east, seemingly in the direction of Jinzhou, and seemed to be forced to go to Yizhou. Did they feel that there was no bargain near Xuanfu Town, so they wanted to go to the west of Liaoning to grab one?
It seems that these Tartars became more cunning and cautious after the Battle of Jinzhou. I thought it would be a repeat of the sit-in war in history, but I didn't expect this to happen.

(End of this chapter)