Chapter 100: Enlisted
Editor: Atlas Studios
“This year, the Imperial Court only paid a quarter of the rations that should have been given to our army. When are they going to pay the rest? The military salary handed in this year is even less than last year, but our army has already expanded from the 3rd Division to the 4th Division. Also, many soldiers died on the battlefield in this battle to defend the city. The Imperial Court has to give their families compensation, right?”
Cold sweat trickled down the messenger’s forehead. After a while, he said, “General, this, the treasury is empty…”
“When will the treasury not be empty?” Qi Xiuyuan interrupted the messenger and snorted. “Considering the treasury is empty every year, I think His Majesty should replace the Minister of Revenue. Has it never occurred to him to find the reason?”
The messenger immediately fell silent. The title of the Minister of Revenue was held by Minister Qin Fang, who was the emperor’s favorite. Who dared to fault him?
Qi Xiuyuan snorted coldly. Looking around, the messenger saw Minister He and the others lying weakly on the ground, so he said in a low voice, “General Qi, actually, Prime Minister Qin has already solved the problem for you. All you have to do is carry out the last step. General Lu Ji of the East Camp is dealing with it himself. Although his methods are a little forceful, it works.”
Qi Xiuyuan followed his gaze and looked at Minister He and the others with a strange expression. “I can do whatever I wish?”
“Well, don’t go too far,” the messenger said vaguely.
Although their voices were soft, Minister He and the others were close to them and heard them clearly. For a moment, they felt sorrow.
When the messenger saw that Qi Xiuyuan no longer mentioned asking for money or rations, he immediately heaved a sigh of relief. He puffed out his chest and said, “General Qi, Magistrate Wu, I’ve also been ordered to escort Mingshui County’s county magistrate, Qian Shu, back to the capital. He will temporarily be replaced by the County Deputy, Song Zhi. I’ve also brought with me the booklet stating which areas are designated as military fields. You can discuss it with Magistrate Wu.”
After arriving in a grandiose manner, the messenger left them in shambles before leaving in a hurry.
Minister He and the others looked up at Qi Xiuyuan and asked expectantly, “General Qi, about the military households…”
“We’ll carry it out according to the imperial decree, of course. Old Master He, Old Master Liu, Old Master Fang, you all seem to be on the register. Go back and prepare.”
The expressions of the three of them changed drastically as they begged for mercy. “General, look at us. We’re old and can’t even hold a saber. How can we go to the battlefield? We’re willing to donate rations to help you.”
Qi Xiuyuan said nonchalantly, “The three of you have countless descendants. Even if you can’t go to the battlefield, don’t you still have your children and grandchildren? The three of you can just enjoy life at home.”
The three of them had many sons and grandsons. It was not that they could not bear to part with a son and grandson, but once they were classified as military households, the fields under their names would also become military fields. 40% of their gains would be taken away. How was it different from taking their lives?
As for the other squires who were spared, they shrunk their necks and stood at the side, afraid they would be implicated.
Qi Xiuyuan ignored them and turned to Wu Shancai. “Magistrate Wu, you should tell the various counties to be prepared. I’ll send someone over to verify with you later.”
With that, he turned around and left.
Dai Wei’s soldiers were still gathered outside. At this moment, everyone knew that he was doing this to prevent the commoners from causing trouble.
As soon as Qi Xiuyuan left, the imperial edict was announced to the public. For a moment, the prefectural capital was filled with the cries of the commoners, but there were also bachelors who ran to the streets and shouted, “This is the time for us to make contributions to our country and make something of ourselves!”
Often, people would throw rotten vegetables at that person as soon as they shouted this.
No matter how good the imperial decree made it sound, being given seeds, farmland and farming tools meant little to the commoners, since joining the army and fighting in a war often meant death.
Qi Xiuyuan moved very quickly. Seeing that the people in the city were agitated, he handed Jiang Ze a booklet and asked him to build a stage in the city to make an announcement. “His Majesty is benevolent. Seeing that the people have no one to rely on, he issued this decree. Once enlistment happens, they and their family will receive farmland—40 acres for men, 20 acres for women, and 20 acres for minors. These are all freeholds. In addition, every family will get another 100 acres as military fields. Everyone, I know that you have most likely mortgaged your title deeds. If there are no accidents, you can only rent fields or become slaves after spring. In that case, why don’t you give it your all for this cause? If you contribute to the battlefield, your family will have some farmland to live off of. Moreover, by joining the army, you’ll be doing your part in protecting the country. Now that the Tartars are rampant, if the country ceases to exist, you won’t have a place to call home.”
The agitated citizens gradually calmed down. Someone questioned, “Can we really obtain so much farmland after registering as a military household?”
Jiang Ze nodded solemnly. “This is an imperial edict. Of course it’s true.”
Someone counted with his fingers for a long time but still could not calculate how much farmland his family could obtain. However, he knew that it was something that they would not be able to obtain even if they worked hard for three lifetimes. He could not help but click his tongue. “Where did the Imperial Court get so much farmland?”
Someone said from the side, “I heard that Minister He and the others have also been enlisted into the military. Even someone so rich isn’t spared from the same fate, so what else do we have to complain about?”
Someone immediately chuckled. “Then wouldn’t Minister He be going to the battlefield with me?”
“Dream on. He can just randomly pick one among his many sons. How can a bachelor like you compare to him?”
“Well, I’m happy to be on the battlefield with the son of a landlord.”
The atmosphere below instantly changed. Jiang Ze, who was standing on the high platform, twitched his lips and pretended not to hear it. Seeing that the commoners were appeased, Jiang Ze heaved a sigh of relief and felt his mood improve.
On the other hand, Qi Xiuyuan, who had returned to his residence and had just flipped open the booklet, was not in a good mood. He tapped his finger on the booklet, upon which a name was written—Mu Shi!
Mu Shi. He clearly remembered that he had crossed out his name. Although the other party was strong and he really wanted the help of this capable man, this was not where Mu Shi’s aspirations lay. Most importantly, since they had helped Haoran and Zijin, Qi Xiuyuan was naturally willing to fulfill their wishes. But why was his name here?
The Mu family seemed to have offended an extraordinary person.
Qi Xiuyuan couldn’t figure it out, so he went to find the answer himself. With the booklet in hand, he went to look for Mu Shi.
The Mu family had already packed their things and were just waiting for the villagers in Nearhill Village to be enlisted into the military before leaving. Mu Shi decided to bring Madam Ma-Liu and her granddaughters along.
The Ma family did not have any males, so they were not enlisted into the military. As such, they were free to come and go.
Their fields had also been designated as military fields. Even if they were not designated as military fields, their title deeds were not with them. The first time they went to the government office, it was to register the title deed. The second time they went to ask, those plots of land had already become Minister Liu’s.
They knew that the land had been occupied and it was very difficult to get it back. Although they were aggrieved, ants could not move an elephant, so they could only accept it.
On one hand, Mu Shi was worried about them. On the other hand, he felt that Shu Wanniang and the twins were still young. So, he suggested that Madam Ma-Liu follow them.
Although Madam Ma-Liu was unwilling to leave her hometown, she agreed for the sake of her two granddaughters and their livelihood. At this moment, they had already packed their things. When they saw Qi Xiuyuan coming over, they thought that he was here to bid him farewell and hurriedly welcomed him enthusiastically.
Unexpectedly, Qi Xiuyuan handed a booklet to Mu Shi and said, “You’ve been enlisted into the military, and you’ve been given the position of a section commander. I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave now.”
The expressions of the Mu family changed drastically.