Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 249 Strong troops and horses 3
  "The third thing is, Yuan Ba, Shuang Ying and his own soldiers, you have been with me for a long time. You have been loyal and hardworking. You have been through several battles on the battlefield, but I have never bothered to reward you." Jia Cong said suddenly. .

Zhang Yuanba, Yan Shuangying and the other eight soldiers hurriedly came in from the door and prostrated themselves on the ground: "It is the greatest reward for us to follow the third master."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "I have always made clear rewards and punishments. I didn't reward you before just because I didn't have anything to reward you. Now that Deputy Shou Wang has brought men and horses, I have confidence again."

In this military competition, you guys can open your eyes wide and select a thousand elite men for me to serve as personal guards and be under your command. Yuanba and Shuangying will be given the overall title of Qian, and the other eight people will be given the overall title of one. "

"I'll thank Third Master for your great kindness." Everyone was overjoyed and kowtowed.

This is the difference between personal soldiers and subordinates. In the final analysis, subordinates are officials of the court, while personal soldiers are the brothers and feet of the general.

Yan Shuangying said: "I wonder what kind of person the third master wants? I can go and find out according to the picture."

Jia Cong said: "I want someone who can use the Mo sword in foot combat, charge into battle on horseback, be good at riding and shooting, have good conduct, have a clean fortune, and have a loyal character."

"I understand! I will select the elite for Third Master." Yan Shuangying hurriedly kowtowed.

"The monthly salary of personal guards shall be paid according to the monthly salary of personal soldiers." Jia Cong said.

"Yes."

Rong Liu said with a smile: "Your Excellency is on duty all day and night, working hard on state affairs, and often goes out on inspections. There is no personal guard around you all the time. The subordinates are all worried. Now it's better. In the future, Your Excellency will go out, and we can have a good sleep." .”

Everyone laughed and agreed.

Jia Cong accepted the praise of everyone with a clear conscience. Now that his title has not been promoted, he has no way to recruit more personal soldiers, so he settled for the next best thing and first equipped himself with personal guards. When his title is promoted in the future, he can immediately add more personal soldiers and avoid trouble.
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  At this time, hundreds of miles away, in Liaodong Town, the Liao Prince's Mansion was also having a banquet, but the atmosphere was not so harmonious.

The King of Liao is high in the center. The lower row is the main officials and stewards of the palace, and the other row is Xiong Lin, Qi Zheng, Zhao Guan, Zhu Hong, Zhu Zhou and other five princes of Wuhou.

The low tables in front of everyone were filled with delicious wine and delicacies, but no one used their chopsticks.

The King of Liao sat on it with a gloomy expression. The air seemed to have frozen into ice, making everyone breathless and how could they dare to eat or drink.

"Chang Shi, please talk to everyone." King Liao said solemnly.

"Yes." A tall and thin official stood up and said, "Dear colleagues, princes, and housekeepers, in recent months, there have been fewer and fewer barbarian tribes coming to trade from Fushun Pass, Crow Falcon Pass, and Dingliao Youwei.

At first, it was just the Jurchens who stopped coming, and then the Fuyu, Wuhuan, Xianbei and other tribes gradually disappeared. In the past two months, in the shops of the prince's palace and the houses of the princes, a piece of fur, an East pearl, and a mountain ginseng have all been sold. I didn’t receive it, my prospects have dropped sharply! "

Everyone lost their voice and asked: "Why is this? Could it be that the barbarians don't want salt, cloth and other goods?"

"After investigation, it turns out that all the barbarian tribes have gone to Liaohaiwei to trade, leaving us and other families destitute."

"Why is this?" everyone asked hurriedly.

Chang Shi sneered and said: "Because Jia Cong, the guard of the Liaohai Guard, was despicable and greedy, he first used a beauty trick to take the daughter of the head of the Jurchen tribe in Heishui as his concubine, so that he could make good friends with the Jurchen tribes and promise huge profits. Monopolized the Jurchen goods.

Particularly dissatisfied with the shortage, he also pulled in all the other tribes through the Jurchens. Now Liaodong's furs, mountain goods, Dongzhu, livestock, etc. are all out of his family.

Jia Cong pretends to be a good person in front of the barbarians and attracts goods. Then he turns around and exploits us and other merchants from all over the world. He takes advantage of all the benefits and does all the bad things. What is intolerable? "

The more Qi Zheng and others listened, the angrier they became. They stood up and shouted, "If we don't kill these lawless people, the people will not be angry enough."

Another palace steward stood up and said: "Dear princes, now Liaodong merchants can only buy goods from Fengtian City Fengzihao. They are being exploited and their profits have plummeted.

For example, in the past, a piece of ermine skin cost only 4 cents of silver, but now it costs six to seven taels of silver. In the past, a pound of ginseng, regardless of size, cost only 10 or taels of silver, but now it costs more than taels of silver.

As for cattle, horses, Dongzhu, falcons and other goods, the prices have all skyrocketed. However, the sales volume shipped back to the mainland is limited, and we dare not increase prices at will. If things go on like this, we will all become labor tenants of Jia's family. "

"Jia Cong, you should be killed!"

"Shu Zi, behead him!"

"We are at odds with the Jia family."

All the princes are going crazy. Jia Cong is digging into the foundation of their family. Nowadays, any powerful Wu Xun family in Shenjing City does not make a fortune by doing business. How much money can they make just by eating empty wages and drinking the blood of soldiers? Money?

Business in Liaodong has always been considered taboo by them and the King of Liao. Now that Jia Cong is here to take advantage of it, isn't this going to cut off their financial path? Destroying someone's wealth is like killing one's parents. This is a conflict that has absolutely no room for relaxation.

The King of Liao had a sinister look in his eyes, and he slowly said: "Today, I just invite all the wise nephews to come and discuss countermeasures. Although this Jia Zilong caught my eye, he acted recklessly because of his youth and frivolity, so let's pass it.

When the late king was still alive, he had already given away hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile land to his family, but now he was trying to trade between Han and barbarians, which was too greedy. I am not a stingy person. If there is business, everyone will do it. If there is wealth, everyone will make money. I don’t argue with him. But as soon as he comes, he will use his plan to wipe out the family and let me wait for the northwest wind? "

Qi Zheng and others glanced at each other and said in unison: "We all only follow your Majesty's lead. Please give me your instructions."

The King of Liao nodded: "I have thought of a way to remove the firepower from under the cauldron. Let's take a look at the details together."

The princes hurriedly raised their hands and said: "Don't dare, the prince's clever plan must be good, we will act according to it." King Liao raised his hand and asked Chang Shi to tell him the plan.

When everyone heard this, they all praised, "Your Majesty, what a trick! Just do it like this."

The King of Liao smiled and said: "Then I will ask all my nephews to report this plan to your Majesty Ming and ask them to correct it. If they have no objections, I will start preparations."

Everyone hurriedly followed the order, wrote letters in their own secret language, and hurriedly sent them back to Shenjing for 800 miles.
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  Military camp outside Liaohai Acropolis,
  Jia Congzhuo stood up and pointed at the general platform, looking at the more than 10,000 majestic and mighty knights in the audience, feeling very happy. Now Liaohaiwei no longer has pure infantry, and it has become the only acropolis in Liaodong Town with all cavalry.

After many rounds of assessments such as marching, weight-bearing, horse fighting, infantry fighting, and archery skills, the garrison of each fort and gate has been distinguished. Su Can, Zhao Lingkong, Deng Lei and others are worthy of their martial arts background and are able to lead troops well. For the best, the rest are average and inferior.

The three battalions of the Acropolis, Spark, Trap, and Dare to Die, were all selected from veterans who participated in the war as their base, supplemented by strong soldiers, and rigorously trained. Needless to say, their elites were expected by Jia Cong.

The seven thousand local warriors brought by Wang Jin gave everyone a big surprise. They were all capable, brave, and skilled in bow and horse.

Within half a year, Wang Jin introduced all the training methods used by the imperial guards to them. In addition, with sufficient military supplies, adequate military pay, and clear rewards and punishments, they all strived to be the first.

"This big competition has ended, and I am both happy and angry! I am happy that some generals lead their troops well and have many sharp soldiers under their command. I am angry that some generals are perfunctory and have nothing but a mess under their command!" Jia said. Cong's clear and clear voice resounded throughout the school grounds, and everyone in the audience held their hands and listened quietly, each with their own thoughts.

"Vice Shou Wang will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins for his meritorious service in military training. Su Can, Zhao Lingkong, Deng Lei, Zhang Yi, Wei Wuji, Kong Xing, Lei Tai, and Xie Hui will be rewarded with five hundred gold coins each for their meritorious service in military training. In the next six months, the military pay of each of the above ministries will be increased by 30%. , as a reward!”

Before Jia Cong finished speaking, the audience cheered loudly!

"Defend wisely, defend wisely!"

"My lord is victorious, my lord is victorious!"

Wang Jin and other generals looked at each other and smiled. The border boy was born in the bitter cold. He is the most hard-working and has a tenacious temperament. As long as he has money, he will give the generals casual snacks, but they will not be able to train elite soldiers.

Jia Cong raised his hand and stopped shouting.

"Rong Zhubu and You Xieshou, the four fortress defense officers who were evaluated in the competition were immediately dismissed from their posts and sent back to their hometowns. In the next six months, the military salary of the department will be reduced by 30% as punishment. In addition, four generals will be promoted from the various ministries. People fill the gap!”

"The lower official (the last general) obeys the order."

"Sir, please have mercy." Some soldiers had already gone up and stripped off the armor and uniforms of the four defense officers and took them away.

"I have said that the Liaohai Guards do not raise useless people! Not only the generals, but also the soldiers who are lazy, lack military discipline, and are unfamiliar with their bows and horses in this competition will all be deprived of their military status."

Jia Cong said sternly, and with a wave of his hand, Yu Hong hurriedly took a roster and called the names. Those who were called were immediately dismissed, and there were hundreds of people.

Another whimper.

All the sergeants were awestruck, knowing that the bowl of soldier's rice in Jia Cong's hand was not delicious.

Jia Cong watched the tired soldiers being dragged away coldly, and said: "You have to behave like a soldier when you are a soldier. The imperial food is so delicious? I don't want soldiers under my command. If you want to eat this bowl of rice, you will risk your life for me." If you don’t want to eat, get out of the queue as early as possible and collect your travel expenses home.

Next time in the competition, if there are those who do nothing, they won’t be dismissed as easily! Do you understand? "

"I understand! We will practice to the death!" All the sergeants agreed in a loud voice.

"Now, select the soldiers of the guard camp, and those whose names are read will come out!" Jia Cong waved his hand, and Yan Shuangying hurriedly walked onto the stage with a folding book on which was written the names of the soldiers who performed best these days.

All the soldiers in the audience cheered up and guarded your lord's personal bodyguards. These were the most trusted confidants. They were more impressive than the three battalions who looked at people with their noses. I heard what your lord's personal soldiers said, how could they be treated like this? What a wonderful word.

Eat meat every day and make it as you like; use military supplies and weapons as you like; spend military salary and silver as you like; perform well and get a wife.

"Li Ergou, Zhao Tiedan, Niu Sheng, Gou Buming..."

"Sheng Lin, Sun Houhou, Zhou Laoer, Zheng Jinren..."

"Xinghuoying Feng Gang, Chen Xiazi, Wei Monk, Shen Ada..."

"Xiang Yong Kong Laoliu, Cao Dunzi, Hua Heizui, Hu Yidao..."

Jia Cong shook his head and laughed. There weren't many serious names in the military camp. It was probably true. They all came from poor families and their parents were illiterate. How could they choose any names? They just called them random names since they were young.

A thousand people finished reading quickly, almost all of them from the three camps and Xiangyongli, with fewer forts and passes. This was also Jia Cong's instruction. It would be difficult to exhaust all the good men under Su Can and Zhao Lingkong. gone.

Seeing the thousands of people forming a team with high spirits, all the sergeants were envious and regretted that they had not trained hard before.

Jia Cong said: "Although you have selected a thousand people, don't think that everything will be fine. There will be a competition every six months, the inferior ones will be eliminated and another selection will be made."

"Your Excellency is wise!" The rest of the sergeants cheered loudly. This way, they can still have a chance, especially those who are tall and meet the basic requirements but are not good at martial arts and riding skills. They all train hard and strive to be selected next time. .

(End of this chapter)