The wind blows from the South Sea

Chapter 125 Immigration Distribution
Sitting in the freight car, Han Jinke and his third brother Han Jinxi saw a place heavily guarded by armed soldiers. A tall officer looked over with majestic eyes and lowered his head timidly.

If it were in the homeland of China

When ordinary people see these officials, they will kneel down to greet them. In the countryside, they kneel down in dense numbers regardless of fields or riversides.

The two brothers were part of a group of laborers who had been forced to go to Nanyang to make a living when the Changmao Bandit Rebellion broke out in Gusu Prefecture a few years ago. After the war, all their houses were burned down.

At that time, I signed a five-year labor contract with an intermediary company, and then I got a ship ticket to Southeast Asia.

After arriving in Penang after a rough journey, the brothers, like other Chinese indentured laborers, stepped into the tropical rainforest carrying land reclamation tools...

Five years passed in a flash

The Chinese indentured laborers who worked together to open up wasteland in Penang died and walked away. Less than 60% were able to complete the arduous work of opening up wasteland. Thinking about it is full of blood and tears.

The Chinese laborers who opened up land in Penang were not afraid of hardship, but this was the territory of the British ghosts. They worked hard day after day with no hope or future.

The brothers had been frugally opening up land for five years and had only saved thirteen silver coins. There was no hope of starting a family or owning their own land.

But what they didn't expect was that the trading company in Penang just asked them to write an IOU and then followed the others on the immigration ship.

Various legends about the city of Surabaya are growing day by day. It is said that if you open up wasteland there, you can own your own fields. The bank will also provide loans to purchase women, cattle and seeds, and you can also work in factories. It is hard to believe that the good things are good.

After three days of sea voyage, we finally arrived at Surabaya Port.

After the two discussed it, they simply agreed to obey the arrangement and go to work. There were also many new immigrants traveling with them who had similar ideas.

In this way

Later, I heard that the masters here were the Nanyang Army, a Chinese armed force. Various rumors spread, which made the Han brothers decide to immigrate.

Personal wishes such as whether they want to continue farming, whether they want to work, whether they are willing to study, etc. have also been registered in detail.

The Han brothers spent all their savings but could not afford two ferry tickets. Many Chinese immigrants faced the same dilemma.

And everything here

At first, the Han brothers didn't believe it either.

Along the way, we saw the majestic Guqian Fortress, the bustling Guqian Town, and countless tall warehouses, and finally arrived at the paradise-like Tieshan Town.

Han Jinke and his third brother Han Jinxi took their baggage in their hands and got out of the car with the immigrants who were traveling with them. They stood in groups in the yard and talked with excitement.

These people were gathered together directly and dragged all the way to Tieshan Town by horse-drawn heavy-duty trains.

At this moment

After entering Tieshan Town, the horse-drawn train running on the rails slowly drove into a large house.

Along the way, it was dizzying.

At this time, a man held an iron trumpet in his hand and stood on a slightly higher earth platform and shouted loudly;
“Okay, okay, warmly welcome the new worker brothers and welcome you to come here to build a beautiful home. This is where you will live and work in the future.

It was an eye-opener for the Han brothers and other Chinese immigrants. All immigrants arriving in Hong Kong could eat porridge for free, and each person was given a steamed bun. After they were full, they started to register.

Here everyone is asked to get out of the car.

Are they good at farming, clearing up wasteland, literate, and skilled in crafts? What are their specialties?
Where is your ancestral home, and who is your surname? How many people are traveling with you? Age, height and other information, etc., must all be recorded in detail.

The Han brothers had seen a bit of the world in Penang and knew that many Chinese workers were recruited into the factory. Not only could they receive stable salaries, but their living conditions were much higher than those of farmers.

Everyone, please be quiet. I am Shitong, the civil affairs official, responsible for arranging immigration matters.

Please listen to me……"

Hearing the official's instructions, the more than 230 people present quickly stopped talking and turned their attention to Shitong, the civil affairs official of Tieshan Town, with expectations in their eyes.

Seeing that the venue was quiet, Fang Shitong held a tin trumpet and continued to speak loudly;
“According to the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief;

Every new Chinese immigrant who immigrated to the Nanyang Military Area has the equal status of a free citizen and can freely choose to join the army, farm or work, and plan his or her future life.

New immigrants who come to Tieshan Town basically choose to work. But now there is an additional way out, which is to respond to the recruitment and join the army and become a member of the Nanyang Army.

Becoming a glorious soldier of the Nanyang Army can enjoy preferential treatment as a soldier. There is no need to pay for a house or homestead. The land will be allocated uniformly by the army and the town.

After the six-year service period, the homestead is owned by the individual.

Soldiers can receive military pay on a monthly basis, enjoy various conveniences such as preferential loans, and can also enjoy the convenience of priority in marrying women of appropriate age, and priority in job assignments after retirement.

The army recruits young and strong men between the ages of 16 and 25. They are required to have no disabilities, good eyesight, strong legs, no gambling, opium and other bad habits, and positive mental health requirements.

Those who are interested can register at the officer recruitment office here and accept military selection.

The rest of the people are waiting patiently, and after the army selection, they will be assigned to each factory. If you are unclear about relevant matters, you can consult the elderly people who arrived in the hospital early.

But it is best not to leave the compound, because the recruitment and distribution work will end today. Anyone who leaves without permission is deemed to have given up the opportunity to join the army and work, and will not be arranged in the future.

The stakes are too high to make mistakes. "

Finished talking
It aroused a lot of discussion from the crowd below, and many people cast their eyes on the soldiers on duty at the entrance of the compound, showing unconcealable enthusiasm.

These soldiers in khaki military uniforms wore cowhide armed belts and wide-brim cowboy soft hats on their heads. The style was similar to the standard soft hats of later Australian soldiers.

This wide-brimmed denim soft hat is very helpful in blocking the dazzling sunlight in tropical areas and isolating exposure to the sun. It is a soldier's equipment adapted to the local environment.

The cap emblem is a two-color Taegeuk flag, which means that he is a member of the Nanyang Army.

The soldiers wore standard leggings and thick-soled linen shoes. They held a Republic Type 9 flintlock rifle in their hands. On the right side of their belts, hung sharp bayonets with scabbards.

The bayonet, including the handle and blade, is over a foot long. It shines coldly when pulled out, with a sharp arc at the top. There are deep blood grooves on the blade, making it very sharp.

Whether stabbing or slashing with one hand, it will cause fatal injuries.

Seeing everyone's movements, Shitong, the civil affairs official of Tieshan Town, put the tin trumpet to his mouth and said in a seductive way again;

"Brothers, don't hesitate. Joining the Nanyang Army is a sacred and noble cause. Following the commander-in-chief to conquer the world is a blessing that cannot be obtained in several lifetimes!
The commander-in-chief is kind and has nothing to say about the good soldiers in his hands.

You can ask around and find out that almost all the Nanyang officers and soldiers who have been in the army for more than half a year have been given priority to beautiful women, built houses, and have children imported into each household.

If you achieve meritorious service on the battlefield, you will be generously rewarded with land.

If you see it, you won’t have the chance if you miss it, so why don’t you hurry up and sign up.

Don’t think that you can be selected just by applying. The army’s requirements are strict, and those who do not meet the requirements and age will have to be rejected. Then you will have no choice but to go to work..."

After this verbal incitement, many new immigrants no longer hesitated and rushed to the recruitment table, and then formed a long queue under the shouts of the soldiers.

"How about big brother? Let's apply for the job too." The third brother Han Jinxi looked very excited and couldn't help but ask.

When he went to Nanyang a few years ago, Han Jinke was 19 years old, and his third brother Han Jinxi was only 15 years old. Five years later, Han Jinke was already 24 years old.

hesitate a little

Han Jinke nodded decisively. People who were able to go to Nanyang back then had a lot of enthusiasm. As long as they can get ahead, what are they afraid of if they serve as soldiers and eat food?
The opportunity is right in front of you and cannot be missed.

"Let's go, third brother, let's go and be drafted into the army. At least we won't have to worry about getting a wife. We can still get military pay, and we'll have a future."

"Well, I listen to big brother."

The two brothers settled the matter with a few words, and then quickly walked a few steps to join the long queue, waiting for the military's selection.

Basically, more than 230% of the more than new immigrants in the venue rushed to register.

The rest are either underage or overage, or there are a small number of Chinese women who do not meet the requirements for joining the army.

After half a day

The Han brothers stood happily among the people who were recruited. Only 47 people could pass the army selection, and all the other 130 people failed.

Less than one-third were able to pass the military selection, which made the selected young men feel even more excited and faintly proud in their hearts.

The Han brothers were chosen because they were physically strong and literate, so they were particularly favored.

Back in his hometown in Gusu Prefecture, the Han family's family background was quite good. They received a complete private education since childhood and laid a good foundation.

Han Jinke was even selected as a scholar. If he had not suffered a military disaster and his house was destroyed, he would not have become a member of the fleeing army.

"Okay, stop looking. Everyone is lining up in order of height, ready to enter the military camp for training."

After the officers were recruited, they ordered the newcomers to line up and led them outside the compound, leaving a look of envy behind them.

Several training camps of the Nanyang Army are near Tieshan Town, not far apart.

This long team walked along the bustling streets towards the military camp. After three months, they would be members of the Nanyang Army soldiers.

The outstanding ones will receive further training and grow into junior officers of the Nanyang Army.

The circumstances of life will become very different.

The new immigrants who were still stranded in the compound immediately accepted the selection of the steel factory.

As a pillar enterprise in the core of Tieshan Town, the steel factory has the privilege of selecting workers first. Only after they have been selected, the remaining workers will be allocated to other factories.

There is no way, who makes the steel factory the undisputed boss?
(End of this chapter)