I wield power with my innate talents, and forge the Heavenly Court.

Chapter 50 Military Salute, The Blacksmith Invited Up the Mountain
"Yes, yes, as a special operations force entrusted with important tasks by the leader, how can we not be strict with them?"

"Does Officer Li Yu think he can't do it?"

"No way, no way!"

"Hmm? Who said I couldn't do it? I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Li Yu suddenly straightened his chest and punched his left chest with his right fist.

This military salute was designed by the dynasty after comprehensive consideration.

If it were the Ming Dynasty, it would probably involve two kneelings and one bow.

In the section on "Etiquette" in Qi Jiguang's "True Records of Military Training", it was stipulated that lower-ranking officers and soldiers in the army must "kneel twice and bow once" when they meet their commander.
When non-direct subordinates pay their respects, the ritual involves "kneeling once and bowing twice."
When a superior issues a military order, the subordinate must kneel to receive it.
If you encounter a superior on the road, it will be easier to carry out your duties without having to kneel or bow.

If you encounter your own battalion commander while riding a horse, you must dismount and stand respectfully.

Those who are not officers of this battalion must simply give way and wait to pass;

Etiquette must be followed, and those who violate it will be dealt with according to military law.

In the section on "Etiquette" in Qi Jiguang's "True Records of Military Training", it was stipulated that lower-ranking officers and soldiers in the army must "kneel twice and bow once" when they meet their commander.
When non-direct subordinates pay their respects, the ritual involves "kneeling once and bowing twice."
When a superior issues a military order, the subordinate must kneel to receive it.
If you encounter a superior on the road, it will be easier to carry out your duties without having to kneel or bow.

If you encounter your own battalion commander while riding a horse, you must dismount and stand respectfully.

Those who are not officers of this battalion must simply give way and wait to pass;

Etiquette must be followed, and those who violate it will be dealt with according to military law.

The current dynasty is both Li Yu's direct superior and the commander-in-chief of the dynasty's army.

According to the description in "True Records of Military Training", then two kneelings and one bow would be required.

However, Wang Chao felt that this was ultimately inconvenient, and he was not used to it, so he made a slight change.

Originally, the dynasty had considered modern military salutes.

However, he felt that wearing a helmet and armor and giving a modern military salute was strange, so he designed it to be a clenched fist with the right hand striking the chest, which was both convenient and neat.

Seeing Li Yu bowing respectfully, Wang Chao smiled with satisfaction and praised him loudly.

"Good! I knew Officer Li Yu wouldn't let me down."

"Then I'll be waiting to see the results of Officer Li Yu's training."

"Yes! Promise to complete the mission!"

Li Yu bowed again to reassure them before returning to the training ground with Wang Dahu and the others to select suitable candidates.

Wang Chao returned to the council chamber and began to consider his next steps.

Nowadays, I don't lack money.

However, there is a shortage of food. It can last for ten days or half a month without any problem.

However, shortages may occur later.

A dynasty cannot wait until the last minute to consider its options.

He should start thinking now about where to borrow grain from at the foot of the mountain.

Dawangzhuang? Majiaji? Shilipu? Balipo?
With so many options, he was having trouble making a decision.
On July 30th, the weather remained sunny and hot. Chen Ying, a sixth-rank centurion in Weiyuan County, had already led his soldiers to recruit more than 500 more and began to conduct more "strict" training.

Even so, Chen Ying now had more than 600 men under his command, far exceeding the number of men a centurion should be in charge of.

However, neither the county magistrate Li Wenshu nor the county assistant Wu Chang, who was in charge of money and grain, paid any attention to it.

In any case, Chen Ying was a registered centurion of the imperial guards, while the others were just unregistered militiamen.

They are still qualified to lead them.

Moreover, after the bandits are wiped out, they will be disbanded again and will not be considered regular soldiers.

After a period of intensive training, the group has taken shape. Chen Ying, the centurion, who was originally thin, has become a bit stronger.

Yes, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the soldiers of the non-nine border garrisons were almost no different from the servants and tenants of the generals.

However, this was not the case for all generals.

At least, Chen Ying, a mere sixth-rank officer probationary centurion, really didn't have much to gain.

Although he should be in charge of a squad of over two hundred men.

However, even including the elderly and infirm, there were only a little over a hundred people in the hundred households under his jurisdiction.

If only able-bodied soldiers are counted, they could only manage to gather a little over thirty men, and they were all emaciated and pale.

This gives an idea of ​​the situation of his centurion's office.

Therefore, Chen Ying, who was a sixth-rank officer and a trial centurion, only had a slightly better life than ordinary soldiers.

Therefore, when he heard that they were to go into the mountains to suppress bandits, he agreed almost without hesitation.

Firstly, this opportunity could be used to demand military pay.

Secondly, he might be able to use the merit of suppressing bandits to remove the "trial" from his title of "trial centurion" and become a formal centurion official.

As for whether they could defeat and wipe out the bandits, Chen Ying wasn't really worried.

After all, in his mind, how much fighting power could a group of starving people who had just joined the bandits have?

Coupled with their cowardice when facing government troops, these so-called mountain bandits would probably be routed the moment the two armies clashed.

As for Wu Ping, who was previously a centurion in the army, he didn't think much of him.

In his mind, that was just a spoiled brat who got in through his brother's connections; what ability did he have to lead troops in battle?
He had already learned a general outline of the situation from the militia members who had fled back to the village.

He was utterly disdainful that Wu Ping had set up camp at the foot of the enemy's mountain.

Moreover, judging from the magistrate's words, he only ordered them to stay at the foot of the mountain and wait for the bandits to come down to plunder before launching an attack.

As for the possibility that if they stay here, the bandits will be able to escape to other counties.

What does that have to do with them?
Perhaps at that time, the county magistrate could submit a memorial praising him for his meritorious service in suppressing bandits, which caused the bandits to flee at the mere sight of him.

On August 2nd, the man the dynasty sent down the mountain to find the blacksmith finally returned to the mountain.

However, things didn't go as he expected.

Originally, the dynasty only wanted people to manufacture weapons.

After all, the dynasty was well aware that, given their current situation, virtually no one would be willing to join them.

Therefore, he only thought about having someone make or buy some weapons.

It might seem like wishful thinking, but it should indeed be feasible. However, the person who came down the mountain simply invited the blacksmith's entire family of eight back up the mountain.

Yes, it's the same company.

The old blacksmith's surname was Zhou, and his name was Zhou Yan. He was skilled and famous throughout the surrounding villages.

Of course, he is already fifty-six years old this year and rarely makes a move anymore.

Zhou Yan had a wife, Liu, with whom he had two sons.

The eldest son, Zhou Tie, is thirty-eight years old this year. He inherited Zhou Yan's skills and is now the head of the blacksmith shop.

The second son, Zhou Wen, is thirty years old this year. He did not inherit Zhou Yan's craft, but instead used connections to embark on the path of studying literature and taking the imperial examinations.

In the early Ming Dynasty, it was virtually impossible for artisan families like Zhou Yan's to participate in the imperial examinations.

However, as time has passed, although household registration still exists, as long as one spends money, it is always possible to get things done.

Unfortunately, Zhou Wen's path to the imperial examinations was not smooth, and he was still only a junior scholar.

In addition, there are Zhou Yan's two daughters-in-law.

And an eleven-year-old grandson, Zhou Jie, who is Zhou Tie's son; and a ten-year-old granddaughter, Zhou Nanying, who is Zhou Wen's daughter.

The whole family was brought up the mountain, without missing a single one.

Of course, they were definitely not very willing.

However, faced with the threat of more than a dozen burly men, they had no choice but to submit.

Looking at the family of eight who were trembling with fear and trepidation, Wang Chao couldn't help but feel speechless.

Good grief, I asked you to find someone to forge weapons, and you've brought me the manufacturers directly!

However, since the people had already been brought here, the dynasty naturally had no reason to send them down the mountain.

In fact, the group that came down the mountain initially also wanted to forge weapons.

Originally, Zhou Tie had already agreed.

However, when the old blacksmith Zhou Yan heard about the number of weapons to be forged...

I'll take as many as you want; money is no object.

Without saying a word or hesitating, he turned down the business deal.

Who would want so many weapons?

Aside from the military, even the county government wouldn't need that many.

The army's weapons didn't need this folk blacksmith.

Without much thought, Zhou Yan knew the identities of the group: they were either bandits or rebels.

Regardless of their identity, if the authorities found out, they would be the ones who provided the weapons.

Then the whole family, young and old, would have to go to the market.

Therefore, he would naturally not help in the forging of weapons under any circumstances.

In the end, the dozen or so men who came down the mountain got angry and kidnapped the entire family of eight, taking them all back up the mountain.

Looking at the dozen or so people beside him, all smiles and eager to praise him, Wang Chao waved his hand helplessly.

"You did a great job."

Go down, everyone go to the storeroom and collect two taels of silver.”

What else can I do?
His subordinates were so capable that he had no choice but to reward them.

The dozen or so men were overjoyed upon hearing this, for this was two months' worth of military pay. They immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"Thank you, Chief!"

After the group left, Wang Chao turned his attention to the old blacksmith's family.

"uncle."

As soon as Wang Chao finished speaking, Zhou Yan shook his head and bowed repeatedly.

"No, no, no, this old man can't accept that, he can't accept that."

Looking at the Zhou Yan family, who were filled with fear and trepidation, Wang Chao couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"After all, he is an elder, and he can take on this responsibility."
Okay, that's all!

Seeing Zhou Yan about to kneel down, Wang Chao's expression turned solemn, and he made a final decision.

"."

Looking at the solemn-looking Wang Chao, Zhou Yan stood there helplessly, completely unsure of what to say.

"Well, since you're already up the mountain, don't go back. I'll arrange some jobs for you here."
We will never treat you unfairly.

"This this"

Zhou Yan was unwilling, but dared not refuse, so he could only stand there silently.

"How about this? Doesn't the imperial court have an Ordnance Bureau? Let's set up a weapons manufacturing bureau."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan and his family all froze.

Listen to this! This is setting up an institution modeled after the imperial court. What is this if not rebellion?
They've really fallen into a den of traitors; their future is truly bleak.

Unconsciously, Zhou Yan's family was secretly lamenting their misfortune.

Zhou Yan's mind raced with thoughts.

Escape, you must find a chance to escape.

Otherwise, when the imperial army surrounded and annihilated them, all eight members of their family would perish on Bird and Mouse Mountain.

It's now available! Thank you all for your support! ().:*

:.ヽ(*`).:

Chapters 47 and 48 are mixed up. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and am seeking help from the editor.

I wonder if everyone here is resting now.

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(End of this chapter)