Ming politicians

() Leaving home to join the army, throughout the ages, there is nothing unusual. In the Tang Dynasty, countless frontier poets wrote poems that have been handed down through the ages, expressing the sadness of soldiers being far away from their homes and lovers, but they were forced to Due to the pressure of the system, I dare not speak casually, but can only bear it silently.

Court officials and generals in the army took it for granted, and no one cared.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the situation was a little better, mainly because of the emergence of garrison troops, who were both soldiers and civilians, a large number of military households were born, and many family members of sergeants were in the same place as the sergeants.

But after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the military settlement system was destroyed, a large number of land was merged, the burden on the official land was too heavy, and the military households were overwhelmed. They were not as good as farmers or even tenants. They were poor and poor. Some military households began to flee on a large scale, and the guards existed in name only.

During the Wanli period, during several large-scale campaigns, mercenaries began to appear. These soldiers were full-time, and they lived on military pay, including garrison troops.

Since the first year of Chongzhen, the imperial court has become more and more difficult, unable to get money out, unable to pay military pay, many sergeants, unable to receive military pay, lost support in life, mutiny occurs constantly, and there are countless fleeing sergeants , Some sergeants even directly joined the ranks of rogues, relying on looting to get by.

A good man does not serve as a soldier, and military households have become synonymous with poverty.

Under such circumstances, it is still a bit difficult to recruit sergeants in Baoding Mansion.

Fortunately, Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji were together, and with Jiang Ningying's reputation.It has already spread in Beizhili, and the situation is slightly better.But not optimistic either.

Arriving in Gaoyang County, the county magistrate learned that it was the Jiangning battalion recruiting soldiers, and shook his head repeatedly. If he hadn't seen Sun Chengzong here, he probably would have declined directly. There are countless military households in Gaoyang County who have fled, and now they are recruiting soldiers.I'm afraid no one will come to your door. Although your Jiangning camp is powerful, who doesn't know the treatment of military households, unless you find those refugees who have no food to eat and are homeless.In the army, you can have a bite to eat, and you won't starve to death.

Su Tiancheng has already discussed with Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji, don't talk about the treatment of the Jiangning battalion sergeants for the time being, his explanation is if people know about such treatment.If it's all about money, then it's troublesome. Such a person is not easy to discipline in the barracks.And it will hurt others.

It is said that Jiangning Battalion recruits sergeants, and someone can take the initiative to come.Such a sergeant may have a simpler mind.Of course, everything has two sides, a good side and a bad side.

Recruiting sergeants really needs publicity. It is said that after hundreds of years, one person will be a soldier, and the whole family will be honored. Su Tiancheng has heard such propaganda slogans many times.

Today's situation is different, there is the invasion of Houjin outside, and the harassment of bandits inside, and it is very common for Ming soldiers to kill good men and pretend to be meritorious. Very bad opinion.Besides, to be a soldier is to fight, and there is the danger of death at any time, the salary is low, and the life is poor. Under such circumstances, who wants to be a soldier.

Both Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji didn't understand why Su Tiancheng didn't agree with the propaganda. If there was no propaganda at all, it would be really difficult to recruit [-] soldiers in Baoding Mansion.

After staying in Sun Chengzong's mansion, Su Tiancheng finally expressed his worries.

Most of the sergeants in the Daming Guard are paid five to eight taels of silver per month. If it can reach one tael of silver, it is considered very good. It is estimated that after this recruitment, the guards in some nearby places may really collapse. The mutiny of the sergeants has always existed. The sergeants must have some opinions when they know such a disparity in treatment.

Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji suddenly realized that Su Tiancheng's consideration was indeed thorough.

As for propaganda, Su Tiancheng raised three points.

The first is to ensure that the sergeants have no worries about food and clothing, and that they can have enough food, including their family members, and they will never go hungry; When going to Jiangning County, the Jiangning Camp guarantees that Jiajun has a place to live; the third is that the Jiangning Camp will pay the military salary in full and on time, and will never deduct it.

As for the amount of military pay, it cannot be publicized for the time being.

After hearing these three items, Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji thought they were very good.

The recruitment notice was posted, and the officials of the Gaoyang County Government took the sergeants from the Jiangning Camp to the villages and towns to publicize, and in every village, a notice of the recruitment of sergeants was pasted up.

What moved Su Tiancheng was that Sun Chengzong's family who stayed in Gaoyang County also went out to publicize.

On November [-]th, the sixth year of Chongzhen, the recruitment of recruits for the Jiangning Battalion officially started.

Early in the morning, the outside of Sun Chengzong's mansion, three floors inside and three floors outside, was full of people, some were watching the fun, and some were planning to sign up.

Sun Chengzong first entered the wing room.

"Master Su, the old man is here to sign up."

Su Tiancheng blinked and looked at Sun Chengzong, thinking he had heard wrong.

"Hehe, the old man came to sign up for his two grandchildren. They have already set off first and went to Jiangning County. The old man asked someone to deliver a letter to them yesterday, telling them to make all preparations when they arrive in Jiangning County."

Su Tiancheng quickly stood up.

"My lord, why don't you think about it, don't be so anxious."

Sun Chengzong squinted his eyes.

"The descendants of the old man have already made all preparations to serve the country. If the sons are not over the age, the old man will personally send them to Jiangning Camp. The old man's two grandsons, when they arrive at Jiangning Camp, will be Ordinary sergeants, if they can't train well, I won't allow them to enter the house."

Su Tiancheng looked at Sun Chengzong, and was a little speechless. On the battlefield, swords are ruthless. Sun Chengzong had served as Minister of the Ministry of War, so he must understand, not to mention that the Jiangning battalion has a heavy responsibility and will face many cruel fights. If Sun Chengzong's Grandson, what accident happened, he really can't explain it.

"My lord, this junior doesn't mean that. The junior thinks that you are getting old and need someone to take care of you."

"Master Su, I understand what you mean. The children of ordinary people and military households can join the army. Why can't the descendants of the old man? Is it just common people's business to go to the battlefield? This kind of thinking, all take into account their own interests, then my Ming Dynasty is in danger, the old man’s family wants to take the lead, the old man has led the army and understands the danger here, so don’t hesitate to write my name for me.”

The clerk sitting on the side looked at Su Tiancheng, looking a little embarrassed, neither writing well nor not writing well.

Facing Sun Chengzong, Su Tiancheng put his hands together and bowed in salute.

"Your Excellency is loyal, but the sun and the moon, if the officials and gentry of my Ming Dynasty, all have such qualities, why worry about the perdition of the bandits, why worry about the perishing of the empress, why worry about the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, and the juniors leading the soldiers of the Jiangning battalion, Salute to the adults."

The clerk also hurriedly stood up, stood behind Su Tiancheng, and saluted Sun Chengzong.

Su Tiancheng took the brush, and wrote down the names of Sun Siming and Sun Sizong on the register.

This is the first and second sergeant recruited by the Jiangning Battalion in Baoding Prefecture.

This is not over yet, after Sun Chengzong went out, Lu Shanji also came in.

Lu Shanji's request was even more surprising, he actually asked his youngest son and two grandsons to enter the Jiangning Camp.

Su Tiancheng was really in a dilemma.

The descendants introduced by Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji are all descendants of the family. This is actually a very clear attitude. Any big family values ​​the descendants of the descendants very much. They are the successors of the family. Incense, to maintain the family inheritance, in the family, the status is not ordinary.

But the two old men both asked their descendants to enter the Jiangning camp. This shows that they really supported the recruitment of sergeants by the Jiangning camp and set an example.

It's true that the sergeants of the Jiangning Camp are paid very well, but this kind of treatment is really nothing to the two old people. They absolutely don't need the monthly five taels of silver to support their families.

Su Tiancheng suddenly felt that Jiangning Battalion will definitely succeed in recruiting sergeants this time, and the future development prospects of Jiangning Battalion must be broad.

Su Tiancheng persuaded Lu Shanji that it is enough for the two grandsons to join the Jiangning camp. As for the youngest son, it is better to stay at home, and Lu Shanji finally agreed.

Su Tiancheng picked up a pen and wrote down the names of Lu Taibing and Lu Taibo on the roster.

Word spread quickly.

The two elders, Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji, actually sent their own grandsons to Jiangning Camp.

This incident caused huge waves.

Soon, the people who came to sign up surrounded Sun Chengzong's mansion tightly.

The sergeants of the Jiangning Battalion, like a machine, started to run at high speed.

The clerk hurriedly filled in the names, including personal circumstances. He had no time to eat, and his handwriting became numb, so he flicked and continued. Because there were too many people who signed up, Sun Chengzong arranged for his son to help write.

The backyard has become a place for testing. Those who sign up must have basic physical fitness. Those who are skinny or in poor health cannot enter the Jiangning camp.

In one day, more than [-] people signed up.

Moreover, the news spread quickly, and people from villages and towns began to rush to the county seat.

Su Tiancheng has already fully felt that Sun Chengzong's influence in Gaoyang County is extraordinary. Those who signed up did not pay much attention to those so-called conditions, but Sun Chengzong and Lu Shanji's direct grandson entered Jiangning Camp, and they firmly remember.