Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 97: War for Three Months

Wei Jiao ignored the villagers' reactions and continued loudly, "Those who want to rent land should come to An Baozheng to sign up later. Has Ding Daxing's family arrived? Ding Daxing from the Haizhou Salt Field!"

Some people in the crowd turned their heads to look for him, some pushed and pointed, and some called out directly. After a long time, an old man with wrinkles on his face came forward tremblingly, and when he came in front of Wei Jiao, he was about to kneel down. Wei Jiao hurriedly supported him.

"Sir, is it my...my eldest son who has gotten into trouble again? I apologize to you." The old man was trembling all over.

Wei Jiao smiled brightly. "Ding Daxing didn't get into trouble; he actually performed meritorious service! After the Loyal Army captured Haizhou, Ding Daxing joined the army. He performed meritorious service during the attack on Zhanping Town. Therefore, today, Ding Daxing is granted five mu of permanent farmland and ten mu of official farmland!"

The old man was not happy at first, but rather a little angry: "Why did he go to the army? Why did this wild boy go to the army?!"

However, some villagers in the audience were jealous and shouted, "Old Ding, there's land for you. In the past, a life could be exchanged for 15 mu of land, which was a blessing."

"If you want, you can let your son go to the army as a bandit. But my family just wants to live a peaceful life!" Old Man Ding stamped his feet, and then tears immediately flowed. He turned to Wei Jiao and pleaded, "My eldest son is not cut out for fighting. If you can let him return from the army, my family will pay an extra 10% of the grain."

Wei Jiao felt a little embarrassed. He had originally thought that Ding Daxing's family would be grateful. Then he could use the land to lure more people to join the army. But he thought the problem was that most people in the world were still living a simple life. They would not go to the battlefield to fight unless they were forced to the point of being in the Fengxue Mountain Temple.

If Wei Sheng's tolerance level is one, he would draw his sword when he saw his country being destroyed and China sinking.

Then Ding Daxing's tolerance should be considered three. He can hide and endure for the sake of survival, but when there is a chance to live a better life, he will also go to the battlefield to fight for his life.

Old man Ding's patience can be counted as eight. Unless he is at a critical moment where he really can't survive, he will not resist at all.

There are also countless people whose patience level is ten. They live and die silently, just like wild dogs drowning silently in a flood, without any sound.

Just when Wei Jiao was hesitating about how to persuade Old Man Ding, several people came up from the stage, young and old, male and female. The younger ones hugged Old Man Ding's legs and called him Grandpa, while the older ones first persuaded Old Man Ding and bowed to Wei Jiao. After a while, the whole family finally pushed Old Man Ding off the stage. A young man who looked similar to Old Man Ding stretched out his hands, bowed and took the land deed, shouted "Thank you for the loyalty of the Northern Expedition Army" three times, and then left the stage.

Wei Jiao suddenly realized it and couldn't help but feel a little amused. This must be because the other members of the Ding family were anxious when they heard that Old Man Ding promised to pay an extra 10% of the grain, so the second or third son of the Ding family quickly took over the land deed and made the matter a foregone conclusion.

This matter is indeed mixed. On the one hand, compared with the deep love of Old Man Ding for his children, the second or third Ding is indeed somewhat disregarding brotherhood; but on the other hand, the people's lives in the north are difficult, and the extra 10% of grain harvested may save more than one life.

Not to mention the five mu of permanent farmland and ten mu of official farmland. The Ding family definitely made a profit when converted.

Only human life is difficult to put a price on, and Wei Jiao is a gentleman. He felt ashamed of asking the people to choose between sending their sons to fight in the battlefield and 10% of their food.

But what kind of person is the Jin Dynasty court that doesn’t even give us a choice?

With such complicated feelings, the members of the Loyal Army finally finished the task of dividing the land and renting out the public land in the evening, and they all couldn't help but relax.

"An Baozheng, Elder Sun, and Village Chief Shi, this matter was able to go so smoothly thanks to your assistance. I would like to express my sincere gratitude."

Wei Jiao placed the brush on the pen holder and saluted the three village elders with a smile.

An Kui waved his hands hurriedly: "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it, it really embarrasses me."

He already knew that the young man in front of him was the second son of Wei Sheng, the commander-in-chief of the Loyal Army, so he naturally did not dare to neglect him, but he still wanted to find out some information.

"Mr. Wei, today we have only determined the taxes, but not the corvée labor. May I ask if the Loyal Army has any rules regarding this?"

Wei Jiao thought about it and decided to reveal the truth: "Corvée labor is definitely unavoidable, but it will definitely be easier than that of the Jin Kingdom. In addition, the Jin Kingdom will march south to invade the Song Dynasty after the autumn harvest. Although the two routes in Shandong will not be the main battlefields, there will still be battles, and civilians will be conscripted to perform corvée labor." An Baozheng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard the first sentence, but he quickly became nervous again when he heard the next few sentences.

After all, although labor service such as repairing bridges, roads and rivers is hard, it is much safer than being a laborer on the battlefield.

An Bao was about to say something else when he saw the young man from the Ding family leading a woman closer. The woman was holding a baby about two years old in her arms and holding the deed to the fifteen acres of land tightly in her hand.

The young man approached and bowed, "Sir, I am Ding Ersheng, the second son of the Ding family. This is my eldest sister-in-law Wang, and this is my nephew Ding Xiaowang. We are grateful for the loyalty of the Loyalty Army and have come to thank you once again."

Wei Jiao held Ding Ersheng's arm and said loudly, "This isn't anyone's favor. This is what your elder brother earned by killing enemies on the battlefield."

As soon as these words were spoken, Mrs. Ding burst into tears, and the baby in her arms also started crying loudly.

Wei Rujun, who was originally sitting behind the desk, hurried forward and whispered comforting words.

"Sister-in-law, don't cry. Big Brother went into battle for us." Ding Ersheng seemed to have been scolded by Old Man Ding, and now he was even more annoyed by the crying. "We originally had to pay 70% rent, but now we have more land and only have to pay 20%. What else do you want?"

"I just... I just thought that your brother might be injured, sick, or even dead..." Mrs. Ding cried non-stop: "Xiao Wang is only two years old this year..."

Ding Ersheng was helpless. Seeing Wei Jiao just staring at him, he could only sigh, "Master, do you think I'm cold-hearted and don't care about my brother's life or death?"

Wei Jiao remained silent.

Ding Ersheng continued to sigh: "The great master does not understand us, a small family. We will die eventually. Even if we don't starve to death this year, we will have a hard time next year.

Today it seems that the land of Mr. Sun was seized and distributed to us, but in the final analysis, it was the Loyal Army that seized the land of the Jin Kingdom and distributed it to us, giving us a chance to survive.

If none of us contribute to the fight against the Jin, then if the Loyal Army retreats, won't the Jin take these lands again? Won't we all be left with no way to survive again? I see it clearly, so my eldest brother died for our entire family, and I can't blame anyone else."

The security guard who was listening was stunned and looked Ding Ersheng up and down as if he had just met him for the first time.

Wei Jiao was also stunned. After a long moment, he patted Ding Ersheng's arm and said, "My father, brother, and younger brother are all at the front. I...ah...I hope your eldest brother will be safe."

Ding Ersheng nodded, but immediately asked cautiously: "I... I can't read. Can you write a letter to my elder brother for me?"

"Go ahead." Before the words were finished, Wei Rujun on the side had already spread out the letter paper, picked up the brush and prepared to write.

However, at this moment, Ding Ersheng, who proposed to write the letter, just opened his mouth, as if in a trance, but suddenly burst into tears, and then burst into tears.

At one time, the hardship of supporting the family, the joy of having surplus food, the melancholy of worrying about his brother, the fear of the uncertain future, and the excitement of getting the land, all kinds of feelings came to his mind at the same time, making him unable to stop crying.

Ding Ersheng could only pat Mrs. Ding, who had stopped crying, and let her go to ask about her safety and say goodbye.

He covered his face and could no longer speak.

(End of this chapter)