Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

After returning to the Eastern Palace, Li Chengqian threw the imperial edict and the fish-shaped tally directly onto the table.

Cheng Chumo picked up the fish-shaped talisman out of curiosity and began to examine it.

"Royal Guard? Your Highness, what's that designation? When did the Ministry of War acquire this unit?"

Li Chengqian picked up his teacup and blew away the foam on the surface:

"The staff I just obtained from Ganlu Palace."

The quota of 10,000 men is allocated to an independent organization, with their salaries and troop movements entirely under the control of the Crown Prince, not the Ministry of War.

The study fell silent for a second.

Immediately afterward, the spoiled brats were in an uproar.

"Your Highness is mighty!"

"Now we have our own troops. From now on, we can do whatever we want in Chang'an."

Fang Yi'ai shouted excitedly.

Li Chengqian put down his teacup and raised his hand to press it down:

"Don't be too happy yet. The official position is coming, but it's just an empty shell right now."

I'm giving you ten days to recruit ten thousand elite troops in Chang'an.

You will all be given the rank of colonel and will be in charge of this recruitment.

Cheng Chumo's smile froze instantly.

"Your Highness, you should just kill me."

Recruiting 10,000 in ten days? That's simply impossible.

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and asked:

"What? You think it's too much?"

"It's not that we have too many people, it's that we simply can't find enough."

Cheng Chumo said, feeling wronged.

"The Tang Dynasty's military system required soldiers to carry their own swords, bows and arrows, and even their own rations and trousers for fighting in Liaodong. In battle, it was like risking one's life, and the casualties were terrifying."

Fang Yi'ai echoed:

"Yes, Your Highness, a good man does not become a soldier."

Nowadays, the strong and able-bodied men in Chang'an would rather work as tenant farmers than go to the border to die.

Where are we going to find 10,000 elite troops? We'd be lucky to recruit even a few hundred refugees.

Li Chengqian burst out laughing after hearing this.

He picked up a stack of written posters from his desk and threw them in front of Cheng Chumo.

"Take it. Have the Crown Prince's guards post it on the bulletin boards of every ward and market in Chang'an."

Tomorrow morning, I want everyone in Chang'an to see this.

Cheng Chumo picked up a piece of paper with a puzzled look, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets after just one glance.

The next morning.

In front of the bulletin board in the western market of Chang'an.

A poor, pedantic scholar in a tattered long gown was squeezed to the very front of the crowd.

"Scholar, what does it say on it? Read it quickly!"

The man behind urged impatiently.

The scholar looked at the large characters on the notice and read aloud in a trembling voice:

"Recruitment Notice for the Imperial Guards of the Great Tang Dynasty..."

Those selected for the Imperial Guard will receive a resettlement allowance of ten strings of cash on the spot.

The crowd erupted in a buzz.

Ten strings of cash?

Ordinary families toil in the fields all year round, yet they can't even save three strings of cash.

Ten strings of cash will be given to anyone who is selected?

The scholar swallowed hard and continued reading:

"The military pay is three strings of cash per month, with meat at every meal. After serving for three years, you will be allocated a large compound and fifty mu of fertile land in Liaodong."

"What the heck?"

A porter threw the carrying pole he was carrying directly onto the ground.

"House and land allocation? And meat at every meal? Are you kidding me?"

"Shut up! I haven't finished reading yet."

The scholar shouted anxiously.

"After discharge, you will be guaranteed a job. You can directly enter the Royal Trading Company or Liaodong Workshop as a manager."

The audience was silent.

Royal Merchant House?

That's the most profitable place in Chang'an right now.

If you go in and become a manager, you'll never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life, and your whole family will be able to escape their lowly status.

Shusheng stared intently at the last line of text.

"If killed or wounded in battle, a pension of 500 strings of cash will be provided. Direct family members will be arranged to work in the royal workshops, ensuring a comfortable life for three generations."

"boom!"

The entire bulletin board area went crazy.

"This is His Highness the Crown Prince's seal. There's no mistake."

"Five hundred strings of cash? I'd sell my worthless life to Your Highness."

"Guaranteed job placement? My son won't have to suffer as a tenant farmer anymore."

This unprecedented welfare treatment, which broke with the norms of the Tang Dynasty, instantly caused a major upheaval in the city.

In a tavern on the street, a few down-on-their-luck wandering knights smashed their wine bowls, picked up their rusty iron swords, and ran towards the West Market.

Upon hearing the news, the farmers outside the city abandoned their work in the fields and rushed to Chang'an with their able-bodied sons.

Even those self-proclaimed noble children from poor families were envious.

Joining the army not only brings money, but also guarantees housing and job assignments—it's practically a path to instant success.

West Market Recruiting Office.

Cheng Chumo and Fang Yi'ai had just set up the table and hadn't even had a chance to sit down and have a drink of water.

A huge crowd had already surged into the streets outside, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Get out of the way! I'm strong, I'll sign up first."

"Bullshit! I fought against the Turks back in the day, I'll go first."

Hundreds of people started fighting right there on the street to grab a spot at the front.

Cheng Chumo was so frightened by the surging crowd that he almost sat down on the ground.

"Chu Mo, this...this must number in the tens of thousands, right?"

Fang Yi'ai asked, stammering.

"Close the door. Close it now."

Cheng Chumo hurriedly shouted.

"Snap!"

The threshold of the recruitment office was broken by the crowd that surged in.

The table was overturned, and the calligraphy brush used for registration fell to the ground and was crushed to pieces.

"Everyone line up! Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll chop them up."

Cheng Chumo angrily drew his sword and used the back of the blade to smash down two of the troublemakers, barely managing to calm the situation down.

He looked at the crowd frantically pushing in outside, turned to Fang Yi'ai, and roared:

"Your Highness isn't recruiting soldiers, he's practically throwing money away! These people have all gone mad."

Just as the situation was about to get out of control, Xiao Shunzi led several guards from the Eastern Palace to squeeze in through the back door.

"Young Master Cheng, His Highness has given an order!"

Cheng Chumo quickly went over and asked:

"What does Your Highness say? There are too many people; ten thousand spots are simply not enough."

Xiao Shunzi loudly relayed Li Chengqian's words:

"His Highness said that while there are many people, the selection criteria should be raised."

Those who can't lift a hundred-pound stone weight are not welcome. Those who can't run ten miles are not welcome. Those who disobey orders and cause trouble will be kicked out immediately.

We only want the strongest and most obedient recruits. Better to have none than to have substandard ones!

Cheng Chumo's spirits lifted.

With such incredible benefits, even if the selection criteria were twice as strict, people outside would still fight tooth and nail to get in.

"Men! Bring out the stone locks. Test them one by one."

Cheng Chumo roared and began directing the Eastern Palace Guards to work.

at the same time.

Inside the Manna Hall.

Li Shimin was sitting at his desk, happily flipping through the account books of the royal trading company.

Li Junxian then walked in and said:

"Your Majesty, something has happened in the West Market."

Li Shimin asked without even looking up:

"Whose shop did the Crown Prince smash up this time?"

"It's not about smashing up shops. It's about His Highness the Crown Prince recruiting soldiers."

Li Junxian took out a torn-down notice from his pocket and handed it to Wang De with both hands.

Wang De quickly forwarded it to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin glanced at it, then suddenly stood up and stared intently at the notice.

"House provided upon enlistment? Guaranteed job placement upon discharge? 500 guan in pension?"

Is he crazy? Where did he get so much money?

Li Junxian lowered his head and reported to his supervisor:

"Your Majesty, the Royal Merchants made a million strings of cash yesterday, but His Highness the Crown Prince has kept it all in the Eastern Palace and hasn't handed over a single penny to the Imperial Treasury."

This morning, notices were posted all over Chang'an.

The West Market conscription office is now packed with people, and several fights have broken out over the competition for a spot.

Even farmers from outside the city and wandering knights from all walks of life rushed to sign up.

Li Shimin slumped onto the dragon throne, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his back.

The Tang Dynasty's militia system relied on the equal-field system and the people's obligations to the court.

But his rebellious son's move was a desperate attempt to buy his own life with real money.

Under the reward, there must be a brave man.

Would soldiers recruited with such treatment still respect the laws of the Tang Dynasty? Would they still respect the emperor?

They only recognize the crown prince. They only recognize those who give them money.

"Ten thousand men...ten thousand absolutely loyal elites..."

Li Shimin roared in a low voice, his face ashen.

"He's essentially raising ten thousand wolves for me in Chang'an."