Since Li Toyota took the initiative to stay and monitor Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen couldn't drive him away. He was given delicious food and drinks every day, and his freedom was not restricted. He could even come and go freely in the Governor's Mansion.
In sharp contrast to the turmoil of Fengyang City, Changshan City is still bustling with activity, with doors open at night and music playing everywhere. Even the city gates are always wide open and never closed, creating a prosperous and peaceful atmosphere.
But it doesn’t look like everyone is in rebellion when the war comes?
He wandered to a small restaurant in the city, ordered a few dishes, drank himself, and chatted with the boss and the diners.
Ask them if they know Yanyun is going to war? Everyone said they didn't know, and said that even if there is a war, what does it have to do with us?
What's new about Yanyun County if it hasn't been at war all these years?
But if there is a war, aren't you worried about being affected by the war?
The answer is that it should not be possible. We have Mr. Chen, Governor Xiao Chen, Zhuge Xiaosheng, and Marshal Li Ling. They are the patron saints of our people in Yanyun. Since they came, the city of Changshan City has The door has never been closed, and the door shafts on both sides of the city gate are rusty...
"Then the young and middle-aged people in your family also need to serve in the military, right?" Li Toyota said step by step and earnestly and skillfully.
"This guest officer is a foreigner when he hears your words." An elderly guest said with a smile, "There is no such thing as military service in Yanyun County."
"Since Yanyun County has been at war in the past few years, won't there be no conscription?" Li Toyota asked.
"There has never been conscription, but there is recruitment, but it is not easy to be a soldier. In the past few years, it was fine. As long as you were young, well-built, and strong, you could often be selected. But it is not possible now, people You have to be literate and able to write, you have to have good looks, and you have to be seven feet tall. Those conditions are very harsh!" said the old man.
"Isn't it?" A middle-aged guest next to him interjected, "My youngest son dreams of becoming a soldier, but he is not tall enough and is not very literate, so he is not wanted at all. He cannot even become a fire-headed soldier!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. It is not easy to be a soldier these days.
"Why do I listen to the big guy's tone that being a soldier is not a good job?" Li Fengtian heard this very strangely. Since ancient times, I have never heard of ordinary people willing to join the army.
"Isn't it just a good job?" The middle-aged man said, "If one person serves as a soldier, the whole family will have food to eat. The military men's monthly salary is five taels of silver. If there is a war, it will be ten taels. This is not counting military merit rewards. If you are injured, you will be paid for the rest of your life, and if you die, you will also receive a pension of two hundred taels."
"These are just soldiers. If you can be an officer who leads a squad or a company, you can earn more money. I heard that the salary of one of their company leaders is comparable to our Lord Liu Congshu! Mr. Wang's family He has been successful since he was young, and now he is the captain of the navy company. That guy's monthly salary is more than thirty taels!" The old man looked envious.
The more Li Toyota listened, the more angry he became. Damn it, I am a fifth-rank doctor in the Ministry of War. His monthly salary is less than thirty taels. He is not even as good as a junior officer in Yanyun County. How can I reason?
You, Yanyun County, are really rich. If you are so rich, you still complain to the court that you are poor. It is not enough to ask you for millions of silver every year. You are crying and filing a lawsuit with us... I think it costs you ten million taels. Not much!
But maybe it was because the imperial court was about to start collecting their money and food that Xiao Chen was forced to rebel? Nonsence! He was originally a minister of Zhou Dynasty, and he should not have rebelled under any circumstances...
Finally, when the fleet set sail, Li Toyota felt a little dizzy as he stood on the high deck of the Xiaozi and looked at the densely packed warships and cargo ships in the port.
Although I have long known that the Yanyun Navy has developed rapidly in the past few years, I never expected it to be so rapid. It is said that hundreds of warships were used in one ocean-going training, so how many warships does the Yanyun Navy have in total? Scared to think about it?
No wonder even the powerful Japanese warships were defeated by them! I used to think that it was the Russians who defeated Japan, but now it seems that may not be the case...
Xiao Chen has only been in Yanyun for a few years, how could he end up like this? But it made Li Toyota puzzled.
"Master Li, it's really cool when the sea breeze blows, isn't it?" Xiao Chen strolled over to chat with him, hands behind his back.
"Master Xiao, you only have 300 warships registered with our Ministry of War, and more than 200 of them are small warships. Where did all these big guys come from? I ask you?" Li Toyota asked with a stern face.
"It's on credit." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "Didn't you see that there are many Russian armored ships here? We didn't come here to help the Russians fight the Japanese Japs last time, so we can't help in vain, and we have to ask for some benefits from him? "
These words made Li Toyota a little confused. Aren't the Russians helping you Yan Yun? Why are you helping them again? No matter what you say about feelings, it's you, Mr. Xiao, who has the final say.
"Your battleships are all flying the Yanyun Xiao flag." Li Toyota narrowed his eyes and said, "Then is your Yanyun Navy still considered to be in the order of our Great Zhou?"
"Lord Li doesn't know something." Xiao Chen explained, "If we hang the military flag of Zhou Dynasty, I'm afraid the Japanese little devils will misunderstand me. We are heading south this time, but there is no guarantee that we will pass through the Japanese waters. If you can’t see clearly what conflict happened at night, it’s not stubborn.”
It means that the Japanese do not dare to touch our Yanyun Navy, but your Zhou Navy cannot be saved.
To be honest, the relationship between you and the Japanese people is not good now...
"Master Xiao, now that the war in the north has basically calmed down, isn't it a bit inappropriate for your Yanyun County to maintain such warships? If you follow the opinion of the lower officials, why not just put them all under the control of our Great Zhou Navy? You also know that our Great Zhou Navy The Zhou Navy is also quite weak." Li Toyota said.
"I have actually had this intention for a long time." Xiao Chen said, "But I am afraid that if the Russians suddenly turn against us and send a fleet to attack Yan Yun, it will be difficult to deal with it."
"Haha, haven't Master Xiao and the Russians already formed allies?" Li Toyota sneered.
"Those who are not of my race must have different intentions, so we must be on guard!" Xiao Chen said, "Not only must we guard against the Russians, we must also guard against the Japanese. Although we won the last battle, they did not If the muscles and bones are injured, as the saying goes, a centipede will die without becoming stiff, and a dead camel will be bigger than a horse."
"I think it's you, Mr. Xiao, who has different intentions, right?" Li Toyota said with a smile, "If your Yanyun Navy merges with the Zhou Navy, you can still fight against them. In addition, now our emperor has pacified Yizhou, and the armies of the two princes have also When you return to court in triumph, if you are stationed in Shunfeng City, why should you be afraid of Ross and Japan?"
"Oh?" Xiao Chen raised his sword eyebrows upon hearing this, "Is this what you, Mr. Li, mean, or is it the intention of the emperor and the court?"
