Shao Xun has been busy writing family letters recently.
He had never learned traditional Chinese characters before, so he seemed to have divine help when he wrote, but his handwriting was a little graceful, which made Mi Huang burst into laughter.
Moreover, what he wrote was actually in regular script, which made people even more curious.
But that's not the point.
When he saw the grateful soldiers, he was speechless.
Where did the prestige come from? It comes from these little things.
Outstanding martial arts skills impressed the soldiers.
Leading troops well and convincingly.
It's touching to ask for help.
He also helped them solve some problems in life, such as ghostwriting family letters, and gained a lot of goodwill.
Mi Huang looked at the two groups of recruits that he had personally handed over to Shao Xun, and was quite moved when he saw their respectful and docile appearance.
In just a few months, the army has taken on a completely new look. At least on the surface, it looks like it can be commanded. If we spend another year or two doing in-depth rectification, we can achieve true control from the outside to the inside.
It was indeed right to hand over the troops to him.
Although He Lun and Wang Bing were very capable, compared with Shao Xun, they seemed to be a little less interesting.
In troubled times, you are really lucky to have picked up such a talented person.
"Shao Langjun, come here." Seeing Shao Xun finish writing the letter home, Mi Huang waved and said.
Shao Xun probably knew what it meant, and he was excited and walked over quickly.
"I brought these two groups from Beijing and handed them over to you." Mi Huang pointed to the hundreds of soldiers lined up not far away and said.
"How did it come here?" Shao Xun looked at it and found that it was similar to the person who sent it before, so he asked.
"It's quite miscellaneous." Mi Huang explained: "Some are landless refugees, mostly Sizhou people; some are defeated soldiers, both worldly soldiers and forbidden soldiers; some are runaway slaves from wealthy families. Don't worry, no one will pursue them in this world. Others are relatively strong prisoners in the prison who are allowed to reform and redeem themselves."
After saying that, he felt a little embarrassed, so he added: "I finally snatched it from He Lun and Wang Bing."
Pan Yuan retreated, not everyone went to Luoyang.
According to the wishes of the princess, the Donghai soldiers who were recruited a year ago need to be dismissed, mainly the older veterans, totaling four teams of nearly 160 people.
They will take some of the craftsmen, servants and even villagers from Pan Garden, totaling more than 300 people, who are willing to go eastward, and set off back to the East China Sea.
Just yesterday, there were even some Luoyang households clamoring to follow, probably more than 300 households.
After Concubine Pei found out, she ordered the grain harvested in the manor to be taken away for them to eat along the way.
Shao Xun heard this and knew that his previous suggestion of leaving a way out had worked. This was good - these veterans going west was a farce. It was good to go home after serving for a year.
As for the three teams of children and teenagers, they were originally going to be dismissed together, but after Shao Xun met the princess, these people stayed again.
They have been studying for a year and are generally literate. About 20 people also studied arithmetic with Shao Xun and achieved some success.
Compared to the adult soldiers he was in charge of, Shao Xun felt that these teenagers were his most valuable asset.
Soldiers can be replaced easily, just like the hundreds of new soldiers sent by Mi Huang. After a year and a half of training, they are basically obedient.
However, the training period for these young people is very long, and they are not easy to replace. If he governs the place in the future, these young people will be his management team, and he can use his trump card to bargain with wealthy families.
"Huang Biao, Li Chong!" Shao Xun shouted.
"Here!" The two of them trotted over and came to obey the order.
"Disperse the newcomers and form them into four teams with your subordinates." Shao Xun ordered on the spot. After speaking, he faced Mi Huang and said, "There are Chinese people Zhou Ying and Zhong Badger who are loyal, brave and experienced. But As the team leader.”
"That's it, I'll take care of it from beginning to end." Mi Huang nodded and said, "I leave the soldiers to you, you must practice well."
"No." Looking at Mi Huang's hopeful expression, Shao Xun responded in a deep voice.
****
On June 16, the first convoy left Pan Yuan and headed for Luoyang.
Wu Qian, the leader of the fourth team, did not leave. He was already fifty years old and shamelessly stayed to help clean up the manor.
Shao Xun simply asked him to help take care of the children and teenagers in the first, second and third teams, a bit like a "team leader", and he readily accepted the order.
Teams 4,567 and 4567 are all recruited and strong soldiers. The captains of the teams are Li Chong, Huang Biao, Zhou Ying, and Zhong Badger. They say they are recruiting soldiers, but in fact they receive very little military pay. In addition to being in charge of food, they do not receive any rewards during the holidays. Not much, just a few pieces of cloth, but the treatment is already very good.
"Mao Er! Jin San! Wang Que'er!" Shao Xun shouted as he looked at the young man who was about to leave.
"Uncle!"
"Master Shao!"
The three people immediately ran over and bowed.
Shao Xun pulled their hands and patted their shoulders, feeling excited.
The hope of breaking through the troubled times lies in these young people.
Mao Er is eleven years old and is from Ganyu.
Jin is thirty-two years old and Wang Queer is fourteen years old. Like Shao Xun, they are both from Qu County.
Mao Er is relatively smart. In addition to reading and writing, he also learns arithmetic.
Jin Sanze was a bit stupid. After recognizing some words, he focused most of his energy on practicing martial arts.
Wang Que'er is a talented person. After farming and training, he can read and write, just like most people.
"You will travel for a few days first. When you arrive in Luoyang, follow the orders of the governor and settle down first." Shao Xun said: "Although you only have a few days, you can't neglect your studies. The hand-written "Thousand-Character Essay", I spent a lot of effort to compile it. Whenever I have free time, I should review it more and remember it."
"promise."
"I respectfully obey Master Shao's orders."
The three of them responded one after another.
The convoy slowly moved away, finally disappearing into the sky.
Shao Xun looked back at Pan Yuan, where he had lived for a year.
The place is lined with green trees and red flowers are everywhere. They are in full bloom in the summer and are particularly enchanting. Duandi is a good place.
But this paradise is about to be destroyed.
The two armies were fighting and fighting each other. How could a place like Panyuan not be looted by the rebels?
Just like the world today, paradises are being destroyed one after another.
The territories of Wu, Shu, Guanxi, Hebei, and Henan were full of wars. It's nonsense to say that the chaos only started when the Five were messing around. It started a few years ago, okay?
The battlefield of the Eight Kings Rebellion was not limited to Luoyang! It's just that this is the most eye-catching.
After sighing, he straightened his robe and went inside to meet the princess.
On the way, he met the governor Yang Bao.
The three team captains Qin San, Zheng Gouer, and Liu Tong nodded and bowed to him. They were all Yang Bao's subordinates, but when they saw Shao Xun, they never dared to neglect him and were very polite.
Yang Bao was a little embarrassed.
After all these years, he has become much more honest, because his uncle, the shogunate's left Sima Liu Qia, can't defeat the guy in front of him, which is very discouraging.
So he also bowed.
Shao Xun returned the gift, nodded to the three people behind him, and then entered the main hall.
The princess was reading "The Thousand-Character Essay". When she saw Shao Xun coming in, she said, "Xijun has no family background. Otherwise, just based on this book, I can ask a respected member of the family to comment on it for you."
"Comment" is not just a comment, it often means an increase in reputation and status, and can be on a higher stage.
The younger generation of the gentry like to ask highly respected people for reviews. Once they receive good reviews, they immediately become famous and are qualified to be recruited by the clan kings and high-ranking officials. This can be said to be a shortcut to becoming an official.
Sun Xiu (Sun Wu's clan, Sun Quan's nephew), a confidant of King Sima Lun of Zhao, once received Wang Yan's comment, and thus became very successful and arrogant. And because of this unintentional act—he had not intended to comment on Sun Xiu—Wang Yan received courtesy from Sun Xiu after King Zhao came to power.
Therefore, the energy of these high-ranking scholars is beyond your imagination. The current official selection system is simply tailor-made for them, no exaggeration at all.
The status of the Wenxi Pei family is similar to that of the Langya Wang family. Later generations once said that there are "Eight Pei Fang Eight Kings". If the elders of the Pei family can comment, it will indeed be a shortcut to becoming an official.
But Shao Xun is a military household, so it's difficult.
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Concubine Pei put down the book, looked at Shao Xun, and said, "After I go to Luoyang, I won't be able to control you. You - just take care of yourself."
"I dare not forget the support and protection given by the princess," Shao Xun replied.
Concubine Pei waved her hand, sighed softly, and said: "There are more than 200,000 soldiers in Yecheng, and there are 78,000 or 80,000 soldiers in Guanzhong. With the situation in Luoyang, it is really a small number that defeats a large number. Don't show off in everything, stay safe and sound. Just be stable. If the sky falls, there are imperial guards blocking it. Even if they can't be blocked, Sima Ying and Sima Yong will not kill them all when they enter Luoyang. If you have the ability, just surrender to the two kings of Chengdu and Hejian. "
"The princess is ridiculous." Shao Xun said sternly: "I came from a humble background, and I have been ups and downs in troubled times, and I have been drifting to this day. If it weren't for the princess's care, I would have died violently in a foreign country and exposed my body in the wilderness. How could I be in the position I am today? I don't understand. There is no great truth, and I have no qualifications to help the world. I only know that any kindness must be repaid. The princess has treated me with as much kindness as a mountain, and I am willing to fight for the princess, even if I die, I will not hate you!"
Concubine Pei's beautiful eyes were a little surprised and a little dazed. After a long silence, she said softly: "After going to Luoyang, be cautious. I will find a way to do the rest."
"No." Shao Xun responded in a deep voice.
Concubine Pei looked at his back until he disappeared, and then picked up the "Thousand-Character Classic" on the case again.
