Corvee is the harsh rule that ordinary people like them fear the most.
Small ones such as building bridges and roads near villages, repairing government offices, etc.; large ones such as building imperial mausoleums, canals, etc.
Not to mention the delay in farm work, they were not paid wages, and sometimes they had to bring their own food, working tools, etc. Even if they did manage to eat, it was just porridge, pickles, and some cornstarch mixed with bran, so they could barely eat.
High-intensity labor and poor nutrition, many died directly in labor, which is what the people hate the most.
The most terrifying thing is the service period, from the age of sixteen to sixty. As long as the court needs it, you have to apply, otherwise you will violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty.
Now they actually heard that they were not only in charge of food, but also had to pay for every meal. Even if they were in charge of food, they would also be exempted from taxes, and what was even more unbelievable was that they would also be paid.
This is not a corvee, it is simply pie in the sky.
"Everyone, it is written in the Ming Dynasty Daily that only 100,000 people are being recruited. Beizhili, Shandong, and Shanxi are recruiting. There are only 40,000 people in Beizhili. Those who want to go must hurry up!"
"Brothers, come on, first come, first served!"
"Uncles, I'm sorry, I'm going to take the first step this time!"
…
Pedestrians on the street rushed towards the nearby government office at a speed that was faster than regular sergeants!
Some pedestrians didn't know why, but when they saw others running, they naturally ran too.
They learned about it early, but some people learned about it earlier than them. The yamen in the county towns in Beizhili, Shandong, and Shanxi that had already seen the edict were crowded with people.
"Wang Tou, give me a spot!"
"Old Wang, look at my physique, I'm perfect for being a laborer!"
"Boy Zhao, do you understand that you should respect the old and love the young? You young people have little experience and are careless. Don't delay the army from the north!"
"Uncle Hu, you are fifty years old. You have old arms and legs. You are afraid of belching your farts if you fall. What can you do? As long as we are young people, as long as we are full, we can carry hundreds of kilograms of things and walk as fast as we can. , guaranteed to work!"
"Yes, if necessary, we can go directly to the battlefield, pick up the knife and fight with those bastards like Jian Nu."
"Uncle Wang, as long as you let me go, I will give you half of your wages!"
"You beast, before the interests of our family and country, you still think about wages? Just let me go and take care of food and housing. I don't want wages!"
"Count me in, we only have a little strength left. Since we can't join the army, we can't kill the slaves. But as long as we still have the strength, transporting military supplies can easily kill the slaves!"
…
The common people are illiterate and uneducated, but that does not mean they are stupid.
Rice is a luxury for them. It is not easy to eat it more than ten or twenty times a year. Most of them are gruel, steamed buns, etc.
The northern army will have to fight for at least three to five months, and they will have rice and maybe meat for every meal. When the northern army is over, they will be able to take care of their bodies after years of losses, and they will be able to do farm work or part-time labor. No matter what, they are all good players.
If you are lucky and make some achievements or something, you will make a lot of money.
As for fatigue and hardship, it is nothing to men like them. After eating and sleeping, they will definitely be alive and kicking.
"What a shame, I have been working in the government office for more than thirty years, and I still see people rushing to join the labor force once!"
The subordinate, known as Lao Wang, looked at the excited people, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, cursed fiercely, and then ordered the government officials to start working.
Ordinary people were rushing to participate in the labor force, while some gentry and wealthy businessmen gathered. For example, at the manor of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce in Suzhou City, President Ye Longxi and others gathered.
"Everyone, the imperial court is seeking to build slaves in the north. I want to take the opportunity to call for donations of silver in Suzhou City to use as military supplies.
First of all, this is the justice of our family and country. Although we are usually a bit arrogant, this is the justice of our family and country. Since we have the power, we will do what we can.
Secondly, donating money can restore our reputation and reputation, build momentum for our upcoming department store, and play the emotional card..."
"President Ye, dear family heads, something happened outside!"
Before Ye Longxi finished speaking, a servant rushed in and said out of breath: "Family heads, Sun Chunyang is calling for donations in front of the department store supply and marketing cooperative..."
"What?"
"This guy has such a keen sense of smell!"
Ye Longxi stood up in shock and said hurriedly without waiting for anyone's reaction: "Everyone, this is not a dispute between us and Sun Chunyang, it is for the future stability of the Ming Dynasty.
When the Ming Dynasty is stable and the people are rich, we can earn more. Regardless of whether you donate or not, I have decided to donate ten thousand taels! "
After saying this, Ye Longxi walked directly outside. Everyone behind him looked at each other, with a trace of entanglement, hesitation, and determination in their eyes...
Sun Chunyang stood on a table, holding a gong and banging it, attracting countless passers-by.
"Everyone, the imperial court is going north to attack Jiannu. This is the result of what I have been waiting for for several years. We cannot carry it with our hands or shoulders. We go to the battlefield to give merit to Jiannu.
But we still have some savings. Since we can't go to the battlefield, we will let the soldiers have enough food. Therefore, I think I will personally donate 10,000 taels of silver and the department store supply and marketing cooperative will donate 50,000 taels of silver for military supplies! "
As soon as Sun Chunyang opened his mouth, everyone was shocked.
They thought it was the Department Store Supply and Marketing Cooperative that was going to run some kind of promotion, but it turned out that they were donating money to the Bei Bei Bei Concubine.
"Everyone, this time it is not only the Northern Conquest of Slavery, but also the Fuso Army in North Korea that will be killed. Have you forgotten that Fuso's Japanese pirates have repeatedly harassed us over the years? How much harm have they caused to us?
It is good to plunder everything. It is common for families to be destroyed. Now that we finally want to take revenge, it is very reasonable to donate some. "
As soon as these words came out, the people who were already in a daze started talking. Southeast has been suffering from Japanese pirates for many years. They may not have experienced it.
But their previous generations were all victims, and their genealogy and county annals clearly recorded this.
"Hahaha... Shopkeeper Sun said it well..."
A hearty laugh came from behind, and everyone turned around and saw that it was Cao San, the leader of the Suzhou Hall of the Cao Gang.
Cao San walked to the table: "Shopkeeper Sun, although our Cao Gang is a gangster force and even violates the laws of the Ming Dynasty, we are people of the Ming Dynasty first, and we still understand the righteousness of our family and country.
This time shopkeeper Sun initiated a donation of silver for military supplies, and our Caobang Suzhou Hall also joined in the fun and donated 20,000 taels of silver. "
"Hall Master Cao, what you said today really made Ye look at him in a new light. He is right to say that every time he slaughters more dogs in a righteous way!"
The person who made the noise was Ye Longxi, the head of the Ye family, who hurried over, followed by more than twenty wealthy businessmen from Suzhou City.
Listening to Ye Longxi's voice, Cao San's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. He turned to look at everyone and said coldly: "Master Ye, you have to choose the right occasion to pick something!"
