Bafang Fort was built in the fourth year of Hongwu. It originally had more than 100 military households and more than 500 men, women, old and children. After that, it continued to flourish and multiply. It reached its peak during the period of Emperor Hongzhi. The population in the fort exceeded With a count of more than three thousand, it is one of the largest castles within a hundred miles, and it is famous for its prosperous population.
After that, it started to go downhill.
War, plague, drought, locust plague... coupled with the exploitation of corrupt officials, the military households in the fort fled to death, and their number continued to decrease. By the second year of Chongzhen, there were only less than 1,500 people left, and Still decreasing...
"Dang!—dang!"
"It's a discussion, it's a discussion... Let's all go to the Tutu Temple to discuss the matter!"
In the morning, there was a crisp sound of gongs in Bafang Fort, and then the military households walked out of their homes one after another and gathered towards the center of the fort. There was a small Earth Temple here, which worshiped Grandpa Earth and Grandma Earth.
There is also a platform in front of the temple, which is about three feet long, two feet wide and four feet high. It is repaired with large pieces of bluestone and is very clean.
A tall, thin, middle-aged man stood on the bluestone platform, wearing a half-worn uniform of a sixth-grade military attache. He was Gao Xing'an, a member of the 100 households of Happang Fort.
Seeing that the military households had basically arrived, Gao Baihu took two steps forward and began to speak loudly: "Folks, please be quiet and listen to what I have to say. There was a severe drought last year and the crops in the fields were not harvested well. At least the output was reduced." Halfway through, since the beginning of spring this year, we haven’t seen a drop of rain for several months, and crops have died in patches. I am afraid that this year’s harvest will not be as good as last year. If this continues, in a few months, every household will be cut off. Dun, people are going to starve to death... I called the villagers here today to work together and think of ways to survive this famine!"
…
"If there is any other way, just follow the rules of our ancestors."
"That's right, according to the rules of our ancestors, everyone in the fort will serve as soldiers. Not only will this save a lot of food rations, but it will also make money for the family!"
…
What should you do if you encounter a famine year and have no food to eat?
Selling fields, selling cattle, selling furniture, selling houses... After all their belongings are sold, they take their wives and children to escape and beg on the streets. This is the choice of most people.
The Yulin area is different. The people are tough, aggressive and aggressive. Once there is a famine, the first thing people think of is to join the army.
It's great to be a soldier. You have military uniforms to wear, food to eat, and military pay. You can also go into battle to kill the enemy and exchange the enemy's heads for silver. If you kill a lot, you may have the opportunity to be promoted to a higher position or to have a wife. , Returning home in rich clothes, how majestic that must be!
"Let's go to Yulin City to serve as soldiers. It's closer to home and it's easier to come back to visit relatives!"
"No, my eldest brother is a soldier in Yulin City, under the command of the General Military Mansion. He said that the officers are very black-hearted. They don't treat soldiers as human beings at all. The food they eat is full of sand, and they often deduct military pay. He I have been a soldier for more than three years and I have not even been able to send back a single tael of silver. It was all corrupted by officials."
"Why don't you go to Ningxia Town? The situation there should be better!"
"Alas, the world is as dark as crows. In this world, there is no official who does not drink the blood of his soldiers!"
…
Just as the military households were discussing where it would be better to serve as soldiers, a group of riders rushed into the Bafang Fort and quickly came to the side of the Earth Temple.
The leader was a handsome young man who looked to be less than twenty years old. He was riding a divine charcoal fire dragon colt and was wearing the uniform of a fifth-grade garrison officer. The rest were all soldiers.
Out of fear of the officials, the military households in the fort retreated to both sides. One hundred households, Gao Gao'an, jumped off the bluestone platform and quickly came closer. He clasped his fists and saluted: "Bafang Fort's one hundred households, Gao Gao'an, joined the defense. Sir, do you know your surname?"
"I am Qin Feng, the garrison officer of Baichengzi!"
"Ah, you are Qin Feng, Mr. Qin!"
Gao Gao'an has long heard that a young hero emerged from the Yulin Right Guard-Seven Kills Fort.
First, in Lianglang Mountain, he killed the second leader of the sand bandits, Gemul, with one shot, and rescued the Xue family's caravan; then he went deep into the desert and used clever tricks to kill the notorious leader of the sand bandits, Hou Wanjin, and in one fell swoop Removed the lair of the bandits.
Later, in the arena of the primary school military field, he defeated the most powerful general in Yulin Town, Lei Dapeng, in public, and defeated him twice... Then he was appreciated by the governor of the three sides, Mr. Yang, and was promoted to the Baichengzi garrison. official.
Now on the ground of Yulin, when Qin Feng's name is mentioned, it can be said that everyone knows it. Countless young people regard him as their idol, and countless girls regard him as their dream lover, including their own two daughters, who talk all day long. Qin Feng keeps silent, even talking in his sleep is like "Qin Lang", he is almost a demon!
Unexpectedly, I met Qin Feng this year. Looking at his appearance, he is younger and more handsome than the legend!
…
"I don't know, Mr. Guard, why do you come to our Bafang Fort today?"
"Baichengzi is forming a new army under the orders of Lord Yang, the governor of the three sides. I am here to recruit troops today. I wonder if there are any military children in your fort who are willing to sign up to join the army. If so, as long as they are selected, Yes, I will pay you two taels of silver as settlement allowance first, and from now on you will have good food and drink, and monthly wages, and I will never default on it!"
As he spoke, Qin Feng waved his hand, and two soldiers lifted a box from horseback. After opening it, it was filled with white money.
"Silver, really silver!"
"As a soldier, you get two taels of silver as your settlement allowance. This Qin guard is really generous!"
"A person who is generous can definitely be as good as his opponents. I really want to serve as a soldier under Master Qin Guards, but it's a pity... Alas!"
Seeing the whole box of silver, the military households immediately became commotion, and many people wanted to join the army. Unfortunately, no one dared to come and sign up.
It turns out that more than 20 days ago, Yulin Town - the General Military Mansion secretly issued a message, warning the military households in the forts that no one was allowed to serve as a soldier under Qin Feng, the garrison officer of Baichengzi. If they dared to disobey, they would be retaliated against. The whole family.
The commander-in-chief, Jiang Rang, was famous for being domineering and ruthless, and the military households were afraid of him, so no one dared to sign up to join the army.
Seeing that no one signed up, Qin Feng said: "There are many young men in your castle, so why is no one willing to sign up to join the army?"
"Well... back to the Lord Guard, there has been a severe drought in the area for two consecutive years, and countless crops in the fields have died. The villagers in the fort are discussing how to dig a few more large canals to divert water for irrigation during this summer's free time. , this can resist the drought; the work of digging canals is too hard. If all the young men go to join the army, leaving a group of old, weak, women and children behind, they may not be able to dig it in three to five years, so no one signs up to join the army. , please forgive me, Lord Guard!"
"Well, there have been years of drought, and it is indeed important to dig canals to divert water. In this case, I won't force it. Let's go and have a look at other military forts."
"ah?"
Digging canals to divert water was just an excuse, not even a ghost could fool him. Gao Baihu thought that after telling him, Qin Feng would be furious, and then he wouldn't let him go and punished him severely.
I was also prepared to be punished. I had no choice but to offend the guards and the commander-in-chief. Compared with the two, I could only offend the junior officer.
Unexpectedly, Qin Feng was not angry at all, but turned his horse's head and prepared to leave. Is this guard master so good-tempered?
While Gao Baihu was suspicious, several more riders entered Bafang Fort. They seemed to be soldiers brought by Qin Feng.
"See my lord!"
"How's the situation?"
"Returning to your Majesty, we went to Qingshui Fort and Anseburg respectively. All the military households in the two places enthusiastically signed up to join the army. There was a fierce competition. Your Majesty was also invited to select soldiers."
"Okay, go and tell the military households in Qingshui Fort and Ansai Fort that anyone who wants to join the army must immediately gather by the Qingshui River. I will conduct the selection there. As long as you are selected, you will immediately be given a settling-in allowance of two taels of silver. , never break your promise.”
"promise!"
Several soldiers agreed, immediately turned their horses and conveyed the order.
Qin Feng took the rest of his soldiers to Qingshui River fifteen miles away, preparing to select soldiers there.
Looking at the retreating figures, the military households in Bafang Fort began to whisper: "Have you heard that the military households in nearby Qingshui Fort and Anse Fort have signed up to join the army? Aren't they afraid of retaliation from the General Military Mansion?"
"Hmph, in a year of great disaster, every family is in ruins, and people are about to starve to death. What's more terrifying? It means death no matter what, so it's better to be a well-fed ghost than a starving ghost!"
"That's right. Since the people in Qingshui Fort and Anseburg are not afraid, what should we be afraid of? Let's also sign up to join the army. As long as we are selected, we will have a settlement fee of two taels of silver, which is enough for the whole family for a while! .”
………
In ancient times, crabs had six knees and two claws. They looked so terrifying that no one dared to eat them.
But one day, a brave foodie stood up and became the first crab eater, and then the second, third, and fourth crab eaters followed. This is an example. the power of.
In the same way, the commander-in-chief Jiang Rang has been domineering in Yulin Town for many years. The military households are afraid of him like a tiger, and no one dares to offend him.
But when someone steps forward and touches the tiger's butt first, the second, third, fourth...will follow.
"Folks, calm down, calm down, don't be impulsive... Let's see and then talk, see and then talk!"
After learning that the military households in the two nearby military forts had already enthusiastically signed up to join the army, the military households in Bafang Fort were immediately less frightened and clamored to sign up to join the army, but they were stopped by Gao Gao'an, a hundred households.
In Gao Xing'an's opinion, this matter is too important to act rashly. It is better to see whether it is true or false before making a decision:
If the military households in Qingshui Fort and Anse Fort really signed up to join the army, then the people in Bafang Fort would join the army together. If the law is right, the public will not be blamed. Even if the General Military Mansion found out afterwards, it would be impossible to find so many people. Trouble.
On the contrary, if Qin Feng is lying, no military households in Qingshui Fort and Anse Fort will join the army at all, and the people in Bafang Fort will also not join the army, so as not to stand out and suffer retaliation.
The military households thought it was reasonable, so they went to the Qingshui River in groups to see whether this matter was true or not...
