Ming Zuo

Chapter 67 The Thought of Founding an Army
Zuo Xianmei divided it ten times in total and bought eyebrow pencils from different stores.

Zuo Menggeng checked them one by one, most of them were graphite, and the rest were charcoal.

"These are for you."

The charcoal thrush was useless, so Zuo Menggeng gave it to Zuo Xianmei.

Seeing so many thrushes, Zuo Xianmei fainted.

"This...how can this be used?"

It can't be used for a lifetime.

Zuo Menggeng thought about it too, but suddenly had an idea.

"Sister, look, in addition to drawing eyebrows, can these eyebrow pens be able to write on paper? You say, how about using them as pens? Many times, are they more convenient than brushes?"

What Zuo Menggeng thought of was a pencil.

In this era, writing and painting are all done with brushes.

But this kind of pen is very beautiful for writing and drawing, but it is very troublesome to use, far less than a pencil.

Especially for surveying and drawing, document writing, etc., pencil is more convenient.

Zuo Menggeng told Zuo Xianmei how to make pencils.

"You're at home, and you have nothing to do anyway. Why don't you find some people to help my brother make this pencil? Well done, I'll pay you a penny for each one."

For this sister, Zuo Menggeng had long wanted to make a transformation.

No matter how busy you are, there is always no chance.

Making it with pencil is a good starting point.

As time goes by, subtly, this little sister will definitely have a different life.

Since it was to help Zuo Menggeng, Zuo Xianmei naturally agreed happily.

"It's good to be able to help my brother, the wages and so on, forget it."

Zuo Menggeng didn't see it that way.

"We are brothers and sisters, and you should help. But what about the others? They have something to do in the mansion. Being called by you to make pencils will definitely delay the original work. If you don’t talk about it, you will definitely be unwilling in your heart. When you work, you will not be so happy. If you can make money, do you think they are still unwilling?”

This kind of analysis of human nature is obviously not something Zuo Xianmei can think of.

After a few words, she learned a lot, and she no longer refused.

After getting the graphite, Zuo Menggeng did it himself, and with the help of Zuo Rong and Zuo Hua, it was smashed into pieces.

However, the brick kiln has not yet been completed, and it is not yet necessary to take out the refractory bricks for the time being.

The rear battalion ushered in the first batch of troops.

There are not many people, only a hundred or so.

But this group is special because they are all literate.

Twenty-one scholars and more than [-] children.

These scholars should have had a good life and enjoyed the treatment of a superior person.

Unfortunately, this is the end of tomorrow.

In the case of the country's financial collapse, it would be good to be able to take care of the Juren class.

As for Xiucai and Tongsheng, they are actually no different from ordinary people.

Therefore, under the natural disaster of Jifu, these people also lost their homes and land, and became refugees, suffering from the threat of displacement and starvation.

In the end, all decency was lost.

When recruiting workers at the wharf, these scholars also actively signed up for their own stomachs and their families, and became part of the labor force.

In fact, Zuo Menggeng knew about the existence of these people for a long time, but he has always been indifferent, watching these people just like ordinary refugees, go down the river to fish for boats and roll in mud ponds.

There is only one purpose, and that is to make these people accept labor reform.

After all, he used to be a scholar, and his thoughts and experiences were different from those of ordinary people.

If you get them back on your feet too quickly, it will fuel their arrogance and bring them back to being a superior person.

But after reform through labor, it was different.

This kind of extremely heavy physical labor, on the one hand, can take away their arrogance and arrogance, and at the same time, it can make them feel the suffering of people's livelihood.

Facts have proved that this approach is very effective.

When more than a hundred scholars stood in front of Zuo Menggeng, it was obvious that they had become much more stable and simple.

"What's your name?"

Zuo Menggeng's question was very straightforward. If it was in the past, he would definitely be ridiculed and ridiculed by these scholars and disdain to communicate.

But today, such words make them feel no discomfort.

"I tell you, my name is Chen Zhi."

The person who answered was a middle-aged man in his thirties.Although the body is thin, it can still be seen that the muscles hidden under the clothes are all muscles.

"Are you a scholar?"

Chen Zhi was stunned for a moment, showing an unbearable look from the past, and then it became normal again.

"I am a scholar of Hejian Palace in the first year of Tianqi."

"How did you become a refugee?"

Chen Zhi's expression fluctuated again, and she didn't want to speak a few times.But under the pressure of Zuo Menggeng, he still said it.

"Last year there was a severe drought, and the family's fields could not grow food, so I did what I deserved, but I still couldn't get enough to eat. Later, the refugees made trouble, and the family's house was burnt down. I had nowhere to go with my wife and children, so I had to beg everywhere and traveled all the way. , to Linqing."

Zuo Menggeng asked: "You are a scholar, and you are famous. You didn't go to go to your relatives, or seek help from your peers?"

Chen Zhi laughed silently, full of desolation.

"What kind of classmates are Xiucai? Who would call Xiucai brothers and sisters? My family has been farming for generations, and my old parents have worked hard to cultivate and support me to study. Before I was admitted to Xiucai, the second old man had already become sick and died. Now I want to come and read this sage. What's the use of books?"

Zuo Menggeng did not let him go.

"Since you are a scholar, you should be able to get rice from the government, isn't it enough to support a family?"

It's okay not to say this, when Chen Zhi said it, Chen Zhi gritted his teeth and was furious.

"Lumi? Hehe, the dog officials in the house and county have long since given away the glutinous rice to the greedy ink. For six years, I haven't seen a single grain of glutinous rice."

Zuo Menggeng was frightened.

Knowing that the politics of the late Ming Dynasty was dark and officials were greedy, but I didn't expect that even the welfare of scholars was greedy.

"Did you not make trouble? With so many scholars making trouble, how could Xuezheng turn a blind eye?"

Knowing that he didn't understand, Chen Zhi explained it in detail.

"Thousands of people don't know. Master Xuezheng is far away in the capital. How can the younger ones see it easily? The officials in the government and county are in tandem, and they are in a mess.

Zuo Menggeng still couldn't figure it out.

"Among the scholars, there are many rich and powerful people, don't they dare to stand out?"

All scholars have to go through the process of being a child, being a scholar, and recruiting people before they can enter the officialdom.

The children of the aristocratic families also have to be admitted as scholars before they can prepare for the examination.

How could such people be afraid of officials?

Chen Zhi's bitter smile was full of bitter tears.

"It's a big clan, so how can you care about the mere rice? Collusion with your parents and officials to occupy a few more acres of land, don't you have everything?"

Zuo Menggeng understood.

By the end of the Ming Dynasty, not everyone could enjoy the status of being a scholar.

As at any time, it is only those who have the power to seize the interests.

Fame is just a title, what's the difference between those without power and power and ordinary people?

There are so many talents and children in the world that they deserve to be called scholars?

"This time I am recruiting soldiers from the rear camp, and everyone has signed up. From now on, they will be warriors. Without the glory of scholars, may they be reconciled?"

Another child student, Jiang Wei, stood up.

"Qianzuo, look at me and wait. I can't even get enough to eat, and my relatives are waiting to be fed. The world is big, can I still have a big belly? In any case, it is serious for the family to survive."

The scholar Wang Yun even said: "The imperial court will not even give me a way to survive. I will find a way out on my own. What else can I say?"

For a time, the crowd was turbulent, and everyone was full of anger.

The scene of a dynasty, in fact, does not need to look at the people.

Just look at the group of people who should be the cornerstone of the dynasty, and you can get some insight.

The Ming Dynasty emphasized literature over martial arts, and the status of literati was respected.

But now that the scholars and children who are the foundation of the literati are starved of food, and it is better to die than life, then this dynasty is not far from being wiped out.

Zuo Menggeng waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"Since everyone has no concerns about joining the army, then let's open the skylight and speak eloquently, so that everyone can do things with peace of mind."

It is a matter of survival in the future, these talents and young people are all energized, waiting to see what the young master can do.

"You are all scholars. Compared with ordinary people, one of the biggest advantages is that you can read and write, and you are also more reasonable. This is your advantage, and I hope you can make use of it."

Seeing that everyone was confused and confused, Zuo Menggeng continued: "The army, or soldiers, must also read and write."

When many people showed disdain on their faces, Zuo Menggeng's words swept through like thunder.

"The major event of the country is in the Rong and the sacrifice. Since it is a major event for the country, how can you be careless? What is a battlefield? A battlefield is a victory filled with countless lives. Is life important? If it is not important, why are you willing to give up? The dignity of a scholar, come here to join the army? Your life is important, but the life of the soldiers is not important?"

This view is unique in this era, and the impact it brings to this group of readers is unparalleled.

While everyone was shocked, Zuo Menggeng stood out.

"In an army, if everyone can read, read and write from top to bottom, what will it look like? The order is given, and there is no obstruction. Even the most ordinary soldier knows how to fight. , and also know their responsibilities, think about how terrible such an army would be?"

In the army of this era, there are very few scholars among them.Even many of the main generals are slaughtering Chinese who do not know big characters.

Zuo Menggeng actually asked the rear camp to read and write from top to bottom, which was shocking to the world.

"Therefore, the first thing you do when you come to the army is to read and read!"

Well, bigger shocks are in the back.

A group of scholars and young students looked at each other, thinking that Zuo Menggeng was confused.

They are readers, they are literate!

"In the past, your reading and literacy methods were not good enough. Here, you have to learn new reading and literacy methods. Then, what you need to do is to teach every soldier. Whoever does it well will be an officer. Waiting for him. Whoever does it badly, then I'm sorry, I can only be the leader."

In the end, it was his own army, Zuo Menggeng had no worries at all when he tossed about it.

Since we want to change the world, we must start by changing our own army.

If you want to change it, change it completely!

(End of this chapter)