Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 172 A Different Frontier Town
Early the next morning, Jia Ying made all the preparations.He only took Xi'er and Babli with him on this westward trip. For this reason, Baochun and Lvrong disagreed life and death last night. Seeing that they couldn't be persuaded, they could only sleep in their clothes and have a night of carnival. Both of them are tired by now.

"Okay, you just take good care of your family, and when you have nothing to do, go to accompany sister Yu'er, or go to Miss Qi to help me, so that I don't have to worry about it, it's a big help to me. I was tired all night last night. After I leave, let's take a good rest today." Jia Ying looked at the two who were still unwilling and comforted.

"Second master also said, it's not all your fault, I'm so ashamed!" Baochun is not like Lvrong, even though Chen Huan has been there twice, he still can't let go.

"I don't know who was shameless last night, one time is not enough, but one more time." Lv Rong joked aside.

"What a green velvet girl, you're making fun of me! I don't know how many poses you have learned?" Baochun replied.

Looking at the two people who were fighting with each other, and their proud capital like turbulent waves, Jia Ying wished to be free again before parting, but she just looked at the time, but she gave up the idea and went out with Xi'er and Babuli to meet Ning Rong. Going to the front street, the two of Baochun and Lvrong also dragged their exhaustion and wanted to see each other off.

This time, when Jia Ying left Beijing, everyone who could come to the Jia family came. After all, their identities were different. To this extent, it is enough to represent the lintel of the Jia family.

After meeting with everyone and bidding farewell to the old lady, Jia Yingfu left for the Beijing Palace.

There was already a long line in front of the gate of the palace, with officials accompanying the Ministry of War and assigned guards. The superior of these people was naturally Jia Ying, a member of the staff, and there were also tea horses, customs inspectors, The censors were supervised by various roads in Tuntian, and the Xiuyiwei sent a whole army of thousands of households to accompany them as guards.In addition, there are the officials and soldiers of the palace, as well as more than a dozen eunuchs, big and small, sent by the chief of ceremonies to serve.

The guard of ceremonies, the king's car, the big flags, the flag boards, and the car, ran across the entire street in front of the palace.

Jia Ying first inspected and inspected the subordinate personnel of the Ministry of War, and after Yingmao's roll call was correct, he entered the mansion to meet King Shui Rong of Beijing, and accompanied Shui Rong to the palace to pay homage to the Holy One, and the team left Beijing to the west in a mighty manner. and go.

According to the patrol route set by the Ministry of War, after leaving the capital, first go northwest through Xuanfu, then to Datong, Pianguan, Yansui, and finally to the Guyuan Western Army camp.As for the two towns of Jizhou and Liaodong in the east, King Beijing will choose another envoy to lead people to inspect.

Xuanhua Mansion is actually in Zhangjiakou generation, not very far from the capital, but because the focus of this trip is to find out about the impeachment of Prince Tengxi Army by the inspector censor, therefore, the patrol team is not too far away from Xuanhua. After staying for a long time, it was just a procedural inspection, and the team set off again.Moreover, Xuanhua Mansion is the first barrier of the capital. The energy and financial resources invested by the imperial court every year are unmatched by other towns. Moreover, it is close to the capital. Every year, the capital camp will come to rotate, so Xuanhua's military apoplexy summary Much better than other places, but only slightly better.

Jia Ying took a close look at the defenses of Xuanhua Mansion, and found that many fortress crenels were in disrepair for a long time, and the armor and firearms were not fully equipped.The most important thing is that the numbness revealed on the faces of the military households here made Jia Ying feel a lot heavier when he saw it.

Military households in Dagan are actually lower in status than civilian households (farmers, artisans), that is, higher than slaves, and military households cannot be changed from generation to generation.

There are probably three ways of origin of military households.One is that among the civilian households, Dingkou is grouped into the army, then this civilian household will be branded as a military household for generations and live within the scope of the prescribed guards.The second type is the population that the imperial court ordered to fill the border, automatically naturalized as a military household, and guarding the border for the generals. The military household registration cannot be changed from generation to generation.The last one, and the one with the lowest status, is the house of exiled criminals. Even if they are military households at the border, they are also the lowest kind.

The soldiers in the border town are usually Dingkou, who is a military household, and they are the so-called banner soldiers.There are only two tasks for the flag soldiers, one is to practice guarding, and the other is to cultivate the fields.

The reason why these people are numb is actually here.

The men in military households not only had to pay for their lives to fight, but also had to farm the land to support themselves.For small farmers, fighting and farming is actually nothing.The ridiculous thing is that they need to pay their own money to fight the war, prepare enough dry food and weapons, and pay taxes when they go home to farm. Xuanlongnian also issued a decree: all those who are over [-] years old, disabled, and young in the army are allowed to cultivate themselves. Food.Coupled with the exploitation and oppression of the frontier generals, it would be ridiculous to want these people to pay their lives to guard the frontier for Dagan.

Ye Baichuan wanted to reform the military system, and the emperor wanted to revive the glory of the frontier army.

But who of them knows that it is these lowest-level military households that are really related to the rise and fall of the army?If their problems are not solved, no matter how Dagan's military system is changed, it will actually be the same.

After all, in the eyes of the court and officials, military households are not civilians!
The team marched for more than ten days and arrived in Datong Town.

Since ancient times, Datong has been an important pass for the Central Plains Dynasty to defend against the Hu people in the north. The number of troops stationed in Datong and Shanxi Sanbian Pass is second only to Xuanhua Mansion.

Sanbian Pass is Yanmen, Ningwu and Denggu located in the south of Datong Town. These three passes are connected in a line and not far from each other.Together with Xingping Pass and Juyong Pass on the north side of the capital, it constitutes the second line of defense for defending the capital.

After arriving in Datong Town, Jia Ying obviously noticed that the military households living here seemed to have more smiles than the military households in Xuanhua Mansion.

Moreover, Datong Town, as one of the northernmost frontier towns, is not only not desolate, but very lively, with a much denser population than Xuanhua Mansion.

After careful observation, Jia Ying just discovered the doorway.

Because the business route is open!

If you want to get rich, build roads first.What is the road for?It's for trade.

The most important thing in the civilization exchange and information transmission between the two places in ancient times was actually the caravan traveling north and south.Not only did they bring much-needed items to the local area, but they also had incidental industries and avenues to get rich.

Along the way, Jia Ying saw quite a few caravans, ranging from dozens of people to hundreds of people.

Merchants are like a bend of running water, bringing life and vitality to the silent border town.

These merchants are unwilling to travel thousands of miles north, of course not for the military households living in the border town guards, but for the mutual market trade opened by the imperial court outside Datong Town. , its profit can be multiplied more than ten times.

Most of the merchants who can travel to and from Yanmen in Datong are local Shanxi merchants.

The border patrol team had just set foot on the border of Shanxi, and the chief soldier of Datong Town, Deng Enyu, Bo Pingcheng, had already sent out a welcome team to escort them all the way until they entered the Datong frontier fortress.

"Minister Deng Enyu, pay homage to the prince!"

A veteran in armor and over fifty years old bowed down before Wang Jia.

Wang Shuirong of Beijing came out of the chasing car, and before Shi Shi got out of the car, he said from a distance: "Please hurry up, the old man, the friendship between you and me, Xiao Wang can't be such a great gift as the old man." .”

An eunuch helped Shui Rong get out of the car, and Shui Rong stepped forward, hurriedly helping the veteran up.

Deng Enyu looked at Shui Rong, and said with a warm face: "Last year, I was shocked to hear that the old thousand-year-old fell into the sky. The veteran only felt as if the sky had fallen. However, he was charged with the important task of guarding the border, and he was not allowed to leave without purpose, so he couldn't see the old thousand-year-old off." The last journey is really a great regret for the old general in his life, and he only feels ashamed of the kindness he has given him to cultivate him. He never thought that he would see the prince again in the frontier fortress in his lifetime.

Shui Rong also said modestly: "It's all about Shiweng's concern. When the young king first took the title, he followed His Majesty's order to patrol the nine sides. He carried a huge burden on his shoulders and dared not relax. Now that he sees Shiweng, he feels at ease. Speaking of it , Xiao Wang and Shi Weng haven't seen each other for three years, Shi Weng is still healthy and strong!"

Deng Enyu smiled slightly and said, "Thanks to the blessings of old Chitose and the prince, the veteran is still in good health."

As he spoke, he introduced some officials who came with him to Shui Rong, one of whom was the guardian eunuch sent by the emperor, several deputy chief soldiers, and Deng Zitong, the son of Deng Enyu.

Shui Rong also called Jia Ying who was beside him, and introduced to Deng Enyu: "So that Shi Weng can get to know him, this is Jia Ying, the current member of the Ministry of War after Ning Rong and Second Duke, who was ordered to accompany Xiao Wang on the tour this time. "

"My subordinate, Jia Ying, pay my respects to Old General Deng." Jia Ying stepped forward to greet him.

Deng Enyu looked at Jia Ying and nodded kindly, and said, "It turns out that it is after the Second Duke Ning Rong, the family of our old friends, nephew, don't be too polite."

Fucai looked at Shui Rong again and said: "Your Highness has come from a long distance, and the journey has been tiring. The veteran has already prepared a banquet in the mansion, so please move to the city."

Shui Rong went back to drive, Deng Enyu and a group of officials stood by, Jia Ying rode a horse and joined the crowd, accompanied by Deng Zitong who was a few years older than him.

"My dear brother came from the middle of the capital, but are you still used to the environment here?" On the way back to the city, Deng Zitong chatted with Jia Ying very acquaintedly.

Jia Ying smiled slightly and said, "Brother Lao Shi is worried, but the wind and sand in the frontier fortress are a bit heavier, and everything else is fine."

Hearing this, Deng Zitong said with a smile: "It's autumn now, and the frontier fortress has just blown up. It's a pity that my brother came at the wrong time. If I came a few months earlier, I would be able to show my brother a taste of the grass and horses outside the fortress." The scenery full of cattle and sheep, although not as elegant as the Central Plains, is also a major feature of my frontier."

The two chatted a few words, but they heard Jia Ying pointing to the bustling market in the city and said: "Brother Shi, this bustling scene is very rare even in the Central Plains. It can be seen that Shi Bo It’s easy to rule.”

"My virtuous brother, it's absurd. It's all thanks to the imperial court's efforts to open up the border trade. There are more talents here. Among the nine borders that can enjoy the benefits of the trade, there are only Datong and Liaodong towns."

"Brother, is this place always so lively?" Jia Ying asked curiously.

(End of this chapter)