A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 72 Poverty
October 25th in the eighth year of Chongzhen is already November [-]th in the Gregorian calendar of later generations.

The light snow season has already passed, and the weather is getting colder and colder. The cold north wind is blowing, and the iron armor on the body is like ice and iron, and the coldness hits my heart.

Despite the cold wind, Wang Dou and his party just steered their horses and marched steadily.

A few flag bearers rode their horses first, followed by the gun flags of each team, plus Wang Dou's five-party flag, a dozen bright red and yellow flags fluttered in the cold wind.

A part of Yebushou had been scattered far away, beside Wang Dou, Han Chao led the rest of Yebushou to walk beside Wang Dou.Xie Yike was also in the middle army. He was riding on a horse, but his body was constantly twisting from side to side.

Xie Yike didn't know how to ride a horse at first, but after entering Jingbian Fort, he quickly got to know Han Zhong. clumsy.

Seeing his appearance, Han Zhong couldn't help calling out: "Little Ke'er, you're not good enough, you're still too timid!"

Xie Yike said unconvinced: "How much older are you than me? So you call me Xiao Keer?"

The two started bickering, Han Chao saw it, and smiled at Wang Dou: "Brother Xie Yike's skill is still good, just need to sharpen it, and he will be a very good officer."

Wang Dou smiled and said: "He is still young, and he has never made any military achievements. If he is promoted at this time, I am afraid that he will not be able to convince everyone!"

In Jingbian Fort, military capability is the priority. After the extermination of bandits, several team leaders were promoted in each team, just to fill the gap left by Gao Shiyin and others.However, Xie Yike had never participated in any battles. Although he was his brother-in-law, Wang Dou would not promote him because of this, breaking the rules of Jingbian Fort.

Han Chao nodded, looked at Xie Yike with admiration, and said: "I have tried him before, he is good at fist, foot and archery, and he still has the ability to be the leader of the team. Why don't you transfer him to our team."

Wang Dou nodded slowly and said: "Forget it, let you discipline him well!"

Right now I am short of people, Xie Yike is capable, so it would be a pity to let him run errands by my side all day, and it would be better if he were put on the Korean and North Korean teams.Han Chao is a quiet person, with him in charge of Xie Yike, Wang Dou can rest assured.

……

They were one person and two horses, walking fast, and after a short while on the road, Shun Township Fort appeared in front of everyone's eyes.

Shunxiang Fort is located at the foot of Busan, on the west side of the ancient Meiyuguan Avenue. It is said that Licheng first originated in the era of the Yellow Emperor. To the west is the ruins of Hanpan County, and to the east is the Shunxiang Fort at this time.At present, the perimeter of the fort is 1000 to 11 meters, and the wall height is [-] meters, not counting the height of the female wall and the tower. The outer wall is covered with blue bricks.

When Wang Dou and others arrived in front of the south gate of Shunxiang Fort, the avenue was already full of officials from the fort who came to greet them.

Thousands of households in the fort, several team managers, officials of all sizes, etc., are standing in the cold wind to welcome them.At the front of the crowd was Shun Xiangbao's official Shun Shun, Deputy Qianhu Lin Daofu, with a dejected expression, and beside him stood Zhenfu Chi Dacheng.

As for why Lin Daofu is still in Shunxiang Fort, this is an accident. Originally, Lin Daofu had been the third child in Shunxiang Fort for many years. Can't help but be happy.

Unexpectedly, after a few days of happiness, the bad news came that his position in Zhoucheng seemed to have been taken by someone else, and it was hopeless to be transferred to Zhoucheng.In addition, the defense officer has no role, and Lin Daofu is empty at both ends. According to the people in his family, Lin Daofu has been so angry that he hasn't eaten for several days.

Under the double blow, it is understandable that Lin Daofu was downcast.

He kept a stern face and did not speak, and the governor next to him, Chi Dacheng, was not a talkative person either, both of them stood blankly, waiting silently.

The two people in front had nothing to say, but that didn't mean the people behind didn't speak. Behind them, several team officials stamped their feet and clapped their hands, just talking softly, waiting for the arrival of the new defender, Wang Dou.

Yuan Xu Zhongjun followed Xu Lu and chatted with others, Wang Dou's uncle Zhong Zhengxian also stood proudly in the crowd, whispering softly with the smiling official Feng Dachang.It can be clearly seen that everyone around him is very polite to Zhong Zhengxian.Apparently, Zhong Zhengxian's big mouth has already spread his relationship with Wang Dou to the streets and alleys.Seeing Wang Dou's face, how dare everyone be rude?
Everyone was waiting, and suddenly there was a commotion in the crowd, everyone poked their heads and shouted: "Master Defender King is here!"

Sure enough, when the smoke and dust billowed and the banners were unfurled, Wang Dou and his party came from afar, led by Lin Daofu, everyone came up to meet them.

When Wang Dou and his party arrived in front of the crowd, everyone was taken aback, especially the team officers in the fort.

Wang Dou's nearly a hundred people were all wearing iron armor, one person and two horses, all of them were full of vigor, they breathed white breath, but they just stood proudly on the horses, even the war horses under them kept snorting.Take out any of these soldiers and horses, and they are all better than the servants under Xu Lu's command.Seeing this military appearance, many people breathed a sigh of relief. With this capital, it is no wonder that Wang Dou can serve as the defense officer of Shun Township Fort.

It's just that everyone can't imagine how Wang Dou, as a small village chief in Jingbian Fort, managed to conjure up these powerful soldiers and horses?
Lin Daofu also stared straight at Wang Dou's soldiers and horses, with a complicated expression on his face, maybe he couldn't be the defender because he didn't have these soldiers and horses in his hands.

Wang Dou got off his horse, and surrounded by Han Chao and Han Zhong, strode towards the crowd.

Led by Lin Daofu, everyone stepped forward to welcome him.

Lin Daofu stepped forward to salute and said: "Your Excellency has come from afar to work hard, and the officials are here waiting for you!"

He saluted Wang Dou for two times, and Wang Dou saluted slightly.

Looking at Wang Dou, Lin Daofu felt very uncomfortable. Once upon a time, Wang Dou wanted to salute him as an official. Unexpectedly, after a while, he himself had to salute Wang Dou. This is really 30 years in Hedong and 30 years in Hexi.

Looking at Wang Dou's young and energetic face, Lin Daofu felt even more uncomfortable. Once upon a time, the position of the defense officer was originally his own, but he was about to get it, but he lost it again.Think about it, I am 46 years old this year, and I am about to turn [-]. I have been working as a deputy for so many years, so there is no chance of becoming a regular?

Looking at the nearly fifty-year-old officer in front of him, wearing the uniform of a deputy thousand household officer, saluting himself, Wang Dou also felt a little sympathetic. Perhaps because of the double blow, Lin Daofu's original tall and burly figure had already bent a little. The smell of wind and frost on his face became stronger, his temples became more gray, and his originally sharp eyes dimmed a lot.

But sympathy belongs to sympathy, of course Wang Dou will not give away his official position, so he can only sympathize spiritually.

After Lin Daofu came forward to salute, then the governor Chi Dacheng came forward to meet Wang Dou, and bowed to Wang Dou for three times.There was no expression on his face, but there was nothing wrong with his etiquette.

Then Lin Daofu introduced everyone in the castle, several officials and officials for Wang Dou.The six officers in charge of the team all have the rank of hundreds of households. Among them, Xu Lu is of course an old acquaintance. He just came up to meet him with a smile on his face. Wang Dou said a few words to him kindly. Xu Lu felt that Wang Dou I am overjoyed at the importance I attach to myself, and I am very touched by the light in front of me.

There was also a team officer named Sun Sanjie who also left a deep impression on Wang Dou.This person is in his 30s, with a rough appearance, but a soft voice, especially with a large tumor on his forehead, which is unforgettable.Hearing from Lin Daofu's introduction that this person is good at using bird guns, Wang Dou was attracted to him.

In addition, there are several scribes in the Linglifang.

Feng Dachang, the official, was about 45 or six years old, and his courtesy name was Jingxing. He was in charge of all clerical affairs inside and outside the fort.

The pawn, Han Yu, is about 30 years old.

Secretary Guo Zhongju was about 40 years old.

Zandian Wang Zhong and Zandian Ma Zhong, both in their 40s, are in charge of managing the granary and forage field in the fort.

Wang Dou smiled and greeted them one by one, the military officials in the fort are all useful to him, and he will try his best to win them over if he can.Seeing Wang Dou's kind expression, everyone was relieved. It seemed that the new defense master was easy to get along with.

Among the officials, Wang Dou saw his uncle Zhong Zhengxian. He smiled and said, "Uncle, how are you doing in the castle?"

Zhong Zheng looked beaming, and said in a voice that could be heard by everyone in the audience: "Dou'er, uncle is fine, it's freezing cold, and it's been a hard journey?"

His words drew envious and jealous eyes from the audience.

……

Lin Daofu glanced at Zhong Zhengxian, and said to Wang Dou: "My lord, it's cold outside the fort, let's go into the fort!"

Wang Dou nodded, and everyone entered the castle together.

Nashun Township Fort has two gates, the south gate is also called Pingding Gate, and there are towers built on the city wall.

Everyone entered the fort from the Pingding Gate, and Wang Dou rode his horse on the street, feeling deeply that this was the first time he looked at everything in the fort with the eyes of the master, and the feeling was different.

Compared with Jingbian Fort, Shunxiang Fort is indeed much more lively, at least there are many more construction shops along the street, and the flow of people is also a little bit more.However, Jingbian Fort has one thing that Shunxiang Fort does not have, that is, the cleanliness and vitality.

Although the military households in Jingbian Fort are generally poor, everyone is full of vigor and vitality. There is an aura full of hope for future life in their eyes. Everyone has their own goals in life. The fort is also clean and tidy everywhere. Living in it, Enough to put you in a good mood.

On the other hand, in Shunxiangbao, the streets are dilapidated and dirty, the houses are low and dilapidated, garbage is everywhere, and children in scanty clothes run around.Those grown-ups, no matter men or women, were dressed in rags and looked numb, as if they had lost all confidence in life due to poverty.

Looking at these military households, Wang Dou was in a heavy heart. When he came to Shunxiang Castle before, he just passed by as a passer-by and didn't take many things to heart.Now that I have become the defense officer of Shun Township Fort, these people have become soldiers and civilians under my rule. Can I change their lives and win their hearts into my own use?
Everyone rode their horses, but only went inward.

The Qianhu government hall is located on the East Street on the east side. The main streets are all paved with bluestone slabs, but they are in disrepair and full of potholes.

Along the way, some alleys and alleys appeared on both sides of the street from time to time. Seeing Wang Dou's armored army approaching, many soldiers and civilians stood beside them in surprise and fear, just looking at Wang Dou and others.Some merchants also pushed their doors out one after another, looking at this different army on the street.

Seeing their awe-inspiring eyes, Han Zhong, Xie Yike and the others were all elated, and they will be the masters of the castle from now on.A group of Jingbian Fort sergeants are also proud. From Jingbian Fort to Shunxiang Fort, it is considered a big place. Everyone stands up straight on the horse, and the iron hooves just rumble past, leaving behind a lot of amazed comments.

Lin Daofu rode beside Wang Dou, pointing out the buildings in the castle for Wang Dou from time to time, Wang Dou couldn't stop nodding.

Soon, everyone arrived in front of the Thousand Households Official Hall on East Street.

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There is one more tonight.

Ps: I finally have a helmsman, with tears streaming down my face.

(End of this chapter)