Ming Empire

Chapter 38 Recruitment
On the fourth day after Cao Yue arrived in Datong, he also ordered all the town troops in Datong Prefecture to gather outside the city, and he wanted to personally review and start reorganization.

The Datong Town Army was scattered in many places inside and outside Datong City. After Cao Yue’s military order was issued, these soldiers and horses, which can be described as mobs, also came to the school grounds located in the city, waiting for the review of the new Datong General Soldier Cao Yue. .

There are several military camps of different sizes inside and outside Datong City. The military camps in the city are relatively small in scale and can only guard a few thousand troops. Cao Yue chose the headquarters of the Datong Army Army outside the city. The barracks, where he also set up his camp.

While waiting for the arrival of the soldiers and horses of the battalions, Cao Yue has also been observing the situation of the three thousand soldiers and horses left behind in Datong.Of course, Cao Yue couldn't see any surprises. What he saw could only be described as very disappointed.

The results of the review naturally did not surprise Cao Yue. Except for the three thousand soldiers he brought, the rest of the soldiers who stayed in Datong were really just a mob without even a soldier.It's a joke to have them line up, let alone practice.

At the end of the review, Cao Yue, who was full of anger, immediately began to clean up the people. Of the 3000 troops left behind by the Datong Town Army, Cao Yue cleared 500 of them, leaving only [-] young and middle-aged soldiers who were not bad.

For those old, weak, sick and disabled soldiers who were eliminated, Cao Yue gave each of them 20 taels of silver to settle down, and asked them to go home or make a living by themselves.Some of the 20 soldiers brought by Cao Yue were also cleared, and those who were cleared were also given [-] taels of silver to settle down.

With the settling fee of 20 taels of silver, those who were dismissed did not complain, but were very grateful to Cao Yue.

Originally, when they were in the army, they often couldn't get their salaries as scheduled. Most of the military salaries issued by the court were deducted by the officers, and they didn't get ten taels of silver for a year.Now that wars are frequent, no one knows whether they will survive the next war.He went home with the settling allowance, naturally he was happy, and did not cause Cao Yue any trouble.

Then Cao Yue also issued a recruiting order to recruit young adults aged 40 to [-] near Datong.The conditions he gave were relatively generous. The monthly salary for ordinary sergeants was three taels of silver, and the officers were increased step by step according to their ranks.After Cao Yue reported the matter to the Shanxi patrols, chief envoys, and Datong magistrate, and received their support, the recruitment announcement was also posted at the city gates, and officials at all levels sent the news to nearby villages with drums and gongs. up.

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"Recruiting troops, recruiting troops. The new Datong Chief Soldier Cao was ordered by the emperor to recruit troops in Datong. He is well paid. Ordinary sergeants are paid three taels of silver a month, and officers are doubled. They are paid on time at the end of each month, and they will never default on the same," said Tolerance, beating gongs and drums. Walking around the streets shouting, "Anyone who wants to be a soldier, don't miss this opportunity. Cao Zongbing is a descendant of General Cao. General Cao used to lead troops and never withheld military pay, and Cao Zongbing did too."

The announcement of recruiting soldiers and the yelling of tolerance quickly attracted the attention of the people in Datong and neighboring prefectures and counties. "Three liang of silver is paid out on a monthly basis, is it true or not?"

"Maybe it's a lie? How can there be such a good condition?" Many people questioned it.

But someone immediately spoke for Cao Yue: "There should be no falsehood. General Cao is the son of General Cao. General Cao is a hero that everyone admires. He governs the army very strictly and never withholds his salary. Believe in him." The same goes for my son Cao Zongbing!"

Another township leader immediately echoed: "Yes, it should be like this. I heard that Mr. Cao's family has a lot of money. After breaking through Shengjing this time, he was rewarded by the Lord Long Live. There should be a lot of money. He was ordered by the emperor to conscript, Promising such generous conditions, there should be no fakes, and it is not difficult to rely on his family property to raise soldiers. Brother, although we are a bit older, we are within the scope of the requirements, why don't we try together!"

"If this is the case, then go and try it. Three taels of silver a month is 36 taels a year, which is enough for the mother-in-law and a few children to eat!" His face flushed a little.

"Yes, let's try it together, 36 taels of silver a year, that's a lot!"

"Go, let's go together, I'll call my nephew too!"

"Okay, go home and talk to your mother-in-law, and go right away!"

"Those unmarried strong men in our village, let them know, maybe they want to go too!"

"Yes, please let us know that we will have a companion in the army to take care of each other."

"it is good!"

Such scenes can be seen everywhere in the counties and villages under the name of Datong.

Good men don't serve as soldiers, especially in troubled times, but when they heard that the monthly money was three taels of silver, many people were tempted.These days, working hard in the city earns less than one tael of silver for a month, and the income from farming is even higher.My own land is fine, but if I rent the rich man's land, I can save four or five taels of silver after filling my stomach every year. In a disaster year like now, maybe I can't fill my stomach.

Cao Yue also asked some eloquent soldiers to pretend to be villagers, and talked about the benefits of serving as soldiers under his command.These eloquent sergeants also performed their duties very well, and the extras performed very well, and they moved many people.

After the recruitment started, the recruiting points set up in various counties and Datong prefectures were full of crowds everywhere. The number of people who came to sign up was unexpectedly large. Most of the people who came to sign up were young and middle-aged, even over 40 years old a year. Some people also concealed their age to apply for the draft.

The salary of three taels of silver per month is quite attractive.Of course, not everyone who came to apply for the recruitment would be admitted. Cao Yue formulated a set of rules for selecting sergeants. Only those who are healthy, strong, and have no obvious blemishes on their quality can be hired.

Soldiers are more expensive than elites, Cao Yue knows this very well, he doesn't need people who pretend to be numbers.In the future training, he will also eliminate some unqualified sergeants, and the ones left in the end are all sergeants with good overall quality.

Cao Yue intends to recruit 2 soldiers, so including the Datong town soldiers he brought and screened, there are a total of 2 soldiers. The monthly salary of 7 people will be 50 to [-] taels, and weapons and horses must be purchased. It will cost at least [-] taels of silver to initially form an army.Of course, this is what Cao Yue expected, and the silver around him can handle it completely.In the future, the cost of money and food will have to be raised through various methods. After all, no matter how valuable the rare treasures looted are, they will be used up one day.

However, the result of the conscription surprised him. After ten days, there were at least 3 applicants, and more than 5000 people passed the screening criteria he set.After reporting the situation to the governor of Shanxi and the chief envoy, and obtaining their consent, Cao Yue also decided to expand the number of recruits to [-].

Of course, he had to report this situation to the imperial court. When the Shanxi governor and the chief envoy reported to Beijing, Cao Yue wrote about the initial situation of the recruitment and some of his suggestions, which were also placed on the Emperor Chongzhen. desk.

(End of this chapter)