Chapter 181
However, the population of Youzhou, which is 4 million, is very disproportionate and unreasonable: there are more elderly people and children, but fewer young and strong people.
In the Central Plains, a population of four million could probably mobilize four or five hundred thousand soldiers and horses, if they were ruthless. But in Yichun, they currently only had three hundred million soldiers and horses.
Originally, the Yichun garrison had 50,000 to 60,000 men, but later absorbed Meng Chao's 10,000-plus troops, bringing the total to 70,000. Marshal Zhu surrendered with over 70,000, and later Huining and Songhua Prefectures combined brought in around 20,000 more, bringing the general's forces to 160,000. Later, they defeated Ganhua City and captured the enemy's remaining 50,000. Jiachuan brought in 30,000, leaving the Huo family's forces with nearly 100,000.
Recently, when the general was reorganizing the army, he eliminated some of the sick and disabled soldiers and allowed them to retire. This group, numbering over 30,000, was all given to the City Lord's Mansion for resettlement. Currently, the Youzhou forces numbered around 300,000.
Their 300,000 men were still a little too few compared to the forces of the Crown Prince, Prince of Ruyin, and Prince of Annan.
Therefore, Yichun needs to recruit soldiers again, taking advantage of the period when spring plowing is over.
In Yichun, after Xing Changfeng captured Suihua and Houcheng, Jiachuan also surrendered and was incorporated into Youzhou's territory. With three more cities and counties, they needed to digest these territories. Furthermore, since it was the beginning of spring, they had no plans to expand further when Wang Lang led his troops north to Jizhou.
Xing Changfeng had no plans to expand outward, nor did the Crown Prince, the King of Ruyin, or the King of Annan. At this time, everyone agreed to a truce and focus on spring plowing.
During this period, the soldiers of the Yichun Corps were not idle either. Every three days, they trained for two days and took one day to help build the road.
The common people are busy with spring plowing, and it is not easy for the City Lord's Mansion to mobilize labor service. After all, road construction is important, and spring plowing is also important.
Recruiting Office
Huang Qian called out to his friend, "Li San, have you heard? We in Yichun are going to expand conscription again."
Upon hearing this, Li San became worried, as he had also heard some rumors. In fact, Yichun had been working on conscription, but because it didn't enforce it, it didn't appear to be very active, and there were no mandatory tasks.
Now that the City Lord's Mansion has issued such an order, it is obvious that they are not satisfied with the number of soldiers they recruited previously, but they have no choice.
The common people in Yichun now have a good life, and although the welfare of the soldiers has been greatly improved compared to before, it is not attractive enough for them to flock to the army. The common people in Yichun do a good job of supporting the army, but their enthusiasm for joining the army is not high.
Huang Qian whispered, "I heard we need to recruit at least 50,000 new soldiers this time."
Fifty thousand? Hearing this goal, Li San became even more worried. This was impossible to achieve, right? If the burden wasn't forced upon the people, he wouldn't be able to sleep for several consecutive nights.
Until one morning, his superior Chen Jin handed him a red list and asked him to take it and stick it on the wall behind him when recruiting soldiers.
He opened it and his eyes widened at first. After reading it, he suddenly looked up at his superior, "Boss, is what's written above true?"
"The City Lord's Mansion has been discussing this plan for several days. Do you think it's true or false?"
"Then it's true!" Oh my god, with this red list, the recruitment is a sure thing. Fifty thousand? No big deal!
"The adults in the City Lord's Mansion are too kind, aren't they?" Even a small soldier like him couldn't help but get excited when he saw the future arrangements for them written on the red list, and he wished he could serve Yichun and the general for the rest of his life.
In fact, during the Chinese New Year some time ago, my mother said something, both openly and covertly, that being a soldier was still too dangerous, that you could get injured or even die, and that life at home wasn't difficult anymore, so if there was a chance, I should just withdraw from the front lines. Otherwise, when he got old, the army would still give him a few taels of silver to let him go back.
But Li San felt that this was not a good idea. If everyone in the Yichun Corps adopted this mentality, wanting to retreat and be protected behind others, then this piece of pure land behind them, untouched by the war, would no longer be safe. But his mother's worries were real. Now, with the news on the red list, his mother could finally rest assured.
His superior, Chen Jin, patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Do a good job."
Li San nodded vigorously, his whole body full of energy. His superior had always been his role model. Li San knew that many people, like him, looked up to his superior as a role model.
The main reason was that his superior's rise to power was too well-known. Two years ago, when Lord Yao was exiled to Yichun, he came under his superior's management. His superior had initially been kind to Lord Yao, and after Lord Yao rose to power, his superior, Chen Jin, had always relied on him as a pillar of support, smoothly climbing the ladder. While not fast, it was certainly better than his previous struggles. His goal was modest: just like his superior, to help or promote someone like Lord Yao, and then he could just sit back and wait for his success.
After Yichun issued another large-scale conscription notice, the City Lord's Mansion also posted a notice. Yichun's conscription notice was a simple one, clearly outlining the requirements. It required that all recruits be over sixteen and under thirty-five, and in good health.
Next to the conscription notice, a red list was posted. The title of the list read: Regulations on the Duties and Treatment of Yichun Soldiers.
The people of Yichun knew that the City Lord's Mansion would never do anything without a purpose, so whenever the City Lord's Mansion guards came out to post something, the literate people would flock to it. There was even a caring scholar reading aloud.
For ordinary people, there is nothing much to say about the duties of being a soldier. It is just to obey orders, fight bravely, and serve the general and Yichun with your life.
People were more concerned about the benefits, which were described in great detail. The benefits for each rank, including those for ordinary soldiers, were all detailed. They nodded as they read. The common people had always known that the Yichun Corps' benefits were excellent. But when they read the rest, their eyes widened.
The following is about the treatment of soldiers after they take off their armor:
Those who have served for fifteen years or more will receive a fixed monthly living allowance upon discharge. Those who have served for less than ten years will receive a lump sum resettlement allowance based on their years of service and rank. Those who have served for more than ten years and are discharged due to injury can transfer from frontline barracks to logistics and continue their work. Those who have served for fifteen years or more will receive a monthly living allowance, effectively a pension.
Compared with the previous tradition in Daliang where ordinary veterans were only given a few taels of silver when they retired and returned to the countryside, the treatment system established in Yichun was undoubtedly superior and more benevolent.
Yao Chunnuan was standing on the second floor of the City Lord's Mansion, watching the people's heated discussion.
Feng Xiudong smiled and said, "Lord Yao, you are too kind to the soldiers." Most of this treatment regulation came from Lord Yao's suggestion.
"They risked their lives for the people, and they deserved it. We can't let these soldiers shed blood and tears." She considered carefully the decision to only receive a pension after 15 years of service. It's said that living to 70 was rare in ancient times, compared to today's world where 70-year-olds are commonplace. Ancient people had shorter lifespans, and living to 50 or 60 was considered a long life.
Since ancient times, there has been a saying that good men do not serve in the military. However, it must be said that the "Yichun Soldiers' Treatment Regulations" greatly stimulated the willingness of the people of Youzhou to serve in the military, and they no longer viewed serving in the military as a disaster.
Being a soldier was a bit dangerous, but wasn't it also a path to advancement? If one could climb the ranks, it could be a path to a new life. Even if one couldn't, if one could diligently serve in the army for fifteen years, and if one was lucky enough to survive, the rest of one's life would be comfortably supported by the City Lord's Mansion. It was precisely because of this idea that the Yichun conscription station was surrounded by countless able-bodied men.
The recruitment point that Li San was in charge of was also extremely busy.
"Are you all familiar with the requirements for this recruitment? You must be between sixteen and thirty-five years old and in good health. If you don't meet the requirements, leave immediately and don't join in the fun! Don't you all have to work?"
The Yichun conscription was not overly militaristic. The current conscription by the imperial court and the King of Ruyin and the King of Annan was somewhat indiscriminate; anyone who looked able-bodied was drafted into the army. This time, those over 35 were exempt from military service, and those over 40 were not accepted, with no room for negotiation.
"You said you were thirty-four?" Li San looked up and down at the man in front of him with sharp eyes.
"Ahem, yes."
Li San laughed angrily, "Look at your orange peel face. I'm still exaggerating when I say you're forty!"
The man was anxious, "I had a hard life before, can't I grow up in a hurry?"
Li San shook his head. "Alright, alright, stop lying and leave now. Don't think you can get in easily. We'll still have to check, and if you don't meet the requirements, you'll be kicked out. And you don't want to know the consequences."
Li San's partner also said, "That's right, uncle, in Youzhou, when dealing with the government, the most important thing is to be honest and not lie. You definitely don't want to know the consequences of lying."
Seeing the man's embarrassed expression, Li San waved his hand and chased him away, saying loudly, "Those who don't meet the requirements cannot serve in the army. But if you don't want to serve in the army, you can still become a craftsman with your skills. You can open your own shop and make a living with your skills, or work in a workshop. At worst, if you don't know how to do anything, you can just farm! You won't starve to death. There's no need to lie, it's useless."
The conscription in Yichun was very lively this time, and the news also spread to the Central Plains.
Yichun is recruiting soldiers again, requiring that every recruit must be over 16 years old and under 35 years old and in good health.
At first, the Crown Prince, Prince of Ruyin, Prince of Annan, and others scoffed at Yichun's conscription requirements. With so few soldiers available, it was considered a good thing to be able to recruit them. Why were they being so picky and demanding?
But later I heard that there was a long line of people who wanted to sign up for the army, and those who were rejected because of illness or age were crying and begging the recruiters.
This is really unpleasant to hear. It's the same conscription, why is there such a big difference? People just want to serve, and they cry and beg Yichun but won't approve it. On their side, the people are crying too, but they cry and beg and refuse to serve.
And I heard that Yichun recruited more than 60,000 soldiers this time.
These more than 60,000 people were the result of careful selection based on the conditions given by Yichun. If they were based on the standards of their court, Xuzhou, and Ningzhou, it is estimated that about 100,000 people could be selected.
Prince Ruyin sighed, "These people are really good at hiding! Is it so good to be a soldier in Yichun?"
"It's something that will happen ten or fifteen years from now. Who knows if the Yichun City Lord's Mansion can keep its promise? Xing Changfeng and his people are just painting a rosy picture for these fools, and they actually believe it?" The prince sneered.
But the common people believed it. After all, the Yichun City Lord's Mansion has a good reputation. They never fail to keep their promises. Moreover, over the past year or so, they have done a good job in treating the injured soldiers and making follow-up arrangements. The common people have either experienced it firsthand or witnessed it with their own eyes, so why wouldn't they believe it?
"Military Advisor, do you think we can do it like we did in Yichun?" Prince Ruyin looked at Sima Xian hopefully.
Sima Xian shook his head.
The reason why Yichun can implement this policy and achieve such good results is that Yichun treats its soldiers so well and enjoys a high reputation among the people.
They are just following others' lead.
Apart from the fact that it does become the same as Yichun in terms of conscription, which has some relative advantages and the soldiers' loyalty to the city will increase, there are no other benefits. But relatively speaking, it will consume more money and food. They now have 400,000 to 500,000 soldiers, and it is not easy to support them.
Moreover, the soldiers were not stupid and had their own standards. If they imitated the system of Yichun, their system would be implemented after 15 years, but if they did not do as well as Yichun in the meantime, they would be questioned by the soldiers and their morale would be shaken.
After hearing Sima Xian's explanation, King Ruyin was upset, and at the same time he once again realized the prosperity of Yichun. No, it was the ability of their City Lord's Mansion to govern the place and make money. Why didn't their Qingxu two states have such a powerful person to govern the place?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
