The men of the Qiao family did as instructed.
Three reserve captains commanded 1,000 troops, and four senior officers each commanded 500 troops. The Qiao family's forces totaled 5,000 men.
Now, Da Yong, Qiao Lao Er, and Xiao Meng will stay behind. Their troops have mastered several formations and can use them skillfully and flexibly. They will all be dispatched to their fiefdoms. General Guan will assign more soldiers to train those who remain here.
With the family's interests at stake, no one had any objections.
Besides, if there's anything going on, they usually have their brothers or uncles train their subordinates together, so they're quite familiar with each other and have developed a certain level of understanding.
General Guan stood before the vast army and said, “Gentlemen, our Guan Ning Iron Cavalry’s strategist, Miss Qiao, has just been granted the title of County Princess by the Emperor. Her fief is Qingfeng Plain, near the capital. The Emperor has granted her the right to recruit five thousand men, and Miss Qiao intends to have you stationed there directly.”
The soldiers immediately started discussing among themselves.
General Guan asked everyone to be quiet and continued.
"The military camps there have excellent conditions and complete facilities. Because they are responsible for protecting the military advisors, their monthly salary is three times that of those here, and they are also given an additional ten bushels of rice per year. If they make meritorious contributions, they are more likely to be noticed by the imperial family and have a broader platform to perform their duties."
Qiao Lian'er wrote down these preferential treatments in the letter.
"Three times!" the soldiers exclaimed.
That's three taels a month, thirty-six taels a year. After serving in the army for a few years, the family would be quite wealthy.
There is still so much rice. One shi is 120 jin, and ten shi is 1200 jin. The army camp has food, and this grain can be used to supplement the family. For families with a small number of people, it is enough for a year's food.
They originally thought that since it was thousands of miles away from the capital, even if things were better under the emperor's nose, there was no need to travel there.
But it would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted by these conditions.
"Everything is based on voluntariness. Those who do not wish to go can remain here and be incorporated into other teams," General Guan said.
These soldiers' homes are mainly in Wuzhou, about 600 miles away, or in villages and towns under Wuzhou's jurisdiction. Coming here is already considered leaving their hometowns, and it is difficult for them to go back.
Fortunately, there were cavalrymen in the military camp who were specifically responsible for delivering messages. Every now and then, they could help them send silver and letters back, and bring back some warm clothes.
Since I'm staying here permanently and can keep in touch with my family, I can accept living a little further away.
Besides, Qingfeng gave so much—
"We are willing to go," a chorus of soldiers' voices rang out.
“I am also willing to go,” another voice echoed.
Such sounds rang out one after another.
General Guan nodded in satisfaction.
Some soldiers lowered their heads, their faces ashen and dejected.
Only after asking did I learn that they all had relatives with serious illnesses or disabilities. Although they had siblings, they would take leave every two weeks or a month to go back and visit them, to fulfill their filial duty.
Wuzhou is 600 li away. If you ride at full speed, it will only take two days to get back. But if you go from the capital to home, it will take almost half a month. If there is anything needed at home, there will be no time to get there in time.
Now, seeing their brothers from the same camp going to the capital with promising futures, they naturally feel envious and helpless.
“It’s alright, I’ll stay here. You can still use your skills with me,” Dayong said.
"The day we achieve great merit and the news reaches the capital, we will be rewarded even if we are not granted a title."
Hearing their leader say that, the soldiers, who were feeling down, were all energized again.
Yes, having someone from the Qiao family in the capital is like having a fast track.
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