The emperor was stunned. He had not expected that the daughters he thought were only looking for a good family would have such intentions and such wishes. He was truly moved.
Yes, all people in the world are his subjects, including men and women. Although men and women should each perform their duties, they are willing to sacrifice their lives for his country, even abandoning their marriages. How could he not be moved?
The emperor remained silent for a long time before saying, "A maximum of one thousand places."
A thousand slots would be enough for Qiao Lian'er, and she might not even be able to recruit enough.
Because very, very few girls have this wish.
But since it exists, it must be very precious. She will not let any of these gems be tarnished.
She was secretly relieved that she had consulted the emperor in advance; otherwise, setting this precedent might have caused trouble.
The Qiao family was waiting for news, and the atmosphere was a bit tense.
They worried that the emperor might be angry if Qiao Lian'er brought it up, since recruiting female soldiers was unprecedented except during the reign of the empress.
However, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Qiao Lian'er come in looking relaxed.
“One thousand slots is enough; we can divide them into two brigades,” Da Cheng said.
"Let's recruit enough people first, and I'll take charge of the training," Qiao Lian'er said.
The next day, the notice recruiting female soldiers was posted on the outer wall of the watchtower of the garrison, attracting many people from the fiefdom to come and see it.
"They're recruiting female soldiers? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. Can my daughter join the army?"
"Good heavens, this is an eye-opener. It must be very bold of the princess to think this way. Shouldn't girls stay at home and do needlework peacefully, waiting to marry into a good family? It's so improper for her to go to the army to train and fight on the battlefield."
Although the local people greatly admired Qiao Lian'er, they held very traditional views on this matter, and many could not accept it.
But some people say: "Whether a girl is missing eyes, nose, or mouth, hands or feet, she can do what men can do. Going to war is just a matter of training skills and strength. As long as she is mentally sound and diligent, she can be trained."
"That's not wrong, but it's not the usual rule, and people can't accept it right away."
“Daughters can also defend their country, and the blood they shed is also red.” Qiao Lian’er walked out of the watchtower, her eyes filled with a cold and dignified air: “When daughters go to the battlefield, you are also the people they risk their lives to protect.”
Everyone was somewhat moved and fell silent.
"Any family whose daughter is willing to join the army can come and sign up as long as she meets the requirements."
"I will also establish a promotion system. If someone performs exceptionally well, they can become a general. If someone makes meritorious contributions on the battlefield, I will report to the Emperor and request a title, bringing glory to my family."
The people were filled with patriotic fervor upon hearing this. They knew that people in ancient times valued life, and almost every household had several sons and daughters. Sending one or two to join the army was no problem at all.
Besides, this is the Gyeonggi region, and troops from here will not be deployed unless absolutely necessary, so it is still quite safe.
"Mother, I want to join the army, I want to become a soldier!" a sturdy girl with dark skin shouted.
She walked toward the pile of stones used to test physical fitness.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
