Chapter 85: Xiguan Nomads (Part 3) Update
Xia Wu shouted loudly, "From now on, you radishes will be reorganized into small teams to practice. If you can train yourselves out of being useless, perhaps our young Marquis and Master Jin Wei will show mercy and give you a chance to serve the Marquis' Mansion. If you can't train yourself..."
"For a useless piece of trash like this, if he still sticks around here, there's a good place for him to go—"
"A steel blast furnace capable of melting over 100 liters of iron a day."
Xia Wu grinned, "I guarantee you'll be utterly useless when you go in, and come out with nothing left."
His last words were chilling and threatening, but no one objected. They only gathered their resolve, determined to save face no matter what.
This is not only to prove that I am not a waste, but also for this last chance of survival.
Zhu Bing chewed over the words of the person on the stage. The young Marquis of Xiguan would definitely not be present today. The Chief Guard Jin mentioned by this person must be the one who was also on the stage. It was clear that he was the leader of the guards without any deliberate statement.
Soon, they were disbanded and reorganized, regardless of their original military affiliation and rank, and lined up in teams on the training ground.
Those private guards of the Hou Mansion who were originally among them chose the teams at random and became the instructors of these teams.
"Instructor" Zhang Shan counted the number plates and names of the members in his team one by one.
When he heard the name "Zhu Bing," he looked at him meaningfully and asked, "How does it feel to be trained like a new soldier?"
Zhu Bing knew that he wanted to embarrass the leader of the skirmishers, but he could bear it.
He said calmly, "It's OK."
Then he added calmly, "I'm really looking forward to the day when I can beat you up."
Zhang Shan raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "It's a bit early to say such big words."
For the next month or so, these soldiers were trained day and night under the guidance of their instructors. They were often suddenly pulled out of their sleep in the middle of the night for night training.
The little bit of food I ate while being idle in the previous month was all vomited out within a few days.
It can be said that people are neither human nor ghost, and old friends do not recognize each other when they meet again.
If it were just the physical torture, it would be fine, but the private guards of Xiguan Houfu gave him a huge mental blow almost every day.
Except for the low-net crawling on the first day, all the subsequent training items taught by the instructors were greatly unexpected.
These soldiers were required to learn to read and write, draw and do arithmetic, understand mountains and rivers and geography during the limited time they had to recover their physical strength. What was even more despairing was that they were also required to smelt iron, forge iron, cut wood, open up wasteland, identify crop seeds, distinguish minerals, and do the work of farmers and craftsmen that they originally looked down upon.
After going around in circles, I ended up back on the old path that I once tried to avoid.
The torture was too agonizing, and some people couldn't help but question again: "Aren't we training to be the Hou Mansion's private soldiers? Why do we have to learn the tricks of those farmers and craftsmen?"
But who would have thought that all he got in return was: "You are just scraps that are not even qualified to be farmers and craftsmen, and you still have the nerve to pick on me?! If you don't want to practice, get out now!"
…
There were some soldiers who were originally tempted to apply for the job, but they really couldn't stand the devilish training of the instructors here.
In addition, over the past few days, the arrogance in their hearts that they thought they were superior to ordinary farmers and craftsmen has long been eliminated.
Qi Qiran tried to take the initiative to say that he did not want to be a soldier and wanted to find a job.
However, they did not expect that once they proposed to take the job and really proved that they had the skills and knowledge, the instructors in the Marquis' Mansion became much more respectful and sent them away with kind words.
Gradually, everyone understood a fact that they had to admit.
In Xiguan County, according to the rules of Xiguan Houfu, these soldiers were never nobler than farmers and craftsmen.
If they don't know anything and are unwilling to learn, and even if they join the army and still lack military skills, they will definitely be at the bottom of the hierarchy! They are the ultimate waste that everyone hates!
·
On one side is the devilish training for new recruits, and on the other side is the exciting, reckless and focused recruitment life.
When these laborers and soldiers who had fled from the battlefields and the pass defenses registered for recruitment, they never imagined that the recruitment process of the Xiguan Hou Mansion would be like this!
If you already have a skill, you will naturally be assigned the corresponding workshop job.
But before you start working, you will be given a week of on-the-job training. This will help you, as a new craftsman, to understand more clearly what you need to do. If there are any discrepancies or misunderstandings, there will be a dedicated guide to help you fill in the gaps.
During this time, a brief examination of each person's craftsmanship will also be conducted.
One is to assign you a suitable job, and the other is to develop targeted guidance and teaching improvement plans for each person.
This was already jaw-dropping enough, but what made them even more unimaginable was that during this half month, everyone of them still received their wages!
A month passed quickly, and the first wave of craftsmen who took up their posts received their first salary. They were so jealous that they huddled in the workshops and the buildings built specifically for the craftsmen in the park, counting the wages over and over again.
I don't know who started it, but it suddenly came to my mind.
"Maybe... we can send letters home now!"
After this person's reminder, it was as if a light was lit in everyone's mind.
"Yes! Originally, we were criminals, not only could we never return home, but we even had no idea if we'd survive the next day! Now, we're in the workshop of the young marquis in Xiguan. We have food and shelter, and we get paid for work that's eight hundred times more serious than before... We have such a bright future! We should let our families know!"
Once this was started, everyone started talking.
While talking passionately about his family and their families, he was secretly looking forward to and thinking about how he could keep his job in the future and how to save more and more of his wages so that one day he could ask someone to send it back home and give his family a better life.
Someone else said, "Xiguan County is so good. No one has ever tried to harm us. Instead, they've genuinely taught us skills, allowing us to earn enough money to live comfortably... Isn't a place like this so much better than back home, where those corrupt officials, powerful soldiers, and wealthy families who only know how to exploit us treat us like animals?"
"We shouldn't just send money home... We should also send a letter asking them to move to Xiguan! Even if we're unregistered here, it's better than being a registered resident who's at the mercy of others! As long as the family can be together here, what does it matter if we're unregistered? We can start a new home here!"
There was almost no hesitation before someone agreed.
"Yes! Yes! We should all call our families and come to Xiguan to see what life is like! What kind of life is it to have something to look forward to every day!"
Each workshop or workshop park has a communication office specifically for craftsmen.
As there were more and more letters like this, the park manager reported the matter to higher authorities one by one.
·
Xiguanhou Mansion.
Du Hui held the half-decade meeting report in his hand and reported to Liu Ziye.
"The remnants of the Great Zhou Dynasty, led by Qin Feng, have already left the Xiguan area this month, following their previously planned route. The only ones left are those stragglers who haven't yet emerged. I'm worried that once winter arrives, these desperate individuals will resort to irrational actions that harm themselves and their fellow citizens."
Liu Ziye asked, "How many people have been recruited to our workshop park?"
Du Hui immediately replied, "Over 3,000 people are registered at the refugee registration and shelters in the two cities and thirteen counties of Xiguan, which is under the jurisdiction of Governor Wang. Our governor, Wang Zhi, is working with the governor's office to arrange the resettlement of these refugees. Over 4,000 more have arrived at our various workshops and parks to be recruited as workers, over 1,000 are awaiting temporary placement, and nearly 1,000 are wounded, disabled, and elderly. There are also nearly 3,000 skirmishers that Jin Jie and Xia Wu are currently training. The total registered population is over 13,000."
Liu Ziye was shocked.
This is quite a lot, almost catching up to half of the population of Xiguan County.
Counting households across Xiguan County, the number has surpassed ten thousand over the past three years, with each household often consisting of three to five people, or even as many as seven or eight.
Suddenly, nearly one-fifth of the population appeared. If it weren't for her management reserves in recent years, she would have been unable to cope with it.
However, even if more people came, Liu Ziye could still eat them at this point.
It can even be said that she just needs it extremely.
This system upgrade unlocked a new section of military infrastructure. Liu Ziye believed that the original workshops, which were mainly for civilian purposes, were the foundation of people's livelihood, and it was absolutely impossible to divert personnel from them to work on military infrastructure.
She needs a large amount of new manpower and professional craftsmen.
These conscripts and soldiers who were dispersed from the battlefield were exactly the most suitable candidates.
She said to Du Hui, "Keep having our people post the Xiguan Houfu's recruitment notices around the outskirts of the two cities and thirteen counties of Xiguan Commandery, as well as along major roads and in major fishing and hunting areas. We'll take in as many of these people as we can. Even if we can't accommodate them this winter, we'll support them for the winter in vain rather than let them wander off to the valleys, freeze to death, or start looting and rioting!"
Du Hui became alert upon hearing this.
"Great! That's exactly what I was thinking. Our Xiguan County is a vast expanse of land. Just a few years ago, human effort was often insufficient to overcome natural disasters. However, today, we have sufficient strength. It's time to expand our population and welcome talented individuals and common people from all over the world!"
Liu Ziye also agreed with what Du Hui said.
He immediately said, "Sir, your leadership is excellent. What are your opinions on those skirmishers that Jin Jie is currently training?"
Du Hui, hearing Liu Ziye's question, replied, "Although I haven't personally been to the training grounds where Commander Jin and his colleagues are training the new recruits, Commander Jin has discussed this matter with me. Commander Jin and I both agree that the biggest problem with these scattered soldiers from aristocratic families isn't their knowledge of military affairs, but their arrogance and extravagance. Commander Jin has suggested his training methods, and I agree with them."
After hearing this, Liu Ziye asked, "So, all this military training strategy was devised by Jin Jie alone?"
"That's right. I just made some minor comments. This achievement goes to Captain Jin, and I won't take credit for it!"
Liu Ziye nodded: "Okay."
"There is one more thing about the resettlement of these refugees and stragglers. Young Marquis, please take a look."
Du Hui said this and handed Liu Ziye a thin piece of paper.
"This is a request submitted by the workshops and parks in various parts of Xiguan Houfu. Since half a month ago, many newly recruited craftsmen from various places have asked to send letters back to their hometowns to bring their families to Xiguan for reunion and resettlement."
This was somewhat unexpected for Liu Ziye. "It's one thing for them to be refugees and stragglers, but their families who secretly travel to Xiguan run the risk of being disowned in their hometown."
"That's right."
Du Hui agreed, "But our local officials said they would rather their families come here and become unregistered residents than be treated like cattle and horses and be exploited and driven like registered residents back home."
When Liu Ziye heard this, his eyebrows suddenly raised.
"They actually want to do this?"
Although she knew that her recruitment conditions were absolutely overwhelmingly competitive in this era, she never expected that they would have such an impact.
This made these refugees and scattered soldiers willing to send their families to come from thousands of miles away, and even give up their status as registered citizens of the Zhou Dynasty.
She lowered her eyes slightly in thought for a moment, then raised them again, looking at Du Hui with a gleam in her eyes: "Go! Anyone willing to come to my Xiguan, have Wang Yanpeng provide travel expenses in the name of the Xiguan County Governor's Office. After these people and their families enter the country, Wang Yanpeng will help them settle down in Xiguan County! They are willing to spend all their money to come here, so I will never let them become illegal residents who can't see the light of day! All children of school age can be arranged to go to school free of charge. Those who have lived in the country for more than a year and have started businesses and jobs in the country can enjoy the same medical and educational treatment as the residents of our Xiguan County!"
"Also, half of the new workers we recruit will be used to build centralized housing. This construction project is called 'Xiguan Public Rental Housing.' Anyone working in Xiguan can rent housing at 30% of the market price for themselves or their families."
"In the future, we will also build 'affordable housing' so that those immigrants from other counties who can afford it can purchase their own permanent homes and settle down in Xiguan for a long time!"
Liu Ziye said so much in one breath, and Du Hui nodded repeatedly while listening.
"Young Marquis, your insight is brilliant! This is a far-sighted plan. I deeply admire it!"
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