Chapter 16: Substitute for Military Service

  Thank you Dongxie Xidu, Emperor Huangtian, Mo Mei Yao, Nanyang Huo, Li Luqing, Ning Shi Chunqiu and several other little friends for their rewards and comments, thank you everyone.

  A single coin can overturn a hero; now, the Li family is being held back by this distribution of over 1,500 coins.

  Last time Li Jiong went to the town, not only did he fall into an unjust prison disaster, but also the last bit of grain that was exchanged for money at home was confiscated by the government. Later, in order to rescue him, the Li family was manipulated by Wang Liang again, and not only were the last 60 mu of land taken away to save Li, but also the 20 mu of land belonging to the Wang Tiejiang family was lost.

  The current Li family, except for a three-room courtyard house, really has nothing left. A big family, the last bit of food was also used for Li Jing's wedding ceremony yesterday. The current Li family with eight mouths to feed will not even have rice to cook in a few days. At this time, how can the Li family come up with over 1,500 wen?

  Guī Niáng also understood the current situation of the Li family, and she grasped Hàn Shì's hand saying: "Mother, I still have a pair of golden hairpins and armlets, bangles that were part of my dowry. Let's take them out later and exchange them for money at Old Village Chief's house."

  During the Tang Dynasty, women basically had one or two sets of jewelry such as rings. Wealthy families would have precious stones and pearls, while those who were slightly less well-off would have red gold. Even ordinary commoner families would have a few pieces of silver jewelry. Most of these were prepared by the woman's natal family as dowry, some were even passed down through generations, from mother to daughter or from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law. These things were extremely precious and belonged solely to the women's private rooms, which their husbands had no right to manage. At this time, Madame Han saw that Guiniang had just entered the house and wanted to sell her dowry jewelry to support the family, she was moved but refused to accept it.

  "It's not your turn to sell jewelry yet, I still have a few pieces at home that were passed down from Sanlang's grandmother, and they will be yours in the future. Well, now we can only sell them first and get through this difficult time."

  Li Jing looked at his sister-in-law and also opened her mouth to sell her own jewelry, feeling both moved and guilty.

  "Mother, I have something to ask of you."

  "Just say what's on your mind, no need to beat around the bush."

  Li Jing said solemnly: "I've thought it through, I want to go and enlist."

  Han and others were suddenly stunned, unable to speak.

  "Mother!" Li Jing said with unprecedented seriousness: "Mother, elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, and fourth sister, fifth sister, Wan'er, Guimang. This matter has actually been considered by me for a long time, if the superior did not come to recruit soldiers today, I also planned to join the army myself."

  "Son, how could you have such thoughts? A good man doesn't become a soldier. What's more, you're a scholar who has read so many books. Although we're facing difficulties now, we can still find a way to get through this tough time. If all else fails, we can sell our house and jewelry to temporarily make ends meet. You're a scholar, and although you missed the exam earlier, as long as you calm down and review your studies again, with your knowledge, you'll definitely pass next year's exam in October in the capital city. Once you become a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination), our family will be prosperous again."

  Not only did Han think so, but the other sisters-in-law also thought so, and even Gui Niang advised him to focus on reading books in preparation for next year's imperial examination.

  Li Jiong shook his head with a wry smile. To say that Li Jiong's learning was not from the regular official schools of the imperial court or the central government, but he had also studied hard on his own. His academic ability was still good, and several years ago, he had obtained a letter of recommendation from a county official and qualified for the imperial examination as a tribute scholar. In terms of talent, Li Jiong believed that he had a 50-60% chance of passing the imperial examination to become a jinshi.

  What time is it now? The imperial examination of the Tang Dynasty was not just a matter of talent. The Tang Dynasty implemented a rigorous examination, and one had to find an official in power who would recognize and guarantee them beforehand. Nowadays, the Tang court is extremely corrupt, and for a small commoner like him, passing the imperial examination is not easy at all.

  Moreover, even if he could really get in, Li Jing was not willing to take this path. Now it's the end of the Tang Dynasty, and next year will be the great civil unrest at the end of the Tang Dynasty started by Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao. In a few more years, even the emperor had to hastily flee the capital and run to Chengdu in Shu.

  In the late chaotic era, the real way out is not to take imperial examinations and become an official, but to be a soldier. The late Tang Dynasty was the world of those big and small warlords.

  "Mother, the world is getting more chaotic by the day. As a scholar-official, I can't even protect myself, how can I protect our family? I've thought it through, I want to join the army and become a general, so that I can safeguard the prosperity of our Li family."

  Although the Li family had been military generals for generations, the Han family still hoped that their son would pass the imperial examination and become an official rather than a martial artist. However, after Li Jiong laid out the current urgent situation of the Li family, the Han family could only reluctantly nod in agreement.

  The Li family is now too embarrassed, not only has the grain at home been exhausted, but even this 1,500 yuan, the Li family can't afford it. Not to mention if Li Jing wants to participate in the imperial examination, he will have to spend money to grease the wheels of the provincial and county governments, obtain a letter of recommendation from the province and county, and then travel to Beijing ahead of time, and also pay respects to officials in Beijing. Where can the Li family get this traveling expenses, gift money, etc.?

  "My child, I'm sorry for you, I've ruined your whole life." Madam Han sobbed.

  Li Jing comforted Han's family for a few more sentences, then let the two sisters-in-law and Gui Niang go back first. Then he went directly to Wang Lao Village Chief's house in the east of the village. As soon as he entered the door, the Wang family was also worried.

  Wang Lao Village is the first household in Wang Li Village, and even the richest man in Qingning Township. His family has thousands of acres of good fields, and there are seven or eight horses and cattle. Many families in Wang Li Village have little land, and they still rent land from his family to farm. The Wang family has a large courtyard with three connected buildings in the east of the village, like a manor. In Chishan Town, the Wang family also opened a grain store, which is a big family business.

  Wang Lao Village Chief was busy all his life, and two years ago he also planned to hand over the family business to his eldest son to manage, and enjoy a peaceful life. As a result, there were unexpected storms in heaven, and Wang's eldest son was hijacked by pirates while transporting rice down the Yangtze River by boat. The ship's cargo was looted, and Wang Lao Da also died at sea.

  The old village chief then let the second son take over the family business, but Wang's second son had an argument with someone in the town's brothel and accidentally offended the son of Cui Zhenjiang. As a result, Wang's second son was beaten half to death by Cui Zhenjiang's son and became disabled after being rescued, paralyzed on one side. The old village chief only had two sons, one died and the other was disabled. The remaining two houses had sons, but the oldest grandson was only 14 or 15 years old, not yet mature. In recent years, Li's agriculture has been managed by the old man and Wang's daughter.

  The daughter of Wang Village Head was only 25 or 26 years old, and had married into a family of cloth merchants in the county town more than ten years ago. Unfortunately, her husband was not blessed with good fortune, and passed away just a few years after their marriage, without leaving behind any sons. Within two years of his death, her parents-in-law also passed away one after another. The relatives of her husband's family then came to stir up trouble, wanting to drive her out and take back the family property for themselves. After causing trouble for two or three years, it was unclear how they finally reached a settlement. She divided the family property in half, returning one half to her husband's family, while keeping the other half for herself. From then on, none of her husband's relatives dared to come and bother her again.

  Wang Yueying, however, had a good business mind. Over the years, she managed to expand the business of Lifu Fabric Store, which eventually surpassed its original scale when her ex-husband was in charge. Now that Old Wang, the village chief, is no longer able to manage the family business, Wang Yueying has started taking over and running the household affairs.

  The Wang family is rich, very rich. But this time, they drew a bad lot and got a stone with ink stains on it. The old village head, Wang Lao, had already left and couldn't walk anymore, the several grandsons in the family were still young, and the only able-bodied man was a disabled person lying in bed.

  Just now, Wang Lao Village Head had already called over several farmhands from his household and tenant farmers who tilled the land for the Wang family. He proposed asking someone to enlist on their behalf but no one was willing to agree. He offered many conditions, yet still no one was willing to respond.

  "Twenty mu of land, whoever is willing to take my family's place, I am willing to give him twenty mu of land. Whoever wants to go!" The old village chief saw that Mrs. Ying was willing, and had to grit his teeth again, saying a very tempting price.

  "I agree!" A clear voice rang out from outside the hall, causing everyone to turn their heads in surprise.

  "The old village chief, I am willing to take the place of the old village chief and relieve his worries. I am willing to replace Wang Jia's draft." Li Jing loudly walked into the hall.

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