Chapter 15: United Troops

  Li Jing let out a loud shout, and the crowd of villagers under the big locust tree immediately fell silent. Over a hundred pairs of eyes stared at Li Jing's figure, holding their breath as they watched him reach his hand into the ceramic jar, then clench his fist and pull it back out.

  "Hurry up and open it, did you get anything?" The surrounding villagers were even more anxious than Li Jing, urging loudly from the side.

  Li Jiong stretched out his clenched fist in front of everyone and slowly opened it.

  "Ah! It's white, he didn't get picked!" A burst of cheers and gasps erupted, with some people rejoicing for Li Jing, congratulating him on avoiding the draft. However, there were also some disappointed sighs, after all, although only ten out of the 158 pebbles in the pot were stained with ink, if Li Jing had drawn a stained one, they would have had an extra chance to avoid drawing a stained pebble and being drafted.

  The morning breeze blew, and Li Jiong gazed at the grayish-white pebble in his hand, but secretly felt disappointed. Others didn't want to join the army, he wanted to go, yet unexpectedly didn't get picked.

  Everyone was talking and speculating, but for a while, no one went up to touch the stone and draw lots again.

  The adjutant who had been half-closing his eyes under the tree suddenly raised his head with great interest and looked up and down at Li Jing.

  This time, the recruits were militia rather than formally recruited officials. The militia did not leave their production areas for a long time and were also known as tuanlian soldiers, tutuan or tufang. The Tang Dynasty began to set up, and during the reign of Wu Zetian, it was widely established. The militia was led by the Tuanlian Envoy, and by the late Tang period, most of the Tuanlian Envoys were concurrently held by the provincial governors.

  Spring and summer return to farming, autumn and winter pursue gathering, this is the United Army.

  The militia was recruited by local officials and did not register as regular army personnel; during their service, they were provided with rations and food; assisted the provincial officials in defending the border or fighting alongside them; did not leave production for a long time, after the military task ended, they were immediately sent back to their hometown.

  Although the imperial court made many detailed regulations on the recruitment and dispatch of the Tuanjie soldiers, by this time, the government's orders were basically ineffective. The Tuanjie soldiers were originally recruited by local officials in times of local defense emergencies, with a certain proportion of recruits, and they also had to provide food and supplies. Moreover, these Tuanjie soldiers only defended their local areas and did not leave production for long periods. They assembled every autumn and winter, and returned home to farm in the spring and summer. However, everything has changed now. In name, they are still recruiting Tuanjie soldiers, but in reality, they have become similar to mercenaries. Often, once recruited, they cannot return for several years, and besides assisting with defense, they also have to go to battlefields to fight.

  Even in some places, the unity soldiers were not as good as the officials under various prefectures, and the unity soldiers fought without rations, only responsible for basic food and clothing. Weapons, armor, etc. were all self-equipped, and the service time was indefinite. They were similar to the Fubing of the early Tang Dynasty, but did not have the corresponding treatment of the Fubing. This kind of unity soldier gradually evolved into a kind of corvée labor, which made people afraid.

  Going to various provinces and prefectures to be an official is still a way to make a living, with salary and food. But being a soldier in the militia is unpaid, completely like forced labor.

  That officer had been in the army for many years, and this time when he was conscripting soldiers, he also went to several villages. Those people who were drafted were extremely frightened, and some even cried and knelt down to beg for exemption. And those who weren't drafted couldn't help but show their joy on their faces.

  This young man, however, was extremely calm. Previously, no one dared to come forward, he took the initiative to be the first to draw lots, without a hint of tension or worry. When he didn't win the lucky draw, he didn't show any excitement or disappointment either. This young man was too calm and composed, with an air of being unflappable even if Mount Tai were to crumble in front of him. Looking at his youthful vigor and excellent temperament, it's said that he's also a xianggong who has obtained the imperial examination qualification. It would be great to have someone like him under my wing, unfortunately, he didn't win the draw.

  "Next!" Wang, the old village chief, shouted with effort as he saw no one come forward.

  "I'm coming!" Wang Xiao Shi Tuo's face was full of excitement as he ran forward, thrusting his hand into the ceramic jar.

  "I drew the black stone, I'm going to be a soldier!" Wang Xiaoshi's palm was open, and a shiny black pebble lay in his hand. He shouted excitedly, as if he had also been planning to join the army like Li Jing.

  Li Jing's mind was filled with thoughts as he returned home. The whole family gathered around, excitedly looking at the greyish-white stone in Li Jing's hand. They didn't want Li Jing to draw a stone with ink on it, and with only one man left in the house, if he were to be drafted into the army, what would happen to this household?

  Whether willing or unwilling, one by one, the villagers came forward and took out a stone.

  Some were happy and some worried, the family who didn't get the ink stone was delighted and laughed loudly, while those who got it had a gloomy face and sighed repeatedly. Li Jiong noticed that not only did the small stone draw an ink stone, but Wang Liang also drew one, and the old village chief also drew an ink stone.

  Wang Liang grasped the black stone, his face uglier than ever, as if he wanted to swallow the cobblestone whole. Seeing him like this, Li Jing suddenly felt a lot more at ease in her heart.

  The official had already registered the ten households that drew the ink stone, and loudly said: "The lottery has ended. Wangli Village has 158 households, with one household out of every 15 drawing a soldier. A total of 10 soldiers were drawn. The 10 households that drew the lottery must pack their belongings immediately. After noon, the 10 soldiers who drew the lottery must set off for Penglai, the administrative office of Dengzhou Prefecture. Let's make it clear beforehand: at noon, any household that drew a soldier and dares not to show up will be charged with desertion and executed by hanging, and their entire family will be exiled 3,000 miles away."

  Several houses heard this and burst into tears, under the willow tree a noisy scene erupted.

  "Silence! What are you crying about? Being recruited as soldiers is your fate and also your good fortune. If you really want to fight on the battlefield, kill enemies and achieve merits, you will not be left out when it comes to getting rich and promoted. Additionally, each pair of recruits needs to bring their own horse, donkey or mule. Furthermore, you need to bring your own weapons and armor. Those who do not have them can obtain them from the barracks in Penglai later, but each person's full set of equipment will cost 20,000 coins."

  As soon as this was said, the families of those who had drawn lots for Ding were even more worried. Every household in this village is a farming family, where can they have spare weapons and armor? If they cannot produce weapons and armor, they will have to pay 20 coins, isn't that taking their lives?

  Several families have already begun to cry and complain to Wenwulang and Old Village Chief.

  "Let me finish speaking, let me finish speaking." The goat bearded official tried his best to comfort the people, anxiously saying: "The higher-ups have already considered this issue, there is an order from above, those who are drafted will not need to bear other burdens. All horses, donkeys, weapons, armor and equipment will be borne by the rest of the villagers who were not drafted."

  As soon as this sentence was finished, some families who were originally lucky enough to have a good fortune also suddenly became stunned.

  Those who draw (win) give people, those who don't draw (lose) give money.

  Wang Li village drafted 10 men, requiring 5 horses and mules. Additionally, if armor and other equipment are converted into cash, another 200,000 coins will be needed. These 200,000 coins must be borne by the remaining 148 households, with each household bearing 1,351 coins.

  1,350 yuan is not the total amount, and five donkeys need to be added. Even if all donkeys are used, one donkey costs at least a certain amount of money. In the early years when 20 liters of rice cost 0.2 yuan, a horse cost 10,000 yuan, and a cow cost 5,000 yuan. Now that 20 liters of rice cost 2 yuan, although there are reasons for the disaster and famine, the price of rice has skyrocketed, which has also led to a sharp increase in other prices. Originally, one donkey was worth around 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, but now it has risen by nearly three times, with one donkey costing at least 6,000 yuan. Five donkeys add up to 30,000 yuan, and each household needs to pay an additional 200 yuan.

  One thousand five hundred dollars is a sum that most families can still afford, but the Li family really cannot come up with even half of it.

  Just a moment of joy, and the Li family was once again engulfed in a sea of sorrow.

  PS: Finally changed to signed status, is there anyone willing to reward one or two blocks to support the scene and stand up for the team?

  ;