Chapter 29: Obtaining the License and Officially Opening for Business

  Huang Qianshan was not bragging, and just two days later, the Daming Mansion transmitted a military order from the Dongjing Xiumi Institute, appointing Xu Wei, the deputy commander of the Zizhou Tuanlian, as the "Commander-in-Chief of the Daming Jingwei Xiangyong Camp". He was ordered to "recruit brave and daring soldiers in Hebei Province, clear the countryside and pacify the bandits". There was no fixed quota, and the imperial court managed the military rations, with half of the pay given as a subsidy. The weapons and equipment were all self-funded, but one thing was made clear: rewards would be paid according to the number of enemy heads taken or captured, with three guan (a unit of currency) awarded for each level. In other words, if a militia member could kill or capture five enemies in battle, it would be equivalent to a year's military pay. This seems unreasonable at first glance, but in fact accurately expressed the imperial court's view of this motley army: the court would not support them for nothing; if they wanted money, they had to achieve military success in exchange. Otherwise, being a soldier was no better than farming.

  Jingwei Camp belongs to the Xiang Army combat sequence, under the jurisdiction of the Daming Prefecture Route Anfu Si. The Daming Prefecture side understood Xu Wei's difficulties, and Zheng Yingzheng, who was in charge of supervising Xu Wei, arranged for a batch of old equipment to be allocated from the military arsenal for use by the Jingwei Camp. There were 170 long guns, 203 hand knives, 160 shields, and more than 50 heavy weapons such as moon-blocking knives and horse-axing axes.

  With just a piece of appointment, a few military salaries, and a pile of scrap copper and iron, Xu Wei was about to raise an army to replace the Imperial Guard in suppressing bandits. No wonder they say that the Song Dynasty is the most economically prosperous dynasty in ancient Chinese history! The emperor is simply a shrewd businessman! Xu Wei even suspected that Emperor Zhao Ji might have been someone who had traveled through time, otherwise how could he have played this game of mercenary so smoothly? How did he come up with the idea of exchanging war achievements for rewards?

  Complain and complain, but still have to work, and must work beautifully.

  Xu Wei returned to Xujiacun with a letter of appointment and a dozen carts of broken goods. The first thing he did was not to announce the recruitment of soldiers, but to hold up his letter of appointment and stand outside the guest hall of his home, issuing a summons to those relatives who had been relying on the Xu family and refused to leave. The local area is not peaceful, the imperial court has issued an order to recruit brave warriors to eliminate bandits. Since you people have all been clamoring to join the Xu family, now I give you an opportunity to make achievements and receive rewards, join the Jingwei Camp and serve the country! How much military pay? Not much, half of what the regular army gets! You are responsible for your own weapons!

  Many people slipped away quietly, without even saying goodbye, and sneaked out of the Xu family's gate. The remaining dozen or so young rascals looked on, thinking that since they had no stable life anyway, they might as well follow Old Man Xu to join the army; never mind how much silver they could get, at least the imperial court would provide food and shelter.

  Xu Wei recruited his first batch of soldiers, with a very simple composition, all were local rascals and vagrants.

  A few brothers are so stupid, can this group of foodies be soldiers? Can they fight? I'd run naked around Xujiacun three times! If I see a woman, I'll call her mom! Later on, don't even mention women, as long as it's a donkey that lifts its tail and has a hole, I'll also call it mom!

  The next day, Xu Wei personally wrote and painted a notice. The notice was very concise, with a knife and a silver ingot on it, and only eight words below: "Serve as a soldier and receive pay, kill the enemy and get rewards." He ordered people to post it everywhere to recruit brave warriors. He also sent Yang Yan to lead people to the county seat and Zhang Qing to nearby villages to recruit soldiers. Before these three returned with news, those two foolish friends of Xu Wei's from the county town rushed over to assist him, carrying guns and knives. Without saying a word, they just said: "Ninth Brother, we brothers have come to enjoy good food and drink with you!"

  Xu Wei refused to listen, and insisted on his own way. Xu Taigong had originally only wanted to offer some advice to his son, but he couldn't bear to watch him make such a mistake. "Do you want to organize an army or go to Mount Qian Niu to be a bandit?" he asked. "Can this kind of soldier fight? I've lived for decades in vain!" But Xu Wei seemed not to listen to his father's well-intentioned words, and continued on his own course, angering the old man so much that he finally threw down a sentence: "Play by yourself! I won't get involved anymore!"

  Two days later, there was finally some good news. Zhang Qing and Ma Er had recruited more than 200 people in the nearby area! And almost all of them were young and strong farmers. This is why Xu Wei sent Zhang Qing to do this. He considered that firstly, Xiajin County suffered from war and bandits this year, many households were looted, and life was not easy. Secondly, Wucheng County was also looted, many people fled to Xiajin to seek refuge with their relatives. It's not a good thing to eat and drink for free in someone else's home, just as Xu Jiu was recruiting soldiers, it happened that there was a chance to make a living by joining the army.

  Xu Wei had more than 90 local militiamen under his command, plus over 50 newly recruited ruffians. Adding the personnel recruited by Zhang Qing and Ma Er, they had nearly 400 men. After waiting for another three days, dozens of people came from the county seat and nearby villages. Xu Wei couldn't wait any longer because time was not on his side. He immediately announced that the "Daming Jingwei Xiangyong Camp" was established, with him as the commander-in-chief, Zhang Qing as the deputy commander-in-chief, Yang Yan and Ma Tai as the battalion commanders, and three more were selected from the militiamen of Xujiayuan to make up the five battalion commanders. Under each battalion commander, ten men formed a squad, with one squad leader; five squads formed a company, with one company captain, all chosen from strong and robust men.

  The formation of the Jingwei Camp was entirely based on the system of the Great Song Dynasty's Forbidden Army. The framework has been set up, and the troops have also been filled in. Next step, it seems to be training? Xu Wei seemed not to think so.

  The wheat field outside Xujiazhuang has been requisitioned by the Jingwei Camp, and dozens of military tents have been set up. From today on, all personnel from the commander to the lowest ranks will move into the military tents and are not allowed to leave without orders, private departures are strictly prohibited.

  In the central tent of the military camp, a wooden table and several benches were set up. Xu Wei convened all the senior officers above the rank of battalion commander to discuss matters. Five infantry battalion commanders attended, with only Yang Yan being absent.

  "Yang Yan is where..." Wearing a suit of leather armor, with a sword hanging from his waist, Zhang Qing asked as soon as he came in. Before he could finish asking the question, Yang Yan's voice was heard from outside.

  "Halt! Where are you going?"

  "Hey, Yang Da Leng Zi, it's really like that, don't you recognize me? I'm... Ah yo! Damn it! What are you hitting me for, ah yo, ah yo......" The sound of "ah yo" filled the air, causing the officers inside the tent to frown. What was Yang doing? Playing at beating people?"

  Yang Yan shouted in a loud voice: "Following the military order of the commander! Those who leave the camp without reason will be rewarded with 20 military sticks! Who else wants to go out?"

  "My old man is going out! See if you dare to do anything to me!" There are always people in this world who don't believe in evil.

  "Seize him!" Yang Yan bellowed in anger, and someone responded loudly. "Take him down! Twenty military clubs!"

  Before long, a loud cry of despair rose up: "Ahh! Murder! There's no justice! Ahh... Oh mother, be gentle! Xu Jiu, Ninth Brother, Commander Xu, I know I was wrong, ahh..."

  The officers in the account changed color one after another. Is Xu Jiu really playing this time? Isn't it just playing house and smearing mud when we were kids?

  Zhang Qing glanced at Xu Wei, who was calm and unruffled, and asked skeptically: "Yang Yan's brain is a bit short-circuited, but he wouldn't dare to play tricks, and his methods are ruthless. If something really happens, how will it end? A few blows would be enough."

  Xu Wei said: "Military law is heartless, beating to death is not a matter of discussion, twenty military clubs are enough to be distributed, and the young and old are not deceived."

  .......................

  Although votes are still limited, I, brother, cannot go back on my word, update 3 is here!