Chapter 65 I Must Pass The Assessment

  （0065）

  The current Huoshan guards only have a monthly salary of one or two silver coins, as well as various equipment and daily expenses that need to be paid out of their own pockets. Consolation fees, disability benefits, reward fees, etc., are all issued in the form of military fields. Without any pressure on oneself, others are also happy to accept it. Is there a more appropriate method than this?

  He implemented such a system, and there were also such conditions. After several major upheavals, Shandong had already become a sparsely populated area with vast lands, especially in the areas of Dengzhou and Laizhou, where the population was very small, and large tracts of land were left barren. With just a little effort, tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of mu of land could be reclaimed. In fact, the entire Shandong Peninsula covers an area of 66,000 square kilometers, with 1,500 mu per square kilometer, which translates to a total of 100 million mu of land. Even if only 30% can be used as arable land, there would still be 300 million mu, enough for him to play around with. Moreover, it's not necessarily the case that only 30% of arable land can be used; forestland and mountainous land can also be granted.

  As expected, Zhang Zhun's announcement of these six treatments greatly stimulated those young people.

  The concept of land ownership is very important to the Chinese, especially in ancient times. Owning a few acres of one's own land was the dream of the vast majority of people, just like how people nowadays dream of owning their own house. Min-tian (civilian fields) were indeed not bad, but unfortunately, they could not be passed down to future generations. However, jun-tian (military fields) were different - they could be passed down and were not subject to the 50-acre limit imposed on min-tian. Moreover, land did not have a 70-year limit. Fighting to the death to earn dozens of acres of military fields for one's descendants would surely make future generations forever grateful.

  "I must pass the assessment!"

  "I must pass the assessment!"

  "I must pass the assessment!"

  All the young people present made a silent vow.

  After everyone's applause subsided, Zhang Zhun announced the assessment method and procedure.

  The assessment content has only two items.

  The first test is running.

  The route starts from Hongshitan, runs eastward, circles around Fushan City and returns to Hongshitan, which is considered complete. The entire route is approximately 20 kilometers long, with more than half of the distance being sandy terrain, making it quite challenging.

  Compared to the Yangjia Village militia at the beginning, the young and strong men who came to participate in the test today have improved somewhat in physical fitness. After all, the purchase price of 20 cents per catty of coarse salt has made many military households economically slightly more relaxed, and occasionally they can already eat one or two full meals. Of course, wanting to eat full every meal is impossible. Otherwise, everyone's longing for land would not be so urgent.

  Young people who are determined to join the guard team have some confidence in their physical fitness. Twenty kilometers, although it looks very far, is actually just a round trip from Yangjiatun to Laoshan. It seems that Yang Rui and others, when they were cutting firewood, didn't they walk back and forth with heavy loads every day? So, it's not a problem at all. The key is who can run in the front.

  The second test event is weightlifting.

  Around the training ground, all kinds of stone locks were placed, with weights of thirty kilograms, fifty kilograms, eighty kilograms, and one hundred kilograms. The heavier the weight lifted, the better the score. For the test-taker, this was not a problem either. Yang Rui had carried over 150 kilograms when he went to Laoshan to gather firewood. Although what is being tested now is not shoulder strength but arm strength, overall physical fitness is still there, and it won't be bad no matter what.

  "Testing begins!"

  With Zhang Zhun's order, the test of long-distance running project started first.

  Almost eight hundred young people set off eastward in a swarm.

  At the beginning of the race, everyone ran very fast. Most people didn't have any long-distance running experience and just wanted to sprint ahead. After passing the first section of the road, the group started to spread out. Those in good physical condition ran at the front, while those who were not as physically fit had to temporarily fall behind. Fortunately, with hundreds of people participating, the scene was very spectacular, and as long as you weren't at the very back, it didn't feel lonely. Of course, there were also some people who started running but felt too tired and couldn't keep going, so they reluctantly gave up.

  At this time, it can be clearly seen that on the city wall of Fushan City, there are people secretly peeking at the movements outside. These people are naturally the qianhu, baihu, zongqi and others inside Fushan City who are all targets for elimination by the guard troops. Wang Shixin may also be among them. It's just that the people outside the city can't see clearly, nor do they have binoculars.

  Now, the forces controlled by Zhang Zhun have surrounded Fushan City, and it is impossible for people inside the city to escape. Because on the north side of Fushan City, there are at least two troops blocking the way. It's not easy for them to pass through these two troops unless they abandon everything and flee desperately. Otherwise, once caught by the guards, they will be in trouble. Rather than coming out of the city to get beaten, it's better to hold on inside the city and wait for rescue, which is also Wang Shixin's helpless move.

  Seeing the scene of flames rising outside the city, Wang Shixin's mood can be imagined. This thousand households, in the near future, will have to do it all over again. He is very clear about how much military household blood debt he has stained his hands with, and also very clear about Zhang Zhun's style of handling affairs, wanting Zhang Zhun to let him off is simply impossible. He can even guess that after Zhang Zhun captures Fushan City, he will definitely let go and not care, then let the angry civilians tear him apart.

  Yes, Zhang Zhun will definitely do so.

  "Yu Lin, what do you think Wang Shixin is thinking about right now?" Liu Hang stood beside Zhang Zhun, gazing at the vague figure on the city wall of Fushan City with a hint of a smile.

  He ran to Red Stone Beach, also to watch the flag-raising ceremony of the guard, and some details needed to be communicated with Zhang Zhun. For example, the problem of military fields was mainly his operation. He and Wang Mingyu, Hou Shanping, three people, had already had a basic division of labor. Wang Mingyu was mainly responsible for the allocation of civilian fields, while Hou Shanping preferred to build private schools. After all, he still dreamed of being able to pass the imperial examination until now. Even if he couldn't do it himself, he wanted to teach some capable young people.

  "Bribe me with money, bribe me with beautiful women." Zhang Zhun said solemnly.

  Liu Hang nodded, then chuckled and shook his head, saying: "If I were Wang Shixin now, I'd hurry up and run away with nothing. As long as I can keep my life safe, that's already a victory."

  Zhang Zhun slightly sneered and said disbelievingly: "Can you bear it?"

  Liu Hang said with profound meaning: "If you can't bear to part with it, then you'll have to follow it into the grave."

  Zhang Zhun said: "If I were him, I would take a chance and come out to fight me to the death. If his fire brigade is not used now, there will be no opportunity to use it."

  Liu Hang shook his head and said, "I bet he doesn't have such courage."

  Zhang nodded in agreement.

  After the Black Panther was eliminated, the power controlled by Wang Shixin, the most elite were naturally the family soldiers equipped with firearms. Now the guard also has firearms, and even artillery, everyone's firearms against firearms, Wang Shixin doesn't have any advantage at all. If he continues like this, the guard's strength will become stronger and stronger, while his own strength will become smaller and smaller. The only way out is to go all out and fight hard with the guard.

  Of course, on the premise that he has the courage to fight desperately.

  It's just like the Ming army in Liaodong, shrinking and taking a beating all the time. As a result, the Tartars will only get stronger with each battle, while the Ming army gets weaker and weaker until they're finished off. Yuan Chonghuan's five-year plan to pacify Liaodong was indeed an exaggeration, but in terms of attacking spirit, none of the other generals were as strong as him. July is just around the corner, and the Tartars will be entering the pass for the second time. All the Ming army does is shrink back into their cities, watching with open eyes as the Tartars burn, kill, and loot, hoping that they'll get tired of killing, looting, and burning soon and leave quickly. If a dynasty like this doesn't perish, it would truly be unjust to heaven.

  Wang Mingyu and Hou Shanping were also present at the scene, listening carefully to the two men's conversation without making a sound. The two were busy recording names, Wang Mingyu knew few characters and was sweating profusely. Originally, this task should have been completed by Hou Shanping alone, but the enthusiasm of the young people from Fushan exceeded everyone's expectations, and Hou Shanping was too busy to handle it alone, so he had no choice but to grab Wang Mingyu as a temporary helper, at least he knew some characters.

  Liu Hang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Actually, Wang Shixin didn't dare to run away, there's another reason. Even if he ran out of Fushan City, he would still be beheaded in the end. If even Sun Yuanhua couldn't escape being beheaded, how could a small thousand-household like him?"

  Zhang nodded silently.

  Sun Yuanhua was beheaded, more tragic than Yuan Chonghuan being framed by a counter-espionage plot.

  The most scientifically spirited minister of the Ming Dynasty is undoubtedly Xu Guangqi. Sun Yuanhua was a high-ranking official under Xu Guangqi and actively promoted scientific research, with great achievements in the manufacture of artillery. The cannon that killed Nurhaci had Sun Yuanhua's credit. After Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong, Sun Yuanhua was transferred to Dengzhou Prefecture, where he took in Kong Youde and others.

  In the fifth year of Chongzhen, Kong Youde launched a rebellion and threw Shandong into chaos. As the governor of Dengzhou, Sun Yuanhua worked hard to put down the rebellion but unfortunately was unable to succeed, and Kong Youde and others eventually defected to the Later Jin. Sun Yuanhua was subsequently arrested and imprisoned, and ultimately executed. As an outstanding expert in cannon manufacturing, Sun Yuanhua's death completely halted the Ming army's research on cannons. The Ming army's own weapons research came to a standstill, while Hong Taiji obtained the Red Coat Cannon from Kong Youde, concentrated a large number of craftsmen, studied and replicated it. By the time the Qing army entered the pass, their cannons had become extremely powerful.

  Zhang Zhun was not impressed with Chongzhen, and there was a reason for that. He had all the capable people under him killed, which was Chongzhen's greatest skill. Since killing 255 people in the "Eunuch Party", Chongzhen really liked killing people too much, and eventually there was no one left to kill, so he could only kill himself.

  Yes, I got sidetracked...

  Not long after, the fastest young man had already appeared at the other end of Fushan City and was panting towards Hongshitai. The 20-kilometer journey was enough to knock half the people down, and those who could hold on were all good seeds.

  Running in the front was Peng Bo.

  His physical fitness is indeed good, taking the lead.