Chapter 14: The Fubing System

  The Fubing system refers to a military system used in the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang dynasties. When Li Yuan and Li Shimin rose up in arms, they used part of the regional garrison troops and temporarily recruited soldiers, as well as armies that surrendered and were incorporated during their march. In other words, at the beginning of the Tang dynasty, there was no shortage of soldiers. Now, perhaps due to Yang Heng's time-traveling butterfly effect, or maybe it was just a historical recruitment of Fubing troops, but now his father has become a Fubing soldier.

  And most likely, it was that hundred mu of land that stimulated someone. The selection criteria for the prefectural army are based on three standards: material, ability, and population registration. It seems that Old Dad is also because of this hundred mu of land.

  When the old man first heard this news, he was shocked and then panicked. "I told you so," he said. "We shouldn't have come to the countryside. Look now, we're being taken away as soldiers. This is the end." The old woman's first reaction was a kind of invisible fear, but it's unclear where she and the old man came from.

  "What are you crying about? It's not like I'm asking you to do something difficult. It's just going to the county for training or duty, twice a year, and each time is only over a month. You'll still be able to see each other. And if there's a war, Da Lang can gain merit and improve his social status. This is an opportunity for advancement. Other people would beg for this chance, but you're acting like this. I've wasted so much effort on you."

  His parents were scolded by this uncle, now it feels like his father owes this uncle a favor.

  After Old Man Yang's uncle left, the whole Yang family was in a state of stagnation. The garrison troops were soldiers during wartime and trained as guards during peacetime, but once they were selected to be garrison troops, they had to serve until they were sixty years old. This required a lot of money for equipment such as bows, arrows, fur hats, and fur clothing, as well as temporary supplies like wheat flour and rice. Currently, the only things Old Man Yang could bring with him were his machete and a few farm tools.

  Or rather, this time the old man was actually taken advantage of by this uncle, but for Yang Heng, this is an opportunity. He doesn't know what other people's abilities are like, but the old man's strength and all that should be enough to use. Currently, he should consider how to get some money.

  "Big brother, what's wrong with you guys?" The little uncle next to him saw the look of this family and felt unbelievable. "I'm saying, little brother, does big brother's house look like they have money or not." Old dad said helplessly.

  "Ah, yes." The younger uncle nodded on the side and said, "Look where it's similar to, big brother's clothes, food... no, don't count the food, this is the game hunted here." Old dad was anxious.

  "How can it be, we don't talk about what you eat, just look at the knife you're using to chop firewood now, I've never seen a knife with this style before. Big brother, look how many trees you've chopped down with this knife, but not a single nick on the blade, still so sharp, just like new. And there's no one else who has a knife like this, even in the big households in the city, I haven't seen anyone with such a precious knife. But you're using it to chop firewood, really...I don't know what to say about you guys." Little uncle was full of resentment on the side.

  "Ah, grandfather, you come. Maybe little uncle is right. Why don't we go to the city tomorrow and see if anyone wants this chopping knife? According to little uncle's words, this chopping knife should be very valuable, right? And we'll get up early tomorrow and hunt a few more animals. You can bring them along to the city too. What are we worried about not having any money or food or weapons?"

  These days, Yang Heng really didn't notice this matter, these chopping knives, let alone now, even in the later generations that Yang Heng crossed over to, it seems there weren't such sharp chopping knives either. This needs to be carefully considered, could it be that Old Man's iron-forging skills are some kind of extraordinary technique, and it's just that Old Man has never taken advantage of it?

  Yang Heng has always thought that the iron smelting in this era is not good, and often sees those who have traveled through time coming over to refine iron and steel, which shows that his understanding is somewhat one-sided, even a bit narrow-minded. It seems that he should clear up his thinking and not think that just because his parents ask him about everything, he feels very capable. This is mainly because his parents have never encountered any setbacks before, and only when they encounter setbacks will they feel at a loss. If his father had a suitable opportunity, he would definitely soar to great heights, but it's necessary to have this opportunity, and maybe being selected as a soldier for the imperial court this time is just that chance.

  "Grandfather, after you sell this knife, don't say it's made by us. Just say it's been passed down from our ancestors. But remember that." "Don't worry, young one. Grandfather knows what to do. Family matters are left to you now, I'm going out."

  On the third day, before dawn broke, Father left home in big strides under the watchful eyes of Yang Heng and Mother. "Alright, let's go back to rest, Grandma. Grandpa will be fine, he's just going for training this time, not to war."

  The old man left, but the family couldn't idle around. First, the house had to be built and the fields had to be opened up. Moreover, several uncles were coming to help with the work, and food had to be prepared for them. So, Yang Heng took on another task: going into the mountains to hunt. Yang Heng was very fortunate that after crossing over, he had been given such a strong body. If this were his body from his previous life, it would have been bad. An ordinary body, combined with an ordinary family, would absolutely be a disastrous result. No matter how many ideas you had in your head, they wouldn't be enough to save you.

  "Little uncle, don't rush to leave yet. Come and help your nephew bring back a few pounds of meat for my grandfather to eat." "Yes, little husband, the old man is not good to us, but we can't be bad to the old man either. I won't go see Grandfather because I'm afraid he'll dislike me, but Grandfather won't dislike these meat dishes, will he?"

  After the old man left, the old mother had asked her uncles to pass on a message several times, saying that she wanted to go see Ah-weng, but Ah-weng just wouldn't budge, saying that there was no such son, and naturally there would be no daughter-in-law or grandson either. Perhaps he was worried about the old man's prospects, afraid of failing in opening up new land and relying on him again, which would not be good. Moreover, there was also a younger uncle who had only been engaged but not yet married. However, Yang Heng finally decided to let his younger uncle bring some meat back to Ah-weng, which was the wild boar that Yang Heng had hunted yesterday when he went up the mountain.

  The house was already built in the past few days, with the guidance of my uncle and the help of three other uncles. A wooden house was built, and all the wood materials were processed by my uncle, who simply brushed them with water mixed with some herbs to remove the loose bark, leaving the remaining bark intact, making the house look like a whole tree from the outside. The interior walls of the house were quite smooth, except for one fire wall that looked a bit ugly, but it was necessary for warmth.

  During this period of interaction, Yang Heng discovered that each of these uncles had their own skills: the youngest uncle could carve and do carpentry, the second uncle could build walls, especially with broken stones, and the fire wall and fire kang were all built under Yang Heng's guidance. Perhaps he would be able to read and work later. The third uncle knew how to build earthen walls, that is, to make earth walls, while the fifth uncle was good at plastering, which means applying mud to the wall surface to make it smooth. It is said that these skills were all passed down from their ancestors.