The invasion of the abyss begins with the Laughing at the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 57 Iron Guard

"I am Gongsun Shaojun, honored to meet General Shen."

On the mountainside, a thin middle-aged man wearing an old padded jacket and holding an account book saw Shen Yuanliang and his group from afar, straightened his clothes, and hurriedly went to meet them.

"Brother Liang, he is Gongsun Shaojun, a scholar. If it weren't for his help this month, I don't know what I would have done."

Scratching his head, Shitou smiled and enthusiastically took Gongsun Shaojun to introduce him to Shen Yuanliang.

At the beginning of the new year, Shen Yuanliang abolished the corvée system that had lasted for thousands of years and replaced it with a mercenary system. Gongsun Shaojun was deeply shocked by his courage.

After some thought, Gongsun Shaojun made up his mind and decided to give it a try. He then distinguished himself in the labor, assisting Shitou in repairing the city defenses, working diligently.

"Gongsun Shaojun, you are a scholar, why did you join us?"

Turning the jade ring in his hand, Shen Yuanliang looked straight into his eyes. A huge pressure came over him, making Gongsun Shaojun feel as if he had encountered a tiger, and his heart was terrified.

"I am already over thirty years old, but I am still a poor scholar. It is because I have no money to bribe my superiors that I have wasted my time until now."

"The general is saving the people from danger and distress. I admire him and want to accomplish something great with him, so as to realize my ambitions and live up to what I have learned in my life."

After saying this, Gongsun Shaojun bowed deeply with a very sincere attitude.

"Sir, you are so sincere, how can Yuanliang live up to your high expectations?"

"Yongning City is in need of reconstruction and is short of talent. I would like to trouble you to serve as the governor and manage the city's affairs."

Looking at Gongsun Shaojun's clear eyes and the resentment he showed towards the court, Shen Yuanliang smiled happily, took a step forward, took his arm, and said solemnly.

A month ago, Shen Yuanliang led his army to capture Yongning City and made three laws with the people. He tried the illegal powerful and wealthy, burned the unreasonable usury, and even abolished corvee labor.

Even so, after more than a month, no scholar had come forward to join Shen Yuanliang and try to become his successor.

Gongsun Shaojun was the first talented person to join Shen Yuanliang, so how could he be neglected?

"Gongsun Shaojun greets the lord."

Gongsun Shaojun bowed again to confirm the relationship between the monarch and his subject. From now on, he would be a member of Shen Yuanliang's command, and the two sides would share honor and disgrace.

"Now Yongning City, Jingbian Fort and other places have been repaired. As long as everyone is united, even the Later Jin Jiannu can only watch helplessly."

"This is not enough. Although it is safe to hold on to one place, it is just like a trapped beast in a cage. We also need a disciplined army to attack cities and conquer territories."

"Shitou, the labor service will be handed over to the prefect Gongsun Shaojun. From today on, you will train the soldiers with me."

On the top of the mountain, facing the biting cold wind, the strong and healthy Shen Yuanliang circulated the blood and energy in his body a little, and his whole body felt warm and not cold at all.

For Shen Yuanliang, saving his life is the most important thing. Only by building high walls and establishing iron-clad fortifications can he have time to take root and manage his territory, instead of fleeing around like bandits.

"Brother Liang, Yongning City, Jingbian Fort, Shenjiawu Fort and other castles all need soldiers to defend them. It is difficult to defend them with only 2,500 people."

"In order to resist the attack of the Later Jin Jiannu, we should recruit more people."

Rubbing his stiff hands, looking at the crowd below him that was growing stronger and denser, Shi Tou said seriously.

Skinny Monkey had suggested this before, but the situation at the time did not allow it. Repairing the castle and training soldiers at the same time was too much for Shen Yuanliang and his men to handle. Besides, overnight, they absorbed more than 2,000 bandits and military households, and their hearts were complicated and impetuous. Shen Yuanliang only used ruthless means to temporarily intimidate their little thoughts and make them reluctantly obedient.

"It's time to recruit another 5,000 from among them."

"With a will as strong as steel and a defense as strong as an iron wall, let's call this team the Iron Guard!"

Under the green pines, Shen Yuanliang waved the horsewhip in his hand, pointed at the many busy laborers in the mountains, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and said in high spirits.

After a month of training, and with sufficient food and meat, the many people doing forced labor are no longer the same as they were before. They have firm eyes, rosy faces, and muscular bodies. They are excellent source of soldiers.

Shen Yuanliang had thought of this day as early as when he first hired the laborers.

The heavy tasks are enough to eliminate those with weak wills, and the sufficient wages allow them to have a more intuitive understanding of Shen Yuanliang, which is equivalent to establishing trust in others.

Recruiting people from among them, plus three hundred family servants, would be enough to neutralize more than two thousand bandits and military households, allowing Shen Yuanliang to use them at will.

"Dang Dang Dang."

The sound of a broken gong was heard. At the foot of the mountain, a large group of sturdy women surrounded Aunt Chen and Li Wan'er. Behind them, more than thirty servants were carrying boxes of silver. The white silver was very dazzling.

Counting from January 3rd to today, a whole month has passed, and Shen Yuanliang has never been vague about paying wages.

The rough thatched house, with logs as pillars and thatch as roof, is where the Shen family pays their workers. Although the place is simple, it cannot hide the passion in everyone's hearts.

"It's time to pay your wages. It's time to pay your wages. Everyone line up and stand in line."

"Each person has five cents of silver. Take your household registration card and come one by one in the Lijia unit. Everyone will get one."

Under the maintenance of their respective village heads and team leaders, a total of 30,000 laborers, a large crowd, stretched their necks, and waited quietly with excitement.

One after another, after pressing their fingerprints, the moment they received their wages, everyone's eyes were filled with tears. Tears of joy flowed drop by drop on the silver. It was the taste of happiness, the taste of hope.

I come to the world just for a few pieces of silver.

During this month, they worked diligently and without complaint, just for the five cents of silver in their hands. All the previous worries, all the hard work and fatigue were worth it.

The image of Shen Yuanliang became taller and fuller in the hearts of many laborers, no longer mixed with fear but with a little gratitude.

The Ming Dynasty ruled Kyushu for more than two hundred years, leaving deep marks on this land and in the hearts of the people. These marks are not so easy to erase.

Comparing the Forbidden City thousands of miles away and the huge pile of silver in their hands, the scales in everyone's hearts unconsciously tilted towards Shen Yuanliang.

After all, no matter how good the words are, they are not as effective as the money in your hands!

"Good news. Tomorrow at Shenjiawubao, General Shen will recruit 5,000 servants, with the same treatment as before."

"One tael of silver per month is enough for three meals a day, and three taels of silver is provided for the family to settle down. If you die, you will also receive thirty taels of silver for cremation and burial. I keep my word."

After the wages were paid, the news of Shen Yuanliang's recruitment of servants spread, and many people were eager to try.

(End of this chapter)