The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 244 Forming a Unique System

"It's none of my business to interfere in your marriage."

Wang Xin's tone was light and casual.

Tang Ping was not surprised; he had already guessed the general's attitude on the way here, and it turned out to be true.

Tao Sheng's eyelids twitched slightly; he simply couldn't understand it.

Finally, Tang Ping hesitated for a moment, then just sighed.

Tao Sheng, who did not understand the reasons behind it, could not comprehend Tang Ping's feelings, nor could he guess Wang Xin's thoughts, which was completely different from the atmosphere at the Datong Military Governor's Office.

"I do not agree to the marriage with the Zhou family," Tang Ping said, breaking the silence with a frustrated tone.

"have you seen?"

"No."

Wang Xin asked curiously, "You won't even see him, how do you know you don't like him?"

Tang Ping couldn't answer.

"I have a suggestion," Wang Xin said with a smile, "It's just a suggestion, whether you listen to it or not is up to you."

"General, please speak."

"You can either go and meet them, or learn more about it yourself. Once you've made a decision, then decide. Your marriage is a major life event, so prioritize your own preferences," Wang Xin said calmly.

Tao Sheng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but interject: "Does the general really think so?"

Wang Xin nodded and added a few more words of advice: "Character is also very important; a good wife can bring prosperity to three generations."

To rise above others, marry a beautiful and wealthy woman, and reach the pinnacle of life.

This is human nature.

It's something that people, both ancient and modern, can't resist.

Tang Ping rejected the Zhou family today, and he will not reject the Li family or the Chen family in the future. Given Tang Ping's current status and importance, if the Zhou family values ​​him, others will also value him. What I need to do is to help him achieve his goals.

By helping Tang Ping, you are also helping yourself.

Tao Sheng was puzzled by Wang Xin's confidence and wondered if this man was truly without desires.

Tang Ping was deeply moved.

"Haha." Tao Sheng laughed, his face full of joy. "Now I can go back and report to the Zhou family."

In his view, since General Wang did not accept, Tang Ping had no reason to refuse, given the Zhou family's status and position.

Wang Xin also remarked with emotion, "It would be good if all the brothers could settle down, start families, and build careers."

Many men in the army were still single, such as Liu Tong, Tang Ping, and Ma Fan. Zhang Can, on the other hand, had a family, but because he was ostracized in Datong, he was sent back to his hometown of Yulin. He was also from a military family.

"General Wang has many talented men under his command, so why worry about not having a wife?" Tao Sheng said with a smile.

Wang Xin rose through the ranks so quickly that his subordinates also obtained official positions one by one.

The Tang Ping before me used to be a miner in the mines, living a miserable life where he never saw the light of day. If it weren't for Wang Xin, he would never have had a chance to turn his life around. There are many people like Tang Ping.

Tao Sheng is right.

Why is it that brothers who are poor and struggling together often turn against each other after they gain wealth and status?

Because of interests.

As their status rose, not only Tang Ping had to be released, but also Liu Tong and the others; in effect, it was a division of the family.

Wang Xin patted Tang Ping on the shoulder with a smile and said in an instructive tone, "Now that you've settled down and started a family, you'll have to stand on your own two feet. You'll not only have to take care of your brothers, but also your family. Being the pillar of the family is no easy task."

Wang Xin is easy to deal with.

But behind me is a collective.

This is the power of the collective.

No matter how strong an individual is, their strength is limited. What Wang Xin wanted was an upward-moving, thriving collective.

Tang Ping nodded emphatically.

"How is Weiyuan Pass?"

"I intend to maintain the original three lines of defense. The first line will mainly be used to check passing caravans and pedestrians. The second line will be the main force, and the third line, namely Weiyuan Pass, will be the backup."

Tang Ping made the decision regarding the Zhou family's marriage; Wang Xin didn't care, as he was more concerned about Weiyuan Pass.

This was Tang Ping's first time taking charge independently. Although he had only been there for a few days, he dared not relax for a moment and already had his own plans.

"Weiyuan Pass currently has only a little over a thousand garrison troops. I believe that at least three thousand garrison troops and five hundred battalions are needed to ensure the absolute safety of Weiyuan Pass and to provide support to Zhenlu City at any time."

Weiyuan Pass guards not just a fortified pass, but a section of the Great Wall.

Every pass and fortress needs to be garrisoned.

The main force consisted of militia members from all over the country, except for night watchmen, who were recruited from local young men because night watchmen needed to be familiar with the area, and only locals could do the job.

Many militiamen deserted while serving, and the local authorities were not sending enough, so many militiamen ran away halfway.

Wang Xin's plan was to rely on Tuanshan Pass in the east, Weiyuan Pass in the west, and Zhenlu City outside the pass to form a triangle, supporting each other and creating an unbreakable military system integrating offense and defense.

The city of Zhenlu was responsible for the attack.

Weiyuan Pass and Tuanshan Pass were responsible for guarding them.

If the situation is unfavorable, Weiyuan Pass and Tuanshan Pass can provide immediate support to Zhenlu City, ensuring that Zhenlu City is not lost. If Zhenlu City is not lost, Tuanshan Pass and Weiyuan Pass will not be lost.

In the past, it was always Wang Xin who came up with the solutions, but this time Wang Xin asked instead, "What do you think we should do?"

Tang Ping paused, hesitating for a moment, mainly worried that he might have said something wrong. But then he thought that the person in front of him was a general, so he didn't care. If he was wrong, the general would surely correct him.

“The local militia were exempted from five shi of grain and two adult males from corvée labor every year. Later, fewer people participated, so they had to recruit more landless tenants. Therefore, they changed to paying wages and food, with some receiving seven or eight qian per month and others receiving five or six qian per month.”

Tang Ping stuttered a bit at first, but he became more and more fluent as he spoke.

Wang Xin nodded in satisfaction.

To be able to stand on your own, you must be proactive in your work.

Tang Ping's fluent answer showed that he had already thought it through and his attitude was fine. With the skills Tang Ping had learned by my side, plus his abilities, there would be no problem entrusting Weiyuan Pass to him.

"Unfortunately, the local area had no money, and the border army had no money either. The militiamen who came to the border originally came for a meal, but they didn't even have a meal. Not only were they hungry, but they also had to do heavy work and were tortured by officers, which is why they didn't want to come."

Even in the most peaceful years, there are still many tenant farmers, and many people go hungry.

When there's no war at the border, there's food to eat if you come, so why wouldn't many people want to come? It's better than going hungry.

So what's lacking isn't people.

Tang Ping suggested, "We can increase the militia's pay to one tael of silver per month, mainly for training with muskets. This would save a lot of money and ensure the militia's combat effectiveness."

It's definitely not feasible to rely on the militia for hand-to-hand combat.

However, firing from a distance is not a problem.

The real tough battles will be fought by the battalion-level soldiers.

In fact, the same was true for the Hu people. Not everyone was a sharpshooter. In the real big battles, the elite troops under the command of the Taiji were needed. The Taiji also had to lead the charge, which was similar to the household guard system in the Nine Garrisons.

Although the generals of the Nine Garrisons were skilled in battle, the army would immediately collapse once a general died.

Hu Bu is also one of them.

Once the Taiji dies, no matter how many troops he has, they will all collapse.

The servants fight for the sake of the generals.

The Hu cavalry fought for the sake of the Taiji.

"Change the food allowance to eight qian, and do the rest according to your idea. That's what I think too," Wang Xin said without blushing.

The military pay in Tangping was changed to food and labor silver, and the amount was also reduced by two qian of silver.

The reason why the military pay set by myself in the Beijing garrison was different from that elsewhere was simply because it was paid in full. The shortfall in the military pay from the imperial court was made up by the public treasury of the Hexi garrison, not because the military system was changed.

Both were generals who kept private soldiers.

Other generals typically embezzled silver to support their own servants.

They earned money by stimulating commerce to support their soldiers. Some generals also set up roadblocks or water gates to collect money from passing caravans to fund their military operations.

The former is about cutting costs, while the latter is about increasing revenue.

Open source also comes in different forms.

I have a clear conscience as to the fact that I have used methods that are beneficial to productivity.

Similarly, there must be a special reason why a place gives eight qian of food and labor silver. As for the reason, it doesn't matter. Since there is such a standard, you should follow the highest standard. However, exceeding it will cause problems.

In short, we need to both open back doors and stay within the rules.

Tang Ping had no doubts.

Tao Sheng wasn't sure, but he was certain that Tang Ping was truly capable, even Wang Xin admired him. It seemed that the Zhou family had indeed struck gold this time, producing a daughter and gaining a talented individual.

Despite his previous attitude, this man was still very loyal to Wang Xin.

But who can say for sure what will happen in the future?

More importantly, Tao Sheng sensed something different: Wang Xin was acting recklessly.

He's built Datong into a self-sufficient city, and it seems he's ready to leave. He can just pack up and walk away easily, leaving the wealthy with plenty of manpower, guns, and money.
What business is it of the imperial court?

Gathering the masses brings prosperity.

Thinking of the most famous business in Datong today, although it was just established, it has made a huge splash.

I heard that they raised hundreds of thousands of taels of silver just from equity.

Each family contributed money.

Those who have no money contribute their efforts.

Filled with turmoil, Tao Sheng returned to Datong, and Tang Ping also returned to Weiyuan Pass, taking with him five thousand taels of silver.

The imperial court distributed military pay to Datong.

The Datong local authorities are issuing them to the border guards.

After passing through several hands, very few remained in the hands of the soldiers, but there were still some left, after all, there were still nearly a thousand people at Weiyuan Pass, otherwise they would have fled empty-handed.

Therefore, with an additional five thousand taels of silver, even if Tang Ping immediately attracts three thousand people, he can still manage for four or five months.

Of course, military equipment is another matter.

Wang Xin remained in charge of the soldiers' pay and the army's equipment.
-
end of August.

Many tents were set up around Zhenlu City, and with the surrounding cattle and sheep, it was more lively and vibrant than the old site of Shanyu City. Although it was messy, it was generally divided into several parts.

Along the Hun River, the furthest point from Weiyuan Pass, at the very edge, is the military camp.

Next to the military camp was a gathering place for merchants.

The innermost part contains cattle and sheep.

The carts were piled up densely, along with the flags of various businesses, as well as small vendors with a keen sense of smell. Even tea shops had opened, and brothels had come. At night, the colorful and red lights there were eye-catching.

Xue Yan led several craftsmen to Zhenlu City.

The leader was a man in his early fifties, looking like a withered old man. His surname was Liu and his given name was Er.

"Master Liu."

"Master Zeng."

"Master Li."

Wang Xin bowed to each of the master chefs, showing great politeness.

The man before them was a guerrilla general, a man of high status. Coupled with the Xue family's connections, the craftsmen were flattered and became uneasy.

"General, you are too kind. We are too humble to accept such a compliment."

Liu Er didn't put on a stern face, but forced out a smile that was even uglier than crying, making his old face, which was as bark as a tree, look even worse.

"Deserved."

Wang Xin said without hesitation.

"With you all, the army can win battles. No amount of respect is too much for you."

Everyone was surprised.

Although he had encountered some polite officials in the past, none had ever been as humble as Wang Xin.

In fact, the low status of craftsmen was in contrast to that of officials.

Like scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Do farmers who cultivate the land really look down on businessmen?
What does it mean to say that all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is superior?
Whether one farms, runs a business, works as a laborer, or serves in the military, no one is as noble as a scholar; they are all considered lowly.

This statement is not meant to encourage people to read books or learn the great principles.

Essentially, it's about worshipping officials.

Even if one doesn't become an official after studying, one will still face discrimination.

Therefore, its original meaning was the worship of power.

In reality, when there were no officials around, craftsmen lived better than ordinary people, and artisans were respected in the community.

As for encountering officials, how many opportunities do ordinary people have to deal with them?

With a clear understanding, Wang Xin believed that he should treat everyone equally, so even as a guerrilla general, he never forgot his roots.

"General Wang has a gentle and kind personality. Everyone who has met him knows his character," Xue Yan said with a smile.

Everyone was more familiar with Xue Yan, and after receiving confirmation from him, their expressions were complicated, but their mood improved considerably.

The group entered the tent.

After drinking the milk tea from the grassland, the craftsmen were all impressed and their eyes were opened. Xue Yan took the initiative to suggest...

"The location has been chosen; it's located to the east of Niuxin Mountain."

When can we start work?

"It can be done tomorrow."

"So fast?" Wang Xin hadn't expected it.

To attempt to imitate the breech-loading cannon and the arquebus, good iron materials and blast furnaces are needed. These are the craftsmen's own specialties, and all they need to do is provide the money.

"It's mainly because of Zhenlu City." Xue Yan pointed outside the tent and smiled, "This is already the largest market, and we have everything we need."

Although iron was a prohibited item and was not allowed to leave the pass, merchants doing business outside the pass had channels inside the pass.

As for coal and other resources, they are readily available in Niuxinshan.

The coal still needed to be refined into coke. Several craftsmen traveled a long way and, in their spare time, discussed the breech-loading cannon and the arquebus. They already had several methods, including what materials to use.

After listening to Xue Yan's introduction, Wang Xin was no longer surprised.

Wang Xin knew that the craftsmen in front of him could talk a good game, but he didn't know their actual skill level. However, he trusted Xue Yan's judgment and did not doubt the craftsmen's abilities.

I have confidence in Da Zhou's technology.

There was never any doubt that the Great Zhou could not replicate the breech-loading cannon and the arquebus.

The technology of the Great Zhou Dynasty was not inferior to that of the West; in fact, it far surpassed the West in many materials and processes.

It was only because of the constant warfare in the West that firearms developed faster.

However, these firearms posed no challenge for the artisans of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Once they had a basic understanding of them, they could easily replicate them by finding experienced craftsmen, especially since the Great Zhou Dynasty used better materials.

With technologies such as nine-times-refined iron and three-times-refined iron, as well as coke refining technology that the West did not yet possess, more advanced Peruvian guns could be made. However, the weakness of the Great Zhou Dynasty was the lack of high-quality flint.

Don't rush these things; you can't get fat in one step.

The main problem is that while I know the general direction, I don't understand the details. Who has time to memorize how to make a musket? I only know about matchlock guns and flintlock guns.

"How much silver does General Wang plan to allocate?"

Xue Yan asked about the most important thing.

Wang Xin, unable to bear the toothache, asked in return, "When will the 100,000 taels of silver from Juzhongchang arrive in your account?"

The public treasury of Hexi Camp was already insufficient to sustain operations.

It's not that I want to support merchants, but at present I can only rely on commerce. I would like to rely on the imperial court, but the imperial court has no money. So even if the imperial court wanted to support me, it would be willing but unable to do so.

Xue Yan also started to have a toothache.

Merchants are the type who won't act until they see a clear benefit.

They are not afraid of Wang Xin.

Although he got into the business through Wang Xin, he was now caught in the middle.

(End of this chapter)