Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 134 Everything is fake except for money and food!
'Tap tap tap~~~'

The armored soldiers, wearing leather boots, stepped forward, carrying muskets with triangular bayonets.

Based on what he learned during military training, he delivered blows to the Imperial College students on the ground one by one.

'Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!'

The sound of a triangular bayonet piercing through a body made Qian Qianyi's calves cramp.

His face was as white as if it were powdered, and his old teeth were chattering uncontrollably.

"You really... you killed him?"

"These are all students of the Imperial Academy!"

The usually cautious Qian Qianyi, unusually losing his composure, yelled at Lin Dao, "They're all your classmates!"

Lin Dao, on horseback, turned his head and his sharp gaze swept over, instantly bringing Qian Qianyi to his senses.

He really wanted to slap himself.

Why are you so talkative? You're not the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy!

"Military orders must not be disobeyed."

Lin Dao spurred his horse forward, saying, "A curfew is a curfew. Disobey and you will die."

Qian Qianyi staggered after him, calling out, "Zihou, General!"

"If you offend scholars, how will you contend for the throne? Who will serve as your official or minister?"

"Ha~"

“That’s a joke,” Lin Daosa laughed. “I remember there was a time in history when one had to castrate himself to become an official.”

"Even so, don't scholars still prefer to castrate themselves in order to obtain official positions?"

"Again."

"Three-legged toads are hard to find, but those who want to be officials are everywhere!"

"Mr. Muzhai, please go about your business. There's no need for you to follow me."

Arriving at the Great Parade Ground, looking at the mountains of military supplies, Lin Dao could only say that it was a story too complicated to tell.

These swords, spears, and halberds are covered in rust and look to be about thirty years old.

All kinds of armor, iron armor and helmets were all rusty, and leather armor was covered in mold, some of which had not been used since they were over forty years old.

The bowstring had long since broken, and the wooden bow was rotten to pieces; it must have been stored away for over fifty years.

The wood of the musket was completely rotten, and the barrel was completely rusted shut, so it was probably made about 60 years ago.

As for military supplies like tents and trucks, it's simply beyond words.

It's just piles of garbage.
If it hadn't been taken from a designated warehouse, who knows what this junk is?

"This quantity is incorrect."

Lin Dao scanned the garbage heap in front of him with the skill of troop counting, then compared it with the numbers in the booklet in his hand.

"The difference is too great."

The clerks in charge of the warehouse were so engrossed in their work that their heads were practically buried in the ground.

In this vast Ming Dynasty, there are no warehouses in various regions that are not in good condition.

The only difference is how much.

Lin Dao raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

With a clanging sound, the guards' swords were placed against the necks of the warehouse officials.

The warehouse clerks immediately began to skillfully beg for mercy.

"It's none of our business."

Let's start by disclaiming any personal involvement.

"It was all at the behest of you gentlemen."

Then came the blame-shifting.

"We, the lower-ranking officials, also wanted to dissuade them, but our words carried no weight."

Then comes shirking responsibility.

"We have no idea where the things went."

Finally, they claimed to know nothing when asked.

This is a very standard excuse, and it's the norm throughout the Ming Dynasty.

Lin Dao calmly said, "One, three, seven."

The warehouse clerks were puzzled. What did that mean?
The next moment, the three warehouse clerks were dragged out, and the armored soldiers swung their swords down, their three heads falling to the ground.

Now everyone understood; they were the first, third, and seventh among the rows of kneeling warehouse officials.

Lin asked again, "Where did the things go?"

The warehouse clerks were dumbfounded.

It was not like this before.

Even if they come to check the inventory and accounts, at most they'll beat or scold you, but they'll cut off your head right away.
The warehouse officials, still in shock, remained silent.

Lin Dao's gaze once again swept over the back of their necks.

"We were just following orders."

A clever person quickly replied, "Most of them are stewards from the various governors' offices who come to transfer them."

"Go directly to the dock, board the ship, and transport it down the river."

"We really don't know where we're going."

"I heard accents from Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Shanxi on the ship..."

"Spare us! It's really none of our business!"

Lin Dao waved his hand and said, "Send them all to Zhao Zhilong and let him make sure he gets his pay properly."

Those who can become treasury officials must have tens of thousands of taels of silver in their homes.

They embezzled government supplies and lined their own pockets; all the treasury officials in the country were no different.

Although it can't compare to the nobles and princes, even a mosquito is still meat, and something is better than nothing.

"Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shanxi."

"Heh." Lin Dao chuckled. "The officials of the Ming Dynasty are really interesting."

"As long as there's money, everyone has to step aside."

"When it comes to money, I'm the one with the most!"

The sky is bright.

A large number of brave guards, beating drums and gongs, shouted messages along the streets to spread the word.

With the curfew over, people are allowed to go out to buy groceries and work.

The curfew will continue tonight until 5 PM; everyone should return home and lock themselves in before 5 PM.

Last night, all the places that needed to be sealed off were sealed off. The soldiers, carrying the "Records of Gentry and Officials" of Southern Zhili, went door to door to search and confiscate the property.

After finding the family genealogy, they arrested people and sealed off the family according to the genealogy.

Arrest those who should be arrested, and shut down those who should be shut down.

Those currently allowed to move around are all ordinary citizens from within the city.

If they don't work for a day, they will go hungry.

"All garrisons, drill grounds, Shenji Battalion, patrol camps, and military households under the jurisdiction of Xinjiangkou Military Camp, immediately report to the main drill ground."

"Anyone who fails to arrive by 3:45 PM will be dismissed from their military post."

Besides announcing the lifting of the curfew, another important matter was to gather all the military households in the city. Lin Dao organized those who were willing to come.

Those who are unwilling to come will no longer have the status of military household.

Although the imperial court was often in arrears with salaries, it would still occasionally pay a small amount.

Moreover, the imperial court has always acknowledged the arrears in wages, but simply refuses to pay them.

If they don't come, then all these debts will be wiped clean.

"Honey, you can't go!"

In many residential houses, arguments could be heard: "If you go there, you'll either get chopped up or be forced into becoming a thief."

"If something happens to you, how will our family survive?"

The daily grind of city life over the years had long since worn down the minds of the military households.

Firstly, they feared this was a drill ground for distributing pay, and that no soldiers should be brought.

Secondly, they feared being dragged into the rebel army and becoming cannon fodder, wandering around aimlessly.

Therefore, the vast majority of military households in the city did not dare to go.

'Drink~~~'

'Drink~~~'

Lin Dao, who was leaning back in his chair and snoring, was woken up by his bodyguard.

"General, it is already noon."

Lin Dao wiped his mouth and stood up. "How many people came?"

"One thousand three hundred and nineteen people."

"So little?" Lin Dao was slightly surprised. "The ancients said that commoners should not be soldiers, and they were absolutely right."

At its peak, Jinling City had more than 100,000 military households.

Even after more than two hundred years, most of the soldiers only exist on the military register, becoming tools for military officers at all levels to embezzle military funds.

But there must still be tens of thousands of living people, right?
Surprisingly, only a little over a thousand people dared to come.

Such courage, even if forcibly conscripted to the battlefield, would only result in a routed army that would crumble at the first touch.

"Alright."

Lin Dao stretched his body and strode towards the command platform.

More than a thousand people trembled before him.

There was nothing they could do; they were surrounded by armored soldiers, each armed and glaring at them menacingly.

Upon seeing Lin Dao ascend the command platform, a slight commotion arose among the crowd.

"I am Lin Dao."

Lin Dao raised the megaphone in his hand and said, "You may all call me Commander Lin."

“Since last night, I have been the new master of this city of Jinling.”

The commotion among the crowd grew even greater.

All they knew was that there had been a mutiny in the city and a major upheaval had occurred.

However, the specifics of how the situation changed are unknown.

Now I know.

"I'm giving you two choices."

"Firstly, from this day forward, I will serve this commander and be part of his troops."

"Second, turn around and leave now, give up your military status, and do as you please in the future."

"Fifteen minutes." Lin Dao took a breath. "Anyone who doesn't leave after fifteen minutes will be deemed to be serving this commander!"

Some people in the crowd clearly hesitated.

Who would choose to become a thief if they could make a living in Nanjing?

But he was also worried that Lin Dao would not keep his word and would be beheaded as soon as he left the camp, so he was extremely conflicted.

After a long while, someone finally mustered up the courage to tentatively walk towards the camp gate.

Seeing that he hadn't been beheaded after leaving the training ground, even more people followed him.

Seeing this, Lin Dao shook his head slightly.

“In ancient times, people living in cities were indeed not suitable for military service.”

Fifteen minutes later, less than half of the people remained.

Lin Dao nodded. "Since you are willing to follow me, I will not treat you unfairly."

"I will make up for all the military pay that the imperial court has owed you over the years!"

One sentence was enough to set the entire training ground ablaze with excitement.

Everything else is fake, except for money and provisions!
The clerks, carrying the military registers, stepped forward to inquire about the names of the soldiers, and immediately began calculating the back taxes and rations owed over the years using an abacus, distributing them on the spot.

Holding the silver in his cloth bag, looking at the strings of copper coins hanging on his shoulder, he kicked the grain sacks filled with grain at his feet.

The soldiers were as if in a dream.

Those who had left earlier, witnessing this scene from outside the training ground, were filled with utter despair.

They ran towards the camp gate, wanting to go back.

The guards at the gate brandished their swords and shouted, "This is a military camp, no unauthorized personnel are allowed to trespass!"

Only then did everyone realize that they had voluntarily given up their status as military households, and were now just ordinary people.

"We are also willing to serve the commander-in-chief, and we also want to receive our back pay!"

The gatekeeper sneered and brandished his sword, "Go to the capital and collect your back pay from the Emperor."

Those outside the training ground were filled with regret.

They are in a worse situation than those who didn't come.

Those who didn't come, upon hearing the news, at most vented their anger by beating their wives at home.

But these people were once just a quarter of an hour away from receiving money and provisions!
If they hadn't left a quarter of an hour ago, they would now be entitled to a share of the money and provisions.

The outstanding debts over the years amount to a huge sum of money!
The joyful atmosphere on the training ground had not yet ended.

"Everyone who participated in the operation last night will be given five taels of silver, one shi of grain, and one can of meat!"

The soldiers of the Brave Guard Battalion stepped forward and lined up, beaming with joy as they received their rewards.

Their treatment was very good. Ordinary soldiers received a monthly salary of ten taels of silver, plus a shi of grain, a bolt of cloth, and a jin of salt.

These military salaries were all paid out in full, without any deductions.

If Lin Dao dares to pay full wages, they will dare to follow Lin Dao in rebellion!

After receiving their reward, some people spontaneously shouted.

"Whose salary are you receiving?"

"Collect the commander's pay!"

"Whose clothes are you wearing?"

"Wear the General's clothes!"

"For whom shall we die?"

"I will die for the Commander!"

Those soldiers who remained shouted at the top of their lungs.

Sound like thunder!

(End of this chapter)