Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 422 Female Soldiers (Part Two)

Meng Liulang had a headache.

The guards remained silent, standing aside and waiting for their general to make a decision.

After waiting for a moment, Meng Liulang gritted his teeth and said, "Go find a few veterans and ask General Pei Yun about the standards for recruiting female soldiers in the past."

"Since they've come of their own accord, there's no reason to refuse them. Our Beiping Army will set up a women's battalion from now on."

The guards' eyes lit up, and they grinned, repeatedly agreeing.

It would be great to have female soldiers! The barracks are full of smelly, rough men; it would be nice to have some pretty, clean female soldiers to feast your eyes on. If you're lucky, you might even be able to find a wife.

The news of the recruitment of female soldiers spread rapidly through the military camp. The soldiers of the Beiping Army were overjoyed upon hearing this, their mouths practically twisted with delight.

There were also a few shameless and senior individuals who took the initiative to meet Meng Liulang, puffing out their chests and volunteering to be in charge of recruiting female soldiers.

Meng Liulang glared at him irritably: "I've already made arrangements for the conscription. What are you doing getting involved? Just stay put."

"Furthermore, pass down my military order to establish an independent female soldiers' battalion, separate from the male soldiers. You all better behave yourselves. Anyone who dares to harbor any intention to harass or bully the female soldiers will be dealt with according to military law."

The shameless general was given a good scolding and slunk away.

Meng Liulang rubbed his forehead.

There were already military tents where female soldiers had lived in the Beiping military camp, so we just need to designate that area.

It was common for the Pei family army to have female soldiers, and Pei Yun herself was a female general with her own methods for managing them. However, this was the first time the Beiping army had recruited female soldiers. Sure enough, from the very beginning of the recruitment process, things became somewhat chaotic, leading to quite a few comical situations.

For example, some soldiers, unable to contain their lust, would flirt with women who came to enlist. The women would retort fiercely, angrily scolding the Beiping army for having such poor discipline, worse than the Pei family's army, and asking what right they had to station troops there.

For example, some soldiers looked down on women, glancing at them with disdain during inquiries and registration. Others, with strong personalities, simply turned and left on the spot.

As various trivial matters came up, Meng Liulang, whose temper was not pleasant, darkened his face and gave the soldiers a beating with military rods. Then he personally went to the recruitment office to oversee the work.

Meng Liulang was highly respected and authoritative in the Beiping army, and was also known for his volatile temper. He didn't need to say anything; he just sat there and watched coldly, and the soldiers immediately became obedient and well-behaved. The recruitment of female soldiers finally went smoothly.

In just half a month, about a thousand new soldiers were recruited, of which more than 20% were female.

All two hundred female soldiers were housed in the women's barracks. To ensure the safety of the women's barracks, Meng Liulang specially increased the number of soldiers patrolling. No soldier was allowed to set foot in the women's barracks. Anyone caught doing anything suspicious would be punished with forty strokes of the military rod.

New recruits train on the training ground. Although female and male soldiers train separately, it's impossible to completely isolate them. The soldiers always manage to sneak a peek from afar during these sessions. There's really no way to control that.

Women who dared to join the army were clearly bold. This was also because the Pei family army had been constantly recruiting female soldiers for the past few years, and these women had thoroughly researched life in the military camp before enlisting, so they were naturally unafraid of any stares. However, they privately gossiped: "This General Meng always has a stern face and is very imposing."

"I heard that General Meng used to guard the city gate of Bohai County and was very good at leading troops in battle. He was no less capable than General Pei Yun."

The Beiping army had strict discipline, and they had already experienced this within just a few days of entering the camp.

Among the female soldiers, the bolder ones discussed it for a long time, and then sent three as representatives to meet General Meng together.

"What brings you to see me, General?" Meng Liulang didn't need to put on a stern face; his expression was already cold and fierce.

One of the female soldiers mustered her courage and said, "General Meng, Zhao Hehua is my elder sister. She told me that after joining the army, I should learn to read and write, and also study military texts." "I aspire to be like my elder sister, a female soldier skilled in both literature and martial arts. But now, we've been in the army for half a month, why hasn't anyone taught us to read and write?"

Meng Liulang: "..."

The other two female soldiers also mustered up their courage and asked, "May I ask, General, do the soldiers in the Beiping Army not need to be literate?"

"If this happens, won't we be outdone by the Pei family army in the future?"

Feeling somewhat guilty under the three pairs of slightly accusing and dissatisfied gazes, Meng Liulang coughed and said, "I have been considering this matter. However, there are too few literate people in the army camp, and I can't find many who can serve as teachers..."

Zhao Hehua's younger sister, Zhao Taohua, immediately chimed in: "If you're determined, this isn't difficult. First, find a few capable teachers in the army camp, teach them to the chief officers, then have them teach the officers of each battalion. And then the officers will teach the soldiers in their respective battalions."

"Even learning three to five characters every night is good. Little by little, after a year or two, an ordinary soldier can recognize several hundred common and frequently used characters."

"If the general values ​​this matter, we can hire a few tutors. In short, where there's a will, there's a way. Now, it all depends on what the general intends to do."

Meng Liulang remained silent for a moment, then nodded under the expectant gazes of Zhao Taohua and the other two female soldiers: "I will think about this matter carefully."

The three female soldiers left happily.

Meng Liulang scratched his head vigorously, then quickly wrote a letter and ordered someone to send it to Pei Family Village.

A few days later, a horse-drawn carriage quietly arrived at the Beiping military camp.

Meng Liulang strode forward, opened the car door, and reached out to help the beautiful and gentle young woman.

This woman was none other than Pang Wenniang.

Pang Wenniang, exhausted from her journey, looked slightly weary and slowly alighted from the carriage with Meng Liulang's help.

The couple, separated for half a year, were overjoyed to finally reunite. Meng Liulang, who was usually arrogant, looked at others with tenderness in his eyes and said, "Wenniang, you must be tired from your journey. Go and rest in the military tent."

Pang Wenniang smiled and said, "It's alright, I can manage. Let's go check on the schoolhouse first!"

That's right, the first teacher Meng Liulang moved in with was his wife, Pang Wenniang.

Pang Wenniang taught young children in Peijia Village. She was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age and had beautiful handwriting. Such talent was more than enough to enlighten the soldiers.

Although reluctant, Mao Hongling decisively sent them over so that the young couple could stay together. Mao Hongling even specially sent over a few more tutors.

Pang Wenniang went to see the schoolhouse and suggested that several more schoolhouses be set up, with tables, chairs, pens, and other supplies prepared.

That evening, classes began at the school. Several teachers instructed the male soldiers' leaders, while Pang Wenniang served as the teacher for the female soldiers.

Two hundred female soldiers were divided into twenty teams, and the twenty team leaders came to class. Zhao Taohua, who was bold, was among them.

At this time, Zhao Hehua led five hundred elite soldiers into Bohai County and met Pei Yun.

(End of this chapter)