Not long after Dani got married, news came that the imperial court was recruiting soldiers, and every household with two males must send one male to fight.
Uncle Jiang's family just happened to have someone going to the war.
This time, conscription is not allowed to use night watchmen, so someone from Uncle Jiang's family must go to the battlefield.
Finally, the conscription document with Jiang Quan's name on it was brought by the yamen runners, asking him to report to the post station within five days.
Jiang Quan happened to be at home at the time. He took the document and said nothing. He just told A Niang where he had hidden the money.
"Mother, I have buried a box under my bed with 2,500 taels of silver in it. There are also more than 500 taels buried in my room in the county. Please ask father to go and get it back when he has time."
When Zhou heard her son mention the amount of silver as if he was telling her about his final affairs, she became even more frightened and hugged him and started crying.
"Son, I will find you a wife today. You can consummate your marriage as soon as possible and have a child."
Jiang Quan shook his head: "Mom, what are you talking about? How can you be so hasty in getting married?"
In fact, he had fallen in love with a girl in the county town before, but the girl's brother was a bad boy, so he gave up on her.
This delay lasted until the 19th.
As for the girls in the village, to be honest, Jiang Quan looks down on them.
One reason is that most of the girls in the countryside are illiterate, and the other reason is that the girls in the countryside are indeed not as pretty as those in the county towns.
As for family background, a better one is naturally the best, but Jiang Quan still pays more attention to the character of the girl's family.
"It's already this late, why are you still picking on me?" Zhou hit her son. "I'm just looking for a matchmaker now." She said and walked out.
"Mom," Jiang Quan stopped her, "It's already this late and you're still thinking about this. Don't worry about it. I have something else to do, so I won't tell you."
Jiang Quan hurried out to find his little cousin.
Yingbao was preparing supplies for her second cousin to go to war, and she also prepared a lot of medicines for various injuries and illnesses.
In addition, she also asked a leatherworker at the market to make a set of cowhide armor for her second cousin, which could protect the neck, front and back, abdomen and back, as well as wrist guards.
Once on the battlefield, swords and knives have no mercy, and these can ensure that he will not be killed in one blow.
There is also a pair of thick-soled leather boots, so you don’t have to worry about getting cold even in the cold and snowy weather.
Jiang Quan touched the things prepared by his little cousin, his nose felt sore and tears almost fell.
Yingbao put the things into a big backpack and said, "There is also a shoulder bag and a waist bag in this backpack. You can carry your precious things with you. I heard that there are thieves in the troops who specialize in stealing the things of the new soldiers. You must be careful."
"Yeah." Jiang Quan took out his shoulder bag and waist bag and gestured with them on his body.
The waist bag is as wide as a palm, very practical, and can be tied around the waist close to the body.
Yingbao also took out a machete and two sheathed daggers from a large box: "Take these with you too. I also asked someone to make a spear, which I will give to you when the time comes."
Although the army also issued weapons, there would be no good swords, guns, bows and arrows in the hands of the new recruits, so they encouraged the soldiers to bring their own weapons.
Jiang Quan: ······
When he first received the conscription order, he was confused and had no idea what he should prepare. Now, seeing that his little cousin had thought so much about him, he was very touched.
Yingbao certainly knew what soldiers should bring to benefit themselves, because she lived in the Governor's Mansion in her previous life.
Those who came and went in the palace were generals of all levels and their personal soldiers.
And they often talked about military matters, including weapons, horses, armor, etc.
No one knows better than those people what can protect the lives of soldiers.
"Second brother, I'll give you my chestnut horse as a gift, along with some change. They will be of great use in the future." The chestnut horse was in its prime, and under Yingbao's feeding, it grew taller than any other military horse.
"Okay." Jiang Quan did not refuse. After all, he still wanted to come back alive and well.
Three days later, Jiang Quan rode a chestnut horse, holding a red tasseled spear in his hand, carrying a bulging backpack on his back with a large machete across the backpack, and walked out of the village.
Others who were conscripted with him included Li Dao, Wang Dashan, and two teenagers of similar age from the same village.
However, they are married and have children.
But Jiang Quan is a single man, without even a wife.
Zhou watched her son go away and burst into tears. She was supported by Chunniang and Yanru.
Mrs. Jiang Liu and Old Man Jiang were also very sad, and kept praying to the Bodhisattva to bless their grandson to return safely.
This conscription is different from the previous ones. Their children will fight those bandits face to face.
Everyone knows the difficulties involved.
Jiang Sanlang also sighed.
Originally, his son's scholar status could exempt one of his sons from military service, but his eldest brother and he had separated and registered their household registrations at the county government, making them two different families. His eldest brother's family could not be exempted from military service.
Yingbao and Erni stood on the high wall, looking at Jiang Quan who was getting farther and farther away, and they both felt sad.
Hu Zi beside him suddenly said, "It would be nice if I were a few years older so I could go with my second brother."
Jiang Wu nodded: "I want to go too."
Ying Bao knocked him on the head and said unhappily, "Do you think my brother is just going to play? If a real war breaks out, it will be very dangerous."
Even if you are well armed, it is still easy to be defeated if you meet a stupid teammate...
Ah, bah, bah! Children speak without restraint! Good luck!
Yingbao secretly spat at herself and pulled Jiang Wu down the wall.
Erni and Huzi also came down and followed Yingbao to the orchard to pick fruit.
Now that Jiang Quan has been conscripted, the task of picking fruits has been taken over by his siblings, who will then be sent to the county town by their uncle.
Of course, my second uncle will also participate in the store’s dividends in the future.
Yingbao tucked her skirt into her waist, climbed up the fruit tree, and picked fruits listlessly.
If they see one that looks particularly good, they will sit on the tree and start eating it.
"Hey! Are you here to pick them or to eat them?" Erni said dissatisfiedly.
"Food." Yingbao sat on the tree with her legs crossed.
Erni:...
She also gathered her skirts together, tucked them around her waist, and climbed up another tree.
Jiang Wu and Hu Zi followed suit and found a tree to climb up.
So, the four of them each occupied a tree and ate the fruit from it.
Since the fruit trees are now very tall and their leaves are very dense, the four people can stay on top of them safely. If someone comes from below, they will not notice that there is someone on the tree.
After a while, Yingbao suddenly saw someone walking into the orchard. Upon closer inspection, she found it was Li Xu.
He might be here to enjoy the scenery. He walked over slowly, holding a book in one hand and with the other hand behind his back, and then sat down in a pavilion near the pond.
Hu Zi and Jiang Wu dared not to breathe, and even the sound of chewing apricots was lowered.
They both studied under Li Xu, so they were very afraid of him.
But not long after, a slender figure also walked into the orchard, slowly approached Li Xu, and bowed slightly to him.
Li Xu also hurriedly returned the greeting. No one knew what the two of them said, but both of them were smiling.
Yingbao sat on the tree, pushed aside the leaves and secretly looked at the shy girl, as if thinking about something.
It turns out that Sister Wen likes someone like Li Xu.
She came secretly to meet Li Xu. Did Madam Wen know
Humph! No wonder Sister Wen hasn't come to play with me much recently. She's actually having a great time chatting with Li Xu.