"Chief Chen, is there anything else you want to know about our Zhejiang Army? Apart from military secrets, I will certainly tell you everything I know." Zhu Ping'an looked at Chen Dacheng seriously and asked softly.
"Thank you, sir. I have no problem." Chen Dacheng clasped his fists and bowed deeply to Zhu Ping'an again.
After getting up, Chen Dacheng slowly scanned the people in the yard and shouted loudly: "My clansmen, my fellow villagers, our Yiwu Chen family and our Beilei Village have been fighting for the mine for decades. We have never been inferior to others in our lives and have dominated the area within a hundred miles! However, every year in our village, there are constant casualties. At most, there are nearly a hundred casualties, and at least dozens of people. They died quietly and their reputations were not spread. There are always white flags and funerals in the village all year round. We have so many casualties and occupied several mines, but we have not been able to make our Yiwu Chen family and our Beilei Village prosperous. On the contrary, our lives are worse than before the mine dispute. We are poorly clothed and hungry, and we have to endure the bullying of corrupt officials. Now we have to worry about the Japanese pirates burning, killing and looting..."
After hearing what Chen Dacheng said, the villagers who were watching inside and outside the yard couldn't help but feel sad and filled with emotion.
"Now, the government has issued a strict order to prohibit disputes over mines and recognize existing minerals, so there will be no worries about disputes over mines in the future; however, the land in Yiwu is barren, and the mines are also poor. Mining and farming make life difficult. Moreover, the Japanese invasion is getting more and more serious. This year, two groups of Japanese pirates invaded Yiwu. If we don't wipe out the Japanese pirates, our fields will be destroyed by them, our mines will be occupied by them, and our elders and fellow villagers will be bullied by them!"
Chen Dacheng looked at the villagers, pointed in the direction of the sea, and spoke in a low voice.
The villagers also looked dejected. Yes, the land is poor, the mines are poor, the people are poor, there are many difficulties, and life is not easy.
"Now, Lord Zhu Ping'an, the Deputy Envoy of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provincial Criminal Investigation Department, a fourth-rank official of the court, has come to our Yi Niao to recruit soldiers. He does not despise the poor people of Beilei Village and has condescended to come to our Beilei Village and personally invited us. This is the Lord's appreciation and promotion of us. This is giving us face. The Zhejiang Army is different from the official army of the garrison. It is capable and dares to fight, has strict military discipline, and is trustworthy. Recruiting to join the Zhejiang Army will receive a monthly salary of one and a half taels of silver. If the performance evaluation is excellent, there will be an additional reward. Killing a Japanese pirate will earn 30 taels of commercial silver. In the future, you can be promoted to a military officer. If you succeed, you will win a bright future with a wife and children. If you fail, you will be a great hero for the country and the people. If you can't be recorded in history, you can be recorded in our county annals."
At this point, Chen Dacheng faced the crowd, vigorously waved his right hand forward, and said passionately, "So, all the children of the Chen family and the villagers of Beilei Village who are over 18 years old, have brothers to support their parents, and are in good health, go to Yiwu County to sign up for military service early tomorrow morning! As for whether you can be selected, it depends on your own ability!"
"Follow the clan leader's order!"
After Chen Dacheng spoke, all the villagers and clansmen responded, and each of them was very excited.
In fact, after seeing the mine management notice and the recruitment notice, many of them wanted to sign up. The Zhejiang Army had good treatment and they were not military households. It was just that the clan leader had said that no one was allowed to sign up, so no one went. Now that the clan leader has spoken, agreeing and encouraging them to sign up, how can they not be excited
Zhu Ping'an, Liu Dadao and others couldn't help but smile when they saw the enthusiasm of the Chen clan members and Beilei villagers.
"Chief, do you really agree that we can sign up?" A worried villager asked again to confirm.
"Nonsense, tomorrow, if anyone is eligible but doesn't sign up, I'll break your legs..."
Chen Dacheng couldn't help but laugh and scold.
“Hehehe…” The villagers giggled and patted their chests, “Since our tribesmen have spoken, we will definitely go tomorrow.”
"If a man doesn't do something great when he is born, his life would be in vain. If my brother wasn't still in jail and there was no one to take care of my parents, I would be the first one to go to the county to sign up tomorrow!"
Chen Dacheng sighed with regret, lowered his eyes, pursed his lips, and said dejectedly.
Um
Zhu Ping'an was stunned when he heard this. Chen Dacheng's agreement to allow the Chen clan members and Beilei villagers to sign up for the army was already a good start. However, if Chen Dacheng could take the lead in signing up for the army, with Chen Dacheng's influence, it would certainly greatly stimulate and encourage the entire Yiwu County to sign up.
If there was an opportunity for Chen Dacheng to take the lead in signing up for military service, Zhu Ping'an naturally wouldn't want to miss it.
"Patriarch Chen, you just said that your brother is in jail. I wonder what crime your brother has committed to land him in jail?"
Zhu Ping'an asked Chen Dacheng, wanting to understand the situation and see if there was any other hidden story.
Of course, Zhu Ping'an would definitely not bend the law for personal gain just to get Chen Dacheng to sign up for military service.
"My brother has done nothing wrong." Chen Dacheng said firmly.
"He was thrown into jail for doing nothing wrong?" Zhu Ping'an looked at Chen Dacheng in confusion. County Magistrate Zhao didn't seem like the kind of person who would abuse lynching.
"My brother is innocent. He was tortured into confessing to murder by the government." Chen Dacheng couldn't help getting emotional when he mentioned his brother. "My brother is a well-known nerd in our Beilei Village, a weak scholar who is powerless. He can't farm or mine except for studying. He is a kind person who wouldn't even step on an ant. How could he kill my brother's wife by beheading her?"
"Yes, we are very familiar with Chen Erlang. Chen Erlang didn't even dare to watch us fight over the mine, so how could he dare to kill his wife?"
"That's right. Chen Erlang is well-known for his love for his wife. He can't even bear to scold her, so how could he be willing to kill her? Besides, they rarely quarrel and I have never heard of them arguing. How could he kill his wife for no reason? There must be an injustice."
"That's right. The day before, I saw Chen Erlang and his wife visiting the temple fair. They were talking and laughing all the way, and they were so loving. The next day, Chen Erlang killed his wife?! He even chopped off his wife's head. This doesn't make sense at all. Besides, Chen Erlang is very weak and might not even be able to beat his wife. How could he kill his wife without making any noise? Why didn't the neighbors hear anything?"
After Chen Dacheng finished speaking, the villagers in the yard couldn't help but express their opinions. They all felt that Chen Erlang was wronged and innocent, and put forward the reasons for their doubts.
Um?!
Chen Erlang killed his wife and chopped off her head?!
After listening to what Chen Dacheng and the onlookers said, Zhu Pingan immediately understood why Chen Erlang was in prison, and roughly understood why Chen Dacheng and County Magistrate Zhao were at odds, all because of Chen Erlang's murder of his wife. (To be continued)