"Congratulations, sir. I think the number of brave men who have come here to sign up for military service today alone has probably exceeded 10,000." After finishing his office affairs, County Magistrate Zhao rushed to the recruitment site and saw that it was crowded with people. The line of people who had registered was hundreds of meters long outside the site. He couldn't help but bowed and congratulated Zhu Ping'an.
"Haha, this is also thanks to the assistance of County Magistrate Zhao." Zhu Ping'an smiled and bowed to County Magistrate Zhao in return.
"Your Excellency's words are too kind. It's just a piece of cake. I wonder how the recruitment of soldiers is going now?" asked County Magistrate Zhao.
"There are already more than 12,000 people who have signed up, and more than 1,800 warriors have passed the preliminary selection, which has already exceeded the planned 1,200. Judging from the enthusiasm of the people, a large number of people will come to sign up today and tomorrow. It is expected that more than 30,000 people will come to sign up, and more than 4,000 people will pass the preliminary selection. After the preliminary selection is completed, the best will be selected, and 1,200 people will be selected from them." Zhu Ping'an looked at the lively recruitment scene with satisfaction, and replied with a curled lip corner, "The original plan was to recruit soldiers in about a week, but now it seems that it can be completed in about three days."
"Four thousand qualified soldiers, the best of the best will be selected. Your Excellency will surely be able to recruit twelve hundred elite soldiers, and will be able to make new achievements in the future."
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zhao couldn't help but compliment him.
"Haha, I'm borrowing Magistrate Zhao's good words." Zhu Ping'an replied with a smile.
"However, since there are so many qualified people, why don't you recruit more soldiers?"
County Magistrate Zhao asked. He was inclined to suggest that Zhu Ping'an recruit another thousand people. This would effectively reduce security risks within the country. With fewer people, there would naturally be fewer armed fights. Moreover, more than two thousand people were not too many and would not affect Yiwu County's defense against Japanese pirates.
"I also want to recruit more soldiers, but Governor Zhang has only approved 1,200 this time, and future allocations of food and wages will be based on this number. Recruiting soldiers is a sensitive matter, and it is not appropriate to exceed the approved number."
Zhu Pingan explained softly.
When County Magistrate Zhao heard this, he thought of the current military system and nodded, "Indeed, your Excellency is right."
"However, if there is another opportunity to recruit soldiers in the future, I will definitely come to your county again. Haha, I hope that County Magistrate Zhao will not think that I have picked up the warriors from your county." Zhu Ping'an smiled and said half jokingly and half seriously.
"As you said, every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of the country. It is our duty as Yiwu people to wipe out the Japanese pirates. In the future, if there is an opportunity to recruit soldiers, please come. I will do my best to assist you. I will let you choose. Even if I leave, I will instruct the next magistrate to do my best to assist you in recruiting soldiers."
County Magistrate Zhao expressed his opinion without hesitation.
"County Magistrate Zhao is very understanding and I admire him for what he does." Zhu Ping'an said to County Magistrate Zhao with satisfaction.
"I didn't expect so many people to come and register. I will assign a group of clerks and runners to assist you."
Magistrate Zhao noticed that there were too many people at the scene and Zhu Ping'an's men were a little short of manpower, so he spoke up.
The more manpower the better, so Zhu Ping'an naturally would not refuse.
Today and tomorrow are the preliminary elections. Anyone who passes the preliminary election will receive a piece of paper with their name and serial number written on it. The serial numbers will be arranged in sequence starting from "one". There is still one day left for the preliminary election registration tomorrow. All those who pass the preliminary election will participate in the final election with the slip. After passing the final election, they will become new recruits of the Zhejiang Army.
As the sun sets, today's recruitment comes to a temporary end, with more than 20,000 people coming to sign up.
On the second day, more than 10,000 people participated in the primary election. In two days, a total of more than 4,300 people passed the final election.
On the morning of the third day, just after the sun rose, more than 4,000 villagers who passed the preliminary selection were already waiting for the final selection at the recruitment site. The final selection would select the best of them and select 1,200 people to join the Zhejiang Army.
There were more people at the final election than at the primary election two days ago. In addition to the villagers who participated in the final election, there were also many people who came to watch the fun. They surrounded the venue layer by layer, and even the howling cold wind could not blow into the venue.
There is no way. There are not many entertainment programs these days, and even fewer free ones. It is rare to have something lively to watch, so how could people miss it? Naturally, they call their children and girls, and men and women of all ages and young girls and wives all come.
In addition, many vendors with keen business sense rushed into the scene like sharks smelling blood, wandering around the scene selling all kinds of snacks. The excitement is worth watching, coupled with affordable snacks, it is simply too good to be refused by anyone, and the vendors made a lot of money.
The whole scene was bustling with people and lively, just like the temple fairs during the Chinese New Year.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the grandest event of the year in Yiwu County, without a doubt.
Zhu Ping'an drew on modern military recruitment experience and set several criteria for the final selection: vision, physique, running ability, and age. Based on these four criteria, the best of the best were selected and the top 1,200 were chosen.
This is very different from other generals' recruitment methods in the past, where more emphasis was placed on physical skills, boxing, fighting, etc.
"Sir, why don't you give priority to those who are good at boxing and have a foundation in kung fu, but instead pay attention to how far one can see, how fast one can run..." Liu Dadao asked Zhu Ping'an in confusion.
Zhu Pingan smiled slightly and explained simply: "Da Dao, we are selecting soldiers, not generals. Boxing skills and martial arts can be improved through training; but eyesight is irreversible with the current medical conditions. Our Zhejiang Army focuses on firearms, and eyesight is the key. In addition, running is also very important. Running is essential for marching and fighting, whether it is attacking or retreating."
"So that's how it is. I understand, sir." Liu Dadao suddenly realized and nodded.
The final election has begun.
Zhu Ping'an ordered more than ten boards in advance, and borrowed from the modern eye chart to write rows of "mountain" characters with different opening directions on them. They were set up five meters away. Under the command of Liu Dadao and others, the villagers who passed the preliminary selection covered one eye with a small board and looked at the opening direction of the "mountain" character to evaluate their vision. Those who could accurately see the opening direction of the "mountain" character in the third to last line passed (the vision was almost close to the modern 5.0), and those who could not see clearly were eliminated.
The physique is mainly determined by height and weight. Generally, those with similar height and weight can pass. Those who are too short, too thin or too fat will be rejected.
For running, groups of 100 people ran 20 laps around the recruitment site (almost 10,000 meters). As long as they could finish the run in 35 minutes, they would pass. If they could not hold on, or took more than 35 minutes, they would be eliminated.
Age is preferred to select young people between 18 and 25 years old, this age group is the best time to join the army. (To be continued)