Chapter 341 Soldiers’ Carnival

"By the way, there is one more thing. The royal guards need to be adjusted right now."

After pacing back and forth for a few steps, Zhao Xu remembered the matter of changing the military forces of the royal guards, so he told him.

"One hundred thousand infantry equipped with flintlock rifles and artillery, thirty thousand light cavalry, ten thousand heavy cavalry, and ten thousand chariot camps?" Chang Wei repeated the number Zhao Xu gave.

Not long after the imperial edict arrived, he learned that the emperor allowed the Prince of Yan to expand his army to 150,000.

Now the number given by the Prince of Yan is exactly 150,000.

After a pause, he said, "Your Highness, I think that 20,000 of the 100,000 infantry should be left for the heavy infantry. They are the ones who are leading the battle this time. The flintlock rifles are indeed very powerful, but if they get into hand-to-hand combat, their advantage will be reduced, and they have to rely on the heavy infantry."

He touched his chin, "And the heavy infantry is also very good at forming a formation on the battlefield to resist the impact of cavalry. If the enemy cavalry rushes into chaos, the heavy infantry can also come up and give the flintlock rifle soldiers a chance to re-form their formation."

After saying that, he saw Zhao Xu looking at him with sharp eyes, so he chuckled twice, "Your Highness, this is just my humble opinion. I just think that although the artillery and muskets of the royal army are powerful, they have a slow firing speed. If they are ambushed and get into close combat, it will be very disadvantageous."

Zhao Xu was stunned.

This time he was a little radical.

Chang Wei's words reminded him.

It seems that a quota of heavy infantry should indeed be reserved.

After all, the enemy he faced was not an army that also held flintlock rifles and played a line-up shooting game with him.

If that were the case, the soldiers would not even need to wear armor.

At the moment, his enemies were still fighting in armor.

It would be inappropriate to completely give up the advantage of armor.

Thinking of this, he nodded, "You are right, then leave 20,000 people for the heavy infantry."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei was immediately beaming with joy.

It turned out that the King of Yan also had moments of confusion. At this moment, he finally felt that His Highness the King of Yan had a bit of a worldly flavor.

And not always like a god, omnipotent.

Zhao Xu saw Chang Wei suddenly look very happy, and didn't know where his excitement was.

Shaking his head, he asked, "By the way, how are the rewards for the soldiers going? I heard that there are quite a few soldiers in Yancheng who have purchased in the past two days, and the merchants are very happy."

When he came to the North Camp, he also saw many soldiers who took off their armor and were only wearing military uniforms, carrying a large basket of things and returning to the camp excitedly.

According to the regulations of the royal guards, soldiers can rest for one day every ten days.

These are soldiers on rotation.

"Your Highness, I have paid about 20%, and it will be almost over in five or six days." Chang Wei was happy again when he mentioned this.

What the King of Yan said was true. The soldiers who received the reward are now like nouveau riche.

The soldiers on rotation spent the silver lavishly.

A year ago, they still lived a poor life where they couldn't even afford pants.

Now the accumulated military pay plus the reward have made them rich people.

These are just soldiers on rotation. Now more soldiers want to go home and keep applying to the generals.

Zhao Xu nodded. He could understand the mood of the soldiers now.

After escaping the battlefield, they naturally have to spend the silver.

They chatted for a few more words.

Zhao Xu ordered Chang Wei to resume the normal operation of the military school in a few days, and then walked out of the camp.

On the road, all the generals and soldiers stopped to salute him respectfully, with a hint of gratitude in their eyes.

The King of Yan treated them so well, and it was worth it for them to bleed on the battlefield.

Arriving at the gate of the camp, Zhao Xu got on his horse and went to the palace under the protection of Xu Lie.

When passing Jinhua Lane, he suddenly saw a familiar figure, but it was Chen Hu.

At this time, there were two women beside Chen Hu, an older woman and a beautiful girl.

He had seen Chen Hu's mother when Chen Hu joined the army.

At this time, after comparing, the older woman was Chen Hu's mother.

As for the girl, it seemed to be Chen Hu's sister. At that time, he mentioned that he had a sister.

The three of them were now standing in front of a house, talking to the same merchant.

"Isn't that Chen Hu?" Xu Lie also saw it at this time, showing a playful look.

"Let's go and take a look." Zhao Xu said.

Back in Yancheng, life was naturally not as tense as Jinzhou.

In the days of leisure, his gossip heart seemed to grow day by day.

"Mom, this is the yard."

Looking at his mother, Chen Hu smiled with satisfaction.

After joining the royal army, he brought his mother and sister to Yancheng.

He used his monthly military pay to rent a small yard in the city to support his mother and sister.

On weekdays, his mother and sister did some needlework to supplement the family income.

Compared to the days of hunger and cold before, it was really a world of difference.

However, with the influx of a large number of merchants into Yancheng.

The price of renting a house in Yancheng also rose.

Chen Hu thought it was not cost-effective and thought about buying a house of his own.

Of course, this was just his idea, and he never thought it could be realized.

But because of his bravery in the Northern Di Autumn Hunting War, he was promoted to a lieutenant, and his military pay increased to twelve taels per month. He also received some rewards during the war.

This time, he took another thirty-six taels of silver, and his net worth was more than a hundred taels.

So he took advantage of the family leave to buy this yard.

"Hu Zi, this yard should cost at least eighty taels, right?" Chen Hu's mother looked inside the door with a look of surprise.

Having lived in Yancheng for such a long time, she still had little idea of ​​the value of a yard in Yancheng.

In a remote private village, an ordinary courtyard house costs about thirty-three taels.

This Siheyuan is located in Jinshui Lane, which is close to the East Market. It has to be doubled in size.

The plump merchant laughed along with him: "Madam, you guessed it right, a total of eighty-two taels."

Hearing this number, Chen Hu's mother immediately became embarrassed and said, "Huzi, this is too expensive. Just buy a yard in a remote place. Why do we have the dignity to live here?"

"Madam is surprised by what she said. My prince's lieutenant doesn't have the dignity to live here. Who has the dignity to live here?"

Zhao Xu came behind several people at this time with a smile on his face.

Chen Hu turned around and saw that it was King Yan. He was surprised and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Chen Hu's mother had seen Zhao Xu and recognized King Yan. She hurriedly pulled her daughter to give him a blessing and said, "A commoner woman comes to see your highness."

"No courtesy." Zhao Xu wanted to help Chen Hu's mother up.

Thinking of the lack of intimacy between men and women here, he raised his hand slightly.

Chen Hu stood up and scratched his head in embarrassment, "Why is Your Highness here?"

Zhao Xu smiled and said: "Now the whole Yan City knows that your royal soldiers have made a fortune. I wanted to see what you bought, so I came here when I saw you."

Then he walked into the courtyard. It was an ordinary courtyard, quite spacious and very clean.

So he said: "Yes, if the money is not enough, I can give you some more."

Chen Hu laughed when he heard this.

"It's enough. Even if it's not enough, I can't ask for His Highness's money."

Since Zhao Xu appeared, Chen Hu's mother and sister were both a little embarrassed.

But when Zhao Xu said this, Chen Hu's mother immediately said loudly.

Chen Hu nodded, "Your Highness, the general has a lot of money."

Then he said: "Thanks to His Highness for the reward this time, many generals are now looking for suitable yards in Yancheng."

Mrs. Chen also turned her grateful eyes to Zhao Xu and said, "I still remember that the civilian woman stopped Hu Zi from joining the army. Thinking about it today, it was really a big mistake."

As if she was afraid that Zhao Xu would get the wrong idea, she said: "If His Highness had not led them to conquer the north and south, the people of the four northern counties would still have to suffer from Beidi and the Yuan family. Now seeing that the people of the four northern counties are finally living a decent life, The civilian woman thought that even if Hu Zi died on the battlefield, it would still be worth it. "

"Mom, what are you talking about? My life is very tough. How can I die so easily?" Chen Hu rolled his eyes.

Chen Hu's sister covered her mouth and laughed.

Zhao Xu then looked at Chen Hu's sister, who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old.

At this time, she was wearing a blue plain skirt. There was nothing fancy about the clothes. It was a very common dress for women from ordinary people's homes.

She is thin and pretty, like a girl next door.

Meeting Zhao Xu's gaze, sister Chen Hu immediately blushed and hid behind her mother.

Zhao Xu smiled and didn't take it seriously.

Looking at Mrs. Chen, he said: "I would also like to thank you. If it weren't for your willingness to let your sons go to the battlefield, the four northern counties would not be where they are today."

Hearing what Zhao Xu said, Chen was even more excited.

Growing up, she witnessed a world where wealthy people were superior and treated them like cattle and sheep.

But now, King Yan actually thanked her in such an approachable manner.

At this moment, even a woman like her is willing to go through fire and water for King Yan.

At this time, Mrs. Chen took Chen Hu's arm and said: "Your Highness, if my tiger dares not to listen to you in the future, you can beat him how you want. If he becomes a deserter on the battlefield, you can just kill him." The civilian woman will never have a single complaint.”

Chen Hu was speechless and choked when he heard this, "Mom, did you pick me up?"

Zhao Xu laughed loudly, patted Chen Hu on the shoulder and said to Chen: "Chen Hu is very good and a talent that can be made. Your son will not become a deserter."

Mrs. Chen looked at Chen Hu with pride in her eyes.

After chatting for a few more times, Zhao Xu was about to leave.

Thinking of something, he said to the merchant who was always smiling beside him: "You can make money, but you can't deceive the soldiers and generals of the palace. It's because they shed their lives and blood on the battlefield that you can have a stable life in Yancheng. If you let The king knows that you are deliberately raising prices to make money for the soldiers and generals, and I will definitely deal with you. You should also tell other merchants this message."

The merchant's face turned pale, and he cupped his hands and said: "Your Highness, I am also from the four northern counties. I will never do such immoral things. I really don't make much in this yard, only three taels of hard-earned money."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, "That's pretty much it. Remember, thieves also have their ways, not to mention you merchants."

After leaving these words, Zhao Xu and Xu Lie turned and left.

Under the soft sunshine, Chen Hu, his mother and sister watched Zhao Xu's figure disappear, and it took a long time to recover.

"Mother, His Highness Prince Yan is really different from the wealthy families, more like people like us." Chen Hu's sister Chen Qiu said softly.

"That's why the soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives for His Highness. It's worth it." Chen Hu chuckled, turned around and strode into the yard.

From then on, he had a home in Yancheng.

at the same time.

Many generals and soldiers who have relatives in the countryside went back to visit relatives.

Wealth that does not return to its hometown is like walking in brocade at night.

Huang Yang is an ordinary artilleryman, and his home is in Xiaowei Village, not far from Fushi Village.

Due to the large population in his family, his family lived in poverty in the village. Growing up, he barely had enough to eat.

When the Royal Army expanded to 120,000 troops, he happened to be old enough, so he chose to join the Royal Army.

Unexpectedly, he caught up with the war in Jinzhou.

After returning alive from the battlefield and holding the silver reward, he couldn't wait to go home.

"Brother Yangzi will come, Brother Yangzi is back." Huang Yang appeared at the entrance of the village.

The three naughty children who were playing immediately shouted when they saw him.

Seeing Huang Yang carrying a basket full of things, the three naughty children refused to leave and chased Huang Yang to the village, shouting all the way.

Huang Yang's face was full of smiles.

In the past, he had been looked down upon because of his poor family in the village.

Although it is still not very pleasant to think about it now, he has seen a lot of life and death on the battlefield, and he suddenly doesn't want to care about these.

Including these three naughty children, they used to provoke him and mocked him for his pants made of straw.

He took out a handful of bud sugar from the bamboo basket behind him and gave it to the three naughty children.

The naughty children's eyes were immediately straightened. They just grabbed the bud sugar and shouted louder, "Brother Yangzi is back from the army, Brother Yangzi is back from the army."

The voices of the naughty children attracted the attention of many villagers.

Many people looked at Huang Yang, who was wearing a military uniform and carrying a bamboo basket.

Many young men of the same age as Huang Yang gathered around and kept asking Huang Yang about his military affairs.

"What is an artilleryman?"

"What? Can it spit fire, like thunder, and kill a cow with one shot?"

"Can it fly several miles? That's amazing."

"..."

Huang Yang's answer caused a burst of exclamations, which made Huang Yang very proud.

Not long after, he arrived in front of a dilapidated thatched house.

Seeing his father weeding in the fence, he shouted, "Dad!"

The old man in the fence raised his head and saw that it was his son Huang Yang. He dropped his hoe in surprise and shouted to the house, "Old woman, my son is back."

As soon as he finished speaking, a woman came out of the house.

The woman was wearing straw-woven shoes and pants, and three girls of different ages poked their heads out of the door. They didn't have decent clothes to wear and didn't dare to go out.

"Yangzi." The woman cried with joy.

When they learned that their son had gone to Jinzhou, they thought that their son might not come back.

Now they wanted to see him, so they were naturally excited.

Huang Yang's tears were also rolling. He ignored the crowd and went into the fence and put down the bamboo basket behind him.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back. This time I brought you a lot of things. These are clothes and rouge for my three sisters, clothes for you two elders, and here are clothes for my eldest brother..." Huang Yang took out brand new clothes from the bamboo basket one by one.

These were all bought from the clothing store in Yancheng.

Finally, he took out two silver ingots of ten taels from his arms, "Dad, Mom, this is for you, renovate our hut and build a few more rooms."

Huang Yang's parents were still excited, and they were dumbfounded again.

They had never seen so many valuable things.

And now Huang Yang carried a basket back as if it was free.

The onlookers were so envious that they wanted to bite off their tongues.

They might not be able to sleep tonight.