Rebirth of the Ming Dynasty: Sixth Generation of Glory, I don't want it

"What! You're not allowed to come down for a walk, old man! Everything that can be used has been picked up by others!!! I came here this time and returned empty-handed!!!"

Guo Ying blew his beard and glared and roared, shouting at Xu Zengshou, but his eyes glanced at Geng Bingwen, the Marquis of Changxing.

"Old man, you are already this old, and you are still fighting!"

Xu Zengshou held his forehead with his hand.

"I didn't compete with him. I was just excited to see the good stuff and couldn't help myself. It's all because of you, my brother, that you're not agile enough!"

Geng Bingwen seemed to be explaining it in a good-tempered manner, but in fact he was adding insult to injury.

"Bullshit, my legs are fine! I want this archer with good archery skills!"

Guo Ying was so angry that he wanted to hit someone with the cane in his hand.

"Please be patient, please be patient, Mr. Guo, why don't we sit down and divide the money later? It's not worth it. Mr. Geng, please lend a hand. Let's go back to the stage and watch. When the people below signed up, they all had their names and household registrations. They can't run away. It's not that whoever shouts first will get it. We can only make arrangements after the emperor comes back!"

Xu Zengshou has gained some experience in dealing with the two old men these days.

After a lot of coaxing and persuasion, the two old men were finally sent back to the platform, and the delicious roast duck bought from outside was served to them. Finally, the two people who were still bickering stopped.

Back downstairs, Zhang Chang considerately handed Xu Zengshou a cup of lukewarm chrysanthemum tea.

"Uncle, thank you for your hard work!"

"You disgust me again. Is it so hard to call me by my name?"

Xu Zengshou drank it all in one gulp. The slightly bitter taste made him grit his teeth. He couldn't stand this name even more.

"Hehe, it's not difficult, it's just that there's a generation gap, and I don't want to do it."

Zhang Chang spread his hands and smiled evilly.

"Yes, you rely on your younger generation to push the work to me every day!"

Xu Zengshou really wanted to write a letter to his sister asking for a replacement.

This niece's wife's brother is a capable person, but he is a bit unkind. Every day I see him nodding and bowing in front of the two old men above him, and he doesn't share the responsibility at all!

"Isn't this something I can't handle with my insignificant influence?"

Zhang Chang still smiled and handed over a piece of peeled and cored pear.

How could he, a small-time thousand-householder, dare to control the two marquises? If they glared at him, he would be afraid that he would choke on his breath and anger them to death.

His sister had already told him about it.

These two old men, usually——provide!!! If there is any problem——Xu Zengshou will go!!!

"Humph, excuse!"

Xu Zengshou was annoyed, but he still took the pear and ate it.

"At night, the tavern is all mine."

Zhang Chang continued to coax people.

"You know what's going on!"

Xu Zengshou was satisfied.

"Brother-in-law, tell me, do you want to recruit more?"

After Zhang Chang calmed the man down, he pointed at the field and asked.

"I think so. Add fifty places?"

Xu Zengshou thought it was feasible.

These would be adults who feel they have a skill and are trying to get a place in the Imperial Academy.

There are only three levels. If you pass all three, you can enter the Imperial College directly.

The first level is undoubtedly archery, including shooting at a fixed target and chasing and shooting at objects thrown in the air. You can pass the level if you hit eight out of ten or two out of ten.

The second level is to lift a stone lock. The starting weight is 60 jin, and you can lift as much as you want.

The third level is running. Carrying a weight of 30 kilograms, you must run five laps around the martial arts arena within the time of one stick of incense.

It seems like it is not difficult, but in fact the first item can eliminate most people, at least that's what Xu Zengshou originally thought.

My brother-in-law has set a quota of one hundred places.

Before coming to the capital, he thought that among ordinary people, there might not be a hundred who could sign up, and at most twenty or thirty who could pass.

Looking at those weaklings in the capital, Xu Zengshou really didn't think there was any need to recruit them.

But reality slapped us in the face. It’s only been a few days since the start and the 100 places are almost filled.

The reason why the two old men above fight every day is because of these men who can be used immediately.

"Let's add another 200 spots. These guys today are stronger than those yesterday, and they may be even better in the future."

Zhang Chang knows the people in the capital better than Xu Zengshou. He has been doing business in the capital for several years.

How many men from Shandong fled to the capital to escape the disaster?

Those who can protect their family and arrive in the capital are all extremely strong.

However, the number of places in the garrison was limited at that time, and only tens of thousands of people were enlisted.

Later, many people could only find work in the capital. From what he knew, they all did well and many of them became security guards.

The enrollment of the Imperial College has just begun, and not many people know about it yet.

In the next few days, when word spreads from one person to ten people and from ten to a hundred people, it will be the time for real advancement.

"Can you afford it?"

Xu Zengshou didn't dare to make this decision.

The Imperial College mainly recruited young children.

According to statistics from the military households, there are about 500 children. We will also recruit 300 people for this martial arts training ground.

That’s eight hundred.

If you add another 200 people here, it will be 300.

Apart from anything else, just in terms of daily food, three hundred men are not much different from eight hundred children.

Enrollment has been completed this year and it will become a regular practice every year in the future.

This is a huge burden.

If the difference between the expenditures of the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy is too great, there will definitely be people complaining.

“I can afford it.”

Zhang Chang downplayed it.

Zhang Xin is in the capital, and Zhang Chang helps manage the shops and caravans in the capital. He knows everything, whether there is money or not.

Just with maritime trade alone, it is enough to support an army of 100,000.

Zhu Gaochi’s current sons are all born to Zhang Xin. The people who will be trained now will be used by Zhang Xin’s sons in the future. The more the better.

"Then I'll listen to you."

Xu Zengshou glanced at Zhang Chang's calm appearance, and was still a little hesitant before making the decision.

"It's okay. Just tell the public that we are recruiting more reserve troops. There will be room for compromise on how to arrange these people in the future. If the emperor really thinks there are too many, you can give them to my sister's caravan. We are all family."

Zhang Chang is very confident.

The caravans on land are short of people, and the caravans on sea are also short of people.

He registered the names of all those who had passed the first two levels of registration. The imperial court didn't want them, but he did.

"Okay, then it's settled. Come on, issue another notice tomorrow to recruit 200 more adults as reserve soldiers, and also emphasize that the children of the military households in the garrisons don't need to come, as they are already on the list. The 300 young children will be recruited from the city."

Xu Zengshou did not dwell on it any more and directly asked someone to arrange the rest of the matter and make up for what he had missed, so that the people would not have to spread the news by word of mouth.

His brother Xu Huizu said that his niece-in-law's fleet made a lot of money.

Before he set out for the capital, business in the two royal shops in the capital was also booming.

I guess the national treasury and the internal treasury are both very full, so he has nothing to be afraid of.

[Small science: The Battle of Annan lasted from October 9, the fourth year of Yongle's reign to June 1, the fifth year of Yongle's reign when Annan was captured. Excluding the preparation time, it took a total of seven months. During this period, Zhu Neng died, and the replacement of generals at the last minute delayed some time. In this article, Zhu Di personally led the expedition, shortening the time to five months.]