Poor Family Chapter 559

  Chapter 559 Suppression of Bandits and Fundraising

The cost of suppressing the bandits is huge. This is the consensus of everyone. First, recruit a sailor of 500 people. Without a minimum monthly income of 20 cents, a man with excellent water skills on the Yangtze River will not easily pick up this bowl of rice and use it for himself. Taking risks with their lives, especially when the bandits were defeated ten years ago, and more than 600 township soldiers died.

But even with the minimum salary of 20 guan, a monthly salary of 10,000 guan will be spent. If the bandits are suppressed for three months, it will be 30,000 guan. , and disability benefits, etc.

In addition, there are expenditures for hiring boatmen and civilians, as well as expenditures for armor, weapons and bows, other military supplies such as war drums, tents, and flags, food expenditures, boat expenditures, and water station construction. This five hundred-man navy was formed.

  Furthermore, to maintain the existence of this naval army after the successful suppression of bandits, the salary can be halved, and the monthly cost is 5,000 guan.

Fortunately, this time the suppression of the bandits has the support of the imperial court, which can save food, ships, armor and military resources, but other expenditures have to be paid by themselves, which will cost at least 50,000 yuan. Come to support this bandit.

Wang Boyan's work efficiency is indeed relatively high. A few days after he returned to Jiangxia County, he began to raise money and food for the suppression of bandits. 20,000 shi of grain was given to Ezhou to suppress bandits. While Jiangxia, Puqi, Huanggang, Xianning, Wuchang and other counties began to raise money, Jiayu County also began to raise funds from large households to suppress bandits.

In the welcome hall of the county government, dozens of proprietors from various townships and major shops in the county gathered together. The servants were very busy, serving a cup of tea in front of each guest. There were many discussions in the welcome hall. The reason why they were invited to come was to ask them to donate money to suppress the bandits.

Of course, the target of suppressing the bandits is not Langli Baitiao Zhang Shun, but the black-hearted dragon king Du Sheng. It is no longer the sphere of influence of the Black Heart Dragon King. If you want to donate money, Yuezhou, Tanzhou, and Jiangling Mansions should donate more. Why don't they donate money in Fuzhou and Hanyang Mansions in Jiangbei?

  But the county magistrate has already invited them here, and they can't justify it without expressing it at all. Everyone has their own calculations in their hearts, how much money can they spend at least?

  At this moment, Li Yanqing, the magistrate of the county, and Yang Ju, the magistrate of the county, walked in quickly, and everyone stood up and saluted.

Li Yanqing smiled and waved his hands to ask everyone to sit down, "I invite all the gentlemen to come here today, mainly for the purpose of suppressing the bandits. As you all know, the continuous banditry has always been a serious threat to the shipping on the Yangtze River. Everyone usually takes a boat when going out. No one wants to encounter Jiang bandits on the way, nor does he want their goods to be robbed by Jiang bandits, so this is closely related to everyone's vital interests. We, the Jinghu North Road Transit Department, also specially allocated 20,000 shi of grain, but the suppression of the bandits cost a lot, and part of the military expenses had to be raised locally. I just got the news that Jiangxia Baoyanzhai has already expressed his willingness to give 5,000 shi of money to support the suppression of the bandits. Bandits, this is the largest donation so far, I hope everyone has money and strength to contribute, and donate their meager efforts to the suppression of bandits."

Next to her, Yang Ju also said to everyone: "Let me tell you another news, the wife of our county lord has decided to donate 2,000 guan in her own name, and I also decided to donate 200 guan. support."

   Discussions erupted in the lobby. At this moment, Xia Zhen, the proprietor of the Fortune Restaurant, got up and said, "Mr. County, can I ask a common question for everyone?"

  Li Yanqing smiled slightly: "Master Xia, please tell me!"

"We are in favor of donating money to suppress bandits, but why only Ezhou donates money. For example, my brother lives in Hanyang County across the Yangtze River, and they don't mention donations to suppress bandits, and Yuezhou is also the place where black-hearted dragon kings are the most rampant. Why is Yuezhou unwilling to donate money? Everyone thinks it's a bit unfair."

The hall fell silent for a moment, and countless eyes looked at Li Yanqing together. This is indeed a matter of common concern to everyone. Li Yanqing nodded and said, "I can understand everyone's feelings, but have you ever thought about why the bandits were suppressed ten years ago? It will fail. Why hasn't there been any action to suppress the bandits in the past ten years? Is it because the Jiang bandits are too powerful? In fact, it's not, it's because everyone's hearts are not in harmony, they are afraid of losing money, and they are unwilling to work hard. Ten years ago, it was the boat of Fuzhou Township Soldiers After being burned, Fuzhou took the lead in withdrawing from the battlefield. As a result, the states scrambled to withdraw, and was killed by the Black-hearted Dragon King. We don't think about the government's attitude, they support us and welcome them, they don't express their views, and we don't complain, but we just want to do our own things well."

Li Yanqing smiled at Xia Zhen again: "If we wiped out the Black-hearted Dragon King in Ezhou, the next time you argue with your brother, you can just say that I paid to kill the Black-hearted Dragon King, and then ask him what he did? Guaranteed he will Speechless."

Everyone laughed, and Yang Ju said again: "After the suppression of the Black Heart Dragon Queen this time, Ezhou will erect a stele for the suppression of bandits in Jiangxia. Anyone who donates more than 300 guan will be engraved with a name on the stele for future generations to admire. The proprietor can let your brothers take a look together."

   "What about Zhang Shun?" Suddenly someone asked.

This question is rather embarrassing, but everyone wants to know, Li Yanqing said slowly: "Let me give you a guarantee, since the bandits are going to be suppressed, the success of the bandit suppression must also include the Ezhou River. For evil, I can give him a chance to be good, if he is unwilling to repent, then I will never be soft."

  With Li Yanqing's guarantee, everyone was relieved. At this time, Xia Zhen raised his hand and said, "Hongyun Restaurant pledged five hundred guan!"

   "Li Baoer from Dawen Township donated 400 shi of food, and took on the labor of 20 people for another month."

   "The He Family Money Shop donated three hundred coins!"

   "Sun Price Quality Library pledged 400 coins!"

   "Zhao Li from Yule Township donated five hundred shi!"

Everyone expressed their opinions to donate money one after another, and Mo Jun quickly recorded at the side. In just a quarter of an hour, they raised 11,000 yuan of donations, 6,400 shi of food, and 350 shi of labor. ten people.

   This is just the donations from wealthy gentry households in Jiayu County. If Li Yanqing's wife Cao Yun's personal donation of 2,000 guan is added and small donations from ordinary people in Pingtou, the goal of raising 15,000 guan can be achieved.

Li Yanqing was overjoyed, stood up and clasped his fists to everyone: "Thank you for supporting the suppression of the bandits, and please have confidence in the government. This suppression of the bandits is not a one-time move. Even if the suppression of the bandits is successful, the local soldiers still exist to suppress the bandits. It is operated with the support of the government and the public to protect the tranquility of our Ezhou."

  The welcome hall immediately burst into warm applause. ． ． ． ．

Although Wang Boyan was recognized as a traitor in history and one of the famous representatives of the Compromise Faction in the Southern Song Dynasty, it is undeniable that his personal ability is indeed very strong. Under his appeal and running, all states along the Jinghu North Road expressed Willing to spend money and efforts to suppress the bandits, so that with the support of the states, even if the bandits are over, this navy can maintain its long-term existence.

In just half a month, four prefectures and one prefecture, including Ezhou, Hanzhou, Fuzhou, Yuezhou, and Jiangling, raised 120,000 yuan of money for suppressing bandits and 60,000 shi of food from the people. The account is responsible for managing the money and food.

Moreover, the chief officials of all the prefectures unanimously agreed that the bandit suppression battalion was set up in Jiayu County, and Li Yanqing, the magistrate of Jiayu County, was appointed as the chief general of this bandit suppression campaign. It has changed the situation that ten years ago, the prefectures and township soldiers fought on their own.

This morning, a large red flag was erected on the Jijiang Terrace outside Jiayu County, with two large characters written by Li Yanqing on it: "Recruiting Bravery". Zhang Hu is in charge of sitting in the town and recruiting 500 navy soldiers.

But this time the recruitment was mainly aimed at the common people of Ezhou, and the imperial court's approval document clearly stated that a local water army of 500 people should be formed in Ezhou Township Yongzhong. Build an army.

  If young adults from other prefectures and counties come to sign up, it is not impossible, but the entire navy must still be dominated by young adults from Ezhou.

  Before the recruitment, Li Yanqing had selected a hundred local soldiers with excellent water skills from the local soldiers in Jiayu County, and they became the first batch of Ezhou navy.

Near noon, Li Yanqing came to the recruitment point outside the North City, and saw a long queue in front of the shed, with hundreds of people. Patrols on the tenth day of the month are quite attractive to ordinary people in Ezhou whose average monthly income is only five or six guans.

Although it is more dangerous to suppress bandits, if unfortunately killed in battle, the family can still get a pension of 300 guan, and another 20 guan will be rewarded for killing a water thief. There is an endless stream of young and strong.

   Sitting in the shed was Liu Fang, the staff officer. He was the chief cultural officer, and beside him were soldiers and Cao escorts and two other civil servants who were in charge of registration. Zhang Hu led a dozen soldiers in charge of physical examination.

The physical examination is divided into three steps. The first step is to look, tall, burly, and strong, and rural soldiers are preferred; The most critical and important assessment is to be able to swim across the Yangtze River. If you pass all three steps, you will be admitted to the Navy and you can immediately advance a salary of 20 cents.

  At this time, Zhang Hu gave an order, and thirty shirtless young and strong men ran towards the Yangtze River. Li Yanqing stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Will you not be able to swim to the other side and lose your strength halfway?"

  Zhang Huxing reported: "There is no need to swim to the other side. There is a support boat in the middle of the Yangtze River. They get a sign and swim back. There are two other boats following. If you are exhausted, you can call for help at any time."

   "This arrangement is relatively comprehensive. Is there anyone who hasn't passed the weightlifting test?" Li Yanqing glanced at Shisuo again and asked.

   "I have passed the weightlifting test. I have checked my body before, and I can only lift weights if I meet the requirements. Generally, those who are tall and strong can lift stone locks."

Li Yanqing nodded, "You don't have to be tall and strong. Water quality is the most important thing. If you can go back and forth in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, I think it doesn't matter if you are thin. In many cases, it is more convenient for a thin person to attack enemy ships. "

   "Understanding, the priority will be given to increasing water quality. Before, there were more than a dozen people with excellent water quality, but their bodies didn't match. The low position has registered them, so I sent someone to find them."

   "That's right, hurry up and send someone to look for it!" Zhang Hu didn't dare to neglect, and immediately arranged for his men to look for someone.

  (end of this chapter)

Chapter end