In a teahouse in Changsha City, several tea guests chatted deliciously.

"Did you hear that? The Imperial Court is recruiting new soldiers! ”

"Huh? Court? Which court? ”

"Which court else could it be? Who has the final say in Huguang now? ”

"Ming Army?"

"That's not it. Naturally, the Ming court is recruiting troops. ”

"Hey, I don't know how many strong men I want to catch this time."

"What nonsense, the imperial court's recruitment of soldiers is a voluntary principle and will not be forced."

"Voluntary? Not to catch strong men? ”

"One tael of silver a month, and meat to eat. You say you need to catch strong men? ”

"Tut-tut, this treatment is really okay, no wonder it's voluntary... If I were a few years younger, I would have wanted to apply. ”

"Forget it, people want young men, and you are in your forties before they want you."

There was another burst of laughter, and the atmosphere of eating tea was very harmonious.

...

...

The Orange Island Wharf outside Changsha has gathered a lot of power sticks.

Whenever a merchant ship arrived at the wharf, a steward would come to find someone to unload the cargo.

They came in handy as they unloaded the sacks from the ship and carried them to the dirt slope over there.

Moving a sack can be exchanged for a bamboo skewer, and the settlement will be settled at the end of the day.

Zheng Dali often works here, and if he is lucky, he has to work for many days.

But if you're unlucky, you haven't been able to do it for many days.

Recently, due to the war, no merchant ships have come to the docks of Orange Island.

Zheng Dali sat helplessly on the mound, his eyes full of exhaustion.

If you don't work, you don't have money, you don't have anything to eat, and if you don't have food, you go hungry.

It's such a simple truth, a penny starves a hero.

The sun gradually crept into the sky, and people sweated profusely.

Zheng Dali squinted his eyes because of the dazzling sunlight.

"Brother Dali, it can't go on like this. There should be no merchant ships docking anytime soon. ”

It was a good-looking child who spoke.

He was a head shorter than Zheng Dali, with dark skin, and a mouthful of jagged teeth was revealed as soon as he spoke.

"Wei Xiaojiu, what do you say?"

"If you want me to say let's just go to the city and try it."

"To the city? No, no, no..."

Zheng Dali shook his head again and again when he heard this.

"I can't do the work in the city. I'm stupid, and I'm easy to offend nobles. ”

Wei Xiaojiu covered his mouth and smiled: "Who said that he was going to work in the city." ”

"Don't go to work in the city? So why go into the city? ”

"Enlisted. I heard that the army is recruiting new recruits, do you want to try it? ”

"Soldiering?"

Zheng Dali's eyes widened like cowbells, and he asked in disbelief, "Wei Xiaojiu, are you crazy?" Being a soldier can cost your life at any time, and although we may not have enough to eat now, at least our lives are worry-free. ”

"We can't be a baton for a lifetime, what can we do when you are in your forties and can't do it?"

Wei Xiaojiu frowned.

"Let's talk about it if I can't do it. Anyway, don't worry about this now. ”

Zheng Dali spread his hands, looking indifferent.

Wei Xiaojiu shook his head and said, "I don't believe that there must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, and even if there is a road, it is a dead end." ”

He paused, and then continued: "What's more, the treatment given by this Ming army is very good, one tael of silver a month, and there is meat to eat." You can't find this kind of good life anywhere. ”

"What do you say? One or two silver a month, and there is meat to eat? Isn't that possible? ”

"Why is it impossible, the notice posted by the Ming army is written like this, and I asked someone to read it for me."

Wei Xiaojiu straightened his chest and said.

"It's... It's tempting. ”

Even Zheng Dali had to admit that the conditions offered by the Ming Army were very good, if this was really the treatment, Zheng Dali was really moved.

"Why don't we try it?"

Wei Xiaojiu smiled: "If it's a fake, let's come back." ”

"You make me think..."

Zheng Dali hesitated.

I work at the dock as a casual worker, and I can rest for a day or two at any time when I am tired.

Being in the army is completely different.

As soon as you enter the barracks, it is as deep as the sea, and it is difficult to come up with it again.

Zheng Dali's heart was struggling.

On the one hand, he really wanted to be able to eat the emperor's food, and on the other hand, he didn't want to end his current relatively free life.

But there is no such thing as the best of both worlds, and you have to make a decision.

After much consideration, Zheng Dali decided to give it a try.

"Let's go into the city and have a look!"

...

...

The recruiting site of the Ming army was selected in the Gongyuan in the north of the city.

The reason why the troops were recruited here was because the venue was large enough and had nothing to do with Old Master Kong.

People from all the quarters gathered here and lined up to register.

"What's your name? How old is it? Where do you live? How many men are in the family? ”

"The villain's surname is Sun Mingqiang, a native of Anhefang, and he is eighteen this year."

"Why do you want to join the army?"

"My parents are sick and dying, and I am the only one in the family. On weekdays, I go to the dyeing workshop to work. It's better when there's work. When you don't live, you can only go hungry. I heard that being a soldier can eat enough, so I thought I would give it a try. ”

"Would you like to be a soldier?"

"Yes!"

"Well, let's sign it."

Zheng Dali and Wei Xiaojiu were not far behind Sun Qiang, and they were very nervous when they saw this scene.

Why do you feel that when you press your handprint, it's the same as signing a deed of sale?

If this is signed, will you only be a soldier in this life?

Zheng Dali was a little hesitant at the moment.

"Next!"

Seeing that Zheng Dali was still stunned, Wei Xiaojiu tugged at the corner of his clothes.

"Brother Dali, it's your turn."

"Ahh

Zheng Dali woke up like a dream and hurriedly took a few steps forward.

"What's your name?"

"Zheng Dali, working at the dock outside the city, wants to join the army because he can't eat enough."

"I asked you what your name was, and you answered so much."

The soldier was amused, and asked jokingly.

"Ah, I listened to what the people in front of me asked, so I wanted to make it clear at once."

The soldier was a wonderful man.

"Would you like to be a soldier, then?"

"Ahh Willing. ”

Somehow, Zheng Dali blurted out.

"Okay, let's sign it."

Zheng Dali pressed his handprint without hesitation at all.

"Next!"

Wei Xiaojiu took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"What's your name?"

"Wei Xiaojiu."

"Where's the people? What for? ”

"A native of Changsha, working at the wharf outside the city."

"With that Zheng Dali?"

"Yes."

"Would you like to be a soldier?"

"I do."

Compared with Zheng Dali, Wei Xiaojiu is very decisive.

"Let's sign it."

Wei Xiaojiu pressed his handprint and was taken away by a soldier along with Zheng Dali.

They were taken to a barracks-like place, where the soldier gave them a number plate and took them to a barracks.

"After that you will live here, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, you must gather at once. Remember! ”

...

...