After the beginning of the spring of Zhengde's 21st year, the formation of the military region mentioned last year began in full swing.

This time, the formation was carried out in a combination of selection and voluntary.

The Military Aircraft Department has directly ordered that no level in the major military regions shall obstruct the voluntary registration of military personnel, and of course, this is also conditional.

The main conditions are three:

First, the net worth is innocent, there are various criminal records or the direct veto of squatting in prison;

Second, be burly, and the requirement is to be more than seven feet tall and have no obvious physical defects.

Third, those who have participated in various wars and have made meritorious contributions are preferred.

In addition to these, there is another very special point, that is, those who were not soldiers before, but have meritorious reputation, as long as they have not been in prison and are in good health, they must be accepted.

In the past few years, the status of soldiers has been continuously improved, whether it is in terms of military salaries and other treatments, and more importantly, the Son of Heaven has taken care of soldiers in all aspects.

At the same time, the traditional path of the imperial examination is still as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Compared with the two, there will always be some people who want to make achievements on the one hand, but on the other hand, they really can't survive on the road of civil service.

And now that the Ming Dynasty continues to use troops abroad, how many people have come out?

Therefore, there are naturally people who want to move their minds in this area.

At least Shaanxi Juzi Lou Fangyong is one of them.

He doesn't like to twist and pinch that way, but he is arrogant, he is twenty-eight years old, from the original young genius, to the current repeated failures, it has been very difficult over the years.

Ever since the Xinjiang Military Region began to select soldiers from all over the northwest, he inquired about the news from all sides, thinking of leaving his hometown silently, making a name for himself, and returning to his hometown in fine clothes.

The child is determined to go out of the countryside, and he vows not to return if he can't learn to become famous!

This is the thirteenth year of Zhengde, the Son of Heaven is encouraging the cadets of the Navy and Army Academy to read the verses.

Now he uses it as an epitaph.

On this day, he rode out of Jiayuguan in Gansu Province, preparing to accompany the caravan through Hami, then to Turpan, and then all the way down to Ili.

In the mainland, there are post stations all over the official roads, but in Xinjiang, this is not called a post station, but a military station.

This was set up by Zhu Houzhao to imitate the Qing Dynasty, the territory of the Qing Dynasty was far greater than that of the Ming Dynasty, but it could be managed properly, and the military platform played a huge role.

The so-called military station is actually an institution that transmits military documents.

Xinjiang is a place called 'a country of natural dangers, and it cannot be defended, but it cannot be passed'.

Bottom line: Voice connection is crucial.

From Jiayuguan to the northwest, there must be a military station every 100 miles, which was originally directly under the jurisdiction of the governor of Xinjiang, but in a few years, it gradually had the function of a post station in the interior, and the personnel in the past would replenish supplies or rest temporarily.

In fact, it is just a vacant lot, a few simple houses.

Near the side of the road, there is a shop and a few tables for pedestrians to drink hot tea.

As soon as Lou Fangyong sat down, the two people at the table next to him looked him up and down.

The two, one carrying on his back something in the shape of a long stick wrapped in cloth, had a loop of hemp rope tied around his forehead.

Another one is easy to remember, that is, the appearance is very ugly, with two black moles on the left and right cheeks, which makes people dare not stare closely.

It was also about this that the person carrying the stick got up and came over to greet him,

"This brother."

Lou Fangyong looked at him vigilantly, "Something?" ”

"Oh. The two of us, seeing that you seem to be traveling alone, speculated in our hearts that Brother Tai must be going to Ili to enlist in the Xinjiang Military Region. ”

Lou Fangyong didn't speak.

The big man in front of him continued, "My cousin and I are also planning to do the same. My name is Fang Yu, this is my old cousin's name is Xu Kai, and the two of us are also going to Yili, I don't know what to call Brother Tai? ”

Lou Fangyong looked at these two people as if they were ordinary young people, but he didn't expect to be able to see the purpose of his trip at a glance.

The thoughts in his heart were collected, and at the same time he hugged his fists and said: "In Xia Lou Fangyong, a native of Pingliang Mansion, Shaanxi." This trip is indeed to Ili. ”

Fang Yulang laughed: "Then we are peers." Brother Lou, don't blame, we have no malicious intentions, it's just the first time we came to Xinjiang, and we have been walking west from Ganzhou for nearly a month, and there is no one to take refuge in Yili. It can be said that the eyes are black, if this is over, there is no follow-up to joining the army......"

Lou Fangyong understood that the two cousins had no bottom in their hearts.

This was also their first acquaintance.

In fact, on the way to Ili in the west, there are many such situations, after all, the distance is far away, and people are naturally a little afraid, so a situation of huddles is formed.

After a few days of getting along with each other, Lou Fangyong gradually became familiar with them.

And tell them everything you know.

It is also boring to rush left and right in the vast grasslands and Gobi.

Moreover, Lou Fangyong has read books and has a better understanding of the policies, background, and purposes of the imperial court, so today he will tell about these two people, saying: "Since the beginning of this year, the imperial court has not only reorganized the garrison military region in Xinjiang, but also in Hetao, Jingshi and other places.

This is the purpose of the formation of the military region is to gather real soldiers, and its main function in the future will be to be ordered to fight.

In other words, it is very difficult for the guard posts outside the military regions to have the opportunity to undertake campaign tasks.

Brother Fang, Brother Xu, you were originally a military household in the guard, and this choice is very correct.

In addition, there is also a difference in the salary of the non-commissioned soldiers, the military officers of the military region are paid 10 taels of silver every year, and most of them do not need to spend their own money on food, drink, clothing, and clothing, which is also greatly higher than that of the guards in various places. ”

Fang Yu and his cousin are illiterate, and they usually can't see or hear their own forts.

Hearing this, his eyes were suddenly opened, "In this way, my two brothers really have to be chosen, otherwise if they go back to the guardhouse, there will be no future in the future." ”

"That's right."

"So, will there be a war?" The silent sturdy man Xu Kai asked.

Lou Fangyong nodded heavily, "I can fight." Although there is no sign that the imperial court wants to conquer the Kazakh Khanate, the Ming Dynasty is strong and the momentum has risen, and the Kazakh Khanate is in constant civil strife and will definitely fight. ”

"How sure is Brother Lou?"

Lou Fangyong frowned and thought for a moment, "There are always seven or eight points." ”

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because of the human heart." Lou Fangyong pointed at himself, and then at the two of them, "Look at us people, why did we go to Ili?" Is it for a military salary of 10 taels of silver a year? To put it mildly, go to Jiangnan to do a job casually, as long as you work hard, you can have ten taels a year.

In fact, most people like you and me are trying to change places and show their ambitions, and the same is true for us, for others, and for the general soldiers.

The current Ming Dynasty is different from the Ming Dynasty twenty years ago, twenty years ago, the Ming Dynasty really emphasized literature and light military force, but the martial artists did not want to be pressed by Wenchen all the time. It coincides with today's saint's majestic talent, which can be regarded as an emperor through the ages, and the Ming Dynasty's national strength is thriving. Who doesn't want to be rewarded? Once the success will be achieved, before the eternal achievement, what is the sacrifice of a few people? This is the biggest trend!

And as I just said, the Son of Heaven is a generation of heroes, and the generals under his command have such ambitions, how can he stop them? ”

This whole set of logic, Lou Fangyong himself has already figured it out.

But for Fang Yu and Xu Kai, two 'illiterates', it opened up a new world.

"Brother Lou, how is this Kazakh Khanate, is it powerful?"

Lou Fangyong tugged on the reins and laughed, "As long as you look at history, you will know that whenever my Central Plains is orthodox and strong, the surrounding barbarian countries are not to worry, the Xinjiang Military Region has 60,000 elite soldiers with morale like a rainbow, what is the small Kazakh Khanate?"

Not to mention, today's Ming monarchs and ministers will be strong and brave, even if the countries in the "Atlas of All Nations" are counted, they are not stronger than the Ming Dynasty! So you can rest assured at this point, we are all fortunate people, and we are in the heyday! ”

Analyzed in this way, it is natural that the situation is excellent.

But Fang Yu and Xu Kai fell into worry again, "Brother Lou has a reputation for making meritorious contributions, and according to the regulations of the imperial court, he can naturally enter the army directly." But our cousins are fighting for that already scarce voluntary spot......"

At this point, Lou Fangyong couldn't help them directly, so he could only help them from the little information he knew, "Two brothers, I heard what the seniors in the yamen said when I set off.

In this reform of the new military system, the most important thing for the selected soldiers is to pay attention to courage and blood, and the old, weak, sick, disabled, and timid people are all excluded. Judging from the following, both of them are sturdy men, and if they dare to volunteer to join the army, they must have ambitions. There is nothing to worry about.

But as Brother Fang said just now, this opportunity is very good, and there are many people who can see it. Everyone who came to join the army had special skills. Therefore, the two brothers must find another way. ”

Fang Yu was concerned in his heart and didn't want to miss the opportunity, "Please also ask Brother Lou to teach us, thank you for your kindness, our brother is willing to serve Brother Lou in the future!" ”

Lou Fangyong's pride and insight had already convinced the two of them.

"It doesn't have to be this way." Lou Fangyong thought, he is also alone, if he can recruit two people to be of the same heart with him, it will also be of great benefit in the future, "Brother Fang, Brother Xu, do you know that this selection of soldiers, in addition to being physically strong, more importantly, is brain, why does the imperial court allow people to join the army directly?"

It is because he understands history, understands the court situation, and understands the geography and folklore of the Ming Dynasty and the surrounding areas. According to the imperial court, both the Army and the Naval Academy now emphasize that soldiers must know what they are fighting for. If you can say one or two things about this, you will definitely stand out in the selection. ”

Fang Yu didn't know if this was the case, he was only distressed, "But we ...... We really don't know anything about that. ”

Lou Fangyong took it all over, "It's okay, you don't know, but you're very familiar with it." From the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties, to today's Ming Dynasty, the thousand-year history is in my head. It just so happens that we have a long way to go, and there is time, and when I finish talking to you, on the day I arrived in Yili, the officials and soldiers asked, you can not only say that you were born as a Han and fought for the Han people, but also can tell the truth and connotation, how can there be a possibility of losing the election? ”

"Good!" Fang Yu and Xu Kai were overjoyed, "Then thank you Brother Lou!" ”

In this way, Lou Fangyong began to tell them these distant and close stories in the following days, and now it is too late to recognize words, but the stories are clear.

After listening to it for a few days, this cousin began to understand how difficult the current world is and what kind of great emperor the current Zhengde Emperor is...... At this time, the idea of fighting for such an emperor and building a career with the heroes of the present day is difficult to dispel once it arises......

(End of chapter)