Chapter 195 Stabilizing People’s Heart
Could it be that these veterans think the three-month advance on wages is too little?
Come to think of it, it is not impossible. In the late Ming Dynasty, the imperial court gave silver to the army before it set out.

Because the military salaries in the late Ming Dynasty were generally low, and they also had to face deductions by their superiors, they often had very little left.

It's okay if they can just barely survive starvation in normal times, but once they go to the battlefield, they have to put their heads on the line to do the work. How can they have a full meal without being given some money?

Therefore, the silver for marching was also called vegetable and meat silver at that time. As the name suggests, it was to allow the soldiers to buy some meat and vegetables to have a full meal before going to the war. It was similar to the last meal of a death row prisoner.

After all, life and death are unpredictable on the battlefield.

Although these people are all disabled, they have served as soldiers all their lives, so some of their thinking is still stuck in the military, which is not difficult to understand.

Wang An was about to explain that everyone would follow him just to work and earn money, which was completely different from fighting on the battlefield and risking their lives.

The old soldiers around them suddenly knelt down, and Tian Erlangzi said with tears streaming down his face: "Boss, from now on you will be our second parents, Boss!"

The other veterans also expressed their gratitude in unison.

"In the past, people wouldn't even want us, the disabled, to sweep the floor, let alone know our wages in advance. It's already good enough that we don't get deducted from our wages!"

"My eldest son is having a high fever. Your money has really saved his life!"

"Don't say we are only working for you, the boss. Even if you ask us to go back to the battlefield and kill the Tartars, we won't say a word!"

"From now on, I will work for you, my boss, and I will work until I die!"

"If anyone dares to cheat with you, don't blame us, Zhang Daji, for turning our backs on you and ignoring our comradeship!"

Seeing the old soldiers expressing their loyalty to him with red faces and thick necks, Wang An realized that he had been thinking in the wrong direction.

It’s not that these veterans are dissatisfied with the three months’ advance salary; on the contrary, it exceeds their expectations!
Come to think of it, these old soldiers were originally unemployed, but now someone suddenly offers to hire them at a "high price" of one or two taels of silver, and is also willing to advance three months' wages for them to settle down. No wonder they are so happy.

The vast majority of them are unable to work, and their families have long been facing the risk of running out of food. It is no exaggeration to say that they can no longer afford to eat.

If the imperial court had not suddenly become conscience-stricken and failed to pay the overdue military wages, who knows how many old soldiers would have starved to death.

Although Man Gui and Sun Zushou took good care of them, the already limited military pay naturally had to be used for the combat troops first.

Wang An sighed and jumped off the stool, then helped Tian Erlangzi and the others around him up, saying, "Since you guys follow me, Wang, to make a living, you are my comrades in arms. I will help you as long as I can, especially if it's just a small matter like this."

"Anyway, everyone, take the silver, settle your family down first, pack up your things and be ready to follow me tomorrow!"

The veterans responded one after another, their faces flushed with excitement.

After Wang An finished speaking, he looked at Tian Erlangzi and said, "I will go find a business to split the silver later. You go find some writing brushes to register everyone's names first."

The smile on Tian Erlangzi's face froze. He waved his hand with a bitter face and said, "Boss, I can't read! Besides..."

Wang An was immediately embarrassed and blushed as he asked, "What should we do?"

It’s not that Wang An was unwilling to do it himself. Firstly, he still had to find someone to pay the money, otherwise he wouldn’t have that much change to hand out.

Secondly, I have been in Daming for so long, and I haven't mastered the skills of traditional Chinese characters. Tian Erlangzi quickly turned around and shouted to the crowd: "Xiucai, is Xiucai here?"

Immediately, a young man with disinfected hands was pushed out and smiled shyly at Wang An.

Tian Erlangzi said: "Boss, this guy is a scholar, a rare scholar among us soldiers, he can read!"

Wang An looked the scholar up and down and found that he looked well-mannered and indeed different from ordinary soldiers.

What surprised Wang An the most was that this scholar had all his limbs intact and did not look like a disabled person.

As if he saw Wang An's doubts, Tian Erlangzi sighed and said, "Although the scholar has healthy limbs, he was shot in the waist by an arrow. Since then, he has been leaking urine when walking and can't do any physical work, let alone follow General Man to kill the enemy..."

"Alas, what a pity, such a good scholar..."

The scholar said embarrassedly: "Brother Tian, ​​I have told you many times that I am not a scholar, but just a student."

Tian Erlangzi still looked regretful and said, "In everyone's eyes, you are a scholar, so you are a scholar even if you are not a scholar!"

Wang An was immediately puzzled and asked, "Since you are a scholar, why don't you just take the imperial examination and get a good degree, but join the army instead?"

When the scholar heard this, his originally shy face suddenly became gloomy. He did not answer Wang An's words, but just lowered his head and remained silent.

Wang An thought, could it be that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder?
Many soldiers in later generations suffered from this disease.

Although there are no records in ancient times, it is probably because the ancients did not have this concept. Even if it was really post-traumatic stress disorder, it would simply be classified as a mental illness.

Thinking of this, Wang An couldn't help but feel more sympathetic.

However, Tian Erlengzi answered for the scholar: "The scholar was originally from Ningyuan. In the fifth year of Tianqi, his entire family was killed by the Tartars."

"My newlywed wife, who hadn't even had time to spend the wedding night, was raped by a dozen Tartars. They also pierced her lower body with a spear and left her standing on the ground. How miserable..."

Wang An was slightly moved. He looked at the silent scholar and asked, "So that's why you gave up writing and joined the army with Mr. Man?"

The scholar remained silent and just nodded.

Wang An didn't say anything more, but patted the scholar on the shoulder and said, "Follow me and work hard in the future. Take care of your body, and maybe you will have a chance to return to the battlefield again!"

The scholar raised his head abruptly, stared at Wang An with hopeful eyes and said, "Master, can my body really get better and can I go to the battlefield again?"

Wang An didn't know either, but he didn't want to destroy the hopes of a man with a blood feud, so he nodded and said, "You don't know how the Dong family started, right?"

"Let me tell you, my main business is to run a herbal medicine shop. In the past, you didn't have money, so you couldn't hire a good doctor to treat you. After you transfer the money, you can hire a good doctor to prescribe medicine for you. All the herbs in the shop will be given to you!"

The scholar's eyes were red, and after a long while he could only utter one sentence: "If I can go to the battlefield again in the future, I will never forget the kindness of my boss!"

"Speaking of this..." Wang An was silent.

(End of this chapter)