Chapter 36 The Ming Dynasty is coming
Guo Rong, from a hundred households in the warrior camp, returned home with a heavy twenty taels of silver. At this time, he was still holding his horse.
Guo Rong was in a good mood. After all, he already had enough money, so he no longer had to sell his good horse.
Twenty taels of silver was a huge sum of money even for Guo Rong, who was an official of hundreds of households, because it was enough to ensure that his family would have enough food and clothing for a year.
Therefore, Guo Rong was very grateful to the Ming Emperor Zhu Houzhao in his heart. He couldn't help but think to himself that the current emperor was so kind. It was different from the previous military department who issued lumi. He directly issued silver and even paid out the full amount of the year-end bonus.
Guo Rong still remembered that the new Ming Emperor said that from now on his salary would be paid in full and in silver. For a moment, Guo Rong couldn't help but look forward to his happy life in the future.
Calculated based on his own salary as a member of a hundred households, if the salary can be paid in full and all is converted into silver, he can earn about sixty taels of silver a year. In this way, he can not only ensure food and clothing for his family, but also buy a few things. New clothes and even a house.
The housing prices in the capital of the Ming Dynasty were no less expensive than those in Beijing in later generations. Many officials in the capital had to rent a house. Naturally, the same was true for officials like Guo Rong who were transferred from other places to the capital, and he could only rent outside the city. In a remote place, I have to get up very early every day to go to Qianhu's dianmao, and I can't spend more time with my mother-in-law.
But now, if the imperial court can really distribute the salary in full every year, in a few years he will be able to save a hundred taels of silver to buy a yard near the inner city.
Guo Rong began to look forward to his life, and what made him look forward to it even more was that the emperor said that he would take them to fight the Tatars in the future. Although Guo Rong did not read much, he heard the governor Zhao said that "fame can only be obtained from horses." He agreed very much with this sentence and knew that his family's future wealth could only come from the battlefield.
He longed for war, especially when he remembered His Majesty's words about the Tatars killing and plundering the border people in the border towns.
Guo Rong was originally from a military household in Bian Town. He was transferred to Beijing because of his meritorious service in rescuing the governor, Mr. Zhao, to avoid the bloodshed in Bian Town. However, he is a young man, a bloody man, and an excellent horse soldier in Bian Town. , therefore, he has always had the idea of getting rich by killing enemies. Now the words of Emperor Ming made this desire in his heart even stronger.
In the dead of night, Guo Rong was not in a hurry to go home. He first went to a blacksmith shop named Lin that he was familiar with, knocked on the door of the blacksmith shop, and gave Blacksmith Lin a couple of silver: "Blacksmith Lin, give me the good things you have here." Iron is needed, I want to make a good knife! I will use it to kill Tatars in the future!”
There are many officials in the capital, and there are even more sixth-grade military attachés like Guo Rong. Although Blacksmith Lin is a craftsman, he has seen many officials, and he is not much afraid of Guo Rong. He only smiled in surprise and said: "When did Master Guo You are so generous, you spend a tael of silver to make a good knife?”
"The imperial court has given me a fortune, a full twenty taels of silver! Now I have met a good emperor."
Guo Rong and Blacksmith Lin were old acquaintances, so they were not too reserved and started chatting after mentioning some money.
In the eyes of Guo Rong and others, whether the emperor is good or bad does not depend on whether he follows Confucian etiquette or is cynical or lustful and cruel. As long as he is given a sufficient salary, he is a good emperor.
Blacksmith Lin did not expect that Guo Rong would have so much money all of a sudden, and his face showed a bit of respect: "Since Lord Baihu wants to make a sword to kill Tatars, I will definitely make it for you!" At the same time, this Blacksmith Lin said again: "The prosperous age of the Ming Dynasty is really coming, and even a hundred of your families can receive twenty taels of silver."
Guo Rong smiled and said nothing. He went to buy rice and meat again, and then led his horse to his yard. Guo Rong opened the firewood door of the shed he rented, and put the rice and meat he bought in his hand. on the ground, and then tied the horse in the yard. Guo Rong loved his horse very much. He couldn't help but touch the horse's face: "Now that you have money, you don't have to just eat grass. I have bought beans and will make bean cakes for you tomorrow! Wait!" You need to be strong, and we will kill the Tatars together from now on!”
The good horse snorted and seemed to understand Guo Rong's words, and happily rubbed the horse's head against Guo Rong's body.
Guo Rong chatted with his horse for a while and then returned to his house with rice and meat. Guo Rong's father Guo Yang, who was in the house, saw Guo Rong coming back and asked weakly: "Did Marco sell it?"
Guo Rong smiled truthfully and replied: "No!"
Guo Rong's father, Guo Yang, pointed weakly at Guo Rong. Although he could no longer stand up and scold Guo Rong, he was obviously very angry and even breathed quickly: "What do you want me to say to you? You really have the heart to starve your son to death." My little grandson is too hungry to cry now. If you really don’t want to sell the horse, then chop up your father and feed it to my grandson.”
"What did the master say? It's not that I don't sell horses, but there is no need to sell horses. The imperial court has already distributed lumi, and it is an excessive amount. The amount is still silver, a full twenty taels! I have already bought rice and meat. Let Yu Niang cook for you now.”
As he spoke, Guo Rong called out his wife, Yuniang, and handed the rice and meat to his wife.
Guo Rong's daughter-in-law, Yu Niang, was very happy when she saw the rice meat. She hurriedly took the rice meat and went to the kitchen.
His father Guo Yang asked his son Guo Rong: "Why did the court suddenly give you lumi and twenty taels?"
"It was issued by the Emperor himself, and there will be a year-end bonus if the three-month replacement is issued!" Guo Rong replied.
"We have met a good emperor!" His father Guo Rong said and laughed. "Speaking of which, only during the Xuande Dynasty did we have such rich lumi."
"His Majesty also said that from now on, he will be paid in full. It shows that the new emperor is indeed a good emperor. You can teach me how to ride and shoot from tomorrow. I want to go to the battlefield to make meritorious deeds in the future. The new emperor seems to have revived our Ming army. It means power," Guo Rong said.
His father Guo Yang was even more excited when he heard this, and he hurriedly asked Guo Rong to tell stories about his past in the border town.
Early the next morning, Guo Rong and his father Guo Yang got up early, and Guo Yang continued to teach his son Guo Rong the art of riding and shooting.
Guo Rong's wife Yuniang and son Guo Chen also stood aside and watched. His wife and son also had red faces, put on new clothes, and no longer looked hungry or cold.
(End of chapter)