Three Kingdoms

Outside Chang'an City.

People were everywhere, standing on both sides of the official road, and colorful flags were flying on the city wall.

Many people heard about the great victory at Yinshan and the prisoners of war were escorted to Chang'an, so they spontaneously came to watch the ceremony.

When the sun rose to the treetops, smoke and dust gradually rose in the distance from the official road, and a wave of enthusiasm suddenly set off. The people gathered around, stretched their heads, looked into the distance, and talked about it.

When the row of people and horses approached, there were countless cheers, whistles, excited looks, and flushed faces, as if a grand festival was ushering in.

The leading military academy arrived at the city first, and then saluted Wei Yan, who was in charge of receiving it, and said loudly, "General!" I follow General Li's order to escort the invading prisoners from Yinshan here! General Li led his troops to attack Ding Ling's enemies and beheaded more than 300 Hus, including one general Ding Ling, three junior generals, and several leaders. Some Ding Lings died in the wilderness and could not beheaded... Another Ding Ling was captured. A big flag of waste, four flags of oxtails, a number of oxen and sheep..."

Wei Yan nodded, and then said: "A certain lord sent an order!" Guarding the border is the duty of a soldier! Attacking the enemy angrily is the blood and courage of China! Now there is a section of Yinshan Mountain, fighting in the north of the mountain, and winning a great victory. According to military regulations, merit and rewards will be recorded! 』

As Wei Yan's voice fell, the surrounding soldiers and people cheered together, and many people shouted "hero", "warrior" and so on.

Immediately, soldiers came forward, took over the duties of the Yinshan soldiers, and escorted the prisoners of war. Instead of entering the city, they bypassed Chang'an City and then headed to the Qinling prisoner of war camp. After arriving there, these prisoners of war will be distributed through unified arrangements and entered into the corresponding production links to contribute to the hussar cause.

A political power must protect the interests of certain groups of people. China's political power naturally protects China's interests. Those who cannot protect their own interests will of course not gain the support of the people. Only by standing on the standpoint of one's own nation will there be wider support. This has been proven and practiced time and time again since the ancient Yan and Huang Dynasties.

Ordinary people may not understand the specific operations of the entire political group and its future development direction, but this does not prevent them from dedicating their enthusiasm to the soldiers who protect them!

Along with the Yinshan prisoners of war, there were also some retired soldiers and some disabled soldiers.

These retired and disabled soldiers were not all produced in the previous battle, but they all received a warm welcome. The huge and continuous cheers made these people's fatigue almost disappear. , some people's faces turned red with excitement, which made people worried that the wound would swell and bleed again in the next moment.

Li Er is one of the veterans.

Although he didn't feel that he was really old, he knew that his physical strength was indeed gradually declining and he could no longer keep up with those young guys. He was reluctant to leave his soldiers, but the junior officers in the army had two or three discussions with him and other older soldiers. Most of them, like Li Er, agreed to retire.

Military merit and salary are indeed attractive, but according to the military order, no matter whether you are young or old, once your physical strength is exhausted and you fall behind, if you fail to do your job, etc., you will not only be punished, but you will also be implicated in the robe.

Of course, there are also some people who feel that their physical strength is not bad and can survive for two more years, or there are some who feel that there is hope to go further and are reluctant to join the military. Anyway, everyone has their own ambitions and there is no need to force it. But if you want to go from captain to higher up, this level does not mean that you can work hard or wait for two years to be promoted. It means a very big span...

Therefore, Li Er thought twice and decided to take advantage of this opportunity to retire with a certain amount of military merit. Although he didn't directly kill many heads, for the sake of retirement, the military usually gave a few heads to these retired veterans.

This is customary.

The same goes for other veterans when they retire. Unless the behavior is really bad and the relationship is extremely bad, generally speaking, retirement will add some glory...

Li Er and a group of veterans visited Wei Yan, and then reluctantly paid a military badge representing his identity at the Military Affairs Office. Then, wearing a red flower representing retirement, he walked out of the martial arts hall and said goodbye to a few old friends. After making an appointment for the next meeting, they dispersed in twos and threes.

Not everyone can get the position of inspection. One of the criteria is naturally the rank of military merit in the military, and the other is cultural classes. Those who fail the cultural class but have high military merit can still have one year to review and take the exam again after returning to their hometown. If they fail to pass the exam, then there is no chance.

Li Er's culture is pretty good, at least it can be seen from his name. His home is in Longxi.

Li Er has not yet officially waited for the inspection appointment. After all, it will take several days to complete the paperwork and handover procedures. Even if it was a holiday these days, he did not go to the city to play, but stayed temporarily in the barracks outside the Martial Arts Hall.

After all, food and accommodation are free here.

Although he can be regarded as a son of the noble clan, is it okay to save a little bit...

Of course, he couldn't live like this forever. When the inspection procedures were completed, Li Er had to go to the assigned location to report.

This area within the barracks is a specially planned area. It is inhabited by veterans like Li Er, some from Yinshan, and of course from other areas, such as Sichuan and Shu. In the Western Regions and so on.

Generally speaking, there is no hard time limit for the retirement of soldiers. Generally speaking, in autumn and winter every year, when new soldiers join the army, they will talk to some veterans.

Wounded soldiers naturally retire. There is nothing to say about this. However, if the body is not injured, there is no need to force it, but most veterans will agree to retire like Li Er. After all, there are only a few people like Yan Yan and Huang Zhong who are old and strong. When most people get older, they always feel uncomfortable here or there. If they want to compete with young people in terms of physical endurance, they will be somewhat disadvantaged.

If these veterans are willing to retire, they will not all go to Chang'an. Instead, they will be arranged according to the original household registration of the soldiers. For example, those from Hedong will return to Hedong, and those from Longxi will return to Longxi. Moreover, they will not set off immediately, but after accumulating some numbers, they will encounter such as Escorting prisoners of war, transporting grain and grass, or other relatively low-risk tasks are the responsibility of these veterans. On the one hand, they can complete the tasks, and on the other hand, they can naturally reach their destinations.

Li Er stood at the gate of the camp, hesitant, somewhat cautious about arriving in a strange place for the first time.

Two people came out from the camp and saw the red silk flower on Li Er's chest. They immediately laughed and greeted Li Er, "Brother, where did you retire from?" Have you just arrived? Come on, come in! 』

One person stepped forward and pulled Li Er, while the other patted Li Er on the shoulder, took Li Er's small luggage, and walked toward the camp together.

Li Er scratched his head and chuckled twice, "Yes, I just arrived today." 』

I don’t know why, but all of a sudden, that unfamiliar restraint seemed to disappear little by little.

"My surname is Wang, from Fufeng on the right. I have no real name, but my nickname is Dongdong. I am the drummer Dongdong..." Wang Dongdong, the man on the left holding the luggage, said, "I came earlier, and now I am the camp manager." Well...his name is Shitou, Western Region Shitou. Not long after he came back from the Western Region, there were three people named Shitou in our camp..."

Wang Dongdong said and introduced.

"My, my name is Li Er..." Li Er responded, his eyes fell on the leg named Shitou on the right, and then quickly looked away. Wang Dongdong is probably the same as Li Er himself, who retired after getting older, while Shitou looks younger, but his leg is lame, probably due to an injury to his hamstring, and he can't bend and stretch very well, and his walking is a little awkward. Round and round.

"There's still room here, how about you stay here?" ” Wang Dongdong walked to a wooden house and turned around to ask Li Er.

Li Er quickly responded and said there was no problem.

Two people came out of the wooden house. When they saw Li Er, they also smiled, "Are there new brothers again?" By the way, boss, didn't you say you were going to get the ball? 』

“Didn’t I just run into Brother Li when I went out? ” Wang Dongdong took out the pen bag from his arms and wrote Li Er’s name on the wooden board in front of the wooden house. He replied, “You guys can help with the arrangements first and see what Brother Li needs... Okay, I’ll Now go apply for Juqiu..."

Cuju is said to have been around during the Yan and Huang dynasties, which is unknown how long earlier than later generations abroad, and it has been very popular from the beginning. As early as the Warring States Period, the entertainment Cuju game was popular among the people in China. Since the Han Dynasty, it has become a method of military training for military strategists. In the Song Dynasty, specialized Cuju organizations and Cuju artists appeared. Even the big braided dynasty had innovations and appeared. Juju on the ice was invented, but only in later generations did it become a bad game. Therefore, it can be said that Cuju is a wonderful sports event that has been spread in China for a long time and has a great influence.

By the way, this weird thing refers to the men’s football team.

Cuju was still a very popular activity during the Han Dynasty. There are even people who insist on playing Cuju even if they are seriously ill, and then die, which can be regarded as "really" risking their lives...

Wang Dongdong and Shitou left to receive the ball.

The two people in the room were helping Li Er put his luggage and asked, "Brother, how do you like Cuju?" Do you want to play a game together? 』

"OK! ” Li Er also liked Cuju, so he naturally agreed repeatedly. After all, there are grasslands and wastelands everywhere in the Yinshan Mountains. Soldiers often use this method for entertainment and training. Sometimes they even have to wear armor and carry weights, so they can play any tricks.

During the Han Dynasty, Cuju was generally divided into three categories.

One type is performance in nature, which is generally like acrobatics. It is performed in the streets and alleys with the cooperation of small drums and gongs. It is not only entertainment for the people, but also appears in national celebrations. There are single players, double players and multiple players, and there are also single balls and multiple players. Balls come in many varieties. As the saying goes, "racing in a prosperous village, playing juju in a poor alley", "at high school, bowing and horsemanship are the main business, and at home, Cuju is the main learning."

The other type is competition type, usually in a special venue. The Jucheng is already very similar to the stadium of later generations. It has a main hall specially used for viewing and seating, and is surrounded by walls, so it is also called "Jucheng". There are also special rules, "Round and square walls resemble yin and yang." Fa Yue is in opposition, two and six are equal. To establish long-term relationships and establish peace, there are constant examples: don’t be close to each other, don’t be selfish; be calm and don’t blame others for their mistakes. Ju Zheng is still here, but he is still holding on to his will! 』

The last category is military Cuju. In addition to symbolizing "military strength", Cuju also emphasizes mutual cooperation. Naturally, it has the function of training soldiers. It is also used to enrich military life, so that soldiers can maintain good physical strength and mood. As the saying goes, "If the army has nothing to do, just use Cuju." , it has become a habit to play a game when nothing happens.

After all, there is inevitably a harsh hierarchy in the army. Years of training are also very boring. In addition, under military discipline, corporal punishment and scolding are unavoidable. On the battlefield, the blood and injuries of fighting will definitely put a lot of mental stress on the soldiers. Big, these exercises similar to Cuju can just allow soldiers to vent all the negative accumulation in their daily life.

Not long after, the ball was brought back, and the camp suddenly became lively.

A group of people yelled, collided with each other, scrambled, chased, and laughed...

Unknowingly, these strangers from various places became familiar with each other. There is no longer any restraint, no indifference, no more estrangement when we get along. When we lose, we shout and feel sorry together, and when we win, we shout and celebrate together.

Shitou also played for a while, but his injured leg couldn't last long and he couldn't run fast. In the end, he could only drag his legs and sit on the sidelines.

In the military camp, not everyone is as lucky as Wang Dongdong and Li Er. There are also those who are retired due to injuries like stones. Two have leg injuries like stones, and three have injured hands. of. Some are as good as stones, but their skills are damaged, and some are worse, their limbs are amputated, and they cannot continue to serve and can only retire.

These people, like Shitou, although before retiring, the military academy repeatedly said that the Hussars General would be responsible for their lives and get the proper placement they deserve, they are still somewhat worried about the future. After all, if their limbs are damaged, their labor force is also damaged. They may not be able to do many heavy tasks, which will definitely have a certain impact on ordinary families.

Fortunately, the worries of Shitou and others did not last long. After they played a game of Cuju, the officials responsible for the transfer and placement of soldiers in the Jiangwu Hall came, not only to supplement the registration of newcomers like Li Er He also convened a discussion with Shitou and other injured soldiers, asked Shitou and their current situation one by one, reviewed their cultural levels, and then told them good news and bad news.

The good news is that Shitou and the others will be assigned positions within a month. Those with high educational levels may enter the junior official level, serving as local warehouse managers, or logistics personnel for military camps, and serving as instructors for recruit camps in various places. Instructors, etc., those with relatively low education can give priority to caravan guards, square guards and other positions...

There must be arrangements anyway.

The bad news is that these arrangements may not all be in Chang'an Sanfu. It is possible, well, it is very likely that they will be in Longxi.

After all, Longxi is currently undergoing large-scale development and is very short of manpower.

Of course, this is also voluntary. If you are unwilling to accept the assigned position, you can also directly settle it into a certain amount of money and then make your own way out. The follow-up will have nothing to do with military affairs.

If there is only one way, of course there is nothing to consider, just like retiring or not retiring, it is more or less simple. As a result, with more choices now, it is inevitable that some people will worry about gains and losses, or discuss the difference in position, or It was a discussion about whether it was worthwhile to take the money directly. Anyway, everyone had some calculations in their minds.

The military affairs officer did not intend to let Shitou and others make up their minds on the spot. Instead, he asked Shitou and others to think about it and wait a few days for him to register again. Anyway, this would take some time, so there was no rush.

The retired money of wounded soldiers will be higher for those who have to wait and see, but if they sit back and have nothing, they may not be able to support it for long. Therefore, most people are willing to choose a basic position, but this basic position is not in Guanzhong, but in Guanzhong. I am going to Longxi...

Although the military affairs officer didn't say death, that's pretty much what he meant.

Within this intermediate period of time, there is of course room for up and down activities, and this has been the case throughout China. It's just that people like Shitou certainly don't have much room for action, and that's all they get.

Some people with higher positions in the military, or those with some mobility, basically know where they are going, but people like Shitou have to face the arrival of the unknown.

The unknown always brings some fear.

This kind of fear is not the same as the fear in the battle formation. The fear in the battle formation can be gradually eliminated through training and killing enemies, but this fear of the future occurs every day and cannot be completely eliminated. , until the day I close my eyes.

Or to put it another way, it’s called “security.”

Some people who may be a little dull don't know what a sense of security means. They think that being in a place where you won't be hit by a car, having a place to live, and having food to eat is called a sense of security. But in fact This sense of security is not entirely a material requirement, but also a spiritual requirement...

The stone turned over and over all night, and he was so worried that he couldn't make a choice and was hesitant.

The other people in the same room had a great time playing football and were tired, and they were not like stones with missing limbs, so whether they had arrangements or no positions, they were full of hope and confidence for the future, and naturally they were whirring. They slept heavily, and some snored so loudly that it seemed like they would shake the wooden house down.

If one person is fine, he will be fine no matter where he goes. If one person is full, the whole family will not be hungry.

However, Shitou had worries in his heart, so he couldn't be free and easy.

Finally it was daybreak. Shitou watched the morning light emerge, then got up. After washing, he sat on the wooden floor of the wooden house and was silent for a long time.

Finally, Shitou stood up, excused himself with Wang Dongdong, and went to the military affairs officer of the Martial Arts Hall to get a guide for the way in and out. He was going to go home and go back to his somewhat dilapidated home in Lingyi to discuss it...

It turned out that he was timid in his hometown and had a broken leg, which made him feel somewhat inferior. He didn't want to meet the people he cared about like this. He thought that after his position was assigned, he could go home with it, which made him feel somewhat inferior. Talk about it.

But now, he has to face all this in advance...