Chapter 007: Objectives, Deputy General?

Xu Xingxia nodded thoughtfully, saying nothing

"Father, I have already bought the meat and white rice and flour, why don't you believe me! How about this, I will carry you out so you can see for yourself," Xu Xingxia said with a smile. He walked to his father's earthen bed, bent down, and slowly lifted his father onto his back, heading to the courtyard outside.

Xu Xingxia entered his father's room, crouched down, and took out a cloth bundle that had been sealed in a worn wooden cabinet for an unknown number of years. He went outside and vigorously patted it to remove the dust before returning to hand it to his father. Xu Fuqing received it and, with a serious expression, opened the cloth bundle, revealing that it contained a memorial tablet.

Quick! Place the items here

Xu Xingxia curiously asked, "Father, which ancestor of our family is this?"

He believes his father's words. If he can truly rise to the rank of a major general, the Xu family will indeed have the opportunity to bring honor to their ancestors. However, given the current situation, it is quite challenging for him to achieve the rank of major general. The only reason is that his starting point is indeed too low. At present, he is merely a low-ranking soldier. Unless he achieves extraordinary military accomplishments, it is almost impossible for him to have any chance of promotion. The only reason is that his starting point is indeed too low. At present, he is merely a low-ranking soldier. Unless he achieves extraordinary military accomplishments, it is almost impossible for him to have any chance of promotion

Xu Fuqing finally believed that his son had indeed hunted a stag. So much meat, rice, and flour could only be exchanged for real gold and silver. However, soon he became suspicious again and asked in confusion, "Xia'er, did you hunt the stag with a elm bow?"

The radiance on Xu Fuqing's face gradually faded as he said with a heavy heart: "Indeed, our ancestors were truly distinguished generals. Unfortunately, the later generations of our forebears lacked the ability and did not learn even a fraction of the skills from this ancestor, which led to the decline of our family. The Xu family has fallen to such a state. Xia'er, if you can restore the glory of our ancestors, then in the future, when I meet our forefathers, I will be able to bring them comfort."

You are busy, you are busy...

Xu Xingxia said with a smile, "Father, what do you think?"

Without the Shanxi merchants, the fur and other goods accumulated by the military households would not be so easily disposed of, making it difficult to increase family income. However, the large-scale purchase of grain by the Shanxi merchants has led to soaring prices, causing impoverished families to suffer increasingly. This situation has become more pronounced in recent years. There are even rumors that unscrupulous merchants from Shanxi are selling large quantities of grain to the nomads beyond the Great Wall for exorbitant profits, though the truth of this remains uncertain

"Xia'er, is this really true?" Upon seeing his eldest son, Xu Fuqing immediately asked eagerly. He scrutinized his son from head to toe, seemingly trying to find something amiss. However, no matter how he looked at it, his eldest son appeared to be no different from before. But how did he suddenly become so capable?

Xu Xingxia carried his father into the house and placed him on his own earthen bed. He then turned around and took down the iron-backed bow, standing in front of his father, effortlessly drawing the bowstring. To ensure his father could see clearly, Xu Xingxia held the string taut for a full five breaths. Only after his father had completely understood did he release the bowstring. Xu Xingxia lowered the iron-backed bow and confidently said, "Father, do you believe it now?"

Xu Fuqing turned his head to look inside the room, somewhat incredulously saying: "That is a two-stone hard bow! Xia'er, can you really draw a two-stone hard bow?"

Xu Fuqing reminisced, saying: "He is our ancestor, named Xu Yougong. He was a great general during the Jingnan period and once led troops to defeat Li Jinglong. During the reign of the Chengzu, he accepted the emperor's orders and, along with his family, migrated to our Ningxia Town, which is how our Xu family came to be. Xia'er, let me tell you, our esteemed ancestor was a renowned deputy general."

Xu Xingxia looked suspiciously at the ancestral tablet and asked in a low voice, "Father, do you really think our ancestor was a deputy general? A deputy general is quite a high-ranking official."

This process, if everything goes smoothly, will likely take about twenty to thirty years. If it does not go smoothly, then there is nothing more to say. However, my father's words are not entirely without hope. If my archery skills remain as remarkable as they are, it is entirely possible to rise step by step through military achievements. Since I can shoot a five to six hundred jin deer with a single arrow, I can certainly shoot a Tatar cavalryman with one arrow as well. Xu Xingxia has ample confidence in this. Since I can shoot a five to six hundred jin deer with a single arrow, I can certainly shoot a Tatar cavalryman with one arrow as well. Xu Xingxia has ample confidence in this.

The three individuals returned home, and the Xu family was already quite lively. Niu Niu moved quickly, having already called over her aunt, cousin Chunlan, and cousin Qiulan. They all greeted Xu Xingxia warmly. As for the relationship between the two families, it was indeed very familiar, as they almost met every day. Both Chunlan and Qiulan were already married, no longer shy young girls, and there was no sense of formality with Xu Xingxia.

Xu Xingxia greeted everyone and handed over the meat, rice, and flour to a group of women for processing. After wiping the sweat from his brow, he walked over to the water tank, scooped up a ladle of water, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. After drinking, Xu Xingxia entered the main room, took down the bows and arrows, and hung them back on the wall. He then went to his father Xu Fuqing's house.

Xiazi has returned

Xu Xingxia felt their gaze upon him, and internally he merely smiled faintly, showing no outward reaction. Indeed, he was now a nouveau riche. However, through today's events, he gained the confidence to elevate the Xu family step by step into prosperity. He had never considered the feelings of his relatives before, but from now on, he would cherish and care for them. He wanted to ensure that all his relatives could lead happy lives. He had never considered the feelings of his relatives before, but from now on, he would cherish and care for them. He wanted to ensure that all his relatives could lead happy lives

During the era of the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, the position of the deputy general was quite prestigious. Before the incident at Tumu Fort, the status of military generals was relatively high, and the number of senior military generals was very limited. Below the ranks of the chief deputy general and the deputy chief general were the deputy generals. At that time, there were probably fewer than one hundred deputy generals in the entire country. The ancestors of the Xu family were surprisingly among them, which is indeed a matter of great honor. However, how did the Xu family end up in their current situation?

Xu Fuqing shook his head with difficulty. He still found it hard to believe. It was no wonder; everything had indeed come too suddenly. Given his cautious and steady personality, it was truly difficult for him to accept. He was well aware of his eldest son's capabilities in the past. If everything remained unclear, he would be unable to find peace of mind.

Xu Xingxia said with a smile: "Father, do you think a elm bow can hunt a deer? I am using the ancestral iron-backed bow from our family, along with the accompanying black feather arrows. And the one in the picture, it's the one hanging on the wall in the inner room."

Xu Xingxia bought five dou of white rice and three dou of white flour in one go, spending nearly all the three taels of silver he had left. The three of them carried the heavy load home. The surrounding villagers looked at Xu Xingxia and his companions with the gaze of observing a newly rich person. The drastic changes in the Xu family made it difficult for many to accept, and their looks often carried a hint of resentment. However, when Xu Xingxia inadvertently glanced at them, they immediately replaced their expressions with flattering and amiable smiles. The drastic changes in the Xu family made it difficult for many to accept, and their looks often carried a hint of resentment. However, when Xu Xingxia inadvertently glanced at them, they immediately replaced their expressions with flattering and amiable smiles

Originally, a few years ago, the prices in Ningxia Town were not this high. High-quality white rice cost about two taels of silver per shi. However, since the 30th year of the Wanli reign, a large number of Shanxi merchants have flooded into Ningxia Town, purchasing grain from here to transport to Gansu, Shanxi, North Zhili, and Liaodong, supplying the local military households. As a result, the grain prices within Ningxia Town have continuously risen. Therefore, the local people have mixed feelings towards the Shanxi merchants, both loving and hating them.

At this moment, Xu Fuqing finally believed it. His eldest son could truly draw the ancestral two-stone hard bow. In an instant, Xu Fuqing was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down his face, and he murmured to himself: "The Xu family has descendants, the Xu family has descendants. Quickly, Xia'er, bring me the bag from the very bottom of the wooden cabinet in my room."

From a low-ranking soldier to the position of Deputy Commander of the Guard, how many levels must one pass through? ... Xu Xingxia calculated: there are the positions of small flag, general flag, town pacifier, hundred households, deputy thousand households, thousand households, assistant commander of the guard, deputy commander of the guard, and commander of the guard ... Roughly counting, there are about eight levels. Weizhen Fort falls under the jurisdiction of the Ningxia Vanguard. As long as he becomes the commander of the Ningxia Vanguard, he has the possibility of attaining the title of deputy general, aligning his official rank and * maps * with that of his ancestor.

Xu Fuqing had already learned the news from his younger son and was anxiously waiting for Xu Xingxia to return. He always felt that his younger son was lying to him. He was well aware of his son's limited abilities. If he truly possessed such remarkable skills, he would not have been bullied. In this world, how could such good fortune exist? His elder son had actually shot a stag? No matter how he heard it, it felt like a tall tale. If he truly had such remarkable skills, he would not have been bullied. In this world, how could such good fortune exist? His elder son had actually shot a stag? No matter how he heard it, it felt like a tall tale.

While contemplating how to accumulate military achievements and secure the position of the Deputy Commander, footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a chorus of laughter and joy. It was Mother Wang and Uncle Guangliang returning together. Xu Xingxia stepped outside and saw that Wang had indeed brought back quite a lot of items, a dazzling array of goods. It was likely that a considerable amount of silver had been spent. Among the most eye-catching items were the cloth shoes bought for Dongzi and Niuniu.

In the yard, Aunt Wang and her two daughters are kneading dough. The uncut beef and mutton are all placed in a large wooden basin, filled to the brim. The white and red marbled fat glimmers, dazzling the eyes. Dazhu and Xiaozhu have brought two bundles of dry firewood from their home for use. Niuniu and Dongzi are squatting beside Aunt Wang, helping out and eagerly awaiting the dumplings to be ready.

According to the military and soldier systems of the Ming army, the officials at all levels of the Duzhiweisi system, which is paired with the position of the Deputy General, include the Duzhiweisi of the second rank, the Duzhi Tongzhi of the third rank, and the Duzhi Qianshi of the third rank, or the Weizhiweisi of the third rank. If the rank is any lower, it would be impossible to become a Deputy General. In other words, Xu Xingxia must at least attain the position of Weizhiweisi to have the possibility of becoming a Deputy General