Chapter 2 This is the Spring and Autumn Period

Light infantry refers to individuals who are unable to equip themselves with armor and weapons, rather than denoting a specific type of troop.

There is simply no toothpaste.

After reaching this conclusion, Lü Wu gained a new understanding

Fortunately, there are many beans at home, an abundance of them

The first reason is that the current situation of the family does not permit it, and secondly, there is a need to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations that come with being a noble

Lü Wu confirmed one point from the suggestion of the elder in his family: the grandmother is in need of money, to the extent that she has become somewhat indiscreet about it

and it is in the Jin State

Since it is known that, in addition to paying taxes, it is also necessary to send warriors to battle, it is essential for Lü Wu to understand how many warriors the family has

Lü Wu had not paid particular attention to the large livestock at home before

Lv Wu is already aware that the iron smelting technology has emerged in this era, and it may not be sufficient for manufacturing weapons. However, forging iron pots... it is not as if he needs to create exquisite kitchen utensils; making a few iron pots should not be difficult

However, in all eras, without money, one cannot achieve anything.

Even as a minor noble

As a part of the nation, everyone should pay taxes; however, since the nobility generates more, they bear a greater burden

grooming

Not all salts are suitable for cleaning the oral cavity.

The five cattle in the pen appear to be quite healthy, clearly having been well cared for

Upon hearing that some warriors were unarmed, Lu Wu felt that it was rather unreliable

Soy milk and fried dough sticks, is that feasible? Lü Wu has already checked the storage room, and there are various types of beans, quite a lot indeed. There is also some wheat, which is easy to purchase. He has an idea, but his face is filled with distress, thinking: "The stone mill is available now, grinding beans and wheat is not a problem. The key issue is the damn oil!"

The current period is the Spring and Autumn period, and the situation is truly different from that of the Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties

Teeth are cleaned using resilient plant leaves (generally willow branches) and hands

Four words flashed through Lu Wu's mind: What the f***?!

Even if it is just to stir-fry some vegetables and various meats, is it not more flavorful than boiling meat in plain water or grilling it

Thus, he also does not understand that selling goods is not something that can be done casually

And this is the Spring and Autumn period

During the Spring and Autumn period, money was not omnipotent

Lü Wu is familiar with the Spring and Autumn Annals, but he only knows about the Spring and Autumn Annals, as well as some historical figures and significant historical events

He had not specifically learned about this before, although he had seen one or two samurai, he did not know how many samurai the family actually possessed

Fish and meat belong to the people? If someone runs away, so be it

Lu Wu subtly popularized the "common knowledge" of this era through indirect hints from his elder at home, once again feeling fortunate to have transmigrated into the body of a noble.

Currently, in the various countries of the Pan-Han cultural sphere, apart from the Qin state to the west and the Chu state to the south, the wars fought are still a form of gentlemanly warfare, which involves agreeing on a location and then engaging in mutual combat.

Are you still in the catering business

Lu Wu first thought of selecting from the servants, but upon reflection, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate

Certainly, the State of Chu does not consider itself a part of the Huaxia cultural sphere; they proudly declare themselves to be barbarians

In the north, there are varieties of barley and wheat. Currently, there are flour-based foods, but the fermentation method has not yet been invented, and items such as steamed buns have not appeared.

Of course, he also needs to manage the fermentation of the dough.

Currently, there are no peanuts, and do not expect any plant-based synthetic oils either

Wash your face with clean water, then use a hemp cloth to wipe it. This completes the grooming process.

Using slaves as cannon fodder

The responsibility that weighs heavily on the nobility is primarily to support their own warriors and the subjects of their territories

For instance, if the family elder proposes to transport pottery to sell in the neighboring village, and that village happens to be a fief of a certain noble, proceeding without prior negotiation would constitute an infringement on the rights of that noble. If there is negotiation, it would require some concessions.

He seemed to have wandered through all the residential areas, and the total number of servants counted was twenty-six

The chief retainer was not suspicious at all; in fact, he was pleased that Lü Wu inquired. He directly replied: "My lord, we can deploy eight warriors, three of whom are veteran soldiers, and the rest are light infantry"

Social customs, laws, and interpersonal relationships, including how nobility should engage in social interactions, all require study

Firstly, the two horses in the stable are clearly not of good quality and are not being well cared for

Half a month is sufficient to observe many things

He did not use indirect methods; during breakfast, he directly asked the family elder who was sitting beside him

The State of Jin is a militaristic nation, where the nobility cherishes the opportunity to achieve merit and establish their careers. The warriors also need to exert themselves in battle to prove their worth, obtain spoils of war, and ascend to higher social classes

Fifteen

If one cannot properly care for the subjects, their departure will lead to a lack of production, and the family will consequently be unable to receive support

Currently, there is no employment contract; what is referred to as a servant is, in fact, a slave

Stir-frying was not introduced until the Song Dynasty, but the flat-bottomed pan had not yet appeared

They are a group that is affiliated with the Lü Wu family, akin to knights in Western terminology

It is an honor for the nobility to be summoned by the state to participate in warfare, and it is also a means of establishing merit

Fatty meat cooked in oil, fish cooked in oil, the cost is extremely high

When Lü Wu woke up, the first thing he did was reach out to scratch an itch, and upon opening his eyes, he saw a thatched roof.

Not the nobility of this era... Either the nobility of the Jin state is self-disciplined and self-aware, or the cost of sending out personnel in a perfunctory manner would be very high

The subjects went to lodge complaints, and some nobles were willing to stand up and uphold justice

Both types of samurai mentioned above are very willing to be hired on a short-term basis, especially by nobles... In particular, great nobles are eager to take them in.

For example, setting up a stall is absolutely impossible

General Lü reflected on some of the experiences he had shared with his fellow travelers, considering his current situation and revisiting those memories.

The elder hesitated and said: "My lord, it may be possible to transport the pottery to the nearby village for sale"

The reason the grandmother urgently needs money, given the current situation, is to hire warriors

He wanted to ask many questions, but he held back

In this case, the number of warriors required for the family recruitment is insufficient

Going to a big city to engage in the catering business requires a storefront... Lü Wu felt that his family could not afford to buy a shop, so he changed his mind: "Is it illegal to set up a stall by the roadside?"

Still brewing wine

Additionally

Later, Lü Wu realized that he himself might not necessarily be called to the battlefield, but his family would certainly have to send warriors to await deployment

Nobles who are captured will receive the treatment befitting their status, and they can also redeem themselves by paying a ransom

Indeed, slaves had more opportunities to go to battle than subjects or free men, but they typically engaged in physical labor

Those who can go to the battlefield are all professional "war machines", referring to groups that specialize in training killing techniques.

Having received hints from the upper nobility, the grandmother has recently been troubled and is evidently trying to find a solution

There are not many seasonings, so we can focus on the method of preparation

At the same time, some samurai, having lost their affiliated families and everything they possessed, would become wandering warriors

Any noble, rather than merely relying on their noble status for enjoyment, must undertake corresponding obligations and responsibilities

After finishing the conversation with the family elder, Lu Wu decided to go to the rear residence area

The warrior class of fish and meat? There were quite a few nobles in the Jin state who were eliminated by their own warriors

Rice? It is not cost-effective to cultivate in the northern regions, and essentially no one plants it; if one seeks quality grains, it is better to grow wheat.

Lu Wu began to pull his hair, murmuring in pain: "To make fried dough sticks, do I first have to refine soybean oil?!"

Lü Wu also specifically counted the number of servants working in the back courtyard, totaling eighteen individuals of all ages.

The dignified head of the household, a minor noble is still a noble, yet does not have dedicated servants attending to him

It is necessary to find a way to make money! Before, Lu Wu engaged in pottery merely to improve his own living conditions, and making money was just a secondary benefit. However, upon learning some new circumstances, his mindset became urgent, and he thought: "Not having fulfilled my obligations, I cannot bear the responsibilities. Being a noble now does not guarantee that I will always be a noble. To fulfill those obligations, I urgently need money at this stage"

For example, increasing taxes, or being plundered of property, or even people being treated as spoils of war; slaves being regarded as compensation, handed over to the victors

Therefore, the primary occupation of a warrior still involves engaging in activities related to violence

The warrior is the force that sustains the existence of the family and serves as the foundation for fulfilling the nation's call to arms

Or perhaps make perfume

Moreover, he has not clarified the distinction between imagination and reality

He does not yet know that, in fact, the taxes paid by the nobility are merely levies, which means providing military service, including personally reporting for duty, rather than paying money or grain

They have their own slaves to perform various tasks

The State of Jin has already implemented reforms and adopted the national policy of integrating military and agricultural duties, yet the warriors still do not engage in farming activities except for spring sowing and autumn harvesting

He originally thought that since he was a noble, he could at least be a second-generation aristocrat.

The subjects and free citizens have not yet had the honor to go to the battlefield to serve the country

especially soy milk and fried dough sticks

There are only fewer than twenty sheep, and flocks of chickens and ducks are not visible

Everything indicates that this family has truly fallen into ruin

The so-called veteran soldiers are infantry who have already participated in warfare, and they generally possess their own weapons

Various types of beans are now collectively referred to as "shū," which are actually the staple food for most people today

He listed out one project after another in his mind, then eliminated those that could not be completed in the short term, leaving only the one he deemed the most reliable choice

When he first crossed over, he was puzzled as to why he was a noble yet had no maid to warm his bed. Sleeping, getting up, grooming, eating... In any case, there was no one to serve him, which made him feel not noble at all

Some families have fallen into such decline that they can no longer support their samurai, leading these warriors to leave their families and become masterless samurai

It is now the Spring and Autumn period, and the number of monarchs who have died by assassination is countless

He asked: "As per usual, how many warriors need to be dispatched?"

The Spring and Autumn period was not devoid of means for enjoyment; the choice of residence, the type of food consumed, the number of servants, and many other factors could reflect the actual circumstances of a family

In summary, regardless of the type of oil, it is exorbitantly expensive

After gaining some knowledge, the observations will yield very clear conclusions

A family that cannot produce even a single warrior will ultimately face the consequence of having their fiefdom reclaimed

Therefore, one must not take reckless actions lightly

I do not want to continue fighting; surrendering can result in losing half.

Unless it is a war of national extermination or a siege battle, warfare not only drives women away, but also generally excludes free citizens and slaves from participating in combat

Glassblowing

This time, upon arriving at the back courtyard area, he made a deliberate effort to observe his surroundings.

Another night has passed, marked by the rising and setting of the sun, during which I was bitten by mosquitoes in my sleep

Samurai have their own families, and aside from serving in their official capacities, they usually reside in their own homes

The rise and fall of a family can be observed from many aspects

The so-called free people are either descendants of those who were wealthy in the past (those who have been nobility) or the descendants of warriors; they are what is referred to as "nationals".

Having conducted a targeted observation, Lü Wu returned to his own room

result

The cattle used as labor are carefully tended to, while the horses are in such a state

After all, if the servant were suitable, the grandmother would certainly have considered it

What?

The state of this family is best left unmentioned, but it is evident that it has continued to decline in the generation of Lü Wu

However, both the free men and the slaves must endure the pain of defeat.