Chapter 8: The Rebel Army
This small-scale militia is no exception
I need it, my hands have been trembling and swollen from copying these days
For instance, among the local militia groups with a rural background, some individuals, due to their outstanding performance or other merits, are favored by military leaders and swiftly rise to become state soldiers receiving official rations. Alternatively, certain bandits, due to their severe threat, are recruited and, after the leaders are rehabilitated, seize a significant opportunity to align with powerful backers, allowing them to take charge of crucial tasks in suppressing banditry and restoring order. This leads to the accumulation of achievements, the establishment of offices, and the wielding of local influence, enabling them to exert life-and-death power over their regions.
How can one be considered transcendent
Certainly, due to the feudal division of various vassal states, these overseas insurgents are also divided into more than a dozen groups and factions of varying sizes, each with slightly different demands and claims regarding the dynasty's homeland
This militia, which does not even have a unified banner, was assembled by a certain leader who, along with several affluent local gentry, sacrificed their homes and livelihoods. In this region of Qingzhou, there are no towns or villages to serve as a base; they can only camp in the wilderness and recruit drifters as reinforcements
It inevitably reminds me of military training in later generations, where university students and the like quickly form group formations and various drills on a weekly basis, which actually begins with the orderly queuing to cross the street in kindergarten, fostering a sense of order and obedience
He continued to probe.
Then, a few ideas for queue training were proposed, such as using a rope to guide their direction, where those who touch the line would be punished; the distribution and calculation methods for supplies and logistics were also improved and simplified, addressing waste caused by poor management and human factors, reportedly saving several dou, shi, and ge of material consumption daily; further optimization of personnel labor allocation was suggested to allow for more sustained daily activities.
Thinking of this, as I held the notebook and listened to them counting, I couldn't help but reveal a certain emotion at the corner of my mouth
Aren't you afraid of the epidemic spreading...
Oh ... ...
Thus, I slightly elevated the treatment among this group of people, allowing me to select two assistants from the Ding soldiers to help with miscellaneous tasks, and also granting me the qualification to dine with the leaders.
Either the regular army suffered from bad luck and was defeated and scattered in battle, becoming bandits who plunder and rob, or local garrison troops, due to insufficient provisions and poor treatment from their superiors, revolted and took to the mountains to become a menace to the region, such occurrences were not uncommon
Certainly, all of this is completely unrelated to the daily quotas and allocations of the leaders. Home is home; at the very least, one should understand the basic principles. It is sheer folly for newcomers, who lack any foundation, to recklessly challenge the vested interests within the system for the sake of a limited desire for recognition.
In the following days at the camp, the chaotic drills continued. The displaced individuals, unable to distinguish front from back or left from right, would often hold wooden poles and look around in confusion, or stand still in hesitation and dullness, or hurriedly turn in the wrong direction, colliding and entangling with others, which would then escalate into a series of shouting and cursing brawls. However, at least the sense of aimlessness, akin to that of walking corpses, had gradually begun to fade from them.
In comparison to these actions and the sense of direction that are utterly deplorable among the refugees, there is truly nothing to compare. However, it is overly ambitious to expect these peasants, who have spent nearly their entire lives toiling in the fields, to immediately grasp what is meant by a sense of direction and coordination.
The veteran interrupted me with a relaxed expression
Mainly, I have heard just a little bit from others
In this apocalyptic dawn, there are many forces that disrupt the world and plunder a region. Those who rise in rebellion due to hunger and lack of food can be termed as mobs; those who take to the mountains and engage in plunder can only be considered as bandits or outlaws; those who fortify themselves in strongholds to defend a territory can only be regarded as semi-legal warlords
Then, a larger number of people, referred to as the "pole team," were severely malnourished refugees who could not carry even slightly heavier farming tools for long. They could only take a sharpened pole to support their bodies, standing at the end of the line, alongside the pack mules and horses, or rather, the supplies were deemed more important than they were.
However, does this hold any significance for me? Given the opportunity, I still wish to leave, for aside from those women, I feel as if there is something unresolved in Luoyang that is drawing me towards it.
Well, a potential hazard has just vanished like that, and I couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, still feeling a sense of unreality. The rules of this centaur are crude and simple; fleeing into the night and disturbing the camp is, in any case, a path to self-destruction. As for why they chose to 'escape' into my tent to harm others, it seems that not many people care about that anymore
The daily chaotic lineup and marching alone consumed most of their energy. Although each of them scrambled for food like starving ghosts, the majority did not get far before collapsing like dead dogs, gradually lying down on the ground. They needed to be constantly whipped and scolded one by one in order to continue moving forward
The early risers have already begun fetching water and preparing meals, and the steam from the steaming and roasting has started to permeate this campsite
I received encouragement and continued to speak to the scattered yellow and white marks on the ground. The crowd stood carelessly on top of it, trampling everything into a mess, gradually emitting a maddening odor under the sun.
If you don't mind, I do have some simple means of disposal
Thus, I gradually came to understand some details about this militia, such as that Jiang An, although from a local minor gentry family, had spent his early years at sea with his father engaging in various trades. It was only in recent years that he returned to his hometown, and shortly after settling down, he began to disperse his wealth to recruit this militia, reportedly having quite a bit of experience in various matters.
The young men from the outer provinces are well-versed in archery and horsemanship, but have little experience with the organized militia, in preparation for the wild and untamed lands
Thus, there were further conveniences and benefits, such as the ability to prioritize the selection of certain daily necessities under the pretext of inspecting the limited supplies of this armed force.
Only the leader is entitled to a bowl of hot porridge in the early morning, while the soldiers are limited to two meals a day consisting of wild vegetables, black dumplings, and coarse cakes so sandy that they grind their teeth, and they can only receive these after the sun has risen high in the sky
For those high-ranking figures in the court, the rebellious factions that have repeatedly forced the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to undertake northern hunts and western bestowals, set against the backdrop of overseas vassals, are far more detestable and dangerous than the short-sighted rebels or the ever-shifting bandits
Furthermore, is it acceptable to allow them to relieve themselves indiscriminately...
In this situation, the militia would assess the circumstances and either eliminate the heavily damaged opposing side as a form of black-on-black plunder or extort a sum of rescue funds, subsequently "escorting" it to the next town to demand money
The so-called chaotic times are like a furnace, having consumed too many ambitious individuals and dreams of those who perished before achieving success.
He then straightened up seriously
You may call me Deng Fang, or Deng Jun Tou
The person in charge of the grain in Zhi is called Cao Duzi, who is a childhood friend of Jiang. They grew up together, serving as companions in carrying stones and tending to horses. The other ten or so leaders are either part of the retinue, relatives, or affiliated local villagers, forming a small group with distinct local characteristics.
In this group, I obtained my first small privilege and responsibility, allowing me to escape the burdensome tasks and menial duties, and to eat earlier than others without having to scrape the remnants from the bottom of the pot. As a result, among the newly recruited individuals, there were quite a few willing to become my assigned helpers. Thus, for most of the physically demanding tasks, I only needed to use my words, and I could also receive some meager expressions of gratitude.
Sir, are you also interested in the training and exercises of the military personnel
The suggestion I made to him, to put it simply, is the commonly seen system of elimination based on performance, but the methods of reward and punishment have been transformed into food rationing quotas
Still going back to find those brothers to have some fun with
It is evident that the elimination system based on the use of food as a means of reward and punishment is gradually taking effect
Some individuals who were injured in the stampede due to night terrors were piled up nearby, groaning softly, serving as a kind of background and enhancement.
Cao Duzai ... ... you can go to the watch team ... ...
The group of migrants, organized into a pole team, spent nearly half an hour just being called to find their respective team members
To be honest, there are many things from the past that I truly cannot remember
The others are merely a collection of people brought in from the hometown to make up the numbers. When it truly comes to the front lines, those who can stand together in disarray, holding wooden planks and weapons, and do not immediately flee in fear, are considered well-trained soldiers. They account for only thirty percent, primarily equipped with short sickles, hatchets, and hand axes, along with a considerable proportion of farming tools such as grass rakes.
I thought carefully and cautiously about the path
To this end, An specifically sought me out for a conversation, and then, with a pat on the shoulder and a solemn promise, declared that if I performed well, I would naturally have my share of the wealth pursued by the righteous army. In the end, I was personally rewarded with an entire piece of old sheepskin, which I could spread out on the meadow to sleep on.
At the cost of relinquishing part of their ruling power and avoiding excessive expansion, military garrisons have been established for mutual defense. This has developed to the point of resembling self-governance. Under the remaining nominal authority of the court, the granting of official titles and nobility is used to restrain and coordinate the disputes and conflicts among various garrisons, in order to collectively confront the so-called overseas rebels originating from the regions of Lingnan.
The purpose is to promote the prosperous undertaking of the expeditionary army as touted by the coastal mouth, which is also a common avenue for local armed forces
A short and stout fellow, with a furrowed brow resting on the desk, upon hearing these words, felt a sense of relief and immediately abandoned everything to leave
The old soldier suddenly spoke, as if he had caught a glimpse of me out of the corner of his eye
And speaking of this ... ...
However, on the whole, this small band of militia is only at the scale of one or two battalions. According to my recollection, in accordance with the court's regulations, a complete battalion, which is inherited from the system of provincial troops, must have at least 800 to 1,200 personnel. This includes a full complement of swords, guns, spears, bows, crossbows, as well as cavalry, transport teams, and logistical support, in order to be considered a proper unit
However, I do remember some methods of rewards and punishments to motivate...
The veteran named Deng Fang is said to be a local from the riverside, originally from the former government troops. Although he is neither a leader nor commands a team, he possesses considerable prestige among this hastily assembled group of men
The officers responsible for supervision do not possess the concept of holding back or having reservations; they are ruthless and can easily resort to extreme measures, beating their subordinates to the point of being battered and on the verge of collapse. In a certain sense, they are also expendable, consumables that can be replenished at any time and place. Falling behind may not necessarily be better than dying.
For those lofty adults, amidst the countless upheavals across the world, only those who dare to raise the banner of overthrowing the court and call themselves the "Sole Ruler of the Just Way" can be labeled as rebels, while the forces from overseas are uniformly referred to as the "Disorderly Factions"
However, after many years, in this chaotic autumn of the world, a typical garrison, guard, or militia unit with three to four hundred combat-ready soldiers can be considered a complete military force. As for the remaining shortfall, it is filled with what is referred to as "cannon fodder." In any case, on the battlefields of this central land, as long as there are towns and villages, reinforcements can be drawn in abundance.
Oh ... ...
I rubbed my seriously protesting stomach and yawned.
Despite this, the group appears to be quite formidable on the surface, thus even when encountering a few small bands of bandits on the main road, they would wisely steer clear, leaving behind those victims who are crying out for help after being plundered
At this time, I can be of some use in determining and deciding who can still be saved and who is not worth wasting food on
The veteran I am familiar with is gnawing on a dried meat stick, surveying the conduct of those newcomers, with a somewhat helpless expression on his face
At an unknown time, while walking, a portion of people just dispersed, and it was necessary to gather them again from the beginning. The occurrence of sporadic escapes, which are unbearable, also happens from time to time. When faced with such a situation
The only relatively decent group consists of a bow team formed by dozens of hunters from the Orion Mountains, but their lengths and styles are not uniform. These individuals are collectively referred to as "Shaotou," led by a dozen or so trusted leaders of varying ranks.
The military personnel's salary accounts will be handed over to you for management. If you need anything, just ask Old Deng directly
Among the thousands of people, those who can truly take to the battlefield are mostly local warlords. By the side of the leader, there are about one hundred to eighty local compatriots and associates. Although their weapons are somewhat varied, they at least have a leather jacket or a coat for protection. Their health and nutrition are relatively better, and there are also a dozen horses and mules serving as sentries and bodyguards, referred to as "troops".
In units of dozens of fires, the best-performing fire can receive half of the allocation from the worst-performing fire. Additionally, the worst-performing fire is responsible for cleaning up the waste and garbage in the camp. Under the greatest real threat of hunger, everything else can naturally be overcome
The boy next to Jiang An, resembling a monkey, is named Wang Fo'er. He is a natural-born child of Jiang An's family. Despite his young age, he possesses the skills to run and hunt in the mountains and forests, and thus also serves as one of the scouts and vanguards of the army.
I have a slight understanding, just a little bit...
The slow and steady process of recruitment and elimination, after a series of stops and starts, led to the materials I had roughly recorded in the ledger gradually increasing in quantity. Once the number of people reached the hundreds, the shore finally decided to set sail towards the next destination
As the bookkeeper of this small militia, my responsibilities are not too many, but they are rather trivial. However, when I have the time, I also gather around those leaders, playing the role of a curious onlooker who enjoys the spectacle. Over time, they have become accustomed to, and habitually ignore, my presence as a mere bystander.
In the dawn light, the dozen or so bodies hanging from the wooden pole, drenched in dew, had become exceedingly stiff. Among the many new recruits, who were sleep-deprived and yawning incessantly, their trembling eyes and expressions continued to sway in the wind, which evidently made their movements in response to various commands more vigorous.
Thus, how much has been given to these places that rise and fall with the dawn and dusk, providing a temporary existence and active space. The circulation of these identities is not static; it is also filled with various diversities and uncertainties.
Therefore, I was summoned again by the leader, who was slurping and gulping down a large bowl of lumpy soup, gesturing dismissively with his hand.