newbobooks Chapter 2 Recruiting troops
Chapter 2 Recruiting troops
The next morning, Tang Weiguo stretched comfortably and stepped out of his room, full of energy. As soon as he opened the door, he heard shouts from the guards training in the front yard.
Tang Weiguo went over and saw that Tang Xiaohu was leading the guard team in training.
"Tiger, come with me," Tang Weiguo called out.
"You guys continue training, I'm going to find the employer." Tang Xiaohu gave instructions to the guards and then ran off to Tang Weiguo's place.
"What's up, boss?"
"Come on, let's take a look at the equipment we bought first." After Tang Weiguo finished speaking, he pulled Tang Xiaohu and walked towards the warehouse in the backyard.
The guards at the backyard warehouse straightened their backs and perked up immediately upon seeing their owner arrive. Tang Xiaohu walked to the front and opened the warehouse door. Tang Xiaohu was in charge of keeping the warehouse door key.
Tang Weiguo walked in, and his eyes lit up when he saw the weapons in front of him. He excitedly touched this one and that one, thoroughly enjoying the novelty.
Which young person in later generations doesn't dream of shooting a gun?
After the initial excitement wore off, Tang Weiguo took a good look at the weapons. There were 300 nearly new Shanxi-made Type 38 rifles, 10 sniper rifles, 10 Czech-made light machine guns, 20 Mauser C96 pistols, two Maxim heavy machine guns, two mortars, 20 boxes of hand ammunition, and more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
Tang Weiguo silently gave the old butler a thumbs up. Now everything is ready, except for the final push.
"Let's go, Tiger, recruit soldiers."
.....
"Li Xiucai, what's written on the wall?" Uncle Wang squeezed through the crowd and looked at the notice posted on the wall, but he couldn't understand a single word.
"Uncle Wang, you too, you can't read, yet you still push forward." Li Xiucai was slightly annoyed with Uncle Wang for pushing him earlier, but considering they were neighbors, he still spoke to Uncle Wang.
"The young master of the Tang family in Tangjia Town is recruiting soldiers. He pays three silver dollars a month. If you become an official, the salary will increase."
"Is that a good thing? I need to tell my silly nephew right away."
"Thank you, Scholar Li. Come to my house for a drink sometime." After saying that, Grandpa Wang squeezed out again and hurried toward his nephew's house.
......
"Everyone line up, one at a time, don't rush." Tang Xiaohu and his security team were maintaining order.
Tang Weiguo sat at the entrance of the Tang family home, interviewing each of the people who had joined the army. Adhering to the principle of quality over quantity, Tang Weiguo carefully selected the candidates.
The old steward was also conscripted by Tang Weiguo to register the new recruits.
"Next," Tang Xiaohu called out.
"Name?" Tang Weiguo asked, looking at the dark-skinned, muscular man in front of him.
"Niu Dali" (牛大力).
"Age: 21."
"What are your specialties?"
"Extra long legs?" Niu Dali replied seriously.
"Who the hell asked you about your long legs? They just asked what you're good at." Tang Weiguo was completely bewildered; how did someone even bring up long legs?
"Ah, oh, oh. I'm strong, I can lift 200 pounds without breaking a sweat, and I can eat a lot. Eight steamed buns a meal aren't enough to fill me up, and I can also farm." Niu Dali scratched his head, revealing a farmer's honest and simple smile.
"Are you sure you can lift 200 pounds? You're not exaggerating, are you?" Tang Xiaohu, standing to the side, asked with a hint of doubt.
"We Zhuang people are honest people, we don't lie. If you don't believe me, I'll show you." Niu Dali's face turned red with anxiety when he saw that the person in front of him didn't believe him. After saying that, he saw the pair of stone lions in front of the Tang family's gate, and without saying a word, he rushed over, grabbed the stone lions, and began to lift them with all his might. Under his strength, the nearly 300-pound stone lions slowly rose up.
A round of cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Holy crap, that's awesome."
"That's incredible strength."
"Put it down quickly, be careful of your back," Tang Weiguo said hurriedly.
"Niu Dali, you're really strong." Tang Xiaohu gave Niu Dali a thumbs up.
"The Zhuang family may not have many other skills, but they are very strong," Niu Dali said with a simple and honest smile.
"Okay, go to the back and register. I like people with special skills."
"next."
"Name," Tang Weiguo called out the next name.
“Wang Fugui,” the lean young man in front of Tang Weiguo replied.
"age?"
"23."
"What are you good at?" Tang Weiguo asked, picking up his teacup from the table and taking a sip of water.
"I am a hunter from the mountains. I have a good shot and I am skilled at hunting. I am a good hunter."
"Great, great, I love people with good marksmanship. Go register at the back." Wang Fugui walked over happily.
A few days later...
Tang Weiguo and a few others were sitting in the living room, discussing matters.
"Uncle Tang, how many people have you recruited in total?" Tang Weiguo asked, stretching his back.
“A total of 302 people,” the old butler replied.
"Uncle Tang, have you heard any news about retired soldiers in the area?"
While recruiting, Tang Weiguo suddenly realized that they were all greenhorns who knew nothing. He himself had only participated in military training and had no combat experience whatsoever. What should he do? So, Tang Weiguo set his sights on veterans who had retired from the army.
Those who survive on the battlefield are all skilled.
"I've heard of a few. One of them used to be the artillery company commander of the Jin-Sui Army. He was wounded and retired, and then came back. The other veterans are all physically disabled," said Butler Tang.
Upon hearing that the old steward was an artillery company commander, Tang Weiguo exclaimed that he had struck gold. Tang Weiguo was just wondering how to use the two mortars.
“Any veteran will do, we’re not picky. I’ll go and invite the artillery company commander. Uncle Tang, you can take care of the rest of the men,” Tang Weiguo replied.
"By the way, Tiger, have you found the training place yet?" Tang Weiguo asked.
"Found it. There's a wasteland in the back mountains, perfect for a training ground."
"Okay, once the new recruits report for duty the day after tomorrow, we'll start preparing the training grounds."
"Uncle Tang, how's the military uniform coming along?" Tang Weiguo asked.
"The tailors in town are almost done with their work, two sets of military uniforms for each of them."
"Okay. We also need to prepare winter clothes in advance," Tang Weiguo said.
"I've already given the instructions," the old butler replied.
"How's the preparation of the new recruits' accommodations going?"
"We've put all the Tang family's houses to use, and now there's enough room for over 300 people."
"it is good."
After giving a few more instructions, Tang Weiguo adjourned the meeting.
The next day, early in the morning, Tang Weiguo rushed to Zhangjia Village to recruit the retired artillery company commander.
.....
"Little one, where does Zhang Zhu live?"
“I know, it’s at the east end of the village.”
"Can you take me there? Take me there and this bag of candy will be your reward." Tang Weiguo took out a small bag of candy from his pocket and waved it in front of the little boy.
"Okay!" After saying that, the little boy skipped and hopped, leading Tang Weiguo and the others to the door of a house. The house looked a bit dilapidated.
"Zhang the Cripple, someone's looking for you," the little boy said to the gate.
"You little rascal, you want another beating."
"You can't catch me." Gouwazi took the candy from Tang Weiguo and skipped away.
A moment later, a middle-aged man with a limp walked out of the door. He was not tall and had a stern look in his eyes.
"What do you want from me?"
"I heard you're a retired artillery company commander, so I came here specifically to pay you a visit. I'm Tang Weiguo, the owner of the Tang family."
"Oh, you're the one who's been recruiting recently," Zhang Zhu asked.
"Yes, why don't you invite us in for tea first?" Tang Weiguo asked in return.
"Please come in."
"Auntie, boil some water, we have guests." Zhang Zhu called out to the inside.
Tang Weiguo and his group went inside. Zhang Zhu's house didn't have any decent furniture, and he seemed to live a very poor life.
"Company Commander Zhang, I have something to discuss with you. I'm forming a militia and would like to hire you as our training supervisor. It'll be 10 silver dollars a month. What do you think?"
"Sigh, Commander Tang, ever since I was wounded and discharged from the army, I have no desire to serve again. I want to stay home and spend time with my wife and children, farm, and live a good life. Besides, I am not someone who values money. So, Commander Tang, please go back."
"Trying to play the 'three visits to the thatched cottage' trick with me? I'm not falling for that." Tang Weiguo noticed Zhang Zhu's eyes light up when he mentioned money earlier.
"Twenty silver dollars."
"make a deal."
Paying more is really tempting.
"When will Commander Tang depart?"
"Alright, Company Commander Zhang, please tell your family first. I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow. I'll be leaving now."
"Commander Tang, please take care."
After Tang Weiguo and his group left, Zhang Zhu called out, "Wife, let's buy a pound of meat and half a pound of wine tonight to celebrate with you and your daughter. From now on, we'll be well-off."