Chapter 161 - 155 Recruiting Soldiers 1
Zhao Hanzhang handed the two envoys from the county government to Zhao Ming and returned to Shangcai with Zhao Erlang.
She directly set up a table on the official road into Shangcai, had people place two baskets of money and a cart of grain by the roadside, and openly recruited soldiers with drums and gongs.
Refugees passing by stopped to watch.
Those alone and without help did not hesitate to step forward to inquire about the conditions for enlistment, learning that as long as they were young, obedient, and willing to endure hardships, they’d qualify.
Of course, it was even better if they had special skills, or were strong and fit, could ride a horse, knew martial arts, or had great strength. Any talent would mean higher pay and status in the army.
Ji Yuan sat beside her, helping with the recruitment.
Because there were many people fleeing, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t only recruit single men; she also accepted entire families, promising them arrangements to plow and farm the land with food available monthly.
Indeed, those who came to rely on them firmly refused to become tenant farmers, even rejecting Zhao Hanzhang’s offer of land gifts. They only agreed to work as long-term laborers or sign indentured contracts as long as their families had food to eat.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t understand, so she took advantage of Ji Yuan handling the recruitment to squat beside a soldier she had just recruited and asked, "I just offered you land, why weren’t you the least bit tempted?"
The soldier, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, immediately stood up to salute, but Zhao Hanzhang stopped him, "Sit down, sit down, no need for formalities."