"The strategy is to divide the family. If there are two males aged fifteen or older in the family and they don’t want to join the army, quickly prepare a tael of silver and go to the governnt office to divide the family and receive new household registration. The new registration will have only one male listed, so they won’t have to join the army and fight."
The words passed down by ancestors stated that at the end of the previous dynasty, when inspectors from all over rebelled, the forr dynasty Emperor also conscripted heavily. Many families with multiple males preemptively divided their families to exempt from military service.
However, when soldiers were desperately lacking, strong n were forcefully conscripted. Nowadays, though the Great Chu appears to have so ti, it’s not yet the ti for forced conscription. This thod can still be used.
However...
"Village chief, this thod is not feasible; it’s too costly. Look at Uncle Guo’s family, for instance; they have five sons and even more grandsons. If they were to divide the family, the costs for new registration alone would exceed five taels of silver," said He Tianwa’s wife. "Our village has been doing well these past few years; everyone has been energetic at night, hence a lot of children. There are many families with many sons and grandsons. If they all divided the family, it would be a huge loss!"
Village Chief He, furious, shouted at He Tianwa, "Drive your wife out; she has no place to speak here!"
He Tianwa didn’t want to drive her out, but He Dayuan and He Datian stood up, warning, "Tianwa, if you don’t drive her out, don’t bla us for taking action."
Upon hearing, He Tianwa hurried to pull his wife out of Village Chief He’s courtyard, letting her wait outside.
When He Tianwa returned to the courtyard, Village Chief He said, "Listen carefully; the situation is worsening. Our village must unite. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I’ll imdiately open the ancestral hall and drive their whole family out!"
He Tianwa, frightened, knelt, "Village chief, please calm down. I’ll watch over Mrs. Niu and never let her cause trouble again."
He Tianwa and his wife aren’t ignorant; they’re just too clever, knowing that making a fuss brings benefits, but also understanding that Village Chief He has beco more formidable over the years. He’s driven away several families, and now, with the chaotic tis, if their family gets expelled without clan protection, they’re truly finished.
"Hmph, as long as you know the good from the bad. Stay kneeling; you need to learn your lesson. Otherwise, within three days, your family will cause trouble again!" Village Chief He had He Tianwa kneel and listen, then told the other He family mbers, "Families that can afford five taels of silver shouldn’t divide the family. Those who can’t, spend two or three taels to re-register. In any case, keep the males in the family... The situation is getting increasingly chaotic. If the family can keep so adult males, do so, don’t let them leave. Otherwise, if sothing happens to the family or village, there’ll be no one to stand by."
He said, "I’ve told you the thod; quickly go to the governnt office and handle it. If you’re late, I’m afraid the office won’t allow family division."
"Village chief uncle reminds us well. Let’s hurry ho and take the registration to the governnt office," the He family mbers quickly returned ho, preparing the registration and waiting at the village entrance.
He Dacang went to find Lu Gen Sheng, informing him of the thod, letting him notify Lu family mbers. Anyone wishing to divide the family should follow them to the governnt office, lest it’s too late and can’t be done.
"Dacang, ask the village chief to wait; I’ll imdiately notify the Lu family," Lu Gen Sheng thanked He Dacang and quickly inford the Lu family. Those wanting to divide the family imdiately took their registration and silver, gathering at the village entrance.
He Laoguo’s family also went to the governnt office, but not to divide the family, rather to pay the exemption silver: "My family is large; re-registering costs more than five taels, it’s not worth it. Better to pay five taels to exempt from military service."
He sighed, "Though it’s not good living as a large family, with current tis being unsettling, it’s better to live together. In case of trouble, a united large family can suppress ruffians."
Hearing this, everyone nodded: "Uncle Guo is experienced. Indeed, dividing the family now is not worth it."
However, He Laoguo’s family has prospered these years, building new houses for the sons. If space becos insufficient or if grandchildren marry, there’s room to live.
Half an hour later, Village Chief He, wrapped up like a ball of cotton, arrived with He Jinsen and He Tongsheng in the family’s mule cart. Pulling back the curtain, he shouted, "Dacang, quickly call the nas, and after calling, we’ll leave. Everyone rides the cart; don’t walk. If we walk there, we might not get a chance."
It’s undeniable that Village Chief He has improved over the years. Fortunately, they traveled by cart, and County Magistrate Zheng, considering Qin San Lang and Luo Wu’s connections, handled the division for them. Other villages weren’t so lucky, being stopped and not allowed to divide.
County Magistrate Fang stood on the table, shouting at the townspeople surrounding the governnt office, "The Emperor has decree, only enough silver can exempt military service. Those who dare to escape military service through family division will be executed without rcy! It ans beheading. Beheading, folks. It’s not worth it. If you really don’t want your sons or grandsons to serve, quickly go to Dou Ou Bank and borrow money to pay the silver. Surrounding the governnt office is useless, and smashing it will get you exiled!"
County Magistrate Fang shouted till his throat almost gave out, yet the townspeople coming from various towns continued crying and wailing, their voices much louder than his. County Magistrate Fang, a frail scholar, was helpless.
Swish, swish, swish, the sound of drawing swords rang out. Luo Wu and Squad Leader Jiang led the Governnt Officials in drawing their swords, shouting, "Shut up! Why cry? This is the Emperor’s order; is crying here useful? If you don’t want to serve and be on the battlefield, there are only two options: pay silver to exempt military service!"
The townspeople cried inconsolably; soone asked, "Does the Emperor really have to fight with Da Rong? They lost once already. Can’t they just cease?"
Luo Wu replied, "No! It’s not us attacking the Rong people; it’s the Rong people attacking us. If there are no soldiers in the Northwest, the Rong people will invade Great Chu massively, then everyone will die!"
This is not a war to invade the Rong, but a war to defend our borders, not negotiable. Although the Emperor is detestable, they cannot let the land left by ancestors be seized by the Rong people. Even if displeased with the Emperor, they must help defend this land.
County Magistrate Fang’s throat hurt imnsely; he was about to cry as he reasoned earnestly, "Folks, stop crying, quickly head to Dou Ou Bank. If you’re late, the citizens from other counties will have borrowed all the silver, and you won’t be able to borrow it."
Upon hearing this, the townspeople paused montarily, then rushed frantically towards Dou Ou Bank.
Manager Dou was resentful, cursing inwardly as the county officials again took advantage of Dou Ou Bank. Every ti trouble arose, the villagers were sent to their bank to borrow money even though their bank wasn’t the governnt’s silver vault!
But the young master had already sent back word, stating that He’an Prefecture must be preserved and not allowed to fall into chaos. If the people co to borrow money for exemption fees, their bank must lend it.
Fortunately, the young master had sidelined the old master and could make decisions for the Dou family, transferring half the family’s silver to He’an Prefecture, allowing them to continue operating the bank.
Yet Manager Dou couldn’t comprehend why the young master loved He’an Prefecture so much. Every ti He’an Prefecture faced difficulties, the young master would throw silver to save it?
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