Chapter 29: Life Is a Battlefield Everywhere
Han Lei decided that if she wanted to create a beautiful life, it would be best to start in Qingshui County.
Having someone in the family engaged in politics makes it easier to go into business.
Luo Hai is the County Magistrate of Qingshui County and is also a family friend of Zhao Zun, making this the perfect place to embark on a commercial journey.
The early birds chirped pleasantly, while the early-rising servants busied themselves with cleaning the courtyard.
Han Lei was wide awake, and her mind frequently entertained various ideas for arranging things.
Soon, she arrived at the grand courtyard that Tao Qing and Ah Mao had mentioned.
The injured soldiers were already up and were training in formation in the courtyard.
"Good morning, everyone! Thank you for your hard journey yesterday. Why don’t you sleep a little longer?" Han Lei greeted them enthusiastically as soon as she entered.
"It’s Miss Han! We’ve gotten used to it in the barracks."
"Good morning, Miss Han!"
"Is Miss Han up this early as well?"
Everyone stopped their training and eagerly gathered around. After more than a month of acquaintance in the barracks, everyone became more relaxed. The Prince had sent them to serve as guards for Han Lei; though they knew she was their master, in their hearts, they treated her like their own sister.
"Miss Han, why have you come to see us so early? Is there something going on?" Tao Qing asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.
"Yes, there is indeed something," Han Lei pointed to the outside of the courtyard and continued, "I’ve brought you breakfast. Could two of you go fetch it from the gate, and we can discuss things while eating."
A few young soldiers rushed out laughing and soon returned with several boxes of breakfast. Upon opening them, they found hamburgers, fried chicken, and cola they had never seen before.
The injured soldiers cheered loudly and crowded to grab the food.
Now, their happiest moments were enjoying meals provided by Han Lei. Not only were the meals made from refined grains and tasted great, but they were also things they had never seen before. Most importantly, they could have full meals every day.
It felt like living the life of the gods!
Miss Han was really good to them!
"Don’t rush; there’s enough for everyone! Line up, line up."
Han Lei smiled as she watched them, unwilling to reproach.
During this era of food scarcity, the ordinary people’s meals consisted mainly of millet with vegetable leaves, while mantou and seasoned pancakes often had bran mixed in. This kind of life couldn’t be steadily maintained, as there were times of food shortage. Meat was even less imaginable, except during festivals or New Year. Normal families wouldn’t dare to dream about it.
After receiving their breakfast, everyone naturally formed three concentric circles around Han Lei, eating and waiting for her to speak.
Han Lei took out a map drawn on A3 paper from her space; this map was hand-drawn by herself based on descriptions by Mr. He and several military medical officers in Yong’an City. It depicted the distribution of various states in the Da Jing Dynasty and some large mountains and rivers known to Mr. He.
Han Lei had seen the military map hanging in the central military tent by Zhao Zun. Though her drawing skills were not great, her map was better than that military map.
Han Lei unfolded the map and handed it to Tao Qing sitting next to her. "Take a look at this map, is it accurate?"
Tao Qing accepted it, gently caressing the A3 paper, attached to it dearly. After studying it for a while and inspecting the map drawn on the A3 paper carefully, he was amazed.
"Miss Han, you’ve drawn this map very well, very detailed." Tao Qing couldn’t help but admire.
"The key is, is it accurate?"
"It should be accurate."
Though Tao Qing hadn’t traveled throughout the Da Jing Dynasty, he was aware of the distribution of the states.
"Great, now listen carefully." Han Lei stood upright. "Anyone whose family resides within Canzhou and Jingzhou, please step outside the circle."
As soon as Han Lei finished speaking, out of the 140 injured soldiers, one-third stepped outside the circle.
"Are there so many?"
Han Lei was a bit puzzled. There were seven states in the Da Jing Dynasty; how could soldiers from Canzhou and Jingzhou alone constitute one-third?
"Miss Han might not be aware," Tao Qing hastily explained, "The land in Canzhou is barren, and many areas north of Qingshui County can’t grow anything. So most young and strong men from families choose to join the military. Jingzhou connects Canzhou and the Capital Region, is relatively prosperous, and the land is fertile. But most of the land is enclosed by aristocratic families; ordinary people either work as tenant farmers for them, become apprentices and learn crafts, do coolie work or become vendors in the city, or, at worst, join the military."
"Oh, I see." Han Lei understood.
The hierarchy of officials, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants.
In ancient times, craftsmen and merchants were placed at the end, viewed as the lowest professions, looked down upon. It was because the royal family and aristocrats monopolized most resources, including education and land. Coupled with the court’s unfair talent selection process, it blocked the upward path for ordinary people. As a result, ordinary civilians could only choose the latter two options or join the military.
Ordinary people were helpless but had no choice.
Now, Han Lei was here. She could provide them with more hope.
Han Lei asked the group outside the circle, "Are you willing to work near your hometown to earn money and benefit the people in your hometown?"
"Yes, yes."
"Of course, we are willing."
The group of injured soldiers outside the circle showed excitement; having work to do could earn money, and doing it right at their doorstep was something everyone would want.
"Alright, then you follow me now. I’ll talk while walking." Han Lei checked her space wristwatch; it was already nearly half past eight.
"Okay!"
The group of fifty-plus injured soldiers cheered and followed Han Lei as they prepared to head outside. The remaining injured soldiers became anxious.
"Miss Han, what about us?"
"Yes, Miss Han, don’t forget about us!"
Han Lei turned back and laughed, "You guys can rest first! Don’t worry, there will be things for you to do later on. Remember what I said; life is a battlefield everywhere, your battlefield is not here."
The remaining injured soldiers finally relaxed and squatted down to continue eating their breakfast.
Han Lei led the group of fifty-plus soldiers out of the County Magistrate’s compound. Since the masters of the compound hadn’t woken up yet, she greeted the guard at the door, saying they were going out for a walk.
The County Magistrate’s compound was in the center of Qingshui County, and stepping out the gate led straight to the street. As it was too early, many shops outside had not yet opened.
The group chatted while walking. Han Lei further divided them into two teams. The young and physically fit formed one team, and for convenience in remembering names, this team was numbered with one character "Big" followed by numbers as names, Big One, Big Two, Big Three... led by Big One as the team leader.
The old and weak, or those already disabled, formed another team, numbered with the character "Small" followed by numbers as names, Small One, Small Two, Small Three... led by Small One as the team leader.
The injured soldiers eagerly introduced the situation in Qingshui County to Han Lei.
After several rounds of walking, Han Lei discovered that there were only three to four streets that could be considered county centers in Qingshui County. The houses on both sides of the streets were wooden, mortise, and tenon structures, and the buildings weren’t tall, mostly one or two stories, resembling market towns.
After wandering back and forth for more than an hour, Han Lei finally stopped at a storefront at the corner of a crossroads.