"The strategy is to divide the family. If there are two males aged fifteen or older in the family and they donât want to join the army, quickly prepare a tael of silver and go to the government office to divide the family and receive new household registration. The new registration will have only one male listed, so they wonât 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 former 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 men were forcefully conscripted. Nowadays, though the Great Chu appears to have some time, itâs not yet the time for forced conscription. This method can still be used.
However...
"Village chief, this method is not feasible; itâs too costly. Look at Uncle Guoâs 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 Tianwaâs 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 didnât want to drive her out, but He Dayuan and He Datian stood up, warning, "Tianwa, if you donât drive her out, donât blame us for taking action."
Upon hearing, He Tianwa hurried to pull his wife out of Village Chief Heâs 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, Iâll immediately open the ancestral hall and drive their whole family out!"
He Tianwa, frightened, knelt, "Village chief, please calm down. Iâll watch over Mrs. Niu and never let her cause trouble again."
He Tianwa and his wife arenât ignorant; theyâre just too clever, knowing that making a fuss brings benefits, but also understanding that Village Chief He has become more formidable over the years. Heâs driven away several families, and now, with the chaotic times, if their family gets expelled without clan protection, theyâre 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 members, "Families that can afford five taels of silver shouldnât divide the family. Those who canât, 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 some adult males, do so, donât let them leave. Otherwise, if something happens to the family or village, thereâll be no one to stand by."
He said, "Iâve told you the method; quickly go to the government office and handle it. If youâre late, Iâm afraid the office wonât allow family division."
"Village chief uncle reminds us well. Letâs hurry home and take the registration to the government office," the He family members quickly returned home, preparing the registration and waiting at the village entrance.
He Dacang went to find Lu Gen Sheng, informing him of the method, letting him notify Lu family members. Anyone wishing to divide the family should follow them to the government office, lest itâs too late and canât be done.
"Dacang, ask the village chief to wait; Iâll immediately notify the Lu family," Lu Gen Sheng thanked He Dacang and quickly informed the Lu family. Those wanting to divide the family immediately took their registration and silver, gathering at the village entrance.
He Laoguoâs family also went to the government office, but not to divide the family, rather to pay the exemption silver: "My family is large; re-registering costs more than five taels, itâs not worth it. Better to pay five taels to exempt from military service."
He sighed, "Though itâs not good living as a large family, with current times being unsettling, itâs 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 Laoguoâs family has prospered these years, building new houses for the sons. If space becomes insufficient or if grandchildren marry, thereâs 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 familyâs mule cart. Pulling back the curtain, he shouted, "Dacang, quickly call the names, and after calling, weâll leave. Everyone rides the cart; donât walk. If we walk there, we might not get a chance."
Itâs 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 Wuâs connections, handled the division for them. Other villages werenât so lucky, being stopped and not allowed to divide.
County Magistrate Fang stood on the table, shouting at the townspeople surrounding the government 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 mercy! It means beheading. Beheading, folks. Itâs not worth it. If you really donât want your sons or grandsons to serve, quickly go to Dou Ou Bank and borrow money to pay the silver. Surrounding the government 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 Government Officials in drawing their swords, shouting, "Shut up! Why cry? This is the Emperorâs order; is crying here useful? If you donât want to serve and be on the battlefield, there are only two options: pay silver to exempt military service!"
The townspeople cried inconsolably; someone asked, "Does the Emperor really have to fight with Da Rong? They lost once already. Canât they just cease?"
Luo Wu replied, "No! Itâs not us attacking the Rong people; itâs 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 Fangâs throat hurt immensely; he was about to cry as he reasoned earnestly, "Folks, stop crying, quickly head to Dou Ou Bank. If youâre late, the citizens from other counties will have borrowed all the silver, and you wonât be able to borrow it."
Upon hearing this, the townspeople paused momentarily, 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 time trouble arose, the villagers were sent to their bank to borrow money even though their bank wasnât the governmentâs silver vault!
But the young master had already sent back word, stating that Heâan Prefecture must be preserved and not allowed to fall into chaos. If the people come 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 familyâs silver to Heâan Prefecture, allowing them to continue operating the bank.
Yet Manager Dou couldnât comprehend why the young master loved Heâan Prefecture so much. Every time Heâan Prefecture faced difficulties, the young master would throw silver to save it?