Jiang Gui looked at Pan Yun with admiration filling his eyes.
The military household system she described was precisely what he had envisioned, yet had never been able—and had never possibly been able—to bring about.
Jiang Gui, too, had been born into a military household.
Since childhood, his grandfather and father had drummed into his ears what his future would be like, saying it was all promised in the days of the Grand Ancestor High Emperor.
But in reality, each generation was worse than the last.
Both he and his father had entered school at six, begun martial training and learned to handle weapons at eight, started training at the thousand-household guard at fourteen, and at sixteen could choose whether to enlist, continue studying for the imperial examinations, or leave home to go into trade.
Jiang Gui was the second son. His elder brother had been destined to enlist.
He had already decided to take the imperial examinations, but before he could achieve anything, his elder brother died on the battlefield.
His family had always been selected for the garrison troops because they were all handsome, strong and sturdy, with fine features and both literary and martial abilities.
When one died, another had to be selected to enlist.
Thus, Jiang Gui could only give up the imperial examinations and join the army.
Jiang Gui had never felt there was anything wrong with this. Though his family had always served in the army, they had also enjoyed the privileges granted to soldiers.
They paid neither taxes nor corvée labor. He received military pay, and because his family farmed land under his quota as a serving soldier, they did not need to hand over military grain either.
As he rose step by step through the ranks, the stationed thousand-household guard naturally dared