Chapter 547 – The World in Turmoil (Seventeen)
Yang Si snorted, “Ladies should just stay in the back, supporting their husbands and educating their children. What business do they have on the battlefield? There are men devoted to protecting the country… Honestly, we might as well disband the female battalion. The world just doesn’t appreciate the good.”
He didn’t look down on women; he just believed that in these tough times, it was unnecessary to “cruelly treat” them.
Li Yun shook his head in disagreement. “Mr. Jingrong’s statement is not something I can support. Just as our Lord says, it’s precisely because the world is tough and everyone is struggling that women need to step up. Be it supporting a husband or defending the country, it’s all personal choice. Some like to sew, while others prefer arms over makeup; that should be respected.”
Yang Si shot a sidelong glance at Li Yun.
This naive one rambled on with such conviction, “I think our Lord is doing the right thing. Teaching a person to fish is better than giving them a fish. Rather than treating women like fragile glass to protect them, why not teach them how to protect themselves? In this world, many people can barely take care of themselves, let alone the so-called weaker women.”
When the word “glass” came up, Yang Si recalled the day when the book boy accidentally shattered Wei Ci’s glass tea cup; that thing was indeed very fragile.
Logically, Yang Si agreed with Li Yun; he was on point.
He had traveled from the south to the north and had seen too many refugees.
He had seen husbands force their wives into prostitution, indifferent to their cries, collecting money from passersby, willing to do anything to their wives as long as they were paid; he had seen fathers sell their young daughters to tooth shop dealers, hearing the daughters weep nearby while he bargained with the dealers for a bit more cash; he had even witnessed cannibalism where children were exchanged for survival…
The world was terribly unfair to people, and even more so to women among them.
Yang Si sighed, shaking his head. “Your lord is indeed a person who cherishes delicate things.”
But—
He continued, “Yet, in this world, even if your lord’s intentions are good, people are ignorant and petty, only seeing benefits and filled with greed. Just like this time; your lord was summoned back urgently for such trivial matters?”
Jiang Pengji had established a female battalion, and female soldiers received a monthly salary. She had set up a Nursery to take in abandoned girls, directly or indirectly saving countless lives. Would people thank her? From Yang Si’s perspective, perhaps not. She might even stir up trouble.
Li Yun felt disheartened but felt powerless.
“Everyone is ignorant, and quibbling with a bunch of foolish people truly makes it hard on oneself.”
Yang Si sneered, “Female soldiers violate societal norms; they can never compare to male soldiers. I really don’t know what your lord is trying to achieve here. He is earnest about the welfare of these female soldiers, but do they and their families really appreciate it?”
At that moment, Jiang Pengji found herself face to face with a group of what Yang Si referred to as “fools.” Kneeling before her were a dozen commoners, ranging from young boys younger than six or seven to old women in their fifties and sixties. Behind them were two neatly dressed female soldiers, heads lowered and expressions blank.
Jiang Pengji recognized the two female soldiers; some time ago, during a military reward, she had promoted these two soldiers for their excellent performance in the siege. One became a Centurion, and the other managed the logistics and medical team; they were both officials in their own right.
Coincidentally, the two female soldiers were sisters.
According to Nong Qin, these sisters had considerable talent and were to be well-trained for further promotion.
This time, her hasty return was specifically for these two women.
Jiang Pengji already understood the situation upon her arrival and cast a sharp glance at several of the rather harsh-faced commoners.
“You say you want to take your daughters back, and they won’t stay in the female battalion anymore?” she asked.
The oldest woman spoke, “Yes, I pity my granddaughter. She’s getting older and it’s time she marries to avoid being delayed.”
Jiang Pengji scoffed. “But I remember these two sisters were among the first to enter the female battalion. At that time, there were rumors in the county town that the female battalion was a brothel. You sent them here, and they were either beaten or cursed along the way. And now you say this with a straight face?”
The old woman’s expression stiffened.
She never expected that this county magistrate would be so unsentimental, directly revealing their family’s shame.
What was the difference between this and pointing fingers and cursing?
“Filial piety is the foremost virtue; the old woman is their grandmother…”
Jiang Pengji coldly replied, “I remember I set forth a decree: even biological parents have no right to force their daughters into prostitution.”
Her gaze held a hint of murderous intent, and even her mere presence exuded immense pressure.
The live-stream audience also understood the situation, feeling both pity for Jiang Pengji and anticipation for the unfolding events.
In this era, where filial piety was held above all else, supporting the female soldiers of the female battalion also meant going against the very principle of filial piety.
Families wanted the female soldiers to return to marry and bear children; not returning would be deemed unfilial.
Jiang Pengji understood the importance of respecting the elderly and loving the young, but if others were shameless, she wouldn’t grant them grace.
“Stop with the empty words; do you really think I don’t see what you’re planning? You’re just looking to suck blood from two daughters who’ve become successful, aren’t you? You’ve taken all their salaries; don’t think I don’t know. Touch your consciences—do you really have the face to want this money? Enough. Wolves and tigers, mere beasts. They can’t be considered human.”
Without any mercy in her rebuke, she shifted to a more comfortable posture.
“Trying to take your daughters back to marry—what a great match! Isn’t it just for a few dozen coins for a marriage price? Marrying off the daughters for a handsome price, receiving the bride price, and with daughters flourishing in the military, they’ll be too constrained by filial piety to do anything, while their salaries keep coming in. One daughter is a Centurion, the other a little logistics officer; their pay won’t be low and may even increase in the future. You’ve truly got it all figured out.”
What claims of pity for the daughters or granddaughters being older and unwanted were nothing but a cover for a few coins.
As the saying goes, strike where it hurts. Jiang Pengji hit right where it stung.
“Old woman…”
The kneeling woman tried to speak again, but Jiang Pengji impatiently interrupted, “Shut up! You have no say here.”
Her good mood from her recent return was thoroughly spoiled by this family; it would be a miracle if she remained calm.
She turned her attention to the two female soldiers, asking, “Do you remember signing a document before entering the female battalion?”
The two female soldiers replied, “We remember.”
“Do you wish to go back with your family to marry and have children, or do you wish to stay in the female battalion? Feel free to speak your thoughts; I’ll support you.”
