Yingshui (now Yinghe River) originates from Songshan Mountain in Dengfeng, Henan Province. It has abundant water and many tributaries. It is the largest tributary of Huaihe River. Even in this dry season, it still flows continuously.

South of Xuzhou, there is a small tributary of Yingshui in a dense forest.

Under the sun, a group of naked men were playing happily in the clear river. Various strange-shaped containers containing rice water, plant ash and other cleaning tools for the poor were lined up on the bank beside them.

A pair of broken scissors that had been polished to a relatively sharp edge was passed around by people sitting on the shore to dry themselves, and the cut-off nails were scattered everywhere among the grass on the beach.

The open spaces where the sun shines are filled with all kinds of clothes, cloth and leather products. Horses, mules and donkeys that have been washed clean are also rarely seen leisurely eating green grass in the forest.

The only two large pots were boiling all the time, but there was no rice, noodles, meat or wild vegetables in them, only clothes and cloth.

Of course, these clothes and cloths have been washed before being put into the pot, and they have even been soaked for a period of time in a pool mixed with wild chrysanthemums, dandelions and other plants with insect repellent and bactericidal effects, but they still have to be washed again in the pot.

Boil for a while and then put it in the sun to dry.

In fact, the vast majority of Ming army soldiers could not understand why they had to stop for one day to carry out such a large-scale cleaning. Most of these soldiers, who came from the lowest level of society, never even felt how dirty they were. They had gone through several large and small roads.

They have washed their faces and wiped their sweat in the river. They really don’t understand how they need to be cleaner?

Many people initially thought that this was just to rest their feet for a day.

But when Zhao Jin ordered to use precious rice to produce a large amount of rice washing water, all the Ming army soldiers realized that the so-called cleaning was really not that simple. Because even the southern soldiers who eat rice as their staple food had a difficult time in their lives.

Be very careful when using rice water.

The more times you wash rice, the more losses will occur. This is a very simple principle. Ordinary working people always wash rice as often as possible, so the amount of rice water produced is naturally very small.

Even so, most of the rice washing water will still be used to feed chickens and ducks to prevent waste.

Moreover, a large amount of rice washing water also means that a large amount of rice is used, and it is far more than the amount of rice they eat in a day.

Although Zhao Jin said that the excess rice would be made into rice balls and used as food for the next few days, almost all the soldiers still thought it was a meaningless waste.

At this time, people in the Ming Dynasty did not pay attention to bathing. Many scholars would even bathe once a day. Bathhouses for urban civilians had already appeared as early as the Song Dynasty, and most of their soldiers were Huguang soldiers.

Not from the water-scarce northwest.

But for most ordinary working people, they still rarely take a full-body bath, or rarely take a very detailed and comprehensive bath. What's more important is that most of them are very uncomfortable with being naked in public.

Ni.

As for using boiling water to boil clothes, that is even more unheard of.

Therefore, they are generally confused and even a little resistant to the numerous requirements of bathing their whole body and undergoing face-to-face inspections, and even touching and touching various parts of their own bodies.

Many Ming soldiers couldn't help but start talking about it.

But on this issue, Zhao Jin, Shi Ming, Li Shengcai and all the visitors from different time and space rarely had any differences for the first time, and everyone was serious and resolute.

They've all had enough of the filth and those damn little lice.

Originally, the area near Xuzhou was far from safe, and they should have gone further south to be safer, but no one could bear it anymore.

The poor sanitary conditions caused a blow to these modern people that was almost as strong as death. Especially the three women were so broken that they almost rebelled.

However, the hygiene requirements they designed were a bit too cumbersome for most Ming soldiers, and they even didn't take them seriously.

Boiling clothes in boiling water caused severe discoloration in the original dyeing process, which was a problem. It was not a serious problem because there were only two pots, so the efficiency could not be improved. The aliens found that they actually had to watch and even teach these Ming Dynasty people to ensure that they would know how to do it.

Wash yourself thoroughly.

And washing clothes, something that most men can do easily and easily, is even more worrying. Even most of the supervisors responsible for supervision and inspection are slacking off in their work.

It was inevitable that Zhao Jin, Li Ping, Shi Ming and others would keep yelling and even punching each other.

But no Ming Dynasty people became angry or had violent reactions.

After experiencing so much, although these things seem to them to be abnormal or even perverted, it does not cost them their lives, and it is relatively easy to do! So it is not unbearable.

And it was a rare moment of relaxation.

When the endless yelling and scolding finally stopped, when all the processes had been repeatedly checked and confirmed, everything was left to go step by step, and Zhao Jin and others could finally breathe a sigh of relief and no longer have to watch so closely.

Already.

Li Ping, who had finally finished washing himself, sat near a pool in the depths of the forest and comfortably touched his finally bare chin. Although he was exhausted, the refreshing feeling all over his body still made him feel the pleasure he had not seen for a long time.

He had hesitated for a long time about shaving his chin.

His dislike of growing a beard is not just because of his long-term work and living habits. The most important thing is that he knows that he was forced to develop this habit in order to maintain hygiene.

The only drawback is that he has to keep a small beard on his upper lip and long hair.

He didn’t do it thoroughly because he really didn’t dare!

This was an era when only eunuchs and monks did not grow beards, even if he did not reach the age of 22 before he started growing a beard.

But this is the military, and beards are a symbol of maturity and bravery. It doesn’t matter if you shave the chin, it can be seen as growing a darker and stronger beard. If he wants to shave the upper lip as well, it will definitely be good.

He will be treated like a little brat.

Why is a beard so important?

That's because the Han people in China had a tradition of growing beards before the Qing Dynasty. Although it doesn't mean that everyone has a full beard or that their beards are never trimmed, it is a common aesthetic among people to have a flowing beard and be able to stroke it with their hands.

.

In fact, the Chinese Han people began not to grow beards in 1645 when the Qing Dynasty issued a "hair-shaving order".

Everyone has heard about the hair shaving order. However, the hair shaving order contains a small item that many modern people do not understand, that is, beards also need to be shaved, and the regulations are very detailed.

That is: all the beards on the lower lip should be removed with tweezers, and there should be more than ten beards on the left and right sides of the upper lip. To put it simply, the lower lip should be smooth, and more than ten beards should be left on the left and right sides of the upper lip to form a loose mustache, and the middle one should also be tweezed.

Tweeze off.

This is very different from what we saw in Qing palace dramas, but this is real history.

This situation did not change until the continuous social changes in the late Qing Dynasty, and some Chinese people slowly began to grow beards again.

As for long hair.

There's not much to say. Chinese people can basically understand what's going on.

But for Li Ping, the annoying lice are the most intolerable thing. However, the current cleaning methods cannot effectively remove them. Only a bald head can ensure complete lice removal.

But shaving your head will definitely have a greater sensory impact on people than shaving all your beards. If he really dared to do that, all his subordinates who have not yet established any sense of loyalty would probably be scared away.

At this time, bursts of noise coming from far away caught Li Ping's attention. He stretched his neck to look and saw that many people had gathered in a small open space, and some brave and ruthless people were still going there.

They gathered together, judging from the continuous cheers, it must be that Shi Ming was competing with others again.

Li Ping's eyes immediately became dark.

Since reorganizing the army, Shi Ming has become active. From teaching the soldiers various skills in identifying directions, how to obtain clean drinking water, how to lay traps for hunting, various and practical rope-tying methods, etc., Shi Ming is doing his best

Show his presence and abilities.

This also shows that he has played outdoors a lot before!

Wang Chengwu became Shi Ming's most loyal fan. He never stole Shi Ming's limelight, but he also knew a lot and cooperated very well.

Every time he camped and rested, Shi Ming would use his excellent modern fighting skills to hold a small competition. This effectively established his brave image and allowed him to gain huge prestige and appeal in just two days.

Shi Ming and Wang Chengwu's captaincy positions were quickly consolidated.

If Zhao Jin and Li Ping had not also demonstrated outstanding and amazing abilities in marching, camping, and guard deployment, Li Ping really doubted that Shi Ming's prestige would soon surpass them.

Wherever there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and Shi Ming is by no means free.

While Li Ping was thinking about something, Song Baolai, who was also shirtless, strolled back around. He was the first to take charge of sentry duty.

To guard the three women who were washing in a pool of water not far behind Li Ping to prevent anyone else from approaching, they can only take turns to do it. Not only the women have not yet established enough respect for those Ming Dynasty people,

Even they are not very trustworthy.

Song Baolai first stretched his neck to look at a piece of clothes hanging on the other side of the pool, then turned around and sat down next to Li Ping and asked: "Those clothes should be dry, right? Why, they haven't finished washing them yet?

How long has it been?"

The piece of hanging clothes was washed and dried there first by the three women. Together with the surrounding trees, water and plants, it effectively blocked the scenery in the pool. The clothes they changed after were still being soaked and boiled.

, so these clothes hanging out to dry became the only ones they could wear.

The clothes are still hanging, which means they are still cleaning them.

But Li Ping asked Song Baolai in a funny way: "Where can they go after washing? It's hard to come over and see all kinds of inappropriate things for children? It's better to cool off in the water for a while."

Song Baolai was stunned by the sudden comment, and after thinking about it, he couldn't help but laugh mischievously.

"Why did you come back if you didn't want to watch them compete? Do you want to continue peeping?" Li Ping teased.

"No! No! Brother, I'm not that kind of person. I just wanted to talk for a while." Song Baolai hurriedly defended, his face was a little red, and he didn't seem to be too amused.

"Okay, I'm kidding you. How was the washing?" Li Ping smiled and changed the topic.

"I'm tired and happy at the same time. I was basking in the sun for a while just now, and I feel so refreshed." Song Baolai finally put on an expression of enjoyment on his face.

"Shi Ming is competing with others again?" Li Ping confirmed.

"Well, they teach people how to fight there! A lot of people have cloths wrapped around their waists, and many of them don't wear anything at all. It's funny." Song Baolai replied.

"Then why don't you learn two moves?"

"Alas! There are so many people, and I won't join in the fun. It's hard to relax, and taking more rest is better than anything else."
To be continued...