Distant View of the Great Wall

Many of the villages along the Great Wall were originally established by soldiers sent to defend the Wall. It was too expensive to supply them from the central provinces, so part of their military duty was to raise their own food. They either married local girls or brought their wives from home. They might be stationed on the Wall for years. Many stayed with their families after their military service. Once established, the villages provided support for the new troops of each successive dynasty.