Archery Battalion, Second Battalion headquarters.
Commander Han Baichuan gathered the three Squad Leaders under his command to discuss an important matter.
Han Baichuan sat at the head of the table. To his left sat First Team Squad Leader Han Nuo and Second Team Squad Leader Han Cheng; to his right sat Third Team Squad Leader Han Ming.
He looked around at his three sons and got straight to the point. "The River Bureau has given us the results of this fish tide's profits. Our Second Battalion earned a total of five thousand taels from sales. After deducting the River Bureau's one-thousand-tael cut, we have four thousand taels remaining. Of that, we need to set aside three thousand taels as reserves and five hundred taels for each team's reward stipend. That leaves five hundred taels..."
He paused briefly.
Han Nuo and the others sensed there was more to it and waited expectantly.
They didn't have to wait long. Han Baichuan continued, "I plan to distribute the remaining five hundred taels according to merit. How do you think we should divide it?"
Five hundred taels!
At those words, both Han Cheng and Han Ming looked moved. Han Nuo was the exception.
It was no small sum to them—enough to support the members of their teams for several months.
Han Ming was especially fired up. If he got the silver, he could fill the vacancies in Third Team and strengthen his influence!
With that in mind, he spoke first. "Father, why not divide it according to how many Treasure Fish we caught this time?"
Only two teams had caught Treasure Fish during the entire fish tide: First Team and Third Team.
The Second Team under Han Cheng's command hadn't caught any.
This proposal wouldn't strip Han Cheng of his share, but it would