Wenlong had no idea what his father was thinking. If he had known, he would surely have called him a lost cause. He refused to put his own mind to work and only hoped others would come up with good ideas.
Seeing everyone fall silent, he sighed inwardly. Come on, I'm only eleven.
"Everyone needs to learn to manage things and handle problems. There are always more solutions than difficulties. Think things through more often and do your best to solve problems. You can't let yourselves become dependent on others." Wenlong spoke his mind.
Only then did he tell everyone not to worry. More people should mean more wealth. The more slaves they had, the more hands they would have to produce wealth.
They had captured the Kai people who had come to study at the sect this time. The Kai would certainly send people to investigate those who had disappeared there.
That meant they also needed to post hidden sentries in the direction of Brightlight City. If the enemy approached from that direction without anyone noticing, they would be in trouble.
Shitou smiled beside him. "I've already sent out scouts. They'll report back if there's any news."
"Seventh Uncle will make badges representing the Huaxia Sect. Once I've drawn the design, I'll give it to him to produce.
"From now on, everyone at every level within the Huaxia Sect must wear a badge so the Security Squad can identify them easily. Those who don't belong to the sect may not come and go freely.
"The sect's badges will be divided by rank, serving as symbols of status. Clothing will also be standardized, with different colors distinguishing the ranks.
"Ordinary disciples will wear iron badges. Instructors and ordinary administrators will wear copper ones. Elders will wear gold ones, and the sect master will wear a specially made gold badge.
"Ordinary disciples will wear white. Senior disciples, instructors, and ordinary administrators will wear blue-green. There must be a limit on the number of senior disciples. Elders will wear yellow. The sect master will also wear yellow, but only his robes will have red trim and an embroidered golden dragon.
"The Textile Workshop will make the clothing. To strengthen the management of the sect's disciples, we'll establish the Law Enforcement Hall. The sect master will appoint a fair and upright uncle from the Lineage as its first elder.
"We'll reestablish the Pill Hall, with a Healing Room and a Herb Room. The Manufacturing Hall will also have a Weapons Room and a Design Room.
"The Martial Hall will provide instruction at different levels. The Literary Hall will do the same.
"There will also be a Mission Hall, with a separate Mission Posting Office and Exchange Office.
"That will be the Huaxia Sect's basic overall structure. If anything is lacking, we'll discuss it separately. This decision will be announced throughout the sect.
"Put the slaves to work speeding up construction of the classrooms and other buildings we need. We'll gradually improve the sect's surroundings so the disciples have a good place to study.
"That's all for the sect's affairs for now. Next, let's discuss the economy of the Wen's territory."
The Lineage members voiced their approval in unison, excitement rising in every one of them. This would be a system unlike anything they had seen before.
"We now have the Textile Workshop, Paper Workshop, Soap Workshop, and kilns for lime, bricks, and tiles.
"All workshops will increase production. My eldest and second maternal uncles will serve as representatives for Wen products. They'll begin by promoting them in Brightlight City under the Huaxia Sect's name.
"The Security Squad will escort them. Find merchants to partner with for all our products. The Wen won't run retail shops.
"If there aren't enough hands, take younger members of the Lineage along to learn. In the future, they'll take over the Wen's business affairs.
"If we're short on any necessities, we can buy them in Brightlight City. Soon, I'll lead the Lineage's Security Squad out to hunt down Kai people again.
"That will hone our younger members' fighting strength while reducing the trouble facing the Wen, and we can harvest the Kai's wealth along the way. We'll also keep capturing slaves to expand our workforce."
When Wenlong finished, everyone looked astonished. Who could have imagined that an eleven-year-old child would have such clear plans and foresight?
Seventh Uncle was the first to recover. Cupping his fist, he said, "You're absolutely right, Third Young Master. I'll start preparing to make the badges right away."
To show their respect for Wenlong, very few members of the Lineage still called him Long'er. They had switched to calling him Third Young Master.
Another uncle from the Lineage stepped forward as well. "I'll handle the Law Enforcement Hall's affairs fairly and live up to the sect master's appointment."
His eldest and second maternal uncles were also brimming with confidence, declaring that they would promote Wen products in Brightlight City.
Just then, one of Shitou's scouts hurried back to report. "Brother Shitou, the Kai have sent a party our way! They're coming from the direction of Brightlight City."
Wenlong's gaze sharpened. "Perfect timing. I'd like to see how well our younger members can coordinate in battle. Brother Shitou, take the Security Squad and ambush them."
Shitou led the Security Squad swiftly ahead to set an ambush, aiming to wipe out the enemy before they reached Huaxia Village.
Wenlong followed them the whole way, but he did not command the group. They would have to walk their own road in the future, so it was better to let them build up combat experience.
They reached a stretch of the route the enemy had to take, with wooded hills on both sides. Shitou ordered everyone to hide and wait for the Kai to arrive.
Before long, a party of roughly a hundred people appeared. They had only a dozen or so horses; the rest were all ox carts.
It looks like the Kai really have run out of horses. Even if they send their entire Lineage against the Wen in the future, they'll probably only end up being slaughtered.
As the people dressed in Kai clothing entered the ambush, Shitou gave the order, and crossbow bolts flew toward them in a volley.
It reminded Wenlong of the scene years ago when his grandfather had led their people in flight for their lives. It had begun just like this, with an ambush in the wooded hills.
They, too, had been struck by arrows from hiding. Now the wheel of fortune had turned, and it was the Wen's turn to ambush the Kai.
Under the crossbow fire from the wooded hills on both sides, the Kai could only dodge, utterly unable to fight back. Anyone who dared raise a bow to return fire became the bolts' first target.
Shitou shouted, "Drop your weapons and lie flat, and you'll live! Resist or run, and you die!" He's pretty practiced at this. It looks like this must be how he captured all those Kai people before.
Nearly a hundred survivors threw down their weapons and lay flat on the ground. Faced with death, they chose to save their lives.
Some of the younger Wen members kept their crossbows trained on the people on the ground. The others went forward to tie them up.
It was another swift, clean battle. The younger Kai members emerged without a scratch, winning a complete victory.
Brother Shitou's doing well. He's learned my tactics. Delighted, Wenlong gave Shitou a thumbs-up in praise.
They had killed several dozen and captured nearly a hundred, adding more laborers to the slave camp. The gravely wounded were killed as well.
Even if the Wen had the ability to save them, they would not. No one would do something that cost more than it was worth.
Victories like this had already become routine for the Wen. They never fought battles they were not confident of winning, and Shitou was even less inclined to lead his men into a head-on clash. If they could not win, he would withdraw beforehand.
With such a reliable way to fight, who would want to risk their life? Wenlong had always told them to preserve their strength as much as possible. There would be plenty more chances to fight; now was not the time to stake their lives.
Next, they needed to prepare for a surprise attack on Wan Family Town. They would harvest the Kai's wealth along the way and count it as interest on the blood debt owed to the Wen.
How wonderful it would be if we could leave the Kai alive forever and turn them into a place for the Wen to harvest wealth.
But that was impossible. Leaving the blood debt owed to the Wen's forebears unpaid was like having a thorn lodged forever in their throats. Until they pulled out the thorn that was the Kai, they would never find relief.
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