With a few more years of proper training, the Divine Martial Army will surely become a formidable force that dominates the continent.
Thus, Yu Tianheng possessed the resources to dominate the continent.
But right now, there's a problem facing Yu Tianheng: money. Although he currently possesses nearly twelve million Gold Soul Coin, it's more than enough to cover the expenses of the Earl, and he could even live a life of comfort for the rest of his days.
However, it seems somewhat inadequate for supporting an army.
Yu Tianheng had calculated that the monthly salary of an ordinary Divine Martial Army soldier was five Gold Soul Coin. Such a salary would be impossible to pay even in the royal guards of the two great empires, let alone in the Balak Kingdom. At most, it would be two Gold Soul Coin.
In this way, each of the five thousand soldiers would require 25,000 Gold Soul Coin to pay their wages. In reality, it is definitely not that much, because the officers' wages are even higher. For example, the three hundred instructors are paid fifty Gold Soul Coin per month by Yu Tianheng. In this way, Yu Tianheng would have to spend 50,000 Gold Soul Coin per month as the army's wages, which would amount to 600,000 per year.
During this period, there are also expenses for food, training, medical care, etc., plus various expenses of the Earl, which would cost at least one million Gold Soul Coin every year.
Therefore, although the savings of more than 12 million yuan seems like a lot, it is actually very short-lived and will be used up in a few years. It seems that we need to find a way to make some money, otherwise we won't even be able to support the army.
Several days later.
Inside the council chamber of Suotuo City, crystal chandeliers illuminated the luxurious carpet, making it gleam. Yu Tianheng, dressed in a dark-patterned outfit, exuded an imposing aura. He glanced at the whispering nobles below, cleared his throat, and the entire hall instantly fell silent.
"Gentlemen," Yu Tianheng said, his voice steady and powerful as he slowly stepped to the front of the stage, " Suotuo City may appear prosperous, but it is actually fraught with danger. Although located within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, it is extremely close to the border of the Star Luo Empire, and various forces are stirring with ambition. If we do not take precautions soon, our wealth, status, and even our lives will be threatened." He paused, observing the slightly tense expressions on the faces of the nobles, and continued, "Therefore, I propose the establishment of a powerful army to protect the peace of Suotuo City."
A commotion arose from the audience. A portly nobleman, wiping the sweat from his brow, spoke first, " Earl Excellency, building an army is no easy task. It requires a vast amount of money, no small sum!"
Yu Tianheng nodded, a helpless expression on his face. "You are absolutely right. There is indeed a huge shortfall in funds for raising the army. But I believe that you are all insightful people who care about Suotuo City. As long as we work together, we will definitely be able to overcome this difficulty."
He looked sincerely at the crowd, "Therefore, I earnestly request your assistance and financial support. Once the army is established, not only will Suotuo City be impregnable, but your businesses and territories will also be better protected, and your future profits will surely be even more substantial."
Another young nobleman raised an eyebrow and said, "But how do we know the money we've invested won't be wasted?"
"My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan guarantees this with our honor!" Yu Tianheng declared suddenly. "This money will absolutely be used for army training, and I will personally supervise it to ensure the army's combat effectiveness. Moreover, I have already reached cooperation agreements with many merchant guilds in the city. Once the army is established, it will guarantee smooth trade routes, and everyone's cargo transportation costs will be greatly reduced."
The nobles whispered among themselves, and Yu Tianheng pressed his advantage. "The investment now is for future stability and prosperity. If we wait until the crisis truly arrives, it will be too late for you all to regret it."
As he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the council chamber as everyone weighed the pros and cons, the air thick with the atmosphere of a power struggle over money and interests.
"This matter is of great importance, and we need to go back and consider it carefully. Please forgive us, Earl!" A nobleman stood up and left. Following his words, many other nobles or wealthy merchants made excuses to leave, saying they needed to think things over carefully, but in reality, they were all looking for an opportunity to slip away.
I have absolutely no intention of paying that money.
They're not stupid. What business is it of theirs if Yu Tianheng wants to recruit soldiers?
Rather than handing the money over to Yu Tianheng, it would be better to give it to the officials of the Balak Kingdom, which would also ensure one's safety.
Thinking of this, everyone left, leaving only Yu Tianheng in the large conference room.
"My lord, these damned nobles don't even want to spend a single Gold Soul Coin. What should we do now?" Yu Linglong, standing behind Yu Tianheng, asked in a low voice.
She had long, smooth hair with slightly curled ends, like flowing moonlight. Her ears were cat ears, small and sensitive, always trembling gently in response to the sounds around her.
Her eyes, like jewels, sparkled with a lively and mischievous light, gleaming faintly in the darkness. Her nose was small and straight, its tip occasionally twitching playfully. Her lips were rosy red, and when she smiled, two adorable little tiger teeth were revealed.
She was slender and graceful, moving with the agility of a cat. She wore a specially made outfit, mainly black, with long and powerful legs and black leather boots adorned with silver decorations. She moved silently.
Since following Yu Tianheng to cultivate Martial Dao, his cultivation level has improved by leaps and bounds.
He has now reached the Innate Realm Eighth Stage.
His combat power is comparable to that of Seven-Ring Soul Sage.
They are among the few high-level combatants currently possessed by Yu Tianheng.
"It's alright. These people won't learn their lesson until they see the coffin. They really think that others still call the shots in Suotuo City. Since this place has been designated as my fiefdom, it's my territory. They dare to be so arrogant in my territory. They really don't know what death is coming to them."
Upon hearing this, Yu Linglong's eyes lit up.
Because of her own tragic experiences, Yu Linglong deeply hates those powerful and wealthy people who do evil.
When she learned that Yu Tianheng was planning to rectify the social atmosphere and crack down on illegal forces in Suotuo City, she volunteered. "My lord, leave this matter to me."
"Alright!" Yu Tianheng nodded. "Take a group of people and secretly gather intelligence. Find out which nobles and wealthy merchants in Suotuo City are secretly evading taxes or engaging in the slave trade. Record them all, and then pick a few that have gone too far to make an example of them."
"Yes!" Yu Linglong replied and turned to deal with the matter.
At night, Yu Linglong moved silently through the streets and alleys of Suotuo City.
Her cat ears trembled slightly, capturing every subtle sound; her amber vertical pupils gleamed in the darkness, taking in the surrounding scenery. Sometimes she would transform into a shadow and climb high walls, sometimes she would disguise herself as a street vendor, cleverly blending into noble banquets and wealthy merchants' private chambers.
During her two-week covert investigation, Yu Linglong discovered that several normally prestigious merchant guilds and noble residences had unusual carriages entering and leaving late at night.