In Wu Shuangren's vision, every team captain in the future must possess basic cultural knowledge.
Only by first enlightening the public about culture can education and cultural influence be successfully implemented in the military.
While the officers were working hard, Wu Shuangren was not idle either.
The room was filled with steam and a rich medicinal aroma.
Wu Shuangren was soaking in the medicinal tub, his eyes closed, meditating and circulating his internal energy.
He obtained the "Leakless Golden Body" from the Mist Hidden Temple through his practice.
After several encounters with top-tier masters First Rate Mount Liang, the "Leakless Golden Body" technique has been Traits to be the version most suitable for Wu Shuangren personally.
Nowadays, Wu Shuangren spends at least two hours every night practicing the "Leakless Golden Body," devoting most of his martial arts training time to this skill.
Not only because this martial art could improve his survival ability on the battlefield, but also because this martial art could help heal injuries.
Wu Shuangren's left shoulder was injured several times, and although it recovered intermittently, he fought with others again and never fully recovered.
The internal injuries he suffered have also not healed.
After practicing the "Leakless Golden Body," he found that his injuries healed much faster, so he spent most of his time on it every day.
Martial artists can mobilize their qi, blood, and Mental Power, so their recovery speed is already much faster than that of ordinary people. With the assistance of the "Leakless Golden Body," Wu Shuangren's recovery speed is greatly enhanced!
After soaking in the medicine tub for nearly half an hour, Wu Shuangren stopped cultivating, stood up, dried himself off, and got dressed.
As Wu Shuangren walked towards the study, she found Mo Zhengxing already waiting for her inside.
"Commander-in-Chief."
Upon seeing Wu Shuangren, Mo Zhengxing quickly stood up to greet him.
Not long after repelling the Mount Liang forces, Mo Zhengxing sent someone again to inquire with Wu Shuangren whether he should come to Yi Prefecture City.
Although West River Market was a bustling place with the West River Wharf, it was also a transportation hub and the place where Wu Shuangren first rose to prominence.
But now it seems that Wu Shuangren's focus has clearly shifted to Yi Prefecture City. Mo Zhengxing is worried that if he doesn't return for a long time, he will be gradually excluded from the inner circle.
Wu Shuangren understood the other party's intentions, and since there were indeed many business matters in Yi Province that needed the other party's help, Wu Shuangren sent Mo Zhengxing from West River Market.
After Mo Zhengxing and his group arrived in Yi Prefecture City, Wu Shuangren publicly announced the establishment of the Yi Province Militia Logistics Department, appointed Mo Zhengxing the logistics director, and granted him the rank of Senior Militia Colonel officer.
Several young members of the Wu Clan who had previously studied under Mo Zhengxing have also gained some experience and are now holding important positions in the logistics department, ranging from Junior Militia Officer to junior Junior Militia Colonel.
"Sit."
Wu Shuangren gestured for Mo Zhengxing to sit down.
Mo Zhengxing sat opposite him, with a newly compiled account book spread out in front of him.
Since arriving in Yi Province from West River Market, he has been working non-stop these past few days, and has made a preliminary clarification of the estimated profits for the Yi Province Militia.
Tell me about it.
Wu Shuangren picked up the ledger, flipping through it while gesturing for Mo Zhengxing to introduce it.
"The first source of revenue in Yi Province was the smuggled salt business left behind by Mist Hidden Temple."
Without hesitation, Mo Zhengxing said, "The Mist Hidden Temple mainly dealt in the private salt trade in Yi Prefecture City and its surrounding areas, involving about 20,000 households and nearly 100,000 people. Previously, the price of the private salt they sold was 30 wen per dou, and the monthly net profit was about 240 guan."
Now that Mist Hidden Temple is gone, the salt route needs to be reopened, and we need to send someone to contact the salt merchants in Jia Province. It shouldn't be a big problem."
Wu Shuangren nodded as he turned the page, signaling him to continue.
"The second item is business within Yi Prefecture City."
Mo Zhengxing continued, "Mist Hidden Temple owns seventeen shops, three restaurants, and two underground gambling dens within Yi Prefecture City, as well as several silkworm farms and wineries outside the city. Furthermore, Mist Hidden Temple conducts business with other states through the Yi Province docks. My preliminary estimate is that their monthly revenue should be around eight hundred strings of cash."
"The third item is the monthly tax collected by the Mist Hidden Temple, and the money paid by various merchants, gangs, and estates inside and outside the city, which adds up to more than four hundred guan each month."
"The fourth item is Yi Province Wharf. Mist Hidden Temple used to collect the fees directly, but now that we've taken over, we can expect to earn about four hundred strings of cash per month."
"In total, if we can take over the entire business left behind by Mist Hidden Temple, our monthly income will be around 1,900 kan!"
After listening to Mo Zhengxing's report, Wu Shuangren nodded.
After he took control of the entire West River Market, his monthly income was approximately 1,100 strings of cash.
The Mist Hidden Temple, situated in Yi Prefecture City, along with the Yi Province Wharf, earns less than double the monthly income of West River Market, which is less than Wu Shuangren had anticipated.
Mo Zhengxing explained that upstream of the West River Wharf was the Shu Province Wharf, and Shu Province, as the capital of Jiannan Circuit, had the largest population and the most prosperous commerce.
Thanks to the canal, Shu Province and Xi Province had the most commercial exchanges. This is why the West River Wharf was so prosperous.
Furthermore, the West River Wharf is located near the official road and at the border of two prefectures.
West River Market thus flourished.
Although it is adjacent to Shu Province, the canal does not go directly from Shu Province to Yi Province, but passes through Xi Province first.
Therefore, Yi Province Wharf was not as good as West River Wharf, and there was not as many people gathered nearby, so the revenue it could generate was naturally far less than that of the West River Wharf.
"Commander, there's more money to be made in Yi Prefecture City than just this."
Mo Zhengxing said to Wu Shuangren, "Previously, there was a Xu Family in Yi Prefecture City. After Mount Liang and Mist Hidden Temple occupied the city, they killed the Xu Family head and that First Rate- rate cultivator. Now, we can take over the business left behind by the Xu Family. In this way, our income will increase significantly."
Wu Shuangren nodded.
The Xu Family and Mist Hidden Temple had always been at odds, and coupled with the constraints imposed by the government, Mist Hidden Temple had never been able to completely control the state capital.
The overt and covert clashes between the two sides are actually affecting the businesses of both sides.
Now that only one voice remains in Yi Prefecture City, Wu Shuangren's gains will naturally be even greater.
"In accordance with the charter of the West River Chamber of Commerce, prepare to establish a Yi Province Chamber of Commerce, and invite all merchants, large and small, within Yi Prefecture City to join."
Wu Shuangren instructed Mo Zhengxing, "In addition, each county and village in Yi Province can send people to join the Yi Province Chamber of Commerce. Try your best to integrate the businesses of each family, reduce internal friction, and increase profits."
Mo Zhengxing repeatedly, his face showing excitement.
With the Yi Province Militia leading the way, this Yi Province Chamber of Commerce will truly be a chamber of commerce representing an entire prefecture!
He will have the opportunity to oversee businesses across various sectors within a state and become the leader in those industries.
This was an opportunity that would have been unimaginable in the past!
"Chief, I need to set up the Yi Province Chamber of Commerce. I'm afraid I can't handle the West River Market Chamber of Commerce anymore. You should hand it over to someone else."
Mo Zhengxing suddenly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Wu Shuangren glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh.
When others are given important responsibilities, they are filled with joy, but this Third Master Mo is habitually anxious.
He was anxious because he didn't have enough energy to take care of West River Market, and he was also anxious because he had too much power and was worried that others would be jealous of him!
After all, his surname is Mo, not Wu or Liao.
"Okay, I'll find someone else to manage West River Market."
Wu Shuangren nodded in agreement.
Mo Zhengxing was worried that he was wielding too much power, Wu Shuangren would not allow the other party to wield too much power, neither out of consideration for the other's feelings nor for reason.
This has nothing to do with trust; it's just that people shouldn't be tested too easily.
After Mo Zhengxing left, Wu Shuangren was alone in the study, looking at the account books in her hands.
The number of Yi Province Militia is now close to 13,000. Their monthly military pay plus various expenses amount to at least 2,800 strings of cash!
Even if he took over all the assets left by Mist Hidden Temple, plus the income from West River Market, Wu Shuangren could barely support them.
And if he wants to raise more cavalry, increase the armor coverage of the Yi Province Militia, and upgrade their equipment... the money he'll have to spend each month will only keep increasing!
Wu Shuangren put down the ledger and let out a long breath.
He unfolded the map Guo Jiwang had hand-drawn again, his gaze fixed on Rong Province, his eyes burning with fervor!
Under the same night sky, in the makeshift military camp at the foot of Mist Hidden Mountain.
Nearly 10,000 Militia Private from Yi Province Militia are also learning new things.
Organized by battalion, thousands of people stood in neat rows, sitting on the ground in unison.
A person is standing at the front of the group, teaching everyone to sing.
He sang a line, and everyone repeated it:
"The Flag Is Flying, the horses are neighing."
"The Flag Is Flying, the horses are neighing!"
Gun on shoulder, knife at waist, blood boiling like a raging tide.
Gun on shoulder, knife at waist, blood boiling like a raging tide!
"The Flag Is Flying, the horses are neighing. Good men, good men, good men—may you achieve glory today!"
"..."
Wu Shuangren taught this song to everyone and required all members of the Yi Province Militia to learn it and sing it several times a day with thousands of people.
The song's melody was somewhat 'avant-garde' for the time, but its rousing style and bold lyrics quickly won over many fans!
Loud singing echoed through the military camp, one line after another.
Xie Zhou sat at the very front of the line and sang along loudly.
He really liked the atmosphere.
Previously, he was a captain of the Sixth Battalion of the Yi Province Militia, and he achieved victories in several battles, earning a second-class military merit.
Therefore, in this personnel reshuffle of the Yi Province Militia, he was promoted from captain to platoon leader.
During the evacuation more than ten days ago, he volunteered to stay behind to cover the rear, prepared to sacrifice himself.
Now, all the people from his hometown in Linwen County have returned home safely, and he himself not only survived but has also been promoted.
Sitting with a group of comrades singing the same song, Xie Zhou felt a warm glow in his heart.
"Unite quickly, lest we become a laughingstock! Unite quickly, lest we become a laughingstock!"
"Unite quickly! Unite quickly! Unite quickly!"
"..."
The resounding song echoed throughout the military camp.
Xie Zhou sang while looking up at the night sky above.
The stars were few and far between, and the moonlight was bright and clear.
He had never felt the vastness of the world as he did at that moment.
I've never felt so much that I'm not alone!
In the military camp, torches burned brightly, and songs echoed one after another, reverberating throughout the land.
"Good men, good men, good men—may you achieve great things today!!!"
Note: The lyrics are from the song "The Flag Is Flying," with slight modifications.
176 Murderers and Arsonists Accept Amnesty
Inside the council hall of Rong Province City.
Lu Yulin sat in the main seat, with a map spread out on the table in front of him, marking the marching route from Yi Province to Rong Province.
Also present were Wu Yan, Liang An, Yan Xiaobing, and others, all with solemn expressions.
After the battle Yi Prefecture City, Lu Yulin and others led their remaining troops in a retreat. Along the way, they gathered some more defeated soldiers, eventually assembling a force of over four thousand men. They then joined the remaining seven thousand soldiers and retreated together back to Rong Province.
Now, including the garrison troops remaining in Rong Province, Mount Liang can barely muster more than 13,000 soldiers.
Of these more than 10,000 men, fewer than 5,000 were truly elite. The rest were poorly trained, lacked morale, and were inadequately equipped, and at best could only fight battles when things were going well.
Even the few thousand elite troops currently in force are in very low spirits and will likely find it difficult to confront the Yi Province Militia or the Shannan Army head-on.
In this situation, the discussion should no longer focus on how to attack, but rather on how to defend.