This kind of problem has been encountered in every dynasty. Throughout history, countless talented and ambitious people have devoted themselves to this problem, devising one seemingly perfect set of rules after another, but none of them have been able to truly solve it perfectly.
In response, Guo Jiwang left a handwritten letter for Wu Shuangren before returning to West River County:
"In governing any matter, nothing is more important than being cautious at the beginning. If the foundation is solid and the roots are firm, it will not be shaken by wind and rain; if the system is well-chosen, it will not be swayed by public opinion; if the direction is correct, it will not be lost even if it goes astray. Even if there are mistakes later, they will not be major errors."
It means that you must go in the right direction and lay a solid foundation from the beginning, so that even if your sphere of influence expands in the future and various problems arise, there will be no major deviations.
Therefore, when the problems of the Rong Province Militia first appeared, Wu Shuangren did not simply send someone to reprimand them or personally go there to rectify the situation.
Instead, they went to great lengths to hold such a grand competition!
"Do you have anything to say?"
Wu Shuangren stared expressionlessly at the five people in front of him.
Huang Cheng looked up at Wu Shuangren with a face full of shame and said, "Militia Commander Wu, it's all our fault. We failed to manage our subordinates well!"
The other four echoed his sentiments, showing remorse.
Wu Shuangren glanced at Huang Cheng. The people from the Flying Feather Hall reported to him that when the Rong Province Militia training was initially lax, Huang Cheng had considered reminding the others.
However, the Rong Province Militia did not have a nominal commander-in-chief, and Huang Cheng was only the First Battalion commander. When Wu Shuangren was around, the others had to give him some face, but once Wu Shuangren left, they no longer respected him.
Later on, Huang Cheng himself also slacked off in training his First Battalion.
Wu Shuangren roughly knew what these people present had done over the past period of time, which battalion had been the most lax in training, and who had grudges against whom.
Listening to the reports from the secret agents of the Flying Feather Hall, Wu Shuangren began to understand why rulers throughout history have liked to establish such intelligence agencies.
However, Guo Jiwang also warned him that relying on the Flying Feather Hall's spies for oversight could only address the symptoms, not the root cause. Moreover, if Flying Feather Hall gained too much power in the future, problems would inevitably arise sooner or later!
Even though Wu Shuangren had little management experience, he was still familiar with the deeds of the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Brocade-Clad Guard, so he could completely understand Guo Jiwang's reminder.
"If you feel you can't manage your subordinates, then resign from your positions as battalion commanders and hand them over to someone who can."
Wu Shuangren spoke calmly, but his words shocked Huang Cheng and the others!
The five men thought they would at most be punished, but they never expected the matter to be so serious that they would be dismissed!
Is it really necessary?
Third Battalion Commander He Yan, feeling indignant, couldn't help but say, "Commander, it's not that we don't want to manage. Previously, the soldiers under the Rong Province Military Commander trained once every ten days, and the veterans who returned from the border army said that the border army only trained once every five days, at most once every three days. But we have to train once a day, and the brothers below are really finding it hard to cope."
Wu Shuangren glanced at He Yan, who quickly lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.
"So, it's not that you don't want to manage it, but that many people below are unwilling to train?"
"Militia Commander Wu isn't unwilling to train, it's just that many people feel the training is too rigorous."
He Yan cautiously.
Wu Shuangren laughed, then suddenly stood up, startling the five people.
He ignored the five men, walked to the front of the stage, and looked down at the Rong Province Militia lined up below.
"The Rong Province Militia performed terribly in this competition!"
Wu Shuangren activated his Internal Skill, and his voice echoed across the plains.
"Your five battalion commanders are saying it's because many of you find the training too tough and don't want to train!"
A commotion broke out in the crowd.
"Some people say that the government troops under the Rong Province military commander used to train every ten days. When the Mount Liang rebels attacked, did these troops, who trained every ten days, win? Did they protect the people of Rong Province?!"
Wu Shuangren suddenly erupted, roaring loudly on stage.
Huang Cheng and the others turned pale; they were all terrified.
"..."
The audience was completely silent, and many people lowered their heads.
Some say that the border troops train once every five days, or at most once every three days.
Before Wu Shuangren could finish his reprimand, he suddenly called out several names: "Yang Ming, Wang Yong, Li Hu... step forward!"
The seven or eight people whose names were called stood up nervously from the queue.
They were all retired veterans of the border army; some served as captains in the Rong Province Militia, while others served as company commanders or battalion commanders.
Wu Shuangren's cold gaze swept over these people:
"Yang Ming, how much is your annual military pay in the border army?"
Yang Ming, whose name was called, trembled and answered nervously, "Reporting to Militia Commander Wu, my annual military pay is twelve shi of millet, ten bolts of silk, and one guan of copper coins."
Wu Shuangren currently has a small number of Militia Private under his command, and his military pay can be entirely in copper coins.
However, the military pay for the border troops of a dynasty could not be entirely paid in silver; most of it was paid in grain and cloth instead.
Based on current prices, Yang Ming's annual military pay is roughly equivalent to ten strings of copper coins.
This income is higher than that of most of the Militia Private in Yi Province Militia and Rong Province Militia.
Of course, according to the rules set by Wu Shuangren, there would be a reward for each battle. As the number of battles increased, the income of all the Militia Private would also increase.
"So how much military pay do you actually receive each year?"
Wu Shuangren asked again.
"This..."
Yang Ming was surprised that Wu Shuangren would ask such a question.
He looked up at Wu Shuangren, met his gaze, and felt a chill run down his spine. He could only honestly reply, "Sometimes I can get six or seven shi of millet and four or five bolts of silk a year, but no copper coins... sometimes even less..."
These words caused another stir in the crowd.
Everyone understood what Yang Ming meant: when he was in the border army, half or even more of his annual military pay was deducted by his superiors!
Wu Shuangren then looked at the next person and continued, "Wang Yong, when you were in the border army, were you able to eat your fill every day? How often could you eat meat?"
Wang Yong glanced at Yang Ming, not daring to speak carelessly, and honestly replied:
"Reporting to Militia Commander Wu, I only get about 60% full from the border troops each day. We don't get to eat meat on ordinary days. We only get to eat our fill during wartime, and occasionally we can get meat."
According to the rules set by Wu Shuangren, the Militia Private of Yi Province Militia and Rong Province Militia were allowed to eat meat every three to five days. There was never any deduction in their food; as long as they could eat, they could eat as much as they wanted.
The contrast is still striking.
"Li Hu!"
Wu Shuangren then called out to another person, "When you were in the border army, what were the compensation policies for ordinary soldiers who died in battle?"
Having heard the answers from the previous two men, Li Hu dared not conceal the truth and replied honestly, "Reporting to Militia Commander Wu, the usual compensation for ordinary soldiers who die in battle is five bolts of silk. According to imperial regulations, their families can also receive grain and cloth for five consecutive years. However... I've heard some officers say that many fallen brothers' families don't actually receive this grain and cloth..."
A commotion erupted in the crowd.
"Gao Ze, you've rendered meritorious service in the border army. Will you be able to get a promotion smoothly?"
Before everyone could process what was happening, Wu Shuangren asked another question.
Gao Ze was a battalion commander in the Third Battalion of the Rong Province Militia. He possessed Sixth Rank Internal Skill cultivation and was also skilled in leading troops in battle. Upon hearing Wu Shuangren's question, his expression changed, and he shook his head bitterly.
"Reporting to Militia Commander Wu, I left the border army and returned to my hometown because of the unfair treatment I received from the border troops. I had made meritorious contributions, but others stole my credit. In a fit of anger, I left the border army and returned home."
Wu Shuangren nodded and finally stopped asking questions.
Many people in the Rong Province Militia's ranks had changed their expressions!
Wu Shuangren's questioning was clear and straightforward. He didn't directly scold or reprimand, nor did he preach any grand principles. Instead, he used a series of comparisons to make everyone clearly see the difference between serving in the border army and staying here to serve.
You think the border troops' training every five days or three days isn't that tough?
Are wages not deducted here, and not even for the border troops?
Here, we can eat our fill every day, and even have meat every few days. Would the border troops be able to get that?
The compensation for those who die in battle here is generous; can the border troops provide that?
Here, the path to advancement is clear, and rewards and punishments are well-defined. Can the border troops guarantee that?
Of course, there are better places for border troops, but those are only for elite soldiers or generals' personal guards; ordinary soldiers can forget about it!
Over the past period, there have been many comments within the Rong Province Militia that say things like, "Even the training of government troops and border troops isn't this tough." People only see how easy the training is there, but they don't see the benefits they are already enjoying.
Now that Wu Shuangren has publicly exposed it, many people have realized that they were unaware of their good fortune!
In fact, it wasn't just the Rong Province Militia that was shocked; even the Yi Province Militia, who were lined up on the sidelines, had many new recruits who were awakened by Wu Shuangren's comparison.
"I made it very clear when the militia was recruiting: you weren't brought in here to enjoy a life of luxury!"
Wu Shuangren shouted, "If you think you're unwilling or unable to endure hardship, then get out of here now!"
After questioning them, he formally reprimanded the Rong Province Militia members.
At that moment, no one felt resentful.
"Everyone in the Rong Province Militia will have their pay halved for the next two months! I will also hold a grand martial arts competition in two months. If they still perform this poorly, everyone is fired!"
Wu Shuangren officially announced the punishment for the Rong Province Militia.
"Huang Cheng, Lü Bo, He Yan... you five are relieved of your positions as battalion commanders, and will temporarily assume the duties of battalion commanders!"
Wu Shuangren turned to Huang Cheng and the others, announcing their punishment. "If your Militia Private haven't improved by the time of the grand competition two months from now, you will no longer be serving as battalion commanders!"
"Yes!"
Huang Cheng and the others quickly responded.
After the reprimand and punishment were over, Wu Shuangren did not immediately dismiss everyone.
"The regimental training is conducted daily, with one day off every ten days. In addition, each Militia Private has three days of leave per month, which can be carried over to the next month if not used up, up to a maximum of ten days."
"Each militia will hold a competition once a month, and those who place will receive extra rewards."
Wu Shuangren announced the new rules.
The key to both academic and martial arts training lies in balance. Even with intense training every day, there must be times for rest.
Wu Shuangren had planned this holiday system long ago, but he hadn't announced it before because he wanted the two training teams to quickly develop combat effectiveness.
As for the monthly grand competition, this was intended to increase the Militia Private ' income as much as possible and improve their enthusiasm for training when there was no war.
Finally, Wu Shuangren ordered Bai Jinhuan to lead the First Battalion and Chen Tie to lead the Second Battalion back with the Rong Province Militia.
The two battalions that performed the worst in the Rong Province Militia were left behind and returned to Yi Province with the Yi Province Militia.
Having the two regiments conduct cross-training serves two purposes: first, it prevents stagnation from forming and ensures that existing equipment doesn't rust; second, it enhances cooperation between the two sides and prepares them for future joint operations.
This was also the strategy that Guo Jiwang suggested to Wu Shuangren, and Wu Shuangren took advantage of this grand competition to push this matter forward.
Next, Wu Shuangren led eight battalions of the Yi Province Militia and two Rong Province Militia back to Yi Prefecture City.
A few days later, several storytellers entered the Yi Province Militia's encampment.
That evening, after the Militia Private finished singing the military song written by Wu Shuangren as was their custom, several storytellers went up to the high platform.
Snap!
With a slam of the gavel, the storyteller began to recount the tale of how the Mount Liang rebels invaded Yi Province, and how the Yi Province Militia came to the rescue of the people of Linwen County.
"... Then Militia Commander Wu shouted: 'The original purpose of establishing the Yi Province Militia was to protect the people of Yi Province...'"
"As the saying goes, a strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and a time of turmoil reveals the loyalty of a minister. In ordinary times, drinking and exchanging toasts, calling each other brothers, none of that matters; only when a knife is at your throat and fire is imminent, some people cower like turtles, some turn pale as ashes, but there are those iron-willed men, steel-cast sons, who roar like spring thunder, their eyes open like lightning, and bravely charge forward into the mountains of knives and seas of fire!"
Militia Commander Wu led several thousand soldiers from the Yi Province Militia, resolutely facing the challenge head-on...
On the high platform, the storyteller spoke with great passion and fervor.
The story is almost entirely true, but some dramatic elements have been added to make it more exciting and suspenseful.
Many of the Militia Private listening to the storytelling in the audience were firsthand witnesses, and they were filled with excitement and fervor as they listened!
As soon as the storyteller finished speaking, thunderous applause and deafening cheers erupted from the audience!
The veterans who had personally experienced the battle in Linwen County stood tall and proud.
The new recruits looked on with envy and felt a greater sense of belonging to their team.
After the storytelling performance, the Yi Province Militia's morale soared!
Wu Shuangren watched this scene from the side and nodded secretly.
Soon after, several more storytellers appeared in the Rong Province Militia.
That story tells of the Mount Liang rebels wreaking havoc in Rong Province and harming the people.