Chapter 1351: Who is the Outcast? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The former subordinates looked at each other in bewilderment.

Their respect and trust for Luo San were ingrained in their bones. Even if they disagreed, they wouldn't talk back directly. They would only think that Luo San had been deceived by bad people: "Confused? Confused? What makes you say that?"

Does the captain also think they deserve this humiliation?

Luo San chose to proceed with caution and asked for clarification first.

Although the rope-throwing officer claimed the message had been delivered, who knew what it actually contained? If the most crucial information was concealed, it was understandable that these former subordinates would choose to refuse after careful consideration. He checked the intelligence with his former subordinates and then asked, "Let's not talk about that for now. Tell me, what did the soldiers who came to deliver the message say?"

Several former subordinates exchanged glances, retrieved a stamped document from a corner of the tent, and handed it to Luo San. This notice, issued by Shen Tang, bore the seals of her, Xiahou Yu, and Gu De. It detailed the mission, encouraged martial artists of the fifth rank or higher to actively participate in the reconstruction project, and outlined the overall budget for the task.

The former subordinates who were notified also had to write a reply and stamp it to show that they were indeed aware of the matter, so there was no possibility of concealment.

Luo San could read ten lines at a glance.

Luo San remained silent after reading this.

Luo San posed a thought-provoking question: "Isn't this great?"

If it weren't for Luo San's special circumstances, he might have received a notification too: "Tell me, what are you dissatisfied with?"

The former subordinates looked at each other in silence.

I don't understand why the captain is speaking to others after only a few days. This isn't a notification; it's a written humiliation, a disgrace to the extreme! They talk about military fortune and merit, but they believe in military merit, not in good fortune.

Just because it's a country doesn't mean it can talk about the fate of the military.

Even a mere rural warlord dares to spout nonsense.

Aside from the empty promises of martial prowess and vague military merits, there are no other substantial benefits. Even if there are, they are likely to be meager rewards of gold and silver. These mundane things might appeal to ordinary people, but they are unlikely to impress martial artists with any real skill.

In conclusion, this job is not suitable.

"...Even if we take a step back and assume that he has enough military merits and enough luck in martial arts... that's still absurd." Several of his former subordinates had served in the regular army for more than ten or twenty years and were martial artists with clear nationalities. How many times had they received awards for martial arts in all these years in Suginaga County?

Each person can be counted on two hands.

The total is probably around 100,000.

The budget for this project was 100 million.

To put it bluntly, this makeshift team, even if they lead their way into the capital, overthrow the king, and seize the royal seal, can barely shake off any national fortune. They'll be lucky to avoid a deficit; any surplus will go to the royal family and powerful clans, leaving only a meager scraps for the rest of the nation…

This shows just how outrageous this notice is.

Luo San: "..."

He took several deep breaths to calm his turbulent emotions.

He said with great difficulty, "...The misunderstanding is not your fault. I have something to say to you, listen to it, keep it in mind, and do not spread it to others—this force is backed by Kang State, which is entrenched in the northwest and southwest. Do you think this budget can be fulfilled? Kang State has sent people to make arrangements in the central region, which is not a simple test. The future focus will definitely be on this area, and the game will revolve around the central region. Kang State will not break the contract for this 10 million military fortune unless absolutely necessary."

Idealists who work for love are a minority in this world; most are ordinary people who need to make a living. Regardless of the power, if you want your subordinates to work hard, you have to provide them with sufficient moral and material support. Kangguo, having reached this point, couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

As for whether the female ruler will eventually establish herself as an independent military force?

Before establishing their own independent regime with their own troops, they could still rely on the Duke of Kangguo's accounts and were not afraid of defaulting on their debts.

Several former subordinates: "..."

Some of them stared in disbelief, their mouths agape, speechless for a long time.

Despite Kang State's invincible dominance in the northwest and southwest, where even a passing dog would be slapped, its reputation among the lower classes in other regions was practically nonexistent. It was only those two volumes of boastful biographies of famous ministers and scholars that opened a door for private trade to gain some recognition.

They had some impression of Kangguo.

Of course, the impression wasn't very good.

The labels that sum it up are: stupid and rich, narcissistic and arrogant, a country bumpkin, savage but good at fighting, and not very educated.

"What...what should we do?"

"If that were true, I would have already refused..."

Assuming the deal could be made, the group calculated the potential profits, nervously swallowing hard. The thought of how they had precisely avoided such immense wealth, and how, if they couldn't escape it, they'd at least have an umbrella over them, made them wish their tongues had been snatched away by a cat… Why had they refused?

If you firmly refuse, wouldn't turning back invite contempt?

But it seems even more painful not to try.

Who would have thought that the new owner had a major financial backer!

For a moment, the group was caught in a dilemma.

Luo San sighed and said, "I will handle this matter myself."

Several former subordinates blushed with embarrassment: "We're sorry to have troubled you."

Luo San waved his hand.

At his age, he's long since come to terms with things.

Face is only valuable when it brings benefits; otherwise, it's dispensable. One can't afford to miss out on immense wealth just for a little face. His old subordinates are all pitiful people with little foundation; if he doesn't take care of them, who will?

He found Shen Tang, who was quite surprised. Upon learning the purpose of his visit, she smiled and said, "I thought Lord Luo had encountered something serious. Why bother making a personal trip for such a trivial matter? Just have them go directly there; it's no problem."

Luo San did not see things so simply.

After his former subordinates explicitly refused, the number of people vying for a share of the military fortune decreased, and each person was expected to receive a larger share.

If those who have already refused then change their minds and jump out to say they want a share of the pie, wouldn't that be tantamount to touching the fundamental interests of these people? They may not say anything on the surface, but they certainly have something to say about it.

Being hated by so many people at once will make things difficult for you in the future.

Who knows when they might trip us up?

Luo San still remembered what the rope-dart general had said: that such large-scale projects were for the soldiers below, a kind of indirect benefit, and that someone of her strength would never get a chance like that.

To achieve the best of both worlds, a leader needs to step in.

Shen Tang immediately understood Luo San's little scheme and didn't mind doing him a favor.

The matter has finally been resolved satisfactorily.

The next day, Luo San left the dungeon to test the medicine, practiced his martial arts as usual, and strolled to the outer city. From afar, he saw that the city bricks, which had only been five layers the day before, had been piled up to twelve layers. The main construction of the city wall was completed in just five days. Ninety percent of the old city wall was demolished, and after the replanning, the new city wall was 40% larger than the original.

The speed of the construction was so rapid that some commoners who hadn't left their homes or even ventured near the outer city for days were scratching their heads in disbelief—where did the original city wall go? How did it end up near their homes? How could a new city wall have been built in just a few days? When did the government assign the labor service? Why weren't they notified of the labor service assignment? Or did he accidentally evade his labor service? Evading labor service could get you killed!

After several battles in Suginaga County, all the able-bodied men who could run away fled, leaving behind only those trembling with fear, either continuing to hide or plotting their escape. The government punished those who evaded corvée labor severely, stripping them of their lives even if they didn't die. But several days passed, and all was calm.

It can't be said that things are calm and peaceful.

To be precise, strange and supernatural events are occurring frequently!

First, by referring three people to register at a designated grain shop, you can receive ten kilograms of rice for free, cashed out on the spot—absolutely no tricks. However, each of the three referred individuals only counts as one referral. Second, these grain shops sell grain in limited quantities at abnormally low prices.

The common people initially did not believe in free lunches and suspected that it was a trick to lure them out and then capture them all in one fell swoop. In the past, bandits who massacred cities would also use similar tricks to deceive people. Those who were tricked out would at least lose money to avoid disaster, and at worst, their entire family would lose their lives.

The wariness born of chaotic times made them only dare to observe.

However, there are always people who are forced by life to take desperate measures.

Even after receiving the ten catties of rice, the woman's expression remained dazed.

Three skinny children stared at her with their large, sunken eyes, worriedly grabbing her patched skirt and calling out to her several times before she came to her senses—she had no other choice but to let her three children come out with her to make up the numbers.

Even if it's a lie, the mother and her four children will die together.

And indeed, she received the grain. The woman swallowed hard, feeling the ten pounds of grain in her arms both heavy and hot. Seeing her standing helplessly at the door, the grain shop clerk approached her with concern: "Too heavy to carry? Shall we find someone to take it back to you?"

The man's words didn't move the woman; instead, they turned her into a hedgehog, her quills bristling, her face contorted with wariness, panic, and fear. She practically fled with her child. Only when they got home did she relax slightly and have the child lock the door.

Peeking through the crack in the wooden door to make sure no one was following her, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the rice wrapped in a dirty rag, and meeting the longing eyes of her three children, she gritted her teeth and said resolutely, "Let's have a good meal today, the four of us."

It wasn't about cooking a pot of porridge where you could count every grain of rice; it was about lavishly using half a pound of rice. Even if she died, she wanted to die with a full stomach.

The people from the grain shop came and snatched the rice back; that half-pound was also eaten.

Perhaps it was the prospect of a full stomach that spurred their energy; the three children, exhausted from hunger, busied themselves, starting a fire, adding firewood, and the rising smoke from the dilapidated house attracted the attention of neighbors who peeked in. The grain shop staff still hadn't arrived. The rice was still cooking in the pot when the neighbors came first; they knew the children had come to borrow grain without the door even needing to be opened.

All the able-bodied young men had fled, leaving mostly the elderly and infirm among the neighbors. They had relied on each other to survive until today. Even if a neighbor didn't come to borrow grain, she would still go to their door and give them a few ounces. The neighbor who did borrow grain was an old man who had lost his son in middle age. Holding a tattered bowl that was only half full, he thanked her profusely amidst tears. Before long, smoke from the chimneys rose in a continuous stream, and this desolate place came alive again.

The family of four ate until they were stuffed, and there was still some left in the pot.

"Save it for breakfast tomorrow."

She tossed and turned until dawn.

There was no one at the grain shop outside. She pulled out some cold, hard rice left over from last night from a corner, grabbed a piece, stuffed it into her mouth, chewed it a few times, and tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it. She finally believed that last night's fullness was not a dream, and she burst into tears.

After venting her emotions, she calmed down a bit.

The rice was lent out last night, and there are still a few pounds left.

Adding some other things to it might last for another half a month, but what about after that? The husband's savings were almost gone, and the children's winter clothes were tattered and worn out. If they didn't find a way out, they would either starve or freeze to death. She thought of that bag of rice.

They searched the neighborhood and gathered nine more people.

In the end, they received thirty catties of grain.

She took a cut as a delivery fee, and with the grain she bought from her meager savings, the family of four no longer had to worry about food. The woman was quick-witted; before the news spread widely, she made several more trips to the grain store, eventually even managing to exchange some leftover grain for cheap secondhand clothes. The fabric from the secondhand clothes wasn't very warm, but after altering them, they would keep her warmer.

The common people were wary, and the re-registration process in Shentang was slow. However, with this recruitment drive for rice and grain, everyone came out, afraid of missing out on the food if they were even a little late. In addition to free and low-priced grain, the grain shops also sold pancakes. Each pancake cost less than half the cost price, and three pancakes could keep an adult's basic energy up for a whole day.

In less than ten days, the situation was completely stabilized.

Young and middle-aged men who had fled were gradually returning after hearing the news.

So much so that Luo San, who was wandering around outside, overheard someone making sarcastic remarks: "If we had known that the magistrate would come to save us, those thieves should have fallen sooner... causing us so much more suffering?"

Other listeners echoed this sentiment.

Luo San almost laughed in anger when he heard this.

But I don't want to argue with these ignorant people.

Conquering cities and plundering—that's the main theme of chaotic times. Why would someone go to the trouble of gathering so many people to attack a city, only to seize it and then not plunder its resources? Just for fun? The female ruler sent by Kangguo is truly an anomaly in this chaotic world!

Maybe they're just bored out of their minds.

They have to go to other people's homes to shine and spread kindness.

If the other party refuses, keep beating them until they do.

"Luo Hou Mo Qi."

The accompanying physicians also overheard these gossips and felt a chill run down their spines, fearing that the other party might suddenly erupt and smash them into a pulp. Luo Sanlian didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "Why should I bother with these ignorant people? What do they know? This kind of trend should be stopped, lest someone take it seriously. Next time some monsters and demons come, they'll think we're here for charity and eagerly try to collude with us. That would be interesting."

Physician: "..."

For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether the other person was angry or not.

The situation in Suginaga County stabilized too quickly, and the news caused a huge uproar when it reached the royal court. It was clear to everyone that this warlord force was ambitious and would not be satisfied with such a small ambition. If troops were not dispatched to stop them, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But who should be sent to fight this battle?

The generals remained silent, none of them feeling confident.

The battle of Sugina County also showed them the true strength of this makeshift army; they were not only capable fighters, but also had a steady supply of provisions.

Judging from the terrain of the areas occupied by the warlords, the arable land within their borders simply could not support such a large-scale military mobilization, let alone provide huge amounts of grain to appease disaster victims and quickly win over the hearts and minds of the people. There is only one answer—a powerful force is secretly supporting this warlord!

The hidden enemy is not brought to justice.

Even military generals are uneasy on the battlefield, fearing being betrayed!

|ω`)

I made a mistake in the math section of the last chapter, sob sob, I'll think of a way to fix it.