Chapter 294: Eight Hundred Men Assembled

After Chen Yan made up his mind, he immediately sought out Du Gou, using the Xianya's funds to purchase workshops at full speed; if they couldn't be bought, he would build them, constructing them as fast as possible.

Even though Chen Yan built a library and continuously repaired roads, the Xianya spent over a thousand strings of cash each day, but that was no problem at all.

Anyway, thanks to the Wei He public transport boat and the already well‑established white wax, Weinan County accumulated a huge amount of wealth.

After repaying Chen Yan's debt, the Xianya's ledger still shows a full eighty thousand strings of cash.

At the same time, countless recruitment notices plastered the streets and alleys of Weinan County, offering generous pay that attracted a large crowd of peasants who had just finished the autumn harvest.

Through Lao Tao and Xiao Qingyue's efforts, hydraulic looms were also built one after another.

Chen Yan also had Lao Tao and Xiao Qingyue improve the existing hand‑cranked loom, replacing the hand crank with a foot pedal using the mature pedal loom principle from the Han dynasty, which again raised output while further cutting costs.

A batch of gauze that could sell for four hundred wen in the Tang Dynasty cost no more than one hundred fifty wen in total to produce.

And Weinan County, as expected, sparked a wave of handicraft frenzy.

In less than a month, Chen Yan added fourteen workshops, employed over five hundred workers, and that number kept rising.

Don't think five hundred is few; with that many people, the daily wages Chen Yan has to pay are a huge sum.

But conversely, Chen Yan's gains are even larger; as bolts of silk are produced and sold by Wang Lao Wu and three others throughout the Tang Dynasty, Chen Yan's and the Xianya's wealth are soaring at a frantic pace.

This is precisely Chen Yan, disregarding consequences and outside eyes, using the Xianya's name to act freely, achieving these results within a single month.

"......"

October, the weather grew colder, and the Tang Dynasty was about to enter winter.

That day, Niu Jinda strode with a reckless, kin‑disregarding stride and approached Chen Yan, who was just about to leave.

"Kid, the task you asked me to handle, I've already taken care of."

"Eight hundred people, not a single one missing!"

"All of them were carefully selected from across Chang'an, and they're now at the training ground of Zhe Chong Fu; do you want to go see?"

Chen Yan exclaimed with delight, "Excellent, I've been waiting for this day."

"Uncle Niu, let's go take a look."

"Mm." Niu Jinda let out a nasal sound, indicating his assent.

On the road, Niu Jinda looked at the excited Chen Yan and couldn't help to advise, "Kid, don't blame me for putting the ugly talk first; the people you wanted, I've found them all for you, and training them according to your method later won't be a problem."

"But I tell you, you kid had better take it easy and not become arrogant because of favor."

"His Majesty agreed to you because he trusts you; don't entertain any thoughts you shouldn't, understand?"

Chen Yan was slightly stunned, smiling, "Uncle Niu, what are you thinking about?"

"Am I that kind of person?"

Niu Jinda neither confirmed nor denied: "It definitely wasn't before, but now it's hard to say."

"I've led troops for so many years and fought for so many years, and I've never seen a low‑rank soldier receive such treatment."

"Not only did we pay to settle the families of good households, promising that if any mishap occurs the Weinan County government would continue to support their elders and fund their children's education, but we also offered extremely high compensation."

"Do you know how much money it costs each month for these eight hundred people who do nothing?"

"How much?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "Is it ten thousand strings?"

"If not, you don't need to keep talking; it's just a few copper coins, nothing at all."

Niu Jinda: "......"

His eyes bulged, and black lines instantly flashed across his forehead.

"What the hell, is this even human speech?"

"Less than ten thousand strings is, damn it, just pocket change?"

"I've scraped by all my life, and the loot I secretly kept from wars, it's about that amount."

Niu Jinda grinned, "Looks like you kid really made it; having money lets you speak with authority, huh."

"If your tavern doesn't bring me a few hundred jars of wine today, I'll give you a hammer blow."

"Fine, Uncle Niu, thanks for your effort; it's only natural." Chen Yan answered in one breath, then shifted his tone.

"Not only that, but if Uncle Niu from now on helps me train these eight hundred people properly according to my method, with enough wine and meat, I will make sure you never suffer a loss."

"But... if Uncle Niu trains them poorly..."

"Hmph!" Niu Jinda snorted coldly, "If the training is poor, what can you, a dog‑rich landlord, do about it?"

"You want me to bring my head to meet you?"

Chen Yan: "......"

"Speaking of bringing my head to meet you, I'm actually quite curious, Uncle Niu; you've been powerful all your life, you must have many tricks—could you give me a demonstration? I want to see what 'bringing my head to meet you' really means."

Niu Jinda: "?"

Niu Jinda was so angry he laughed.

"Damn it, you want me to perform for you? You really..."

"Do you expect me to risk my life to perform for you?"

"....... Stop, you kid, don't run. If I don't give you a hammer blow today, I won't feel satisfied!"

"Ouch, damn it, stop chasing, stop! Why are you..."

"......"

Zhe Chong Fu, training ground.

At this moment, Cheng Chumo and the other two had already escaped the sea of hardship and become instructors.

The three dispersed, each watching the numerous soldiers who, despite the bitter cold, sweated profusely while running laps around the field.

From time to time they would scold, urging those lagging behind to run faster.

This thrilled the three brothers immensely, their smiles barely contained, as hard to suppress as an AK.

At this moment, Niu Jinda, with Chen Yan clutching his chest and grinning, walked over to the center of the field.

"Hey, isn't this old Chen?"

Yu Chi Bao Lin was the first to see the two, and at a glance at Chen Yan's expression she knew he was about to get a beating, so she immediately teased, "I can tell from your face that you don't look so good."

"You don't think you got kicked by Niu, do you?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Niu Jingda glared and said, "I see you kid can't escape either; later you'll probably have to take Niu's kick as well."

"Ha, it's fine!" Yu Chi Bao Lin said indifferently, "We three are different from old Chen; our bodies are strong, we're used to Niu's kicks, so getting kicked again isn't a big deal."

"Just a little wind and frost."

Niu Jingda: "......"

"You can quit that!" Qin Huai Dao glared at him, "Don't drag me into your bragging; I can't."

"I can't either," Cheng Chu Mo said as he walked over.

Then he looked at Chen Yan, "Old Chen, I heard these people are yours. As brothers we don't need to say anything; just entrust these eight hundred to us, and we'll make sure they're properly arranged."

"Within three months I will definitely train them from frail individuals into good soldiers who can take on three opponents at once."

"You can quit that," Chen Yan pursed his lips, seriously looked at the eight hundred who were still running circles without stopping, and frowned.

In his conception, a good army certainly needs individual quality, but the soul is fundamental.

An army with a military soul versus one without, the gap between them is like a heavenly trench, and the army's discipline, ideology, and even combat belief are of utmost importance.

Since it's already started, of course we must do it even better.

"......"