Chapter 297

This late-night skirmish, with both sides fighting fiercely, finally came to an end.

Chen Clan Troops killed over 400 enemies, captured 315 Qiang people, seized over 200 warhorses, and took countless knives and bows.

Xu Guanshan

Guo Yi

Family Head

Brigade Commander

As for the Shocking Heaven Thunder trick, they only had time to throw a bundle at the very beginning; once the sides became entangled, there was no opportunity to cheat.

Squad Leader

Xishan Village

Daying

Dayu Dynasty

Qiang People

Qiang Tribe

Chen Wuji plopped down on a stone that looked like it could bear a person, took the waterskin Chen Bang handed over, gulped a mouthful of water fiercely, and said, "Listen up, everyone—keep the enemies' ears intact. Although we're only counted as Provincial Troops, military merit matters here; it can be exchanged for silver."

Clan Troops

Chen Bang acknowledged, walked to the center of the clearing, and shouted out Chen Wuji's words again.

In the Dayu Dynasty, military merit is verified by ears—a pair of ears counts as one enemy killed.

Shocking Heaven Thunder

But he hadn't yet had a chance to tell the men that here, military merit means not only becoming a squad leader or a duilu, but also earning silver.

Provincial Troops

Chen Wuji, if he relied only on promotion, would struggle to build cohesion in this unit; he must act from another angle, and the most effective means is money.

Military Merit

Probing

Chen Bang

Upon hearing this, the soldiers who had lost their comrades and clan brothers felt their emotions surge.

"Brigade Commander, how much silver is the reward? I slew seven Qiang dogs today, but only managed to cut off five pairs of ears," someone shouted.

Chen Wuji laughed, saying, "Words mean nothing; here I only accept evidence—killing one enemy earns 200 wen. Work out for yourself how much silver that would be."

"Besides, this is tied to your official rank. If you are an ordinary soldier, it's two hundred wen, but if you become a squad leader, you get an additional hundred wen, and if you become a section leader, another hundred wen."

"If you can reach the rank of Duilu, killing one enemy is worth five hundred wen; as long as you have the ability, I might even give you the rank of Commandant."

"Although he is only a Brigade Commander now, he has already been fighting alongside the Guoyi Commandant."

"This matter, though it sounds a bit far-fetched, even Qian Fugui acknowledges it, so Chen Wuji's promise to go out is reasonable."

"The soldiers instantly erupted."

"The listless mood just moments ago vanished in an instant."

"\"Family Head, this will take a lot of silver—are you really going to give it to us? \" a soldier shouted."

"He didn't really believe it."

"The other soldiers' gazes also snapped over, all wanting to know Chen Wuji's answer."

"Chen Wuji now essentially achieves financial freedom, but 99% of the Chen clan still struggle on the subsistence line, working hard all year just to see a few taels of silver."

"Chen Wuji shouted: \"Everyone is risking their lives; they deserve some real benefits. Naturally I'll give them—do you really think I'm lying to you? \""

"\"I don't want to talk about the Qiang People invading; the big principle is that we people won't even have this stable life now. I won't say more on this, but you must be clear in your hearts. This isn't alarmist talk—don't learn from those fools in Xishan Village. \""

"\"What I can tell you and give you is what you earn with your lives; I will never shortchange you. At the very least, I must let everyone's wives, children, and elders eat well and stay warm, living like human beings. \""

"\"We are Provincial Troops, that's true, but you can't lump us together with those Provincial Troops who have to bring their own rations; as long as you have merit, not a single coin of silver will be withheld from you. \""

"The soldiers couldn't help but grin, each instantly raising their torches and carefully counting the ears they pulled out from their bodies."

"That scene…"

"It's somewhat nauseating to describe."

"Especially for those Qiang Tribe prisoners, the impact was even stronger."

"What the Chen Clan Troops were counting in their hands were all their comrades and relatives."

"\"Why don't I have any? I don't have a single one! \""

"Suddenly a wailing cry rang out, crying 'wah-wah', exceptionally loud."

"Chen Wuji stared, his expression suddenly stiffening: \"When did this kid sneak in? \""

"The one wailing bitterly was none other than Xu Guanshan."

"Before the army set out, Chen Wuji deliberately left this kid behind, having him follow a few clan troops to hide in the Qiang Tribe's main camp and monitor the surroundings."

"He really didn't dare to keep bringing this kid along in the army; the sight of him charging forward clutching a pile of stones was simply too frightening."

"As it turned out, I don't know when, but this guy managed to sneak back in."

"\"Get over here! \" Chen Wuji barked angrily."

"Xu Guanshan walked over, pouting and looking wronged: \"I just don't have any—I don't even have one ear, while they all have them, and plenty. \""

"\"What order did I give you? \" Chen Wuji asked with a dark face."

"Xu Guanshan scratched his ear and cheek, thought for a moment, then tentatively asked: \"Watch the sheep? Run if someone comes? \""

"\"You still know that? \" Chen Wuji laughed in exasperation."

"Xu Guanshan hehehed a smile: \"But I want to kill enemies; I'm afraid you can't beat them, so I want to help. \""

"Chen Wuji: ……"

That's a good reason.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Do you know what the punishment is for violating military orders in the army?"

Xu Guanshan clutched his neck with one hand, "Behead me? Then I don't want my ears, I don't want them, merit... merit, merit offsetting demerits, I also killed... one two... three... many enemies."

"You actually know about merit offsetting demerits?" Chen Wuji was a little surprised.

Xu Guanshan laughed proudly, hehe, "My masters taught me many things, I just can't remember them. I really just killed many enemies, you have to give me merit offsetting demerits, you can't behead me."

"How many is 'many'?" Chen Wuji asked.

Xu Guanshan shook his head hard, "I can't count..."

"Brigade Commander, he really killed several Qiang people, I saw that. No, he didn't kill them with a knife; he punched them to death. He originally had a knife in his hand, but it seemed he disliked it or something, and then he threw it away." A clan trooper suddenly stood up to testify for Xu Guanshan.