Chapter 408

Days at home were always leisurely; there was no need to consider marching, fighting, or supplies, nor to constantly guess the enemy's intentions.

When free, I went up the mountain to hunt; when not, I lounged in the courtyard basking in the sun and drinking tea.

It just strains the waist a bit.

Chen Wuji completely underestimated Huo Sanniang's obsession with having a child.

For this, even though her legs were still slightly trembling the next day, she persisted in coming.

Chen Wuji had been home for four days; each morning and evening he did his routine exercises as if they were homework, at least twice a day.

That is, his physique in this life is tough enough; if it were his previous life, at this frequency he would probably have died young.

Even so, Chen Wuji was finding it hard to bear.

He enjoys this, but the frequency is really too harsh.

At noon, Xu Zengyi rushed over from Yunan City, and the two had a simple meal at home.

"The Qin County Magistrate asked me to pass along a message, inquiring whether the penniless, homeless commoners could also be settled in the mountains to make paper," After the meal, the two sat in the courtyard resting, and Xu Zengyi asked.

Chen Wuji rose to pour Xu Zengyi a cup of tea, "Are there many such people in the city?"

"Not few; the county office has already counted over a thousand," Xu Zengyi said.

"The Gu, Li, and Xue families were too harsh, leaving the commoners not even a single blanket, their belongings nearly looted clean. If we don't find them a livelihood, they won't survive this lean period."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Let them make paper; that's fine, but we can't accommodate too many, and we must also separate them from the convicts to avoid trouble. In that case, I'll send word to have Qin Feng bring the homeless commoners to the village."

Making armor and bows requires a lot of manpower; we should be able to place these people there.

Hearing this, Xu Zengyi frowned slightly, "If conditions allow, armor and weapons should indeed be stepped up, but placing these two workshops in the village might not be appropriate."

"Who would object?" Chen Wuji replied with a smile.

The highest official of Nan Jun has openly rebelled, yet he still acknowledges being a Negotiation Colonel of the court—isn't that loyalty?

Xu Zengyi held his teacup, leaned back slightly, waved his hand, and said, "I don't mean that; I'm saying the village lacks wall defenses, far less safe than Yunan City. Armor and bows are quite tempting, but if this gets out, it won't be peaceful."

Chen Wuji asked, "What if we raise and reinforce the stockade walls? Yunan City's troop‑stationing ability is limited, while Xishan Village's position is extremely special; I plan to station troops in both places. That way they can support each other, also guard the entrance of the Gu Zhandao, and secure our retreat."

Never think of victory first; Chen Wuji always bases his fighting on considering defeat.

At any time, he first widens his retreat route, then considers other matters.

"That would be good, but it would cost a lot," Xu Zengyi said. "After scraping together some savings, you want to drain it all at once. Wait a moment, let me calculate."

Previously, with limited manpower, all funds and supplies were managed by Xu Zengyi, the military advisor.

This strategist alone holds many posts—he is the brain, controls the purse, and handles documents, etc.

Fortunately, Li Run is now here, and can finally share some of his burden.

But the purse that is the lifeline of the entire army remains in his hands.

"Take your time calculating; merely reinforcing the stockade walls and building a few workshops shouldn't cost too much," Chen Wuji said.

Xu Zengyi counted on his fingers, thought it over for a while, then gave Chen Wuji an answer: "We can do it, but once these tasks are finished we won't be able to do anything else; otherwise the troops' pay will be cut off."

You said several things, referring to Lìng building walls, forging Armor and bows and Crossbow? Chen Wuji asked.

Yes, and Armor cannot be made too many; the specific number I will calculate carefully later, I don't know many characters, such a huge number I cannot compute mentally. Xu Zengyi said.

We must at least guarantee the soldiers' military pay for the next three months; this sum of Silver cannot be moved no matter what. Chen Wuji said.

Chen Wuji somewhat bewildered, 'Our provisions aren't quite sufficient now? How come listening to you it seems it won't last long either?' Chen Wuji asked.

You haven't forgotten that you're now supporting nearly ten thousand people? Moreover, of the captured grain and money, the Xianya has taken half to relieve disaster victims; how much is left? Xu Zengyi retorted angrily.

I've discovered that you, as the lord, are somewhat unaware of the value of firewood, rice, oil, and salt; we have indeed recently gained a lot of grain and money, but the consumption is equally huge. Xu Zengyi retorted angrily.

Chen Wuji let out a faint sigh; he had thought he would become rich, but it seems poverty has followed him like a shadow.

Really enough to give someone a headache.

He was also planning to forge knives.

In the entire army, aside from the Chen Clan Troops and the Personal Guard, the remaining soldiers' weapons are truly somewhat lacking.

Looks like this matter can only be taken slowly.

Unless he finds another sucker and makes a big profit.

There's also another worse matter. Xu Zengyi said again.

Yunan County has undergone such a disaster; within these two years, don't expect to be able to collect any taxes. We can only open another path, try to raise funds to support the army; you're experienced in business, I must first remind you to think of an idea early.

An iron pot is indeed a decent livelihood, but faced with such huge consumption, it's merely a drop in the bucket.

Chen Wuji suddenly couldn't relax, 'I can hear it, I'm just tinkering with paper, isn't that not enough?'

Yes, such things that show no profit, I usually don't count them. Xu Zengyi said.

No matter how much confidence you have in paper, I only see it will continuously consume silver in the future, without earning any silver.

Chen Wuji: ……

Let me think again. He felt a bit headache.

He led over nine thousand men across Yunan, yet he still worries about money.

Out of the blue, he seemed to have returned to the moment he just time-traveled.

Actually, there's a simple and direct method! Xu Zengyi said with a faint smile.

Chen Wuji looked up, 'What?'

Fight!

Chen Wuji: ……

He remained silent for a moment, then said faintly: 'Indeed, I'm not destined to enjoy blessings.'

At least it can still last a few months, right? Let me first relax a bit, and meanwhile consider whether there are other ways to earn money.

Xu Zengyi added blandly, 'I've heard that the Hezhou Counties have recently been in turmoil, those above have rebelled, those below have also begun to be disorderly; some have taken refuge with Lu Ping'an, some have simply proclaimed themselves kings.'

Chen Wuji looked at Xu Zengyi with a blank expression, shook his head and said: 'I finally understand your implied meaning.'