Chapter 596

Tang Yu's words left the commanders at the same table completely silent.

Such generous treatment, will the soldiers be envious?

They will surely be envious!

Their Strategist also treats the soldiers very well, but compared to Chen Wuji, it's still far behind.

The distance in between is probably about as high as a mountain.

Not to mention ordinary soldiers, even they cannot help but feel drawn to it.

Who among soldiers wouldn't hope to achieve promotion and wealth through their own fighting, to have no worries about food and clothing, to marry and have children, and to live a harmonious life?

Aside from those layabouts, everyone wants it.

Under the current circumstances, the vast majority of provincial troops can only eat grain, and can only pay the court a little less grain and cloth each year.

That's all.

Even the court's true elite border troops are only slightly better than them.

But compared to what Chen Wuji has set up, it's still far behind.

An officer suddenly asked, 'Commandant, Chen Wu... General Chen doing this, can Hezhou's treasury really hold up?'

Tang Yu snorted, 'You brat, quit worrying about that. We can think of it—do you really think they haven't? Chen Wuji's side is never lacking advisors; even the famed Poisonist Xu Zengyi works for him, so they certainly could have thought of this small matter.'

'It's conceivable, but Hezhou is far inferior to our San Guan Jun, and General Chen has even reduced taxes for the populace.' The officer still didn't quite understand, 'The Strategist worries daily about provisions—where does General Chen get his provisions?'

This question made Tang Yu think seriously for a while, 'Perhaps... General Chen has another way? Don't test me with this; I tell you plainly I can't, I can't figure it out either, but surely they have a method.'

The officers burst into laughter.

Tang Yu repeatedly rubbed the egg in his hand for a moment, then slipped it back into his bosom, 'I must keep this.'

'Besides, my words aren't finished yet—we will not only lose face, we might lose entire brigades. You just need to know this in your hearts; those we confront must not be allowed to leave alive or dead, but those who slip away silently without a greeting—let them go, for they cannot be stopped.'

The officers' expressions were complex, yet they nodded one after another.

……

Chen Wuji turned into a diligent bee, pulling a cart around this vast Lìng for a full hour before delivering the people's gifts, one by one, to each table of Soldiers.

This move of his moved many people, even brought many to tears.

Especially, these two units of defectors, Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian.

Their posture seemed to express a desire to immediately stage a 'stab in the ribs' for Chen Wuji.

As defectors, each of these people actually knows this clearly in their hearts.

They are destined to be inferior.

This is common sense, a consensus among nearly all soldiers under heaven.

But here, this situation does not appear.

Even because they are defectors, not only Chen Wuji, the Chief Commander, but also the other Soldiers and troops treat them with special care.

This warmth of being cared for lets each defector truly experience what it means to be overwhelmed by favor.

On the spot, many officers, hearing the Soldiers' intent, repeatedly sought out Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian to discuss calling Chen Wuji 'lord'.

Although they all work under Chen Wuji, the difference between shouting or not shouting 'lord' is great.

Lü Ji and Xie Fengxian naturally had no objection and readily agreed.

Former lords have all bowed here to call Chen Wuji lord—what do they have to hesitate about?

They should have done this long ago.

This banquet lasted until midnight, concluding satisfactorily in a lively atmosphere.

When the festivities ended, only then did Chen Wuji, left alone, truly become busy.

However, this time it was not bodily busyness, but mental busyness.

He needs to use this time to plan the upcoming battles, to figure out how to truly revive Guangtongzhou.

The former has nearly become a routine activity.

But the latter truly makes Chen Wuji lose his scalp.

Although Hezhou already has basically successful experience, doing these things remains not easy.

Moreover, we must avoid the mistakes Hezhou made and further improve what can be improved.

This, no matter which item, requires consuming a large amount of mental effort.

When Qin Zhanhong came in carrying the foot-washing water, Chen Wuji was frantically scratching his head under the oil lamp.

When the mind is lacking, one unconsciously does other things.

Chen Wuji really likes to act on the area above his own neck.

Either scratching the face, or the ears, or the hair, like a cat.

'Don't scratch, go wash your feet first,' Qin Zhanhong said coquettishly.

Chen Wuji came to from his tangled thoughts, 'You actually personally brought the foot-washing water—this must be an ulterior motive, right?'

'Say something nice, husband—I feel like I've brought you foot-washing water more than just once or twice,' Qin Zhanhong said with a delighted laugh.

Chen Wuji chuckled, 'That's true, but it seems each time you have an ulterior motive.'

'Hahaha… get lost, who always has an ulterior motive? There are exceptions, right? You're slandering me!' Qin Zhanhong laughed repeatedly, placing the steaming wooden basin beside Chen Wuji's feet, 'Lift your foot—I, your concubine, am so gentle, yet you dare to mock me?'

'Have you forgotten what status I hold? As the Qin Family Miss, born into a true family of bells and tripods, now I bring you foot-washing water, and you still dare to mock me?'

'I dare not, I dare not mock my wife.' Chen Wuji laughed, 'To have married the Qin Family Miss, a true bell-and-tripod family's daughter, is already a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes—I dare not mock, that is absolutely impossible.'

Qin Zhanhong gave a soft hum, 'Don't even say the word marry—what wedding ceremony? We are basically… what's the word? Adultery, yes, adultery—hearing that word makes my ears burn.'

Chen Wuji restrained his smile, 'It's not that I cannot perform the wedding rite, but the wedding ceremony happens only once in a lifetime; I cannot let you all carry regrets and hold it hastily. Even though San Niang and You Wei already have marriage documents, in my eyes there is still no important wedding ceremony complete with the six rites.'

'I will definitely go to the Qin family myself to propose, so that you, wearing the phoenix crown and rosy robes, will come before me in person.'

The thick-skinned Qin Zhanhong suddenly blushed, she lightly pushed Chen Wuji, 'All right, stop saying that—I was just joking, why are you being so serious? I know I don't mind these things; if I did, I certainly wouldn't be so obedient—I, this lass, am a fiery steed, understand?'

Chen Wuji gave a knowing smile, "I understand, but I still want to say some things into your ear."

"Got it, got it, hurry, give me your foot."