Chapter 675

"According to military merit, my lord, we must go by military merit!" Xie Fengxian said first.

Chen Wuji looked toward the others.

Hu Bu Gui hesitated for a moment, then said: "I also think going by military merit would be fairer, but I don't know how to calculate this military merit—should it be based on the amount of effort exerted on the battlefield, or something else?"

"If we go by amount of effort, that's a muddled account, and later you'll have something to wrangle over." Chen Wuji said, "Once we calculate the military merit of all the soldiers and add it all up, we can just give you a ranking—this way it's fair and just, and nobody should complain to my face."

"Adding up each soldier's earned military merit into a total military merit—you guys should have no doubt about that, right?"

"Reporting to my lord, no!" Xie Fengxian said loudly.

The other few people all shook their heads.

"Fine, since that's the case, then let's settle it like this." Chen Wuji said, "Once the prisoners are distributed, when the time comes, are you planning to use them for training, or exchange them for something else? We'll make arrangements then."

"But I have to say this unpleasant thing up front: I approve of you using prisoners for training, but don't train them to cause trouble, don't create a situation where the prisoners turn on and kill our soldiers in our own camp. If that happens, I'll first hold you few responsible."

The generals all responded in unison.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, go about your business—don't delay my tea." Chen Wuji said.

Xie Fengxian and Lu Ji exchanged a glance, stood up, and said: "Reporting to my lord, Deputy General here still has… a small matter, indeed just a trifle."

"Speak!"

"I'd like to ask my lord, how does one obtain a designation number? I and Old Lu also want to snag a banner to hang up. My lord, we have no other intention—we just think it sounds mighty."

This question left Chen Wuji stunned for a moment.

As for the designation number issue, there's a reason behind it—those who have a designation number are actually not the direct line.

But Chen Wuji's intention here is obviously not understood by Xie Fengxian and the others.

Nowadays, it seems they see that even Hu Bu Gui later got a designation number, while these senior veterans who repeatedly earned battle merits have none, leaving them feeling unbalanced inside.

Chen Wuji pondered for a moment, then said: "Regarding the designation number, there are some things I need to make clear to you—the Sinful Army originally got its designation number because of the reorganization of prisoners."

"General Hu received that designation number because I admired his patriotic and people-serving integrity; I specially established it to highlight his virtue. So when you ask me how to obtain a designation number, you've actually left me puzzled."

"But it's good that you brought this up—now we can take this opportunity to discuss and set down a regulation, so you won't keep grumbling in your hearts."

Hu Bu Gui felt a bit embarrassed by Chen Wuji's effusive praise; he rose and bowed deeply, saying modestly: "Marshal, you overpraise me. I've always believed I was merely doing what a prefect ought to do. If my conduct like this deserves praise, then the other prefects must be worse than swine and dogs."

"It's that they've done terribly, not that I, Hu Bu Gui, have done exceptionally well."

"It's all thanks to your peers making you look good, right?" Chen Wuji smiled. "But precisely because of that, your virtue is all the more rare and precious—no need to be modest; you deserve these praises."

"Don't just stand there—let's figure out how to settle the designation number matter! However, you can exclude the Sinful Army from consideration; we don't need to refer to it—this name just sounds unpleasant, right?"

After a few people exchanged glances in silence, Lu Ji said: "My lord, why not just go by military merit? Set a threshold—once one's military merit reaches a certain level, grant them a title."

"I agree!" Xie Fengxian said, "But setting this merit threshold is probably not easy—we can't simply go by a single unit's kill count, can we? Isn't that a bit overbearing?"

Hu Bu Gui said: "What's overbearing about that? We enlisted precisely to kill enemies; killing enemies is our military merit and future. If we judge soldiers' futures by kill count, why can't we judge a unit's future the same way? It's the same principle."

Chen Wuji really wanted to say, "You guys haven't realized that this might be a bit overreaching, have you?"

As for him doing it, that's another matter—he originally didn't care about overreaching.

But what do Xie Fengxian and the others mean? Are they so eager and proactive about this simply because Hu Bu Gui's and Chen Ruoshui's units have designation numbers while theirs do not?

Could it be that they just want to display their loyalty?

These few aren't fools; they couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

Especially surprising to Chen Wuji was Hu Bu Gui, who eagerly joined the discussion without showing the slightest hint of anything off on his face.

This matter—is it really appropriate?

"I think we should just calculate by military merit—simple, blunt, and direct; nobody would have a chance to complain." Tang Yu suddenly said, "Everyone's military merit is plainly there; high merit is someone's ability, low merit is your lack of ability—nobody can find grounds to complain."

Chen Wuji:???

"You, an official of San Guan Jun, meddling in this for no reason—could it be you also want a designation number?!"

It wasn't just Chen Wuji who had this doubt; after Tang Yu finished his sentence, Xie Fengxian and the others all turned their heads in unison, their gazes almost shooting sparks.

"Old Tang, have you defected?" Xie Fengxian asked eagerly.

Tang Yu hurriedly explained: "Don't misunderstand, I'm just making a suggestion. Although I'm not a commander under Marshal Chen, we're all sitting here discussing this—can't I offer a suggestion?"

"That's naturally fine; the lord hasn't driven you away, what can we say?" Xie Fengxian's eyes shifted, and he spoke mysteriously: "Otherwise, you might as well defect to my lord. Although Yang Jinglve is a good official, he has no prospects—if you surrender and come over to follow my lord, you'll be eating well and living lavishly."

"Isn't this life good? You should have felt it by now, right?"

Tang Yu froze there.

After hesitating a moment, he rose and bowed to Chen Wuji: "Under Marshal Chen, I truly feel like I've come home, but Prefect Yang has shown me kindness. This kind of conscience‑betraying act, I really couldn't do—please forgive me, Marshal."

Chen Wuji waved his hand: "No need to apologize to me; if you come, I'll welcome you with open hands—even sweeping the mat to greet you is no problem. If you don't come, I'll also respect your choice; Prefect Yang is indeed a good official, I can't speak ill of him, and I'll try to persuade you to come over."

"Thank you, Marshal Chen, for your understanding." Tang Yu said.

"Have a seat, have a seat—don't make the atmosphere so stiff." Chen Wuji said with a light smile, "Since you all agree on calculating by military merit, let's do that; as for exactly which rank qualifies for a designation number, you can figure that out yourselves."

"It shouldn't be too easy, nor too difficult—find a position that's roughly equivalent."