Chapter 73: The Growing Private Army

Involving a large number of refugees, a little carelessness will cause trouble.

The pot can be carried by others, but the work must be done by one's own people to be at ease.

Li Mu, who has rich experience in stability maintenance, was again pointed by the Marquis of Wuyang to be responsible for this work-for-relief project.

Beautifully called "the capable do more work"; this is the price of being valued by the leader.

Unable to shirk, then treat it as an experience.

The more things you experience, the faster your personal ability grows.

In the past, reading about work-for-relief in books was just four simple words, but in actual operation, there were all kinds of messy things.

Lacking enough grassroots management personnel, he could only choose the simplest and crudest military management.

Whether it is reasonable is not important; establishing order in the shortest time and resolving the refugee crisis is what needs to be done most.

Looking at the forcibly planned refugee camp, Li Mu instantly understood why military generals doing work-for-relief would be impeached by censors.

If you don't consider the quality of the internal personnel, this is a weakened version of a military camp.

Clearly commanding refugees to work, in the hands of the people below, it was forcibly turned into the feeling of training new recruits.

Fixed rest time, regular work routes, and even eating learned to line up.

If it weren't for the large number of old and young mixed in, it would be a new recruit camp.

Being able to establish order in a short time was all whipped out by leather whips.

On the fence outside the camp, there were also a few heads of thorns hanging, constantly warning everyone.

Walking into the camp, looking around, it was full of fearful eyes, which made Li Mu very uncomfortable.

Deep in his heart, he felt a burst of relief; if they were all eyes of gratitude from the people, his head would be in danger.

The officials of the Great Dayu Dynasty are not easy to be.

If the civil officials' reputation is good, they can be promoted.

If the military generals' reputation is good, they can ascend to heaven.

……

"Company Commander, this is the expenditure of the refugee camp in recent days.

The cumulative consumption of miscellaneous grain is 2,800 shi, and the expenditure of silver is 1,200 taels."

Taking the account book handed over by Lan Linjie, Li Mu flipped through it casually and lost interest.

For work-for-relief, the "Great Dayu Law" has clear regulations.

How much money and grain to give per person per day, the imperial court has given specific standards.

Too much or too little will be held accountable, and there is not much room for the executor to play freely.

One dry meal and two thin meals a day, probably can eat seven or eight percent full.

However, during specific execution, a portion of the grain is usually exchanged for dregs to extract some benefits from it.

Not interested in this small money, Li Mu didn't want to dirty his hands, so he simply followed the imperial court's regulations.

This is most in line with his identity; a new official in the officialdom who is not familiar with the local officials' unspoken rules is reasonable.

"En, just follow the old rules later.

No need to rush the construction period, but the engineering quality must be guaranteed.

Have the soldiers who raided the enemy camp last time made a decision?"

Li Mu asked with concern.

The promises made by oneself must be fulfilled as soon as possible.

Taking advantage of the Five Cities Infantry Division's control of Yangzhou, it is convenient to arrange personnel in the grassroots of the yamen.

Dragging it until the new local officials arrive, and then wanting to intervene in local personnel, it will not be easy to operate.

"My Lord, the situation has changed slightly.

Several officers, including Squad Leader Zhou, chose to give up promotion and were taken under the Marquis of Wuyang's door.

Leaving together were one hundred soldiers; the Marquis of Wuyang's steward came over to lead the people, saying it was what you promised.

The remaining soldiers neither want to go home nor are willing to enter the yamen; they hope you can accept them as retainers."

Hearing Master Lan's words, the tea in Li Mu's mouth almost sprayed out.

The Marquis of Wuyang's wave of operations is truly not talking about martial virtue.

Everyone knows that the soldiers who returned alive from the night raid are good soldiers, and with a little training, they are an elite force.

Li Mu also stared at these people, and many colleagues in the camp came to him for people, all of whom were rejected by him.

Leaving time for these people to choose freely is just a routine to buy people's hearts.

People who are willing to defect are easier to cultivate loyalty than those directly included in the command.

Recently busy dealing with the refugee problem, a little carelessness and his old nest was copied.

Fortunately, the Marquis of Wuyang didn't do things too absolutely, leaving him half of the soldiers, otherwise this wave would really be a big loss.

The most unexpected thing for him is Zhou Chuanfa, who actually gave up the deputy company commander position in hand and ran to guard the house for the Marquis of Wuyang.

In the previous contact process, Li Mu could be sure that this person was very keen on fame and wealth.

There must be a story behind it, but it's a matter of mutual consent, and he doesn't need to come out to be a villain.

"If you want to stay, just accept them!

Next, arrange for them to enter the personal guard camp and accept military training.

The basic treatment is the same as the original retainers, the salary is 15 taels in the first year of entering the mansion, and then increase by one tael each year, all issued in full."

Li Mu said pretending to be calm.

This matter cannot blame the people below; this superior, the Marquis of Wuyang, came to ask for people, and he couldn't stop it himself.

Seeing the Imperial Envoy's people, the people below could go up and ask a few questions, which is considered loyal to the master.

After a little heartache, he recovered.

Now there are so many people under his command, as long as the good soldier seedlings are carefully screened, they can always be found.

After adding these people, his personal guard camp has more than four hundred people.

Looking at the company commanders of the Great Dayu Dynasty, who dares to raise so many retainers!

Even if the imperial court issues military pay in full, it has to be subsidized, and it is difficult to balance income and expenditure.

Including Li Mu himself, he has no bottom in his heart.

If he can get a fat job after promotion, the personal guard camp can naturally stay.

If he is unlucky and goes to a yamen with a bright future but no "money path".

It is possible that later he will have to worry about the expenses of raising retainers.

Layoffs are impossible.

Witnessing the cruelty of the battlefield, his emphasis on power has long exceeded money.

"My Lord, the student will arrange it properly.

Besides this, during the night raid on the enemy camp that day, a scholar surnamed Zhou was also brought back.

The student has been in contact with him; this person's speech and knowledge are extraordinary and should not be an ordinary rural scholar.

This person should have concealed his true identity; considering he helped us lead the way and successfully burned the enemy's grain and grass.

The people below are not convenient to interrogate him strictly; how do you think we should deal with this person?"

Master Lan asked with concern.

It can be seen that he has a good impression of this Zhou-surnamed scholar.

Otherwise, such a person of unknown origin, who didn't honestly explain his identity in the military camp, would have been tortured long ago.

Helping to lead the way is indeed a great contribution.

It's just that this person didn't take the initiative to lead the way, but only after the knife was held against his neck did he obediently lead the way for the death squad.

"Bring the person over; I will see him personally!

This official is a person who cherishes talent.

If he really has talent, as long as he is not a rebel leader, he can be dealt with lightly."

Li Mu thought for a while and said.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 74 =====