[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-73":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364342,4623,"Chapter 73: The Strengthening Private Army","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-73",73,"\u003Cp>Involving so many refugees, even a slight misstep could spark chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others can take the blame, but the work must be done by one’s own people to be trusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu, with his rich experience in maintaining stability, was again selected by Marquis Wuyang to oversee this labor-for-relief project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dubbed “the capable should bear more burden,” this was the price of being favored by superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it couldn’t be avoided, treat it as a trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more experiences one endures, the faster one’s abilities grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In books, labor-for-relief was just four simple characters, but in practice, it was a mess of countless complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacking sufficient grassroots administrators, they had no choice but to impose direct military rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was reasonable didn’t matter—establishing order in the shortest time and resolving the refugee crisis was the priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the forcibly organized refugee camp, Li Mu instantly understood why military officers were impeached for handling labor-for-relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the quality of internal personnel, this was merely a weakened version of a military camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intended to make refugees work, it had been twisted by subordinates into something resembling new recruit training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixed daily schedules, regular routes to work, even meals were taken in orderly lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the large number of elderly and children, it would have been indistinguishable from a new recruit camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Order established in such a short time was all whipped into place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the fence outside the camp, several heads of troublemakers hung as constant warnings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through the camp, Li Mu was met with nothing but fearful glances—making him deeply uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, however, he breathed a sigh of relief; if everyone had looked at him with gratitude, his head would have been in danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serving as an official in the Da Yu Dynasty was no easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civil officials who gained good reputations could be promoted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military officers who gained good reputations could be sent to their graves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, here are the refugee camp’s expenditures over the past few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A total of 2,800 shi of coarse grain consumed, with silver expenditures of 1,200 taels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the ledger from Lan Linjie, Li Mu flipped through it briefly and lost interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Da Yu Code had clear regulations on labor-for-relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court specified exactly how much grain and money each person should receive daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exceeding or falling short would invite accountability; executors had little room for discretion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One solid meal and two thin porridges per day—enough to be about seven or eight parts full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in practice, part of the grain was often swapped for bran and chaff to siphon off personal gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not interested in such petty profits, Li Mu didn’t want to dirty his hands and simply followed the court’s regulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This best suited his position: a green official fresh out of school, unfamiliar with local bureaucratic norms, was entirely plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, continue as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t rush the timeline, but ensure the quality of the work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Have the soldiers who carried out the night raid on the enemy camp made their decision yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu asked with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Promises made by oneself must be fulfilled quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Five City Military Command currently overseeing Yangzhou, it was convenient to place loyal men in the yamen’s grassroots ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once new local officials arrived, inserting personnel into local affairs would become far more difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, circumstances have changed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several officers, including Platoon Leader Zhou, have chosen to decline promotion and instead entered Marquis Wuyang’s service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred soldiers left with them; Marquis Wuyang’s steward personally came to collect them, reportedly with your approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining soldiers neither wish to return home nor join the yamen—they hope you will take them on as retainers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lan Shiyeh nearly spat out his tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang’s move was truly dishonorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew soldiers who survived the night raid were top-tier troops; with minimal training, they could become elite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu had also set his sights on them; many colleagues had asked for them, and he had refused all requests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giving them time to choose freely was merely a tactic to win their loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who voluntarily joined were easier to mold into loyal followers than those directly conscripted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preoccupied with refugee affairs, he had carelessly had his base raided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Marquis Wuyang hadn’t gone too far—he left Li Mu half the soldiers; otherwise, he’d have been truly ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most surprising was Zhou Chuanfa—he had actually given up his hard-won position of Assistant Battalion Commander to become Marquis Wuyang’s bodyguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In prior interactions, Li Mu had been certain this man was deeply ambitious for fame and fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must be a story behind it, but since both parties agreed, he had no reason to play the villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they want to stay, take them in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrange for them to join the Personal Guard Camp and undergo military training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Base pay will match that of existing retainers: fifteen taels in the first year, increasing by one tael annually thereafter—all paid in full.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t blame his subordinates; even he couldn’t have stopped Marquis Wuyang from taking men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subordinates who dared question an imperial envoy’s men were already showing loyalty to their master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slight pang of regret passed, and he recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many men under his command, if he carefully screened them, he could always find good recruits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these additions, his Personal Guard Camp now totaled over four hundred men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all Battalion Commanders in Da Yu, who dared keep so many retainers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with full court pay, one still had to subsidize them—it was hard to break even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li Mu himself wasn’t sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was promoted to a lucrative post, he could keep the entire Personal Guard Camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if fate was cruel and he was assigned to a promising yet penniless office,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might later struggle to afford their upkeep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dismissals were impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having witnessed the brutality of battle firsthand, he now valued strength far above money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I will properly arrange them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides this, during the night raid on the enemy camp, we brought back a Zhou scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve spoken with him; his speech and insight are far from ordinary—he’s no mere country scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s clearly concealed his true identity. Given that he guided us to successfully burn the enemy’s grain stores,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s inappropriate for subordinates to interrogate him harshly—what should be done with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lan Shiyeh asked with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he held a favorable impression of this Zhou scholar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, an unknown man who refused to reveal his identity upon entering camp would have already been tortured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guiding them was indeed a great service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this man didn’t volunteer—he only agreed after a blade was at his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring him to me—I’ll meet him personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I am a man who values talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly has ability, and isn’t the leader of rebels, he can be dealt with leniently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said after some thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1164,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","30878aad82a1ce9736183ac3ce859465a5d4824df68f2dbac4d29e1dc95fe616","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-74","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-72",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]