Chapter 154: Proceeding Step By Step
On the Bo Prefecture side, Wu Fei handed over military affairs to Wu Hengyu and himself shifted to a position handling government affairs.
Wu Hengyu led elite troops from the Eastern Market Army, appointed Zhao Xian Zhong as vanguard, and continued fighting northward. Clanging weapons and galloping horses, the towed war chariots, accompanied by the sound of beating drums, gradually headed north.
Meanwhile, things around Wu Fei became increasingly quiet, replaced more by the clacking of bamboo calculation boards, the pattering sounds of calculations, and the filing sounds of rolls of bamboo slips.
On one hand, Wu Fei was preparing to hand over this place to Wu Hengyu in the future; his fief was here, more suitable for establishing monarch-minister relations, so he handed over the army to him in advance to adapt.
Secondly: Wu Hengyu was too suitable for guarding the North. From Gu Shou Pass to the Yan Land interior, the difficulty of supplies would increase northward. Yan Land in summer is full of large marshes everywhere, and in winter it becomes a frozen tundra belt. The total troop strength it can support should not exceed three thousand. Frontline combat troops need to be few but elite, as well as with sufficiently excellent logistical planning.
The troops Wu Hengyu led were elite enough. Wu Fei: troop strength below three thousand, cavalry around five hundred scale, Wu Hengyu could be a match for ten thousand.
Wu Fei, from intelligence from “agents,” knew that on this Yan Land battlefield, the enemy was limited by poor road conditions; even if mobilized on a large scale, local troop strength would not exceed five thousand. But with a small-numbered troop led by a match for ten thousand on their side, they held the strategic and tactical initiative. Even a Military Immortal opposite couldn’t unfold properly.
The Three Kingdoms period when Gongsun Du swept flat Liaodong aside,
The most classic is the Tang Dynasty; Goguryeo gathered 150,000 troops, Li Shimin was not startled but delighted. Not only did he not gather more troops to confront, he didn’t adopt Li Daozong’s strategy of sneaking home base, but instead actively encircled points to strike aid. Why was Li Shimin so bold? Or rather, why was this horse-riding emperor so confident?
Wu Fei: Yan Land’s productivity might support massing 100,000 troops. But the transportation here can’t support assembling large corps; assembling a 100,000 corps requires a “major city transportation hub” to converge enough grain and supplies to support it.
Yan Land has no such transportation hub; there are many castles, but gathering Yan Land’s food and grass to one point would incur huge losses.
So even if they mobilized a 100,000 corps, they would have to deploy dispersed. These dispersed corps would then be defeated one by one by elite troops sent from outside. So next, it falls into Wu Hengyu’s area of expertise.
On Wu Fei’s side, preparations began for sufficient logistics for Wu Hengyu’s few-but-elite troops.
South of Gu Shou Pass, Wu Fei established numerous silage points, using wind power machinery to crush fodder, then sprinkle with fermentation powder for wind drying. Oh, this technology came from merchants running horses in northern Da Yao, and after Wu Fei bought the technology, he mobilized corvee labor to build large earth cellars.
These silage points Wu Fei first ran as state-owned, preparing to hand them over in ten years to local noble families married to Eastern Market Army officers for operation, providing fodder services to merchants traveling between Yan and Bo. Related laws and regulations fall under the Transportation Department.
Note: The position system in feudal government offices is too sparse to adapt to managing such large depots. If time drags on without a direct point-to-person responsibility system, it will fall into disuse.
Xuan Chong throws the daily private profits and losses to these noble families to bear themselves. Because noble families have their own performance management systems internally; if those dozens of related posts end up in loss, there are family laws to control it.
Xuan Chong: If such fodder fields are really run as state-owned, they will incur annual losses and pile up, eventually leading to absurd situations like convicting a scholar who just started three months ago to balance the books.
But if the fodder fields are attached to noble families, it’s not about finding some unlucky guy to balance the books. As for military use now, the military just issues “service orders.”
And if private fodder fields really incur losses and need loans to sustain, Xuan Chong will enable some engineering transport projects, like large-scale logging in Yan Land’s deep mountains requiring horses, creating some orders to let them catch their breath. — The various merchants in the Southern Border are exactly being kept barely afloat by Xuan Chong, holding on until a large-scale war comes, feasting in one go.
Currently, Wu Fei is responsible for many Bo-Yan logistics matters, all steady. Besides food and grass, high-concentration alcohol, cotton cloth, herbs, and runes to prevent plague and exorcise evil are also steadily stockpiled.
Note: Exorcism runes, Wu Fei confirms are effective; burning this rune seems to have microwave oven effects, sterilizing water.
Although Wu Hengyu’s troop strength is only three thousand, Wu Fei prepared a full five thousand logistics personnel, including considerations for transport carts, horses, ships, and all sorts of complexities; Wu Fei perfectly assists Wu Hengyu’s army operations.
Along the Gu Shou Pass line, Wu Fei began recommendation of filial and honest work between Bo Prefecture and Yan Land. (Yan Land’s filial and honest quotas don’t have to be local-born, just like later special recruitment from Mongolia, purely exemplary persons.)
Wu Fei began building a “subordinate system” from Bo Prefecture, that is, bringing the people he previously governed in Bo Prefecture to meet Wu Hengyu once.
Talents are ready-made; during Zhao Cheng’s time, in the process of high-intensity confrontation with him, Wu Fei had already cultivated the team.
…The process of tempering talents…
All related military operations instigated by both sides must consider vulnerabilities in supply lines, siege military supplies, and other offensive routes, as well as rear being bribed, grain, iron, fodder, and other links being sabotaged.
Various “minor details,” Zhao Cheng as a “good teacher and helpful friend” was using “events” to teach Wu Fei to progress.
Master Wu Fei is no pushover either; the arrangements for catching spies are like a large net, each household in baojia system, even peddlers are dealer quotas, outsiders wanting to approach wells would be caught. Spies find it very hard to sabotage, even harder to retreat unscathed.
Relatively, Zhao Cheng later found it hard with “agents.” Basically couldn’t achieve major sabotage results, but to get some intelligence, had to spend heavily. Otherwise, “agents” would defect.
According to intelligence summarized after Wu Fei captured Gu Shou Pass, the large amounts of “pearl coral” and other rarities gathered by Zhao Cheng had mostly been squandered. If Zhao Cheng didn’t leave soon, his treasury couldn’t hold out.
After Zhao Cheng left, those “agents” in Bo Prefecture didn’t fare well either. Where could they run with treasures? Moving with goods to other Da Yao areas, in feudal era people away from home are cheap. Only wandering knights flee to other areas; rich people migrating are like a three-year-old child holding gold in a bustling market. These “agents” could only dig pits in their own earthen houses, quietly bury the money for later generations to dig up and spend.
However, is Wu Fei’s Grasping Sparrow reputation unearned? — Can burying it make it unaccounted for?
In Hao Army garrison commander Huang Tao’s storage room at Gu Shou Pass, Wu Fei obtained this series of bribery lists from “Hundred Officials’ Conduct Records,” his expression extremely colorful; “bribery accounting like keeping a diary” was simply the best thing.
Wu Fei did not learn from Prime Minister Cao to burn them with one fire, but reverted to his “Grasping Sparrow” face. All families who acted as enemy “agents” were named, and all goods they received from Zhao Cheng were confiscated one by one by Wu Fei.
As for the noble families that the “agents” contacted, who wavered? Most were noble families in Huangyu City, ruthlessly scraped once by Wu Fei; they harbored resentment, which Wu Fei understood well. No plan for guillotine handling.
Wu Fei: After all, human nature; my mind is petty, but not so petty as to exterminate three clans just because I dislike someone.
While Wu Hengyu was fiercely fighting ahead, Wu Fei summoned those Bo Prefecture noble families one by one for tea.
These Bo Prefecture noble families’ council village elders, who shared weal and woe with Wu Fei, upon seeing their own family’s names on the “Hundred Officials’ Conduct Records,” each had drastic changes in expression.
Wu Fei said to them: “I have no issue, but my big brother is petty-eyed. In the future, he will be in charge here; you all might not fare well.”
These Bo Prefecture village elders quickly expressed: “Lord Wu Fei, we cannot leave you.”
These Bo Prefecture two-faced ones implied that in future power struggles in Bo Prefecture, they would stand with Wu Fei.
However, Wu Fei nodded with a sly smile: “I cannot leave you all either; why not just come with me.”
Wu Fei stated the plan that made these unlucky noble families’ hearts stop: Wu Fei had no plan to stay in Bo Prefecture, but directly return to his old home side. Of course, conveniently scraping another wave, but compared to initially “scraping” wealth, now directly scraping all the people away.
“Lord, you’re going back?” a leading noble family representative asked tremulously.
Wu Fei: “What, unwilling? Didn’t you all say you want to follow me? You just vowed unswervingly; I hate the least the disloyal and two-minded; in my old home, such people get drowned in pig cages.”
Wu Fei does not learn Cao Cao’s “magnanimity,” and “burning letters” was because Cao Cao needed to control the area, so avoided his own contradictions with local noble families.
Cao Laoban is no broad-minded person. Holding spear composing poetry stabbed to death someone not even in conversation; to claim kingship, acted without regard for old ties against Xun Yu.
And now Wu Fei doesn’t need to heed his own contradictions with local noble families. What he wants is thorough liquidation, clearing contradictions for Wu Hengyu.
As long as noble families leave their old homes and come to his designated territory, dare to have contradictions with him? — Wu Fei is very confident; after they migrate to his territory, they will surely call him “Demon-Subduing Loyal Filial Spirit Xiao Fei Yuan Zhen Lord.”
To help Wu Hengyu stand firm locally, Wu Fei used every trick up his sleeve.
Wu Fei knew Wu Hengyu’s personality was proud, intolerant of groups with “flaws,” and didn’t know how to harmlessly resettle “flawed groups.” With Wu Hengyu’s character, upon knowing the truth, he would instead give them hard times, stimulating this group to suddenly erupt at uncertain times and processes. (Like Mi Fang’s backstab when Guan Yu was fighting Jing Prefecture)
So Wu Fei preemptively dragged out those potential contradiction groups of his.
…After the crows leave, new swallows fly in…
Here, Wu Fei brought the screened loyal faction to pay respects at the dock; Wu Hengyu received the list submitted by Wu Fei, all these were loyal factions tested.
Wu Hengyu called names one by one, accepting these meritorious loyalists.
However, in the subsequent face-to-face discussion between the two brothers, Wu Hengyu asked: “I heard you looted Zhao Cheng’s goods and treasury.”
Wu Fei: “Yeah, I scraped it.”
Wu Hengyu: “And various families’ goods, recently you scraped again.”
Wu Fei sensed something off, looked up and asked him: “What’s up, you want it?”
Wu Hengyu frowned: “Tone it down a bit; people below told me.”
Wu Fei looked at him; Wu Hengyu, being stared at, grew a bit impatient.
Wu Fei: “Who is this person? Is he your trusted aide?”
Wu Hengyu: “What’s it to you.”
Wu Fei took a deep breath: “The money I scraped was exchanged with my reputation here; if I don’t scrape money, or share the money with you, what impact do you think it would have on your footing here?”
Wu Hengyu paused, understood, face slightly embarrassed, then raised his cup to cover: “This was said by Chu Nan.”
Wu Fei widened his eyes looking at him.
Wu Hengyu, stared at by Wu Fei’s strange gaze, grew annoyed.
Wu Fei: “You, how can you say Chu Nan’s name? Aren’t you selling him out? And he, as an outsider, followed you in the prefecture; besides you, does he have any better loyalty ties? Shouldn’t you protect him?”
Wu Hengyu: “Not your place to lecture.”
Wu Fei’s momentum surged: “Can’t beat you in a fight, but today I must lecture you. A minister not secretive loses life, a monarch not secretive loses ministers; you must protect your own ministers well. You can fight, but you must give fortune and blessings to those around you.”
After one incense stick, Wu Fei was chased out of the big tent.
Wu Fei glanced at Wu Hengyu, full of worry.
…Unable to rest assured…
Wu Fei sighed inwardly: Wu Hengyu is different from me; he has been dominant since childhood, never bullied. Never encountered situations forcing him to bow his head; actually, he can’t stand criticism. Even knowing his own mistake, he subconsciously thinks it’s others’ problem.
While I, weak and sickly, called “little sparrow little sparrow,” have faced threats from others, so in contradictions, I know to yield, understand how to retreat to advance.
Wu Hengyu’s situation, if I’m still here, fine, but if I leave? Might just~
That said, I have to leave.
Xuan Chong is still modern worldview; as a modern person, lacks devotion to family. So far, as a Wu Family person, getting along very harmoniously with the family, but actually for Xuan Chong, this is just working at a company. What I owe, I repay; what I can borrow from family, what family will borrow from me in future, all accounts clear.
(Xuan Chong) mentally unwilling to depend on others, has his own calculations and assertions; when an interest faction headed by him appears around Wu Hengyu, and I can’t integrate, then I definitely must part ways with him.
Under the moonlight, Wu Fei pondered with head lowered, then decided to ask.
Xuan Chong: “System, can I activate exchange to add an attribute to others, or add assistance?”
System: “No, this system only teaches you and won’t alter teaching content.”
Xuan Chong stopped the panel query. As if confirmed, the suspended heart could die, sighed: “Oh, can’t huh.”
…System: Obsession as teaching aid cannot be scribbled over…
Wu Juwang returned, bringing back his adopted sons too. Wu Fei looked at these returning children; the last point that could be pinched by Da Yao was also back.
As for why Da Yao didn’t pinch Wu Fei through these children? Perhaps thought their status too low, considering them just abandoned pieces left by Wu Fei.
Wu Fei to Wu Juwang: “Objectively speaking, if I hadn’t considered abandoning you all, impossible. Military Strategists at any time need to make choices. Because only by learning choices can you preserve the most people in the harshest environments. But~”
Wu Fei looked at Wu Juwang: “If really abandoning you all, those people far underestimated my valuation of you.”
Wu Fei pointed at Wu Juwang: “I am willing to exchange equal gold for you.”
Then pointed at a kid beside, Wu Baitong, the one always at the bottom of exam scores, pretended nonchalantly: “You are equal weight in silver.” The adopted sons smiled at each other, then each raised their heads, wanting to accept Wu Fei’s pricing. Regarding Wu Fei’s description of exchanging them with gold and silver, they were very satisfied.
These kids grew up at the very bottom, seen too much warmth and coldness of human relations, so talking emotions with them, their ears long tired of it; when they were pickpockets, the thief masters leading them in also said “I have grace as heavy as mountains to you,” so this excessive “talking emotions” rhetoric unnecessary. Real gold and silver is real.
And later after Chen State was founded, Wu Juwang and other first generation old Chen people, recalling this “monarch-minister knowing and employing,” passed down as a beautiful tale.
Wu Fei’s “real gold and silver” pricing for them was not empty promises; the paths he arranged for them in future, ultimately gaining ranks and posts, all worth this price, even far exceeding. And for Wu Fei, now his time is “priceless as inch of gold,” and the time spent on these adopted sons must be included in his “performance appraisal.”
Different from Wu Hengyu still clueless, Wu Fei already has a series of judgment standards for his “profession.”
Wu Fei: A monarch’s performance has only two elements: ensuring people around are “reliable” and “capable.”
1: “Capable but unreliable” people arrange to “positions needing ability but low destructiveness.”
2: “Reliable but lacking ability” people, arrange to “key but straightforward” positions.
3: “Both capable and reliable” people. These can embody the monarch’s governing will; the more such people, the more perfect the monarch’s governance of the entire state.
The quantity and rational use of the above people is the monarch’s performance appraisal. A monarch’s lifetime energy is limited, time for discovering talents limited. What’s more, some monarchs indulge in lust and die young, oh, speaking of Cao Wei’s family with sweet tooth to death.
The imperial examination palace exam system is the feudal culmination, sending the top talents judged by the system to the hall, through palace exam, unilaterally expounding one’s worldview and values to the superior, letting the monarch judge virtue. But Wu Fei has no such advanced mechanism.
After these adopted sons returned, Wu Fei still kept military camp style. Arranged their wash supplies placement area. Then took them to know the canteen and office hall locations, finally let them take over keys to surrounding room doors.
Wu Fei cleared the next room, made a large communal bunk, let these “living real gold and silver” sleep.
After one day of settling, Wu Fei: “Sleep first today. Tomorrow begins, you will start a new round of courses.”
One student weakly said: “Master, can you reveal the new course?”
Wu Fei: “Assist me in governing the prefecture.”
