Published at 22nd of November 2024 11:32 am

Chapter 6261: Extending to the Extreme

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Noon.

The kitchen had slaughtered a pig and two sheep.

This surprised the idle porters even more, and they all felt it was a farewell meal. Although they ate heartily, they felt a deep sense of sadness.

Their eyes were filled with reluctance.

At this moment, Jian Wushuang and Wang Lun stood on the second floor, watching the scene.

“It’s about time. Announce it after the meal,” Jian Wushuang said.

Wang Lun nodded and replied, “Your method is indeed effective. After two days of waiting, they’ll realize how good this meal is.”

This was similar to dealing with the Iron-faced Liang Chen.

If these porters were asked to join the rebel army right from the start, hardly anyone would have agreed. After all, exerting effort was better than risking their lives.

Moreover, these past few days they had eaten well, drunk well, and earned twice as much money as before. They were already imagining a bright future.

But now, suddenly losing their livelihood, combined with the rich food they had recently eaten, made it hard for them to return to eating coarse grains.

At this time, if they were asked to join the army with double the pay, they would have no -choice but to agree.

Jian Wushuang had already prepared a thousand taels of silver.

He didn’t stop there.

Since he wanted to expand, he would expand to the fullest.

Weapons couldn’t rely on looting; they had to be self-produced.

For instance, bows, horses, and forging swords could all be done in Shajia Town.

He had already taken over some blacksmith shops in the town.

All of this had started after the departure of Iron-faced Liang Chen.

The blacksmiths had secure jobs and didn’t need to take risks with them, lest they be held accountable later.

Jian Wushuang didn’t have time to waste words with these people, so he used coercion.

He directly had their wives and children held.

Either they worked together, or they sank together.

Of course, all this was done in secret. Outsiders couldn’t know, and Iron-faced Liang Chen definitely couldn’t know.

Although these people were innocent, as long as they worked hard, Jian Wushuang would still pay them.

They had looted the silver warehouse and Chen Mazi’s family wealth.

They obtained over ten thousand taels of silver and several hundred taels of gold.

Plus the supplies and gold and silver looted from merchant ships.

Now, Jian Wushuang was incredibly wealthy, with the only shortage being provisions.

These were strictly controlled and transported upwards, bypassing this area.

After all, the nobles were transporting gold, silver, and military supplies, each ship capable of purchasing hundreds of thousands of dan of provisions.

There was no need to steal food; it wasn’t worthwhile or profitable.

However, the first thing Jian Wushuang needed for military expansion was provisions.

But this couldn’t be implemented yet; he had to gather enough manpower first.

After the porters had eaten their fill, they found a cool place to squat, their eyes vacant as they waited for orders.

Jian Wushuang gestured with his hand.

A servant below immediately shouted out.

He gathered the hundreds of porters downstairs.

Hearing the summons, their hearts sank.

What was inevitable had come; they were all worried about being dismissed.

But Jian Wushuang’s next words made their eyes light up.

“Here is a thousand taels of silver, all taken from corrupt officials. This money rightfully belongs to you. Today, I will distribute it all!” he said, and then had people carry it down.

There were more than three hundred people here, each able to receive three taels of silver. That amounted to thirty strings of cash.

This money was enough for a family of seven or eight to live well for several years.

As long as they didn’t eat meat, that is.

But this was money they received for free!

Even if they were dismissed now, they could live off this money.

Soon, another thousand taels of silver were brought out.

This time, their eyes became even more fervent.

“Could it be, there’s more to distribute?”

“My goodness, this is the first time I’ve received so much money. So, Chen Mazi was this greedy back then, he truly deserved to die!”

Many couldn’t help but curse Chen Mazi’s greed, as they had never seen so much silver before.

In fact, this silver was all taken by Jian Wushuang from the silver warehouse; Chen Mazi’s family assets were all in silver notes, with little actual silver.

However, the silver notes couldn’t be exchanged for so much silver at the silver warehouse.

To prevent these silver notes from becoming worthless paper, Jian Wushuang had Xiang Yang personally go to the neighboring Shunshui Town to exchange them.

He had to ensure they were all exchanged.

To support people, it had to be cash.

As the discussion below grew louder, Jian Wushuang waved his hand.

Someone immediately silenced the noise.

At this time, Jian Wushuang spoke again, “Brothers, there’s another thousand taels of silver here. I know some people have also been bullied by corrupt officials and extorted by tyrants. Now you must help me distribute this thousand taels of silver, one tael per person, but there’s

a condition!”

At this point, he paused.

His goal was to recruit soldiers, not the old, young, or women.

So, he set a rule.

The recipient had to be the eldest son or the head of the household, aged between eighteen

and thirty-five.

These rules didn’t concern the porters at all; they immediately turned around to call people.

Jian Wushuang gave a time limit.

They had to gather by noon tomorrow, or the money would be gone.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed back home like the wind.

They either brought relatives or friends.

If there weren’t enough people in Shajia Town, they would go to other towns.

Because they also had benefits.

For each person they brought, they would get five strings of cash.

This rule made them even more frenzied.

“The first step of distributing money is done, we can find a place to have some tea and look at the people you brought!” Jian Wushuang walked down the stairs with his hands behind his

back.

Wang Lun, recovering from his shock, quickly followed down the stairs.

“They are all bandits, people I used to know on the road. I arranged them at the tavern, but each one is like a bandit, hard to manage!” Wang Lun reminded worriedly.

Jian Wushuang didn’t care and said, “In chaotic times, what we need most are arrogant and

fierce generals!”

In the tavern, the noise was loud.

Several of Wang Lun’s confidants were entertaining these bandits from around Yongcheng.

They had already explained their purpose to avoid Jian Wushuang wasting his breath.

These bandits were the most informed, knowing that the small dock was rising, and all

wanted a piece of the action.

They could eat.

But it couldn’t be just for the meat.

Jian Wushuang loved to paint grand visions for others. If these people only wanted to grab

some money, he wouldn’t bother using them.

Theft!

It could be stealing gold and silver, or stealing people and affairs.

But to become bigger and stronger, it meant stealing a country and the world.

Jian Wushuang wanted people with grand ambitions.

Of course, he would give them some benefits first.

However, these people would make Iron-faced Liang uncomfortable, so he chose this time to

invite them.

Inviting guests, giving money, recruiting!

All in one go.

At the wine table.

Jian Wushuang first probed lightly.

Among them, a few introduced by Wang Lun were indeed not bad.

They were all skilled.

But he also had to see their character.

If they were purely troublemakers, he would give them money and send them away, to avoid

cleaning up the mess later.

Fortunately, the people at his table were all leaders or skilled individuals with trump cards, not short-sighted people.

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