Embezzling Military Pay to Curry Favor with the Empress

Salary, doubled!

The impact of these words was absolutely extraordinary.

It must be known that in any dynasty, the treatment of soldiers was never particularly good, and they frequently faced situations where the imperial court owed them their wages.

This is precisely why, throughout five thousand years of history, so many renowned generals would tacitly allow their soldiers to burn, kill, and pillage—or even massacre the entire population—after conquering a city.

Without this massive incentive, soldiers in dire situations simply could not muster any combat effectiveness.

Ren Tianye directly doubled the salary for everyone.

With these tangible benefits, winning over their hearts would be much easier.

Sure enough, the mid-to-high-ranking generals of Yunji City could not help but hold their breath.

Seeing this, Ren Tianye smiled and said, All right, go and issue this imperial envoy's orders.

Oh, by the way, where is the quartermaster?

This subordinate is here.

Bring the military supply ledgers here.

Yes, sir!

A moment later, the ledgers were handed over. Ren Tianye opened them to inspect, and after just one glance, his brows furrowed. The more he read, the deeper his frown became.

Gradually, his face was filled with disbelief.

According to the records in this military ledger...

Why is the salary so low?

Ren Tianye asked, The ordinary soldiers of Yunji City receive a monthly salary of less than five hundred coins? And much of it is deducted and replaced with overstocked medicinal herbs from the city?

Ren Tianye simply could not believe it.

The Great Yu Dynasty had been established for eight hundred years, and the treatment of soldiers had always been mediocre.

Even for the most elite Chifeng Army, the monthly salary was only two and a half taels of silver. At most, they received some additional grain subsidies, winter cotton coats, and a pension for those killed in action.

For troops like theirs, which were subordinate to the Chifeng Army, the treatment was immediately inferior. The monthly salary for an ordinary soldier was two taels. It did not seem like a big difference, but the problem was that the imperial court frequently delayed their pay.

As for various subsidies...

Heh, without the help of the Chifeng Army, there was truly no telling how much of it would actually reach their hands.

They were already miserable enough.

But the soldiers of Yunji City were far more miserable.

Logically speaking, Yunji City was a major stronghold in the Northern Frontier, bearing the responsibility of defending against the northern barbarians. Although it was not on the main road and did not have to face the brunt of the barbarian forces directly, its geographical location dictated that it was undoubtedly more important than ordinary towns.

The soldiers' salaries should also be higher than those in ordinary towns.

If he remembered correctly, the salary of an ordinary soldier in Yunji City should be one tael of silver, plus a special subsidy of two hundred copper coins per month for each soldier.

That should be a total of one thousand two hundred coins!

How did it...

Become five hundred coins now?

This was a mere freaking five hundred coins!

Soldiers had families behind them, with parents and children to feed. Giving them only five hundred coins, and even deducting that with Yunji City's overstocked herbs—this was simply leaving them no way to survive!

Ren Tianye was somewhat bewildered at this point.

Zhan Shubai might be hopelessly lovesick, but when the Empress Xiao Mingzhao was not involved, wasn't he quite normal? He was known as a capable general and had fortified Yunji City to be as solid as a rock.

Why...

Were the soldiers under his command living such a difficult life?

Ren Tianye's gaze gradually sharpened. Staring at the quartermaster, who was sweating profusely but not saying a word, he said coldly, The gap between the soldiers' monthly salary and the imperial court's regulations is so massive. Could it be that you and your people embezzled it?

Confess the truth, or you will face military law!

Thud!

The quartermaster fell to his knees, covered in cold sweat.

Even though his teeth were chattering, he simply would not speak.

It was not until Wang Ming's saber was placed against his neck that he finally spoke, as if forced, My Lord, I am wronged. How would we dare to embezzle...

These missing funds were all diverted by General Zhan.

Diverted by Zhan Shubai?

Ren Tianye narrowed his eyes, immediately sensing something fishy.

This Zhan Shubai seemed quite different from the rumors!

My Lord, General Zhan was extremely hardworking. Ever since he came to Yunji City, he toiled day and night. He personally drew the city defense maps, went to supervise the construction before dawn every day, and was still inspecting the quality of Yunji City late into the night.

Over three years, he finally raised the city walls of Yunji City by thirty feet and thickened them by twenty feet. The walls were paved with anti-slip bricks, the city gates were forged from cold iron, several watchtowers were added, and three moats were excavated...

As the quartermaster recounted this one by one, Ren Tianye listened with secret alarm, thinking to himself that it was a good thing they had not launched a frontal assault.

Otherwise, with Yunji City's natural precipitous terrain combined with Zhan Shubai's fortifications, let alone their eight hundred men, even two hundred thousand men would have a hard time!

However...

The quartermaster cried tearfully, These achievements that General Zhan so desperately wanted to show off to Her Majesty were all squeezed out from the flesh and blood of the soldiers.

He reduced the salaries of almost all the soldiers, forced them to work an extra four hours a day on top of their training, and even conscripted the city's civilians to participate.

Everyone suffered unspeakably.

But if any complaints reached his ears, the inspection team established by General Zhan would beat and scold them at best, and behead them at worst.

He, he...

He also forced the soldiers to train without giving them rations. The punishments were severe, and all the subsidies were entirely misappropriated by him...

As the quartermaster made his accusations, his face was covered in tear stains.

He almost reached the point where he could not continue speaking.

This made Ren Tianye suddenly realize the truth.

No wonder. He had felt that the military discipline in Yunji City was harsh to a perverted degree. Even when he presented the most direct evidence proving he was an imperial envoy, they still dared to risk the crime of beheading by refusing to open the city gates.

He had even thought Zhan Shubai was a talented general, but as it turned out...

He was a freaking cruel tyrant!

Using the bones of the soldiers of Yunji City as political achievements to flatter and fawn over the Empress!

Absolutely outrageous!

Having lived two lives, he had seen his fair share of hopelessly lovesick fools, but this was truly the first time he had seen someone like Zhan Shubai, whose inferiority and fear had evolved into downright hysteria!

The most terrifying part was...

In this romance-driven world, there were definitely quite a few hopelessly lovesick fools like Zhan Shubai.

Thinking of this, Ren Tianye felt mentally exhausted.

He really wished he could immediately ascend the throne and conduct a massive purge of all the lovesick fools, hypocritical saints, moralizing zealots, and other brainless idiots in the world.

Reaching out to help the quartermaster up, Ren Tianye's face had already switched to an expression of empathetic near-tears, looking incredibly sincere.

This Zhan Shubai truly deserves to die.

Fortunately, I, the imperial envoy, have arrived.

Here is what we will do. Go and prepare. I am issuing an order right now: all soldiers who are willing to be loyal to me will have their salaries paid according to the standards of the Chifeng Army!

The quartermaster was shocked: My... My Lord...

Go and prepare!

This subordinate, on behalf of the seven thousand soldiers of Yunji City, thanks the Imperial Envoy for his profound kindness.

Go!

After sending away the quartermaster and having the remaining officers of Yunji City leave as well, the only ones left in the General's Manor were the guerrilla generals who followed Ren Tianye.

Their eyes were also shining brightly at this moment.

Having taken down Yunji City and secured a place to settle, they too had their own ambitions.

Ren Tianye looked at the crimson numbers on the military supply ledgers. His heart skipped a beat, but his face still maintained a gentle smile as he said, For our eight hundred men, the salary is likewise doubled.

All subsidies will be prioritized for you!

The several guerrilla generals were instantly overjoyed.

Doubling the salary was already a rare and precious thing, but the most important part was the priority supply of subsidies. That was a treatment exclusive to the Chifeng Army!

As for the few of you...

Ren Tianye's gaze swept across the men. "As for official titles, I shall not confer any today. There is little meaning in doing so right now. However..."

"It seems there are quite a few treasures in the storehouses of Yunji City. You may take your pick to your heart's content. Take whatever you desire, and there is no need to record it in the ledgers!"

The men were so thrilled they nearly leapt into the air.

They were merely low-ranking Roving Generals. When would they have ever dared to dream of such a windfall? To pick freely from an official treasury without even needing to register their spoils!

This was the treasury of Yunji City, after all. No matter what, it was bound to hold countless troves of gold, silver, jewels, weapons, and armor. To be given free rein to take whatever they wanted—it was absolute bliss!

Without hesitation, they knelt in unison to express their gratitude. "Thank you, Great General!"

...