The Mistress Too Delicate to Fend for Herself

Looking at the joyful faces of the guerrilla generals, Ren Tianye could not help but feel waves of emotion.

How low the demands of these working men were! Just doubling their wages made them so happy they couldn't sleep at night, and rewarding them with some wealth made them willing to risk their lives.

Such workers were so easy to keep.

Why didn't those in power in these female-oriented novels know how to cherish them?

If only they treated these soldiers as human beings, how could there still be great chaos in this world?!

He let out a faint breath of stale air and said, Be happy when you should be, and celebrate when you should. Our first step went very smoothly, and it is worth celebrating.

But, we must absolutely not drop our guard.

Everyone has heard about the current situation in Yunji City. There are seven thousand soldiers, and these soldiers are not of one mind with us.

If we don't handle this well and suffer their backlash, our eight hundred men could be buried under their blades at any moment.

Ren Tianye's calmness quickly sobered up the guerrilla generals, and each of them forcibly reigned in their emotions.

They listened as Ren Tianye continued, The most crucial thing right now is to resolutely execute the few commands I have implemented.

I am using a carrot and stick approach, and I believe we can win over the hearts of many soldiers in Yunji City, but no matter how cruel Zhan Shubai was, he still had beneficiaries and loyal followers. Once they realize what is happening, they will definitely not be resigned to this.

We must carefully guard against these people.

The guerrilla generals deeply agreed. Soon after, they began to offer their suggestions one by one, discussing solutions.

And these matters were exactly what they excelled at.

This made each of them speak eloquently and endlessly.

Even the guerrilla generals who usually spoke less took the initiative to express their views and put forward their own opinions with high spirits.

Ren Tianye discussed with them, primarily focusing on their opinions. They talked for several hours, and when they looked up again, the bright light of dawn was already showing outside the window.

The crowd still showed no signs of fatigue; everyone was glowing with vitality.

However, various plans and details had also been finalized.

Alright, it is getting late. I will not keep you any longer. Go and do as we have discussed.

Yes!

The guerrilla generals stood up, preparing to take their leave.

A soldier's voice suddenly rang out outside the door.

Report! General, an urgent matter!

Lieutenant Wang Ming was the first to step forward and help the soldier inside. Seeing his face full of exhaustion and his body bearing wounds, he was startled.

Could the imperial court have sent people to attack?

Did they react that fast?

Sun Xiang's voice dispelled his worries: Why are you back? Weren't you sent to kill Zhan Shubai?

Wang Ming breathed a sigh of relief; it turned out to be the soldier sent to assassinate Zhan Shubai.

But, wasn't it ten people who went to hunt down Zhan Shubai? How did it end up like this?

The soldier, his face smeared with blood, said, Forgive me, General. Your subordinate is incompetent and failed to kill Zhan Shubai.

That Zhan Shubai's martial arts are truly extraordinary. The ten of us followed the General's orders to launch a surprise attack from a distance. Even though he was clearly out of his mind, he still managed to dodge our hidden arrows.

He even used picked-up stones to injure several of our brothers.

It is only because Zhan Shubai wasn't wearing armor or carrying a bow and arrows, otherwise, the ten of us might have... might have lost our lives there.

Sun Xiang was shocked.

He knew Zhan Shubai's martial arts were extraordinary, but he didn't expect him to be this formidable. Such a fierce general's martial arts must be approaching the level of the Great General.

He hurriedly asked, How is Zhan Shubai now?

After we were injured by him, we didn't get close. His horse was whipped so hard by him along the way that it was foaming at the mouth and collapsed, unable to get up. Without a horse to pursue us, he couldn't do anything to us either.

However, he became alert. I am afraid the few of us will be unable to complete the mission.

Your subordinate had no choice but to rush back and ask the General to make a decision.

Great General... Sun Xiang turned around and asked Ren Tianye for instructions, What do you think? Should I send more people?

No matter how high Zhan Shubai's martial arts are, if I send a hundred people, he will still die.

Before Ren Tianye could speak, the soldier added, General, Great General, Zhan Shubai has already returned.

What?

I don't know what got into Zhan Shubai. After dodging our pursuit, he slapped his head and hurried back. But he didn't have a horse and was constantly looking for one.

However, he also took the opportunity to escape our line of sight, and now his whereabouts are unknown.

Ren Tianye's voice then leisurely sounded.

It seems Zhan Shubai has realized what is going on.

But so what if he has?

If Yunji City is in his hands, he is a figure of importance. But with Yunji City in my hands, what can he do even if he comes back?

Although he said this, Ren Tianye did not drop his guard.

He said, However, Zhan Shubai has managed Yunji City for several years after all, and his roots run deep. Once he returns, Yunji City will probably not be that peaceful.

Generals, you must quickly seize control of the seven thousand soldiers in Yunji City. Only when the soldiers' hearts belong to us can Yunji City be considered completely ours.

The guerrilla generals nodded in agreement and immediately left to carry out their orders.

...

Logistics Camp.

The seven thousand soldiers of Yunji City were all holding the grain vouchers they received from Ren Tianye's general's mansion, lining up to receive their salaries.

The quartermaster distributed them one by one according to their original official ranks.

Everything was exactly as Ren Tianye had instructed. Even the most ordinary soldiers in Yunji City received the same monthly salary as the Chifeng Army.

2.5 taels of silver!

And each person received an extra bag of millet.

This filled the soldiers' faces with joy, and immense light burst forth from their eyes.

2.5 taels!

Previously, they only received 500 wen, and it was subjected to various deductions. This was an increase of more than five times at once.

Thank you, Imperial Envoy. Thank you, Imperial Envoy.

I, Old Liu, never thought that one day I could receive such a high salary. This treatment is almost the same as the Chifeng Army.

Sigh, if only the Imperial Envoy were the defending general of our Yunji City.

...

The soldiers of Yunji City discussed among themselves, all sincerely expressing their approval of the newly arrived Imperial Envoy, and the scene was like a joyous ocean.

But it was abruptly broken: Hey, on what grounds was my position in the Supervisory Team canceled? And you are only giving me 2.5 taels of silver? My monthly salary before was 5 taels of silver. This is directly cut in half!

Everyone's attention was drawn, and they turned their heads one after another.

They saw a soldier with a rugged appearance and a sturdy physique. Everyone recognized him; he was exactly a fierce general in the Supervisory Team established by Zhan Shubai, named Wang Hu.

At this moment, Wang Hu's eyes were wide open, and his aura was intimidating.

He pointed at the quartermaster distributing the salaries and roared, Do you want to die? Aren't you afraid of Your Grandpa Hu and these fists?

The quartermaster trembled with fear, and the soldiers instantly dared not discuss anything anymore.

Over the years, the Supervisory Team had always pressed down on their heads, accumulating deep prestige and fear. They were genuinely afraid of offending the Supervisory Team. Even though the Imperial Envoy now said the Supervisory Team was abolished, their fear was still deeply ingrained in their hearts.

However, Wang Hu's outburst did not last long.

In just a moment, a brand new Disciplinary Team composed of the elites of the eight hundred soldiers rushed over. The leader was exactly Zhang Shi, who was best at the art of divination.

He coldly glanced at Wang Hu: What?

You think it's too little?

Every member of the patrol rested a hand on the hilt of their blade. Coupled with Zhang Shi's imposing aura, Wang Hu's dissatisfaction and arrogance were instantly crushed, forcing him to cower and stammer, "I-I wouldn't dare."

"Hmph, you'd best mean that!" Zhang Shi did not bother to argue further with him. Instead, he declared loudly, "All of this was decreed by the Imperial Envoy."

"Whoever dares to disobey will get a taste of my blade!"

Having resolved this minor dispute, the patrol immediately hurried off to other areas to fulfill their duties.

Only then did Wang Hu's racing heart finally settle back into his chest.

Still, his face was twisted in displeasure. "Damn it, with this little money, how am I supposed to support my delicate and helpless mistress!"

...