Chapter 14: The People's Hearts Can Be Used

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  "Reporting back to Master Xianshi, Wu Qing's style name is Ziling. You can call me Ziling if you wish!"

  Wu Qing said with extreme respect.

  Generally, only close relatives or superiors can give a courtesy name to others. Wu Qing has obviously completely submitted to Zhang Xu. Even Gan Hui was slightly surprised, but then reacted and exclaimed with delight: "I can call him Zi Ling, my family's courtesy name is Zi Wei!"

  But it was Guan Hai, and he decided to interact with Wu Qing on an equal footing from now on!

  "Ziwei brother is polite, but calling Ziling is no harm!"

  Wu Qing hastily cupped his hands and said.

  Looking at the two of them, Zhang Xu smiled slightly and said: "Ziwei, hand over the task to Buwu to take good care of Ziling and the refugees. If they pass the divine image test, we can arrange for them to move into one of the seven agricultural villages. Ziling, you follow Ziwei's side these days and see how he trains his troops!"

  Zhang Xu did not say it directly, although he had already decided to expand the army and prepare for war. However, it was also impossible to rush things now. First, stabilize for a period of time, let Wu Qing get familiar with their own training methods, and then they could expand the military camp. Moreover, the construction of the military camp site also needed some time!

  "Thank you, Master Xian!"

  Wu Qing hastily knelt down and kowtowed, saying that this was equivalent to Zhang Xu accepting the refugees. Why not let him be overjoyed, and at the same time, his connection with Zhang Xu's faith became even more solidified, and the virtual line in the air was completely formed.

  "As long as Zilong learns well and practices military tactics, it is the greatest return for someone. No need to be polite, you can go now!"

  "Yes, Master Xian!"

  …………

  With Zhang Xu's instructions, Bu Wu fully arranged the affairs of the refugees, accepted them, organized them to work, and every day publicized Zhang Xu's kindness. He also spread the word that Zhang Xu was a heavenly master who had descended from heaven, instilling in the refugees their faith in Zhang Xu. All the refugees who had established connections with him were slowly arranged into seven farm villages. With Zhang Xu occasionally displaying his skills to heal injured refugees using talismans and herbal medicine, which was extremely miraculous, within a month's time, all the refugees became his followers. From then on, Zhang Xu gained 1,300 more followers, and the seven villages also gained labor force.

  Within a month's time, the benefits were not only that the refugees were organized to work, but also that eight of Zhang Xu's planned camps were built, and another six camps were constructed.

  According to Zhang Xu's plan, the current military system is divided as follows: five people form a squad, with one squad leader; two squads form a fire team, with one fire chief and one deputy fire chief, totaling 12 people. Four fire teams form a company, with one company commander and one deputy company commander, plus several personal soldiers of the company commander, totaling 50 people. Two companies form a battalion, which is 100 people, with one battalion commander and one deputy battalion commander as assistants, plus two or three personal soldiers of the battalion commander, totaling 105 people.

  Four guards, plus a cavalry team, a battalion commander's personal soldiers, a fire head army, a battalion commander, two deputy battalion commanders, are a battalion of 500 people. A battalion is an independently acting army, although small, with all five internal organs complete. The four guards have different focuses and organizations: the gun guard is mainly composed of gun soldiers, the knife guard is mainly composed of knife soldiers, the shield guard is mainly defensive, and the bow and arrow guard is mainly composed of bow and arrow soldiers. Building an army like Zhang Xu's requires extremely strict organizational requirements and is extremely costly, after all, cavalry and archers are both very expensive troops.

  Although Zhang Xu's territory is small and the population is not large, it is precisely because of this that the formation of the army is extremely sad. He wants to form an elite army, only in this way can he establish the greatest military power with the least number of troops.

  Moreover, although the cost is huge, Qinglin Town has Yancun and Gongfang Village, which have the power of salt and iron. In these two years of great chaos in the world, salt and iron are even more violent, especially the two major military forces of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan, who have been killing each other continuously, with considerable profits. Therefore, Qinglin Town is not lacking in these things, what it lacks is people who can lead troops to fight, what it lacks is civil officials and good generals, it can be said that this is also a helpless move.

  Of course, the iron sold was only rough salt and Qinglin Town's crude iron. With Zhang Xu's guidance, although it was impossible to produce large quantities of steel like in the industrial era, the amount of steel produced was still extremely high, so the weapons and equipment were already prepared early on.

  After a month of time, teaching by example, and Wu Qing is also an extremely hardworking person, he has thoroughly learned the military training methods set by Zhang Xu.

  Zhang Xu, although not personally in command of the army, did not have to worry about the strength of this army, for it had a faith that no other army of this era possessed, and the object of that faith was himself.

  Because of their faith, the troops trained in this way can be said to be elite soldiers. With three meals a day and sufficient nutrition, they undergo long periods of training, with three sessions of contact drills every day, and a strict organizational hierarchy. In just one month's time, Wu Qing truly experienced the terror of training troops in this manner!

  What's terrifying is not only the strictness of the army, but also the cost, and I saw a strong side of Qinglin Town in some aspects, such as the food expenses for training soldiers, and the white and spotless refined salt that made him heartbroken. The refined salt was obtained by dissolving coarse salt again, saturating it, and then adding charcoal to extract the refined salt. Although it still can't reach the standard of modern society, it has already removed harmful substances. Such salt is like a myth for Wu Qing.

  At the time of the Yellow Turbans' uprising, his family had not yet declined and was still considered a prominent household in Chang County. They had only seen green salt before; how could they have seen such things?

  It was also the case that Wu Qing's admiration for Zhang Xu, this immortal master, grew even more in his heart. This one month of time could be said to have brought him great benefits indeed!

  And so, the month entered October. Although it was a season approaching severe winter, Zhang Xu once again organized 3,000 young and strong men to expand the military camp, prepare for war, and when his followers heard this news, they were extremely enthusiastic. This time can be said that not only seven agricultural villages were recruited, but also three workshop villages were recruited. Ten villages in total, each with 300 young and strong men, it can be said that it has already reached the current limit of Qinglin Town.

  But the villagers were enthusiastic about sending their children over, without any backlash. This is the result of Zhang Xu's establishment of Qinglin Town for more than two years. If it were elsewhere, a civil unrest would have been triggered long ago. But in Qinglin Town, this was as lively as a festival, because everyone knew that joining the Imperial Guard meant becoming one of Master Xian's brave warriors! Warriors are protectors of their homes and Master Xian!