Chapter 9: A Bright Future Ahead

  Li Mingchu was very poor and happened to be the first to have a child, so no one had anything to say.

  In this way, the soldiers no longer dared to have any doubts, and with joyful faces, they kept saying happy words.

  "It's really sent! It's really sent!"

  "Two years and six months of military pay, I can get tens or twenty taels of silver."

  "After receiving my salary, I can finally eat a full meal and my wife and children won't have to go hungry anymore!"

  Li Mingchu, with Wu Qi's support, got up happily and quickly picked up the silver, running away swiftly, but behind him came a burst of teasing laughter.

  "This Li Mingchu is really capable! He was born with a lucky star and coincidentally caught up with Commander Wu on his way to take office, what a great fortune!"

  "I originally thought he did it at the wrong time, but now it seems, he did it just in time!"

  "Haha!"

  A crowd of soldiers burst into hearty laughter, with joyful faces. This joy did not come from ridiculing Li Mingchu, but from the imminent receipt of military pay.

  No need for Wu Ji to call out, the soldiers voluntarily lined up in order and went one by one to receive their military pay. The accountant was also skilled and quickly finished distributing the silver.

  The soldiers held silver in their hands, with a look of excitement on their faces, tears rolling back and forth in their eyes, as if they were in a dream.

  "Thanks for your directions! Thanks for your directions!"

  "Wu Zhihui is our reborn parents!"

  The soldiers all knelt down with a rustling sound, and bowed their heads to Wu Ji, using great force. A loud "thud thud" sound of knocking on the head rose up. The scene of hundreds of people knocking their heads with all their might was extremely shocking.

  Looking at the simple faces, Wu Ji felt both joy and emotion. The soldiers were not bad people, but in order to make a living, they had to do some sneaky things.

  "Wu Zhihui, you have won the hearts of the soldiers! From now on, if you want them to live, they will live; if you want them to die, they will die, without a second word!" Huangfu Song looked at the grateful soldiers and whispered in Wu Ji's ear: "It is rare in history to win the hearts of the soldiers like this!"

  He's right, at this moment, these soldiers have the heroic spirit of living and dying for Wu Ji, as long as Wu Ji says a word or makes a gesture, even if it's going up a knife mountain or down a sea of fire, they won't frown.

  "Get up!" Wu Ji waved his hand, wanting the soldiers to stand up.

  "Thanks for your directions! Thanks for your directions!"

  The soldiers stood up with joy and surrounded Wu Ji, their faces filled with gratitude, sizing up Wu Ji, only to discover that his small stature was unusually tall.

  The gaze of admiration for Wu Ji had turned from appreciation to gratitude, and finally to frenzy. In their eyes, Wu Ji was already a god-like existence.

  "Wu Zhihui, what to do with so much silver?" The accountant measured the mountain of treasure, it was dazzling, his eyes wide open.

  A total of nearly 50,000 taels of silver were found, which was the military salary for two years and six months, but it was only over 10,000 taels, not even half. There are still many left. How to deal with this is indeed a big problem.

  "Commander Wu, please let me say a fair word." The soldier who stole the chicken hesitated for a moment before speaking up: "If it weren't for Commander Wu, we wouldn't have received our military pay and our families would be going hungry. This remaining silver should go to Commander Wu, brothers, is anyone opposed?"

  "No!"

  Only two words, but they are in perfect harmony, uniform and consistent, as if spoken by one person.

  If Wu Jie took the remaining silver, the soldiers would not have a second word to say. On the contrary, they would think it was right and proper. Not for anything else, but because Wu Jie did not embezzle their military pay, just this one thing made Wu Jie comparable to a sage.

  In the Song Dynasty army, generals and officers who did not embezzle military pay were rare, extremely rare. Out of a thousand, it's unlikely to find even one; Wu Ji's actions are not much different from those of saints and sages.

  "Yes! Commander Wu, if you don't embezzle the military pay, just this one thing is enough to gain the soldiers' loyalty. These silver coins belong to you, and they won't have any objections!" Huang Fu said in a low voice beside Wu Ji's ear: "Such an opportunity is rare! If you miss it, there won't be another one!"

  "Your kindness, I appreciate it." Wu Ji shook his head slowly and said to the soldiers: "This silver is the blood and sweat of our brothers. Many of you have been exploited by He Wanquan, working hard for him to make money. Your families have also suffered under his oppression, doing hard labor for him to earn money. Taking this silver would be taking your own blood and sweat, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."

  Wu Ji's voice was not very loud, but it had a certain unshakeable authority. The soldiers heard it in their ears and felt it in their hearts, and they all exclaimed: "Commander Wu, you're really a good man! Good man!"

  "Those who have worked hard and those with family members who have also made an effort, report to me and receive your wages!" Wu Ji scanned the crowd of family members, seeing that many of them were not only resentful but also expectant, their eyes shining brightly, almost as radiant as the scorching sun in the sky.

  They should have been exploited by He Wanquan and didn't get paid for their work.

  "Really?" As soon as Wu Jie's voice fell, there was an excited cry from his family.

  "Of course it's true! Commander Wu is a man of his word, he said he'd give out silver, and he'll definitely give out silver!"

  "Those who have worked hard, hurry up and go collect your pay!"

  "Those who have never worked in a factory are not allowed to pretend to be one! Whoever pretends, I'll be the first to make you pay!"

  A group of soldiers were busy helping Wu Ji gain prestige, saying everything he wanted to say and even adding some threats. Some soldiers clenched their fists and put on a menacing air, as if ready to start a fight.

  After getting Wu Ji's consent, the family members came up and started receiving their wages. The soldiers kept waving to the family members, reminding them not to make false reports and to be honest.

  Looking at the appearance of the soldiers, Wu Ji was deeply moved again: "Are these still the sloppy-looking soldiers I saw when I first entered the military camp? They are so honest and sincere, they can be role models!"

  The family members received their wages and then knelt down to thank Wu Jie, kowtowing to him. Among those who kowtowed were the old and the young, the elderly with white hair and dim eyes; the younger ones were still being breastfed, carried by their families to kowtow to Wu Jie.

  Wu Jie was busy running back and forth, struggling for a long time before finally getting through this matter.

  There was still a lot of silver, Wu Ji called Shang Yuan and asked him to find some craftsmen to repair the camp. Shang Yuan was the leader of the Huiyi soldiers, he was familiar with these things, it was most suitable to hand them over to him.

  The barracks here are dilapidated, no different from the slums. The soldiers have been looking forward to renovation every day. Today, they finally looked forward to it and cheered again, making Wu Ji a sage.

  Having settled these matters, Wu Jie began to walk among the soldiers, his face solemnly saying: "Brothers, I know your difficulties! You have elderly and young at home, military pay can't be received, can't eat, can't open pot, can only do some sneaky things! This matter, I can forgive and forget! But, you've received military pay, shouldn't you go and repay these debts?"

  "This... Commander Wu, you say how to do it, and I'll do it! Can't we just secretly return the silver?" The soldier who stole the chicken's face turned bright red. No matter what the reason is, stealing chickens and dogs always makes people lose face, he was out of desperation, but very embarrassed.

  "What's your name?" Wu Ji looked him up and down before asking.

  "Returning to Wu's command, a small one called Gao Fu Yuan, calling Gao Fu Yuan." Gao Fu Yuan hastily replied.

  "Hmm! I'm going to investigate this matter. Whoever hasn't returned the silver will be court-martialed!" Wu Ji looked at the soldiers and said, "I'll give you two days off to settle these matters. Take care of any household chores that need attention, and make sure your families are taken care of. And tidy up your beards and hair, too - as soldiers, you should look like soldiers, not like beggars!"

  The soldiers at present are bearded and shabby, their clothes tattered, hardly distinguishable from beggars.

  "Two days later, bring your swords, guns, bows and arrows, wear your armor, gather here! Those who are late will be dealt with by military law!" Wu Ji's voice was not loud, but it made people dare not have the slightest doubt: "Disperse!"

  Wu Ji waved his hand, wanting the soldiers to disperse, but they hesitated, not wanting to leave him. Wu Ji had been busy for half a day and was tired, so he decided to head back. There were still some things that needed careful consideration, and today was just about understanding the situation.

  Wu Ji led his personal soldiers out of the military camp and went home. The soldiers saw Wu Ji off at the gate of the camp, and then they parted with tears.

  XXXXXX

  Wu Ji returned home and was greeted by Yang Xiu Xiu. As soon as she saw Wu Ji's face, she said: "Wu Lang, you've finally come back! Zheng Da Ren is waiting for you in the living room!"

  "Oh!" Wu Ji was somewhat surprised, what did Zheng Tai want with him?

  Hurrying into the living room, Zheng Tai's face was all smiles as he rushed over, clasped his fists together and congratulated Wu Ji: "Congratulations, Commander Wu! Congratulations, Commander Wu!"

  "Mr. Zheng, where does your joy come from?" Wu Ji was somewhat perplexed.

  "From now on!" Zheng Tai handed the thing in his hand to Wu Ji, and smiled: "This is a letter from the Zhongshu Institute, Commander Wu, please take a look!"

  Wu Ji took it over, opened it and saw a bright big seal, which was the seal of the Privy Council. He couldn't help but look surprised: "I'm the commander-in-chief, do I need to go through the Privy Council?"

  The Bureau of Military Affairs was the highest military organ of the Song Dynasty, together with the Secretariat-Chancellery known as the Two Ministries, and was one of the highest power organs of the Song Dynasty, in charge of military affairs of the Song Dynasty, equivalent to the current Ministry of National Defense.

  Wu Jie was a small commander of a camp, his promotion shocked the Privy Council, just like the promotion of a modern division-level officer is issued by the Ministry of National Defense, the rank is too high.

  This matter was beyond Wu Ji's expectations, and it would be impossible for him not to be surprised.

  "Wu Zhihui, it's not just that!" Zheng Tai was extremely delighted, pointing to a symbol on the document, explaining to Wu Ji: "This is the personal seal of Vice Commander-in-Chief Wang Shao, General Wang."

  In the Song Dynasty, official documents not only required a seal but also a signature. Without a signature, they were invalid, including imperial edicts. Each emperor of the Song Dynasty had a unique signature, and it was only valid when the signature appeared.

  Wang Shao, although he was the deputy commander of the Privy Council, but in fact, there was no commander of the Privy Council, so he was the de facto head of the Privy Council, equivalent to the acting Minister of National Defense. The promotion of a division-level officer requires the signature of the acting Minister of National Defense, what does this mean?

  "This...". Wu Ji naturally knew what this meant, it was just that it came too suddenly, and was somewhat hard to believe.

  "Congratulations, Commander Wu, your future prospects are bright!" Zheng Tai laughed and said with a smile.