Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Song Jin had been right about one thing.
Once the two men were dead, their fortunes naturally fell into Ji Yan’an’s hands.
That old fox Ouyang Can had taken most of his wealth when he fled, however, and it had still not been found when he was captured.
But with the Truth Pill, no hiding place could remain secret.
The same went for Deputy Commander Song.
Only heaven knew how terrified the two men had looked at the time.
Within a few days, all their gold, silver, and treasures had been found and carried into Ji Mansion.
By then, Jiang Yunsui’s face had recovered.
She now had a nearly featherless chick perched on top of her head, nestled inside a hat she had asked someone to weave in the shape of a bird’s nest.
“Wow… So much money!”
There were beautiful gemstones too.
Little Mushroom liked those.
Ji Yan’an picked out several of the finest gems and pieces of jade and handed them to her.
“Exchange the large gold and silver pieces for smaller denominations, and obtain plenty of copper coins as well.”
Ji Yan’an had been prepared to pay for the troop reduction from his own pocket.
Fortunately, Ouyang Can and Deputy Commander Song had kindly delivered some warmth in his hour of need.
“Who would have thought that old scoundrel hid so much? Just how much did he embezzle?”
Song Jin replied, “The military pay issued by the Imperial Court was skimmed at every level, and plenty of it ended up in his hands. The weapons supplied to Qiusha’s household troops were so poor that taking them into battle amounted to suicide. Add in the profits from the quarry, and of course he amassed a fortune.”
“Nanmo, notify the generals and assemble everyone.”
Nanmo immediately left to carry out the order.
Once all the money had been exchanged, it was loaded up and taken to the drill grounds.
Jiang Yunsui followed to watch the excitement. Seeing the densely packed crowd below, she could not help exclaiming in wonder.
Ji Yan’an pressed a hand onto her head. “Behave.”
Jiang Yunsui quickly covered her mouth to show that she would listen.
“Old General Tang, you speak.”
Many people in the army now supported Ji Yan’an. Those who, like Deputy Commander Song, had betrayed their own side for personal gain had been purged, at least among the ones they had uncovered.
Even those who still refused to accept Ji Yan’an would not openly oppose him.
Besides, everyone had long wanted to reduce the army.
Its ranks contained many old, weak, and sick soldiers, as well as plenty of seasoned idlers who did nothing but wait for their next meal. Feeding them alone consumed a vast amount every day, while there were not even enough weapons and suits of armor to equip everyone.
Yet if soldiers were simply dismissed with nothing, one careless move could stir up resentment throughout the ranks and damage their reputation.
These men had come here to risk their lives. If they were driven away empty-handed the moment they were no longer needed, who could blame them for feeling bitter? They were not saints.
But the army could not afford that much severance pay.
Now Ji Yan’an had carts of silver and copper coins set before all the assembled soldiers.
Old General Tang spoke on his behalf.
“Everyone is gathered here, so I will announce an important matter. There are too many men of all kinds in the army. The Imperial Court refuses to issue military pay, and I am sure all of you understand the burden our current ranks place upon us.”
The soldiers looked at one another.
“The Young Master has executed several corrupt officials. All the money before you was confiscated from them. Any soldier who wishes to leave may step forward. Your military merits can be exchanged for silver. Even those without any merits will receive at least five taels apiece.”
An uproar swept through the crowd.
Some men’s eyes even turned red.
“We… we can go home?”
Not everyone had joined the army willingly.
Many had been conscripted during major wars, and once they entered the army, they were rarely allowed to return home.
Ji Yan’an moved to the front. His voice was not loud, but those nearby could hear him clearly.
“Anyone who wishes to return home may do so now.”
“Each military merit may be exchanged for ten taels of silver.”
“Those who do not want silver may exchange it for copper coins instead.”
Few soldiers with military merits chose to leave.
Military merit was awarded only for killing enemy officers. Ordinary soldiers did not count, so very few men possessed any.
Once Ji Yan’an gave his assurance, someone soon stepped forward.
The man’s hair was half gray, and he looked elderly, though he was actually only middle-aged, perhaps in his forties.
People aged quickly in Mobei, especially common soldiers at the bottom of the ranks.
“Young Master, I have no military merits. I… I want to go home.”
His nose reddened, and he began to cry.
Ten years. He had been conscripted ten years ago and had not returned home since.
Ji Yan’an nodded.
“Go collect your money.”
Once one man took the lead, more and more soldiers who wished to leave stepped forward.
They formed a line of their own accord and waited to receive their discharge payments.
Five taels of silver was not much, but for them, it was enough.
Before departing, every man bowed to Ji Yan’an again and again, overflowing with gratitude.
Those who chose to remain watched it all, and their respect for Ji Yan’an deepened further.
With this single measure, Ji Yan’an solved most of the army’s problem with surplus troops while winning the soldiers’ loyalty.
Old General Tang stroked his beard and nodded.
As expected of Lord Duke’s grandson.
Then everyone remembered where the money had come from and reached the same conclusion.
Nothing filled the coffers faster than confiscating a criminal’s estate.
Ji Yan’an had executed Ouyang Can and Deputy Commander Song without reporting to the Imperial Court. Every intelligent person understood what he intended.
Some quietly supported him and helped seal off the news.
The only report to reach the Capital would say that the Barbarian Army had marched on Qiusha, and that the Prefect of Qiusha had fled in fear of punishment and was now missing, his fate unknown.
As for Deputy Commander Song, was it not perfectly normal for men to die on a battlefield?
The troop reduction alone took Ji Yan’an three days to complete.
Jiang Yunsui went with him only on the first day. After that, she stayed at the residence.
She grew mushrooms, harvested mushrooms, and dried mushrooms.
She watched the two roosters catch bugs for the little golden eagle.
She also cut grass and pressed it into portable cakes as rations for White Horse, now named Mantou.
“Mantou, come eat all this grass!”
Seeing another patch of grass sprouting in the courtyard, Jiang Yunsui called White Horse over.
The corner of Fat Chef’s mouth twitched at the name.
“Can you please give it another name? What sort of name is that for such a fine horse?”
Jiang Yunsui stubbornly refused. She firmly believed she had a gift for naming things.
“Mantou is a wonderful name. Mantou are white and soft and delicious. It even likes eating them. Isn’t that right, Mantou?”
White Horse, which had no idea what the name meant, flicked its tail.
What could a horse possibly understand?
Then again, what could Little Mushroom understand? She was merely a mushroom who hated studying and earned terrible grades.
“Excuse me, is Jiang Yunsui here?”
That voice sounded so familiar.
Jiang Yunsui poked her little head out from behind Fat Chef and peered toward the gate.
Hmm? She could not see anything.
“Mantou, move aside. You’re blocking my view.”
Mantou stepped away, and Jiang Yunsui finally saw the boy at the gate, who was a little older than her.
“Xiao Xing!”
Xiao Xing’s eyes lit up when he saw her too.
“Yunsui!”
A few minutes later…
Jiang Yunsui took her little friend on a tour of her home and successfully earned his envious gaze.
Then she abruptly changed the subject. “I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. If you like it here, you can come stay while I’m gone. Help me watch the fruit trees in my courtyard so there aren’t too many bugs, and water the vegetables too. You can eat your meals at Ji Mansion.”
Hehe. Clever Little Mushroom had found someone to watch her courtyard.