Chapter 60 I am soft-hearted and cannot bear to see my subordinates suffer

Lizhou Township, Wushang County.

As soon as Jin Mao was out of the Jinyun Mountain area, he was discovered by Zhu Jun's newly appointed vanguard.

This is a team of cavalrymen, wearing iron armor and helmets on their heads. The iron armor of these cavalrymen is a style that Jin Mao has never seen before, and it provides more comprehensive protection.

If we have to say, the earliest county soldiers wore cloth clothes with some hard objects stuffed inside to act as cloth armor.

Later, the iron armor of Pan Lin's troops and the county soldiers was mainly half armor, even the Jiao family's death squad was the same.

It was not until later that the iron armor seized from the southern captain was a complete set of armor, including a helmet, body armor and skirt armor.

The iron armor of these knights is better, similar to the fish scale armor that Jin Mao obtained before, but simpler.

"Sima Jin, the general invites you to the central army to discuss matters." The cavalry leader saluted while standing on horseback.

Jin Mao clasped his fists in return: "I'll go right away."

These cavalrymen were Zhu Jun's private soldiers. It was the first time they were seen wearing armor, and their aura was completely different from before.

"As expected of an elite warrior who has fought in hundreds of battles." Jin Mao thought to himself, feeling nervous at the same time.

"Is there any leak? I am very careful in my work. How can Zhu Jun find out the secrets when he first arrives?"

"It must be some bastard who told on me!"

Jin Mao led his men past the cavalry and once again saw a new thing: a chariot camp.

Zhu Jun once again showed Jin Mao the art of warfare in ancient times.

Unlike Zhuji County at that time, Zhu Jun set up camp in Lizhou Township with chariots and food carts in a circle.

The gap in the middle is blocked by spears and lances as chevaux de frise and antlers. It looks crude, but it takes some effort to break through.

If the Southern Commander of Kuaiji had 50% of Zhu Jun's strength, it would be difficult for the Second Team to break through the camp even if it had 3,000 people, let alone 300 people.

Of course, Jinmao didn’t know this.

He just observed silently and kept it in mind.

Zhu Jun's central army commander's tent was in the center of the camp, surrounded by six chariot camps. The entire camp was near a tributary of the Zhejiang River, with its back against the mountain and facing the sun.

Whether it was the location of the camp or the surrounding sentries and patrols, Jinmao once again realized the gap between himself and the regular army.

The central army commander’s tent.

As soon as Jin Mao entered the room, he saw Zhu Fu standing proudly behind Zhu Jun, with the county governor Tang Mao and the state governor Chen Yi kneeling on his left and right.

"I'm honored to see you, General. What instructions do you have for me?" Jin Mao bowed first before speaking.

Unexpectedly, Tang Mao jumped out first, pointed at Jin Mao and shouted: "Jin Sima, do you admit your guilt?"

"Tell the truth, were these 20,000 dan of grain stolen?"

As expected of his father-in-law, as family members we should not have different opinions. Jin Mao finally understood why Zhu Jun called him here.

"Fortunately, it's not that."

"This is a simple matter. Fortunately, Xi Zhicai was well prepared!"

Jin Mao slowly took out a bamboo slip from his arms and raised it above his head with both hands.

"This is the production income of Wushang County in the past two years. Please take a look, General."

Zhu Jun nodded, and his personal soldiers immediately presented it.

"Rice can be grown twice a year? Early rice yields four shi per mu! Late rice yields six shi per mu!"

Zhu Jun pointed at the bamboo slips and asked in disbelief: "How do you prove it?"

"It just so happens that the late rice harvest has been completed this month. General, you can send someone to our army to get some rice and compare it with the early rice, and you will know."

Jin Mao was not in a hurry. Xi Zhicai and Yu Fan had already rehearsed these things with him.

Zhu Jun nodded and ordered his men to do it. He pointed to the next place and asked, "One mu of rapeseed field can produce half a bushel of rapeseed oil. How can this be explained?"

Jin Mao smiled and looked at Zhu Jun and said, "The eldest master knows the most about this matter."

Zhu Jun looked back curiously, and Zhu Fu replied in panic, but he didn't dare to tell a lie!
Zhu Jun’s family throne was so terrifying.

Zhu Jun nodded again, then put down the bamboo slips. When he turned back, a smile finally appeared on his serious face: "Sima Jin is very talented."

"Kuaiji County is lucky to have someone as talented as you!"

After praising him, Zhu Jun stated his request: "The army has been marching for ten days and the fodder has dried up. I hope Sima Jin will bear with us."

This was a simple matter, and Jin Mao readily agreed: "It is a great honor for Jin Mao to be able to serve the general."

There was plenty of rice straw and other things, and Jinmao had piled them in the paddy fields to rot and become compost. Although the rice yield was high in the morning and evening, the fields were wasted and needed to be fertilized in time so that they could be planted again next year.

Seeing that Jin Mao had a good attitude, Zhu Jun was generous with his reward. After all, he couldn't wrongly accuse someone.

"Sima Jin has done his best and should be credited with a great achievement!" No one on either side objected.

Jin Mao clasped his fists and thanked: "Thank you for your appreciation, General!"

This is how the matter was concluded.

Jin Mao was once again extremely excited: "I didn't find it! I didn't find it!"

Afterwards, Zhu Jun expelled irrelevant people and kept Jin Mao and others to discuss matters.

Spreading out the geomancy map, Zhu Jun pointed to Jinyun Mountain, passed the Yao village, and arrived at Yongning County via Daxi.

This is an undeveloped route, without even a decent road.

However, Zhu Jun said: "When you encounter mountains, you should build roads; when you encounter rivers, you should build bridges."

They actually wanted to open up a direct path.

Seeing Zhu Jun play unconventionally again.

Jin Mao secretly rejoiced: "Fortunately, I saw the opportunity early, otherwise, not only would my men lose their lives, but they might even be exposed."

At the same time, he thought of more: "This is a rare opportunity. Zhu Jun may have to help open up the road to Yao Township."

In that case, his sphere of influence could be truly connected.

Also.

"Yongning County is also by the sea. If we open this road, won't we be able to go there to dry salt?"

Things are going smoothly.

However, Jinmao was too happy too early.

How could more than 10,000 laborers be enough for such a large project?
Zhu Jun mobilized a large number of people from Wushang County and required more than 10,000 old and weak Baiyue people to work, but he did not provide them with food or fodder.

He emphasized: "This is military rations! It is only for the soldiers. It is only natural for the people to perform corvée labor."

As for the Baiyue, Zhu Jun was too lazy to even mention it.

This caused complaints from people all over the county.

Jin Mao was so anxious that blisters appeared on his mouth, but what else could he do?
He could only endure it while comforting his troops.

Although such things were very common in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Jin Mao just couldn't accept it.

This is not only the foundation of Jinmao, but also the place where Jinmao has the most acquaintances and the place where he feels the strongest sense of belonging.

But what can he do?

According to Xi Zhicai's guess, Zhu Jun may not have let go of his doubts, and any action may have stimulated Jin Mao to make a mistake.

At this time, he could only endure it.

You have to endure it even if you can’t help it!

This is not just Zhu Jun's problem. Even Tang Mao, who has always stood on Jin Mao's side, thinks that this is how it should be.

This shows that this is a problem for the entire Eastern Han Dynasty, and Jinmao will only see more of it in the future!

The vigorous road construction operation has begun.

These days, Jin Mao hid and didn't dare to look. He was afraid of seeing the blaming eyes of the people and Baiyue.

But some things cannot be avoided just by wanting to avoid them.

On this day, Jinmao couldn't escape and was sent to supervise.

Seeing the tired faces of the Wushang people and Baiyue, Jin Mao was afraid that he would be drowned in saliva in the next second.

Something unexpected.

When the common people and the Baiyue saw Jin Mao, they all knelt down and kowtowed to thank him for his kindness over the past year.

Tears welled up in Jin Mao's eyes and he helped up an old man closest to him.

"Hurry up, everyone hurry up!"

"I'm incompetent!" Jin Mao blamed himself: "I failed to take good care of everyone."

"I don't like what you said!" The old man who was helped up said, "Before you came, I was hungry every day."

"You came and made it possible for all five of us in my family to have as much porridge as we want. That's better than being a god!"

"We all can't thank you enough, how can we blame you?"

Jin Mao couldn't bear it any longer and cried bitterly with his face covered.

At this moment, he secretly vowed: "I want to become stronger! I don't want to endure it again!"

(End of this chapter)