Chapter 72: The Three Generals, the Second Team, and the Female Army
"Tens of thousands of hu?!"

Tang Mao was unable to control his emotions and expression, and was so shocked that he broke his voice and said, "You can produce tens of thousands of hu of oil?!"

Jin Mao counted on his fingers: "Eight townships in Wushang County, plus two in Taimo, plus Shan County and Zhang'an County..."

Jin Mao said uncertainly: "About 10,000 hu were obtained, and the total output was less than 20,000 hu."

Tang Mao took a deep breath. Even in the Central Plains, he had never heard of any county or even any state producing such a huge amount of oil!
Normally, if a county's output exceeds 1,000 hu, it can be reported as a good omen and rewarded.

There is no way. Rapeseed is so difficult to grow in this era. Most people usually get oil by eating meat.

Vegetable oil is not enough to light a lamp, so who would want to eat it? Even though fats and oils are consumer goods for the rich, vegetable oil is expensive.

For a moment, Tang Mao thought about reporting it as a good omen, but after that, there was nothing left for him to do.

Considering the long-term situation, Tang Mao decided to take it slow.

So he agreed readily.

The two agreed that starting from March, Tang Mao would send people to get the oil and sell it in Central China, with the payment to be made every two months.

Jinmao didn't want money or anything like that, but he wanted to buy as much as he could, including fruit and vegetable seeds, furs, livestock, grains, etc., regardless of the price.

If Jinmao could trick some craftsmen into working for him, he would be willing to pay double the wages, and provide transportation, food, lodging, and assignments.

War horses are not under consideration for the time being, as they are too expensive. We have limited capital now, so investing in development is the best strategy.

In addition, Tang Mao promised to immediately recruit craftsmen from various counties in the county to obey Jin Mao's command.

In this way, Jinmao only needs to find some more big trees to cope with the surge in production.

The business has been discussed.

Tang Mao gave a small warning: "Don't go too far. If you get pregnant before marriage, I won't forgive you!"

Jin Mao touched his nose in embarrassment. After all, he was the one who took advantage of others first. There was no way to explain it.

"Father-in-law, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."

Looking at Jin Mao fleeing in a panic, Tang Mao shook his head and cursed with a smile: "Stinky boy!"

Qiantang County is just north of Shanyin County, less than thirty miles away.

Jin Mao thought that there was no need to go to great lengths to defeat a group of petty thieves, so he prepared to lead a hundred cavalrymen to attack them.

Dong Xian and He Qi, who had just joined, naturally would not miss such a good opportunity and asked to follow.

He Qi even gave an irresistible reason: "I heard that most of the bandits in Qiantang County are pirates, and the bandit leader Hu Yu lives on an island in the east of Yongdong, and his whereabouts are difficult to track."

Needless to say, He Qi knew this group of pirates very well.

Jin Mao left behind the landlubbers in his personal guards and took Kan Ze's family back to Wushang County first, while he took the rest of the people on horseback.

Two hours later.

It's getting late, it's not suitable to go out to sea today.

When the group entered the city, the Qiantang County magistrate learned of it and hurried out to greet them.

As a result, the entire Qiantang County knew that the rebellion-suppressing commander had come to Qiantang to wipe out the bandits.

The whole city cheered.

In fact, Jinmao only brought less than forty people.

Seeing that Jin Mao had such a high prestige, He Qi suggested: "Why don't you recruit some local rangers and form a temporary team? First, they are good at swimming, and second, they are good at using boats and knowing directions, which can give you more confidence."

Jinmao is quick to accept good advice.

Soon, the news spread throughout the county.

Before it got dark, the entrance to the county government office was already crowded with people.

Some came here because of its reputation, while others just wanted to know whether Jinmao’s troops were really treated that well.

In short, the public responded.

Jin Mao also told the truth, the treatment was definitely real, but these hundred people could only enter the recruit camp, and then he talked about the treatment of each team.

Everyone's enthusiasm remains unabated.

Jin Mao referred to He Qi's opinion and selected a hundred of them, formed a team, and appointed He Qi as the temporary team leader.

As for the remaining people who were not selected, Jin Mao spoke frankly: "This county has just suffered a disaster and is short of food and fodder. I really can't afford to support so many soldiers."

"After the autumn harvest next year or this year, if you want to join my army, I will welcome you with open arms!"

Then everyone left happily.

The next day, Jin Mao requisitioned ships and food from Qiantang County and set out from Zhejiang to Yongdong to suppress the bandits.

Unexpectedly, they encountered hundreds of pirates including Hu Yu on the way. Jin Mao made a prompt decision and led the attack in a cone formation with Dong Xi's ship as the leader.

As soon as the ships of both sides collided, Dong Xi was seen holding an iron shield in one hand and a ring-handled sword in the other, like a python swallowing a person, and he pierced through the leading ship in one go.

"What a fierce general!"

Jin Mao stood on the big ship and saw it clearly.

These pirates really were no match for Dong Xi. They were either hit by his iron shield and vomited blood, or cut in half with a single sword. It felt like killing a pig was even easier than that.

The front ship engaged the enemy, and the two wings soon came into contact. He Qi on the left wing was not as brave as Dong Xi, but his effect was not bad.

Even though his subordinates were rangers who had just been formed yesterday, under He Qi's command, they gathered together, charged left and right, and killed the enemy with the least casualties.

Although Dong Xi and He Qi both had the advantage in equipment, the fact that they were able to defeat the enemy so easily still shows that they are both rare generals.

What surprised Jin Mao the most was on the right wing, where the personal guards were originally leading the charge.

I don’t know how such a powerful man suddenly appeared among the rangers. He is not strong, but his swordsmanship is quick and neat, and he is extremely fierce.

Jinmao seemed to see an enhanced version of Bai Shi, like Bai Shi with superb knife skills, who not only has the skills but also does not care about his life!
"This man is also a fierce general. He should be transferred to the personal guard team for training first."

Led by three fierce men, they quickly killed the pirates and forced them to flee.

Jin Mao chased for a while, ordered his men to launch a few rounds of rockets, and then stopped chasing.

Only one in ten pirates escaped, so I don't think they will cause any trouble in the short term.

After returning to Qiantang County, as soon as he got on land, Jin Mao couldn't wait to ask: "Where is the man on the right wing who killed the enemy so fiercely?"

A young man with blood all over his head, as if his hair had been dyed, stepped forward and saluted with his fists: "Greetings, Captain."

"What's your name? Do you have a courtesy name?"

"My name is Ling Cao, my courtesy name is Kuntao, and my ancestral home is Yuhang County."

Jin Mao asked in surprise, "How did you come to Qiantang County from Yuhang County, Wujun?"

Ling Cao blushed and said, "I came to Qiantang to visit a friend. I have heard of the great name of the commander for a long time, so I wanted to give it a try."

"I didn't expect my reputation to spread to Wujun!" Jin Mao was very happy: "I value your courage very much. I will give you a chance to be promoted directly to the personal guard team. Are you willing?"

Ling Cao was ecstatic and said without hesitation: "I do!"

So far, Jinmao has gained three military generals.

Ling Cao, a ruthless man who knows martial arts, an advanced version of Bai Shi.

Dong Xi, strong and fearless, an advanced version of Pan Lin.

He Qi is brave and resourceful, an advanced version of Gong Lei.

However, whether they can adapt to the model of Jinmao’s army depends on the first assessment and whether the three will be demoted.

Speaking of Pan Lin and Gong Lei, one thing has to be mentioned.

The two of them brought two teams, together with Lanzhi's 500 female soldiers, and were invincible in Yuzhang County.

There were countless people from the Shanyue tribes, both large and small, who came to surrender.

In just a few months, they gathered a population of more than 30,000 and became a famous large tribe in the eastern part of Yuzhang County, threatening Nanchang County, the capital of Yuzhang County.

But the governor of Yuzhang was so frightened that he was afraid of being attacked.

However, the good times did not last long.

Before the group could even fight, they started to quarrel among themselves.

The reason was simple. Lanzhi wanted to be the leader because the female army was well-equipped, but Pan Lin and Gong Lei disagreed.

The people below are also divided into two factions.

All the young and strong men support Pan Lin and Gong Lei, and many of them come here just for these two people.

Others support Laneige because it is fair and does not discriminate against anyone.

It is precisely because of fairness that young and strong men are not convinced.

However, Lanzhi, Pan Lin and Gong Lei did not dare to break up directly.

Gong Lei, in particular, said bluntly that he would be the first to kill anyone who dared to go against Jinmao's will.

Lanzhi had no intention of betrayal, she just wanted to gain the greatest benefits for the elderly, the weak, women and children.

Pan Lin had some thoughts in mind, but he didn't dare to say it out loud, because no one in the second team would really betray Jin Mao. They just thought that this was an experience and they would definitely be promoted to the first team or even become officers after returning.

Without the second team following, Pan Lin might as well be content with the status quo. Until now, he still hasn't figured out how Jinmao trains its soldiers.

(End of this chapter)