Chapter 81 – My Young Master is Pure and Unpretentious (Part 3)
Whether in her previous life or this one, Jiang Pengji had a very clear understanding of her role.
Once, she was the backbone of the entire legion, the core pillar, the faith of all soldiers, and the very essence that gave the legion its power… cough cough, simply put, she was the mascot in peacetime and the leading wolf in times of war.
She was responsible for the fighting, while the internal management of the legion and diplomatic engagements were handed over to a specialized assistant.
She was a slacker in other subjects, excelling only in combat; she couldn’t possibly act tough and blindly command, right?
Now that she had delegated the training and personnel management authority to Xu Ke, she naturally wouldn’t micromanage in those areas.
If Xu Ke couldn’t handle the situation, she could always step in later.
Adhering to the principle of fully utilizing resources and gradual progression, Jiang Pengji and Xu Ke developed a detailed training process and stages.
The initial training sessions were short, the tasks light, giving ample time to adapt, and once fully accustomed, they would gradually increase the intensity and introduce other elements. When not training, they would cultivate wasteland, engage in fieldwork, or help other tenant farmers.
To boost motivation, they formed groups of five, with each group electing a leader, who would receive half a month’s extra silver compared to others. Of course, the leaders were not fixed; selection took place every month, with the best performers winning.
There would also be competitions among the groups; the best-performing group would each receive an additional half month’s silver.
With rewards, there naturally came penalties, and the punishments weighed heavier than the rewards.
Each month, the team with the poorest performance would be penalized with a deduction of one-tenth of their monthly silver and would have 10% more training tasks than the others in the following half month.
The group with the overall worst performance would incur the same penalties.
Additionally, if ordinary members caused trouble, the whole group would be penalized; if a leader intentionally stirred trouble, the collective would be punished.
While these rules seemed straightforward, they effectively established a system of oversight and restraint among the leaders and their subordinates, as well as between the members. Leaders enjoyed more privileges but also bore greater responsibilities, making their fortunes intertwined—it looked independent, but in reality, it was one cohesive unit.
As for the monthly silver amounts, Jiang Pengji discussed them thoroughly with Xu Ke, referencing various materials before finalizing the figures.
Soon, the village head led a group of people over, and judging by their mental state, they looked considerably better than when they were at the Tooth Shop.
“Bringing you back from the Tooth Shop was intentional; it wasn’t for you to enjoy life. I won’t waste words; from now on, you are to listen to Xu Ke’s orders. If anyone dares to cause trouble, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” she declared.
Xu Ke?
Many of the newly acquired house servants had heard that name and knew who Xu Ke was.
Upon hearing it, some of the bolder ones couldn’t help but lift their heads slightly, realizing that Xu Ke, who had been just as down on his luck as they were, was now well-dressed and appeared healthier than just days prior.
Jealousy and envy sprouted in the hearts of many.
However, before they could ponder further, Jiang Pengji’s words splashed cold water all over their hopes.
Despite the small turnout, Xu Ke’s hands trembled slightly with excitement, his expression hidden in the shadows.
“I’m not a cruel master; if you’re unhappy, you can speak up. If your reasoning makes sense, I’ll listen. If it doesn’t, then be quiet.” Jiang Pengji scanned everyone with an icy gaze that dared no one to meet it.
Giving Xu Ke a knowing look, the young man understood and stepped forward to explain the training details.
Hearing that they would have enough to eat and wear each day, along with additional monthly silver, joy spread across the faces below.
In these harsh times, natural disasters and human catastrophes were ever-present, making it difficult for people to survive. While Hejian County remained prosperous, other poorer counties were plagued by starvation, bandits roamed freely, and some places were so severely affected that nine out of ten houses stood empty!
The day after they were bought back, they discovered Xu Ke had vanished, leaving them anxious for days, fearing being dragged down by his circumstances.
Now that things had settled, the “fierce master” they imagined was actually gentle and kind, allowing many to breathe a sigh of relief.
As for the training, after all, it was merely physical labor, so it shouldn’t be too taxing.
Jiang Pengji noticed their relief and smirked slightly, saying coldly, “The Liu Residence does not raise waste; the monthly silver isn’t easy to come by. Bringing you back isn’t just to guard the house, nor will a few superficial gestures be enough.”
The young man’s voice was mostly youthful and innocent; however, upon hearing Jiang Pengji speak, everyone felt an icy chill in the air, sweat breaking out on their backs as a fear stirred deep within.
“While Hejian County is prosperous, the nearby mountains are home to bandits. They are the wicked thieves you will face once your training is complete. You can fool around during training, brush them off like a light joke, but when you face those vicious bandits someday, they won’t spare your lives just because you weren’t serious!”
Once Jiang Pengji finished speaking, Xu Ke couldn’t help but look up at her, eyes widening in surprise—this wasn’t what had been agreed upon! Yet, the skinny, youthful boy stood confidently with his hands clasped behind his back, glowing in the sunlight, seeming particularly dazzling.
Not only did Xu Ke find himself captivated by this scene, but the live stream was also flooded with fans showering gifts.
【Stowaway Non-Money】: The host looks so handsome; I feel like my legs are going to buckle! QWQ
【Poor Taoist sees your flower is toxic】: I want to be pinned down and cherished by the host… Ah, harder… Ah! Elegance! Maggots! Butterfly!
【Penguin Girl】: (/ω╲) If you keep this up, you’re going to lead the young boys astray.
The System laughed broadly, all the gloom from the past few days dissipating.
Their host may have an odd style, but as long as the audience generously showered gifts, their streaming success soared.
Ignoring the panic in the crowd, Jiang Pengji smiled coldly, “The Liu Residence does not raise waste. I, Liu Xi, also don’t need a bunch of useless people cluttering my space. You have three months; by then, it’s either the bandits die, or you do. The decision is entirely in your hands.”
Wolves that have never tasted blood may be weaker than sheep that have.
Jiang Pengji aimed to train a bloodthirsty pack of tigers and wolves, not a bunch of performing sheep.
With her arms crossed and chin slightly raised, she surveyed her team with an undeniable presence. “Alright, do you have any objections?”
