Chapter 120: Ambitions Unveiled

Chu Wencai paused after hearing Chu Yun’s words, and clarity dawned upon him.

Their most pressing issue was self-preservation. Only by uniting and binding themselves together as a single rope could they grow and prosper. As for the vitality and business matters Chu Yun had mentioned, those were concerns for the future.

Thinking this, Chu Wencai looked at Chu Yun with immense admiration. "My Lord Earl, your wisdom is profound; I am deeply impressed! My previous suggestions were shortsighted and ill-considered, and I hope you will forgive me."

Chu Yun smiled and patted his shoulder. "Wencai, you are clever. I am glad you were able to identify these issues. While I am a descendant of the immortals, I am not omnipotent. I need your help, and the help of everyone here."

With that, he looked toward the others. Seeing this, they responded in succession, "Lord Earl, we will surely work hard and share your burdens."

Chu Wencai bowed again and said, "Lord Earl, if we are to develop and grow strong, we must be united in heart and effort. However, I must say that the land in Chu Family Town is barren and lacks resources; it will be very difficult for us to develop here."

Hearing this, Chu Yun let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, Wencai, you are right."

He then had someone bring over a few horses and pointed to the marks on their hindquarters. "I have seen these marks in the stables of the Fierce Tiger Army camp at Nanhai Town."

"What?" "What?" The crowd exclaimed in shock, followed by indignant curses.

"Viscount Linyang is too much! Lord Earl cured his chronic illness and saved his life, yet he actually provides warhorses to the Shaman Doctor Sect’s army!"

"That Viscount Linyang is so ungrateful; he deserves to die!"

"We must go to Viscount Linyang and demand justice..."

Chu Yun waved his hand to quiet the administrators present, then said, "Perhaps Viscount Linyang has provided not only warhorses but also troops."

The crowd was even more enraged at this. Chu Yun then patted Chu Wencai’s shoulder. "Wencai, you can ride a horse, can’t you?"

Chu Wencai nodded. "Lord Earl, I have recently learned how to ride."

Chu Yun replied, "Very good, excellent. When this meeting ends, take two guards, ride three of the warhorses from the Fierce Tiger Army camp, go to Nanhai Town, and tell Viscount Linyang to vacate Nanhai Town."

Everyone was stunned by this order. Chu Wencai stared blankly at Chu Yun. They had not expected Chu Yun to be so bold as to demand the Nanhai Town fief directly. However, considering Linyang’s ingratitude—having been saved by Chu Yun only to supply the enemy with horses and soldiers—it seemed quite merciful that Chu Yun was only taking his land rather than his life.

Yet, Chu Wencai shook his head. "Lord Earl, I am sorry, but I cannot comply with this order."

Chu Cuihua scoffed, "Wencai, even if you are a scholar, aren't you being too cowardly? What is there to fear? If you don't dare go, I will!"

Chu Lefu added, "Wencai, a real man shouldn't be outdone by a woman. If you won't go, I will!"

Chu Wencai quickly waved his hands. "No, Cuihua, Lefu, you cannot go either."

Seeing this, Chu Yun could not help but say, "Wencai, aren't you being a bit too timid? We just defeated three thousand troops of the Shaman Doctor Sect; our momentum is high. Viscount Linyang wouldn't dare do anything to us. Go ahead—even if he refuses our conditions, he wouldn't dare make things difficult for you. Just like how we didn't kill Huang Tiangui when he came to urge our surrender, right?"

Chu Wencai bowed to Chu Yun. "Lord Earl, as I said earlier, the land in Chu Family Town is barren and lacks resources, making it difficult to develop. That is why I, too, hope that Nanhai Town can become your fief."

"Moreover, I know that once Viscount Linyang yields Nanhai Town to you, the Magistrate of Qingtian Town will surely flee immediately, and Qingtian Town will also become your fief. In that case, with Nanhai Town, Chu Family Town, and Qingtian Town, you would possess vast, fertile land and abundant resources. We would certainly be able to develop rapidly."

Chu Yun smiled, admiring Chu Wencai even more.

What Wencai described was exactly what he had been thinking. He asked, "Wencai, since you know how important Nanhai Town is to us, why did you hesitate to tell Viscount Linyang to get out?"

The others looked at Chu Wencai with confusion.

Chu Wencai bowed again. "Lord Earl, it is not that I dare not, but I feel the time is not yet ripe. Before I go to Nanhai Town, we should sacrifice sheep to the heavens and hire craftsmen to sculpt a statue of the God of Thunder to thank him for using his lightning techniques to help us repel the Shaman Doctor Sect. Only then will more people know you are a disciple of the God of Thunder and that we are under his protection."

Chu Yun laughed heartily. "Hahaha, very good, Wencai. You have considered this very thoroughly. Originally, I intended to promote you to a Squad Leader only after you returned from Nanhai Town. Now, it seems that is unnecessary. From this moment on, you are no longer a Senior Household Chief, but a Squad Leader. All Senior Household Chiefs will take orders from you."

Chu Wencai was stunned, then quickly knelt to thank him. "Thank you for your trust, Lord Earl. I will not fail your expectations."

Chu Yun then looked at the others. "You are all excellent as well. I hope you will work hard, strive for promotion, and aim to become Squad Leaders. After all, our force will continue to grow, and we will need more than one Squad Leader."

The crowd responded in unison, "Lord Earl, we will certainly work harder."

Chu Yun nodded and called Chu Wencai, Chu Cuihua, and Chu Lefu aside. "Now that Wencai has been promoted to Squad Leader, the Senior Household Chief position needs a replacement from the Mid-level Household Chiefs. Submit a list of recommendations to me."

He then gathered all the Mid-level Household Chiefs and said, "Two of you will be promoted to Senior Household Chief. You need to recommend two from the Junior Household Chiefs to fill your vacancies. Additionally, if any of you feel you have the ability to be a Senior Household Chief, you may nominate yourselves."

Finally, he gathered all the Junior Household Chiefs. "Four of you will be promoted to Mid-level Household Chiefs. If you feel you have the ability and have performed well without making mistakes, you may courageously nominate yourselves."

By combining the recommendations from superiors with the self-nominations from subordinates, Chu Yun selected those to be promoted and made the announcements. He believed that anyone who could gain both the recognition of their superiors and their own self-assurance would not be lacking in ability. This method of promotion was one used by many large corporations in the twenty-first century.