“600 Shi, the Merit of Twenty Heads.”

Numerically speaking, it’s indeed so.

But in terms of the usual official positions, the various subsidies enjoyed by a 600 Shi official are enough to double their annual salary.

If they hold real power, the position of a 600 Shi official is even more astonishing.

Currently stationed in Leping, Xi Zhicai enjoys additional subsidies, including expenses for alcohol and supplies for writing and painting, which are no less than those of a genuine 600 Shi official.

In comparison, the merit-based system of thirty Shi for a battle victory seems substantial, but in reality?

The reward for one feat is distributed among the rear soldiers, amounting to less than a tenth each, unless they are willing to risk death at any moment and become the frontline breaker wielding a long weapon, only then can a squad kill or capture two hundred people to truly receive twenty merits.

This is a result that is hard to achieve even after several battles.

But this does not prevent Xi Zhicai from being motivated by this comparative calculation at this time, especially—

Not just for himself!

Indeed, it is necessary to push Qiao Yan further up!

Otherwise, it is impossible to recruit more useful talents without enough chips.

Listening to his words, Guo Jia couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“If you really envy the fixed quota reward for this feat, go into battle and kill the enemy yourself. I remember you saying two years ago that you went up and down the mountain ten times. Now with armor on, lifting the big flag and marching a thousand miles should not be a problem.”

Xi Zhicai: “…”

That won’t be necessary.

The weight of the big flag is as high as 160 Hanjin, which is equivalent to 40 kilograms according to modern data and is an important symbol of the central army’s ceremonial guard.

Leave such things to Dian Wei to carry.

As for him… he might as well go talk to Mr. Mi Zhu of Donghai Mi’s clan.

Qiao Yan dares to propose a reformed version of the merit-based system at such a time, as a standard for rewarding soldiers under her command, which is undoubtedly something Xi Zhicai did not expect.

With her current reputation and the conditions in Leping far superior to other places in Bingzhou, it is feasible to drive the masses only by defending Leping and stabilizing Bingzhou.

After all, none of the Leping county residents, refugees, and Black Mountain Army who make up these soldiers are willing to return to their lives three years ago.

But she dares to outline a crude reward system first, and has her own determination in deciding this matter, which Xi Zhicai can only feel pleased about, not surprised.

This is at least to sit in a position higher than provincial governor, one must exhibit the qualities of a wise ruler.

Now the question arises: the premise of such a merit-based system requires sufficient food supply.

While the cultivation of yams has depleted the land’s fertility and accumulated rice and grains over the past three years, it doesn’t mean this method can continue as manpower expands and conflicts escalate.

The so-called fertile lands of Bingzhou are geographically constrained, with a pattern of northern animal ranch and southern agriculture that is difficult to break.

This has already halved the cultivated land.

However, the Xianbei and Xiongnu outside of Bingzhou are not easily subdued, which means there is a need for long-term expenditures on border management.

In these past two years, the stockpile in the Leping prefectural treasury can still support consumption, but it may not be enough in the future.

It would be best to introduce external aid to balance this food shortage.

And if one were to bring in external aid to mitigate this food shortage, it wouldn’t hurt to focus on the Mi family descendant from Donghai who willingly threw themselves into the net.

Don’t think Mi Zhu can’t see this; perhaps initially he was going after his own fishing rod, but now he’s more interested in toothpaste and soap, keenly aware of the market potential these items hold.

Unfortunately, unlike the Quyuan Plow currently being debated within the academy, these items cannot be learned just by seeing their appearance.

If Mi Zhu truly wants to enter this business, he’ll have to negotiate with Leping about the price.

Due to Qiao Yan’s letter, Cheng Li is worried about the logistics of the granary.

As for him, he might as well set a trap for Mi Zhu.

After casually chatting with Guo Jia, he planned to go out and find someone.

Suddenly, Guo Jia said, “The autumn day is clear and refreshing. I’m going out to clear my mind.”

He looked suspiciously at Guo Jia, feeling that there was more to his words than met the eye. “Where are you going to clear your mind?”

Guo Jia yawned, sluggishly picking up his wine jug. “To Bingzhou. A bit farther away might sober me up.”

——

Inside the main tent of the Bingzhou military camp, Qiao Yan sat with a pen in hand.

The parchment in front of her was already filled with her definitions of how to assess merits in battle, but there were also many discarded sheets scattered on the ground.

Seeing her tangled expression, Dian Wei casually remarked, “If the Lord wants to know the rewards and punishments for capturing flags and taking first in battle, just let me try it out next time we engage in combat. I’m not one to lie anyway.”

Qiao Yan’s pen paused, leaving a blotch of ink on the paper. “…It’s fine if you say such things here, but please don’t say them outside.”

Dian Wei chuckled “Indeed, it’s quite provocative.”

Qiao Yan was feeling conflicted.

If she were to put him on the battlefield, for others, the difficulty of achieving such feats as beheading enemies might be comparable to eating and drinking.

As for Zhao Yun, he could prioritize military command over everything else.

But it seemed clear that Dian Wei was more suited to leading the vanguard to break enemy formations…

In that case, could he possibly achieve an income of 2,000 Shi of grain from a single battle?

Qiao Yan felt uneasy about this possibility.

Under these circumstances, should she establish a fixed annual campaign fee?

Qiao Yan realized she needed to add another restriction in this regard, writing it down on paper to avoid creating serious imbalances in benefits between civil and military officials.

Dian Wei scratched his head, neither understanding why Qiao Yan didn’t want him to speak out nor why she seemed somewhat grateful when she glanced at him afterward.

But he had a gut feeling that this gratitude wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Yet, setting a limit through fixed rewards for military leaders was undoubtedly necessary

……

Li Le just heard the commotion behind him and turned back swiftly enough, only to witness the exceptionally fierce cavalry charging into the formation with astonishing momentum, swiftly advancing a considerable distance, resembling a ship cutting through waves in the sea.

He gasped, witnessing the cavalry armed with long spears and several hundred infantry swiftly closing in from both sides—trapped between the encroaching enemy and the Wushi Castle walls.

However, the plight of these numerous soldiers and the imminent danger approaching didn’t divert his gaze from Zhao Yun.

This was truly an astonishing display of leadership.

So astonishing that the young rider charged forward, his spear creating a formidable aura, leaving almost no one capable of withstanding his sweeping attacks!

In what seemed like an instant change, Li Le saw him charge directly at the nearest leader, lifting him off his feet with a single spear thrust.

As the sky, which had just brightened, suddenly splattered with hot blood.

Facing such a powerful cavalry charge and an equally terrifying commander, there was no way those directly impacted could survive.

Li Le clenched his teeth as soon as he saw this change, feeling as if he himself had been hit by the cavalry instead of the unfortunate fellow.

He immediately recognized that the leader Zhao Yun had broken through the formation to attack was none other than Yang Da, sent by Yang Feng to act alongside them!

“How unlucky…” he cursed silently in his heart.

Before he could prepare himself, at a time when he was trying to win over Hu Cai’s former followers after his death and just as he was about to turn against Yang Feng for power, Yang Da’s death here was completely disadvantageous to him, only escalating tensions between the two sides.

But Zhao Yun didn’t choose his target randomly.

In a previous battle in the mountains, he had encountered Han Xian, whom he had faced and released, and recognized him now under the dawn’s faint light and from his vantage point on horseback.

Recognizing Han Xian didn’t stop Zhao Yun from further identifying Li Le, not far from him.

The obvious alliance between these two made another person, who was also protected in another direction, stand out more.

With Hu Cai already dead, this person was more likely affiliated with Yang Feng’s camp.

Realizing this, Zhao Yun decisively decided to kill this person without hesitation!

In the midst of battle, a commanding general had to make decisions on his own; there was no time to consult with Qiao Yan for feedback.

So he acted!

As his spear struck, and hearing the soldiers around him call out “General Yang,” Zhao Yun confirmed that his almost assassinating move was indeed correct.

His spear swiftly intercepted the weapons attacking him from Yang Da’s followers, without lessening the force from killing another person first.

And the pressure from the rest of the cavalry behind him made sure there was no way for Yang Da’s followers to get their revenge.

The infantry following the cavalry was equally formidable, which was easy to understand because Le Ping and his people had just been declared a decapitation merit system, dividing them into groups of five before they followed Zhao Yun and Zhang Yang into battle.

This was the time to secure a good future for themselves!