The drawbacks of the merit reward system were not unknown to Qiao Yan herself.

Therefore, in perfecting every detail, she needed to strike a balance through the situations faced in subsequent battles.

To illustrate an extreme example, like the recent instance where she pondered about Dian Wei’s battlefield kills, rewarding based on inflicted casualties after a war would inevitably lead to imbalance in civil and military salaries.

However, clearly, what Guo Jia referred to wasn’t of this nature.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the necessity to come and “pick a fight” now about system rewards.

In fact, his ability to speak these words was a sign of his confidence in Qiao Yan.

In this situation, his first suggestion was particularly crucial, as it essentially established his position within this faction.

Qiao Yan replied, “Come with me.”

Such words clearly weren’t meant to be said in public.

Guo Jia followed her into the main tent and they took separate seats.

Qiao Yan didn’t inquire how he knew about the implementation of the merit reward system—there was no other possibility beyond Xi Zhicai informing him.

But at this moment, this perfectly timed disclosure wasn’t considered a leak, but rather an encouraging push.

At the very least, Guo Jia was now sitting in front of her.

After she began the conversation with “I’d like to hear more,”

Guo Jia asked, “Can captives replace merits? To preserve the lives of captives and expand the population of Leping is indeed a good idea. The conditions of peace and rewards in Leping are also sufficient to sway them. But may I ask, how does Marquis Qiao intend to restrain or handle captives?”

“Or rather, how does Marquis Qiao ensure that they won’t switch allegiance today and turn against you tomorrow? After all, when they join Marquis Qiao’s command, they are soldiers deserving merit, accepted by Marquis Qiao, and in one leap, they become one of your own.”

Unless Qiao Yan can consistently maintain sufficient advantages.

But this statement, while simple to say, is not so easy to execute.

Just like the situation Qiao Yan previously considered regarding Cao Cao recruiting the Qingzhou troops.

After his defeat at Wancheng, the loose discipline among these Qingzhou troops, and even their turning to plundering and evil acts, could become a dagger aimed back at him.

As Guo Jia mentioned, if there are no restrictions or early punishments imposed, capturing them today could lead to them wielding weapons on the battlefield tomorrow, cutting off enemy heads, and receiving thirty stones of rice and grain as their own merits.

While it seems like population expansion is growing like a snowball, what is the reality?

Qiao Yan’s fingertips tapped the table, lost in thought, as she listened to Guo Jia continue: “Not everyone is like the Black Mountain Army. They have already been under Marquis Qiao’s command for three years. Three years have shared in hardships, enjoyed bountiful harvests, and been educated in virtues, they have already shed their identities as Black Mountain Bandits and embraced themselves as people of Leping.”

“Even as Guo Jia has heard, they did not initially enjoy the treatment they have now. They started as prisoners performing labor, gradually earned wages, obtained Leping household registration, and now benefit from the implementation of the merit reward system.”

This is a gradual process.

But the premise of this gradual process is the existence of an environment conducive to such incremental development.

As long as the authority of the Han Dynasty can support it and the situation in Bingzhou Province remains stable despite the turmoil among those foreign tribes, this can be done.

But what about the future?

A rather thoughtless approach would be to let these individuals undergo a process similar to that of the Black Mountain Bandits.

Start them off as the lowest-ranked field laborers, undergo a process of assimilation and education. In most cases, only four words can describe the situation—

Time waits for no one.

Soldiers who have experienced real combat on the battlefield often have a clearer understanding of battle than the average person, and they often have more lethality.

Therefore, in situations where there is an extreme shortage of military power, there is no condition to implement something like a three-year training plan.

At most, they will be disbanded and sent directly to the next battlefield.

As for soldiers being classified into three, six, and nine grades, with deserters being the lowest grade, this might be a feasible method in the short term, but there are still many hidden dangers.

Internal military ranks, especially the despised ranks between former soldiers and deserters, cannot be established!

Once this precedent is set, it is easy to create a division within the military due to the appearance of oppressive behaviors

This kind of division is a minor issue in coordination, but on a larger scale, it marks the beginning of enemies exploiting internal conflicts within our ranks.

Therefore, Qiao Yan responded calmly and resolutely at this moment, “The merit reward system cannot be implemented only for a select few.”

Faced with the aforementioned drawbacks, this is a non-negotiable baseline that must be strictly enforced.

“Yes, that’s inevitable,” Guo Jia replied. “But in this case, Marquis Qiao’s determination to capture the Hedong Bandits is certain, hence the three battles fought with incomplete merit.

However, if Marquis Qiao captures the Hedong Bandits as prisoners, turns them into soldiers, and directly incorporates them into our ranks…”

“In such a scenario, judging in a way that disregards potential negative outcomes may embolden bandits to oppose Marquis Qiao without fear.

Because if they lose, they can simply surrender! Not only would they avoid execution, they would also enjoy the excellent treatment of thirty stones of rice and grain for each head of enemy soldiers they decapitate.”

“I’m not just making idle threats here.”

His words were equally valid.

During the late Han Dynasty, the frequent occurrences of killing prisoners and slaughtering cities were not uncommon.

On one hand, it was due to food shortages, unable to sustain so many people.

On the other hand, it was also a form of deterrence.

From the perspective of those opposing them, they might receive the treatment of surrendering peacefully, or they might directly become symbols of warning by being slain.

But just as Qiao Yan felt that the implementation of the merit reward system and its supplementary regulations must be a steadfast bottom line, the massacre of cities and extermination of families…

Even though she was aware of crossing into such an era and from the moment she began striving for the position of Marquis of Leping, she aimed to confirm her dominance over any future warlords.

She had ambitious plans to vie for dominance over the world, and she always believed that she would never slaughter cities or massacre prisoners.

This was another bottom line.

After contemplating for a moment with lowered eyes, she asked, “So, in Gou Jia’s view, what method should be used to constrain these prisoners?”

She said “constrain” instead of “dispose of,” making it easy for Guo Jia to discern her intentions in this statement.

But obviously, this was not a hesitant action driven by kindness.

Otherwise, Guo Jia would not have seen in her letter to Xi Zhicai.

Her arrangements for Zhao Yun’s recent actions, nor would he have seen her decisive actions in the Battle of Hegu Valley when she initially saved him and Mi Zhu.

Using killing as a deterrent was clearly not beyond Qiao Yan.

And given the current situation, times have changed.

Now, she simply wanted more population. What’s the problem?