No one could understand Xue San's bitterness, because after assisting A Ming in his advancement, and then assisting Fan Li in his advancement, he also helped the Blind One advance, completing a single-game assist "hat trick."

And he also understood that if this was a game, the Blind One probably already understood the essence of the rules of this round.

It was just that the previous groveling wasn't enough; he had to move the master on a deeper level.

The Blind One wasn’t in a hurry, he really wasn't in a hurry. He just sat on the side, watching you all anxiously trying to upgrade, leisurely drinking tea, silently waiting until he became the last one.

When the other six had all upgraded, leaving only himself, whoever was left, the master would feel very embarrassed and guilty.

Because, to be honest, among the master and the seven Demon Kings, the most useless and hands-off one was actually the master himself.

What the Blind One was waiting for was this emotion; in other words, he had calculated that the last one would definitely automatically upgrade, so there was no need to panic.

The white at his temples was carefully dyed on by Yue Xin after he got up, not too much, not too subtle, he had to grasp the degree well, otherwise it would easily backfire.

The ink stains on his cuffs were self-applied, not too much, not too little, and not too deep.

Today's clothes and attire were specially selected, plain, but not shabby.

He couldn't say too much, and he couldn't have too many expressions; it was best to be indifferent.

Just like in later generations' European and American elections, even the amount of dust on the candidate's leather shoes would be designed by the public relations team.

The Blind One succeeded.

He turned around,

saluted Zheng Fan,

then turned around smartly,

waved his sleeves,

and went to work at the yamen.

Xue San suddenly felt an extremely strong sense of frustration. He was good at hiding, but in terms of playing tricks, he really couldn't compare to the old schemer that was the Blind One.

After breakfast, Zheng Fan personally escorted Liang Cheng out of the city. This time, the number of troops going out was larger, but the morale was very high, because everyone who returned last time brought back a lot of wealth.

Soldiers eat for pay; this is the simplest principle. Zheng Fan's rewards to his subordinates have always been very generous. Usually, 50% of the spoils of war are directly distributed to the soldiers who participated in the battle.

It's like bosses in later generations often complaining that young people nowadays are not down-to-earth and always like to job-hop; the fundamental reason is still... the salary is too low.

Xue San didn't go outside the city to see Liang Cheng off, but returned to his own barracks. When he came in, fifty soldiers were already training.

This place didn't look like a gym, nor a martial arts training ground; instead, it was more like a classroom.

Because when selecting them, Xue San followed the principle of striving for perfection. Those selected were all agile and skilled in archery and horsemanship.

This saved a lot of initial investment and shortened the training course, so they could be put into use earlier.

Therefore, these people spent every morning familiarizing themselves with the new and improved equipment that Xue San personally designed for them, and afternoons and evenings were spent reciting.

Yes, Xue San wrote down some of his experiences and insights from his time in hiding and made them into "instructional materials" for these fifty soldiers to memorize.

What to pay attention to in what situation, what choices to make in what environment, wind direction, weather, and other factors were very detailed; he just made them memorize it.

Xue San sat on a reclining chair, responsible for spot-checking the recitations. Those who couldn't recite were severely beaten with a ruler.

Therefore, many nearby residents and former comrades mistakenly thought that these people were preparing for the "imperial examination," abandoning martial arts for literature.

This method was definitely not the best, but in Xue San's opinion, it was the most suitable at the moment. Cramming was cramming, but he would first have them memorize it and imprint it in their minds.

The casualties of scouts were already high. When these fifty people went out in the future, and slowly only ten or less were still alive, the backbone would emerge, and then they would be used as a framework to redevelop.

It sounded a bit cold-blooded, but this was reality.

Just as Xue San was preparing to spot-check his "students,"

a person walked to the gate of the courtyard. That person was Xiao Yibo.

Xiao Yibo now acted somewhat like a steward, busy with everything, responsible for logistics.

"Third Master, I'm here to deliver something to you, sent by Mister Bei."

"What is it?"

Xiao Yibo signaled those people to move the things in; it was cotton cloth, but all white.

Xue San glanced at it and knew what was going on. He also knew what Liang Cheng had just returned to do before leading his troops into the mountains again, so this equipment was prepared for the scouts under his command to hide. The snowy plains, as the name suggests, although not completely covered by white snow, most of the area was covered in thick snow. If the scouts could wear white cloaks, it would greatly enhance their camouflage.

"Alright, I've received the things."

"Okay, Third Master, you're busy, I'll go back to report."

After Xiao Yibo left,

Xue San gathered the fifty people under his command,

pointed to the white cloth in the boxes, and said:

"From now on, during the day, you will learn how to make clothes yourselves, and at night, continue to recite."

Hearing this order, everyone looked at each other. They were all soldiers who had come from the military, asking them to make clothes themselves with needles and thread? This was really forcing Zhang Fei to embroider.

It was just that Xue San had a lot of prestige, and no one dared to say it in person.

"Make, learn. I'll go to the city later to borrow a few embroiderers to teach us how to make them. A soldier who can't make clothes is not a good soldier."

………

On the city wall, thousands of slaves were being driven to work. After the experience of being besieged by the Jin army in the fortress, Zheng Fan had a very deep affection for the city wall.

Although it was very enjoyable to annihilate the enemy in the field, at critical moments, he still had to rely on high walls and deep trenches to save his life.

Two hundred-man teams of the Jingnan Army were patrolling nearby. On the construction site, there were no Yan people holding whips as supervisors; instead, the barbarians themselves were acting as supervisors.

Fan Li was personally carrying bricks and transporting soil, bare-chested, with developed muscles, attracting attention.

After confirming that the construction site was running well, Zheng Fan and Si Niang started walking towards the mansion.

To be honest, each Demon King had their own division of labor, and Zheng Fan himself was the most idle. He couldn't always stay in the mansion playing with needlework. On the one hand, Si Niang also had things to do, and on the other hand, playing with needlework also required waiting for the cooldown time.

Therefore, in order to brush up on his presence, Zheng Fan began to walk around and inspect various places in the city.

The process of inspection was still very satisfying. This was his lair, and it was flourishing. The satisfaction of being the lord of a city was really overflowing.

Seeing that it was getting late, Zheng Fan decided to return to the mansion. When walking side by side with Si Niang, Si Niang continued to introduce:

"Master, the ones who were using whips just now were specially selected by this servant from among the barbarian slaves. The effect of letting them be supervisors is much better than our own people being supervisors.

Those who become supervisors have better food, drink, and use than other barbarian slaves, which also allows other barbarians to see a real prospect."

"You've put your heart into it."

Management is a science. At the same time, how to manage and exploit slaves while making them hate others instead of themselves is a more profound science.

"This is what this servant should do. Our manpower is actually still somewhat insufficient. I have already recruited civilians from all directions to help build the city wall. The recruited Jin civilians will receive rewards, and these barbarians who perform well on the construction site, this servant has promised that they will also gain freedom after the city wall is built.

As for other supplies and armor preparations, our workshops have not been fully built yet, so we can only purchase from merchants while recruiting blacksmith masters.

Fortunately, Jin is not a barren land after all, and craftsmen are not difficult to find, but some fortified manors are unwilling to contribute them."

"Give them money, buy them," Zheng Fan said.

The Yan people's rule over Jin, except for Licheng, which has begun to gradually extend outwards, is basically superficial in other places, that is, the so-called influence has not reached the countryside.

"Some people are unwilling to sell."

"Then attack them. Let Gao Yi transfer another five hundred Jingnan troops, specializing in looting those disobedient small fortified manors."

"But Master, A Cheng has already taken most of the troops into the mountains, and we only have these Jingnan troops left in the city. If we transfer them out again, there won't be many soldiers left in the city.

At the same time, if it provokes the resentment of those Jin fortified manor lords, they may unite because of this……"

"Unite, then unite. After a while, the Jingnan Marquis's troops will be coming. I really hope that those Jin local tyrants will gather together to cause trouble. It just so happens that the Jingnan Marquis can help us destroy them."

Speaking of this, Zheng Fan suddenly paused and said:

"Hey, I almost forgot, let Xiao Yibo follow along. Gao Yi will follow behind. Let Xiao Yibo fly the banner of the Jingnan Marquis, saying that he is here to requisition food and craftsmen on the order of the Jingnan Marquis. Anyone who disobeys will have their clan exterminated!"

"Master, is this okay?"

This is actually equivalent to forging an imperial decree. Although the Jingnan Marquis is not the emperor, forging his order is not much different from forging an imperial decree.

"There's nothing wrong with it. When the Jingnan Marquis's troops come over in a while, we will definitely contribute grain and supplies to support the army. This is actually us collecting it on behalf of the Marquis.

Besides, with the Jingnan Marquis's current reputation, hahaha, once it's brought out……"

Tian Wujing's reputation and deeds are kept secret even in the Yan Kingdom, let alone in the Jin area that he personally conquered. A great demon who dares to exterminate his entire family, a great killing star, this title, without exaggeration, can抵一万铁骑! (be worth ten thousand iron cavalry!)

"What's wrong with this Marquis's reputation?"

At this moment, a man leading a horse and wearing a bamboo hat in front asked as he took off his hat.

"Once it's brought out, they will be so grateful that they will quickly contribute food and craftsmen to reward the royal army.

This humble general Zheng Fan,

greets the Jingnan Marquis."

————