Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

When Geng Songfu mentioned this, Chen Mo fell silent for a moment. The reward and punishment system he had established currently only awarded gold and silver for killing enemies—the more enemies killed, the greater the monetary gain—and promotions were given priority.

However, the system of titles and ranks had not yet been established, as Chen Mo currently controlled only one county and lacked the authority to bestow titles. But as his influence grows, it would become possible.

Granting titles and ranks, appointing marquises and ministers, these are things ingrained in the bones of the people that can greatly stimulate the military's enthusiasm.

Seeing Chen Mo did not interrupt him, Geng Songfu knew what he said might be useful. Facing this young man who could govern an upper county so well, Geng Songfu did not dare to hold back, and spoke about increasing horses.

Frankly speaking, a qualified cavalry, if given armored horses, with only over five hundred riders, can break a ten-thousand-strong army.

If there are five thousand riders, they can take control of a prefecture.

The Qingzhou Army has only about three thousand riders.

Under the cavalry charge, even an army entirely composed of lower-grade martial artists cannot withstand it.

Of course, the term five hundred riders or five thousand riders doesn't just refer to only five hundred horses or five thousand horses.

Because equipping one rider with two horses is standard, and the corresponding logistics troops also need to be fully equipped.

Therefore, even establishing a cavalry with five hundred riders involves significant expense.

Nonetheless, if established, its power is unimaginable. Even facing middle-grade martial artists, it can maintain an advantage.

Establishing a cavalry is known by everyone to be a way to strengthen the military. If Geng Songfu could only speak superficially, he wouldn't be a second-class scholar.

He elaborated on how to establish: "Gaozhou has a species of horse called Gao Pu Wild Horses. These horses possess a strong wild nature and must be tamed before use, hence their unremarkable reputation and low price, but they are quite numerous.

When the old fool served as the Wutai County Magistrate, he discovered that locals could train these wild horses, and they crossbred Gao Pu Wild Horses with draft horses, producing horses with sturdy limbs, short necks, rounded haunches, wide chests, and broad backs. They have great endurance, with the drawback being lower running speeds, but they are perfectly suited as warhorses. The old fool named them Wutai Horses.

The old fool once wrote a memorial to the authorities requesting them to vigorously develop Wutai Horses, but never received a response."

Saying this, Geng Songfu bowed to Chen Mo and continued: "If you support wholeheartedly, I am confident I can train five hundred warhorses for you within three years, no, within two years."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo's eyes lit up. He had been worried about sourcing horses and said, "What about the costs involved?"

"You may not know, sir, ordinary horses generally take five years to mature, but Wutai Horses take just over four years. Many locals in Wutai County have bred young Wutai Horses intending to use them as draft animals upon maturity.

Since Gao Pu Wild Horses are captured wild horses, it's a cost-free business, and their inherent low price makes these Wutai foals not expensive either—about five taels of silver per horse. You can easily purchase them from the local people."

Seeing that, Geng Songfu wasn't finished, he followed with a game-changing suggestion:

"Moreover, after purchasing these Wutai foals, you can sell them at a low or cost price to the people of Pingting County. Let the people breed the horses for you, simply promising that once grown, you purchase them at several times or ten times the original price.

In this way, you can improve livelihoods, acquire the needed warhorses, and reduce manpower spent on breeding them yourself.

If you still find the price high, you can buy a batch of trained Gao Pu Wild Horses from Wutai County and breed Wutai Horses yourself, though it would take considerably longer."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo fixed his gaze on Geng Songfu and immediately realized he was indeed a talent.

Many talented individuals can recognize problems and identify them but fail to propose solutions.

Geng Songfu not only discovered problems but also solved them.

Isn't Chen Mo currently lacking such a person?

Then, Chen Mo asked him a question about disaster relief.

Geng Songfu replied: "You can advise the local citizens to provide grain, supplemented by government grain, for relief, and arrange shelters to house disaster victims with provision of wood and water.

Grant salaries to officials staying temporarily, awaiting vacancies, or living unofficially, to let them provide food to the elderly, sick, and weak where people gather, and record their merits for future recognition.

Let refugees freely collect resources from mountains, forests, ponds, and lakes that benefit livelihood. Bury the deceased collectively in large pits. For kings, next year when the wheat and rice ripen, people can receive grain according to distance to home and return. If expanding forces, expand housing for them to marry and settle nearby, recruiting able-bodied men as soldiers."

Finally, perhaps due to age and some understanding of human nature, Geng Songfu praised Chen Mo: "In this aspect, you have done very well."

Lastly, Chen Mo inquired about economic development.

Naturally, Geng Songfu didn't suggest selling inventions for revenue but proposed a method of taking from the people and using it for the people, formulating a policy.

Chen Mo was completely convinced by Geng Songfu, able to achieve this through forward-thinking understanding, while Geng Songfu derived this from practical experience.

He shook Geng Songfu's hand firmly and said, "Mr. Geng, you are truly my right-hand man. Currently, the county government office has a vacancy for County Magistrate. I hope Mr. Geng does not mind taking a humble position."

"The fact that you accept the old fool, the old fool is deeply grateful. As for official position, as long as I can serve the people, the position matters not," Geng Songfu replied.

"County Magistrate Geng is too modest." Chen Mo patted Geng Songfu's hand and asked, "Do you have a wife, children, or elderly parents at home?"

Geng Songfu hesitated slightly, then said, "My parents passed away ten years ago from illness, and my wife and children died in a rebellion. Only the old fool remains alone."

"My condolences." Chen Mo sighed.

Geng Songfu already looked open-minded, saying it was no problem.

Just then, the fishing rod Geng Songfu placed by the lakeside suddenly moved and was rapidly dragged into the lake. Seeing this, Su Wen acted quickly and leapt forward to grab the rod, but the fish on the line seemed quite large, making Su Wen look a bit strained.

"Looks like it's a big fish," Geng Songfu walked over to assist.

With their combined efforts, a fish as thick as an adult's thigh was hauled onto the bank.

The nearby citizens exclaimed, "Isn't this one of the fish mentioned in the announcement, it has three eyes."

Chen Mo walked over.

"It's a Tail-eyed Spirit Fish," Geng Songfu exclaimed in surprise. "It's the first time I've seen such a big Tail-eyed Spirit Fish."

Geng Songfu squeezed the fish's belly, "This seems to be a mother fish about to spawn."

Chen Mo's eyes sparkled; this fish looks to weigh at least over thirty pounds.

The last time, a Tail-eyed Spirit Fish weighing less than a pound added fifty experience points.

This fish, at least, could add one thousand five hundred experience points.

The most crucial point is that it's a Tail-eyed Spirit Fish about to reproduce.

"County Magistrate Geng, this fish..."

Chen Mo wanted to suggest sharing it equally.

But before he could finish, Geng Songfu said, "Sir, it's best to keep this fish alive first. You could dig a pond and get some carp and crucian carp as companions, allowing for sustainable development."

After speaking, he handed the fish over to Chen Mo.

Geng Songfu didn't care about this fish. If he did, he wouldn't have looked into that case back then. Otherwise, by now, he would at least be a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, as the Second-Class Scholars alongside him back then are all now Middle-Grade Martial Artists.

Moreover, from the perspective of jurisdiction, this Dadong Lake falls under the governance of Pingting County, so the fish in the lake are effectively under Chen Mo's purview.

Chen Mo was slightly taken aback but then responded, "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, County Magistrate Geng. I do need it, but after this mother fish spawns and the small Tail-eyed Spirit Fish grow up, you must come and have a taste."

After speaking, Chen Mo dug a pit by the lakeside and placed the Tail-eyed Spirit Fish in it to prevent it from dying. Then he asked the Divine Brave Guard to bring a water tank over, as Chen Mo wanted to transport the Tail-eyed Spirit Fish back to the village to raise.

This type of Innate Spiritual Object is more tenacious in life force than ordinary fish and easier to keep alive.

Chen Mo smiled at Geng Songfu. As the saying goes, joy refreshes the spirit. Today's events made him forget all the displeasure he got from the incident with He Jinwu.

"Mr. Geng, you truly are my lucky star. It seems you and I are destined to meet; otherwise, how could we have caught such a big Spirit Fish, and one about to reproduce."

"Being able to meet you, sir, is also a fateful opportunity for me," Geng Songfu anticipated that perhaps he could achieve some of his lifelong ambitions in this Pingting County.

"Haha, since we get along so well, let's have a great drink."

...

The saying goes, don't doubt those you employ, and don't employ those you doubt.

Upon returning to the Government Office, Chen Mo immediately announced the appointment of Geng Songfu as the County Magistrate.

Zhao Daoxian didn't know Geng Songfu personally but had heard about him. To scholars, a Second-Class Scholar is akin to an idol in their hearts.

Zhao Daoxian was very supportive of his appointment as the County Magistrate.

Geng Songfu was quite effective. He started his work on the first day, and by the next day, he had already proposed an improvement point to Chen Mo.

That was the assessment system.

Currently, the set-up established by Chen Mo did not have an assessment system, and promotion generally depended on whether one had achieved meritorious service.

But clerks and constables are different; they can't go to the battlefield, so wanting to achieve meritorious service for promotion is difficult for them.

Moreover, if they can't move up, their salaries remain fixed, leading to slackness over time, which is detrimental to development in the long run.

The assessment system devised by Geng Songfu promotes the capable while dismissing the weak.

It involves expanding the number of officials, making officials replaceable. Each department of the Three Shifts and Six Departments should have at least three additional people. Over a half-month or month term, if they pass the assessment, they can remain.

Once newly recruited junior officials are familiar with their duties, supervision can be established, and strict penalties can be set. If mistakes are made, minor offenses warrant warnings, while major ones result in demotion, corporal punishment, or salary penalties.

This would make those officials who occupy positions without wanting to work feel a sense of crisis, motivating them.

PS: Thank you all for the Monthly Pass!