"Name?"
"Cultivation?"
"Affiliation?"
......
Question after question, uttered by those white-robed attendants, fell upon the ears of the cultivators.
And the cultivators who answered the questions were all registered by the stewards seated on chairs, pen in hand, meticulously recording them.
A young cultivator slowly walked forward.
The white-robed attendant immediately inquired,
"Name?" "Chen Qi!"
"Cultivation?" "Late stage of Foundation Establishment!"
"Affiliation?" "A disciple of the third-class family, the Chen family!"
......
The stewards, seated at their chairs, wrote down the names and origins according to the exchange.
"Are you willing to serve as a captain?"
"Of course, I am willing!"
"Good, go gather over there. Oh, and take this token!"
After answering the question, the steward pointed Chen Qi in a direction and tossed him a token.
Although this was a hastily assembled army, Wu Tao, for the sake of management and control, had established a hierarchy based on cultivation levels.
Within this army, composed entirely of cultivators, there was a system.
The cultivator army had four tiers: Soldier, Captain, Battalion Commander, and Regiment Commander.
Soldiers, naturally, needed no further explanation.
What is there to say about mere soldiers? Death seekers, cannon fodder, laborers – these were all their designations and implications.
Soldiers were, of course, cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.
Captains were naturally stronger. As captains, they also bore the responsibility of leadership. While there were many benefits, there were also extremely severe penalties. If they dared to flee in advance, their fate might be more terrifying than death.
These captains, leading a dozen or even a few dozen men, were generally skilled cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Cultivators who could serve as Battalion Commanders in the cultivator army were usually at the Golden Core stage.
And Regiment Commanders were cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage.
At this moment, within the Chu Territory, apart from Black Blood City, Wei City, Wei City, Lun Ming City, Yue City, Mu City, and over a dozen other major cities, as well as counties, districts, and towns, large numbers of cultivators were enlisting.
......
Three months later, a cultivator army, amassing the majority of Chu Territory's strength, was assembled. This was a cultivator army numbering three hundred and eighty thousand.
With the army assembled, the issue of distributing spirit stones arose.
It was important to note that over ninety-nine percent of this army was not Wu Tao's direct subordinates, but comprised of forces from various factions.
The daily consumption of each cultivator was considerable. How could such a large force be sustained without mountains of spirit stones?
Why did these cultivators and these factions obey Wu Tao and fight for him? Was it not for spirit stones?
If even this could not be provided, why would they follow him?
"Eat the north wind?" Or wait for a better day?"
"In the cultivation world, although some cultivators are exceptionally foolish, foolishness does not equate to stupidity."
"Few cultivators would be fooled by mere promises?"
Wu Tao never believed he possessed any kingly aura that, once released, would make everyone submit, leading to the formation of the Ascending Immortal Sect.
Only those who had been brain-damaged for years and were in a state of drunken delirium might think so.
If it were truly that simple, then there would be no need for cultivation, nor for the endless fighting...
They would simply stand in a line and compete over whose kingly aura was stronger.
If things were that simple, the world would have long been at peace.
Unfortunately, such a scenario would never occur.
Why did the major sects, major families, and major powers fight over territories?
Why did the central court of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty constantly weaken the power of the aristocratic families? Was it not for the distribution of various crucial resources?
If everyone had ample resources, so many chaotic affairs would not have arisen, and the cultivation world would not have been plagued by continuous warfare.
And the central court of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, under the opposition of all aristocratic families, had to cede some benefits to the eight feudal lords to reduce its own pressure.
Ultimately, everything boiled down to the word "interest."
Therefore, the question arose:
What was the fastest way to obtain spirit stones in the cultivation world? Naturally, it was by owning spirit stone mines. Was there any faster or more stable method?
However, the factions that could possess spirit stone mines were not to be trifled with. Each one was a major power. In other words, without being a major power, how could one possibly guard a spirit stone mine?
Of course, as a Jiedushi, Wu Tao also had over a dozen spirit stone mines under his command, though they were all of small to medium size.
"Master, here are the specific materials regarding the currently assembled cultivators!"
Ye Yu, who was in overall charge of this matter, handed Wu Tao a stack of thick jade slips.
Wu Tao read the jade slips carefully and with great earnestness, a look of relief slowly spreading across his face.
Indeed, after a significant investment of spirit stones, manpower, and resources, these matters had finally yielded some results.
"Master, there are also a few minor matters to report to you."
Ye Yu, responsible for the entire plan, scratched his head and said with a sheepish smile.
Upon hearing this, Wu Tao's brows furrowed slightly. From the way the young man kept rubbing his hands, he knew that these so-called minor matters were likely very important.
As expected, Ye Yu's next words made Wu Tao's expression change dramatically.
Seeing Wu Tao's slightly impatient expression, Ye Yu said with a wry smile, "It's like this. After our calculations, it seems we don't have enough spirit stones..."
"What? Say that again? Not enough spirit stones? How is this possible? Haven't we just raided the homes of dozens of aristocratic families?"
Wu Tao had never expected it to be this way.
After all, the entire tax revenue of the Chu Territory was currently under their control. Coupled with the aristocratic families they had annihilated over the years in their campaigns, and the output of over a dozen spirit stone mines...
All things considered, even if it wasn't a billion spirit stones, it certainly wouldn't be less.
Even if it were only a few hundred million spirit stones, no matter how many cultivators they recruited, no matter how many mouths they prepared to feed, the expenditure couldn't be this high.
"Master, you truly don't know if you don't manage the finances. I am truly not lying to you..."
"This is what the financial department and I calculated after several days of work. We genuinely don't have enough spirit stones now..."
Seeing Wu Tao's still confused and gloomy expression, even as his disciple, Ye Yu dared not provoke his anger at this time.
However, this matter could not be kept quiet. Such issues could not be concealed, and deception would only lead to a more serious situation.
Thus, Ye Yu could only brace himself and say, "We have calculated it several times, and we are absolutely sure. The spirit stone reserves in the treasury can only last for another half a month at most."
......|
"Ye Qingyi, Nangong Nan, Nangong Xing - what are those three girls doing now..."
"Forget it. Ultimately, why are the spirit stones being spent so quickly? Is our plan really that expensive?"
Wu Tao rubbed his temples and asked with a headache.
......
"Master, the plan that consumes the most resources now is the sustenance of these assembled cultivator armies. You must remember that there are three hundred and eighty thousand cultivators, nearly four hundred thousand mouths to feed."
"In addition, there are plans for recruiting talent, as well as plans and research designed by these talents themselves, all of which require spirit stones from our treasury."
"These miscellaneous matters, all of them, are the primary reasons leading to the current situation where income cannot match expenditure."
Facing his master's questioning, Ye Yu replied calmly.
......
Hearing this, Wu Tao, while suffering from a headache, also felt a surge of dissatisfaction.
Wu Tao tapped the armrest of his chair with his right hand and said sarcastically, "According to you, this is all my fault, isn't it?"
Although all these matters were proposed by Wu Tao, and the expenditures were approved by Wu Tao, making him the ultimate culprit for the shortage of spirit stones, as the boss, the owner, the supreme leader, could Wu Tao admit his mistake?
A leader is never wrong. Even if he is wrong, he is right...
Even if problems arise in the end, it is the subordinate's fault, and it has nothing to do with the leader.
Hearing Wu Tao's somewhat unreasonable words, Ye Yu, as his disciple, could only chuckle wryly.
He had never expected his usually extremely serious master to exhibit such a rogue-like demeanor in front of him.
There was no alternative. Faced with such a master, Ye Yu could only bow his head repeatedly, chanting, "It is all this disciple's fault. It is all this disciple's fault. Master, please calm down, calm down..."
......
......
"Hmph! Since it's wrong, then we must find a way to correct it. We must find ways to expand our revenue streams. Methods are rigid, but people are adaptable. Use your brains..."
......
Wu Tao, already aware of his own shortcomings, naturally could not dwell on the matter and hold his eldest disciple accountable. Thus, he could only stop there.
Looking at his disciple, who had been bowing his head, enduring his scolding, and remained silent, Wu Tao felt a pang of discomfort.
After all, it was his own ambition that was too great, and it was normal to spend more than he earned.
Subsequently, Wu Tao waved his hand, signaling his disciple to leave.
......
Ye Yu bowed to his master and then disappeared immediately.
Ye Yu was not foolish. If he didn't leave now, would he stay here to be reprimanded?
......
After Ye Yu left, Wu Tao sat in his chair, lost in thought.
"Indeed, we must broaden our revenue streams!"
"Otherwise, without spirit stones, how can anything be accomplished..."
"But how can we obtain spirit stones quickly?"
"This is a major problem. Must we raid more people's homes?"
"But we have raided so many homes recently. If we continue, with everyone in a state of panic, the foundation might become unstable."
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