LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 63 - Lend me some money
In the military camp, news quickly spread about a new colonel with connections.
Cameron Guo, Wesley Hu, Zane Wang, and others were quite sensitive, and everyone was wary of Xiao Chuyi.
Xiao Chuyi couldn’t be bothered. She wasn’t there to monitor Oliver Sheng, nor was she part of the Black Robe Guards.
She had read Oliver Sheng’s poetry and, on a whim, decided to come to this northwestern border army to experience military life and see if the legendary Oliver Sheng was truly as talented in both literature and martial arts as the rumors claimed.
Oliver Sheng was busy training the troops, striving to quickly form a combat-ready force. Most of his soldiers were newly recruited and not very powerful. To quickly build combat strength, he had to constantly train the soldiers in teamwork.
At the same time, he led the soldiers in practicing Wild Bull Strength, aiming to make them Martial Disciples as soon as possible.
A few days later, Xiao Chuyi approached Magistrate Chen and had him recruit two thousand soldiers for her.
Upon hearing this, Oliver Sheng couldn’t help but sigh. Indeed, having connections makes things easier. Recruiting two thousand troops was a breeze for her.
After recruiting the troops, Xiao Chuyi also began training them, seemingly wanting to compete with Oliver Sheng.
Oliver Sheng saw this but couldn’t be bothered. He was too busy to pay attention to Xiao Batian.
As long as she didn’t cause trouble or bother him, he was fine.
“General, the soldiers are eating too much. We’re almost out of money and food,” Cameron Guo said to Oliver Sheng one day.
With nine thousand people and five thousand warhorses, the consumption of food was enormous, and Oliver Sheng didn’t limit their intake.
The military funds and rations allocated by the court were completely insufficient.
To help the new recruits become Martial Disciples quickly, Oliver Sheng even allowed the soldiers to eat meat, which was very costly.
“No money or food?” Oliver Sheng, who was busy training the troops every day, hadn’t really paid attention to this issue.
Cameron Guo couldn’t help but complain internally. General, you’re really carefree, aren’t you concerned about this?
This was a big problem. Without provisions, training the army would be an issue.
Oliver Sheng pondered on how to make money quickly.
The fastest way to make money was undoubtedly to rob, but with the roads beyond the pass blocked by heavy snow, going to the grasslands to raid the Barbarians and Huns wasn’t feasible.
“Go call Zane Wang!” Oliver Sheng ordered.
“Yes, General.”
Cameron Guo quickly went to fetch Zane Wang.
“General, you called for me?”
In the camp, Zane Wang addressed Oliver Sheng as General, only calling him brother in private.
“I have a task for you,” Oliver Sheng said.
Zane Wang was skilled in gathering information and scouting.
“What is it? Just say the word,” Zane Wang said seriously, looking at Oliver Sheng.
“I need you to gather information on any bandit or robber activity within a few hundred miles,” Oliver Sheng said.
Unable to rob the Huns and Barbarians, Oliver Sheng turned his attention inward.
The Great Wei was vast and couldn’t be managed everywhere. It wasn’t realistic to expect peace everywhere.
Especially in this ancient world, bandits and robbers were bound to exist.
“Gather information on bandits and robbers?” Zane Wang understood. Was this for training the troops or...
“Alright, I’ll go now. Wait for my good news.”
Zane Wang, along with ten scouts he had trained, quietly left River West County.
Oliver Sheng stroked his chin. Raiding bandits for money and food was a temporary solution. To make more money, he needed a quick and profitable venture.
“What should I do?” Oliver Sheng pondered ways to make quick and big money.
“Soap, wine, mirrors, salt.”
“Salt is out of the question. It’s strictly prohibited by the court, and getting caught means execution. I’m not yet strong enough to clash with the Great Wei court.”
“How about opening a restaurant to sell wine and roast chicken?”
Oliver Sheng thought about his business ideas. Brewing wine was indeed profitable, but it wasn’t feasible at the moment. He was almost out of money and couldn’t buy enough grain to brew wine.
“How do you make soap? Let me think. It seems pretty simple.”
“Stop thinking and go borrow money from Magistrate Chen. With our relationship, borrowing ten thousand or tens of thousands of silver should be easy.”
Without hesitation, Oliver Sheng left the camp and headed to the magistrate’s residence.
“Achoo!”
Magistrate Chen had just finished his official duties and sat down to rest when he sneezed.
“What’s going on? I’m not even sick!” Magistrate Chen tightened his coat.
The weather in the northwest was harsh, unbearably cold.
“If only this cold weather could kill more Barbarians and Huns,” Magistrate Chen thought, deeply concerned for the country.
The household servant had prepared the meal, and Magistrate Chen was about to eat.
“Master, General Sheng is here to visit!” the old servant reported.
“General Sheng is here? Quickly, invite him in,” Magistrate Chen said.
“No need, I’m already here.”
Oliver Sheng walked in and saw the food on the table, with wine and meat.
“Wow, you’re eating well!”
“General Sheng, please sit and join me for a meal,” Magistrate Chen invited.
Oliver Sheng didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down and said to the old servant, “Chen Steward, bring me a bowl and chopsticks.”
“Right away, sir!” The old servant went to get a bowl and chopsticks for Oliver Sheng.
“Come, General Sheng, have a drink with me.” Magistrate Chen poured wine for Oliver Sheng.
“Thanks.”
Oliver Sheng took a sip of wine and started eating, as if he were at home, not a guest.
“What brings you here today, General? Aren’t you busy training the troops every day?” Magistrate Chen asked, watching Oliver Sheng wolf down the food.
“I came to see you because I need something,” Oliver Sheng said bluntly.
“Tell me, it’s rare for you to seek me out,” Magistrate Chen said, their conversation like that of familiar strangers.
“What’s the deal with Xiao Batian?” Oliver Sheng asked.
“Xiao Batian?”
Magistrate Chen was momentarily stunned, then understood.
That young lady sure knows how to have fun.
“I can’t say, I can’t say!” Magistrate Chen shook his head vigorously.
“Not even to me?”
“Tell me quietly, I won’t tell anyone,” Oliver Sheng whispered.
Magistrate Chen looked at Oliver Sheng. “Do you think I’m a fool?”
“A bit!” Oliver Sheng nodded.
“I…”
“Is that all you came for? If so, finish your meal and leave. I’m going to Misty Willow House,” Magistrate Chen said irritably.
“Wait, there’s something else. Even if you go to Misty Willow House, Fairy Isla Qin won’t see you.”
“What is it? Whether I help or not is another matter.”
“Lend me some money.”
“How much?”
“Ten thousand taels of silver.”
“Get out, get out of my house,” Magistrate Chen said, trembling with anger.
Ten thousand taels of silver? Selling himself wouldn’t even cover that.
“Wait, don’t get mad. Why are you so angry?” Oliver Sheng quickly tried to calm him down.
“Ten thousand taels? Even if I embezzled, it would take three to five years to get that much. You’re really daring,” Magistrate Chen said angrily.
“Isn’t there a saying, ‘A clean magistrate in three years, ten thousand taels of silver’? You’ve been in office for three years, right? Can’t you come up with ten thousand taels?” Oliver Sheng looked at Magistrate Chen suspiciously.
“Oliver Sheng, we’re done. Get out, get out of my house,” Magistrate Chen said, furious.
He, a clean official, was being slandered by Oliver Sheng.
“Don’t be so angry. Why are you so upset?” Oliver Sheng said leisurely, drinking wine and eating meat.
“Who insults someone’s integrity like you do?” Magistrate Chen was so angry he wanted to hit someone.
“Hey, I’m really out of options, so I came to you. Thousands of people are waiting for food. We’re out of money,” Oliver Sheng said, starting to play the pity card.
“The court’s seasonal funds and rations are gone so quickly? You didn’t embezzle them, did you?” Magistrate Chen scrutinized Oliver Sheng.
“You don’t know the cost of running a household. That’s nine thousand people and five thousand warhorses,” Oliver Sheng said irritably.
“By the way, those two thousand soldiers Xiao Batian recruited, you should be responsible for them.”
Magistrate Chen looked at Oliver Sheng. Was this guy a rogue in his past life?
What did that have to do with him? They weren’t his subordinates.
“I manage a county with hundreds of thousands of people. I know the cost of provisions better than you,” Magistrate Chen said irritably.
“If ten thousand is too much, how about five thousand?”
“No, I’m just a poor official. Take my life if you want.”
“Three thousand, three thousand is the lowest I can go.”
Magistrate Chen drank his wine in silence, not wanting to deal with Oliver Sheng.