C26. Spot On.

C26. Spot On.

Yuan Li's simple words caused a profound impact on Chu Hechao.

His gaze intense, Chu Hechao clenched his fists and remained silent for a while. Yuan Li, feeling his piercing gaze, nervously touched his nose. "General?"

Suddenly, Chu Hechao stood up, striding over to Yuan Li with fluctuating emotions in his eyes. In a low voice, he said, "Brother's wife, there will be many disabled soldiers in the army."

"I am aware," Yuan Li responded.

After a pause, he continued, "I can arrange a proper future for the disabled soldiers. If we plan to clean up Youzhou, we can assign the less severely injured soldiers to supervise villages and interact with the locals. This will ensure stability in Youzhou, build our government's prestige, and win the people's hearts, benefiting not only the control of Youzhou but also your army, allowing the soldiers to feel at ease and grateful."

Before he could finish, Chu Hechao immediately agreed, without hesitation.

Afterwards, he took a deep breath, then bowed to Yuan Li, "Thank you, Brother's wife."

With the formalities out of the way, Yuan Li's demeanor shifted to a more polite and distant tone. "General, please do not dislike me for meddling in your affairs."

He nodded slightly towards Chu Hechao before getting up and walking out of the tent.

However, as he was about to step out, hurried footsteps approached from behind and Chu Hechao abruptly grabbed Yuan Li's arm.

Feeling his firm grip, Yuan Li heard him bluntly admit, "Brother's wife, I was wrong."

"This was my mistake," Chu Hechao said as he tightly held Yuan Li's arm, his hand even circling around Yuan Li's forearm with intense heat. "Brother's wife, I need you to oversee Youzhou for me."

Yuan Li remained silent.

Chu Hechao exerted some force, causing Yuan Li to slightly turn to the side. With a softer tone, Chu Hechao looked at Yuan Li's disheveled hair and pursed lips, expressing remorse, "This month, you have been cold to me, and I have reflected on it. I impetuously asked for your forgiveness."

His sincere words and clear attitude conveyed his desire to continue working together with Yuan Li.

Yuan Li turned to face him, noticing Chu Hechao's hand on his arm. As their gaze met, Chu Hechao immediately released his hold, offering an apologetic bow, demonstrating a humble and respectful demeanor. "I hope for your forgiveness, Brother's wife."

After a moment of silence, Yuan Li softly spoke, "This is your territory, General, Youzhou. I have brought only some belongings, three hundred followers, artisans, and their families. General, we can collaborate this time, but what about the future?"

Certain things needed to be discussed before proceeding with the partnership.

Standing up straight, Chu Hechao replied, "Please raise your hand, Brother's wife."

Perplexed, Yuan Li extended his hand. Chu Hechao took something from his waist and placed it in Yuan Li's hand.

This item was a palm-sized seal, and as Yuan Li turned it over, his heart rate slightly quickened as he read the inscription above the light entering the tent.

Above were six small seal characters: Seal of the Governor of Youzhou.

Surprisingly, this was the seal of the Governor, the one in charge of the entire Youzhou!

Yuan Li looked up at Chu Hechao in astonishment.

Chu Hechao smiled faintly, "Although you have not been officially appointed as the Governor of Youzhou, I can temporarily entrust you with the seal of the Governor of Youzhou until the official appointment."

This gesture was Chu Hechao's sincere offering.

A smile flickered across Yuan Li's lips. Normally, protocol would involve some back and forth between him and Chu Hechao, with three requests and rejections before accepting the seal. However, with only the two of them in the tent, Yuan Li decided to forgo the formalities.

He neatly stored the seal away and candidly addressed Chu Hechao, "General, I also wish to establish some ground rules between us."

With his hands behind his back and standing upright, Chu Hechao responded, "Please proceed."

"Please trust in my unwavering loyalty and assurance that I will never betray you," Yuan Li said. "As relatives, if I ever do anything detrimental to the Chu royal family, I would be deemed untrustworthy, and my reputation would suffer. Secondly, we should cultivate trust between us, be open about any concerns to ensure a peaceful future."

Chu Hechao nodded in agreement.

"Lastly," Yuan Li paused, "I expect full cooperation from you in all matters I undertake in Youzhou."

After considerable thought, Chu Hechao eventually nodded in agreement.

*

In the following days, with Chu Hechao's encouragement, the disabled soldiers who could no longer go to the battlefield learned about Yuan Li's plea to the General on their behalf.

Grateful for another chance, these disabled soldiers were overwhelmed with joy. When Yuan Li visited the infirmary again, they insisted on expressing their gratitude despite their injuries.

Overwhelmed by a wave of emotion, Yuanli was powerless to stop them. These wounded soldiers, their eyes glistening with tears, resembled men grasping at their final breath. Their yearning to sacrifice themselves for him, a final act to demonstrate their unwavering loyalty, burned brightly in their hearts.

Unable to hold back their emotions, these soldiers saw a glimmer of hope in Yuan Li.

Word of this spread not only throughout the infirmary but also among all the soldiers in the camp.

The concept of finding alternative solutions after being injured was inspiring for the uninjured soldiers, who now worked harder in battle to express their gratitude to the General and Yuan Li.

Despite Yuan Li having no official position in the camp, he gained the soldiers' respect and trust. His reputation for kindness and generosity spread even further and faster.

Soon after, Yuan Li received a prompt from the system.

[The All-Knowing Encyclopedia System has been activated. Task completed: Gaining Recognition in the Camp. Reward has been issued. Please explore further on your own].

Just as the formulas for soap and white sugar were clear in Yuan Li's mind, the purification method for fine salt also came to him and transformed into the optimal method for purifying fine salt that could be achieved in the current environment of the Northern Zhou.

After carefully reviewing the formulas and committing them to memory, Yuan Li couldn't help but smile.

The eastern part of Youzhou bordered the resource-rich Bohai Sea. Since they were close to the sea, it was essential to make use of this advantage to fully utilize the unique geographical conditions of Youzhou.

In the eyes of the world, Youzhou had always been perceived as poor and remote, with a perennially negative financial situation. Due to the flow of criminals exiled to Youzhou and the influx of nomads from outside the borders, the general impression of Youzhou was unfavorable.

This needed to change.

If Youzhou continued to be viewed in a negative light, even in troubled times, people would be hesitant to seek refuge there. The bandits in Youzhou had ravaged the region for months, plundering the wealth of numerous landlords.

Once the rebels were quelled, the lands and farms hidden by the landlords would be revealed, requiring manpower for cultivation. Without a population, how could Youzhou progress?

Not to mention the wealthy, educated, and renowned strategists who wouldn't consider running to Youzhou, especially when Luoyang remained the political center attracting scholars and officials.

In Luoyang, they could establish connections, access political resources, gain fame quickly, and experience significant development. But what awaited them in Youzhou?

There were only a few strategists like Liu Jixin willing to follow Yuan Li to Youzhou, and even Liu Jixin didn't wholly recognize Yuan Li as a wise leader.

To change this situation, Yuan Li knew he had to alter the impoverished and chaotic image associated with Youzhou.

Once Youzhou became prosperous and peaceful, people would naturally flock there. To attract scholars, something more enticing was required.

Perhaps... a powerful warlord in turbulent times, or a Governor of Youzhou known for seeking talent, learning from great scholars, and possessing exceptional virtue and reputation.

These thoughts occupied Yuan Li's mind.

After pondering, he couldn't help but smile. He was beginning to understand the power of reputation more and more.

Half a month later, the motivated soldiers conquered another city held by the bandits. Yuan Li's reputation soared to new heights as he led a new round of healing and care for the soldiers.

Despite not engaging in combat or earning tangible military achievements, Yuan Li's reputation far surpassed that of the leaders who captured cities. Yuan Li was preoccupied and didn't notice this change, but those around him did.

His associates welcomed this development. Yuan Li didn't vie for credit with the military leaders, and even Yang Zhongfa and He Lang couldn't blame him for anything. These two leaders recognized right from wrong, coming to Yuan Li after battle to express gratitude for saving their soldiers.

Yuan Li exchanged a few pleasantries with them, and this quickly turned into a tale circulating within the camp.

Upon hearing this tale, Yuan Li couldn't help but smile. He intended to teach Wu Kai a lesson and asked, "Do you know the significance of spreading this story?"

After pondering for a moment, Wu Kai uncertainly replied, "To let the soldiers know that Lord Yang and Lord He are always thinking of them?"

"Exactly," Yuan Li nodded, "When the two generals personally come to thank me, the soldiers will not only be grateful to me for saving them but also appreciate the leaders who express their gratitude on their behalf. They will feel that the two generals care for them like their own children and, therefore, feel grateful. Their gratitude towards the two generals will be no less than their gratitude towards me."

Frowning, Wu Kai asked, "Why? You were the one who led the soldiers to save them."

Does saving their lives not hold greater value than a simple bow and a word of thanks?

"Such is the power of position," Yuan Li remained calm. "A skilled doctor can save many lives, but may not receive much praise. However, a high-ranking and respected leader who shows concern for the common soldiers will resonate more with the troops. Even if they haven't done much, a few words from such a leader can yield results equivalent to the efforts of an unknown individual for hundreds of days."

This was the reason everyone yearned to climb the social ladder - for greater power, wealth, and the substantial impact of their actions.

Watching him thoughtfully, Liu Jixin suddenly spoke, "Would you be discontented by this?"

"Discontented?" Yuan Li chuckled and retorted, "Why would I be discontented?"

In the privacy of their tent, only the three of them present, Yuan Li felt uninhibited. He raised an eyebrow, with a hint of youthful exuberance, and said, "I just want to do what I want to do, what I can do. Besides..."

Playfully winking, he continued, "I'm still young, and who's to say my achievements won't surpass those of these two generals in the future."

With memories from his previous life and the guidance of a system, Yuan Li wouldn't tolerate any lackluster accomplishments from himself.

These words were resolute, displaying a hint of sharpness in Yuan Li that caught Liu Jixin's attention. His eyes sparkled, and he remarked suggestively, "I believe the young master could easily secure a position within the military."

"You shot down Ma Renyi, aided the general in defeating two thousand bandits with just five hundred cavalry, showcasing remarkable heroism. You also reformed the infirmary, treated numerous soldiers, and provided a way out for the wounded, earning you considerable respect among the troops," Liu Jixin's tone grew progressively excited as he continued,

"With military achievements and renown, obtaining a captain's rank should be a breeze! It's just a pity that you haven't earned your laurels yet, missing out on all the benefits... it's truly a shame."

Regretting the missed opportunities, Liu Jixin sighed in dismay, "It's such a pity."

However, Yuan Li didn't share the same sentiment. His goal wasn't to become a military leader, "You are mistaken, sir. If one has talent, why worry about not achieving such feats in two years?"

Liu Jixin was left momentarily stunned by Yuan Li's response.

After a long while, he suddenly burst into laughter. After finishing his laughter, he immediately bowed deeply to Yuan Li.

"My lord's words are extremely true."