Chapter 28: Distribution and Discipline

"Brothers, do not be anxious. Not only will I provide you with land, but the money in the warehouse also belongs to everyone. However, under the current circumstances, it is not as simple as handing over the deeds and silver; you need to be alive to enjoy them. Throughout history, from the contention between Chu and Han to the Great Ancestor driving the Mongols back to the north, every change of dynasty has been marked by fields of corpses and rivers of blood. If you wish to live safely as wealthy men, you never know when someone might arrive at your doorstep to steal your money, your land, and your women."

Gu Zhenhua’s voice was not loud, but his words were reasonable and earnest. Having just escaped death, the men understood the reality of the situation and nodded in agreement.

Tang Zhanxiong could not help but ask, "Master Gu, you are resourceful, and all the brothers trust you. Please point us toward a path to survival!"

"That's right, we will listen to everything you say, Master Gu. Even if you command us to climb a mountain of blades or dive into a sea of fire, we won't even blink."

"Brothers, the current situation is complex. Let us start with the easy part: how the silver and land should be divided and what each of you will receive."

With that, Gu Zhenhua took a list from He Zhonghou and displayed it for all to see. Most of the soldiers were from poor backgrounds, and they were stunned by the astronomical figures; some even drooled at the sight. Even men like Gao Hongtu and Xie Bin, who had served as officials and in the imperial palace, were wide-eyed with greed. Over two million taels of silver and one million mu of land—it was an unimaginable fortune.

The men whispered among themselves, discussing the magnitude of the wealth. Even a ten-thousandth of that sum would be enough to live comfortably as a rich man, and they could not help but be moved.

Gu Zhenhua observed their reactions, which were exactly as he had expected. Once everyone had seen the list, he smiled and said, "Uncle Six did not want to show this to everyone, but I believe this wealth was earned with your lives. It does not belong to me alone; it is our collective property, and everyone should know what is at stake."

"Master Gu, say no more. The brothers have seen your integrity. If it weren't for you risking your life to get us out of the capital, we wouldn't be alive today. You decide how this is divided, and the brothers will not have a single word of complaint!"

The soldiers were stirred with emotion, pounding their chests in loud approval. Not far away, a few people were watching Gu Zhenhua—among them, Kou Gui and the Crown Prince, Zhu Cilang.

Having escaped the capital with Gu Zhenhua, Kou Gui and the Prince were relieved, but they were still at a loss as to how to reach the south and were forced to rely on him.

"Grand Tutor, Father often said that to lead, one must combine benevolence with authority. Once prestige is established, bestowing favors will make subordinates grateful and loyal unto death. But what is this fellow Gu Zhenhua doing? He caught a few thieves, yet instead of using iron-fisted methods to awe the troops, he is chatting with them and promising to divide money and land. He behaves like a common merchant. What is he thinking?"

Kou Gui vaguely understood Gu Zhenhua's intent but could not contradict the Crown Prince. He replied, "Gu Zhenhua is merely a vulgar man; how could he understand the arts of governance? He hasn't learned even a shred of His Majesty’s brilliance!"

Fortunately, Gu Zhenhua did not hear this, or he would have burst into laughter. To learn from the Chongzhen Emperor—would that not mean hanging himself on Coal Hill?

On the other side, a pair of twins clung tightly to a young lady, secretly watching the soldiers in the threshing field, especially Gu Zhenhua in their midst.

"My Lady, that scoundrel is going to divide the money! Much of it belongs to the Young Master, it is your property, and he didn't even ask you. He is nothing but a bandit!"

Mei Junruo looked at the green-clad girl’s indignant expression and couldn't help but smile. "Zhu'er, the Duke's mansion is gone. These treasures have nothing to do with us anymore. Stop saying such foolish things."

The girl in red also laughed, "Sister, the young lady is right. Look at them, they look just like the heroes of Liangshan in the storybooks, dividing gold and silver by the scale. It is truly imposing!"

"More than imposing, it is wise," the young lady replied.

"My Lady, what do you mean?"

"To use both benevolence and authority, one must first hold a position of superiority. Otherwise, bestowing favors is seen as pandering, leading others to bully you further. Using only authority creates resentment, making people loathe you; even if they say nothing, they will bury their hatred deep inside."

As she spoke, Mei Junruo remembered the last two years at the Duke of Ying’s mansion. Only she knew how many cold looks and hardships a young girl had endured alone in the capital. Looking back, this escape might be a turning point in her fate. Her hope rested on that man. Her clear eyes remained fixed on Gu Zhenhua in the crowd, her heart filled with complex thoughts.

Mei Junruo was not wrong. Gu Zhenhua knew well that while he held the Crown Prince and the imperial edict, these things would only be useful once he had a foothold after the Qing forces entered the pass. For now, they were a burden. Since Zhu Chunchen could think of selling out the Crown Prince, these foot soldiers were even less burdened by loyalty; if things went wrong, they might kill Gu Zhenhua too.

To "lead," he first had to ensure he was "above" them. Gu Zhenhua was not foolish; he had no capital to order these soldiers around yet. For now, he was their equal. To gain their support, he had to divide the spoils fairly and bind their interests to his own. Only then could this small group possess any fighting strength.

"Brothers, fifty-six of our men lost their lives to get us out of the city, and many more were wounded. Therefore, they shall be the first to be compensated. The families of the fallen will receive 1,000 mu of land and 2,000 taels of silver each. Those with serious injuries will receive 500 taels, moderate injuries 200 taels, and minor injuries 100 taels."

Gu Zhenhua had already had He Zhonghou calculate the casualties and announced the compensation plan immediately. The living soldiers had no complaints; instead, they gave Gu Zhenhua thumbs-up one by one.

Gao Hongtu added from the side, "Master Gu, the imperial court had standards for compensation, but in these years of financial ruin, countless fallen soldiers became piles of bones with no one to care for them. That you have remembered them and offered such high compensation—ten or a hundred times more than the government—is enough for these brothers to rest in peace!"

The other soldiers were filled with anticipation. If the dead were treated this well, the living would surely fare no worse. They all stared at Gu Zhenhua, waiting for him to announce the next steps.

"As for the rest of you, each will receive 500 mu of land and 1,000 taels of silver," Gu Zhenhua smiled. "You can calculate it yourselves: 56,000 mu and 112,000 taels for the fallen, and 175,000 mu and 350,000 taels for the remaining brothers. Altogether, that is less than a quarter of the total. Do you think I am being unfair?"

"Not at all, not at all. We are more than satisfied with this."

"Are you truly satisfied, or are you thinking that while I speak kindly, the lion's share still remains in my hands?"

"Master Gu, you are our leader. If you eat the meat, we are happy just to have the broth. If anyone dared to harbor resentment against you, they would be struck by lightning—it would be a cold-hearted act!" Some soldiers who truly identified with Gu Zhenhua spoke up. However, others shifted their eyes, clearly deep in thought.

Gu Zhenhua smiled faintly. "Brothers, to be honest, I do not see you as subordinates; we are brothers in adversity. If I truly wanted to hoard this wealth, I would have run off with the land deeds long ago. Why would I bother dividing it among you?"

"In fact, I have only given you a base figure. As long as you perform well, you can receive more. 500 mu, 1,000 mu—even 10,000 mu is not impossible!"

Gu Zhenhua’s words ignited the passion of everyone present. Their blood boiled, their eyes gleamed, and they clenched their fists, eager to earn their rewards.

"Brothers, the land is in the south, and the antiques must be sold to be converted into cash. But we are surrounded by the armies of the 'Roaming King.' If we cannot find a way out, none of us will ever see a cent of this. Therefore, you must obey orders. We must pull together as one to survive in these chaotic times. Is that not the truth?"

"Yes, Master Gu speaks the truth."

"Exactly, we will listen to you. We will do whatever you command."

...

Watching the fanatical soldiers, Gu Zhenhua finally revealed a smug smile. With motivation and spirit, a team had hope, and his position within this group was firmly established.

Only then did Gu Zhenhua’s smile fade, and he said coldly, "Go, bring those five thieves who stole the treasure before me!"