"It's so sunny." Le Yu stood under the black umbrella, looking at the bright sky and sighing.

The sunshine was so fierce that even Radiance people couldn't stand it. To know, Radiance people have an extraordinary need for light, gaining a "20% increase in all attributes" effect in sunlight. However, even at noon in midsummer, Radiance people hide under eaves and tree shadows to cool off.

Precisely because Radiance Spiritual Power is sensitive to sunlight, once the sun crosses a certain boundary, the beneficial light also becomes painful. If people are fields and the sun is oxen, the midsummer sun in Xuanzhu County is undoubtedly strong enough to ruin the fields.

Therefore, noon is naturally rest time, even Silver Blood merchants don't force people to work at noon, as work-induced fatigue decreases afternoon efficiency.

There's an old saying in Radiance, "Exposed at noon, true form revealed." It sounds like a monster-slaying secret, but it's actually for describing the army. Letting the army be exposed at noon sun reveals soldiers' military quality and training level.

According to this standard, the army in front of Le Yu is obviously not up to par, nowhere near the legendary "sweat flows like a river while staying still, moving heavy loads with calm mind." Instead, they whine, fan themselves, and even loudly ask, "Captain, when can we drink water? I'm so thirsty!"

"Have the guy next to you pee!" Wan Qisha turned and cursed, while the soldier next to him immediately said, "Captain, let me drink some water, I'll make him drink something warm!"

"Captain, let me drink water, I had some fish and shrimp recently and can't digest, can let him drink something fresh!"

"All right, Captain, you know me, I love drinking sugar water, let me drink water and I'll let him drink something sweet."

"Damn you guys, and to think I helped you fetch water..."

Though they argued noisily, none touched the water bags on their waists. These cursing Linhai soldiers cursed heavens, cursed earth, cursed captain, yet firmly guarded several carts, not intending to desert their posts.

Wan Qisha said sheepishly, "President Jing, these youngsters are ignorant, neither respect superiors nor inferiors, don't take them seriously..."

"No worries, it's me who disturbed you." Le Yu clasped hands and said, "I won't say any more useless words, wishing you a safe journey."

Wan Qisha returned the gesture, "I won't fail General Lan and President Jing's trust."

Behind Wan Qisha were a dozen fully loaded horse carts, surrounded by four hundred Linhai soldiers divided into front, middle, and rear forces, tightly defending, impenetrable, warning and aiming at anyone who dared approach.

Today's the day Linhai Army sets off to transport military funds.

The funds were ready two weeks ago, but due to Lan Yan and Le Yu's agreement, five hundred Linhai soldiers stayed in Xuanzhu County, backing Le Yu, helping him "commit misdeeds" and "do evil."

With Xuanzhu's Silver Blood Association thoroughly surrendered, each merchant association showed false harmony, competing to send daughters to Le Yu...no, send allegiance to Le Yu, Silver Blood Association now barely exists.

A couple of days ago, Le Yu held a Silver Blood meeting, using the "establishing a union" matter to test everyone, resulting in reactions of "hmm, hmm, hmm," "President's words make sense," "Who opposes President is against me, Lan Jianbo," comforting Le Yu, who couldn't help but praise Silver Blood's understanding.

The Silver Blood Association had no room for resistance, Heyang Army was defeated, the Governor retreated, and Xuanzhu County's Patrol Execution Guard and Patrol team were under Le Yu's control, Linhai Army no longer needed to stay in Xuanzhu County.

Though Le Yu wished to keep the five hundred troops, anyone with brains knew Lan Yan wouldn't allow it, and he lacked Lan Yan's "special male charm." He could only watch Linhai Army pack up and leave.

However, Linhai Army didn't leave completely, they left 100 people in Xuanzhu County, mainly to protect Jing Garden and Le Yu's safety.

Actually Wan Qisha wanted to leave more people, but military funds were evidently more important, it was already tough to spare 100.

"Prepare to depart!" Wan Qisha shouted, and the lax Linhai troops started inspecting equipment, loading firearms, a small squad of Swift Blade soldiers began sliding on blazing ground with Swift Blade Boots, scouting ahead.

"Well, President Jing, we're leaving."

"Hmm, till we meet again."

Wan Qisha hesitated, stroked his stubble, finally deciding to say in a lowered voice, "President Jing, whatever you need, instruct Xiao Qian. Though he's young, he handles things efficiently and commands others."

Xiao Qian is the captain of the 100 left behind, Le Yu nodded, "Rest assured, I always use women as men and men as labor, don't worry I'll get embarrassed."

"Hahaha, right, right, the young should be well honed," Wan Qisha nodded, then said, "But Xiao Qian is also a hard-luck case, orphaned young, joined Linhai Army early. Despite his youth, he's been a soldier on Sun Coast for ten years, though his talent is poor, Combat Technique merely average..."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm." Le Yu was somewhat baffled, why suddenly dive into flashback sequence? Was Wan Qisha wanting me to find parents for Captain Qian to experience familial affection, or wanting him to recognize me as a father?

"Others left behind are similar to Xiao Qian, all are remaining seeds who, so...President Jing, am I clear?" Wan Qisha struggled to say these words, the coarse face blushing with awkwardness.

"You're clear." Le Yu laughed, "I understand too."

Wan Qisha's meaning was, the hundred left behind were all rootless drifters, they didn't have strong urge to return Chenfeng, if Le Yu offered good conditions, they could totally stay in Xuanzhu County.

Wan Qisha knew Le Yu was preparing for new army, but in current situation, Le Yu could at most recruit Heyang Army remnants, and from Heyang Army officers Le Yu surely was unwilling to take over.

Any new army has many troubles initially, biggest issue is getting newbies to quickly enter veteran status. Radiance's regular army has similar Sea of Consciousness "newcomer guide mechanism," new army evidently lacks such foundation.

Though not impossible to train, upper limit is patrol team's level—that is, bullying civilians, dying a bit more gracefully facing regular army.

But with Linhai Army's hundred, Le Yu could use them as backbone for forming new army, vastly increasing speed and army's upper limit. Though still lacking Sea of Consciousness guidance, with elite leading new players, efficiency wouldn't lag much.

Le Yu's mind turned, grasping Wan Qisha's good intentions, asked with a smile, "But won't General Lan have objections?"

Wan Qisha didn't presume Lan Yan's intentions, nor make grand promises, sincerely said, "I'll try my best to persuade General Lan!"

Le Yu looked at Wan Qisha, contrary to rough appearance, he's surprisingly careful, cautious, never acts rashly, mindful of every detail, not purely suppressing or wooing troops, forming unique command style.

"If nothing unexpected, this return will make you General Lan's confidant."

"Hehe, then I will take President Jing's kind words."

"Speaking of which, I've always wanted to ask about something," Leren looked at the Linhai Army that had already started moving forward, and said, "If Lan Yan really orders you to raid Dongyang, what do you think the reaction of the Linhai Army would be? You don't have to answer, but I hope you won't deceive me."

"I don't know." Wan Xisha responded crisply.

"Why?"

"How would I know something that hasn't happened?" Wan Xisha looked at Leren and said seriously, "When General Lan first came to take charge of the Sun Coast defense line, we were all worried whether he would engage in nepotism, embezzle funds, or let our meal standards decline..."

"When the three armies were just unified, we also feared that he might allow people from other factions to preserve their strength just to win them over, while sending only us to fight the tough battles."

"However, none of the things we worried about happened. General Lan has never let us suffer grievances."

"So at other times, we're willing to endure a little grievance for him."

After saying this, Wan Xisha turned and left, catching up with the departing convoy of the Linhai Army, and shouting loudly, "Chirping like kids just because of a little sun. You can drink water when we reach the rest stop; anyone who drinks too much before that will have to drink urine tomorrow!"

Watching the Linhai Army convoy gradually turn into black dots and disappear on the horizon, Leren turned his head and asked, "Now you understand why this money needs to be given, right?"

Yin Minghong, holding an umbrella, had a solemn expression: "The Chenfeng and Dongyang regions are closely connected and a conflict is bound to happen sooner or later. Linhai Army… I'm afraid we won't catch up to them even in a few years."

The reason why the Linhai Army had to choose to set off at noon is that it would take them two days to reach their base in Linhai. Although Lan Yan could raid Xuanzhu in one day, that refers to a forced march without supplies, while Wan Xisha and his team had to transport what could be considered a 'massive' military expense. Even returning within two days was already considered very fast.

To prevent accidents and also due to tradition and inadequate infrastructure, Wan Xisha and the team chose to march during the day and rest at night. They would need more than half a day to reach the next town where they could rest.

If they set off in the morning, they'd arrive at noon, but by then everyone would be exhausted, posing a great risk; leaving at noon and arriving by evening, as the temperature and sunlight gradually decrease, ensures that their stamina remains above a passable level throughout, allowing them to resist a surprise attack.

Moreover, the rations and drinking water of the Linhai Army were prepared by themselves in the past few days, with even the Jing Family unable to interfere. Aside from the food and water they had prepared themselves, they would not eat anything else, to ensure the safety of their intake.

This is why those in the Linhai Army, despite shouting out of thirst, dared not drink water because once it's gone, it's gone.

These details are nothing more than a testament to Wan Xisha's personal ability. However, what's terrifying is that his subordinates can truly adhere to these military orders... Thinking of this, Leren could easily understand the tragic defeat of the Heyang Army.

Even though he had never witnessed the Heyang Army, where else could the pure capitalist thugs cultivated by the Silver Blood Association do well?

"Seeing the gap should motivate us to work hard."

Leren got into the car, and Yin Minghong very naturally got in as well. Leren gave him a sideways glance, "Isn't today the day the union is being established? Aren't you smoothly rolling over there?"

"Since everyone had to work in the morning, the first labor meeting in Xuanzhu was held in the afternoon, and the workers could conveniently bring their children along to see it. Just like what 'Future Echoes' says, education should start from a young age." Yin Minghong said, "My identity makes me unsuitable for appearing, but the person in charge of presiding over the meeting is the White Night Walker, President, you can rest assured."

Leren nodded. Indeed, no matter how much Yin Minghong has done, he was ultimately a spokesperson for the Silver Blood Association, a lackey for the Jing Family. Although the workers respected him, they feared him more.

To maintain the purity of the union, it's best for him, as a worker himself, to preside over it.

As the vehicle started, the engine began to roar. Leren looked at the pedestrians on the streets of the outer city and asked, "Has there been any movement from anyone else?"

"No, they're all very good." Yin Minghong said, "Even the Qin Family and other trade associations have actively facilitated the resumption of factory production. These days, they haven't tried to interfere with the factory operations but focused on trade routes, sending caravans to transport goods to other places for sale."

Even if Half City was burned white, the goods produced in Xuanzhu County were far beyond what the people there could consume. This was a flaw in Leren's plan—though he could ensure normal trade among factories in Xuanzhu County, he couldn't interfere with trade between Xuanzhu County and the outside world.

Leren severed the connections between the trade associations and the factories, which also meant cutting off the factories' networks. Without backing from the old trade associations, it was almost like starting over for the factories to sell their goods elsewhere.

The Qin Family's active surrender could be said to have patched the last loophole in the plan.

Although Xuanzhu County was cut by Lan Yan, its muscles and bones remained, and now all that was needed was to resume production and begin reforms. Those Silver Blood merchants, after squeezing out the last bit of their value, could be tossed aside like rags.

However, for the likes of the Dongyang Duke and the Qin Family, who were proactive and well-behaved among the old interest groups, it wasn't impossible to keep them; it depended on their personal effort to keep pace with the times...

"And the Ting Family?"

"They... have been selling firearms in large quantities lately." Yin Minghong said with a frown: "I once approached them to probe, saying I wanted to buy a batch of firearms, and they straightforwardly agreed, even asking when I wanted them and whether I could pay a deposit first."

Leren blinked, "I haven't even made a move yet, and the Ting Family already surrendered?"

Being willing to sell firearms to them is almost akin to surrendering—giving me the knife in hand and still claiming not to be waiting for slaughter?

"The Ting Family has been very quiet lately, busy with maritime shipping. They almost entirely ignore the factories we took over."

"Feels like they have some scheme..." Leren pondered, "Here's what we'll do, Second-in-command, you go to the Ting Family in a few days and have them hand over the control of the firearm manufacturing plant. Just say that the new army's establishment needs firearms, and you can't let the Ting Family shoulder the entire cost of firearm production alone, so the manufacturing plant will be nationalized, allowing everyone to share this pain."

Yin Minghong looked speechless, thinking this approach was no different from digging up someone's ancestral grave and coffin, telling the dead to rest in peace and that there was no offense intended—not only robbing their factory but also expecting gratitude!

"Wouldn't this push them to the edge..."

"Then take those hundred Linhai soldiers and go. I'm sure the Ting Family will feel a chill in their hearts upon seeing them, quickly calming down, helping to cool them off as well."

"No wonder President Jing, your words are truly pleasant to hear."