Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Su Zhengyang stood up straight and said righteously: "I don't care what your security team was like before I came, but now that I am the new head of the security team, I have to set rules and train you like soldiers!"

"Starting today, at six o'clock every morning, all soldiers of the security regiment will gather at the station for military training. Those who are absent or late will be punished with thirty canes. Soldiers who are lax and disregard military law for a long time will be dealt with severely!"

Among the soldiers of the security group, a man wearing a torn leather coat and holding a piece of weed in his mouth was the first to shout in dissatisfaction: "Why do you order us around like this? We only get one dollar a month. Who has the time to train with you every day? We are not regular troops, but just a local security group. The previous group leader Wang didn't care about us. You come in and set rules for us. You think you are too serious."

Su Zhengyang looked at the man and said, "Before, you were paid one dollar a month, which was indeed unreasonable. But since I have decided to start the military training, from today on, all the soldiers of the security regiment who train on time and obey orders will be paid two dollars a month! Soldiers who have excellent training and are commended will be paid four dollars a month!"

Su Zhengyang's words stirred up a thousand waves. The man spoke again: "Don't make big promises for us. When the previous commander Wang trained the soldiers to go up the mountain to fight bandits, he also promised us a lot of benefits, but in the end, none of them were fulfilled. Even the pensions for the comrades who died in the fight against bandits have not been seen until now."

"That's right, you're just talking nonsense, why should we believe you?"

"These officials are not good people, brothers, don't trust them easily."

"They only know how to suck the blood of ordinary people, and never fulfill their promises."

Seeing these soldiers clamoring like a vegetable market, Su Zhengyang pulled out his pistol from the holster and fired a shot into the air.

"Quiet!"

The loud gunshot startled the soldiers present, and they looked at Su Zhengyang with fear in their eyes.

"Lao Liu, take out all our cash!"

"Yes, Captain."

Liu Kangding brought a few people and took out a huge wooden box from Su Zhengyang's room. The four people carried the wooden box to Su Zhengyang, put the box on the ground, and stirred up a cloud of dust.

Su Zhengyang opened the lid of the box, and inside were neatly stacked white dollars.

In addition to the one thousand taels of silver that Director Wu gave to win over Su Zhengyang, there was also the twenty thousand taels of silver that Su Zhengyang earned from selling a Su family residence before taking office.

Looking at the ocean in front of them, the soldiers swallowed unconsciously.

"Those who are willing to obey orders and participate in training can take two silver dollars from me now. I, Su Zhengyang, will keep my word. Soldiers who follow me will receive silver dollars on time every month and have meat for every meal."

"But if anyone takes my money and still disobeys military orders, continues to do as he pleases, and doesn't take training seriously, I will kill him right away!"

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, as if they had not expected that the young-looking Captain Su would actually put the ocean in front of them.

Su Zhengyang thought very clearly that he had not yet established a firm foothold, and it was impossible for him to get back the security corps' salaries that had been embezzled by local officials for the time being.

I will pay for it out of my own pocket for the time being. As long as I can build up a team and establish a momentum, I will slowly negotiate with them and make them spit out twice as much as they took in.

Money can move people's hearts. For the men in the security team, nothing is more convincing than the ocean in front of them.

The world is bustling with people all for the sake of profit. Before the soldiers actually get the benefits and fill their stomachs, talking about lofty principles and fantasies is all moral kidnapping and extremely ridiculous.

The man who had just stood up to refute Su Zhengyang said, "I, Qin Huaiyi, am willing to obey the orders of Captain Su, attend the security team training on time every day, and become a real security team soldier!"

Su Zhengyang nodded with satisfaction, took out two silver dollars and handed them to Qin Huaiyi. Qin Huaiyi took the silver dollars with trembling hands, wiped them with his sleeves, blew on them, put them to his ears, listened to the pleasant sound, and put the silver dollars in his arms with satisfaction.

With Qin Huaiyi leading the way, the other men could no longer hold back and shouted, "We are also willing to obey the orders of Captain Su!"

"Well, he is also a real security guard."

Liu Gangding called out to everyone: "Line up one by one, don't rush. As long as you are willing to obey the command of Captain Su, everyone will have a share."

Twenty minutes later, all the dollars were distributed. Everyone's face was filled with joy. Even some security soldiers held the dollars with an expression of disbelief and trance on their faces.

You know, they are just listed here and stay for a while every day just to do their job, and they often fail to pay the dollar promised by the county office. They will not be as happy as Su Zhengyang.

"Today is the first day I get to formally meet everyone. There will be no training. Lao Liu, set up a big stove in the yard for me. I want to treat everyone to a meal!"

Liu Gangding nodded and asked the soldiers to build a stove and light a fire in the yard. Three large iron pots were carried out from the kitchen.

Su Zhengyang personally went to the warehouse and took out two boxes of canned beef. The canned beef was given by the system. There were six cans in a box, and each can weighed one kilogram, which was quite enough.

After sending people to purchase a large amount of cabbage, radishes and potatoes, the kitchen began to get busy. Big white steamed buns kept coming out of the pot, and the whole kitchen was filled with the aroma of malt.

The canned beef was opened, poured into the pot, and stewed with the side dishes. An enticing aroma filled the air. The soldiers twitched their noses and swallowed their saliva unconsciously.

Two hours later, the stew was ready. Big chunks of fragrant beef were mixed with various side dishes. It was so delicious that you could swallow it in one bite.

Each person was given a large bowl of stew and three large steamed buns. The soldiers squatted in the yard, enjoying the delicious food while chatting in groups of three or four.

"Captain Su is so kind! He not only gave us a lot of money, but also treated us to meat."

"Where can you find such delicious steamed buns and stewed vegetables on weekdays? Captain Su is such a good person."

"Captain Su is different from Captain Wang who only knew how to shout slogans. I think if we obey Captain Su's orders, good days are still to come."

With two silver dollars per person and delicious canned beef stew, Su Zhengyang won the favor of the security soldiers with his swift and decisive actions in less than half a day. Everyone was convinced by the new young leader.

Saying a thousand words will not make people feel more at ease as doing one practical thing.