Sweep Yuan

Chapter 208 The First Step in Laying Out the Grassroots Level

The autumn wind carried a distinct chill, swirling up a few early-fallen leaves from outside the window and sending them twirling onto the dry, slightly yellow grass.

The sky was high and the clouds were light, and it was the scene at the end of September in the Jianghuai region. The busy season in the fields was coming to an end, and the air was filled with a kind of tranquility after the busy work, occasionally mixed with the training chants coming from the camps in the distance.

A still-freshly written petition lay quietly on Shi Shan's large desk, its title boldly proclaiming "A Memorial on Four Issues Concerning the Long-Standing Problems of Chen Rongjun Society".

This report, written by Zhou Wendao, the newly appointed director of the Veterans Affairs Bureau, was not just empty talk. Ishiyama had initially granted Zhou Wendao, Bian Yuanheng, and Hua Yun a two-week leave, intending to allow them to rest and recuperate after months of wandering.

Zhou Wendao, however, was restless. After only a few days of vacation, he plunged into the farms, workshops, and shops of the Veterans' Association that were open to the public.

Or they would mingle among the fields and ridges to observe agricultural activities and crops;
Or immerse yourself in a noisy workshop and observe the artisans at work;
Or, in a bustling market, carefully observe the businesses of the shops.

When Shishan returned to Hefei in triumph, Zhou Wendao asked the marshal to cancel his leave early and officially take over the Veterans' Society. He then threw himself into the front line, personally experiencing every pulse and every blockage in the massive body of the Veterans' Society.

This lengthy article of over 10,000 words, which embodies more than half a month of on-site observation and deep concern, was the first report he submitted to Marshal Shi after taking office as the head of the Veterans Affairs Bureau.

Shishan is currently reviewing the document word by word; the opening lines directly address the core issue:
"Your humble servant Zhou Wendao respectfully reports to the Marshal: I have investigated and found that the problems within the Rongjun Society are deeply entrenched and require drastic measures to remedy. I now risk my life to present four points for your gracious judgment:"
Firstly, the excessive number of staff creates a heavy burden.

The company has over ten thousand employees. Many of them are elderly, frail, young children, or disabled, and are not physically strong laborers. These people have low productivity, or even no productivity at all.

However, the commune not only had to provide for their food rations, but also had to handle a variety of miscellaneous tasks such as raising young children, supporting the elderly and orphans, and caring for the disabled and weak. The expenses were enormous, and over time, they had become an unbearable burden.

Secondly, the categories are too numerous and disorganized, and management is disordered.

The Rongjun Society's operations ranged from farm reclamation and civil engineering to spinning, weaving, clothing sewing, and military ration processing, as well as some military equipment repair and market shops, totaling as many as seventeen different businesses.

However, upon closer examination, it was found that about 70% of the managers, foremen, and supervisors were completely unaware of what cost accounting was. In all their actions, they only knew how to follow orders from above, rigid and inflexible, and knew nothing about adaptation.

Material waste, work delays, and irregular scheduling are rampant, resulting in less than half of all the work being done efficiently, and staggering waste.

Thirdly: Instruction is lacking, and skills are rudimentary.

More than 60% of the staff in the guild did not receive instruction or training in their respective duties. Their skills were acquired purely through years of trial and error, or through fragmented experiences passed down orally.

These people either cling to old ways without knowing how to innovate, or they are at a loss when faced with new tasks, resulting in frequent errors and making it difficult to achieve excellence.

Fourthly: Responsibilities and powers are unclear, and rewards and punishments are ambiguous. ..."

Shi Shan's gaze slowly swept over the piercing flaws in those words, his mind racing with a hundred thoughts.

His initial motivation for establishing the Veterans' Association was nothing more than simple: at that time, the Red Flag Camp had just been established, and its territory consisted of only a small county called Hong County, with almost no tax revenue. But Li Wu brought the station households from Chulan Station with him, and he had to give his core group—the station households who had abandoned their families and livelihoods to follow him—a way to survive.

In a rush, the Veterans' Association was like a rough, large basket, cramming unemployed military dependents and wounded soldiers into it, providing them with food and lodging, and barely managing to stay afloat.

As for meticulous management and long-term planning?

At that time, even surviving until tomorrow was a luxury, so we couldn't care less about anything else!

But as the Red Flag Battalion continued to grow, the basket also expanded, absorbing more and more people and spreading itself wider and wider. What was once a stopgap measure has now become a behemoth that is stumbling and plagued by a hundred diseases.

Inefficiency, staggering waste, growing complaints—reform is imperative and cannot be delayed.

Looking at the well-organized and to-the-point report, a hint of relief flashed in Shishan's tired eyes.

Zhou Wendao, this capable official who had risen through the ranks of merchants, certainly did not disappoint him.

This report proves that Zhou Wendao not only put in the hard work to go deep into the front lines, but also has a keen eye for problems and a mind that can sort out the details.

This person was indeed put to the right place.

Shi Shan closed the heavy report, raised his hand to rub his temples, which were throbbing from sitting at his desk for so long, and then immediately began reviewing the next document.

The documents on his desk were piled up like a mountain, and another document from the Military Command, "Reorganization Plan for Various Departments and Personnel Placement," was awaiting the Marshal's approval.

The top priority of the Military Command recently is to digest the results of the great victory at Xuzhou—reorganization.

This is not just a numbers game, but a meticulous and massive operation involving the relocation of tens of thousands of prisoners of war, the influx of thousands of new recruits, and the fate of more than a thousand wounded veterans.

At the Chulan Ruins, the Red Flag Battalion achieved victory through sheer force, capturing nearly 30,000 Yuan soldiers.

More than 2,600 bodies of those who succumbed to their injuries were hastily buried; 8,000 were handed over to various Red Turban Army units in Xuzhou to bolster their strength; and more than 2,100 salt laborers were urgently redeemed by Tian Feng, a powerful figure in Huaidong, who sent envoys with real gold and silver.

Ultimately, the Red Flag Battalion still had over 17,000 prisoners of war who needed to be fully absorbed and integrated into its ranks.

Among them, about three thousand were either long-time veterans or local thugs with deep-seated bad habits, difficult to reform despite repeated attempts at education, yet their crimes did not warrant death.

With a stroke of his pen, Shi Shan exiled these people to mines in Chuzhou and Huaiyuan to atone for their crimes through forced labor, which also solved the problem of a shortage of mining labor after the expansion of the Red Flag Battalion.

There were about 5,000 others, whose physical condition was relatively poor and who could not withstand the hardships of fighting or working in the mines. They were dispersed and organized into ten civilian settlements, scattered across the wastelands of various prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of the Red Flag Battalion, where they cultivated the land to support themselves and gradually transformed from soldiers into civilians.

The remaining approximately nine thousand men were in good health and had performed reasonably well in the prisoner-of-war camps. After reorganization and training, they would become excellent recruits.

However, there is much to learn about how to fill the gaps in the Red Flag Battalion.

In this battle, the Red Flag Battalion itself suffered heavy losses, with over 4,300 soldiers killed in action. Nearly 800 more died from their wounds after the battle. Another 1,500 soldiers, though fortunate enough to survive, were left with lifelong disabilities and could never again don armor or wield a weapon.

These wounded veterans must be properly resettled; they must not be all dumped into the already problematic Veterans Affairs Center.

The casualties of each battalion varied greatly. Some battalions, as the vanguard, lost 40% of their men; others, responsible for flanking cover, suffered almost no losses; and many soldiers risked their lives to charge forward, killing enemy generals and capturing flags, making outstanding contributions and urgently needing promotion.

In addition, the size of the Red Flag Battalion is steadily expanding as planned. The task of the Military Command is to come up with a detailed plan for the transfer and replenishment of personnel down to the battalion and team level, based on the battle losses, merit assessments and expansion needs of each unit, so as to ensure that after the injection of new blood, the framework of each unit will not fall apart and the combat effectiveness will not decline.

Furthermore, with the continuous expansion of the organization of each guard, which often commanded more than ten battalions and five or six thousand men, the battlefield is ever-changing. Relying solely on the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief to make decisions on the spot inevitably leads to oversights and missed opportunities.

Ishiyama astutely realized that each guard must be equipped with a dedicated staff officer to assist the commander-in-chief in analyzing the enemy situation, formulating strategies, and conveying military orders. He tentatively planned to appoint three staff officers to each guard, and the Military Command would carefully select the candidates from the existing officers and organize short-term training.

Park Do-in, the military commander in charge of this matter, has been overwhelmed by the massive and complex data and the myriad tasks to be coordinated these days. He has been buried in his documents all day long, the abacus beads clicking away, and his hair has turned quite white from worry.

The first two drafts were submitted, but due to insufficient consideration, data discrepancies, or imbalances in allocation, they were marked with numerous revision comments by Shishan Zhubi and sent back for revision.

It wasn't until this third draft, after careful review, that Shi Shan's furrowed brow finally relaxed. He approved the reorganization plan, making only adjustments to a few personnel appointments, and then wrote down his approval:
Bian Yuanheng, Commander of the Eighth Battalion of Fenwu Guard; Hua Yun, Commander of the Seventh Battalion of Zhenshuo Guard; Mao Gui, still serving in the Military Command...

"Marshal! Zhou Dushi has been delivered."

The voice of Peng Zaozhu, the captain of the personal guard, rang out outside the official hall, respectful yet tinged with a barely perceptible tension.

Shi Shan was reviewing a crucial document regarding the storage of autumn grain in his hand, without even raising his head, only letting out a low "hmm" from his throat.

Upon hearing the marshal's voice, Peng Zaozhu quickly stepped aside and led Zhou Wendao into the marshal's office hall.

Inside the hall, Shi Shan was still bent over his desk, writing furiously with flowing strokes.

Peng Zaozhu deftly moved a mahogany stool over and gently placed it not too far from the desk. He gave Zhou Wendao a wink, then bowed and quietly slipped out. The curtain fell, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

This Peng Zaozhu is Peng Erlang's only son.

Sesame Li decided to dedicate his entire force to serving Shishan. To show his loyalty, he voluntarily entrusted his two only sons to Shishan for protection.

Upon seeing this, Peng Erlang, Li Xixi, Xue Xian, and other civil and military officials in Xuzhou who held real power followed suit, whether sincerely or under duress. They either sent their own children or close relatives to serve in the Red Flag Camp as "hostages" to show that they had no ulterior motives.

Peng Zaozhu was one of them. Although he was young, he was quite calm and capable, so Shishan kept him by his side as a rotating bodyguard.

The only sounds in the hall were the soft scratching of a brush across paper and Zhou Wendao's slightly rapid breathing. He stood with his hands at his sides, his gaze fixed on the compacted earth beneath his feet, not daring to look directly at the rocky mountain.

After finishing reviewing the last line, Shishan put down his pen, let out a long sigh, stood up, and slowly took a few steps, stretching his stiff back joints from sitting for so long, his joints making a slight cracking sound.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Wendao quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"marshal."

Shi Shan stopped, picked up the document "Four Matters Concerning the Long-Standing Malpractices of Chen Rongjun Society" from the table, waved it, and said:
“Hearing this, please sit down. I have carefully read your document.”

Zhou Wendao's heart tightened, and he carefully sat on half of the stool as instructed, keeping his back straight, waiting for what was to come.

"The problem you found is absolutely accurate!" Shi Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy weight, penetrating directly into Zhou Wendao's heart.

"Every sentence hits the nail on the head, and every point points directly to the pain. Very good! This proves that your hard work over the past two weeks has not been in vain. You have truly gone deep into the situation, grasped the facts, and figured out the crux of the problem."

This affirmation instantly transformed Zhou Wendao's days of hard work and mental strain into a warm current in his heart, and his tense shoulders and back relaxed slightly.

Shishan walked back to the desk but did not sit down. His fingers tapped the rough tabletop unconsciously, and his gaze seemed to penetrate the walls of the government office, seeing the difficult situation when the Rongjun Society was first established in Hong County.

"When the Veterans' Society was established, my Red Flag Battalion was just starting out, with only a small territory and tax revenue that was a drop in the ocean. The soldiers followed me and fought bloody battles, but they had no military pay and could only fill their stomachs."

I, Shishan, cannot allow my brothers to shed blood on the front lines while their families starve and freeze to death in the rear. It is my duty to support them!

His voice carried an unquestionable resolve, the most simple promise a warlord in troubled times could make to his followers.

Zhou Wendao knew that the marshal was building up the atmosphere and setting the tone for the upcoming reforms, so he listened attentively without saying anything to interfere.

Sure enough, Shi Shan changed the subject, his tone becoming serious and pragmatic.

"Things are different now. The Red Flag Camp has expanded its territory, taxes have increased, and military pay can now be paid in full every month. With their pay, the soldiers can support their families. It's time for the Veterans' Association to be relieved of its burden of 'supporting the families' for the soldiers."

Your suggestion to streamline staff and shed those unprofitable and even loss-making burdens is on the right track!

Shi Shan paused, his gaze sharp as he fixed on Zhou Wendao, and then said:
"This matter will inevitably face considerable resistance. Many of those military dependents have come to regard the Veterans' Association as their place of refuge and livelihood. A sudden abolition could easily breed resentment and even shake morale. This is not just a matter for the Veterans' Association alone. I will clearly instruct the Military Command and the Propaganda Department to fully cooperate with you."

Let them send people down to each camp and village to explain the reasons to the soldiers. Now that they have pay and can support their families, the veterans' association should move forward with a lighter burden and make a greater contribution to the army.

On your side, you need to persuade those elderly, weak, and military dependents who don't meet the eligibility criteria to voluntarily withdraw from the cooperative. Explain the reasons, appeal to their emotions, and, most importantly, clarify the consequences to them, making sure to minimize resistance and prevent any unrest.

This was precisely what Zhou Wendao was most worried about. The Veterans' Association was deeply entrenched, involving countless families, and the slightest misstep could cause a huge uproar, or even lead to unrest.

Hearing Shi Shan's explicit support and the mobilization of powerful departments to cooperate, the heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart finally lifted, and a surge of strong confidence welled up within him. He abruptly stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Your subordinate will obey the Marshal's orders! I will plan meticulously and execute with utmost care, daring not to make the slightest mistake! I will certainly not fail the Marshal's trust!"

"Ok!"

Shi Shan nodded slightly, acknowledging Zhou Wendao's attitude and determination. Zhou Wendao was chosen because of his practicality, diligence, and meticulousness.

"The idea of ​​simultaneously streamlining redundant staff and divesting those stagnant and inefficient industries is a good one."

Shishan continued his deployment, saying:

"For military dependents who are interested in taking over the assets they are exiting, if they only lack some start-up capital, they can go directly to the Registrar of Household Affairs, Li Shanchang, to negotiate. He is currently setting up a money exchange specifically to solve the need for such small loans."

As long as the people are reliable and the project is feasible, the money lender should be willing to lend.

At this point, Shi Shan's tone suddenly turned cold, and his sharp, knife-like gaze pierced Zhou Wendao's eyes.

"However, I have heard of it!"

Shi Shan's voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Zhou Wendao's heart like a heavy hammer.
"You've been in business for many years, and you know all too well the intricacies of asset transfers and money transactions, the tricks of getting something for nothing!"
All key aspects—personnel rosters, industry lists, valuation basis, and loan details—must be publicly posted five days in advance for public scrutiny.

Shi Shan took a step closer, his eyes filled with an unmistakable warning.

"If, afterward, I find out that among these 'good deeds' there was even the slightest shady dealing, and that someone took the opportunity to enrich themselves at the expense of the public, don't blame me for not speaking frankly beforehand!"

The last sentence was already imbued with a chilling murderous intent.

Zhou Wendao's forehead instantly broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat, and his clothes clung tightly to his skin. He hurriedly bowed deeply again, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, and said:

"Marshal, you are wise! Your subordinate... Your subordinate would never dare! Even if I had the audacity of the heavens, I would never dare to do such a rebellious thing!"
Your subordinates will set an example, strictly manage every aspect of your work, and ensure this rectification is a clean and upright undertaking that benefits both the military and the people. You will never dare to turn a good deed into something bad, causing endless harm. If there is any mishap, I will offer my head in retribution!

Shi Shan deeply understands the complexity of human nature and believes even more strongly in the power of institutional oversight than moral constraints and verbal promises. Auditing, public disclosure, whistleblowing, and severe penalties—these cold, hard rules are the most effective bulwark against greed and the most effective means of protecting his subordinates.

He stopped dwelling on it, turned around and walked back behind the desk, bringing the topic back to the veterans' association's positioning.

"Simplification is one thing, divestiture is another,"

Shishan picked up his teacup, took a sip of the slightly cool tea to moisten his somewhat dry throat, and then said:
"The Veterans' Association is named after 'veterans,' so it cannot be like those profit-driven merchants who only care about money! Its roots lie in the name 'veterans.' The Veterans' Association must guarantee the fate of those soldiers who are wounded in battle and can no longer fight!"
Furthermore, the expenses for the children of meritorious soldiers to begin their education and learn a trade cannot be neglected for the time being! This is the Red Flag Battalion's promise to its loyal and brave soldiers, and it is the cornerstone of uniting the army's morale! It must be guaranteed and cannot be compromised!" His tone was resolute and left no room for doubt.

Upon hearing the words "placement of wounded and disabled soldiers," and especially thinking of the more than 1,500 wounded and retired officers and soldiers who were about to flood in, Zhou Wendao's heart, which had just been at ease, was filled with anxiety again, and his scalp tingled. He gritted his teeth and decided to lay out the difficulties openly.

"Marshal, you are wise! The number of wounded and demobilized soldiers this time is enormous. I... I have tried my best, gritted my teeth, and squeezed and moved them along, and perhaps I can manage to settle them. But if I may be so bold as to ask, what about after that?"

He looked up, his eyes filled with deep worry.

"As long as my Red Flag Battalion continues to fight across the world, as long as there are swords, spears, and arrows on the battlefield, injuries and disabilities are inevitable. In the long run, are we going to stuff all these hundreds or thousands of unskilled warriors into the Veterans' Society after every major battle?"

This...this is ultimately not a long-term solution! Moreover, many of the injured and disabled are probably unable to work in the workshops, and their resettlement would be inefficient.

Looking at Zhou Wendao's worried and slightly anxious expression, Shi Shan suddenly smiled. This smile softened his previous sternness, carrying a hint of understanding and deeper meaning. He said:

“Wen Dao, you have misunderstood me.”

Zhou Wendao was stunned and stared blankly at the stone mountain.

"The compensation for fallen soldiers and the resettlement and subsidies for wounded soldiers should be the responsibility of the Revenue Department and the Military Affairs Department. How can all of this be placed on the shoulders of the Veterans Affairs Bureau? I have already instructed Magistrate Li (Li Shanchang) and Magistrate Wen (Wen Sijiu) to draft the 'Regulations on Compensation and Resettlement for Fallen and Wounded Soldiers' as soon as possible."

Before the 'Regulations' are officially promulgated, all related expenses and expenditures will be directly allocated to your Veterans' Society by the Household Department, for designated purposes only. You will not be allowed to conjure up food and silver out of thin air to support people.

Immediately, Shi Shan changed the subject, pointing to the more distant future, and said:
"After your sweeping reforms, the Veterans Affairs Company will have shed inefficient industries, laid off redundant staff, improved efficiency, and gotten back on track, inevitably leading to a significant increase in profitability. At that time, the special allocation from the Ministry of Revenue to the Veterans Affairs Company will gradually be converted into tax reductions or refunds."

This means that the Veterans Affairs Company is using its profits to shoulder part of the responsibility for veterans, which creates a virtuous cycle.

Zhou Wendao suddenly realized that the marshal didn't intend to burden him with all the wounded and disabled, but rather had clearly stated his intention to provide financial support and outline future responsibility sharing. However, his brow remained slightly furrowed as he said:
"Marshal, it's not that I'm worried about the money and food. What I'm concerned about is that most of these wounded and retired soldiers are illiterate and unfamiliar with various trades. If we suddenly settle them in workshops and farms, even if we have money to settle them, I'm afraid they will not be able to do the work and will just waste food. They themselves will also find it difficult to feel at ease. This is not a long-term solution."

"Therefore, the key is not in 'placement,' but in 'transformation'!"

A glint of wisdom flashed in Shishan's eyes as he smiled and said:

"This is the next thing I want to tell you. The Veterans Affairs Bureau is going to establish a special 'Veterans Training Center'. From now on, all wounded veterans who are still able to move must first enter the training center for training before being formally resettled."

“Training center?” Zhou Wendao pondered this new term.

"Not bad!"

Shishan's decisive tunnel:

"The mission of the training center is to teach them to read and write, and to teach them skills they can manage. Reading, in particular, is of paramount importance!"
"I don't expect them to be able to compose poems or write beautiful prose, but they must at least recognize a few hundred commonly used characters and be able to read Red Flag Battalion proclamations, military documents, and workshop regulations! Understand?"

Zhou Wendao seemed to have grasped a key point, but it was still somewhat vague.

"What does the Marshal mean...?"

Shi Shan leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said:

"As long as they can learn to read and write diligently in the training center, and master even a rudimentary skill, I, Shishan, can find them a place to go! And a good place at that! There are plenty of places that need manpower, such as military farms, patrol teams, post stations, warehouses, and even village communities."

One literate, disciplined, and strongly loyal veteran of the Red Flag Battalion is more valuable than ten illiterate able-bodied men! At that point, even if your Veterans Affairs Bureau wanted to keep him, I wouldn't allow it!

Like a lightning bolt cleaving through the fog, Zhou Wendao finally understood. What the marshal wanted was not a simple "alcoholic institution," but a "talent transformation base." The training center not only solved the transition problem before the wounded soldiers were resettled, but also gave them a new life and dignity.

More importantly, the marshal also wanted to use wounded and retired veterans to gradually take control of grassroots social organizations, which was a great undertaking for generations to come!

This training center will forge countless bonds of gratitude among wounded and retired soldiers, and create a network of connections throughout the Red Flag Battalion. For him, who is in charge of the Veterans Affairs Society, this is an immense, intangible asset!

Having grasped this point, Zhou Wendao's spirits lifted, the heaviness of the past few days vanished, and his eyes regained their light. He rose again, this time with genuine exhilaration, and bowed deeply, saying:
"Understood! Marshal, you have a profound vision. I will do my utmost to run the training center well, making it a place where the wounded and disabled soldiers of my Red Flag Battalion can be reborn from the ashes."

Shishan was quite satisfied to see that Zhou Wendao had finally grasped his strategic intentions.

"Yes, it's good that you have this intention. I will ask Prefect Shi (Shi Nai'an) to support you well, and you can ask him for any talent you need."

(End of this chapter)