My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In the second year of Zhongping, the first day of the first lunar month, Yuan Day.

To celebrate the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, changed the reign title from Guanghe to Zhongping in December of last year.

A fresh snow fell quietly on New Year's Eve, adorning Zhuojun with a silver-white coat, which was in line with the season of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.

Ji Xuanyuan rested in bed for several days. Under the protection of the medicine personally prepared by Lu Zhi and the strict order "not to disturb the lord's rest", his condition finally showed some improvement. Although he was still weak, he was able to get up and handle some important matters.

That night, the main hall of the prefect's mansion was brightly lit, and the charcoal fire burned extremely brightly, dispelling all the chill.

A long table was set out, displaying fine wines and delicacies.

Ji Xuanyuan sat in the main seat. Although he was wearing a thick fur coat, his face still looked pale under the lamplight, but he was in good spirits.

On the left, Xiang Yu is the head, followed by generals such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ran Min, Li Cunxiao, Lü Bu, and Yang Zaixing, all exuding heroic spirit; on the right, Lu Zhi is the head, followed by strategists such as Guo Jia, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou, all displaying a composed demeanor.

In addition, more than ten mid-level officials and generals who had performed well in county and military affairs were seated at the end of the table, their faces beaming with festive joy and the honor of being invited to the banquet.

This is a summary of the past year's campaigns, planning, and construction, and also a starting point for looking ahead to the coming year.

Ji Xuanyuan raised his cup and looked around at everyone. Though his voice was not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears: "This time last year, we were still in the mountains outside Zhuojun City, with only a few brothers as soldiers, and our finances depended solely on Yide's family wealth. Now, thanks to everyone's concerted efforts, we have defeated the Yellow Turbans, brought peace to the people, developed industries, and consolidated our foundation. This cup is to toast the hardships of last year, and even more so to the merits of everyone!"

He downed his drink in one gulp, and everyone roared in agreement, filling their glasses to the brim, creating a lively atmosphere.

After three rounds of banquet, Ji Xuanyuan put down his cup and chopsticks and got down to business.

"The old year has passed and the new year is about to begin. There are a few things that need to be discussed and agreed upon with you all so that we can make preparations in advance."

He first turned his gaze to the military officers: "Firstly, military affairs. Our army currently has nearly 20,000 troops, which is not small in scale. Although the court has temporarily eased its suspicions due to the recent suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the urgent need for garrison power, and we can still manage things with Governor Liu, a large tree attracts the wind, and it is not advisable to expand the army on a large scale in the short term."

He paused, then looked at Guan Yu, Xiang Yu, and the others: "The quality of an army is more important than its quantity. The existing troops must be trained twice as hard, and more importantly... they need to be willing to shed blood. After the spring, we must take the initiative to take on the task of suppressing bandits and eliminating troubles in the prefecture and even in neighboring prefectures. Whether it is the remaining Yellow Turban rebels or the bandits who gather in the mountains, they are all whetstones for our army to train. If we stay in a safe place, we will not be able to train an iron-blooded army that has been through a hundred battles."

"also."

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "The border is not peaceful. The Wuhuan and Xianbei often raid the border. I intend to wait until the time is right, then select a group of elite troops to go to the border for training. Only by fighting the barbarian cavalry with real swords and spears can they know what the battlefield is and what life and death are."

He glanced at the eager generals: "The specifics of who will lead the troops and where they will go still need to be considered. Please be patient."

Upon hearing this, the generals' eyes lit up, especially Lü Bu and Ran Min, who almost simultaneously straightened their backs, their eyes gleaming with an almost fervent light.

Killing the Hu seems to have become an obsession etched into their very bones.

Lu Bu clenched his fists, and Ran Min's cold lips were pressed into a line, clearly both regarding this "frontier experience" as an opportunity they had to seize.

"Secondly, finance and agriculture." Ji Xuanyuan turned to the strategist.

"The benefits of refined salt are already becoming apparent. This is the lifeblood of Zhuojun. We must ensure the safety of the saltworks and the smooth flow of supplies. Fengxiao, you are in charge of this matter. Yuanhao and Gongyu, you must be extremely careful."

Guo Jia bowed and accepted, while Tian Feng and Ju Shou also nodded.

"However, money is ultimately a means; the foundation remains agriculture." Ji Xuanyuan said solemnly.

"The prototype of the curved plow has been completed, and the mass production process has been approved. This product is related to the livelihood of thousands of farmers and the fullness of our Zhuojun granary. It must be promoted to every village and pavilion in the whole county before spring plowing. Gongyu and Yuanhao, this is of utmost importance. I entrust you two with full supervision."

Upon hearing this, Ju Shou pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, although the curved plow is good, it would be extremely difficult to produce enough to supply the entire prefecture within just two or three months. The pressure on craftsmen, materials, and working hours would be immense. I fear that... the time is too short and it will be difficult to achieve everything."

Tian Feng also said, "I share this concern. Even if we work day and night, human strength will eventually run out."

Ji Xuanyuan seemed to have anticipated this, a confident smile appearing on his pale face: "If there's a shortage of craftsmen, recruit them; if there's a shortage of materials, purchase them. The court is currently helpless in dealing with the resettlement of refugees. Everywhere in the Central Plains, there are refugees without food or clothing. Issue my order: post notices widely, or send people to places where refugees gather to spread the word. Zhuojun is recruiting craftsmen and laborers, providing food and lodging, and paying wages. Those who wish to settle will also be allocated land and houses!"

His eyes shone brightly as he continued, "As for the production, there's no need to restrict it to one craftsman completing the entire process. The curved plow can be disassembled into components such as the plowshare, plowshare, plowshare, and wooden frame. Different work groups can be set up, with each person specializing in a particular task. By repeatedly refining each step, efficiency can be doubled. This is called 'assembly line production.' Any refugees who are strong and willing to learn can be included in this 'assembly line,' paid by piecework. The more they work, the more they earn. In this way, we can not only solve the urgent need for curved plow production but also provide work relief, resettling refugees and giving them a way to make a living and hope. In the future, they may become citizens of Anshun in Zhuojun. It's a win-win situation."

His words, presented in a clear and detailed manner, skillfully combined modern production management concepts with the actual conditions of ancient times.

Ju Shou and Tian Feng were initially taken aback, but then their eyes lit up with surprise and admiration.

"Assembly line operation...work-for-relief...My lord's method is well thought out, practical and feasible, truly a brilliant strategy!" Ju Shou clapped his hands in praise.

"Thus, the problem of production can be solved, and the displaced people can be appeased. Your Majesty is benevolent and wise; I hereby submit!"

Tian Feng nodded emphatically: "I will immediately begin drafting detailed rules, recruiting refugees, and supervising the construction of workshops. I will ensure that the curved plow is used throughout the fields of Zhuojun before spring plowing!"

The other civil officials and clerks in the hall also whispered among themselves, all showing admiration.

The lord always manages to find a new path in seemingly difficult situations and come up with brilliant strategies.

With important matters discussed, the atmosphere at the banquet became more relaxed.

Ji Xuanyuan then affirmed the contributions of everyone over the past year, from the fierce general who killed the enemy chieftain to the strategist who planned and executed, and the diligent subordinates, all of whom received comments and praise.

What moved the officials and guards present even more was that Ji Xuanyuan announced that everyone present, as well as all levels of the government and the army, would receive a "year-end bonus" of varying degrees according to their duties and performance. The bonuses ranged from money and grain to cloth and silk. Although they were not huge sums, they were a genuine expression of goodwill and encouragement.

"I hope that everyone will continue to work together with one heart and one mind next year, each fulfilling their duties. With the whole of Zhuojun united as one, what worries do we have about an unstable foundation? What fear do we have of the difficulties ahead? Life will always get better and better."

Ji Xuanyuan raised his glass one last time, his tone gentle yet powerful.

The crowd was filled with excitement and responded in unison. Many officials and guards from humble backgrounds had tears welling up in their eyes.

In this time when the seeds of chaos are already sown, what a blessing it is to be able to follow a lord who is both capable and strategic, compassionate towards his subordinates, and who gives clear hope!

The banquet was lively and the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.

Ji Xuanyuan smiled as he looked at the group of civil and military heroes gathered around him, but a strange sense of absurdity suddenly swept through his heart.

Did my motivational speech and descriptions of the future just now sound more and more like those motivational "pie-in-the-sky" pronouncements from my past life?

But seeing the genuine faith and fervor in everyone's eyes, he understood that here, on this real land, every bit of hope he offered needed to be realized with concrete actions.

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long...