Chapter 259: Three Months Later (2)
Chapter 259: Three Months Later (2)
September 25, 2017
In the three months, the mountain fort had amassed several million gold in revenue, and it was impossible for Lu HaiKong to just leave it untouched.
Moreover, gold is a tempting item that not only fails to multiply but also attracts attention. As such, Lu HaiKong had almost entirely spent this substantial sum.
Although the millions of gold seemed like a substantial amount, if Lu HaiKong decided to squander it, or rather, consume it, it would be relatively easy. Not to mention other expenses, just the Elder Gong Sun alone could help Lu HaiKong with his needs.
After having money, Lu HaiKong no longer hesitated to spend five hundred gold a day. With the funds, he should expand his forces and upgrade the equipment of his subordinates.
Lu HaiKong had seven forces under his command, including the Tiger Force, which was solely responsible for maintaining law and order within the fort. For them, the simplest equipment would suffice.
Apart from the Tiger Justice, Lu HaiKong had six other forces: the Black Gale Legion, First Battalion, Second Battalion, Third Battalion, the Wild Wolf Guards, and the Royal Guard, which was led by the Mountain Bandits.
The Black Gale Legion was the only system-recognized legion under Lu HaiKong's command. Notably, this type of legion could be upgraded. After investing 200,000 gold, Lu HaiKong upgraded the Black Gale Legion from a first-level to a second-level legion, increasing its membership from 500 to 1,000.
This legion's members all possessed a martial strength of thirty and were equipped with the 'Gale Trait.' They could dominate in both head-on confrontations and their unique hit-and-run tactics, making them a formidable force against the Third Battalion, which was also a cavalry unit.
As the mountain fort's most formidable force, Lu HaiKong ensured they were well-equipped.
Initially, Lu HaiKong intended to outfit them with 'Light Cloud Armor' and 'Light Cloud Crossbows.' These two pieces of equipment were practically divine artifacts for light cavalry, especially the Light Cloud Crossbow, which could fire two consecutive shots and had a much longer range than regular bows.
One could imagine the feeling of the Black Gale Legion, equipped with Light Cloud Crossbows, maneuvering swiftly in open areas, approaching, firing a volley of crossbow bolts, then retreating immediately, leaving behind a cool silhouette that was so satisfying.
However, when Lu HaiKong ordered the Blacksmith Camp to urgently forge a thousand sets of 'Light Cloud Armor' and 'Light Cloud Crossbows,' he was stunned by the budget and the time required for production.
Although the Light Cloud Armor and Light Cloud Crossbows could be crafted due to Elder Gong Sun's influence, the Blacksmith Camp lacked sufficient manpower. At full capacity, they could only produce ten Light Cloud Crossbows a day and five sets of Light Cloud Armor. In other words, the Blacksmith Camp would be occupied for several months just to equip the Black Gale Legion.
In comparison, the cost was not an issue. Lu HaiKong had his own small iron mine, and the coal consumption was minimal. The primary expense was labor. Crafting a thousand Light Cloud Crossbows required only one or two hundred thousand gold from Lu HaiKong, but the production time was nearly two months.
Given this situation, Lu HaiKong's Black Gale Legion was ultimately only equipped with Light Cloud Crossbows. As for the Light Cloud Armor, Lu HaiKong could only consider it later.
Judging by the Black Gale Legion's equipment, it seemed like Lu HaiKong hadn't spent much. The total expenditure was only a few hundred thousand gold, a mere fraction of Lu HaiKong's revenue, which often reached several million gold. But was this truly the case?
It is important to know that Lu HaiKong's forces are not limited to the Black Wind Legion, which has undergone expansion. All seven of Lu HaiKong's regular forces have been increasing in size over the last three months.
The Third Battalion has grown to 3,000, the Second Battalion from 800 to 2,000, and the First Battalion to 1,000. The Mountain Bandits' Royal Guard has increased to 600, the Tiger Justice Hall has a fixed number of 200, and even the smallest, the Wild Wolf Guards, has 40 members three months later.
When tallied, these seven forces under Lu HaiKong, including the Fire Word Regiment for officer training and the Shadow Guard who are often away from the mountain camp, total over 8,000 in number.
Currently, Lu HaiKong's mountain camp has a population of around 25,000, excluding these forces. According to normal circumstances, it is almost a joke for a small city with a population of less than 35,000 to support an army of 8,000.
Lu HaiKong has been solely responsible for the military, and Wang Jun has never interfered. However, in the blink of an eye, Lu HaiKong has created this massive force of over 8,000 troops, not just 800. These soldiers consume several thousand gold coins in food expenses alone every day.
At a minimum, the cost of feeding this army for a month is several hundred thousand gold coins. When calculated, Lu HaiKong's business with Qiang Yin Clan barely breaks even.
In Wang Jun's opinion, this military expansion is already hinting at a distorted development, which could significantly hinder the mountain camp's growth. Wang Jun has spoken to Lu HaiKong on multiple occasions, questioning if this force of 8,000 is too large and if it will burden the mountain camp too heavily. He has asked Lu HaiKong to reduce the number of troops.
But Lu HaiKong's answer is always a firm no.
In reality, Lu HaiKong is also at a loss. He didn't create these forces on a whim. For Lu HaiKong, the mountain camp's foundation lies in its military strength. Once the camp has money, why not develop its military power instead of focusing on civil construction?
This doesn't mean Lu HaiKong neglects civil construction, but before building the mountain camp, it is crucial to establish a strong military force. Only with formidable military might can the camp's security be guaranteed. Moreover, Lu HaiKong is well aware that the Yellow Turban Rebellion is imminent, and he needs to hold some power in his hands to face the unknown scale of the upcoming rebellion.
(End of Chapter)
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