Tempting them with martial arts manuals, there was no worry that the men of Black Dragon Stronghold wouldn't part with their silver.
Most of the men in Black Dragon Stronghold had at least been bandits for several years. Many lived aimlessly, spending two taels when they had one, their hands empty. But there were also plenty who had some silver saved up, more or less.
As the chief of Black Dragon Stronghold, Li Daoqiang naturally wouldn't force his men to hand over their money. But using martial arts manuals as bait for a trade—that worked. The silver required to exchange for a manual might seem steep, and it could only be practiced alone, which felt unfair to the bandits. Yet, fairness was scarce in this world, and given the rarity of martial arts manuals, most would feel more surprise than resentment.
This move was something Li Daoqiang had pondered for over two years, a cornerstone of his plans. Skimming their silver was secondary; the real goal was to rapidly boost the strength of Black Dragon Stronghold. He wanted them scrambling to earn merits and money to trade for manuals. He'd even figured out how they could quickly gain merits and wealth: through annexation and expansion. He aimed to instill a fierce, aggressive drive in the stronghold.
This system was partly borrowed from the Qin state's military merit system. In his view, it was the fastest way to strengthen Black Dragon Stronghold and earn more bandit points—and the most fitting for a bandit outfit like theirs. Of course, this system had plenty of flaws, especially in a world where personal power reigned supreme. One misstep or accident could lead to a gruesome end. But with the Big Bandit System—an unconventional tool—on his side, Li Daoqiang felt it was worth the gamble.
Simply put, it would let him grow stronger faster, ensuring no one in this world could ever threaten him again. After spending over two years in a bandit den, living day to day with insecurity etched into his bones, that was worth it.
He mulled over the plan again, refining it further, then listened to the lively noise outside. A flicker of dissatisfaction crept in. The Big Bandit System placed too many restrictions on earning bandit points. Take this situation: originally, he'd thought about paying the stronghold wages. That way, the men would have more money to trade for manuals, and the silver would flow back to him. But money gained that way couldn't earn new bandit points.
He'd tested it long ago—giving someone money, then taking it back. Or handing cash to a trusted subordinate and reclaiming it through various means. None of it worked, no matter how reasonable the excuse. The Big Bandit System's rules were ironclad, as if every silver piece that earned him bandit points was marked, making a second round impossible.
It wasn't just that, either; the rules weren't fixed. They were tangled and complex, so much so that even Li Daoqiang sometimes felt confused and overwhelmed. It was like the system held all the power of interpretation, brooking no argument.
Since he couldn't earn points twice, Li Daoqiang saw no point in handing out wages. Let the bandits stay aggressive, and his silver would serve plenty of other purposes. With a quiet, unsatisfied grumble at the Big Bandit System, he began organizing the martial arts manuals. The martial academy was set to open tomorrow, and he needed everything sorted.
Over an hour later, a figure entered the assembly hall, his face tinged with nervousness. He stopped a few yards away and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Chief."
"Mm." Li Daoqiang stood with a smile, stepping forward. "Brother Xu has arrived."
"At your summons, Xu Zhi wouldn't dare delay," Xu Zhi said, his tone deferential, every move radiating obedience.
Li Daoqiang nodded calmly, his expression unchanged, and chuckled lightly. "No need to be tense, Brother Xu. You're a pillar of Black Dragon Stronghold. I hope you'll help us achieve great things."
Xu Zhi immediately bowed again. "Chief, whatever you command, I'll carry out even unto death."
"Haha." Li Daoqiang laughed heartily, his tone bold. "Brother Xu, you're too serious. We're brothers."
Xu Zhi didn't dare meet his eyes, remaining utterly respectful. As if recalling something, Li Daoqiang asked with mild curiosity, "By the way, Brother Xu, did you used to deliver letters for Lin Sanlong and his wife to Magistrate Ling Tuisi?"
Xu Zhi's already tense body stiffened, panic flickering in his eyes. He lowered his head, his voice fading. "Yes, Chief, a few times."
"Haha, Brother Xu, relax. Lin Sanlong and his wife are dead. I trust you," Li Daoqiang said magnanimously, easily reading Xu Zhi's worry.
"Thank you, Chief. Xu Zhi will follow you to the death," Xu Zhi declared firmly, though unease still churned inside him. A former leader's confidant rarely earned the trust of a new one—especially when the new leader had killed the old one to seize power. Purging the old guard was the norm.
That night, many in Black Dragon Stronghold couldn't sleep, living in constant fear. Xu Zhi was among the most terrified.
"Mm, I believe you, Brother Xu," Li Daoqiang repeated. Xu Zhi, unsure what to say, just nodded with a grateful look.
After a pause, Li Daoqiang continued, "Brother Xu, to be honest, I called you here because I need you to handle something."
Hearing this, Xu Zhi relaxed slightly and quickly replied, "Chief, please give your orders."
"It's simple. I need you to go to Magistrate Ling's office in Jingzhou City and deliver a letter for me," Li Daoqiang said directly.
Xu Zhi breathed another sigh of relief and affirmed, "Understood. I'll deliver it."
Li Daoqiang pulled a sealed letter from his chest and handed it to Xu Zhi. "Good. It's still early. Go and come back quickly."
"Yes, Chief. I'll leave now." Xu Zhi bowed.
Soon, Xu Zhi left Black Dragon Stronghold with two men, heading for Jingzhou. In the assembly hall, Li Daoqiang sank into thought.
The matter with Ling Tuisi was critical. Though Ling couldn't pose a fatal threat to him in the short term, Black Dragon Stronghold couldn't withstand his full force until Li Daoqiang had enough strength. Still, knowing Ling Tuisi as he did, the chances of this working out were high.