Zhang River was so frightened that cold sweat broke out. It was then that he remembered Chen Mo's initial ruthlessness, killing without even blinking, and upon hearing the words about law and military discipline, he thought Chen Mo wanted to deal with it by military law. His face turned deathly pale, and he began kowtowing and pleading for mercy once again.

Seeing him so frightened, Chen Mo sighed inwardly but still kept a stern face and said, "Speak, how much dirty money have you taken in total?"

"There's a total of over eight hundred strings of coins. Those beneath me took over three hundred strings, and I got over five hundred strings," Zhang River confessed honestly, not daring to lie.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo's expression darkened even more. Over eight hundred strings of coins, which is more than eight hundred thousand wen, obviously, this had not been a matter of just one or two days. He shouted heavily, "Zhang River, how many people have you extorted and how many bribes have you taken, why didn't you just die on the battlefield!"

Zhang River was so frightened he didn't dare to speak.

After pondering for a while, Chen Mo said, "Considering you have followed me for a long time, though without merit, you have still worked hard, I shall spare your life, but you will not escape punishment.

Surrender the dirty money you embezzled to the Government Office, you are relieved of your post as Captain and demoted to an ordinary soldier in the Divine Courage Guard, and you will receive twenty strokes of the cane."

Zhang River felt a heaviness in his heart again. It was not the loss of his official position that troubled him, but the fact that he no longer had the over eight hundred strings of money in his hands.

Although his salary was high, his expenses were also significant. Firstly, he had bought a house for his concubine in Sanyuan, and then there were daily expenses. Besides, he also had to spend money at the Qin Clan.

Moreover, he sent money to Pingting County every month, not forgetting his old wife, his parents, and children who also needed support.

With all these expenses, how could he have any money left?

However, he was not foolish. If he couldn't return the dirty money, the punishment would be much more severe than what lay before him now.

"What, you have objections?" Seeing Zhang River remain silent, Chen Mo's eyes flashed.

"I dare not." Zhang River kowtowed heavily again, saying, "Thank you, Marquis, for sparing my life."

Chen Mo snorted coldly and then said, "You've stayed in Yu State long enough, it's time to return and spend time with your wife and children. After receiving your punishment, go back to Pingting County and reflect properly."

Zhang River's eyes dimmed; he understood that he had fallen out of favor.

Before he could speak, Chen Mo motioned to Sun Meng to take him away, "Take him out."

...

Soon, the news of Zhang River being punished spread throughout Longmen County.

The crimes committed by Zhang River were also announced within the army by Chen Mo.

Once the news spread, everyone was stunned.

Who was Zhang River?

He was the first to follow the Marquis, and he came from the same village as the Marquis.

Not to mention his accomplishments, just his seniority alone made it so no one dared to offend him across the Qing, Yu, and Lin Three States.

Because of this relationship, some who had long known of Zhang River's crimes believed that even if it were exposed, it would be covered up and not punished. However, the outcome now was exactly the opposite of what they expected.

Chen Mo originally thought that the spread of the news would give him a reputation for being harsh towards meritorious elders, but it did not. Instead, the soldiers of the entire army held him in greater awe.

The punishment of Zhang River also served as a deterrent to some veteran soldiers in the army who were on the verge of corruption.

By the next day, soldiers on duty who might have been tardy or left early were all present, on time and punctual.

Simultaneously, those who had bribed were also transferred from their original posts and demoted to ordinary soldiers.

Not only the recipients of bribes were punished, but the ones giving them too, otherwise, it wouldn't be effective.

...

As the year-end approached, most families of the Divine Brave Guard and Divine Martial Guard soldiers in Yu State lived in Ping Court County.

So Chen Mo discussed with Sun Meng and the others to give the soldiers a long vacation in batches, allowing them to go home and visit their families.

Later, Chen Mo gathered the commanders of the three armies to have them organize the sequence for the vacation in batches, so as not to cause chaos.

For those who couldn't return home for the New Year, they even discussed cooking a large batch of dumplings in advance to distribute to the entire army during the New Year.

Though these dumplings might not be worth much, they embody thoughtfulness. People are emotional, it's just a difference of degree between men and women. Eating a warm dumpling during the New Year would make the soldiers feel that the Marquis was thinking of them.

Even if they don't get that sentiment, it would still enhance the cohesion of the army.

Simultaneously, Chen Mo also drew up a list for purchasing cotton-padded clothes for the army and improving the accommodation conditions of the barracks.

Of course, it's too late to accomplish these within this year, but Chen Mo was determined to get them done by next year.

Additionally, he instructed the Three States to search for saltpeter mines, although he didn't know how to enhance the power of gunpowder beyond adding sugar, but victory could be won by quantity.

If enough Fire Bombs were made, they could have the same effect on the battlefield.

...

December 25th.

Only a few days left until the New Year.

Han Anniang had long prepared the New Year's goods with Yi Shiyin, Song Min, and the others.

In the courtyard of the backyard.

Chen Mo set up a pot and put the beef tallow, which had been refined some time ago, into the pot, adding nothing, and heated it directly over a fire.

When the beef tallow melted, he added a bowl of chopped dried chili peppers.

The dried chili peppers sizzled as they hit the hot oil, splashing a little, and soon a pungent smell filled the air, making Chen Mo cough a few times.

That was not the end, as one bowl of dried chili peppers was not enough, so Chen Mo added another bowl and then took an iron ladle to stir it.

Such an action naturally drew Han Anniang and the others to watch.

The improved living conditions made them dress beautifully. The few women's graceful figures, standing together, were indeed pleasing to the eye.

Yi Shiyin had developed a very good relationship with Han Anniang; the two women walked over hand in hand, Yi Shiyin's bright big eyes sparkled, and she covered her nose as she looked at the pot: "Husband, are you stir-frying vegetables? Why put so much oil and chili?"

Han Anniang didn't understand either and was also puzzled: "Erlang, is this for eating? But can one really eat this?"

"Anniang, Xiaolu, I am making hot pot base and planning to eat hot pot on New Year's day," said Chen Mo.

"What is hot pot?" Yi Shiyin's big eyes were filled with big questions.

In the Great Song Dynasty, there was no hot pot, so Yi Shiyin didn't understand Chen Mo's words.

"You'll know when the New Year comes," Chen Mo decided to keep it a secret. His hands were all oily, so he didn't rub Xiaolu's head, and said, "You just need to know it's food. Step back a bit, don't get splashed with oil."

"Food?" Yi Shiyin showed a somewhat terrified expression and took a few steps back.

"Food, with so many chili peppers and so much oil, are you trying to kill someone?"

Xia Zhining and Xia Zhiqing walked up together, their steps light and elegant, full of charm.

Although they also didn't understand what hot pot was according to Chen Mo, looking at the large pot of oil and so many chilies, they couldn't imagine it being delicious.

But that was not the end, as Chen Mo added another bowl and laughed: "When the time comes to eat it, it will be so good you won't be able to stop your chopsticks."

After stirring well, Chen Mo added garlic, ginger, and various cooking spices wrapped in cloth.

Once the fragrance of these spices blended into the hot oil, Chen Mo fished out the cloth wrap.

Seeing that Chen Mo had added spices, Xia Zhining thought all this in the pot was a dish, and unconsciously frowned, saying, "So good that you can't stop your chopsticks, if I take one, it's your win."

"Alright, you said it, I'll wait to see," glancing at Xia Zhining's jade-like face, Chen Mo laughed.

Liang Xue stood behind the few women, with no one accompanying her. Watching the people talking, she tightened her coat, appearing somewhat alone.

Too enchanting a woman is destined not to be liked by other women.

Especially since they are all Chen Mo's women.

Liang Xue's temperament naturally arouses hostility and resentment, plus she hasn't adapted to such a life, talking less, making it even more so.

Chen Mo noticed this and waved to Liang Xue, saying, "Xue'er, come over."

Han Anniang, Xia Zhining, and the others turned their gaze towards Liang Xue.

Liang Xue walked to Chen Mo somewhat timidly, with a faint blush on her face.

Chen Mo turned off the fire, handed the iron ladle to Liang Xue, and said: "Xue'er, help me stir for a while, I go to answer nature's call."

After speaking, without waiting for her response, he handed the iron ladle to Liang Xue and said to Han Anniang: "Anniang, Xue'er's hands might not be nimble, give her a hand. If I don't return in a quarter of an hour, just stop stirring, cover it, and let it cool."

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Liang Xue's face reddened even more.

Han Anniang nodded, knowing that Chen Mo noticed Liang Xue's loneliness and was helping her to integrate in.

...

After that, Chen Mo left the government office and started preparing the ingredients for the hot pot.

As for the method of making hot pot base, it was something Chen Mo had seen on the internet before and decided to give it a try. From what could be seen, it seemed quite reliable.

As for ingredients, meats were indispensable. Slices of mutton, slices of beef, Chen Mo personally cut them himself, but no matter how he cut, he couldn't match the standard of the hot pot restaurants, although he did cut them thin enough.

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