Chapter 63

On the evening of the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Xiaojun and his group arrived at Five Tiger Fort. Zhang Weixin and others led the bandits to welcome them at the gate. After a warm greeting, everyone entered the fort and headed straight for the Gathering Hall.

As soon as they entered the Gathering Hall, a wave of warm air greeted them. Zhang Weixin and others had instructed the bandits to light twelve large copper charcoal braziers in the hall, making the entire hall warm and cozy. This made Wang Xiaojun and his group, who had been exposed to the cold wind all the way, feel particularly warm, and they praised Zhang Weixin for his thoughtfulness.

Since twenty-two people from Yu Xu Palace had come to Five Tiger Fort, except for Qingchen, who was one generation younger, all the others should have seats. Additionally, Liu Wanbao—Xing Budai's health condition prevented him from attending the meeting—so Zhang Weixin had arranged twenty-two armchairs in the Gathering Hall in advance. The layout was modified based on the original arrangement of Five Tiger Fort.

The central armchair, which was originally Wei Caishi's tiger-skin armchair, faced the entrance, with a painting of a tiger descending a mountain on the wall behind it. On either side of this chair were two more armchairs, slightly forward. The other seventeen armchairs were arranged in rows below these five, placed relatively on both sides, with two rows on each side. Three rows had four chairs each, and the remaining row had five chairs.

Everyone looked at the rows of chairs with some confusion, unsure what Zhang Weixin was up to, wondering why he was arranging the chairs in such a peculiar way instead of just setting up a few tables and chairs around the room. Even those who had come up the mountain earlier, such as Zeng Zhilin and Tang Chao, were equally puzzled, as they had not been involved in the arrangement of the Gathering Hall, which had been handled by Zhang Weixin, Qingchen, and Liu Wanbao.

Although a bit confused, no one paid much attention to it. To them, it was just a place for chatting, and it didn't matter how they sat. As everyone was about to find a chair to sit down, Zhang Weixin and Qingchen stepped forward and began to arrange the seating in a seemingly casual manner.

After some fuss, all twenty-odd people finally took their seats. Wang Xiaojun was seated in the central tiger-skin armchair, with Li Junwu and Xu Shaoguan on his right, and Zhang Weixin and Liu Wanbao on his left. The others sat in the seventeen chairs below, and Qingchen stood behind Wang Xiaojun.

After everyone was seated, they began to listen to Zhang Weixin explain the detailed plan for reorganizing the bandits and the specific steps for the reorganization ceremony the next day, to avoid any mistakes. While the others listened attentively, Wang Xiaojun's mind wandered. It wasn't that he was uninterested in the reorganization plan; he had already communicated comprehensively with Zhang Weixin via radio and was well-versed in the plan. Whether or not he listened to Zhang Weixin's detailed explanation didn't matter much to him.

As Wang Xiaojun listened to Zhang Weixin's explanation intermittently, he scanned the furnishings in the Gathering Hall. Perhaps because the bandits in the fort were all rough men who didn't care about the aesthetics of the hall, there were hardly any decorative items. Apart from the chairs and charcoal braziers, the only items that could be considered decorations were the painting behind him and the two large rows of weapon racks on either side of the walls.

Wang Xiaojun's gaze shifted from the crude furnishings to the rows of chairs, looking at his companions and pondering whether he should think of ways to help his brother-in-law solve the emotional issues of the brothers who didn't have wives after his cousin's wedding. Of course, he could also solve his own emotional issues in the process.

As he looked around, Wang Xiaojun suddenly noticed something, or rather, a clear difference. He realized that the seating of the brothers seemed to be divided into two parts, almost unintentionally. This division was not based on the direction of the chairs but on the people sitting in them. The division was based on the small factions and groups within the team, with the current seating arrangement as the dividing line. On his left, except for Liu Wanbao, were the car club members who had traveled with him, known as the Dongshan faction. On his right were the military members, known as the Xigu faction. Not only that, but on the Xigu side, the attendees in the front and back rows were seated next to members of their own small groups.

Although Wang Xiaojun tried to console himself with the idea that everyone preferred to sit with people they knew well, the clear division made him think more deeply. He subconsciously turned to look at Zhang Weixin, who was still explaining the plan, wondering if his good friend and old classmate had deliberately arranged it this way. However, it wasn't the right time to ask, so he turned his head and asked Qingchen in a low voice, "Qingchen, do you know who arranged the seating in the Gathering Hall?"

Qingchen bent down and replied in a low voice, "Master Uncle, the seating was arranged by Master Uncle Zhang, Master Liu, and myself. Do you find anything inappropriate?"

Wang Xiaojun didn't directly answer Qingchen's question but asked, "Did Master Uncle Zhang say anything about why he arranged it this way?"

Qingchen thought for a moment and replied, "Master Uncle Zhang didn't say much. I just remember that Master Liu asked Master Uncle Zhang if he would sit in the central tiger-skin armchair. Master Uncle Zhang waved his hands and said, 'No, no. This seat is for the person with the most prestige in Yu Xu Palace.' I then asked Master Uncle Zhang if that person was you, Master Uncle. Master Uncle Zhang didn't answer directly but nodded with a smile. Later, Master Uncle Zhang instructed me to remember which armchair was for which Master Uncle and not to make any mistakes. He didn't tell me why he arranged it this way."

After hearing Qingchen's response, Wang Xiaojun had a sense of understanding. He asked, "Besides you and Master Liu, who else knows about this?"

"Master Uncle, when we were arranging the Gathering Hall today, many bandits helped. However, the hall was quite noisy, so I think only Liu Xiaoliu, who was next to Master Liu, heard our conversation. The others probably didn't notice."

Wang Xiaojun nodded, instructing Qingchen to keep this matter to himself and not to tell anyone else. Qingchen, though puzzled by why Master Uncle Wang was so concerned about Master Uncle Zhang's arrangement, wondered if he was unwilling to be the leader. But that didn't seem to be the case. Since Master Uncle Wang had given the instruction, he would follow it and ask his master later if he had any questions.

After Wang Xiaojun finished talking with Qingchen, Zhang Weixin had also finished his explanation. He turned to Wang Xiaojun and asked, "Old Wang, do you have anything to add?"

Wang Xiaojun, whose mind was elsewhere, indicated that he had nothing to add. Zhang Weixin then sought the opinions of Xu Shaoguan and Li Junwu, who both agreed that Zhang Weixin's plan was already well-thought-out and didn't need any changes.

Seeing that no one had anything else to say, Zhang Weixin suggested, "Since that's the case, let's end the meeting here and go have dinner." Everyone agreed, especially those who had come from Fan Yang, as they were already hungry and had no objections to his suggestion.

The group left the Gathering Hall and followed Zhang Weixin to a residence. This was originally the home of the third chief, Wu Xinqing, which had been vacant since his death. After Yu Xu Palace took over Five Tiger Fort, Liu Wanbao, following Zhang Weixin's instructions, had it cleaned up and it was now used as temporary accommodation for the Yu Xu Palace members. After everyone was seated in the main hall, the banquet was quickly served, and they began to enjoy the meal and lively conversation.

The banquet lasted until close to the tenth hour of the night. After everyone was settled in their assigned rooms, Wang Xiaojun asked Wang Feng to call Zhang Weixin to his room. After a brief chat, Wang Xiaojun brought up the seating arrangement in the Gathering Hall, hoping for a reasonable explanation from Zhang Weixin.

Zhang Weixin, who had anticipated that his good friend and close buddy would ask about this, calmly said, "I knew you would ask me about this. Even if you didn't, I would have come to explain. Yes, the seating arrangement in the Gathering Hall today was deliberately planned by me."

Wang Xiaojun was displeased by Zhang Weixin's straightforward admission. He had always been dedicated to coordinating the relationships among team members, trying to bring everyone together to form an organic whole. This would allow team members to contribute their full strength to the collective, promoting the healthy and long-term development of the team.

What he least wanted to see was the formation of small groups based on personal relationships, which could lead to conflicts of interest and internal friction. The team was still small and couldn't afford such internal conflicts.

As time went on, through his continuous efforts, the clear boundaries between the small groups that existed at the beginning of the穿越 had gradually faded, and the relationship among all the穿越者 had become more harmonious. At this point, Zhang Weixin's actions seemed to be reversing this trend, making the already blurred boundaries more distinct. This made Wang Xiaojun angry, and he was about to criticize Zhang Weixin's behavior. However, before he could speak, Zhang Weixin interrupted him, saying, "Old Wang, don't be in a hurry. Let me finish, okay?"

Although Wang Xiaojun had issues with his friend's actions, he wouldn't deny him the chance to explain, so he patiently listened to Zhang Weixin.

Zhang Weixin paused for a moment and then said, "Old Wang, I understand your thoughts and the efforts you've made. I want to commend you for your work in maintaining team unity, which was crucial for the team's smooth transition through the initial difficult times. Without your active coordination and mediation, it's hard to say whether our team could have remained as cohesive and cooperative as it is now.

However, the current situation is different from the early days of the穿越. Back then, we were fighting for our survival, and no one could guarantee their safety. At that time, it wasn't about pursuing personal interests; even the things we brought from our previous lives had to be used collectively. We were practicing a form of primitive communism, where all usable resources belonged to the collective. But now, things are different. We have substantial wealth, several businesses, this fort, and three hundred bandits. With such significant interests at stake, egalitarianism won't work."

"Didn't we already implement a system of collective ownership and distribution based on labor? Why do you have to go through all this trouble, putting me in the spotlight and deliberately making the small groups within the team more apparent?" Wang Xiaojun interrupted Zhang Weixin.

"Let me finish. We did implement a system of collective ownership and distribution based on labor. But that's just about the distribution of money, similar to how a company distributes profits based on labor. However, even in a company, there are different positions and levels. There are ordinary employees, as well as chairmen and general managers. If everyone had the same position and there was no management structure, the company couldn't function properly.

Our current situation is even more complex and requires leadership. Take the three hundred bandits, for example. They don't understand democracy; they only follow the orders of their leaders. In their minds, all thirty of us are leaders. This means we need someone who can make decisions and have the final say in critical moments. Otherwise, with so many leaders giving orders, the bandits would be confused and chaos would ensue.

Among the thirty of us, you, Wang Xiaojun, are the most suitable for this leadership role. I can say with confidence that if we held a general election, you would be the one elected. However, such an election is impossible, especially considering the bandits. They are from the tenth century and have no concept of democratic elections. They only know that you, Wang Xiaojun, were chosen as the leader by the other leaders. They wouldn't understand the concept of an election. If we held an election in the future and you were re-elected, there would be no problem. But if you were not re-elected and replaced by another team member, it would create issues. The bandits would likely think that you, Wang Xiaojun, were overthrown by the other leaders, and the new leader would be seen as a usurper. The consequences of this would be severe, and you can imagine what they might be.

Regarding the issue of making the small groups more apparent, I admit I had some personal motives. But I swear, these motives were not for my own benefit. They were for the benefit of the entire Dongshan faction, to ensure that the Dongshan faction can continue to control the team's future development. You should understand that the three hundred bandits will be a significant asset for the team's future growth, and the Xigu faction, being military personnel, have a natural advantage in training and commanding the bandits. If they were to take full control of this force, it would increase their influence within the team. You agreed that we need to control the team's voice, and you certainly don't want to lose control of the team. That's why I made the small groups more apparent and suggested that Qian Yuanshan, Zeng Zhilin, Lu Yue, Tang Chao, and Mutel be the ones to stay and manage the fort. This way, the different factions within the Xigu faction won't be able to reach a consensus, allowing Da Zhi and Lu Yue to take the lead in routine decisions and ensuring that the three hundred bandits won't be controlled by the Xigu faction.

That's all I have to say. If you think I did something wrong, you can immediately call a committee meeting to discuss, modify, or even suggest that the committee remove me from my position."

After Zhang Weixin's long explanation, he left the decision to Wang Xiaojun. Wang Xiaojun now understood his friend's well-intentioned efforts, realizing that he wanted them to be the active decision-makers in the team's development, not just passive executors. In this era, where military power was paramount, the Xigu faction's military background, as Zhang Weixin said, gave them a natural advantage. In terms of his own expertise, he could only coordinate relationships and resolve internal conflicts. If he couldn't control the team's voice, his authority in mediation would be weakened, and over time, his role would become unnecessary. In that case, he would be the least useful member of the team, eventually becoming a burden. Therefore, to demonstrate his value, being the team leader was the most suitable role for him.

With this in mind, Wang Xiaojun's expression softened, and he said, "Brother, what you said makes a lot of sense. I understand that you did this for the benefit of the majority, but you should have discussed it with me first. It was a bit of a surprise. Fortunately, no one objected to your arrangement today, or I wouldn't have known how to explain it."

As he spoke, Wang Xiaojun lightly punched Zhang Weixin's shoulder and said with a helpless smile, "Brother, you've really put me on the hot seat."

Zhang Weixin patted Wang Xiaojun's shoulder and said with a sly smile, "We're all brothers, no need to be so formal. Besides, if I don't put you on the hot seat, who else can I put there? Should I put myself on the hot seat? That would just be making things difficult for myself."

Wang Xiaojun's face turned black, and he pointed at Zhang Weixin, laughing and scolding, "You look so honest and straightforward, but how can you have so many ulterior motives?"

Zhang Weixin continued to pat Wang Xiaojun's shoulder and said, "Do you think I wanted to do this? The interpersonal relationships in university are much more complex than in a software company. I had to be more cautious."

After saying this, the two of them laughed. Wang Feng, who had been assigned to keep watch by the door, broke his silence and said, "Brother, you only realized how many ulterior motives Teacher Zhang has now? I experienced it firsthand. But this time, he did a good thing. I'm the first to raise both hands in support of you being the leader."

Wang Xiaojun grabbed a hard walnut from a bowl of dried fruits on the table and threw it at him, pretending to be angry, "You talk too much. Remember, just because I'm the leader doesn't mean you can act recklessly. Be more low-key in the future, or I'll deal with you."

Wang Feng, knowing his cousin was just teasing him, wasn't afraid. He caught the walnut, crushed it with his hands, and started eating the nut, secretly amused. Wang Xiaojun couldn't do anything to him, so he let it go and discussed with Zhang Weixin how to handle any objections from the Xigu faction members to Zhang Weixin's arrangement. After that, they ended their conversation.