Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1601 Recruitment and Intelligence

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Cheng Nanxing's plan to rebuild the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) into an impregnable fortress was clearly laid out, and Ling Yunxiao's overall countermeasures were also spot on.

Chen Cong tapped his knuckles lightly on the edge of the table, his voice deep and slow: "Yunxiao's words make sense; defense is by no means a long-term solution."

His eyelids drooped slightly, a dark light flowing in his deep eyes. "Now that the Crimson Church has overturned the table and drawn its sword, seeking peace is nothing but a pipe dream."

"Over at Tian Dou, Ah Zhang has already planned a counterattack."

Chen Cong nodded and turned to Cheng Nanxing: "We can't leave out any of the things we need to do here. Let's start with the basics. How many people are there in the Embroidered Uniform Guard now?"

Cheng Nanxing was clearly prepared: "Reporting to Lord Cong, the original number of Jinyiwei headquarters and the guards of the sixteen medicinal herb markets totaled 9478 people."

"This large-scale expansion of enrollment, in collaboration with the Organization Department, was carried out relatively quickly."

He reported the new data: "As of the end of June, the academy had 2256 new graduates (including those at the Soul Master level and above).

"We also recruited 1589 people from the community, including 582 people who came in through family connections."

"In addition, we also specially recruited a group of retired soldiers from the Chang'an Military Region, 4886 people (Note: like social recruitment, including non-Soul Master soldiers)."

"The total number of newly added people is 9731."

"With both new and old employees combined... there are currently 18200 people at most."

Chen Cong nodded slightly.

As mid-July drew to a close, the college's recruitment season came to an end. It was truly remarkable that the college managed to recruit over two thousand new students in just two months.

At Chang'an Academy, out of more than 150 students in four classes graduating from senior high school, only about 70 actually agreed to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard—and these were only those who came for the Chen family's reputation and the generous treatment offered by the medicinal herb market. Many of them even abandoned their original plans to join the Imperial Guard.

For example, at Tianfeng Academy, even with Si Baining's best efforts to encourage them, they could only recruit a maximum of 36 students by mobilizing most of their two classes.

The real source of their confidence lies in the prestigious reputation of the Chen, Yang, and Ximen families, which carries immense weight in various academies across the land (including academies in the five southern prefectures, the Beast Academy, the Sword Rain Academy, and the Blade Soul Academy). This influence directly translates into the number of applicants.

Of course, in the provincial preliminary round of the Gao Ying competition, the students from Chang'an Academy and the Chen family performed exceptionally well, and the academies in the eight counties of Zhongbei also recruited a lot of people.

Social recruitment has always existed.

Family connections refer to families with strong relationships.

Not to mention the Yang family of the Seven Absolute Bow, the Ximen family, the Yang family of the Soul-Breaking Spear, and the Dugu family of the Azure Serpent, there are also the Ten Great Families of Chang'an.

However, most of them are at the Soul Master or Soul King level, and if they are lucky, they may also be mixed in with some Soul Emperor experts—but this kind of approach will not produce many genuine Soul Saints.

Cheng Nanxing continued, "The training camp arrangements have also been finalized. The date is set for August 1st, and the location will be one of the four major training bases, plus the Seven Absolutes Base."

The Seven Wonders Base is of medium size and is located within the territory of the Yang Family's Seven Wonders City. This was determined before Yang Jingxue left and was overseen by Yang Zhijia.

Upon hearing this, Chen Cong nodded slightly, quite naturally.

This arrangement is flawless; everything that needs to be decided has been decided.

However, with the increase in numbers comes the need for mid- to high-level Soul Masters. Chen Cong calmed himself down, "Since we lack pillars like Soul Saints and Soul Emperors, it's not as convenient to temporarily recruit people as to have established positions."

He shifted his gaze to his son, Chen Hua, and said, "Spread the word that we will directly invite all families and branches in Douhun City. Anyone with the cultivation level of Soul Saint who is willing to join the Chen family's Embroidered Uniform Guard will be treated the same as the Douhun Legion, without any difference!"

"Uh, we'll also invite Soul Emperors and Soul Kings." (According to custom, each family doesn't release Soul Masters into society; they're still in the training phase.)
He paused for a moment, then added, "At the same time, we'll also let those families in our medicinal herb market with whom we have long-term partnerships know, and show them the same sincerity by inviting their experts to take up positions."

"Uh, we sent some people from the branch offices in."

"The specific compensation and benefits...you and the Organization Department can draft a satisfactory one."

Chen Hua understood immediately: "Understood, Father."

He knew that taking this step would be a major step in expanding the Chen family's influence.

Of course, the number of families in Douhun City is far less than the influx of a large number of disciples from the Yang family and Ximen family, who are already deeply intertwined.

But being able to recruit one more expert is a real benefit.

Thinking of this, Chen Hua straightened up: "Father, let's do it this way..."

He glanced at Chen Cong's composed profile. "A large number of Soul Saints have indeed poured in, especially those from the cooperating families. In terms of numbers... they might make up the majority."

Chen Cong didn't even lift his eyelids. He tapped his knuckles lightly on the hard wooden table, and his steady, resonant voice broke the silence: "It's alright."

After saying those two words, he looked up at Chen Hua, his eyes as firm as a mountain. "As long as the main trunk (the direct line of the Chen family and its core loyal forces) is thick and strong enough, and the roots are deep enough, it's not a problem."

His eyes held a glimmer of insight, as if he had seen some predetermined trajectory. This idea... Xiao Jun had already been churning it out in his head, but he had revealed it beforehand.

There was even a sense of relief, as if "that kid had outsmarted me again."

Chen Cong paused slightly, then uttered the crucial second half of the sentence in a very low voice: "Assessment...and recommendation...go hand in hand!"

His gaze shifted to Cheng Yun at the end of the table. "Ah Yun—intelligence comes before troops. What plans does the intelligence department have in store?"

Cheng Yun carried an invisible burden on her shoulders.

After Cheng Yuan went to the Teng Hai Secret Realm, she had to take over the heavy responsibility he left behind—to take charge of the largest of the six intelligence departments, the "Jianghu Division" (responsible for the construction and operation of the conventional intelligence network of the Soul Master world), while still concurrently managing the "Economic Intelligence and Analysis Division" (part of the Wide Area Division) that she was originally in charge of.

Despite his usual competence, he couldn't hide his exhaustion as he single-handedly took charge of two of the six departments of the intelligence bureau.

The current structure of the Intelligence Department consists of the Recruitment and Training Division, the Jianghu Division, the Wide Area Division, the Counter-Espionage Division, the Dark Star Division, and the Special Affairs Division.
(Note: With the establishment of the twelve major ministries, various departments under each ministry were subsequently set up, ranging from four or five to as many as twelve departments, such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs.)
Cheng Yun adjusted her breathing and looked directly at Chen Cong frankly: "In this incident, the intelligence department bears the primary and inescapable responsibility."

Before he could delve into self-reflection, Chen Cong calmly interrupted, "There's no need to be overly critical of yourself. If the Crimson Church were so easy to detect, the Soul Master world would have eradicated it long ago. But the lesson must be remembered. How will you adjust in the future?"

Cheng Yun nodded in acknowledgment: "This large-scale attack exposed the serious lag in intelligence work—failing to keep pace with the family's expansion speed, the root cause of which lies in the deep-seated defects that have long existed in the intelligence structure."

Her voice was clear and serious: "Mistakes in other departments can be corrected, but oversights in intelligence work... come at the cost of lives and bloodshed."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Is this bombardment or self-harm?

The intelligence department has been headed by the brothers Chen Wenchao and Chen Shihua since the Sword Shadow Hall era. Most of the Cheng family members are also in it. The structure is complex and involves sensitive power dynamics. Everyone is sitting upright, especially Cheng Nanxing.

(End of this chapter)