A sickly fellow ridiculed by the entire army? I'll be the most beautiful woman in the barracks!

As they were talking, Zhao Daxuan remembered something, reached into his pocket and took out a bag containing small, bright red chilies.

"These are some new chili peppers I just got. They're extremely spicy. Since you're good at cooking, I'm entrusting them to you."

"By the way, take some out and let Sixi and the others try it out, see if they can successfully grow it with the seeds inside."

Lin Zhiqing took the bag, opened it, and took a sniff. A pungent, spicy smell hit her nose, causing her to sneeze several times.

Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but rub her wet eyes, frowning as she said, "It's so spicy!"

"Haha, spicy is delicious! I've been really craving stir-fried pork with chili peppers. Once we drive the Tartars away, I'll make it for you to try!"

Lin Zhiqing smiled and handed the chili peppers to Sixi, who was standing next to her.

"I've collected them. I'll also take a few to see if they can be planted."

Si Xi nodded and accepted it. "Understood, Madam."

Afterwards, Zhao Daxuan and Lin Zhiqing went to Bailianfang together. As soon as they entered Bailianfang, Mo Hanfeng came to greet them.

Mo Hanfeng cupped his hands and smiled, "Lord Zhao, Madam Lin, you've come so early to urge us on the progress!"

"Haha, Manager Mo, please don't be offended. This is of great importance, concerning the lives and fortunes of hundreds or even thousands of my subordinates."

Zhao Daxuan smiled and returned the greeting.

"Haha, Lord Zhao, rest assured, our Bai Lian Fang is currently operating in three shifts, working day and night, to do our best to produce your weapons."

As he answered, Mo Hanfeng led Zhao Daxuan and the other man inside.

"A batch has already been completed. Would Lord Zhao like to inspect the goods?"

Zhao Daxuan waved his hand, looking at Mo Hanfeng with a sincere expression.

"No need, I trust you. I just need to trouble you to deliver it directly to the Wangbei Village camp outside the South City."

"In addition, I have a small order today that I would also like to trouble you with. It is a special horseshoe pattern that I obtained by chance. I hope you can make 500 pieces for me today."

After Zhao Daxuan finished speaking, he took out a [Special Horseshoe Blueprint] from his pocket. Mo Hanfeng took the blueprint and looked at it carefully.

This diagram is not complicated and does not even require an experienced craftsman; an ordinary blacksmith can make it.

Mo Hanfeng lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then smiled and said to Zhao Daxuan, "It should be fine. It can be made this afternoon. After it's finished, I'll have someone send it outside the city."

"Haha, that would be perfect. Thank you for your help. Now, Steward Mo, please take us to see Zhiqing. She entrusted you with the production of the fuel."

Mo Hanfeng nodded and then took Zhao Daxuan to the workshop where fuel was made. In addition to its main business of forging, Bailianfang also had some small side businesses.

Bai Lian Fang happened to have mastered the production process of the fuel that Lin Zhiqing needed, so Lin Zhiqing had previously cooperated directly with Bai Lian Fang.

"These fuels are also being processed and rushed by the Bailian workshop. After an afternoon and evening, quite a lot has been produced, and they will be sent out of the city along with the weapons later."

"Lord Zhao, your wives are truly remarkable; each one possesses extraordinary abilities. Madam Lin has even managed to develop such an amazing fuel!"

"This new fuel will increase the power of the fire dragon's spray barrel by at least three times! If it sprays flames within dozens of meters, the flames will be like maggots clinging to bones, difficult to extinguish."

While introducing their workshop to Zhao Daxuan and the others, Mo Hanfeng praised Lin Zhiqing's new fuel.

Mo Hanfeng's face was full of admiration, and Zhao Daxuan felt even more pleased than if he had been praised, when he heard the other party praising his wives.

Zhao Daxuan then sent Lin Zhiqing home, while he and the people from Bailianfang headed out of the city with the newly made weapons and new fuel.

Nowadays, Zhao Daxuan has already gained considerable fame within the city guard.

Entering and exiting the south gate was as easy as eating and drinking; one could simply scan their face and pass through without hindrance, even with non-military personnel.

When Zhao Daxuan arrived at the Wangbei Village camp, he noticed several long lines of people queuing to register for military service.

After arranging for someone to take the items from Bailianfang to a safe place, they sought out Li Erlong.

"Erlong, what's going on? Why are there so many people signing up today?"

Zhao Daxuan voiced his doubts.

"My lord, for the past two days, Tartar cavalry have been constantly harassing refugees fleeing to the city gates around Zhenbei City!"

"We won a battle at the south gate yesterday, so this area is relatively peaceful, but the other gates haven't been so lucky!"

"I heard that a lot of people and supplies have been plundered, and some well-informed refugees have come to the south gate, all wanting to join our Wangbei Camp."

Zhao Daxuan nodded. He felt great sympathy for the plight of the people at the other city gates, but he had no intention of intervening.

After all, I am only one person, and I cannot be in two places at once; I cannot keep running around a few city gates.

If someone were to use a diversionary tactic, causing the Wangbei Village camp to fall and resulting in heavy casualties among his soldiers, then the losses would outweigh the gains.

"Okay, then take as many as come. After registration, immediately put them into training so that they can be transformed into our strength as quickly as possible."

Zhao Daxuan looked at Li Erlong with a solemn expression.

Li Erlong nodded, but then looked troubled. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke up, "Sir, the resettlement allowance you brought back yesterday might not be enough for today!"

Zhao Daxuan was taken aback upon hearing this, and then asked, "What happened?"

"I counted the lines outside the camp just now, and there are already nearly a thousand people. More people are constantly joining, so it'll definitely exceed a thousand by the end of the day!"

Li Erlong looked helpless. "Sir, after we've recruited a thousand people, should we continue recruiting? If we do, we won't have enough for their resettlement allowance!"

Zhao Daxuan frowned, took two steps in place, and turned to look at Li Erlong.

"Recruit, keep recruiting! Recruit as many as come!"

"We just need to make it clear to them that we will not be able to pay the resettlement allowance for the time being after it runs out, but we will not stop paying it, we just have to wait a while."

Li Erlong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and nodded. "Understood. With your permission, sir, we'll be bold and confess!"

"Yes, that's right. However, let Village Chief Qin help with the recruitment. You should lead the team and help the new recruits become combat-ready as soon as possible."

After Li Erlong received his orders and withdrew, Zhao Daxuan began to inspect the camp.

Originally, the camp, including Wangbei Village and the Han Chinese from the north, only had a few hundred people, but now, upon closer inspection, he realized there were at least three thousand people in the camp.

The digging of the trench has accelerated significantly. Judging from this, the original digging plan can be completed by tomorrow at the latest.

With the addition of the several defensive lines arranged by Lin Zhiqing and the others, Zhao Daxuan felt that this camp could still be defended.

Looking up at the gloomy sky and feeling the oppressive atmosphere in the camp, he felt a sense of impending storm.

Zhao Daxuan sighed, hoping that not too many people would die in this war.