Chapter 208

The valley, swept by a bitter wind, was intensely cold, yet the atmosphere in Black Mountain Tribe's plaza was fervent.

Everyone was whispering to their neighbors, completely forgetting their earlier apprehension toward those people. The topic of discussion was entirely focused on the new terms Qi Bai had just introduced.

"Did Leopard White just say that the work done by those slaves would be recorded under the small team leader's name? The more they work, the more work points the team leader gets as commission?"

"Commission" – the first new term the Black Mountain tribespeople learned today.

Shu You's nose was red from the cold, and he was practically drooling at the corners of his mouth. "Right, I want to be a small team leader for those slaves. I want more commission work points to exchange for brown sugar to eat."

Tu Ruo's eyes were also sparkling. Recently, the weather had turned cold, and her partner, Quan Liu, couldn't go out to herd sheep every day, so the work points he earned had decreased. If she could become a team leader, she could earn more work points and get more food for their young ones.

Niu Xi interrupted the two excited individuals. "Leopard White said we can't call them slaves anymore. Those are all workers of our Black Mountain Tribe."

"Right, workers. Workers who eat based on how much work they do." Shu You quickly nodded, then repeated delightedly, "Workers. How does Leopard White come up with so many interesting names?"

"Workers" – that was the second term everyone learned tonight.

Although it was the first time hearing this new word, it simply meant beastmen who came to Black Mountain to work. It was understandable after one hearing. They would call them workers from now on.

Qi Bai clapped his hands vigorously, interrupting the discussions.

The tribespeople were becoming more familiar with each other, which meant they were getting harder to manage.

During meetings in the past, everyone would nervously stare at the person speaking above.

Now, it was different. Qi Bai could shout himself hoarse on the platform, only to find that while a big meeting was happening on the platform, smaller discussions were happening below it.

Qi Bai emphasized, "Don't just rush in blindly because you can earn more. If you become a small team leader, you'll have to work alongside the workers down the mountain. Apart from one rest day every ten days, you'll have to go out to work every day. To put it plainly, it's very hard work. You need to consider all this carefully before signing up."

Someone immediately shouted from below, "We're not afraid of hard work! But what about our young ones?"

"The young ones in the tribe will be taken care of by dedicated tribespeople as usual, so there's no need to worry about that."

After explaining that, someone else raised their hand nearby. After answering several questions in a row, Qi Bai continued, "Just now, I mentioned small team leaders. In addition to small team leaders, for every ten small teams, there will be a middle team leader and a scorekeeper added. For every five middle teams, there will be a large team leader and a scorekeeper."

"The selection for these team leader positions will temporarily be decided by Priest Yang Luo, Chief Hou Yan, Lang Ze, and me. The four of us will recommend candidates. But every tribesperson is a supervisor. If anyone finds these people aren't doing their jobs well, feel free to speak up. We compete fairly."

Within the tribe, there was still a decision-making group consisting of Qi Bai, Lang Ze, Yang Luo, and Hou Yan. They were responsible for deciding all matters, big and small, within the tribe.

The tribe had suddenly gained a thousand外来 beastmen. The management system had to keep up to ensure efficiency.

The management system Qi Bai was proposing now was about transforming the single-layer management system of foraging and hunting team leaders into a three-tier hierarchy.

Simply put, every ten people would form a small team, every hundred people a middle team, and every five hundred people a large team. With this three-tier delegation, everyone down the mountain could be properly assigned.

And the work within the tribe – foraging, animal husbandry, farming, manufacturing, etc. – would be distributed among the production teams.

Tun Quan shouted from below the stone platform, "These positions don't have commissions. We don't want them."

The wound on Tun Quan's abdomen, treated with medicine from the Jufeng tribe, had already grown new flesh. It was clear he had recovered well – he even had the energy to watch the excitement and stir up trouble.

Qi Bai said with a smile, "Who said there aren't any? The large team leader manages the middle team leaders, and the middle team leaders manage the small team leaders. As long as the people you are responsible for achieve results, the team leader at the higher level gets a commission."

However, the amount of commission varied. The higher up, the smaller the commission, so the small team leaders wouldn't be shortchanged.

Additionally, the extra work points per day for each position were different.

For example, a large team leader got three extra work points per day, a middle team leader got two extra work points per day, a small team leader got one extra work point per day, and a scorekeeper also got one extra work point per day.

"Don't just see that they earn more work points. Similarly, they have to manage more people. This is called 'more ability, more gain.' As long as everyone has the capability, they can all achieve this."

Upon hearing this, the hearts of the people below沸腾 again. Yes, that made sense.

A large team leader had to manage five hundred people. How many was five hundred? More than the current population of Black Mountain Tribe. Shouldn't they get more work points?

Yang Luo waited for Qi Bai to finish explaining to everyone before raising his hand to point. Due to the tight schedule and heavy task, even Yang Luo didn't bother with elaborate ceremonies. He announced concisely.

Diao Lan, Captain of the First Production Brigade of Black Mountain Tribe.

She Li, Captain of the Second Production Brigade of Black Mountain Tribe.

Diao Lan and She Li stepped out from the crowd and walked solemnly to the base of the stone platform.

But that wasn't all. After the two stood still, Yang Luo immediately read out two more names.

Hu Xue, Captain of the Third Production Brigade of Black Mountain Tribe.

Niu Shuo, Captain of the Patrol and Hunting Brigade of Black Mountain Tribe.

Why were there suddenly two more brigades?

Don't forget, the first two brigades managed the new batch of beastmen down the mountain. But Black Mountain Tribe itself also needed production, and the workload wouldn't be any less than down the mountain. Naturally, they needed an organization too. Hence, the Third Production Brigade.

The establishment of the Patrol and Hunting Brigade was to undertake two important responsibilities: hunting and patrol defense.

The most special addition was the new patrol defense team. In the days to come, these patrol teams would conduct 24-hour rotating patrols within the tribe to protect the safety of the tribespeople.

It could be said that after today's meeting, Black Mountain Tribe had the most basic administrative and military framework.

Niu Shuo, the newly appointed captain of the Patrol and Hunting Brigade, didn't know he had been promoted yet. At this moment, the captain had just suppressed a group of beastmen and could finally catch his breath.

The beastmen from the Northern Wilderness were quickly herded into a large sun shelter upon entering the threshing ground. Although the shelter wasn't enclosed, it could block wind from three sides. Lang Ze was thinking of trying to keep these people as warm as possible.

Who would have thought that just after they entered the shelter and the ropes were loosened, a few people started fighting.

Niu Shuo went forward to ask and found out that someone had hidden a small piece of frozen meat. They were so hungry they couldn't stand it and planned to secretly take it out to eat. Who knew a few beastmen nearby saw it, rushed over, and it turned from snatching into a fight.

Lang Ze wouldn't tolerate this behavior. He directly dragged everyone involved out and threw them onto the threshing ground.

The beastman who was robbed was the most wronged, but Lang Ze wasn't there to adjudicate their case. Lang Ze's gaze coldly swept over them, and he said in a deep voice, "I told you to behave and not cause trouble."

The beastmen who remained in the sun shelter, though they hadn't done anything wrong, still couldn't help trembling upon hearing Lang Ze's reprimand. They buried their heads in their arms. Because of this, no one noticed that amidst the chaos, a long, large tail, like fishing, hooked that small piece of meat and pulled it into its embrace.

Meanwhile, back at the stone platform within the tribe, three brigade captains stood below.

The three newly appointed brigade captains, facing all the tribespeople, secretly clenched their fists.

This was the first time they had stepped out from the crowd, the first time they stood before all the tribespeople, receiving everyone's attention. But at the same time, everyone silently resolved in their hearts to do their best, to not be outdone.

Even Diao Lan, even someone who had once commanded more tribespeople, felt her heart surge with emotion.

The tribespeople didn't know the four brigade captains' hearts were pounding. They simply genuinely recognized and admired these individuals.

Hu Xue and She Li needed no explanation. In the beastman continent where food held the utmost importance, Hu Xue and She Li, responsible for cooking, had long earned the respect of all tribespeople.

As for Diao Lan, who became the captain of the foraging team, although she was originally a slave, she possessed much knowledge. When Yang Luo and Qi Bai couldn't be found, even captains from other foraging teams would immediately go to Diao Lan for discussion when encountering difficulties.

So the tribespeople were genuinely convinced, not only convinced by their future captains but also convinced by Yang Luo and Qi Bai who made such decisions.

After this, Yang Luo named the fifteen middle team captains and had them stand behind the brigade captains.

The final step was recruiting a hundred small team captains.

As for why it was a hundred small team captains, mainly because the Third Brigade led by Hu Xue had the fewest people, and the work was familiar to everyone. For now, there was no need to set up small team captains; only five middle team captains were needed to be responsible.

However, before everyone could start signing up, Bao Yue in the crowd raised her hand high.

Qi Bai asked, "Any questions?"

Bao Yue squeezed out from the crowd. Bao Yue was twelve years old this year, an awkward age. At this age, she couldn't be a small team captain nor join the patrol and hunting team. So Bao Yue asked seriously, "Only adult beastmen can be small team captains. What about us young ones?"

The slightly older young ones all looked over intently; they wanted to know too.

"Good question." Qi Bai smiled and said, "Not letting you become small team captains is because we're worried the new workers we recruited might bully you because of your age. But there's an even more important job here that's perfect for you. If you're willing, you can strive to become the scorekeepers in the teams."

Ta Yun asked急切ly, "Then how do we become scorekeepers?"

Qi Bai turned to everyone and said, "Tomorrow morning, I will write some questions on the blackboard in the school. You need to write down the answers. I and the other teachers will grade your results. As long as your scores rank in the top fifteen, you will become scorekeepers in the teams. Everyone can come and give it a try."

Scorekeepers were essentially half-secretaries to the brigade and middle team captains. Although they were only responsible for recording, this was正经 professional work, requiring literacy and calculation skills. Hence, Qi Bai arranged such a test.

Regardless of age, as long as they met the standard, they would be recruited.

Bao Xing quickly tugged on his sister's animal hide coat. "Don't forget to call me. I'm going too. I calculate well."

Bao Yue secretly clenched her fist. It's precisely because you study well that you're annoying. If you get selected and I don't, how embarrassing would that be?

Qi Bai said to Diao Lan and She Li, "Your small team captains are up to you to choose."

He then pointed to a piece of dry firewood on the ground. "Before this piece of wood burns out, you must have your candidates selected."

Diao Lan and She Li immediately nodded, raising their arms high while shouting loudly, "First Brigade, over here!" "Second Brigade, over here!".

Qi Bai separately called over Hu Xue and Hu Huo.

"The beastmen down the mountain haven't eaten for a day and a night. Hu Xue, find a way to get them some food first."

Hu Xue frowned and said, "How much to give? Food for a thousand people requires too much."

Qi Bai said, "They won't be working tonight, so don't give too much, and don't give the best food."

Hu Xue thought for a moment and said, "The warehouse has Xiangke husks and some dried bamboo shoot shells. I can add sweet potato shreds to the pot and stew it into a paste. Will that do?"

Xiangke husks and dried bamboo shoot shells were considered the tribe's lowest-grade food, reserved for emergencies towards the end of winter. If food was plentiful, these would become feed for the four-eared sheep.

Now was正好 the right time to use them.

Hu Huo added from the side, "The bark of the Geng tree, which we use for making furniture, has a fruity fragrance and is edible. If food is insufficient, we can collect the bark."

Hu Xue repeatedly clapped her hands. "That's good. Why didn't I think of that? Tree bark is good. We can find it in winter too. I'll stew it until tender in a big pot; it can taste just as good."

Qi Bai also knew about the bark of that Geng tree. He had used it as a spice for stir-fries. It was indeed edible. Moreover, during the famine in China, many people survived by eating tree bark. As long as they didn't eat too much, Qi Bai believed it wouldn't harm the beastmen's bodies.

"Alright." Qi Bai made the decision. "Sprinkle some salt on it. They need salt to have strength for work."

"Alright!" Hu Xue, having received confirmation, immediately gathered people to start working.

They walked to the front of a cave, opened the bolted wooden door, and inside were several large stone vats taller than a person.

Hu Xue and the others didn't even glance at the large stone vats but headed straight for the large rattan baskets next to them.

What was there to look at? The stone vats contained grains like Xiangke and soybeans. There wasn't even enough for their own people to eat. How could they possibly take it out for unfamiliar beastmen?

Moreover, Hu Xue was very proud. They had over twenty such storage caves, but no matter how many there were, she never considered using them. Those people had hands and feet; there would always be ways to make them full.

After Hu Xue left, Qi Bai quickly discussed urgently needed items with Hu Huo.

Qi Bai squatted on the ground, using a branch to draw a square. "Small wooden plaques of this size, at least a thousand need to be made."

Hu Huo, hearing such a large quantity, knew these were for the people down the mountain. "What are these for?"

Qi Bai explained, "These are meal tickets. Only those who finish their work each day get a meal ticket. With this meal ticket, they can get food from the canteen."

It was a credential. The person distributing food could directly回收 them for reuse.

"I understand. That's simple."

Hu Huo agreed, but Qi Bai shook his head. "It's not that simple. You'd better make some markings on them that only we understand. Otherwise, with just a small wooden plaque, skilled hands might make their own, and then it would be chaos."

Hu Huo hadn't considered this layer. Just a slight设想 made his heart sink. "Don't worry, I will select special wood and carve numbers on them. I won't give them a chance to deceive us."

"Mm," Qi Bai nodded, then continued, "Also, we need to make more brick mold frames."

Hu Huo said in surprise, "Are we building brick houses for them too?"

Qi Bai straightened up slightly. "Not brick houses. The outer walls and foundations of the houses they live in will be built with stones."

Qi Bai didn't plan to build separate houses for the beastmen down the mountain. He planned to build large dormitories directly, fifty people to a large dormitory. That way, they only needed to build twenty large dormitories.

As for building heated brick beds (kang) and heated walls, they didn't need to use fired bricks. Why bother with that hassle? They could directly mix clay with dry grass to make adobe blocks.

"Ah, understood. I'll take people to make them now." Hu Huo understood immediately. The molds for making heated walls and kang were somewhat different from those for building houses. He could handle this himself.

However, adobe blocks needed several days of drying after being made, so making the molds was indeed an urgent task.

With Hu Huo's side also arranged, Qi Bai took out a wooden piece from his pocket.

During today's journey, Qi Bai had been writing and drawing inside the carriage, wanting to record all the scattered matters to prevent missing any.

Qi Bai placed the wooden piece near the firelight, using his finger to go through them one by one. He indeed found one he had almost forgotten.

Qi Bai looked up, scanning his surroundings.

The slightly younger sub-beastmen had all gathered around Diao Lan and She Li. Only some older beastmen were standing under the trees talking with their hands tucked in their sleeves.

Qi Bai jogged a few steps over to the older beastmen.

Ma Qian said to Qi Bai with a smile, "Those small team captains also need to know how to count. We struggle to count to ten. Making us team captains, we couldn't keep track of people either."

"Besides, if we all left, there would be no one to do the work in the tribe," an older beastman also said with a smile. "We are precisely the people of the Third Brigade."

Qi Bai raised the corners of his mouth, waving the wooden piece in his hand. "Isn't that right? I have an important task here that正好 needs your help."

Zhu Zhu straightened her animal hide coat and asked, "What is it? You can just tell me."

Several older beastmen immediately nodded. "Yes, yes, Zhu Zhu is our middle team captain. We listen to the middle team captain."

Qi Bai then explained what he needed one by one. "Roughly like this. First, make a sample according to what I said. Later, I'll take it to the meeting for Chief Grandpa and Priest Grandpa to see."

If this matter really succeeded, it could truly be considered a major expense. He alone couldn't decide. Later, the four-person group would need to discuss it.

Ma Qian clapped her hands. "Beast God above, how beautiful would that be?"

The other older beastmen all nodded. Just thinking about it felt exciting.

The moon climbed up the treetops, seeming to secretly listen to the beastmen's conversation.

Suddenly, the intense discussion声音 disappeared. Everyone looked up and saw a spirited team walking over with their heads held high.

At the front was Yang Luo, the Chief Accountant of the Black Mountain Tribe Production Brigades.

Behind him were Diao Lan and She Li, the two brigade captains, ten middle team captains led by Tu Ya, and a hundred small team captains led by Shu You.

Someone murmured softly to the side, "Ah, it really looks different."

Qi Bai smiled and rubbed his cheeks.

It was different. From returning to the tribe until now, it probably hadn't even been two hours, yet the tribe's leadership framework had been established.

Now, it was time to take these captains to meet their future employees.