Of course, this construction contractor also met Shen Mu.
After all, as a construction contractor from Deherim in the Swadian Kingdom, this merchant came for the upgrade and construction of the New Dhirim and was qualified to meet Shen Mu.
However, they didn't chat much; it was just an audience.
More importantly, this construction contractor went to the Governor's Residence next to the Noble Residence to discuss the upcoming upgrade work with Manid, the Town Manager.
Of course, there was also more regarding the construction of the two new districts, east and west.
This construction contractor from Deherim in the Mount & Blade Warband World was also responsible for the construction of the two districts, east and west, of New Dhirim. After all, the work had to be given to someone, and since they could undertake the wall upgrade project for New Dhirim, they were also competent for the construction of its two districts.
It was reassuring to entrust it to them.
This is also why, when recruiting for the wall upgrade project, the competition among construction contractors throughout Calradia was so fierce.
The first reason was to meet Shen Mu, to express their respect, and to see what this dangerous Different World was truly like.
As for the second reason, it meant that there were indeed generous returns in this project, even if they only charged a very small profit out of respect for Shen Mu.
However, even this small profit, if resold and with some kickbacks, could make them rich.
After all, once they obtained the primary engineering project, they couldn't complete it by themselves, so they could subcontract it to other capable construction contractors to share some of the projects.
In this process, they would earn commissions and kickbacks.
Moreover, construction contractors throughout Calradia knew that Lord Shen Mu was an extremely generous person, and construction projects were directly settled in dinar upfront, so they didn't need to advance funds; they just needed to diligently complete these projects.
With such good conditions, such a good project, and such a good lord, where else could they find such an opportunity?
So, this construction contractor was genuinely happy.
In the evening, these construction workers also slept in Deherim, in a separate area found for them to set up tents.
After all, residential housing in Deherim was very tight, and even the beds were already full.
So much so that many soldiers from the Mount & Blade World directly slept at their posts, such as on the city walls and in watchtowers, instead of in the residential areas of Deherim's Town Area.
This already indicated that the housing shortage had reached a critical point.
Furthermore, by night, looking at the streets and alleys of Deherim, large and small tents had been set up, with nearly 50,000 Blue Star Humans, almost bursting the Town Area of Deherim.
Even during less dangerous times, some Blue Star Humans didn't want to live in Deherim.
They would go to outside apartments to find a room for themselves, and as before, light bonfires to dispel the darkness and gray mist, avoiding the erosion of death spirit rules, and then comfortably enjoy an uncrowded moment.
This also indicates that Deherim's overcrowding has reached a level that even Blue Star Humans, who are accustomed to danger and living day to day, can hardly bear.
So, the next day, as soon as dawn broke.
This construction contractor and the construction workers had already woken up from their tents, and under the guidance of several Swadian Light Infantry, they arrived at the cafeteria for a meal, in preparation for going to the two city gates, east and west, of Deherim to see the planned locations already marked out with lime lines, to prepare for future matters.
They were indeed there to upgrade and repair the city walls and military facilities like watchtowers in the Town Area and Castle District.
However, who says they can't think ahead and see if they can get a piece of the pie in the construction of these two most lucrative new city districts, and secure some projects in advance?
So, getting up early in the morning to check things out in advance is very helpful.
However, while these construction workers and the construction contractor woke up early, there were others among the Blue Star Humans who woke up even earlier than them.
Of course, that would be Zhang Bo, Zhang Caidong, Sun Zhiru, and the negotiation experts.
These were all key personnel carefully selected by Zhang Bo to participate in this negotiation with the Green Leaf Group, and they were also the individuals whom Zhang Bo and Zhang Caidong would carefully evaluate and promote during their tenure, effectively cultivating a group of trusted subordinates.
"Brother Cai Dong, in that case, as we discussed last night, you don't have to go. Let me handle this negotiation task with the Green Leaf Group." But at this moment, Zhang Bo was quietly discussing a private topic with Zhang Caidong.
"Hmm, I know. I'll stay in Deherim. After all, among the senior managers, some people sent their trusted subordinates to talk to me last night, and I gave them a definite answer."
Zhang Caidong glanced around to make sure no one was within four or five steps of him, then whispered into Zhang Bo's ear, "I feel more at ease staying here. Otherwise, I'm afraid that when we return, Deherim won't be our Deherim anymore. Zhou Mo is not someone easy to get along with; I see him truly thriving now."
"Not just thriving, but also daring to strike first." Zhang Bo sneered twice, "Brother Cai Dong, you also know that night, there were forty to fifty middle-level managers, and not a single one was left. Can you say they were all remnants of the Diesel Company?"
"What can be done about acting first and reporting later?" Zhang Caidong's face also showed a gloomy expression at this moment.
He even gnashed his teeth while speaking.
As he said, this was acting first and reporting later: first killing all those middle-level managers, then reporting that most of them were remnants of the Diesel Company, and preferring to kill wrongly rather than let anyone go. For the sake of Deherim, Zhou Mo was willing to bear this bad reputation.
After all, the safety of Deherim was paramount.
Therefore, Zhou Mo and those senior managers not only avoided punishment but were even rewarded.
And the most crucial thing was that this reward was reported by Zhang Bo and Zhang Caidong, who had to grit their teeth and endure it. It could be said that they sacrificed their most crucial middle-level management backbone, at the cost of being sidelined, just to report this reward.
No way.
Zhang Bo, of course, didn't want others to discover that he was stirring up trouble and secretly acting as a spy, wanting to cause chaos and expose his attempts to undermine Deherim.
As for Zhang Caidong, he presumptuously believed that it was very likely that his consolidation of this group of middle-level managers had angered Zhou Mo's group of senior managers, who then struck first, tearing off his face and stomping on it as a display of power.
After all, last night, Zhang Caidong also received several middle-level managers, who all said who their senior manager was behind them.
They also told him why those middle-level managers were killed: they had detected Zhang Caidong's intention to cultivate his own faction to sideline them, the senior managers, and thus, these senior managers were forced to strike first.
They eliminated those policy managers, slaughtering them all, effectively removing their hidden troubles. That's why they could now calmly come to Zhang Caidong and pledge allegiance to him again, earnestly explaining why they had acted that way before.
It was as if everything was very sincere.
Of course, this also confirmed Zhang Caidong's guess: it was indeed because he had touched the senior managers' interests, and under duress, the middle-level management team he had previously assembled through Zhang Bo was completely wiped out.
Of course, regarding the frankness of these senior managers towards him, although Zhang Caidong accepted them, he was still quite angry in his heart.
Those middle-level managers were his true direct subordinates, a group of middle-level managers he had tacitly allowed Zhang Bo to tailor for him, as if they were his own arms. If he could properly train those loyal middle-level managers, then no matter what tasks or actual personnel changes came next, they could be carried out through these middle-level managers.
After all, at the very beginning, those senior managers had already been feigning compliance with some of his tasks.
Moreover, everyone understood that they were all senior managers who had paid their blood tax, but because Zhang Caidong was the first to pledge allegiance to Shen Mu, he obtained the title of manager. Could the others be convinced?
It was certainly impossible to be convinced.
Everyone had paid their blood tax, and everyone had achieved their current position through their own efforts, by defeating the Diesel Company.
Why should you, Zhang Caidong, be high and mighty and still want to sideline us?
Originally, everyone was harmonious and could unite.
Now.
If you bring in a group of middle-level managers here, how can everyone trust you completely as before?
Moreover, even before, it was only superficial trust; it was impossible to trust wholeheartedly. Now that this group of middle-level managers has been brought in, it means that you, Zhang Caidong, are going to part ways with us senior managers and instead cultivate your own power for independent development.
Then why can't we unite and teach you a good lesson?
This is why the tragic situation of those middle-level managers being directly eliminated occurred.
And it also forced Zhang Bo and Zhang Caidong to grudgingly admit that many of the middle-level managers they had previously promoted contained remnants of the Diesel Company, attempting to subvert the safety of Deherim and the rule of Lord Shen Mu.
"Brother Cai Dong, if you stay here, you can also oversee things from the center, and you'll be able to handle anything that comes up. I'm just afraid that if you follow me to the Green Leaf Group, there won't be any restraint here, and when we return, we might find ourselves in a rather passive situation," Zhang Bo said sincerely.
"Of course, I understand, Brother Zhang Bo. You also need to be careful when you go to the Green Leaf Group. Although the Green Leaf Group is already outside and has suffered heavy losses, I'm afraid they might resort to desperate measures. It would be terrible if anything bad happened to you."
Zhang Caidong also carefully exhorted.
"I understand." Zhang Bo chatted with Zhang Caidong for a few more moments, but not too long, then waved goodbye as it was time to depart.
This time, there were a total of 12 Blue Star Humans among the negotiation experts going to the Green Leaf Group.
Led by Zhang Bo and Sun Zhiru, followed by the 10 negotiation experts.
However, beside them were 20 Khergit Veteran Mounted Archers, riding agile steppe horses, wearing light horse armor, and also clad in lamellar armor. They carried Nomadic Bows on their backs, two quivers full of feathered arrows at their lower backs, sharp Nomadic Scimitars at their waists, and light lances in their hands.
They were guards and bodyguards.
They were 20 bodyguards dispatched by Shen Mu to ensure Zhang Bo and Sun Zhiru's safe arrival at the Green Leaf Group and to help them maintain their presence there.
Zhang Bo and Sun Zhiru highly approved of this.
With 20 such seemingly elite mounted archers protecting them, whether they encountered danger or how much these 20 mounted archers could help in such a situation was another matter, but at least in terms of presence, they gave them and the 10 negotiation experts considerable face.
"Let's go, let's hurry and try to reach the Green Leaf Group by around nine o'clock." Zhang Bo estimated the time in his mind, then, with the help of others, mounted a gentle travel horse specially prepared for him.
Sun Zhiru and the other 10 negotiation experts also climbed onto the gentle travel horses prepared for them.
Once seated firmly in their saddles, without further hesitation, they gently shook the reins as they had learned before. The extremely gentle and well-trained travel horses beneath them slowly began to walk forward, then gradually quickened their pace, entering a trot and then a gallop.
They soon disappeared from the vicinity of Deherim, following the newly constructed main road deep into Bali River Street.
And as they passed New Uxhall, outside New Uxhall, they also saw some Swadian Light Infantry not wearing armor, and some Swadian Militia only carrying shields and wearing robes, and Swadian Recruits holding long-handled scythes, squatting there, waiting.
It was messy, like sheep grazing.
Zhang Bo and the others didn't comment on this, especially Zhang Bo, who secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at those Lingjie Human Race troops, although seemingly numerous, nearly 1,000 strong, their obvious lack of armor showed that they were not professional soldiers meant for combat. (End of Chapter)
