Evidently, the three generals were managing accounts, some sighing, some with furrowed brows and woeful expressions.
Upon hearing the noise, the three looked up and, seeing Ning Zhuo return, all were thrilled.
"The strategist, the strategist is here!" Liu Er immediately ran down, arms open to welcome Ning Zhuo.
Zhang Hei laughed heartily, pushing the ledger to the center of the table, "Everything rests on the strategist now; my eyes are dizzy from it!"
Guan Hong, even more straightforward, stood up, "I'm going to drill the troops."
Liu Er eagerly pulled Ning Zhuo and pressed him into the main general's seat.
Ning Zhuo hurriedly declined, "How could a youngster like me sit in the seat of the main general?"
Liu Er said, "These ledgers, we all rely on the strategist. If the strategist can manage it, that would indeed be a great achievement, and what harm is there in making you the main general?"
Though Liu Er was merely making nice, flattering remarks, he also revealed some of his genuine feelings.
Sitting in the chair, Ning Zhuo performed a perfunctory bow, indicating his commitment to give his all.
Liu and Zhang then left Ning Zhuo in the tent, following Guan Hong closely.
Ning Zhuo was quite adept at accounting. During his decade and more in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he was unappreciated, and cultivation resources had to be gained by careful computation.
Even playing the part of the Youthful Guest, selling upwards and downwards as he pleased, bringing in substantial income, he also expended a lot in acquiring mechanical artifacts. It could be said he earned much but also spent greatly.
Moreover, he had been managing households since childhood, and only those who have, know the true cost of everyday necessities.
Confident in this regard, Ning Zhuo nevertheless felt a headache coming on once he really started delving into the accounts of the Three Generals Camp.
He suddenly understood the previous agony of the three generals—Liu, Guan, and Zhang.
On one hand, the accounts were immensely complicated; on the other, the expenditures were massive, so much so that even Ning Zhuo felt frightened.
The majority of military expenditure was on salaries.
Currently, the camp housed over three hundred cultivators, with around fifty to sixty at the Foundation Establishment Stage, the remaining two hundred plus were at the Qi Refining Level.
For Qi Refining cultivators, depending on their specific cultivation level and combat strength, monthly salaries ranged from three thousand to eight thousand low-grade spirit stones.
For those at the Foundation Establishment Level, monthly salaries ranged from thirty thousand to eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones.
This meant that just for Qi Refining cultivators' salaries per month, at least one million, three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones must be paid.
Though fewer, the cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level garnered salaries totaling over three million low-grade spirit stones.
Just the monthly salary expense was at least four million, three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
And this salary standard was still considered low. The Three Generals Camp distributed the maximum share of spoils of war to attract these cultivators.
Among all the armies currently in Canglin Immortal City, the Three Generals Camp's salaries ranked second lowest, with the Red Flower Camp being the lowest.
Next, they had to unify the purchase of magic artifacts.
Cultivators at the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages generally used magic artifacts.
According to market prices, offensive magic artifacts ranged from one thousand to one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones each. Defensive military magic artifacts ranged from two hundred to four thousand low-grade spirit stones each.
After conducting thorough research into the market within Canglin Immortal City, based on the offensive and defensive magic artifacts selected by the three generals, the total procurement cost was around six million spirit stones.
Then there were the daily uses of talismans, elixir pills (Fasting Pills), etc.
Talismans included Speeding Charms, Protection Talismans, Sharp Edge Talismans, etc., commonly used talismans, which could be bought through military channels of Liangzhu Country, priced roughly at one and a half to three low-grade spirit stones each.
Calculating for minimal use, each cultivator would use about twenty talismans a month, consuming various elixir pills costing between one hundred to two hundred low-grade spirit stones per person per month.
In this case, this part of the expense would also amount to fifty-seven thousand low-grade spirit stones.
"Dispensing elixir pills, it would be better to purchase a medicine pool."
"Calculate the costs, if the troops are maintained for over three months, it's more cost-effective to purchase a medicine pool."
"Similarly, it would be best to purchase a mana pool as well."
These two essential military artifacts, bought at their minimal specification, would each require four million low-grade spirit stones, totaling eight million.
Then, there were magic artifact maintenance, unforeseen losses, military camp construction, sudden accidents, etc., for which a budget must be reserved.
Calculating a normal total expenditure at 10%, that's nearly five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
"But that's still not enough."
"We also need to equip banners, and ideally mounts as well."
Banners are very important.
Banners often serve as the nucleus for military morale, the array eye of the battle formation, significantly boosting the overall combat capability of an army.
This is a must-purchase, but not urgent for now—it must wait to see what kind of battle formations Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei can develop during their drills.
Through the developed battle formation, selecting a banner would be most appropriate.
Mounts might seem non-essential, but actually, they are critical.
Qi Refining cultivators cannot fly on swords; Foundation Establishment cultivators, though capable of short-distance sword flight, cannot sustain long-distance or long-duration flights.
On the battlefield, an army must consider the whole.
This means that an army without mounts has very poor mobility and often ends up being maneuvered around by the enemy, finding themselves in a highly disadvantageous situation.
Many historical battles have warned posterity; the mobility of an army is extremely important.
Sometimes, whichever army arrives on the battlefield first, securing a tactical position and forming a battle formation ahead of time, often has a significant advantage.
For this reason, military art always prioritizes the spell "Value Divine Speed" above all.
This is universally accepted by masters of military art.
"The monthly payroll is over four million, three hundred thousand."
"Equipping the entire army with offensive and defensive magic artifacts, the total cost is around six million."