Chapter 125 Leading Everyone to a Better Life

Scouts were originally individuals stationed at frontier outposts specifically tasked with observing and reporting enemy movements.

One theory traces the term to the penal system of the Qin Dynasty. The annotations for the "Yu Gong" chapter of the *Classic of History* state: "Scouting refers to inspecting dangerous and difficult terrain and keeping watch for bandits." During the Qin era, it was defined as a lighter form of penal servitude; as noted in the *Qin Bamboo Slips: Legal Questions and Answers*, "If one is sentenced to *nai* (a form of shaving the beard and sideburns as punishment) for the crime of falsely accusing others, what is the verdict? They shall be sentenced to the status of *sikou* (a forced labor role)."

Another theory suggests that scouts in China originated during the Han Dynasty and were so named because they served directly under the command of dukes and princes.

In military organization, a scout refers to a mobile and flexible soldier primarily responsible for reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. However, because ancient labor divisions were not highly specialized, the role of a scout was far more complex than simple surveillance. They were also required to infiltrate areas near the battlefield to gather intelligence. They had to survey the terrain, geography, and environment, identify potable water sources, map out viable routes for military advancement, and determine whether a vanguard was needed to clear paths through mountains or build bridges across waters. Furthermore, they were superior to others in hand-to-hand combat and weapons handling, and were exceptionally skilled at stealth. Additionally, their duties included silently eliminating sentries, covertly infiltrating enemy lines to steal sensitive documents, or assassinating enemy commanders. All of these fell within their scope of duty.

Those capable of serving as scouts in the army could well be considered the special forces of their era. To think that taking them in was truly the right decision! Good deeds really do bring good rewards.

As dusk fell, Wei Renshi returned home, finally able to rest properly. With his mind at ease, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. He lay down on his bed, and by the time he opened his eyes again, it was already noon.

A vague sense of panic washed over him, and as he stirred, he realized he was drenched in sweat. Upon reflection, he recalled having a nightmare during the night, but his body had been so exhausted that he could not wake himself up. It had not been a restful sleep. Wei Renshi sat up, his head heavy and dull with pain. He stepped outside, took a few deep breaths, and allowed the gentle autumn breeze of midday to wash over him; only then did he feel slightly better.

Looking at the renovated walls of his courtyard, Wei Renshi felt no desire to go anywhere. However, it seemed as if fate was determined to thwart him. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a knock sounded at the door.

He opened it to find Magistrate Zheng, who walked in and said, "Master Wei, the farm has been built according to your requirements, and the livestock have been driven in. I kept a few boars for breeding and castrated the rest. We have also started feeding them the sprouted wheat fodder. Don't you want to go take a look?"

Wei Renshi tilted his head and gazed up at the sky.

"The improved fields have also been covered with those straw mat sheds as you instructed, and we’ve planted a new batch of crops inside. Won't you go and see?" Magistrate Zheng asked with a smile when he saw that Wei Renshi was unresponsive.

Wei Renshi pulled his gaze from the sky and shifted it to the trees outside the courtyard wall.

Magistrate Zheng continued, smiling, "The manpower at Pingshan has been settled, and they have already begun mining coal. I heard Master Jiao even built a blacksmith's workshop there; he has recruited several smiths to forge coal stoves and dug a kiln specifically for firing hearths. Don't you want to go see that either?"

Wei Renshi sighed and replied, "Uncle Zheng, I just returned after escaping from the hands of the cult rebels. Can't I rest at home for a while? Does it have to be today?"

"Nothing is wrong, and you’ve rendered a great service, so what is there to rest from?" Magistrate Zheng, seeing that Wei Renshi was finally reacting, chuckled. "Besides, the weather is getting colder, and winter is fast approaching. If you don't go check on these things, I won't have peace of mind! If nothing else, you must at least take a look at the improved fields!"

Wei Renshi sighed and said, "Very well, today it is! I actually have some matters I wanted to discuss with you."

Xi'er brought hot porridge for Wei Renshi. After waiting for him to finish, the two of them set out toward the improved fields.

On the way, Wei Renshi said to Magistrate Zheng, "Uncle Zheng, if I am indeed granted a title this time, I do not know where I might be enfeoffed, but it certainly won't be Fuchang. I grew up in Changgu, and my family has received kindness from our neighbors. Therefore, I want to lead everyone toward a better life."

Magistrate Zheng turned to look at Wei Renshi and asked, "How do you intend to make everyone's life better?"

"I want to establish a cooperative in Changgu, utilizing the greenhouses and the livestock farm," Wei Renshi explained. "After I am enfeoffed—if I am indeed granted a title—I can foster cooperation between my fief and Changgu."

"A cooperative?" Magistrate Zheng scratched his head and asked, "What is that?"

Wei Renshi explained, "A cooperative is a form of organization established by the working masses who voluntarily join together for cooperative production and operation. A cooperative economic organization emphasizes 'cooperation' first, and 'economy' second; these are the two basic elements. Well, it doesn't matter if you don't quite understand that."

He continued, "The farmers join together to plant and raise livestock, and then provide the products of their labor to the cooperative in the form of shares; the amount contributed is entirely voluntary. The cooperative then manages and sells these goods for profit, and returns that profit to the farmers according to their initial share proportions. It is like investing in a business. I hold some shares in these greenhouses and the farm, while the villagers of Changgu also participate based on the money or livestock they contribute. The farm—which I intend to expand far beyond its current size—and the greenhouses, and even the fish ponds I plan to build later, will all function this way."

"Then, the profits from these enterprises are distributed based on the size of the shares. Of course, the people working in these enterprises are also from the village," Wei Renshi added. "This way, the participating households receive dividends from the profits, and they also earn wages for working in these facilities. The products of their labor are determined by the needs of these enterprises and are directly absorbed by them. Once finished, the products are sold, and the proceeds are split between the cooperative and the farmers according to their shares. In this way, the farmers of Changgu can form a simple cooperative through the integration of resources, where every link in the chain profits, allowing everyone to live a better life together."

"This..." Magistrate Zheng understood after hearing the detailed explanation and asked, "Is this appropriate?"

"It is," Wei Renshi said. "It may seem like a portion of the profits is being given to the farmers, but in reality, the enterprise secures the materials it needs at a lower cost; it is a win-win. Furthermore, this form is not easy to manage if there are too many people, so it is perfectly suited for a village."

"I am afraid I cannot make this decision alone," Magistrate Zheng said after some thought. "I must summon the heads of every household in the village to discuss it."

Wei Renshi nodded and said, "Uncle Zheng, I will explain it to you in more detail so that you can clearly convey the principles to the others in the village..."