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Kali Yuga
Chapter 44. Establishing Authority.

Chapter 44. Establishing Authority.

It took one day and one night, until everyone from Fuzhou safely transported to Zhanghu Town. Only after everyone was settled down, Zhang Hu, Fan Zheng and other groups of survivors leader, now held a meeting.

"Let's forget about the formalities and get down to the business. How is our current supplies?", Zhang Hu asked.

Fan Zheng answered, "Our brothers had gathered many supplies along the way but we also met and took in survivors from 13 villages along the way. Master Yue Rang helped me to count the people and Master Cao Bei helped me in counting our supplies."

Yue Rang slightly bowed and said, "I was helped by Yao Ming, Wen Han, Tian Hui, Chen Yi Zhou and Wang Ming. We already counted and registered everyone along the way. In total we have 45,207 families. Total population, including children and elderly was 188,058 people. Of those we have 34,208 men between the age of 15-50 and they all had experience in small skirmishes. Of those 34,208 men, 1,810 men had military background and/or still active in the army. 16,200 other had been specially trained during the last few days."

Zhang Hu asked, "Is there an army instructor among them? What is the highest rank among those 1,810 men?"

Yue Rang answered, "Based on my record 231 had experience as an army instructor either in the past or recently. There were 116 older men who had been an army instructor in the past. We have 24 Sergeant, 12 men with the rank of Lieutenant, 4 Captain, 4 Major and 1 Colonel."

Zhang Hu asked again, this time his sharp eyes watched Yue Rang intently, "Did they still follow all the military code after this event?"

Yue Rang answered without any hesitation, "Some yes, some not, but the majority whether consciously or unconsciously still have the order of seniority and rank of order, deep within their mind."

Zhang Hu asked again, "So... based on your observation, this 1 colonel would have a big influence over them?"

Yue Rang nodded his head, "Yes, he is."

Zhang Hu asked, "What's the name of this Colonel?"

Yue Rang showed a hint of a smile in the corner of his lips, "Its me. I'm that Colonel."

Zhang Hu's eyes shone, he calmly asked, "And what do you think about our current situation?"

Yue Rang solemnly answered, "During the first few days, one thing I realized as an active military officer. The government had collapsed. Even before we lost communication with our head quarter, there were many conflicted instruction were coming from the top. It was felt like I was thrown back, few hundred years in the past, when China was divided between warlords. Several top level generals were competing to draw as many people as they could, to their side. There could be only one explanation. We don't have central government anymore."

He continued, "I've seen what happened when people lost the figure of the leader in a situation similar to our current situation. It wasn't a pretty sight. If the wrong person gets the position, then it could be disastrous."

Zhang Hu calmly waited, not only Zhang Hu but everyone else in that room listened attentively to Yue Rang's words. Many who came from Fuzhou and end up swore their allegiance to Zhang Hu, did that after listened to Yue Rang's persuasion. His military background gave him much credibility in the eyes of other.

"We've seen the likes of Feng Jin and I heard from Brother Yao Ming here of some thug leader named Shi Long. I'm sure we'll meet many other in the future. If we who want to live by law and order fight among ourselves, then we will be doomed by our own greed. We need to entrust this specific role to one person among us, watch this person, advise this person and support this person in time of need.", Yue Rang now not only spoke to answer Zhang Hu but also to others who attended the meeting.

"Based on my observation, I personally choose Master Zhang Hu to take that role. I can assure you, all military men under my command, follow my decision. I wish other leaders here, also support this decision. We have Feng Jin at Nanping and demons at Fuzhou, we could not waste time by debating over who suppose to take the role of leader among us.", Yue Rang ended his long winded explanation, which served both to answer Zhang Hu's question and persuade those who hadn't swore their allegiance to Zhang Hu.

"I appreciate your opinion and if no one object, I will gladly bear the responsibility to lead our people in this time of danger.", Zhang Hu replied and he looked around to see if anyone had their own opinion.

One by one, those who had never met Zhang Hu in person, or never had the chance to swear their allegiance to Zhang Hu, got up and supported Yue Rang's opinion to choose Zhang Hu as their leader. Zhang Hu once again confirmed his willingness to take the responsibility along the usual response coming out of those who were chosen to an important position. They quickly returned to assess their current situation.

"Now, how about supplies?", Zhang Hu asked.

Cao Bei got up and answered, "I was helped by Li Chung, Wang Dewei, Bai Deming, Ding Hai and Chen Jun, to record and safely stored all our supplies in the warehouse here in Zhanghu Town. If we carefully ration and distribute it, we will have enough food for everyone, at least for another two weeks. Each family also had their own portable stoves. Many houses still have cooking devices intact along with the gasoline."

"Firearms and ammunition though, is rather low. We only have 540 of various pistols, 1207 of various rifles and 14 machine guns. We also have 48 hand grenades. The problem is with the ammo if we distribute it to all pistols and rifles. Each gunmen would only have about 40 rounds.", Cao Bei reported their situation.

"As for medical supplies, we have various kinds of drugs for allergies, antibiotics, anesthetic and other common general symptoms. As long as we don't face any epidemics, I think we're just fine.", he ended his report.

"So.. what are we going to do now? Should we keep on our plan to go to Nanping? Most likely Feng Jin would be there by now.", Fan Zheng asked.

"Hmm... we already half way there, to turn to another city now would be hard. Even the nearest city likes Sanming, still relatively far compared to Nanping. We should remember that our people had been facing harsh condition for weeks now. They barely settled down when we heard the news of the opened gate from the demon realm at Xichan Temple.", said Zhang Hu.

"So we're going to attack Nanping then, since it would be hard to imagine that Feng Jin will welcome us with open arm. Should we attack fast before he settled down?", Fan Zheng asked.

Zhang Hu pondered for a moment before said, "We don't have any certainty of the current situation at Nanping and most of our men hadn't had chance to assimilate well. We might have about 30,000 men ready to go to battle, but they're not well organized and came from many different groups. If we go to battle now, we will surely win against Feng Jin 3000 men, but how many will die during that battle?"

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"What if Feng Jin met people with similar goal at Nan Ping and joined them? We just don't have enough information about Nanping. I don't want to be too hasty and cause the death of thousands of people under my leadership.", said Zhang Hu.

"Hmmm... how about this? Let Colonel Yue Rang create an organized army out of that 30,000 men we have. At the same time, we will send trusted men to spy on Nanping.", said Fan Zheng.

"I think that would be a good idea.", said Yue Rang.

"In your mind. How many men would be recruited into your army?", asked Zhang Hu.

"We don't have enough firearm but, in our current world, firearms aren't everything. I plan to build an army of 18,000 men, with those 1,800 men as the core.", said Yue Rang.

Zhang Hu nodded his head and then said, "We will also need men to work as police, what do you say?"

Fan Zheng said, "We already have Zhang Tian Yi, although he isn't here right now. I believe the role of the chief of the police department should be kept for him for now. It wouldn't be wise, if we give this opportunity to other people when we're the one who sends him on a mission."

Cao Bei added, "Since we need to form it now, why don't we assign someone to temporarily take that role, later he would act as Zhang Tian Yi's vice?"

"Zhang Hu asked Cao Bei, "Do you have someone in mind?"

Cao Bei pointed at a man behind him, "Chen Jun here, although he had no experience as a police officer but he had shown good and fair judgment in the past few days. Several times when there were conflicts in my group, he could solve the situation to everyone's satisfaction without unnecessary force."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Okay, I'll give you that chance. Show that I don't choose the wrong person. It is better to resolve conflict peacefully but it is also important to keep the law and order."

"I will do my best.", said Chen Jun.

"Keep it in mind though, I already have an old friend of mine for this position.", said Zhang Hu again.

"I understand.", Chen Jun answered politely.

"And Master Cao Bei, could you help my brother Fan Zheng in dealing with day to day administration?", Zhang Hu asked Cao Bei.

"Of course, I will do my best to help Master Fan Zheng.", answered Cao Bei enthusiastically.

Zhang Hu decided that he needed to distribute important roles within his administration to important peoples from other groups outside his original men. One by one he gave specific role to those who attend the meeting. Managing 188.058 people wasn't an easy task. There were many position to be filled. It wasn't easy though to balance everything.

"How long it takes for your army to be ready for deployment?", asked Zhang Hu.

Yue Rang didn't answer right away, he gave it a thought for quite some time before answered, "It would be depending on the situation at Nanping. We also need to remember the situation at Fuzhou. Give me a week, of course it won't be optimal but at least by that time, we would have them organized and act as a unit rather than act individually."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Yes, we should never forget the time factor. Based on the Grand Elder estimation, we still have time 3 to 4 days before the gate fully opened. After that Brother Yue Guang promised that he could hold them for a few more days from chasing us toward Nanping. The demons who entered our realm would need time to adapt and strengthen themselves. Could you make it to 5 days?"

Yue Rang frowned and then nodded, "I'll do my best in 5 days. I will focus on the organization and the basics."

Zhang Hu sighed, "I don't want to hurry you but..."

Yue Rang, "Don't worry, I understand."

Zhang Hu turned to Chen Jun, "In the mean time, you and your men will take care of our security."

Chen Jun and several other men nodded, "We understand."

"How about our plan to spy on Nanping? Who's going to do that?", suddenly someone asked.

This time Zhang Hu smiled wide, "We have the perfect candidates for that...."

He paused for a moment to entice their curiosity and then said, "The fairies."

"Ah.. Of course... they're perfect for this."

"People in Nanping wouldn't be able to see them."

"And they can fly..."

They nodded to each other and delighted at Zhang Hu's answer.

"Why aren't Master Yue Guang here with us?", one of them asked.

Zhang Hu answered, "I don't want to rely too much on them. We should do our part too. Of course from time to time, we will need their help but I'd rather solve the problem on our own. We're all men after all, right?"

"Of course"

"Sure"

Here and there people agreed with Zhang Hu. Some who had deeper mind, even more impressed, since it will be easier for Zhang Hu to earn their obedience if Zhang Hu brought Yue Guang with him. However, if he did that then he would be no different from Feng Jin who wanted to use the Grand Elder to get people's approval.

"Later when we already settled down at Nanping, we will need to properly form departments to administer everything but for now. I guess this simple role distribution would be enough. What do you say?", Zhang Hu asked them all.

"Yes, at our current situation, better to keep it simple.", said Cao Bei followed by others.

Soon the meeting was ended. Zhang Hu and Fan Zheng went to see Yue Guang to tell him the result of their meeting. That night tens fairies flew fast toward Nanping. The next day everyone was busy with their duty. About 2,000 men were recruited by Chen Jun. Yue Rang picked his 18,000 men. Fan Zheng, Cao Bei and the other leaders also began to recruit men and women to their departments.

It gave the sense of order within the town and just by seeing that something is done. People felt secured and protected.

Groups of men were seen to move in and out the town, gathering more supplies. In another area 18,000 men began their training. Zhang Hu even set up a school for children. Many people wish they could stay at Zhanghu Town, but from time to time there will be others who would explain why they must leave Zhanghu Town and moved to Nanping

While Zhang Hu neatly established his authority over about 188,000 people. Once and a while, during those 5 days, there were more people joined in and their population swelled to nearly 200,000 people.