13: Investment tribe

“You don’t need to worry about these things. Just recruit people for me! Remember, I only want individuals who are at Body Tempering Fifth Layer or above and have a clean background. As for their treatment, tell them that their monthly salary will remain the same, and they will also receive Medicinal Pills every month!”

“Body Tempering Realm Martial Artists will receive one Body Tempering Pill each month, Tongmai Realm experts will receive one Tongmai Pill each month, and Zhenyuan Realm individuals can get one Essence Gathering Pill each month!”

As soon as Xu Qing’s words were spoken, the entire place immediately erupted!

Among the Martial Officials present, apart from the three city clerks who were in the Zhenyuan Realm, the others were third-level captains in the Tongmai Realm. Without any accidents, it would have been impossible for these people to Breakthrough, but now Xu Qing’s words showed them the possibility of advancing further!

But then, they had some doubts, but out of fear of Xu Qing, they dared not show it!

What a grand gesture!

Yang Dafu thought to himself, his expression becoming increasingly solemn!

How could Xu Qing not understand their expressions!

“Whoosh!”

Dozens of wooden boxes flew out and landed in front of them!

Xu Qing said calmly, “These are your Medicinal Pills for three months! You just go and find people; I will handle the rest!”

“Yes, City Lord!”

“We are willing to serve the City Lord!”

Feeling the medicinal fragrance from the wooden boxes, everyone’s breathing quickened, their doubts vanished, and they pledged their loyalty!

Yang Dafu couldn’t help but sigh, this young City Lord had excellent methods, first displaying his strength to intimidate everyone, and then showing his financial power to win over their hearts!

“Patriarch Yang!”

At this moment, Xu Qing looked at Yang Dafu!

Everyone’s gaze also turned to him; they were curious about the City Lord’s intention in seeking him out!

“City Lord!” Yang Dafu cupped his hands and said!

Xu Qing smiled and asked, “Xu City is in ruins and awaiting reconstruction, and the city lacks officials to govern. Patriarch Yang, could you recommend a few?”

As soon as these words came out, Yang Dafu’s expression lit up with joy!

How could he not understand Xu Qing’s meaning? While it was phrased as a recommendation, it was actually an invitation for him to arrange for his own people to take up positions!

Although Xu City was located on the eastern border of the Chu Dynasty, adjacent to the Wu Dynasty, it governed a territory of five hundred li and had a population of over six hundred thousand people!

With so many people, the profits involved were substantial!

Knowing Xu Qing’s character, he didn’t beat around the bush!

“City Lord, I, Yang, would like to volunteer. My Yang Family has been established in Xu City for five hundred years, operating grain businesses. There are many talents in my Family proficient in agricultural matters who can serve as agricultural officials!” Yang Dafu said!

He understood the rules very well, knowing that financial and tax officials, which involved money and grain, were generally appointed by the City Lord’s Mansion. So he chose a department where he could gain benefits!

This agricultural official was responsible for managing all agricultural affairs in the city. It seemed inconspicuous, but there were many benefits. Take official land, for example; every city in the Chu Dynasty had official land, the purpose of which was to ensure that each city had enough provisions ready to be mobilized in case of war with other countries!

Forty percent of the annual taxes were used for official land, and with a little effort, one could gain a lot of benefits!

In addition, agricultural officials also balanced grain prices, which led to “tributes” from some Families!

“The Yang Family is full of talents; one agricultural official is too little! Currently, my Xu Family is not involved in city affairs. The financial official, tax official, and other positions will be discussed by Patriarch Yang with the Families in the city, and talented individuals will be recommended to fill them!” Xu Qing said with a smile!

“City Lord!”

Yang Dafu was startled, not understanding Xu Qing’s intention for a moment!

“Alright, this matter is settled. Now that Xu City is in ruins and awaiting reconstruction, I hope Patriarch Yang will carefully select talented individuals to manage the city’s affairs!” Xu Qing waved his hand and said!

At this point, Yang Dafu understood that Xu Qing was truly ceding power to the Yang Family!

And the other Martial Officials also knew that the Yang Family was about to prosper!

“I, Yang, will certainly not fail the City Lord’s trust!”

“I believe in Patriarch Yang’s abilities!” Xu Qing said with a smile!

Soon, everyone dispersed!

Watching them leave, Xu Qing smiled slightly!

From beginning to end, he never took power too seriously!

What he wanted was the development of the Xu Family. As long as the Xu Family gradually grew stronger, let alone a small Xu City, even the Chu Dynasty, which controlled millions of li of territory, would have to heed the Xu Family’s wishes!

Therefore, the so-called power only depended on whether one’s own fist was hard enough, which was also why he didn’t want to arrange his Family members into those positions!

How important Cultivation was! As for those Family members who lacked talent but had business or political acumen, they would be assigned to the External Affairs Hall or serve as deacons in various halls!

Those who lacked both talent and ability would be well-fed and taken care of, contributing to the Family’s reproduction!

As for training an army, there were two considerations!

Firstly, if properly trained, it might be possible to Cultivate a private army that could deter both internal and external forces; secondly, that day in Wang Changfeng’s study, he mentioned the culprit of the Family’s annihilation, and the culprit was very likely from the Wu Dynasty!

This was also why the Commandery City had fallen silent!

If it was truly the work of people from the Wu Dynasty, then this trained army would be his sharp sword to invade the Wu Dynasty!

After staying in the reception hall for a while, Xu Qing came to the Martial Arts Hall!

This was a square within the City Lord’s Mansion, covering dozens of zhang. In the past, many Family members Cultivated here, but now there were only a few!

Currently, the fourth generation was either in seclusion or handling affairs, so only the fifth generation of Family members were here!

【Ding! Discovered a green Luck Family member available for investment!】

【Ding! Discovered an orange Luck Family member available for investment!】

【Ding! Discovered a yellow Luck Family member available for investment!】

...At a glance, everything about the younger generation was revealed to Xu Qing!

【Name: Xu Jiang】

【Age: Twenty-three】

【Cultivation: Tongmai Fifth Layer】

【Aptitude: Profound Grade Mid-tier】

【Physique: None】

【Luck: Green】

【Investable, at least ten times return triggered!】

...【Name: Xu Yuan】

【Age: Seventeen】

【Cultivation: Body Tempering Eighth Layer】

【Aptitude: Profound Grade High-tier】

【Physique: None】

【Luck: Orange】

【Investable, at least one hundred times return triggered!】

...【Name: Xu Ji】

【Age: Fifteen】

【Cultivation: Body Tempering Fifth Layer】

【Aptitude: Profound Grade High-tier】

【Physique: Golden Spirit Physique (Unawakened)】

【Luck: Yellow】

【Investable, at least three hundred times return triggered!】

【Note: The more investment, the greater the triggered return!】

Xu Qing was surprised. Among the nine fifth-generation members, five had green Luck, three had orange, and only his cousin had yellow Luck, and he also possessed an unawakened Golden Spirit Physique!

This Physique was a mid-tier Spirit Physique. Once Awakened, such Aptitude would allow him to become a Core Disciple even in a golden-tier force!

“Young Lord!”

Upon seeing Xu Qing, everyone stopped their Cultivation!

Currently, Xu Qing held high prestige among the Family members, as they had all experienced slight improvements during this period, thanks to Xu Qing’s allocation of resources!

“Everyone, don’t be so reserved. Brother Jiang, you used to take me bird’s nesting when I was little! Brother He, you often took me skipping class, which got me punished…”

Xu Qing chatted with everyone about old memories, and the atmosphere quickly became joyful and harmonious!

Afterward, Xu Qing took out nine wooden boxes!

“Young Lord, what is this?” the older Xu Jiang asked!

Xu Qing’s expression became serious, “These are Marrow Cleansing Pills. You all should have heard of them!”

“Marrow Cleansing Pill!!!”

“Is it that Medicinal Pill that can improve a Martial Artist’s Aptitude, a Marrow Cleansing Pill of Spirit Grade top-tier quality?!”

Everyone exclaimed!

“Exactly!” Xu Qing nodded!

The eyes of the fifth generation burned with fervor!

“Young Lord, it’s too precious, we cannot accept it! You should keep it for others!” Xu Jiang looked at the wooden box in front of him, a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but he still gritted his teeth and refused!

“Others? Who? If you don’t want it, will our uncles and aunts want it? Or should I give it to the returning Family members?” Xu Qing retorted!

“But it’s too precious. If we auction it, we could get a lot of Origin Stones!” Xu Binglu said!

“No! We cannot auction it!” Xu Jiang quickly shook his head, “This item is extremely valuable. If we auction it, I’m afraid someone will target our Xu Family!”

Xu Qing approved, “Exactly! So the best way is for you to consume them! Your Aptitude will improve, and your Cultivation speed will also increase, giving you the ability to seek revenge!”

“Revenge?”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes showed hatred!

Xu Qing said in a deep voice, “Our enemies are very powerful, otherwise the Marquis’s Estate would not have fallen silent! So this blood feud can only be avenged by ourselves! I hope that when that day comes, you can stand by my side and personally slay our enemies with me!”

“Young Lord! Then I won’t be polite!”

Xu Jiang no longer hesitated and took a wooden box!

【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully investing in a green Luck Family member, triggering a thirty-fold return, rewarding three bottles of Marrow Cleansing Pill!】

The remaining fifth-generation members also took their wooden boxes!

“That’s right!” Xu Qing said with a smile!