Chapter 564: Poaching Talent [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Liao Jia felt as if a million alpacas were galloping around in his mind. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a sound for a long time.

After a long silence, he asked, ashamed and indignant, "Me?"

Qi Shan: "If it wasn't you, then it was me?"

This wasn't a task he was in charge of.

He added ruthlessly (with a knife): "If you are not capable enough to handle this matter, you can also tell the lord. She has always been lenient towards new subordinates." All that is needed is for Liao Jia to admit that he is not capable enough to fulfill the task.

However, Shen Tang's tolerance also has its limits.

This lord is quite "snobbish." If a newcomer consistently fails to prove their worth and integrate into the group, it means there's no need to waste too much energy on them. They can still be used, but they won't be given important responsibilities.

No one has received this treatment yet. In Gu Chi's words, his lord values ​​everyone highly, and he'd like to squeeze every last drop of oil out of every hundred-plus pounds of body.

Qi Shan spoke casually, but there was a hint of provocation in his words.

Liao Jia seemed to have been stepped on: "Who can't you say that?"

How could a few ordinary spells not work?

Qi Shan: "..."

He discovered that these people under his lord shared another common characteristic—from the lord himself down to the civil and military officials, they were most averse to the word "incompetent," using it to provoke others with unerring accuracy. He remembered that even Liao Jia back then hadn't been so easily hooked.

The martial energy reserves in the Danfu of a low-ranking nobleman are extremely small.

A little infusion is all it takes for a full recovery.

Liao Jia naturally had no trouble.

only--

Qi Shan gazed intently at the familiar-looking purse that had appeared in Liao Jia's hand—a treasure belonging to their lord…

Before she could even speak, Liao Jia casually tossed the weight around.

A hint of disdain: "Which penniless bastard is it?"

It was extremely light in weight; judging by its shape, it was worth only a few copper coins or a few tiny pieces of silver—so poor it was pitiful.

Qi Shan said calmly, "Oh, my lord's."

Liao Jia: "..."

Both of them fell silent for a moment.

Liao Jia's situation is somewhat similar to Xun Zhen's.

Xun Zhen's ability to activate his spiritual power requires a large amount of literary energy, which requires the prerequisite of "spending a thousand pieces of gold but returning them again" to obtain the required massive amount of literary energy. Furthermore, his "quick wit" will also cause a secondary "damage" to the person he is loyal to - a temporary reduction in intelligence.

In comparison, Liao Jia's task was slightly simpler.

Forcibly deprive one person within a fixed range of their [beloved possession]! The target is initially completely random, but gradually becomes a matter of free choice as Liao Jia grows up. When Qi Shan learned of this bizarre condition, he bluntly said it was a pity she didn't become a thief.

Therefore, in his view, Liao Jia did this on purpose.

Our lord was already dirt poor.

She managed to salvage the valuables in her purse only after racking her brains and going through several twists and turns, finally managing to keep them in the hands of Xun Zhen, a notorious gold digger.

Liao Jia actually "stole" it.

Liao Jia vehemently denied it: "The person I was thinking about just now was you."

But for some reason, the target became the lord.

Seeing the busy soldiers, Zhao Wei, who was hesitating whether to lend a hand, suddenly turned her head and asked, "???"

Qi Shan's face grew even darker.

Is this guy trying to target Su Shang again?

Liao Jia frowned and said, "Let's try again tomorrow."

This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

The martial arts experts were indeed incredibly efficient; what would take ordinary people ten days to half a month to do, they could accomplish in two or three hours. By sunset, the framework of the salt field project had been successfully erected.

However, it will take another five or six days to complete the project. In addition, they will need to build simple row houses near the salt fields for the common people living there in the future. For easier transportation, a road may also need to be built from the salt fields to the government seat.

Liao Jia mentally calculated: "...If we conscript commoners for corvée labor, it will take several thousand people two or three months to complete the work."

But for the brave warriors, even a hundred people working for ten days would have plenty of time. After finishing their work, they would still have plenty of energy to chat and laugh. Watching this group of soldiers carrying tools and joking around in the sunset, Liao Jia was momentarily lost in thought.

Qi Shan said, “Make the best use of everything and everyone. Our lord often says that we need brave warriors when we fight, and when the world is at peace, these people should have a place to go, otherwise they will only become the source of war. Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Looking back over the past two hundred years, there have been opportunities to unify the world, but there has always been a period of peace before the world returned to war and division.”

Everyone longs for peace.

But everyone needs to support their families.

Even the most valiant warriors are no exception.

Shen Tang: [Martial arts warriors are like wild beasts that survive in the brutal arena, grinding their teeth and sucking blood for survival. They may yearn for a peaceful future free from killing, but when they are truly placed in such a peaceful environment, the food crisis will sooner or later awaken the bloodlust within them.]

Wild animals need to hunt to survive.

Courageous warriors need war to survive.

How can this world be at peace?

Liao Jia clicked her tongue in amazement: "This is the first time I've heard such an explanation. It's quite novel. But thinking about it carefully, what the lord said makes sense. So—isn't she subtly getting the Martial Warriors used to this kind of survival, just like taming 'beasts'?"

So there's another layer of meaning behind it?

Liao Jia clapped his hands: "Your foresight and strategic thinking are truly admirable."

Qi Shan: "..."

This is a beautiful misunderstanding.

Zhao Wei, who was in the carriage, also showed an expression of admiration and murmured, "No wonder, no wonder, Father speaks so highly of Shen Jun."

Father's lord, Wu Xian, was already preparing for war.

Shen Junyuan had foresight and vision, and had already conceived of turning swords into plowshares.

She preferred the latter to the former.

Qi Shan asked her, "Does the young master also think that the lord is very good?"

Zhao Wei nodded honestly: "Although I haven't had the chance to see Shen Jun's face, Shen Jun is indeed an extremely good person."

Father finally got it right this time.

Qi Shan looked at her, seemingly lost in thought.

There will be an opportunity.

Upon arriving at the military camp, he had a private conversation with Bai Su.

Bai Su seemed to disagree: "Keep Zhao Wei? But she is General Zhao's daughter. If this gets out, it might cause trouble."

"If she insists on staying, out of consideration for Zhao Dayi's family line, would we really be so heartless as to drive his daughter away?"

Bai Su: "..."

Is this a case of Zhao Wei being sold out and then still having to count the money for them?

Bai Su lowered her eyes and hesitated.

Because Zhao Feng had been a mentor to her.

But in the end, reason prevailed, and he replied, "Okay, I'll have Zhizong interact with her more and give it a try."

It wasn't done in a particularly deliberate way.

It was merely a way to let Lu Ji and Zhao Wei spar more, revealing weaknesses appropriately to arouse their suspicion and competitiveness. Bai Su knew all too well that for any woman who wanted to achieve something in martial arts, the bait thrown out by Longwu County was a deadly temptation.

Qi Shan and the other two returned to Ruyao City.

Under the sky, the stars and moon keep us company.

Because Liao Jia's house hasn't been settled yet, he still has to sleep with this guy for one night, which is unlucky just to think about.

I tossed and turned in bed in the middle of the night.

Liao Jia couldn't possibly sleep well. She kicked him angrily, yelling, "Have you had enough? Is there maggots in the bed? Why are you still wriggling around?"

Qi Shan was prepared and stepped forward to block it.

Then he murmured, "It seems I've forgotten something..."

I can't remember right now.

Liao Jia rolled her eyes: "If you can't even remember, it must not be important. Go to sleep early, you can't take two days in a row!"

(っ°Д°;)っ

Qi Shan: What exactly happened?

Shen Tang: Waaah, my purse is gone.

(End of this chapter)