Chapter 1182: Laying the Plan and Closing the Net (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
It's impossible to figure it out completely.
Especially when two or three hundred people have the same idea.
The more attentive and diligent they were, the more Shen Tang, who remained calm and collected, grinned from ear to ear. Even the meat buns made by the Cui family were puzzled. In such a small place, how could so many brave martial artists rack their brains to search? Even if they dug three feet into the ground, they could have searched it more than ten times in a month.
Not a single lucky person was found?
Many people have begun to question the existence of this batch of "spiritual wine".
The wandering knights were generally not very good, and after several setbacks, they wanted to give up. However, the government had promised that the monthly salary would be paid out on the last day of the month, and there were only two days left anyway, so they couldn't let the month's work go to waste.
They can take the money and leave, enjoying a few more days of carefree living.
Roubaozi watched coldly, secretly hoping that Shen Tang wouldn't be able to produce the so-called "spiritual wine," and that the next day he would wake up to find most of the wandering knights had fled and the government office reduced to ruins by their sneak attack. Little did he expect that the long-sought-after spiritual wine would appear in the government office.
The wandering knight, arriving to collect his monthly stipend upon completion of his term, was left with a bewildered expression: "???"
No, they've been working during the day and secretly searching everywhere at night, keeping a close eye on the government officials' movements, but they haven't seen anything being brought in. So much [spiritual wine] just appeared out of thin air?
Or is the wine cellar located underground in the government office?
That's impossible. Aside from the dungeon and the cellar for storage, there's no other space beneath the government office. They've scouted those two places more than once; they're places even rats wouldn't linger in, let alone suitable for storing fine wine, especially spirit wine.
For a moment, the expressions of the people with ulterior motives varied.
They stared at the towering wine jars piled high, their eyes filled with undisguised greed. If it weren't for the sheer number of people gathered there, none of them would have been certain of escaping unscathed or outnumbered; they would have already overturned the table and claimed the entire fortune. Cui Mi seemed oblivious to their reactions, carefully checking names and work hours in his booklet.
The two hundred-plus people didn't join at the same time. The initial monthly salary settlement would be calculated based on the number of working days. Next month, once the timing was unified, the monthly salary distribution would be less complicated. Cui Mi called out to each person one by one according to the roster, inwardly lamenting how heartless they were.
The reason is simple: most of the monthly salary is "benefits".
Only a small portion was in cash; the rest consisted mainly of goods such as rice, flour, cooking oil, needles, thread, and cloth. Another portion was various "slips" issued by the government. These "slips" could be exchanged for goods and used for daily reimbursements. They could only be redeemed through government offices.
Once outside the government, they're useless.
The actual profits seem much higher than elsewhere, but it has a drawback—the wandering knights are forced to be bound to the government and cannot easily leave. This is obviously unacceptable to wandering knights who are used to freedom.
Immediately, some people wanted to angrily flip the table.
Even a jar of spirit wine couldn't quell this anger.
"What are you trying to fool people with this rubbish?"
To deal with this situation, Shen Tang had long ago taught Cui Mi how to respond: "How could it be something to fool people? This is just a last resort to deal with special circumstances! It is applicable for a time, not for a lifetime. You all have seen the local situation. Magistrate Shen has been busy with grain seeds recently, and the warehouse is really in dire straits."
Cui Mi openly and frankly played the victim, crying pitifully.
These wandering knights have been here for two months, and they still haven't noticed how poor this place is? Even a fool could see that it's impossible to normally pay the monthly salaries of two or three hundred people. Magistrate Shen hasn't delayed or defaulted on any payments; the total amount has been paid in full.
Such sincerity is not enough to move people?
Shen Tang also taught Cui Mi the art of pulling and stepping.
The differences are only highlighted by the contrast with the peers.
Compared to their peers, they are already very conscientious.
If you don't believe me, go ask around. How many people in a county government are truly considered public officials? The other minor officials are either cronies of the county magistrate or recruited from the common people. The government sometimes only subsidizes a portion of their expenses, and when the finances are bad, it's common for them to be several months behind on payments. Of course, most of these minor officials don't rely on this for their livelihood; they have plenty of shady or gray-area income.
The place called Shentang was so poor that it didn't even have any lucrative business.
I can only eat from this monthly salary.
Cui Mi's linguistic charm can easily confuse people with poor logic; after a series of attacks, wouldn't they be completely fooled? The focus shifts, and they can't even win an argument. Not only will they feel like they've gotten the better deal, but they'll also start to reflect on their actions.
Cui's meat buns: "..."
He watched helplessly as the nascent chaos vanished without a trace.
These troublemakers actually lined up to collect their monthly stipends, grinning from ear to ear upon receiving the spirit wine. Aside from a few exceptions, the vast majority of wandering knights lacked talent, relying on stealing techniques and self-exploration for cultivation, resulting in predictably slow progress. This spirit wine did indeed have some benefits for cultivation and strengthening the body, but only at lower cultivation levels. At higher levels, its effects diminished.
As the last person finished receiving their monthly salary.
Cui Mi suddenly announced another piece of news.
Magistrate Shen decided to select an "Outstanding Hero" from among them each season to guide their cultivation. The selection of the "Outstanding Hero" was based primarily on daily performance, with one chosen from fifty people. The selected person would then pass on their insights to others, though this was not mandatory.
The wandering knights, whose resentment had long since dissipated, were speechless.
Such a good thing?
It's important to understand that martial arts also have different schools and styles. Ordinary martial artists can only learn some basic fist and foot techniques. Many martial artists spend years honing their skills, but those with connections and resources might not even bother to look at them. In any profession, having a mentor to guide you can save you from many detours.
They had considered becoming apprentices.
But with this little bit of talent, which expert would even notice it?
The man surnamed Shen actually said he could offer guidance?
Even if it's just guidance, if Mr. Shen is in a good mood, he can help answer questions and resolve doubts. Even if you only get one or two such opportunities, you can benefit from them for a lifetime!
"Really?"
This carrot is more tempting than a bland spirit!
Is the man surnamed Shen trying to fool them?
Cui Mi said, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."
Some, however, were cautious and suspicious, wondering if this was just a delaying tactic to keep them hanging for another month. But Cui Mi took out another small list from his robes. The selection of "Outstanding Heroes" hadn't started next month; it had begun last month, and the candidates were already chosen!
The lucky winners whose names were called were stunned, unable to believe their ears: "I won? I really won?"
The others muttered sourly under their breath.
"So what if you win? You still don't know if it's a scam."
If someone just casually brushes you off, it doesn't count as breaking their promise.
As it turned out, Shen Tang had their thoughts completely figured out. Not only did she not try to fool them, but she also provided valuable information, and incidentally taught them a formation incantation technique that only elite soldiers in the army could access. To achieve the maximum effect, it needs to be used in conjunction with the corresponding military formation changes; using it alone will greatly reduce its effectiveness, but it is still a good technique.
This little bit of information is enough to confuse them.
The five returned from a day of seclusion, all looking excited.
When others asked them, they stammered and gave vague answers.
Anyone with eyes could see they had truly benefited. Curiosity and greed gnawed at their hearts like countless cat claws, desperate to pry the truth out of them: "Why are you hiding it? Next month, when I receive the 'Outstanding Hero' award, I'll find out just the same way. Didn't Magistrate Shen say you were going to share your insights? Are you trying to disobey?"
The other party wasn't buying into those threats.
"It wasn't said that we had to share, so don't make a big deal out of nothing."
Still want to win the "Outstanding Hero" award?
Don't you even know if you have the ability?
Cui's meat buns: "..."
After reviewing the entire process, he felt that the man surnamed Shen had a brighter future than the head of the Cui family. The head of the Cui family didn't have so many tricks up his sleeve.
After such a series of combined punches, who wouldn't be confused?
The man surnamed Shen didn't do much from beginning to end, yet he got two or three hundred brave martial artists working like they were on steroids, scrambling to do the work they previously despised. Had they all forgotten that this was standard hard labor for convicts?
Not only did they not feel humiliated, they were also worried that they would miss out if they were too slow.
That's terrifying!
It's like they've given them a brain transplant!
They get paid one monthly salary but do the work of several people.
In their eagerness to perform well, they're working four hours a day, then six, seven, eight... Have they forgotten that these working hours are meant to punish troublemakers? Two months ago they were grumbling and complaining, but two months later they want to work twelve hours a day!
"They've all gone mad, they've all gone mad..."
Even more outrageous was that he impulsively betrayed the Cui family.
Well, it can't really be called betrayal.
He had only voluntarily joined Erlangjun, but in reality, he had pledged allegiance to Magistrate Shen; no one could find fault with him. Looking at the tiny place that had changed so drastically in just over two months, Roubaozi had a blade of grass in his mouth.
She murmured softly, "County Magistrate Shen is ambitious."
They used a martial arts contest to select unmarried wandering warriors, exploiting them for a month, then used spirit wine to incite their greed, delaying the process for another month. After two months, the entire territory had been transformed, and the cultivated land had expanded six or seven times compared to before.
Reaching this point is not enough.
She used the guise of "outstanding heroes" to whet the appetites of wandering knights and warriors, making them work tirelessly to accelerate the construction of local facilities, thus achieving her goal of training troops. Yes, training troops!
So far, all the skills taught have been military-grade. It's just that practicality and these skills also apply to individual combat, which is why these wandering warriors haven't realized this. One can easily imagine how astonishing the results will be after a few months, even half a year, when they transition from individual combat to group formation warfare! They will be no less formidable than the most elite infantry under the command of warlords!
Their overall quality might even be higher.
After all, even a small warlord couldn't muster two or three hundred martial arts warriors; the ratio of ordinary people to martial arts warriors was what it was. Forcibly gathering them? That would require a huge expense.
From beginning to end, what did the man surnamed Shen smash?
Is it some mysterious spirit wine or just a pile of rice, flour, and cooking oil?
The Qi Kingdom is relatively peaceful and has been expanding and developing in recent years, so Magistrate Shen's motives are quite interesting. Just as Roubaozi finished muttering to himself, he keenly noticed someone watching him. Following the gaze, he almost stopped in his tracks: "Magistrate Shen."
For a martial artist with courage and daring, this distance is no different from a whisper.
Shen Tang looked at him with a half-smile.
Who lives without ambition?
If he had no ambition, why would he switch jobs to Cui Mi?
To outsiders, it appears to be simply a matter of the Cui family transferring money from one hand to the other.
Meat Bun chuckled awkwardly, but inside he was sweating bullets.
Shen Tang noticed him because of this: "Looking at your clever appearance, you shouldn't be a servant of the Cui family."
Meat Bun: "..."
The current lord is quite unhappy with the former lord.
He carefully said, "When we were young, my older sister and I were lost and wandered outside. We were almost turned into a dragon and phoenix fighting, but fortunately, the steward of the Cui family took pity on us and took us in, saving our lives. So we stayed with the Cui family."
He had good potential and was selected to be trained as an elite member of the Cui clan.
"So, you have a deep relationship with the Cui family." The Cui family had saved his and his siblings' lives, raised them, and nurtured them. How could he so easily switch sides? Most people, upon hearing this, would either suspect the other person of feigning a defection or that they were an ingrate. Shen Tang didn't like to draw conclusions based on a single, incomplete piece of information. "Is there some unavoidable difficulty you're facing?"
"There's no real hardship involved; a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on."
He directly admitted that he was an ingrate.
Shen Tang: "..."
Roubaozi sat on the edge of the field, overseeing the group of infighting fools, chewing on a blade of grass: "My sister saved up many years' worth of savings, all of which was used by Cui to buy us both our freedom. So what—"
People strive for higher positions, while water flows downhill.
He sighed, "We can't expect them to start their own families and have children in the future... We have to give them choices."
He waited anxiously for a while, but Shen Tang didn't react.
until--
"Smart people often die because they are too clever for their own good." Shen Tang doesn't mind if smart people see through her plans, but she doesn't like someone overturning the chessboard she has set up. "I think you are a smart person too."
They probably won't be so clever as to court death.
The meat bun chuckled sheepishly and agreed.
He was about to find an excuse to check on the progress elsewhere when he noticed that Magistrate Shen's attention was drawn to one spot. Following his gaze, he saw a strikingly beautiful figure approaching from afar. The figure was tall and imposing, a striking contrast against the sky.
The cunning businessman standing next to her was completely overshadowed by her beauty.
Most eyes were drawn to the red-robed scholar, but Roubaozi was an exception; he still remembered that outrageous 5.2% interest rate! The chubby, cunning merchant smiled and led the scholar over.
The scholar in the red robe wore a crown adorned with flowers, the colors of which were so eye-catching that they made the wearer look like a flamboyant walking ball of flirtatiousness!
The chubby, cunning businessman eagerly introduced the two to each other.
The scholar in the red robe said, "Liao Qian, courtesy name Zun Guang."
Humility brings honor and glory, and humility that cannot be surpassed.
Meat bun: "???"
The scholar in red robes was the head of a grain merchant. Hearing that Shen Tang had placed a large order with an interest rate of 5.2 percent and showed sincerity in seeking long-term cooperation, he made a special trip to meet this County Magistrate, Shen Zhongli. Shen Tang said, "I have long admired your reputation. This is not the place to discuss business. Would you be so kind as to move elsewhere to discuss this in detail?"
Roubaozi's expression became even stranger.
Who understands the awkwardness of having the same name, surname, and even the same courtesy name?
Shen Tang didn't bring the meat bun from the Cui family with her. She and the scholar in red robes hit it off immediately, walking side-by-side back to the county government. A chubby, cunning merchant followed behind them, glancing around warily from time to time. Shen Tang: "Why is Shao Mei so late?"
If Liao Jia had come earlier, I would have been much less worried.
Running three accounts simultaneously just doesn't give me enough energy.
"I met some old friends on the road and lingered in my old homeland for a few days." Liao Jia looked at the changes in this small place and sighed, "Our lord is truly a man of destiny; he brings hope wherever he goes. In just two or three months, the landscape here is completely different from the neighboring counties, and I even saw several families of commoners who came to seek refuge after hearing the news..."
"No matter how much you praise me, I won't be happy." Shen Tang rejected Liao Jia's sweet talk. "Is Liao Qian your current identity?"
“You can’t travel in other countries using your real identity. The identity of Liao Qian is also real, so I’m not afraid of being found out.”
|ω`)
I planned to take my driving test on Monday, but when I left at 2 PM, my instructor told me that the test center closed at 3 PM, and they wouldn't let me take the test there because it would delay their closing time (I checked before and it said they closed at 3:30 PM, sigh). So I could only go early on Tuesday afternoon.
P.S.: There's a funeral for a relative, someone very close to me (like Shiitake Mushroom), so updates might be a bit unreliable for the next three days. Just letting you all know in advance. _(:з」∠)_
P.S.: Do you have any recommendations for ancient-style songs that are good as background music while writing? I found one a few days ago by an artist I'd never heard of before. The timbre is somewhat similar to Xu Song's early work, and it's quite suitable for listening to on repeat.
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