Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 154 Clan Affairs and Military Affairs (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The autumn wind rustled, and a chill was in the air.

"Squeak~"

With a soft sound, a burly figure slowly walked out of the house and came to the middle of the courtyard.

He stood with his feet slightly apart, his posture upright like a pine tree. He took a deep breath and exhaled it completely after more than ten breaths.

In an instant, white mist rose and surrounded him.

Then, the burly figure practiced his boxing techniques in the courtyard with the agility of a dragon leaping and a tiger bounding.

The wind howled as the fist struck, and the clothes fluttered in the breeze.

After an unknown amount of time, wisps of heat began to emanate from the top of the burly figure's head.

"Brother, Masakazu seems tireless!"

A boy in black pushed open the door, glanced at the figure in the courtyard, and muttered something under his breath.

Before long, three more boys in black arrived in the courtyard. After tidying up a bit, they began practicing martial arts.

As the sun rose in the east, the group gradually put away their stances and walked towards the small courtyard to the side.

Although Zhao Xian is now a high-ranking official, his family's food, clothing, housing, and transportation have not changed much.

There was also no rule about not speaking while eating or sleeping.

At the dinner table, the group chatted and laughed.

"Young Master, the Daoist priests from Shanghuting who accompanied you on this demon-hunting expedition have certainly earned a considerable amount of spirit stones!"

"These pure white spirit stones have been scattered like that. Do you still have enough spirit stones for your cultivation?"

Zhao Yi held the bowl, sipped the rice porridge, then looked at Zhao Xian and asked.

"Father, there are still a dozen or so mid-grade spirit stones left!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately replied truthfully.

"This is enough for Ah Hong and the others to need for our cultivation!"

"You're all grown up now, so you should always consider your own needs when making decisions!"

Zhao Yi nodded and offered some words of advice.

"Your uncles and I, along with others, still have some strength left, and we'll try to help you out again!"

"Understood, Father!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian was naturally very grateful and quickly replied.

After breakfast, Zhao Xian and his family went out and headed towards the threshing ground.

Today, Zhao Xian and several clan elders have gathered the entire clan to announce some important matters.

threshing floor.

Although it was late autumn and the weather was getting colder, there were still quite a few people gathered at the threshing ground.

Some of the tribesmen were dressed in neat robes and carried sharp swords at their waists, looking quite impressive!

These tribespeople were enjoying themselves, basking in the envious glances of the other tribespeople around them.

"Uncle Nineteen, I heard you single-handedly killed a monster, is that true?"

Several teenagers surrounded a burly man, asking with grins.

"Of course, I killed that demonic wolf with a single arrow!"

"It's quite a coincidence, really. I usually only hit the target five out of ten times when shooting arrows, but that day, I don't know why, I actually shot that demon wolf in the throat!"

The burly man immediately patted the ring-pommel sword at his waist and said with a grin, "I saw that the demon wolf wasn't moving, so I rushed up and used this sword to cut off its head!"

"Look, this is the necklace I made from the four canine teeth of that demon wolf!"

After saying that, the burly man rummaged in his robes again and pulled out a necklace with white animal teeth hanging from it!

"Uncle Nineteen! Why are there so many animal teeth?"

Another boy asked in surprise.

"Haha! I not only killed that demonic wolf, but also other demonic beasts, and I even pulled out their teeth to make a necklace!"

The burly man immediately replied with a smile.

"I heard it all from my older brother. Uncle Nineteen brought back a whole wolf pelt this time. Is he planning to make a wolf pelt and get me an aunt?"

"You brat, how dare you make fun of your elders! Take this!"

After saying that, the burly man raised his hand and threatened the boy in front of him.

The boys, however, were not afraid and immediately ran off in high spirits.

"Ku-ro is here! Ku-ro is here!"

Suddenly, several shouts came from afar, and the people of the Daoist sect immediately quieted down!

Zhao Xian was seen carefully helping his great-grandfather, the most senior member of the clan, walk towards the crowd.

Behind Zhao Xian were several elderly clan elders, including Zhao De and Zhao Mu.

"Fellow clansmen, I have some good news to announce today!"

"The county magistrate has officially sent a document to the prefecture, appointing Jiulang as a military officer!"

"Our Yangping Village has finally produced a high-ranking official!"

Zhao Zhong nodded to Zhao Xian, then immediately leaped onto the platform several feet high and shouted loudly.

"Kuroro is mighty!"

"Kuroro is mighty!"

Then, cheers were heard from the tribespeople.

"Today, Jiulang has some very good news to tell you!"

After saying this, Zhao Zhong jumped down from the platform, and Zhao Xian also walked towards the platform.

At this moment, Zhao Xian had changed into a neat long robe, wore a bronze crown, and had an official seal and a precious sword hanging at his waist, looking extremely heroic and extraordinary!

"Jiulang's secure position as Military Officer is truly due to the assistance of all the clansmen!"

"Kuro thanks you all!"

After saying this, Zhao Xian bowed deeply to his clansmen below!

"I dare not accept such a grand gesture from the Sergeant!"

Upon seeing this, the members of the various tribes returned the greeting and shouted in unison.

"Jiulang's return home this time is to give back to his clan!"

"From this day forward, all elders of the clan who are 60 years of age or older, and all children under the age of 14, will receive three bushels of millet each year!"

Upon hearing this, the clansmen below were overjoyed!

"In addition, a martial arts training ground was built in the clan, where all the children of the clan must come to practice martial arts. The elders of the clan will teach them martial arts, and breakfast and lunch will be provided!"

"Those who excel in martial arts will also receive one hundred talisman coins each month!"

"All expenses incurred here shall be borne by me, Zhao Xian!"

After saying that, Zhao Xian looked down at Zhao Hong, Huang Zhong, and the other three people.

The four of them immediately paired up and carried two large baskets of bright yellow talisman coins up to the high platform.

"There are 50,000 talisman coins inside!"

"That covers the expenses for the next year!"

Zhao Xian pointed and said solemnly.

"The millet for the elderly and children mentioned earlier will be replaced with talisman money. This year's talisman money will be distributed here tomorrow!"

"This old man thanks you, Jiulang!"

Upon hearing this, the great-grandfather below the platform immediately bowed to Zhao Xian on the platform.

Upon seeing the great-grandfather bow, the other clansmen also bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

"We thank Kuro!"

This was a plan that Zhao Xian made after much deliberation.

It is almost impossible to go further and higher by relying solely on oneself!

With so many people of our clan, we should naturally make good use of them.

Moreover, now that I have the means, I naturally want to give back to my clan!

After the lively gathering, the clansmen dispersed.

Zhao Xian's gratitude to his clansmen also spread to other villages in Shanghuting.

In Chunping Village, Dawang Village, and Changgong Village, there are Taoist practitioners recruited by Zhao Xian. The return of these Taoist practitioners to their homes has caused quite a stir in each village!

Some of these Daoist practitioners brought back twenty or thirty low-grade spirit stones, while others, such as Zhang Gong, Xu Hua, and Xu Fu, brought back over a hundred.

The villagers had never seen so many low-grade spirit stones before, so they were naturally shocked!

As for those who had ulterior motives, they abandoned their plans after seeing these Taoist priests clad in armor and exuding a murderous aura.

What do rural folks do when they have money?

Of course, it's buying houses and land!

If you don't have enough money, buy an ox so it can help cultivate the land for your family when spring comes next year.

Those with plenty of money would simply buy several acres of fertile land.

At present, a mu of good land costs about 1,800 talismans. Zhang Gong from Chang Gongli has followed Zhao Xian the longest. This time when he returned home, he bought ten mu of good land for himself in one go!

Zhang Gong was the second son in his family. Although his family provided him with food, clothing, and martial arts training, they could not possibly give him any of the family's land!

Therefore, Zhang Gong should be considered an unemployed vagrant before he met Zhao Xian!

However, now that they have a plot of fertile land, they have a foothold and can no longer be considered unemployed vagrants!

Ten acres of fertile land may not seem like much, but it's enough to support a strong, able-bodied adult!

However, although Zhang Gong owned land, he rented it out to his clansmen and did not cultivate it himself!

After all, he still had to continue following Zhao Xian.

The Xu brothers, Xu Hua and Xu Fu, from Dahuting also used the spirit stones they obtained to buy land for themselves.

Of course, the two of them would not stay at home to farm; they still planned to continue hunting demons alongside Zhao Xian!

Hunting monsters is much more interesting than farming and slaughtering pigs at home!

Three days have passed, and a large group of Taoists have gathered again at the threshing ground in Yangping Village.

The villagers each drew their swords and carried their guns, exuding a murderous aura.

The children who were playing and frolicking nearby dared not continue chasing and playing. Instead, they hid behind the elders of the clan who were watching, peeking out curiously.

"Jiulang actually knows how to train soldiers! Look at him, these Daoist people he's trained are much better than those good-for-nothing county sergeants!"

"They're not much different from the Taoist soldiers we encountered in the south back then!"

Zhao De and several other elders from the clan stood among the crowd, carefully observing the Daoist people before them.

"Brother, you jest! It was just some random practice!"

"Those Taoist soldiers we encountered in the south back then were all second-rate martial artists!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mu responded modestly, but his face betrayed his smugness.

The fact that Zhao Xian could train these lazy Daoist people to this extent is enough to prove his ability in training troops!

"Why aren't Ah-Yi and Ah-Li in the crowd?"

Suddenly, Zhao De asked with a puzzled look.

"Ah Xian kept them both behind!"

"Stay in the clan and teach the younger generation!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mu immediately smiled and said.

"That's only to be expected!"

Zhao De nodded slightly, understanding why Zhao Xian had made this arrangement.

That's 50,000 talisman coins. Although a lot has already been spent, the rest will definitely be handed over to our own family.

However, Zhao De misunderstood Zhao Xian this time.

Zhao Xian allowed Zhao Li and Zhao Yi to stay behind for two reasons: firstly, the two men were old and could not endure prolonged travel and hardship.

Secondly, since both of them were already second-rate martial artists and had been through many battles, it would be best for them to stay in the clan to teach the younger generation!

A moment later, Zhao Xian and Zhao Hong and the others also arrived at this place!

"We pay our respects to Lord Sergeant!"

All the people bowed in unison.

"Please rise, everyone!"

After the Daoist people stood up, Zhao Xian immediately spoke up.

"Each squad leader must tally the number of people in their squad!"

"Eight men have arrived in the first platoon!"

"Nine men have arrived in the second platoon!"

"Nine men have arrived in the third squad!"

"Eight men have arrived in the fourth squad!"

"Six men have arrived in the fifth squad!"

A moment later, the number of people in each group was tallied, and the original group of fifty people was now missing a whole group.

Zhao Xian didn't say much to the Daoist people who didn't come.

"Team leader Zhao Li has resigned, and Zhao Zheng, the third squad leader, will take over as team leader!"

"Zhao Ji will serve as the first platoon leader!"

"Zhao Zong will serve as the second squad leader!"

"Xu Hua will serve as the third squad leader!"

"Zhang Gong will serve as the fourth squad leader!"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Xian began to appoint them one by one.

"We will obey the orders of the Sergeant!"

Led by Zhao Zheng, all the Daoist people shouted in unison!

"Team Leader Zhao, select two skilled archers from the ranks to fill the fourth squad!"

Then, Zhao Xian looked at the newly appointed team leader, Zhao Zheng, and gave him instructions.

"The fifth group of Daoist followers will be added to the remaining groups!"

The Fifth Shi was formed by the Daoist people of Dahuting and Chunpingli, and its leader was Xu Hua.

Now that several Daoist priests from Chunping Village have not arrived, the Fifth Division has the largest shortage of personnel and should naturally be abolished.

"In addition to that, we will form another cavalry squad, with Zhao Cheng as its commander!"

Zhao Cheng is still recovering from his injuries, so Mu Chun will temporarily take charge of the cavalry.

Of course, apart from Zhao Hong and his three companions, as well as Mu Chun and Zhao Cheng, there are not many other Daoist people skilled in horsemanship these days.

It will be quite difficult to increase the number to ten.

The Second Squad Leader, Zhao Zong, was the grandson of his great-uncle Zhao De, and was a full brother of Zhao Cheng!

The four squad leaders and one platoon leader, apart from Zhang Gong, were all related to Zhao Xian in some way!

As for why Zhao Xian didn't continue recruiting to replenish the team of Daoists, it was naturally because he simply couldn't afford to feed the people and horses!

Although the county magistrate ordered that each village provide food, clothing and other necessities for the people of Zhao Xianmo's village, it only meant providing millet, and at most an extra shi of spirit rice.

Don't even think about anything else!

If these Daoists want to eat and drink well, and even have the energy to cultivate, then it depends on how thick Zhao Xian's wallet is. Obviously, Zhao Xian's wallet is not very thick!

However, Zhao Xian still has one county official position in his hands, which is worth quite a few spirit stones!

The military officer was a county official. Although Zhao Xian did not work in the county government office, Liu Yuan, the chief clerk, still reserved a few rooms for him in the county government office for his use as a military officer.

The clerks under the military command were naturally considered county officials, whose status was much higher than that of the village officials!

It is extremely complicated for a local official to be transferred to the county level!

In the few days since Zhao Xian returned home, many wealthy families in the village have sent servants to invite him to banquets!

Unfortunately, Zhao Xian politely declined them all!

The reason is simple: the position of county official is not something that ordinary wealthy families like them can obtain!

It has to fetch a high price!