A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

"My wife understands me best."

Seeing that Wang Shuyu was speaking in unison with him, Li Rui couldn't help but laugh.

Upon hearing the word "My beloved wife," Wang Shuyu hurriedly lowered her head, a blush spreading across her earlobes.

Such a sweet and intimate nickname is fine to use in private.

How could I bear it in front of my own brother?

Don't even mention Wang Shuyu couldn't stand it.

Wang Yuan couldn't stand it anymore!

He coughed twice quickly, forcibly changing the subject.

"Ahem! How do we form an inspection team?"

Li Rui waved towards the door.

A large, dark-skinned man ran in.

"General!"

Since personally leading the troops last night, Zhao Kuangyin has become even more convinced of Li Rui's abilities.

They used to call each other "Zang Feng" in private, which was quite affectionate.

Now everyone knows to call him "General".

Li Rui took off his sword and handed it to Zhao Kuangyin.

"Yuan Lang, take my knife and select skilled men from the army to form an inspection team."

"I am in charge of supervising the surveying team and local wealthy households. If they collude in secret and conceal cultivated land, deal with them directly without asking me!"

Zhao Kuangyin was startled and immediately cupped his hands in greeting.

"So, what's the solution?"

"Surveying team leader beheaded! Local wealthy households ransacked!"

"Here you go!"

……

Inside the county government office.

The Restoration Army is screening members of the Wu family.

"What's your name? How old are you? What do you do for the Wu family?"

"My name is Wu Wang, I am forty-six years old, and I work as an accountant in the Wu family."

"Who are Wu Shouyi and Wu Shoujun to you?"

"What you're saying, 'Master of the Household' and 'Second Master,' are my masters."

"Are you willing to leave the Wu family and seek refuge with the general?"

"Uh... this..."

Wu Wang hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the crowd around him.

Honestly.

He also shares the surname Wu, and although he doesn't hold a high position in the Wu family, he still feels a sense of belonging.

Li Rui confiscated the Wu family's property, so naturally he had no goodwill towards Li Rui.

Who would be willing to join them?

But next second.

His wife was shouting curses from below the hall.

"Wu Wang, you idiot! The Wu family is finished, don't you understand? General Li gave you a chance, but you didn't submit."

"Do you really want to take your entire family with you to be buried with the Wu family?!"

Wu Wang's expression changed, and he turned around and scolded him.

"Shut up, you foolish woman! What do you know?"

His wife laughed in anger, and her shouts grew even louder.

"What do I know? What are you pretending for? How much does the Wu family pay you a year? You think you can be a loyal subject?"

That little bit of money isn't even enough to build a house for your son's wedding! And you're still grateful to them!

Didn't you secretly criticize Wu Shoujun too? Saying he spent his days indulging in debauchery and stole your wages to go to brothels!

Wu Wang's face immediately turned red, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

"What do you mean by stealing? I meant misappropriating!"

"Bullshit! Embezzlement is the same as theft! Wu Wang, if you want to die, your mother and children won't go with you. Die if you want!"

Upon hearing this...

Wu Wang's gaze fell on his two children.

His son is already married, and his daughter-in-law is pregnant.

My daughter isn't married yet, but she's reached marriageable age.

"Father! Your daughter doesn't want to die!"

His daughter cried out in anguish.

"Father, I have no other request, but I pity your wife's unborn child. They can't... be buried with her, can they?"

His son knelt down and kowtowed.

Wu Wang's lips trembled.

His slightly graying temples seemed to add a touch of vicissitude.

"well……"

He sighed, about to speak.

Sudden.

The armored soldier in front of him suddenly stood up and shouted.

"General!"

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

Li Rui, with his upright posture, strode into the house.

Wu Wang's body trembled.

He knew that the young man in front of him was Li Rui, who had wiped out the Wu family with a wave of his hand.

His knees buckled, and he was about to kneel down.

Li Rui reached out in time and firmly supported him.

"Sir, why be so polite? I just heard cries; what trouble have you encountered?"

Wu Wang's eyes looked somewhat blank.

Why does this Li Rui look so different from the rumored fierce and menacing figure?

Not quite the same?

"General Li, there is no difficulty. This old man was just about to pledge his allegiance to you."

Li Rui glanced at the family members kneeling below the hall, each with tears in their eyes.

"Is this your son?"

"Yes, General Li."

"Can you read?"

"He can read and write, and he also studied arithmetic with me for several years."

"You can read and do math, very good. Then you can come and work in my household. Your monthly salary is fifteen shi of millet, plus three strings of copper coins."

The words fell.

Wu Wang and his son suddenly looked up!

His wife was even more astonished, exclaiming in disbelief.

"Not working for free!? A monthly salary of fifteen shi of millet? Plus an extra three strings of cash!?"

Li Rui was surprised.

"When did I ever ask you to work for free? Now that you've joined me, even if you don't become rich, at least you'll be able to live a comfortable life."

Upon hearing this...

Wu Wang's wife was extremely excited!

"How can this be considered a life of plenty? General Li, you have no idea! The Wu family only pays us ten shi of millet and one fen of cash per month!"

"If I had known you would be so generous, I would have grabbed Old Wu by the ear and forced him to serve the general!"

Wu Wang looked embarrassed.

The pent-up emotions in my heart suddenly vanished in an instant!

Working for Li Rui seems... more comfortable than working for the Wu family!

And apart from that.

Li Rui then spoke again.

"Don't rush, let's see your abilities first. If you are capable, I will make you the chief accountant and double your monthly salary."

Wu Wang shuddered violently!

Before he could get excited.

Li Rui continued.

"In addition, I want to implement the land tax reform in Boling County. Your family has a large population, so you should be able to get another large piece of farmland."

"We can hire people to farm on weekdays, and during the busy farming season, I'll give you and your son time off to come home and help."

Done.

The entire county government office was rather quiet.

Wu Wang and his family stared blankly at Li Rui, seemingly unsure how to process the news.

at last.

His shrewd wife, her eyes gleaming, started counting on her fingers.

"Old Wu is the chief accountant, earning a monthly salary of thirty shi (a unit of dry measure) and six strings of cash. Including his son's salary, he earns a total of forty-five shi and nine strings of cash per month!"

This money alone is enough to cover the family's expenses, and if the surplus is saved up for two or three years, it can be used to build a house for the son!

If we add farmland, we can not only build a house for our son, but also save up a dowry for our daughter…”

Do the math.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed intently on Wu Wang.

It's as if it's saying...

If you don't follow General Li, I'll tear you apart right here and now!

Actually, she didn't need to say it.

Wu Wang himself was an excellent accountant.

He figured this out much faster than his wife!

He tried to remain calm.

She reached out and smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes, then neatly tidied her hair.

finally.

They bowed respectfully and sincerely.

"General, you are so generous! Wu Wang is willing to serve you!"

Li Rui laughed and helped Wu Wang up.

"I'll call you Old Wu then."

"General, you flatter me."

"In that case, would you be willing to help persuade the other members of the Wu family?"

"Of course!"

As the saying goes, "A thousand pieces of gold are spent to buy a horse's bones."

Wu Wang is the horse bone that Li Rui bought.

Other members of the Wu family saw Wu Wang as an example.

In addition, Wu Wang had a good reputation and he personally persuaded him.

It took less than two days.

More than forty members of the Wu family have already been selected for appointment.

In fact, there are many more people who want to seek refuge with us.

But Li Rui doesn't accept just anyone.

There was a steward named Wu who bullied men and women and secretly collected private taxes.

This caused widespread resentment among the people of Boling.

Li Rui would never want someone like that!

Deep inside the prison.

Wu Shouyi and Wu Shoujun were imprisoned together.

Two days have passed.

No one ever paid them any attention.

Wu Shouyi watched helplessly as the number of Wu family members dwindled little by little.

Moreover, some people, once they went there, were never brought back.

How could Wu Shouyi not understand what had happened?

He panicked.

I'm so anxious!