Chapter 450: Chapter 373: County Head, Why Is Your Red Envelope Taller Than a Pillow?

The dignified county magistrate personally inquired; how could this young soldier withstand it?

For a moment, he blushed with embarrassment and finally stammered out the words "not cold."

Su Yuan asked again:

"With the military’s method of body cultivation, I imagine it leaves quite a few aftereffects. Do you feel sharp pains throughout your body during rainy days?"

The young soldier thought for a moment, then said with his head lowered:

"In response to the county magistrate, indeed, during rainy days, I experience sharp pains all over my body. I must take some pain-relieving elixirs to suppress the pain."

"However, the cheap painkillers harm the body, and I can’t afford the expensive ones. Most of the time, I just endure it, and only when it’s unbearable do I take a pill."

Su Yuan nodded slightly and asked:

"How much is your monthly military pay? Has Wang De ever withheld your wages?"

The young soldier hurriedly replied:

"No, Assistant General Wang treats us well and never withholds our pay. He gives us the full ten Spirit Coins every month."

Ten Spirit Coins are equivalent to ten thousand Federation Coins.

It sounds like decent pay, but considering the soldier’s daily cultivation and pain-relief expenses, ten Spirit Coins are just barely enough to support a family.

Su Yuan inquired further with the constables at the county government office and found they only received a salary of seven Spirit Coins.

However, constables, by walking around the streets, also take on the responsibilities similar to city management, managing to make some additional income overall.

After hearing the situation of the constables and the Xiang Army, Su Yuan pondered for a moment and gestured to Wang De and Qi Junxiang to come over.

Both of them quickly approached, ready to hear instructions.

"Wang De, distribute this twenty thousand Spirit Coins as a big red envelope to the soldiers."

"But each basic soldier should receive at least forty Spirit Coins, with the remainder distributed among the Decurions and Centurions."

"Moreover, the Xiang Army soldiers who have defended our county for years, even if not having distinguished achievements, have still worked hard. Make sure to record this in their credit books for future promotions."

With these words, the entire courtyard was shocked.

Distributing all twenty thousand Spirit Coins to the Xiang Army soldiers? And giving them credit?

Could they be dreaming?

Wang De was stunned for a full ten seconds before he hurriedly knelt on the ground and sincerely said:

"County magistrate, how can this be possible?"

"Why not!"

Su Yuan smiled faintly at the assembled soldiers and said:

"The Lin Family of Dragon City, the Six Yang Sect, and other local landlords exploit the people endlessly, never sharing profits with the people."

"Why shouldn’t I use their money today to subsidize the protectors of Dragon City County?"

"Not only for the entire Xiang Army, but every constable, clerk, and even handyman in the county office, as long as they have made contributions, there will be red envelopes as rewards from me."

Saying this, Su Yuan took out another ten thousand Spirit Coins and handed them to Qi Junxiang:

"Quickly wrap them as red envelopes and send them to each government official’s household. If they don’t know the way, let your two Captains lead the way!"

Qi Junxiang, bewildered, took the money bag, and after a while, realized that the county magistrate was assigning this task to build his own prestige!

Immediately, this newly appointed County Captain was moved to tears and said:

"Thank you, county magistrate, for your promotion. I will not disgrace my mission!"

Yet, that was not the end. Su Yuan took out one last money bag containing ten thousand Spirit Coins and handed it to County Magistrate Ying Ding:

"While distributing red envelopes, we must also ensure that the soldiers’ and officials’ meals are sufficient."

"County Magistrate Ying, use this money to purchase meat and spirit plants, ensuring every soldier and official receives a daily meal allowance of one Spirit Coin!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers and officials finally snapped out of their shock and let out thunderous cheers.

Ying Ding took the money bag, gazed at what was now his wealth, and felt complex emotions.

Yet, amidst these mixed feelings, he was filled with deep admiration.

Su Youlin is destined for great things!

Su Yuan did not continue with long speeches and adjourned the meeting, retiring to the county magistrate’s residence to rest.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Su Yuan reflected on the scene of spending forty thousand Spirit Coins, knowing it was impossible not to feel pained at all.

However, to quickly establish a foothold in Dragon City County, winning people’s hearts was necessary.

"Besides... the forty thousand Spirit Coins I spent today can be completely reimbursed by Captain Zhang."

"With one hand, I buy people’s hearts with forty thousand Spirit Coins, and with the other, reimburse forty million Federation Coins to my account, it’s simply a double win... I win twice."

As Su Yuan considered this, suddenly a prompt from the dog system rang in his ears.

[Using extortion to seize the accumulated wealth of three generations from a Cultivation Clan and Sect, bribing loyal soldiers with filthy money, and reimbursing all expenses by making up reasons, this combo of yours is shocking even to demons!]

[Rule-breaking count +3]

Su Yuan snorted; how could the perspective of a mere Demon Cultivator measure his means?

Recalling the joyful expressions on the soldiers and officials, Su Yuan’s pain was slightly alleviated.

At this time, Su Yuan remembered the Primordial Sect workers from the Blue Star Federation, and he fell into thought.

Should he also be generous with his own people as he is with outsiders? Perhaps use the over six million reimbursement to raise the workers’ wages?

After all, with his realm’s improvement, and the aid of the wealthy Long Bai and Qi Hanyan, his need for worldly money is decreasing.

With this in mind, Su Yuan closed his bedroom and contacted Captain Zhang.

After reporting the situation in Dragon City County and the necessity of winning people’s hearts, Captain Zhang agreed to this reimbursement with great difficulty.

Then, Su Yuan asked Captain Zhang to inform Chen Nuoyi, "Use the six million and ten thousand Federation Coins to raise the wages of the Primordial Sect employees."

This small request was readily agreed upon by Captain Zhang.

Ten minutes later.

Removing his earphones, just as Su Yuan was preparing to cultivate for a while, he suddenly saw his earphones begin to vibrate wildly.

Putting the earphones back on, he heard Captain Zhang’s heavy and deep voice:

"Your little girl... ahem, your Vice Sect Leader wants me to ask you, have you been possessed by someone?"

Su Yuan: "???"

Am I just trying to give employees a raise?

What do you mean I’ve been possessed?

No! How am I perceived by others?

After five long minutes of explanation, Su Yuan finally cleared himself of suspicion.

"Oh, you just suddenly had a change of heart, never thought you actually had a conscience, truly surprising," Captain Zhang couldn’t help but tease, nearly inciting Su Yuan to curse.

After ending the communication, Su Yuan calmed his slightly annoyed mood and began to cultivate.

However, with both Chen Nuoyi and Long Bai not around, and the Great Desire Immortal Puppet unable to receive and transform the accrued desire from Blue Star, his spiritual power diminished with every use, causing his cultivation speed to plummet.

"In less than a month, Nuoyi will arrive in the Celestial Law World, I must endure," Su Yuan thought to himself:

"The problem lies in that when she, Qi Hanyan, and others reach the Celestial Law World, they will have already missed the Immortal Official major examination, unable to enter the Immortal Official System."

"Using the Immortal Skin Mask to replace others is also feasible, though this is no ordinary item; a treasure that can resist the vision of a Divinity Transformation Great Power, challenging even for another Great Power to refine, and there’s only this one."

"Therefore, during this period, I must find a way to prepare new identities for them in the Celestial Law World."

"As the county magistrate’s wife? A pirate? Or a manservant?"

As these thoughts passed through his mind, the entire room fell silent.

The next morning. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

After cultivating all night, Su Yuan suddenly heard urgent knocking on the door outside.

"County magistrate, something’s wrong! There’s a disturbance outside the county government office! It’s a large-scale event with no fewer than five Foundation Establishment Cultivators leading!"

Ying Ding’s voice came from outside the door, imbued with urgency.

Su Yuan’s eyes flashed slightly, and he asked:

"Which faction leads them?"

Ying Ding quickly answered:

"According to Chief Clerk Liu, the leaders and those inciting the crowd are mainly from the descendants of various Cultivation Clans in Dragon City County."

This answer did not surprise Su Yuan at all.

He donned his green official robe, pinned on the copper official seal, and wearing the official’s hat, he left the bedroom with Ying Ding, heading to the entrance of the county government office.

From a distance, he saw no less than a thousand people gathered outside the county office, including commoners and scion of noble families.

With just a glance, Su Yuan spotted many scions exchanging looks and signaling to stir the crowd.

Their incitement rhetoric was simple, claiming that County Magistrate Su persecuted the local virtuous gentry upon taking office and issued an order to conscript laborers to fight pirates.

The people, worried about being conscripted, naturally fell for the instigation.