Chapter 119: Chapter 98: Wholesale Selling of Officials
Translator: 549690339
After signing the Official Appointment Letter, and assuming his duty, Lu Yuan now shared the same advances and retreats as his good friend.
As the newly appointed County Captain, responsible for maintaining law and order in the area, even though he had not yet taken up his post, he had already begun planning his duties.
“Normally, one hundred and fifty officers and men for a county is more than enough. But Wugang County is different as there are chaotic people there. Therefore, they won’t be pacified with such a small number of officers and soldiers. We need to recruit more.” Lu Yuan expressed his opinion.
“Brother Lu makes a strong point.”
Sun Siwen agreed and nodded his head, then spread his hands and said: “But I only have three thousand silver tales at my disposal. Even if I add up my savings over the years, it is a little over a hundred. It’s just not possible to recruit more people with little funds.”
Lu Yuan glared at him, resentfully saying: “You really got a bargain. Fine, now that I have assumed the post of County Captain, for the sake of justifying the position given to me by the court, it is only right that I also contribute a bit more.
I can contribute three thousand silver tales for recruitment of soldiers.
However, you, County Cheng’s adults, will be in charge of resolving the issue of monthly pay for the one hundred and fifty recruits.”
Over the years, Lu Yuan, in addition to his solitary cultivation, would occasionally go hunting in the mountains to relax his mind.
Over the years, by selling the game hunted in the mountains, he had managed to accumulate over five thousand silver tales.
Now it was as easy as turning his hand to use three thousand silver tales to help his friend recruit soldiers.”
‘Just consider it spending three thousand silver tales to buy the position of County Captain.’ He thought, slightly melancholy.
“Thank you, Brother Lu, for your help.”
Sun Siwen knew about his friend’s wealth and was aware that his friend could easily earn hundreds or even thousands of silver tales just by hunting. Hence, he did not question this and instead voiced his gratitude immediately: “If we can successfully pacify Wugang County, I will certainly recommend Brother Lu for his merits to the prefecture”
Lu Yuan waved his hand: “Enough, don’t say anymore. I’m content with being the County Captain, I’m not interested in promotion or wealth. However, let’s make this clear. Since I’m paying for the recruitment, the soldiers recruited will be under my command.
Furthermore, I should have the power to recommend all sizes of military positions in the county.”
Thinking from the standpoint of getting value for his money.
At this moment, Lu Yuan intended to make the most out of the money he was spending.
“No problem, I was originally planning to leave this matter to Brother Lu
anyway,” Sun Siwen agreed on the spot.
Lu Yuan was right in his previous claims, he was just a weak scholar.
Telling Sun Siwen to teach and foster people was fine, even managing a land was plausible. But leading soldiers to fight, that was beyond him.”
At this time, Lu Yuan was willing to take over these troubles, Sun Siwen was more than relieved.
As for the risk of being marginalized?
Sun Siwen had never worried about these things with his good friend.
“Alright then, it’s settled”
Lu Yuan nodded in agreement, then gave a side glance to Sun Siwen and gave orders to his own superior: “Since I’m responsible for the military affairs, bring the three thousand silver tales for soldier pay, I will handle the recruiting.
In the meantime, use this opportunity to recruit some assistant officials in the county.
As County Magistrate, having only a County Captain to assist is not enough. Other Chief clerks, xueyu (education officials), tax examiner …etc, assistant officials, also need to find the right people.”
A local county town generally has twelve to seventeen officials from ninth rank and above, with the majority being civilian officials. Lu Yuan could solve the military officials’ section, but as for the civilian officials, it depended on Sun Siwen to find the right people.
“Okay, I have a few students in my Academy who would have a hard time passing the imperial examination. This time there are official identities from the county government, which present a great opportunity to them, and they should be willing to take the risk and assume office with me.”
Sun Siwen, being directed by his friend, had no resistance at all, immediately energized, he said: “I will contact them right away.”
With that, he promptly left the room in a hurry.
Watching him leave, Lu Yuan shook his head, then called for his student Zhou Qing.
“I have now assumed the position of County Captain of Wugang, and plan to recruit five hundred soldiers in Changning County to assume office with
Brother Sun.”
After briefly explaining the situation to his apprentice, Lu Yuan told him: ‘You come with me when the time comes, I will ask Brother Sun to assign you the job of an Inspector, and you will assist me in managing these soldiers as my deputy.
Go to the city now and ask around for someone who is proficient in training soldiers, recruit them if possible.
At the same time, spread the word that County Cheng is preparing to assume office with soldiers and that the army lacks several Inspectors and patrol officers to lead troops.
Those who want the vacancy of these positions, to claim an identity, give five hundred silver tales to get the position of a patrol officer from the ninth rank. Give a thousand silver tales to get the position of Inspector of the ninth rank.
Only a limited quantity is available, until stocks last.
Those who are interested should come to me, the County Captain, to pay.”
Lu Yuan immediately used the promise he had just obtained from his friend with three thousand silver tales.
According to Yue’s control, the patrol officer from the ninth rank can manage fifty soldiers. The Inspector of the ninth rank can manage a hundred soldiers.
This time, in order to pacify the Wugang County, the prefecture has given Sun Siwen a troop quota of five hundred men.
This means that Sun Siwen has an Official Appointment Letter of a County Captain, five Inspectors, and ten patrol officers in his hands.
Out of these sixteen positions, Lu Yuan took the position of County Captain, and gave his disciple the position of an Inspector, leaving fourteen positions to be sold.
If all Dositions are sold. an estimated nine thousand silver tales can be earned.
He gave out three thousand silver tales, and earned back six thousand silver tales. In a blink of an eye, it’s a three-fold profit, can this kind of business be found anywhere?
What?
What if those purchasing the positions are good for nothing?
Not to mention those good-for-nothings, would they dare to follow the mighty army into battle, after all, that can be lethal.
Even regarding them as incompetent, Lu Yuan felt that he could pacify Wugang County on his own.
After all, the strength of one powerful person should not be underestimated.
So whether the recruited soldiers are strong or not, it doesn’t matter a bit to him.
Being an army of one and having a world of strength at his disposal, it was such a great feeling.
“Yes, I will handle it right away.”
After several years of training, Zhou Qing was already twenty years old, and had matured a lot.
Especially since cultivating martial arts, his cultivation breakthrough had led to his mastery of the third meridian, classifying him as a decent Jianghu martial artist.
The growth in strength had led to changes in temperament, and the birth of self-confidence.
As of today, Zhou Qing, when seen outside, also seemed to be quite a heroic young man, who could possibly earn a reputation as a young heroic Jianghu martial artist by wandering in the Jianghu martial arts world.
However, with his present strength, Lu Yuan was not yet confident enough to let his apprentice array out.
As Lu Yuan and Sun Siwen were advancing their respective actions, their officer team, going to assume office in Wugang County, was quickly taking shape.
Those long-time unpassed students of Sun Siwen, some of them, tempted by their future prospects and official positions, made the decision to assume office with their teacher.
On Lu Yuan’s side, with Zhou Qing’s propagation, it wasn’t long before people wanting to buy positions found their way to him..