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"Father, your method really works!"

Inside the Wei Family, joy is overwhelming.

The small courtyard is piled with various rare treasures; the most popular fabrics, incense, crafts, and liquors in Jiangnan over the years are secondary.

More importantly, it’s the high-quality Bai Yu, now the hardest currency in Jiangnan, almost filling the courtyard.

Wei Xingcheng stroked his beard with a proud face. Which elder in the Wei Family wasn’t smiling brightly at this moment?

These items, years ago in the Capital City, were things countless nobles fought over.

Even though the Capital City has declined, these items are still rare inside Jiangnan, especially the Jade Stone symbolized by Bai Yu.

As the highest quality jade, few merchants can obtain it because each piece is incredibly valuable and rarely used as currency; they’re used as strategic materials.

But they possess such quantities; it’s no exaggeration to say that the family’s life will be much better in the coming decades.

"But Xingcheng..." a group of elders said excitedly yet worriedly: "We’ve received so many gifts; if we can’t deliver on this later... what do we do?"

The elders felt a bit conflicted. Ever since the Wei Family deliberately spread rumors, many people tried their luck, wishing to connect with them.

Besides some local new families with potential, there were also some established families in Jiangnan, including some sorcerer families once relocated from the Capital City.

In the past, those families wouldn’t have looked at them, an affiliated lineage family.

But now, they all come close, showing favor and flattering them. It’s satisfying, but what if it’s revealed later?

Then they would have offended people...

"What are you afraid of?" Wei Xingcheng waved his hand nonchalantly: "I’ve looked into it. Those willing to come and bribe are those whose children have some ability, or are former Jiangnan local families who sent their children to academies early, with good grades. Or they’re newly cultivated talented children who have already become Hell Rulers with good political achievements from emerging families. Those with no connection wouldn’t waste money. "

"Among these people, they are almost covering the candidates that can be selected this time. When one of them is chosen, who would dare say it’s not thanks to us?"

"Oh, I see..." The elders suddenly understood and laughed: "Such a clever way to snare a White Wolf; the family head, that’s you."

"Ha..." Wei Xingcheng smiled proudly. Having his elder brother die early in battle, the family favored him. But the fact has proven that he is the material for a family head. As the family head, he took the lead by fighting at the front line with the old Duke. What does it mean by ’a gentleman doesn’t stand beneath a perilous wall’?

Look at himself. How many benefits has he secured for the Wei Family over the years?

If it weren’t for those direct lineage descendants being incompetent, who knows how much better the Wei Family would be now? Where would Wei Gongcheng have the chance to show off?

"But what about those families whose candidates don’t get elected?" A younger member couldn’t help asking.

Those elected would be naturally delighted and come to thank them, but many families offered gifts, not just one. Then, should they return the gifts to those not elected?

"Of course not..." Wei Xingcheng chuckled: "There are only a few main cities in Jiangnan now; in the past, it was one radish and one pit. The young master at Northern Wolf City secured the Northern Wasteland area. In the Central Plains here, which junior can qualify for the main city Hell Ruler? Jiangnan developed too fast, after a few Shen Family members left, such an important position as Hell Ruler can’t even call out a qualified person. It’s all young generations struggling, and no one is confident. "

"That’s why I dare to pull this off. Because whoever gets elected might have been due to my secret help from Wei Gongcheng. Whoever is chosen as the Lyuzhou Hell Ruler will inevitably be deeply grateful."

"Then I’ll tell them, among the many gift-giving people, your child’s talent is the best. Although the gift is not the most, it’s Wei Gongcheng’s favorite, so you’ve secured the Lord of the Hell. But what about the others?"

"As long as they’re not foolish, they’ll naturally understand what I mean."

"Oh..." A group of younger members immediately understood, there are many Hell Ruler positions now, but Lyuzhou Hell Ruler is a prize. Hell Ruler is exchanged every ten years, the development in Lyuzhou’s surrounding districts and counties is the best, incense quality, personnel quality are all top-notch.

Serving as Hell Ruler here is no different from serving at a provincial government office next to the old Capital City.

And the Lyuzhou Hell Ruler has a significant recommendation power for appointing Hell Rulers in the surrounding county towns of Lyuzhou. Once the Lyuzhou Hell Ruler is confirmed, when the others’ ten-year service ends, getting transferred to Lyuzhou would make them feel their gifts are not a loss.

Moreover, once it is confirmed that the Wei Family can have this favor, everyone will continue to curry favor with the Wei Family, and will the Wei Family ever worry about rising?

"Good good good!" The grand elder was immediately excited: "It was indeed wise to let you take over your elder brother as the family head. Xingcheng, you haven’t let us down!"

"I dare not forget the elders’ teachings." Wei Xingcheng bowed with a smile, and briefly, the whole Wei Family was in high spirits, all fantasizing about how to call the shots in the future...

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Because of the heavy responsibility of Hell Ruler and Heaven’s Court needing immediate operation, Wei Gongcheng organized the selection for Lyuzhou the next day after the announcement was made.

At this moment, Wei Gongzhan and Shen Yuan arrived early at the academy, which was temporarily used as the selection venue. The two came early to greet students and also help manage some scene details.

After working hard all morning, the two finally took a break, sipping cool tea and chatting.

"It’s exhausting; this task is more troublesome than farming. I won’t take on such things in the future," Wei Gongzhan waved his hand.

Shen Yuan smiled slightly upon hearing: the most fortunate thing since coming to Lyuzhou was meeting Wei Gongzhan and Weichi Feihu.

Although their paths varied, they were close friends.

Due to being busy, they often saw each other only once every half a year, yet the bond never faded; it grew stronger instead.

Is this what’s called ’the friendship of gentlemen is as light as water’?

"How about Feihu? How is he now?" Shen Yuan sipped tea and asked.

"Don’t you know up there?" Wei Gongzhan looked shocked: "He was appointed as the Vermilion Bird Star Lord among the Four Great Star Lords, temporarily leading the Twenty-Eight Constellations.

The deputy position seems reserved for someone, but the Lord clearly knowing your relationship with Gongzhan, why appoint you as the deputy officer for the White Tiger Star Lord? "

"Ahem..." Shen Yuan coughed lightly, feeling embarrassed to reveal he was already part of the White Tiger Star Lord, awkwardly replying: "Uh... maybe thinking the White Tiger Star Lord is quite... how to say, quite straightforward, needing a reserved person to support."

"They’re not a couple; why is such coordination needed?" Wei Gongzhan scoffed.

"Cough cough..." Shen Yuan choked on his tea and couldn’t swallow it, quickly changing the subject: "Um... I heard many rumors about the Wei Family as soon as I came to Lyuzhou. Does Official Wei not intend to clarify?"

"No need to clarify..." Wei Gongzhan shook his head with a smile: "Candidates have already been selected, once the selection is out, clarifying will happen naturally!"