Douluo V: Daily Intelligence - I Want All of Tang San's Opportunities

Steward Zhou remained silent for a long time. He had been a steward for most of his life and had seen many lords, but Su Yuntao was the first one who thought about building a city as soon as he got his territory.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but seeing Su Yuntao's nonchalant expression, he ultimately swallowed his words of advice and nodded.

"Okay, I'll send people to conduct on-site surveys tomorrow, to visit several suitable locations for building a city, and draw up topographical maps for you."

Su Yuntao nodded, then added:

"When choosing a location to build a city, it must be defensive and close to a water source so that it can hold out for a long time if it is besieged by soul beasts."

Butler Zhou responded, silently memorized the conditions, chatted with Su Yuntao for a few more minutes, and then got up to take his leave.

After Butler Zhou left, Su Yuntao didn't rush to rest. He laid out the rolls of maps that were spread out on the table again, and turned to the first page of the account books, reading them one by one.

The situation in the territory was similar to what he had expected. The foundation was weak, but the basic framework was already in place. Although the population was not large, they were all farmers who had settled there for many years. As long as it was managed properly, it could gradually accumulate.

After he finished reading, he closed the account book and put it back on the corner of the table. He then rolled up the map and put it away, blew out the oil lamp, and lay down.

The chirping of insects in the corner continued intermittently until it quieted down.

The next morning, Su Yuntao met with several officials from the Kingdom of Barak who had previously been stationed in the territory to manage affairs in the courtyard.

There were four people in total, all in their forties or fifties, wearing worn-out official robes. They had obviously received notice of their impending departure, but their expressions clearly showed little of the ease one would expect upon leaving office. Instead, they carried a distinct sense of gloom and resentment.

Especially the middle-aged man at the head of the group, although he maintained a polite smile on his face, the disappointment in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Su Yuntao asked them to sit down in the courtyard and had a servant serve tea. After they took a sip, he spoke: "You have all worked hard in the territory for so many years, and I have never had the chance to thank you in person. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to say that thanks to your support during this period, the territory has been able to smoothly transition to my current position."

He spoke sincerely and humbly. After listening, the group exchanged glances, their expressions softening slightly, but their disappointment still lingered.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group put down his teacup, sighed, and spoke with an undisguised sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, regret, and a touch of melancholy).

"Your Excellency is too kind. This is our duty. It's just that... we've been in this territory for over a decade, and the thought of leaving all of abruptly makes us feel a little uneasy."

A thinner official standing nearby chimed in:

"Yes, we don't know if we can find a suitable job after we go back. There's no shortage of people in Barak City. At our age, it's probably not easy to find a stable job like this one."

He shook his head as he spoke, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't continue speaking, but his resentment and worry were written all over his face.

After listening, Su Yuntao nodded but didn't rush to reply.

He knew in his heart that these people had been in charge here for many years. Although their official positions were not high, they were still considered influential figures in this small area.

Now that I've been transferred back to Barak City, it's like returning to a situation where I have to be subservient to others, so naturally I feel disappointed.

He paused for a moment, then casually said:

"You have all been in this territory for many years and are much more familiar with the situation here than I am. Now that you are leaving, I am actually a little reluctant. However, the kingdom has given its orders, and I cannot disobey them. But if you have a suitable successor, you may recommend him to me so that I can have a reference."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others changed.

When other people took over as lords, they wanted to completely destroy the original official system. Su Yuntao actually asked them to recommend their own people?

The middle-aged man at the head of the group stopped mid-air with his teacup in his hand; he hadn't expected Su Yuntao to pull this stunt.

He put down his teacup, carefully observed Su Yuntao's expression, and after confirming that the other party was serious, his previously heavy expression noticeably lightened.

He cleared his throat, quickly considered the options in his mind, and after a moment, announced two names:

"One is named Liu Cheng, who worked as a clerk in the territory for eight years. He handled all the land deeds and tax registers and knew the details of the territory very well. The other is named Zhao Defu, who was in charge of collecting grain taxes and mediating disputes for several years. He is a local and knows everyone in the village. He is also quite reliable in his work."

He paused, then added, "Both of them are honest and hardworking people. Although they don't have much ability, they should be able to handle daily tasks without any problems."

Another, thinner official standing nearby chimed in:

"We've mentored both of them for a few years, and they're fairly reliable." Su Yuntao knew that since these two were jointly recommended by these departing officials, they must have some connection with them, and might even be their relatives or students.

For them, as long as the recommended candidate can take over smoothly, their original relationships and connections in the territory will not be completely severed.

Although they've left, as long as their own people come back, they can still talk to each other if there's anything that needs help, and the connection won't be completely severed.

Su Yuntao didn't point it out, but simply nodded and said calmly, "I'll consider it."

If the other party has something in mind, doesn't he have something in return?

Using the people they recommended is tantamount to bringing those people onto your own ship.

When he first arrived in the Kingdom of Barak, these four people were a great help to him.

Moreover, as he was newly in charge of the viscountry, he needed a group of people who could manage the daily affairs of the territory. Who these people were was not important at all.

As for loyalty and trust, they can be gradually built up in the process of working together. As long as the territory can bring them enough benefits, they will naturally not easily stand on the opposite side.

Once things have settled down, if you find something unsuitable, you can slowly change it; that's not too late.