After leaving Lu Guying's home, Zhang Qingyuan put away the employment contract.
Yes, an employment contract.
He looked at his two senior brothers and said with a smile, "Now you know how to recruit people, right?"
As the minister of personnel, Fifth Brother nodded first.
As the minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fourth Brother also looked thoughtful.
"Hey, the work of my Ministry of Foreign Affairs isn't the same as his personnel work."
"But you'll be working together," Zhang Qingyuan said.
Fifth Brother thought for a moment. "Will I have to recruit everyone like this from now on?"
Zhang Qingyuan shook his head. "You only need to run around drumming up business like this in the early stages."
"What about later?"
"Later, it won't be this much trouble. We'll have other ways to help you."
"That's good, that's good."
Fifth Brother nodded. If he really had to keep running around like this, doing it alone would be exhausting.
"But," Zhang Qingyuan changed tack and continued, "although you won't have to handle everything personally later, you must always keep an eye on the martial world and the common folk.
"If you find talent like Lu Guying, you must recruit them.
"And those gifted youngsters among the common folk must also be brought to our Tianyang Sect to cultivate.
"Besides the outside world, you must keep an eye on the sect too. As the minister of personnel, if you find anyone within the sect committing crimes or wrongdoing, you'll need to deal with them."
Fifth Brother looked incredulous and spread his hands. "Me alone? Managing both the sect and everything outside it? How am I supposed to keep up?"
Zhang Qingyuan was equally incredulous. "If you're short-handed, recruit people!
"Hiring and firing are both your personnel department's responsibility. I've given you the power of life and death, and you don't know how to recruit people?"
"I can find people outside for those jobs too?"
Zhang Qingyuan nodded. "Of course. Not only do you need to recruit more staff for your own department, you also need to arrange staff for our other brothers' departments.
"That's where his Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes in, providing you with information. Based on what he gives you, you select suitable people and put them in suitable positions."
Fifth Brother glanced at Fourth Brother, only to find him suppressing a smile and forcing a straight face as he thumped his chest. "Don't worry. Your big brother will definitely introduce plenty of people to you. I guarantee you'll be spoiled for choice."
"Your lady friends are excluded," Zhang Qingyuan added, looking back to plug that loophole.
Sure enough, Fourth Brother's expression plummeted. "Come on, Old Seventh! I'm recommending the worthy without shunning my own!"
The moment he stuck out his backside, Zhang Qingyuan knew what shit he was about to take.
He could hardly be bothered to expose him and merely reminded him, "You can recommend the worthy, and you don't have to shun your own. But I don't want every department of the Tianyang Sect filled with your worthy and your own."
Fourth Brother grew anxious and hurriedly said, "No, Qingyuan, is that really the sort of person I am in your eyes?"
Zhang Qingyuan said nothing and simply kept nodding.
Fourth Brother grew even more anxious and blurted out, "Hey, you're underestimating me! Your senior brother isn't someone who doesn't understand the bigger picture.
"The Tianyang Sect belongs to all of us. I won't mess around!"
"I hope so. Fifth Senior Brother, you have the authority to appoint and dismiss people. Rewards and punishments are all up to you. If someone's unsuitable, fire them outright."
"Understood!"
"I'll leave the rest to you. Follow my method and bring back the remaining people too."
Fifth Brother asked, "By myself?"
"The two of you." Zhang Qingyuan pointed at them both. "The standard for first-year teachers is experienced people who can lay the foundations for the new generation of disciples.
"For the second year, I need people with unique insights into internal cultivation.
"As I envision it, first year will be the ninth-rank realm, second year the eighth-grade realm, and third year the seventh-rank realm."
"I know! Fourth year will be the sixth-rank realm." Fourth Brother raised his hand.
Zhang Qingyuan rolled his eyes at him, ignored him, and continued, "I call the first three years elementary school. Disciples who reach the seventh-rank realm will be able to hold their own. If they want to leave the mountain, they can. If they want to take a position within the sect, Fifth Senior Brother, you can select the talent yourself.
"If they want to pursue further studies, they'll have to advance to become university disciples!"
"University will have only two years.
"First year and second year.
"First year, sixth rank and fifth rank.
"Second year, fourth rank.
"Because fourth-rank cultivators are already formidable fighters in the martial world.
"Students who make it to their second year of university will already have entered our inner circle.
"So, for the next three years, Fifth Senior Brother won't need to look for university teachers. When the time comes, I'll go with you.
"Your main objective now is to recruit all the elementary school teachers, especially the first- and second-year teachers. We need them urgently."
After listening to Zhang Qingyuan, Fifth Brother turned it over in his mind repeatedly, understood his thinking, and nodded. "All right, I understand."
"Good."
"Fourth Brother." Zhang Qingyuan looked at Fourth Brother.
"What is it?"
"Recruit people with Fifth Senior Brother first. I'll give you half a month. After that, hurry back to the sect. I'm going to show you what real publicity and diplomacy are."
"I need to learn that?" Fifth Brother looked at Zhang Qingyuan in surprise, thinking, Isn't it just making friends? That's what I do best. Who the hell can beat me when it comes to social skills?
Isn't it just making as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible?
I have so many lady friends. I can keep every household happy.
Even if the sect runs into trouble, I can bring in a bunch of helpers.
It had to be said that Bai Shuyan's social skills really were among the best of their fellow disciples.
But Zhang Qingyuan wasn't actually giving him an imperial mandate to chase women. He wanted his social skills, not his sexual skills.
Zhang Qingyuan said earnestly, "Fourth Brother, you have a heavy responsibility. It concerns whether our sect can keep going. Or rather, your work concerns the future of the sect's disciples."
"My... responsibility is that heavy?"
Seeing how serious Zhang Qingyuan was, Fourth Brother couldn't help feeling uncertain. But he really couldn't understand. Wasn't he just supposed to make friends? What did that have to do with the disciples' futures?
Does Qingyuan think that having friends everywhere will let us avoid enemies?
Does he want to take me to make friends with those nearby sects eyeing ours, so they'll abandon the idea of swallowing us up?
Yes, that must be it.
Fourth Brother felt he had seen the heart of the matter and said solemnly, "Don't worry, Qingyuan. I'll definitely do a good job."
"I believe in you, because only you can handle this work."
"Yes!"
Fourth Brother nodded firmly.
After their discussion, Zhang Qingyuan said, "Then that's it for now. You two go recruit people. I'll head back to the sect to oversee things."
"All right. Don't worry, Old Seventh. We guarantee we'll complete the mission!"
It was already two days later when Zhang Qingyuan returned to the Tianyang Sect. He first returned the rented carriage, then headed straight to his room.
During the five days he had been away, he had heard quite a few rumors about the East Sea Sword Immortal on the road.
Some storytellers had even begun telling a whole tale with Second Brother as its protagonist.
In less than ten days, Second Brother had wiped out thirteen bands of mountain bandits and pirates between Phoenix Cry City and Donglin City, slain the Five Tigers of East Mountain, and defeated Qin Shuang of the Sea-Calming Sword, who had come to challenge him.
If those mountain bandits and pirates hadn't been much of a challenge, the Five Tigers of East Mountain were another story.
And what formidable figures those Five Tigers of East Mountain had been!
The five were blood brothers. The eldest wielded a Hegemon Spear, Old Second the Golden Dragon Shears, Old Third a Long-Life Sword, the fourth Life-Reaping Hooks, and the fifth a Mountain-Cleaving Saber.
The five had once burned, killed, plundered, and pillaged around East Mountain. No fewer than seventy or eighty renowned experts had died at their hands.
They had destroyed eight sects and three great families. Even the fourth-rank realm Brocade Guards sent by the imperial court had died under their combined assault.
Such experts had lasted fewer than twenty exchanges against Second Brother.
Then there was Qin Shuang, master of the Sea-Calming Sword, a swordsman renowned throughout the Eastern Realm for more than a decade. Thirty-two swordsmen of his own rank had died beneath his blade, and he had once challenged Peerless City's third elder despite the difference in their ranks and escaped unscathed.
When such a dazzlingly gifted expert fought Zheng Jianxin outside Donglin City, their battle could truly be called earth-shattering, dimming the sun and moon.
The two exchanged over a hundred moves. One's swordsmanship surged like waves upon the sea, his sword light rolling in crests of spray, his Sword Qi like tsunamis and hurricanes.
The other's swordsmanship was like divine beasts possessing his body. Sword Qi flashed swiftly, the White Tiger seethed with killing intent, the Azure Dragon churned rivers and plunged into waves, the Black Tortoise left not a breath of wind through, and the Vermilion Bird blazed with crimson flames.
Those who had witnessed the great battle said that, in the end, Sword Immortal Zheng Jianxin abandoned the Four Extremes Sword Technique and suddenly changed his moves.
He seemed like a banished immortal descending from heaven, his swordsmanship ethereal and magnificent, yet still carrying the force of certain death.
His sword light seemed to shift the stars and turn the constellations, his killing intent like Venus, the Great White Star.
In the end, Qin Shuang was outmatched and tried to flee. He had flown barely fifteen zhang when a streak of Sword Qi, like a long whip, cut him down beneath the blade, establishing Zheng Jianxin's status as a sword immortal in one stroke!
Old Second had become famous, and in such a mighty, domineering fashion.
For now, Second Brother was still the one who gave him the most satisfaction.
Especially when Sixth Brother told him that Second Brother had returned two days earlier, bringing back the gold and silver he had looted from corpses along the way. Converted into silver, it amounted to fifteen thousand taels.
The mountain bandits and pirates hadn't contributed much. The main thing was that the Five Tigers of East Mountain had been truly rich.
Second Brother had really rendered a great service. With this surge of fame behind them, they would be able to attract quite a few students when enrollment opened in a while.
Silently marking down a merit for Old Second in his heart, Zhang Qingyuan asked Old Sixth, "Where's the money he brought back?"
"E-Eldest Brother t-took it."
Over the past few days, Sun Xiaotian had been sent running back and forth by both Eldest Brother and Old Third. Perhaps it was the experience gained from being busy, or perhaps the sense of urgency after their master's death, but he seemed considerably more mature than before.
That was how it felt, anyway. He was clearly speaking more smoothly than before.
Until he could officially handle things on his own, he would still be doing secretarial work.
Old Sixth looked at Zhang Qingyuan, who merely nodded. "Then let him have it. He has more things to spend money on right now."
"Mm."
Logistics. Everything needed money.
"All right, Sixth Brother, go help Eldest Brother for now."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Sun Xiaotian ran off to help, while Zhang Qingyuan continued writing and sketching in his room.
It wasn't until evening that Eldest Brother came to report to him.
The moment he entered, his exhaustion was plain to see.
"Eldest Brother."
"Sect Master."
After Zhang Qingyuan had him sit down, Eldest Brother looked at the papers covered in writing that filled the desk and couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy.
His own exhaustion was merely physical, but Qingyuan truly had so much to think about.
He took out a sheet of paper and said, "At present, two training grounds have been repaired. The student dorm... dormitories are also being renovated in batches.
"Fifty of the beds made by the Bian Family arrived today. They're still rushing to finish the rest.
"At present, our sect has stockpiled two hundred thousand jin of grain."
Eldest Brother was steady in his work, conscientious and responsible.
He had been the first to come up the mountain. One could say that every one of his fellow disciples had been brought up by him.
Emotionally, he was half a master to the six of them.
An honest man, a kindly soul.
Zhang Qingyuan had already seen the changes within the sect. He had done a truly good job.
"Thank you for your hard work, Eldest Brother."
"I'm fine. I just don't know whether two hundred thousand jin of grain will be enough."
"One step at a time. There's no rush." Zhang Qingyuan stood up and said, "As they say, the poor study letters, while the rich practice martial arts. Our future disciples certainly can't eat poorly, so you'll also need to find suppliers for meat, eggs, and the like."
"I've already found them. And I was thinking, isn't there an empty patch of land on the western slope? We can put it to use and raise some chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, and such ourselves. That could save us a lot of money."
"That's a good idea. We can raise them ourselves."
Eldest Brother smiled. "And I've already spoken to the villagers about those two hundred mu of land behind the mountain. We won't lease it to them next year. We'll keep it to grow vegetables ourselves."
Although Eldest Brother was a kindly soul, he understood priorities.
The sect was in such difficulty now that they should save wherever they could and eliminate unnecessary expenses.
He didn't quite understand his youngest junior brother's ideas, but he knew he had to spare him as much effort as possible and avoid causing him unnecessary trouble.
"Mm. When the time comes, we'll grow our own vegetables and raise pigs. We won't even need to hire anyone. If we have plenty of disciples, we can have them take turns experiencing life."
Actually, there was no need for them to experience it. Most disciples were children from poor families. Who didn't know how to do farmwork?
Zhang Qingyuan was making reasonable use of labor, dressing it up as experiencing life and remembering one's roots.
After a little more conversation, Eldest Brother went back to rest.
Early the next morning, Zhang Qingyuan went to find Old Third.
"Senior Brother, how's the editorial department coming along?"
He was still quite concerned about this side of things. It was an important link in the chain.
"I was just about to tell you." Bian Zhenxuan had also been so busy these past few days that his feet barely touched the ground. He had personally selected every member of the editorial and printing departments.
"The editorial department has now been fully assembled. I found a dozen or so licentiates, and you'll personally serve as its head. But considering that you can't watch over things there all the time, I also found a talented scholar to serve as deputy head.
"On the printing side, I bought a printing workshop. Its dozen or so printers are experienced veterans.
"As for paper, I've also contacted the Qingshu Paper Workshop and placed an order.
"Now all we're missing is for you, our department head, to come guide the work in person."
"Good!" Zhang Qingyuan slapped the table. "Let's go right now."
Old Third was indeed Old Third. Either he didn't do something, or he did it to the very best of his ability.
The two hurried to Phoenix Cry City and arrived at the Tianyang Editorial Department.
Seeing people from their employer arrive, the scholars and men of letters hurriedly stood up and awaited their employer's inspection.
At the innermost desk sat a refined, scholarly young man.
This was the great talent Old Third had mentioned. His name was Li Xiuwen.
They were all newcomers. They had no idea what a newspaper was, nor whether it could succeed, because no such industry existed in this world.
But they also shared one trait: apart from Zheng Xiuwen, they were all very poor.
Bian Zhenxuan had personally explained the work of this new industry to them, setting their blood boiling. Yet their scholarly pride also made them feel that the newspaper's vernacular language and entertainment content were unrefined.
Only when Bian Zhenxuan offered more money did these scholars declare that their employer was noble and righteous, and that they would not shrink from ten thousand deaths!