Although Zhang San’s words reassured people, only a fool would blindly believe what was said without any proof.
Therefore, even though the members of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect knew that the only outcome today was to join the Town Martial Office and become blacksmiths, their faces were still filled with vigilance and reluctance.
Zhang San, seeing this, took out a piece of paper from his bosom, which had a list of names on it.
"Now, those whose names I call, step forward."
Zhang San called out the names of thirteen disciples from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect in succession.
"You people, there’s no need to enter into low social class identity, you can directly join the Town Martial Office and become Martial Artists, and afterward, you will all be under Military Chief Ouyang. You should be aware of Military Chief Ouyang’s reputation. He is generous, straightforward, doesn’t harbor ill intentions, and won’t make things difficult for anyone."
Seeing that some had found a way out, others quickly shifted from resistance to actively striving for the same opportunity.
"Why can he become a Martial Artist, I can too!"
"Speaking of which, my abilities aren’t any inferior to theirs!"
Watching this scene unfold, Zhang San smiled.
"Gentlemen, rest assured, sooner or later you will all become official Martial Artists of the Town Martial Office. It’s just not possible to turn all four or five hundred of you from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect into members of the Town Martial Office all at once, right? There has to be a process."
"Moreover, as I said before, perform well, and you can become permanent within three years. So, it also depends on your performance."
"You all have the skill of forging, and your own combat abilities as well. Now that the Mysterious Soldiers Sect is gone, by joining the Town Martial Office, you can even teach the cultivation techniques, martial style techniques, runes, etc., that you know to other Martial Artists around you. When the time comes and you have colleagues speaking for you, won’t the matter of becoming permanent be even faster?"
Soon, under Zhang San’s persuasion, these hundred-plus people began to feel that joining the Town Martial Office might be a good choice.
After dealing with these elite disciples of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect outside, Zhang San went back inside the sect and brainwashed the two hundred-plus disciples that the Pure Stream Sword Sect had helped control the night before.
He even brought over disciples who had previously signed their servitude contracts to persuade the others.
In the course of the morning, the entire four hundred and four members of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect were all brought into the system of the Town Martial Office.
However, there were already disciples from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect who had fled before, and some had intentionally stayed outside to watch instead of immediately coming back when they sensed something was wrong during last night’s battle at the foot of Xitong Mountain.
So not everyone from the Mysterious Soldiers Sect joined the Town Martial Office.
But at least over eighty percent of them did join.
At lunchtime, Zhang San gathered all the Military Chiefs together.
"Gentlemen, our campaign to eliminate the Mysterious Soldiers Sect was very successful. Our Town Martial Office didn’t lose a single Martial Artist and took down the entire sect, even bringing back more than four hundred people. This is a great achievement, and all of you here are meritorious."
Everyone immediately waved their hands modestly, saying it was all Zhang San’s merit.
After all, this level of sect elimination conflict couldn’t possibly be resolved so easily, no matter who was in command.
But Zhang San had done it!
Just for this reason alone, the Military Chiefs present had great respect for Zhang San.
"However, the vast properties of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect, as well as numerous fields, estates, and shops nearby, must also be properly handled."
At the mention of this, everyone immediately guessed what Zhang San was about to do.
"It’s all up to Zhang San!"
"Zhang San, however you decide to arrange it, that’s what we’ll do!"
"Right! You have the final say!"
Zhang San found that these people were truly giving him more and more respect.
"Although our Town Martial Office has the justification for our actions this time, we have, after all, absorbed more than four hundred people from Mysterious Soldiers Sect into the Town Martial Office. If we also take over this sect’s mountain gate and assets, I’m afraid it’s likely to cause dissatisfaction among the other martial forces of the Chuan-Yu Road, even backlash."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
In the past, the Town Martial Office often wiped out entire sects, but in the last decade, such annihilating battles had become rare.
This was because a balance had already been formed between the martial forces and the Town Martial Office. If this balance were easily broken, it would naturally lead to everyone feeling insecure and then looking for ways to strike at the Town Martial Office.
"So, I’m thinking we should do this: sell off these assets at a low price, and whoever wants them can have them. Then, gift some of the more profitable shops and the better estates to the Pure Stream Sword Sect."
After all, the Pure Stream Sword Sect had indeed been a big help this time, and everyone felt it was only right to give them some benefits.
After everyone had lunch, Zhang San called Wang Ziteng over.
"Brother San, I knew you were going to look for me. It’s about the sale of these properties, isn’t it?"
Zhang San nodded, then said in a low voice, "The Wang Family has money, and they can definitely afford these things. After all, ordinary people are also worried about retaliation from Xie Dezhao if they purchase these assets, but it’s different for your family."
Wang Ziteng nodded, then said, "Then, I’ll buy all these properties at the market price. And for the good ones, I’ll prepare the paperwork directly to transfer to the Pure Stream Sword Sect."
Zhang San shook his head and said in a low voice, "You can buy them at the market price, or even cheaper if you like. But once you buy these assets with the Wang Family’s money, they belong to the Wang Family. So, after you buy them at a low price, you must find a way to sell them again. You could consider doing so at an even lower price, or even give some away for free. You understand what I mean, right?"
Wang Ziteng chuckled and said, "Of course, I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll transfer them all under your name."
Zhang San grinned and waved his hand, "That won’t do. I was involved in the command of this operation. If all these properties end up under my name in the end, the Town Martial Office will certainly investigate me. And the Wang Family will also be unhappy, feeling that I’ve taken advantage of you."
"The Military Chiefs involved in the operation, give each of them a piece of property. And the Town Martial Office should definitely keep some of the shops as temporary contact points. Finally, the remaining bulk... give it all to Big Head."
Wang Ziteng had never expected that Big Head Wang would be the one to profit the most from this affair.
But upon reflection, whether these things stayed with the Wang Family or with oneself, they could all potentially no longer be his if he ever fell out with the Wang Family one day. It would be better to give them to Big Head Wang.
"Alright, I’ll immediately send someone to handle the paperwork."
Afterward, Zhang San explained the arrangements at the Town Martial Office to Kong Yuting, as well as the intention to gift the assets to the Pure Stream Sword Sect.
Although Kong Yuting refused, feeling that Zhang San had invited her to take part in revenge, the entire Pure Stream Sword Sect had been mobilized, and it was indeed hard to justify giving nothing in return. In the end, Kong Yuting could only accept.
Plus, there was the inventory of the Mysterious Soldiers Sect’s pills, Mysterious Weapons, food, and gold and silver.
Once everything was busied over, it was already deep into the night.
The people of the Town Martial Office rested at the Mysterious Soldiers Sect for one night and were able to leave smoothly the next day.
Only, on the next morning, as Zhang San was having breakfast with Wang Ziteng and Big Head Wang, one of Wang Ziteng’s trusted aides ran over to tell the three of them an extremely shocking piece of news.
"What! Our land sales and shop transfers, the Governor doesn’t agree?"
Zhang San didn’t understand.
"Has the Governor gone mad? Don’t I, Zhang San, have any influence? Doesn’t he know what the Town Martial Office is for? Let’s go, we’ll pay a visit to the Governor Mansion!"