Master of Strange Dao

"That's basically it. These past few years have been difficult for everyone, especially the Qi Refining cultivators within Dadui.

From refining pills to artifact refining, smelting raw materials, and preparing a large number of array bases.

Most of the work requires Qi Refining cultivators.

However, mining requires Body Refinement cultivators.

Dadui has very few surface mines that can be extracted directly; the tunnels always have various dangers.

As the year draws to a close, let's distribute some practical items to boost everyone's morale.

Zhang, calculate how much we need.

Then I'll supplement some of it."

Yu Ziqing shared his idea with Zhang Quli.

Old Zhang listened with his eyelids twitching; his majesty's idea was good, but he feared his majesty had no clear estimate of the numbers.

All officials should be counted, even the junior officers, anyone under the Riddler's command, even those spreading to the villages' outskirts – they must all be included.

Also included should be children under a certain age and elders above a certain age.

Estimating, perhaps a quarter or even more of Dadui's population could receive this benefit.

The required amount would be a very large number.

Old Zhang first recalled how much was left in the national treasury, then quickly made a rough estimate on how to distribute these benefits, what would be suitable for different people, and the total resources required.

After roughly calculating for the time of one incense stick, Old Zhang secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Thanks to his majesty personally facilitating the establishment of bulk trade with Dazhen,

although the estimated total is larger than he anticipated, it accounts for a smaller proportion of the current treasury's resources than expected.

Most of what Dadui provides consists of excess food and other basic resources, earning much rarer resources for cultivators.

Even though both sides are meeting their needs, when basic resources are plentiful, Dadui profits greatly.

And as long as part of the cultivators are integrated into productivity, there's virtually no shortage in the primary sector unless the environment changes dramatically like in Dazhen, where manpower can't prevent it, making large-scale development of the primary sector impossible.

In a place like Dadui, even the Earth Deities are subdued and integrated into the productivity system. After decades, if the primary sector doesn't grow explosively, it means there's excessive corruption and needs Jia Shisi to go and purge again.

"Your majesty, there's no problem, the treasury can bear it and it doesn't affect the safety margin, so there's no need for you to use the treasury."

"I'll add a part as benefits for those who have contributed over the years, Wang Fugui will handle the coordination later."

Yu Ziqing directly passed a message to the Deceitful Ghost, explaining the situation.

The rest was not his concern; as long as it was affordable and not forced, it mattered little.

Yu Ziqing moved his lips, then Old Zhang summoned someone from an enhanced squad to help plan and calculate, determining how to distribute the benefits to different people and what items to give.

In the end, considering rank and realm both seemed inappropriate, so following Yu Ziqing's advice, they decided it should be based on merit and contribution.

They also included Earth Deities for evaluation of excellence and priority.

Even Che Lun and others were considered, and whoever performed well this year would be added to the grand festival during the New Year.

The news that Dadui planned to distribute benefits could not be concealed.

Because mobilizing and distributing resources required quite a bit of manpower.

Half a month later, the news had spread widely.

Ten days before the year-end, the distributed benefits had been gradually handed out.

The entire process was monitored in secret by the Riddler, and there were plenty with public identities who were secretly under the Riddler.

The Riddlers had been relatively idle lately and were waiting for such opportunities to catch anyone daring to embezzle and rack up achievements.

If they caught any Earth Deity with bad intentions or minor misconduct, they would definitely catch the attention of the Riddler's leader.

In Jiachen City, Prison Chief Li Cang carried a golden-embroidered Storage Bag and another one embroidered with a hungry ghost mark as he walked out of the government office.

Someone nearby saw it and immediately looked envious.

"Lord Li received the golden bag, and even laci, he must have contributed significantly over the years and endured much hardship."

"Serving the court, there's no such thing as hardship or not, I've told you before, whatever one does, the court will surely remember, how could they treat us unfairly."

"Lord Li, we at most received the silver lotus, open ours for us to see."

Li Cang looked at his colleagues gathered around, opened the golden-embroidered Storage Bag, which contained everything from basic Spirit Stones to various pills suitable for his cultivation.

There were also various Foundation Establishment Pills, with mild and long-lasting effects, which could be used for the younger members of his family.

From Magical Treasure to Magic Robe, there was everything one could wish for.

This was the golden bag, a benefit issued by the Dadui court to contributors.

The other Storage Bag embroidered with the hungry ghost mark was extra laci granted by Emperor Dui, unrelated to the court's benefits.

Once opened, there were not many items inside, only three, but they were even more precious.

One was refined using Devil materials, greatly supplementing Qi-Blood, with the effect of nurturing the Divine Soul through Qi-Blood, extremely effective for Body Refinement cultivators breaking through, and could also be used as a Foundation Establishment Pill.