“Great Yuan is eternally stable, Gu City is eternally peaceful. I, your general, rule the northern region on behalf of heaven. However, the demon race in the northern border is rampant and a grave threat to humanity.”
“Now, there is Xiaoqi Ning Yue, who annihilated mountain bandits in Bald Mountain, beheading twenty-seven, capturing the bandit leader, and stabilizing the city center. He also investigated traitors, eliminated rebels, achieved great military merits, and showed the true colors of a warrior. Furthermore, among the nine-rank officers, none could match him; he is skilled in both saber and bow, truly deserving the title of 'Double Peerless'!...”
Xue Zhenfu read up to this point and couldn't help but wipe a non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.
His old face was slightly flushed, but Father Xue couldn't care less at the moment and continued to read.
“Therefore, he is specially promoted to nine-rank Zongqi, concurrently holding the position of Deputy Centurion, credited with six military merits in the grand martial arts, bestowed with one hundred yi of gold, a golden talisman, and a copper seal...”
“Hiss~” He didn't expect the City Lord to be so generous, but Xue Zhenfu's worries grew stronger.
The golden talisman allows him to freely command one hundred elite soldiers. Below the City Lord, special cases are handled specially and must not be obstructed. Furthermore, the seal directly communicates with the City Lord's Residence, allowing secret messages to be sent without the need for intermediate officials to scrutinize them layer by layer.
The intention of nurturing him was clear!
The copper seal also allows him to act independently within his jurisdiction, making his own decisions regarding all personnel appointments, removals, and tax revenues.
Such a reward can be considered the pinnacle for a nine-rank official.
Father Xue's brows were tightly furrowed as he read, until the end of the article: appointed Deputy Centurion of Longxi Garrison, with a term of one year!
Longxi!!
It was Longxi!
Xue Zhenfu's pupils suddenly contracted.
Compared to Gu City, which carried tens of thousands of people, Longxi had fewer than two thousand registered residents, and the two places were less than twenty li apart.
However, Gu City was strict both inside and out. Zhao Nan Ting governed diligently, never slacking in military administration or city defense. The major aristocratic families also largely adhered to their duties, acting according to orders, rarely overstepping, and although most common people lived difficult lives, they managed.
Longxi, however, was different. Bandits ran rampant, demons roamed freely, and there were even many wanted criminals, including those from the martial world, hiding within. Various forces, powerful families, and gangs engaged in overt and covert struggles, with mass brawls occurring endlessly.
It could be said that the entire city was filled with villains!
If Gu City was where people's hearts lay, a place bathed in sunlight without shadows.
Then Longxi was the exact opposite, the dark side of the moon.
Any Zongqi with even a slight connection in the army avoided it like the plague, and for those without connections—
Gu City was also very understanding.
They were allowed to rotate every three months; as long as they ensured tax collection, they were considered competent.
Yet, even so, the four Zongqi appointed each year often failed to collect enough taxes and were punished with military floggings.
That was considered good.
There were even some reckless individuals who, through a moment of carelessness, had their cultivation crippled or lost their lives, and such cases were not few.
Over the years, everyone spoke of it with a change in color.
Gu City had also sent troops to clear it out several times, but Longxi was located on the frontier, and further west lay an endless Gobi desert, where even the demon race, which usually did not fear hardship, rarely settled.
The group of villains were also well-informed, moving at the first sign of trouble. They often fought and then fled, playing guerrilla warfare with great skill.
They would then secretly return once things settled down.
Even with Zhao City Lord's numerous soldiers and generals, he was helpless.
Thus, the helpless Xue Zhenfu sighed, misfortune lurks within good fortune.
As Zhao Xingwu's appointment order spread to everyone, Han Zhenfu tremblingly moved his legs and returned to his seat, still in shock.
The official's blade is indeed sharper!
They truly work people to death.
This seemingly generous promotion and ennoblement, in his eyes, seemed more like blood money.
Had he known this, there would have been no need for him to make such a fuss.
It would have been better to let him fend for himself, saving the Han Family from a reputation of being jealous of the capable.
The people on the stage seemed to be going through the motions, one after another silently returning to their seats, sitting in a row with Zhao City Lord.
When interests aligned, Zhao City Lord had no enemies.
He chuckled and continued, “If any of you have doubts, you may also choose and employ the capable. All the items I have bestowed today can be given to a worthy warrior!”
“Longxi is a persistent problem for Gu City. I worry day and night, fearing its loss. Are you, esteemed sirs, willing to share the burden with this City Lord?”
No one answered. The three Zhenfu also silently lowered their heads at this moment.
Xue Chengwu, however, suddenly looked up, meeting Zhao City Lord's meaningful gaze.
In an instant, he finally understood.
Half a month ago, the reward for his night visit to the City Lord's Residence was due today!
Zhao City Lord came in person to collect it, in exchange for his bowing his head at this moment!
Good, good, good!
Zhao Xingwu reined in his emotions, watching coldly, turning himself into a stone carving, quietly awaiting Ning Yue's answer.
If he was unwilling, Xue Chengwu would rather sacrifice his military merits and promotion than mistreat a meritorious official!
A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a general is hard to come by!
The prosperity of the Xue Family lay with Xue Ren, and Xue Ren's success or failure now depended at least thirty to forty percent on the dedicated assistance of this Xiaoqi.
With such a strong alliance, the Xue Family would not have to worry about a lack of successors!
Xue Chengwu's thoughts raced, weighing the pros and cons, but he also felt a little regret.
If he had known, if he had given one more box of spirit medicine that day, would it have been settled?!
“Why are all you esteemed sirs silent?” Zhao City Lord continued, pressing his advantage with a smile.
“Didn't I just say that Gu City has never been my personal domain.”
“Han Qianhu.”
Han Yu quickly rose and saluted, “Your subordinate is here!”
“I heard you have a personal guard, what's his name, Li Qiang?! He's young but very brave. Why don't I see you recommending him?”
“Your subordinate... your subordinate was momentarily foolish...”
“Hehehe... I see you are wisely confused. Ning Yue is already your subordinate. Is there any problem with selecting the hundred personal guards for Longxi from your subordinates?”
“This...” Han Yu hesitated, not daring to answer. If he were to agree now, his thousand soldiers might rebel against him, and a revolt was not impossible!
There were many sons of minor and major aristocratic families attached to him, with intricate relationships. For a moment, Han Yu felt his head spinning.
But the three Zhenfu, Mo, Xue, and Xie, all rose at this moment, bowing deeply, “It should be so, City Lord is wise!”
“Then it's settled!” Zhao City Lord waved his hand, finally acting decisively for once.
He instructed the herald to write: “By this special decree, Ning Yue is permitted to hold the golden talisman, command one hundred soldiers, to be selected from Han Qianhu's subordinates at Yongwang. No matter who is chosen, no one shall obstruct it without the City Lord's command!”
On the high platform, all the generals rose in unison, saluting and affirming.
Han Zhenfu's face was ashen, and he could only stand up silently with the others.
“City Lord, wait!” Ning Yue, who had been watching the show for a long time, finally spoke up, interrupting.
“Presumptuous! The City Lord's military order is like a mountain. Are you going to defy it?!” Zhao Xingwu shouted loudly.
“Ning Yue, do not be rude. I will explain everything to you when we return!” Xue Zhenfu, seeing that the matter was already decided, also quickly spoke to dissuade him.
He was afraid that the young man would lose his composure.
The Xue Family was large and wealthy; at worst, they could pay out of their own pockets to cover the tax deficit, which was not impossible.
But Zhao City Lord, who had just pressed down one gourd only to have another float up, showed no sign of anger on his face. He waved his hand calmly, “Let him speak!”
Ning Yue sheathed his saber and asked in a clear voice, “City Lord is wise, but when your subordinate is away, will he be able to act expediently?”
He was naturally not afraid of doing things, of extorting and plundering with all sorts of cunning tricks hidden in his chest, eager for an opportunity to display his lifelong ambitions.
But he was afraid that if he overstepped, someone would gossip, and being constrained would prevent him from accomplishing anything.
So today, he made his stance clear and asked for clarification. If he caused trouble and killed someone he shouldn't have, who would cover for him? Who would take the blame for him?!
The Xue Family's backing was certainly strong enough, but the appointment came directly from the City Lord, so he couldn't wrong a good person.
Of course, this was also the first time he was directly working for his future father-in-law.
If it were Xue Ren, asking one more question would be a sign of distrust in their friendship.