Chapter 010: Accidentally Became Wu Song's Boss
What are the procedures? Is it the registration certificate or the introduction letter?
It seems that Magistrate Zhu is well aware of his own financial situation. That is why he firmly proposed a demand of three hundred guan.
Sir, I am unlearned and unskilled; how can I possibly undertake such a great responsibility
A mere county constable, it is simply a matter of nodding in agreement with County Magistrate Zhu; there is no need to facilitate connections for matters that are reported upwards. This three hundred guan is clearly intended for Magistrate Zhu to embezzle; he is merely looking for an excuse. Fortunately, my brother is still relatively well-off. From Ximen Qing's recollection, after a year of hard work at the herbal medicine shop, and after paying respects to all the deities, he can still save up three to five hundred guan.
This banquet can be described with the word victory, but for Doctor Bai, it is a complete failure
It was only then that Ximen Qing remembered that apart from the two "fried meatballs," he hadn't eaten much else. In any case, having already established a brotherly bond with the county magistrate, there was nothing to worry about. He picked up a piece of lamb chop, rich in flavors, from the large platter and began to gnaw on it. Meanwhile, the secretary wisely served lamb soup to both Magistrate Zhu and Ximen Qing, while the owner of the grand mansion personally presented freshly made flatbreads.
Good, good, good
How could I dare! How could I dare!
The head of Wudu is the hero who fought the tiger on Jingyang Ridge last year. My master admires his bravery, thus he appointed him as the head.
Wudu Tou, Wudu Tou, I apologize, but you have not returned yet, so I will take on the role of your boss for now
Ximen Qing wiped his hands and also took a sip of tea
After all the commotion, it turns out it was just a matter of money, which is merely a trivial issue for a local tycoon like Ximen Qing
Zhu Zhixian laughed and said: "Why must Brother Ximen be so modest? I have always been consistent in my judgment of people. If I say that Brother is capable of being the county magistrate, then naturally you are capable of it."
Oh, I see
Ximen Qing's body trembled; the boss of the Wudu head, brother, and the *illustrated* book are certainly settled.
He recited, "When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the azure sky." In an instant, the atmosphere became quite harmonious
However, Magistrate Zhu always appeared indifferent, merely using his gaze to warn him not to continue speaking, and the clerk had no choice but to fall silent.
What?
Dear brother, since you have already agreed
Although Doctor Bai handed over one hundred guan to Magistrate Zhu, the recent open and covert struggles brought too many surprises to Zhu from Ximen Qing. At this moment, Zhu has already leaned infinitely towards Ximen Qing, rendering Doctor Bai's efforts as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket
Ximen Qing was so preoccupied with eating that he completely failed to notice the eager gaze of Zhu Zhi County, who had suddenly discovered a treasure
three hundred guan
Dear brother, the county constable is responsible for maintaining public order and apprehending thieves. Under his command, there are two chief officers, ten constables, five archers, and so on
Ximen Qing smiled as he met the gaze of the old fox, the county magistrate: "Three hundred guan is just three hundred guan"
Dear brother
Zhu Zhixian had already replaced it with a cup of clear tea and slowly took a sip
In a harmonious and friendly atmosphere, Ximen Qing and Zhu Zhi County reached the following consensus: First, the Ximen family's two-generation-old herbal medicine shop is a rare treasure and a signature industry of Qinghe County. Zhu Zhi County, representing the government, firmly supports the Ximen family's herbal medicine shop as the only officially designated herbal medicine shop in Qinghe County, and will provide appropriate tax incentives in accordance with national policies
Zhu Zhixian smiled as he accepted this gesture, lightly stroking his beard: "Now the county has gained a new Ximen County Magistrate. Come, come, Shiye, you will be colleagues from now on, so we need to become more familiar with each other."
Ximen Qing tentatively asked a question
Ximen Qing suppressed the impulse to laugh loudly three times, nodding to the clerk and indicating: "As I have just entered the yamen, I am still unfamiliar with the key points and will need your guidance, esteemed clerk."
The scribe and the *illustrated* book were startled and quickly stepped aside. Compared to myself, this scribe is already a towering figure, how could I dare to offer assistance
Secondly, regarding Dr. Bai's attempt to establish the Bai Pharmaceutical Group, the officials of Qinghe County believe that it is an attempt to leverage Dr. Bai's medical skills to eliminate the monopoly of the Ximen family's herbal medicine shop. County Magistrate Zhu has adopted three principles: neither denying, nor recognizing, nor supporting this action, while reserving the right to take necessary administrative measures.
Zhu Zhixian introduced with a smile
Please consult the renowned physician An Daoquan; a round trip from Jiankang Prefecture to Qinghe County would only require a consultation fee of one hundred guan.
The assistant beside interjected.
Ximen Qing had his mouth full of food and mumbled a response.
If anyone dares to defy, Wu Song will greet them with his fist as large as a sand pot
At the same time, Ximen Qing took this opportunity to alter Zhu Zhi County's longstanding perception of him, leaving Doctor Bai utterly disheveled and embarrassed
Just now, the bull-headed man who stopped me on the road, I wonder if he is one of the two bull-headed men mentioned by you
Sir, is this... thirty guan?
Three hundred guan is just three hundred guan. As long as my own pharmacy is still operating, I will eventually earn back the three hundred guan. Moreover, I have also become the boss of Wu Song. With my knowledge that is several hundred years ahead, it is not difficult to generate a continuous stream of wealth.
Take Wu Erlang as a bodyguard, and bring along a few constables to patrol back and forth on the streets of Qinghe County, observing the people's sentiments. ... When there's nothing to do, enjoy some tea, tease ... ... No. ... ... Appreciate the beauty of women, and if there's a need, let Wu Song act as a strong arm to catch a couple of ruffians or something. When witnessing injustice, there's a brother to take care of it; this feeling is truly delightful.
In fact, since the establishment of the Song Dynasty, a consistently strict weapon management system has been implemented. The government has also enacted laws to absolutely prohibit the private manufacture, storage, and trade of weapons in order to prevent them from flowing into the civilian population and abroad. Moreover, the management of long-range weapons such as bows and arrows is even more stringent
Observing the bewildered expression of Ximen Qing, Zhu Zhixian held up three fingers: "Since my virtuous brother has come to serve as the county lieutenant, it is only proper to report the personnel changes upwards. By facilitating connections and showing some filial piety, this amount should be about right"
The subordinate, Xiao Yi Ge Yan Qing, was also secretly using a very small hand crossbow, and he "only used three short arrows." Seeing that Xi Men Qing had no reaction, Zhu Zhi Xian added, "In my opinion, my virtuous brother is both cultured and martial, making him well-suited for the position of county lieutenant. What do you think?"
Observing Ximen Qing's calm demeanor, the assistant beside him felt anxious for him. The position of county lieutenant, a lucrative post, has been firmly held by the county magistrate since the retirement of the previous officeholder, and he has been waiting for a suitable candidate for over six months now. Having been by Magistrate Zhu's side for more than ten years, he has only contributed hard work without any notable achievements. Finally, seeing such an opportunity, he has secretly tested Magistrate Zhu's intentions numerous times, hoping to secure a position for the son of a friend.
Ximen Qing did not directly answer Zhu Zhi County's inquiry, but instead shifted to another question
Ximen Qing remembered that even if Yang Zhi painfully sold his ancestral treasured sword, it would only fetch a nominal price of 3,000 guan
It's great to see you, putting in so much effort and reciting poetry. I have long been so hungry that my stomach is touching my back.
Value! Very valuable! Extremely valuable!
County Lieutenant? What is the role of a County Lieutenant? Can one eat it? Ximen Qing was completely baffled, and after pondering for a long time, he finally realized that a County Lieutenant seemed to be a minor official under the County Magistrate. However, he was entirely ignorant of what responsibilities a County Lieutenant should undertake. He could only hastily take a sip of mutton soup to clear his mouth, and then asked, "My lord, I am ignorant and do not know what duties the County Lieutenant has"
The county magistrate of Ximen sounds quite impressive, but more importantly, Wu Song is under his command
In Zhu Zhixian's eyes, a nearly imperceptible look of pride flashed: "Come to the county office to report tomorrow, and conveniently handle the formalities."
Thirdly, Ximen Qing's strong support for Magistrate Zhu includes not only the original provision of a 30% stake in the medicinal shop but also, considering the magistrate's hard work in governance, the Ximen family's medicinal shop will provide one piece of aged ginseng, aged twenty years or more, each quarter, along with other auxiliary medicinal materials provided free of charge
Even the renowned Yu Qilin Lu Junyi, known as the foremost martial artist in the Great Ming Prefecture, is said to wield his staff with such extraordinary skill that it is unparalleled in the world
Today, Ximen Qing's performance astonished everyone, even the clerk secretly admired him. The meaning of the county magistrate was already quite clear; the clerk could hardly contain his urge to shout at Ximen Qing, urging him to agree quickly.
On the surface, the clerk appeared excited, but in reality, he was filled with jealousy. It is important to note that the county lieutenant holds a legitimate official position at the ninth rank, with a formal salary issued by the court, unlike clerks and bailiffs who are unregistered minor officials. For a minor official to transition into a formal position is as difficult as ascending to the heavens; did you not see how Song Jiang, unable to change his status, resorted to banditry? Ximen Qing, having gained the appreciation of the county magistrate, found himself in a situation akin to a meteoric rise.
Indeed. Niu Daitou has served in the county office for quite a long time and is very capable. Additionally, there is another Wudaitou who has just been appointed and is currently handling a matter for the county, but is not within the county at the moment
After the discussion of these three points of consensus concluded, the atmosphere at the banquet reached a fever pitch, with Ximen Qing and Zhu Zhi County referring to each other as brothers and engaging in open conversation on various topics
It is still necessary to feign reluctance and decline a bit; if one agrees immediately, it would appear too naive.
The county magistrate laughed heartily, nearly knocking over the teacup with the *picture* book: "My dear brother, you truly have a knack for humor. What can thirty guan accomplish in this day and age... three hundred guan."
As soon as Doctor Bai left, the atmosphere at the banquet became even more lively. Ximen Qing and Zhu Zhixian raised their cups to each other, with one of them quoting, "Toasting to the wine, how fleeting is life?"
The master also displayed an excited demeanor: "The position of county magistrate has been vacant for over six months. Today, the esteemed official has a discerning eye for talent, and Sir Ximen will surely shine brilliantly in this role"
With his left hand, he tore a piece of flatbread, and with his right hand, he picked up a piece of lamb. Ximen Qing was enjoying his meal with great delight. In contrast, Zhu Zhi County watched from the side, secretly pleased: "This Ximen Qing is both cultured and martial; is this not heaven's assistance to me?"
Therefore, in the common folk, the most prevalent is the rod, also known as the whistle stick, which is merely a longer wooden stick. The founding emperor, the wise and martial Zhao Kuangyin, also said, "A rod as tall as a person can conquer four hundred military states, all bearing the surname Zhao." As an ordinary citizen, can you really stroll around the streets with a simple knife or a treasured sword? Within three minutes, it is likely that someone would have their eyes on you.
Ximen Qing appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil like raging waves! The county magistrate is now equivalent to the director of the Public Security Bureau, not to mention the captain of the militia! Qinghe County cannot be compared to the county towns of his era, which had hundreds of thousands to millions of residents; the entire population of Qinghe County, young and old combined, is barely over a thousand. The town of Qinghe County is merely a tiny place, and under such circumstances, having ten constables and five archers constitutes a decisive armed force. Qinghe County cannot be compared to the county towns of his era, which had hundreds of thousands to millions of residents; the entire population of Qinghe County, young and old combined, is barely over a thousand. The town of Qinghe County is merely a tiny place, and under such circumstances, having ten constables and five archers constitutes a decisive armed force
Ximen Qing quickly adopted a posture of "daring not to disobey orders," stood up, and respectfully performed a bow: "Since the esteemed sir has shown favor, I shall gladly comply."
Dear brother, this county is still in need of a county lieutenant. I wonder if you have any thoughts on this matter
The county magistrate was slightly surprised when he encountered Ximen Qing's question, yet he remained composed.