Infinite Professions

Chapter 363 - 190: Military Authority (Part 2)

Under the County Magistrate, the positions of County Captain and County Magistrate are considered "local officials."

Transient officials are appointed by the Court, while local officials are appointed locally, and over time they become entrenched powerholders, working with the county clerks and local strongmen to the extent they can marginalize the County Magistrate.

The Zhang and Chen Families are already local strongmen, and now they are vying for the position of County Captain, with ambition that clearly aims to establish themselves as a County-Respected Family.

As the Qinghe County Magistrate, Lü Wenxuan is displeased with their actions, but feels helpless.

After all, they are entrenched figures, deeply rooted and wealthy, and their connections extend even to the Prefecture Government Office. Even if he as the County Magistrate dislikes them, there’s not much he can do.

But unexpectedly, complications arose when the Song Family emerged and directly snatched the position of County Captain away from the Prefecture Government Office.

What happened?

Lü Wenxuan is very curious, and the Zhang and Chen Families are even more eager to know.

"Little Huang Village has been rebuilt for only a few years, and though it has attracted hundreds of villagers due to the fame of the land, how can they compare to those three mountain bandit strongholds, let alone eradicate them?"

"And as for the Song Family, I know a bit of their background. They’re from Dongping County, and for dozens of generations, they’ve produced only one Scholar. How could they have connections that extend to the Prefecture Government Office?"

The two men exchanged words and jointly questioned Lü Wenxuan.

"This official doesn’t know either."

Lü Wenxuan responded calmly, with a glint of sarcasm in his eyes.

He is a transient official, constrained by these local strongmen, especially the Zhang and Chen families. Though not directly oppressed, he often feels stifled. Now, seeing them suffer, with a new force entering to balance the situation, he naturally enjoys watching from the sidelines, witnessing the clash between two tigers.

Their intentions, Zhang and Chen, are also well aware of, immediately probing, "Could it be they’ve connected with some noble?"

"Who knows?"

Lü Wenxuan laughed, remaining steady as a rock.

The masters of these two families are undeterred, and today invited him for a feast, trying to uncover the background of the Song Family.

If the Song Family has truly allied with someone influential, able to smooth relations up to the Prefecture Government Office, then there’s nothing more to say; the two families can only swallow their pride.

But if the Song Family hasn’t connected to a patron, and their rise is merely due to their merit, then they would need to contest them.

These local strongmen, deeply rooted and wealthy, a force of power capable of marginalizing the County Magistrate, might even contrive ways to remove him from office.

The County Magistrate is like this, and the County Captain even more so; without strong backing or local support, these entrenched figures can entirely maneuver to marginalize him or directly pull him down.

Lü Wenxuan understands their intentions but doesn’t engage with them, resolved to watch the tigers duel from the mountain.

Seeing this, the two families are also helpless, resorting to speaking, "Bandit troubles have risen again recently, many people are suffering, and our two families are willing to donate five thousand taels of silver to aid the great official in dispatching troops to quell the bandits and ensure the peace of our Qinghe citizens!"

"Oh?"

Lü Wenxuan’s eyes lit up, but quickly he suppressed it.

Five thousand taels!

Sounds impressive, but is this silver so easy to take?

The Song Family’s background is unclear; if they truly connected with influential individuals at the Prefecture Government Office, wouldn’t accepting this silver bring trouble on himself?

Better to watch the two tigers fight from the mountain!

Just as Lü Wenxuan was about to decline...

"Sir!"

Beyond the room, a sound arose, precisely from his loyal household servant.

Lü Wenxuan knitted his brows, "What is it?"

"Reporting to the official, the newly appointed County Captain has arrived at the County Government Office and is about to inspect the barracks and armaments!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Wenxuan immediately changed his expression, disregarding further words with Zhang and Chen, and rose to leave the private room.

"Hmm!?"

Remaining in place, Zhang and Chen exchanged tight glances.

"New officials blaze three fires?"

"Acting so, could it be... a true patron exists?"

...

County Government Office, Barracks.

Although it is not a military camp, lodging is arranged for the Three Shifts of Government Officials to reside.

As the county’s law enforcement officer, the County Captain leads the Three Shifts of Government Officials, including Archers and the local militia, and commands the main military strength of the County Government Office.

But it is widely known that pocketing false salaries is a longstanding tradition, both within the military and government alike.

Observing the old, weak, sickly crowd and hoodlums in front, Song Wu’s face was grim, and he generously ordered, "Starting today, all of you are transferred to the Three Shifts and no longer belong to Archers or the local militia. You’re all dismissed!"

"Yes~!"

At once, the group dispersed like wild birds and beasts.

Just at this moment, someone arrived leading a crowd, none other than Qinghe County Magistrate Lü Wenxuan.

"County Captain Song!"

Lü Wenxuan arrived on the scene, observed the dispersal without chaos, and breathed a sigh of relief, then addressed Song Wu, "County Captain Song just took office and has come to inspect the barracks, showing diligence indeed."

"Song Wu greets the County Magistrate!"

Observing his light green official robes, Song Wu recognized his identity and immediately saluted.

"No need for formalities!"

Lü Wenxuan gestured gently before glancing at the barracks behind, "How did County Captain Song find the inspection?"

Song Wu shook his head, "The military preparedness is lax, unable to be put to great use!"

"Nonsense, what great use do you expect?"

Inwardly cursing, Lü Wenxuan still outwardly cooperated, "Then what does County Captain suggest for improvement?"

Song Wu calmly replied, "I’ve transferred them all into the constabulary, planning to recruit Archers and the local militia anew for training to quell rural bandits!"

"Recruit Archers and the local militia anew?"

Lü Wenxuan furrowed his brow, then displayed difficulty, "To be frank, County Captain, the county treasury has long been depleted..."

"Regarding silver coins, the official need not worry!"

Song Wu said seriously, "Little Yellow Mountain’s bandit troubles dominate, surrounding citizens have suffered for long. Now Little Huang Village is willing to donate three thousand taels of silver, one hundred thousand pounds of grain to aid the County Government Office in training the local militia to quell bandit troubles."

Lü Wenxuan: "..."

"Silver coins and grain, I’ve already received. I’ll proceed to recruit the local militia immediately, aiming to pacify Little Huang Village’s bandit troubles. I take my leave!"

Song Wu cupped his hands in farewell, disregarding Lü Wenxuan’s reaction, departed the barracks with Song Ying and more than ten strongmen.

Intrigues and power struggles?

He couldn’t be bothered with any of that.

Returning to Little Huang Village to train troops is the main priority!

Those chaotic county matters should be left to continue their chaos. He had no spare time to contest with them; possessing an official title, being able to train troops to eradicate bandits was sufficient.

"..."

Watching Song Wu and his companions depart, Lü Wenxuan frowned tightly, remaining silent.

Good heavens, just taking office, already urging Little Huang Village to donate silver coins and grain, to rally the local militia for mountain bandit eradication?

Isn’t this operation clearly aimed at controlling military power?

Although it’s understood that Noble Families keeping household servants for protection, even private soldiers, is an open secret, you can’t go about it so overtly.

Moreover, that Little Huang Village, how does a village afford three thousand taels of silver, one hundred thousand pounds of grain? When did the Song Family’s assets become so abundant?

Their actions and intentions are already plainly revealed!

But...

What does that have to do with me?

Looking at the dilapidated barracks and the large and small officials in the background, Lü Wenxuan remained indifferent, and left with his hands behind.

Over dozens of taels’ salary a year, why risk everything?

Let them be!

...

Leaving the Government Office’s barracks, Song Wu hurriedly led his group to extensively procure goods in the city, lavishly buying materials for armaments and crossbows, then loaded everything onto wagons and transported them to Little Huang Village.

Previously, these items were not easy to obtain; whether the Refined Iron for weapon forging or the leather for armor creation, and the tendon strings for crossbow crafting—all were regulated items, inaccessible to common people.

But now Song Wu is not a common citizen; with the title of County Captain and the mandate to eradicate Little Yellow Mountain’s bandits, he possesses the authority to purchase such resources.

Thus, within days, under various scrutinizing eyes, Song Wu left the county town, heading directly for Little Huang Village with the cargo.

In Little Huang Village, Song Wen and the others had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Song Wu returning with the wagon, they immediately approached to receive the supplies.

"Hurry, hurry, start the furnace immediately, forge arrowheads!"

"These are premium animal tendons, can be used for strong bows!"

"Once the bows and arrows are made, start training immediately; they must be proficient within three months!"

"..."

People transported the supplies to various workshops, initiating a lively production action.

During this time, Little Huang Village had constructed several more workshops, and quite a few villagers had been visited in dreams by a Divine Being, imparting artisan skills, only lacking practical experience.

Now the materials are ready, and once practice and accumulation are in place, Little Huang Village will possess the ability to forge military armaments and crossbows.

With military equipment in place, the next step is training the strongmen, entering the mountains to eradicate bandits, completely sweeping the entire area!