The world of film and television begins with the God of Medicine.

Chapter 1642 Summary
The county government office in Huoshan County is not grand; it has all the necessary facilities, but it's not particularly impressive.

If there were no profit to be made, no official would be willing to renovate the government office. After all, it would be better to have that money in their own hands, and to use it to bribe their superiors for advancement. No matter how well the government office is renovated, if not a single penny is spared in paying the higher-ups, then it's useless if the benefits don't reach them.

Or to put it another way, it's not that these officials are unwilling to repair government offices, but rather that this kind of construction brings in money too slowly. They could even pocket the money spent on building government offices, so why bother repairing them for future generations to enjoy...

Especially in a small place like Huoshan, where money is scarce, one naturally has to cherish it even more.

However, while the government office itself was bad, the living quarters for the officials inside were quite nice.

Wang Yan followed Fan Zhao into the county government office. Upon arriving at the magistrate's courtyard, he immediately sensed the difference. While it was far from being the best, it was clearly better and newer than other government buildings that had been built around the same time. It was evident that it had been well-maintained and undergone multiple repairs.

A table had already been set up in the courtyard. Three people stood up when they heard the noise.

Fan Zhao introduced them one by one: "Brother Wang, this is Magistrate Wang Yunjing, this is Assistant Magistrate Kang Lin, and Registrar Xu Jingzhou."

"This humble subject, Wang Yan, pays his respects to the three lords."

Magistrate Wang exclaimed "Oh dear!" and quickly stepped forward, supporting Wang Yan, who was about to bow, saying, "We're all brothers, why are you calling me a commoner or a master? You're insulting me! Come, come, take a seat. I've long heard of your heroic name, you're a mighty dragon crossing the river. Today, we brothers are going to have a good drink together, so that we scholars can also share in your heroic spirit."

Wang Yan sat down with a smile, letting the county magistrate pour him wine: "I've heard people say that heroes are short-lived. I don't want to be a hero. Your Excellency should also be careful, this heroic spirit is not to be trifled with. What if you really run out of breath?"

"Hahaha……"

The slightly overweight Magistrate Wang let out a laugh befitting an official, “Brother Wang, you are truly a man of great talent and eloquence. You have performed such a righteous act, yet remain so detached. Those who are short-tempered are false heroes, but Brother Wang is the true hero. At your age, to have accomplished such a great deed is a once-in-a-century event. Come, let us toast this true hero.”

Magistrate Wang understood perfectly well that the way to deal with young people was to elevate them to a high position.

Unfortunately, the young man he thought he was was, if judged by age, at least sixteen generations of his ancestors…

After drinking a cup of wine, Wang Yan picked up some fish with his chopsticks and ate: "I've heard that the three of you have very close ties with the Bai family, and that you're quite involved..."

“Oh, Brother Wang, you can’t say that.” County Magistrate Kang Lin waved his hands repeatedly. “We are all officials from outside the county. The Bai family is a local gentry family with great prestige. How can we not keep in touch with this family when we come here? The government’s orders are all implemented by them. Not only the Bai family, but also the Yang and Liu families are connected.”

Registrar Xu Jingzhou chimed in, “Yes, Brother Wang. When the higher-ups ask for money, who do we ask them for? Aren’t they all these three families? You can’t say we’re connected to the Bai family just because of the Bai family. Did you find some letters or account books at the Bai family’s place? That’s definitely slander. The Bai family knows you’re incredibly powerful and wants to drag us down with them to harm you. Brother Wang, you need to understand the relationships involved.”

“What Magistrate Kang and Registrar Xu said is true, brother. Now that the entire Bai family is in your hands, and you’ve also taken over that martial arts school of the Huo family, won’t you be in charge of all the business matters in this county from now on? I may not be good at other things, but I guarantee I’ll handle the documents for you properly. Let’s all get rich together from now on.”

The magistrate was truly remarkable; he never mentioned that the Bai family were White Lotus rebels, and instead, he even arranged for Wang Yan to send them money in the future.

Wang Yan gave them a strange look, and finally his gaze fell on Fan Zhao, who was sitting at the end of the table: "Fourth Master, didn't you relay what I told you to the three masters? You can't do this. Look at the misunderstanding this has caused. How many more lives will be lost in the future? People will think that I am a villain who killed officials and rebelled."

I've said it so many times, all I want is a peaceful life, to earn more money, eat more meat, and drink more wine. Why is such a simple wish so difficult to fulfill?

The officials at the table all looked grim, and Magistrate Wang looked at Fan Zhao.

"Fan Dianshi, what did Brother Wang say?"

Fan Zhao looked extremely troubled, almost wishing he were dead. Recalling how he had taken the Yang family's money to pressure Wang Yan just two days ago, he now deeply regretted his actions. It all started when he personally led his men to cause trouble. In just two short days, the political landscape of Huoshan County had undergone a dramatic transformation.

As a mouthpiece, he certainly couldn't relay Wang Yan's harsh words to his direct superior, otherwise how would he face the world? He thought Wang Yan would consider his reputation, after all, he was a county magistrate from a poor family, but he didn't expect Wang Yan to be so lenient at all, and start speaking bluntly and plainly in just a few words.

Under the watchful eyes of Magistrate Wang and others, Fan Zhao repeated what Wang Yan had said—that no documents were needed and no one would dare touch the Bai family's property.

Looking at Magistrate Wang and the others, whose faces were even more unpleasant, Wang Yan gave Fan Zhao a seemingly reproachful glare.

"Look at this, the misunderstanding has gotten out of hand! If you had explained things clearly to the three gentlemen yesterday, giving them time to prepare and not to have too high expectations, they wouldn't be looking so grim now."

At this moment, no one wanted to kill Wang Yan more than the three bigwigs of Huoshan County. If it weren't for the decisiveness and strength Wang Yan displayed, as well as that inexplicable arrogance, they wouldn't have greeted such a little beast with smiles.

Magistrate Wang forced a smile: "Brother Wang, I don't understand what you're saying."

Wang Yan glanced at him and said while eating, "I believe you didn't intend to rebel, you just wanted to make some money. But to say that you didn't notice anything would be a lie. You all thought that you'd stay here for three years, and by the time a rebellion happened, someone would have a handle on you, so you'd get rich without even realizing it."

Before Magistrate Wang and the others could speak, Wang Yan slammed his chopsticks on the table with a snap, looking at them indifferently.

"But you didn't treat me like a human being. Did you think I was too young to know so many complicated things? Or did you think only the White Lotus Sect and the Heaven and Earth Society dared to rebel, and that I, who had no ties, didn't have the guts?"
Oh dear, Your Excellency's eyes are flashing with cold light, your murderous intent is on full display. I've heard that the most important thing for an official is to cultivate composure; otherwise, why would you, over forty, still be a county magistrate! You're always doing this and that! No ambition whatsoever!

Are you thinking that being skilled with a knife is useless now that firearms reign supreme? No matter how high your martial arts skills, they can't withstand a bullet piercing your body. Are you planning to have someone shoot me in the back? Maybe you're even thinking of contacting other White Lotus factions to have them come and kill me?

"Brother Wang, I am more wronged than Dou E! You are such a hero, like Xiang Yu of ancient times. How could I dare to have such thoughts?" Magistrate Wang's face was no longer ugly, but he looked truly aggrieved.

"Hey, now you have a bit of the dog face of an official." Wang Yan nodded with a smile, then picked up his chopsticks again. "I'm young and don't really understand all the intricacies, so I'll just say what I mean and be frank with you gentlemen."

In the future, if I make money, I'll definitely share some with you all. Let's all get rich together. I'm not the kind of person who hoards things; everyone's well-being is what truly matters. Don't be too happy yet. If I find out later that you're doing something underhanded or causing me trouble, don't blame me for being ruthless.

"Don't worry about that. I've thought of everything. For example, after you leave the city, you might be killed by refugees, eat something bad, sleep with the wrong woman, or perhaps the government office is in trouble. That way, I can kill you without being branded as a murderer of officials or a rebel—a win-win situation. Look at you, your face is pale again."

Kang, the county magistrate, said, “Brother Wang, you have really misunderstood us. As the saying goes, ‘Officials travel a thousand miles for money,’ but we don’t have that kind of ambition. Do you think it’s easy for us officials to make money while lying down? No, Brother Wang.”

The higher-ups are constantly demanding money, while the lower levels are rife with infighting and backstabbing. The local areas are deeply entrenched. Why is it that we, in our forties and fifties, are still stuck in this backwater county? We all studied the same classics, so why are others governors and provincial governors while we're stuck here scrambling for scraps? It's because we lack money and can't get through to the higher-ups. Therefore, Brother Wang, as long as everyone prospers, that's a good thing, and everyone will be safe.”

"Yes, Brother Wang," Magistrate Wang said sincerely. "You're telling the truth, even though it's hard to hear, it's better than not saying anything at all. Openness and honesty make everyone feel better. Let me be frank with you: as long as we pass our normal performance evaluations, you can do whatever you want with the rest. The county magistrate will be leaving next month, and I'll be leaving at the end of the year too. I won't be able to manage things here anymore. So, are you at ease now?"

"Sir, you are mistaken. It's not that I'm at ease, it's that we're all at ease. Let's drink!"

Wang Yan raised his glass with a smile...

After friendly and thorough communication, Wang Yan, this outsider, had settled the official matters and gained legitimacy with the Qing court. Whether Magistrate Wang and others were willing or sincere was not within his consideration.

Just as they themselves said, they were all officials who were about to leave, so there was no need for them to fight Wang Yan to the death here. When they first came here, they might not have been so convinced, after all, their terms of office still had several years left, which was really hard to get through, and they always wanted to cause some trouble. But now they had been disciplined by the Bai family, and they would all be leaving one after another, so they really wouldn't cause any trouble.

No one wanted to escape this mess more than they did. They weren't fools; everyone could see that Huoshan County would never be peaceful again…

But even if some people realized it, it was no use; they couldn't leave. For example, the remaining two wealthy families, Yang and Liu, and another gang of hooligans in the county town were very uneasy.

If Wang Yan could handle Yang Sanshui, he could kill Liu Heshang. If he could wipe out the entire Bai family in one night, he could certainly wipe out the Yang and Liu families as well.

Over the next few days, various families came to Wang Yan to express their willingness to make peace. Even the Yang family, who had suffered significant losses, clearly stated that they had no complaints and even sent gifts to Wang Yan as an apology. The Yang family's response was appreciated, and the Liu family, not wanting to be ungrateful, also provided some land and silver, while simultaneously severing ties with the gang of thugs led by Liu Shanghe.

This is the weakness of these people. As the saying goes, those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who have something to lose. Wang Yan used the entire Bai family to prove his martial prowess and his determination to be ruthless. The remaining Yang and Liu families then behaved themselves.

Wang Yan did not seize their land again. The Bai family's inheritance was enough for him to establish a foundation. He could not rely on Huoshan County to support him in everything else. He would eventually have to expand outwards. Huoshan County was just a base, a rear area.

He kept his promise, distributing land to the families of the thugs who had fought alongside him, and also distributing some of the captured cash, so everyone received something. Those who died in battle were not left behind either; he established rules early on, giving everyone hope.

At the same time, he also integrated Liu Shanghe's group, the martial arts school group, and his own group. After some selection, he added newly recruited young men and formed a team of two hundred people.

They then integrated the county's resources, formed a caravan, and went out to trade through the channels of the original three major households, escorted by镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) from the martial arts school.

Wang Yan didn't go. He wasn't afraid of being cheated, nor was he afraid of his goods being stolen or his people being injured. The truth would come out sooner or later, and these people wouldn't escape his grasp. As for the theft of goods or injuries, once he had the time, he would naturally go out and get them back with interest. In truth, he actually hoped someone would steal his goods.

Relatively speaking, what's more important right now is to stay in Huoshan to stabilize the situation and manage the rear.

To establish a new order, it is also necessary to train the able-bodied men under one's command. This task is complementary to escorting goods, expanding outwards, and strengthening one's own power. Once the manpower is well-trained, there will be a continuous rotation of escorting goods and doing business, allowing the reach of the organization to extend further.

It is through the operation of this system that more people can be supported and more information can be collected. For example, it plays a significant role in understanding the various forces along the way and the specific situations in other places.

The most important thing in running Huoshan is naturally the original intention of coming here: to become a mountain bandit!
He found local people familiar with the mountains to accompany him into the mountains. They spent more than half a month climbing and surveying the area, and finally selected a more defensible and secure den.

Nothing in this world is perfect. This place will be the edge of the battlefield where 100,000 troops will fight. Without an impregnable fortress, even the great Maginot Line is vulnerable.

What makes people feel safe is that the input and output are disproportionate. Compared to painstakingly conquering Huoshan, what's more important are Shucheng, Lu'an, Hefei, and the Central Plains.

Wang Yan openly built a bandit den in the mountains and trained his young men outside the city, making the wealthy Yang and Liu families, as well as Magistrate Wang and others, tremble with fear. This was far more ruthless than the White Lotus Rebellion…

As a result, the Yang and Liu families voluntarily contributed their savings to support Wang Yan's expenses in building his bandit stronghold...

In just over a month, Huoshan was completely transformed, and a new order was established. The people felt good because no one dared to bully anyone; Wang Yan had far more authority than the county magistrate. Moreover, he paid people well when hiring, ensuring no one went hungry. Wang Yan even resumed his large-scale livestock breeding business.

Huoshan quickly gained momentum, and the people were all happy. After all, Wang Yan had over two hundred able-bodied men under his command, plus their families and relatives, covering most of the county's population. The people's entertainment consisted of chatting about Wang Yan and finding amusement in his company…

But peace wouldn't last long. Just as Wang Yan had sorted things out and made all the necessary arrangements, and everything was proceeding smoothly, the trouble that was bound to come finally arrived.

The seemingly unseen Master Bai, and the briefly featured Master Huo, are not so easy to kill...

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