What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 111 Lord Commander, are you repairing again?

Looking at this ancient and majestic city wall, which is full of historical atmosphere, Su Mo felt for a moment that it was... quite historical.

The massive city gate has three passageways: the middle one is for soldiers, the left one is for officials, and the right one is for civilians.

Ordinary people and officials entered and exited the city gates in an orderly manner.

The capital city truly lives up to its name.

Su Mo felt that it was much more orderly than that rural place in Changping County.

Of course, it's also much more lively now!

After all, the city that was the power center of the Great Wu Dynasty covered an incredibly large area, and it was said that two million people lived there!
The first river of Dawu—a tributary of the Luo River—reaches directly to the Xima River Wharf in the capital.

Countless ships passed through it.

Official ships, passenger ships, cargo ships, and warships carried out massive amounts of supplies and personnel every day.

This megacity will connect the entire world with it!
Su Mo wanted to compose a poem.

But after racking my brains, I couldn't find any suitable poems or lyrics, so I had to give up.

Then, he spurred his horse toward the city gate.

A junior officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, though a low-ranking official of the seventh rank, was nothing in this central city.

But they were still legitimate officials appointed by the imperial court, weren't they?
The queue at the city gate was a hundred feet long; if you really joined the queue, you didn't know how long it would take to get into the capital!
On the official side, the situation was much better, with unimpeded access.

There are definitely more ordinary people than officials.

Su Mo, riding his exhausted chestnut horse, had just approached the city gate when he heard a deep shout.

"Riding is forbidden within the capital city. Dismount now!"

Su Mo looked closely and saw that it was a strongman in a blue robe who was shouting at him.

Su Mo sighed inwardly.

The capital city is indeed the capital city; even the gatekeepers are imposing Imperial Guards!
And it wasn't just one; it was an entire squadron of small flags.

The junior officers stood solemnly among them, each holding a golden mace!

It is evident that even in the capital city, where there are many high-ranking officials, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) still wields considerable power, and low- and mid-ranking officials entering and leaving the city gates are all extremely cautious.

Even a minor official in the capital city could only guard the gate, so Su Mo, a minor official from a rural county town, dared not be presumptuous. He quickly dismounted and explained, "This is my first time in the capital city, and I am unfamiliar with the rules. Please forgive me!"

The strongman snorted coldly and said curtly, "Give me the ivory token!"

Su Mo's attire clearly indicates that she is from out of town.

Even if he calls himself "this official," he's at most a minor official!
Those high-ranking officials and prefectural governors, which one of them wasn't escorted by guards, surrounded by servants, and served by people both in front of and behind their sedan chairs!

The Jinyi guards who stood watch at the city gates were either without connections or were ostracized within the Shenjing garrison.

But that doesn't stop them from looking down on minor officials from other places!
Su Mo took off the ivory token from his waist and handed it to the other party.

Official seals, official certificates, and official badges can all prove an official's identity.

However, official seals are now being made larger and larger to demonstrate the majesty of officials appointed by the court, and they are not suitable to be carried on one's person, so they are usually placed in an official box.

The identification tokens used to prove an official's identity were usually lightweight and carried on their person.

The guard in brocade robes took the ivory token from Su Mo and looked at Su Mo with some surprise.

Unexpectedly, this kid is not only a colleague in the garrison, but also a junior officer.

He looked at Su Mo suspiciously, then at the ivory token, and frowned as he asked, "What brings you to the capital?"

The Jinyiwei of today is not like the Jinyiwei of the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, where all sorts of trash and meritorious sons were thrown into the ranks.

It's truly unbelievable that a young man not even twenty years old has already become a seventh-rank flag officer.

As the Imperial Guard's operations grew increasingly large, the difficulty of earning merit and promotion naturally increased.

How could a flag officer of such a young age not arouse suspicion?

The city gate officer, wielding a golden mace, couldn't resist walking over when he saw Su Mo's brass ivory plaque.

Su Mo explained, "I am a minor official from Changping County, Yong'an Prefecture. I have been ordered by His Majesty to come to the capital to report on my duties."

Several Imperial Guards, including a junior officer.

His expression changed instantly!

The Imperial Guards in Yong'an Prefecture have been making quite a splash lately!

Especially Lin Baihu of Changping County, who was just appointed as the commander of the Upper Left Guard by the emperor, is now a big shot in the Shenjing Guard system!

Even many high-ranking officials in the imperial court have set their sights on this rising star of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
The Upper Left Institute is one of the six subordinate institutes. Although it is not as important as the six core institutes, it is still above the six functional institutes.

He commanded strongmen and military craftsmen, with over a thousand men under his command.

It wields considerable power.

The vacant commander positions in the six subordinate units were the envy of countless trial commanders and even regular commanders in the six functional units, who all used every means to fight for them!

However, the position of commander of the local garrison, who appeared out of nowhere, was forcibly taken from him as commander of the left garrison.

Such an absurd and illogical appointment!
How can we avoid shocking the unsuspecting Imperial Guards?

The guards in the Imperial Guards were from the Central and Rear Guards of the Sixth Garrison, and they dared not offend Commander Lin!

obviously.

This junior officer from Changping County must have a close relationship with Lin Qianhu.

Otherwise, how could I have received the imperial edict to go to the capital to report on my duties!

The junior officer quickly snatched the token from the strongman's hand and handed it to Su Mo with a smile: "Brother, keep the token safe!"

"It's my duty, brother, please forgive me!"

He then waved everyone away and let Su Mo enter the city gate!

Su Mo led his chestnut horse through the long barbican. Looking around, he saw a dense and bustling crowd, giving him the feeling of a country bumpkin entering the city.

For a moment, they didn't know where to find Commander Qianhu.

The letter only stated that she rented a house in Chang Le Fang, outside the city, by the Liushui River, near Wangyue Bridge, with three large willow trees in front of the house!
Su Mo didn't even know the location of Chang Le Fang.

Not to mention finding a house with three willow trees in front of the door!
The housing management in Shenjing is quite chaotic; there are no house numbers or addresses at all!
The land is privately owned; people can build houses wherever they want, so it's impossible to number them one by one!

Su Mo had no choice but to ask someone for directions.

Suddenly, a voice came from the side: "Young master, is this your first time visiting the capital?"

Su Mo turned her head to look.

He was dressed in a blue robe with a red sash, and was a small, dark-skinned boy who looked younger than himself but was already quite shrewd.

As the boy spoke, he reached out and snatched the reins from Su Mo's grasp: "I am Chen Lai, a wandering swordsman, and I am very familiar with the outer city of Shenjing."

"For just thirty coins a day, I can lead your horse and guide you, young master, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Su Mo frowned.

It's not worth haggling with him for thirty coins.

Those who roam the streets, sell goods, and run brothels, even if innocent, should be killed. Such vagrants cannot be trusted.

But as a junior officer in the Imperial Guard, he wasn't afraid of being deceived.

Just showing you the way.

He nodded: "Do you know the Moon-Viewing Bridge over the Willow River in Chang Le Fang?"

The young man who called himself Chen Lai burst out laughing: "Young master, are you joking with me?"

"Chang Le Fang is the most famous neighborhood in the outer city, and Wang Yue Bridge is a place frequented by literati and scholars. If I don't even know this, how dare I call myself a wandering scholar!"

He patted his chest and said again, "I'll just follow you, young master!"

"The Moon Gazing Bridge is only three or four miles away from here, we'll get there soon."

"Um... I apologize, young master... According to the rules, you must first give me a fee for guiding you..."

……

Chen Lai may not look very old, but he is indeed quite knowledgeable about matters in the capital and has excellent eloquence.

When he speaks, he is eloquent and articulate.

Along the way, Su Mo heard a lot about the local customs, anecdotes, and daily habits of the people in the capital from him, so he didn't find it boring.

Chen Lai even knew quite a bit about anecdotes about officials and rumors about immortals, though he didn't know if they were true or false.

Such a person is definitely a top-notch talent for secret agents.

If this were in Changping County, Su Mo would definitely recruit him into the Jiazi Group!

The deeper you go into the outer city, the denser the crowds become.

Strolling around, selling goods, fortune telling, letter writing, selling candied hawthorns, selling martial arts, selling one's art, selling both art and sex...

Scholars, nobles, knights-errant, Taoist priests, nuns, beggars, and common people are also frequently seen.

Of course, there were plenty of thugs and hooligans!
Su Mo even discovered immortal cultivators emanating magical energy, but they were probably all beginners, unable to even conceal their own magical energy!

The capital city is home to all sorts of people from all walks of life, making it incredibly complex.

Shops line both sides of the street.

There were numerous taverns, inns, brothels, and the like, with their large pillars, blue bricks, red walls, and green tiles, far surpassing the taverns and brothels of Changping County!
It's high-end, but the hygiene standards...

It's hard to say.

Su Mo was looking around when, without noticing, she almost stepped in a pile of dog poop!
On the bustling main street, horses, oxen, mules, and the like could be pulled around at will.

The feces problem is relatively easy to solve; it's usually taken away very quickly.

Urine is a real problem...

Sewage was flowing everywhere on the streets, and the ditches on both sides of the streets were faintly smelly!
The sanitation conditions are even worse than in Changping and other cities!

Su Mo vigorously rectified the sanitation and public security of the two cities. The former thugs and hooligans were transformed into sanitation volunteers, and the sanitation situation improved dramatically!

Su Mo was also somewhat surprised that the grand and prestigious capital city in his mind was actually so... full of everyday life.

It completely overturned his imagination!

Chen Lai, completely accustomed to this scene, led Su Mo into a narrow street crowded with people and said with a smile, "Go through this alley and walk a few hundred steps east, and you will reach the Willow River."

“If you walk another half a mile north along the river, you will see the Moon Gazing Bridge.”

Su Mo was about to speak.

Suddenly, a short boy, carrying a bundle, stumbled and ran toward him with a terrified expression.

A burly man was chasing after them, shouting angrily, "You little brat!"

"How dare you steal from me! You have no sense of mortality!"

He watched as the short boy crashed straight into him.

Su Mo frowned slightly and stepped aside to let him pass.

He never meddled in other people's business.

The people around them seemed used to it, and the two soon disappeared into the dense crowd.

Chen Lai led Su Mo through the alley.

A bustling street, far exceeding Su Mo's expectations, suddenly came into view.

The local customs and culture of Shenjing.

It was officially revealed to Su Mo.

Suddenly, Chen Lai's face showed pain, and he gritted his teeth and said to Su Mo, "Sir, my stomach is upset, I need to go to the outhouse."

"You only need to tell me what to do, and you will find the house."

Without saying another word, he shoved the reins back into Su Mo's hand, clutched his stomach, and ran off in a flash.

Su Mo...

Did I get scammed?

What happened to the promise of thirty coins a day?
The capital city is full of tricks!
I never expected to get such a harsh lesson as soon as I arrived here.

It is true that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.

Such life experience cannot be learned from books.

Su Mo cursed under his breath.

He had to lead the horse himself, and following the directions of the guy from before, he soon saw a small river that was about three or four zhang wide.

Following the stream northward, we still hadn't seen the Moon Gazing Bridge.

A blue-brick house with three large willow trees in front of the door came into Su Mo's view.

The sky had already darkened, and it should be time for the yamen officials to finish their shifts. Many houses along the river had lit lanterns, casting a glow.

Su Mo had just walked over.

Then two centurions, dressed in their uniforms and with straight swords at their waists, walked out from the side door!

Two strongmen were guarding the side gate!

Nine out of ten of them are houses rented by thousands of adults.

After Su Mo and the other two hundred officers left, he led his horse forward, cupped his hands to the two guards on duty, and asked, "May I ask if this is the residence of Commander Lin?"

The two strongmen warily demanded, "Who goes there?"

Su Mo smiled and said, "Please inform them."

"Su Mo, a junior officer of Changping Garrison, requests an audience with Commander Lin!"

Upon hearing this, the two strongmen couldn't help but look Su Mo up and down before saying, "Please wait a moment!"

Su Mo was speechless.

Their behavior clearly shows that they should know their own name!
Mo'er wouldn't have told them earlier that she was coming, would she?
Not long after, the strongman who had gone in to report returned trotting back, smiling as he said to Su Mo, "Lord Su, Commander Lin requests your presence!"

"Your horse may be entrusted to our care, sir!"

Su Mo nodded, removed the bundle and straight sword from the horse's back, and handed the reins to the other person.

Then, guided by one of the strongmen...

Finally, in the study of the mansion, I met Lord Qianhu, whom I hadn't seen for a long time!

Lord Qianhu was still wearing his white horse-face skirt, but not his red cloak. He looked slightly haggard and sat behind his desk with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He rubbed his forehead with his delicate hand and reviewed documents and files under the oil lamp.

The favorability rating above my head has indeed reached 90%, and the intimacy rating has also increased to two points.

Upon seeing Su Mo arrive.

Lin Moyin said expressionlessly to the guide, "You may leave now!"

The strongman withdrew in response.

Lin Moyin frowned and added, "Tonight I have matters to discuss with Su Xiaoqi and will not receive any guests."

After the strongman left.

Su Mo then entered the study, first surveying the surroundings before turning to Lin Moyin: "Lord Commander, it's been a long time!"

Lin Moyin coldly snorted heavily: "Why are you only arriving in Shenjing now?"

Su Mo gave a wry smile: "There are too many things to do in Changping County."

"I need to get everything sorted out before I can come to the capital with peace of mind."

He paused, then said, "The Emperor ordered me to go to the capital to report on my duties within a month, and it hasn't been a month yet, has it?"

The commander, with a blank expression, coldly said, "What affairs in this tiny Changping County require such a lowly banner officer like you to be so busy!"

As she spoke, her pretty face suddenly darkened: "I'm afraid she can't bear to part with her newly acquired concubine!"

Su Mo's eyelids twitched suddenly!
Ninety-nine percent of the time, it was that bastard Ning Xiaoxiao who told on us!
I was so glad I brought her along when I had something good to do. She got a share of the profits from the battle at Xianyan Mountain, amounting to several hundred taels of silver!
When I see her again, she'll get what's coming to her!
He was about to explain.

Lord Qianhu snorted angrily again: "Hmph!"

"A dignified seventh-rank county magistrate, an official appointed by the imperial court, actually betrothed his eldest daughter to someone else as a concubine. He has no shame!"

Su Mo's heart skipped a beat!
Lord Chiju is indeed jealous.

He quickly said, "Mo'er, don't be angry!"

"I brought you a gift especially for this trip to Beijing. I guarantee you'll love it!"

Lord Qianhu rolled his eyes and said irritably, "It's just perfume, what's so special about it!"

Su Mo was dumbfounded...

You know about perfumes now?

Lin Moyin: "Hurry up and take it out! I want to see just how rare it is!"

Su Mo...

"Ok!"

He brought twenty bottles of perfume, seven or eight different scents, just in case the centurion wouldn't kneel at his feet and sing "Conquer"!
With this perfume, what's the big deal about a mere concubine?

Su Mo picked up the bundle triumphantly.

Open!

Then, his eyes widened instantly, and he exclaimed, "Holy crap!"
Lin Moyin was immediately taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Su Mo looked at Lin Moyin with a wry smile: "The bundle was switched..."

"I'll beat your lungs out!"

Su Mo cursed, then became conflicted!

If you lose perfume or something, so be it; you can always make a new one.

The problem is, there's no time to fix it!
Lord Chito was clearly furious, and even 90% of his favorability was having no effect.

How can I calm down an adult's anger?

Su Mo thought for a moment, then could only look at Lord Qianhu.

"Dual cultivation?"

There's another chapter before midnight, but I'm not sure if it will be posted! Begging for monthly votes while I'm writing!
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(End of this chapter)