Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

Chapter 144 Saigo Executes the Official (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

Xiping Pavilion.

As night fell, the people of the road, having toiled all day, were already fast asleep.

Zhao Li and Zhao Yi, however, tossed and turned, their minds filled with countless thoughts.

It is unknown whether Mu Chun has found Zhao Xian, and how Zhao Xian will deal with the insincere dealings of the village officials.

The campfire burned slowly, occasionally emitting a crisp popping sound.

Unable to sleep, Zhao Li put on his cotton robe and got up to inspect the camp.

There were more than 30 people, divided into four campfires, with some people taking turns to keep watch, while the rest of the people were all sleeping very soundly.

"Ah Xian is always methodical in his work; perhaps this was something he expected!"

Suddenly, Zhao Yi appeared beside Zhao Li and said calmly.

"Bah! These petty officials kill with their soft weapons; they're truly disgusting!"

"I really want to fight them in a real battle!"

Zhao Li stared at the misty mountains and forests in the distance, muttering curses under his breath.

"Cao Jun is right. If we want to deal with these people, we still need to find Ah Xian!"

"A higher-ranking official can crush you!"

Zhao Yi took out his pipe, stuffed some tobacco into it, and said with a smile.

"Haha, that's true!"

Seeing Zhao Yi fumbling for a flint and steel on his person, Zhao Li took out a tinderbox from his own person and lit it for him.

Meanwhile, in Beiguo Township, dozens of miles away.

Mu Chun has already found Zhao Xian and his group.

The group sat around the campfire. After Mu Chun finished recounting the ordeal of Zhao Li and his group, Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and the others all looked furious.

"Damn it! How dare they disrupt the demon-slaying operation!"

"Ah Xian, we cannot let them run rampant like this!"

Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, and the others all looked at Zhao Xian and said excitedly.

"Are you sure there's someone obstructing things behind the scenes?"

After listening, Zhao Xian pondered for a moment, then looked at Mu Chun and asked again.

"Before leaving, Lord Cao gave me a piece of advice: if the patriarch asks in this way, tell him the truth!"

Mu Chun immediately replied in a solemn voice.

"What?"

"As Cao Jun said, Wu Liang, the village head of Xixiang, once sent someone to contact him!"

"Wu Liang!" Zhao Xian pondered for a moment, then looked at Song Ming beside him. "Does Lord Song know anything about Wu Liang's background?"

"Wu Liang was born into the Wu family of Xixiang, a prominent family in Xixiang. His elder brother, Wu De, is now a patrol officer in the north and a high-ranking official with a salary of 100 shi (a unit of grain).

""

After a moment's thought, Song Ming smiled and said.

"So it's this person!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian nodded slightly.

"Wu De has served as the northern patrol chief for ten years. He is narrow-minded and vindictive."

"Lord Zhao, you quelled bandits in four regions and wiped out evil spirits in several villages, making you a thorn in his side!"

Song Ming looked at Zhao Xian and analyzed the situation for him.

"Suppressing the demonic calamity was ordered by the county magistrate, so why does this fellow harbor such hatred towards my elder brother?"

Suddenly, Zhao Bing looked at Song Ming and asked in confusion.

"The evil scourge in these villages has been raging for over half a year, but your eldest brother, having only been in office for a little over a month, has already quelled most of it!"

"In the county magistrate's eyes, wouldn't it be that Wu De is useless, while your elder brother is exceptionally talented!"

"By blocking Wu De's path to advancement, your elder brother is naturally his enemy!"

Upon seeing this, Song Ming immediately looked around at the people in front of him and, regardless of the youth of Zhao Hong, Zhao Duan, and the others, carefully explained the reasons behind it!

"I see!"

"This bastard truly deserves to die!"

Upon hearing this, the four teenagers showed expressions of sudden realization, but then a hint of killing intent appeared on their faces!

When Song Ming saw that the four teenagers all had murderous intent in their eyes, he didn't find it strange at all. The Zhao family members in Yangping Village were indeed quite courageous!

In the past few days, he had spent time with Zhao Hong and the others, and naturally knew that these four people were highly valued by Zhao Xian. Whether it was martial arts or cultivation, they had all received detailed guidance from Zhao Xian.

"Lord Song, do you have any good ideas on this matter?"

"As for the land," Zhao Xian looked at Song Ming, smiled slightly, and asked.

"The only course of action now is to seize Wu Liang swiftly and decisively, thus intimidating the officials of Xixiang!"

Song Ming immediately looked at Zhao Xian and replied solemnly.

"I had thought that Lord Song would have three strategies: superior, middle, and inferior!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian made a joking remark.

"Haha! That's just nonsense from a storybook!"

Song Ming was slightly taken aback, but then he understood and immediately laughed, fanning himself with his feather fan several times.

"There is another plan, though. If Zhao Jun apologizes to Wu De and invites him to help quell the demon, perhaps this matter can be dropped!"

Song Mingfu then looked at Zhao Xian and said with a smile.

"Share the credit with them? Let it slide?" Zhao Xian sneered. "Ha! This time, Zhao Xian will kill these two brothers!"

"Um?

Upon hearing Zhao Xian's words, Song Ming's smile faltered slightly, and then Zhao Xian took out several secret letters from his sleeve and handed them over.

Song Ming immediately took the secret letter, opened it, and read it carefully.

After a while, Song Ming packed up the secret letters one by one and handed them to Zhao Xian.

"If these secret letters are genuine, not only would killing these two brothers be enough, but the entire Wu family would be exterminated!"

Song Ming looked at Zhao Xian and said solemnly.

Zhao Xian had also read the contents of the secret letter, which was evidence that the Wu family was harboring bandits to enhance their own power.

The reason why bandits are rampant in several villages in the north is that these bandits are supported by the Wu family.

The Wu family supported bandits and caused chaos in the village, not only for financial gain but also to give credit to Wu De and Wu Liang.

Otherwise, how could Wu De have risen from a lowly official to a high-ranking official in just a few years?

Wu Liang rose from a minor official to become a powerful village head, holding a lowly but influential position!

"Extermination of the entire clan?"

When Zhao Cheng, Zhao Ji, Zhao Hong, and the others heard this word, they all felt a chill run down their spines!

Immediately, a sense of apprehension arose in his heart towards the young scholar in front of him.

The man casually uttered the words "extermination of the entire clan," which truly shocked the group.

After all, behind those two words are dozens, even hundreds of lives!

"Exterminating the entire clan is a matter of utmost importance; the time is not ripe, and it must not be done!"

"I must first pay my respects to the county magistrate and secure my position as military officer before I can take it on!"

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xian said in a deep voice.

"So, Lord Zhao, you'll arrest Wu Liang first? But what evidence will you use to bring him down? These things must not be revealed!"

Song Ming nodded slightly in response to Zhao Xian's answer, and then asked further questions.

"Evidence? What evidence do you need!"

"As a military officer, I have been ordered by the county magistrate to lead the troops to quell the demonic disturbance within ten days. I have rushed to the western village under cover of night to summon all the officials of the western village and gather them within three incense sticks' time!"

"Wu Liang arrived late, he just happened to run into my blade!"

At this point, Zhao Xian's face revealed a chilling killing intent!

Having served as a local official in Wohu Township and Shahe Township for over a year, how could Zhao Xian not know the custom of having sons of prominent families serve as officials in these townships?

According to the laws of the Qian Dynasty, on days other than rest days, village officials must not leave their village residences without a valid reason and must remain in their village residences day and night.

However, if the local officials were originally from the village, they would naturally not stay overnight in the village inns after nightfall; this was simply the custom.

Of course, no one pursued the matter!

But such things cannot be discussed openly.

The village magistrate was usually a person from another place, and naturally he lived in a village house.

Most of the village assistants were scholars from the local area, and Wu Liang was a village assistant from the western part of the village.

Zhao Xian really didn't believe that Wu Liang could abide by the laws of the land and stay in the country house every day!

"Using this as a pretext to capture Wu Liang isn't exactly outrageous!"

Song Ming pondered for a while, then slowly spoke.

"Lord Song, Mu Chun and I will immediately head to Xixiang to quell the demon in Beiguo Township. How about you take charge?"

Zhao Xian raised his head to look at Song Ming and said in a deep voice.

Zhao Xian could tell that Song Ming also possessed cultivation, and that he should be in the late stage of Qi Refining.

It makes perfect sense for him to take charge of pacifying the demons in Beiguo Township!

"Thanks to Lord Zhao's high regard, Song Ming will surely quell the calamity of the demons in Beiguo Village as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, Song Ming immediately looked at Zhao Xian, bowed respectfully, and solemnly replied.

"Lord Song, be careful that Wu De doesn't do anything desperate. He's capable of such things. The Wu family is wealthy, and they must have many highly skilled retainers!"

Zhao Xian didn't stand on ceremony and immediately stood up, looking at Song Ming and giving him another detailed instruction!

Zhao Xian took a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and handed it to Song Ming: "This is the county magistrate's warrant!"

Upon hearing this, Song Ming immediately became solemn and respectfully accepted the bamboo slip.

"Fourth brother, second brother, you two must protect Lord Song!"

He then looked at Zhao Cheng and Zhao Ji and said solemnly.

"We two will certainly not fail Jiulang's trust!"

Zhao Cheng immediately stood up and agreed.

Mu Chun, who was standing nearby, changed horses and brought over Zhao Xian's mount.

After galloping for half a day, Mu Chun's horse was already extremely tired.

Now that the two were heading to Xixiang Township, they naturally needed to change horses.

"Gentlemen, once the calamity in Beiguo Township is quelled, we will gather in Pinghe Township!"

Zhao Xian looked around at everyone and responded solemnly.

"drive!"

"drive!"

Under the bright moonlight, the two sped away!

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Song Ming felt a surge of excitement.

Looking back at Liu Ping, Zhao Cheng, and the others, Song Ming smiled and said, "Rest well tonight, and we'll head to the next pavilion tomorrow!"

Song Ming kept Zhao Xian's instructions in mind before his departure, and he had naturally come up with a solution.

That would be a grand and impressive display!

This will deter petty villains from using their underhanded tricks!

Xixiang Village.

The moon was high in the sky when the thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed along the official road!

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came to an abrupt halt!

"Open the door! Open the door!"

A series of urgent knocks echoed across the quiet fields.

Before long, the gate of the country house was opened a crack.

Then the person outside forcefully pushed the door open and slapped the village soldier across the face!

"Why are you driving so slowly!"

Mu Chun shouted angrily.

"Soldier Zhao has arrived at the village. Quickly summon the village officials to the main hall in the front courtyard for an audience!"

After saying that, Mu Chun opened the gate of the country house.

"Zhao Jun, please!"

Zhao Xian immediately strode towards the country house.

Upon entering the village house, Zhao Xian immediately looked at the village soldier and ordered, "Quickly summon the village head, village assistant, and other village officials."

3

"I have something to say in the main hall of the front courtyard!"

After saying that, Zhao Xian strode towards the main hall in the front courtyard.

Upon entering the hall, Zhao Xian looked at Mu Chun beside him and instructed, "Go find three sticks of incense!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Chun's face immediately lit up with excitement, and he solemnly replied, "I will obey Lord Zhao's command!"

Before long, an incense stick was lit, its flame flickering slightly.

Then, a group of officials came running in a panic, their clothes disheveled.

"We pay our respects to Lord Sergeant!"

All the officials entered the hall and bowed in respect!

"Where is the village magistrate?"

Zhao Xian sat in the main seat and shouted sternly.

A few breaths later, a minor official stepped forward and whispered, "The village magistrate is not at his residence tonight!"

"Where?"

"Yes, yes~"

The clerk stammered and couldn't answer, and beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Only then did the officials realize that this military officer was probably up to no good!

Recalling the rumors circulating in the countryside a few days ago, the minor official's chest heaved rapidly, and he was already drenched in cold sweat!

"Where is the village official?"

Zhao Xian asked again.

"Even the village head isn't at the village house!"

The minor official gritted his teeth and spoke directly.

Zhao Xian looked at the minor officials in front of him again, and at a glance, there were only seven or eight of them.

How could a village inn have so few officials? Those who are not here must have gone home to rest!

Where is the register of village officials?

Zhao Xian asked again.

"Go get it quickly!"

Upon hearing this, the minor official immediately looked at another official behind him and growled in a low voice.

Upon seeing this, the clerk immediately ran quickly towards the outside of the hall.

After a dozen or so breaths, the clerk, panting heavily, brought over a scroll of bamboo slips and respectfully presented it to Zhao Xian.

"The officials of Xixiang Township consist of one township clerk and one township assistant, both of whom are officials who receive a small share of the grain; there are also fourteen minor clerks and assistants."

Zhao Xian took the bamboo slip, opened it, and immediately began to read aloud.

"There are sixteen people on the roster, including Mu Chun. How many are standing in the hall now?"

Zhao Xian looked at Mu Chun beside him and asked with a smile.

"Reporting back to Sergeant Bing, there are seven in total!"

Mu Chun immediately replied in a deep voice.

"Less than half!"

"Ha! Less than half!"

"Snap!"

Zhao Xian sneered and slammed the bamboo slip in his hand heavily onto the hall!

"The demonic calamity in Xixiang is the most severe among the eight northwestern townships of the county. Thousands of households under its jurisdiction suffer greatly from the attacks of demonic beasts, and the people are living in misery!"

"The county magistrate is worried about this matter day and night, yet you officials of the western region do not think of how to share his burdens, but instead act so lazy and careless!"

"Where is the law of Qingzhou?"

At this point, Zhao Xian's killing intent was palpable!

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall knelt down, their foreheads touching the ground, and dared not utter a sound!

"I will grant you three incense sticks' time. If any official has not arrived at the village within three incense sticks' time, do not blame me for being unreasonable!"

Suddenly, Zhao Xian gave a cold laugh, looked at the officials below, and said indifferently.

"We thank you, Sergeant!"

Upon hearing this, all the minor officials below bowed deeply.

Immediately, everyone got up and prepared to go out.

At this moment, Mu Chun stood in front of everyone holding a stick of incense and gestured to the officials with the incense.

"Half an incense stick's time has passed!"

The officials looked on with eager expressions, and then, like a swarm of bees, they rushed toward the gate of the village house.

"Ah Chun, have you ever chopped off the village chief's head?"

After the officials scrambled away, Zhao Xian looked at Mu Chun, who had been silent to the side, and asked with a smile.

"Master, if it weren't for your selection of me from among the common people, I would have bowed and paid my respects even to those minor officials, let alone a village official!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Chun immediately smiled and said.

"Then, if I give the order, do you have the guts to take down Wu Liang, the village head?"

Zhao Xian immediately smiled and said.

"Mu Chun has already given his life to the family head!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Chun immediately knelt on one knee and solemnly shouted.

"good!"

The lamplight flickered, and time slowly passed.

Before we knew it, only half an incense stick remained.

"Da da da!"

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the cottage, followed by several figures hurrying into the house.