Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

The next morning, after finishing their practice, they had breakfast.

After Zhao Xian finished packing, he set off with his uncle and others to continue their inspection of the fields at Dahuting.

When they passed through a large market town, Zhao Xian stopped his carriage and ordered his uncle Zhao Li to buy 100 catties of spirit rice.

Although the Yan family and Chen Yuancheng had reconciled, Zhao Xian still had trouble sleeping last night.

I tossed and turned for half the night, pondering many things.

Since I came to the village to serve as an official, I have had conflicts with the Yan family on several occasions.

The Yan family dared not do anything to Chen Yuancheng, but their own rural folks were very likely to be targeted by the Yan family for revenge.

To prevent the Yan family from retaliating, Zhao Xian felt it was necessary to enhance the strength of his father and others.

Moreover, Ah Hong, Ah Duan, Ah Bing, and Xiao Mei have also embarked on the path of cultivation, and should therefore solidify their foundation.

One hundred catties of spirit rice and twenty low-grade spirit stones are enough to feed three families for a month.

As for Zhao Xian himself, six bottles of Essence Pills were enough for him to cultivate for half a year.

I have been at the fourth level of Qi Refining for several months, but the breakthrough is still far away. With the help of this Essence Pill, I should be able to break through soon.

Even though the rank of a minor official is low, one still needs to have a cultivation level of six in the Qi Refining stage to be eligible to take up the post.

If Chen Yuancheng's promise comes true next year, and my own cultivation is insufficient, it would truly be a laughing stock.

Time flies, and it's already the end of July.

As Cao Miao said, Zhao Xian only completed the land survey and population calculation for the remaining two pavilions near the end of August.

After resting at home for several days, Liu Maosan returned to his village, but he did not accompany Zhao Xian to inspect the fields again.

This made it easier for Zhao Xian to carry out his duties.

With his pen, he changed the seventy mu of land under his uncle's and three cousins' names to fifty mu, so that he could pay twenty mu less in land tax every year thereafter.

Each year, only five mu of land tax needs to be paid for the land belonging to one's own family, uncles, or paternal uncles.

Zhao Xian reciprocated the kindness shown to the villagers of Shanghuting the other day by reducing the land tax by one mu per household.

Don't underestimate the tax on this one acre of land; a hundred catties of millet are enough to feed a family of three through the lean season.

Veteran officials like Cao Miao and Liu Mao could immediately see through Zhao Xian's trickery, but no one dared to point it out.

After all, if it weren't for the Taoist priests of Shanghuting scattering the troublemakers, they wouldn't be sitting here unharmed; they would have been imprisoned long ago.

With the matter of measuring the fields and calculating the people settled, Uncle Zhao Li was also about to return to Shanghuting.

The village settled the wages: fifty days, twenty talismans per day. Cao Miao, on behalf of the villagers, gave Zhao Li ten low-grade spirit stones.

This move greatly pleased Zhao Li.

Although one hundred talismans can normally be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone, spirit stones are scarce, and to exchange for one low-grade spirit stone, it would take at least one hundred and ten talismans.

After two busy months, the land survey was completed, and Chen Yuancheng prepared to return to the county with the land survey files to pay his respects to the county magistrate and other high-ranking officials.

After all, the spirit stones offered by the three clans in the village to the county magistrate, as well as the spirit stones distributed to the county officials, all need to be presented as soon as possible.

Just then, Qi Lian, who had purchased land and built a house, sent a messenger with an invitation, saying that the house had been completed and he would like to invite the villagers to a banquet.

After some thought, Chen Yuancheng accepted the invitation and agreed to the matter.

The banquet will be held three days later, which is just enough time to make a round trip from the county town.

After tidying up, Chen Yuancheng led Zhao Xian, Zhao Cheng, and Wang Cong back to the county.

As for why Zhao Ji and Zhang Wen were not brought along, it was because the two of them had been very diligent in assisting the scholar Qi Lian in building his residence.

Although the construction of the house was completed, Qi Lian still needed the two of them to continue to run errands and serve, so he asked Chen Yuancheng to lend them a few days.

After leaving the village house, the four riders rode eastward along the official road.

......

Wohu Township belongs to Rongtai County and is about 70 or 80 miles away from the county seat.

The group of four set off at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and only saw Rongtai County at Wushi (11 AM-1 PM).

Rongtai County town, with a circumference of eight li, has more than 10,000 households and more than 50,000 people.

The group walked for a while longer before finally reaching the city gate.

It was peak time for people to enter the city, and a queue stretching for dozens of feet formed outside the city gate.

The four men dismounted, led their horses, and followed the long line.

Zhao Xian led his horse and looked into the distance at the city wall of the county town. He saw that the wall was mottled and blue, and seemed to be built of bricks and stones. It was about six zhang high, and the gate tower was very magnificent.

Before long, the four of them had followed the long line of people to the city gate.

As they led their horses across the stone bridge, a refreshing breeze swept over them, instantly cooling them off from the sweltering summer heat.

The stone bridge has a simple and ancient design, and its body is very wide, allowing four riders to walk side by side with ample space.

The moat lies beneath the bridge, about five zhang wide, with clear, deep waters that are impossible to see the bottom of.

Outside the city gate, two spear-wielding soldiers stood on either side, wearing half-armor and behaving frivolously and lazily.

Upon seeing Zhao Xian and his three companions leading their horses into the city, with bows and arrows hanging on the horses, a soldier stepped forward to question them.

Unexpectedly, a minor official who was sitting in the shade nearby trotted over and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Lord Chen!"

"Mr. He, are you on duty guarding the city gate today?"

Chen Yuancheng looked at the minor official and greeted him with a smile.

"All the officials in the county are suffering from the heat, so only I could come here!"

Upon hearing this, the minor official naturally complained.

"Haha, it's a bit hot, but there's some savory stuff too!" Chen Yuancheng laughed heartily upon hearing this.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Cheng immediately stepped forward, took out more than ten talisman coins, and stuffed them into the clerk's hand.

"Oh dear, Mr. Chen, this won't do!"

"Officials are not required to pay an entry fee when entering the city!"

The clerk clutched the coin tightly, making a gesture as if to return it, his face displaying a righteous and indignant expression.

"Haha, after my shift, I'll have a couple of sips of cool drink with the brothers to beat the heat!"

Chen Yuancheng waved his hand, led his horse forward into the city, and Zhao Xian and the other two followed closely behind.

"In that case, I'll humbly accept it. Thank you, Mr. Chen!"

Upon entering the county town, one finds wide roads and numerous pedestrians. While not exactly shoulder-to-shoulder, the town is bustling with activity.

The city was divided into different neighborhoods based on its extensive network of roads. The county government was located in the north of the city, built against the city wall.

The four men entered the city, then mounted their horses again and headed north of the city.

"Ah Xian, is this your first time in Rongtai County?"

Seeing Zhao Xian looking around with a curious expression, Chen Yuancheng immediately asked with a smile.

"In reply to Mr. Chen, that is indeed the case!"

Zhao Xian didn't try to hide it and immediately replied with a smile.

"After I pay my respects to the county magistrate, I'll take Ah Xian on a proper tour of the city!"

"Thank you, Mr. Chen!"

Zhao Xian, holding the reins, nodded in response.

Before long, the four of them arrived at the county government office.

In front of the county government gate stood two 40-foot-tall ornamental columns, with four county soldiers holding halberds on each side, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The county soldiers here are far more elite than the soldiers guarding the city gates.

Chen Yuancheng ordered Zhao Cheng and the other man to lead the horse a little further away before he and Zhao Xian entered the county government office together.

The guards at the county government office recognized Chen Yuancheng, and although Zhao Xian behind him was an unfamiliar face, they did not step forward to question him.

The county government office was quite large, like a rural residence, with offices in the front and rest areas for the county officials in the back.

The two walked to the side room next to the main hall, where many officials were already waiting for the county magistrate to summon them.

The two casually found a corner, sat down, and waited patiently.

Looking around at the many officials in the room, Zhao Xian suddenly had a thought, and a golden light flashed in his eyes.

Then, they saw clouds swirling inside the room, and a dozen or so life energies stood proudly three feet above their heads.

As far as the eye could see, there was only thick, white vapor, occasionally mixed with a few traces of red.

"The vast majority of officials in the county are mediocre and incompetent."

With a sigh, Zhao Xian ceased his investigation.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, as the sun began to set, Chen Yuancheng finally got up and stepped forward, and Zhao Xian followed closely behind.

After passing the main hall and walking another hundred or so steps, you will arrive at a quiet and elegant courtyard. The courtyard has three sections, and there are guards at the entrance.

After being informed, Chen Yuancheng was led into the courtyard by a servant, while Zhao Xian waited outside the gate.

This place is quite elegant, with a small bamboo grove where a gentle breeze rustles the bamboo leaves. Zhao Xian stands quietly to one side, taking in the surrounding scenery.

Before long, Chen Yuancheng stepped out of the courtyard and led Zhao Xian away.

Upon leaving the county government office, Chen Yuancheng saw that Zhao Xian's expression was normal and he was quite calm, which pleased him greatly.

"I brought Ah Xian to the county government office this time hoping that the county magistrate would meet him, but I did not expect that the county magistrate would be too busy to see him."

"Ah Xian is just a minor clerk, at the very bottom of the hierarchy. The county magistrate is too busy with official duties to have any time for him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian immediately responded with a smile.

......

As the sun set, the two met up with Zhao Cheng and Wang Cong, and rode towards the village where the Chen family lived.

The Chen family was a powerful clan in the county. Although their ancestral home was outside the county seat, they also owned a residence within the city.

After Chen Yuan became an official, his family allocated him a residence for him to rest when he returned to the city.

The village where the Chen family lived was called Puchen Village. The character "Pu" means Pu County. The ancestor of the Chen family served as the governor of Pu County.

The four men rode their horses to the inner gate, where the gatekeeper was very eager to see Chen Yuancheng return and went up to chat for a few words.

Chen Yuancheng was very kind and approachable, and chatted with the gatekeeper for a few minutes before leading Zhao Xian and the others into the inner room.

The position of gatekeeper was considered a lowly job and was often looked down upon.

Besides the Chen family, dozens of other families also live in Puchenli.

Upon seeing the four men approaching on horseback, the villagers all stepped aside to let the four men go first.

The four of them didn't find anything wrong with it, since that's how it usually is.

Many members of the Chen family lived here. Although Chen Yuancheng was from a collateral branch, he was now a powerful official in the region, so many of his relatives knew him.

Upon seeing him return home, they all greeted him, and Chen Yuancheng responded with a smile.

After the four people left, the Chen family members were also discussing the matter.

"Are those three behind Yuan Cheng his guests?" A young clansman muttered, watching the four figures' backs. "Judging by their short clothes and long swords, they look quite fierce."

"No wonder there's a saying that it's better to be a village magistrate than a high-ranking official!" Another member of the Chen clan joked from the side, "Yuancheng has only been a village magistrate for half a year, yet he can already support a large number of guests."

"Haha! In a few years, our clan might produce another high-ranking official."

The four of them walked further and further away as the sun set in the west, their silhouettes appearing quite long and narrow.

The courtyard was kept very clean and tidy by the servants of the Chen family. The four of them went inside and stayed for a short while before the servants brought them food.

After finishing their meal, it was already curfew. The group chatted for a while before returning to their rooms to rest.