Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Zhao Xie walked quickly to the corridor, his steps more hurried than before. He paused when he was almost in front of Zhang Sanlang, wiped his muddy boots on the edge of the steps, and then stepped up two steps.

He stood upright with his chin slightly tucked in, his right hand still gripping the hilt of his sword. He glanced around the courtyard to make sure Wan Qing was still standing in the vegetable garden, lost in thought, before releasing his hand from the hilt. "Zhang, the clerk; Sun, the county magistrate, may I speak with you in private?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the bronze plaque in his hand, and Zhao Xie added, "This matter is of great importance."

Zhang Sanlang then stepped aside to clear the doorway. "Mr. Zhao, please come into the main room to talk."

He waved to the others in the courtyard and nodded to Sun Jizu.

Sun Jizu also put away his pistol, signaled Old Sun to go back, and then followed him into the main room.

Seeing that there was more to the story, Zhang Jin from next door quickly called Wan Qing back. Lü Sanbao returned to the gatehouse, and Huangfu Ce, after thinking for a moment, tugged at Wang Yue'e's sleeve and also returned to the west wing.

Lu Qiucheng had already quietly retreated to the east wing and gently closed the door when Zhao Xie showed the bronze plaque.

Zhang Sanlang entered the main room last, and when he turned around, Zhao Xie was already standing in front of the Eight Immortals table.

He first placed the bronze medal on the table, pushed it to the middle of the table, and then sat down by himself.

Zhang Sanlang and Sun Jizu sat on either side of each other, and simultaneously lowered their heads to examine the bronze plaque closely.

It is about three inches long and two fingers wide, with a dark gold color and silver edging at the four corners, each engraved with auspicious cloud patterns.

The top of the plaque is engraved with a dragon-tiger, from whose mouth a silver ribbon emerges.

The three seal characters "Huangchengsi" in the center are deeply engraved and filled with cinnabar, giving off a dark red glow under the candlelight.

Sun Jizu extended two fingers with his left hand and flipped the bronze plaque over.

The back has the three characters "探事司" (Detective Office) in the top horizontal row, "副指挥使、赵瀣信符" (Deputy Commander, Zhao Xie's Letter) in two lines in the middle, "太平兴国元年·拾僄" (First Year of Taiping Xingguo, 13th year) in small characters in the lower left corner, and "勾当皇城司签发" (Issued by the Imperial City Office) in the lower right corner.

Sun Jizu paused his finger on the words "Deputy Commander," glanced up at Zhao Xie, put the bronze plaque back on the table, and withdrew his left hand.

"To be honest with you two," Zhao Xie began, his voice lower than before, "I am the deputy commander of the Investigation Division. My trip to Juancheng with Li Taichu to assume my post is merely a cover; my true purpose is to investigate a case concerning the emperor. I am now recruiting you two as my assistants."

Zhang Sanlang kept a gloomy face and didn't reply.

Sun Jizu rested his left hand on his knee, his knuckles twitched, his brows furrowed into a deep knot, and his lips pursed even tighter.

Zhao Xie examined the two men's faces and, knowing they didn't want to help, had no choice but to take out two more bronze plaques from his pocket and throw them on the table.

The two plaques are similar in shape to the one from before, except they lack the silver edging.

Zhang Sanlang reached out and picked up a piece, turning it over. On the other side, the words "Detective Division" were also engraved, with his name, "Official in Charge, Zhang Shouli," engraved in two lines in the middle...

Sun Jizu picked up another piece and flipped it over; it was the same design, but the name had been changed to Sun Jizu.

Zhang Sanlang put the bronze plaque back, glanced at Zhao Xie, and sighed softly.

His eyelids had been twitching for the past two days. At first, he thought it was because he'd run into Wan Qing, and during the day, he thought it was because he'd encountered Zhang Yiniang. Now he finally understood—it was because he'd escaped from the Investigation Department, that damned and troublesome thing!

Zhao Xie then took out a third item from his pocket.

This time it was a roll of paper. I unfolded it and laid it on the table. The ink on the paper was still fresh, as if it had just been written this month.

Zhang Sanlang looked down at it once, then looked up at Zhao Xie again.

Sun Jizu also turned his head to glance at the characters, but found that he couldn't recognize them all, so he sat up straight again.

That was a requisition document:

Colluding with the Imperial City Records

Zhao Xie, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Bureau's Investigation Division, is currently on official business in Puzhou. It is hereby decreed that Zhang Shouli, a county clerk, and Sun Jizu, a county commandant, be temporarily appointed as his personal officers, to accompany him on his mission and to be subject to his command and control.

Whether or not the personal bronze badge received will be confiscated after the mission is completed depends on further instructions from this department.

Those who must present a written document.

Right document

Juancheng County, Puzhou

June 13th, the fifth year of the Taiping Xingguo era

Zhang Sanlang read the conscription document again from beginning to end, his gaze lingering on the words "temporary" and "temporary," and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He raised his head, his tone softening slightly, "Vice Envoy Zhao, since this is a temporary assignment, I dare not disobey military orders. However, what case are you investigating this time? Could you please inform me?"

Zhao Xie put away the conscription document and then took out a fourth item from his pocket.

This time it was an even smaller roll of paper, sealed with wax. He unwrapped it, unfolded it, and pushed it to the center of the table.

This is a secret letter, and it contains only three lines of text:

Suspecting that remnants of the previous dynasty were hiding within the territory of Puzhou, Zhao Xie was ordered to eradicate them completely.

This matter is confidential. All information should be sent by messenger to the headquarters. I, the commander, will handle it accordingly.

In case of any emergency, take this letter directly to the Puyang Military and Cavalry Detention Center and order them to immediately mobilize troops to cooperate.

Zhang Sanlang stared at those few lines of text for a long time, only to feel the sweat on his back sticking to his undergarment.

He looked away from the secret letter, picked up the cool tea on the table, took a sip, and put it back.

Zhao Xie wasn't finished yet; he pulled out a fifth item from his pocket.

Zhang Sanlang's lips twitched as he watched his pocket, which looked like a small warehouse, constantly being emptied of things.

It was another fold of paper. On top was Zhang Baoren's certificate, which stated that Zhao Xie recommended Zhang Shouli and Sun Jizu as temporary officials, and that a separate report would be submitted after the matter was completed.

Below is a prohibition agreement:

Imperial City Guard Prohibition

Zhao Xie, the deputy commander of the Imperial City Guard, is hereby ordered to temporarily transfer Zhang Shouli, a county clerk, and Sun Jizu, a county lieutenant, from Juancheng County, Puzhou, to serve as his personal attendants and to accompany him on his duties.

All the dealings are confidential. After the matter is completed, regardless of whether they stay or leave, both must remain silent for the rest of their lives. They must not divulge any information they have heard or seen to either of them. If they divulge even a single word, they will be severely punished for treason and will not be spared lightly.

Please be cautious and careful, lest you regret it later.

Right Approx.

Fu Zhang Shouli and Sun Jizu

June 26th, the fifth year of the Taiping Xingguo era

Zhang Sanlang glanced at Sun Jizu, who remained expressionless. Sun Jizu picked up the prohibition document with his left hand, held it up to the lamp, and read it through. He didn't recognize all the words, but he understood the general meaning. He put the document down and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

The main room was quiet for a while. Then Zhang Sanlang picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and signed his name on the prohibition agreement.

Sun Jizu took the pen, gripped the penholder with his left hand, tapped it a few times, and signed it.

Zhao Xie put the items back into his pocket, sat up straight, and his expression softened.

Zhang Sanlang put down his pen, his face expressionless. "Vice Envoy Zhao, you can speak now. What exactly do you want the lower-ranking officials and County Lieutenant Sun for?"

Zhao Xie smiled and said, "I came here on a secret imperial decree. I cannot bring a single soldier from the capital. I need to find manpower locally."

"Even Li Taichu only sees me as an ordinary official in charge of family affairs. He only knows that I have important business to attend to, but he doesn't know what I'm investigating. That's why I need to rely on the two of you. You are in charge of investigating the case, and County Lieutenant Sun is in charge of arresting the people."

Zhang Sanlang pondered for a moment, then a thought struck him: "Who should we investigate?"

Zhao Xie raised the corners of his mouth and looked at him without answering, his eyes seeming to test him.