In a chaotic and famine-stricken era, I picked up an empress to be my wife.

"Future wife of the county magistrate, let's go keep an eye on Shen An together!" Ma Qiang said with a smile.

Upon hearing such a title, Zhao Feng felt her heart almost soar.

She felt that choosing to become Ma Tianming's informant was the best decision she had ever made.

Her grandfather and her dull-witted younger brother were so obsessed with repaying Shen An that they were utterly foolish.

Half an hour later, Ma Tianming arrived at the county government office.

Upon entering the main hall, he discovered that in addition to County Magistrate Zhu Shigui and Registrar Qian Guangzhi, County Assistant Liu Wenyuan, with whom he had been engaged in open and covert struggles for many years, was also present.

Zhu Shigui was in his early fifties, tall and thin, with a goatee on his chin. He wore a blue official robe and looked unremarkable, but when his eyes darted around, everyone knew that this man was no ordinary person.

Qian Guangzhi was in his forties, with a fair complexion, a pointed chin, and two mustaches. He sat in a chair with his back slightly hunched, his fingers fidgeting with his cuffs, as if he were always plotting something.

Ma Tianming stepped forward to pay his respects.

Zhu Shigui stroked his goatee and slowly began to speak: "Ma Tianming, the military governor wants to transport a batch of grain from my Qingyang County to Qiangbei County. Seeing that you have performed well recently, I have assigned this task to you."

"Qiangbei County!"

Ma Tianming's expression changed slightly.

Qiangbei County was located in the northern border of Yangnan Prefecture, a place attacked by the Western Barbarian tribes.

If he were to be ambushed by the Western Barbarians while escorting grain supplies, he would lose his life.

The registrar, Qian Guangzhi, got up and walked up to him, lowering his voice: "Hehe, they say it's grain and fodder, but actually it's the Jiedushi's concubine who wants to eat the peaches from our Qingyang County. The Western barbarians won't rob you."

"When you return with the supplies, you'll be a hero for transporting grain, and the magistrate will have reason to promote you to county lieutenant, even if it's not a formal promotion."

Ma Tianming was overjoyed, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Liu Wenyuan sitting next to him, his face ashen, which showed how upset he was by the news!

"Ma Tianming, are you willing to take on this role and share the burden of the military governor?" Zhu Shigui's voice rang out again.

Ma Tianming immediately adopted a loyal demeanor, stepping forward and bowing, saying, "Sir, for the sake of Yangnan Prefecture and for the sake of Great Liang, I am willing to risk my life to escort the grain!"

"Hahaha, they truly are fine young men of Qingyang County!" Zhu Shigui clapped his hands and laughed.

He had long wanted to promote Ma Tianming exceptionally so as to completely suppress the remaining forces left by the previous magistrate.

However, I've been struggling to find a suitable opportunity.

It wasn't until his butler, Zhu Xing, came up with this idea last night that he made the arrangements overnight.

What Zhu Shigui didn't know was that Liu Wenyuan, though wearing a long face, was thinking to himself, "Finally, I've been tricked!"

This is the beginning of his dismantling of Magistrate Zhu Shigui's power and restoring a peaceful and prosperous Qingyang County. They can all just wait to die!

"Master, when shall I depart?" Ma Tianming asked impatiently.

Zhu Shigui stroked his beard: "Judging by the days, the Western barbarians should be attacking Qiangbei County today."

You should set off early the day after tomorrow.

Remember, the supplies must be delivered without fail.

"Yes! Your subordinate will deliver the supplies safely!" Ma Tianming straightened his back.

Zhu Shigui looked at Liu Wenyuan with a smile: "Wenyuan, you have no objection to this, right?"

Liu Wenyuan stood up, feigning a grim expression: "Sir, everyone has their own expertise. Escorting grain should be done by real soldiers."

Officer Ma is in charge of maintaining order and catching thieves; this isn't his line of work.

"Wen Yuan, everyone else has been transferred to support the front lines or is responsible for defending the city. They don't have time." Zhu Shigui's tone was unquestionable: "This matter is settled."

Liu Wenyuan's expression changed, he clutched his chest and said he was feeling unwell, then turned and left the lobby.

Zhu Shigui, Ma Tianming, and Qian Guangzhi exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

"Liu Wenyuan is going to be dumbfounded now." Qian Guangzhi stroked his rat whiskers and laughed in a shrill voice, "Once Tianming becomes the new county magistrate, we'll kill this bastard!"

"Although Liu Wenyuan is bound to die, he still needs to take the blame for the bandit incident, so there's no rush."

Zhu Shigui stroked his goatee and turned to Ma Tianming: "Quickly find someone to take over your work and make sure everything runs smoothly after you leave. Don't let that Liu guy take advantage of any loopholes."

"yes!"

Ma Tianming immediately left the county government office, arranged for someone to hand over the affairs at hand, and then rode his horse to the mass grave in Qingtian Village.

This area is under his jurisdiction, and he needs to explain things clearly to Ma Qiang before leaving, letting him temporarily take charge.

When they arrived at the mass grave, Ma Qiang came up to them. Hearing that he was really going to be promoted to county magistrate, he was so excited that his eyes lit up.

If his cousin gets promoted, the position of head constable will be his sooner or later.

Zhao Feng stood far away behind a sloping hill, not daring to get too close, but seeing the excitement on the two people's faces, she felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.

The position of the county magistrate's wife is secure.

She turned back to look at her grandfather and younger brother, who were working diligently, and Shen An, who was standing on a high place directing them. A smirk appeared on her lips, and her eyes were full of disdain.

Ma Tianming pulled Ma Qiang aside and gave him a few instructions, then summoned all the corpse carriers and announced it to the public.

He had to go out on important business, and Shen An remained the team leader, but he had to follow Ma Qiang's arrangements in everything.

The old corpse carriers from Qingtian Village looked grim, but the group that came with Ma Qiang suddenly became lively again.

Before leaving, Ma Tianming found Shen An alone and whispered that the practice of falsely reporting the number of people could not be stopped.

Shen An's heart skipped a beat. Ma Tianming's sudden departure probably meant that things had gone well with Liu Wenyuan.

Did Ma Tianming fall for a trap?

To confirm, he nodded and bowed in response, then tentatively asked, "Officer Ma, you suddenly had to leave on urgent business. Are you about to be promoted?"

"Oh, you were right." Ma Tianming's lips curled into a smug smile. "After this is done, I'll be promoted to county lieutenant."

What exactly we're doing is a secret and cannot be disclosed.

You shouldn't ask questions you shouldn't ask!

He patted Shen An on the shoulder, promising him a lucrative future, "Work hard, and I might promote you in the future."

But the mockery in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Shen An appeared respectful, but his heart was boiling. Killing Ma Tianming was easy for him, but the difficult part was the consequences he would have to bear afterward.

Now that Liu Wenyuan is in charge, he can frame the Western Barbarians. What else does he have to worry about?

Ma Tianming, you will die.

After Ma Tianming left, Ma Qiang immediately started putting on airs.

He first ordered everyone to stop wearing those gas masks that he thought were extremely ugly, and then placed his confidants in various positions, effectively sidelining Shen An.

Shen An didn't utter a sound the whole time, and Ma Qiang was extremely pleased with himself. He thought that his cousin had said this kid was not simple, but wasn't he just a coward?

Zhao Feng felt a great sense of satisfaction seeing Shen An's discomfiture.

Unbeknownst to them, Shen An was already plotting how to deal with them after Ma Tianming's death!

At midnight, Liu Wenyuan, dressed in black, evaded the night watchmen and sneaked to Shen An's door.

He explained in detail the specific route Ma Tianming took to transport the grain, the departure time, and the number of people accompanying Ma Tianming.

Finally, he looked up at the moon in the sky and asked, "Shen An, now that things are done, shouldn't you go and hire a hitman?"

If we don't act now, we'll miss our chance.