Chapter 11

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As expected, with Chen Zhiyuan’s words, Liu Qingshan’s eyes, which had just narrowed, sparkle more and more at this moment. He slammed down the gavel in his hand once again. “How dare Li Chuang, nicknamed Soul Chasing Saber, went up the mountain to be a bandit. You harmed the villagers, roared in court, and were disrespectful. If I didn’t investigate thoroughly, wouldn’t you have succeeded? Give him eighty strokes and hit him hard! I want to see whether he will confess or not!”

A command arrow was thrown from the table of the county magistrate.

The bailiffs on the left and right immediately understood what the county magistrate meant. The fire sticks in their hands hit the flesh. They hit him with eighty strokes without stopping.

Only then did a bailiff lower his body to check the breath of the two people. He stood up and reported, “Reporting to the County Magistrate. These two people didn’t resist and died.”

“Those two are just traitors. They deserve to die!”

Liu Qingshan snorted coldly and turned his head to look at Adviser Tang.

Adviser Tang had long understood. He took out two sheets of paper that had just been written and came down to the hall. He grabbed the two dead men’s fingers and signed them.

The other few scribes in the hall looked at each other and secretly lowered their heads.

“County Magistrate, I have another matter.”

Chen Zhiyuan took the opportunity to step forward. The county magistrate had already settled the matter to such an extent that there was no room for maneuver. It was time for him to make his move.

“Oh? Is there anything else, Patriot Chen?”

Liu Qingshan was especially friendly to the people at the moment. He asked Chen Zhiyuan with a smile on his face.

“Reporting to the County Magistrate, Xu Qingfeng, the young master of the Xu family, still owes me five thousand copper coins. Since you are going to search and confiscate the Xu family, can you allow me to retrieve these five thousand copper coins? This is the written receipt that Xu Qingfeng has written. Please take a look at it, County Magistrate.”

Chen Zhiyuan immediately took out the IOU. Adviser Tang stood up and received it before transferring it to the county magistrate’s table.

Liu Qingshan glanced at the IOU. The words “10,000 coins” were very clear. A strange look flashed across his eyes as he looked up at Chen Zhiyuan. “5,000?”

“Yes, my Lord. It’s exactly 5,000. If you hadn’t lent me 5,000 coins in advance to buy weapons and sent someone to inform me, My wife and I would have lost our lives. How would I be able to demand 5,000 coins from Xu Qingfeng?”

Chen Zhiyuan stepped forward silently and bowed with a smile.

“Mm, not bad!”

“This guy has great foresight!”

Liu Qingshan was full of smiles. He turned to look at Adviser Tang and said, “Adviser, since the Xu family owes Patriot Chen five thousand coins, it’s only right to return it to him. He’s just a commoner. It’s not right for him to follow the government to search and seize the family. I see that Patriot Chen is loyal and brave. He’s a promising talent. What other positions are there in the government office that could allow Patriot Chen to take on for a short while?”

“My Lord. The bailiffs in squad three have reported sick and returned home. There is no candidate yet. Patriot Chen is quite capable. He is more than enough to be a temporary constable.”

Adviser Tang stood up and reported.

“In that case, Chen Zhiyuan, you will be the temporary constable of squad three. You will lead fifteen of the main bailiffs and thirty helpers of my squad. You will be allowed to bring your weapons to raid the Xu Residence and retrieve your five thousand coins. The rest will be brought back to me, and not a single cent less. I want to report this to the imperial court. If you do well, I will personally ask the high-ranking official for your merit and let your position become official!”

Liu Qingshan looked at Chen Zhiyuan and smiled.

“I, Commoner Chen Zhiyuan, thank you, my Lord! Don’t worry, my Lord. I will not let you down.” Chen Zhiyuan responded while cupping his fists.

“Okay, go! Remember, you are now an official. Next time, remember your title. Don’t call yourself a commoner,” Liu Qingshan reminded him.

“Yes, thank you, my Lord!”

Chen Zhiyuan quickly thanked him.

Liu Qingshan was overjoyed and immediately called the squad three bailiffs. He asked them to bring their helpers and follow Chen Zhiyuan to raid the Xu Residence.

“We pay our respects to Constable Chen.”

“Greetings, Constable Chen!”

Upon hearing the county magistrate’s order, the bailiffs in squad three who were most likely to be the constable, came over to pay their respects to Chen Zhiyuan. Their tone was not good, but since the county magistrate had given the order, it could not be considered bad.

Chen Zhiyuan did not mind. After all, he appeared out of nowhere and snatched other people’s positions. It was normal for them to have a few complaints. After receiving the document to search and confiscate the family, he led everyone out of the office.

After walking for a few miles, he called all the bailiffs together.

“Brothers, I know that the constable position in squad three should have been yours. In the end, the county magistrate let me take over this position temporarily. I also know that some of you have grudges, but for this matter, you must do your best!”

“We do not dare. Constable Chen, you were appointed by the county magistrate himself, and you have killed so many bandits. Naturally, we are convinced. Don’t worry, we will not dare to slack off!”

“That’s right. Constable Chen, we will listen to your orders!”

Seeing that Chen Zhiyuan did not hide anything and directly opened up, the bailiffs also expressed their stance.

“That’s good. I, Chen Zhiyuan, have just arrived, and I’m not familiar with everyone. But there’s one thing good about me. I have never mistreated my brothers!”

“Although the county magistrate said that he wants every single cent to be brought back from the Xu family during this raid, I can’t let everyone go on this trip for nothing. You should follow what you normally do. Also, I will take out 1,000 of the 5,000 coins that the Xu family owes me and share them with all of you. I hope that everyone will not let the cat out of the bag and let the county magistrate think that I am trying to bribe you.”

Chen Zhiyuan lowered his voice slightly and swept his gaze over the faces of everyone present.

For this raid, he would be going after Xu Qingfeng’s life. Since he wasn’t familiar with these people, he had to give them some benefits if he wanted them to sacrifice their lives for him.

Since he had the system in hand, these one thousand coins weren’t very important to him, but it would be worth it to buy the hearts of the people sooner or later.

All the bailiffs were shocked when they heard this.

This new constable not only knew their methods very well, but he also took out his own money to share with them. Moreover, it was such a large sum of money!

How could they not be convinced?

“Constable Chen, don’t worry. We will definitely not let the cat out of the bag. From now on, we will follow your orders. Whoever dares to disobey or reveal anything, I will personally scratch him!”

One of the bailiffs bowed and acknowledged. Then, he glared fiercely at everyone.

“Brother Wang is right. From now on, we will listen to Constable Chen!”

“That’s right! Constable Chen, just let us know what you want us to do. We will not hesitate!”

The other bailiffs also expressed their stances one after another. They rubbed their fists and were ready to go all out.

“Alright! Brothers, with your words, I am relieved. The young master of the Xu family, Xu Qingfeng, colluded with the Black Wind Mountain rebels. The county magistrate said that he only wanted the money. He did not say what he would do to the Xu family’s elders and children. Brothers, remember, I want Xu Qingfeng’s life! Everyone in the Xu Residence with the surname Xu already knew what was going on. Not a single one of them will be spared! As for the rest of the servants, let them go if you can. We will only kill the rebels. Don’t kill too many of them, so that we can accumulate some virtue for our children and grandchildren.”

Seeing that the morale of the army could be used, Chen Zhiyuan could be considered to have given an official order.

“Constable Chen, don’t worry! We understand now. We will only kill the rebels with the surname Xu! Not a single one will be spared!”

All the bailiffs cupped their fists and answered the order in unison.