Chapter 17: The Recruitment Storm

  These two soldiers were Zhang Jun's bodyguards, and they were his confidants. Suddenly seeing the governor ask, pointing inside and stuttering, he said: "Zhang, Governor Zhang is resting inside."

  Liu Xin seemed to have read something from the faces of these two soldiers, and did not continue to walk in. He stopped and said, "Go, call him out."

  A soldier rushed in hastily. In just a moment, Zhang Jun ran out neatly dressed, with only two black eyes, and saluted Liu Xin: "Sir, you came so early, I didn't welcome you."

  Liu Xin said expressionlessly: "It seems that this official has disturbed Mr. Zhang's good dream."

  Zhang Jun heard Liu Xin's words and sweat broke out on his forehead, stuttering: "Your subordinate, your subordinate..."

  Liu Xin waved his hand and said: "No need to explain. Tell me, how's the situation handled over here? The military camp still needs you to temporarily take charge."

  "Sir, the account books are all inside. Why don't you take a look yourself? It's just that... it's a bit messy."

  Liu Xin said discontentedly, "Since you know it's a bit messy, then spend more time tidying up, and less effort on women's bellies. At such a big age, you still don't pay attention."

  "Your Honor, I assure you, I didn't sleep all night, just sorting out the account books. Absolutely did not approach any woman."

  Liu Xin was somewhat surprised after hearing this: "You get up and talk first. Have you been sorting out the account book all night?"

  Zhang Jun got up trembling and said: "Your subordinate is really sorting out the account book."

  Liu Xin still didn't believe it: "You really haven't messed with Li Chengjia's woman? Then why are these two soldiers speaking in a roundabout way?"

  "Your Honor, that's a misunderstanding. The women in this house are indeed beautiful, but they were all selected by me to be sent to your mansion as gifts. I didn't dare touch any of them. I spent the whole night sorting out accounts and didn't even close my eyes."

  Liu Xin said irritably: "Take me in to see the account book."

  Zhang Jun finally breathed a sigh of relief, leading Liu Xin into the house, only to see that the floor was piled high with bamboo slips. Liu Xin picked up one and flipped through it, seeing that the writing on it was messy and illegible, and couldn't help but furrow his brow, saying: "Who wrote this?"

  "These were all personally recorded by your subordinate."

  Liu Xin glanced at him and said: "You are now concurrently serving as the county magistrate, chief historian, and commander of the garrison, can't you find someone to help?"

  Zhang Jun replied, "Most of the officials in this county are Li Cheng's trusted followers. The only ones I can trust are these bodyguards, but they are illiterate, so I think it's better for me to do it myself."

  Liu Xin couldn't help but laugh at his self-satisfied look: "Officer Zhang, how did you manage to become the head historian?"

  "Your Honor, I spent 12 million to buy it," Zhang Jun said with a red face.

  Liu Xin muttered to himself, "No wonder!", but thinking that he had also spent 30 million to become the governor, he couldn't say anything more. He could only instruct: "Speed up the action! Tell the soldiers participating in the confiscation that they are absolutely not allowed to hide or embezzle private goods. Take out 20% of the confiscated family property and divide it among you and these soldiers. Divide the rest into two parts, one part will be sent to the prefectural treasury, and the other part will be prepared for submission to the imperial court."

  Zhang Junxi was overjoyed: "Thank you, sir! I'll send those women to your mansion right away."

  Liu Xin scolded: "Nonsense! Drive all the Li family members out of the city, let them fend for themselves. Hurry up and do it!"

  Zhang Jun looked at Liu Xin's receding back, feeling that his clothes were soaked from the inside out. Liu Xin left Li Cheng's house and saw that it was still early, so he thought of going to the military camp to take a look. Considering that Dian Wei wasn't following him, he felt it was somewhat risky for him to go alone. What if one of Li Cheng's loyal soldiers chopped him down with a knife? Wouldn't that be unjust? After some deliberation, Liu Xin could only return home.

  As they approached the gate of the governor's mansion, they saw the soldiers guarding the door blocking several people from entering. Liu Xin took a closer look and found it was Zhao Yun and his daughter Fan Jing, he was overjoyed and stepped forward saying: "Zhao Yun, you've arrived just in time!"

  Three people heard the sound and turned their heads, seeing Liu Xin, also happily came to welcome them. Zhao Yun said: "Liu sir, we arrived outside the city last night, but the city gate was already closed and could not enter the city, so we stayed in a village outside the city for one night, and rushed into the city early this morning. The soldiers at the gate refused to let us in."

  Liu Xin grabbed Zhao Yun's hand and said, "Don't mind them, come in with me quickly."

  Fan Jing stepped forward and said nervously: "Lord Liu, the humble commoner has already sold all his property, I don't know what position you plan to arrange for Zhao Yun."

  Liu Xin didn't answer, but smiled and asked: "Fan Lichang, can you recognize characters? Can you understand this account book?"

  Fan Jing replied: "As a humble commoner, I have read a few years of books and served as the head of this village. Every year, I also collect rent and taxes, and I can understand these accounts."

  Liu Xing was delighted: "That's great, that's great. You can be a clerk in the governor's office for now."

  Fan Jing saw that Zhao Yun had not been arranged, but he himself had already gotten a position. Suddenly, he had another idea: "Could it be that this Lord Liu really has taken a liking to my daughter?" He didn't care about Zhao Yun anymore and stepped forward saying: "Thank you, sir. We've just arrived in Hejian and don't have anywhere to settle down. Would it be possible for us father and daughter to stay in this mansion first?"

  Liu Xin said: "That's natural, the three of you will live in the mansion first. This west wing is Dian Wei's residence, and the east wing can be for the three of you to live."

  Fan Jing still saw that he was living with Zhao Yun, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. However, he didn't dare say anything else, so he just nodded in agreement.

  Liu Xin said to the two soldiers following behind him, "You two, help them settle down, and then take Mr. Fan to find Zhang Jun, just say I sent you to help." Only after that did he turn to Zhao Yun and say, "Zhao Yun, you are still young now, it's not suitable to arrange any official position for you, first be responsible for helping me recruit personal soldiers, train well, and in the future, take on important tasks."

  Zhoa Yun saw Fan Jing and suddenly had an arrangement, feeling unhappy in his heart. Only now did he realize that Liu Xin was going to entrust him with a great responsibility. Suddenly, he wanted to make a good impression on his future father-in-law: "Don't worry, sir, I'll go right away."

  Liu Xin did not expect him to be so impatient, and he hastily called out to him: "Wait a minute. After repeated consideration, the personal soldiers recruited this time cannot be fewer, but more precise. You must grasp it well and recruit 1,000 people. In addition, the military quota of Hejian should have 6,000 people, and now there are less than 3,000 people in the barracks. You also recruit to make up for it at the same time."

  Zhao Yun received Liu Xin's order and did not enter the governor's mansion. He hastily rushed to Wang Xue's recruitment stall. When Wang Xue heard that this young man in front of him was personally appointed by Liu Xin, he thought that this young man must be a relative of the governor, so he didn't dare to neglect him, but instead let Zhao Yun sit in the middle.

  At this time, the sky was already bright, and the people who came to respond to the recruitment gradually increased. Zhao Yun really took charge, instructing the clerk to register and record the recruits, only recruiting young men between 18 and 22 years old, and rejecting those who were too old or too young. All must undergo his personal interview, and those who were too fat, too thin, too tall, or too short would not be accepted. Those who failed the selection could still join the army as ordinary soldiers, but they would never become part of this governor's personal guard.

  Everyone knows that ordinary soldiers and the governor's personal guards are different. The people of Hebei are mostly martial, and those who were not selected naturally did not accept it, so they started to stir up trouble. Wang Lei couldn't suppress them. Zhao Yun saw this, jumped onto the table, and shouted loudly: "If you don't accept it, then fight with me! Whoever can withstand three rounds under my hands will be considered as passing!"

  Among the losers, many were self-proclaimed martial arts experts who deceived him as a child and came out to challenge Zhao Yun one after another. Zhao Yun did not refuse anyone, and in one day, he defeated more than 200 people in a row, and no one could walk through a round under his hands. In the following days, fewer and fewer people dared to challenge Zhao Yun until there was none at all.

  This matter spread like wildfire, and soon the whole of Hejian Prefecture was talking about the young boy named Zhao Yun from the governor's mansion. It was said that this boy was a relative of Governor Liu, with exceptional martial arts skills, unbeatable in all of Hejian, and his reputation had already surpassed that of Tian Wei, the ruthless killer who had slaughtered people like chopping vegetables just a few days ago.

  On this day, in a hotel in Kawachi County, several guests were discussing this matter.

  A guest asked someone next to him, "Hasn't Governor Taishou been recruiting his personal troops for several days now?"

  "He replied: 'Today is already the ninth day.'"

  Another guest said: "I heard no one has ever won a fight against Zhao Yun."

  The guest who spoke first sneered and said: "Want to win? How is that possible. So far, no one has been able to withstand even a single round under his hands."

  A person at the next table said, "Yesterday I went to see that Zhao Yun, he's just a teenager, except for being a bit taller, there's nothing special about him, how can he be so fierce?"

  Another one said: "I heard that this Zhao Yun is a relative of the governor, from Changshan. It's a pity that we, so many people from Hejian, can't defeat a young boy, it's really shameful!"

  But it is said that Hejian County belonged to Zhao during the Warring States period, and the people of Yan and Zhao were mostly fond of martial arts, with a generous temperament, often having heroic figures. These few guests spoke unintentionally, but on the other side, a big Han listened intentionally. Suddenly, a loud "slap" was heard, and the big Han slapped the table and stood up: "You bunch of cowards, each afraid of the governor, deliberately losing to a child, ruining the prestige of Hejian's heroes! I'll go teach that kid a lesson." After finishing speaking, he overturned the table and headed towards the governor's mansion without looking back. The crowd saw this and shouted, rushing out in a swarm, closely following the big Han. Along the way, people discussed and speculated, some saying it was another case of seeking trouble, while others said that this man looked strong and powerful like a good hero, making it hard to predict the outcome. As they walked, more and more people gathered, nearly emptying the streets, all rushing towards the governor's mansion.

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