Chapter Five: Helpless Idle Difference

  This man Wang Tong recognized him as the attendant who followed his father to Macau that day, only a low-ranking officer named Zhang Shiqiang.

  Zhang Shiqiang's family was originally a wealthy household in Tongzhou, and they used silver to let him join the Imperial Guard, thinking that Zhang Shiqiang could provide some protection for his family. However, as soon as he joined, the Zhang family suffered a robbery, and in the middle of the night, bandits broke in and killed everyone, causing the family to fall into ruin instantly.

  Without money or power, Zhang Shijiang could only make a living in the Brocade Guard, always being careful and never daring to offend anyone, even earning himself the nickname "Face Melon".

  Zhang Shiqiang is actually quite robust, but at the age of thirty, his waist and back are slightly hunched, which is also due to his usual humble and reserved nature.

  Seeing Wang coming over, Zhang Shiqiang hesitated for a moment and stepped forward, saying in a low voice:

  "Wang brothers, early this morning, Grand Master Tian has assigned your duties, and you have been placed under the command of Lord Liu to handle affairs..."

  "Lord Liu, isn't it General Liu Xinyong?!"

  Outside the gate, there were only two of them. Hearing this, Wang Tong suddenly became somewhat anxious. Since Liu Xinyong's plan to seize his family property had failed, he must have been resentful. With such a superior officer, it was easy to imagine what would happen in the future.

  When Wang Tong called out his name in a bad tone, Zhang Shijiang was so frightened that he kept waving his hands and pulled Wang Tong to the side of the road, complaining:

  "Brother Wang, how can you directly call out Mr. Liu's name like that? Moreover, according to the rules, when a junior fills in for a senior, they should be from the same group as their father. Back then, Lord Wang was also under Mr. Liu's jurisdiction, so he should..."

  Looking at Zhang Shiqiang's worried appearance, Wang Tong also felt disheartened. He still remembered when they went to Macau, he had to address him as "Uncle", now this person calls himself his brother, what's the point of being cautious anymore?

  In official matters, personal relationships cannot be brought in. Wang Tong, who was well-versed in the ways of the workplace, naturally understood this. He took a few deep breaths and bowed his fist to Zhang Shiqiang, saying:

  "Thanks for Zhang's reminder, I don't know where I should go on duty?"

  Wang Tong asked the question, and Zhang Shijiang rubbed his hands together, hesitated for a long time before speaking intermittently:

  "Director Liu said, Brother Wang, you and I will stay behind together, ready to be deployed at any time, no need to be on duty."

  As soon as the words were spoken, Wang Tong's face suddenly turned indifferent, but in his heart he was furious. This Liu Xinyong had no grudge against him, and what he did was too extreme.

  Staying behind and not taking the shift sounds like a leisurely job, but in reality, it can cut off one's financial path. Wang Tong also has a deep family background and modern experience, so he naturally understands the tricks involved.

  Brocade-clad imperial guards received the same standard of silver and grain allowances as other guard units, but the actual distribution was also subject to the same standard, resulting in only nine or ten months' worth of allowance being issued each year. Furthermore, this amount would be embezzled at every level from top to bottom, leaving the soldiers with barely enough to survive. Yet, the Brocade-clad imperial guards possessed various powers that allowed them to arrest and sentence people without going through official channels, striking fear into the hearts of both officials and commoners.

  Starting from the Jingtai period, the Jin Yiwei began to send small flags, school lieutenants and lictors to various streets in Beijing for rotation, known as investigation and search, to assist Shuntian Prefecture and Bingsi in maintaining law and order.

  In fact, they went to shops, stalls and various industries to collect regular silver money, which is what later generations called protection fees. These regular fees were quite generous, and this was the most basic economic source of the Brocade Guard.

  As for being sent to various places on business, as well as the commander-in-chief and above the hundred households and thousand households, there are naturally people who take the initiative to pay their respects, or send up dry shares, so it's not necessary to show off and waste energy.

  Zhang Shiqiang is more than twice as old as Wang Tong, and they had never interacted before. He always thought of Wang Tong as just a kid, but today he discovered that wasn't the case.

  His demeanor and speech are completely like an adult's, when communicating with him, I always feel a sense of being oppressed.

  He didn't know what to do, Wang Tong clenched his fists and then relaxed them, but a smile had already appeared on his face. Although Bai Hu Tian Rong Hao did take his silver, he also helped him get into the Brocade Guard and arranged for Zhang Shi Qiang to wait outside instead of being a servant in his own home, which meant that both parties were now even.

  The nephew makes up for the father's generation's lack of share, which is also a rule. What Liu Xinyong thinks in his heart is not said, but what he does can't be picked out as a problem. If he doesn't follow the distribution and wants to stir up trouble, it might just fall into the trap set by someone with ulterior motives.

  Since I've already entered this system, I'll just stay for now and wait for an opportunity.

  Those who have muddled through their careers naturally understand this truth. Wang Tong has now calmed down, at least on the surface, and smiled with a clasped fist:

  "Zhang, little brother has just joined Jin Yiwei and doesn't know what this 'liushou' is all about. Can you tell me?"

  "What else can be done, just come here every day, punch in, do something if there is work to be done, and go back home if not."

  Wang Tong felt a wave of weakness in his heart. Wasn't this just hanging someone up? However, his expression didn't change much, and he smiled and nodded slightly.

  The courtyard of the Brocade Guard's hundred households was very quiet, and people from all over the Brocade Guard had gone out to work as attendants. Ordinary people would rather take a detour than get close to this place.

  Tian's private residence was inaccessible, so the two of them stayed outside in the courtyard until it was about to get dark. They had arrived at noon, but by evening, no one had returned, until Zhang Shiqiang called out to him to head back together.

  At that time when he had just joined the company, his disapproving supervisor didn't assign him any specific tasks, so he sat in a corner with this notebook for a whole day. It's really similar to now, Wang Tong thought with a bitter smile.

  Although it was chilly in Jin Yi Wei, I got up early the next day and went to the registration point. As I walked on the road, I felt a difference from usual days.

  He wore a brocade robe with a sword embroidered with spring at his waist, and his attire was not eye-catching or luxurious. However, every early-rising passerby he met was filled with reverence and subconsciously avoided him.

  This is the majesty of the Brocade Guard, accumulated from the Hongwu era in the civil and military officials and people all over the world, even making people dare not look directly.

  Wang Tong had never experienced such treatment, whether in modern times or now. As he walked on the road, he unconsciously puffed out his chest and lifted his head, feeling much lighter all over.

  He still arrived early this time. The gate of the Tanaka residence was empty, and no one was there. He stood there for a while before the servant from yesterday came out from inside.

  Although they had met before, the servant didn't greet them and instead took out his tools, fetched a bucket of water and started sweeping the entrance.

  Wearing a green robe and small hat, he looks like a servant at first glance. His white beard and hair are bent with age, his waist and back hunched over, and he walks unsteadily, carrying tools in one hand and water in the other.

  Wang Tong hesitated for a moment and then stepped forward with a smile, saying:

  "Old man, let me help you!"

  The old servant looked at Wang Tong with a somewhat disdainful expression, and after seeing the childishness on his face, he coldly said:

  "But want a little old man to go and tell the hundred households' master what, that's not to be hoped for, the hundred households' master is such a big shot, how can a little old man get in a word..."

  There is still one more tomorrow afternoon, slow recovery but stable, thank you everyone