Chapter 47: Good Archery

  Just after consulting with his elder brother, a government official came to the pharmacy and asked Lu Qi to see Wang Zhubu with a very unpleasant expression. Looking at that long face, he must have gone through a lot of trouble to find Lu Qi. The official only answered to the county government, so he was not afraid of offending the Hu Jun County Wei.

  Lu Qi's official uniform and County Wei's waist token were packed and ready, the yamen runner came to find him, carried the package, and wore a long gown to the county yamen. When they arrived at the county yamen, the yamen runner did not lead him in through the main gate, but instead led him to the left side door. After reporting inside, the yamen runner led Lu Qi into the Secretary's Side Hall.

  Lu Qi entered the door and saw Wang Zhubu sitting behind the desk. He went forward and bowed, saying: "I've seen you, Lord Wang."

  Wang Zhubu looked at him with a displeased expression, waved his hand to let the bailiff retreat, stood up and turned to face Lu Qi, saying: "Lord Lu seems to be very busy."

  According to official duties, the county registrar and county captain are one civil and one military, belonging to the same level of officials. The county lieutenant is half a level higher than the registrar and county captain, and the county magistrate is one level higher. According to the rules, King Registrar cannot control County Captain. However, in the official circle, background determines power, and Wang Registrar is a person with more power than County Magistrate.

  Lu Qi is about to resign, and the Lu family is also under Shi Dian County's jurisdiction, so he naturally has to humble himself and apologize. He said in a conciliatory tone: "Please forgive me, Your Honor, I've been busy with the Lu family's livelihood for the past two days."

  Wang Zhubu shot him a triangular glance and said coldly, "Lord Lu's handling of private matters in public has committed the crime of dereliction of duty for two days."

  Lu Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly realized that this Wang Zhongshu must have interrogated some messenger soldier. He calmly said: "Wang Gongren spoke too heavily, with both Lei and Song county captains present, what else could I be used for?"

  Wang Zhubu said coldly: "When in office, one should do what is required of the position. As the Protector of the County and the County Magistrate, how can you commit dereliction of duty just because you are dissatisfied?"

  Lu Qi calmly said: "Officer Wang, it seems like nothing big has happened in the past two days?"

  Wang Zhubu's face changed, and he said angrily: "Don't you know that Chen Hu was killed?"

  Lu Qi Ping calmly said: "I know, I heard it from my brother last night. Chen Hu is not an important figure, his death doesn't count as a big deal."

  Wang Zhubu said with a frown: "Chen Hu is a scholar with a reputation for his achievements, how can his death not be a big deal?"

  Lu Qi sneered, "Director Wang, there are many people with merits in Shitou County. What's the big deal about Chen Hu having merits? As far as I know, Chen Hu is just a small subordinate of County Magistrate Niu. If Chen Hu died, Director Niu can easily find someone to take his place and manage West Main Street. A local ruffian being killed by bandits, I don't think it's anything serious."

  Wang Zhubu gave Lu Qi a deep look and said coldly: "Lord Lu, according to the investigation, you just happened to be out of town when Chen Hu died."

  Lu Qiyan was taken aback and coldly said, "Lord Wang, isn't it a bit far-fetched to think that way? I don't know Chen Hu at all. I just have a small shop on West Street, and Chen Hu's men haven't given me any trouble either. Why would we have any grudges against each other?"

  Wang Zhubu calmly said: "Lord Lu, don't misunderstand, I just casually asked a question."

  Lu Qi didn't want to get entangled anymore and changed the subject: "Lord Wang, you summoned me, is it because the person in charge is anxious to wear the official uniform and waist token?"

  Wang Zhubu listened with a very calm expression and smiled lightly: "Lord Lu misunderstood, currently no one has taken over your position."

  Lu Qi was taken aback and said in surprise: "Lord Wang, it seems that someone has taken the blame for what you said the other day."

  Wang Zhubu smiled faintly and said, "This official has indeed mentioned that someone wants to take the position, but that was what Lei County Wei said. The provincial government has not issued any formal documents, so this official said it just to give Lord Lu a psychological preparation. For now, this matter still belongs to Lord Lu."

  Lu Qi understood, knowing that the county magistrate had changed his mind in the past two days. It was probably due to Chen Hu's tragic death, which intimidated the bigwigs in the county government, and they had no choice but to keep him, this good archer.

  He said with a sigh: "I see, if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have rushed to take care of personal matters."

  Wang Zhubu and Yan Dao said: "As long as Lord Lu can fulfill his duties, it's understandable if he occasionally handles some private matters."

  Lu Qi Gong bowed and said: "Thank you, sir, for your understanding."

  Wang Zhubu smiled and suddenly said seriously: "Lord Lu, the case of Chen Hu and his party being killed by bandits has caused unrest in Shitou County. Therefore, County Magistrate has decided to implement a patrol system outside the city. From tomorrow on, please lead your troops to be responsible for patrolling the roads leading to the four rural cities. The county will give you 100 taels of silver as a hardship allowance."

  Lu Qi was taken aback, thought for a moment and replied in a humble tone: "Sir Wang, I am willing to do my duty patrolling the rural roads outside the city, but the four rural roads are too vast, I am unable to take care of all of them. My ability can only protect two rural roads, please assign the other two rural roads to County Magistrates Lei and Song. I am willing to accept only 50 taels of hardship allowance."

  Wang Zhubu furrowed his brow, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded: "Alright, from now on, Lord Lu will be in charge of the safety of Wangjiang Slope Township and Dongliu Township's main road. If there are bandit attacks on the fortresses of both townships, Lord Lu must also go to their aid. The monthly hardship allowance is sixty taels."

  Lu Qi Gong Li said: "Thank you, Lord Wang."

  Wang Zhubu smiled faintly and said: "I hope Lord Lu will fulfill his duties conscientiously."

  Lu Qi Zheng said: "I won't let you down, but I have two more requests."

  Wang Zhubu was taken aback for a moment, and smiled faintly: "Please speak, Lord Lu."

  "Sir Wang, my first request is to ask you to dispatch laborers to build a simple beacon tower using bamboo between the village and the county town. Also, please inform the village to build another beacon tower within their walls, so that we can use beacons to transmit information about bandit movements in the future. My second request is that if a large group of bandits appears, I ask for your permission to mobilize thirty official soldiers from each of the two city gates to provide support."

  Wang Zhubu nodded after a moment's thought: "Alright."

  Lu Qi and Sheng Dao said: "Thank you for your support."

  Wang Zhubu and Yan Dao said: "Mr. Lu's request is for the purpose of eliminating bandits and pacifying the people, this official should support it."

  Lu Qi smiled and changed the subject, saying: "Lord Wang, I have something to ask you. Is it true that the county lieutenant of Shizai County is not on good terms with you?"

  Wang Zhubu looked at him and smiled faintly: "How could Lord Lu think that?"

  Lu Qi and Sheng said: "Lord Wang, I heard that the officialdom is not much different from the military, it has always been a matter of clear factional relationships. As the protector of the county, I was appointed by you, naturally I am in the same faction as you. Two days ago, I met with the two county lieutenants on either side, but they were very cold towards me. From this, it can be seen that the two county lieutenants are not on good terms with Lord Wang."

  Wang Zhubu smiled lightly and said, "Lord Lu misunderstood. This official has a good relationship with all colleagues in Shizai County. The county lieutenant's attitude towards Lord Lu is cold, probably because Lord Lu is a bit young."

  Lu Qi and Sheng Dao said: "The Magistrate has a good relationship with all his colleagues, including County Magistrate?"

  Wang Zhubu furrowed his brow upon hearing this, and Lu Qi added in a harmonious tone: "I met the county magistrate the other day, and he seemed very affable."

  Wang Zhubu glanced at Lu Qi and said indifferently, "Time will tell one's heart. Since Lord Lu thinks Lord Sun is very amiable, it won't hurt to get closer to him."

  Lu Qi shook his head and said in a harmonious tone, "Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand. I'm just a temporary protector of the county, and I'll eventually return to the army. Being close to you is enough for me. If I had intended to curry favor with Lord Sun, I wouldn't have told you."

  Wang Zhubu smiled and said: "Lord Lu is a wise man, I like to associate with wise people."

  Lu Qi smiled and bowed: "Lord Wang, if there's anything in the future, just give orders, I won't disturb your official business anymore, farewell."

  "Someone is here to see Master Lu." Wang Zhubu called out, and the yamen runner who had brought Lu Qi here responded by coming in and politely escorting Lu Qi out of the county office.

  Just as Lu Qi left, an official with a round face and a slight mustache, who had a gentle expression, walked in from another side door of the study. As soon as he entered, he said disapprovingly, "Your Excellency should not have let him haggle over the price."

  "Lord Niu, please don't misunderstand," said Wang Zhu Bo with a smile. "My bottom line is to let him patrol two rural roads. If Song County Wei is too proud and has nothing to do, it's also for the greater good that we have to compromise. Now the banditry in Shitou County has reached the city limits, seriously affecting our vital interests."

  County Magistrate Niu frowned and said: "Your Excellency has been using this surname Lu for a long time, what about your nephew?"

  Wang Zhubu sighed lightly: "There's no way, we can only refuse."

  "Refuse. As the governor is involved in military and administrative affairs, and there are also connections within the imperial court, we cannot afford to offend them." The county lieutenant frowned, questioning Wang's decision.

  Wang Zhubu said coldly, "The position of Hu Jun County Wei is a very dangerous job. You also know Zhao Zhao's abilities, and even he was killed by bandits. If we let Lord Yu's nephew take the position of Hu Jun County Wei, what if he dies in Shitou County? How can we explain it to Lord Yu? What kind of temper does Lord Yu's nephew have, and how great are his abilities - you know better than me. If we really appoint him as Hu Jun County Wei, can we let him stay in the city and do nothing?"