Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 176: Chapter 2 The Ecology of the Yongzhou Government Office, The Role of the Guardian Martial Department Dispatch Office

After solemnly assuring Shen Qing of a few matters, the small official from the Personnel Office carried Shen Qing's appointment letter and Registration Certificate, strolling leisurely to a government office with white walls and black tiles.

Upon reaching the entrance, the small official paused, clasped his hands, and respectfully called inside, "Your Excellency, there is someone outside who claims to be Shen Qing, holding an appointment letter and Registration Certificate, coming to our Military Department to seek employment."

"Shen Qing?" A woman's voice emerged from inside the government office, her tone laced with a hint of doubt, clearly unfamiliar with this name, "What position is being sought?"

"The position of a dispatcher. The appointment letter and Registration Certificate are both here."

"Let me have a look."

"Yes."

The small official from the Personnel Office walked in and carefully placed Shen Qing's appointment letter and Registration Certificate on the long table, then retreated to the doorway.

The woman sitting behind the table was stunningly beautiful, her hair piled up high, her skin as delicate as if it were carved from jade.

The sunlight, streaming through the window lattice, fell on her skin, casting a translucent sheen.

At that moment, she was dressed in a white martial outfit, her graceful curves outlining a perfect figure, her chest almost spilling out.

Stay tuned with M V L

This woman was none other than Huangfu Rou, the Chief Officer of the Yongzhou Military Department, the legitimate daughter of the Huangfu family.

Huangfu Rou, accustomed to high positions for many years, emanated an aura of someone of high status with her every move, commanding involuntary respect.

She took Shen Qing's appointment letter and Registration Certificate into her hands and examined them one by one.

The appointment letter was fine, but this Registration Certificate...

"Someone from Taiping County?"

"Judging by his accent, he does indeed seem to be from Taiping County."

Huangfu Rou's brows slightly furrowed as she glanced at an official letter from the prefectural governor lying beside the long table.

Moments later, Huangfu Rou spoke, "Give the Registration Certificate back to him, and keep his appointment letter here with me for a few days for consideration. Tell him to come back the day after tomorrow."

"Yes."

In the room next to the Personnel Office.

Seeing the small official returning, Shen Qing quickly stood up and asked, "Your Excellency, how did it go?"

"There are some complications," the small official said as he handed the Registration Certificate back to Shen Qing, speaking helplessly.

Shen Qing asked, "What's the matter?"

"You're from Taiping County, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Twisting the hairs of his beard, the small official from the Personnel Office said, "As soon as my superior heard you were from Taiping County, she hesitated. I suspect someone else has their eye on the dispatcher's position in the Military Department, and she must be considering her options carefully. There's some danger for you."

"But don't lose heart. She kept your appointment letter and even said to return the day after tomorrow, which means you still have a chance."

Shen Qing knew that gaining entry to this government office would not be easy, and he calmly bowed, inquiring, "Coming from a noble background, holding a crucial position, I wonder if you might guide me through this maze?"

The small official from the Personnel Office waved his hand and continued with a smile, "There are no prominent households with the Shen surname in Yongzhou; I presume your family background isn't prominent, without any powerful support, right?"

Shen Qing nodded and admitted, "Just an ordinary citizen from Taiping County."

"I thought as much. If other scions of prominent Yongzhou families compete with you for the same position, there are going to be many uncertainties about your situation. It's not looking good."

"The superior said to come back after two days. I think you should seize the chance to prepare more," the small official from the Personnel Office advised. "Remember to prepare adequately and don't hold anything back, lest you miss the opportunity and live to regret it."

This was almost as explicit as it could get.

Even a fool like Shen Qing could understand it.

They were asking for money.

"Thank you for the advice, Your Excellency. I shall go back and prepare properly."

The small official from the Personnel Office waved his hand and said, "Go back for now. Next time you come, I will have informed the gatekeeper, and you can come straight in."

Shen Qing bowed and then backed out.

...

Inside the government office.

Huangfu Rou was holding Shen Qing's appointment document and the official letter sent by the Prefectural Governor, her gaze lingering between the two.

"Now, the court has sent five Innate Martial Masters to Yongzhou at once, one of whom is a Commander. This shows that the current court values the Yongzhou Military Department more than the Guardian Martial Department."

"With a vacant spot for a Chief Officer at the Military Department, the other families smelled an opportunity and immediately approached the Prefectural Governor. It seems he has already decided in favor of someone from the Su Family."

"In that case, it involves exchanges of interest at the higher levels, which is beyond my control."

Huangfu Rou's gaze couldn't help but fall on Shen Qing's appointment document, "This man named Shen Qing, he can't be fitted in now."

"However, it seems that the Guardian Martial Department is short of many Chief Officers. With demon calamities arising around Yongzhou, it's a time of need for personnel, and he could be accommodated."

"The Guardian Martial Department was originally a branch of the Military Department and is under my jurisdiction; the rank of the Chief Officers of both departments are about the same, so it wouldn't be considered a breach of regulation."

Huangfu Rou had an idea in mind and, feeling confident that there were no mistakes, began to make arrangements.

Firstly, she needed to give a heads-up to the Prefectural Governor, and then she would need to make another trip to the Guardian Martial Department, which would require some effort.

...

Two days went by in the blink of an eye.

On the third day, Shen Qing went to the Military Department's office as promised.

When he arrived again, the two gatekeepers indeed didn't give him a hard time and promptly let him pass.

Shen Qing found his way to the officials' room, well-accustomed to the route.

At that time, the small official of the Personnel Office from the previous day seemed to be waiting for him. Upon his arrival, he put down the task at hand and quickly stepped forward to ask, "You're here? How is it, are you fully prepared?"

Shen Qing respectfully said, "Sir, may I have a word with you in private?"

The small official of the Personnel Office looked around and, seeing no colleagues paying attention, crossed his arms behind his back and leisurely walked out of the officials' room.

The small official led Shen Qing to a secluded corner of a small courtyard, where no one was around.

Under the direct gaze of the small official, Shen Qing quickly slipped ten large gold bills into the official's hand.

These gold notes were exchanged from part of his wealth before leaving Taiping County.

Each gold note represented one hundred taels of silver.

Ten of them amounted to over a thousand taels.

For Shen Qing, this was a third of his wealth.

Now that he had given it away all at once, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

However, thinking of the Wish Power Pearl and the Refining Pearl Technique valued at two thousand taels to follow, this thousand taels didn't seem too expensive.

Shen Qing said with a bow, "I'm troubling you, sir."

The small official did not expect Shen Qing, who seemed to come from humble beginnings, to be so generous.

Over a thousand taels at once.

"Wait for me here."

The small official, thrilled with the thousand taels of gold notes, asked Shen Qing to wait and then hurried towards the government office.

The government office was only a courtyard away from the officials' room.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the entrance of the government office and said, "Sir, the job seeker from Taiping County is here."

Huangfu Rou didn't even look up as she said, "Appoint him as a Chief Officer of the Guardian Martial Department. Have the officials' room issue the official certificate, and let him choose a day to assume his position."