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

Chapter 177: Chapter 3: Joining! Joining the Guardian Martial Department Dispatch Office

For Huangfu Rou, if it was an officer from the Military Department, she might have considered meeting with him, but the Guardian Martial Department had its own Commander of the Military Guard to deal with it. There was no need for her to pay too much attention; she could just leave it to the staff of the Personnel Office.

The affairs with the Prefectural Governor were also just "routine business," not worth her trouble.

The small official of the Personnel Office, receiving the order and seeing that Huangfu Rou hadn't taken away Shen Qing's position, a flash of surprise and delight crossed his face as he struggled to maintain calm, "Yes, my Lord. I will make the official certificate for him right away and let him report to the Guardian Martial Department in three days."

Huangfu Rou buried her head in the government affairs at hand without another word.

The small official of the Personnel Office bowed with hands clasped together and tactfully retreated.

Once out of the government office, the official glanced back cautiously and could no longer contain the wild joy in his heart.

His luck this time was simply too good.

He had just moved his lips and earned a thousand taels just like that.

In the past, when high-ranking disciples competed with their family backgrounds, he might not even have had the chance, and even if he got something in his hands, he would have had to give up a large part.

Fortunately, Shen Qing was a foreigner, new to the place and without connections or background, perfect for his manipulation.

On his way back to the Personnel Office, seeing Shen Qing standing straight in the courtyard, calm and composed, he couldn't help but give him a sideways look.

"This young man has a really good temperament; if I were him, having given so much money, I would have been anxious like an ant on a hot pan."

The small official approached and grabbed Shen Qing's arm, his eyes becoming slits as he smiled happily, "Little brother, it's done."

"It's done?" Shen Qing asked with a hint of skepticism, "Is what my Lord says true?"

The official feigned indignation, "Would I deceive you? Our Lord Chief Officer has personally agreed and told me to make the official certificate."

With that, he lowered his voice and spoke with a secretive tone, "Do you think the money you gave me is all for me alone? As long as it can be sent out, it means the matter is settled."

Seeing the small official acting this way, as if afraid he might change his mind, Shen Qing couldn't help but feel speechless.

For him, as long as he could secure the officer's position, spending some money was irrelevant.

Once he had power, money would naturally be no problem.

Shen Qing did not reveal his thoughts, playing along, "It is all thanks to the Lord's efforts."

"Dare not take the credit, dare not take the credit," the small official laughed, "We in the Personnel Office will make your official certificate, you just need to come back in three days to get it and report to the Guardian Martial Department."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qing felt puzzled.

He remembered that the position he was appointed to in his official document was as an officer of the Military Department—how did it change to the Guardian Martial Department?

Shen Qing, confused, inquired, "My Lord, why must I report to the Guardian Martial Department? I recall that my appointment document placed me in the Military Department."

"Hey, don't worry. Whether it's the Military Department or the Guardian Martial Department, they're both under the supervision of the Lord Chief Officer. The latter was specifically split off from the Military Department to deal specifically with demons and the Remnants of the Huang Tian Sect. They are one and the same. The Military Department had no vacancies, but the Guardian Martial Department did, so naturally you were assigned there."

The small official explained haphazardly, reassuring, "Don't overthink it."

Shen Qing inwardly sneered, suspecting that due to the Guardian Martial Department in the county town having many vacancies because officers were killed by the Huang Tian Sect, he ended up, by some twisted fate, being transferred there from the Military Department.

At this point, Shen Qing thought of an important question that he couldn't help but ask, "May I dare to ask my Lord, is there any difference in treatment between the County City Guard Martial Arts Department and the Military Department at the moment?"

"In theory, what the court sends is all the same, but..." the official trailed off, "You'll understand once you report to the Guardian Martial Department, words alone won't make you understand."

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Shen Qing's gaze darkened, showing a maturity beyond his years as he pondered over the official's words.

"That's enough for today. Remember to come back in three days."

Shen Qing, snapping out of his thoughts, bowed with hands clasped and asked, "May I know how to address my Lord?"

"My surname is Zhao, Zhao Guanglu."

"So it is Lord Zhao; I hope you will continue to take good care of my affairs."

"Sure thing, sure thing."

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Shen Qing saw that Zhao Guanglu was hinting for him to leave, so he did not linger at the Yongzhou Military Department Office. After a respectful bow, he withdrew and left the office.

After returning to the inn, Shen Qing informed his uncle and the others about his upcoming position at the Guardian Martial Department.

Seeing Shen Qing's position confirmed, they all finally felt completely at ease.

With a few days left before he had to report to the government office, and with nothing else to do, Shen Qing, accompanied by Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi, sought out a broker and, after two days of negotiations, spent one thousand taels on a small courtyard located in the same market district as the Guardian Martial Department Office.

The broker said that the original owner of the courtyard was also an officer of the Guardian Martial Department, but unfortunately, he had been killed by a demon, and his family, losing their livelihood, was thus forced to sell the property.

This courtyard was much smaller compared to the one in Taiping County, but it was sufficient for the whole family to live together, an ideal place to settle.

It took another day for Shen Qing and the others to move out of the inn, buy household necessities, and settle into the courtyard before nightfall.

Altogether, Shen Qing spent another 300 taels to properly furnish the house.

After all these expenses, he had only about 200 taels left on hand.

If there were no major expenses, this money would probably only be enough to cover half a year's living expenses for his large family.

Just the upkeep for his two horses would likely cost half of that.

He would have to find a way to earn money in the future.

Saying this, Shen Qing couldn't help but let his gaze fall on Xiao Zhi, and an idea suddenly sprang to mind.

But he quickly suppressed the thought.

'There's no rush for this, I should first establish a firm foothold in the Guardian Martial Department. I can plan for making money later.'

The next day, having finally settled down, his aunt planned to take his elder sister, Shen Fang, out for shopping, and the whole family followed suit.

Tian Xiaohu and Xiao Zhi did not idle either, using shopping as a pretext to go out and gather intelligence, while Shen Qing, as Zhao Guanglu had asked, went to the Yongzhou Military Department Office to get his official certificate.

Guardian Martial Department Office.

Two stone lions stood imposingly on both sides of the gate.

The crimson gate lintel shone with a golden plaque gleaming under the moonlight.

Carved upon it were the three characters for "Guardian Martial Department," the brushstrokes strong and powerful, emanating a grandeur that commanded respect without anger.

The gatekeeper at the door, seeing Shen Qing with his official certificate, did not make things difficult for him and let him straight into the office.

In contrast to the size and comprehensiveness of the Yongzhou Military Department Office, the Guardian Martial Department Office appeared much more cramped.

Looking ahead, the front courtyard paved with bluestone was only ten meters deep, with rows of disordered weapon racks placed in it, mostly empty except for a few wooden sticks scattered about.

It had a certain laxness to it.

To the left and right of the courtyard were rows of buildings.

At that moment, clusters of officers were seated in the buildings, each wearing long swords and sipping on bitter shattered tea from old bowls.

Seeing Shen Qing come in, one of the middle-aged officers took the initiative to come forward, cupped his fist and said, "Are you Officer Shen Qing?"

Shen Qing raised his eyebrows, "You know me?"

"Officer Shen, your red decree arrived yesterday and is already in the hands of Chief Officer Zheng. The Chief Officer specially ordered me to wait for you here," the man replied.

Shen Qing knew the Chief Officer he mentioned referred to the Chief Officer of Weiwu Division, who nominally was of equal rank to the General of the Military Department but in practice held a slightly lower status.

"Please, lead the way," he said.

The middle-aged officer, bowing his head in a busy manner, declared it was his duty and led Shen Qing through the front courtyard into the main hall.

In the center of the main hall stood a large desk, piled high with scrolls and documents, yet there was no one behind it.

The middle-aged officer called out loudly, "Lord Chief Officer, Officer Shen has arrived."

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