Chapter 326: Book 2: A Different Village Chief, Chapter 314: Above All

Book 2: A Different Village Chief, Chapter 314: Above All

"Father, you are muddled, your mind is clouded by greed!"

Inside the room, a single lamp flickered like a bean, while outside the window a fine rain fell steadily. The ones speaking now were Zhong Diaoyang and his father, Zhong Zhengxian. Over the years, Zhong Diaoyang had saved some silver and bought a small house in the prefectural city. Besides living there with his father, he had also brought his mother, wife, and children from Weizhou the year before last, and their life had been quite peaceful.

The reason for the father and son's argument was that tonight, after Zhong Diaoyang returned from Wen Fangliang's residence, he heard that Wen Fangliang intended to yield and was willing to recommend his own son to the Pacifying General as the Garrison Commander of the prefectural city. Zhong Zhengxian's mind immediately became active.

He wanted to go at once to his fifth younger sister, Wang Dou's mother, the Honored Lady Zhong, to see if he could persuade his nephew Wang Dou to grant him the post of Fiscal Commissioner. He was immediately stopped by his son, Zhong Diaoyang, and the father and son began to quarrel.

Zhong Diaoyang was now thirty-six years old, his demeanor even more taciturn and steady. In front of outsiders, he never mentioned his status as the Pacifying General's cousin. This was vastly different from his father, who was ostentatious, shouting and yelling everywhere, wishing the whole world knew he was Wang Dou's uncle.

Now he frowned at his father: "The General has his own measure in deciding the personnel for each office. If Father rashly goes to seek an official post like this, won't it put the General in a difficult position?"

Zhong Zhengxian said angrily: "In recommending the worthy, one does not avoid one's own kin. By doing this, your father is also thinking of your cousin. The prefectural city is where your cousin built his fortune; if it is not controlled by our own people, should it be placed in the hands of outsiders? With you as the Garrison Commander and your father as the Fiscal Commissioner, won't the prefectural city be as solid as a fortress, inside and out?"

Zhong Diaoyang said: "Not to mention that my appointment as Garrison Commander is not yet decided, even if it were, we should all the more avoid suspicion. How can my father and I simultaneously control such important posts? If I am the Garrison Commander, Father absolutely cannot be the Fiscal Commissioner. If Father becomes the Fiscal Commissioner, then even if the Pacifying General orders me to be the Garrison Commander, your son will also request to resign."

Zhong Zhengxian was stunned for a moment, then cursed loudly: "You brat, what are you saying? You would lightly let go of such a good opportunity? You, you... you anger me to death."

He grumbled and muttered for a long while, but seeing Zhong Diaoyang's expression unchanged, his coarse, dark face stern, he finally deflated: "Fine, fine, do whatever you want. Brat, you're getting more and more disrespectful to your old man."

He slammed the door and left. Watching his father's furious departing back, Zhong Diaoyang felt a pang in his heart. He let out a long sigh and murmured: "Father, forgive your child for not being able to follow your wishes. I am also doing this for the long-term safety of the Zhong family."

On the fourth day of the fourth month in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, early morning brought a heavy downpour, the torrential curtain of rain nearly forming a solid sheet. Later the rain stopped, and the bright sun reappeared in the sky. Sunlight streamed through the thin window paper into the great hall, making the interior brilliantly bright.

At this moment, the great hall was packed, filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, though the people clearly divided into several groups as they chatted. Lin Daofu and Qi Tianliang from Shunxiang Fort stood together. Zhong Zhengxian, Zhong Rong, and a few other clerks stood together. The head clerk, Feng Dachang, however, was nowhere to be seen.

From the prefectural city, Han Chao, Wen Fangliang, Zhong Xiancai, Zhong Diaoyang, Gao Shiyin, Sun Sanjie, Wen Daxing, Li Guangheng, Zhao Zhuang, and others stood together, forming a large and imposing group. The field officer Zhang Gui and Tian Changguo also stood in a corner, whispering to each other.

Only Chi Dacheng sat alone in his seat, resting with his eyes closed.

Amidst the laughter, everyone harbored their own thoughts. A few days ago, the Pacifying General had established his headquarters, dividing it into several offices, but the personnel for each office had not yet been decided. From the General's manner, it seemed they would be finalized today. Everyone was concerned about who would win the prize.

Among the crowd, aside from Wen Daxing, Chi Dacheng, and a few others whose posts were already confirmed, perhaps only Han Chao felt the least pressure. In truth, he felt regret in his heart, for he had already been confirmed for transfer as the Garrison Commander of Laishui. Otherwise, the post of Staff Office Commissioner would most likely have fallen to him.

The most likely candidate now was Wen Fangliang. In the past two days, Han Chao had privately heard that Wen Fangliang had recommended Zhong Diaoyang to the Pacifying General as the prefectural city's Garrison Commander. Han Chao felt admiration that Wen Fangliang could resist the temptation of commanding a separate garrison. In fact, among the officers following the Pacifying General, only Wen Fangliang was someone Han Chao truly recognized as his greatest rival in secret competition.

As everyone chatted and laughed idly, they suddenly heard footsteps from the rear hall, followed by Xie Yike's loud voice ringing out: "The Pacifying General has arrived."

Wang Dou, dressed in his official robes, walked in with his hands behind his back, followed by several saber-bearing guards. Xie Yike swaggered ahead of them. After following Wang Dou for a few years, his crab-like walking posture had changed slightly, but not by much. Feng Dachang also followed behind Wang Dou, smiling.

The hall filled with the sound of salutations. Wang Dou smiled and gestured for them to sit. In front of his subordinates, Wang Dou never put on airs; ordinarily, he could be described as amiable and pleasant, like a spring breeze. The more he was like this, the more the entire prefecture and army revered and supported him.

Everyone sat down, and Feng Dachang also took his own seat. By now, the seating arrangement was clearly defined. It was divided between those who led troops and those who managed affairs. The troop-leading officers, such as Han Chao and Wen Fangliang, sat on the left side, arranged by rank.

Lin Daofu, Zhang Gui, and others were considered administrative officers and sat on the right side. Head clerk Feng Dachang and others were considered minor clerks; by official rank, their seats were placed at the very bottom of the right side. Today, however, Feng Dachang was seated beside Wang Dou on his right, a sight that filled everyone with secret envy.

Wang Dou cleared his throat lightly and said to the assembly: "On the first day of the month, I proposed establishing a headquarters with subordinate offices. After several days of detailed deliberation, the managing personnel for each office have now been decided."

Feng Dachang immediately stood up and respectfully handed a stack of documents to Wang Dou.

Wang Dou took the documents and first surveyed the crowd: "I remind everyone that the headquarters being established, and all its offices, shall stand above all the cities of the Eastern Route. Therefore, the managing personnel named on this list must view issues from a comprehensive vantage point, not limited to the confines of a single prefecture or city. All must be cautious in this regard!"

Wang Dou's words made everyone present even more elated, yet at the same time, they concentrated intently, afraid of missing even a single word.

Wang Dou paused for a moment to let everyone digest this information, then unfolded the document: "The headquarters shall establish eight offices: the Staff Office, the Training Office, the Intelligence Office, the Pacification Office, the Logistics Office, the Fiscal Office, the Civil Affairs Office, and the Education Office.

Each office shall have one Commissioner and several Vice Commissioners, one clerical hall, and several scribes. Each shall be further divided into several sections, each section having one Chief and several Vice Chiefs, along with a number of clerks."

"The headquarters shall have one general Clerical Affairs Hall, responsible for processing documents submitted by all offices, with Mr. Feng serving as the Chief of Clerical Affairs."

Head clerk Feng Dachang rose with a smile and saluted Wang Dou and the assembly, a sight that made those below even more envious.

However, no one else was suited for this document processing role but Feng Dachang, so no one had anything to say about it.

Wang Dou paused for a moment, then continued: "For the Fiscal Office, Zhong Rong shall serve as Commissioner, controlling the grain and silver storehouses of the entire prefecture and route, managing the budget for all funds, grain revenues and expenditures, and military and civilian expenses. The subordinate sections shall be decided by Mr. Zhong himself."

All these years he had been working silently, never expecting such sudden, joyous news.

Hearing Wang Dou call his name, he was stunned for a moment. The Pacifying General was actually entrusting him with such a heavy responsibility. He stood up, wanting to say something, but could not speak. Finally, choking with emotion, he saluted: "This student... accepts the order."

Seeing his agitation, Wang Dou said gently: "Please sit, Mr. Zhong. I entrust the Fiscal Office to you."

At his core, Wang Dou was someone who cherished old ties. He could not forget the moment when Jingbian Fort was first built, when Zhong Rong shared hardships with him, carrying a hoe just like him to reclaim wasteland. After being transferred to the prefectural city to manage the military archives, he had also been diligent and meticulous, without making a single mistake.

Entrusting the Fiscal Office to him, Wang Dou was at ease!

All these years he had been working silently, never expecting such sudden, joyous news.

Hearing Wang Dou call his name, he was stunned for a moment. The Pacifying General was actually entrusting him with such a heavy responsibility. He stood up, wanting to say something, but could not speak. Finally, choking with emotion, he saluted: "This student... accepts the order."

Seeing his agitation, Wang Dou said gently: "Please sit, Mr. Zhong. I entrust the Fiscal Office to you."

At his core, Wang Dou was someone who cherished old ties. He could not forget the moment when Jingbian Fort was first built, when Zhong Rong shared hardships with him, carrying a hoe just like him to reclaim wasteland. After being transferred to the prefectural city to manage the military archives, he had also been diligent and meticulous, without making a single mistake.

Entrusting the Fiscal Office to him, Wang Dou was at ease!