Chapter 148: Military Adjutant for Household Accounts

It was clear that Huang Yan truly intended to cultivate Li Lin.

There was a reason for this: the Li family of Jin Commandery, a family of alchemy, had always had intricate ties to the matter of "cultivating immortality."

And Li Lin's skill in alchemy further demonstrated his connection to the Li family of Jin Commandery.

The Huang family had served as officials for generations, reaching the highest ranks several times; in terms of connections, they had few rivals, but in terms of resources for cultivation, they were relatively shallow.

In fact, the vast majority of great families possessed no cultivation resources.

This was not something ordinary people could access.

Li Lin nodded: "Very well. When Taishan returns to the capital, I will consider this matter."

Huang Yan nodded in satisfaction.

For Huang Yan, Li Lin's agreement was a sign that the former was willing to draw closer to the Huang family.

This was a good thing.

In the following days, they marched by day and camped by night; occasionally, the sound of Huang Gui's delirious muttering could be heard from outside.

Although some of the weak-bodied found it uncomfortable, overall, it was not a major problem.

Thus, seven days passed, and they finally arrived at Jincheng.

The local militia stopped at the city gate.

For according to the laws of the Great Qi, outside of wartime and without an order from the Prefect, the local militia were not permitted to enter the commandery city.

That was why they were called local militia; the commandery city had its own troop system, which was also local militia, but their status was somewhat different.

They were generally referred to as garrison troops.

People in the city couldn't be the same as those in the countryside!

A group of officials and government office Runners also came out to welcome them in Jincheng, especially the Assistant Prefect, a middle-aged man who looked thin and shrewd.

This man did not even glance at Li Lin and the other minor county officials; instead, he walked directly toward Huang Yan, clasped his fist, smiled, and spoke in a familiar manner.

Huang Yan responded with a few words, then smiled at Li Lin.

Li Lin understood Huang Yan's meaning; he waved his hand, and a group of Captains immediately escorted those Southern Barbarian women out.

At that moment, a young man stepped forward, clasped his fist, and smiled: "Are these the personnel for the Laundry Bureau mentioned in the documents?"

Li Lin nodded.

The so-called Laundry Bureau was originally a place within the Great Qi palace where punished concubines performed hard labor, specifically washing clothes for others.

Later, the functions of the Laundry Bureau were delegated downward, and many great commanderies established such bureaus to accept the wives and daughters of criminal officials.

It was also a de facto state-run brothel, though relatively speaking, life in the Laundry Bureau was better than in ordinary brothels.

After all, there were no... requirements regarding revenue.

Generally speaking, private brothels would have such requirements.

If they failed to meet the quota, the consequences would be dire.

"This County Magistrate has worked hard." The young official judged Li Lin's identity from his official robes, then clasped his fist and said: "Is the number sufficient? Were there any casualties along the way?"

"No." Li Lin shook his head and handed over the recorded documents.

The young official took the documents and pointed to the group of women standing behind him, indicating them to the government office Runners.

Immediately, more than a dozen government office Runners went over to count the heads.

After a while, they returned and said: "Reporting to the Military Adjutant, there are two hundred and seven people in total."

The young official glanced at the documents, nodded, and said: "The people are sufficient."

Then he signed his name on them and stamped the seal.

After that, he ignored Li Lin completely and walked straight away.

The other government office Runners hurried the Southern Barbarian women into the city.

At this moment, Bai Zhiwei walked over and said: "That was... quite arrogant."

Zhao Hao also walked over and smiled: "That is Fang Fengyi, the Military Adjutant for Household Accounts, a seventh-rank civil official. He will likely be assigned as a County Magistrate in a county town after another two or three years of training; it is normal for someone so young with such achievements to be a bit arrogant."

Zhao Hao was from Jincheng and was relatively familiar with the "famous figures" here.

"So, shall we return now?" Bai Zhiwei asked.

Zhao Xiaohu walked over and asked in a low voice: "Lin Ge, I want to stay here and wander around for a few days."

Li Lin frowned: "If we all return, leaving you alone here... it is not good; it will be difficult to return later."

Zhao Xiaohu said somewhat shyly: "I won't be alone."

Li Lin looked at Ding Yingqiu standing not far away; she seemed afraid to look in this direction.

Li Lin immediately smiled: "Very well, be careful yourself."

Zhao Xiaohu nodded vigorously.

Bai Zhiwei, being old and experienced, also guessed what was happening.

Zhao Hao thought for a moment and said: "How about I stay in Jincheng for a couple more days as well? There are some matters I need to handle."

"You can return together then; you can look out for each other."

Zhao Hao patted his chest and smiled: "No problem. During Zhao Brother's time in Jincheng, I guarantee I will take excellent care of him."

He certainly did not want your care.

Li Lin helplessly shook his head, then walked over to Huang Yan, clasped his fist, and smiled: "Prefect, I will first lead the local militia back."

The expressions of the several officials nearby were somewhat displeased.

When such a "high official" is discussing official matters, what is a mere County Magistrate doing coming over!

Trying to show off oneself?

Huang Yan smiled: "Son-in-law, be careful on the road."

Li Lin made a brief gesture of clasping his fist, then turned and left.

At that moment, the expressions of those officials improved somewhat.

Since he is Huang Yan's son-in-law, this is no longer an issue.

The village militia began to turn back, their morale seeming to drop significantly.

Previously, there were many women in the column; though the village militia could see but not touch them, joking a bit and saying some lewd words was quite enjoyable.

Now that they are grown men, they found it somewhat hard to accept.

Without women slowing them down, the marching speed increased greatly.

By nightfall, after setting up camp and eating, Yan Han found Li Lin.

"County Commandant," Yan Han looked at Li Lin with a tone of flattery: "I heard you possess a Fallen Thunder Incantation, which is extremely powerful."

"I do have a Fallen Thunder Incantation, but it is not powerful, merely average," Li Lin said modestly.

"May I be taught?" Yan Han whispered: "Of course, I am not that kind of shameless person. I am willing to exchange my family's inherited Soothing Wind Sword Art for it."

Sword Art!

Li Lin was actually not very willing to learn it.

Because, how to put it, in the early stages, sword techniques cannot defeat long spears unless the gap between the two sides is very large.

And in the later stages, when everyone has mastered sufficient Yuan Qi and understands sword qi and spear qi attacks, there is no difference between spears and swords.

It is only a difference in artistic conception; it depends on whose realm is higher.

Therefore, Li Lin felt he did not need to learn the sword.

But he then thought of the two women in his household; teaching them the spear would not be ideal, but teaching them the sword would be quite suitable.

Moreover, Li Lin had witnessed the Yan family's Soothing Wind Sword Art; it was relatively elegant and indeed suitable for women to cultivate.

"Very well," Li Lin smiled: "When we return to the county, I will find time to write a commentary for you."

Yan Han breathed a sigh of relief, his face filled with gratitude: "Thank you, County Commandant."

"No need for courtesy; we are simply exchanging what we each need."

Li Lin now greatly enjoyed exchanging resources.

He could obtain good things with very little conflict.

Like the Fallen Thunder Incantation, he had used it to exchange for three 'things' and returned with them.

Perhaps he could exchange a few more times in the future.

Moreover, he possessed more than just the Fallen Thunder Incantation as a good thing.

His good things were increasing more and more; naturally, the things he could trade with others in the future would also increase more and more.

This would form a virtuous cycle.

Li Lin and over five hundred village militia returned to the county town, and upon seeing the transparent peach tree dharma image in the sky, each of them drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

After the shock passed, Li Lin had several captains lead the village militia back to camp, while he went to the county government office to meet the newly appointed Magistrate.

Zhang Guangqi.

(End of this chapter)