Chapter 501

The candle fire is burning brightly.

Illuminating the shadows of people.

Several desks are lined up, and texts are piled up on the desks like a square mountain.

No one in the entire River Patrol Office dares to walk around at will, every study, stair corner, has military men guarding and standing.

The registrars move accounts, books, and documents to the first-floor hall for the group of old ministers to read and check.

Li Shoufu is so busy his feet don't touch the ground, during which he can't help but glance at the white-haired old man sitting in the upper seat.

There can be no mistake.

Damn!

The second-rank Water River Inspector, Grandmaster, is Liang Qu's great-uncle!

Heard Liang Qu was lonely when he was young, how can his maternal family's power be so great?

"January 6th this year, the account says you appropriated..."

"It is the appropriation for the repair of the Qiu Public Dike in Huazhu County, the dike collapsed in Huazhu County last year, it was built urgently, there were many imperfections, winter water conservancy repair, summer security, to prevent accidents in this year's plum rain and rainstorm season, advance secondary reinforcement."

Wei Lin and Xu Yuelong wait respectfully.

Every time there is a question about rewards and punishments, the two of them have to step forward to argue and explain in detail.

If they can't answer, or if there is something that doesn't meet the rules, a red circle is drawn.

A moment of effort.

Wei Lin and Xu Yuelong each got three red circles.

The commanders of the Three Judicial Departments and the Demon Suppression Division laugh secretly.

The so-called inspection is by no means really wanting to find problems.

No matter how capable the minister is, they only stay for a few days, replenish supplies, what big problems can they find?

The essence is to beat.

Who doesn't have a time to act according to circumstances?

Once power is great, there will always be things that don't meet the rules, whether the result is good or bad, it is a place to be beaten.

Picking bones in a good egg.

The King of Yue's arrival should have been a pressure shared by several major departments.

Unfortunately, the rain is heavy today, the group of old ministers docked, the ground was damp, and it was inconvenient to walk.

The ministers who would have been divided into four places for inspection—government office, Three Judicial Departments, Demon Suppression Division, River Patrol Office—are now concentrated nearby, letting the River Patrol Office bear it alone, and even if there are no problems, they see problems.

Seeing Wei Lin add another circle.

Zuo Heng is very happy in his heart, can't help but laugh.

A shadow flashes in the hall.

A military man runs from outside the door and kneels on one knee.

"Master, the rain has stopped!"

Damn!

Zuo Heng looks up.

Water droplets outside the house flow through the leaf tips, dripping sporadically, hitting the water pool and rippling.

The golden light at noon tears a hole from the center of the dark clouds, and from the hole, the lead-gray clouds collapse piece by piece.

It's clear!

Xu Yuelong lets out a long breath, his heart unloading a ten-thousand-jin burden.

More than a dozen ministers in the hall whisper, and someone stands up immediately, saying they want to go to other government offices and towns to see.

Su Guishan points to the outside of the house, giving Wei Lin and Xu Yuelong a look.

Wei Lin is stunned.

Xu Yuelong steps forward and bows.

"The masters have traveled hard, why not use lunch before leaving?"

Several old ministers think for a while and agree, turning to the public kitchen.

Wei Lin is speechless.

Instead, Wei Shao on the side tastes the flavor and quietly leans over.

"Master, picking bones in an egg is indeed uncomfortable, but you can't rush people away. After a meal, the ministers will still leave, we have no loss, and we can show that we have no guilty conscience and are not afraid of inspection."

"So that's how it is."

Ke Wenbin rubs his chin.

Ran Zhongshi rolls his eyes.

Xiang Fang Su rolls up his sleeves: "Eat, eat! I want to ask Ashui properly, how he tricked the snake demons!"

"Almost forgot." Ke Wenbin pats his head fiercely. "There's a master by my side!"

The two sing in harmony, and everyone turns their attention.

That's right.

A full four snake demons, how did Ashui cure them?

"It has nothing to do with me, the idea wasn't mine!" Liang Qu denies it flatly.

"It wasn't yours, but didn't you do it? Liang Water Envoy has such great ability, having such skills, hiding them, is not the way of a gentleman, why not open a class and teach everyone a few moves?"

Xu Yuelong sneers.

"Good, good, good, Ashui, no, Water Envoy Liang! Master Liang! I want to learn this!"

"The last time the underwater treasure hunting method wasn't taught, I tossed and turned every night, begging Master Liang to take me as an apprentice!"

"Underwater treasure hunting, cross-border demon curing, Master Liang's two great supernatural powers, getting one can settle the world!" Bai Yinbin speaks eloquently.

"..."

After the meal.

The ministers call several commanders to lead the way and go to their respective government offices.

Just out the door.

"Why not see the Drum Tower? Prefecture Master Jian, do you know why the imperial court wants to abolish Huaiyin Prefecture and change it to Pingyang County?"

"I know, Pingyang County borders the Jianghuai Great Lake and should be a bridgehead to block the Ghost Mother Sect."

"What is the Drum Tower for?"

"Place giant drums, beat them to report the police..." Jian Zhongyi's forehead visibly sweats. "However, there are many refugees in Pingyang Prefecture, and many towns are constantly expanding, not fixed, difficult to determine the location..."

"Absurd! Reining in the horse late when it reaches the cliff, repairing the leak late when the boat reaches the middle of the river. Have you never heard of nipping it in the bud? Even if the location selection is wrong, compared to repairing the fold after the sheep is lost, how big is the loss?"

Jian Zhongyi hurriedly lowers his head to apologize.

Just out the door and picked out a problem.

The rabbit dies and the fox grieves.

Zuo Heng has lingering fears.

The rain clears, and there are more people moving by the river.

The surrounding villagers watch from afar, although they are afraid of the giant snake in front of the Flowing Light Boat and dare not approach, it does not hinder them from discussing.

"This... the River God's messenger, haven't seen it for a few days, why is it being detained by the officials like cattle and horses?"

"Chen Yi, do you know?"

Chen Yi scratches his head: "How would I know..."

"Aren't you from Yixing Town? June 6th, the River God gave gifts, turtles and cranes, your townspeople bragged to the sky, half of Pingyang County knows, why aren't you saying anything now?"

Chen Yi is ashamed, his index finger wraps around the weeds by the river, squeezing out green juice, having nothing to argue.

He can't figure it out.

How could a perfectly good River God messenger become cattle and horses?

"Forgot this..."

At the gate of the government office, Liang Qu finally got away from the questioning, originally wanting to say goodbye and go home, but hearing a few words of villager discussion, he sensed something was wrong and turned around to wave.

Cha Qing bows and steps forward: "Master?"

"Where are Li Libo, Chen Jiechang, and Lin Songbao?"

"Recently taking people to clean the sewers, but it's raining heavily today, they should be at home or in the martial arts hall."

"Call them over."

"Yes!"

By the river, the villagers watching the excitement gather more and more.

Blue is slightly restless, every time it glares, it scares the commoners away, but after a moment, they gather around like ants smelling candied fruit.

Li Libo and Chen Jiechang pant heavily and rush to the second-floor study.

"Brother Shui! Songbao went out early, leading a team to clean the sewers, what's the matter, should I go find him?"

"No matter." In such a large prefecture, the sewers extend in all directions, not knowing the specific location is hard to find, Liang Qu gets straight to the point, "Did you hear anything on the way?"

"On the way?" Chen Jiechang shows a thoughtful expression, "Seems like everyone is talking about some big snake?"

Li Shoufu remembers the scene at the port, showing a sudden realization.

"Those big snakes are the gifts from the River God festival, right? I said why they looked familiar, were they caught?"

"They intended to bribe me, plotting something, but the commoners don't understand, plus several days of fermentation, many people already believe they are the River God's messengers, the situation is actually unfavorable for me." Liang Qu says concisely.

Times have changed.

Previously, the snake demons were majestic, and the commoners believing they were messengers would boost his prestige.

Now that they were caught by the Martial Saint, if not guided, it would be detrimental to his reputation.

The background board's base color is very critical.

Must not let the cattle and horse snake demons harm him.

Li Libo suggests: "Why not spread some news? Say the messenger was sent by the River God to help Great Shun govern the Jianghuai water area, isn't that what all the storybooks say? Who sent the minister to dredge the mountain and calm the flood."

Chen Jiechang nods: "Didn't many people from our River Patrol Office go to see the Xiandao above the clouds a few days ago? It's just close to the date, just say it was sent down at that time."

The two of them, one word each, soon pieced together the logical chain of the snake demons becoming cattle and horses, and it was supported by the vision of the Xiandao above the clouds.

Such as the gift being to show gratitude for the piety of the Yixing Town villagers, and being cattle and horses being because they met the great sage King of Yue, willing to do so.

Made up quite well.

Liang Qu asks: "How do you plan to spread it?"

Li Libo doesn't hesitate: "Find a storyteller to make up a jingle, sing two stanzas when telling stories, and then go to the martial arts hall to tell the few kids from our town who come to learn martial arts.

This group of kids goes back to find friends to brag after practicing every day, there are dozens of them, fourteen or fifteen years old, most likely to argue, show off, and know everything they have to take out and air. Chatting at the dinner table at home at night, they will definitely say it, and it can spread throughout the town in two or three days."

Chen Jiechang adds: "Songbao can help on that side, the fishing market has a large flow of people, and most of them are fishermen, just let people gossip a few words when buying and selling."

Liang Qu deeply agrees, he specifically called the two of them, just because of their status as locals, it is convenient to do things.

"You two, three barriers, right?"

Li Libo laughs: "The snake bone pill given last time had a good effect."

Three barriers, bone barrier, bone produces blood, it won't be too far for the two to reach the fourth barrier.

"Before October this year, if you can reach the fourth barrier, I will find an opportunity to promote you two to River Chiefs before the festival!"

Li Libo and Chen Jiechang are overjoyed.

No matter how small the official is, it is a world of difference from a clerk!