Chapter 113

"Become an official!"

Li Rui felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he listened.

There is a common saying among the people:

"All pursuits are lowly; only scholarship is high."

But one should take it a step further: only becoming an official is high.

Studying is done precisely to become an official!

If one could be an official, who would want to drift through the Jianghu?

Is it that people like him and Zhang Yang don't like being officials?

Of course, it is because they simply never had that opportunity.

There are generally two paths for an official in the Yu Kingdom to enter the bureaucracy: one is the imperial examination—the civil and military examinations are the only way out for children of humble families—and the other is recommendation by a noble person.

Ten years of studying by the window is not as good as a single word from a noble person.

To be an official, one must have connections at court.

That is the truth of the matter.

If one can gain the appreciation of a high-ranking official, one can bypass the imperial examination and enter the bureaucracy directly.

Zhang Yang rubbed his hands together: "An official in the Annan Army—how comfortable!"

The Annan Army manages the Jianghu forces in Yunzhou and the surrounding departments; its power is undoubtedly immense.

If one could secure even a minor post in the Annan Army, then if they were to run into Dao Xiong again in the future...

They would be sitting in the seat of honor, and Dao Xiong would have to toast them instead!

"Brother Li, there are no age restrictions this time. The candidates are all chosen personally by Alliance Master Ning, and there's no shady business. We must prepare early."

Li Rui's heart stirred.

Among his achievements, there was already "General and Minister."

Moreover, being an official is much safer than drifting through the Jianghu, not to mention being in the Annan Army.

Within the Yunzhou region,

who would dare provoke the Annan Army?

To say nothing of the distant, just look at Wei Ming. Li Rui saw it clearly: despite Wei Ming's superficially kind and approachable demeanor, in his heart, he looked down on everyone.

It was just short of saying:

"It's not directed at anyone in particular; everyone here is trash."

This was all the confidence given by the Annan Army!

Qinghe Xincheng.

General's Prefecture.

Craftsmen and conscripted laborers were carrying bricks and stones, their footsteps hurried, a scene of bustling activity.

Wei Ming placed his right hand on the hilt of the saber at his waist.

The matter of the demonic beasts had been dealt with for the most part; now, supervising the construction of the new General's Prefecture was the top priority, and there could not be the slightest bit of negligence.

He spent most of his time in the new city acting as a foreman.

At this moment,

a clear, masculine voice rang out from behind him:

"Brother Wei, long time no see."

Wei Ming turned his head and saw a middle-aged man with a tall, upright posture, dressed in black robes with gold patterns.

His face lit up with joy:

"Brother Ning."

The person before him was none other than the leader of the Tiandi Alliance and one of the Garrison Commanders of the Anning Guard, Ning Zhongtian.

Ning Zhongtian punched Wei Ming in the chest: "Remember to call me Garrison Commander in the future!"

Wei Ming clutched his chest, saying sourly: "A sixth-rank punch—that really hurts like hell."

As the saying goes,

one doesn't fear a brother's hardship, but one fears a brother becoming fiercer than a tiger.

Seeing a brother he used to pee with now become his direct superior was more painful than being killed.

Ning Zhongtian was full of pride:

"Don't be sour; if you have the ability, you can break through too."

Wei Ming rolled his eyes.

Is a breakthrough something you can just have whenever you want?

Wei Ming was somewhat surprised: "Lei Tou and that Cao fellow don't get along; why would you think of coming to the Anning Guard?"

Ning Zhongtian sighed helplessly:

"The Annan Army only has so many positions; if I didn't come to the Anning Guard, I would have had to wait at least five years."

Wei Ming agreed deeply.

Unlike those border armies, the Annan Army rarely suffers casualties, let alone among its officers.

A position is often held for over a dozen years.

Who among those who become officers doesn't have a big shot supporting them behind the scenes? Trying to get these people, whose roots are intertwined, to move their butts is just too difficult.

In most cases, one can only grind out the seniority. He had waited three years for his position as a Platoon Leader.

Wei Ming gloated somewhat: "Since you're here, you'll have to keep your tail tucked between your legs from now on."

He could already guess Ning Zhongtian's future path.

First, settle the rank in the Anning Guard and become a Garrison Commander. As long as he stays steady for a few years, Lei Yong will find an excuse to transfer Ning Zhongtian to his own Youyun Guard.

Ning Zhongtian saw through Wei Ming's thoughts at a glance:

"Do you know who the Li Canjun of our Anning Guard is?"

Wei Ming was startled and hurriedly asked: "The Li Canjun has been decided?"

In the Yu Kingdom's army, it has always been a configuration of one civil and one military official.

The seventeen guards of the Annan Army are all configured with one Assistant Regional Commander and one Li Canjun, both of equal rank, to check and balance each other.

The Assistant Regional Commander is responsible for the daily training of troops and command during wartime.

The Li Canjun is responsible for provisions, ordnance, and supervisory duties.

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To put it bluntly, the appearance of the Li Canjun is to prevent the imperial army from having soldiers who only recognize the general and not the monarch, thereby preventing anyone from holding military power to value themselves and eliminating any possibility of rebellion.

But before Wei Ming came to Qinghe, the candidate for Li Canjun had not been decided.

It was rumored that several big shots were fighting for this position.

General Xue didn't want to offend anyone, so it had been shelved and remained undecided for a long time.

Ning Zhongtian smiled smugly, deliberately keeping him in suspense.

Wei Ming's heart was itching uncontrollably, and he urged: "My Garrison Commander, stop keeping me in suspense and hurry up and say it."

"Call me Daddy."

"Get lost."

Ning Zhongtian said: "It's Elder Jiang of the Huaqing Sect."

"Jiang Linxian?!"

Wei Ming widened his eyes.

Jiang Linxian becoming the Li Canjun of the Anning Guard was truly unexpected. After all, Jiang Linxian had never participated in politics before.

Ning Zhongtian narrowed his eyes: "I heard from General Lei that this matter was decided by His Majesty."

Upon hearing it was the decision of the current Son of Heaven,

Wei Ming clicked his tongue.

"They are all immortals; we can't afford to provoke them."

Behind Assistant Regional Commander Cao Wei is the Fifth Imperial Prince, and that Emperor personally appointed the position of Li Canjun; this move is very worth pondering.

Ning Zhongtian: "Those are matters for the big shots, but Elder Jiang has a good relationship with General Lei. Before I came, General Lei told me to just listen to Elder Jiang in everything."

Wei Ming nodded.

With Jiang Linxian covering for him, Ning Zhongtian really wouldn't have to live under someone else's roof or keep his tail tucked.

He reminded Wei Ming:

"Old Wei, don't ever think that our Anning Guard is a leisurely job. I heard that those guys from the Guiming Sect are daring enough to steal the Dragon Qi of the Yu Kingdom; they clearly want to rebel!"

"For this reason, that Emperor of ours has declared that he will never leave a single rebel alive."

Wei Ming grinned:

"These lunatics, the Great Xuan has been destroyed for thousands of years; do they really think they can restore the country?"

"Who knows."

Ning Zhongtian replied, then patted Wei Ming on the shoulder: "Let's go, come with me to the Tiandi Alliance."

Wei Ming of course knew.

Besides his status as Garrison Commander, Ning Zhongtian was also the leader of the Tiandi Alliance.

The imperial court does not reject such things, but imperial court matters must come first; otherwise, the censors of the Censorate are not to be trifled with.

Ning Zhongtian also had a stroke of luck, helping Lei Yong solve a tricky big problem.

Only then was he valued by Lei Yong and recruited into the Annan Army.

Although he didn't participate much in the affairs of the Tiandi Alliance anymore, his status as leader remained.

Wei Ming had already guessed Ning Zhongtian's thoughts.

"Aren't you afraid of others accusing you of nepotism?"

Ning Zhongtian sneered:

"Pedantic."

"Is this nepotism?"

"I am clearly appointing the worthy without avoiding relatives; I am appointing the worthy!"

(End of chapter)