Chapter 1639: Grand Coordinator

The yamen of Huoshan County is not majestic; it can only be said that it has the necessary configurations, but it cannot be called good.

If there were no profit to be made, no chief official would be willing to repair the yamen. After all, if they had that silver, it would be better to fall into their own pockets, or to use it to grease the palms of those above to advance their careers. No matter how well the yamen is repaired, the silver for those above cannot be reduced by a single cent; if the benefits don't fall into their own hands, it is useless.

Or to put it another way, it is not that these officials are unwilling to repair the yamen, but that this kind of construction is too slow to make money, and they could even swallow the silver for building the yamen entirely, so why bother to repair the yamen for those who come after to enjoy...

Especially in a small place like Huoshan, where there is not much silver, it is naturally even more precious.

However, the yamen is not good, but the place where the officials live in the yamen is not bad.

Wang Yan followed Fan Zhao into the county yamen and arrived at the courtyard belonging to the County Magistrate, clearly feeling the difference. Of course, it is still far from being called very good, but compared to other buildings in the yamen that rose at the same time, it is obviously better and newer; one look and you can tell the daily maintenance is not bad, and it has undergone multiple rounds of repairs.

At this time, in the courtyard, a table had already been set up. Three people stood up upon hearing the movement.

Fan Zhao introduced them one by one: "Brother Wang, this is the County Magistrate of this county, Magistrate Wang Yunjing; this is the County Assistant, Kang Lin; and the Registrar, Xu Jingzhou."

"Commoner Wang Yan pays respects to the three masters."

County Magistrate Wang said 'oh' and hurriedly stepped forward a few steps, supporting Wang Yan, who was about to bow and salute: "We are all brothers of the same family; where is there any 'commoner' or 'master'? Aren't you scolding people? Come, come, come, take your seats, take your seats. I have long heard of your heroic name; you are a fierce dragon crossing the river. Today, we brothers must have a few good drinks and let us scholars be touched by your heroic spirit."

Wang Yan sat down with a smile, letting the big County Magistrate pour him wine: "I heard people say that heroic spirit is short; I don't want to be a hero. The big master should also be careful; this heroic spirit cannot be touched. What if the spirit is truly short?"

"Hahaha..."

The slightly plump County Magistrate Wang let out a laugh befitting an official. "Brother Wang is truly a wonderful person with wonderful words. You have done such a righteous deed, yet you are so indifferent. The fake heroes are the ones whose spirit is short; Brother Wang is the true hero. At such an age, to have done such a big thing is something rarely seen in a hundred years. Come, come, come, let us toast the true hero."

County Magistrate Wang understood very well that to deal with young people, one must lift them up high.

Unfortunately, the young man he thought he was dealing with, if judged by age, could at least be his ancestor sixteen generations back...

After drinking a cup of wine, Wang Yan picked up his chopsticks to eat fish: "I heard that the three of you have close dealings with the Bai family, with a lot of involvement..."

"Oh, Brother Wang, don't say that." County Assistant Kang Lin waved his hands repeatedly. "We are all floating officials, and the Bai family is a local gentry household with prestige. When we arrive at this place, how can we have fewer contacts with this wealthy household? The imperial court's decrees fall to those below, and they all rely on them to do things. It is not just the Bai family; the Yang and Liu families also have contacts."

Registrar Xu Jingzhou took over the conversation: "That's right, Brother Wang. The above wants silver; who should we ask? Isn't it all these three households? You cannot say we have involvement with the Bai family just because of the Bai family. Could it be that you found some letters or account books at the Bai family? That must be slander; it is the Bai family knowing that you are invincible and wanting to drag us down to harm you. Brother Wang, you must distinguish the relationships here."

"County Assistant Kang and Registrar Xu are right. Brother, now that the huge Bai family is in your hands, and you have also taken over the martial arts school surnamed Huo, won't the commercial affairs of this county be up to you in the future? My County Magistrate is not good at anything else, but I guarantee to handle the documents for you properly. In the future, we will all make a fortune together."

It had to be said that the County Magistrate was still powerful, absolutely not mentioning that the Bai family were White Lotus rebels, but instead wanting Wang Yan to send them money in the future.

Wang Yan looked at them strangely, and finally his gaze fell on Fan Zhao, who was sitting at the end: "Fourth Master, didn't you convey my words to the three masters? You are not good at this; look, how much misunderstanding this has caused. In the future, a few more lives will be lost, and people will think I am killing officials and rebelling.

I have said many times that I just want to live a peaceful life, earn more silver, eat more meat, and drink more wine. Such a simple wish—why is it so difficult?"

The faces of the officials at the table turned ugly. County Magistrate Wang looked at Fan Zhao.

"Official Fan, what did Brother Wang say?"

Fan Zhao's face was very difficult; he felt like dying. Recalling the pressure he had put on Wang Yan two days ago with the Yang family's silver, he now regretted it deeply. Everything started from him personally leading men to find trouble. In the short span of two days, the pattern of Huoshan County had undergone a huge change.

As a mouthpiece, he naturally didn't want to convey the harsh words Wang Yan had said to his direct superior; how would he mix in the future? He had thought Wang Yan would care about a few faces, at least being a County Magistrate, but he never expected Wang Yan not to care at all, and in a few words, he started playing straight and speaking plainly.

Under the gaze of County Magistrate Wang and the others, Fan Zhao finally repeated the words Wang Yan had said about not needing documents and no one daring to touch the Bai family's things.

Looking at the even uglier faces of County Magistrate Wang and the others, Wang Yan glared at Fan Zhao with feigned blame.

"Look, the misunderstanding has grown big, right? If you had made it clear to the three masters yesterday and let them have some preparation, not holding too many expectations, how could they have such ugly faces now?"

At this very moment, no one wanted Wang Yan dead more than these three giants of Huoshan County. If it weren't for the decisiveness and martial power Wang Yan had displayed, as well as that inexplicable unscrupulousness, they wouldn't have greeted such a little beast with smiling faces.

County Magistrate Wang laughed forcefully: "Brother Wang, you say this, but I don't understand."

Wang Yan glanced at him and said while eating: "I believe you didn't think about rebelling; you just wanted to scrape some silver to spend. But to say you didn't notice anything is definitely a lie. It's just that you all thought that you would only stay for three years, and the rebellion wouldn't happen while you were here, and you were held by others, so you just muddled along and made a fortune."

Before County Magistrate Wang and the others could speak, with a 'snap', Wang Yan slapped his chopsticks on the table, looking at them with an indifferent gaze.

"But you didn't treat me as a person, bullying me for being young and not knowing so many twists and turns? Or did you think that only the White Lotus Sect and the Heaven and Earth Society dare to rebel, and I, who have no ties, don't have the guts?

Oh, the big master's eyes are cold, and the killing intent is revealed. I heard people say that the most important thing for an official is to cultivate spirit, otherwise, why would you be a County Magistrate at forty-something! Doing this here and doing that there! No future!

Are you thinking that playing with knives is not very useful, and now firearms are king? No matter how high the martial arts, they can't resist the bullet piercing the body, so you plan to have someone shoot me with a black gun? Maybe you are also thinking of contacting White Lotus Sect members elsewhere to have them come over and kill me?"

"Brother Wang, I am truly more wronged than Dou E. You are so heroic, like the Xiang King of ancient times; how could I have such thoughts?"

County Magistrate Wang's face was no longer ugly; it was truly full of grievances.

"Eh, only now do you have a few dog faces of an official." Wang Yan nodded with a smile and picked up his chopsticks again. "I am young and indeed don't understand so many twists and turns, so I will just say whatever I have to say and give you masters a bottom line.

In the future, when I earn silver, I will definitely share some with you. We will all make a fortune together. I am not a person who eats alone; everyone being good is the real good. Don't be in a hurry to be happy; if I find out later that you are doing small actions behind my back and finding trouble for me, then you can't blame me for being ruthless.

You can rest assured about this point; I have already thought about how to do it. For example, after you go out of the city, you are killed by refugees, or you eat something bad, sleep with the wrong woman, or maybe the yamen catches fire. I can kill you without carrying the name of killing an official and rebelling—the best of both worlds. Look, your face is ugly again."

County Assistant Kang said: "Brother Wang, you have truly misunderstood us. As the saying goes, traveling a thousand miles to be an official is only for money. Where would we have so many thoughts? You think we officials look easy, lying down and raking in silver? No, Brother Wang.

Above, silver is needed everywhere; below, there is intrigue everywhere, and the local area is intertwined. Why do you think we officials are forty or fifty years old and still trapped in this lower county? We all read the same sage books; why are others Governors-General and Provincial Governors, while we are just muddling along here? It is because there is no silver, and we cannot connect with those above. So, Brother Wang, as long as everyone makes a fortune, that is a good thing, and everyone will be safe."

"That's right, Brother Wang." County Magistrate Wang said with sincerity, "You speak the truth; although it is unpleasant to hear, it is better than not saying it. Open and honest, everyone has a bottom line in their hearts. I will also give you a bottom line: as long as you ensure our normal assessments pass, you can do whatever you want. Next month the County Assistant leaves, and at the end of the year I leave; who would still manage the affairs here? In this way, can you be at ease?"

"Big Master's words are wrong; it is not that I am at ease, but that we are all at ease. Drink!"

Wang Yan raised his wine glass with a smile...

After a friendly and sufficient exchange, Wang Yan, this outsider, was considered to have settled the official side, and he was considered to have legitimacy on the Qing court side. As for whether County Magistrate Wang and the others were willing, and whether they were sincere, that was not within his consideration.

Just as they said themselves, they were floating officials who were going to leave, so there was no need to fight Wang Yan to the death here. If it were when they first arrived, they might not have been convinced, after all, there were still a few years left in their term, which was really hard to pass, and they always wanted to toss about, but now they had been trained by the Bai family, and they were all going to leave one after another, so they truly wouldn't cause trouble.

No one wanted to escape this whirlpool more than they did; they were not fools and could see that the Huoshan County of the future would definitely not be peaceful...

But it was useless for those who saw it; they couldn't leave, such as the remaining Yang and Liu major households, as well as the other hooligan group in the county seat; they were very uneasy.

Wang Yan could settle Yang Sanshui, so he could kill Liu Hoshang. He could exterminate the Bai family in one night, so he could naturally exterminate the Yang and Liu families.

Thus, in the following few days, they came to Wang Yan one after another to express their stance and negotiate peace. Even the Yang family, which had suffered many losses, clearly stated that they had absolutely no complaints and even sent compensation to Wang Yan. The Yang family had expressed their stance, so the Liu family couldn't be ignorant, so they also gave some land and silver, and at the same time abandoned the hooligan group led by Liu Shanghe.

This was the weakness of these people. As the saying goes, those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. Wang Yan used the extermination of the Bai family to prove his martial power and his determination to be ruthless, so the remaining Yang and Liu families became honest.

Wang Yan did not swallow their land again; the Bai family's legacy was enough for him to build a foundation. The remaining things could not all rely on Huoshan to support; after all, he had to go outward. Huoshan County was just a base, a rear area.

He fulfilled his previous promise, dividing land for the families of the hooligans who fought with him, and also distributed some of the cash seized. Everyone had gains. Those who died in battle were also not left behind; rules were established early on, giving everyone something to look forward to.

At the same time, he also integrated Liu Shanghe's group, the martial arts school group, and his own group. After some picking and choosing, plus the newly recruited young men, he created a team of two hundred people.

Afterward, he integrated the resources in the county, formed a caravan, traded outside according to the original channels of the three major households, and was guarded by those who had gone on escorts from the martial arts school.

Wang Yan did not go; he was not afraid of others cheating him, nor was he afraid of goods being robbed or personnel being damaged. Things would eventually come to light, and these people could not escape his grasp. As for goods being robbed and personnel being damaged, when he freed up his hands, he would naturally go out and find them back with interest. Truth be told, he actually hoped someone would rob his goods.

Relatively speaking, what was more important at the moment was to stay in Huoshan to stabilize and manage the rear area.

Establishing a new order and training the young men under him were complementary to escorting, expanding outward, and strengthening his own power. Once the personnel were trained, they could constantly rotate to escort and do business, extending their tentacles outward and expanding their radiation range.

And the most important point of managing Huoshan was naturally the original intention of coming here: to be a mountain bandit!

He found villagers familiar with the situation in the mountains to accompany him into the mountains. Utilizing more than half a month to climb high and survey, he finally selected a lair that was easier to defend and harder to attack, and safer.

There is nothing perfect in the world; this place would be the edge battlefield for the battle of a hundred thousand troops in the future. There was no impregnable fortress; the great Maginot Line was also vulnerable.

What makes people safe is that the input is not proportional to the output. Compared to racking one's brains to gnaw on Huoshan, what was more important was naturally Shucheng, Liu'an, Hefei, and the Central Plains outside.

Wang Yan openly built a bandit den in the mountains and set up formations outside the city to train the young men under him, which made the wealthy Yang and Liu households and County Magistrate Wang and others tremble with fear. This was much more fierce than the White Lotus Sect...

So much so that the Yang and Liu families took the initiative to take out their savings to support Wang Yan's expenses for building the bandit den...

In the short span of more than a month, Huoshan completely changed its sky, re-establishing a new order. The feeling of the common people was very good, because no one dared to bully people at will; Wang Yan was more authoritative than the County Magistrate. Moreover, he recruited people to work, paid enough money, and didn't let people go hungry. Wang Yan even started his animal husbandry industry once again.

In a short time, Huoshan had a feeling of flourishing. The common people were all happy. After all, the two hundred or so young men under Wang Yan, connected to their families and relatives, covered most of the county's population. The entertainment activities of the common people were to chat about Wang Yan's affairs and watch the fun...

But peace would not last long. Wang Yan had just smoothed things out and made various arrangements, and everything was unfolding in an orderly manner, but the trouble that should come finally arrived.

The old master of the Bai family who didn't appear, and Master Huo whose role was very short, were not so easy to kill...

?? Daily thanks to the big brothers who tipped, voted for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support! ===== CHAPTER 1640 =====

?? Daily thanks for the strong support from the great brothers who tip, cast monthly votes, recommendation votes, and silently read the book!