Chapter 152: Teaching New Recruits by the Rules

Early in the morning, Chen Guanlou reported to Tianlaomiao; today was his first day on duty. By the way, his current name is Li Xin—Li is his mother's surname.

After all, his uncle still couldn't bring himself to let the younger son use his real name, leaving room for retreat—clearly planning to make a quick profit and leave, with no intention of staying long.

Chen Guanlou stood on the steps, squinting at Chen Guanlou, displeased with his attire. He'd entered Tianlaomiao and still thought himself a Young Master, dressed in silk and brocade—hmph! He had no clue what Tianlaomiao was.

He ordered Xiao Jin, "This is Li Xin, new here. Take him, teach him the rules. Don't spare my face—scold when needed, hit when needed. If you refuse to teach him properly and trouble arises, I'll hold you responsible."

Xiao Jin blinked, sizing him up. A seasoned veteran's eyes were sharp—he instantly noticed the resemblance between Chen Guanlou and Li Xin.

He ventured, "Chen Tou, are you really going to teach him by the rules?"

Treating new recruits like grandsons—that's the rule of Tianlaomiao.

Chen Guanlou snorted, "Yes. Teach him by the rules. If you fail, it's your fault."

Xiao Jin: …

He forced a nervous laugh. The job was neither good nor bad—no matter Li Xin's origins, he must be related to Chen Tou, otherwise their resemblance made no sense. If Li Xin bore the surname Chen, they were surely brothers.

But everyone in Tianlaomiao knew Chen Tou was the only male heir in his household; his sister had married out. Chen Tou was an only child. Even if he had brothers, they were only clan brothers.

The Chen clan was a distinguished family in Jingcheng—surely not all the young men would become jailers. Besides, this Li Xin wore silk and brocade—his family was well-off. Why would he come to be a jailer?

Xiao Jin chuckled, "Alright! Since Chen Tou trusts me, I'll take this new recruit. I'll shape him up. You—newcomer—come here. Take off that outfit. You're here to be a grandson, not a Young Master. Who let you wear silk and brocade? This outfit must've cost a fortune. Heh…"

Chen Guanlou: …

His Young Master temper flared—he nearly exploded on the spot. But when he met Chen Guanlou's gaze, he shuddered—every ounce of anger vanished.

Deflated, he swallowed his rage and followed Xiao Jin to change into coarse cloth uniforms.

Qian Fugui watched nearby, looking like he wanted to ask but dared not.

Chen Guanlou glanced at him. "Speak your mind. Hesitating like that—do you think I'll eat you?"

Qian Fugui gave a nervous laugh, heart pounding, and whispered, "Chen Tou, you really won't give Li Xin special treatment?"

Chen Guanlou smiled faintly. "You're asking about Li Xin's background. I'll tell you straight—he's a distant relative, a good-for-nothing. His elders couldn't control him, so they dumped him in Tianlaomiao to suffer and learn a lesson. Don't treat him kindly. Break his Young Master habits. Let him learn to be a grandson before he can be a master. Don't worry—he won't take up anyone's slot. He's just a name on the roster. He'll leave after a while."

Qian Fugui relaxed half his worry, then asked cautiously, "What about the Qian…"

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "Since he's here, he'll share in the profits. But don't worry—your shares won't be diluted. This is Tianlaomiao. Making money isn't hard."

Qian Fugui beamed. As long as their original share wasn't cut, no matter his origins, he was just another brother sharing the same pot.

"Chen Tou, rest assured—we'll shape that new kid into a proper grandson."

Chen Guanlou laughed. "Good. I'll wait to see the results. When it's done, I'll treat everyone to drinks at Zui Xiang Lou."

"Chen Tou is a true man!"

The jailers loved going out with Chen Guanlou—he didn't put on airs, didn't preach, paid promptly, covered all expenses, kept the atmosphere lively, ate and drank freely, and even had courtesans in his arms.

Everyone in the Jia-Cell Block respected him.

The other three squad leaders were clearly stingy. They'd invite you out, then remind you of their favor. If the food was even slightly better, they'd start complaining about the cost. The bolder ones would make everyone split the bill.

A good banquet ended with no one satisfied, everyone bitter, and everyone out money. A curse!

Better to go out with Chen Tou and eat pickles and steamed buns than join the other three squad leaders for a banquet.

After handing Chen Guanlou over to Xiao Jin, Chen Guanlou no longer interfered.

He had to patrol the Second Young Master's cell once or twice daily and chat with him—that was his duty.

As the New Year neared, Wang Fu showed a touch of humanity, sending the Second Young Master fresh bedding, clothes, and food. His complexion noticeably brightened.

In good spirits, he invited Chen Guanlou to drink with him.

Chen Guanlou waved him off. "On duty, no drinking. Drink, then don't be on duty."

He always used this excuse, and the Second Young Master never minded.

"Chen Tou, guess when I'll get out of Tianlaomiao? Any chance before the New Year?"

"Definitely. It's the New Year—you're imperial blood. You can't spend it in Tianlaomiao. You must go to court to wish His Majesty a happy New Year."

"Heh! Wishing Grand Emperor a happy New Year? That's not for me. But whether I leave Tianlaomiao depends on you."

"Me?" Chen Guanlou looked baffled.

The Second Young Master laughed. "Your clan's patriarch."

Chen Guanlou understood. "You mean the Elder Lord."

"If the Pingjiang Marquis defeats the rebels, my release is easy. Chen Tou—do you think the Pingjiang Marquis can win?"

"He'll win for sure!"

Regardless of his true thoughts, for loyalty and interest, he had to firmly believe the Elder Lord would win—and win big, brilliantly, dazzlingly, making the old Emperor beam with joy.

"I also believe the Pingjiang Marquis will win. He's a seasoned general, knows Jinzhou well. A few rebels? He'll crush them easily."

Chen Guanlou: …

They weren't just a few rebels—they'd been in revolt for three years, captured twenty cities, amassed vast wealth, weapons, and supplies, trained a core of battle-hardened veterans, and still hadn't decayed internally—they were at their peak, full of vigor.

Underestimate these Jinzhou rebels, and you'll soon fall hard. The earlier defeats proved that.

Those military commanders ignored the Jinzhou rebels—until battle began, they scattered like birds, chased and beaten by the rebels. Not only did they lose—they lost disgracefully. Had it not been for the unwritten rules of the bureaucracy, which helped cover up failures, and because they were still useful, the old Emperor would've already chopped off heads by the dozen.

Why did the Elder Lord insist on waiting until spring to fight? Not from fear—but because he knew the Jinzhou rebels were no easy foe. To speak plainly, forbidden by loyalty: the Jinzhou rebels have become a force.

When scholars and cultivators began joining the rebels voluntarily, it meant the Jinzhou rebels were no longer mere bandits.