Chapter 308: Tiger Talisman

Chen Wuji's words almost made the carefree and unrestrained Qin Feng shut down.

He drooped the corners of his mouth and stared at Chen Wuji for a while before saying: 'Deputy Commander Chen, if you want to make a wish at the temple, this lowly county magistrate really cannot satisfy your harsh demands; otherwise, just take my miserable life.'

'Qin County Magistrate, it's over, it's over.' Chen Wuji laughed heartily, 'How about halving it?'

Qin Feng's face darkened, 'This official doesn't want to talk to you.'

He suddenly became angry.

That tsundere little demeanor almost made Chen Wuji unable to hold back his laughter.

He glared at Chen Wuji in spite for a while before angrily saying: 'Put away that damned look of yours; I used all kinds of despicable means to barely scrape together thirty thousand shi of grain—later, have your people transport it back.'

'Fallen soldiers must certainly receive compensation; we cannot let those who fight for the country and guard the borders feel bitter. The silver money I have already given you in full—you distribute it yourself. Don't even think about squeezing more silver from me; it's truly gone, act like a human.'

'As this petty county magistrate, the only thing I can do for you now is to give them more land—whether fertile, poor, or wasteland depends on the local situation; later, send me a list and I will arrange it.'

Chen Wuji hurriedly thanked him.

Qin Feng is a down-to-earth person; whether speaking or acting, he is genuine.

Chen Wuji's earlier remarks weren't really meant to extort that much from Qin Feng, but a crying child gets fed easily—shouting a couple of sentences isn't much trouble.

'Whether you can hold your breath or not, that's all I can do.' Qin Feng flicked his sleeve, gave Chen Wuji a sharp tilt of the head, and said, 'Come, let's talk inside.'

The two went around the things piled in the courtyard, passed through the side gate of the corridor to the rear hall of the county office, and took their seats in the side chamber.

'Right now, there are two more pressing matters.' Qin Feng greeted Chen Wuji with a cup of cool tea, then immediately got to the point: 'First, I have offended too many people this time; you must station troops to garrison Yunan and protect my worthless life, to intimidate those ignorant ruffians.'

'Second, the Provincial Troops have been clamoring these days, seeking revenge for their commandant; you must quickly deal with them—whether to kill or bury is up to you. Whether they are used or not is also up to you, but this matter must be quelled; otherwise, if the troops rebel together, Yunan will be in peril.'

Chen Wuji set down his teacup and sighed, 'Your grain and silver are really not easy to obtain.'

'Watch what you say, little Chen—you are now a commandant of the Court.' Qin Feng said teasingly.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, 'Of course I know; as a commandant of the Court, I can't even grumble a bit? I took your meager grain and silver, yet you gave me no reinforcements—instead, you let me defend against enemies outside while also having me clean up the mess you left behind; do you think my opinion is reasonable?'

Qin Feng's face flushed with embarrassment; he gave a light cough and gave an embarrassed laugh, saying, 'Um... that's quite reasonable, indeed quite reasonable; I didn't expect these Soldier Thugs to have deteriorated to such an extent.'

'Like this, like this, I'll take the liberty to decide: how about I recruit soldiers to replenish your troops? A full-region recruitment lies within my authority, and I'll additionally recruit two thousand new troops for you.'

Chen Wuji shook his head, 'One thousand is enough; more would be unaffordable.'

'Excellent.' Qin Feng broke into a relaxed smile, 'What we do is all for the people of Yunan; this time your Chen clan has contributed greatly, I understand completely, and I will certainly not let you suffer a loss.'

'Sir, don't just talk.' Chen Wuji said wistfully.

Qin Feng raised his eyebrows, 'What I've done isn't bad, is it? Deputy Commander Chen, there's something I perhaps should have told you earlier: although I come from an official family, I plan to spend my retirement in Yunan.'

The meaning of his words goes without saying.

But Chen Wuji merely listened with half an ear; whether to believe it or not is another matter.

Would a person with the spirit and bearing of a wandering knight choose to retire in such a small place as Yunan?

One must know that such people are the most restless.

'The two Guoyi Commandants, I already have candidates.' Chen Wuji suddenly said.

Qin Feng waved his hand and said bluntly, 'I won't interfere in military affairs; you handle it.'

'The military authority of Yunan is in your hands.' Chen Wuji said.

Qin Feng suddenly rose, 'Wait a moment.'

He hurried out of the side chamber, quickly returned, and then slapped a Military Token and a Seal onto Chen Wuji's face, saying, 'From now on, they're yours!'

In the system of Da Yu, the military administration in the six prefectures of Shenxian Ling is somewhat chaotic; the prefectures and counties control mobilization authority, while the commandants handle daily management and training, with the two authorities separated.

And the right to mobilize troops lies in this Military Token that Qin Feng tossed onto the table.

'You just gave it away so readily?' Chen Wuji exclaimed in surprise.

Military authority is no trivial matter; whoever holds it rarely wants to let go.

Qin Feng snorted, 'Now the foundation of Yunan's Provincial Troops is your Chen Clan Troops; even if something happens, how could I still continue to mobilize? Do I really need to spell this out?'

Chen Wuji gave a faint smile; indeed, it was refreshingly straightforward.

'What extent can the original Provincial Troops achieve?' He decisively picked up the Military Token and Seal.

Given the Chen clan's history, Chen Wuji basically doesn't worry about the so-called black hat of claiming troops for oneself.

Whoever dares to squeeze him like that, he really dares to do it.

But before the situation becomes severe, he will still abide by the Nine-Word Policy and dutifully serve as a commandant.

He also wants to try what it feels like to serve as a military official of the Court.

'Do as you please; even if they all died, I wouldn't feel the slightest sorrow.' Qin Feng said calmly.

Chen Wuji understood, already having a plan in mind.

'Tomorrow I will bring people into the city. Speaking of which, Magistrate Qin, you must have confiscated quite a bit of good stuff this time, right? Is there a tavern, or a place that could be used as a tavern?' Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Feng blinked, 'Such a serious discussion, and you suddenly bring this up?'

'Talking about money is also a serious matter.'

Qin Feng clicked his tongue, 'Indeed there is; do you want it?'

'Hmm, I want to open a tavern.' Chen Wuji said, 'It just so happens that I might end up wielding a knife at Li Si Fencha, but we can't let the people of Yunan go without tasty food; we must fill this gap.'

'Five thousand taels!'

Qin Feng didn't inquire why Chen Wuji suddenly wanted to wield a knife at Li Si Fencha; he simply opened his right hand and gently pushed forward.

Chen Wuji's face darkened slightly, 'Are you robbing me?'

'A prime location, and the building materials used in Lou Li are all fine wood.' Qin Feng instantly switched to a businessman's demeanor.

'I don't have that much silver; I'll look for something cheap.' Chen Wuji said.

'You took away eleven hundred thousand taels; will you be short this bit?' Qin Feng frowned.

Chen Wuji was speechless, 'That's military grain; you're letting me use military supplies to open a tavern?'

Isn't that so?

Chen Wuji: ……

This kind of self‑destructive act of cutting off one's foundation will at least not happen to him.

Public is public, private is private.

"Then eight hundred taels!" Qin Feng suddenly halved the price, then halved it again.

Chen Wuji: ……