Chapter 332: 341 Taking a Concurrent Post

Zhang Rong led the group of four to a flower hall, entering first himself, and after a short while, he came out to bring them into the inner hall, where the Gaoyuan Marquis was already seated.

Upon seeing the Gaoyuan Marquis, Tang Zhao felt a jolt in his heart.

The Gaoyuan Marquis in the Hou Mansion was simply a different person from the one at Zhuoyu Villa; gone was the previous elegance and leisure. Although she was still in casual attire, her clothes were clean and meticulous, without a single flaw. Furthermore, her gaze was like lightning, commanding respect without anger.

If the first time Tang Zhao had seen her was in this image, he would never have thought she was an ordinary old lady.

The Gaoyuan Marquis's expression was quite amiable. After the exchange of greetings, she had them all sit down. She first inquired after Xu Zhongnan, the Daoist priest under the Imperial Preceptor from the capital, asking what important business brought him here. Xu Zhongnan naturally offered a few polite words, explaining that he was merely wandering and, having arrived at Zhongtian Prefecture, feared it would be impolite to pass by without entering, so he came to pay a visit. The Gaoyuan Marquis also exchanged pleasantries, telling him to feel free to tour Yunzhou without any concerns.

Immediately afterward, she smiled and asked, "Has Xiao Tang finally arrived? Was the journey safe? Did you see or hear anything of note along the way?"

Tang Zhao sat up straight without realizing it, showing even more respect than he did when facing Xue Xianyun, and answered precisely, "The journey was safe, and I saw quite a bit of the local customs and practices." As he spoke, he recounted some of what he had seen on the road.

After a few moments of casual chat, the Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "You came across the river from the north? The Training Camp of the Land Inspection Division is also over there; did you see it when you passed by?"

Tang Zhao did not know if this "all-seeing" Gaoyuan Marquis was so omniscient that she even knew about the episode where he encountered the Training Camp students on the road, so he answered truthfully, "I saw it, and even ran into some students out for a run."

The Gaoyuan Marquis said, "The Training Camp is the foundation of the Land Inspection Division and the future of our Yunzhou. I specifically had the Training Camp built closer to Zhongtian Prefecture so I could often see the vibrant, spirited look of those young people, as if I were young again myself."

Tang Zhao observed her secretly, feeling that the Gaoyuan Marquis was full of vigor and sat with great dignity, looking younger than she did on the mountain. But this might just be an illusion; perhaps once she relaxed, she was still an old woman whose prime had passed and whose years were gone.

The Gaoyuan Marquis sighed with emotion and said, "By the way, now that you've come to take up a post, do you have any thoughts on your future?"

Tang Zhao said, "Ah? Isn't it to join the Land Inspection Division?"

The Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "Naturally, it is the Land Inspection Division. You have been registered with the Land Inspection Division for four years, drawing a monthly salary from the division, so your seniority has built up. It wouldn't make sense if you didn't take up a post. Even if I were to transfer you elsewhere, you would still have to pass through the Land Inspection Division. It's just that the Land Inspection Division has different positions, and the tasks are different. You are already a Sword Guest; according to the rules, your treatment starts at the Sixth Rank. As a Sword Smith, you are even rarer, so if we promote you a bit, you will be at the Fifth Rank in the blink of an eye. If you are willing to go to a local area, you could at least directly become a Deputy Garrison Commander of a city."

Tang Zhao was very surprised; he was already a Deputy Envoy?

Just yesterday, he still felt that a Deputy Garrison Commander was a very important figure, and in the blink of an eye, he could become one himself?

Actually, thinking about it, it was correct. Mai Shiyu was also a new Sword Guest who quickly transferred to become a Deputy Garrison Commander, and now, thanks to his merits in the battle of Xun City, he had become a Garrison Commander. Although Tang Zhao had low seniority, he had key combat achievements in two major Demon Caves, so his merits were not small. Plus, with the halo of being a Sword Smith, being a Deputy Garrison Commander was nothing; after a few years of experience, becoming a Garrison Commander would also be quick.

It was just that Tang Zhao was a bit hesitant. Guarding a region meant having significant power, but there were also a great many affairs. He would almost be a local official, and at most, he could hone his Sword Art through combat, but he wouldn't be able to squeeze out time for Sword Casting. He wanted to have it all: being a Sword Guest, Sword Casting, and his business.

Seeing his expression, the Gaoyuan Marquis knew he was hesitant, but she did not force him, saying, "Besides this, there are a few other choices. Zhang Xiansheng—" she looked at Zhang Rong, "—possesses unique skills and is resourceful, capable of great responsibilities. He is unwilling to serve in the government, so he condescends to be a Guest Minister in my staff. The Hou Mansion cannot do without him now. Therefore, I have the Land Inspection Division send two people to protect him, preferably someone with both literary and martial skills, to act as assistants, holding the rank of Military Advisor, which is also Sixth Rank. Zhang Xiansheng likes you very much; if you are willing to go, he will certainly welcome you."

Tang Zhao glanced at Zhang Rong, who was stroking his beard and smiling, and thought, "Zhang Xiansheng still needs people to protect him? I'm afraid I couldn't beat him now. Who is protecting whom?"

Before he could answer, the Gaoyuan Marquis continued, "I have specifically established a new Sword Casting Pavilion under the Land Inspection Division for your teacher. He will be the Pavilion Envoy, and I have given him the rank of Deputy Commander. You can go and assist him, serving as a Vice Pavilion Envoy, directly at the Fifth Rank."

A Deputy Commander was already at the Third Rank, but the Sword Casting Pavilion sounded like it had no real power, focusing mainly on skills, so a high rank was just to improve benefits. The same applied to the Vice Pavilion Envoy; resources and materials would be available, no combat would be required, and he would be respected, as long as he cast swords with peace of mind.

"Xing Ji also asked me for you. He is going to a new department. However, that department has not been formed yet; it is still just setting up the framework. He is busy with another major matter now, and he won't be taking office until next year at the earliest. Once the new department is planned, he will inevitably need to draw people from everywhere, and he wants you to go."

Tang Zhao was naturally willing to follow Xing Ji, but this new department didn't even have a shadow yet; this promise was too vague, so he asked, "That department is..."

The Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "Although it doesn't have a name yet, it is mainly for suppressing bandits."

Tang Zhao was stunned and said, "Specifically for suppressing bandits, but Yunzhou is peaceful..."

He thought of something and paused for a moment.

The Gaoyuan Marquis nodded approvingly and said, "You thought correctly—to go to Lingzhou to suppress bandits."

Tang Zhao was both surprised and happy: he was happy because, ever since his trip to Jianzhou, he had long found the chaos in Lingzhou an eyesore, and if he could wipe out these bastards, it would certainly be good. He was surprised because...

What did the affairs of Lingzhou have to do with you, the Gaoyuan Marquis, the Governor of Yunzhou?

Even Xu Zhongnan couldn't help but take a deep look at the Gaoyuan Marquis.

The Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "If you want to enter Lingzhou, you must have an imperial decree from the Imperial Court. Do you think I, your Marquis, am a rebellious subject? I have already submitted a petition for the decree, and this matter is eighty percent certain."

Tang Zhao swallowed his saliva: The Governor of Yunzhou asking the Imperial Court to enter Lingzhou to suppress bandits—the water here was too deep, and he didn't know what to say. Just as his master had warned him before he left, if he didn't understand such things, he shouldn't meddle blindly.

But if it were truly legal, he would want to go. Suppressing bandits, like fighting against Heavenly Demons, was a battle he truly looked forward to.

The Gaoyuan Marquis had already guessed his thoughts and smiled, "How about this, there is no rush for this matter. Since you are here, and I am short of people, why not take up a Teaching Staff position at the Training Camp first and consider it slowly."

Tang Zhao said in surprise, "Teaching Staff? At the Training Camp?"

The Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Exactly. I am planning to open an Art Tool training course at the Training Camp. Not a Rune Formula course, but one to teach young people how to use, select, and pair Art Tools, as well as how to coordinate them with martial arts to achieve the best results. When it comes to Art Tools, who is more familiar with them than you?"

Tang Zhao pondered for a moment. This course was somewhat interesting, and he could teach it, but...

"This course won't last long, will it?"

For such a purely technical subject, even if the course were padded with content, including practical training, it wouldn't take many sessions to teach.

The Gaoyuan Marquis said, "It's just an idea. It just so happens that there are two months left until this batch graduates, so you can use one month to open a few sessions, and then lead them in some pre-exam reviews, simulated training, and the like. It's just a temporary post for training; you get to train, and they get to train too."

Tang Zhao said with difficulty, "This... pre-exam reviews and simulated training are..."

Zhang Rong laughed from the side, "My Lord, just tell him straight; it's just asking him to bring the kids." After saying this, he smiled at Tang Zhao and said, "You must have noticed that something big is happening in Yunzhou now. The Marquis attaches great importance to this matter and has mobilized many people from all over. However, while the big event is important, local stability is also crucial, and we must not let anyone take advantage of the situation. Currently, most of the Sword Guests in the local areas have heavy responsibilities and cannot easily leave their posts, so we have concentrated some of the forces in Zhongtian Prefecture, including the Instructors of the Training Camp. Now the Training Camp only has one Sword Guest sitting in charge, but there are hundreds of students, and a batch of senior students facing graduation, so it's a bit overwhelming. Since you've arrived and are one of our own, we're pulling you over to help out."

Tang Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's no problem; substituting and watching the kids is fine. I thought I really had to be a teacher, and I'm still far from that."

The Gaoyuan Marquis said, "Your skills are not inferior to those old instructors, and your knowledge is even better than theirs; it's just that you lack experience. If you aren't in that position, you don't look like a teacher, but once you are in that position, you will look like one even if you don't. The curriculum can be flexible, no need to be too tight; the main thing is to watch these half-grown kids and make sure nothing happens."

Zhang Rong said, "The Training Camp also has a Library. I've been there, and the collection is very rich. It's a pity that few of those kids read, and those instructors don't go there much either, which is a waste of resources. Once you become a teacher, you can read whenever you want."

Tang Zhao was overjoyed; reading was what he liked most.

The Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said, "The Training Camp's curriculum is child's play for you, but there are some specialized courses, such as reconnaissance, Art of War, civil administration, and intelligence analysis; if you want to listen, you can go and listen."

Tang Zhao understood the Gaoyuan Marquis's meaning. He had joined the Land Inspection Division without going through the Training Camp, so he lacked a resume and some skills. But he was already a proper Sword Guest, so it would certainly be inappropriate to go back and be retrained openly. Giving him a teacher's position made it convenient for him to take remedial classes and complete his resume, making it easier for him to gain a foothold in the Land Inspection Division. This was also a kindness.

Tang Zhao thanked the Gaoyuan Marquis and Zhang Rong and accepted his first official post in Zhongtian Prefecture.

Calculating the time, he would substitute for two months, send this batch to graduation, and it would be the end of the year. He could then ask for leave to go to Black Spider Villa, and after a round trip, he would probably be able to join the new department of the Chief of the Division?

Great, the plan is perfect!

The Gaoyuan Marquis added, "Xue Guniang's sword is already prepared. In a while, you can go to the Land Inspection Division to see the Commander and collect it. Try it out; if it's suitable, it's suitable, and if not, test it again and change it. The Training Camp has a complete method for testing the direction of Inspiration. Anyone who wants to test can go and test."

As she spoke, she glanced at the other two, her gaze lingering on Wei Se's face, before turning away indifferently.

Tang Zhao thought that she must have seen that Wei Se was disguised, but she didn't care.

There are many methods for Inspiration testing, but none are foolproof. The Training Camp was built by concentrating the resources of Yunzhou, so the testing methods must be good. Not only was Wei Se tempted, but even Xu Zhongnan had the idea to go and test.

One must know that Daoist Xu was not yet a Sword Guest.

Tang Zhao and the others chatted a few more words, took their leave from the Gaoyuan Marquis, and went together to the headquarters of the Yunzhou Land Inspection Division.