Chapter 172: The Seniors Are Truly Enthusiastic

This time, Fu Pian went to Cai Mountain and cleaned out everything that could be cleaned out.

When returning to the city, those carts upon carts of goods were exceptionally eye-catching.

At the city gate, the guards standing nearby smelled a sweet fragrance as the goods passed by, like some kind of sugar, or perhaps honey.

They couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

With so much scent leaking out, this bunch from the Patrol Guard Division must have definitely snuck a taste!

Before they could gossip behind their backs, they caught a whiff of alcohol!

"That's definitely grain-brewed liquor!"

Ever since the chaotic times began, grain had been in short supply, and they had rarely been able to drink grain-brewed liquor.

The scent of the alcohol made them lose their focus on duty.

Who would have thought the Patrol Guard Division could even scavenge liquor!

"That Patrol Guard Division really has something going for them!"

"Ever since that person went to the Patrol Guard Division, they've received good news one after another; they truly have ability!"

First it was Jinchan Xiu, where they obtained a large batch of military supplies and grain, and even the weapons in their hands were replaced with a new batch.

Not many days later, the Patrol Guard Division went out to clear out a thief's den again; although the quantity was far less than that time at Jinchan Qi, it still counted as getting some benefits for everyone. Everything is in short supply now, and just having a salary doesn't necessarily mean you can buy what you want.

Some people have many family members drawing a salary and aren't short on grain, so they just want something to satisfy their cravings.

Now they could finally see some hope!

Whether it was sugar or liquor, they wanted it all!

Of course, there were also people beating their chests and stamping their feet—the Patrol Guard Division had snatched the credit again!

Last time at Jinchan Qi, there were plenty of patrol teams going back and forth; those people had been to Jinchan Qi more times than they could count on two hands, and the trees on the mountain were all chopped down by them!

So many times!

And yet they never discovered it!

In the end, the credit was handed over to others.

This time was the same. The Caishan County Town had a garrison, and after being stationed there for so long, they still hadn't managed to find those many caves on Cai Mountain, yet they still let the Patrol Guard Division go over and clean them out!

In truth, the garrison of Caishan County Town was also unwilling to accept it.

If Fu Pian's temper and methods had been even slightly softer, they would have been detained there, and half the credit would have been split away.

The garrison were also old acquaintances; they tried to use their friendship and play tricks on Fu Pian, but they still couldn't stop them.

Fu Pian hummed a laugh and spun the short club in his hand.

"Want to snatch my things?"

Hmph!

A bunch of losers!

Fu Pian was in high spirits and glowing with pride. However, his good mood only lasted until he returned to the office.

After reporting his work to Lao Zhao and returning to the West Office, he saw his own two clerks approaching hesitantly.

Fu Pian got angry the moment he saw them and ignored them.

Since he didn't speak, the two clerks took the initiative to open their mouths.

"Um, Deputy Envoy, we heard the East Office is hiring clerks again!"

"Although they say on the surface it's just to add a handyman, after a long time, they'll be promoted directly to clerk!"

"The East Office already hired an extra person, Cheng Zhi, and now they want to hire another; who knows where they came from. But the higher-ups have already agreed..." Fu Pian listened to the other party babbling for a good while, then glanced at him sideways: "What? You want to go over there?"

"No, no!" The two clerks from the West Office hurriedly waved their hands.

The people in the East Office were busy as dogs every day, a bunch of strivers; they didn't want to go over there at all!

Fu Pian sneered: "Even if you wanted to, they wouldn't want you!"

As he spoke, Fu Pian's expression instantly turned gloomy: "Do you think I don't know what kind of fart you're holding in?!"

He sneered: "Seeing that the East Office can increase their quota and thinking the higher-ups agreed so easily, you want the West Office to increase theirs too? It would be even better if you could push your own relatives into the spots, right?"

"In your dreams! Don't even look at what kind of people you are and what merits you've achieved!"

Fu Pian picked up his short club and pointed it at the two of them:

"Either shut up and do your work honestly, or I'll kick you both out!"

"You have no self-awareness!"

"Get out!"

Watching the two of them scurry away, Fu Pian continued to be angry in the room.

He had already realized one thing—

Scholars are not all the same!

But then again, he really did have some thoughts.

Should he follow the East Office's example and hire another person? Hire someone sharp, capable, and ambitious?

These two in the West Office weren't active enough!

They were both clerks, but look at the others!

Fu Pian stood by the window, looking greedily toward the East Office.

Who could the new person over there be?

Could it be that his own two clerks weren't even as good as the handyman across the way?

"Where on earth did Wen Gu dig up such talent?"

At this moment, Wen Gu was also wondering when the new literary handyman for the East Office would arrive.

Calculating the time, they should be arriving soon.

He did not transfer Han Lian here on a whim.

He had taken note of him back when he first saw him at the post station.

Lao Zhao now has more requirements for new personnel in the Patrol Guard Division, especially for places like the clerical office; unless their background is absolutely clean, he tries to exclude people from Xinzhou and Huangcheng as much as possible.

The attack on Zhao Shaozhu proved that many people in Xinzhou might have fabricated backgrounds.

Since that is the case, it is better to choose someone from further away, someone capable, and someone with no ties to any families.

Han Lian is not from Xinzhou, his hometown is not near Huangcheng, and he does not come from a prominent family.

Being able to lead his companions to flee to Beidi and not being abandoned by them when injured shows that this person's ability and character are decent.

The time Han Lian spent at the post station was, in fact, a probation period.

He was able to quickly familiarize himself with the tasks at hand and handled matters well; Cheng Xu's evaluation of him was quite good.

Furthermore, Han Lian has plans for the future and the motivation to strive; this temperament fits quite well with their East Office clerical office.

First, bring him over as a temporary worker and observe him for a period of time.

Han Lian did not know that he had long since caught someone's eye and had been in a probation period all along.

After he learned he was to be transferred to Xinzhou City, he remained in a state of high excitement.

During the day, he urged his companions to study, pouring out everything he had learned and all the techniques he had summarized, never stopping for a moment.

At night, like a male ghost, he continued to whisper like a demon in his companions' ears.

They slept on a large communal bed at the post station, and Han Lian's companions could not avoid him even if they wanted to.

The two people Han Lian chose as apprentices spent every waking moment learning knowledge and mastering techniques—reading, arithmetic, and familiarizing themselves with post station operations. From their initial gratitude, they gradually became numb, and eventually, they were on the verge of a breakdown.

Knowledge burrowed into their brains like a ghost; it was what they had nightmares about every night!

Under heavy pressure, the two new post station apprentices finally managed to barely meet the requirements.

Han Lian immediately packed his bags and followed the returning delivery team to Xinzhou City.

As he bypassed the various defensive installations and saw the city walls of Xinzhou City, Han Lian's eyes welled up with hot tears, and he felt a surge of ambition.

This was the place where he would forge his future!

First, he had to be quarantined in the Outer City District.

Because he currently held no official position and had no formal documentation, he could only stay in the centralized quarantine area for the time being.

There were merchant caravans and bodyguards chatting nearby, but Han Lian remained vigilant of his surroundings and did not take the initiative to go over and strike up a conversation.

Yet, the people over there noticed him.

A person who looked like a merchant caravan manager sized Han Lian up.

In order to meet his colleagues and superiors in the best possible state, Han Lian had just changed into a clean set of clothes.

These were a gift from Postmaster Cheng; they were not new, nor were they a perfect fit, but they were clean and had no patches.

Under the current circumstances, such clothes were already extremely rare for an ordinary person. It was equivalent to wearing a set of luxury clothing.

Han Lian was currently reciting poetry to himself, cultivating a scholarly air to cover up the "stink of copper" brought about by his previous profession.

The merchant caravan manager came over at this moment, exchanged a few polite pleasantries, and asked, "Are you out on official business, sir?"

Han Lian replied, "Not official business; you could say I am taking up a new post."

The manager's heart stirred.

So, he was here to take up a new position? What was this person's background?

The manager introduced himself as a manager of a small, ordinary merchant caravan and asked where Han Lian was employed.

Han Lian kept an eye on the movements around him, thought for a moment, and replied, "I am merely a clerical handyman at the Patrol Guard Division."

The surrounding caravan personnel and bodyguards all looked over.

The manager's face carried a hint of enthusiasm: "The Patrol Guard Division's clerical office? Which hall?"

Han Lian did not understand: "Eh?"

A bodyguard nearby said, "The Patrol Guard Division has Three Great Halls; which one are you from?"

This, Han Lian truly did not know.

He observed the reactions of the people around him and said hesitantly, "Which hall is Deputy Envoy Wen in?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the people around him became even more enthusiastic; even the few bodyguards nearby saw their original rugged air transform into one of boldness and straightforwardness as they cupped their hands and said:

"So you are an official from the East Office! Forgive our lack of manners!"

Han Lian said hurriedly, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

He understood the situation now and felt even more delighted. It seemed the East Office was indeed a good place!

However, he did not show it on his face, maintaining a hint of humility. Since he was new here, he shouldn't be too high-profile.

But with this identity, others treated him with a touch of respect and flattery amidst their enthusiasm.

Others thought to themselves: Rumor has it that the private stash of the Caishan Horse Bandits' hideout was dug up by the East Office's clerical office! No wonder people say scholars are formidable!

The official before them did not have an imposing air, but looking closely, he did indeed have a touch of elegance.

A more straightforward bodyguard came over and said to Han Lian, "You're a newcomer to the East Office? Then that's a bit of a pity. They got quite a lot of rewards for raiding the bandit den this time, but since you just arrived, you certainly won't get a share."

Han Lian, however, was not thinking about that; there would be plenty of opportunities for rewards later. The important thing was how to integrate into the East Office as quickly as possible. Don't get pushed into a corner as soon as you arrive. Once the quarantine period ended, everyone entered Neicheng.

The closer he got to the Patrol Guard Division, the greater Han Lian's psychological pressure became.

He had already inquired about the current status of the Patrol Guard Division's East Office in Xinzhou City, and he became increasingly cautious in his heart.

Carrying the certificate written by Postmaster Cheng, he entered the Patrol Guard Division and headed toward the East Office.

Several clerks from the West Office and the Main Courtyard were gathered in a corner chatting. Seeing Han Lian, a new face, they looked him up and down and guessed his identity.

"A new handyman from the East Office?" someone asked.

Han Lian bowed cautiously: "That is correct."

Another person raised a hand and said, "The East Office is over there."

Han Lian hurriedly said, "Many thanks!"

Several people watched Han Lian's retreating back.

"What do you think? Is this one from the same group as those few over there?"

"I don't think so, but if they weren't from the same group, it's impossible they would have been transferred over."

"That makes sense."

Damn it, another workaholic!

On the other side, Han Lian very smoothly found the East Office's clerical room.

Before he could even express the respect he had been mulling over for days for the three clerks, which was like a surging river, the three clerks in the clerical room showed great enthusiasm first!

They even had his workstation all tidied up for him!

They even arranged a place for temporary lodging!

Han Lian was extremely moved!

In troubled times, people's hearts are hard to fathom, but now he could see

The seniors are truly warm-hearted!