Chapter 190: Recruiting Troops?

Yan Buji wore a calm expression: "Brother Minhe, my skills are still passable, right?"

Jia Zhen nodded: "Indeed impressive, Yan brother; since that's the case, please come to the county office."

"No problem."

Yan Buji left the military camp; nowadays local military authority and the government are not divided, so nominally the magistrate of Hu Shan County is the commander of the army.

However, this bureaucratic system has serious problems—for example, when rebels rise up across the land these days, there is never a shortage of court officials' shadows among them.

Arriving at the county office, Yan Buji and his lackeys saw the middle-aged person on the dais, immediately knelt and said: "I am the humble Yan Wang, paying my respects, sir!"

"I am the humble Liu Shan, Wang Er, and Zhang Ming, paying my respects, sir!"

The three lackeys followed Yan Buji in reporting their identities; Jia Xiu nodded:

"Rise. I heard you defeated Zhang Bai Fu outright in the camp—you're indeed a fierce general! Yan Wang, are you willing to enlist?"

"I am willing!"

"Good! Hu Shan City has long suffered from bandits outside the walls; Yan Wang, I grant you authority: if within three months you can recruit a full hundred soldiers and wipe out the bandits, you shall be the new Centurion of Hu Shan City!" Jia Xiu laughed.

The three lackeys stared wide-eyed, eyes shining, at Yan Buji.

"Big Brother, this time we're really going to take off, huh?!"

"At the very least we could snag a petty officer post as squad or team leader, right?"

Yan Buji frowned: "Then may I ask about the provisions for recruiting soldiers?"

"This, you also know Hu Shan City doesn't have much silver; recently, to relieve disaster the treasury is empty, and on top of that the bandits are causing trouble—we really can't spare much." Jia Xiu shook his head helplessly.

"So you want us to work for free, right?"

Yan Buji chuckled: "Good, sir, since you value me so highly, I will surely not disappoint your trust!"

"Do you have any other requests?"

"I only want to ask you one thing, sir: am I now considered part of the military, and do I have an identity document?" Yan Buji asked.

Jia Xiu raised his brows, looking at Yan Buji: "Naturally you can now be counted as a person of our Hu Shan City military; however, the matter of title still needs to be reported to the Governor, and only after receiving a reply can it be finalized. So if you have the merit of wiping out bandits, I can speak well of it here."

"That's sufficient. Then, sir, we will withdraw and begin preparations."

"Go."

"Yes, sir."

Yan Buji left with his lackeys; Jia Zhen stood aside, watching Jia Xiu: "Father, at least give him some weapons and equipment—do you really expect him to defeat the Hu Shan bandits barehanded?"

Jia Xiu chuckled: "Let's first see what moves he makes."

Jia Zhen looked at his adoptive father with an air of having victory in hand, and also felt somewhat strange.

"Could he think that Yan Wang is a simple-minded fellow?"

Jia Zhen could sense that Yan Wang might have already recovered his cultivator memories; then how should he go about recruiting soldiers next?

Recruiting soldiers, although it requires an official document from the county office, but more importantly, it's the provisions.

No money, no grain—are we supposed to go conscript able-bodied men by force?

After leaving the county office, Yan Buji walked along the street, looking around.

"Big Brother, how are we going to recruit troops and buy horses?"

"Yeah, I can see it—that worthless official gives us nothing, not even letting us recruit troops ourselves."

"If you ask me, Big Brother, we'd be better off joining the bandits—at least we'd avoid this damned frustration!"

Yan Buji looked at the rebellious lackey Liu Shan who was speaking, his eyes sharp.

"This kid..."

"What are you saying?! Whether we like it or not, we are government servants, serving the court—surely better than being bandits!"

Liu Shan patted his chest: "Big Brother, we brothers have been together for so many years—would we really harm you? Besides, Jia Zhen isn't unaware of our strength; doing this wouldn't fear chilling our hearts!"

"Big Brother, we can't become outlaws; things haven't developed to that point yet."

Yan Buji chuckled: "Don't worry, I have a way to raise provisions; of course, I'll need the three brothers' help!"

"Ah?"

The three lackeys blinked, not understanding Yan Buji's meaning.

"Where are we going to raise provisions?"

Yan Buji directly asked around among people in the county seat, selecting a few targets.

"Come on, brothers, let's go see what's up at Mr. Li's place!"

Yan Buji strode confidently with his three doubtful lackeys to the gate of Mr. Li's residence; the guard upon seeing them approach immediately stretched out a hand to stop them:

"Who are you lot, coming to Old Master Li's place to do what?!"

*Slap slap! *

Yan Buji swung two slaps; the two guards staggered, covered their faces, about to flare up, but seeing Yan Buji's calm expression they hesitated.

Liu Shan beside him seemed to understand Yan Buji's meaning, immediately stepped forward and said:

"You blind dogs, this person is the newly appointed Centurion of Hu Shan City military, Yan Wang, Sir Yan!"

"Huh?"

The two guards, covering their faces, glanced at each other, bowed and said: "It's our clumsy eyes, Sir Yan; why have you come here today?"

"Cut the nonsense—I'm not here for you; let me see your master!"

"Yes, sir, please wait a moment."

The two guards hurried inside to report.

This Mr. Li, Li Fang, is no small fry—heard his three daughters married the Governor as concubines, so he counts as a notable figure around Hu Shan City; even the Magistrate Jia Xiu wouldn't overly give him trouble.

Upon hearing of the new Centurion, Li Fang blinked: "When did the Hu Shan City military change its Centurion? What is this person here for?"

"Sir, I don't know—could it be they're deliberately deceiving us?"

Li Fang furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Go to the county office and inquire first; I'll receive them for now."

"Yes, sir!"

These days there's no shortage of bold souls who dare to impersonate imperial officials to cheat and defraud, but since they've come to our door, we'll see what they're after.

Li Fang personally went out, walked to the gate smiling, clasped his hands and said, "I am the humble Li Fang; I greet you, Sir Yan."

Although Li Fang has connections, he never bullies others with his influence; nowadays, in these chaotic times, there's no talk of martial ethics—if he ever provoked a vicious bandit, they could come at night and slit his throat, and that would be the end of him.

So Li Fang also understands that when dealing with reasonable people, as long as they aren't excessive, he can agree to a few minor requests, treating it as spending money to ward off disaster.

But if you really are a person of status who comes to mooch, the Governor's connections are no joke!

Yan Buji looked at Li Fang and smiled, "Assistant Magistrate Li, won't you invite me in for a seat? I also have a big business I'd like to discuss with you."

Huh?

Li Fang paused, glanced at Yan Buji's attire, and wondered how it differed from that of a rustic villager.

But the moment this person opened his mouth and said such things, while it was hard to believe, it also made one want to hear what else he could say.