From a humble farmer to a great martial arts master

42, County Magistrate

How does your family plan to cope?

Ren Qingshan stopped and casually asked.

She said all this simply to ask for help, but a prominent family in the prefecture, with two members who passed the imperial examinations... I'm afraid they want to kill me.

A pretty face alone isn't enough.

"My father is trying to find connections in the prefectural city, pulling strings at all levels. My mother wants me to get married, to find a family of equal social standing. I've also tried sending messages by carrier pigeon to my sect master and fellow disciples, but I haven't received any replies."

She told the truth.

But Ren Qingshan had already waved his hand and turned around: "Let's go, we'll talk as we walk, don't keep them waiting."

A thirty-five-year-old man is shrewd and calculating. While he may not be able to resist temptation, he is unlikely to be completely swayed by beauty or lose his temper.

Unless... more money!

However, she would need to bring up the extra cost herself, lest it lose its class.

Lu Qingyi is such a blockhead, why don't you name a price!

You talk big but don't care about your looks. You think you can make a living off your appearance and use your beauty to bully others, ordering me around to do things for your family?

Lu Qingyi quickly followed, and looking at the broad back, a hint of disappointment appeared in her eyes.

It was obvious that Ren Qingshan's attitude indicated he was not entirely willing.

She sighed inwardly, but quickly adjusted her mindset and smiled slightly, "Then let's not talk about these things. Fortunately, the sky isn't falling yet. Everyone in the family is busy with their own affairs. I was just overthinking things. I hope... I haven't upset you."

This girl... has a very high EQ.

Her words prompted Ren Qingshan to offer some pointers.

"This matter is probably not as simple as you think; it may involve a power struggle among salt merchant families."

"No matter how high the status of that ugly woman in the Liu family is, it is impossible for the whole family to work for her. At most, there are some sycophants who can be used by her."

"After the incident at Yushugou, did your family report it to the authorities?"

When Lu Qingyi saw that Ren Qingshan had not experienced the whole thing, yet his analysis was exactly the same as her father's in his letter, she immediately felt that she had a clear understanding of the ways of the world.

But he shook his head and explained:

"If it's not reported to the authorities, such things are generally not reported to the authorities."

"The Green Forest Road has its own rules. If you don't report to the authorities, whether a caravan gets robbed or not depends entirely on luck and business acumen. At most, they'll be robbed two or three times out of ten. If it's not valuable cargo, there's always a way to get away with it and buy peace."

"But if you report it to the authorities, you'll never have a peaceful day again. They'll keep a close eye on you and rob you. You'll be robbed eight or nine times out of ten."

Ren Qingshan chuckled to himself.

The mountains and forests outside the city are indeed a vacuum in the government's power, and there is no reason to guard against thieves for a thousand days.

After a moment's thought, Ren Qingshan smiled and said:

"There is another way."

"How about you spread the word that you're escorting a large sum of silver to the prefectural city to lure those armed bandits back? I'll take action on the way and capture them alive."

"The Liu family has two members who have passed the imperial examinations, so they are legitimate. Legitimate people care about their reputation. If it is found that this bandit is related to them, then things will get interesting."

This……

Lu Qingyi's eyes shimmered, revealing a strange brilliance.

This method sounds truly ingenious!

The two martial arts graduates of the Liu family, both at the Jade Marrow Realm, are of noble status and would never do such dirty work as robbery.

For Senior Ren, who is at the late stage of Silver Blood, capturing this group of robbers would be a piece of cake.

He... truly deserves the title of genius!

He's so smart!

Having already been robbed twice, they did the opposite and set up another trap.

"Go back and discuss it with your family. If it's feasible, come find me."

"However, I have to pay you for what I do. We're friends, so you can give me whatever you think is appropriate. My baby is due soon, and I'm broke."

Lu Qingyi smiled when she heard his relaxed and teasing voice again.

Thinking that he still had some money in his purse, he wanted to give it to him, but felt embarrassed to do so.

Such a clever trick, costing only a hundred or so taels of silver, truly underestimates people.

I'll wait until I get back and discuss it with my mother before giving him a big red envelope!

"Qingyi, thank you very much, senior."

Ren Qingshan glanced back at her, and seeing that she had no intention of paying, he waved his hand listlessly.

Don't just thank me, show some sincerity...

Pooh!

I still got ripped off by this woman.

……

Guan Shanyue saw the two of them walk to the village entrance.

Lu Qingyi's expression changed from being preoccupied to beaming with joy.

A thought stirred within him.

Could it be... that these two are having an affair?

He sniffed, looked thoughtfully at Ren Qingshan, but didn't ask any more questions, simply saying, "Shall we go? It's getting late."

"Walk."

So everyone mounted their horses.

Steward Li gave up his horse and offered it to Ren Qingshan first.

Several horses galloped away at breakneck speed, heading straight for the county town.

……

"Brother Guan, does Lord Fang have any hobbies or preferences?"

Upon entering the city, they bid each other farewell. Ren Qingshan and Guan Shanyue walked side by side toward the county government office, casually asking a question.

Ren Qingshan was certainly concerned about the current situation.

Wearing Qingyun boots, I walk towards Qingyun Road!

"Lord Fang has three great passions: First, he loves bringing peace and prosperity to the people and being charitable. Second, he loves medicine and healing the sick. Third, he loves martial arts and cultivating the next generation to educate the people of the county."

Ren Qingshan was taken aback.

How could someone be so shameless? A hypocrite?

However, he didn't show it on his face at all, but simply smiled and praised, "Truly admirable."

"That's right."

"It's a pity that he was ostracized by his colleagues because of this. Otherwise, with Fang's talent, being a county magistrate would be a real waste. He could probably be a prime minister."

Guan Shanyue spoke with great sincerity, appearing to be a staunch supporter of the county magistrate.

Ren Qingshan recalled Ren Yaokang's evaluation of Guan Shanyue in his letter—that he was meticulous in his work but liked to amass wealth… Seeing his attitude at this moment, he simply smiled and nodded in agreement.

As they were talking, the two walked to the front gate of the county government office. Guan Shanyue did not go inside, but went straight to the back gate.

Ren Qingshan followed him through the back door.

He silently sorted out the system of the government office in his mind.

As the saying goes, "The county magistrates come and go, but the clerks and runners remain."

A county magistrate is a high-ranking official, a graduate of the imperial examination system, skilled in both civil and military affairs, serving a three-year term, and subject to regular performance evaluations and rotation.

The clerks and assistants were mostly local talents who had no official rank and did not follow the officials, but they had a truly secure job.

Besides that...

There were also relatives of high-ranking officials returning home, successful candidates in the imperial examinations, martial artists within the Demon Suppression Bureau system, military households stationed locally, and all sorts of other groups such as escort agencies, martial arts schools, gangs, wealthy merchants, gentry, and landlords... who together constituted the power system of the county town.

Power, force, and money are intertwined.

After passing through the gatekeeper's office at the back gate of the county government office, the two were able to enter.

They came upon a large courtyard, which resembled a training ground, where dozens of teenagers were practicing martial arts, humming and shouting.

"This is?"

Curiosity appeared in Ren Qingshan's eyes.

Guan Shanyue chuckled softly, "The Martial Virtue Academy. Lord Fang is dedicated to promoting martial virtue and educating the people, hence this academy."

"The disciples in the academy are either from wealthy or noble families, or they are geniuses from a young age. In addition to learning martial arts, they also learn the principles of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, as well as how to conduct oneself in society."

Ren Qingshan immediately understood.

It turns out to be a small-class elite teaching program.

Tsk.

This magistrate was clearly adept at the art of governance. In doing so, he naturally developed intricate relationships with the county's elites, and even if there were transfers of benefits, there was a veil of secrecy around it.

"Brother Qingshan, please wait here and do not wander around. I will go and inform them first."

……

……