Full-Level Fierce Person-Chapter 63 counties

63: 63 counties

63: 63 counties

Xigou cocked an ear to listen, then suddenly transmitted his voice, “Is that true?

So you’re telling me, you’re now the third in command?

Your position is only subordinate to the County Magistrate, his second son, and this Chief Constable?”

Fang Zhixing mused, “It seems to be the case, and I might even sit on an equal footing with the County Magistrate’s second son and the Chief Constable.”

Xigou immediately expressed his astonishment and doubt, “That can’t be right, can it?

Don’t you think there’s a problem?”

Fang Zhixing narrowed his eyes slightly and snorted, “What problem?

Are you saying you can’t bear to see me succeed?”

Xigou scoffed, “Have you been so dazzled by your joy that you’ve lost your wits?

Think about it, you’re a newcomer, just arrived, with no qualifications to speak of, yet you’re entrusted with a heavy responsibility just because you’ve killed a few water bandits and have decent archery skills?

Doesn’t this feel like a huge trap to me?”

Fang Zhixing curled his lip, “Can’t it be that this Lord Luo Peiyun, the County Magistrate, has an eye for talent, knows how to use people wisely, and places people solely based on their merits?

Or perhaps, I’ve just been lucky this time!”

Xigou sneered, “Bullshit.

Does Luo Peiyun know you that well?

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, but when you’re out and about, you need power, you need a background!

Which do you have?”

Fang Zhixing couldn’t help but cast a deep gaze at the luxurious carriage, his thoughts churning.

At that moment, even he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something fishy going on.

After all, everything had indeed gone a bit too smoothly.

[Task 4: Ride a horse for more than 5000 meters (completed)]

From Songlin Temple to the county town was roughly ten li.

When Fang Zhixing finished the 5000-meter riding task, he looked up to see a squarely built city wall standing at the end of the road.

From a high vantage point, one could tell that the city was favorably located based on Feng Shui, backed by a mountain and facing water.

The mountain was Songlin Mountain, and the water was Qingshui River.

The city wall was built against the mountain on the north side, surrounded by a stone wall, and to the west, it bordered the Qingshui River, extending to a large and bustling dock.

Outside the city gate, a porridge shed had been set up, with people serving porridge to the needy.

This place was crowded with many refugees who had lost their homes, each disheveled, barely clothed, starving, and looking scarcely human.

Fang Zhixing looked around to see the crowded porridge shed, chaotic and clamorous, reeking.

Shapes of excrement were visible everywhere on the ground.

Even from a distance, the air was thick with the pungent smell of feces and urine.

“Damn it, the number of refugees has increased again.

When will it end?”

Ding Zhigang suddenly cursed, his face full of resentment, eyes shooting fire, as if he wished he could drive all the refugees away.

It was his responsibility, after all, to manage security.

And the refugees had long since become a source of worsening public order.

Residents inside the city complained incessantly about the myriad of problems caused by the excessive number of refugees.

The chaos outside the city among the refugees, who received too little aid, also led to boiling public anger.

For this reason, when Ding Zhigang saw so many refugees, he immediately felt a headache coming on, full of grievances, and downright uncomfortable.

Fang Zhixing glanced at him and comforted, “Brother Ding has it tough, dealing with these refugees must be fraught with difficulty, very tricky indeed.”

“Ha!

Tricky is putting it mildly; it’s enough to drive someone to despair.”

Ding Zhigang pointed at the porridge shed, frustrated beyond expression, and complained, “Brother, you don’t know the half of it.

Many of these refugees aren’t even from Qinglin County; they’ve run over from other counties.

God damn it, they’re not our jurisdiction’s people, but they run to us demanding food and drink, expecting us to take care of them, even attend to their every need; it’s absolutely unreasonable!”

Fang Zhixing exclaimed in surprise, “Are all the refugees running to Qinglin County?

Is it that the disaster situation in Qinglin County is the lightest and it’s more severe elsewhere?”

Ding Zhigang nodded, lowering his voice and grinning, “To tell the truth, among the twelve counties of Qinghe County, each is worse than the last.

Our Qinglin County’s situation is considered good.”

Fang Zhixing understood.

In the midst of their conversation, the group reached the city gate.

Fang Zhixing looked up to see the thick walls covered in mottled marks, with the stone’s color steeped in gravity, each bit revealing its age and the passage of time.

There were guards stationed at the city gate; it was certain that refugees were not allowed to enter.

One by one, people filed into the city.

“Lord County Magistrate is returning to the city, make way for him.”

The leading official cleared a path ahead while the pedestrians on the street quickly dispersed to the sides of the road.

The carriage procession moved unimpeded.

Fang Zhixing rode on his horse, surveying the streets and buildings within the city.

He saw that the layout of the entire city was very orderly, with the main streets and alleys crisscrossing vertically, resembling a chessboard.

The main streets were paved with bluestones, simple and elegant, spacious and clean.

However, between the buildings of the city, there were many narrow lanes, intertwined like a maze, eliciting an irresistible desire to explore.

The buildings lining the streets were modest with a hint of grace—mostly wooden houses with extended eaves that afforded a glimpse of the sky.

After a while, the group reached the County Government.

Luo Peiyun went off to rest on his own, and the accompanying personnel soon dispersed.

Ding Zhigang led Fang Zhixing to the training ground in the backyard.

He introduced, “Brother Fang, this training ground is where we usually train.

The government officials that I lead and the infantry under the Commander’s control all train here.

The three hundred archers you will be in charge of will also train here.”

Fang Zhixing nodded, indicating he understood.

Ding Zhigang added, “The government officials train once every ten days, they usually don’t occupy the training ground for long periods and don’t stay in the barracks.

The training of the infantry is more frequent, they have a minor training session every three days and a major one every five days, and they must stay in the barracks without special leave unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

Your archers, who were recently conscripted, might undergo even more intensive training on a regular basis, so you should be prepared for that.”

Fang Zhixing asked, “Who was previously responsible for the archers’ training instruction?”

Ding Zhigang answered, “That would be Gao Daxing, we all call him Old Gao.

He was a hunter before, quite skilled in archery, but he is over sixty now, his eyesight failing, so he can only teach others with his experience.

Tomorrow, I will introduce you to him.

If you don’t like him, you can have him retire early.”

Understanding, Fang Zhixing replied earnestly, “Thank you for your trouble, Brother Ding.”

“Don’t mention it, no need to be so polite with me.”

Ding Zhigang laughed heartily and waved his hand, “Come, let me show you where you’ll be staying.”

Fang Zhixing saw no issue with that.

The two quickly arrived at the barracks.

The barracks were divided into two areas, the front area was like a communal dormitory for the infantry to live in, while the rear area consisted of separate small courtyards for Commanders and Training Officers.

Ding Zhigang explained carefully, “People like Luo Kezhao and I have bought houses in the city, we have our own estates and usually don’t stay here.”

He patted Fang Zhixing on the shoulder and said with a smile, “When you have the money, you can also buy a house in the city, marry a few wives and concubines, and settle down.”

Fang Zhixing responded with a laugh, “That would be excellent.

I might trouble you, Brother Ding, to help me pick out a good house later.”

“Of course, of course.”

Ding Zhigang agreed cheerfully and then opened the door of a courtyard, smiling, “Go take a look inside.

If you’re not satisfied, I can show you a few other places.”

Fang Zhixing immediately went in for a look around.

The courtyard was quite spacious, with a bright bedroom, an ample living room, and even a separate kitchen and toilet.

Not demanding much, Fang Zhixing said with a smile, “Brother Ding, you have good taste.

I shall stay here.”

“Great!”

Ding Zhigang liked decisiveness and, after a pause, added, “Tomorrow, I will arrange for a maid and a cook to come over.

The maid will take care of your daily needs, and the cook will prepare your meals.

In short, you won’t have to worry about anything related to your daily life.”

Fang Zhixing took a deep breath involuntarily.

Finally, he felt the treatment of the upper echelons of this world.

The lives of ordinary folks revolve around basic necessities—hustling through life for just a few pieces of silver.

But those of higher status escape such trivialities and fatigue, free to pursue what they truly want to do.