Everyone looked at his official letter and credentials, then sized up Zheng Fan with a strange gaze.
Finally, Zheng Fan was like a product on an assembly line, passed from one hand to another until he arrived in a great hall.
At the head of the hall sat a pot-bellied man whom Zheng Fan recognized. He remembered seeing this man riding a "strange beast" and leading a troop of cavalry through the streets while he was behind Blind Bei's stall that day.
Zheng Fan also recalled the man's official title: Recruitment Envoy. It didn't mean 'one who recruits people to be beaten'.
It was something like a regional security commander, responsible for apprehending bandits and suppressing rebels.
Blind Bei had once told Zheng Fan that official positions in the Yan State were rather complex and couldn't be perfectly mapped to any single ancient dynasty.
Seated in a subordinate position was an official with a white beard and hair. He was, unsurprisingly, the true authority in Hutou City, who could be addressed as the county magistrate. Of course, foreign merchants preferred to call him the City Lord.
Evidently, this Recruitment Envoy held a higher rank than the county magistrate.
The Recruitment Envoy read the letter and credentials, then said to Zheng Fan, who stood below, "Describe the battle."
What followed was Zheng Fan's account. He omitted the part about him, Liang Cheng, and Xue Three having prior knowledge of the attack, but otherwise, his retelling was largely accurate without embellishment. As for the credit, he attributed killing the leader of the Shatuo tribe to sheer luck.
After Zheng Fan finished his account, the Recruitment Envoy nodded and said, "Zheng Colonel, from now on, you will be under my jurisdiction. I hope you will perform your duties diligently, live up to His Majesty's expectations and the patronage of the Earl of North Border's Mansion, and I also hope you will not disappoint my own high expectations for you."
These were just formalities, Zheng Fan thought, quickly nodding in assent.
"Very well, Zheng Colonel, you've had an arduous journey. Go home and rest for now. I grant you a ten-day leave. You can report for duty at the government office in ten days."
Zheng Fan acknowledged the order, turned, and excused himself.
「After Zheng Fan had left the main hall,」
The county magistrate looked at the Recruitment Envoy with some apprehension and, cupping his hands, asked, "My lord, what does the Earl of North Border's Mansion intend by this?"
"Why? It's nothing more than casually swatting away a beggar. Who asked him to be so lucky as to slay a chieftain while being a mere civilian laborer, eh?"
"Then... what about us?"
"We do nothing. We just watch. Right now, the Earl of North Border himself is in the capital. From what I hear, all affairs of the Earl of North Border's Mansion are being handled by his eldest daughter."
"My lord, are you implying that this battle was initiated by a woman?"
"You're the one saying that, not me. Heh, heh. In any case, the current relationship between the Imperial Court and the Earl of North Border is extremely delicate. We'd best just observe the situation quietly."
"Then what about provisions, weaponry, horses..."
"Why concern yourself with that? She's clearly tossed us a rotten taro. Why should we treat it like a prized delicacy? Let things take their course. Before matters in the capital are resolved, it's best we do nothing and respond to changes by remaining unchanged."
"My lord is wise. My lord is wise."
"Zheng Fan... the Zheng Family. Are they a prominent household in Hutou City?"
"Not particularly. It seems they entered the city about half a year ago when new households were being registered for displaced people. They opened an inn in the city; their wine is quite good."
"Is that so? Very well, let's leave it at that. Since the battle is over, and it was a victory, the city lockdown should be lifted tomorrow. It's causing too much disruption."
"Yes, yes, this subordinate will issue the orders immediately."
"Mm, I won't see you out."
The county magistrate bowed and then exited the main hall.
In the hall, only the portly Recruitment Envoy and his attendants remained.
The Recruitment Envoy leaned his bulky frame back into the chair, rubbed his temples, and said, "Tell me, do you think the Lord and the young lady can overcome this hurdle?"
An attendant, who was pouring tea beside him, hesitated for a moment before replying, "The Lord is a man of great fortune and will surely be blessed."
"I have no taste for such platitudes. Enough. Have you prepared the memorial impeaching the House of the Earl of North Border for corruption and abuse of power?"
"It is ready. However, Ah Lang, are we truly going to submit this memorial?"
"If we don't submit it, what other choice do we have? If the Lord comes through unscathed, then all is well. But if something truly befalls the Lord, then I, as the spearhead of those seemingly opposing the Earl of North Border, might just be able to help the Lord and the young lady navigate the situation."
"Ah Lang, you are truly thoughtful."
"It's all fate. This is all fate. This is what I owe the Lord and the young lady."
"That Zheng Fan from earlier, that Zheng Colonel... Ah Lang, are you really planning to pay him no mind?"
"Pay him mind? Mind what! Just a few days ago, he was a mere commoner. Even if I were to provide him with provisions, wages, and weaponry now, would he dare to raise a banner and revolt with me if something truly happened to the Lord later?"
"Does he have the courage for that?"
"Well..."
"Let him be. The young lady didn't mention any particular arrangements for him in her letter."
"However, Ah Lang, since he was promoted by the young lady, he ultimately bears the mark of the Earl of North Border's Mansion."
"Fine. If he has the ability to gather his own men and equipment, then I'll acknowledge his capability. Hahaha..."
「...」
The city gates opened. At the entrance, Zheng Fan met up with Xue Three, Liang Cheng, and Fanli, who had entered after him. The four of them then led their horses and walked along the street.
Hutou City had no curfew. Even with the shadow of war looming, this policy remained. However, there were noticeably more armored patrols on the streets.
Riding horses at full gallop through the city at night wasn't appropriate, especially since the mount Zheng Fan rode was no Pixiu variant.
"When we get home, I'm going to take a hot bath and really loosen up," Zheng Fan said, stretching lazily.
He didn't yet have much of a concept of 'being an official.' The fact that neither the Recruitment Envoy nor the county magistrate had shown him much warmth indicated that his new post was... well, just so-so.
But it didn't matter. He had been out there, witnessed battlefield slaughter, and had even killed men with his own hands. This experience felt more like a metamorphosis.
"My lord, Siniang is skilled at massage. She could give you an essential oil spa treatment," Xue Three suggested eagerly.
Upon hearing this, an image immediately surfaced in Zheng Fan's mind...
However, Zheng Fan shook his head. To claim he wasn't attracted to Siniang would be a lie; no healthy male creature could be uninterested in a woman like her.
"You are my friends, my family in this world."
Bathed in the moonlight, Zheng Fan no longer felt it was pretentious or overly sentimental; he simply spoke his mind.
"I've never considered you my subordinates. Never."
After all, I wouldn't dare, for fear of being hacked to pieces.
"No, that's not it, My lord! Siniang used to run a large club in Shanghai. She even personally trained the masseuses under her. Her own skills are definitely the..."
"That's enough. Such talk is disrespectful to Siniang. She likely already has someone in her heart."
A woman of allure, a woman with a past, a mature woman—they often have a 'man' who acts as a catalyst. However, this catalyst is only responsible for initiating the reaction; once the reaction is complete, the catalyst can be discarded, never truly becoming part of the product.
Just then, Fanli, who was walking at the very back leading his horse, suddenly called out, "My lord, Siniang is still a virgin!"