Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Zhang Jingwei strode out of the classroom, squinting in the glaring sunlight. Standing under the eaves, he pulled a plain white handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly wiped his fingers, which had just touched the stone. Several dark red bloodstains quickly appeared on the handkerchief.

"Let Huang Liang release the kid," he said to Qian Ming, who was following closely behind him, without even turning his head. "And take him to the clinic to get his injuries treated."

Qian Ming looked embarrassed: "Master, he humiliated you like this..."

Zhang Jingwei suddenly turned around, a cold glint in his eyes. "If I sit back and do nothing, I'll be a complete loser!" He paused, his tone softening. "Besides, there's no need for a fifteen-year-old to..."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back. A flash of panic flashed in Qian Ming's eyes, and he quickly bowed his head and said, "Yes, Master, I'll do it right away. By the way..." He glanced around and lowered his voice, "I heard some news yesterday that some officials fled Gaoyang overnight."

Zhang Jingwei sneered, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the jade pendant at his waist. "The monk may escape, but the temple cannot. Anyone who embezzles the emperor's money will eventually have to pay it back." He looked up at the towering walls of the county government office. "It's just that I'll pay with my life."

Qian Ming's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and he didn't dare to answer. At this moment, a burst of noise came from the distance. Qian Ming changed the subject as if he had been pardoned: "Master, today is the tax refund day, and the streets are very lively. Do you want to go for a walk?"

Zhang Jingwei lowered his head, straightening his official robes. He ran his fingers over the ugly duck embroidered on his chest and said, "Not today." His tone was flat, yet filled with unquestionable determination. "I'm not in the mood to play in this attire."

As he was speaking, a clerk came running up in a panic and bowed on the steps: "Sir, Xiao Zhubu's family is here to see you..."

Zhang Jingwei waved his hand impatiently: "You guys can handle the procedures for visiting the prison on your own. There's no need to report such a small matter!"

"No, no, no," the clerk waved his hands repeatedly, sweat running down his temples, "I'm not here to visit you, I'm here to see you."

"Looking for me?" Zhang Jingwei frowned. "What do you want to see me for?"

The clerk swallowed and lowered his voice, "Master Xiao's wife...her surname is Shi."

Zhang Jingwei's pupils suddenly shrank, and his fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of his official robe: "Tsk..." He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, "Let her wait for me in the back hall of the government office!"

"This..." the clerk hesitated, "The person is already waiting in the back hall."

"What?" Zhang Jingwei's voice suddenly rose, drawing the attention of several nearby yamen runners. He grabbed the clerk by the collar and spoke in a low voice, each word sharp as a knife: "How dare you let someone into the county government office without my permission?" The coldness in his eyes grew even more intense. "Can you also let people into the County Magistrate's Mansion?"

The clerk's legs went weak and he almost fell to his knees: "No, no, how can we enter your residence without permission!"

Zhang Jingwei released his hand and said coldly, "Wood! Go and kick those people out of the back hall!"

"Sir!" the clerk cried out, "How could you do this! They are from the Shi family..."

"Are you teaching me how to do things?" Zhang Jingwei turned around slowly, his eyes as cold as ice.

After receiving the order, Mu Tou rushed to the back hall like an arrow. Not long after, some noisy sounds were heard in the back hall, as if something was happening.

Mu Tou ran back panting and reported to Zhang Jingwei: "Master, I have sent those people away. Before they left, I gave them a good kick!"

When the clerk heard Mu Tou's words, his face turned pale. He shouted in panic, "Sir, you are in great trouble!"

Zhang Jingwei, however, was unconcerned. He nonchalantly said, "They broke into the government office without permission. I was showing them special mercy by not beating them with a stick!"

The clerk quickly explained, "But sir, do you know who she is? She is from the Shi family..."

Zhang Jingwei interrupted the clerk and said disdainfully, "It's just a branch of the Prime Minister's clan. What's so great about it that it scares you like this?"

The clerk said anxiously, "Sir, that's also a man named Shi. We can't afford to offend him!"

Zhang Jingwei sneered and said, "Humph, it doesn't hurt to tell you. In Yunzhou, I even beat up people with the surname Sima!"

When the clerk heard this, he was so frightened that he almost collapsed to the ground. He stammered, "Sir, you can't say such things. The Sima family is a descendant of the emperor!"

Zhang Jingwei looked disapproving. He shouted, "So what if they're members of the royal family? They're human too! Everyone is afraid of pain, except for that stone in the classroom!"

Seeing Zhang Jingwei so arrogant, the clerk became even more worried. He earnestly advised: "Sir, I still advise you not to be too arrogant and domineering, so as not to bring disaster upon yourself."

Zhang Jingwei looked at the clerk in front of him and asked expressionlessly, "Which office are you from?"

Upon seeing this, the clerk hurriedly bowed and replied cautiously, "Your Excellency, I am a clerk in the official office."

Zhang Jingwei raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of a smile, and continued to ask, "Oh? What's your last name?"

The clerk was flattered and bowed again, saying humbly, "I'm sorry, but your surname is Hu."

Zhang Jingwei nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, and continued, "Secretary Hu, I'm short of a clerk on my staff, and I think you'd be a good fit. How about this: you take up the position immediately. As someone from the clerk's office, you'll undoubtedly be familiar with the official documents for promotions. Once you've completed your duties, come see me in the study."

When the clerk heard this, he was struck by lightning. He had never imagined that he would be given such an important task. This was a rare opportunity for promotion! He was so excited that he was a little incoherent and stammered, "Thank you for the promotion, sir. I am very grateful!"

"Three shifts and six rooms" refers to the organizational structure of the entire county government.

The yamen runners are all divided into three shifts.

All clerks are within the system of the Six Departments.

The staff are the county magistrate's assistants, consisting of legal advisors, guards, and personal clerks, but none of them have official positions and are merely clerks.

However, clerks and yamen runners were also divided into different levels. Each team had a team leader, and each room had a clerk. Below them were constables, yamen runners, clerks, transcribers, etc., who were equivalent to regular employees. The next level was miscellaneous servants, who were equivalent to temporary workers.

Qian Ming looked at Zhang Jingwei with a puzzled look on his face, and asked in confusion: "Master, this person is so timid, I'm afraid there is no point in keeping him around?"

Zhang Jingwei smiled slightly and explained, "My assistants don't need to be very courageous. On the contrary, courageous people are often prone to go astray, starting to accept bribes and oppress the people. Look at him, he's wearing linen clothes under his black robe, which shows that he comes from a modest family, not a wealthy person."

Qian Ming still didn't agree with it and retorted, "That might be because he pretended to be so."

Zhang Jingwei raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a confident smile, and said, "It's so cold, why don't you try to pretend."

Qian Ming was silent for a moment, as if pondering Zhang Jingwei's words. After a moment, he continued, "Even if he was too timid to accept bribes or become an enemy of Xiao Kewei, how did he survive all these years?"

Zhang Jingwei shook his head and said, "Don't judge people by appearances. What if they have some strengths? Or have something on someone?"