If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

As is customary, Zhou Wu, as a newly appointed official of Qingyang County, was required to pay his respects to the county magistrate at the county government office as soon as possible. Zhou Wu was no exception, and he arrived at the county government office early the next morning, where Magistrate Chen had already been waiting for him for a long time.

"Please sit down, Commander Zhou."

"The magistrate is being too kind to me."

For a moment, Zhou Wu didn't know whether Magistrate Chen was joking with him or what he meant.

"How does it feel to be the regimental commander?"

"I am entirely at Lord Chen's mercy."

Zhou Wu had a good eye for things. He knew that without Magistrate Chen's intervention, he wouldn't have been promoted to Deputy Lieutenant. Moreover, this incident showed that Magistrate Chen, although just a magistrate of a small border county, might not be as simple as he appeared. His influence could even reach the military. So when Zhou Wu saw the military seal on the appointment letter yesterday, he changed his opinion of Magistrate Chen.

"There's something I have to tell you, but it's not the best advice."

"Sir, please speak."

For Magistrate Chen to utter the word "cold water," it must be no small matter. Zhou Wu was curious about what it was.

"You've been given a quota of 300 men, but you'll have to pay for your own wages and equipment."

"What??? Self-funded??"

Zhou Wu's mind started racing. Did the higher-ups eat it, or did Magistrate Chen in front of him eat it? How could they be so bold?

"What are you looking at me for? I haven't embezzled any money from your local militia."

"Is that above??"

"Stop making wild guesses. You should know that based on your achievements, it's impossible for you to be promoted to deputy lieutenant."

"Yes, that's right. There must be some adults involved."

"Hehe, don't try to trick me. I can tell you the truth: I did pull some strings, but the condition is that the wages and equipment for these three hundred men are self-funded. This is already the best condition. Don't be ungrateful."

"alright."

In fact, with Zhou Wu's current wealth, he really doesn't care about that little bit of money. On the contrary, the official title given by the government is the most important thing. Otherwise, even if you have money, it will be wasted.

"Now that you are an official in Qingyang County, let me introduce you to your colleagues in Qingyang County."

"Oh."

Zhou Wu knew that this was actually Magistrate Chen standing up for him; otherwise, why would a dignified magistrate be the one to make such a recommendation?

Before long, people began to arrive at the county government hall. As Zhou Wu curiously and discreetly observed others, they were also looking at him with curious eyes.

"Gentlemen, today is the county government's work summary meeting, and I'd like to introduce someone to you all. Zhou Wulai."

"I have met you sirs."

At this moment, Zhou Wu naturally realized that the people present were the heads of various departments of the county government. So he politely stood up to greet them. Some of them responded politely, some watched coldly, and some even looked disgusted. Zhou Wu wondered if he had misunderstood.

"This is Zhou Wu, the newly appointed head of the Qingyang County militia by the imperial court. We'll be colleagues from now on, so be sure to keep in touch."

"Zhou Wu, let me introduce you to these gentlemen."

Magistrate Chen personally led Zhou Wu around to greet everyone, which also allowed Zhou Wu to learn that the person with the disgusted expression earlier was actually Pei Zhenguo, the county magistrate of Qingyang County, a fair-skinned and robust middle-aged man. Zhou Wu pondered this again and again, confirming that he had never seen this person before and did not know why the other party was so hostile towards him.

"My lord, the number of disaster victims in Qingyang County has far exceeded the county's capacity to cope. Although I don't know where you found the food a few days ago, at the current rate of consumption, we can only last for a few more days at most. If the county government runs out of food, it will be in danger."

As the second-in-command of Qingyang County, County Magistrate Peng Zhenguo directly passed the buck to the County Magistrate, and then looked at him with a smug expression.

"I will find a way to handle the grain issue. You just need to have your men maintain order in Qingyang County and prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos."

"It's an adult."

. . . .

Zhou Wu stayed there to accompany the county government staff to the end of their work meeting. Only after everyone had left did Zhou Wu approach Magistrate Chen and ask him about his doubts.

"Sir, does the county magistrate have some misunderstanding about me?"

"Oh, what happened to him?"

"I feel like he doesn't like me."

"He doesn't like you? That's to be expected."

"Ah~"

Zhou Wu had never heard of it; it was only natural that he was disliked.

“County Magistrate Peng Zhenguo has been in Qingyang County longer than I have. Over the years, he has developed many unspeakable secrets with the local tyrants and bullies. Although he appears to be obedient, I know that he is actually very dissatisfied with me as the county magistrate.”

When Magistrate Chen said these things, his expression showed no joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, as if he had long been accustomed to it.

"Does the master have a grudge against him?"

"Before I took office in Qingyang County, I didn't know Peng Zhenguo at all."

"Then~~~"

“Ever since the previous magistrate stepped down, Peng Zhenguo had always thought he would be promoted, but who would have thought he would run into me.”

"Oh, I see."

This makes sense. Peng Zhenguo was dissatisfied with Magistrate Chen, and Zhou Wu was automatically categorized as part of the magistrate's group, so naturally he didn't give him a friendly look.

"Not only that, Peng Zhenguo has always controlled the three classes and six offices in Qingyang County. Over the years, he has been constantly fighting me openly and secretly. Now I only control the Zaoban and Lifang and the Lifang."

After Magistrate Chen finished speaking, a look of helplessness appeared on his face.

The county government of the Great Dragon Empire was internally structured with three shifts and six offices. The three shifts were the police, the guards, and the escorts. The police were in charge of internal affairs, while the guards and escorts were jointly responsible for arrests and security.

The six departments are: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, Military, Justice, and Works. The Personnel Department is in charge of the appointment, dismissal, performance evaluation, promotion, and demotion of officials; the Revenue Department is in charge of land, population, taxes, and finance; the Rites Department is in charge of ceremonies, the imperial examinations, and schools; the Military Department is in charge of military and political affairs; the Justice Department is in charge of criminal law and litigation; and the Works Department is in charge of engineering, construction, land reclamation, and water conservancy.

The entire county government office has a staff of about one hundred people. The power of the yamen runners, soldiers, and jailers is still in the hands of the county magistrate Peng Zhenguo. The clerks, clerks, and rites officers in the hands of Magistrate Chen are of no real use. This explains why Zhou Wu was given the right to bring in the local militia. Three hundred soldiers directly exceeded the power in Peng Zhenguo's hands.

“Zhou Wu, you are a smart man. I like dealing with smart people. You need to quickly organize these three hundred soldiers into a regiment. If you have any problems, just come to me. I will definitely support you with all my might.”

"It's an adult."

Zhou Wu could already deduce from the few words spoken by Magistrate Chen that his struggle with Peng Zhenguo had reached a fever pitch, so Zhou Wu was urgently needed to get involved at this time.