Tao Rong was dressed in Black Gold Willow Leaf Armor, with beast heads swallowing his shoulders and a tiger-headed helt. His nine-foot-tall robust stature, broad shoulders, and round waist presented a very standard image of a military general.
He sat upright on a thick, wide chair, with the Brave Guard flag of Celestial Water Prefecture raised behind him. Around him, officers held red-tasseled spears with white wax wood shafts, each standing with straight backs and sharp eyes, intimidating the locals who dared not co close.
"The authority of an official is unmistakable!"
He Jingfeng reclined by the window of the restaurant, clicking his tongue:
"Tao Rong belongs to the sa generation as my older brother, and now has beco a Captain leading a battalion. No wonder even slightly successful children of the Thirteen Business Families constantly dream of aligning themselves with connections to the Prefecture City."
Uncle Yang placed his hands in his sleeves, bent over, and said:
"There are altogether fourteen prefectures in the realm, where spiritual energy converges into Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands, be it martial artists or Daoist practitioners, are greatly benefited. Several years ago, there was even a saying that even to be a stray dog, one should be reborn in the Prefecture City."
He Jingfeng sighed lightly:
"Within the Six Commanderies of Tianshui, Yihai Prefecture is already first-class, yet it still can't compare to one percent of the Prefecture City's prosperity. I just hope my older brother can successfully pass the Daoist School exam, obtain a Child Talisman, promote from a student to a Daoist Child, and then, heading to the Prefecture City for further studies, he will have a decent background."
Under the jurisdiction of Dragon Court, there are only two paths for the promotion of descendants from great families.
Martial artists go to participate in the selection and training of the Zhechong Prefecture Soldiers.
Such a path requires a wealthy family, because besides needing bows, arrows, cross knives, felt hats, and food, they also have to prepare horses. A group of ten people needs six horses, known as "Six Loads," used to transport supplies and charge into battles.
rely the cost of horse maintenance is beyond the capacity of six lower-class households.
Descendants of the Thirteen Business Families who join the army often bring their own Six Loads, Eight Loads, or even Ten Loads, and even make their own servants into private soldiers, making it easier to accumulate military achievents and earn promotions.
Otherwise, with weak support being stationed in towns, on a battlefield where arrows and bullets have no eyes and where it changes rapidly, it's difficult rely to stay alive, let alone succeed.
Direct descendants of the Eight Pillars States' Aristocratic Lineage are even more opulent and bring a large number of personal attendants, equipped with good horses, bows, and knives, specifically to protect themselves and fend off visible and hidden attacks.
As for practicing Daoism, it is simpler. Entering the Daoist School to beco a student and then bestowed a Child Talisman, step by step elevating from a Daoist child to Daoist officials and Daoist overseers of a Prefecture City already brings honor to the family.
"Seventh Young Master, the old servant observes that Tao Rong seems aggressive, perhaps he cos with ill intention."
Uncle Yang reminded.
"Did he eat bear heart and leopard guts? Hai Chan is in Black River County! Haven't you seen how I haven't dared to step into Brother Bai's house lately, thinking that I might encounter that fierce person, making my legs go weak, and kneeling down imdiately."
He Jingfeng frowned slightly, recalling that Tao Rong wasn't from the main branch of the Rice Shop Tao Family, being rely a Captain of the Brave Guard, trying to strut around was akin to the Longevity Star hanging himself, not valuing his life.
"For such a trivial matter as collecting rural taxes, why does it require a Captain leading a battalion to appear, such an ostentatious display hints at a significant motive."
After all, Uncle Yang was an experienced Jianghu person, perceptively sensing sothing was amiss.
"Hmm, you make a valid point. Tao Rong just arrived at Black River County, and he's already asking about the Fishery's Steward... Does he have a strong enough backing to withstand a punch from Hai Chan?"
He Jingfeng contemplated for a mont, squeezing his chin:
"Black River County is a small temple with large Bodhisattvas, if Tao Rong hasn't clearly investigated and truly believes Brother Bai is just a common fish stall owner, he's bound to hit a snag."
...
...
"Are you the Steward of Bai's Fish Stall? The dock, the wharf, the fishery salt, are they all under your responsibility now?"
Tao Rong glanced sideways, looking down at Uncle Changshun who was bowing courteously below.
Black River County locally did not establish a Governnt Office, leaving the tasks of registration and tax collection to the Fishery, Chai Market, and Fire Kiln families.
Tax collectors from the County City going to the countryside only count heads, then verify them one by one, collecting the exact amount of grain or silver coins. For families of wealthy rchants, there's another calculation altogether.
The inner maneuvering space is large, which is why local bullies are unwilling to offend the tax collectors.
"In reply to the lord's words, the dock has not yet been transferred to the fish stall, as for the wharf, we temporarily only manage the eastern section, here's the population register, the details of fishern and the fishery salt are thoroughly recorded."
Having managed the business for so ti, Uncle Changshun appeared more composed, unlike ordinary country folk who would stamr in front of an official.
"Bring it up."
Tao Rong squinted his eyes, pondering:
"Should I act more aggressively, directly arrest this Luo Changshun the fish stall steward, administer twenty strokes, and compel Bai Qilang to appear? But if that's the case, offering an apology might not suffice..."
Uncle Changshun, with utmost respect, presented a thick stack of accounts to the officers, who then offered them to Tao Rong for a cursory look, his mind wandering.
His intent was to find fault, even if there's no issue, he must find a thorn, otherwise if he doesn't play the white face well, how can he make Chen Zhao successfully appear as the red face.
"Is the Fishery's Steward present? In such a large fish stall, with daily earnings of seven to eight hundred taels, and a workforce less than a hundred, relying solely on fishing to have such ample inco? Do you think you're deceiving this official that I can't do arithtic?"
Tao Rong surveyed around, ultimately deciding that fortune lies in danger.
Chen Zhao's drawn pancake is indeed enticing; for a military general like him, without a strong patron, reaching the position of Captain is the pinnacle, hardly progressing further.
If he pledges allegiance to Silver Hamr Grand Protector Pei Yuanqing, prospecting in the Six Towns for a promising future would not be hard.
In the worst-case scenario, the people do not fight against officials.
Even if he offends Bai Qilang, and lowers his stance to apologize afterward, can he be held unable to move forward?
"Seize him!"
Tao Rong, being a sharp military elite accustod to seeing blood in battles, having made his decision, no longer hesitated:
"Arrest Luo Changshun first! Detain all fish stall's boats! Bring along two tax collectors to verify the accounts thoroughly! Once clarified, then release them!"
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