The newcors ignored Shen Huai’en entirely, dismounted swiftly from their horses, strode over to Long Fei, and produced an Imperial Decree, proclaiming, "As commanded by the Emperor, the Supervisor of the Imperial Stable, Jiang Hengyuan, is promoted to Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Stable, concurrently serving as the Leader of the Third-Rank Physicians. Take office imdiately without delay, by the decree of the Emperor!"
The stable hands were so shocked upon hearing this that they fell prostrate on the ground, and Shen Huai’en looked utterly bewildered, crying out, "How can this be? I’ve worked so hard until now; why is a newly arrived Centurion being promoted? This is unfair, this is unfair!"
The heralds saluted Long Fei with clasped fists, handed over the promotion docunt and the seal, mounted their horses again, and departed.
The servants who had been about to attack Long Fei just monts ago now nervously knelt before him.
Long Fei commanded sternly, "I won’t hold you accountable for what just transpired. Shen Huai’en is guilty of rebellion, arrest him and await trial!"
"Yes!"
A group of n imdiately moved in, binding Shen Huai’en tightly with ropes.
Long Fei raised a hand and sent a Dharma Seal flying into Shen Huai’en’s mind, sealing his Nascent Soul instantly.
Shen Huai’en struggled furiously, shouting hoarsely, "Jiang Hengyuan, you won’t die a good death; I won’t let you go even in death!"
Long Fei gazed at him with a faint smile, "You are truly amusing, why choose to fight against the current? Why would a re Commandant dare challenge the Consort Prince?"
Bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief, wondering how the Consort Prince had made such a swift coback.
He had thought Long Fei had fallen from favor and been demoted here by the Emperor.
If he had known, would he have dared to trouble Long Fei?
Because he misjudged the situation, he found himself in this predicant.
After he was taken away, all the stable hands raised their arms in cheer, finally seeing the downfall of the oppressive Commandant.
In a while, various officials from the stable yard approached.
There were accountants, personnel officers, and inspectors.
Long Fei handed Shen Huai’en over to these inspectors to investigate and deal with the Commandant.
In officialdom, one could no longer act as in the past.
Everything had to be done according to the rules.
According to Long Fei’s understanding of the Emperor, the old man rely wanted to test his handling skills, even assessing his capability as an official.
Finding a suitable husband for his daughter was no easy task.
Long Fei guessed correctly; the Emperor not only wished to test him but also to use this opportunity to resolve the stable yard’s issues.
The stable yard was the domain of the Li Family, and issues had long been reported.
The Emperor was inclined to address them but lacked a suitable candidate.
Long Fei, like a catfish, was thrown into the mix, stirring the intricately woven stable yard.
Commandant Shen dared to defy the Consort Prince not because he was mighty.
But because he was well-versed in the connections here, capable of suppressing issues layer by layer.
Imprisoned in the stable’s Inspection Departnt jail, he remained defiant, cursing, "Don’t be smug, for I will eventually be freed. Then, all who mocked and wronged will face retribution."
The managent departnt of the stable operated independently, having its own office.
Every official had their own separate courtyard.
Long Fei took office and moved into his own exclusive courtyard.
There were a dozen servants, all lined up in the courtyard, awaiting his instructions.
As night fell, Long Fei dismissed them all to rest.
A man resembling a steward stayed, bowing with a smile, flattering, "Sir, I’m Feng Quan, your manor’s steward. Should you need anything, just command ."
Long Fei nodded, inviting him inside to inquire about the situation there.
Upon hearing, he felt overwheld.
The stable wasn’t large, yet it encompassed all essential functions.
Housing an entire tier of managent personnel, the plethora of official titles only left Long Fei in a daze.
Not to ntion other departnts, just within the office, there were clerks, scribes, six departnts, akin to office staff configuration.
Combined with the various officials in the stable, the total sum exceeded a hundred.
Long Fei asked Feng Quan, "What demands does my position hold?"
Feng Quan chuckled, "Sir, you’re joking. You are the Emperor’s appointed Chief Physician, overseeing all physician affairs in the stable. There is a Chief Inspector for inspections, a Chief Accountant for accounting, a Chief Stableman for stablen, a Chief Bodyguard for the guards, and a Chief nial Officer for nials; all function under the Supervisor’s jurisdiction."
"Then am I not assigned a trivial post?"
Long Fei sipped tea, trying to get information out of Feng Quan.
Feng Quan noticed an opportunity to perform, promptly explained, "How could it be a trivial post? The physician’s position is lucrative. Many desire it but can’t attain it. Think, all herbs for the stable, issues regarding steeds’ health, all need to be managed by you. A small maneuver here or there, and that’s a substantial inco!"
Long Fei curiously asked, "Who was the forr Chief Physician?"
Feng Quan responded, "Of course, soone from the Li Family, nad Li Shiren, now your subordinate."
"Tell , do you know how he managed that position, and how he extracted profits?"
Long Fei squinted, smiling as he looked at him.
Rubbing his palms, Feng Quan laughed awkwardly, unwilling to speak on such a vital matter.
Long Fei took out ten Spirit Stones, placing them on the table, "If you know, take the Spirit Stones; you’ll remain my steward. If you don’t know, pack your things and leave, for I need a sharper assistant. Understand?"
Without hesitation, Feng Quan grabbed the Spirit Stones, exclaiming, "Rest assured, Sir, I know all about the tricks here. Look, for instance, ginseng fed to the steeds. The standard demands a fifty-year ginseng for one Spirit Stone. You could replace it with a twenty-year one, thus purchasing three ginseng for one Spirit Stone. It’s the sa with everything else; imagine how much money you could extract annually?"
Long Fei sipped his tea, curiously asking, "That sounds simple. But would the material procurent departnt listen to if I fiddled with it? Would the accounting listen to ? Aren’t the inspectors aware?"
Feng Quan chuckled, "Sir, it’s all mutual benefit and has been an unwritten rule over generations. Why wouldn’t they comply? You draft the quotation, and the procurent departnt will naturally misrepresent various materials. The accounting will make purchases per the procurent list. At that point, the inspection team will turn a blind eye. Ultimately, herbs reach your hands. If you find no issue, then there are none."
Rubbing his head, Long Fei thought of the imnse grease involved!
The Emperor hadn’t given him a trivial post but placed him atop a volcano.
Cutting off others’ revenue is akin to slaughtering their parents.
Opposing the entire stable’s tacit rules alone equates to courting death.
If given a chance, he’d rather peacefully breed and graze horses.
A month later, the Immortal Gate would open.
He’d leave without a backward glance, why bother with petty issues?
To rectify matters ant antagonizing the entire Li Family.
He offended the Nine Clans for his benefit, antagonizing the Li Family offers no gain!
He thought of Li Daoxun, wondering if the Great General was aware of this?
Truth be told, he harbored a good impression of Li Daoxun.
If this case swirled Li Daoxun into it, it would rely further disadvantage him.
User Comments
0 comments from readers