New and dark light years

Chapter 479 The people of Beishan County, who have suffered misfortune, do not want you to seek blessings for them.

It was already evening, and the bamboo grove in the backyard rustled in the night breeze.

Moonlight streamed down as Li Lin sat in the pavilion, gazing at the frosty coolness before him.

Tian Wending was kneeling, still wearing his white prison uniform.

It is clear that after being released, he did not linger for a moment and went straight to Li Lin.

"You come to see me and kneel down without saying a word!" Li Lin's tone was impatient. "Even a martial artist kneels on one knee, but you, as a scholar, kneel on both knees. Where has your integrity gone? Are you begging me for an official position?"

Tian Wending shook his head, his expression showing great disappointment, even a sense of panic after his belief was shattered: "Lord Li, I did not come here to ask for an official position, I just wanted to... become a clerk."

Li Lin was somewhat surprised and asked, "Why do you want to become an official?"

“I want to learn how to do things.” Tian Wending said with shame, “You were right before, I am not fit to be a local official, I am a good-for-nothing.”

"Are you sure you can be a good 'clerk'?" Li Lin asked.

“At least I can see, think, and learn more,” Tian Wending said sincerely. After saying that, he knelt down and said, “My lord, please give me a chance.”

Li Lin looked at the other person, scrutinizing their expression.

Time slowly passed, and Tian Wending remained kneeling on the ground, motionless.

Li Lin didn't say anything; he just knelt there quietly.

After a while, Li Lin asked, "Do you still want to stay in Beishan County? Do you think Gao Yuan can tolerate you, or can you endure other people's disdain?"

The former county magistrate is now a minor official. Regardless of how the people feel, the strange looks from his former colleagues in the county government alone are enough to kill him.

"It's okay, I can endure it."

“You can’t stand it.” Li Lin said in a calm tone: “A person in a high position suddenly becomes a commoner, or even a lowly official who is ordered around. You, a scholar, can’t bear it.”

Tian Wending said seriously, "I really can endure it."

“Too much forbearance will damage a person’s character.” Li Lin thought for a moment and said, “My army is short a few inspectors to oversee the distribution of grain and fodder in various counties. What do you think?”

The position of inspector is one with many duties but little power. If one is too serious, one is easily resented. Generally, people with some connections do not want to sit in this position.

But in Li Lin's opinion, Tian Wending was quite suitable.

"But I want to do more to benefit the people."

“The three villages in Beishan County, as well as the destroyed military town, don’t want you to help them find happiness.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Wending's newly formed momentum vanished.

No matter how honest or upright he was, the tragedy in Beishan County was indeed directly related to his incompetence and dereliction of duty.

This is a huge blow to an official who prides himself on being honest and upright and dedicated to serving the people.

Seeing that Tian Wending seemed to have given up hope, Li Lin said, "First, serve as a patrol officer in my army. Once you understand how to be an official and how to manage your subordinates, then consider becoming a county magistrate again. Of course, if you don't want to, you can leave Beishan County and go wherever you want."

Tian Wending smiled bitterly. As the county magistrate, such a big thing had happened under his jurisdiction. Even if Li Lin did not remove him from his position as county magistrate, he would still be dismissed from his post if the imperial court investigated.

Once he leaves this place, it will be almost impossible for him to become an official again.

He felt he needed to make amends, to atone for his inaction, and therefore couldn't leave.

"This humble official is willing!"

Li Lin nodded and said, "After you go out, find a military supervisor named Xiao Chunzhu. He will make arrangements for you."

"As ordered."

After Tian Wending finished speaking, he stood up, bowed gratefully to Li Lin, and then slowly left.

He had been kneeling for too long, and his knees were both sore and numb.

After Tian Wending left, Li Lin summoned a military officer.

"Commander, how's your reconnaissance of the surrounding area going? And what about Zheng Hu's whereabouts? Have you found anything?"

Commander Xiang then said with a look of shame, "We have not found any trace of Zheng Hu."

"Could he really have gone to Gui County?" Li Lin frowned. Because Zheng Hu was currently their only lead.

Seeing that Li Lin seemed unhappy, he said to the commander, "Sir, I'll have the brothers take turns patrolling another ten miles to check the situation."

Li Lin waved his hand: "No need, I reckon the other side probably knows we're tracking him and has already gone into hiding."

When the military arrests people, they always go in groups, making a huge commotion.

The army is mostly made up of ordinary people. Although they are numerous and powerful, it is very difficult to deal with those sorcerers with special abilities or martial arts practitioners who can move swiftly and skillfully.

Unless you lure the other party into your own encirclement.

Li Lin pondered for a moment and said, "Please invite Magistrate Gao over."

He gestured for Fang to leave, and not long after, the governor of the county arrived.

Li Lin invited him for tea and asked, "How's your investigation going with Zheng Hu?"

Gao Yuan shook his head helplessly: "I can't find him. He must be hiding. I even used carrier pigeons to ask my colleagues in Guicheng. They said that Zheng Hu hasn't been to their place recently."

Li Lin nodded subconsciously, as this was within his expectations. He then asked, "Are there any extraordinary individuals or martial arts practitioners skilled in tracking in Beishan County?"

In fact, Li Lin had already released the paper doll not long ago to go find Zheng Hu.

But... the little paper figure just kept running around the county government office, but it couldn't go far. He knew that Zheng Hu had gotten out of the little paper figure's tracking range.

Or perhaps they are dead.

Gao Yuan nodded: "There are a few."

“Then please invite them over,” Li Lin said.

Gao Yuan asked cautiously, "Does Your Excellency intend to use martial arts practitioners to investigate Zheng Hu?"

"This is the only way," Li Lin said. "Gather some reliable people from the martial arts world to come see me."

Gao Yuan thought for a moment and replied, "That's possible, but those江湖人 (jianghu people) are uncouth and might offend you, sir."

"It's alright. I'm also a Spirit Hunter, so I'm quite familiar with people from the martial world."

Gao Yuan thought about it and agreed, so he gave the order and went out.

The next day!

It was still the backyard of the county government office.

Fourteen skilled fighters approached Li Lin.

Between Li Lin and his fourteen skilled fighters stood two rows of soldiers.

A large number of archers stood on the surrounding eaves and walls.

This lineup... was actually arranged by Xiao Chunzhu.

Li Lin was initially reluctant, but Xiao Chunzhu and others strongly insisted that this was a necessary protective measure.

The pavilion was situated on slightly higher ground. Standing in the pavilion, Li Lin lowered his gaze slightly and could see all sixteen people clearly.

Four women and twelve men.

The women were all of average appearance; if one had to say, their figures were decent.

Among the men, there are three young men, three middle-aged men, and six old men.

Standing on high ground, Li Lin looked at them and said, "Find Zheng Hu for me, dead or alive, and I will reward you handsomely. Three hundred taels of silver if he is alive, and two hundred if he is dead."

Most people's eyes lit up, especially the four women from the martial arts world, who even secretly flirted with Li Lin.

But an old man stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Sir, I don't want silver. Can I exchange it for something else?"

"what do you want?"

"Paper Prince's Paper-Making Techniques: Annotated Edition!"

(End of this chapter)