Promise!

Chapter 133, Rewarding Merit

The following day, January 29th.

Next month, Zhuang Jin will be going to the east of the city. This will be his last month in Dongqiaowu in the north of the city. There are still some high-quality assets in the ward that were transferred to the public treasury last month, which was at the end of last year. If you don't use them, they will expire. He is not kind enough to leave such benefits within the rules to the next ward ward keeper.

He summoned the town garrison commanders and the ordinary martial artists in the squads below, and assigned them to various positions.

This distribution wasn't based on rank, nor was it some kind of lucky draw; it was a blatant categorization of personal relationships. Those who sided with Zhuang Jin in this incident were rewarded with 90% of the spoils, while the remaining martial artists received only scraps, barely enough to make ends meet.

For example, Qian Wende received more than three hundred taels of silver, and his face was beaming with joy.

Such differential treatment naturally aroused envy and jealousy among the martial artists who had left in the previous incident. They secretly cursed Zhuang Jin for abusing his power for personal gain, but none of them dared to speak out.

However, with a thousand people, there are all sorts of people. Among the hundred or so present, there are bound to be some oddballs. One martial artist mustered up his courage and spoke up: "Lord Zhuang, everyone says you are fair in your dealings. This time, the allocation..."

Swish!
Before Zhuang Jin could speak, those who had sided with him and benefited from the situation, such as Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, Lin Hong, and Qian Wende, all turned to look at him, causing the man to shrink back in fear and shut his mouth.

Zhuang Jin glanced at the man and said calmly, "First, I am still the garrison commander of Dongqiaowu Town and have the authority to decide how to allocate resources; second, these people have rendered meritorious service in protecting my family while I was away on official business..."

This reason is actually quite legitimate, and it would be perfectly justifiable even if it were reported to higher authorities or investigated by law enforcement.

"Lord Zhuang, what did you mean by that just now? 'Still guarding Dongqiaowu Town'... This..." Du Shiyuan discovered the blind spot and immediately asked.

"It means exactly what it says: I will no longer serve as the garrison commander of Dongqiaowu Town next month."

Upon hearing this, most of the martial artists below were thrown into a panic. Although they had previously been criticizing Zhuang Jin for "using his position for personal gain," they still acknowledged that Zhuang Jin was a good superior. Under his leadership, they suffered fewer losses and achieved more military exploits. For example, this month, because Zhuang Jin was away on official business, no frontline attack missions were assigned to Dongqiao Dock.

It can be said that they have truly benefited from following Zhuang Jin and have reaped the rewards. Now that they hear that Zhuang Jin is leaving and will be replaced by another town wardkeeper, they are naturally very uneasy.

Many people had even forgotten the unpleasantness of the assignment and were urging others to stay.

"Lord Zhuang, you can't leave!"

"Yes, Lord Zhuang, what will we do now that you're gone? How are we supposed to live?"

"Lord Zhuang, wherever you go, I'll follow you!"

……

Zhuang Jin raised his hand to stop the noise: "Next month I will be transferred to the east of the city, and I will be taking some people with me: Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, Lin Hong, Bi Kai, Qian Wende..."

These names were none other than the martial artists who had stood by him in the previous incident. These people would be taken to the east of the city, while the others... the tides had turned, and those who had left in the previous incident would not hold a grudge against him, but there was no sentimentality between them either. Naturally, he would handle it officially and leave them behind!

The other martial artists who remained looked at Xue Yandao and the others with envy and jealousy, even more so than when the distribution had happened. This was also true for the other three town garrison commanders: Du Shiyuan, Wei Xun, and Qu Zhe.

—Given the current situation, who doesn't know that the Shen family will launch a counterattack soon after stabilizing the front lines? I've heard that a decision has been made that even garrison commanders will be involved in the fighting. If garrison commanders suffer casualties, what about those below them? It's naturally even more dangerous. Going to the east of the city would allow one to escape the fighting; safety goes without saying!
These martial artists, singled out by Zhuang Jin, stood tall, enjoying the attention of the majority of the other martial artists.

Seeing this, Zhuang Jin nodded slightly. These people deserved it: 'Those who stayed after taking sides this time, I've given them rewards: benefits, safety, honor… Next time they face this situation, they'll only be more determined.'

At this moment, a discordant voice rang out. It was Qu Zhe, the garrison commander of Sijing Street who had been assigned here from the south of the city to recuperate from his injuries. He knelt down in front of everyone and cried out, "Lord Zhuang, I was injured in the south of the city... Please, Lord Zhuang, have pity on me and let me go with you to the east of the city!"

Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, and Lin Hong, the three town garrison commanders, and even Qian Wende and others, all looked at Qu Zhe, the town garrison commander of Sijing Street, with disdain.

Most of the other martial artists who had left but were now staying saw this scene and were inspired. They wondered if they could follow suit if Qu Zhe succeeded. They were immediately eager to try.

'Am I the kind of person who would be morally blackmailed and give favors just because I can't refuse? If this person really succeeds, how will those who side with me feel at peace?' Zhuang Jin chuckled lightly, looked at the man, and said calmly, 'Guard Qu, get up!'

"Then... Lord Zhuang, is this your answer..." Qu Zhe tried to make a decision while he was in the mood, but he was so frightened by Zhuang Jin's cold glance that he trembled and hurriedly explained, "I... I only want to follow you. I only recognize you as the ward keeper!"

"So, will you listen to what my superior says or not?"

"I will listen, I will definitely listen..."

"Alright, then I'll follow orders and stay at Dongqiao Dock next month."

"This...I..." Qu Zhe was dumbfounded. Could she really shut him down like that?

A burst of laughter immediately erupted from below.

"On this trip to the east of the city, I can only take three trusted men from the streets and two squads of personal guards. As for the others... I am willing but unable to do so. I hope that you will all stay and do your best, for we have the opportunity to work together after all. I also wish you all a safe and smooth journey, and I hope we will meet again in the future!"

Zhuang Jin was telling the truth. This time, when he went to the east of the city, he could only bring three trusted men from the streets and two personal guard squads at most.

—The eastern part of the city is the private domain of those with connections. They are deeply entrenched and entrenched... This is already the result of the General Affairs Department and the Law Enforcement Department's best efforts to coordinate.

……

After the meeting, Wei Xun caught up with Du Shiyuan and, talking about what had happened earlier, said with a sour tone, "The rewards for merit were distributed, and even the squad leaders below received several hundred taels of silver, plus a trip to the east of the city... Lord Zhuang is truly generous!"

As he spoke, he sighed with deep regret, "If I could do it all over again, back to a few days ago, I would have stayed just like that..."

Upon hearing this, Du Shiyuan glanced at Wei Xun: "If we could go back a few days, as long as the memory isn't retained, even if this person were given a hundred chances, they wouldn't stay."

Of course, he was the same way; his personality disliked all gambling and adventure.

“Wei, we can’t just see the thief eating meat without seeing the thief getting beaten. If Lord Zhuang really hasn’t returned, then Commander Xue and Commander Duan will probably be resented and retaliated against by Miao Shao and Zhao Bin.”

"Too."

Wei Xun thought for a moment, then said with concern, "Next month, our Shen family will launch a counterattack. I heard that the restrictions on those at the Seven Classics level and above will be lifted, and those at the level of town and ward guards will likely suffer casualties. As for us below, our lives will be even more precarious..."

Upon hearing this, Du Shiyuan also looked solemn.

Indeed, as Wei Xun said, his situation was even worse than the other party's—because of his background!
Before Zhuang Jin, everything below the Seven Classics was considered consumables, just high-grade and low-grade, regardless of background. But now, with the impact of a certain example, if you encounter a petty and prejudiced town keeper, you might actually be targeted...

From this perspective, he, as the second person recruited for the martial arts training program, was the most suitable to work under Zhuang Jin, a town ward guard with a similar background.

But... they don't want him now!
"The town magistrate will be replaced next month. Who knows what kind of person we'll encounter? What if we run into a petty person who's prejudiced against people like us..."

Thinking of this, Du Shiyuan felt a shadow fall over his heart. He then looked at Wei Xun and, with a hint of playful banter, quickly made the other man feel that the two of them got along very well.

This is about building closer relationships and forming alliances in advance.

……

(End of this chapter)