Promise!

Chapter 141, Shocked

The following day, the first day of the fourth lunar month, was at the Qingyuanfang residence.

Zhuang Jin held a meeting with the town garrison commander of the lower street, leaving Qian Wende behind.

Yes, Qian Wende is now the street magistrate of Qing'an Street.

With the Huang family father and son transferred out of the east of the city, the position of guarding Qing'an Street, which Huang Jun had occupied, was naturally vacant. Since the benefits should not go to outsiders, it was handed over to Qian Wende, who had just broken through to the fourth level of the martial arts realm last month.

Qian Wende broke through to the fourth meridian after struggling for a long time between the third and fourth meridians. Like Lin Hong, he used his battle merits to exchange for the medicinal ingredient of the Meridian-Clearing Pill, and only then did he manage to break through. Bi Kai also tried in the same way, but he was unlucky. Not only did he fail, but he also caused some damage to his meridians, which he has not yet fully recovered from.

In fact, besides Qian Wende, Ping Yongfeng was also suitable for this position. In January of this year, when news of the attack on the fleet came, Ping Yongfeng decisively broke through to the fourth level, hoping to see if he could help Zhuang Jin. After that, it was difficult to stay at the headquarters. In February, Zhuang Jin arranged to go to the medicinal fields outside the city through Luan Zhenyun's connections.

The reason for not inviting Ping Yongfeng this time was twofold. Firstly, it was due to the relationship between the two parties; it wouldn't be appropriate to have someone like him, who is like a mentor, working under one's authority. Secondly, Zhuang Jin's stay in the east of the city was only temporary, and he might be gone in a few months, so it wouldn't be good to have him traveling around unpredictably.

And Qian Wende?
To be honest, a few days ago, after Qian Wende broke through to the fourth level of the martial arts realm, his joy turned to worry. The fourth level meant it would be difficult for him to remain as Zhuang Jin's personal guard captain. Because of Zhuang Jin's influence, while he couldn't possibly be assigned to the southern part of the city, he could at most be assigned to the northern part, or at best, to the medicinal fields outside the city. But even then, he wouldn't be near Zhuang Jin. How could he then curry favor and curry favor with him? Wouldn't Zhuang Jin forget him after a while?

Qian Wende was worrying when Huang Jun, in a moment of recklessness, tested him by making room for him. When he learned that Zhuang Jin was going to hand over the position of garrison commander of Qing'an Street to him, the guy was incredibly excited. The position of garrison commander of Chengdong Street! What did he have to offer? He had never even dreamed of such a good thing.

The warmth and gratitude they showed afterwards were beyond words; they were even more respectful than they would to their own parents, looking at Zhuang Jin as if he were their second parents.

—It's just that Zhuang Jin is a bit younger than him, otherwise, this guy really would have done something like, "If you don't abandon me, I'm willing to become your godfather."

“Dezi, you are now the garrison commander of a street. I will only say two things: First, when you go to Qing'an Street, don’t behave too badly; second, do not violate the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty.”

Zhuang Jin had very low expectations for Qian Wende. As long as he didn't cross the legal minimum moral requirements, that was fine. He couldn't meet any other high expectations.

For example, as far as he knew, Qian Wende had never married before, but had kept five or six women as concubines.

The reason he hadn't married was that he was waiting to break through the Four Classics and marry a maid from the outer courtyard. Qian Wende had previously wanted to ask Chen Yun to act as a matchmaker, but after learning about it from Zhuang Jin, Chen Yun politely declined. She simply couldn't bring herself to push her close female friend into a fire pit.

"Brother Zhuang, I've got it. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you down!" Qian Wende patted his chest and promised.

Looking at Qian Wende's serious expression, Zhuang Jin believed that the other party had remembered this. The only question was whether he could remain true to his original aspirations after taking office and facing numerous temptations.
If this can be done, it will preserve the friendship between the two of you, which would be the best outcome; if it cannot be done, please do not say that I did not warn you, since I have already made this clear today.

"Alright, go ahead!"

Zhuang Jin waved for Qian Wende to leave, pondering the other implications of the Huang family affair: 'After this incident, the other wards and towns in the east of the city will likely dare not test the waters again. And with Huang Jun as an example, his subordinates Ban Ming and Song Jinghui will be much more obedient!'

In fact, just as he thought, after the incident involving the Huang family father and son, Ban Ming and Song Jinghui were repeatedly warned by their elders that they must behave themselves under Zhuang Jin's command. If they caused any trouble, they should not expect their families to clean up their messes; they should fend for themselves!

The words were spoken with such weight that the two men naturally dared not take them lightly.

In fact, even without this incident, they wouldn't have dared to show their faces after Huang Jun, because of their personalities—one seemed taciturn but was actually quite cunning; the other was a smooth talker, good at flattery and backstabbing. Both were clever people who preferred to stay behind the scenes and reap the benefits, and it was absolutely impossible for them to take the lead. "With no one causing trouble or testing me, I can free up my energy and focus entirely on cultivation."

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, then thought of Miao Shao and Zhao Bin: 'Miao Shao has already settled his accounts, but Zhao Bin… now that he knows about Miao Shao's family, he's probably as frightened as a bird, suffering terribly… I hope he can hold out a little longer so I can take action myself!'

……

South of the city.

At this moment, Zhao Bin indeed learned of the fire that had engulfed the Miao family. He immediately felt a chill run down his spine, making his teeth chatter: "The entire Miao family of thirty-three perished in the fire, not one of them survived. Zhuang Jin, you are so ruthless! So vicious!"

He knew this was revenge! Revenge for what they had done to Chen Yun back then!

With the entire Miao family wiped out, no one from the Miao family could voice their grievances or inquire about anything. Only Zhao Bin, unwilling to accept the situation, submitted a report requesting a thorough investigation of the case, especially a strict investigation of Zhuang Jin…

The report was then rejected by the Enforcement Division on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to prove that it was related to Zhuang Jin, and it was determined to be a natural accident.

The reply was quite ironic: back then, in the case of Chen Yun, the two of them, because of their status as guards of the seventh rank and the large amount of attention they received, ultimately escaped punishment by resisting due to insufficient evidence.

This is both their success and their downfall. Because of their stubborn resistance, obstinacy, and refusal to admit their guilt, they have deeply offended the General Affairs Department and the Enforcement Department, and now they are reaping the consequences.

In fact, normally, if Miao Shao died in battle and his family had an accident, there would definitely be a thorough investigation. Otherwise, wouldn't the other garrison commanders feel a sense of shared grief? But Miao Shao and Zhao Bin were different. The others knew what was going on and what the reasons were. Seeing Miao Shao's fate, they felt more like "the instigator has no descendants."

This is also the effect the Enforcement Division wanted. With Miao Shao as a precedent, it serves as a warning to others at the seventh level and above not to challenge the bottom line again. Otherwise, even if they temporarily escape disaster, they will suffer a miserable end.

Faced with this result, Zhao Bin felt a deep sense of powerlessness and despair. It could be said that since breaking through the Seven Classics and rising to a high position, he had not felt this powerlessness and despair for a long time.

'I'm being closely watched. If I dare to make any defection attempt, I and my family will likely be arrested instantly, made an example of, tried, and executed. But if I honestly accept my fate, I'll be stuck on the front lines, exploited and bleed, and if I die in battle, my family will probably suffer the same fate as the Miao people…'

Zhao Bin had already foreseen his fate: either to die at the hands of the Medicine King Gang's warriors, or to suffer Zhuang Jin's subsequent revenge: 'Miao Shao is dead, and I... how far behind?'

He pondered and pondered, but could not find a way out of the predicament. He could only live a miserable life rather than die. As soon as he went to the front line, he would look for opportunities to deliberately get injured. According to the rules, he could step down to recuperate temporarily. When he recovered, he would have to go to the front line again, and so on... over and over again.

Although this move could potentially backfire, it greatly increases safety if one is not seeking battle merits and is only focused on surviving.

If Zhuang Jin knew what Zhao Bin had done, he would probably admire the man's thoughtfulness. Miao Shao hadn't been able to let him do it himself, so Zhao Bin was making up for his dream and regret!

……

(End of this chapter)