Transmigrating Through the Heavens: Starting with the Silly Pillar of the Courtyard

Chapter 332 Promotion of the Flag Officer

The centurion Chen Xiao led his men to interrogate the old man on the spot. The old man was a very wealthy landowner in Songjiang Prefecture.

Previously, Chen Xiao, a centurion, had had some contact with the other party, but now their positions have changed.

The old man, who used to be composed when he saw the centurion Chen Xiao, now looked like a mouse before a cat.

Since the plan to kill the Imperial Guards had not been followed, the old man naturally knew what the final fate of him and his family would be.

Even at this point, he would desperately seize the only remaining opportunity.

The old man now only asks that the centurion Chen Xiao can leave a descendant for his family.

As for his family fortune and the lives of dozens of family members, there is now no hope.

The centurion Chen Xiao readily agreed to the old man's request, knowing that if he didn't, the old man would choose to resist to the bitter end.

Now, by agreeing to the other party's conditions, you can directly get the answer you want.

Centurion Chen Xiao and his men interrogated the old man at the farm all night. The next morning, Centurion Chen Xiao, his lieutenant Zhang Song, and his lieutenant Wu Tao marched in a grand procession straight to Songjiang Prefecture.

As for Wang Xiaoqi, he led his men to carry the dead Commander Zhang Zhan slowly along the way.

Last night, during the first round of firing, Captain Zhang Zhan still couldn't hold on. He was probably the most pathetic death among the Imperial Guards, since he didn't even see the enemy before dying right at the gate.

As members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had long since become indifferent to life and death. Therefore, no one was saddened by the deaths of a few colleagues; instead, they were all looking forward to what reward they would receive.

Although more than a dozen brothers died in this investigation, including the commander Zhang Zhan, the rewards they would receive for successfully uncovering a major treason case would be substantial.

Especially those who followed Wu Tao, they all knew that Wu Tao was definitely going to get promoted and make a fortune this time.

Wu Tao turned the tide this time, single-handedly breaking through the enemy lines, killing dozens of enemies, and capturing the bandit leader alive. For this achievement, he will surely be promoted.

This means that since Zhang Zhan, the commander-in-chief, is already dead, Wu Tao might become the next commander-in-chief.

Even Xiao Qi Zhang Song secretly walked up to Wu Tao and gave him a look that said, "You have to treat me."

As Wu Tao hurried on his way, he gave him a reassuring look.

The two were sworn brothers, needing no further explanation. In the Embroidered Uniform Guard, not having a few reliable colleagues was truly courting death.

Whether it's for mutual support or simply to survive, everyone needs to find like-minded comrades.

The centurion Chen Xiao was filled with excitement; this time, he was destined to alarm the entire court and the public.

Unexpectedly, the case they cracked this time has reached the highest levels of government, involving not only several powerful families in Songjiang Prefecture, but also the General's Office and the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court.

There's no need to worry about other places; the assets of just a few unfortunate families in Songjiang Prefecture alone are enough to make everyone rich.

Centurion Chen Xiao led his men straight to the Thousand-Household Office, and soon Thousand-Household Commander Liu Peng issued the order.

Then the entire Thousand Household Office was mobilized this time, including the reserve officers.

Hundreds of people headed straight for several prominent families, the General's Mansion, and the Prefect's Office.

Soon, the bigwigs, handcuffed and shackled, were taken directly to the prison of the Thousand Households Office.

The moment they saw Liu Peng, the commander of a thousand households, rush in with his men, they knew they had been caught in a trap.

At this point, their soldiers and personal guards dared not resist at all.

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that several guards had just raised their swords when they were immediately killed on the spot by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

When there is no real evidence, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can conceal their fangs and pretend to be indifferent.

Once they have the evidence, they can wreak havoc on everyone.

Although they were plotting something, as the old saying goes, a scholar's rebellion will not succeed in three years.

Now that the Imperial Guards have come knocking on their door, they actually knelt down and begged for mercy.

The Songjiang Prefecture Thousand Household Office worked day and night for more than ten days, thoroughly investigating the conspiracy of several major families.

He also directly implicated a deputy commander-in-chief and a sub-prefect.

As for the affairs of the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court, they were naturally handed over to the Jingcheng Town Government Office for handling.

Commander Liu Peng sent men to deliver half a meter high stack of case files, along with several of the ringleaders, to the capital.

Of course, a long convoy followed, each car leaving two deep, long tracks in its wake.

The raid yielded one million taels of silver, hundreds of thousands of strings of copper coins, tens of thousands of taels of gold, as well as a large quantity of other jewelry, silk fabrics, exquisite porcelain, and antique paintings and calligraphy.

This is the account they have already deducted and handed over to the imperial court.

In reality, everyone from Liu Peng, the commander of a thousand households, to the two deputy commanders and Chen Xiao, the centurion, received a huge sum of money.

Even ordinary captains received one hundred taels of silver each, and strongmen received ten taels each.

Each junior officer receives 500 taels of silver, and each senior officer receives 1,000 taels of silver.

Wu Tao, the newly appointed flag officer, not only got promoted, but also made a fortune.

With the death of Zhang Zhan, the commander-in-chief, and Wu Tao's outstanding achievements in attacking the farm, he was directly promoted to commander-in-chief.

As the head of a thousand-household garrison, Liu Peng could promote a squad leader with just a word.

The matter was then reported directly to the town government office, where no one would bother with it.

The approval of the town government is only required for the promotion of a centurion.

However, in such cases, the town government usually does not object to the application of a commander of a thousand households.

After all, they needed the commanders of each provincial capital to help the Imperial Guards safeguard the safety of their respective provinces.

As long as the selection and appointment of commanders are well controlled, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) of the entire country can be controlled.

Wu Tao set up ten tables at the restaurant, inviting not only the centurion Chen Xiao, but also another captain Ling Tian, ​​as well as all the officers under his five junior officers.

A meal of lavish fish and meat costs one tael of silver, and with the wine, it consumes twenty taels of silver.

However, Wu Tao felt it was worth it, since he had been promoted and his power had increased.

The key point is that as his official rank rose, he was able to do more things.

The chief flag officer has five junior flag officers under him, and he can recruit ten strongmen, giving him nearly two hundred men under his command.

Most importantly, after becoming a flag officer, one only needs to sit in the thousand-household office and wait for subordinates to report on their work.

I only take people down with me when it's like last time; that's because of the difference in status and work style.

Wu Tao's salary has also increased; his monthly salary has increased from ten taels to thirty taels.

A junior officer in the city guards only earns three taels of silver a month.

The flag officer only receives ten taels a month.

The worst part is that they often owe wages, which is really frustrating.

Compared to the previous salary, the current salary is three times higher.

If you are promoted to the rank of centurion, your monthly salary will be one hundred taels of silver.

As imperial protégés, the Imperial Guards received treatment several times better than the city guards.

Even if he, as the flag bearer, had to support ten strongmen himself, he could still afford to support everyone.

Besides Chen Wu and Wang Liu, Wu Tao has now recruited five strongmen, or to be precise, six.

Of the five people recruited initially—Chen Wu, Wang Liu, Zhao Si, Niu Er, and Qian Hu—Qian Hu was the most shrewd and capable, and also extremely loyal to Wu Tao.