I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Chapter 100 Following the Lead

Zhang Jing was startled.

That's a lot of money!

Zhao Zian just gave it to me like that?

"Brother Zi'an... this gift is far too generous!"

Zhang Jing's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"We're brothers, aren't we?"

Zhao Zian patted him on the shoulder.

"If Liuxi Town is to develop, it's time for you to move up in rank. You'll find these things useful."

One sentence brought tears to Zhang Jing's eyes.

A scholar will die for one who understands him!

"Brother Zi'an, I am deeply grateful! From this day forward, I, Zhang Jing, will follow your lead without question!"

Zhao Zian accepted the bow without hesitation.

"There's no time to lose. Arrange for someone to do it immediately. Remember, the person must be reliable."

"I see!"

Zhang Jing nodded.

......

The next day, at dawn.

The notice board in front of the county government office had just been posted.

"...Magistrate Zhang Jing of this county ambushed and wiped out Shui Tu San, who had been entrenched in Black Wind Street for many years, last night in a single operation, and executed him on the spot..."

The crowd gasped in surprise.

"Lord Zhang is mighty!"

"Oh, Your Honor!"

The person who read the notice cleared his throat.

"...In this battle, we recovered most of the gold and silver from the prefect's tribute ship that had been hijacked! However, I dare not claim credit for this victory. This battle was won entirely thanks to the strategy of one man."

The entire room fell silent.

Zhang Jinglang said loudly.

"Fellow villagers!"

"The events of last night are clearly stated in the notice. Tu San, who wreaked havoc on the village, is now a thing of the past!"

"Fortunately, we also recovered the tribute they had stolen!"

The crowd erupted in cheers!

"but!"

Zhang Jing pressed down lightly with both hands.

"I stand here today not to praise myself, but to tell everyone who the true heroes of Willow Creek Town are!"

"This man is Zhao Zi'an, Doctor Zhao, from Jishetang!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Dr. Zhao?

He? He wiped out Tu San?

How is that possible!

Zhang Jing continued.

"If it weren't for Doctor Zhao's foresight in discovering Tu San's conspiracy beforehand, and his unfathomable cunning in devising a grand plan for me to lure the enemy, ambush, and annihilate them, we would have been recklessly throwing our lives away! If it weren't for Doctor Zhao's flawless strategy, how could our Liuxi Town militia have wiped out the vicious river bandits at such a meager cost?"

"It can be said that Doctor Zhao deserves the most credit for last night's work! I was merely the one who carried it out!"

The people looked at each other in bewilderment.

So that's how it is!

Zhang Jing dropped a bombshell.

"As Doctor Zhao has said, the spoils seized this time are ill-gotten gains and should be used for the benefit of the people! Therefore, I have decided that all the gold and silver seized, after deducting the portion to be turned over to the national treasury and sent to the capital by express courier, will be divided in two!"

"Firstly, generous compensation will be provided to all families harmed by Tu San in recent years! Anyone whose family member has died at Tu San's hands can register at the county government office and receive compensation upon verification!"

"Secondly, the remaining funds will be entirely devoted to the defense of Liuxi Town! We will expand the militia, repair the city walls, and purchase weapons! I hereby swear that I will make Liuxi Town an impregnable fortress, and never again allow any bandits to harm my people in the slightest!"

"As for Doctor Zhao..."

"He didn't take a single penny! He let Zhang Jing take the credit. As for the spoils, he let the county government divide them among himself. He said he was just a doctor, and his only wish was for the people of Liuxi Town to be healthy and well!"

I don't know who was the first to kneel down and cry.

"Dr. Zhao... is a living bodhisattva!"

"Lord Zhang, you are a good official too!"

"Waaaah... My deceased master can finally rest in peace!"

More and more people knelt down.

……

Jishengtang.

Su Mei sensed that something was wrong.

Early in the morning, the area in front of the clinic was already crowded with people.

But these people, with their eyes shining, didn't seem like they were there to see a doctor.

They were also carrying all sorts of things in their hands.

Some were carrying a basket of eggs, while others were holding an old hen.

Some were carrying a piece of homespun cloth they had woven themselves, and one man was even carrying half a pig.

"Accountant Sun, what's wrong?"

Sun, the accountant, was covered in sweat.

"Shopkeeper, I don't know either! They came straight to Doctor Zhao, saying they wanted to thank him for saving their lives, for giving them a second chance. They put their things down and left, and we couldn't stop them!"

Doctor Wang peeked out from the inner room.

"I asked a few people, and they all said they weren't there for medical treatment."

Su Mei stopped a woman who was about to put down her basket.

"Excuse me, ma'am, what brings you here...?"

The woman quickly stopped.

"Manager Su! You still don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Dr. Zhao! Our Dr. Zhao is a reincarnation of the God of Literature, a living deity!"

Su Mei patiently pressed for more information.

"Sister-in-law, please tell me slowly, what...what did Zian do?"

"What are you doing?"

The woman raised her voice.

"Manager Su, you've really got a good doctor! Doctor Zhao helped Lord Zhang wipe out that bunch of beasts, Tu San, last night!"

"What?"

Su Mei's delicate body trembled.

Another burly man carrying pork came over.

"It's absolutely true! Lord Zhang said it himself in front of the whole town at the county government office! He said that if it weren't for Doctor Zhao's strategic planning, let alone annihilating them, the militia would have been easy prey!"

"Yeah yeah!"

The people next to them added to the discussion.

"Lord Zhang also said that Doctor Zhao donated all the gold and silver seized! Part of it will be used to compensate the families of us victims. My third uncle was killed by Tu San back then, so at least there will be some money for my aunt to live on in her old age!"

"The remaining money should be used to expand the militia and repair the city walls! Doctor Zhao is truly selfless!"

"Indeed! Lord Zhang said that Doctor Zhao didn't want a single copper coin himself, and he even gave all the credit to the county government! What do you call that? That's called keeping one's merits hidden!"

Su Mei's mind went blank.

He devised a plan to eliminate a local tyrant, bringing glory to the entire town. He spent money like water, yet sought neither fame nor fortune.

Is this... is this still the same Zhao Zi'an?

"Manager Su? Manager Su?"

The woman woke her from her daze.

Su Mei came to her senses.

"Thank you for informing us, sister-in-law. We at Jishetang accept the villagers' kind gesture on behalf of Zi'an. However, there are simply too many gifts..."

"Oh, Manager Su, please don't be so polite!"

The burly man placed half a pig on the ground.

"Compared to the kindness Dr. Zhao has shown us, this little thing is nothing! If we weren't so poor, we'd want to set up a longevity tablet for Dr. Zhao and worship it at home every day!"

"Yes! Set up a memorial tablet!"

The crowd echoed this sentiment once again.

Su Mei was both amused and exasperated.

Only after having Sun, the accountant, and his staff pack their belongings into the backyard could they persuade the group of people to leave.

Zhao Zian stepped into the clinic.

"Dr. Zhao! You're finally back!"

Accountant Sun was the first to notice him.

"you……"

Su Mei grabbed his wrist.

"Come with me."

Before Zhao Zian could say anything, Su Mei grabbed him and headed into the inner hall.

Su Mei released her grip.