A Long River Myth

The armory of the patrol company was filled with a damp, musty smell.

"Sigh, another sleepless night is coming."

More than thirty inspectors took turns collecting weapons.

Li Hong followed behind Wang Hu, choosing a seven-foot-long short spear and binding his legs with hemp cloth to protect himself from snakes, insects, and leeches.

Cases involving the river have always been major ones, and the upper reaches of the Shangcang River are not far from the outer city of Muyang County.

Regardless of the era, water transport has always been the lowest-cost mode of transportation.

Especially in ancient times when land transportation was inconvenient, river transport could be described as extremely profitable!

Imagine transporting the same weight of goods overland for hundreds of miles; the cost of feeding the people and horses would be enormous, along with all the losses and damage, making the expenses shockingly high.

But if you get onto the river, then it's like God is helping you transport things.

Given such exorbitant profits, it's inevitable that many people will take the risk.

When the three patrol teams finished inspecting and selecting weapons and returned to the courtyard where their duty rooms were located, it was still early.

The patrolmen on standby gathered in small groups, chatting to pass the time or playing pebbles.

Whoohoo!

Li Hong, unwilling to wait idly, found a spacious spot and began practicing his spear technique.

I took a tiger bone health-preserving pill two days ago, and I can't waste time before the effects wear off.

He held the gun with both hands, his grip on the middle section causing it to tremble and vibrate, making the shaft hum like a withered branch in the wind.

This set of North Wind Spear Techniques is inspired by the phrase "the north wind sweeps across the land, breaking all the grass and trees," and the spear technique is characterized by its fierce and swift movements!

All their tactics are relentless and unpredictable, leaving no room for retreat. Every shot they fire is like a gust of wind, its killing intent penetrating to the bone.

It is said to be a simplified spear technique that has been summarized and passed down by the elite border troops of the Great Qi Dynasty over hundreds of years.

"Which squad's patrol officer is this? His gunplay is pretty good."

"The one in Liu's team is a temporary inspector."

The guardhouse courtyard wasn't very big, and many people couldn't help but twitch when they saw his gun thrusting and the swift wind whistling in their ears.

Gradually, many inspectors surrounded Li Hong from a distance, occasionally exclaiming in amazement and cheering.

It was no different from watching a street performer.

The patrol inspectors spend most of their time handling cases within the outer city walls, so they don't practice shooting much.

It's rare to see someone so skilled with a gun, especially such a young man.

As noon approached, when General Jiang Tao and the three inspectors returned to the courtyard, their gazes were drawn to the crowd.

He pointed and said, "Whose son is this? He's quite skilled with the 'North Wind Spear' technique."

Several inspectors followed the direction pointed to, and Liu Ming's eyes paused.

A few days ago, Li Hong asked him for a month's leave, saying that his qi and blood had been refined to the point of nearing internal strength, and he wanted to focus on accumulating more qi and blood.

What brings you here today?

After observing closely for a while, Liu Ming's eyebrows began to twitch and his eyelids began to twitch.

With Li Hong's strength, has he successfully broken through his internal energy barrier?!

With a flick of his wrist, Li Hong's spear moved like a white snake spitting its tongue, executing the flick, thrust, and parry in one fluid motion.

Each time he sheathed his gun, he remained completely undisturbed by the wind around him.

Not only has he become strong internally, but he also seems to have mastered the "North Wind Spear Technique" quite some time ago.

"Good lad, you've really made me proud!"

Liu Ming stared for a moment, his surprise barely concealed. He turned around, clasped his hands in a gesture of delight, and said:

"Your Excellency, this is Li Hong, who is on temporary assignment in my team. He came from the Martial Arts Academy and has already passed the entrance exam for the inner ranks after just over four months of external training!"

"Old Liu, you must be joking, right?"

"Heh, grown strong in four months? When did our inspection division produce such talent?"

The other two inspectors raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving.

Jiang Tao was somewhat surprised to hear this, but after turning his head to look again, he smiled and nodded.

He was, after all, a master who had broken through the Innate Realm, and he immediately saw through the deception, laughing:

"Liu Ming, find a way to transfer him from the Martial Arts Academy. Don't just give him a nominal position; isn't keeping such a talented person in the Martial Arts Academy a waste of his youth?"

After the envoy "certified" him, the two inspectors next to him were stunned!

As soon as Li Hong finished practicing his marksmanship, Liu Ming eagerly rushed forward.

He pushed through the crowd, grabbed Li Hong's shoulder with his large hand, and said with delight:

"Kid, you passed the level on your first try?"

Liu Ming made no attempt to hide his shock, and without giving him a chance to speak, he pulled him aside and said, "Come on, come with me to see the envoy!"

Under the eaves, Li Hong tossed aside his seven-foot spear, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Chief Envoy!"

Jiang Tao smiled and nodded, getting straight to the point: "Li Hong, how about coming full-time to my Inspection Division and working under Liu Ming as a deputy envoy?"

Deputy envoy?

Everyone around was shocked when they heard this!

The deputy envoy, naturally, is the deputy inspector, a proper official position.

Generally speaking, how could such a position be easily given to someone without the status of a second-class martial arts student?

He started as a deputy envoy, and the word "first" that Jiang Tao used was particularly jarring!

...Many people's eyes widened like saucers when they heard Jiang Tao's words.

Li Hong remained silent for two breaths, feeling similarly moved; the deputy envoy's asking price was indeed very high.

However, once he actually becomes this deputy envoy, he will no longer have free control over his time.

Everyone knows that the second-in-command has to worry about all sorts of things; it's a position that requires getting things done.

He has the panel to rely on; what he needs most is time and resources.

The former is the most important. If too many miscellaneous things interfere with his intense work, his progress in martial arts will inevitably be greatly affected.

"Thank you for your guidance, Ambassador!"

Thinking of this, Li Hong bowed his head humbly and said, "However, I was fortunate enough to break through to the Inner Strength realm, but my martial arts foundation is not yet solid. I want to focus all my attention on preparing for the Martial Arts Examination."

After he finished speaking, there was a noticeable moment of silence around him.

Liu Ming's brows furrowed deeply, his heart filled with both trepidation and anxiety!

Damn! That idiot Li Hong won't even take the position of deputy envoy?

Take, for example, the two remaining deputy positions in the Patrol and Inspection Division. How many people under Jiang Tao bribed him to secure them?

Those people have both seniority and merit.

Liu Ming didn't seem to be in a hurry for the martial arts auditions, since there were four auditions a year.

"He's got ambition!"

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Tao wasn't annoyed at being humiliated; instead, he clapped his hands in triumph and laughed:

"How about this? The department will provide you with a monthly stipend equivalent to that of a deputy envoy until you pass the exam to become a second-class military officer. At that point, you'll be given the stipend of a full envoy. You just need to remain on temporary assignment in my patrol department. What do you say?"

With Li Hong approaching, Jiang Tao naturally saw things more clearly.

Judging from his steady and solid appearance, it was absolutely impossible for him to have passed the test on his first try simply by luck!

My heart was deeply shaken.

This kid's talent is already quite impressive even in the inner city, and he's on par with some scions of prominent families.

"Thank you for your kindness, Envoy; I will never forget it!"

Li Hong clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply. His main purpose in coming to the Inspection Division today was to ask for a raise.

Unexpectedly, by chance, they ran into the envoy and exceeded their target!

Martial artists, especially those on the front lines, enjoy generous treatment within the framework of the Great Qi Dynasty.

The deputy envoy's salary... I heard Wang Hu mention it before. Liu Ming was nearing the late stage of his inner strength cultivation, and with the added position of patrol inspector, his basic monthly salary would be at least forty taels.

Li Hong is now in the early stages of internal strength cultivation, and his basic monthly allowance is already no less than fifteen taels.

Add in the benefits of being a deputy envoy, and it would be close to thirty taels!

He'll receive his monthly stipend, and as long as the Inspection Division is still in operation, he'll be able to actually eat this batch of government-funded rations!

Jiang Tao patted Li Hong on the shoulder, then turned and urged, "Liu Ming, you handle this matter. Go now!"

"Yes, sir!"

Liu Ming was overjoyed. This kid was being given important responsibilities. If he rose to prominence in the future, would he not recognize his mentor?

............