I run a casino in the immortal realm.

As night deepened, the back hall of the Yuanyang Prefectural Magistrate's Office was brightly lit.

Upon receiving the summons, Zheng Yifei did not delay at all. He immediately changed into a clean and neat set of casual clothes and hurried to Liu Zhengyi's study.

As I pushed open the door, I saw Liu Zhengyi standing behind his desk, a smile he couldn't hide on his face.

In the very center of the desk, a mahogany tray was placed neatly, covered with a layer of red silk.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?"

Zheng Yifei stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Yifei, come here, take a look at this."

Without wasting any words, Liu Zhengyi reached out and lifted the red silk on the mahogany tray.

Beneath the red silk lay a brand-new set of blue official robes, with a lifelike beast embroidered in gold thread on the chest, shimmering with a dim luster under the candlelight.

Beside the official robes lay a square seal cast in brass, and a hard yellow paper document bearing the seals of the Ministry of Personnel and the Prefect of Yuanyang Prefecture.

A seventh-rank official, the patrol inspector of Yuanyang Prefecture!

Zheng Yifei looked at the contents of the tray, his breath hitched slightly, and his eyes revealed a look of excitement and ecstasy.

He suddenly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "This humble servant, Zheng Yifei, thanks you for your great kindness! I will never forget your promotion, and I will repay your kindness with the utmost devotion!"

Liu Zhengyi stepped forward and personally helped Zheng Yifei up. He patted the back of Zheng's hand and said earnestly, "Yifei, you got to where you are today because you earned it yourself."

However, the officialdom in this prefectural city is not like that of Liuhua County. Countless eyes are eyeing this seventh-rank position, and I had to exert considerable effort to secure it for you from the prefect.

Zheng Yifei nodded repeatedly in agreement, but he knew perfectly well what was going on.

Ten million gold coins is a huge sum of money, but it's definitely not enough to buy a powerful seventh-rank inspector in Yuanyang Prefecture, a place where Nascent Soul cultivators are everywhere.

The reason why Liu Zhengyi was willing to use the power of his family and even to intervene with the prefect was not because of the ten million, but because he valued Zheng Yifei's ability to make money.

The Duobao Pavilion and Nanyu Gambling House in Liuhua County generate enormous profits every month; these are Liu Zhengyi's real money bags.

Liu Zhengyi needs someone who is absolutely obedient and capable of protecting this purse.

Promoting Zheng Yifei to the position of inspector would not only ensure Zheng Yifei's unwavering loyalty but also allow the inspector to use his power to secretly protect his various shady businesses in the area.

This is a political investment that is guaranteed to make a profit.

"Rest assured, sir, I know what I'm doing. No matter what color my official robes are, I will always follow you."

Zheng Yifei adopted an extremely humble attitude.

Liu Zhengyi smiled with satisfaction, turned around and sat down behind his desk, his expression gradually becoming serious: "Yifei, you're about to take office, so let me give you a heads-up. This Patrol Inspectorate is subordinate to the Prefectural Magistrate's Office, and nominally under my control, but in reality, it has considerable independent authority in handling cases."

"The main responsibilities of the Patrol and Inspection Division are twofold. First, to crack down on smuggling. In our Tianlong Dynasty, the production and sale of salt, spirit minerals, and some high-grade spirit medicines are strictly controlled by the imperial court."

Yuanyang Prefecture administers fifteen counties. All the power to combat smuggling, including the key waterways and land routes surrounding the prefectural capital, rests with the Patrol and Inspection Office.

"Secondly, there is the case of the inspector's murder."

If the police stations in each county encounter a difficult case, such as a highly skilled murderer or a case involving a wide range of people that they cannot handle, they will report it to the prefectural city and have the patrol inspectorate take over the case.

Therefore, you wield considerable power; you can be considered a true power holder.

Zheng Yifei listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

"Alright, it's getting late. Keep the official documents and seal safe. Tomorrow morning, you'll go directly to the Patrol and Inspection Office to take up your post. Remember, once you get there, observe more and do less. Get to know everyone in the office first."

Liu Zhengyi waved his hand and picked up his teacup.

Zheng Yifei tactfully picked up the tray with both hands, bowed, and took his leave.

The next morning, before the mist had completely dissipated from the streets of Yuanyang Prefecture, Zheng Yifei was already dressed.

Wearing a blue seventh-rank official robe, with a jade belt around his waist and a black gauze hat, coupled with his angular and somewhat composed face, he truly exuded an air of authority without anger.

The Patrol and Inspection Office was not located in the city center administrative district alongside the Prefectural Office and the Sub-Prefectural Office. Instead, it was situated across two main streets near the Yuanhe River Wharf, which runs through the city.

Yuanhe River is the most important waterway transportation hub in Yuanyang Prefecture. Every day, the goods that are handled are piled up like mountains, and people from all walks of life gather here.

The patrol and inspection office was located here precisely to facilitate the control of key waterways and land routes and to crack down on smuggling.

Zheng Yifei did not bring Li Jianfeng and Ye Xiao with him. Instead, he hired an ordinary carriage and arrived at the front of the Patrol and Inspection Office alone.

After getting off the carriage, Zheng Yifei looked up and couldn't help but be secretly surprised.

The scale of this patrol office was more than twice that of the county government office in Liuhua County. The square in front of it, paved with bluestone slabs, alone could accommodate thousands of people queuing up.

On either side of the vermilion gate stood two tall stone beasts to suppress the water, and the six gilded characters on the gate plaque, "Yuanyang Prefecture Patrol and Inspection Office," exuded a solemn and imposing aura.

At this moment, the main gate of the yamen (government office) was wide open.

A middle-aged man with a lean face and a goatee, dressed in the robes of a seventh-rank official, was standing respectfully at the bottom of the steps, accompanied by dozens of officials and clerks.

Upon seeing Zheng Yifei approach, the middle-aged man immediately stepped forward, lifted the hem of his official robe, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply: "This humble official, Tang Ning, Deputy Inspector of the Patrol Inspection Division, along with all my colleagues remaining in the Patrol Inspection Division, respectfully welcomes Lord Zheng to his new post!"

"Greetings, Lord Zheng!"

The dozens of people behind him also bowed in unison, their loud voices echoing through the streets in the early morning.

Zheng Yifei glanced at Tang Ning briefly and immediately understood the situation.

This Tang Ning exuded extremely solid spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly indicating that he was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just half a step away from entering the Divine Transformation stage.

The constables behind him were all experts in the early or middle stages of the Nascent Soul realm.

"Deputy Inspector Tang, you may dispense with formalities. All colleagues, please also dispense with formalities."

Zheng Yifei immediately put on a gentle smile, stepped forward, and gave Tang Ning a helping hand: "I am new to this place, and I will have to rely on your great help in handling many affairs in this yamen in the future."

"You flatter me, sir. It is our duty to share your burdens."

Tang Ning straightened up, her smile perfectly impeccable, but a subtle scrutiny lurked in the depths of her eyes.

Under Tang Ning's guidance, Zheng Yifei crossed the high threshold and officially stepped into this territory that belonged to him.

As they walked in, Tang Ning dutifully introduced the basic situation of the patrol office to Zheng Yifei: "Sir, our patrol office covers an area of ​​more than 50 acres and has more than 100 buildings of various sizes."

Besides the main hall and second hall, there were also dedicated archives, armories, dungeons, and two large training grounds on the east and west sides.

"In terms of personnel, the total number of people registered in the Patrol and Inspection Division is currently 565, including 4 deputy patrol inspectors, all of whom are of the seventh rank; under them are 10 head constables and 500 constables;

In addition, there were fifty clerks specifically responsible for handling documents and files.

Zheng Yifei listened, nodded slightly, and casually asked, "It seems there were only about a hundred people greeting us at the entrance today?"

Tang Ning quickly explained, "Your Excellency is wise. Our patrol and inspection division is responsible for anti-smuggling and murder cases in fifteen counties. The scope of our operations is too broad."

Most of the constables and officers are stationed and patrolling in various counties and at land and water checkpoints year-round. Currently, only about one hundred people remain at the headquarters of the Patrol and Inspection Bureau.

The other three deputy inspectors are currently out of town supervising cases and were unable to return to greet you, sir. We hope you will forgive them.

Zheng Yifei waved his hand and said magnanimously, "It's alright. Official business is important. Since they are all out on business, let them focus on their work and don't rush back to see me."

He knew very well that the three deputy inspectors might not really be unable to return; they were probably just trying to avoid him, to give him, the newly appointed official, a hard time, or to observe the political climate.

However, Zheng Yifei didn't care about these empty formalities.