Promotion to Commandant, Garrisoning Luyang County

Promotion to Commandant, Garrisoning Luyang County

An hour and a half later, Zhou Shan returned to Qingyang City.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Zhou Shan immediately took off the clothes he was wearing and burned them, then changed into a clean set.

Next, it would depend on what the Black Armored Army could do.

A commandant and captain of a major county had been killed, and it was Luyang County, the closest county to Qingyang City. This was a naked provocation against the Black Armored Army. They certainly would not let the matter rest so easily.

For Zhou Shan, it would naturally be best if they could uncover the surviving disciples of the Vajra Sect.

If they could not, it did not matter.

No matter what, they would not be able to trace it back to him for the time being.

"Captain Zhou, Commander Wu requests your presence."

Before long, a Black Armored Guard came to the Zhou Residence with the message.

"I understand. I'll go at once."

Zhou Shan nodded slightly and headed for the military camp.

"Zhou Shan greets Commander Wu!"

Zhou Shan cupped his hands.

"You're here. No need for formalities." Commander Wu waved a hand, then went straight to the point. "Your cultivation has already reached the peak first-rate level. The commandant of Luyang County was assassinated, leaving a commandant position vacant. You handled the bandit-suppression mission well, especially the destruction of the Iron Palm Gang in Ye County, removing a great scourge from the people of Ye County. You understand how things work, so I recommended you to the General to serve as the commandant of Luyang County."

Those twenty thousand taels of silver were not given away for nothing.

Zhou Shan thought to himself.

He understood that Commander Wu had recommended him most likely because he had given him twenty thousand taels of silver after eliminating the Iron Palm Gang. He had earned his post as captain through a contest, yet his promotion to commandant had come directly through an internal recommendation.

Still, he had not expected that after killing Liu Jierong and his son, he would end up taking over the commandant post they had left vacant.

As for how Commander Wu had received the news so quickly, Zhou Shan was not surprised.

The Green Scaled Eagles used by the Black Armored Army to deliver messages were far faster than his lightness skill. Before he had even returned to Qingyang City, the Black Armored Army there had probably already received the news.

"Thank you for your promotion, sir!" Zhou Shan immediately cupped his fists in thanks, then knowingly asked, "Who was so audacious as to dare assassinate a Black Armored Army commandant?"

"According to the message from Luyang County, the man called himself Cheng Shifei of the Vajra Sect." Commander Wu said coldly, "Whether this Cheng Shifei is truly a remnant of the Vajra Sect or not, this matter will not be allowed to end so easily.

"But you need not concern yourself with it. There will be people specially assigned to investigate in secret. If anyone comes looking for you, simply cooperate. Once you arrive in Luyang County, all you need to do openly is put on a show of conducting a thorough investigation for a while."

"I understand!"

Zhou Shan nodded.

"Good. Here is your letter of appointment, along with the commandant's token." Commander Wu handed the appointment letter and token to Zhou Shan, then said, "You may bring the Black Armored Army soldiers who followed you in suppressing bandits to Luyang County with you. It will make things more convenient."

"Time waits for no one. Go assume your post now and take charge of the situation."

Commander Wu said.

"All right!"

Zhou Shan accepted the appointment letter and token, then left the military camp.

Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter~~~~

Zhou Shan then mounted a Black Scale Horse and led two hundred Black Armored Army soldiers toward Luyang County.

An hour later.

"Greetings, Commandant!"

After verifying the appointment letter and token, the two captains in Luyang County and all the centurions came to the commandant's residence. With their heads lowered, they greeted Zhou Shan, the newly appointed commandant, in unison.

Zhou Shan sat upright in the seat of honor. His gaze swept over them before he slowly said, "No need for formalities. Commandant Liu Jierong and Captain Liu Xuan were assassinated. This is a provocation against the Black Armored Army. You must investigate thoroughly. Search the entire city, check every household one by one, and you must find the murderer.

"Captain Cheng, Captain Li, the matter of tracking down the murderer will be entirely in your hands.

"I give you ten days to capture the culprit. If you fail to do so, I will hold you accountable."

"Yes, sir!"

Captain Cheng and Captain Li cupped their hands, each forcing a bitter smile.

It seemed that this Commandant Zhou intended to make them take the blame.

The murderer who had killed Commandant Liu and Captain Liu had already fled Luyang County City in full view of everyone. Where were they supposed to find him? They were destined to bear the blame for failing in their duties.

"All right, you may all leave!"

Zhou Shan waved a hand.

"This subordinate takes his leave."

The two captains led the group of centurions out of the commandant's residence.

"Brother Cheng, the commandant has given us ten days to capture the murderer. Where are we supposed to find him?" Captain Li said. "Besides, the murderer was powerful enough that even Commandant Liu was no match for him. Even if we find him, we do not have the strength to bring him to justice."

"Didn't you understand what the commandant meant?" Captain Cheng said. "The commandant told us to search the entire city, so we will search the entire city. If we still cannot find the murderer after ten days, at most we will get a scolding and have some of our salary docked."

"So this newly appointed commandant does not want to find the murderer either."

Captain Li understood as well.

Now that they understood the commandant's intentions, they knew what to do.

Meanwhile.

After dismissing Captain Cheng and the others, Zhou Shan began strolling around the commandant's residence.

The commandant's residence was large, with several small courtyards, a grand garden, and even flowing water and artificial hills.

After wandering around at leisure and learning the layout of the residence, Zhou Shan casually chose a room to use as his bedroom.

In the days that followed.

Zhou Shan remained in the commandant's residence cultivating. Even his three daily meals were delivered to his room.

With Luyang County's new commandant taking office, many people naturally came bearing gifts.

However, Zhou Shan had only just arrived and did not know these people, so he did not casually accept their gifts. He had them all returned. Now that he was the commandant of Luyang County, if he wanted silver, there were plenty of ways to obtain it.

Zhou Shan kept a low profile and rarely went out, almost never meeting outsiders.

As the one in charge, he only needed to have those below him handle matters. There was no need to personally do everything himself.

The days passed one by one.

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

Captain Cheng and Captain Li brought their centurions to the commandant's residence.

"The ten days are up. Have you captured the murderer?"

Zhou Shan asked in a deep voice.

"This subordinate is incompetent. Please punish us, sir."

Everyone lowered their heads.

"Since that is the case, I will dock half a year of your salary." Zhou Shan said coldly. "Do you have any objections?"

"No, sir. We accept the punishment!"

Everyone spoke in unison.

No one objected to losing half a year's salary. During those ten days of inspections, the silver they had extorted had already far exceeded half a year's pay. Even ordinary Black Armored Guards had each gained at least several months' worth of extra profit.

The centurions and captains of the Black Armored Army had only taken more silver.

"Sir, Luyang County has been sealed off for ten days. Many merchant caravans have suffered considerable losses and are deeply resentful. It has also severely affected the normal lives of the people."

Captain Cheng reported quietly.

"Then lift the lockdown." Zhou Shan said. "However, everyone entering or leaving the county city must be strictly inspected, and a curfew must be enforced. Patrols must be conducted every night to ensure that such a thing does not happen a second time."

"Understood!"

Everyone cupped their fists.

"Dismissed!"

Zhou Shan waved a hand.

(End of Chapter)