The Director Steps Down

2024-07-31

The Director Steps Down

"Deputy Song." Several Patrol Guards who had been lying in wait came over quickly with hand crossbows.

Song Changming nodded. Looking at the thief before him, he asked, "Is there a bounty on this guy?"

"Yes. The Ghost-faced Bandit. The authorities have put up a reward of ten silver coins." After examining his features and that ghost-face mask, Jiang Chunzi confirmed it.

"Not bad. We didn't keep watch for nothing tonight. Take him back." Song Changming sheathed his blade, fairly satisfied.

No matter how small the fish, it was still fish. A reward was better than nothing.

The Patrol Guards were also delighted. Usually, as long as they had participated in capturing this sort of wanted criminal, they would get a share of the bounty.

Naturally, the larger share went to the Patrol Captain and Song Changming, his deputy.

They were the superiors managing the Patrol Guard Team, after all. They always had the privilege of taking more benefits.

After locking up the thief who had recently been roaming around the Houli Street district, Song Changming was preparing to go home and rest when a Patrol Guard who followed Liang Chuanshan stopped him.

"Deputy Song, Captain Liang asked me to wait for you at the Patrol Guard Headquarters. He said that once you were done, you should go find him at Spring Breeze Garden," the Patrol Guard said.

"Tonight?" Song Changming was somewhat surprised.

"Yes."

"Understood." Song Changming changed out of his armored Patrol Guard uniform and put on his usual clothes before heading to the appointment.

Spring Breeze Garden stood in the bustling part of Houli Street. As a rather famous pleasure house, it remained brightly lit even late at night, with an endless stream of guests.

The melodious sounds of qin and flute, along with the coquettish laughter of women catering to their guests, could be heard clearly even outside the building.

Over the past half year, Song Changming had become quite familiar with this place.

His duties had made him intimately familiar with every street and alley of Houli Street, and that naturally included Spring Breeze Garden.

There was another reason as well: as a trusted confidant personally promoted by Liang Chuanshan, he was often brought here by Liang Chuanshan to relax and make merry.

Before long, he found his way to a private room on the second floor and located Liang Chuanshan, who was listening to music.

"You're here. Sit." Liang Chuanshan sat cross-legged on the cushions in the private room. After taking a sip of wine, he smiled at Song Changming, then waved his hand to signal the musicians and dancers to leave.

The women slowly curtsied in acknowledgment. As their eyes shimmered, they quietly sized up Song Changming, who had just entered.

Nearly twenty years old, Song Changming had clearly grown taller and more solidly built than he had been last year.

He wore a fitted black robe, its cuffs and trouser hems bound tight so he could remain nimble and ready to move at any time.

Perhaps the Patrol Guard Headquarters had tempered him, but all traces of childishness had vanished from his features. He had grown increasingly handsome and refined, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes.

There was also a hint of coldness between his brows, as though he were an unsheathed blade, his sharp edge fully exposed.

With looks like his, it was little wonder the women here gave the young man a few extra glances.

Song Changming sat beside Liang Chuanshan and quietly waited for him to continue.

He knew that Liang Chuanshan must have something to discuss if he had suddenly summoned him.

And it was most likely something they could not discuss at the Patrol Guard Headquarters, which was why they had come here.

Liang Chuanshan did not beat around the bush with Song Changming. He said directly, "The matter we discussed before has been confirmed. The Director will retire and step down this year."

Song Changming nodded, unsurprised. They had discussed this matter before.

Their Director of Houli Street was already past seventy. Though his prestige remained, he was advanced in years, and his energy was no longer what it had once been. He could no longer hold steady in the lofty position of Director.

Stepping down and yielding his place to a worthy successor was inevitable.

The question was, who would the higher-ups choose as the next Director? According to past practice, they would usually select the most suitable candidate from among the Patrol Captains most familiar with local affairs.

As one of Houli Street's Patrol Captains, Liang Chuanshan was naturally a strong candidate to become the next Director.

In fact, the competition among the Patrol Captains had begun openly and in secret years ago.

Liang Chuanshan and Sun Wenyen had never been able to stand the sight of each other. One major reason they formed factions and opposed one another at every turn was that both had their eyes fixed on the Director's seat, engaging in an instinctive private rivalry.

Their previous struggles over credit and manpower, with Song Changming caught in the middle, had stemmed from this as well.

Liang Chuanshan picked up a few slices of beef from the plate and put them into his mouth. After another sip of wine, he continued.

"Lu Gang came from our side. He only became a Patrol Captain last year, and his seniority is nowhere near enough, so he has basically no chance of becoming a Director candidate.

"Zhu Bairen and Zhang Sihai are both getting on in years, and their achievements these past few years have been nothing outstanding. Even if they qualify to compete, they will most likely rank behind me.

"The only ones who can truly threaten me are Qian Wen and Zhao Dezhi."

After hearing this, Song Changming nodded. "That is indeed the case."

He now understood the situation within the Patrol Guard Headquarters far better than when he had first become a Patrol Guard.

Just as Liang Chuanshan had said, at this final juncture, only three Patrol Captains, Liang Chuanshan included, truly had the strength to compete.

"Changming, I promoted you with my own hand, and I have treated you well. Between Zhao Dezhi and me, you should know whose side to stand on." Liang Chuanshan suddenly clinked cups with Song Changming as he spoke.

"Of course, Captain. Are you dissatisfied with my recent performance?" Song Changming said helplessly. He more or less understood why Liang Chuanshan had called him here today. There was a hint of reminder—or warning—in it.

No matter how distant he usually was from Zhao Dezhi, there was still a layer of kinship by marriage between them.

That had not mattered much before, but now that they had reached such a critical moment, even though Liang Chuanshan trusted Song Changming, he could not help wanting to confirm it again and again.

He did not want to be stabbed in the back by someone at his side at the very end, only to have them drag him down.

"Your recent performance has been excellent. Or rather, your performance throughout this entire year has been excellent. The most correct decision I ever made was bringing you into my Patrol Guard Team. It's just that I'm overly sensitive right now," Liang Chuanshan admitted.

"I trust your character. I won't bring it up again after this."

Song Changming nodded. The matter was quickly put aside, and they did not say much more about it.

He could understand Liang Chuanshan. This truly was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for promotion.

If he missed this chance, it would be extremely difficult for Liang Chuanshan to gain another opportunity for advancement. Perhaps he would have no hope for the rest of his life.

Anyone would be a little sensitive at a time like this.

Among the six Patrol Captains, Liang Chuanshan had promoted him, knew him best, and was closest to him. It was only natural that Song Changming supported Liang Chuanshan the most in becoming Director.

This would benefit Song Changming himself as well.

"The Patrol Guard Team must perform well recently. No matter how small the credit is, seize it if you can. Those recorded merits are our best bargaining chips!" Liang Chuanshan continued, instructing Song Changming.

"I understand." Song Changming agreed, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "I heard that the Director positions in every district are decided by the General Security Department under the County Governor's Mansion?"

Liang Chuanshan understood what he meant and waved a hand. "Don't worry. I took care of the necessary arrangements long ago. I believe Qian Wen and Zhao Dezhi have done the same, emptying out their family fortunes.

"Those people above are all greedy as wolves. This money can only ensure that they remain impartial when making their decision. I can't pay any more than that, and neither can Qian Wen or Zhao Dezhi.

"And there are people from the County Governor's Mansion watching them from above, so they would not dare go too far. What we need to do now is win with overwhelming merit. I already hold the upper hand in that regard."

All in all, Liang Chuanshan was quite confident about his promotion to Director this time.

Calling Song Changming over to discuss it now was merely to widen that advantage as much as possible, preferably giving himself a one-hundred-percent chance of victory.

End of Chapter