Zheng Bahuo said in a low voice, "Director Gong is both our host and an experienced hand at personnel assignments. I trust he can choose the candidate most beneficial to Dongshan Prefecture, and even to all of Zhongshan Prefecture."
After he finished, Gong Chao turned to Xu Yi. Xu Yi said, "May I ask how Director Gong intends to select the best candidate? To be honest, I'm not particularly eager to become the prefectural commander. But since I carry Commander Ming's military order, this matter needs a result. Even if I'm ultimately passed over, Commander Ming will no doubt require me to submit a report detailing what happened. So please forgive me if I speak out of turn, Director Gong."
Xu Yi wasn't about to suffer in silence. He could see clearly that Gong Chao wasn't making any overt moves, only resorting to underhanded ones, because he was wary of Ming Liding.
The more wary his enemies were, the more Xu Yi would wave Ming Liding's banner high and proudly.
Gong Chao's eyelid twitched. Smiling, he said, "Of course, of course. As head of the Personnel Selection Department, I naturally have to make this appointment fairly. I happen to have a difficult problem here, and it's the greatest challenge Dongshan Prefecture faces right now. How about this: whichever of you two solves it first wins?"
"I have no objection!"
Zheng Bahuo said, his arms behind his back.
"I'm all ears!"
He wasn't about to agree lightly without knowing what the matter was.
Still, he already had a rough idea.
Gong Chao said, "As everyone knows, Dongshan Prefecture has suffered through years of war. Now that peace has finally been restored, everything needs rebuilding. Normally, the wars among us cultivators should have nothing to do with the common folk. But here