Settled

Inside the City Guard Hall.

Low-level Yamen Runners in the City Guard do not have separate places to handle official business and rest. There is only a spacious courtyard at the back, and several dilapidated, shared low houses.

But as a Yamen Runner Captain, it is different. The five Yamen Runner Captains each have an independent room behind the main hall, usually used for handling official business or resting. Zhao Zong's room, in particular, had not been occupied for a long time.

After Zhao Zong grew old and his hidden injuries flared up, he basically stopped coming to the hall. However, his room was still cleaned daily, remaining spotless. Now, after many years, this room has welcomed a new owner.

Chen Mu stood at the door, sizing up the room.

The room was not large, with only a long table placed horizontally inside. Some books were stacked on the table, along with a clean tea set. Behind the table was a yellow wooden chair, with a small piece slightly damaged on the chair handle, but it did not affect its use.

Whether it was the table or the chair, both were clean and dust-free, and the bluestone floor was free of sediment.

Although not spacious, it was clean.

Such an evaluation should be very pertinent.

Zhao Zong stood beside Chen Mu, with his hands behind his back, and sighed, "We martial artists wear down our Qi and blood. Even if we don't fight with others, we will always accumulate some chronic hidden injuries. When we get old, we can't suppress them, and they flare up..."

As he spoke, he stroked the table with a slight reluctance. In the Nine Stripes Ward City Guard, no one had more seniority than him, including Yamen Director Min Baoyi. If his physical condition had not deteriorated to the point where he could barely fight, he would have been reluctant to resign from the position of Yamen Runner Captain. Being able to temporarily retain the identity of Yamen Runner Captain and stay in the City Guard as an Instructor Captain was still a satisfactory result for him.

He originally planned to contact Ren Yan, a rising star, to curry favor in advance, so that when he retired in a few years, he could rely on some affection to retain some power. However, the appearance of Chen Mu was beyond everyone's expectations.

And after learning from Wang Gong and others that Chen Mu was personally recommended by Chief Constable Xu Hongyu from above, Zhao Zong immediately gave up all thoughts and realized why Min Baoyi would suddenly call Chen Mu a brother.

"Does this Mo Pi Fa Lian Rou body tempering method also damage the body?"

Chen Mu listened to Zhao Zong's words and asked thoughtfully.

Zhao Zong smiled and said, "Yes, whether it is the Mo Pi Fa or Lian Rou method, both temper the body in various ways, supplemented by medicinal powders. Naturally, it is harmful to the body. Wanting to practice martial arts and live a long life, how can there be such a good thing in the world? My lower back aches like needles every day now, because the Mo Pi Fa I used when I was young focused too much on the effect, causing great internal damage to the body. But sometimes it is inevitable to be involuntary. It's good to have something to practice. How many people want to learn martial arts but have no way to do so."

Listening to Zhao Zong's words, Chen Mu thought of the Gold Jade Mo Pi Fa that Xu Hongyu had given him.

At that time, Xu Hongyu mentioned that this method might not be the fastest, but it was gentler and more peaceful, and less damaging to the body. If Zhao Zong had practiced this Mo Pi Fa when he was young, he might not have ended up in this situation.

"Alright, I've told you everything I need to tell you. I should go too. If there's anything else, just ask Wang Gong, Qin Bei, and the others." Zhao Zong slowly withdrew his hand, nodded to Chen Mu, and walked outside.

"Take care, Old Zhao."

Chen Mu watched Zhao Zong leave, then slowly came to the table, picked up a few books on the table and glanced at them. They were the street distribution map of Nine Stripes Ward, and some population statistics and other documents.

Putting down the booklet, Chen Mu came to the window and looked out. At this time, the continuous drizzle had stopped, and it happened to be sunny after the rain. A ray of sunset shone into the room along the window. In the afterglow, he could see Zhao Zong's receding figure, and many Yamen Runners gathered in twos and threes in the distance, all discussing what had just happened. The shock in their eyes still remained.

Being promoted to Yamen Runner Captain was not unexpected for Chen Mu, but he did not expect Min Baoyi to be so swift and decisive. It was only within a day that Xu Hongyu had greeted him, and the replacement had already been completed directly.

Even.

His Blue Uniform and Waist Tag have not been made yet and are still being customized.

But from now on, he is the Yamen Runner Captain of Nine Stripes Ward, commanding the part of the force that Zhao Zong used to manage, totaling thirty to forty people. In addition, if he feels that the manpower is not enough, he can continue to recruit some from outside at will.

That's how the bottom-level Yamen Runners are, recruited at will, and withdrawn at will. Within a certain number, the Yamen Runner Captain can make the decision.

He turned around and looked at the room again.

Chen Mu turned and walked out. When he came to the outer hall, he met Qin Bei who was walking out together.

"Captain Chen."

Qin Bei looked at Chen Mu with a somewhat complicated expression and greeted him.

Chen Mu had previously been a Yamen Runner under him, but suddenly he had climbed up to the Chief Constable's connections, not only being promoted to Yamen Runner Captain, but also becoming a guest of honor of Min Baoyi, which made him feel inevitably awkward.

This was different from Ren Yan. Firstly, there had been rumors about Ren Yan for a while, and he had been actively promoting him. It had been more than half a year, and even if he was promoted to Yamen Runner Captain, he would still have to call him 'Brother Qin'. But Chen Mu had quietly jumped up all at once, becoming a figure on par with him, or even able to suppress him. This awkward feeling would not go away in a short time.

"Captain Qin."

Chen Mu also cupped his hands. He didn't have any particular feelings about Qin Bei. When he worked under Qin Bei, Qin Bei was neither warm nor cold to him, but he didn't deliberately make things difficult for him, so he was very calm and frank.

Qin Bei was, after all, someone who had been a Yamen Runner Captain for many years. He quickly suppressed the awkwardness in his heart and said, "Congratulations to Captain Chen on his promotion. If you have time in a few days, I'll treat Captain Chen to a drink. Will Captain Chen do me the honor?"

"Definitely, definitely."

Chen Mu responded with a smile and then walked out.

Coming outside.

Some scattered Yamen Runners in the courtyard paused when they saw Chen Mu coming, and then reacted, and greeted Chen Mu one after another:

"Lord Chen!"

Compared to Qin Bei, they were much more nervous. After all, they used to work in the same courtyard as Chen Mu. After so many years, even if there was no intersection, they had at least discussed him behind their backs. In addition, everyone thought that Ren Yan's promotion to Yamen Runner Captain was a certainty, and everyone went to curry favor with him. Now, Chen Mu suddenly rose to prominence, and they inevitably felt uneasy.

"Get up, all of you."

"I'm new to the position of Yamen Runner Captain and not yet familiar with it. You can continue to do things as usual."

Chen Mu said casually to the Yamen Runners.

"Yes."

The Yamen Runners responded one after another.

Then Chen Mu walked past the crowd and came to the outermost side. Liu Song and Li Tie were standing here. When they saw Chen Mu coming, they no longer had the casual and comfortable attitude they used to have, and greeted Chen Mu somewhat restrainedly.

"Why are you two so restrained?"

Chen Mu said jokingly when he saw this.

But Liu Song cautiously replied, "You are now an official, sir, and you have crossed the Dragon Gate. How dare we common people be presumptuous in front of you? Just give us your orders."

In this world, although the world is chaotic, the more so, the more strict the hierarchy is. Now that Chen Mu is already a Yamen Runner Captain, even if he 'condescends to associate', and still calls them 'old brothers' as in the past, they would not dare to respond. You must know that Chen Mu is now treating Qin Bei and others as equals. If Qin Bei and others see this, what would they think? It would undoubtedly be a disaster for them.

"I have already re-drawn the list at the Yamen Director's place and transferred you to my jurisdiction. From tomorrow onwards, you don't have to patrol the streets. Just stay in the Duty Room and listen to my orders."

Chen Mu also looked at Liu Song and Li Tie and said seriously.

The two of them have been friends with him for several years. Although they are not very close, they are, after all, the Yamen Runners in the City Guard that he knows best. Now that he has been promoted to Yamen Runner Captain, he still needs a few confidants to work under him.

As soon as these words came out, some other Yamen Runners cast envious glances at Liu Song and Li Tie.

Staying in the Duty Room to listen to orders means that they have changed from ordinary patrolling Yamen Runners to close aides who only need to help Chen Mu with errands and listen to Chen Mu's orders. Although it is not a promotion, the treatment is completely different.

Following a Yamen Runner Captain means becoming the Yamen Runner Captain's confidant. First of all, they don't have to participate in those troublesome patrol duties, and they don't have to take turns on the night patrol once every two months.

"Thank you for your appreciation, sir!"

Liu Song and Li Tie were also pleasantly surprised when they heard this, and thanked him repeatedly.

Although the two of them had been whispering just now, wondering if Chen Mu would remember their old friendship and promote them after his meteoric rise, feeling uneasy, now that the matter was settled, they naturally kowtowed and thanked him happily.

Chen Mu nodded slightly and said nothing more, leaving the City Guard, leaving behind many Yamen Runners with complex expressions, either envious or sighing as they watched his disappearing back.

The news of Chen Mu's appointment as the Yamen Runner Captain of the Nine Stripes Ward City Guard spread quickly in Nine Stripes Ward. In just half a day, it was known by all parties. After all, the people living in Nine Stripes Ward had the most dealings with gangs and the City Guard on weekdays.

If it was just a Yamen Runner, that would be nothing. The City Guard replaced dozens of Yamen Runners a year, or at least a dozen. But the Yamen Runner Captain was different. There were only five in total. If you offended one, it would be very troublesome. Moreover, it was rumored that Chen Mu had a close relationship with Yamen Director Min Baoyi, so it was even more necessary to be cautious.

The above was the reaction of some local gentry and powerful gangs within the Nine Stripes Ward area.

But outside Nine Stripes Ward, looking at the entire South District, it was a different scene.

Night fell.

South District City Guard Main Division, here was still brightly lit.

In a spacious and clean hall, a fair-skinned man sat at a table, holding a document in his hand.

He was He Mingxuan, the Deputy Chief Constable of the South District City Guard Main Division, second only to Xu Hongyu in status, and even his background was no less than Xu Hongyu's. Mentioning the surname 'He', in the Inner City, everyone knew it like thunder.

"Nine Stripes Ward... Chen Mu... interesting."

"Twenty-two years old, relying on his own comprehension of Saber Intent, he is indeed a talent. No wonder Xu Hongyu would take special care of him. But your Yu Family is now facing internal and external troubles, and you still want to continue supporting and cultivating your own confidants in the City Guard. I'm afraid it won't be so easy."

He Mingxuan showed a sneer and burned the page in his hand on the candlelight.

Ordinary people don't know Xu Hongyu's background and are relatively unfamiliar with the surname 'Xu', but those with a little power know that Xu Hongyu's mother's surname is Yu. She followed her father's surname and was a direct descendant of the Yu Family in the Inner City.

The He Family and the Yu Family's struggle for the City Guard was not a matter of a year or two.

The City Guard had nearly two hundred people in each ward, and the entire South District had ten wards, including the City Guard Main Division, which was nearly three thousand people. The other three districts, East, South, and West, were not much different, totaling nearly twelve to three thousand men.

Such a large number of people was undoubtedly not a small number. Even if the quality was not as good as the private soldiers and elites cultivated by various families, because of the large number, coupled with occupying the court's orders, they could do many things openly and honestly. If they were concentrated in the hands of one force, it would inevitably be a threat, so each family had mutual checks and balances.

Xu Hongyu had only served as Chief Constable for two years. Although she was in a high position of power, she did not have many trusted direct descendants under her command.

Chen Mu showed some talent and caught Xu Hongyu's eye. Xu Hongyu temporarily designated him as a direct descendant to be cultivated in the future. In the small Nine Stripes Ward, he naturally rose to prominence, but there were also many people who did not want to see Chen Mu grow into Xu Hongyu's assistant.

"Well, a small Yamen Runner Captain who has not yet practiced body tempering is not worth my personal 'care'."

He Mingxuan pondered for a while, then immediately called someone over, gave a few instructions, and then calmly picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.

Xu Hongyu had offended many people in the past two years. He only needed to reveal a little about Chen Mu's affairs, and then sit and drink tea. After a few days, someone would naturally do what he wanted to do for him. Even if it angered Xu Hongyu afterwards, it would not be traced back to him.