As the Saying Goes, a New Official Takes Three Fires

The Hundred-household Office of Bailing County was subordinated to the Thousand-household Office of Pingyang Prefecture. Thousand-household Liu was the chief official of the Pingyang Prefecture Thousand-household Office and also the direct superior of Hundred-household Li, Lin Lang, and the others.

Normally, if anything came up, they would send the hundred-households to report at the Thousand-household Office, so a thousand-household coming to the Hundred-household Office meant something major was about to happen.

Not just Lin Lang and the others, but everyone at the Hundred-household Office had now gathered at the parade ground, waiting to welcome Thousand-household Liu.

Lin Lang, Hundred-household Li, and the others stood at the entrance, watching from afar as a few horses meandered over. The figure in the middle should be Thousand-household Liu.

This was because only he wore a set of cyan-green brocade uniform, and he was walking with his chin up, looking down his nose at people.

"Li Sijiang, hundred-household of the Bailing County Hundred-household Office, along with probationary hundred-household Lin Lang and others, respectfully greets Lord Thousand-household."

With that, Hundred-household Li walked over obsequiously to lead Thousand-household Liu's horse.

"My lord thousand-household, please come inside. The tea has already been brewed, and I've also had someone reserve a table at the best Gathering Abundance Tower in the county. I beg my lord thousand-household to please honor us with your presence."

Thousand-household Liu grunted an acknowledgment from his nose, then looked over at Lin Lang: "You are the probationary hundred-household Lin Lang?"

"Not bad, truly a handsome talent of exceptional bearing. Back then, your father was a brother in our Pingyang Prefecture Thousand-household Office and performed great feats of service, choosing a hard-qigong martial art for you from the armory in the hope that you would bring honor to your ancestors. You truly haven't disappointed him."

Lin Lang: "???"

So this Golden Body Child Skill was specifically chosen back then by his predecessor's dad?

He picked a child skill and still wanted to bring honor to his ancestors? He was about to cut off the family line; if the ancestors knew, their coffin lids wouldn't stay down!

Right now, though, he was actually quite grateful to that predecessor's old man. This Golden Body Child Skill was truly wonderful!

Thousand-household Liu continued, "This time, my coming here is mainly because of you. Everyone to the parade ground, I have an important matter to announce."

Hundred-household Li looked suspiciously at Lin Lang. A guess formed in his heart, but he immediately dismissed it.

Impossible. Lin Lang had only just been promoted to probationary hundred-household; how could he possibly be promoted again? Besides, there were no vacancies left. Perhaps they were going to transfer Lin Lang to the Thousand-household Office?

Arriving at the parade ground, Thousand-household Liu reached out to his side, and someone immediately handed over an appointment document.

"Upon investigation, Lin Lang, probationary hundred-household of the Bailing County Hundred-household Office, has served in the Jinyiwei for five years and repeatedly rendered meritorious service... Lin Lang is hereby appointed as hundred-household of the Bailing County Hundred-household Office, and is rewarded with the first-rate martial art, the Ten-Thousand Victories Saber Technique."

Everyone at the parade ground was dumbfounded. Lord Lin had only just become a probationary hundred-household a couple of months ago, and he was promoted to hundred-household this fast?

Those flattery-filled words they had uttered before seemed to have come true; Lord Lin was truly going to rise rapidly in his career.

Hearing this, Wang Wu and Jia Liu acted even more excited than Lin Lang. If Lord Thousand-household hadn't been present, they would have jumped up and cheered.

Lord Lin was soaring to high positions, and they were also going to strike it rich. After all, nobody in the Hundred-household Office held onto anyone's coattails as solidly as the two of them did; they were practically about to become hanging pendants on Lin Lang's legs.

Hundred-household Li was dumbfounded. Just a moment ago he had said that hundred-household official positions were all accounted for with every radish in its own hole, and that Lin Lang couldn't become a hundred-household official without paying money. As a result, in just the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Lin Lang had usurped his position.

Thousand-household Liu handed the appointment document to Lin Lang: "Hundred-household Lin, from now on this Bailing County Hundred-household Office is handed over to you. If you have any difficulties, you can come find me."

"Your appointment, moreover, had the Eastern Depot intervene and give word. I heard that Superintendent Cao even praised you as a talent, saying that the piece of intelligence you submitted was quite good. He hopes you will keep up the good work and investigate more useful intelligence."

Upon hearing this, Hundred-household Li felt even more heartache. What on earth was the intelligence Lin Lang passed to the Eastern Depot last time that could make the Eastern Depot issue an order to promote Lin Lang and even win the personal praise of Superintendent Cao?

If he had been the one to submit that intelligence, would his promotion to vice-thousand-household have been guaranteed?

Why on earth did he go drink and listen to tunes at the Jade Green Pavilion that day?

Lin Lang smiled and accepted the appointment, figuring this could also be considered having connections at the top.

He only hoped that when he provided intelligence in the future, Cao Zhengchun could still promote him without having any plans to groom him as a successor.

"Alright, the rest is up to you here. I'm going to go chat with Hundred-household Li about his affairs."

Thousand-household Liu and Hundred-household Li left together, while Lin Lang turned to look at everyone on the parade ground: "I announce two matters. First, Wang Wu and Jia Liu are promoted to chief banner officers. Second, the intelligence on the Great Song pugilistic world must continue to be investigated. I'll consider who to dispatch."

Wang Wu and Jia Liu had supported him so strongly back then, and after he went to Great Song, they had also helped take good care of his family. They were both talented individuals whose words sounded pleasant, so of course he was going to heavily promote them.

Wang Wu and Jia Liu were wild with joy. Earlier, some people had mocked them, saying that even if they latched onto Lin Lang's coattails, so what? Lin Lang had offended Hundred-household Li, and even becoming a probationary hundred-household gave him no real power. Those people claimed the two of them would soon be marginalized.

Yet now they were directly promoted across ranks, sitting in positions that many Jinyiwei could never attain in a lifetime.

Many people wore mournful expressions as they wondered just how large a bribe they would have to send to Hundred-household Lin to ensure they wouldn't be dispatched to Great Song.

Lord Hundred-household could investigate crucial intelligence, gain promotions, and amass wealth because his strength was formidable. If they went, they would likely die in a strange land.

Being promoted to hundred-household official made Lin Lang very happy, and the thought that he was about to collect numerous gifts made him even happier.

I'll ask Thousand-household Liu in a moment if there are any vacancies in the Pingyang Prefecture Thousand-household Office. Or rather, what it takes for a vacancy to open up.

The rewarded martial art turned out to be just a first-rate saber technique, which is completely useless to me. I'll hand it over to Wang Wu or Jia Liu to practice later.

In the main hall of the Hundred-household Office, Thousand-household Liu sat in the primary seat while Hundred-household Li stood to the side: "My lord thousand-household, Lin Lang is serving as hundred-household of the Bailing County Hundred-household Office, so what about me?"

Thousand-household Liu glanced sideways at Hundred-household Li: "Your situation is rather difficult to handle. It was originally agreed that you would be promoted next year, but you haven't made any meritorious achievements in the past two years, so it's quite impossible for you to be promoted ahead of schedule."

"Go to the Thousand-household Office for now. Once a vacancy opens up, we'll arrange something for you."

Hundred-household Li was dumbfounded. Being a hundred-household at the Thousand-household Office fell far short of the power wielded by someone in charge of a hundred-household office, and the lucrative perks were beyond comparison.

It was all because of Lin Lang! Since he was having a hard time, Lin Lang shouldn't expect to have an easy life either!

"Thousand-household Liu, you must keep a close eye on this Lin Lang. When he was a probationary hundred-household, he dared to bypass me and report directly to the Eastern Depot. Now that he's a hundred-household, won't he bypass you to go claim credit with the Eastern Depot?"

"As for this latest piece of intelligence, if it had been transmitted to the Eastern Depot through you, the one getting promoted might have been you instead."

Thousand-household Liu frowned slightly. He didn't think he could secure a promotion through this, but he certainly could have reaped quite a few benefits.

With this Lin Lang getting promoted to hundred-household, he hadn't managed to scoop up any benefits at all.

Lin Lang, who was nearing the entrance, overheard Hundred-household Li's words, and the smile on his face vanished.

I had already been promoted to hundred-household and didn't even need you, radish, to make room for my hole.

Yet you actually badmouthed me in front of Thousand-household Liu. Then don't blame me for being discourteous.

As the saying goes, a new official takes three fires. I'll just head over to your house and set the first fire.