Wang Chong had never expected to be so popular. Seeing that the chief constables from the various prefectures either had bulging waistbands or carried bundles, he guessed these must be gifts for him; they were simply too embarrassed to bring them out in Li Qingge's presence.
Li Qingge had anticipated this. After all, Wang Chong had made far too big a splash. He lingered a little longer, then took his ceremonial retinue and headed home.
With only Wang Chong and the six prefectural chief constables remaining, the atmosphere immediately grew warmer. Wang Chong said with a smile, "Why have only six of the sixteen prefectures' chief constables come? Could the others have some objection to me?"
"Well, that would explain it..."
Wang Chong's words stirred different feelings in the six chief constables. Some were startled, since they too had once looked down on this immediate superior of theirs. Others secretly rejoiced, preparing to slip in a few barbed words about a rival. Lu Mingyuan, chief constable of Tongzhou Prefecture, cupped his hands in salute and said, "Ma You, Chief Constable of Pine City, is still in prison. He truly cannot come to pay his respects to Chief Constable Wang."
Lu Mingyuan, chief constable of Tongzhou Prefecture, also came from Wudang and considered himself a little closer to Wang Chong. But he was already over fifty this year and exceedingly slippery, offering only a remark that neither hurt nor itched. Everyone knew about Ma You, Chief Constable of Pine City-even Wang Chong knew. It was pure hot air.
Wang Bupo, chief constable of Willow City, hurriedly added, "Chief Constable Wang arrived so suddenly that Sun, Liu, and Wang had no time to prepare. They will be here shortly." He was on the closest of terms with those three chief constables, so