So the provincial capital should have sent the reward silver to the Bo County authorities first, and the authorities should have distributed it from there.
Yet Hong Fan had collected the reward silver himself and brought it over.
That was clearly against the rules.
But Hong Fan had managed it!
"Many thanks, Young Master Hong."
Wu Shuangren reacted quickly, giving the same response as before. "But Peng Tianlang was not killed by me alone. Many people joined forces to bring him down. I would not dare claim the reward silver for myself."
Hong Fan waved a hand and said somewhat imperiously, "I don't care about that. All I know is that you killed Peng Tianlang, so you should take this silver!"
"Since Young Master Hong has made such a generous offer, Constable Wu, you should accept it."
Xu Jing, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.
Wu Shuangren looked at Xu Jing, who nodded to him. He thanked Hong Fan once more, then said to the person holding the wooden tray, "Sorry for the trouble, but could you put it in a money pouch for me?"
The person looked at Hong Fan. Hong Fan nodded, and only then did he withdraw with the wooden tray.
"I heard that Peng Tianlang actually led a gang of bandits into the city to commit murder. How outrageously brazen!"
Hong Fan said.
"Yes, the bandits are running rampant."
He Zhixu and the others echoed the sentiment.
Hong Fan continued, "Not long ago, Bo County's militia was also attacked by a gang of bandits and suffered heavy casualties. Is that true?"
The moment he said this, the atmosphere in the room abruptly changed.
Xu Jing gave Hong Fan a cold look, while He Zhixu's face filled with sorrow. "Dozens of our Bo County militiamen were killed by bandits outside the city. It pains me deeply!"
Hong Fan immediately said, indignant, "How can we let the bandits run so rampant? Now that I've come to Bo County to do business, naturally I also hope the county can enjoy peace and safety. My lords, I am willing to pay to rebuild Bo County's militia and do my part to keep the county secure!"
Wu Shuangren's expression shifted. At last, Hong Fan had unrolled the map to reveal the dagger.
He had thought Hong Fan would discuss the future business of selling illicit salt in Bo County tonight, but he had not expected him to settle the matter of the militia outright!
As soon as Hong Fan spoke, the room fell silent.
He Zhixu and the others were in no hurry to state their positions.
Hong Fan swept his gaze over them, a faint smile on his lips. "Without a militia, what will you do if bandits like Peng Tianlang come into the city to kill again?"
"..."
At that, the expressions of He Zhixu and the others soured.
"Young Master Hong is willing to pay to rebuild our Bo County militia. That is a good thing. But where does Young Master Hong intend to recruit men, and whom would you recommend as militia commander?"
County Vice Magistrate Tan Zheng asked.
If Hong Fan intended to make the entire gang that had wiped out Mo Family Village into Bo County's militia, the county authorities could never accept it!
Even if Mist Hidden Temple supplied all the money and provisions, as long as those men bore the name of the Bo County militia, they would effectively have the authorities' backing. Whatever trouble they caused in the future, Bo County would have to shoulder it for them.
How could that be acceptable?
Hong Fan stated his terms. "Since it is Bo County's militia, naturally most of the men will be recruited from the local populace. I do, however, know some rough men of the jianghu who are highly skilled and have chivalrous hearts and righteous courage. They are willing to defend the territory and protect its people, so when the time comes, I can recommend some of them to join the militia."
Hearing this, He Zhixu and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The militia system had come about because the imperial court lacked the means to maintain local order. It was a compromise born of necessity.
He Zhixu and the others naturally did not want a militia in Bo County, since that meant damage to the authority of officials like them.
But if you refused a militia, and bandits roamed your jurisdiction every day while people died everywhere, what could you do?
If you appealed to your superiors for help, they would tell you-the imperial court lacked the means to suppress the bandits, so organize a local militia to maintain order.
So when Hong Fan asked, "Without a militia, what will you do if bandits like Peng Tianlang come into the city to kill again?"
That was not merely a threat, but the cruelest reality!
Bo County needed a militia, or it would know no peace!
As long as most of the militiamen were locals from Bo County, He Zhixu and the others could accept it.
"As for the choice of militia commander..."
A smile appeared on Hong Fan's face once more. He suddenly pointed at Wu Shuangren.
"This Constable Wu is a young hero, a Bo County native with a spotless background. He also killed Peng Tianlang and possesses outstanding martial skill. Why not let him command the militia?"
The Position of Militia Commander
Wu Shuangren jerked his head up and looked at Hong Fan, his face full of surprise.
He was not the only one. Everyone else present was astonished too; none of them had expected Hong Fan to make such a recommendation.
No wonder he greeted me as soon as he arrived, then personally brought me a reward of a hundred taels of silver. Was he laying the groundwork for this moment?
Wu Shuangren was utterly taken aback.
"Young Master Hong, you jest. Whether in age, experience, martial skill, or prestige, I am not qualified to serve as militia commander."
He spoke at once.
Hong Fan laughed. "Come now, extraordinary people do extraordinary things. Constable Wu, there's no need to be modest! You killed Peng Tianlang at such a young age. With such martial skill and such an achievement, who in all of Bo County would refuse to accept you?"
For a moment, the looks He Zhixu, Tan Zheng, and Tang Jiusi gave Wu Shuangren all became subtle.
As long as Mist Hidden Temple was determined to promote Wu Shuangren, the matter was already halfway settled!
"Constable Wu is young and promising. If he could truly become the commander of Bo County's militia, that would be a good thing as well."
County Magistrate He Zhixu spoke suddenly.
"Indeed. If Constable Wu can join the militia, I support it too."
Even County Vice Magistrate Tan Zheng, who had been displeased at having Wu Shuangren seated at the same table as him, expressed his approval.
Tang Jiusi promptly agreed.
All at once, everyone approved of Wu Shuangren becoming the commander of Bo County's militia!
Hong Fan raised his cup with a smile. "Your lordships are wise. A toast to you all!"
And so they resumed exchanging toasts, and Wu Shuangren joined them for a few cups.
After that, they discussed no more serious business. The banquet continued until the hour of the pig, nine in the evening, before ending.
Household servants were already waiting outside the restaurant to escort the three officials, He Zhixu and the others, home.
Only Xu Jing left alone.
"Wu Shuangren."
He suddenly called out to Wu Shuangren before departing.
"Lord Xu."
Wu Shuangren looked at him.
Xu Jing looked him in the eye and said, word by word, "Take care how you conduct yourself."
Wu Shuangren was taken aback. Before he could respond, Xu Jing had already turned and left.
Liao Yu and Wu Dongrong, who had been waiting outside the restaurant all along, came over.
"Father, Uncle Liao."
"How did it go? Did they make things difficult for you?"
"Not only did they not make things difficult for me, they even want to give me an enormous benefit."
"Huh?"
Wu Shuangren told the two of them what had happened at the banquet that night.
"What is that Hong fellow up to? Why is he trying to win Shuangren over like this for no reason?"
Liao Yu looked baffled.
Wu Dongrong thought for a moment, then said gravely, "I'm afraid it's because making Shuangren the militia commander is the most suitable choice for him."
"Why?"
"Hong Fan wants to rebuild the militia. First of all, he can't possibly let someone from the Mo Family be its commander again. Second, it would be difficult to put an outsider in the position immediately; there would be too much resistance. So he's finding a suitable local to serve during the transition."
"I understand!"
Liao Yu slapped his thigh. "Shuangren is young and easy to win over. He also happens to have the reputation and credit for killing Peng Tianlang, which gives them a reason to put him forward as militia commander."
Wu Dongrong nodded. "And with us behind Shuangren, winning him over means winning over people like us. That way, Hong Fan can quickly gain a firm foothold in Bo County."
Threats of force alone could bring temporary gains.
But for a lasting enterprise, he still needed the support of people like Liao Yu and Wu Dongrong.
Putting Wu Shuangren in the position could win over a group of people while dividing Bo County's local forces, accomplishing several things at once.
"Shuangren, what do you think?"
Liao Yu looked at Wu Shuangren.
Wu Dongrong looked at him too.
Both of them now regarded him as an adult and wanted to hear his thoughts.
The position of militia commander was immensely tempting even to them, let alone a seventeen-year-old!
Wu Shuangren pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Wu Dongrong patted him. "You should think it over carefully. Come on, let's go home first."
A private room on the second floor of Moxian Tower.
After everyone else had left, Hong Fan sat alone in the room.
A short while later, a middle-aged man in a gray robe entered, bowing. "Young Master."
Without looking at the newcomer, Hong Fan poured himself a cup of wine. "At the banquet, I recommended Wu Shuangren for militia commander. He Zhixu and the others all agreed, just as you said they would."
The gray-robed man bent slightly at the waist. "Young Master raised the matter in front of Wu Shuangren. If those officials had opposed it to his face, they would have pushed Wu Shuangren to your side of their own accord and helped you win him over. Wu Shuangren is exceptional to begin with, and he has Constable Liao Yu and Jail Warden Wu Dongrong behind him. Those officials would not willingly push away a force like that."
Hong Fan picked up his cup and took a sip, then smiled. "Unfortunately for those old foxes, you still outmaneuvered them."
The invitation to Wu Shuangren to attend tonight's banquet, and all the subsequent efforts to win him over, had come from the gray-robed man.
Originally, the chances of putting Wu Shuangren in the position had been fifty-fifty. After tonight's banquet, it was all but certain.
The gray-robed man remained bowed. "I merely devise plans. To make them succeed, we must rely on you, Young Master."
Hong Fan laughed heartily and looked at him. "Si Congjian, I never noticed before, but you're quite a remarkable fellow."
Si Congjian laughed along with him. "You flatter me, Young Master."
Hong Fan said, "Once the Bo County militia is established, I'll put you in charge of all the illicit salt business here."
Delight appeared on Si Congjian's face, and he hurriedly gave his thanks.
Hong Fan said, "Do you think the Mo Family is truly frightened, or are they waiting for an opportunity to take revenge?"
Si Congjian said, "As long as you keep a firm grip on the militia from now on, Young Master, and as long as Mist Hidden Temple remains, the Mo Family will never dare do anything."
Hong Fan nodded in satisfaction.
"Any news from West River Market?"
He asked.
Si Congjian shook his head. "Not yet. Counting the days, it should be soon."
West River Market was a large market in Xi Province, next to Yi Province, and the place where Hong Fan intended to make his next move.
In his view, Bo County was already in his pocket, and he could begin considering his next move.
He spoke with Si Congjian about some more of his plans for the future.