Volume Two: Lords Through Generations Chapter 45: Entering the County Office

Wei Fufeng didn’t wait for Yang Shoubo to speak but hurriedly bowed with utmost respect: “Honored Governor, I can read and write and wish to serve under your command. I beg you to grant me a humble official position.”

Yang Shoubo paused in mild surprise, then smiled. “You’re a bold child. Since you wish to serve, you can be a yamen bailiff.”

“Thank you for your generosity, my lord.” Wei Fufeng feigned delighted gratitude, bowing deeply.

“Very well. Someone, bring a seat for Lord Wei,” Yang Shoubo instructed.

A maidservant brought a bamboo chair. Wei Xuan offered his thanks and sat; Wei Fufeng stood respectfully behind him to the left.

Yang Shoubo asked, “Lord Wei, how are things in Shangzhou?”

Wei Xuan replied respectfully, “My lord, Shangzhou has been seized by Han Jian, who is conscripting heavily and expanding his forces. My father is deeply troubled by this.”

“In my view, Chang’an is still the best place. Jinzhou is not suited for men of hidden talent,” Yang Shoubo said coolly.

“Chang’an is indeed a fine place, but my father believes it is too prominent and rarely peaceful,” Wei Xuan replied.

“Jinzhou is even more plagued by bandits and unrest,” Yang Shoubo remarked with indifference.

Wei Xuan was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to discern why Yang Shoubo continued to make things difficult for him with such pointed remarks.

Wei Fufeng stepped in respectfully. “My lord, my grandfather will not come to Jinzhou. If we cannot remain in Shangzhou, he can only retire to Chang’an. His wish is for my father to establish his own household.”

Wei Xuan, suddenly understanding, nodded. “Yes, yes, my father will not come to Jinzhou.”

Yang Shoubo smiled lightly. “Lord Wei, you have come from afar and must be weary. Rest for now and assume office tomorrow.”

Wei Xuan rose, saluted respectfully, and departed the western garden with Wei Fufeng.

Once outside, Wei Xuan let out a relieved sigh, his body visibly trembling. Wei Fufeng quickly supported him.

“Father, are you all right?” Wei Fufeng asked with concern.

Wei Xuan waved his hand. “I’m fine. It’s enough that we passed this hurdle.”

“Let’s go rest at the inn,” Wei Fufeng said softly, supporting his father as they joined their ten strong escorts and found a tavern to rest.

...

The next morning, Wei Fufeng reported to the prefectural office early, bribed the registrar with twenty taels of silver, and secured the post of yamen bailiff, receiving a set of black military attire.

The position of yamen bailiff was that of a petty clerk—not a true official rank. To put it kindly, it was a clerk’s role; unkindly, it was a mere errand-runner.

By mid-morning, Wei Fufeng returned to the inn and then accompanied his father to the county office in the eastern city to assume his new post.

The county office in the western city was quite grand, with orderly steps, high walls, and sweeping eaves, covering a considerable area. However, it was not the largest building in the district—the Western City Duke’s Manor held that honor.

At the entrance stood four constables in black uniforms, each wielding a water-and-fire staff. They were burly and intimidating, glowering at Wei Fufeng and his father as if they were wolves eyeing prey.

Upon learning this was the new county assistant, their expressions softened immediately. Even if the county assistant was but a figurehead, no constable wished to invite trouble. Those who lasted in public office were adept at reading the wind.

They were ushered smoothly inside and led to the secondary hall to meet the magistrate.

Inside the hall, there was quite a crowd: three men in blue official robes and four yamen guards clad in leather armor with long sabers at their waists.

The guards, also called prison wardens, were part of the county’s military strength. Constables handled cases, tax collection, and corvée; the wardens were the county’s only armed force. Western City had wardens but no gate soldiers—the latter were under the direct command of the prefect.

Wei Xuan stopped before a seated official, saluted respectfully, and said, “Your humble servant Wei Xuan greets the county magistrate.”

The official, about forty, with a goatee and a square face, looked at Wei Xuan impassively. “The new county assistant? Have you met the prefect?”

“Yes, I have,” Wei Xuan replied respectfully, raising his hand as his son had advised.

Wei Fufeng stepped forward with a gift box and bowed. “My lord, a small token from my father.”

The magistrate took the box, feeling its weight, his expression shifting slightly. He set it naturally on his lap and said blandly, “Since you have met the prefect, we are now colleagues.”

“Yes, I am at your command,” Wei Xuan replied with deference.

“Good. Allow me to introduce you. This is Left County Captain Li Yun,” the magistrate said, gesturing.

Left Captain Li Yun was a burly man with a fierce, fleshy face.

Wei Xuan smiled and saluted. “Greetings, Lord Li.”

Li Yun nodded arrogantly without a word.

Wei Xuan forced a smile, listening as the magistrate continued, “This is Registrar Chang Shan.”

Registrar Chang Shan was a refined-looking middle-aged man who responded to Wei Xuan’s greeting with a friendly bow and smile.

“And Right County Captain Zhou Xiong is away on official business,” the magistrate added.

Wei Xuan nodded. The magistrate continued, “I am Magistrate Yang Fuzhi.”

Wei Xuan saluted again, signaling his respect.

The magistrate turned to Chang Shan. “Registrar Chang, take County Assistant Wei to complete the handover of the official seal.”

Chang Shan responded respectfully and invited Wei Xuan to follow, with Wei Fufeng trailing behind as they left the hall.

After the Wei father and son departed, Left Captain Li Yun rose and said, “My lord, the Wei clan’s arrival in Jinzhou bodes ill.”

“You are worrying too much. This is merely a collateral branch of the Wei family. They came to Jinzhou because they had nowhere else to go in Shangzhou,” the magistrate replied calmly.

“My lord, you must not be careless. He brought twenty retainers and is skilled at currying favor and networking. If allowed to gain a foothold, he might become unmanageable,” Li Yun warned.

The magistrate’s face darkened. “You’re unnerved by twenty retainers? Is that worth your anxiety?”

“My lord, Jinzhou is Duke’s Manor territory—we must not let the Wei clan in,” Li Yun said earnestly, though with his menacing face, it seemed almost like a threat.

“What do you suggest, then? Kill them?” the magistrate retorted irritably.

“My lord, I could arrest one for interrogation, just as a precaution,” Li Yun said, softening his tone.

“You’d do better to stay quiet. What secrets could a retainer know? If Yang Shoubo learns we’re moving against Wei Xuan, he’ll fear for himself, and then the Duke’s Manor might appease him by sacrificing you,” the magistrate said coldly.

Li Yun frowned, and the magistrate continued: “So long as Privy Envoy Yang Fugong remains in power, the Duke’s Manor wants peace. If Yang Fugong’s attention turns to Jinzhou, we could all lose our offices.”

Li Yun nodded. “You are right, my lord.”

The magistrate smiled faintly. “Your caution is not misplaced. Keep a discreet watch.”

Li Yun bowed and left. The magistrate dismissed the guards, opened the gift box, and upon seeing the gleam of gold ingots, his eyes lit up. After gazing at them for a while, he closed the box, looked toward the doorway, and murmured, “A plump lamb is a good thing, though a bit foolish—can’t even pick the right time to give a gift.” Shaking his head, he took the box and went into his private quarters.

...

With his father installed as county assistant, Wei Fufeng obtained the official seal and a set of blue official robes, and toured the clerks’ office.

During this, Registrar Chang discreetly hinted that Wei Xuan need not appear at the county office daily—the implication being that his presence was unnecessary and even an eyesore.

Wei Fufeng accompanied his father out of the office, and after returning to the inn, he went alone to see the prefectural registrar again.

The registrar, Qian Sheng, was newly appointed by the prefect, responsible for daily personnel matters at the prefecture.

Seeing Wei Fufeng again, and having already benefited from his generosity, Qian Sheng smiled. “What brings you here now?”

“My lord, when I returned, I realized I’d forgotten to arrange for our guards. My father has come from Shangzhou to take up his post in Jinzhou, and my grandfather sent twenty strong men to escort us. Now that we’re in an unfamiliar place, my father wishes to keep them, but we lack a proper reason for their continued presence. So I’ve come to ask if you might enroll them as militia.”

Qian Sheng nodded, considered, and said, “Since you’re a yamen bailiff, it’s acceptable for you to have twenty militiamen under your command. I’ll issue you twenty spears.”

“Thank you, my lord. I have another request: now that my father has safely assumed office, I wish to take the militia back to Shangzhou in a few days, first to reassure my grandfather, and then to bring my mother here to settle in Jinzhou.”

Qian Sheng nodded without hesitation. “Granted, you may go.”

“I beg you to issue a travel permit for official business outside the city,” Wei Fufeng said, stating at length what he truly wanted: a military pass for the city gates.

Qian Sheng, not thinking much of it, wrote a permit for twenty militia to pass the gates and another for military supplies, stamping them both before handing them over.

Wei Fufeng thanked him, gathered his twenty men, and went to the military depot to collect spears and hemp uniforms. In an instant, the twenty strong men were transformed into Jinzhou’s militia.

...

Wei Xuan sat idly in the inn’s courtyard, sipping restorative Jinzhou tea. As he savored it, he saw a troop of armed soldiers entering, choked on his tea in surprise, and stood up in alarm, not knowing what his son had done.

“My lord,” the soldiers saluted respectfully.

Wei Xuan finally recognized the men as their own escorts. “You all...?”

“Go rest,” Wei Fufeng’s voice called out. The soldiers acknowledged and withdrew to the side rooms, while Wei Fufeng and his father occupied the main quarters.

“Father, I’m back,” Wei Fufeng said casually.

Relieved, Wei Xuan gazed speechlessly at his son, feeling both bitterness and satisfaction.

Then his son handed him a book chest with a smile. “Father, I bought these along the way—records about Jinzhou.”

Wei Xuan softly accepted it. He loved reading above all, and his son’s thoughtfulness amid his busy errands warmed his heart.

...

In the county office, Left Captain Li Yun, with his fierce, fleshy face, sat arrogantly on a high stool. His ancestors had served at the Western City Duke’s Manor—descendants of a remote collateral branch of the imperial Li clan.

Magistrate Yang Fuzhi, by contrast, was the nephew of the Duke’s old steward. Though born of a servant’s family, he was more valued by the Duke’s Manor than Li Yun.

In private, Li Yun looked down on Yang Fuzhi, and Yang Fuzhi disliked Li Yun—the two were, in truth, rivals for power.

A warden hurried in and reported, “My lord, the matter you ordered cannot be carried out. Those outsiders have all become militia. We can’t touch them.”

“What?” Li Yun barked, eyes wide. The warden explained further.

Li Yun’s face darkened. After a moment’s thought, he ordered, “Keep watching them. Report any suspicious activity at once.”

The warden acknowledged and left swiftly.