Chapter Twenty: The Village Pavilion

As for showing deference to the county constable, how to handle Wang Zhenling afterward was an entirely different matter!

With Wang Hu quietly guiding him, Wang Zhenling conducted himself with courtesy and greeted everyone in the township pavilion.

From the township bailiff down to the patrolmen, they all treated Wang Zhenling with a fair amount of respect.

If not for his own sake, then at least for the sake of his family—after all, Wang Zhenling was a scion of the Wang clan!

The Wang family had maintained its lineage in Danling for centuries, with one or two thousand members and influence stretching throughout and beyond Danling. Even the magistrate had to show them respect, let alone the people in this township pavilion.

Yet Wang Zhenling soon noticed that the township bailiff seemed less than welcoming, his politeness concealing a touch of coldness.

Wang Hu leaned in and whispered, “Thirteenth Young Master, this bailiff is from the Lu family. The previous constable was one of his men...”

Enlightenment dawned on Wang Zhenling; he now understood the bailiff’s attitude.

The Lu family was another powerful clan in Wanling, its prestige rivaling that of the Wangs. There were five or six such families in Danling, all interconnected by marriage, their roots entangled in a complex web.

For instance, Wang Zhenling and this bailiff could probably trace some distant kinship between them...

Unfortunately, these great families were far from harmonious, for a simple reason.

Wanling was only so big; the pie could only be divided so many ways. The more one family took, the less there was for the others. Friction was inevitable.

Now, by taking the position of constable, Wang Zhenling had essentially snatched the meat from the Lu family’s table.

No wonder the bailiff’s face was so sour!

But did Wang Zhenling care?

Not in the slightest!

He had no real intention of being an official—his ambition lay in the extraordinary powers wielded by officials, not in the office itself.

The carriage that had brought Wang Zhenling was sent back. The bailiff and the three elders exchanged a few lukewarm pleasantries with him before dispersing to their official duties.

Only the township patrolmen under the constable’s command followed Wang Zhenling to the administrative courtyard, presenting him with various documents and record books.

They turned over all the affairs and authority of the previous constable to Wang Zhenling.

All of this was managed by a clerk named Zhu He, who was quite capable and efficient, explaining each matter to Wang Zhenling in detail, including what had been completed and what had not.

At last, Zhu He said, “Sir, as constable you are responsible for the security of the township. In addition to the ten patrolmen here, you can, when necessary, call upon the able-bodied men among the local populace to assist…”

Wang Zhenling nodded slightly; he remembered that when he had helped Zhen Yunzi escape, they had been ambushed by a group of such strong villagers.

Fortunately, Zhen Yunzi was highly skilled and ruthless, killing all those villagers on the spot.

Had it been someone else, they might have been overwhelmed and bound by that mob.

Thus, these able-bodied villagers represented a formidable force for maintaining order.

“By the way, I heard that last time some followers of Cheng Tiandao injured several of these men. What became of that?” Wang Zhenling asked.

“This matter was to be handled by the new constable. Those followers of Cheng Tiandao were truly despicable, injuring seven or eight of our people.

These men were obeying government orders in attacking those cultists. By rights, the government should compensate their families.

But with the misfortune that befell the previous constable, the matter was delayed…”

“Such matters must not be delayed,” said Wang Zhenling. “Both sentiment and propriety demand that the government compensate them promptly and generously, so the people will not fear danger and will continue to serve the authorities.”

In the past, Wang Zhenling might have resented this kind of power.

But now, the more power he held, the better.

Who could have foreseen such a swift reversal of fortune? Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years west—the tides of fate turn quickly.

Once, Wang Zhenling had been the hunted; now, he was the one commanding these forces!

A flash of contempt flickered in Zhu He’s eyes. As a confidant of the former constable and the bailiff’s man, he naturally viewed Wang Zhenling, the new appointee, with hostility.

His cooperation thus far was merely a prelude to setting traps for Wang Zhenling.

Now, hearing Wang Zhenling speak grandly, he replied respectfully, “As you say, Sir. However, such compensation can only be authorized by the county court. We in the township have no authority.”

By standard procedure, Wang Zhenling would have to submit his report to the township bailiff, who would then petition the county court.

This would force Wang Zhenling to go through the bailiff, giving him an opportunity to keep the new constable in check and teach him a lesson if needed.

Of course, if Wang Zhenling yielded in the future, things would go smoothly; if not, there were countless subtle ways to make him suffer until he begged for mercy.

Wang Zhenling sneered inwardly; he saw through the man’s outward honesty and inner cunning at a glance. “I will, of course, submit my petition directly to the county constable. You need not concern yourself with this.”

“This…” Zhu He was taken aback. “I’m not sure that’s appropriate…”

By the book, it was certainly not proper.

But where people are involved, such procedures become highly flexible.

In another place, failing to report to the magistrate and instead going directly to the county constable might have incurred the magistrate’s wrath.

However, everyone in Danling knew that the newly appointed county constable had impressive backing—he was here for a gilded tenure.

And Wang Zhenling was the constable’s chosen subordinate; it was reasonable for him to report directly.

“Well, is there anything inappropriate? Or do you intend to resolve it yourself?”

Zhu He dared not protest further.

Otherwise, Wang Zhenling could simply hand the whole affair to him, leaving him with a thankless task.

Failing to ensnare Wang Zhenling, Zhu He was discontented. His eyes darted as he quickly plotted his next move.

“In addition to the patrolmen, there are ten ghost soldiers in the pavilion. Three perished in the last battle, but fortunately the county has already sent replacements.”

Ten ghost soldiers—this was no trivial force.

Previously, these ten ghost soldiers had pursued Wang Zhenling and Zhen Yunzi relentlessly.

One must know, the lowest standard for a ghost soldier was a fierce ghost!

This was a truly formidable force, the one Wang Zhenling was most eager to command since taking office.

Without delay, Wang Zhenling communed with his official seal, preparing to summon the ghost soldiers.

In this world, Confucian scholars, though lacking magical cultivation, were learned and clear-minded, their souls robust. With the official seal as a medium, they could sense the authority and mandate of the government, wielding powers akin to divine magic.

At this moment, as Wang Zhenling gripped the seal, he seemed to sense within it a vague and subtle space.

With a single thought, a howling wind arose—like a whirlwind—manifesting three ghosts wreathed in resentment.

Though it was broad daylight, the ghosts’ arrival brought a chilling gale.