Chapter 401: The Constable Captains Come Calling

Tap, tap!

A pair of refined, steady figures climbed the steps of the Caobang Hall and strode inside.

Faced with Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He of Six Gates, the people of the Caobang Hall did not dare step forward to stop them. Someone had already gone ahead to inform Chen Ergou and call him over to receive them.

“My two esteemed Constable Captains! To what do we owe the honor? Have you come to see our Hall Master?”

Chen Ergou knew the two Constable Captains were on good terms with the Hall Master, so he stepped forward with a broad smile and saluted them.

“There are a few matters we would like to discuss with your Hall Master.”

“Of course. Please wait here a moment, gentlemen.”

Chen Ergou ordered his men to serve tea while signaling for someone to go notify the Hall Master.

Wangchuan arrived very quickly.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, the two Constable Captains were both frowning deeply, as though they had run into no small matter.

Wangchuan stepped inside and called out,

“My lords!”

“I have failed to come out and welcome you in person. Please forgive me, please forgive me!”

Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He rose to their feet almost unconsciously and gave him a thorough look from head to toe.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, so you really have advanced to the Fourth Rank.”

“As expected of someone who went to the capital to study and cultivate.”

“You flatter me, my lords! I have only just returned, and after taking over the Hall, I still need to understand and reorganize the affairs of the Four Helms, Three Islands, and Seven Mines. In fact, I had been planning to wait a couple more days before paying a personal visit to thank the two of you for your guidance.”

Wangchuan brought the matter up again and expressed his gratitude once more.

“If not for the two of you, how could I possibly have taken control of Sanhe Commandery Hall so quickly?”

When Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He heard that, the expressions on their faces softened, and a few more smiles appeared.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, you are too courteous.”

“The fact that you were able to take charge of Sanhe Commandery is entirely due to your own ability.”

“That is right. Once you have some free time, the three of us should get together again,” Constable Captain He suggested.

Wangchuan agreed at once.

At that point, Constable Captain Yu glanced at him and got down to business.

“In Kuaiji County, Lushui County, and other places, the Beggar Sect has suffered attacks from unidentified martial artists. In a single day, more than a hundred and seventy people died! Hall Master Wangchuan... now that we are speaking behind closed doors, this would not happen to have anything to do with you, would it?”

“Of course it has nothing to do with me.”

Wangchuan rubbed his nose and said with a smile,

“I have only just arrived here. My first priority is to stabilize the whole operation of Sanhe Commandery Hall. Why would I go out of my way to make trouble for myself? That said, having the Beggar Sect’s strongholds swept clean does benefit my Caobang... Have the two of you found any leads?”

Although Wangchuan denied that he had done it, the slight hint in his tone was enough to make the two constable captains understand inwardly that the matter definitely had something to do with him.

“Yes.”

“A few of those martial artists managed to get away, but we still found some traces.”

Constable Captain Yu nodded and said,

“Still, Six Gates has never involved itself too deeply in disputes between Jianghu factions. We generally let the factions handle those matters themselves... In the end, the most that will come of this is that we put up a few maritime wanted notices. No one has the time or energy to track down people already on the run.”

“That is right.”

The two Constable Captains were giving him face. They had decided to turn a major matter into a minor one, wrap the case up carelessly, and issue a few maritime wanted notices. As for whether the portraits on them actually looked like people or ghosts, that was another matter entirely.

“My lords are truly wise.”

Wangchuan smiled broadly, then immediately offered two one-hundred-tael Gold Notes as he said,

“But given the Beggar Sect’s temperament, they will most likely suspect that it was my Caobang’s doing. If the Beggar Sect makes any targeted moves in the future, I hope the two of you will give me some warning and assistance.”

“That is only natural!”

“Caobang has made enormous contributions to Sanhe Commandery. The grand tournament last time was praised by the Prefect and by merchants from all over. They even said they hoped the Hall would hold another grand tournament next year and make things lively again.”

“That can be discussed.”

Wangchuan neither agreed immediately nor refused.

“Oh, right.”

“It seems Old Seven has gone to take up a post in Heitu Commandery.”

“I heard that Hall Master Yin joined forces with Old Seven, first brought Heitu Commandery Hall under control, then stabilized the situation there, and after that took down the Hall Master of Shenyu Commandery. Caobang and the Beggar Sect are fighting fiercely over there.”

The two constable captains were just as fond of gossip as anyone else, and they spoke of it with great enthusiasm.

Although Wangchuan had not received much gossip recently, he did know some of the inside story.

“I heard Jin Zhixian secretly defected to the Beggar Sect. Keeping that kind of man alive only disgraces Caobang. He ought to be sunk into the river and fed to the fish!”

“...Hall Master Wangchuan, your luck is rather good. Caobang’s attention is currently focused on Heitu Commandery and Shenyu Commandery. The people who died on this side in Sanhe Commandery were not of high rank, and the scale was not too great either... In the short term, there is no way to save what little is left. I would guess that before the end of the year, there will not be much happening here. As long as you manage this patch of land properly and keep things steady until next year, you should not have too many worries.”

Constable Captain Yu said this with a smile.

At that moment, Wangchuan suddenly remembered something and said,

“The Hall has just taken on a new assignment. It is a shipment of heavy goods from the Dongfang Family, and hidden among it is a Secret Consignment, a Blood Jade Coral with an insured value of five thousand taels of gold...”

“Would the two of you be interested in taking on a private job?”

The moment those words left his mouth, both Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He grew interested at once.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, your luck truly is good!”

“You have only just taken office and already received a Heavy Consignment. That is an excellent omen of unbroken success! Congratulations!”

“Indeed!”

“Since Hall Master Wangchuan is inviting us, we might as well tag along and earn a little extra. In any case, we will be heading to the capital around the end of the year to hand over some case files to our superiors.”

The two Constable Captains agreed.

“Then it is settled!”

Wangchuan smiled at once when he heard that.

Although the two Constable Captains were still only Third-Rank Martial Artists, they were both at the peak of the Third Rank, and their experience was extensive. Either one of them could hold his own against an ordinary Fourth-Rank Martial Artist.

Once both sides had agreed on the timing, Wangchuan personally escorted them out of the Hall. Then he turned around and summoned Zhao Heiniu.

“For this trip to the capital, you will personally lead the escort. Lin Jiahe, Yang Feiyue, and Wang Yuehui will assist you from the side. In addition, I have invited Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He, and I will give you another hundred and eighty elite men. You must see to it that the Dongfang Family’s fleet and the Secret Consignment are delivered safely to the capital!”

“This subordinate obeys!”

Wangchuan did not mention that he had also arranged a mysterious guard for this escort mission: Bai Jingtang.

For this Heavy Consignment, he had already promised out three hundred taels of gold and a Niche Cultivation Method as payment, all to ensure that the first major deal after he took office would be completed smoothly and safely.

“For this mission, besides delivering the cargo, you are to purchase a batch of supplies from the Treasure Pavilion in the capital on your return trip and bring them back!”

Wangchuan handed Zhao Heiniu a list and a stack of Gold Notes.

Zhao Heiniu’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he carefully tucked them away against his body.

“This subordinate understands.”

“You must be extremely careful on the road!”

Once both sides had finished coordinating, the Dongfang Family’s cargo ships, under the protection of Caobang’s escort force, cut through the wind and waves and left the main dock in imposing formation.

Wangchuan stood in the dock plaza of the main helm and watched as the fleet sailed farther and farther away.

This was the first time Captain Zhao Heiniu had led a mission in the capacity of a deputy hall master, and it was no less than a long-distance escort run to and from the capital.

Although there were Caobang docks and halls all along the route to support them, and although he had already put many precautions in place, Wangchuan still could not help feeling a trace of concern.

After all, this voyage would pass through the waters of Heitu Commandery and Shenyu Commandery.