Chapter 941 - 424: Before Every Great Battle, There Must Be a War of Words—Rich Rewards and a Commandery Princess’s Letter?

Chapter 941: Chapter 424: Before Every Great Battle, There Must Be a War of Words—Rich Rewards and a Commandery Princess’s Letter?

Jin Chang’s monthly salary is thirty taels of silver, a bowl of Essence Soup each day, and four qian of Essence Meat each month. Li Xian was promoted to Patroller, on duty for a month, and can receive two qian of Essence Meat. Once entering Evil Suppression Island for half a month, he can get five qian of Essence Meat. A total of seven qian of Essence Meat, yet to be obtained.

He brought this up. Deng Fan took the opportunity to help, passing through corridors in the building, ascending a staircase, reaching the third floor to a "Essence Treasure Hall." By presenting a Token and verifying identity, he could receive the seven qian of Essence Meat, all stored in the Heaven-Hiding Box.

The Gold Appraisal Guard is never short of Essence Treasure. The splendor of Jade City owes to the millions of water laborers below, transporting water to brew Essence Treasure. And the families of Jade City, martial halls, gangs, forces, all livelihood of martial practitioners, must pay the Essence Soup tax monthly.

The continuous supply of Essence Soup comes from this. Jade City has a unique method of preserving "Essence Soup" so it doesn’t spoil, nourishing the Thirty-Two True Guards. Even the Yamen Runners, Workshop Officers, and civil officials occasionally drink Essence Treasure.

As days pass, reaching the Martial Arts First Realm might not be unhopeful.

Deng Fan hurriedly walked by, introducing the building’s layout. On the east of the Red List Building, there are libraries, Document Storage, chess rooms, soup pools. To the west, there are rings, horse fields, knife sharpening rooms, secret rooms, martial shops... East literary, west martial, clearly distinct.

Further remarked, "Indeed, there’s one thing you must be reminded, Jin Chang’s expenses can be large."

Li Xian curiously inquired. Deng Fan said, "Jin Chang must be adept at both martial and scholarly skills, solving cases and catching thieves is just his duty, he must also have virtues of his own. If you have leisure time, you can learn horseback games, soccer, ball scuffs, mountain climbing, archery... various activities. Among the Thirty-Two True Guards, events are often held, martial comparison becomes dull, usually it’s horseback games, soccer, competing against each other. If you perform well, you can earn good rewards, gain notable reputation."

"The needed items must be bought at your own expense. This isn’t cheap, like the horse rod needed for horseback games, it costs dozens of taels at the least. If you seek custom making, it’s akin to an endless pit, comparable to the Treasure Sword in value."

"On the day of General Xu, the horse rod was silver-white, closely seen yet flickering black hues, have you seen it? This rod was extremely valuable, representing family capabilities, financial status and identity. Just imagine holding this rod, galloping in the horse field, how eye-catching. Even the courtesan, feared to be enchanted, secretly favoring General Xu."

Li Xian nodded and said, "That’s also true." But he thought, "I have no interest at all in these horseback games. Yet if managed well, it could be an opportunity for advancement. But now I’m short on funds, need to wait a bit. Still, Deng Fan reminded me, I should get a good bow!"

Thoughts rose continuously.

Archery is seen as "ritual art," Jade City also takes it seriously. But related contests occur less often than horseback games, soccer. Because whenever big shots in archery, it’s a grand event of Jade City, can’t be trifled with, if moved to the surface, must be solemn and serious.

Deng Fan later introduced the procedure for obtaining "major tasks." First, uncover the list, then seek civil officials for registration, then according to the list record, strive to complete. Free to act midway, if needed, can consult documents, access county jails, workshop prisons.

Once major tasks are completed, it’s written into document scrolls, presenting numerous details. If the case is clear and straightforward, obvious at a glance, then the major task is completed, earning task rewards. If unclear, or haphazard, or muddled parts exist.

One of the Thirty-Two True Guards, the "True Guardian," would then conduct inspections, tracking back, questioning duties. Deng Fan is ultimately not a college scholar, only provides the general framework, operating overview, seeing the late hour, he’s taking on several major tasks, having no leisure to accompany, hence saluted and left the Marquis shop. Numerous detailed essentials can only be realized by Li Xian himself.

It was mid-June. Li Xian’s Jin Chang position adjustment commences from July. This remaining half month, truly leisurely and relaxed, unsupervised. If willing, he can return to rest, early July, come again for duty.

Li Xian noticed the serene Red List Building, walking the corridor, listening to the sound of flipping books and checking registers. Civil officials’ work is tedious, the Gold Appraisal Guard rushes forward zealously, completing their duties swiftly, subsequent trivial matters, left entirely to civil officials.

Returning to the main hall. By then, all of Jin Chang had left, the hall was empty, only in the corner at the counter, civil officials and constables were busy. This is "Python Belly Hall," the hall spacious, detail of layout resembles a python belly, red gates open outward, seemingly like a python mouth choosing to devour people.

The Red List posted with numerous major task lists. Li Xian thought, "Though I’m not urgent, these lists are indeed the way to quickly learn about the Jin Chang position situation, since arrived here, and it’s leisure time, may as well have a look." Then scanned thoroughly, about a hundred major tasks. Ceaselessly thought, "If not serving as Jin Chang, I wouldn’t know, Jade City is so restless, but compared to outside the city, indeed the people of Jade City are much more stable."

Primary tasks are mostly investigation, tracing, guarding, seeking treasure... relatively safe and relaxed activities. The Gold Appraisal Guard has earth-shattering matters involving the city’s security, also tedious trivial matters concerning livelihood.

Just like one example: Tongji Square, Zhengping Street, Wang family, young daughter missing, over three days. Workshop Yamen, County Government Office searched without result, thus listed on the Red List. Tracing her whereabouts, earning one Red coin, military merit five points, silver five taels.

Another example: Yuanbao Square’s wealthy Zhao family, home theft, losing a rare jade bracelet, the thief fled, whereabouts unknown. Can visit for inquiry about subsequent details, striving for a solution. Note: Zhao family donates annually, this major task’s clue unclear, thief might be hard to pursue, soothing Zhao family’s mood is priority, catching the thief secondary. Earn one Red coin, military merit four points, silver ten taels.