Infinite Professions

Chapter 359 - 188: Advancement (Part 2)

But soon they reacted, Song Wu snorted coldly and brushed off his hand: "We really can’t afford this!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Song Ying agreed swiftly: "The Magistrate is overwhelmed with work, my brother and I are nothing but country bumpkins, how could we deserve to meet him, we mustn’t go, we mustn’t go!"

"Two righteous heroes, it’s all my fault, a thousand times my fault!"

The Archivist, seeing this, could only resign himself and slapped his own face: "It’s my fault, it was me who looked down on you, offended you two righteous heroes, I’m despicable, I deserve to die..."

A very earnest performance.

Song Wu and Song Ying saw this and decided not to press on: "Alright, alright, my brother and I can’t afford this from you, please lead the way, don’t keep the Magistrate waiting for long."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The Archivist nodded repeatedly, then stood up, calling to the government officials: "Why aren’t you hurrying to lead these two righteous heroes to bathe and change?"

...

Soon after, the two, who had bathed and changed into new clothes, were led to a study.

Inside the study, there was already a man, a middle-aged official wearing a red robe.

He was precisely the Magistrate of Jinyang Prefecture!

The Magistrate, also known as the Prefectural Judge, is an assistant official to the Prefect along with the Deputy Governor, one in civil and the other in military affairs, of Standard Sixth Grade, handling military and civilian matters, finances, household registration, assignments, legal cases, theft suppression, and bandit extermination, equivalent to a Military Judge in the mortal realm.

"Greetings, Magistrate!"

Song Wu and Song Ying entered the study and immediately bowed upon seeing the man.

"Please rise, please rise!"

The Magistrate did not put on airs, instead, he quickly stepped forward to help them up, then seeing their injuries, he displayed an angry visage: "That Qian Peng dared use private punishment, wounding you two esteemed nephews to such a state, truly ruthless, disregarding the law entirely, I will surely deal with him severely."

"..."

"..."

Seeing him act like this, the two were momentarily speechless, their expressions somewhat peculiar.

What is happening here?

After just one night, such a change, not only meeting them but also calling them nephews so affectionately.

Could it be father showed a divine manifestation, frightening the Magistrate, or was there some connection made?

The two were puzzled but did not inquire further, going along with the flow and standing up.

More confusion also brewed within the Magistrate’s heart.

"The Song Family were just mere country folk, only one scholar in so many years, holding merely a Junior Eighth Grade position as County Instructor, how could they make the Civil Judge personally mediate for them?"

"Could it be..."

A surge of confusion filled the Magistrate’s heart.

Due to reporting above his rank, he held some displeasure towards the Song Family, and had reached a consensus with the Deputy Governor of Jinyang Prefecture not to grant any official rewards, only to pass them off with silver coins, even considering a warning to make them hold back.

Yet unexpectedly, last night, a Divine Being entered his dream, it was none other than Lu Ji, the Civil Judge of Jinyang Prefecture, Divine Official Lu.

Although in the mortal realm, both he and the Deputy Governor were officials, one Magistrate and one Deputy, both assisting the Prefect of Jinyang in civil and military matters, in terms of rank somewhat on par with Lu Ji, the Civil Judge in the Underworld, but Divine Beings are different, the mortal realm ranking cannot be generalized with that of the Underworld.

Even if someone held wealth and status in the mortal realm, they may transform into Yin Spirits after death, but this transformation inevitably comes at a cost, one cannot expect to be an Emperor in the Underworld as they were in the mortal realm, their rank will shrink by at least half, dropping by five or six grades is common.

Therefore, even though they were Fifth or Sixth Grade Deputy Governor and Magistrate in the mortal realm, upon death and entering the Underworld, they could at most become some Seventh or Eighth Grade minor god, if unlucky, perhaps merely a Ninth Grade small official.

By comparison, Lu Ji, a Standard Fifth Grade Civil Judge of Jinyang Prefecture, possessed far more significant authority in both the Underworld and mortal realm.

Last night he entered the dream to mediate for the Song Family, even alarming the Prefect of Jinyang, urgently summoning him and the Deputy to question them, simultaneously freeing the Song brothers from prison.

Such is the power of Divine Beings.

How did the Song Family establish relations with the Civil Judge Lu?

The Magistrate didn’t know, but one thing he was certain of.

That was, the Song Family had found a patron, a very significant one.

With this patron, plus the merit for killing the leader of the Five Immortals Gang, and the unfair treatment they received last night, should Jinyang Prefecture wish to placate the situation, they must show some sincerity.

"You two esteemed nephews, being so young yet possessing such martial prowess, even being able to subdue the villains of the Five Immortals Gang, are truly remarkable talents, would you be willing to serve the Court?"

The Magistrate looked at the two, directly expressing his stance.

Song Wu and Song Ying exchanged a glance, then stood up and responded: "To be honest with you, sir, my brother and I strengthened our bodies through martial arts precisely to serve the court, to protect the territory and its people."

"Good, good, good!"

The Magistrate nodded: "Your family resides in Qinghe County, there happens to be a vacancy for a County Captain, I can ensure one of you assumes the position, as for the other, you could take the role of an Imperial Martial Captain as an assistant, how about that?"

Such words carried a hint of anxiousness.

The County Captain, a Standard Eighth Grade position, serves as a civil and military assistant official with the County Magistrate, overseeing legal cases, theft suppression, bandit extermination, tax collection, etc., holding significant local military authority.

Moreover, the County Captain possesses the power to command troops, even though they are local militias, county government officials, they receive rations and pay, and they can be equipped with archers, their deterrent power in rural areas needs no mentioning.

As for the Imperial Martial Captain, it is a Junior Eighth Grade unassigned scattered official position, but can also be an assistant to the County Captain, leading constables and government officers, or going to the countryside for theft suppression, also holding significant authority.

Offering such terms already displayed great sincerity, after all, the Prefect could only appoint positions below the Seventh Grade, positions seventh grade and above, like that of a County Magistrate, needed to be reported to the Court for decision by the Ministry of Personnel before finalizing.

Song Wu and Song Ying possessed neither achievements nor background, even if recommended by Jinyang Prefecture, the Ministry of Personnel was unlikely to pass it.

Therefore, the County Captain was already the best possible condition they could strive for.

Song Wu and Song Ying understood the weight of this offer, immediately bowing to the Magistrate: "Thank you for your nurturing, sir."

"Good, good, good!"

Seeing they didn’t overstep bounds, the Magistrate was relieved and promptly assured the arrangement: "I will have someone draft the documents at once, a copy will be delivered to Qinghe County, and one for you to personally carry, to assume your position upon return."

"Thank you for your nurturing, sir!"

"..."

Half an hour later, Song Wu and Song Ying, holding the appointment letters, left the Jinyang Prefecture Government Office with gratification.

Inside the study, after sending the two off, the Magistrate of Jinyang Prefecture stood with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed, his expression gloomy.

At this moment, footsteps echoed once more, and a middle-aged official, also clad in a red robe, walked into the room, it was the Deputy Governor of Jinyang Prefecture.

"Were they handled?"

The Deputy Governor stepped in and directly inquired upon seeing his expression.

"Handled!"

The Magistrate sighed: "Gave a position of a Qinghe County Captain and an Imperial Martial Captain."

"The Qinghe County Captain!"

The Deputy Governor murmured, then turned his eyes outward: "The one previously destined for the Zhang Family?"

"Yes!"

The Magistrate nodded: "This Song Family had a connection with Divine Official Lu, yet initially didn’t make it known, causing such a disruption, nearly resulting in a difficult resolution."

"Ha!"

The Deputy Governor let out a cold chuckle: "They did this intentionally."

"Oh?"

The Magistrate’s eyes sharpened: "What do you mean?"

"If they hadn’t caused a commotion, making us morally at fault first, how could they have seized the position of the Qinghe County Captain?"

The Deputy Governor remarked coldly: "Feigning ignorance to deceive, killing the chicken to scare the monkeys, they not only aimed to secure the position of the Qinghe County Captain but also to demonstrate to us their powerful backing, discouraging us from troubling them in the future, behind the Song Family... there is indeed a master strategist!"

"A master strategist?"

The Magistrate’s brows knitted tightly: "Did they cross the county and enter the prefecture precisely for this purpose?"

"Indeed."

The Deputy Governor nodded slightly, casting his gaze outward, with a deep sigh: "Looks like another formidable tiger will soon rest under my Jinyang Prefecture!"

"Ambitious, by any means necessary!"

The Magistrate also glanced outward, worry flickering in his eyes: "If such a tiger were to arise, it might not bode well."

"Whether good or bad, what can we do about it?"

The Deputy Governor’s expression remained unchanged: "Let it be, if the sky falls, it’s not us who have to hold it up."

Magistrate: "..."

Let’s not talk about matters in the mortal world for now.

In the Underworld, within the Prefecture Government Office, before the main hall.

"Song Xiang, the Village Land God of Little Huang Village, for governing the people meritoriously, approved by both heaven and man, is now promoted to Little Yellow Mountain God, conferred the Nine-Grade Mountain God Seal!"