Incorruptible Official 06

The assassin trembled: "Brothers, I think I took a wrong turn. Believe me?"

Shen Xun, who had been invited over, stared at the assassin beaten to a pulp and fell into deep thought.

Following his master's orders, Wang Jia seized the moment to extend an invitation: "Though Qingping County is poor, it's much more peaceful. If Master Shen doesn’t mind, you’re welcome to settle here."

Shen Xun looked at Wang Jia, his interest piqued by the man standing behind him.

Wang Jia cheerfully escorted the two men hauling the assassin back to Qingping County, leaving the burly helpers to assist Shen Xun with moving.

However, upon returning, Wang Jia suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Qingping County seemed to have changed quite a bit. Though it had always been well-governed, it was still a poor county. But now, after just one trip away, the streets were bustling with more vendors and traveling merchants.

New shops had even sprung up, and people chatted and laughed freely.

When he finally found Fang Zhiyi, he froze—Qin Li was here too?

Qin Li spotted him and greeted him with a grin before hurrying off to train the troops. Fang Zhiyi, however, casually slung an arm over Wang Jia’s shoulder. "How’d it go?"

Wang Jia snapped out of his daze. "Done. The criminal’s been brought back."

Fang Zhiyi glanced at the disheveled assassin behind him and smirked.

"Next, I need you to go to Dongchang Prefecture..." Fang Zhiyi had no choice. He was swamped—Qingping County was just entering its development phase, and there were too many matters requiring his attention. Moreover, he feared that if he left, the Panlong Bandits might seize the opportunity to attack.

Wang Jia had already resigned himself to fate and simply nodded.

The disfigured artisan in Dongchang, the wealthy Squire Zhou in Xiping, the renowned physician Qian in the southeast...

Wang Jia was in awe of his magistrate. How had he known about the criminals’ plans?

For Fang Zhiyi, it was simple. The people in this world weren’t particularly cunning. By warning them to avoid disaster, they naturally felt indebted to him. The Panlong Bandits might pose as noble outlaws, but their methods were despicable—they’d stop at nothing to expand their influence. Fang Zhiyi was merely competing with them for talent. With a clear comparison, these skilled individuals would choose their own path.

As for those holding official positions, it was even easier.

"My father is Fang Huatian!"

Armed with just those five words in a letter, Wang Jia could traverse these regions unhindered. Anyone with half a brain knew about Fang Zhiyi’s reputation as a spoiled official’s son—and his powerful father. Who would dare refuse him?

Thus, men like Qin Li came seeking refuge.

Fang Zhiyi’s approach was straightforward: he showed them around the transforming Qingping County, painted grand visions of the future, and treated them with warmth and respect. Those who came to thank him could hardly resist his invitations.

Of course, Fang Zhiyi’s methods weren’t without issues. Despite Fang Huatian’s interference, the emperor still received memorials denouncing Qingping County Magistrate Fang Zhiyi. Fortunately, the emperor was too preoccupied with his pleasures and simply waved the matter off, leaving it to Fang Huatian to handle.

Though Fang Huatian didn’t fully grasp what his son was up to, the earnest tone in his letters convinced him to cover for the young man, assuming he’d finally come to his senses and was striving to make a name for himself.

Meanwhile, the Panlong Bandits were growing uneasy. Strategist Xue Qi’s plans kept hitting snags. The men they sent out not only failed to recruit new members but even ended up dead or captured.

Xue Qi wasn’t a fool. He immediately dispatched spies to investigate, and soon, he uncovered the pattern—every talent they’d targeted had ended up in Qingping County. It didn’t take long for him to recall Song Yunfan’s mention of the Qingping County magistrate.

Xue Qi had a sinking feeling—this man would be their adversary. He ordered their informants in Qingping County to dig deeper.

But then, trouble erupted within the bandit stronghold.

As a sizable bandit faction, internal factions and friction were inevitable. Under the iron rule of leaders like Xiaotian Hu, conflicts had always been kept in check.

This time, however, was different. First, Li Fei, brother of the aquatic specialist Li Jin, had a heated argument with infantry leader Zhang Dakui, nearly coming to blows. That very night, Li Fei was found decapitated.

Li Jin exploded with rage, rallying his men to clash with Zhang Dakui. Fortunately, Song Yunfan arrived in time to prevent further bloodshed. Xiaotian Hu publicly rebuked Li Jin for doubting his comrades and stripped him of his position. Furious, Li Jin packed his bags and prepared to leave the mountain.

Song Yunfan, ever the smooth talker, sought Li Jin out in private. His "heartfelt" words moved Li Jin to tears, and the latter promptly knelt and swore brotherhood to him.

No sooner had this crisis passed than trouble flared up again—this time at an outpost on the bandits’ periphery. Two co-leaders quarreled over uneven spoils, and one killed the other before fleeing with a handful of men.

Xiaotian Hu was at his wits’ end. Why had the mountain fortress become so restless lately? Plans were failing, income was dwindling, and now brothers were turning on each other? Whispers spread through the ranks, and morale plummeted.

It was then that a Daoist priest arrived at the mountain. Xiaotian Hu, assuming he was just a wandering ascetic, prepared to send him off with some silver—bandits or not, they still showed some respect to monks and priests.

But after accepting the money, the Daoist left Xiaotian Hu with a cryptic warning:

"This humble priest has read the heavens. A calamitous star looms over you, and the road ahead is dark. Great Leader, you must be on your guard."

With that, the Daoist departed, leaving Xiaotian Hu stunned. The recent rumors flashed through his mind, and his frown deepened.

Soon after, news arrived—one of their hideouts for fencing stolen goods had been raided by government troops.

Xiaotian Hu slammed the table, ready to curse, when Xue Qi and Song Yunfan hurried in. The moment he saw Song Yunfan, Xiaotian Hu’s face darkened.

Come to think of it, ever since this man’s return, the stronghold had been anything but peaceful. There were even whispers that Song Yunfan was secretly rallying other leaders to break away and form his own faction.

As Xiaotian Hu studied Song Yunfan’s face, suspicion festered in his heart.

Back in Qingping County, Fang Zhiyi welcomed another wave of defecting bandits. Wang Jia stood dejected—he should never have bet against his magistrate. Now his month’s salary was gone.

He couldn’t fathom why his master was provoking the Panlong Bandits. They were a formidable bunch—wasn’t he afraid of getting burned?

What Wang Jia didn’t know was that when it came to schemes, ten Xue Qis were no match for Fang Zhiyi. He’d faced far more cunning opponents in the past. And besides, he held the script.

First, he snatched up talent before the bandits could. Then, he flaunted his father’s name to extract resources from neighboring regions—little by little, just enough that no one dared refuse. Alongside developing Qingping County, he spent freely.

Sure, some bandit leaders might have joined for brotherhood, but what about the rank and file? Could loyalty fill their bellies?