RPAGF Chapter 129 Inspecting the Escort Agency
Chapter 129 Inspecting the Escort Agency
Leaving aside Xie Wenyu's astonishment, let's talk about Li Chong.
After rushing out the door, he did not leave the government office immediately, but instead went to check some information in each room.
Having made up his mind, Li Chong, accompanied by several constables as guards, headed towards the escort agency.
The bustling atmosphere of the security escort agency's opening has long since faded, and the area in front of the door is much quieter now, but there are still quite a few people coming and going.
The trade route to Daming Prefecture has been opened. It is a gathering place for the best of the North. Transporting a little bit of goods there for sale will bring huge profits. It is even safer to travel with the escort agency.
With the government's backing, those gentry who were eager to make money naturally flocked to it.
Looking at the guests at the front door, Li Chong nodded repeatedly with a smile on his lips.
These are all big fat sheep; we're counting on them to make our fortune.
"Your Excellency, should I go and clear the way?"
Some of the yamen runners, being quite perceptive, stepped forward to curry favor.
Li Chong glared at him: "Clear the way? What way? Come on, let's go in through the back door!"
Although everyone in Yanggu County knew who was behind the escort agency, the rules of officialdom emphasized saving face.
Li Chong couldn't very well show up here openly and swagger around; wouldn't that just give others ammunition against him?
Moreover, these people come here to give him money, so how could he voluntarily drive away the God of Wealth?
"Take a detour."
After giving the order, Li Chong and his group went around to the back door and entered the escort agency.
As soon as Li Chong entered, he heard a horn sound.
Looking in the direction of the sound, dozens of burly men were training on the drill ground. Despite the sweltering summer heat, they were all shirtless, drenched in sweat, and exuded masculinity.
Upon seeing these people, Li Chong's eyebrows arched involuntarily.
Compared to the elusive official position, these people gave him more confidence.
As chaos descends, this will be his future team.
Li Chong looked around for a while before someone finally noticed him. Many of these people were his former subordinates who had followed him into the mountains to suppress bandits, so they naturally recognized him.
"Master?"
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"
Many people came up and bowed their heads in worship.
Previously, they were all servants in wealthy families. Although they were well-paid, they were still servants and subject to being scolded by others.
Now that they belong to Li Chong, they have not only become free men, but their treatment has also improved. Li Chong has also promised to find a way for them to get married in the future.
People's hearts naturally turned to Li Chong.
Of course, there are also many reasons for this, such as Li Chong's identity.
Both are about working for someone else, but working for an official sounds better than working for an ordinary gentry, especially since Li Chong is generous with his money.
A sour, foul odor lingered around his nose, but Li Chong seemed oblivious.
He said with a smile, "You must be Wang Erlang, right? I remember you. You were the one who helped kill a bandit who was coming for me."
The man in front of Li Chong was trembling with excitement.
"The sir still remembers me."
"Of course, you all work so hard for me, how could I not even remember your names?" Li Chong looked around. "This is Zhao Geng, your name is Zhu Si, your name is Xue Si..."
Everyone whose name was called by Li Chong wore an expression of pride.
In this era, the gap between people was unimaginable to later generations, so much so that just being remembered by the county magistrate Li Chong was enough to excite these men.
Fortunately, there weren't many of them, so it wasn't too difficult for Li Chong to memorize their names one by one after he got the list.
"The escort agency has been established, and business has been pretty good these days. You must work hard in the future. When you save up some money, I'll find a wife for each of you."
The crowd responded enthusiastically, their morale soaring.
After encouraging everyone and reiterating in front of them who their benefactor was, Li Chong had someone summon Wu Song.
"My lord," Wu Song said, bowing with clasped hands.
Since he had settled down last time, Li Chong had made him change how he addressed her, which would make them seem closer.
Li Chong took Wu Song for a walk, and casually asked the group who were still training, "Erlang, you must be getting restless from not being able to go out these past few days, right?"
Wu Song shook his head and said calmly, "I was a criminal. If it weren't for your help, sir, I don't know what would have happened to me. It's a miracle that I'm still alive. This little bit of frustration is nothing."
"Haha, still feeling a bit bored. But don't worry, you'll probably be going on a delivery mission in a few days. Nobody in Daming Prefecture knows you, so you won't have to hide anymore."
Wu Song grinned: "That's wonderful!"
He said he wasn't annoyed, but how could a hero like him not feel stifled if he was cooped up in one place all day and had to hide his face when he went out?
This trip was naturally the best thing for Wu Song.
Li Chong reminded them, "Don't just get excited. The teachers I found for you all will be coming along this time. You may be doing escort work, but you can't neglect your studies."
Upon hearing this, Wu Song's face immediately fell.
He tentatively asked, "Well... escorting goods is hard work, and there might even be fighting along the way. Perhaps those old gentlemen shouldn't go?"
Li Chong had high hopes for Wu Song and his men, but due to his status, he couldn't expand too much, so he could only focus on cultivating them.
So Li Chong specially found someone to teach them to read and write, which was too much for these warriors.
Upon hearing that he would have to do his homework before going out to escort goods, Wu Song immediately wanted to decline.
Li Chong shook his finger: "Everything else is negotiable, but this is a no-brainer! Letting you learn to read is for your own good. If you can't even read a few words, how will you help me lead my people in the future?"
Knowing that Li Chong was doing this for his own good, Wu Song remained silent for a moment before finally agreeing with his hands clasped in respect.
Li Chong looked up and said, "Alright, that's all for now. Go back to training; you'll surely need your skills someday."
Xue Ming, who had received the news, had already arrived, and Li Chong wanted to speak with him.
Wu Song clasped his hands in farewell and took his leave. Li Chong stepped forward and came to Xue Ming.
"County Magistrate."
"Hmm." Li Chong nodded. "Wen Zhao has done a good job these days. I see there are still many merchants outside. It seems he has made quite a bit of money."
Xue Ming replied with a smile, "It's all thanks to the magistrate's wise decision that this escort agency has such a promising future. With the government as our backing, we can avoid a lot of trouble along the way and don't have to worry about bandits blocking the road. Naturally, everyone is flocking to it."
"Without my father's guidance, many people have come to inquire about prices on their own initiative. I've been extremely busy these past few days."
"Wen Zhao, you've worked hard. This escort agency has been open for quite some time now, it's time to organize a delivery trip. I've already spoken to Erlang, his men are ready to set off at any time, you should make the arrangements in advance."
Xue Ming was taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded: "Yes, I will make the arrangements immediately."
After agreeing, he glanced at Li Chong's expression, and then his eyes lit up with another idea.
After inviting Li Chong to sit down in the hall, Xue Ming presented the accounts for the past few days and cautiously asked, "I heard that the county magistrate's brother-in-law has come with his wife to reunite with the magistrate?"
Li Chong glanced at it and then closed the ledger: "What are you trying to say?"