When Chen Sheng heard this, just the right amount of surprise appeared on his face, then swiftly turned into delight. He hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed, his voice filled with heartfelt excitement.
“Congratulations on your promotion, my lord! The post of county commandant, an official rank of the seventh grade—this is truly a joyous occasion!”
“This subordinate will never forget Your Lordship’s kindness in raising me up! I am willing to serve you like a dog or horse, to follow before and behind your saddle, and would not refuse even ten thousand deaths!”
To leap from a military camp commander in charge of a hundred men to a county commandant responsible for military affairs and public security, holding the proper seventh rank—this was undoubtedly a carp leaping through the dragon gate.
At this moment, Chen Sheng finally understood why Commander Huang had gone to such lengths back then to place his younger brother under Wu Kuang’s command. It turned out he had long since glimpsed the opportunity hidden within.
On the surface, Chen Sheng seemed utterly astonished, but inwardly his heart was calm. Several days earlier, after Wu Kuang had tested him, the Heavenly Tome of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity had already foretold this matter.
“This official has already suppressed the matter of your private purchase of Blood-Qi Pills.”
Wu Kuang’s tone turned solemn, carrying a note of warning. “But you must still remember in the future: military discipline is as immovable as a mountain and must not be lightly violated. Especially now, at this critical juncture of dividing forces and redeploying defenses, who knows how many pairs of eyes are watching. Do not give others a handle to grasp and invite needless trouble.”
He was quite satisfied with Chen Sheng’s reaction. But with his new appointment to an important post, there was no telling how many people harbored jealousy and had their eyes fixed on this lucrative position. He had no choice but to tread carefully and remain cautious at every step.
After this round of observation and testing, Chen Sheng had already left an impression in his mind as someone who valued loyalty, possessed ability, and knew when to advance or retreat. Wu Kuang did indeed intend to take him in as a core confidant and make use of him.
“This subordinate understands. I will certainly heed Your Lordship’s teachings!”
“In addition.”
Wu Kuang paused briefly and paced as he said, “For this transfer, this official has the authority to bring sixty personal attendants to take up the post. As for the candidates... this official has decided to leave the list to you.”
Although Chen Sheng had long known his intention, he still respectfully asked for instructions.
“Please make the rules clear, my lord. This subordinate fears failing the trust placed in me.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Wu Kuang lowered his voice slightly.
“With this division of troops, the majority will be transferred to the border passes for garrison duty. To be transferred back to the rear is a fat assignment everyone longs for. There will certainly be no shortage of people coming to request favors and plead for consideration, and among them will be plenty of mediocre fellows and those relying on connections. This official does not wish to accept them all, yet it would not be proper to refuse them one by one and offend them.”
He looked at Chen Sheng. His meaning could not have been clearer: this task of offending people would be handed to Chen Sheng. If he handled it beautifully, he would be a true confidant; if he botched it, there would still be room to maneuver and shift the blame.
“This subordinate obeys! I will do everything in my power to share Your Lordship’s burdens!”
Knowing full well the crux of the matter, Chen Sheng agreed without hesitation.
……
After leaving the tent, Chen Sheng found a secluded corner and sat down, his gaze deep and still.
Ever since he had learned two days ago that he would be transferred to Changshan County, he had faintly sensed a trace of lingering will left behind by the original owner of this body.
Thinking back to when he had awakened the wisdom of his past life and the two sets of memories had fused, that vast, turbulent resentment and unwillingness had nearly made his head split apart. The most deeply engraved among them was an unfinished old grudge.
Now that his transfer was imminent, that wisp of dormant will had once again begun to stir faintly, like a silent reminder. Chen Sheng understood in his heart that if he did not thoroughly settle this karma...
That strand of obsession might well become a stumbling block on his path of cultivation, and might even transform into a heart demon that disturbed his mind when his realm grew profound in the future.
Since he had inherited this body, he would bear its karma.
Chen Sheng pondered for a long time and finally made his decision. On this journey, he had to settle the old grudge completely.
The story, in truth, was somewhat clichéd. His mother had died early, while his father had been the leader of the Seven Stars Gang, one of the four great gangs of Changshan County. Later, for reasons unknown, the deputy gang leader had usurped power and rebelled, and his father had died miserably as a result.
The original owner had been frail since childhood. Though nourished by spiritual medicines, he had found it difficult to walk the proper path of martial cultivation.
Perhaps his father had also grown weary of the slaughter of the jianghu, so he had made him abandon martial arts for letters, studying poetry and books in hopes that he might pass the imperial examinations and gain an official title. To protect him from being dragged into gang strife, his father had never publicly revealed his identity, and those who knew of it were exceedingly few.
The last time the original owner saw his father, they were already separated by life and death. He had not even been able to see an intact corpse, and could only piece together the scene of his father’s miserable death from rumors in the streets.
Afterward, news about him, the “son,” somehow leaked out. The loyal old steward was also captured. In terror and panic, the original owner had no time to pack up valuables and could only flee Changshan County in haste. He had originally wanted to abandon letters for martial arts and enter a martial hall as a disciple, but in the end, by an accident of fate, he was forcibly conscripted into the army—until Chen Sheng arrived.
“Thinking too much is useless. Since I have obtained your body, I shall shoulder your karma.”
Chen Sheng gathered his mind and cast aside distracting thoughts.
“Practice!”
He once again took up his stance and immersed himself in cultivation.
With ample resources supporting him, coupled with bitter training day and night, his cultivation advanced extremely quickly.
[Basic Saber Technique: Great Accomplishment (570/1000)]
[Golden Bell Body-Forging Method: Small Accomplishment (285/500)]
This Golden Bell Body-Forging Method obtained through Seeking Fortune was indeed extremely compatible with him. Even though his innate aptitude was not outstanding, his cultivation speed was by no means slow.
Of course, the powerful nourishment of the Blood-Qi Pills was also indispensable.
Relying on his ability to Seek Fortune, Chen Sheng had gained “unexpected” harvests again and again during the previous battles and while clearing the battlefield. He could always find deeply hidden valuables. After several months of accumulation, his personal wealth was already quite substantial.
Even for such scarce resources as Blood-Qi Pills, he had stored up quite a few. The quartermaster had previously entertained crooked thoughts, but Chen Sheng had easily defused them.
After another bout of bitter training, Chen Sheng returned to the tent. Amid a wave of flattery and fawning, he quietly revealed the news that “the troops would soon be divided, and some could be transferred back to the rear.”
The news was like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly sending the entire tent—and even the entire Fourth Squad—into an uproar. Compared to going to the border passes, where life and death were uncertain, being transferred back to the rear commanderies and counties for garrison duty was undoubtedly a tremendous plum assignment.
Everyone’s attitude became ever more eager and attentive. Words of praise and ingratiation came endlessly, allowing Chen Sheng to truly experience what it meant for the world to be fickle and human warmth to depend on circumstance.
However, to think that a few pleasant words alone could be exchanged for a slot was naturally wishful thinking.
Although Commander Wu had not stated it outright, Chen Sheng knew very well that his superior also wanted to use this opportunity to fill his purse in a perfectly legitimate manner.
What he needed to choose were not merely people capable of doing work, but people who understood the “rules” and recognized the “times.”
At the same time, Chen Sheng had his own intentions. He wanted to use this chance to cultivate a few capable subordinates.
Taking up a post in Changshan County seemed like a plum assignment, but in truth, undercurrents surged beneath the surface.
Now the world was in chaos, rebellions were rising everywhere, the imperial court’s authority was declining day by day, and local magnates and gang forces were deeply entrenched. They might not necessarily place a mere county commandant in their eyes. It was precisely for this reason that those above had dispatched battle-hardened soldiers to the various counties to garrison them, in order to suppress the localities.
Very soon, with Chen Sheng’s deliberate indulgence, the news spread rapidly.
Not only the Fourth Squad—among the other squads as well, anyone with some connections or ambition displayed their abilities, all longing to catch this convenient ride back to the rear.
As for this, Wu Kuang ignored it all. He made it clear that the matter would be entirely handled by Chen Sheng. As a result, Chen Sheng’s status in the army abruptly rose, and for a time, no one could match his prominence.