The second group of visitors arrived with immense pomp. First, an elderly head steward came to the door to present a visiting card inscribed with a long string of official titles, the most exalted among them being a third-rank dignitary of the Ministry of Rites. Wang Chong nearly told the old steward that his modest home could not possibly accommodate so many people. Bringing the few members of his household along, he went out to receive them, only to find that the man leading the party was a middle-aged gentleman who had long since stepped down from his sedan chair, comporting himself with impeccable decorum. Upon seeing Wang Chong, the middle-aged gentleman cupped his hands with a smile and said, "I thank Young Master Wang for slaying the villain who harmed my nephew. The entire Su family is boundlessly grateful. When Nineteenth Sister received word, she specially asked me to come pay our respects and thank Young Master Wang."
The moment Su Luo Yan received the jade pendant delivered by Yu Zao, she had immediately requested the presence of the highest-ranking Su family elder near Tongzhou. Only a third-rank official of the Ministry of Rites could truly reflect the gravity of the Su family's gratitude, which accounted for the slight delay.
Though Wang Chong was unaware of these specifics, he could keenly feel that he was indeed being treated with great importance. Chuckling, he said, "Uncle Su is far too polite. So-and-so and I were close friends in the jianghu—how could I possibly leave his vendetta unavenged?"
The middle-aged gentleman could not help but smile faintly. "Worthy Nephew Wang is indeed a good friend of my nephew. Commendable, truly commendable."
Su Luo Yan was a noble lady of an elite aristocratic clan. Making acquaintances with people of the jianghu was harmless enough, but word of it could never be allowed to spread. Had Wang Chong gone around boasting that he and Su Luo Yan were good friends, the Su family would have turned hostile on the spot—what kind of disreputable rogue would say such things? Yet by saying he was close friends with Su Luo Yan's younger brother, they became genuine friends in good standing; the entire Su household was more than willing to acknowledge it readily and treat Wang Chong as a true nephew of the family.
The jianghu was both a world of killing and bloodshed, and an arena of fame and fortune.
If Wang Chong did not possess remarkable abilities and had not killed Wen Ducheng, the Su family would never have looked upon him with such high regard.
And had Wang Chong not understood worldly wisdom and social propriety, the Su family would only have shown gratitude once, with no lasting bond to follow.
Though the ten-odd constables had arrived first and were in a state of extreme anxiety, at this moment they could only wait respectfully to the side, not daring to utter a word.
The Su family elder did not linger long at Wang Chong's residence. After staying for only half a shichen, he took his leave. He did not even leave behind any lavish gifts, presenting merely some brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and a selection of collected classics and books. They did not appear particularly costly, yet even a transmigrator like Wang Chong, unfamiliar with the social etiquette of this world, understood that what the man had offered was an open door—one that promised endless advantages in the days to come.
After escorting this elder of the Su family out of the garden estate, Wang Chong returned to find the ten-odd constables kneeling across the floor, weeping and pleading, "We beg Director Wang to save our lives!"
Startled, Wang Chong asked, "What is the matter? How has it come to a matter of life and death?"
The veteran constable who had visited previously and served as the informal leader of the group said with a face full of sorrow, "A dispatch from the Prince of Yan's estate has arrived. Wen Zhengming, a cousin of the current Prince of Yan, was killed in Tongzhou, his corpse burned to ashes. Now the Prince of Yan is in a towering fury and has ordered all personnel handling cases in Tongzhou to seize the culprit immediately. If we fail to find the murderer within ten days, every single one of us will be thrown into prison and executed alongside the convicts."
Wang Chong chuckled inwardly, thinking, 'This whole thing started because of me, so I really should help out. But how can I help? I have no sway with the Prince of Yan.'
'Besides, it's not as if I can escape being dragged into this myself!'
Even leaving aside his identity as the killer, he was considered the top official overseeing criminal law and the capture of bandits in Tongzhou; when such a massive case occurred, he was bound to be implicated.
Wang Chong pondered for a long time before suddenly realizing why these constables had come begging him. Because his official post had been personally appointed by the Prince of Yan, discerning eyes naturally regarded him as the prince's trusted confidant. In a crisis like this, they naturally counted on him to speak up on their behalf.
He pondered for a moment, then said in a gentle voice, "You cannot be blamed for this matter. I will find a way." Pausing briefly, he added, "Lately I find myself rather short of hands. I wonder if the various prefectures might transfer a cohort of sharp young functionaries for me to dispatch on temporary duty?"
The ten-odd constables exchanged glances, but they soon caught on: Wang Chong was asking for authority. While these constables respected Wang Chong greatly and were willing to offer generous gifts, they did not want him meddling in their respective cases. After all, low-ranking as they were, each commanded their own pocket of influence and entangled interests. Wang Chong was not asking to intervene in their affairs, merely requesting some men—a condition that happened to skirt right along their bottom line without crossing it.
Acting as the group's impromptu leader, the old constable bit the bullet and said, "Pressure from above is severe right now, so we fear we cannot reassign many hands." The rest of the constables looked rather embarrassed. They had run to him begging for help, and Wang Chong had agreed readily, yet when Wang Chong asked for a few men, they were unwilling to part with them. It truly looked bad on their part. But the men under their command were their very livelihood; without subordinates, how could they get anything done? They truly could not hand their men over to Wang Chong.
Wang Chong smiled and said, "If functionaries are inconvenient, you must all have idle young sons and nephews in your households. I won't order them about for nothing. As long as they come to serve under me and are willing to put in the work, I promise to secure them a proper official standing."
The constables rejoiced at once. Just as Wang Chong had said, whose household didn't have a few loafers and layabouts among the younger generation? With their connections, finding a path forward for one or two wasn't difficult, but if a household had many mouths to feed, there was simply no way. Constables, after all, were mere petty clerks and runners, capable of throwing their weight around only in their own little acre of turf, far from having connections reaching to the heavens.
When Wang Chong had asked for young functionaries, it had indeed put them in a bind. But if he merely wanted young men and was even willing to take their sons and nephews, then it was no hardship at all—it made him a benefactor sent straight from heaven! Without waiting for the old constable to speak, the constables chimed in together, "If they don't need to be official functionaries, we have plenty of young idle fellows! We'll send them over to Director Wang right away!"
Wang Chong chuckled. "I don't need too many. You are all acquaintances of mine, and I wouldn't want to turn down anyone's face. Those who arrive first, I'll take them all; those who arrive late will simply be out of luck."
The moment Wang Chong said this, none of the ten-odd constables could sit still. They all believed Wang Chong held an extraordinary station, and that the career prospects he promised would surely come to pass. Even if they didn't, they had nothing to lose. But if the promise held true, whose family didn't have a few youngsters giving their parents headaches? A respectable official standing was truly worth more than a thousand gold pieces! They immediately took their leave one after another. Wang Chong saw them out of the garden estate with a smile. Without even greeting one another, the constables mounted their horses and galloped away in a rush, terrified that returning late would cost their own kin this golden opportunity.
Having transmigrated here, Wang Chong naturally harbored a bit of selfish desire. Now that his fortune was beginning to rise, he had only three maids, a page boy, and a monk by his side—how could that ever be enough people to order around?
Who didn't have a little vain wish to be surrounded by an entourage and have a hundred voices answering their every beck and call?
With several dozen men rounded up, he could practically pull together a small gang—and best of all, there was no way these people would ask for wages!
Unlike other transmigrators, Wang Chong was neither a master of endless stratagems who could foresee events a thousand miles away, nor did he intend to put these people to any grand purpose.
Before transmigrating, he had merely been an overworked corporate beast of burden, having never once served as a boss...
He was simply bored out of his mind and wanted to indulge in the thrill of being a leader.
That very afternoon, someone sent over eight young men.
The next day, another group sent over more than twenty.
Aside from sending back a few who clearly lacked wits, were unfit in age, or had terrible tempers, Wang Chong accepted every single person who was sent.
By the tenth day, the garden estate was packed full of people...
...Wang Chong: 'I just wanted to gather a few dozen guys...'
...Rumor: "Word has it the Prince of Yan is recruiting men to rebuild the Yulin Guard..."
Chapter 61