IDWBE -Chapter 365 I Want to Be an Official

With that thought in mind, he turned around and walked out through the main gate of the Prince He’s residence.

Although it was already curfew, the streets were still crowded with carts, horses, and pedestrians. They were all coming from the south, passing through Ankang City to transport military supplies to the northern frontier.

As the war situation grew more tense, officials and civilian laborers passed through Ankang City every single day without interruption. To ensure smooth passage in and out of the city, the north and south gates of Ankang now remained open even at night.

The laborers and soldiers traveled day and night. To guarantee timely delivery, they dared not rest for a single moment. Exhausted in both body and spirit, they finally entered Ankang City—only to find most shops tightly closed, making normal resupply impossible.

Because of this, the Military Command had no choice but to relax curfew restrictions for certain businesses, while also permitting small vendors to set up stalls along the routes taken by the laborers and troops.

Thus, the streets at this hour were filled not only with passing soldiers and laborers, but also with open restaurants, teahouses, inns, brothels, and street vendors.

Pan Duo stopped at a dumpling stall at the mouth of an alley. The small stall had two rows of little tables set up along the alley wall, most of them occupied by laborers from the south.

He sat down and ordered a bowl of dumplings and a jar of wine. Around him were accents from all over the land. He listened carefully, yet could not understand a single word.

If his guess was correct, they were from Yong’an.

After taking a sip of wine, he noticed a shadow fall across the table. Looking up, their eyes met.

“So it’s Brother Pang.”

Pan Duo had not expected to encounter Pang Long, the constable stationed in Wulin City, here of all places.

“What is there that Brother Pan doesn’t know?”

After ordering himself a bowl of dumplings, Pang Long sat down boldly across from him. He poured some of Pan Duo’s wine into his own bowl and grinned.

“Recently there’ve been typhoons at sea—the fleet couldn’t sail, so we had to switch to canal transport. But along the way, the rain never stopped. Floodwaters clogged the river channels, washed away houses, and caused countless deaths and injuries. Not only did we unload more than half the grain for disaster relief, but the waterways became impassable too. So we had to switch again to overland transport. Mud everywhere—hard to travel. Truly suffered for it.”

“Hard work,” Pan Duo said, raising his wine bowl. “A toast to you, Brother Pang.”

“You’re too polite,” Pang Long laughed. “Brother Pan now commands the Court Guards—quite glorious. If I survive this trip to the northern frontier and return alive, I hope Brother Pan will look after me in the future.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Pan Duo replied with a smile. “We all serve the Prince.”

“True enough,” Pang Long said after draining a bowl of wine. He gestured toward the laborers nearby and sighed. “Yong’an is mountainous. Three li apart, different tunes; ten li apart, different speech. Except for a few scholars who know some official Mandarin, it’s like chickens and ducks talking past each other. If not for my duty, I’d have quit long ago.”

Pan Duo refilled his wine and smiled. “The capable bear heavier burdens. Brother Pang’s future is surely boundless.”

“Heh.” Pang Long belched. “To be honest, I intend to earn merit on this trip north. Brother Pan is from the northern frontier—you surely know more than I do. What’s the situation there? I’d like to be better prepared.”

“Generals Shen Chu and Bao Kui lead the Sanhe Army with unstoppable force. They’ve already crossed the Liangshui River,” Pan Duo said with a smile. “Soon they will advance upon Liangmatai. If they capture the Khan of Wadan, it will be an achievement unmatched in history. The Prince has declared: whoever cuts off Xu Liewu’s head will be recommended to His Majesty for the title of Co-King, equal to a Prince.”

“I know all that,” Pang Long shook his head. “I want to know what I don’t know.”

“Military secrets,” Pan Duo replied. “I’m afraid I cannot disclose them.”

Pang Long gave an embarrassed smile, lowered his head, and said nothing more. Ignoring the heat of the dumplings, he gulped them down hastily. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve—its original color long indiscernible—he stood and clasped his fists.

“I take my leave. Until we meet again.”

“Until we meet again.”

Pan Duo stood and returned the gesture.

From a teastall some distance away, Butcher Jiang had been watching the two men. After Pang Long left, he turned to Zhu Ruorong beside him.

“That Pang Long is a constable from Wulin City. If he’s heading north, do you think my daughter might also be coming up from Qingyuan City?”

Zhu Ruorong snorted. “The northern frontier is short of manpower. Anyone who can fight is being sent. As for your daughter—hard to say.”

Butcher Jiang’s face filled with worry. “What am I supposed to do…”

Seeing his anxiety, Zhu Ruorong quickly reassured him. “No need to fret too much. She’s a girl, after all. War has always been a man’s affair. When have you seen young women on the battlefield?”

“That’s not entirely true,” Jiang said, glancing around before lowering his voice. “Back in Emperor Yongguang’s time, Old Madam Xue of the Yuan family led the Yuan women generals into battle and won many merits.”

“Put your mind at ease,” Zhu Ruorong said impatiently. “Hong An is in Jinling City. Isn’t it easier to come from Jinling than from Wulin or Qingyuan? And Hong An hasn’t even gone yet—how would it be your daughter’s turn?”

“Hong An has the Chief Steward backing her—who would dare send her to risk her life?” Jiang sighed. “Unlike us, powerless and without influence.”

“You’re overthinking,” Zhu Ruorong laughed. “Look at that brat Wei Yishan—an orphan with a widowed mother. Who dares bully him? I saw the notice posted outside the Capital Camp yesterday. He’s being transferred from Jinling to become Garrison Commander of the Capital Camp. When he arrives, just ask him about your daughter.”

“Garrison Commander? What kind of official is that?” Jiang asked sourly.

Others kept getting promoted, while he gained nothing at all!

Beside them, Li Sanniang said helplessly, “Old Jiang, you’ve traveled far and wide, yet you still know nothing. Before Liu Kan became Commander of the Banner Guard, he served as Garrison Commander of the Capital Camp.”

“Oh, right, sounds familiar,” Jiang said sheepishly.

“And you still want to become an official? Give it a rest,” Wang Xiaoshuan chuckled. “I’ve made up my mind. Once I finish transporting this grain, I’m heading to the Military Command to snag myself a squad leader’s post. I’ve realized something—these days, having money alone is useless.”

“You? Joining the Military Command?” Li Sanniang looked astonished.

This fellow was obsessed with money—how could he suddenly want to become an official?

Wang Xiaoshuan grinned proudly. “I have military merit recorded under my name. I originally planned to exchange it for silver—but not anymore. I’m going to be an official! If I stay a merchant, my children and grandchildren will all be merchants—looked down upon by others! I’m going to be an official. And not just any official—a big one!”

The most important thing was that his good friend Wei Yishan was about to become a high-ranking official. He didn’t want to kneel before his friend in the future.

“Military merit…” Jiang snorted coldly. “If that could really be exchanged for an official post, I’d have done it long ago.”

Li Sanniang pointed at him and sighed. “You really don’t know anything. We can’t exchange it because we’re too old, didn’t attend school, and don’t have that certificate.”

“I have a primary school graduation certificate!” Wang Xiaoshuan burst into even louder laughter.

Butcher Jiang was stunned.