Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

Chapter 716: Chapter 202: The Mianshui River’s Flood Dragon and the Emergence of the Treasure (10,000 Words Requesting Subscription)_5

Zhao Ya said, ”You, Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San are all Hundred Households Officers under my command, Standard Seventh Rank—about the same level as Yelu’s official rank.”

Chen Jie thought about this for a moment and felt it was acceptable. Though he was only a Hundred Households Officer, he dealt with Jianghu matters, so this wouldn’t hinder the development of his power.

Moreover, he could also gain an official status, which was quite good.

Chen Jie’s current strategy was to use Old Zhu’s nine-word strategy: ”Amass grain, build high walls, and become king slowly.”

Chen Jie was in the process of amassing grain, expanding his influence significantly, and expanding his territory. Becoming king slowly meant being low-key, living inconspicuously.

Chen Jie understood this, so he decided to start by mixing with the Commandery Princess.

Especially since he was currently in Huangzhou Prefecture, Chen Jie had recently reviewed the Fishing Guild’s information and found out that it used to be one of the four major guilds of Huangzhou Prefecture. However, it was eventually ousted after losing power struggles and became a local small guild in Mianshui County.

Following the Commandery Princess, who was the Martial Arts Steward of Hubei Road, he could use his position for personal gain and quietly unify the Fishing Guild. Then, using Mianshui County as a base, he could gradually take over Huangzhou Prefecture.

Chen Jie secretly made these calculations.

He now had a clear understanding of the path ahead. Looking at the Commandery Princess, Zhao Ya also looked at him and said, ”What do you think? Is my temptation not as good as Monk Peng’s?”

Chen Jie smiled inwardly and thought: Sorry, Lord of the Commandery, you’re really not as good as Master Peng, who offered me a Prime Minister position—although that was just an empty promise. Though this is only a Hundred Households Officer role, it’s not bad.

After all, it comes with a degree of freedom, and he could also secretly develop his strength.

Having understood all this, Chen Jie bowed and said, ”Of course, it is my honor to serve the Commandery Princess.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ya glanced at Chen Jie and said, ”Well, that’s good. Prepare well, for the rain has intensified. I shall take my leave now.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, ”Farewell, Commandery Princess.”

Zhao Ya said, ”Stay, go and invite Mrs. Chen back. We came in a hurry and interrupted your meal.”

Chen Jie bowed; ”As you command, Lord of the Commandery.”

After that, Chen Jie escorted Zhao Ya to the door and gave her two oiled paper umbrellas.

Zhao Ya and her entourage left in a hurry. Looking at the sky covered with dark clouds and the torrential rain pouring down, Chen Jie’s face showed a hint of worry: ”The rain has gotten heavy!”

...

The heavy rain poured down, and it lasted for nine whole days.

The water in Mianshui River rose furiously, and the water level climbed higher and higher.

At this moment, on a certain section of the Mianshui River, a group of government horsemen rushed along the road. These government soldiers were dressed as Government Officials, wearing gray clothes with a big ’Patrol’ character on the back.

They were River Patrol Soldiers sent by the Mianshui County Government.

The County Magistrate of Mianshui County, Tang Wannian, was basically Garrison Commander Ba Tan’s hound. Ba Tan had also heard the jingle about the Medicine King Treasure.

”Mianshui River rises to thirty-three feet, the Flood Dragon appears amidst the azure clouds, the treasure shows its face as the dragon leaves Mianshui, and after rain, thirty years of sunshine!”

In other words, as soon as Mianshui River rose to thirty-three feet, it was the time for the Medicine King Treasure to appear. Therefore, to get firsthand information, Ba Tan ordered the County Government to send out River Patrol Soldiers to measure the water level.

So, the County Government sent out the River Patrol Soldiers. However, going into the river to measure the water level at this time was practically akin to seeking death.

So, almost no River Patrol Soldiers were willing to go. Finally, with no alternative, Tang Wannian promised a large reward, and this group of River Patrol Soldiers was gathered—these Soldiers were all seasoned veterans from Mianshui County.

Their average age was nearly forty years old.

In this era, fifty years of age was practically an old man—forty was considered elderly. Wu Zhong, Uncle Zhong, had just turned forty and was already considered an old predecessor.

In this era, when the average lifespan was short, forty years old was definitely the age of the elderly.

This group of River Patrol Soldiers mounted the court-provided old horses and set off.

But when they reached the riverbank, they realized they didn’t have boats to go into the water, causing everyone to panic.

Just when they were at a loss for what to do, they saw a mud house not far away, which should be a temporary resting place for the boatmen—there should be boats or even boatmen there.

This was a great help to them. They immediately rushed over and surrounded seven or eight boatmen.

At this time, the boatmen were warming themselves by the fire in the mud house, looking out at the sky as the downpour continued.

One boatman said, ”The heavens are leaking; it’s going to flood the world.”

As they spoke, the River Patrol Soldiers rushed over. A group of them drew their swords and said, ”Listen up, we are from the government. We need to measure the water level in the river, and you will take us down the river.”

Upon hearing this, many boatmen remained silent.

Going into the river now was akin to courting death, so they ignored the government soldiers.

One of the soldiers became furious and shouted, ”We are sent by the Lord County Magistrate. We are commandeering you, take us into the river now to measure the water level!”

Upon hearing this, a boatman put down the flatbread in his hand and said, ”Official, the sky is falling apart as it is. The river’s rapids and the waves and undercurrents—who would dare venture into the river now? To go into the river now is to seek death. If you want to go, go yourself; we will not!”

Hearing this, another Government Official grew enraged, ”You dare to disobey orders? Are you trying to revolt?”

Another boatman replied, ”Official, don’t slap a label on us. Look, our boats are docked at the shore; you can use them if you push them into the water. We’ll leave the boats but won’t go into the river. We can’t afford to lose our lives. Going into the water now would be madness.”