Chapter 22: I Wish to Purchase an Official Position

"Archers, fire!"

The compound bow squad had long been standing by. At Chen Tong's command, a volley of arrows streaked across the sky like shooting stars, plunging into the thick fog. From within the mist, the cries of the government soldiers rang out, one after another, throwing them into even greater disarray.

"Ah! My leg!"
"Help me!"
"..."

The screams of the soldiers were incessant. They scrambled blindly through the fog, yet there was nowhere to hide. Some tried to find cover, only to be struck down by arrows. Others ran frantically toward the edge of the smoke, only to stumble into the various traps set by the Black Wind Stronghold.

When the battle concluded, the battlefield was a scene of carnage. The soldiers lay in heaps, their blood staining the earth. Chen Tong, holding a blood-stained wood-chopping knife, walked with a cold gaze toward the merchant being dragged over by his men.

The merchant's face was as pale as paper; his legs were jelly, and he could barely stand, supported only by two of the bandits. His eyes were filled with terror and despair. As he watched Chen Tong approach, his lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.

Chen Tong stopped before the merchant, staring at him coldly. His voice sounded as if it had emerged from an ice cellar: "Speak. Why did you betray us?"

The merchant swallowed hard and stuttered, "I... I had no choice. As soon as I returned to the city, the government soldiers targeted me."

"A group of them rushed up and seized me, accusing me of colluding with bandits and threatening to throw me into the dungeon."

"I... I refused to confess, of course, but then they began to torture me severely, trying to extort money."

"I couldn't bear it anymore. When they asked about my whereabouts over the past few days, I... I told them about our trade."

As he spoke, the merchant burst into tears. "I really didn't want to betray you, but I didn't want to die either!"

Hearing this, rage burned in Chen Tong's heart. He suddenly raised his hand, pressed the blade against the merchant's neck, and roared, "Do you have any idea how many people almost lost their lives because of your cowardice and selfishness?"

Trembling all over, the merchant squeezed his eyes shut and begged for mercy. "Spare me, Master Xie, I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong! Please, spare my life, I am willing to serve you like a beast of burden to repay you!"

Chen Tong looked at the merchant's spineless display with utter disgust. With a cold snort, he withdrew the blade and said to the nearby bandits, "Lock him back in the stronghold. Keep a close eye on him; don't let him escape."

He then turned to his brothers on the battlefield and shouted, "Brothers, we have won! But we cannot let our guard down. Clean up the battlefield and prepare to return to the stronghold!"

"Understood!" The bandits cheered in unison, their voices echoing through the mountains, filled with the joy of victory.

Back at the stronghold, under the flickering candlelight, Chen Tong sat alone in his room, lost in deep thought. Although they had successfully repelled the schemes of the government and the merchant, the future of the Black Wind Stronghold remained as obscured as a fog. Operating as bandits was a life spent walking on the edge of a blade, surrounded by crises. Furthermore, the status of the Black Wind villagers was simply too weak in this world, leaving them restricted at every turn.

After much deliberation, Chen Tong felt they needed a legitimate, respectable business. This would not only provide his men with a normal cover for their activities but also secure a stable path for the growth of the stronghold.

Just then, Xie Qingshuang knocked gently and entered. Seeing Chen Tong’s solemn expression, she understood what was troubling him.

"Brother Xie, I know what you are thinking." She sat down opposite him, her gaze earnest. "In this era, if we want to truly stand firm, a business alone is not enough."

"Do you know? As long as one is an official—even the lowest-ranking one—they are far more formidable than the common folk."

Chen Tong looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Great Chief, how are these official ranks divided? Please, enlighten me."

Xie Qingshuang nodded and began to explain patiently.

"Official ranks are generally divided into nine grades, from high to low."

"First-rank officials are figures of immense weight in the imperial court, like the Chancellor or the Grand Tutor. They assist the Emperor and oversee the state's major policies. Their power is vast; when they stomp their feet, the entire court trembles."

"Second-rank officials cannot be underestimated either; for example, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, who manage the key departments of the state."

"Third-rank officials include Vice Ministers and Provincial Governors. A Vice Minister assists the Minister in handling departmental affairs, while a Provincial Governor holds supreme military and political authority over an entire province—a person whose word is law in the region."

"Fourth-rank officials include Prefects, who manage an entire prefecture. A prefecture encompasses multiple counties, and they handle local governance, public security, and other affairs."

"Fifth-rank officials include Assistant Prefects, who serve as deputies to the Prefect, handling complex matters and wielding considerable local influence."

"Sixth and seventh-rank officials are mostly at the level of County Magistrates. They directly govern a county. While their grade isn't high, every matter in the county must pass through their hands, giving them significant local authority."

"Eighth and ninth-rank officials are mostly grassroots administrators responsible for executing specific tasks, such as County Clerks or Registrars."

Chen Tong listened intently, calculating in his mind. "Great Chief, you are right. It seems we must plan carefully."

"If we have enough money, we can purchase an official position."

Chen Tong was stunned, looking at Xie Qingshuang in disbelief. "Purchase an official position? This... how is that possible?"

Xie Qingshuang nodded gravely. "In these chaotic times, as long as you have enough wealth, many things can be accomplished, and buying an office is one of them."

"Those high-ranking officials, to satisfy their own greed, amass wealth recklessly, caring nothing for the lives of the country or the people. As long as you can afford the price, they will dare to sell you an office."

Hearing this, a wave of anger and sorrow surged in Chen Tong's heart. In this turbulent age, the authority of the imperial court was waning, and officials everywhere had turned their power into a tool for personal gain. Those who were supposed to serve the people as local magistrates spent their days thinking only of how to scrape the fat and blood from the populace.

In times of famine, when the people had no grain left and the land was littered with the starving, the officials continued their ruthless taxation, utterly indifferent to the survival of the masses. Merchants, to ensure safe passage, had to bribe countless officials along the way. Any slight resistance resulted in harassment, seized goods, or even imprisonment.

Corruption was rampant within the bureaucracy. To secure promotions, officials would spend vast sums of money to bribe their superiors. Once they attained a high position, they would intensify their exploitation of the people to recoup their 'investment.' They formed cliques, colluded with one another, and ostracized anyone who didn't fit in, turning the entire government into a foul, suffocating swamp.

...

"This world is truly too dark!"

Xie Qingshuang sighed. "Therefore, if we can purchase an official position, perhaps we can change the status quo to some extent."