Chapter 486 - Chapter 486: Chapter 486: Taking Office on Horseback (Part 3) (1/2)

Chapter 486: Chapter 486: Taking Office on Horseback (Part 3)

With such an armory, what could be done in the event of a battle?

At noon, Di Yelei decided to hold the gathering at the Drunken Fairy Restaurant.

However, aside from Old Qin, no one had arrived by the noontime. Di Yelei had been anxiously waiting for a long time when Old Qin finally came out from inside and lightly patted him on the shoulder.

“Let’s go! They won’t be coming.”

Having said that, he went straight past Di Yelei and walked out.

Di Yelei was momentarily stunned and hurried to catch up: “Old Qin! Old Qin, what’s going on…”

Old Qin stopped and looked back at him with a hint of pity in his eyes: “At noon, just before leaving, Xin Quan sent out a message: anyone who comes to this meal will have their legs broken by his order. So…” Old Qin shook his head with a sigh, and quickened his pace.

Di Yelei’s mouth opened wide in surprise, and he hurriedly followed again.

“Old Qin, since you’re a good person, please give me a detailed explanation!”

Old Qin ignored him, but Di Yelei shamelessly clung to him. Unable to shake him off, Old Qin casually pointed to a teahouse nearby.

“Let’s go! We’ll talk more inside.”

It was not until the two found a secluded spot on the second floor that they sat down to talk.

“Xin Quan may not have any great skills and holds only the position of Criminal Justice Officer in the county government, but his uncle is a Garrison Commander in Gongzhou. His uncle intends to promote Xin Quan and it would be best for him to have some foundation at the local level first so that he could rise higher once he goes there. Therefore, Xin Quan is determined to get this sub-captain position. But he did not expect someone like you, a Cheng Yaojin, to appear in the scene…”

Wait a moment, Old Qin! How are the official positions distinguished? Have you got me confused? Which is a higher position, the Criminal Justice Officer or the sub-captain?” Di Yelei quickly asked.

Old Qin took a couple of peanuts, sipped some light drink, and said with narrowed eyes.

“The Criminal Justice Officer is a ninth-rank civil official, while the sub-captain is a seventh-rank military official. Naturally, the sub-captain position is higher. However, in a small place like Macheng County, and with no wars in many years, this sub-captain position seems to be a big deal but is practically less useful than a low-ranked Post-house Minister. So…”

Old Qin gave him a look that said, “You know what I mean.”

Di Yelei hurriedly stood up and bowed, “Please explain more about the ranks of these official positions, Old Qin, so I won’t make any more mistakes and become a laughingstock.”

“Get up, get up! You have been entrusted with the position of sub-captain by the Lord Imperial Envoy himself. No matter how much Xin Quan plots, he cannot shake you.”

Old Qin helped him up and carefully explained the current official positions to him.

“Generally, county magistrates are divided into large and small counties according to the amount of silver and grain collected and submitted to the national bank. The magistrate of a large county is a sixth-rank civil official, while a small county magistrate is a seventh-rank civil official. Criminal Justice Officers are ranked as ninth-rank civil officials, Garrison Commanders are fifth-rank military officials. As for sub-captains, they are divided between capital officials and other counties, with capital sub-captains being sixth-rank officials. As for a local official like you…you may be called a seventh-rank official, but in reality, even a ninth-rank Criminal Justice Officer has more benefits than your position.”

Di Yelei naturally understood the implicit meaning in Old Qin’s words!

In a nutshell, this seventh-rank sub-captain position is just something to scare people with, but it doesn’t have as much to gain as a ninth-rank Criminal Justice Officer!

“But in reality, the sub-captain’s position is higher than the Criminal Justice Officer’s, isn’t it?”

“Of course, otherwise why would Xin Quan rack his brains trying to compete with you?”

Old Qin took another sip of the light drink and smacked his lips in satisfaction, his face full of contentment.

A few comprehending glances flashed in Di Yelei’s eyes, and he soon looked at Old Qin with a smile, “Old Qin, what is your status then?”