novelno Chapter 210: The Caobang’s Lucrative Vacancies
Chapter 210: The Caobang’s Lucrative Vacancies
Sanhe Commandery, Caobang.
After escorting the imperial envoy’s dragon boat out of Sanhe Commandery’s territory, Hall Master Yin Xingtian finally dragged his weary, exhausted body back to his own courtyard.
Inside the stone pavilion, brush and ink were laid out neatly.
It took him quite some time to calm his mind completely.
“Hall Master.”
Old Seven vaulted over the wall, landed lightly, and dropped to one knee in greeting.
“Rise, Old Seven.”
Yin Xingtian set down his brush and turned around. “This time, I owe you. If that desperado had not been stopped in time, and if you had not brought back the assassin’s head, I truly would have fallen.”
“Hall Master is blessed by fortune. Nothing would have happened to you.”
Old Seven cupped his fists respectfully—so respectful that one would never guess he was a Third-Rank martial artist. “Hall Master, what did the higher-ups say?”Yin Xingtian sighed.
“It is still unclear.”
He spoke slowly, with a hint of lingering relief and contemplation. “Failing to protect the imperial envoy—of course they are angry. If you had not brought back that head and the assassin had escaped, I would have had to present my own head to the court in apology.”
“Now that we have the assassin’s head, at least my life is preserved.”
…
A trace of anxiety flickered in Old Seven’s eyes. “The murderer has been executed. What more can the court say? At most, they will investigate the mastermind behind the attack—who dared to lay hands on the imperial envoy—and make an example of them.”
“If only it were that simple.”
Yin Xingtian clasped his hands behind his back, his tone heavy.
“That man used Wudang’s 《Cloud Ladder》 and Shaolin’s 《Dharma Fist》—both are widely circulated techniques. We cannot trace his true identity. Even if we could, he likely has a powerful background. The court might not even dare to act rashly…”
“Moreover, had the imperial envoy not been accompanied by two Fifth-Rank experts, he might truly have lost his head. If they pursue me for dereliction of duty, I would have nothing to argue.”
…
Old Seven frowned.
Yin Xingtian continued,
“In all likelihood, I will be stripped of my Hall Master position and removed from Sanhe Commandery for a time. I have already decided—since you personally took the assassin’s head and earned tremendous merit, I will recommend you as Acting Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery. That way, we can stabilize our people and prevent someone else from being parachuted in and sweeping everything away.”
Shock flashed across Old Seven’s face.
“Me?”
“You understand the situation in Sanhe Commandery. Your reputation within the hall has already spread. Once I gather everyone and make the announcement, there should not be much resistance.”
“However, we lost many in this incident… Two Helm Leaders and one Island Master are dead. We also lost eight Second-Rank elites. There may be unrest among the various businesses. You must fill those gaps as quickly as possible.”
Yin Xingtian had effectively already placed Old Seven in the position of Acting Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery—with full confidence.
Old Seven could only bow his head and accept.
“I will guard the industries of Sanhe Commandery for you, Hall Master. Even if it costs me my life, I will not fail.”
Yin Xingtian nodded with a smile.
“When you handle matters, I am at ease.”
“By the way…”
His tone shifted. “During your time with the Yulong Gang, what did you observe? On the ship today, I noticed the young man Yang Feiyue recommended—Wangchuan, was it? He appears to have already reached the state of a Second-Rank martial artist. We can consider recruiting him.”
“You are perceptive, Hall Master.”
Old Seven nodded. “Wangchuan has indeed broken through to Second-Rank.”
“In the siege against the assassin, both Yang Feiyue and Wangchuan made contributions…”
“If not for the two of them poisoning the assassin with snake venom from the Five Poison Sect, worsening his injuries, I might not have found the opportunity to behead him. He might have broken through despite his wounds.”
Old Seven’s words made Yin Xingtian’s eyes light up.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“So they rendered considerable service this time.”
“Yes.”
“I have always rewarded merit and punished fault. In that case, take one thousand taels in gold notes and two Third-Rank martial arts manuals. Deliver them to Yang Feiyue for distribution.”
“As for Wangchuan…”
“Three lucrative vacancies have opened within the hall, along with a batch of minor leader positions. Old Seven, you arrange it.”
Yin Xingtian intended for Old Seven to play the role of benefactor.
“Yes!”
Old Seven accepted with a fist salute.
…
“Wangchuan.”
“I have made some inquiries.”
“Regarding the imperial envoy’s dragon boat attack last time—two Helm Leaders and one Island Master of the Caobang died. Those are lucrative posts.”
“What a pity.”
“If Hall Master Yin can remain in Sanhe Commandery, you might have had a chance to step into one of them. At the very least, you could have secured a Deputy Helm Leader position…”
While Su Wangchuan trained in his courtyard, Yang Feiyue sat nearby offering guidance, rambling on about the news trickling back from the Prefectural Government.
From him, Su Wangchuan learned that:
The imperial envoy’s dragon boat had already left Sanhe Commandery and headed north toward the capital.
At the same time, the Caobang had mobilized all its forces to investigate the assassin’s identity, but they had yet to uncover his background.
In that battle, the Caobang suffered heavy losses…
Two Helm Leaders, one Island Master, and seven or eight Second-Rank martial artists perished.
Nearly a hundred inner and outer disciples had died as well.
What pained Yang Feiyue most was that three lucrative positions had opened within the Caobang hall—each of great importance.
Through his explanation, Su Wangchuan gained a clearer picture of the Caobang’s structure.
The Caobang controlled the Sanhe River near Sanhe Commandery, as well as two tributaries.
The Sanhe River connected east and west, while the two tributaries ran north and south.
Thus, within the Sanhe Commandery hall, the Caobang appointed three Helm Leaders, each responsible for one waterway.
There were four docks in Sanhe Commandery.
Three were located outside the Prefectural City, each overseeing shipping operations for the Sanhe River and the two tributaries. The branch helms were established in nearby towns, roughly ten li from the city.
Additionally, a dock was established inside the Prefectural City itself, forming the fourth branch helm—known as the General Helm of Sanhe Commandery.
These four branch helms were managed by four Helm Leaders.
Each branch controlled an entire waterway and monopolized all shipping business in the commandery. Their scale was enormous—far beyond what the Yulong Gang could compare to. Their revenue and profits were staggering.
Each Helm Leader commanded over two hundred subordinates with Quasi-Martial Artist cultivation. Nearly a thousand dock laborers made their living under them.
As for the General Helm, there was no need to elaborate.
All major trade within the commandery passed through its dock before being distributed to the three branch helms. It had the greatest oil and the most real power.
Unfortunately…
The one who died was not the General Helm Leader.
The two who died were branch Helm Leaders—one responsible for the Sanhe River, and one for the Leishui tributary.
Their deaths stirred unrest among the Caobang’s Second-Rank martial artists.
Many were already pulling strings and seeking connections, all for the sake of securing those two lucrative posts.
Yet Su Wangchuan found himself more drawn to the third vacancy—
The Island Master of White Egret Island.
White Egret Island was a mountainous island located between the Sanhe River and the Leishui tributary. It covered a considerable area. The mountains held iron and copper mines. Disciples could fish, smelt pig iron, forge weapons for trade, and collect protection fees. On the surface, it appeared relatively safe.