Chapter 362: The Ceiling for Ordinary People

This time, when Old Seven returned from Qinghe Commandery, he truly did intend to recruit men on a large scale and strengthen the hall’s power.

Wangchuan’s proposals—to release martial arts manuals, recruit more people, and hold an internal tournament for the hall a month later—all struck exactly where Old Seven itched. Once the three Hall Masters began discussing it, they quickly reached a decision:

Do it!!

The Four Helms, Three Islands, Seven Mines, and the men of the hall itself—all Ranked Martial Artists—would be allowed to register for this tournament.

And more than that!

As long as one was Ranked and placed in the rankings, there would be a reward of at least ten taels of gold.

This time, there would be both a first-rank tournament and a second-rank tournament!

For the first-rank tournament, twenty places were set aside. The rewards ranged from low to high, starting at ten taels of gold and going up to one hundred taels of gold, plus two second-rank martial arts manuals.

For the second-rank martial artist tournament, because of the smaller number of participants, only ten places were set. The rewards likewise ranged from ten taels of gold to one hundred taels of gold, plus two third-rank martial arts manuals.

Once Wangchuan announced the release of martial arts manuals and the rewards for all disciples of the Four Helms, Three Islands, and Seven Mines, the hall remained lively for several days, with people coming in an endless stream to the Armory Manual Vault to collect copied manuals.

The more than ten men in charge of the various areas grew even more respectful toward Wangchuan.

Once the news of the internal tournament spread through the hall, everyone became restless with anticipation! But there were also some who showed little interest.

As for that...

Wangchuan noticed it all, but said nothing.

Anyone with confidence naturally hoped to stand out;

those unwilling to compete were, for the most part, useless baggage.

That did not stop him from greeting all the area heads and arranging work for the employees of his Sanjiang Studio.

Although the Three Islands and Seven Mines were not as prosperous as the Four Helms, every one of those places could easily take in a few dozen people and still keep them fed.

The newly hired employees of Sanjiang Studio were soon assigned to the Three Islands and Seven Mines. On the very day they officially joined, they were already allowed to collect martial arts manuals from the Armory Manual Vault.

That was why people said it was easier to get things done when you had people in power backing you.

Li Na also moved with her usual speed and force. Overnight, she selected temporary leaders from among the group, raised their monthly salaries, put them in charge of daily coordination, and set down rules. It was a standard two-point line, and no one was allowed to stir up unnecessary trouble.

Wangchuan made a special trip to the Six Gates and presented Gold Notes in thanks to Constable Captain He and Constable Captain Yu.

In his delight, Constable Captain He personally reserved a table at the best restaurant in the prefectural seat and treated Wangchuan to a return banquet.

At the banquet, the three men exchanged cups and drank together to their hearts’ content. Before long, their relationship drew much closer, and even their forms of address became more casual.

“Wangchuan.”

“Among the people of the Sanhe Commandery hall, Old Seven is a capable man, and Lin Cunxin is no slouch either, but the one Old Yu and I think most highly of is still you!”

“That’s right!”

“Decisive, daring, and with real drive. The key thing is that you’re young and gifted. In the future, your position will absolutely not stop at some mere Deputy Hall Master!”

Half-drunk, Constable Captain Yu patted Wangchuan on the shoulder and said, “Unlike us, we’re getting old. A Six Gates Constable Captain is already our ceiling.”

“How could the two honored sirs say such a thing? The two of you are in your prime! This is your fighting age!”

“Back then, Huishui County was full of demons and monsters! Constable Captain Yu rode lightly into Huishui County to investigate the case. Whether it was the Five Poisons Sect, the Nu Tao Gang, or Blackwind Stronghold, who dared show their face? Not one of them dared leap out and make trouble. Nothing happened in Huishui County that winter, and everyone passed the New Year in safety—all thanks to Constable Captain Yu!”

“Hahahaha...”

Wangchuan brought up old matters again, and Constable Captain Yu was so delighted by the praise that he drained his cup on the spot and laughed without end.

Raising his own cup, Wangchuan turned to Constable Captain He.

“When the Blood Moon hung high, the monster swept in from the river wrapped in blood mist and charged into the dock at Hejiang Town. My Sanjiang Branch Helm lost more than ten skilled men. That day, no one dared leave their doors. The hall was in a panic, the city defense would not move, and every great family and local faction trembled in fear. Yet only Constable Captain He...”

Wangchuan’s expression grew solemn, his eyes full of admiration.

“Rode alone beneath the moon!”

“You crossed Hejiang! Stormed Heilong! Battled the blood mist! They say Zhao Zilong was courage itself! You, sir, are Zhao Zilong from head to toe! I drink to you!”

“Hahahaha...”

The two Constable Captains burst into laughter!

“What a line—‘Zhao Zilong from head to toe.’ Come! I’ll join him in this toast, and together Hall Master Wangchuan and I will drink to Constable Captain He Zilong! Hahaha...”

Constable Captain Yu rose to his feet and raised his cup.

The three cups clinked together.

The wine within was drained in a single swallow.

Deeply moved, Constable Captain Yu said, “Wangchuan!”

“In all these years, the two of us have handled countless cases and met many young men from many factions, but someone like you is the first...”

“You fought your way from the villages to Huishui County. In just a few months, more than one famous veteran of Sanhe Commandery has fallen by your hand. And now, before you have even turned twenty, you have already taken down a Beggar Sect sub-branch, a Five Poisons Sect branch helm, and command more than a thousand Caobang disciples. Tsk, tsk... extraordinary.”

Wangchuan was not drunk.

When he heard Constable Captain Yu say that, his face turned pale with fright.

“Constable Captain Yu!”

“You are drunk.”

“I never did that. The matter of the Beggar Sect sub-branch has nothing to do with me.”

The matter of the Beggar Sect sub-branch was an unsolved headless case. If he openly took it onto himself, he might not even know how he died one day.

Constable Captain Yu and Constable Captain He exchanged a smile.

“Yes, yes, yes, I misspoke. The Beggar Sect sub-branch has nothing to do with you.”

“Come, come, drink.”

The meaning in their words was plain enough.

In the eyes of the Six Gates, those little secrets of his were nothing at all.

After several rounds of wine,

Constable Captain He lowered his voice and asked, “Wangchuan.”

“This tournament your hall is organizing—your handiwork, wasn’t it?”

“Why does Constable Captain He ask?”

Wangchuan’s heart stirred.

Constable Captain He exchanged a glance with Constable Captain Yu and laughed softly.

“Lin Cunxin never cares about such things, and Old Seven rose from doing dirty work, so he does not like open displays that are too lively or conspicuous... Old Yu and I turned it over again and again, and in the end we both felt that only you could have done something like this.”

“An internal tournament is a good thing. It will let you see clearly the problems inside and outside your Sanhe Commandery and keep them all firmly in mind. You should also take this chance to carve the name Wangchuan into the heart of every Caobang disciple—especially to carry your name into the ears of the great figures at Caobang headquarters.”

Constable Captain Yu nodded beside him.

“...”

Wangchuan stared blankly for a moment.

“Wangchuan is dull-witted. I ask the two Constable Captains to enlighten me.”

Constable Captain He leaned forward, came closer, and spoke in a very serious low voice.

“Who is the Caobang’s greatest patron? The court! The Ministry of Revenue! The Transport Commission! Why do you think the Caobang was able to rise so quickly? Because the people above nodded their approval.”

“A Caobang disciple may spend his entire life reaching no higher than the position you hold now. That is the limit! If you want to go any further—if you want to become a Hall Master—the people above must nod their heads!”

“Do you understand what that means?”

In an instant, Wangchuan felt as though he had been struck by sudden enlightenment.

The reason Yin Xingtian had been able to become a Hall Master was because he had been placed there by the people above.

That was why Old Seven could sit in the Hall Master’s seat;

and that was why Yin Xingtian had always been searching for a hall to take over.

But as for everyone else...

they simply did not have that qualification!

Because the great figures above did not even know who he was.

This internal tournament, however, was precisely a chance to let the people above know of his existence.