Daqian Martial Saint

The Special Envoy from the Weishui Garrison turned out to be an old acquaintance of Chen Ping’an’s: Zhao Lianzhi, the Bureau Chief of the Dispatching Bureau. After their previous encounters, they were on fairly good personal terms.

By the time Zhao Lianzhi hurried to Five Peaks Mountain City, Chen Ping’an had just left. Unsure of Chen Ping’an’s exact schedule, he had been waiting there ever since.

In the rear courtyard of the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau, Chen Ping’an met with Zhao Lianzhi.

"Lord Zhao, we meet again?" Chen Ping’an said with a smile, walking forward.

"This humble official, Zhao Lianzhi, pays his respects to Commander Chen!"

This time, Zhao Lianzhi’s attitude was leagues more deferential than before.

Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, he first performed a deep, formal bow, followed by a flurry of solicitous inquiries. He adopted an extremely humble posture, utterly lacking the usual reserve of a Special Envoy.

Within the Garrison Commandant’s Office system, once an official’s rank reaches a certain level, a Special Envoy is dispatched to personally deliver the appointment orders and announce them on-site at the local branch. Typically, a Special Envoy is met with smiling faces and cheerful greetings wherever they go. All they need to do is maintain a dignified air and wait for the local Garrison Commandant’s Office to show its goodwill.

An attitude like Zhao Lianzhi’s was completely unheard of. He looked less like the Special Envoy announcing the appointment and more like the local official about to receive it, with Chen Ping’an being the envoy.

"Lord Chen, with the Long’an Trade Route now open and operational, petty criminals and malcontents have been stirring up trouble in cities all over. I witnessed more than a few scenes of chaos on my journey here. But arriving in Five Peaks Mountain City, I find it’s a world apart—an atmosphere of peace and harmony pervades everything! Your Lordship’s methods and abilities are truly something I can only look up to in awe."

"Lord Zhao, you flatter me. I am merely fulfilling my duties and doing what is expected of me," Chen Ping’an said with a smile, shaking his head.

"Lord Chen, there’s no need for such modesty. Your capabilities are widely known. Indeed, your methods and decisiveness are something we should all carefully observe and learn from."

Zhao Lianzhi’s string of ingratiating gestures did make Chen Ping’an a little curious about his new appointment. ’With an attitude like this, calling himself my subordinate... could it be...?’

After some more pleasantries, Chen Ping’an received two documents from Zhao Lianzhi. One was an appointment order from the Weishui Garrison; the other was a letter from the State Garrison Command that had been passed on via the Weishui Garrison.

Both documents were sealed with a special security wax seal at the opening, and an official stamp was also affixed to prevent forgery or tampering.

Visually, the second document appeared to have a higher security level. This was understandable, as it originated from the State Garrison Command.

Under Zhao Lianzhi’s watchful gaze, Chen Ping’an opened the first document: the appointment order.

Funnily enough, Chen Ping’an and Zhao Lianzhi had met several times, and each meeting had coincided with a promotion for Chen Ping’an. The last time they met, Zhao Lianzhi had even publicly announced his new appointment.

This time, however, he was only qualified to deliver the message, not to announce it.

"Hereby, it is noted that Chen Ping’an, Outer Trade Road Patrol Deputy Envoy, has, since his official enlistment, been dedicated to his duties, diligent in his work, and unwaveringly loyal, achieving merit on numerous occasions. The battle to encircle the Celestial Net Sect stronghold, in particular, has been recorded in the State Garrison Command’s annals of battle as a model case... He is truly a pillar of the Garrison Commandant’s Office..."

The appointment order was filled with effusive praise. In short, it was a long list extolling either Chen Ping’an’s youth and promise, his outstanding abilities, or his dedication to duty and meritorious service as a Garrison Commander.

"Rewards and punishments are the bedrock of the state, the very foundation of trust and integrity. Upon review by the Weishui Garrison and with the approval of the Canglong Province Garrison Command, Outer Trade Road Patrol Envoy Chen Ping’an is hereby promoted to Candidate for Commander-in-Chief! May this serve as a testament to his loyalty and an encouragement for his future endeavors."

"This appointment is effective immediately and shall be announced throughout the county and to all local Governor’s Offices, such that all are informed!"

At the bottom of the appointment order, the great seal of the Weishui Garrison was stamped.

Candidate for Commander-in-Chief!

Although he had his suspicions, seeing it written in black and white on the appointment order still caused a profound sense of accomplishment to well up within him.

’Candidate for Commander-in-Chief!’

Temporary constable, registered constable, Constable, Candidate for Deputy, Vice Inspector, Inspector, Candidate for Chief Constable, Vice Chief of the Patrol Office, Chief of the Patrol Office, Candidate for Commander, Deputy Commander, Commander-in-Chief...

Overcoming countless hurdles and after two long years, he had finally reached this stage, breaking into the command ranks of the Commander-in-Chief system!

A Candidate for Commander-in-Chief was considered absolute top brass, even within the Weishui Garrison, ranking above the various Bureau Chiefs. In Weishui County City, it was a highly prominent position, to say nothing of the wider county!

"This humble official, Zhao Lianzhi, congratulates you, Your Lordship, on your promotion to Candidate for Commander-in-Chief. Your Lordship’s rise has been meteoric. May your official career be ever prosperous!"

Zhao Lianzhi bowed deeply, clasping his hands in salute as he offered his loud congratulations.

"Lord Zhao, there is no need for such ceremony." Chen Ping’an smiled, making a small gesture with his hands to raise him, his demeanor as courteous as ever.

Hearing this, Zhao Lianzhi relaxed slightly. He had been worried that Chen Ping’an’s attitude might change drastically after his promotion. If that had happened, all his previous efforts to curry favor would have been for naught. Thankfully, Chen Ping’an was not that kind of person.

Zhao Lianzhi rose to his feet and looked at the handsome, spirited, and remarkably heroic young man before him, a wave of emotion washing over him.

When they first met, Chen Ping’an was still his subordinate in rank. Although he’d made a mental note to be friendly, his attitude hadn’t been overly solicitous. By their second meeting, the young man was already his equal. It was then that he began to intentionally cultivate their relationship, hoping it would pay off in the future.

And things had indeed played out as he’d anticipated, only much faster than he ever could have imagined. In the span of just a few short months, the young man had overcome every obstacle and become his superior.