Qixian County Town, the backyard of the fine white grains.

"Ma Dianshi," Li Yan bowed to Ma Dianshi, the county government office, and said, "Do you have news today?"

Dianshi is an official who is not a good person, that is, he can't even get into the ninth rank. They should be officials, different from officials and are not formal government officials. They just assist county magistrates, chief clerks, and county magistrates to handle affairs in prefectures and counties. Officials can be promoted, but as officials, at most, they will be promoted from gangs to Dianshi, and they will still be unavailable when they reach the top.

But then again, these officials are all locals, and the county officials are all tested by study exams, and generally have no administrative experience. Therefore, these officials can truly control the operation of the entire prefecture and county. Even if the county officials are in office, they are capable, but they are appointed once every three years, and they are all outsiders. When the county officials find out a trick, they should be fully appointed or promoted. These officials can still continue to control the power of the prefecture and county.

Over time, these officials became local tyrants. In addition, they lived in this place for generations and were mixed with each other, and their power became their family's things. The children and grandchildren passed on to control the power of prefectures and counties. The so-called "If you have a clear official, you will be as clear as water, but the officials will be as smooth as oil." In addition to Hai Rui's stubborn mind, there are really few county officials who can beat the officials. Therefore, the usual practice is that county officials and officials live in harmony, county officials continue to study and write poems, and officials manage prefectures and counties well. As long as there is no big mistake, it is enough to be a middle-level exam, and county officials are waiting for promotion or transfer.

However, there are people in the world, and even two people have to separate the elder brother and the second brother. Therefore, the officials also have struggles, so they will not form a real powerful family. At most, the rich will fall into decline after several generations. Ma Dianshi is a person who has a wealthy ancestor, but now he has to make extra money to get enough. When it comes to workshops, there were still some oil and water yamen, but after Wanli, the county did not work to repair the canal embankment, and the workshops became a useless position.

Ma Dianshi took a sip of tea before saying, "Mr. Li, the time is wrong."

"How do you say this?" Li Yan bowed and said, "I hope Ma Dianshi will give you advice."

Ma Dianshi said: "The bandits have not come yet. The county master feels that the current defenders are already enough, so he has no idea of ​​recruiting village soldiers. Moreover, the city walls of the county town have just been rebuilt and are strong and tall, and the county master has no intention of adding soldiers."

"If the thief really comes, there will be no chance for the soldiers in Zengji Township if they want to do so?" Li Yan said casually.

Ma Dianshi smiled and said, "There are more than 20,000 people in the city. If they are really besieged by thieves, men, women, young and old will go to the city. As long as they can hold on for a while, they will wait for the government troops outside to rescue them."

"Oh, that's it." Li Yan thought for a while, and then said, "Ma Dianshi, can you find a way to make me meet with the county master?"

"This," Ma Dianshi said in embarrassment: "It's not easy."

"After the matter is done, give Dianshi a stone of food. How about it?" Li Yan used food as a temptation. Now that the locusts pass by, the food price has risen again, and it has reached a thousand five-point rice, and one stone is a considerable amount.

After thinking for a while, Ma Dianshi decided not to bargain and to take the initiative to become the leader of the country soldiers, there should be a group of brothers under his command. Now the world is in chaos, and the military soldiers who were used as slaves have increased their value, so it is better to have a good relationship.

"Every sixteenth month, the county master will go to Huibin Building to eat a meal of Shandong cuisine. Tomorrow will be sixteenth, which shows that the young master is a blessed person." Ma Dianshi said proudly, touching his beard.

Li Yan bowed to Ma Dianshi and said, "Then I'll thank Ma Dianshi first."

"You're welcome, you're welcome."

At noon the next day, Li Yan and Ma Dianshi met and arrived at Huibin Tower not far from the yamen.

Ma Dianshi took Li Yan straight to a private room on the second floor and knocked carefully at the door.

"No need to serve." The person inside gave a random command and there was no sound.

Ma Dianshi said respectfully: "The county master, below is the workshop dianshi Ma Huicheng. I heard that the county master is here for dinner, so I came to pay a visit."

Su Jing has been here for more than two years, and he can still remember several classics from the county. So he ordered: "Come in."

Ma Dianshi took Li Yan in, knelt down to County Magistrate Su, and kowtowed, "I'm here to pay homage to the county master."

Li Yan, wearing a scholar's robe, did not kneel, but just bowed to the end and said, "The student has met the county magistrate."

County Magistrate Su nodded and said, "Get up." Then he glanced at Li Yan and asked, "Do you have any fame?"

"Students are dull in qualifications and have no success in learning." Li Yan replied politely. He is a tribute student and can participate in the provincial examination. However, now that his fame has been eliminated, he cannot use Li Xin's real name, so he has to say that he has not won the exam.

County Magistrate Su was a little dissatisfied. A man without fame and fortune didn't kneel down. He was really unceremonious. If he were in the yamen, he would have been serving him long ago! However, this was a restaurant, so he ignored Li Yan and asked Ma Dianshi: "Ma Dianshi, what's the matter with you when you come here?"

"I have nothing to do. It's because Mr. Li has something to do to meet the county master." Ma Dianshi said nervously.

County Magistrate Su didn't say anything. After waiting for a while, he began to continue eating. He ate very politely and chewed slowly, and ignored the two of them.

Li Yan didn't say anything and waited patiently until County Magistrate Su finished eating, and then bowed and said, "County Master, the student came here to recommend himself."

Su Jing glanced at Li Yan, and did not speak, but drank tea slowly.

"Although students failed to study, they still have some experience in martial arts. Now bandits are rampant, and it is the time for students to serve their lives. The students have just a few brothers, so they want to ask the county magistrate to give a warrant to allow students to start a group training and establish a village soldier." Li Yan continued.

Su Jing finally spoke and asked, "How many people do you have?"

"Fifty people." Li Yan answered immediately, increasing the number of people a little.

Su Jing sneered, said nothing, and continued to drink tea slowly.

Li Yan waited for a while and found that Su Jing was not interested in continuing, so he continued: "County Master, the student is called Li Yan. If you need a student, please send someone to Qilizhai, outside Xicheng. The students will definitely be a good job."

After Su Jing finished drinking tea, the food was almost gone. He said nothing and left the private room.

Ma Dianshi looked at Su Jing who had left and said with some concern: "Oh, young master, you are ready to come again, and you will still implicate me."

Li Yan bowed to Ma Dianshi and said, "I thanked Ma Dianshi, remember to go to the grain store to get the food."

When Li Yan went downstairs and passed by the counter, the young man stopped him, took a tael of silver to him, and said, "The guest in the private room said that he can afford to pay for the meal, and I will give it to you."
Chapter completed!