Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Speaking of this place, an overwhelming sense of pride filled him, he raised his head and puffed out his chest, exuding confidence. Li Xian thought: "No wonder Princess An Yang called it bragging when I said I would succeed as the Silver-Faced Officer within three years. So many people vie for this common position without status or rank. Advancing to ’Mud-Faced’ or ’Mud-Ranked’... It must be even fiercer."

The difficulty of this situation was already evident.

The constable continued: "I have served for three years, and my family is proud of me, my brothers see me as a role model, and my sister considers me a leader. Although my monthly salary is not much, merely four taels of silver, my family are Yu People in Jade City with an ancestral home. Four taels of silver is sufficient to sustain the family’s food and drink, and there is no need for worry."

"Moreover, the position offers good treatment as it mainly involves escorting you debt slaves. It’s relatively easy and idle, allowing time to practice martial arts. There are often luxurious items like jade paste and divine balm distributed. Every season there is a banquet, offering two coins’ worth of Essence Treasure. When the respected ones cook, they share Essence Soup for all to drink. If one achieves merit or performs outstandingly, more rewards can be given. With perseverance, one can further obtain martial arts."

"After a few years of nourishment here, once I reach a level of food essence mastery, with help from my uncle’s operations, I can seek a ’Mud-Ranked’ or ’Mud-Faced’ position. By then, the treatment will be considerably higher. Although starting as a lowly constable here at Qingning Tower, if the path is smooth, there are predecessors who reached ’Bronze-Ranked Mud-Faced’ level."

The Cottage Swordsman complimented: "Your future is promising, congratulations, congratulations."

The constable, extremely proud, said: "Naturally. You debt slaves are unfamiliar with Jade City’s rules at this point. Perhaps you only see me as arrogantly boasting, looking down on me inwardly. After staying in Jade City for a few years and reflecting back, you will realize the weight of my words. When you see me in the future, you will call ’Sir’ willingly and sincerely."

"Martial arts strength is indeed important. However, the ’status and rank’ in Jade City is the fundamental for doing things and enjoying life."

A prisoner sighed: "It is said that ’In troubled times, being a county magistrate is not as good as being a constable in Jade City.’ This saying does seem to hold some truth."

The constable, keen to talk, said: "Although I have never been out of Jade City, I have indeed seen quite a few magistrates, like you said, and I have some understanding. Hehe, outside people like you, if you lack some influence or background, how could you succeed as a county magistrate? You probably couldn’t. However, people like us as constables, who work hard as Yu People, through diligent study and training, can ultimately succeed. This is why Jade City stands firm, while Great Wu is on the verge of falling."

The Wine Elder sipped a mouthful of strong liquor and said leisurely: "This statement appears narrow-minded and biased. Jade City, although large, is ultimately just a city compared to Great Wu. Jade City is easier to manage, but Great Wu is difficult."

Li Xian secretly calculated: "This person is a Jade City constable, similar in nature to prison guards. I once served as a Martial Captain, managing regional Jianghu affairs. Knowing the prison guards in Qingning County have a monthly salary of only ’one hundred and thirty wen,’ and sometimes it’s not even paid, they resort to extorting prisoners. In a county, they act arrogantly, yet live comfortably. This person’s monthly salary is ’four taels’ of silver. It shows Jade City’s prosperity and more trade items. Although I am in debt, if I leverage my abilities, find ways to earn money, my fourteen thousand taels of silver debt should be repaid faster."

The mood slightly eased.

The constable continued enthusiastically until someone argued, greatly angering him. He stopped speaking and hurriedly led the prisoners to the interrogation rooms.

In the interrogation room, each seat had an official sitting, with a scribe nearby. Separated from Li Xian by a screen, neither could see each other’s faces, but their voices were clear. The room was small; if Li Xian were to violently attack, he would have to go through the screen. The screen was Jade City’s ’Heavenly Craft, Stop Weapon Gauze,’ designed to envelop, restrict, and capture people.

Li Xian looked around and saw a wooden chair in the center. The official gestured for Li Xian to sit, then took out documents to review Li Xian’s life record.

The official said: "Surname Li, first name Xian. Four years ago, your elder brother owed Jade City fourteen thousand taels and fled. Brother’s debt is repaid by the youth, falling upon you. Are you aware of this?"

Li Xian replied: "I am unaware." The official laughed and said: "Even if unaware, it doesn’t matter. Since you’ve arrived at Jade City, you should focus on repaying the debt. Bring the abacus."

The scribe brought forth a jade abacus. The official started calculating with his fingers, saying: "Your elder brother Li Gui, although he only owed Jade City fourteen thousand taels of silver, he disappeared for years without a trace. Where did he go? If you provide accurate clues, and we capture him, you two brothers repay together, far better than you doing it alone."

Li Xian truthfully said: "I don’t know." The official shook his head: "It’s a pity then, since you don’t know, it’s a matter of accounts only. Your brother Li Gui borrowed fourteen thousand taels of silver from Jade City · Ji Family Money Shop, later lost to the gambling stone establishment, bankrupting himself and the Li Family mortgaged their property, wrote a debt note, left the city to gather funds for repayment. He never returned, vanished."

"The property was confiscated; the fourteen thousand taels debt was not cleared, thus being transferred to you. Consider it as borrowing from the Ji Family Money Shop, according to the shop’s rules, the monthly interest is four percent; you need to repay at least five hundred and sixty taels each month." Four years have passed with no news, so now you owe Jade City..."

The official placed the final abacus counter down, looking on with interest: "Ninety-one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven taels of silver, let’s say ninety-two thousand taels. How’s that? Does my calculation have any errors?"

Li Xian frowned, realizing his inexperience, oversimplifying things. Qingyao appeared sympathetic, likely expecting this situation. Jade City excels in calculation, with compound interest multiplying amounts many times over.

Though fourteen thousand taels of silver doesn’t seem excessive, for a typical martial artist setting up five cauldrons, if seeking paths and leveraging Jade City’s prosperity, it might be repaid swiftly. But ninety-two thousand taels is daunting. The monthly interest alone is thirty-six hundred taels, enough to set up cauldrons monthly.