The Military Governor's Office of the Great Han Empire was no different than the military region of all levels in his previous incarnation. The Military Governor of the Military Governor's Office was equivalent to the commanding officer of the military region of all levels. If Pingxi Prefecture was seen as a municipal unit, then the Military Governor's Office of Pingxi Prefecture was similar to that of the commander of the municipal unit.
Under the Military Governor's Office, there was a standing army division as well as a good deal amount of staff. Usually, the standing army under the Military Governor's Office was responsible for undertaking various garrison duties. In turn, the Military Governor's Office was responsible for filling in every position in the staff structure.
Similarly, the Military Governor's Office was also under the administration of the Prefectural Governor. The Military Governor of a prefecture's Military Governor's Office had to take responsibility for the Prefectural Governor.
While Yan Liqiang was recalling the little knowledge he had about the Military Governor's Office from his mind, he entered the Military Governor's Office with Shi Changfeng. At the same time, he was wondering deep down the reason as to why the Military Governor of the Military Governor's Office would want to meet a nobody like him.
The inner walls of the Military Governor's Office had tight security,; it was a large manor with high walls. They were soldiers that were decked out in gear standing guard everywhere and those who passed by were all military officers of different ranks. A military officer brought Shi Changfeng and Yan Liqiang into one of the drawing rooms in the Military Governor's Office, requesting them to wait in this area for a while. He didn't even offer them tea and left immediately after that.
Two soldiers stood at the drawing room's entrance. A majestic painting of a vicious tiger roaring in the mountain was suspended in the center of the drawing room. The main seat of the drawing room was vacant. The other furnishings were pithy, simple and plain, and had a strong military design to it. Yan Liqiang sat next to Shi Changfeng. While he was checking out the surroundings, he caught sight of the painting of a vicious tiger roaring in the mountain, and he naturally thought of the scenario in the Water Margin where Lin Chong was tricked to go to White Tiger Hall. He laughed at himself on the inside. A nobody like him wasn't worthy of being handled by an esteemed Military Governor. He cautiously eyed Shi Changfeng's expression and discovered that he didn't appear grim, and he didn't look like he was concerned either. Only then did Yan Liqiang feel a little bit at ease.
"Teacher, why does the Military Governor wish to see me?" Yan Liqiang whispered to Shi Changfeng upon observing that no one was around.
"Do you have any idea of the scale of the commotion that those Shatu men caused yesterday in Pingxi City?" Shi Changfeng shot a glance at Yan Liqiang with a smile on his face. "And it was rumored that the one who caused this was the person that placed first in the Qinghe County Martial Arts Examination. So the Military Governor naturally needs to see it for himself!"
Yan Liqiang laughed dryly and rubbed his face. "I am not that capable! I was just at the right place at the right time. I couldn't turn my back away at the sight of injustice and I shouted. That's all..."
"Hahaha! Such a good 'couldn't turn my back away at the sight of injustice and shouted'..." A loud, hearty laugh traveled from behind them. As soon as he finished, the Military Governor of the Pingxi Prefecture Military Governor's Office, Huangfu Qianqi, had already taken large strides with a majestic gait into the drawing room.
Upon seeing Shi Changfeng stand up, Yan Liqiang also stood up in a flurry.
"Sit! Sit! Sit! Don't be courteous! This is neither the field headquarters nor the Military Governor's Office's court of law. We will just be casually conversing today. There's no need to be reserved…" Huangfu Qianqi smiled, requesting Shi Changfeng and Yan Liqiang to sit down. Then, he also sat himself down on the main seat.
After Yan Liqiang sat down, he stole a serious glance at the number one character in Pingxi Prefecture's military forces, sizing him up and down. Huangfu Qianqi had a majestic figure — he was dressed in durable maroon armor with thin scales, and he wasn't wearing a helmet. To someone who was successful in cultivation, it wasn't easy to determine the exact age. However, he appeared as though he was around fifty. The two locks of hair on his temples were slightly white. He had tiger-like eyes and thick brows, looking very mighty and awe-inspiring. From his aura, the realm that Huangfu Qianqi was at was undoubtedly above Martial Master Shi Changfeng. It was just that he wasn't entirely sure what grade was he in.
After sitting down, Huangfu Qianqi also sized Yan Liqiang up and down. Yan Liqiang's fourteen-year-old and handsome appearance had slightly caught him by surprise. If he hadn't seen him personally this time, Huangfu Qianqi would have never believed that a handsome young lad like him could crush those three Shatu men at the city gates. He heard that two out of the three had even been left crippled by him.
A trace of amazement flashed past Huangfu Qianqi's eyes. "You're Yan Liqiang? The one who stood up bravely and soundly beat up those Shatu men?"
"Liqiang pays his respects to the Military Governor!" Yan Liqiang stood once more and bowed to Huangfu Qianqi. He then said modestly, "The ones who genuinely subdued the Shatu people to the point that they could not budge yesterday were the respective soldiers and officers from the Northern gates. I only did what I needed to do!"
Yan Liqiang's modesty caused another eruption of laughter from Huangfu Qianqi. He gestured Yan Liqiang to sit back down and asked happily, "I have to go to Qinghe County for at least one or two times annually to inspect the armaments in the county. At times, I will pass by it and rest for half a day. Where is your home located in Qinghe County? What does your father do for a living?"
"My home is situated at Liuhe Town in Qinghe County. Only my father and I stay there. My father is the town's blacksmith by trade and we have some field properties back home. My father is also operating a blacksmith workshop!"
"Blacksmith! Not bad. Not bad. You come from a good family. If that's the case, then do you know how to forge ironware?" the Military Governor asked with interest.
"I was inspired since my youth so I know a meager amount!" Yan Liqiang naturally wouldn't know only that little. It could be said that whatever Yan Dechang knew, Yan Liqiang knew it well too. As for those special skills that Yan Dechang had yet to impart to his previous disciple, Yan Liqiang had already mastered them. The only difference was that Yan Liqiang's experience was still lacking compared to Yan Dechang's.
"Judging by your skills, you must at least have passed the Horse Stance stage?"
"I have in fact already passed the Horse Stance stage!"
"Good. But I fear that those who passed the Horse Stance stage might not even have the capability to win first place in Qinghe County's Martial Arts Examination!" Huangfu Qianqi nodded. "May I know if you have passed the Stretching Tendon and Extending Bone stage?"
"I have yet to pass that stage!"
"Yesterday, those Shatu men said they will seek you to exact their revenge. May I know how you are planning to deal with it?"
Yan Liqiang lowered his gaze and calmly replied, "I will just deal with it when the time comes. I train diligently and unremittingly every single day without fail to move forward. Should those Shatu men dare to approach me, I will definitely kill them!"
Huangfu Qianqi stroked his beard as he narrowed his eyes at Yan Liqiang. The more he looked at him, the more satisfied he was with his demeanor. He muttered to himself irresolutely for two seconds before opening his mouth to speak. "Among the bodyguards by my side, I'm still lacking a man to run errands and feed the horses. I wonder if you're willing to work as a military personnel by my side in the Military Governor's Office? Yeah, you're still young, so even if you're my bodyguard, you cannot be considered a main soldier. You can only start from the lowest-ranked position of an auxiliary soldier first. Give it some consideration!"
Working as the bodyguard of the Military Governor?
Huangfu Qianqi's suggestion abruptly gave Yan Liqiang the shock of his life. As the saying went, an official of the seventh rank would guard a prime minister's door. How could the post of a bodyguard of a prefecture's Military Governor be held by average men? The position itself was on the same level as a leading secretary. Although an auxiliary soldier was the lowest military rank, this was mainly because he hadn't come of age yet. Thus, it was just a title. Having lived for two incarnations, if Yan Liqiang still couldn't figure out that the Military Governor wished to promote and cultivate him at this time, then he had truly lived in vain for his entire two lives.
Yan Liqiang's little heart was thumping loudly. He shifted his gaze to Shi Changfeng and discovered Shi Changfeng to be stunned by the revelation as well. He didn't appear to expect that Huangfu Qianqi would directly request him to be his own bodyguard. "Teacher, this..."
Shi Changfeng understood what Yan Liqiang wanted to ask. He smiled. "You're free within the martial arts academy. The students themselves manage their own times. You only have one lesson a week. Quite a number of the students from the martial arts academy have their own duties and livelihoods. A few of the military officers and commandants are the martial arts academy's students in Pingxi City. You can attend one of my classes in literature and history every half month. If you have the ambition to serve in the army, I'm sure the Military Governor will not give you too many tasks to attend to so it wouldn't affect your lessons at the martial arts academy."
"I only have four bodyguards by my side now. They have already advanced on as Martial Warriors. If you're willing, you are only required to come to my office every week to help me look after the steeds before you advance as a Martial Warrior. Nobody would dare to lay a hand on you once you are appointed as my bodyguard in Pingxi City. Should the Shatu men dare to provoke you or even exact their vengeance on you, feel free to let go and kill…"
Since the Military Governor had said so to this extent, if Yan Liqiang still declined the request, then that would truly give birth to the consequences of defying Heaven for not accepting it. Without hesitation, he immediately stood up and saluted while paying his respects to Huangfu Qianqi once more. "Yan Liqiang pays his respects to the Military Governor!"
Huangfu Qianqi burst out into a hearty laugh and beckoned towards the doorway immediately. A highly-capable young looking commandant instantly walked in, who was around thirty years old. Huangfu Qianqi directly pointed at Yan Liqiang as he told the commandant, "This is Yan Liqiang, a newly recruited bodyguard. His military rank will temporarily be assigned as an auxiliary soldier. Hongjie, bring him along to do the formalities and get an army token. After that, take him for a spin around the manor and enlighten him. He will still need to study at the martial arts academy in the future..."