Getting Simulated By The Empress Is Not My Intention - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Newbie Assessment

Ying Yiren didn’t have much contact with Zhang Beichen as she still had a lot of work to do.

“Your Highness, Zhang Beichen is just a nameless person. Baiyang County is a place of trouble and he isn’t from a famous family. If you let him manage Baiyang County, I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle it,” a man said respectfully to Ying Yiren in the assembly hall.

This man’s name was Jing Ping, he was previously Ying Yiren’s father’s loyal official. He was trained by the previous Qin Emperor to check and balance the officials of the old clans, and now he was Ying Yiren’s trusted aide.

In the simulation, Zhang Beichen had once sought refuge with him and became his hanger-on.

“It’s exactly because Baiyang County is a place of trouble that he should be sent there,” Ying Yiren replied calmly, “Zhang Beichen’s lack of family background is his strength.”

Hearing this, Jing Ping immediately understood and said, “In Baiyang County, the Bai family and the Yang family are fighting each other. The previous county magistrates did not dare to meddle with them. There are even some who colluded with them.”

“Your Highness is letting someone without any family background manage Baiyang County, so the Bai family and Yang family naturally wouldn’t conspire with him. But this way, managing the county would be double in difficulty!”

“It’s exactly because it’s difficult that I looked for him!” Ying Yiren also wanted to know if Zhang Beichen had the potential to grow as much as Zhang Beichen in the simulation.

She already knew that letting Zhang Beichen preside over the reform would strengthen Kingdom Qin. But now, her foundation wasn’t stable, and Zhang Beichen didn’t have any fame, so it was impossible for him to push for reform.

Therefore, she first found a high-difficulty dungeon to cultivate Zhang Beichen’s ability and help him gain fame.

Jing Ping did not think highly of Zhang Beichen, but it was not that he looked down on Zhang Beichen. It was just that ever since the establishment of Baiyang County, two out of the three county magistrates had been dismissed, and one of them had even died in his post. It was not something that ordinary people could handle!

Ying Yiren also thought of this. She called over the butler, Hu Cheng. She said, “Butler Hu, Zhang Beichen is going to Baiyang County to take up his new post. You must follow him and ensure his safety.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Hu Cheng cupped his fists.

“She actually asked Butler Hu to protect Zhang Beichen. Who is Zhang Beichen? The ruler values him that much?” Jing Ping was bewildered.

Hu Cheng was the former commander of the Qin King’s Imperial Guards! Although he was already old, he was still mighty. Ordinary small fries and demons could not do anything to him.

It was strange that Ying Yiren had sent such a person to protect a minor county magistrate!

…

Zhang Beichen had already gotten an official position. The first thing he did was to fulfill his promise and treat the beggars to a full meal.

Zhang Beichen brought porridge, steamed buns, and some lamb. He treated the beggars to a meal, and the beggars thanked him.

“Your words were true, my Lord!”

“Thank you, my Lord!”

“I knew that my Lord wasn’t an ordinary person. As expected, the monarch placed you in an important position!”

Zhang Beichen looked at the beggars in front of him who were wolfing down their food and asked, “Old brothers, how did you all end up in such a state?”

At the mention of this, the beggars sighed, “We used to be farmers with fields, but due to years of war, some of our lands were occupied by enemy kingdoms. Some of us had to sell our land to the aristocrats because of poverty, and some of us were sick and ill. In short, we all have no money now and can only live from day to day!”

“People like us, who are strong and have a skill, might have a chance to be slaves for the aristocrats. As for the others, I reckon they can only wait for death!”

Zhang Beichen looked at their emaciated appearance and knew how weak Kingdom Qin was now. Refugees and beggars like this could be seen everywhere. It was also because of this that there were many bandits who occupied the mountains and robbed people.

The current situation of Kingdom Qin was filled with internal and external troubles!

The newly-ascended Qin Empress, Ying Yiren, had an unstable foundation. Even if she wanted to reform the kingdom, the people below her wouldn’t cooperate.

“Do you know what’s going on in Baiyang County?” Zhang Beichen asked again.

At the mention of this, one of the beggars said, “Baiyang County? That place isn’t for humans to stay!”

Zhang Beichen handed him a few steamed buns and said, “Old brother, please tell me in detail.”

“The reason why Baiyang County is called Baiyang County is that there are two major clans, the Bai and Yang families,” the beggar said, “The Yang family was originally a local power with many clansmen. Half of the county’s land was theirs.”

“As for the Bai family of the Baiyang County, it is a branch of the Bai family, one of the three great families in Kingdom Qin. They are not weak either. In Baiyang County, you are either a member of these two families or their slave or tenant. Otherwise, you will not be able to survive!”

“Moreover, these two families often fight over fields and water sources, and some people die every time it happens. I heard that a few days ago, they even killed the local county magistrate! Even the government doesn’t dare to interfere!”

“Yup,” Another beggar said, “We beggars don’t dare to go to the boundaries of Baiyang County to beg. Otherwise, we will be beaten to death by them!”

When Zhang Beichen heard that, he thought that Ying Yiren had really given him a hard time!

As for Ying Yiren, although he guessed that she knew him, he had no way to prove it. From another point of view, even if Ying Yiren really did participate in the simulation… In modern terms, their relationship was that of an online gaming friend!

A game was a game, and reality was reality. If he wanted to gain a foothold in this world and gain Ying Yiren’s trust, he had to prove his ability!

Zhang Beichen asked Hu Cheng, “Butler Hu, can I bring these people to Baiyang County?”

Hu Cheng said, “Sir, you have already been given an official position by the monarch. In Kingdom Qin, the official position and title are integral. So, you are both a County Magistrate and have the title of a ‘Public Official’. Naturally, you can recruit followers and servants.

“But to feed these people, I’m afraid that your salary is not enough, Sir.”

Most aristocrats had their own land and assets. Zhang Beichen had just arrived and was poor. It was very difficult for him to support a group of people.

Zhang Beichen said, “Then can I borrow from the monarch? Next year, I’ll pay her back double!”

Baiyang County was a dangerous place. Zhang Beichen felt that if he went there rashly, he would be killed. These beggars were originally normal farmers and soldiers. Moreover, they were in a difficult situation, but they did not become bandits or robbers, which proved that they were not bad people.

If he could recruit them, he could make them his own force.

Hu Cheng remembered Ying Yiren’s advice to help Zhang Beichen as much as possible, so he said, “Naturally.”

“Alright!” Zhang Beichen immediately said to the beggars, “Brothers, I have already been appointed as the Baiyang County Magistrate by the monarch. I am currently short of manpower. If you want to come, you can be my attendants and take up the post together!”

When the beggars heard this, one of them hesitated and said, “We can’t go to Baiyang County.”

Someone gritted his teeth and said, “If we don’t go, we’ll die. If we go, we’ll still have a way out. Since this Lord keeps his promise, I don’t think he’s lying to us.”

“My Lord, I’ll go with you! As long as you take care of my meals, I’ll do anything, be it farming, forging, or being a guard!”

“I’ll go too!”

“My Lord, please take me with you!” The beggars all knelt down.

Zhang Beichen counted. There were a total of 15 people here. There were no old or sick people. They were all men and women. Because the old, weak, sick, and disabled couldn’t make it here at all and had already died on the way.

He registered the names of the 15 people, took the luggage that Hu Cheng had prepared for him, and was ready to go to Baiyang County.