Starting from the Greyhound, seventy-two changes.

Chapter 58 Intelligence
Chen Ku listened as the person next to him described the top ten masters in Baojiao County.

Among them, three of the top ten masters were from the imperial court. Shangguan County Magistrate was invincible, followed by the legal advisor Sui You and Kuai Dao.

The "fast" in that "fast knife" means both the speed of the knife and the head of the constables.

But what Chen Ku didn't expect was.

Among the top ten masters.

Yaowang Hall actually occupies two positions.

One is the old master of Beiyang Yanglu Zen.

The other one is Chai Bao, the coach among Dragon, Tiger and Leopard.

Chai Bao, Chen Ku has seen it before.

Although Chen Ku had never met Senior Yang Luchan in the hall, he guessed that his stick attack to the sky was most likely from the hands of this second best master in the county.

"Miss Sui is here, so the banquet can start." Chai Tiangui excitedly led everyone to their seats.

Soon.

On the second floor of the Perfume Pavilion, there is a huge screen with exquisite hollow patterns carved on it. Behind the screen is a large round table, which is occupied by a total of eighteen people.

Sitting in the main seat was the master's daughter, Sui Qingfang.

When he was about eighteen or nineteen years old, he was the center of attention.

On the left is the host Chai Tiangui, on the right is the son of County Magistrate Qi, and then on the left and right, there are the daughter of the chief clerk, the scholar Zhang, then Jiang Shaoyou from Tongwenguan, and Zhou Sangongzi from Lan Kwai Fong.

This is the top half of the table.

At the lower half of the table were people like Chen Ku who were introduced here.

At one table, identities, levels, and circles are clearly divided based on their seats.

"It is a blessing to be together with you all today. I propose that we toast Miss Sui together. Why? Miss Sui officially entered the Inner Energy realm two days ago."

Chai Tiangui stood up:
"Let us congratulate Miss Sui on entering the inner energy realm. At the age of eighteen, she will surely be able to win the title of martial artist in the martial arts examination next spring."

Chai Tiangui spoke.

Others, including Chen Ku, also stood up naturally and toasted the beautiful young girl in the orchid-decorated gown.

Sui Qingfang maintained the temperament of a lady from a noble family, and there seemed to be no signs of martial arts training on her body, but this surprised all the people who were introduced to her.

Eighteen years old, internal energy.

Of course, his father's influence is a factor, but among the 100,000 households in Baojiao County, only one can have such talent and hard work.

"The martial arts exam is nothing. Those present here, such as Brother Jiang Shaoyou, Brother Qi, and Young Master Zhou, will be able to achieve it at the latest next year or the year after..."

Sui Qingfang spoke in a gentle and generous manner, like a star in the middle of the banquet, saying:
"The hard part is to get the favor of the master at that time. I heard that there will be a big shot from the government office to supervise the martial arts exam next spring. According to gossip, it is likely to be the master of the golden hammer who 'rode his horse through three prefectures and eight counties and shook the banks of the Longjiang River with his hammer.'"

"Golden Hammer Grandmaster? Is he the legendary Qin family patriarch 'Qin Yuxian' who was born with a force of ten thousand pounds, killed the rebel leader Wang Keyong with one hammer, defeated the leader of the Qinggang Sect with two hammers, and destroyed the gate of the Supreme Castle with three hammers?"

Qi Renwang seemed to have heard of it, looked at Jiang Shaoyou, and said softly:

"It is said that the head of the Qin family is also the president of the Qiulong Martial Arts Association, and protects thirty-six large and small forces. I even heard that one of the owners behind the Medicine King Hall is one of the thirty-six forces."

Jiang Shaoyou didn't comment, but just raised his eyebrows and said, "Such a big shot would actually come to a place like Baojiao County? What does the martial arts exam have to do with him?"

"It really has nothing to do with him, but you should have heard that this Grandmaster of the Golden Hammer has a good relationship with a young reform official in Youzhou, and he has also been influenced by the ideas of that young official. Recently, there has been news that the dignitaries in the imperial cabinet have discussed a matter of 'tax reform', advocating that officials and gentry be united and pay taxes while on duty..." Sui Qingfang said slowly.

Qi Ren's eyebrows jumped: "How is this possible! This is something that will shake the world, and it can't be implemented at all."

“So I heard that the young official from Qiulong Mansion will be asked to select a county for a pilot project first. He is also called an imperial envoy,” Sui Qingfang said.

"Could it be that they chose Baojiao County?!" All the second-generation young masters present became nervous.

"It's just hearsay, it's not certain yet, but if it's true, then the arrival of the Golden Hammer Grandmaster must be for the protection of this young official." Sui Qingfang said: "This matter is too important, it's not something we can consider. If that's the case, a small Baojiao County can't stop it."

The son of Qi County Magistrate pondered and said, "It is true that each family cannot stop it, but if the whole family is united, it may not be impossible to stop it." Sui Qingfang said, "Let's not talk about this. Rumors cannot be taken seriously. But if it is true, it is indeed bad for our family's interests, but it may be a good thing for me. If I can get Senior Qin as my master, I can go to a wider world."

None of the young men were stupid. If that were the case, they would be putting their eggs in two baskets. Unfortunately, among them, only Jiang Shaoyou would have the opportunity to reach the standard of being under 20 years old and having internal energy above average by the beginning of next spring and be able to participate in the martial arts examination.

Chen Ku sat at the far end of the table, listening to these secrets, and thought to himself, "The martial arts examination next spring? Is it possible for me to cultivate internal energy by then?"

if it is possible……

Next, the topic changed continuously at the table, and each one was something that the lower-class people in Baojiao County would never be able to come into contact with in their lifetime.

The young men and ladies were chatting excitedly, while Chen Ku and the others sitting below were quietly listening to what was happening in the upper circles while enjoying the delicious food.

During this period, I heard a lot of new and interesting news and some intelligence in the county.

For example, recently in the remote towns and villages of Baojiao County, there seems to be a symptom of typhoid fever that is spreading in a small area. There is a medicine called "Bombyx Batryticatus" that can cure the disease. People with ability can stock up some in advance and make a considerable income after selling it.

Secondly, when the typhoid fever broke out, some people called themselves the "Ping An Dao" and used talismanic water to treat people for free, taking away a lot of Yaowangtang's business.

The young men and women suspected that the typhoid fever was caused by the group of people from Ping An Dao.

In last news, someone mentioned a creature called "bait rat".

It is said that he has a physique that is immune to all poisons. No matter what kind of poison he is bitten by, it can be slowly eliminated within a day.

Eating the flesh of this creature has the same effect, and can cure common diseases and poisons...

It is said that many pharmacists in Yaowang Hall would use this creature to conduct experiments when making medicine and alchemy, to test the poison of the elixir...

"I always feel that there is a big background and conspiracy behind the Ping An Dao gang. It would be best if everyone could find a way to get a bait rat, so that when the time comes, the Ping An Dao gang will not come up with a new disease and we don't have to worry too much."

"This bait rat grows near Liangjie Mountain. It's not easy to get it. After all, if you're not careful, it will cross the border. Even the Hunters' Forest won't accept such border orders..."

"Well, it is true. The price of one bait rat in Yaowang Hall is two or three hundred taels. There are only two or three of them. They are never loaned out. We have raised them for several years. They are very precious."

……

Chen Ku sipped his tea, ate delicious food, listened to their words, and felt something in his heart.

Bait rats, two-boundary mountains, ordinary people cannot cross the border...

Greyhounds and tigers are never included in the list.

This gathering was not in vain, and I got a lot of useful information and intelligence.

Finally, the banquet was over.

Chen Ku and others walked out of the Perfume Pavilion first and saw the county magistrate's son, Qi Renwang, and Sui Qingfang saying something to Chai Tiangui.

He pricked up his thin dog ears and faintly heard the following words:

"Let's just have small gatherings next time. There were too many people this time. They couldn't get in a conversation. If we left them alone, they would be embarrassed, which would be bad for everyone..."

Chai Tiangui, Jiang Shaoyou and a few others just smiled and laughed it off.

Chen Ku shook his head, smiled and left.

Although Jiang Shao lobbied very well, but...

Still being disliked.

It's not that I dislike him alone, but I dislike all the people who left their seats like him today.

This can't be blamed on them. After all, the people sitting down couldn't get a word in about what they were talking about, so they could only listen silently...

Fortunately for Chen Ku, he obtained intelligence and information and had the ability to monetize it.

The others are just there to serve as a foil.

(End of this chapter)