“Whatever it is, Magistrate, please tell me.”
“Master Qin, your abilities are exceptional. Your feat of slaying the bear has already become known throughout the county. Now there is another troublesome threat, one that requires the help of someone with your skills.”
Leaning forward slightly, Lou Changfeng lowered his voice.
“A tiger has recently appeared in the southern mountains. It has become increasingly bold and has already injured several woodcutters and hunters, leaving the local people in constant fear. I wonder… do you have the courage and ability to hunt it down?”
Qin Ming immediately hesitated.
Although he had just killed a black bear, he had never faced a tiger before.
Compared to a bear, a tiger was faster, more agile, and often even more dangerous. Even experienced hunters rarely dared claim they could hunt one with confidence.
“Well…” Qin Ming began.
“If hunting it alone is too difficult, you may organize a hunting party,” Lou Changfeng continued. “The county office can provide weapons and hunting equipment. If you require anything unusual, I can even have the city’s blacksmiths forge it for you.”
Qin Ming’s eyes lit up immediately.
“That would be excellent!”
Ordinarily, city blacksmiths could produce iron tools and equipment.
However, the court strictly controlled weapons among the common people.
Without official permission, civilians were forbidden from possessing military-grade arms.
Hunters could own bows, axes, and spears used for hunting, but those items had to be registered and were usually restricted in size and power.
If Qin Ming had not accepted the county bounty, he never would have been allowed access to equipment such as the heavy mountain-cleaving axe or specialized heavy arrows.
If the county office truly supported him, he could assemble a capable hunting team and pursue larger game far more effectively.
“In addition,” Lou Changfeng said, “if you acquire valuable pelts in the future, tiger skins, silver fox pelts, and the like, I can help purchase them at premium prices.”
“You have an interest in furs, Magistrate?”
Lou Changfeng chuckled.
“Not personally. An old acquaintance of mine is in the fur trade and owns shops in the capital.”
He continued:
“Here in Heishan County, even the finest pelts often fail to fetch their true value. I’m simply offering you a better avenue for profit. At the same time, troublesome predators are removed, and bounty rewards are earned. Everyone benefits.”
“How much could a tiger skin sell for?” Qin Ming asked.
“If you include the government bounty, no less than eight hundred taels.”
“Eight hundred taels?!”
Qin Ming nearly gasped.
For an ordinary person of this era, eight hundred taels was an unimaginable fortune.
Ten taels could support a family for an entire year.
Five taels could purchase an acre of fertile farmland.
Eight hundred taels would be enough to transform him into a small landowner.
At that point, even if he never hunted again, leasing farmland to tenant farmers would allow him and Fan Niang to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
“Of course,” Lou Changfeng added, “there are conditions. The pelt must remain largely intact, and rarer coloration commands a higher price.”
“I understand.”
“And the same applies to other valuable pelts as well. Sable, white fox, and similar rarities.”
“A white fox?”
Qin Ming laughed bitterly.
“I’ve only heard stories about such creatures from the older generation. I’ve never even seen one.”
“Exactly,” Lou Changfeng replied with a smile. “Rarity creates value. If fortune grants you one, it could bring tremendous wealth.”
“Very well. However, I have two requests of my own.”
“What are they?”
“A few days ago, government soldiers delivered notice ordering me to report for military service within five days.”
“That is easily handled.”
Lou Changfeng waved his hand.
“The county office still has numerous vacant auxiliary positions. I’ll register you as an external assistant. You will receive no official salary and no routine duties, but you will be exempt from military conscription and labor service.”
“Thank you, Magistrate!”
Qin Ming was overjoyed.
He understood very well how county offices operated.
A county government might have only a few dozen officially appointed personnel supported by the imperial treasury.
Most of the actual work, collecting taxes, maintaining order, carrying messages, and assisting officials, was carried out by unofficial helpers and auxiliary workers recruited locally.
These positions rarely paid wages, but they carried certain protections and privileges.
For countless ordinary people, such status was highly desirable.
“However,” Lou Changfeng added, “if several months pass without any meaningful results, someone else may take your position.”
“I understand.”
The meaning was obvious.
If Qin Ming failed to continue producing valuable hunting results, he would eventually lose his exemption and once again face conscription.
“And your second request?”
“The young man who accompanied me today is my apprentice, Mu An. He isn’t officially a hunter, so he cannot legally possess weapons.”
“Then register him as an auxiliary assistant as well.”
Lou Changfeng answered immediately.
“Like you, he will receive no salary. But he may obtain the necessary weapons from the county armory.”
“Thank you, Magistrate. I will do everything in my power to hunt and eliminate the tiger threat.”
“Excellent.”
Lou Changfeng nodded with satisfaction before turning toward Cui Lin.
“Master Cui, you’ve heard everything. Please assist them with the necessary arrangements.”
“Of course. Master Qin, follow me to the registry office.”
“Thank you both.”
Qin Ming expressed his gratitude once more before gathering the silver reward and following Cui Lin out of the room.
…
With Cui Lin’s assistance, Qin Ming and his apprentice Mu An completed their registration and became unofficial county auxiliaries.
The final task was selecting equipment for Mu An.
The spear techniques Mu An practiced had originally been taught to him by his two older brothers after they learned them in the army.
However, because the government restricted civilian ownership of military weapons, especially armor, crossbows, spears, and long polearms, Mu An had never actually handled a real war spear before.
As a result, entering the county armory filled him with excitement.
“This one!”
His eyes immediately locked onto a steel spear nearly three meters long resting near the entrance.
He hurried over and picked it up.
“You’ll also need a saber,” Qin Ming said.
He selected a willow-leaf saber and handed it over.
“And take this shield as well. It may save your life if a beast gets too close.”
Since the county was providing equipment, Qin Ming saw no reason to be modest.
Anything useful was worth taking.
“Master Qin,” Qian Jiang reminded him, “these weapons are only on loan. You cannot sell them. If they’re lost or damaged, you’ll be held accountable. There’s no need to take too much.”
“You make a good point.”
Qin Ming nodded.
After selecting a few additional arrows, he finally left the armory.
…
Once everything was finished, Qin Ming let out a long breath.
The threat of military conscription hanging over his head had finally been removed.
More importantly, he had unexpectedly obtained something even more valuable: an officially backed path toward wealth through the fur trade.
In these troubled times, where war was common and corrupt officials preyed upon the weak, avoiding forced military service, escaping endless exploitation, and gaining a chance to build a prosperous future was a blessing beyond the dreams of most ordinary people.