248: Chapter 247 Jingchuan Xionger 248: Chapter 247 Jingchuan Xionger In Xionger Town of Jingchuan State, Hou Niao returned to his residence and immediately began searching for the place name on the map, of course, with Luo Linwang by his side looking on with curious eyes.
“I vaguely know of this place; it’s located at the border with Wei Country and the New Ye area.
Ah, it’s one of the most unique places in Shan Country.”
Hou Niao tried hard to search but couldn’t find anything.
Even though he had located Jingchuan, he couldn’t find Xionger Town.
“There’s no Xionger Town.
Could the map be wrong?”
Luo Linwang smirked and pointed at a spot on the map, “The map isn’t incorrect; you’ve just been looking in the wrong place.”
His finger landed outside the borders of Shan Country.
Hou Niao was perplexed, “What do you mean?”
Luo Linwang chuckled, “This is the tri-junction of Shan Country, Wei Country, and New Ye.
Due to historical reasons, this area is a rare territory where the three countries have no authority over it; I’m not sure which country your map is from, but as for this place…
in Wei Country it’s called Mengdong, in New Ye it’s known as Yun Platform, and in Shan Country, it’s referred to as Xionger; they’re all the same place.
This area is much larger than a typical town and has been a source of contention between the three countries for over a thousand years.
If one wishes to claim it, the other two oppose.
As a result, nobody gets it, and it ended up being left to its own devices, but each country marks it on their map with their own name.
Your map lists it as Mengdong, so it’s likely created by the Taihao Sect of Wei Country.”
Hou Niao felt like he had been made a fool of again, “This, this…
those dog officials of Mu Shuai’s office, awarding me territory that isn’t even part of Shan Country?
Isn’t that just toying with me?
If it’s not Shan Country’s land, doesn’t that make my position as a town defender a sham?”
Luo Linwang chuckled, “It’s not quite like that.
A sham official, perhaps not, because in the bureaucracy of Shan Country, the defender of Xionger Town is a bona fide official just like the defenders of Yinling and Jiangyou Town.
You’re on the official register with a stipend, of course, you can forget about the stipend.
Because in Quanzhen Sect’s view, it’s our territory, and that will never change!
Of course, Wei Country and New Ye won’t acknowledge that, so they have their own officials stationed there to manage miscellaneous affairs, one with a military command, and the other a monk official.”
Hou Niao cursed, “Isn’t that like selling the same land three times, or a woman marrying three husbands?
Am I just one of the three husbands?
When it’s time to spend the night, do I have to wait my turn?”
Luo Linwang burst into laughter, “That’s a vivid metaphor.
If we liken the common people to the woman, you three would have to occasionally buy small gifts, curry favor through minor tricks and gestures to win her over, or else you won’t get your turn to climb on top…”
Hou Niao sighed deeply, “Indeed, I was wondering why Mu Shuai’s office was so generous.
It turns out they were lying in wait for me here.
Those dog officials, all they do is play tricks all day, making trouble for me.
I say, how many subordinates do I have?
Surely it’s not just me, right?”
Luo Linwang could not help but laugh, “Congratulations on guessing correctly.
Given the nature of this place, of course, they can’t send too many cultivators.
Sending too many would easily cause trouble, stirring up chaos like chickens flying and dogs jumping about.
Such scenes have been common over the past thousand years, even to the point of almost sparking major conflicts between nations.
As a result, in recent centuries, each of the three cultivation powers only sends one official, and they aren’t even allowed to bring servants, friends, and so on.
It’s an unspoken mutual understanding.”
Hou Niao scratched his head, “This place is indeed troublesome, nothing more than a commander with no troops…”
Luo Linwang consoled him, “Don’t be so downcast.
After all, your rank and seniority have increased, haven’t they?
Who knows, you might be transferred to a prosperous and happy post like Miao Gao Town later on?
If you really don’t like it, why not go through the Capital Commandant’s connections again and have them work something out for you?”
Hou Niao sighed, “Do you think favors come easy?
Let’s not trouble them any further, otherwise, I might have to sell myself to repay them.
I’ll just go and see what kind of dragon’s den or tiger’s lair it is.
If it annoys me, I’ll beat up those two dog heads first.
Even with three people in charge, we still need to distinguish between the major and minor, right?”
Luo Linwang stopped joking and spoke earnestly, “Junior brother, don’t underestimate this place.
The reason why it’s under tripartite management is because it has its peculiarities.
Firstly, because it’s jointly managed, it can be argued that it’s truly under no one’s control, a place beyond the reach of the sects’ influences, thus attracting many hermits seeking refuge.
In this territory, don’t assume it’s like the place you’ve been to before in Yinling, where there are many Upper Cultivators and hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Do not offend them carelessly.”
Hou Niao smiled, “I understand, but from what I can see, these so-called hermits probably aren’t as lofty as they think they are?
Why do they need to stay away from the world?
A real hermit’s very presence makes his location a forbidden land, who would dare to offend?”
Luo Linwang ignored his argumentative tone, “Secondly, if humans can come, so can demon beasts, and some Great Demons settle in Xionger for various reasons.
You cannot act like you did in Suqiu, throwing tantrums.
If you encounter a real Great Demon, no one will be able to save you.”
Hou Niao chuckled, “I feel no-man’s-land is just a melting pot for outcasts.
Considering the place has Upper Cultivators and Great Demons, is it really appropriate for us, not yet at the Tongxuan Realm, to manage it?”
Luo Linwang explained, “Actually, it’s precisely such small cultivators like us who are best suited for the task.
If a volatile Upper Cultivator like Uncle Li Mengyang went there, what would that place turn into?
It would be chaos; not a moment of peace.
That’s precisely why, whether it’s the Taihao Sect, the Buddhist Sect of New Ye, or our Quanzhen Sect, we all send cultivators below Tongxuan Realm to take up official positions.
This way, the Upper Cultivators and Great Demons won’t be too aggressive towards junior disciples, naturally reducing a lot of unnecessary friction.
This is the reason why they sent you.”
Hou Niao pondered and realized that was true.
Asymmetry is the principle; a small cultivator backed by powerful forces makes everyone very open-minded.
Alternatively, bring an Immortal, and everyone will behave.
The problem arises when everyone’s strength is roughly the same; that becomes the source of all evil.
“The previous defender of Xionger Town, um, was it a regular transfer?
Or was there an accident?”
Luo Linwang sighed, “I don’t know; it seems like an accident, but the details weren’t disclosed.”
Hou Niao’s mind stirred.
He did not know if such an arrangement was intentional or coincidental.
Was the Capital Commandant’s Office aware of the subtle implications?
In the southwest region, the feud between Quanzhen Sect and the Daoist Sect was out in the open.
Whether it was the Wu Sect or Anhe Daoist, neither had much room to maneuver, and the relationship with several Demon Sects seemed stable, with no signs of forthcoming changes.
But only the Taihao Sect of Wei Country and the Buddhist Sect of New Ye had unclear relations with Quanzhen Sect, just as they had shown in their actions during the southwest doctrinal debates.
Are they simply trying to muddy the waters?
Or is there a deeper meaning?
It all seemed rather complex.
Was there any point in using him, a mere Bridge Connection cultivator, to probe?
You Sunzhi was not without brains.