Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yan Liqiang knew Jiang Tianhua would admit defeat after he showed his strength by crushing the thousand-strong Transportation Office. This was something expected, because in this world, reasoning wouldn’t work. There were no deities or saviors to defend the so-called justice either. Only the words of those who had a stronger fist, a sharper blade, or a louder voice made sense. In the Great Han Empire, the one with the strongest fist and sharpest blade was naturally the imperial court. Therefore, they were the most arrogant and most authoritative.
Offices of various sizes operating under the imperial court were different too. Given the same circumstances, it would all come down to a contest between fists and blades in the end as well. The thousand-strong cavalry which Jiang Tianhua deployed was his fist and blade. He was going to use that blade to slay the manufacturing bureau and Yan Liqiang. Had the cavalry really arrived at Pingxi Prefecture, the current situation in the manufacturing bureau and Liuhe Town would probably be different. By then, Yan Liqiang would be in hot water and other people would just be watching from the side. Even if some wanted to help, they were probably looking for benefits or some sort of deals in exchange. If things were to escalate to that point, who would then defend justice?
No one. Because to everyone, accepting the fact would come at smaller cost but bigger harvest than defending justice.
Jiang Tianhua swung his blade, yet he realized that Yan Liqiang had a more terrifying and sharper blade. When both blades clashed, sparks flew everywhere and his blade was broken. It was through his broken blade he understood that he had encountered a tough foe and very quickly sobered up.
Yan Liqiang initially thought Jiang Tianhua would at least persist until after the tenth lunar month before submitting. Little did he expect it to be this quick.
Hearing Wang Jianbei’s words, Yan Liqiang let out a long sigh. Though his expression remained unchanged on the surface, he secretly felt great deep down in his heart.
This was the meaning of the phrase ‘to struggle for a gasp of breath’ [1]. It was with this breath a person could even continue living.
“Did Prefectural Governor Jiang Tianhua come to make peace?” Yan Liqiang asked Wang Jianbei.
“Not Jiang Tianhua. Those people from Lan Province’s Zhong Clan went to the Provincial Governor. He handed me a letter and had me come to discuss with you about it…”
“Lan Province’s Zhong Clan?” Yan Liqiang blinked. “The Zhong Clan of the Datong Monetary House?”
“Of course. There’s no other Zhong Clan in the northwestern region.”
“Why did they look for the Provincial Governor?”
“The Zhong Clan owns many properties and the Datong Monetary House is the best monetary house in the northwestern region. Naturally, they have to deal with bureaucracy and other influences. We rely on the Datong Monetary House to circulate our military wages and taxes in Gan Province too. The Provincial Governor is going to cooperate with the Zhong Clan. He wishes to make use of the Zhong Clan’s influence to fully establish the market of snow salt produced from Yuntao County’s salt pans in the northwestern region. That was why Jiang Tianhua approached the Zhong Clan and had them get the Provincial Governor to mediate the conflict!” Wang Jianbei paused for a moment to allow Yan Liqiang digest the information in his message, before he continued.
“This incident caused a great commotion. It may not be wise to leave it for too long. I heard that the Ministries of War and Justice may send officials here to investigate. There’s no harm in ending things early. No one will probably dare to harbor ill intentions toward the manufacturing bureau after this!”
“May I ask about the relationship between Zhong Xiankui and the Zhong Clan in the northwestern region?” Yan Liqiang narrowed his eyes.
“Although Zhong Xiankui’s surname is Zhong, he isn’t related to the Zhong Clan in the northwestern region!”
“Well, it’s good to hear that he isn’t part of that Zhong Clan!”
Wang Jianbei cast a glance at Yan Liqiang, feeling that his tone was a little strange. “Is Zhong Xiankui… still in the manufacturing bureau?”
Yan Liqiang chuckled mischievously. “Zhong Xiankui has gone to meet the King of Hell. Shi Zhiyao is dead too. Only those little bandits with broken legs are currently being held captive in the manufacturing bureau. Since the Provincial and Prefectural Governors have spoken, I can’t make things difficult for you either. I’ll release them when I return. The Prefectural Governor may send people to fetch them from the manufacturing bureau in two days!”
“Ah, dead?!” Wang Jianbei was shocked. He drew a sharp breath. “You are the one who got them…”
“Of course. There were imposters claiming they were from the Transportation Office and made trouble in the manufacturing bureau. Was I supposed to keep them around and feed them until old age? Of course not. Therefore, I killed the ones leading them!”
Wang Jianbei was at a loss for words. After a while, only then he mumbled to himself. “That’s gonna get troublesome…”
“Why? If Jiang Tianhua still has other tricks, he may try them. I’ll deal with all of them…”
“But it’s not about Jiang Tianhua. That Shi Zhiyao has an unusual status!”
“Oh? What is so special about him?”
“That Shi Zhiyao and the Chief Patrol Examiner Qu Mingcheng from the Northwestern Transportation Office both hail from the Yun Province’s Soaring Heaven Sect. As the best sect in Yun Province, the Soaring Heaven Sect is also extremely influential and quite well-known among the sects in the Great Han Empire. Although it isn’t as famous as one of the four major sects, it is reckoned to be the first or second best sect in the northwestern region. There are many experts in the Soaring Heaven Sect. Qu Mingcheng was the Soaring Heaven Sect Lord Guo Yifei’s favorite disciple, while Shi Zhiyao was Qu Mingcheng’s martial nephew. Both of them went to serve Jiang Tianhua in succession. Qu Mingcheng’s death will shake the entire Soaring Heaven Sect. Guo Yifei has sent a few disciples to Yin Province to ask around about Qu Mingcheng. Putting aside Qu Mingcheng, if the Soaring Heaven Sect find out that it was you who killed Shi Zhiyao, they wouldn’t let things slide so easily…”
Yan Liqiang frowned slightly. “How’s the cultivation of the Soaring Heaven’s Sect Lord Guo Yifei?”
“I heard he has already progressed into the Martial Devil realm a decade ago, so his cultivation realm is probably much higher than that now. It has been a long time since anyone saw him fight. There are rumors among the Soaring Heaven Sect disciples that Guo Yifei has already progressed into a Martial Ancestor!”
“Thank you for sharing this information with me, Prefectural Governor! Judging from Shi Zhiyao and Qu Mingcheng’s moral integrity alone, Guo Yifei is probably not any better. If we have offended someone, there’s no use in crying over spilled milk. It doesn’t matter. We’ll just deal with it when the time comes. I don’t believe the Soaring Heaven Sect can really make a big chaos. They can’t expect to get away without any consequences just because they have a backing. They can come at me however they want. Even if I can’t beat Guo Yifei who is a Martial Ancestor, it’ll be fine as long as someone can beat him!” Yan Liqiang smiled coldly. He even dared to offend one of the most influential men, Grand Chancellor Lin Qingtian, let alone the Soaring Heaven Sect. Humans were more intelligent than animals because they knew how to utilize the things around them to make up for their weaknesses.
“For now, the Soaring Heaven Sect shouldn’t be able to blame you for Qu Mingcheng’s incident. I shall discuss with the Provincial Governor to see if Zhong Clan can help resolve this incident with Shi Zhiyao. After all, Shi Zhiyao’s death isn’t caused by a vendetta but solely business. For cases like this, the sect can choose to intervene or not intervene by staying neutral.”
“Yes, indeed!”
“Your Liuhe Town has started working on a defense wall and it’s starting to take shape. The Yan Clan has also recruited a large number of guards. They should be given a title to prevent gossip from running around!” Wang Jianbei mumbled to himself.
“Since your father is the Town Constable for Liuhe Town, your group of guards will be awarded the title of Qinghe County’s Militia. Subsequently, your father will concurrently be appointed as Qinghe County’s militia training commissioner!”
Reading Wang Jianbei’s thoughts and finding out that the Prefectural Governor bore goodwill, Yan Liqiang cupped his fist at Wang Jianbei. “Thank you, Prefectural Governor!”
Of course Yan Dechang couldn’t act as Qinghe County’s militia training commissioner. It was only a title awarded to him as Yan Liqiang would still be the person who led the militia. However, since Yan Liqiang was already the Qiyun Protectorate General, Wang Jianbei couldn’t possibly appoint him as a local militia training commissioner. That would have been a bad joke…
“I still have something else that I would like Liqiang’s opinion on!”
“What is it?”
“The Shatu people in Pingxi Prefecture is a problem in my mind. Do you have any idea on how to solve this problem?”
“Of course I have a way. I only worry that my lord will not be able to make this decision!”
“What is it?”
“To fight evil with evil!” Yan Liqiang calmly responded with five words!