Chapter 48: Chaotic Situation

Thanks to the existence of long-distance communication methods, the real-time nature of the official gazette in this world is remarkably strong.

Each province and county submits a summary of major events from the day to the imperial capital before the hour of watch at night, where the Chao Wen Bureau, under the Hanlin Academy, swiftly selects and compiles the most significant portions overnight.

By the next morning at the hour of dawn, the Chao Wen Bureau transmits the compiled content back to all regional jurisdictions. Local prefectural offices then affix the official bulletin at the city gate at the hour of morning, and print copies for distribution to bookshops throughout the city.

A form of alternative morning news, it serves as the sole means by which the vast majority of people across the realm learn of national affairs.

The thickness of a single bulletin is slightly greater than that of printed newspapers from his previous life, though the layout remains similar—large headlines, subheadings, followed by narrative text, and even some featuring illustrations.

As he read through it carefully, Xu Yuan's expression grew increasingly strange.

Aside from the occasional winter cold wave in certain northern prefectures claiming lives each year, the rest of the Great Inflame Dynasty appears, in sum, to be in a state of harmonious prosperity.

While not entirely inconsistent with his knowledge of the Cangyuan background, it bears no real connection to it.

After a long silence, Xu Yuan pulled back the curtain of the carriage and glanced briefly at the bustling, vibrant streets beyond.

Common folk go about in bustling chaos, vendors weaving through crowds, calling out their wares, while noble youths and beautiful ladies laugh and stroll among them. As the sun dips below the horizon, the first flickers of lanterns begin to glow in the dimming light.

To witness it firsthand—indeed, it is vibrant.

He withdraws his gaze, continues scanning.

And soon,

Xu Yuan finds exactly what he seeks.

At this moment, the northern reaches of the Great Inland Dynasty are engaged in war.

Yet only a brief note appears at the very end of this report.

"Nine Princess leads an army northward, decisively defeating the barbarian forces beneath the city of Hanbei, killing over ten thousand of the enemy."

A simple, swift description, brushed over in a matter of moments.

Xu Yuan sets the report down, his eyes flickering with a quiet confusion.

He did not remember there having been a war in Cangyuan, but from the sparse description, the scale of that conflict must have been immense.

For he had a faint impression of the Cold Northern City.

The original body had once accompanied Xu Changge there when he was still a child.

It was a vast military stronghold in the northern frontier of Da Yan, its walls towering a hundred zhang high, stretching endlessly with a mighty, frost-laden perimeter that seemed to reach into the heavens.

Looking down, the snow mist blanketed the ground, like the legendary Great Wall of Desolation.

Surrounding it were numerous satellite military towns, forming a network of mutual support with the main city, each acting as a strategic outpost.

Xu Yuan vaguely remembered that, when he was still very young, Xu Changge had told him:

"The Cold Northern City is the gateway to the northern provinces. Once it falls, the vast plains behind will have no defenses. The barbarian tribes will then spread like locusts, bringing devastation beyond measure.

"This place—must never be lost."

And yet, such a crucial stronghold had, after a dozen years, been brought face to face with the barbarians at its gates.

"........"

Xu Yuan raised a hand, rubbing his brow, calming his thoughts, choosing not to dwell further, but instead spoke directly:

"Mr. Zhou, do you know of the conflicts in the north?"

"Hmm?"

Zhou Chen, driving the carriage, glanced at Xu Yuan's sudden question, raised a slight brow, paused briefly, then shook his head. "I'm not very familiar with it. I've never been to the northern frontier. Hmm... did the young master see reports about the battles between our Great Inland Kingdom and those barbarian tribes?"

Xu Yuan nodded slightly:

"Yes, I've never known much about it before. Now that I've seen it, I find it rather concerning, so I asked you."

"The young master is deeply concerned for the state of our nation."

Zhou Chen bowed slightly toward the rear, then smiled. "I don't know the exact details, truly. But if the young master is truly concerned, upon returning home, he might ask the household manager to prepare a detailed internal report from the Xiang Family archives—our family's internal reports are far more thorough than what's printed in these public documents."

"Internal reference?" Xu Yuan arched an eyebrow.

Zhou Chen said it casually, without a care:

"The official reports published by the Chao Wen Bureau are all carefully curated by the Office of the Morning News—many details are missing."

"..."

Xu Yuan understood immediately and said nothing more.

Yet Zhou Chen, the driver, suddenly seemed to recall something, and sighed deeply. He picked up his wine flask, drained it in one go, and began to speak in a murmuring tone:

"The people at the Office of the Morning News always report good news and never bad—what's going on outside must be a mess, yet they have no idea at all?"

At this, Xu Yuan's brow immediately furrowed.

How messy?

This Jingjiang city, so prosperous and vibrant, could be so chaotic beyond its walls?

But if that were truly the case, it would align perfectly with the plot.

After a moment's pause, Xu Yuan spoke, asking:

"Mr. Zhou, what exactly do you mean by 'chaos'?"

"......."

Zhou Chen glanced back in surprise at the small window on the carriage.

Isn't it common knowledge these days that demons and wild beasts plague the land?

Why should the third prince be unaware?

Yet after a brief moment of reflection, Zhou Chen smiled with a touch of resignation.

The third prince had either remained in the imperial capital or been confined within the vast boundaries of Jingjiang Prefecture—rarely venturing beyond the city walls. Having grown up in a life of indulgence and comfort, it was entirely natural he should have no knowledge of the outside world.

Zhou Chen carefully chose his words, speaking softly:

"Third Prince, you've been staying within the city walls, unaware of what's been happening lately. Over the past few years, disasters and human calamities have not ceased across the land."

Saying this, Zhou Chen exhaled, his tone tinged with complexity:

"I was sent from the Imperial Capital to this Jingjiang city, and along the way, I've encountered countless attacks by wild beasts. Flying overhead, I've seen villages reduced to rubble and scattered bones, their remains lying in silence."

Xu Yuan felt his heart sink:

"Wild beasts attacking people?"

Zhou Chen explained: "Not the tamed beasts that harm humans, but those that dwell in the wild, roaming freely in the mountains and forests."

"I know," he said. "But what about the Celestial Surveillance Office? Shouldn't they be responsible for protecting the people from such beastly incursions?"

"........"

Zhou Chen did not answer.

A long pause followed.

Seeing Zhou Chen remained silent, Xu Yuan stepped forward and spoke:

"Mr. Zhou, if you have anything to say, please say it plainly—there's no need to hesitate."

At this, Zhou Chen no longer remained silent. He smiled:

"It's because the court has no money."

His laughter carried a faint, subtle undercurrent of irony.

Without money, the Office of Celestial Surveillance has no personnel, and thus cannot be properly managed.

As for why there is no money?

Hm.

Silence fell within the carriage for several breaths, before the voice returned:

"Mr. Zhou, could you please explain to me the full reason behind this? Is it corruption among officials?"

Hearing these words, Zhou Chen cast aside his lingering reservations and merely murmured in a low voice:

"That is but one of the reasons."

"And what of the rest?" Xu Yuan asked.

Zhou Chen did not answer, but instead countered with a question of his own:

"Does the Third Young Master know just how many assets the sects possess within Jingjiang City?"

Xu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gave a faint shake of his head;

"I do not know."

Zhou Chen took a long draught of his wine, speaking in a slow, discursive drone:

"The Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, the monster beast market in the east of the city, the ten thousand acres of fertile land beyond the walls... all of these belong to the sects.

"Heh, the coin required to sustain that crowd of idle sect disciples, who never lift a finger to work, is several times greater than the annual expenditure of the entire border army."

Zhou Chen spoke with a calm, measured tone, yet his voice was low and resonant:

"Yet these sects are exempt from taxes. They follow the principle of tribute—how much tribute they offer each year, hmm... that's entirely up to them."

Xu Yuan's scalp tingled faintly, as if the truth had just seeped through the cracks of his understanding.

For the example stood before him, plain and undeniable.

Zui Xian Lou was the property of that Qin gentleman.

And during the previous Great Heavenly Assembly, Xu Changge had dealt a death blow to that Qin gentleman—thus proving he was, at the very least, a representative of a local sect.

At least, publicly so.

Zui Xian Lou, a den of luxury and indulgence, generated profits in a single night that could be counted in countless figures.

And this was merely a single facet among the vast array of industries owned by these sects—yet the government received not a single coin from it.

In ancient times, even the gentry had never been this brazen.

Whatever the actual implementation might be, at the very least, on paper, this group's taxes were merely reduced or granted preferential treatment.

Yet here, these sects simply ceased paying altogether.

Seeing Xu Yuan remain silent for a long while,

Zhou Chen cupped his hands toward the heavens:

"Third Young Master, the Prime Minister has repeatedly petitioned the Crown Prince, wishing to rectify this matter, yet each time he was rebuffed by His Highness on the grounds that ancestral regulations must not be lightly altered.

"I venture to guess that Mr. Qin's attempt on your life was most likely due to this very issue."