Chapter 248: The Whole Story

Chapter 248: The Origins and Development

Mountains and rivers connect, wind and rain share the same sky.

The storm that had ravaged Chengdu Prefecture for a night finally subsided, the stars faded, and the first pale light of dawn crept through.

Pei Xingjian, hands clasped behind his back, stood beneath the inscribed plaque reading "Zheng Tong Ren He," gazing at the raindrops beneath the eaves that could no longer be strung together into a line, letting out a long, soft sigh.

"It has ended, after all."

"Sir, someone from the Gu family has sent a congratulatory gift and is now waiting at the yamen gate."

A clear voice rang out behind Pei Xingjian.

"His information is quite prompt."

Pei Xingjian let out a cold chuckle. "He is hinting that I should make way for him quickly."

The young man behind him, Yang Bai Ze, smiled slightly. "Gu Xī has only just been nominated; he hasn't even entered the capital to pay homage to the emperor or been appointed as a deputy in the Ministry of Personnel. Yet he's already been fast-tracked to become the county magistrate of Chengdu. Anyone would be eager in his place."

"However, the matter at Chongqing Prefecture has only settled two or three hours ago. The great fire on the Golden Tower may not have even died down yet, and they already know you are to be appointed as the prefect of Chongqing."

The young man sighed. "The strength of the Gu family is truly not to be underestimated."

"A bunch of short-sighted and corrupt villains."

Pei Xingjian sneered. "They only see the rich pickings of the Chengdu county office, but they do not know that the position they covet will soon be thrust into a whirlwind of danger!"

"Since ancient times, wealth and honor have been sought in perilous times. There is a saying in the Western Barbarians: as long as there is triple the profit, it is enough to make one forget life and death. Only by venturing out to sea during a storm can one catch a fish worth a thousand gold."

"Yang Bai Ze, you are young, yet your words carry the weight of an old man."

Pei Xingjian laughed and scolded, his eyes revealing a hint of gravity. "What I fear is that the tempest we stir will not be a great fish, but an enraged dragon."

Clad in a white robe and armed with a pair of mechanical arms, Yang Bai Ze's eyes gleamed with sharp light, his brows and eyes radiant with vitality.

Just like that youthful figure standing beneath the bright moon of Mianzhou County, who had once declared aloud his ambition to surpass his ancestors and change the world.

"Sir, by the dragon, do you mean the Daoist sect?"

Pei Xingjian nodded, his voice heavy. "Though they drove out the Buddhist sequence, they are equally aware of the underhanded tactics of the Imperial Clan Court and the Three Judicial Offices. These are not men to be trifled with. The days ahead in Chongqing Prefecture will be marked by open conflict and covert struggles, and Chengdu will not fare much better."

"That is why they have sent you to oversee the situation." Yang Bai Ze smiled. "Without you, the yamen of Chongqing Prefecture would never open its doors."

"They find this task too dirty and perilous, fearing it might cost them their heads, so they have thrown it to this old man instead."

Pei Xingjian sneered, then slowly turned around, his gaze falling on this unexpected disciple, whom he now regarded as a treasure beyond measure, his tone softening.

"Have you read the joint announcement from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War regarding the handling of the Chongqing Prefecture incident?"

"Yes."

Pei Xingjian's words carried a hint of scrutiny. "Then share your thoughts."

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Bai Ze organized his words and spoke softly. "From the content of the announcement, the general tone of handling the matter is one of open punishment and covert reward."

"Oh?" Pei Xingjian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How so?"

"This time, Honghu infiltrated Chongqing Prefecture to assassinate Prince Qing, Zhu Youhong. Though the hidden king, Ding Huan, was executed on the spot, Prince Qing still died. Whether it was murder or suicide, according to imperial precedent for such incidents, even the Imperial Guards of Chongqing Prefecture, who had protective duties, would not escape accountability."

"Yet the announcement merely states, 'All officials demoted by one rank, with half a year's salary deducted,' and lets the matter pass lightly. The rod is raised high but falls gently—the severity of the punishment is unprecedented, setting a precedent for the empire."

"Moreover, the handling of the few officials in charge within the Imperial Guards is quite intriguing."

Pei Xingjian chuckled. "Elaborate."

"The announcement states that Yan Baihu, a military commander of the Imperial Guards, died valiantly in service to the emperor, and thus is posthumously promoted to the rank of thousand-house commander. His deeds are to be compiled by the Northern Military Command and distributed in the form of memorials to the empire's various offices, garrisons, and military towns for study."

"This is understandable—it is to preserve face for the imperial court and the Three Judicial Offices. After all, the New Donglin Party, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Three Judicial Offices all have their share of guilt in this matter. No one's hands are clean. If the truth were laid bare, none of them would look good."

"Secondly, the two deputy commanders, Wang Xie, were demoted to the rank of small flag, continuing to hold their original duties, and tasked with leading the reconstruction of the Imperial Guards' offices in Chongqing Prefecture. This effectively leaves Yan Baihu's position vacant for him."

"That is correct." Pei Xingjian nodded in agreement, his smile growing wider.

"Lastly, that first deputy commander. Though the case files of the Northern Military Command do not record his identity, local offices have the authority to appoint subordinates. Moreover, I understand that the procedures for identity registration have already been submitted. So, regardless of whether the Northern Military Command acknowledges it, Li Jun's identity as the first deputy commander of the Chongqing Prefecture Imperial Guards is now set in stone."

"The announcement also states that Li Jun was demoted to the rank of small flag and transferred to the most rebellious Wokou bandit area to serve. This clearly indicates that someone in the court is protecting him, seeking to remove him from the mire of Chongqing Prefecture."

Yang Bai Ze bowed to the beaming Pei Xingjian. "This is one of the points I find most puzzling."

The latter laughed in reply, "The announcement is so clear and straightforward—what is there to puzzle over?"

"Publicly speaking, the true cause of Prince Qing's death remains debatable, yet the court is so certain it was at Ding Huan's hands. The verdict seems too hasty. Privately speaking, Li Jun follows the martial path, though he is a 'wild' martial artist without sect backing. Such a move would likely provoke discontent from both the Daoist and Buddhist sects."

Yang Bai Ze spoke gravely. "Publicly or privately, the handling of this matter is too lenient."

Pei Xingjian's smile faded slightly, neither confirming nor denying. "If I recall correctly, Li Jun once spared your life, did he not?"

"That is why I wish to clarify this, so that I may report it to him in detail in the future."

Yang Bai Ze's expression was open and unreserved, free of any taboos between sects, and unafraid that his words might anger his master.

Grace is grace, and enmity is enmity.

He still remembered that day in Mianzhou County, when Li Jun could have crushed him like an insect and taken all the brain tissue samples.

Yet the man had willingly risked discovery by Shudao Logistics, leaving behind a sample and sparing his life.

"Very well. Clear distinctions between grace and enmity—this is truly the seed of a scholar I have chosen."

Pei Xingjian laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the courtyard of the county office.

"You have seen through most of the matter. The remaining doubt stems from your ignorance of the fact that when someone in the court leaked Honghu's development plans to Zhu Youhong, it sealed the fate of this imperial prince—he was destined for death!"

"The Daoist sect's control over the southwestern base of the empire does not align with the interests of the New Donglin Party."

Pei Xingjian's gaze was piercing and resolute. "The upheaval in Chongqing Prefecture, when stripped bare, is a scheme designed to resolve this very issue."