Chapter 293: The Hour of the Tiger (1)

Chapter 293: The Hour of Yin (Part 1)

Yang Baize stood below the steps, gazing up at the plaque inscribed with "Quan Shan City Consolation Office," its lower edge marked by a row of Japanese translations.

This was the rule set by the Long Wu Emperor upon conquering the Japanese-populated region.

However, as the education of the Japanese people deepened, Ming had become the common language here, no longer requiring native script for translation. From this, one could infer that the plaque's history was not short.

Two towering stone pillars, half a man's height, flanked the office, each bearing a pair of iron lions. Beneath their paws were not the usual imperial stone orbs, but two komainu from the local Japanese culture.

The guardian iron lions, their eyes glowing dark red, fixed their gaze on the unfamiliar youth, emitting a faint buzzing sound from their chests.

Click.

Two symmetrical black wings sprouted from the sides of Yang Baize's hat, and he lifted the front of his blue robe, revealing a heron that soared across his chest, lifting its neck in a cry.

The two snarling guardian lions immediately fell silent, their alert glimmers dimming.

"Even two lifeless objects fear the soft and dread the hard."

Yang Baize shook his head with a bitter smile, cursing inwardly. His peripheral vision caught Li Jun, deliberately standing a step behind him.

"Good thing I found a harder one in advance."

Stepping over the threshold, level with his calves, and following the Ministry of Rites' rule of "east born, west dead, east enter, west exit," Yang Baize led Li Jun through the long covered walkway, entering the ceremonial gate.

Beyond the ceremonial gate lay the most important place in the Consolation Office—the public hall.

A public case stood in the center, with the red characters "Silence" and "Retreat" projected on either side, hovering midair. The usual intimidating staffs had been removed, replaced by two rows of chairs.

Though it was already the hour of Yin, the chairs were already filled with people.

Only the leftmost seat remained vacant.

"When I received the notification from the Ministry of Punishment, I thought they had written the time wrong. I didn't expect you to actually arrive, Yang Tongzhi."

A cheerful laugh greeted him.

The speaker had a broad nose and thick lips, a wispy mustache, and wore a red military official's robe. The embroidered patch on his chest was a golden-maned beast, glaring at Yang Baize's heron.

"I am the Garrison Commander of Quan Shan City Consolation Office, Huang Yue."

Yang Baize bowed, "Greetings, Commander Huang."

"Brother Yang need not be so formal. From now on, we are colleagues who will share days and nights. There is much time ahead; you must not remain so courteous."

Huang Yue's eyes were fixed on Yang Baize, ignoring Li Jun behind him, warmly guiding the other to sit in the vacant seat.

Left standing, Li Jun said nothing, holding a black umbrella and quietly positioning himself behind Yang Baize, watching the scene unfold.

Today, he was merely a supporting role; there was no need to draw unnecessary attention.

"Except for the Consolation Commissioner, who has returned to the imperial homeland per court decree, all our colleagues here have arrived."

Huang Yue sat in the rightmost seat, smiling, "Shall I introduce them one by one?"

"No need for the trouble, Commander Huang."

Yang Baize declined the offer, lifting his gaze to the scholar seated beside him.

"If I am not mistaken, you must be the Consolation Office's Commissioner in charge of civil affairs, Luo He, correct?"

"I am Luo He, greetings, Yang Da."

This Luo He was clean-cut and refined, his demeanor impeccable, matching exactly the description of an upright official in the empire's historical culture.

In the imperial homeland, he would be the standard model for the "official appearance" in major black clinics.

"I did not expect you to be promoted to a sixth-rank official at such a young age, truly a prodigy. It makes us, who are already of age yet remain unremarkable, feel ashamed."

Though his appearance was pleasing, Luo He's words carried a fawning tone.

"In the future, as we implement new policies, I hope you will guide me, Yang Tongzhi."

"Commissioner Luo is too kind. You are a scholar of the seventh rank, while I am merely a novice of the eighth. According to the Confucian hierarchy, 'the worthy are the teachers,' so I must call you my elder brother."

Though this was Yang Baize's first official post, having studied under Pei Xingjian, he had already grasped the nuances of flattery and deference in the bureaucracy.

He immediately exchanged a few complimentary remarks with Luo He, then turned his attention to the remaining four.

"The four of you must be the District Magistrates of Quan Shan City's four districts?"

Quan Shan City was divided into five regions: east, south, west, north, and center. Except for the central district's magistrate under the Jinyiwei, the other four were present here.

"We greet Yang Tongzhi." The four District Magistrates rose in unison, bowing respectfully.

Their Mandarin was somewhat awkward, catching Li Jun's attention.

These people were Japanese.

But he quickly recalled what Ghost King Da had told him about the Consolation Office.

In the early days of the Japanese region's establishment, the Consolation Office, the garrison, and the Jinyiwei stood in a tripartite balance.

There were reasons for both cooperation and mutual checks.

The garrison maintained order, the Consolation Office upheld public security, and the Jinyiwei, without question, targeted the hawks and other rebel groups active in the Japanese region.

However, after the "Great Debate," the New Donglin Party implemented a "civilization" policy. To soothe the people's hearts, the garrison was ordered to withdraw to uninhabited areas ten cities away, forbidden from easily entering the city to disturb the populace.

Thus, the Consolation Office's burden increased sharply, forcing it to expand the number of garrison troops while recruiting locally renowned Japanese individuals as District Magistrates, serving as a buffer between the Consolation Office and the people.

Those who became District Magistrates were either heads of prominent families, had descendants in the hierarchy, or were themselves part of the sequence.

Usually, they were managed by the central district's magistrate, forming a vital backbone of the Consolation Office.

"For the stability of Quan Shan City in the future, we must all work together."

The four nodded and bowed, chorusing, "Please rest assured, Yang Tongzhi."

"No wonder you didn't need my introduction—you had already done your homework. Since we have all met, why not further strengthen our bonds?"

Huang Yue spoke boldly, rising and clapping his hands midair.

The waiting attendants immediately entered in a line, their trays bearing various wines, dishes, and delicacies.

The other five rose in response, preparing to take their seats.

Only Yang Baize remained seated, unmoving.

"Brother, are you... tired?"

Huang Yue's face stiffened, then he feigned sudden realization, patting his own forehead, "I was not thorough enough. From Chongqing Prefecture to the Japanese region, it's thousands of miles. After such a journey of boats and carriages, you must be utterly exhausted."

"Why don't we do this—let us share a cup, as a welcome for you, and then you may rest?"