[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dark-and-dawn-light-years":3,"chapter-dark-and-dawn-light-years-dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-188":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dark and Dawn Light-Years",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2264788,4420,"Chapter 188: I Am a Fair Man","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-188",188,"\u003Cp>The position of Military Supervisor of Troops is typically held only by state-level military officers, at least rank eight or higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Li Lin has received this post, it means he is a rank-eight military officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin merely smiled, showing no great emotional reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Receiving this rank during wartime also means bearing heavy obligations and responsibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Huang Yan no longer trusts the local officials of Jincheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would rather break protocol and promote Li Lin than entrust power again to “strangers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin returned home and told Huang Qing about the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most women, upon hearing Li Lin had been promoted, would be delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Huang Qing only frowned, then sighed helplessly: “Father really is unreasonable—why appoint you to this position now? It’s just adding trouble for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a daughter of a prominent family, she understood the current situation perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emergency promotions never bring good things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. After all, he’s my father-in-law—I’ll help him with this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing sighed, leaning gently against Li Lin’s shoulder: “Husband, since marrying you, I’ve brought nothing to this household—only added you more trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t say that. Without you, how could your father have entrusted me with such a vital post as County Constable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing whispered: “But my husband doesn’t need these empty titles… Even without Father’s help, you’d still become a towering man, renowned throughout the land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having been Li Lin’s wife for several months, she had come to understand: Li Lin was highly capable—extremely capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was alchemy, the strange spirit-stone house, or even dual-cultivation techniques, all were things ordinary people could never access.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Li Lin walked the path of “cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To marry such a man was heaven’s mercy upon her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the Huang family’s influence, he would eventually rise—only a little slower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore… in her view, her father’s promotion of Li Lin was essentially a “burden” placed upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled and stroked her hair: “It’s fine. In times like these, just before chaos arrives, having military strength is a kind of security.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Li Lin truly meant it, Huang Qing finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew well that Li Lin was not a man obsessed with power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she asked, somewhat troubled: “Chaos?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel forces have already seized Yue Commandery; Jincheng and Guicheng now lie within their sights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jincheng has already been breached once. Though losses seemed minor and the enemy withdrew, the plummeting morale and the people’s distrust of the government were very real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also why Li Lin has been cracking down hard on public order—it’s an indirect reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the people’s spirit is low and morale collapses, negative incidents naturally follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If left unchecked, over time this will lead to major problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these three days, the Tree Immortal Lady had not appeared, but seeing the peach tree illusion in the sky gradually becoming clearer again, Li Lin sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the Lady was unharmed—her body had already recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this same day, three thousand fu soldiers appeared beneath the walls of Yulin County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the troops Huang Yan had sent to Li Lin’s command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin went to receive them with his appointment document and military tally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also brought five hundred militia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The militia halted thirty zhang from the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin dismounted and walked forward to the camp gate himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three thousand fu soldiers had already set up camp; guards stood atop the simple wooden palisade. Seeing someone approach, one sounded a sharp whistle inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, the camp gate opened, and out stepped a middle-aged man with a long beard, clad in bright armor, a red-tasseled long sword at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved with the bearing of a dragon and tiger—imposing and commanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin bowed first and smiled: “I am Li Lin, County Constable of Yulin and Military Supervisor of Troops, here to take command of the Southern Route fu soldiers of Jincheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, seeing Li Lin’s red cloth official robe and his youthful, handsome face, immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then returned the bow: “I am Deputy Military Supervisor of the Southern Route… May I see your credentials?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin presented his appointment document and military tally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man examined them, confirmed their authenticity, then said reluctantly: “Underling Xu Xingchang, at your service, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded, dismounted, and smiled: “Deputy Supervisor Xu, we both serve under Governor Huang—we should cultivate closer ties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, of course,” Xu Xingchang replied flatly. “I look forward to your future guidance, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin saw that the man did not truly respect him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was natural—he had been eyeing the position of Supervisor for years, expecting to succeed the previous incumbent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could even celebrate, a young man had been parachuted in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, in every field, people resent such sudden outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin paid it no mind—the man’s attitude was merely cool, not hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continued smiling: “Then sound the war drums—I shall inspect the troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inspecting the troops” meant the commander reviewed the soldiers on the platform, verified their numbers, and checked equipment readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was preparation for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang paused, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured for Li Lin to proceed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A camp of three thousand men—even hastily built—was far larger than one of five hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Lin entered the camp, the great drum began to beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drumbeats echoed as soldiers formed into six units, five hundred men each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hundred men was precisely the maximum force a Commandant could lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within each five hundred, the troops were divided into shield, spear, bow, and cavalry units.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One could say, only an army with cavalry was truly complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hundred militia were not the same as five hundred fu soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin now sat upon the command platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiger-skin chair beneath him felt powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below him stretched a sea of dark heads, gleaming armor, and weapons—he waited silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers had not yet fully assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, the last group of armored troops emerged from their tents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stood at the front, forming two lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the elite soldiers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most formidable vanguard of the entire army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a Commandant stepped forward, bowed, and reported: “Report, Supervisor: Southern Route fu soldiers of Jincheng, all three thousand present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin observed briefly, then confirmed: all three thousand were indeed assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said nothing, but extended his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone beside him handed him a roster—the troop list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin flipped through it casually, then asked: “Where is the grain ledger?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several Commandants looked uneasy, all glancing toward the Deputy Supervisor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin followed their gaze and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang had been slightly annoyed, but at Li Lin’s smile, he suddenly shivered—unconsciously, a sense of dread rose within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded to the Commandants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, a ledger was placed before Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin did not open it—only glanced at it and said: “This ledger is quite new.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding Commandants broke into cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He flipped through it idly, then smiled: “Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ledger was crudely kept, but obvious at a glance: it was falsified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it truly recorded so much grain, the ledger would have been thick with years of entries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, Li Lin saw the errors at a single glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many numbers were miscalculated—all understated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xingchang lowered his head, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Commandants remained silent too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin stood, looked down at the three thousand troops, and shouted: “I am your new Supervisor, also serving as County Constable of Yulin. I don’t understand politics—but I understand how to be a man. I value fairness above all. Here, I guarantee: every one of you will receive your full pay and full compensation. If you don’t believe me, ask the militia I brought!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire parade ground fell silent—but the soldiers, meeting Li Lin’s gaze, their eyes shone brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandants’ expressions turned strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Xu Xingchang’s… was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeply dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1333,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","724a456fc23cee9d469e6fd705b07aa224510787093360aec3f67bd42d22be50","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-189","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-187",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]