Chapter 51: All Is Understood Without Words

Soon, only Huang Yan and Li Lin remained in the county government office.

Huang Yan turned, took a scroll from the shelf behind him, and spread it out on the table.

"Come here."

Li Lin went over as instructed.

A square map lay on the table. After looking at it for a while, Li Lin raised his head and regarded the other man with a puzzled gaze.

Why are you making me look at this thing?

"This marks the military garrisons of each commandery in Great Qi. What thoughts does it stir in you?"

Li Lin stared at it a moment longer, then said, "Circles within circles?"

Huang Yan stroked his beard and laughed: "Haha, indeed so; it is nothing but circles, large and small. Because of that incident sixty years ago, the imperial court grew afraid."

Li Lin raised an inquiring look; he truly did not know what had happened sixty years ago.

After all, he was actually quite unfamiliar with this world.

"Did your elders never tell you of this?" Huang Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded in understanding: "True; there is little point in telling you juniors. Sixty years ago, over there in the Northern Di, a figure emerged. Clad in armor of fresh flowers, he led ten thousand soldiers, smashing through everything in his path. In less than a month, he fought from the grasslands right to the gates of Jingcheng."

Impressive!

At this, Huang Yan's expression turned slightly mocking as he said, "At that time, the entire city of Jingcheng sealed its gates, letting the Di people strut arrogantly beneath the walls, spewing vile words, yet no one dared sally forth to fight. As reinforcements from the various commanderies failed to arrive, and with the Di on the verge of breaching the city, threatening to drown the land in blood, the Empress of that era walked onto the city wall. Before the eyes of all, she removed her phoenix robe, and the Di troops withdrew!"

Li Lin's eyebrows shot up. "A Gowned Apparition?"

"Yes!" Huang Yan laughed: "No one could have imagined that the Empress of that time was actually a Gowned Apparition, and a Great Gowned Apparition at that. Afterwards, the Empress vanished without cause. The Demon-Extermination Bureau began targeting all officials and noble families connected to the Empress. Within half a year, a thousand people were beheaded, most of them officials. Since then, the noble families were severely weakened; some hid among the common folk, others fled into the mountains and forests."

Li Lin listened quietly.

Huang Yan continued: "To prevent the Northern Di from easily entering the passes again, the imperial court established military garrisons in all strategic locations of Great Qi. This was originally a good thing, but now these garrisons have become a burden; after all, they consume too much money and grain, and the court can no longer afford to support them. Our southern regions are somewhat better off, but I hear that in the north, many garrisons have gone unpaid for months. Li Xunshou, if it were you, would you not abolish some garrisons to reduce the court's expenditures?"

Li Lin shook his head: "Difficult... it concerns the interests of many officials."

Huang Yan nodded with satisfaction: "You and Qi'er are alike; both can see the stakes involved. I asked my two daughters this question as well. Do you know how they answered?"

Li Lin shook his head.

"Damei said this matter is for the ministers in the court to decide; as a mere woman, she does not understand great state affairs." Huang Yan gave a slight snort, then continued: "Ermei was very arrogant; she claimed that if she obtained the current Emperor's edict and forcibly implemented the policy of reducing conscription and abolishing garrisons, it would surely succeed."

Hearing this, Li Lin smiled.

It was not that he was mocking Huang Ling, but such a thought was far too naive.

"If the current Emperor ordered you to resolve this matter, how would you handle it?"

Li Lin clasped his hands and said, "Of low station, I dare not rashly discuss state affairs."

Huang Yan gave him a strange look, then said: "Better not to speak of it. The reason I asked you to stay this time is mainly to tell you that the current imperial court is unlike the past; it is already showing signs of being tossed by wind and rain. I heard you declined Qi'er's invitation; whether this is good or bad, I will not judge. But I know one thing: the more chaotic the times, the more one needs power. Entering the world alone, you must find a great tree to lean against; this way, you can act with fewer worries and gain more assistance."

Li Lin suddenly raised his head and looked at the other man.

Huang Yan smiled slightly; at this moment, both understood the other's meaning.

A few breaths later, Li Lin bowed slightly: "Thank you, County Magistrate, for your instruction."

Huang Yan's expression grew even gentler: "No need for such formality. Come to my home more often in the future."

"Good!"

By the time they emerged from the county government office, it was already dawn.

Seeing Zhao Xiaohu dozing at the government office entrance, Li Lin walked over and patted the latter's shoulder.

"Lin Ge." Zhao Xiaohu was startled awake, then said excitedly.

"After we finish breakfast, we'll prepare to return to the village."

Zhao Xiaohu asked with some worry: "I've been assigned to Shadong Village. Does this mean I have to stay there from now on?"

"No need to rush there immediately. Go home first and discuss it with Uncle Zhao; once you are prepared, it is not too late to go."

Zhao Xiaohu breathed a sigh of relief: "I'll listen to Lin Ge."

The two first returned to the 'new home' for a casual breakfast, then took a nap. It was not until noon that they set off, gnawing on steamed corn buns.

Upon returning to Shangtiku Village, Zhao Xiaohu ran home excitedly, carrying the blood rice.

Meanwhile, Li Lin went to the altar, where the Tree Immortal Lady was floating there.

Li Lin extended his hand. The Tree Immortal Lady's long tail coiled around, wrapping itself around Li Lin's body. Then she embraced his arm and slowly licked the man's palm.

A drunken, tingling sensation surged to his heart. Li Lin suddenly said, "Perhaps in another half-year or a year, I will have to get married."

The Tree Immortal Lady's movements paused for a moment, then she resumed licking the vital essence. Her expression remained normal, with nothing amiss.

After a short while, the Tree Immortal Lady released Li Lin's body, smiled at him, and then vanished from sight.

Was she actually angry?

Li Lin was somewhat unsure.

However, this matter was not important. Li Lin set down his bundle, then swallowed a Life-Nourishing Pill and began to rest.

It was still early; resting this early was naturally to conserve strength.

Because he was preparing to go to Feirong County; there were two matters to attend to.

By the next day, after a whole night of cultivation, Li Lin felt light and refreshed.

He took his red-tasseled spear, the Gowned Apparition Robe, Life-Nourishing Pills, and some silver notes, and came before the altar.

"Lady, I am going to Feirong County. It may take two or three days before I return. I leave the village's safety in your hands."

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared before Li Lin. Having received a large amount of vital essence the previous day, her vital energy appeared excellent, and she looked utterly peerless in beauty.

"Be careful."

The Tree Immortal Lady's tone remained cold, but Li Lin could hear the concern within it.

Feirong County was not too far. Li Lin had already been cultivating the Lightness Art, so his pace was much faster; walking from morning until evening, he arrived at Feirong County City.

Li Lin did not reveal the Bai Yu Token; after all, he had come here to cause trouble. Revealing the Bai Yu Token would be exposing his identity.

He paid the two-wen copper head tax and entered the county city.

Feirong County was originally called "Yourong" County. More than thirty years ago, a woman who would become the foremost beauty under heaven was born there; she entered the palace and became a Noble Consort, known to the world as the Flower-Shaming Noble Consort.

From then on, Yourong County was renamed Feirong County.

Li Lin sat on the third floor of an inn, looking through the window at the street opposite, where there stood a large estate. From his elevated vantage, he could tell it was a four-courtyard residence.

Above the gate hung a plaque bearing the two large characters "Qin Fu."

The Qin family of Feirong — the steward of the Flower-Shaming Noble Consort before she entered the palace… after the consort entered the palace, this Steward Qin rose rapidly to power.

From then on, Feirong County had a Qin family.

At that moment, the vermilion gates of Qin Fu opened, and a fat man waving a paper fan walked out.

Li Lin recognized him.

Then he withdrew his gaze — many Spirit Hunters were extremely sensitive to being watched.

He did not want the Qin family to notice him.

The fat man glanced around suspiciously, then left, fanning himself as he went.

After waiting a while, Li Lin turned his head back and, from his high vantage, observed the architectural layout and terrain of Qin Fu.

(End of chapter)