Chapter 435: Fervent Minister of Justice

Xie Yuan learned from Vermilion Hill that the Inspector of Tang was about to rush to Golden Radiance for support, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, finally able to visit his old friend; it had already been the third day since the Lu Clan arrived.

After the Lu Clan settled, the women of the Xie Clan came to pay a visit, but neither Xie Yuan nor Xie Che were seen, not even the younger generation's Xie Tu made an appearance.

Lu Tong curled his lips upon seeing Xie Yuan, "What wind blew the Imperial Censor here? A rare guest!"

Xie Yuan sat down opposite him without ceremony, "Don't hold such a grudge; the one who bears you ill will is the King, not me. Although, he himself may have already forgotten."

Lu Tong didn't want to hear that, "How old are you, always going on about being old and gloomy?"

Xie Yuan thought, you know how much I have to worry, surely more than I do. But… "These past few days, have you looked around? Have you decided where to build your manor? The King said he can provide the land for free—this chance comes only once, you'd better think it through." Those who don't cherish free land will know how dark the King is when they have to buy it themselves.

Lu Tong waved his hand, "No rush. It's not bad living here." He was quite satisfied with this temporary residence.

Xie Yuan nodded, "How about next to our Xie Clan? Though it looks a bit remote now, once the East Ward develops it'll be a fine place—convenient living and close to the East City Gate. If you like it here, you could still live there; although the residential plots are full, as long as you serve in office, the King usually grants residences in the west of the city."

"Who said I have to work for the Northern Border King? Don't begrudge me a comfortable life!"

Xie Yuan nodded, "So you're planning to take next year's imperial examination?"

Upon hearing about the imperial examination, Lu Tong laughed, "You go ahead and set it up first; those idle old fogies won't just calmly watch their interests be divided up, and the aristocratic clans tossed over the wall." He suddenly became enthusiastic, "Coming to Youzhou isn't bad either; the future will surely be lively, with plenty of drama to watch."

Xie Yuan stood immovable, speaking to himself, "If the exam is next year, you'll be in the same batch as Xie Tu, Lu Jia and the younger generation; even if you became top scholar it wouldn't be glorious, and if you didn't pass…"

"Wait, why do I have to take the examination at all?"

Xie Yuan smiled, "His Highness sent troops three thousand miles to bring you back; you wouldn't think he just wants you to move to the Northern Border to add some population to his cities, would you?!"

"Then what does he want?"

"Of course he wants you to shine and burn for the Northern Border."

"Like you, to devote himself body and soul to his hegemony?"

Xie Yuan felt no offense, "It's not Bai Li Jing's hegemony, but my own ambition. I want to unify the world, I want to end the chaos as soon as possible."

Lu Tong said nothing, after a while set down his tea cup, "You really think highly of him?"

"Youzhou has been radiating a warlike aura for two years now; no matter who you favor, in the end he's the one who wins—what difference does it make?"

"Fanyang is under siege this time, and you still haven't seen the strength of the Snow Cavalry? You say, in this world, where can the Northern Border Cavalry not go? Who could stop them? As long as Bai Li Jing wishes."

Most importantly, the Northern Border King's heart holds… all beings. He will consider the common folk, and will not hate the aristocratic clans to the bone, indiscriminately slaughtering them without distinction.' It's just short of saying outright, 'Hurry and align with a reliable side,' otherwise they'll stir up another radical faction and plunge the world into chaos for another century.

Xie Yuan, during his time at the Northern Border Academy, looked through many of its books; although most had nothing to do with politics, using his intellect he somehow caught a glimpse of something unusual from those volumes.

The Northern Border Academy's books are mostly gifts from the system, plus some miscellaneous manuals the King obtained from Bai Yang; but sharp people can always sniff out the unusual from unrelated clues, and across different eras and backgrounds he vaguely sensed some developmental trends.

"Then, I'll go to the academy."

"No way. My elder brother is already at the academy, the Northern Border has much to rebuild, and the King won't allow such an arrangement."

"How about finding a doctor to work as?"

"There's no shortage of mediocre doctors."

"I get it now—you've all dug pits for me, haven't you? Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"Minister of Justice."

"? You want me to take charge of the penal system? I hear your Northern Border laws have been changed—I don't understand them at all; I only know the Great Jin laws."

"You can learn on the job. This post needs someone impartial and unyielding—you're just the right person."

Lu Tong had a forehead full of question marks, "Wait, do feudal states have a Minister of Justice?"

"What do you mean feudal states? The Northern Border is a sovereign independent state." He trotted out the King's usual spiel to fool his old friend, "Since you entered Luo River Pass, you've been a rebel in Everlasting Peace as well—or you'd better get used to the role soon."

Lu Tong: ……

After Xie Yuan left, he himself sat there a moment then suddenly jumped up—no!

Even if one must send someone to work for the Northern Border to show one's stance, why, out of all the Lu Clan's people, does it have to be him, who has an old grudge with the Northern Border King?