[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"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},2364290,4623,"Chapter 21: Trouble Comes to the Door","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, someone outside has come with your name card, claiming to be your fellow townsman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Mu, who had been discussing the two factions’ power struggle with his colleagues, frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving in the capital, he had indeed sent out numerous name cards to fellow townsfolk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A proper visit should have been arranged by sending a formal invitation to Hou Fu to set a time, not by showing up at the Five Cities Military Commission with his name card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring the man to the rear courtyard; I’ll join him shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a society built on personal connections, even when you know trouble is coming, some things cannot be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only hoped the matter wouldn’t be too troublesome—his small arms and legs couldn’t bear the weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chen Jichuan, when did you arrive in the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the visitor, Li Mu asked with slight surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military families also valued education; Chen Jichuan had been his classmate at the private academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his mourning period ended, he had visited Li Mu’s household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just over three months, he never expected to meet again in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter is long-winded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after you arrived in the capital, I received a letter from Master Xiang inviting me to come to the capital to study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon arriving, I learned the terrible news that Master Xiang had been arrested and thrown into prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To gather information, I visited many fellow townsfolk, but all were turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no other choice but to come to you, Brother Li, for help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan spoke with obvious embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had once studied together at Guanzhong Academy, Chen was Master Xiang’s formal disciple, while Li Mu had merely attended a few of his lectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a faint connection, but not much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arriving in the capital, Li Mu had never considered visiting Master Xiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he didn’t understand social etiquette—it was simply that their relationship wasn’t strong enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never socialized at the academy; even if he sent a name card, the recipient might not even know who he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xiang is in prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did this happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you know what crime he’s accused of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu asked, feigning surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xiang came from a prominent Guanzhong clan; under normal circumstances, he should have been closer to the Qin Party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qingliu Faction, now fighting the eunuch faction, was mainly composed of officials from the southeast coast and the Hubei-Hunan region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern officials, including those in the Qin Party, due to their own interests, had drawn closer politically to the eunuch faction and were not within the scope of persecution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only possible reason he was implicated was that he failed to read the situation and joined the Qingliu Faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Political alignment carries a price; Master Xiang’s decision to join the Qingliu Faction was, in itself, a betrayal of the Qin Party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not joining in the persecution was merely old comradeship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To expect them to actively rescue him? That was wishful thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xiang served in the Censorate; he likely brought this upon himself with his recent impeachment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan spoke nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not even mention “overthrowing the eunuchs”—the Eastern Depot was arresting people everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of court officials had been arrested; as a juren in the capital, he was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chen, don’t worry. Good people always have divine protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot has arrested so many; they can’t possibly execute them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they’re just intimidating him—they’ll release him soon enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this matter so public, the Grand Secretaries won’t sit idle. Just wait patiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll send someone to find out where Master Xiang is being held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he’s not in the Imperial Prison, we can arrange for someone to look after him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Mu only say comforting things and avoid mentioning any rescue attempt, Chen Jichuan felt helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official world was the most pragmatic; a faint connection like theirs was enough to inquire, but nothing more could be expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eunuch faction was currently at its peak—without sufficient benefit, who would dare offend them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, Chen Jichuan for the first time thought his master’s disciple-selection strategy was flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While scholarly ability was primary in passing on the lineage, personal connections mattered just as much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’m counting on you, Brother Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished speaking, Secretary Yan burst in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, disaster! Eastern Depot agents have arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They claim a relative of a convicted official entered your office just now and demand we hand him over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Chen Jichuan nearly fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only just arrived—less than a cup of tea’s time—and the Eastern Depot was already at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, his recent efforts to deliver name cards and rescue Master Xiang had been exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of the terrifying rumors about the Imperial Prison, his body trembled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re looking for relatives of convicted officials, go to the jail—they’re everywhere there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the Five Cities Military Commission have any such person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it. Tell them to wait in the main hall; I’ll be there shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a good leader, Li Mu had no intention of burdening his subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting a mere clerk to stand up to the Eastern Depot was too much to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan was deeply anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared implicating Li Mu, yet also feared Li Mu would crack under pressure and hand him over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. Even the Eastern Depot must follow reason—they can’t arrest people at will!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s reassurance didn’t calm Chen Jichuan—it made him even more uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot had a terrible reputation among scholars; Chen Jichuan didn’t believe for a moment they cared about reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch Mai, what wind brings you here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What are you standing there for? Quickly serve Eunuch Mai tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My men are unpolished; please forgive them, Eunuch Mai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu smiled amiably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was someone he knew, matters would be easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you could cooperate once, you could cooperate twice—eunuchs understood social obligations too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Da-ren, no need for formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s always time for tea—let’s deal with the matter first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know why I’m here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re not Master Xiang’s disciple; there’s no need to defend him. Hand over Chen Jichuan, and this ends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Mai Qinghu finished speaking, the atmosphere in the main hall turned heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Eastern Depot’s intelligence is indeed formidable—within such a short time, they’ve mapped out the connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not refusing to honor you, Eunuch, but your men arrived mere moments after my classmate walked in—this is too coincidental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this truly about capturing remnants of a convicted official, or is it aimed at my Five Cities Military Commission? That remains to be verified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I understand it, last night your men clashed with the Dongcheng Battalion Command, injuring two of my men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang is extremely displeased about this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He issued strict orders: any matter involving the Eastern Depot requires his explicit authorization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re all serving the Emperor, Eunuch—don’t make things hard for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu skillfully deployed his classic “pass the buck upward” tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang had indeed issued orders—but the wording had been slightly altered by the time it reached Li Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander Li, are you trying to use the Imperial Uncle to pressure me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Qinghu spoke angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Yu Dynasty, imperial relatives couldn’t intimidate civil officials or frighten military commanders—they could only cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch, that’s going too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re all serving the Emperor—what talk of pressure? If this spreads, it’s merely embarrassing—but if the higher-ups think you’re incompetent, that’s a serious problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things aren’t worth insisting on. Giving others convenience is also giving yourself convenience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1289,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","95dc0614c522aad0f0dc304580c6c326494dff603b82996a07509df2fd7e9630","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-22","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-20",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]