[{"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-22":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},2364291,4623,"Chapter 22: The Great Method of Shifting Blame","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>“The Zajia has matters to discuss with Lieutenant Li; no one is to approach within fifty paces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Mai Qinghu finished speaking, the Eastern Depot’s henchmen all withdrew from the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers of the lieutenant’s office glanced at Li Mu; seeing their superior made no move to stop them, they likewise took the hint and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With everyone gone, the tense standoff atmosphere vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that no one’s watching, can you finally speak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Qinghu said irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their previous cooperation had succeeded in shifting blame, but the experience was anything but pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fool like Chen Jichuan, openly inquiring about his master’s arrest, couldn’t possibly escape the Eastern Depot’s spies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn’t moved to arrest him earlier because they were fishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hoped to use these people’s hands to drag more Qingliu faction members into the mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eunuch faction doesn’t arrest people as casually as outsiders imagine—grabbing whomever they please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they did that, the empire would descend into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when eliminating rivals, they must first find a plausible excuse before acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan was clearly a failed bait—he didn’t pull Qingliu members into the trap as planned, but instead went running to his hometown faction for help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people weren’t on the Eastern Depot’s target list, so there was no need to force a connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demanding the Nan Cheng lieutenant’s office hand over the prisoner was purely a spur-of-the-moment idea, meant mainly to reprimand Li Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Li Mu didn’t take the bait—he immediately steered the conversation toward Marquis Wuyang, leaving Mai Qinghu utterly speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang’s arrogance was infamous throughout the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To verify the truth, only the head of the Eastern Depot himself could gain entry—no one else stood a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Running to the head of the Eastern Depot over some insignificant nobody? That’s the end of your career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forcibly seizing the prisoner was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young noble youths suffer little social hardship and are truly quick to draw blades when provoked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday’s clash in Dong Cheng was caused by a stubborn clerk clashing with a hot-tempered, dense battalion commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossbows and firelocks were drawn; had high command not intervened quickly, it would have been a full-scale battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two offices are still bickering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter the final outcome, the Eastern Depot clerk leading the squad is finished—his future holds no brightness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mai Eunuch, why the hurry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good things never come too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The case is about to be closed—surely your recent raids have yielded substantial gains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Li Mu’s words, Mai Qinghu’s face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know we’re about to close the case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s remark was clearly a probe; his reply amounted to a direct admission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mai Eunuch, don’t worry—I have no ability to plant spies within your Eastern Depot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached this conclusion purely through analysis of the actual situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve been busy for many days—you’ve already caught the people you wanted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you keep pushing, you’ll disrupt the court’s normal operations; His Majesty won’t take kindly to that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now is the time to stop, share the spoils—that’s the best choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough, none of this really matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot arrested so many people—you can’t possibly execute them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the big fish, those above will handle them; we have no say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The minor players—those who could be released or detained—are different; properly handled, they’re pure profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary prisoners can have their families bribe officials for release.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you Eastern Depot types? You sweep them all up in one go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they have relatives or friends outside, no one dares ask a single question—too heartless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu teased with a half-smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he was reckless or greedy for every copper coin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply how the political ecology of Dayu functioned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five City Military Command, like all such offices, pays its official officers a salary—but the clerks, soldiers, and laborers receive only meager subsidies, paid in paper money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost of living in the capital is high; these men must survive. Relying solely on court funding would starve them to death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As loyal ministers of the court, when facing hardship, one mustn’t blame the court—you must find your own solutions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like offices across the realm, the Five City Military Command, severely underfunded, has its own system for raising funds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides directly charging merchants and residents, the office’s ransom-for-prisoners business is a major revenue stream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, if young nobles got into fights without causing major damage, they could pay to get released.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prisoner food, lodging, and sanitation fees were also revenue sources for the office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In official circles, this was an open secret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some tried to change it, but the funding gap was too vast—the court couldn’t afford to cover it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take the Nan Cheng lieutenant’s office as an example: the court’s annual allocation covers only thirty percent of operational costs; the remaining seventy percent must be raised independently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot delivered prisoners here with not a single copper coin—every cost of detention was advanced by the lieutenant's office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The money in the lieutenant’s office comes from the hard-earned wages of the men—it can’t be given away for free; we must find a way to recoup it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lieutenant Li, this matter requires careful deliberation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Qinghu said hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eunuchs, with their six senses purified, have relatively simple desires.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without orders from above, he dared not act on his own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ransom business can wait—the official classification hasn’t been finalized yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation inside the jail can’t drag on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lieutenant’s office has limited funds—either your Eastern Depot pays the detention costs, or we find our own solution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I will report this to the Commandant; you Eastern Depot people eat meat—surely you won’t leave us not even a drop of broth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he’d successfully diverted the topic, Li Mu pressed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been his refusal to hand over the prisoner—but now it was framed as the Five City Military Command, envious of the Eastern Depot’s feast, wanting a share.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I’ll report this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How those above handle it is beyond my authority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before they make a decision, I won’t tolerate any chaos—I’m sure Lieutenant Li doesn’t want this trouble either!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Mai Qinghu swept out in a huff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot was at its zenith; merely displaying its banner granted unimpeded power throughout the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet before a lowly lieutenant, he’d been humiliated time and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he’d sent the man away—otherwise, the authority he’d built over these days would have crumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering his unfortunate colleague in Dong Cheng, Mai Qinghu decided to temporarily ignore the brat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Eastern Depot henchmen gone, the lieutenant’s office returned to calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers’ eyes now held, unconsciously, a touch of reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, your kindness needs no thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever you need in the future, just give the word!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Jichuan said, his voice trembling with emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he’d just endured was like walking through the gates of hell—if he’d been taken to the Eastern Depot’s secret prison, his own ruin would be small, but his family might be dragged down too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Chen, between us, no thanks are needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter is only temporarily paused; until the storm passes, you must endure staying here at the lieutenant’s office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait a moment—I’ll go to Marquis Wuyang’s mansion, then return to catch up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the visitors gone, cleanup remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he’d just bluffed had to become reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if the lie was exposed, later attempts to scare people with the same excuse wouldn’t work so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1274,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","59b44ba6e35bcb66edc27a78308c823f18fe4b2b54e990bcbd7b6ae08aae9a89","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-23","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-21",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]