[{"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-46":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},2364315,4623,"Chapter 46: Emerging from the Surface","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-46",46,"\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, we’ve found some tokens with markings—likely left by the killer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Mu abandoned all concern for Deputy Commandant Chu and rushed forward to inspect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Secure them carefully. Send word to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send someone to verify which faction these tokens belong to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied them for a long while but could not make out anything clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu grew tired of puzzling over it and decided to pass the problem directly to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two major secret agencies of Dayu appeared to overlap in power, but their operational focuses differed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot’s primary area of activity centered on the capital, radiating outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Embroidered Uniform Guard was a nationwide institution, with outposts established in all major prefectures and even extending into neighboring countries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To track down the hidden forces behind the scenes, they were the ones to turn to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this minor interruption, cleanup continued, but the focus shifted to tallying casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many officers from the Five Cities Military Command attended the banquet last night; aside from those who escaped safely by the side of Marquis Wuyang, the rest remain missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was essential to quickly determine who had been captured and who had perished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the mangled corpses, Li Mu forced down his inner revulsion and persisted at the front line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, we’ve found a witness from last night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yun said, his face flushed with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The appearance of a witness meant a major turning point in the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nature of last night’s incident was exceptionally heinous—hardly matched in Dayu’s history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Solving such a major case was a tremendous achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can’t guarantee anything else, but everyone here is guaranteed at least one promotion; with good fortune, two or three promotions are possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring the witness here. I will question him personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu gave the order without changing expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slight twitch at the corner of his mouth still betrayed his good mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this new lead, they were one step closer to uncovering the true culprit behind the scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not someone had deliberately arranged it, if the investigation yielded results, it was still a great achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if all the evidence had flaws, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fundamentally, what they needed now was a list—not evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering evidence was routine procedure, meant to be performed for the eyes of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, last night my brothers and I were drinking at Yihong Courtyard across from Changchun Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly we heard shouts and fighting from the other side; when we looked toward the sound, we saw a group of black-clad men storming into Changchun Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the buildings blocking our view, we couldn’t see what was happening inside, but we knew the battle lasted nearly half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, in the private room next to ours, the killers’ accomplices sent out a withdrawal signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader muttered something about the Seven Prefectures Alliance controlling the illicit salt trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he even uttered a string of treasonous remarks—so vile I cannot repeat them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, what Brother Wang said is entirely true, and the courtesans of Yihong Courtyard can testify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others in nearby private rooms should also have heard it—we can confront them together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please don’t let the Embroidered…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing his slip, the young scholar slapped himself hard across the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, when such incidents occurred, everyone avoided them at all costs; few would willingly draw near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They came forward themselves mainly because they heard the Embroidered Uniform Guard was investigating the case and reviewing guests from across the river last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s notorious reputation, the Five Cities Military Command, which daily dealt with brawls among aristocratic youths, was seen by the public as far more amiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, don’t get so worked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This case falls under the jurisdiction of the Five Cities Military Command—the Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot interfere without authorization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just tell me what you know; I will handle the Embroidered Uniform Guard on your behalf!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu made a sweeping promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night so many “important figures” died, and many were captured—it was no ordinary case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It touched on the honor of numerous powerful figures in the capital; one misstep would bring trouble upon them, and the wise would avoid it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble-born sons could not die in vain; the credit for solving the case must remain within the noble circles—that was the unspoken understanding among all sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, that’s all we know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young scholar said, his face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d known they’d stumble into this, they never would have gone out last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hadn’t even enjoyed their drinking, yet now found themselves in grave danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any further issues arise, I’ll send someone to notify you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the case is resolved, you must not leave Yangzhou Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you recall anything else, you may come forward to report it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If your information helps solve the case, I will personally petition the court to reward you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, have you ever heard of the Seven Prefectures Alliance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First came “Seven Prefectures’ Great Elders,” now this “Seven Prefectures Alliance”—clearly meant to steer the investigation toward the Seven Prefectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing unexpected occurs, the tokens left by the killer will also point to the same target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adding the word “Alliance” confirms the Seven Prefectures are not a single faction, but a coalition of multiple forces—or someone intends to label them as such.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the disaster of the aristocratic clans, imperial rulers had intensified suppression of local lineages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Dayu’s founding, to curb the unchecked expansion of local clans, the court repeatedly issued restrictive edicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local clans forming alliances were strictly forbidden by the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the great families of the Two Huai region had secretly formed an alliance, even without any salt trade matters, the court would still purge them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, we’ve never heard of the Seven Prefectures Alliance—we’ve only heard of the Seven Great Families of Two Huai…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed scholar realized his mistake mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Great Families of the Two Huai region were, to them, like heaven itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though publicly they appeared as scholarly families indistinguishable from ordinary gentry clans, anyone who offended them in secret met a gruesome end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even high-ranking officials serving in the Two Huai region had to pay them a visit first if they wished to live comfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Seven Great Families of Two Huai—sounds quite arrogant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I’ll broaden my horizons. May I ask which families they are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly seven—numbers matched perfectly. The Seven Prefectures Alliance was almost certainly them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, we were just speaking nonsense—please don’t take it seriously!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-robed scholar spoke in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were gentry sons themselves, compared to the Seven Great Families, their power was incomparably inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Seven Great Families learned they had led the soldiers there, it would cost them their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak, and speak quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky of Dayu belongs to the Emperor—no matter how fearsome the Seven Great Families, can they truly cover the heavens with one hand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu rebuked sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reward had come right to his doorstep—he could not abandon it halfway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful the Seven Great Families, they could not withstand the court’s deliberate targeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1232,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","d41e5043f0a7942d829e1ac4eac9fec435315d7d13e504a7fd332fd3fe5d0f58","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-47","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-45",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]