[{"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-80":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},2364349,4623,"Chapter 80: Radically Different Departure","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-80",80,"\u003Cp>Once a farce begins, it won’t end easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inexperienced Commandant Shi, facing so many soldiers, appeared especially agitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he was too nervous and forgot what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps his slacker nature kicked in—he hadn’t memorized his prepared speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stepping onto the stage, he kept confusing the order of events and misusing idioms and allusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loud-mouthed soldiers assigned to relay his words were all his personal retainers, equally clueless, repeating whatever their master said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the entire camp was filled with laughter and merriment, utterly lacking the solemnity befitting an army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an onlooker, Li Mu never closed his mouth the entire time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Commandant Shi’s personal fame was too low, and the enemy he faced were also insignificant figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, his performance today might have become a historical anecdote to warn future generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a joyous departure ceremony was exceedingly rare throughout human history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Regional Commander, Marquis Wuyang, kept a black expression throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates had shamed him; his own face bore no honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his murderous gaze, Li Mu read Commandant Shi’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he somehow survived the battlefield, this man would never live to return to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The constant farces directly disrupted the ceremony’s progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brief departure ceremony dragged on until noon, stumbling through every step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the final moment, a dissolute young man whom Li Mu did not recognize foolishly shouted, \"Let's eat lunch first!\"—enraging Marquis Wuyang, who drew his sword on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not surrendered quickly enough, and had Marquis Wuyang not been too disinterested in killing a dead man, he’d likely have been beheaded right there to consecrate the banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this point, anyone with half a brain realized this campaign had no future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret was too late—the departure ceremony was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To withdraw now would invite military law, which was no joke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful your backer, there was no turning back now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching the army depart, nearby colleagues all wore expressions of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they genuinely despised this band of incompetent allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing the internal strife among military officers, Xu Wenyue suddenly realized that civil officials were far better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though internal politics were brutal, they usually ended with retirement, rarely with total extermination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military officers, when betraying their comrades, truly killed people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of this army before him, it was uncertain whether half would survive to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, he scorned the crude nature of soldiers, then fell silent, refusing to provoke Marquis Wuyang further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instinct told him that if pushed too far, this man would truly draw his sword and cut someone down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xixi Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou’s most famous flower boat, ever since being chartered today, had lost its former poetic charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary Xu has traveled far from the capital, yet the Yangzhou gentry have shown such indifference—it has greatly angered the Grand Secretary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pleaded and argued for hours just to secure this opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Say what you have to say, quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you have no reasonable explanation, then from now on, we go our separate ways—no more contact!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Huaichang demanded sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those present today were either former clients of Grand Secretary Xu or his old acquaintances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without close ties, they could still claim some connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon Grand Secretary Xu’s arrival as Imperial Commissioner, these people had made no effort to welcome him—in Hou Huaichang’s view, utterly unforgivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If no punishment followed, others would follow suit, and Grand Secretary Xu’s influence at court would surely plummet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his patron’s status was undermined, his own position as private secretary would fall even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Hou, it’s not that we lack respect for the Grand Secretary—it’s truly unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yangzhou is no longer what it once was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who opposed the Five City Military Command has been thrown into prison, charged with colluding with rebels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenju spoke with a troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no desire whatsoever to attend this meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he and Hou Huaichang were former classmates; the invitation had been delivered to his door—refusing would be slapping Grand Secretary Xu in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Wuyang is someone you can’t afford to offend—surely you think Grand Secretary Xu is easy to bully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five City Military Command scared you into submission—where is the scholar’s integrity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Huaichang’s mockery caused everyone to lower their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each family’s situation was similar—they all had some connection, however slight, to the Seven Great Families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all Qingliu Party members; as a Qingliu elder, Xu Wenyue had to consider the group’s interests and couldn’t push things too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Offending Grand Secretary Xu might only slightly hinder their sons’ official careers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Marquis Wuyang was different—he accused people of treason at the drop of a hat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of whether guilt was proven, he’d first confiscate property and exterminate families, then search for evidence later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Yangzhou, the Five City Military Command held the strongest fist; officials who disagreed had all been placed under house arrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone could withstand scrutiny, perhaps a few might risk defiance to gain fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the gentry of the Two Huai regions had intermarried for generations—everyone was somehow connected, near or far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without evidence, they were still members of the rebel’s nine clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once thrown into prison, there was no hope of release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had spent enormous sums just to bribe their way out and save their entire clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The amnesty decree had been issued by Marquis Wuyang himself—he could sign it, and he could revoke it. No one dared gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A bunch of cowards!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to fear? Marquis Wuyang leaves with his troops tomorrow—then Yangzhou will…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Huaichang’s performance was bound to be useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When entire families’ lives were at stake, no one dared gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Five City Military Command could leave Yangzhou—and return just as easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Secretary Xu held high rank and power, true—but he had no troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Marquis Wuyang ordered arrests, he couldn’t personally intervene to stop him—their relationship wasn’t that close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Hou, please don’t put us in this bind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So many Yangzhou officials have been imprisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why don’t you first find a way to get Grand Secretary Xu to release them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head of the Lei family spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrested Yangzhou Assistant Prefect was his own clansman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Grand Secretary Xu could indeed rescue him, it would be a tremendous gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was all destined to be in vain—cases involving treason were always easier to arrest than to release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Releasing suspects without tripartite judicial review was handing your enemies a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing full well the risks, Hou Huaichang naturally dared not promise anything on Grand Secretary Xu’s behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gathering ended in acrimony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same parade ground, same departure ceremony—but the scene before them was utterly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to yesterday’s rabble, as soon as Xu Wenyue entered the camp, he sensed a chilling aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the Five City Military Command’s victory over the rebels wasn’t just luck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this remark, Xu Wenyue’s gaze fixed on Marquis Wuyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No long speech reached his ears—only two words: “Depart.” Then the army marched out in orderly formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary, Marquis Wuyang is being far too careless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing his master wished to speak, Hou Huaichang smoothly offered the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It only proves Marquis Wuyang is a clever man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proclamation before departure was never meant for the soldiers—they wouldn’t understand it anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, there are no spectators worth performing for; simplicity is natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, his own merit is hollow—how much literary talent could he possibly possess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than imitate Commandant Shi and show off his scholarship to make a fool of himself, simplicity is better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Departing sooner lets them cover more ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1280,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","ef0ec03f0645db1c3f1c9206fa716672bc2d88e390270c2b7dd7250c6ac4e13b","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-81","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-79",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]